Web Exclusive Book Reviews: 10/12/2009

-- Publishers Weekly, 10/12/2009

NONFICTION

A Bubble in Time: America During the Interwar Years, 1989-2001
William L. O’Neill. Ivan R. Dee, $27.50 (448p) ISBN 9781566638067
Author and Rutgers Univ. professor O’Neill accounts for the U.S.’s “interwar years” under Presidents George H. Bush and Bill Clinton with intelligence, insight and unapologetic lefty bias, bringing order to a layered mess of controversies—the first Gulf War, the O.J. trial, Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America and the Monica Lewinsky affair among them. Eschewing impartiality, O’Neill uses personal opinions in judging history, weighing down his otherwise lucid and well-researched narrative with a strident agenda. For instance, regarding Tailhook and other military sex scandals, O’Neill states that “A gender-integrated armed force requires a kind of bonding for which there is small precedent… [and] giving up that misogyny which is at once a shameful feature of service life and perhaps a necessary one.” Fifty years ago, the same could have been said about African-Americans; with this kind of value judgment, O’Neill risks appearing at best quaint, and at worst anachronistic—neither one a shining quality in a historian. Still, for those who lean O’Neill’s way, this is an intelligent reading of 12 years in recent U.S. history. (Sept.)

End the Fed
Ron Paul. Grand Central, $21.99 (224p) ISBN 9780446549196
At first glance, abolishing the Federal Reserve and returning to the gold standard seems a quaintly eccentric idea, but Texas congressman Paul presents a plan to eliminate our country’s central bank, and return to a private banking system, that’s both serious and plausible. The questionable aspects involve Paul's predicted results: not only will ending the Fed eliminate inflation (the government cannot print more money than it has gold reserves), but also business booms and busts, wars, income inequality, trade imbalances and the growth of government. Further, and perhaps most important, it would "disempower the secretive cartel of powerful money managers who exercise disproportionate influence over the conduct of public policy." Paul tends to gloss over those periods in history, including the Panic of 1907, in which private banking and the gold standard were law: "the bad reputation of nineteenth century American banking… is largely the result of… propaganda agitating for the creation of the Fed." With respect to "secretive cartels," Paul takes up the interesting question of whether J.P. Morgan is in fact preferable to Ben Bernanke. An engaging response to big-government solutions for the financial crisis, this knowledgeable and opinionated look at U.S. economics, from a firebrand public servant, should provoke much thought. (Sept.)

 A History of Ghosts: The True Story of Séances, Mediums, Ghosts, and Ghostbusters
Peter Aykroyd and Angela Narth, intro. by Dan Aykroyd. Rodale, $25.99 (238p) ISBN 9781605298757
Squarely aimed at the fans of Ghostbusters (and just in time for its nascent revival in family rooms, video games and, reportedly, the big screen), this look at the paranormal is written by none other than the father of that blockbuster’s co-creator and star, Dan Aykroyd; what fans might not know is that the Aykroyd family’s interest in séances, mediums and apparitions was what inspired the hit supernatural comedy. The author’s own grandfather was a spiritualist: he believed the human personality survives after bodily death, and practiced regular communication with ghosts—much of which he documented in journals. Aykroyd broadens the discussion with historical figures like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, who joined the Society of Psychical Research three weeks after his father’s death. He also disarms skeptics with a chapter on the séance as theatrical performance, not much different from a movie, in which the ultimate goal is “the willing suspension of disbelief” in an audience, whom can then be “frightened, amused, touched, moved” by illusions. Less a Ghostbusters also-ran than a knowing, historical origin story, this is a smart consideration of the paranormal and a curious artifact of the Aykroyd legacy. (Oct.)

Instinct: The Man Who Stopped the 20th Highjacker
Michael A. Smerconish with Kurt A. Schreyer. Lyons, $19.95 (216p) ISBN 9781599215167
At the center of this dramatic true story is Mohammed al Kahtani, allegedly meant to serve as the 20th 9/11 hijacker, whose denial of entry to the U.S. by an Orlando customs officer may have provided just the edge that the passengers of United Flight 93 needed to overpower their captors. The questions that surround him, however, are central to the execution of the war on terror: in particular, was Kahtani a “highly trained al-Qaeda operative” or a “low-level mercenary tortured by his interrogators out of frustration or pure malice?” From the political fallout of denying foreign visitors entry to the fine line between profiling and professionalism (says one interrogation expert, “that intuitiveness, that innate ability, that instinct… if you fine tune it, you have a very powerful person”) to the disturbing procedures at Guantanamo Bay, radio talk show host Smerconish (Muzzled: From T-Ball to Terrorism) presents the vivid narrative of United Flight 93 and the issues at hand with the skill of a seasoned reporter. Proceeds from the book support the Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign. (Sept.)

The Janus Principle: Focusing Your Company on Selling to Small Business
Joann Mills Laing and Don Mazzella. Brick Tower (NBN, dist.), $14.95 paper (230p) ISBN 9781883283704
Laing (The Consumer's Guide to HSAs) and small business consultant Mazzella provide an optimistic take on strategies for corporate marketing in today’s depressed economy. Guided by the success of their consulting firm, Information Strategies, the authors provide a guide to the why, who, what, where, when and how of marketing to small businesses, a big sector that’s only getting bigger. Lessons include knowing your audience so thoroughly that your reps work “in the same way their target audience conducts business,” typically 24/7, with longer-range planning on evenings and weekends. Plentiful anecdotes also illustrate the importance of understanding how one’s product fits customers’ needs and bottom lines, establishing trust and maintaining that personal touch. This book is for executives who understand the repositioning, but are looking to get a firm grasp of the fundamentals of execution. (Oct.)

 The Last of His Mind: A Year in the Shadow of Alzheimer’s
John Thorndike. Swallow, $24.95 (248p) ISBN 9780804011228
In this engrossing memoir, author Thorndike (Anna DeLaney’s Child, Another Way Home: A Single Father's Story) tells a touching story of family, death, discovery and devotion, in which Thorndike probes his journalist father’s accomplishments and losses, his relationships and his wife’s tragic suicide. When his father Joe Thorndike, suffering at age 92 from congestive heart failure and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, can no longer take care of himself, Thorndike offers to live with him. Over the following year, Thorndike chronicles his father’s growing incapacity, and seeks to learn more about him despite the dying man’s lifelong all-but-impenetrable reserve. While much of the book details Thorndike’s difficulties caretaking for his father, he heightens the proceedings with family tales, including some from his father’s editorial work at the heyday of Life, working with bold named figures like the Luces, Whittaker Chambers, James Thurber and Winston Churchill. A beautiful book, this memoir reveals the painful chaos of Alzheimer’s, as well as the strength, faith and unexpected joys that come with caring for a loved one in his last days. (Oct.)

The Raw Milk Revolution: Behind America’s Emerging Battle Over Food Rights
David E. Gumpert. Chelsea Green, $19.95 paper (288p) ISBN 9781603582193
This thorough, thought-provoking account of the illicit raw milk trade comes from a veteran health and business journalist who has followed the story on his blog (thecompletepatient.com) since 2006. Elaborating his online posts, Gumpert looks at the industry in Michigan, California, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, offering detailed accounts of dairy farmers persecuted and prosecuted for dealing in non-pasteurized milk—thought a cure-all by some, a health hazard by others (including the FDA). Dramatic anecdotes and digressions, including federal agents confiscating milk cartons, the rise of commercial feedlots and the story of pasteurization give context and weight to the book’s first third. When Gumpert turns his attention to the minutiae of food contamination, however, readers’ eyes may glaze over. Testimonials to raw milk’s healing properties (for autism, cancer, asthma, allergies, “virility” and more) are reported but aren’t vetted; stories of foodborne illness, meanwhile, are truly harrowing, despite Gumpert’s assurance that they’ve never originated in raw milk. Those close to the debate will likely find this a helpful snapshot, but anyone with passing interest should simply check out the highlights on Gumpert’s blog. (Nov.)

 Sixty Feet, Six Inches: A Hall of Fame Pitcher and a Hall of Fame Hitter Talk About How the Game Is Played
Bob Gibson and Reggie Jackson with Lonnie Wheeler. Doubleday, $26 (288p) ISBN 9780385528696
In an inspired Major League pairing, all-star pitcher Gibson, 73, talks mechanics, psychology and culture with 63-year-old Reggie Jackson, one of the game’s greatest hitters. Although they never faced each other on the field, they square off on everything from pitch counts and swing styles to catchers, managers and umpires, to clubhouse environments and media distractions. In lengthy discussions steered by author Wheeler (Gibson’s autobiography collaborator), the two often turn conversational, sharing stories about Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols, among others, but the book reads best when the duo discusses controversies: spitballers, hit batters, steroids, free agency and racism. Their egos and memories remain remarkably vivid; Gibson, who spent 17 years on the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals, constantly cites his own stats, and Jackson, who won the World Series with both the A’s and the Yankees, takes credit for Derek Jeter’s success. Fans will come away from this discussion between greats with even greater understanding and appreciation for the game. (Sept.)

Strange Bedfellows: The Surprising Connection Between Sex, Evolution and Monogamy
David P. Barash and Judith Eve Lipton. Bellevue Literary, $25 (160p) ISBN 9781934137208
A decade after they published The Myth of Monogamy: Fidelity and Infidelity in Animals and People, husband-and-wife evolutionary scientists Barash and Lipton make a strong case for the benefits and joys of monogamy even for people, like themselves, “who take biology seriously.” Until quite recently, they report, “three-quarters of all human societies were polygamous,” and the advent of DNA testing shows that birds have a similarly wandering eye: “sometimes 30 or 40 percent of nestlings … [are] not genetically related.” While promiscuity seems built into our genes, there is a longer legacy of serial monogamy (“the likelihood… is that only a few well-positioned males succeeded in polygamy”) and genetic payoff for two-parent households (feeding, warming, and protecting the young) than numbers might suggest. Humans especially benefit from reciprocity and “monogamy is the ultimate friendship,” with the biggest payoff, not just in reproduction but “physically, intellectually, emotionally economically, socially … in a word, biologically.” Everything from infant-mother attachment to neuroplasticity to “mirror neurons” to hormones form the biological framework for adult love. With wit and intelligence, Barash and Lipton provide a rational, scientific look at the seemingly irrational business of falling and staying in love. (Oct.)

The View From the Bridge: Memories of Star Trek and a Life in Hollywood
Nicholas Meyer. Viking, $25.95 (272p) ISBN 9780670021307
Though the title plays up Meyer’s work as writer and director on the second and fourth Star Trek films (arguably the best of them), there’s plenty in this breezy, enjoyable showbiz memoir for non-Trekkers to enjoy. Meyer wisely focuses on the range of his Hollywood accomplishments, including devastating television movie The Day After and Oscar-nominated film The Seven Per-Cent Solution (adapted from his best-selling book). Ingratiatingly humble—"I assume that people who get to make a film are a) doggone lucky and b) doing this job because they want to do it"—Meyer’s clear joy for his work never edges into ego-inflation or pretension. William Shatner, Malcolm McDowell, Mary Streenberg, Leonard Nimoy, Kirstie Alley, Gene Hackman and other stars pop in and out of his narrative, as does Meyer’s family, but the films take center stage, as well as Meyer’s grounded but exuberant affection for the community that allowed him to make them. (Sept.)

Visionaries in Our Midst: Ordinary People Who Are Changing Our World
Allison Silberberg. Rowman & Littlefield, $39.95 (274p) ISBN 9780761847182; $19.95 paper 9780761847199
While the media focuses on the economic peril and politicians focus on turf battles, writer and advocate Silberberg profiles amazing people working in the shadow of our nation’s capitol finding innovating and expansive ways to serve the citizenry and, in particular, the most vulnerable among us. In the colorful and inspiring stories of 18 “visionaries,” Silberberg finds nonprofit Bright Beginnings serving homeless families just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol, Life Pieces to Masterpieces helping African American youth through artistic expression, the CEO and founder of Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care, the founder of the Georgetown Senior Center, the former D.C. police officer who created an after-school family and child support center called the Fishing School, and more. Silberberg, a veteran of nonprofit work, captures the motives and methods of these citizens with compassion, detailing their personal histories and obstacles—child advocacy group founder Aretha Lyles, for instance, was a single mother of three—while testifying to the far-reaching power of a determined individual. (Sept.)

LIFESTYLE

The American Lighthouse Cookbook: The Best Recipes and Stories from America’s Shorelines
Becky Sue Epstein and Ed Jackson. Cumberland, $26.99 (320p) ISBN 9781581826760
Food writer and editor Epstein and chef Jackson set out to document the flavors found along Americas coastlines but they ended up with much more: a state-of-the-nation snapshot, displaying all of the U.S.’s culinary peculiarities. Profiling 47 different lighthouses ringing the coast, many more than a hundred years old, the duo offer menus from all eras, showcasing local produce and regional favorites. Many are expected: Clam Chowder, Baked Beans and Crab Cakes from the Atlantic coast, Pulled Pork from the Carolinas, Conch Fritters from the Virgin Islands, traditional beanless Texas Chili, and Vegetarian Spring Rolls from California are included among nearly 300 recipes. Surprises include everything from Alligator Gumbo to Poached Peaches with Puff Pastry Biscuits and Lavender Cream. Menu diversions include a hunt club dinner menu from the 1930s (including oyster stew, roasted venison loin and shrimp paste with toast points) and a menu that salutes the Portugese fishermen of New England (Johnny Cakes, Kale and Chorizo soup, Grilled Bluefish topped with salsa). Those with a connection to the lighthouses profiled will get the most out of the book, but even landlubbers will find new favorites among this surprisingly rich haul of Americana cooking. (Sept.)

Emeril’s 20-40-60 Fresh Food Fast: Make the Meals You Want in the Time You Have
Emeril Lagasse. HarperStudio. $24.99 (272p) ISBN 9780061742941
Taking a cue from Rachael Ray, popular chef and television personality Lagasse (Emeril at the Grill, Emeril’s New Orleans Cooking, etc.) presents a solid collection of favorites grouped by preparation time. Cooks opting for the 20 minute option have the most dishes to choose from, but Lagasse offers ideas for starters, mains and desserts in all three time frames. Fans will recognize a number of favorites here—Fish En Papillote, Bruschetta, Pasta Primavera, Steak Au Poivre—as well as new dishes sure to agree with families, including Fettucine with Peas and Ham and a simple but delicious BLT with avocado and basil mayo. Legasse includes a smattering of the Creole and Cajun dishes he’s known for (an Italian po-boy dressed with Louisiana hot sauce mayo, Shrimp Etouffe, Trout a La Meuniere, a riff on Bananas Foster), but there are just as many comfort food standards like Sloppy Joes, wings, and macaroni and cheese as palate-pushing entrees. Aside from a few surprises, Lagasse keeps distractions to a minimum, focusing on recipes that are sure to resonate with fans: reliable, everyday dishes that highlight flavor, not flair. (Nov.)

 Intimacy and Desire: Awaken the Passion in Your Relationship
David Schnarch. Beaufort, $25.95 (432p) ISBN 9780825306297
Readers sick of typical glossy-magazine self-help patter about reigniting romance, or the droning pomposity of most author-experts, will be pleasantly surprised with psychologist and sex therapist Schnarch (Passionate Marriage). He immediately catches readers’ attention by agreeing that the common “just do it” approach to solving sexual problems is not only ineffective, but often results in one partner responding with a decisive “Don’t tell me what to do!” That kind of understanding produces a number of unexpected bombshells—including “Marriage does kill desire”—which produce an uncanny effect: getting couples to stop and reconsider their emotions, quit blaming each other, and start to think (and act) differently regarding sexual situations, behaviors and attitudes. The book’s flaws are more aggravating than genuinely problematic—a tendency to lean on jargon and trademark key phrases (“Four Points of Balance™”)—but Schnarch breaks down complex issues with loosely-drawn real life examples, illustrating the dramatic and fundamental changes that occur when couples have a greater understanding of desire, monogamy and the brain. The process is neither easy nor quick, but Schnarch’s confidence is contagious. (Oct.)

The Irish Farmers’ Market Cookbook
Clodagh McKenna. Collins $24.95 (224p) ISBN 9780007284818
U.K. television personality McKenna takes readers on a tour of the Emerald Isle’s farmers markets in this attractive but predictable volume. Essays on responsible fishing and meat purchasing complement McKenna’s vendor profiles, as do handsome, full-color slice-of-life photos. Though she offers 135 recipes for making the most out of ones local market, the simpler, more rustic dishes fare best: Beef and Rabbit Stew with Cider, Shepherds Pie, roast chicken, Curried Parsnip and Apple Soup and Baked Apples are sure to satisfy with a minimum of fuss. That said, some dishes are best left to the locals, like Ummera Smoked Chicken Paella, which relies on smoked chicken from a specific vendor, and Gubbeen cheese, a local specialty only available from an Irish cheese-making family. McKenna’s reliance on weight rather than volume for most recipes will likely frustrate, but the book makes up with simple steps and ingredients, where possible. Few Yanks will be able to get their hands on the game required for Venison Terrine or Chocolate and Venison Stew, but those with a fondness for Irish flavors will enjoy reminiscing. (Nov.)

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes From an Accidental Country Girl
Ree Drummond. Morrow, $27.50 (256p) ISBN 9780061658198
Blogger-turned-author Drummond gives readers a slice of frontier life in this likeable-enough collection of recipes and dispatches from the Oklahoma ranch she shares with her husband and children. Replicating the step-by-step photography that made her blog such a hit, Drummond walks readers through dishes ranging from simple—Guacamole, Chili, Artichoke Dip—to more complex, such as from-scratch Cinnamon Rolls and Sherried Tomato Soup. Drummond’s careful coaching will help anyone intimidated by the kitchen fearlessly crank out favorites like Chicken Fried Steak, Meat Loaf and Rib Eye Steak with Whiskey Cream Sauce. While the recipes are reliable home cooking standards, relentless references to her husband, known as the Marlboro Man, range from distracting to juvenile, giving what could have been a comfort food classic the feel of a junior-high class project. (Nov.)

The Pregnancy Care Book
Michèle Farrugia, Jacqueline Thomas and Paul Bernstein. Robert Rose, $29.95 (448p) ISBN 978077880226
Readers will be drawn to this volume by full-color photos and charts on almost every page, smart organization and sleek design: a month-by-month of expected obstetrician procedures makes appointments predictable, and there’s a miasma of information regarding illnesses that may affect women and their fetuses. Unfortunately, a one-sided view of the birth process—through the lens of hospital-based medical obstetricians—means that information on less-prescribed methods is lacking, keeping parents from formulating truly educated opinions. Epidural anaesthesia and other medical interventions are introduced with a list of benefits and very few attendant risks; meanwhile, doctors Farrugia, Thomas and Bernstein provide only a cursory look at other birth philosophies, including home-birth. Still, several sections are complete, and even empowering, including a section on exercise for every stage of pregnancy and a chapter on nutrition. Ultimately, however, this well-planned volume contains no new information, and provides a less-than-comprehensive picture of contemporary pregnancy options. (Sept.)

 Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions
Paul Hogan and Lori Hogan. McGraw Hill, $18.95 paper (304p) ISBN 9780071621090
Using their experience running a successful international company providing in-home, non-medical services for seniors, husband-and-wife founders of Home Instead Senior Care offer a helpful guide for families choosing among home care-giving and other assisted-living options for aging or ailing parents. The Hogans believe in helping seniors stay in their homes as long as possible, and knowledge is their most powerful tool in securing that goal; this well-researched volume is packed with information, advice and resources aimed at managing and ameliorating the sadness, confusion, guilt and anxiety of making quality-of-life decisions for a loved one. Emphasizing the need for planning, the Hogans offer a list of signs that indicate it’s time to consider additional care, as well as a thorough exploration of the options, including pros and cons, questions to ask and other factors when choosing among home care, senior centers, assisted living and nursing homes. The Hogans also consider options for children who live far away from their parents, and advice on what to do when siblings find themselves in disagreement. Recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, this salient volume compassionately addresses a full range of hard-to-discuss subjects, including funeral services and bereavement. (Nov.)

What French Women Know: About, Love, Sex, and other Matters of Heart and Mind
Debra Ollivier. Putnam, $24.95 (256p) ISBN 9780399155628
American-born Francophile Ollivier follows up Entre Nous: A Woman’s Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl with a volume largely concerned with uncovering the behavior and lifestyle of the secretive French woman. For instance, Ollivier pointedly debunks the myth that French women deprive themselves of fattening foods and drink in order to maintain a suitable weight, but reveals that French women are masters of portion control. She also recounts instances with her French counterparts—she lived there for 10 years, has a French husband, and divides her time between L.A. and Paris—in which she came to the realization that, in France, women genuinely love men, and vice versa; both strive for more compatibility between the sexes, radically diminishing the “battle of the sexes” mentality so commonplace in American society. Intriguingly, Ollivier contrasts the French desire for mystery against the American need for knowledge and control, finding in the discrepancy a possible reason for the ever-escalating American divorce rate. Ollivier is sure to dazzle any reader with a fondness for French women with this batch of anecdotes and corresponding hypotheses, drizzled with a winning combination of sarcasm and wit. (Sept.)

FICTION

The 13th
John Everson. Leisure, $7.99 (320p) ISBN 9780843962673
Award-winning author Everson’s latest novel fails to live up to the reputation that two Bram Stoker Awards earned him. Twenty-five years after a bloody massacre, the Castle House Lodge has reopened as an asylum, with an unusual group of patients. Dr. Barry Rockford, a controversial MIT geneticist, has recruited some local thugs to abduct young women. Early on, the reader learns that Rockford's experiments involve impregnating his captives as part of a Satanic ritual. His activities initially fly beneath the radar, until new Castle Point Police Officer Christy Sorensen learns that a neighboring jurisdiction has experienced a rash of disappearances. Sorensen's inquiries lead her to the amateur sleuthing of bicyclist David Shale, who earns himself a job at the asylum as a handyman. At times Everson’s prose is so over the top it’s laughable, but it’s the stock characters and situations that sink this average novel. (Nov.)

Barely Bewitched
Kimberly Frost. Berkley, $14 paper (320p) ISBN 9780425229613
In this confusing sequel to Would-Be Witch, Tammy Jo Trask, a beautiful but ditzy young woman living in Duvall, Tex., tries to cope with recently acquired magical powers that she has no idea how to use or control. Summoned by a Conclave to explain her illegal use of magic, Tammy Jo does not know who to turn to for help: sexy Bryn Lyons, whose charm and looks make her forget common sense; her loyal ex-husband Zach; or the two instructors sent by the Conclave, who seems as likely to kill her as assist in clearing her name. With her pet companion Mercutio by her side, Tammy Jo sets out to defend herself, hoping to return to her career as a pastry chef. In the second book of the Southern Witch series, author Frost attempts the ever-so-popular paranormal romance but tosses in too much magic: warlocks, vampires, faeries, hobgoblins, ghosts, were-wolves; ultimately, they prove exhausting, taking away from the story. (Sept.)

Distant Early Warnings: Canada's Best Science Fiction
Robert J. Sawyer. Robert J. Sawyer (robertjsawyerbooks.com), $22.95 (308p) ISBN 9780889954380
Inspired by John Robert Colombo’s Other Canadas, Award-winning Canadian author Sawyer attempts to convey his heritage through the medium of science fiction, compiling a collection of stories by the genre’s best Canadian writers. The authors featured are all contemporary Canadian authors, and strictly science fiction (no fantasy), though their stories are not geographically limited. The first and longest story, “In Spirit” by Paddy Forde, is a sometimes tedious and maudlin tale about the 9/11 terrorist attack on New York City, while Spider Robinson's "You Don't Know My Heart" is set in Key West. Many of the other stories, including James Alan Gardner’s “The Ray Gun,” Peter Watts's "Eye of God," and Sawyer’s own “Shed Skin,” explore the theme of unequal power relationships, perhaps exploring the distinctly Canadian preoccupation with the neighboring U.S. Like the Great White North itself, this collection is earnest and worth consideration. (Aug.)

A Natural Woman
Lori Johnson. Kensington, $15 paper (384p) ISBN 9780758222398
Bridget Jones had her diary, and Aliesha Eaton has her hair. These all-natural locks become the medium through which the protagonist Aliesha, in Johnson’s second novel, interprets the world. When Aliesha goes looking for a barber who can handle her ‘do, she finds Dante, and with him an undeniable spark. Unfortunately, her love life's already a mess: her current boyfriend, Javiel, is inoffensive but bland, and as he pushes for something more permanent, she wonders why she can't feel closer to the nice guy. Then there's her ex, dumped because of his porn watching, who still holds a torch for her. Johnson writes convincingly flawed characters, but Aliesha and her beaus never rise above the banal. Aliesha's only distinguishing feature seems to be the obsession over her hair, which unintentionally borders on the absurd. In the end, the novel leaves an impression reminiscent to Aliesha’s relationship with Javiel—there's nothing specifically wrong, it just isn't working out. (Nov.)

The Prodigal Mage: Fisherman’s Children Book One
Karen Miller. Orbit, $24.99 (512p) ISBN 9780316029209
In an appealing series kickoff, following on the heels of the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker duology (The Innocent Mage, The Awakened Mage), returning character Asher of Restharven must come to grips with the realization that his skills are still needed to keep the land safe, and that his son Rafel’s powers might even outstrip his own. When Rafel was a baby, Asher had put a blocking spell on his magical abilities as a precaution—hiding them to keep his son safe—but now Rafel chafes at these restrictions. The story stalls on this disagreement, and Asher’s reasoning, besides being is not all that convincing, grows tedious. The conflict deepens though when the weather destabilizes to the point of catastrophic failure, and Asher has spent all his Weather Magic; the only hope now is for someone—namely Rafel—to travel across Barl’s Mountains in hopes of finding a magical library. Strong characters with clear viewpoints carry the story forward to a solid, yet surprising ending. The book’s main weakness is a lack of exposition; for much of the narrative, Miller assumes readers are familiar with the Asher’s story. Still, this new series shows great potential. (Aug.)