This sixth PW Select quarterly—our first was in Dec. 2010—is our most robust: the most submitted titles and the most (52) that merited a review in our editors’ estimations. Among the highlights in fiction: a “confident debut” by Peter Christian Hall; Helena Soister’s Dan Brown–worthy thriller; a charming whodunit by Robin Lamont; and a winning portrait of the pre-AIDS gay community by Jeffrey Sharlach. In nonfiction, Stacy Dymalski’s “laugh-out-loud funny” mom memoir; and the enterprising Matt Ivester’s lol...OMG!, a guide to digital citizenship. Ivester is interviewed on p. 21. Enjoy.

Architecture

Tappan Zee Bridge: Foundation Engineering at Work.
Kenneth J. Franco. Vantage Press. $21.95 hardcover (64p), ISBN 978-0-533-16443-1
Ingram
This academic study, four decades in the making, is a comprehensive and authoritative account of the engineering support for the Tappan Zee Bridge in upstate New York.

Biography & Autobiography

Stealing the Borders: A Warm, Witty & Outrageous Autobiography.
Elliot Rais. CreateSpace. $15.95 paper (291p), ISBN 978-1-4679-0157-4
Amazon
The boy only wanted a party; they threw him a circumcision. He wanted sour cream; he got bugs. This survivor story about a boy who grew up under German bombs is an intimate, humorous tale of an escape from childhood.

Rebooting My Brain: How a Freak Aneurysm Reframed My Life.
Maria Ross. Red Slice Press. $14.95 paper (224p), ISBN 978-0-9848939-0-4
www.rebootingmybrain.com
A heartwarming and humorous memoir about one woman’s miraculous recovery from a brain aneurysm—and how it forced her to reframe her life for the better.

Lucky.
Erick Brennan. West efx Inc. $14.99 paper (132p), ISBN 978-0-9838530-0-8
theluckybook.com
A whimsical, firsthand look into the world of slot machine gambling, and the psychological and philosophical approach it takes to survive in a casino.

Prom Night and Other Man-made Disasters.
Mark Coggins. Philodox Press. $14.99 paper (198p), ISBN 978-1-4679-8571-0
www.scribd.com
A collection of humorous, candid, first-person essays from novelist Coggins describing episodes in his life from childhood, school, career, and relationships.

South Boston Boy: A City Boy’s Life at Mid-Century.
Joseph Doolin. Bumps River Press. $14.95 paper (262p), ISBN 978-1-4637-3787-0
www.josephdoolin.com
An uplifting story of how one family survived the Great Depression, WWII, and the postwar years, surmounting poverty, mental illness, and alcoholism.

The Persian Room Presents.
Patty Farmer. Vantage Press. $28.95 hardcover (225p), ISBN 978-0-533-16511-7
Ingram
In this dishy and personal book, dozens of celebrities reminisce about their performances and partying at the Plaza. They all agree on one thing: there’s never been any place like it.

Grade A Baby Eggs: An Infertility Memoir.
Victoria Hopewell. Epigraph Books. $15.95 paper (204p), ISBN 978-1-936940-11-0
Amazon
An insider’s account of the world of egg donation, where women’s eggs are bought and sold over the Internet and a beautiful model with high SAT scores commands the highest prices.

Escaping from Reality Without Really Trying: 40 Years of High Seas Travels and Lowbrow Tales.
Robert Jacoby. Cloud Books. $17.95 paper (526p), ISBN 978-0-615-43489-6
Amazon
The memoir of a 61-year-old, career merchant seaman recounting his fantastic, hilarious, and politically incorrect exploits around the world.

Cancer Warrior: Where the Mind Goes.
Ruth Levine. Quill House Publishers. $16 paper (150p), ISBN 978-1-933794-41-9
Amazon; B&N
At age 50 and on the cusp of starting a new career in occupational therapy, the author was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer. She overcame it using any and all means.

In the Driver’s Seat: Interstate Trucking, a Journey.
Marc Mayfield. CreateSpace. $12.95 paper (325p), ISBN 978-1-4611-4709-1
Amazon
More than anything, the author loved 18-wheelers and living on the road. Mayfield’s literary memoir chronicles highway journeys, a troubled marriage, and a life recast.

To the Far Side of Planet Earth: A Peace Corps Memoir.
Jim McConkey. Infinity Publishing. $17.95 paper (350p), ISBN 978-0-7414-6429-3
Amazon; B&N
Amid a comic adventure, a young idealist barely survives trying to save the world. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance meets Lost in Translation.

The Red Skirt: Memoirs of an Ex Nun.
Patricia O’Donnell-Gibson. StuartRose Publishing. $14.99 paper (349p), ISBN 978-0-9836112-0-2
Amazon; B&N; www.theredskirt.com
In this spiritual coming-of-age story, young Patricia relinquishes all she had known at 18. Her stories unveil that rarified air of a convent, as she takes the reader with her in her struggle to find the courage to leave.

Under the Spell of a Dragon in Istanbul: A Memoir.
Jill Pipkin. Pipkin Publications. $15.95 paper (325), ISBN 978-0-615-50880-1
Amazon
A young woman travels to Istanbul to photograph ancient mosaics. She unexpectedly encounters a charming dragon that leads her to fabulous and dangerous places.

Swimming Upstream: A Memoir.
Constance Richardson. Wheatmark. $14.95 paper (256p), ISBN 978-1-60494-489-1
Amazon
Living in Paris with titled relatives one year, and then in a small college in Vermont the next, the author was already learning how to swim upstream in this memoir that covers Richardson’s life from the early 1950s into the 1970s.

Hippie Boy: A Girl’s Story.
Ingrid Ricks. Ricks Communications. $10.95 paper (244p), ISBN 978-0-615-38376-7
Amazon; B&N; Lightning Source
A feisty teenage girl escapes her abusive Mormon stepfather and suffocating religious home life by joining her dad on the road as a tool-selling vagabond.

Finding Your Force: A Journey to Love.
Alicia Anabel Santos, illus. by Renzo Devia. CreateSpace. $19.99 paper (410p), ISBN 978-0-9837943-0-1
findingyourforce.blogspot.com
A love letter to a daughter that is in itself a memoir and a story about love.

After the Bombs: My Berlin. Memories of Post–World War II Berlin.
Heidemarie Sieg. ABQ Press. $15.95 paper (261p), ISBN 978-0-9843024-5-1
www.afterthebombs.com
This recollection begins with the life of a German family at the outset of WWI and continues with their struggles in the aftermath of WWII.

Here’s to Not Catching Our Hair on Fire.
Stacey Turis. Bohemian Avenue Press. $17.95 paper (219p), ISBN 978-0-9838275-0-4
Amazon
In this humorous romp through a life so convoluted and chaotic that it can only be true, the author gives voice to the tormented souls suffering from giftedness, ADHD, or a combination of both.

The Ford Foundation: An Insider View of the Impact of Wealth and Good Intentions.
Verne S. Atwater and Evelyn C. Walsh. Vantage Press. $29.95 hardcover (240p), ISBN 978-0-533-16427-1
Ingram
Verne Atwater and Evelyn Walsh—both members of the philanthropy’s professional staff during its early days—offer a detailed, lively, firsthand view of the Ford Foundation.

Body, Mind & Spirit Emotional Medicine Rx: Cry When You’re Sad, Stop When You’re Done, Feel Good Fast.
Penelope Young Andrade. Tenacity Press. $18 paper (281p), ISBN 978-0-615-51708-7
www.emotionalmedicinerx.com
With wisdom, compassion, humor, and scientific research, the author reveals how your body’s messages and emotions lead to greater physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

And Toto, Too: The Wizard of Oz as a Spiritual Adventure.
Nathan G. Castle. Good Dog Outreach. $19.95 paper (245p), ISBN 978-0-615-52474-0
www.andtoto.org
Using the classic film as a metaphor, the author, a Catholic priest, shares his belief that God loves everybody wildly, extravagantly, beyond belief—and beyond belief systems.

Spiritual Evolution: How Science Redefines Our Existence.
Chad Kennedy. AuthorHouse. $28 hardcover (216p), ISBN 978-1-4670-3560-6
www.drchadkennedy.com
Spiritual Evolution creates a model for existence incorporating scientific discovery in order to answer age-old questions: why are we here? what is spirituality? does God exist?

Ordinary Men, Extraordinary Lives: Defining Moments.
Jim Sharon. Energy for Life. $19.95 paper (252p), ISBN 978-0-9836492-0-5
mensanthology.com
This anthology offers a broad spectrum, with 40 authentic accounts by men facing and surmounting major challenges in their lives.

The Thousand Natural Shocks.
Frank Silva. Shoestring Ventures. $11.50 paper (272p), ISBN 978-1-4664-7190-0
Amazon
A workaholic ”spirit guide” is supervising and training a new guide, Angie, while resolving past-life karma issues.

Business & Economics

Sell or Sink: Strategies, Tactics and Tools.
Michael D. Krause. AuthorHouse. $19.95 paper (108p), ISBN 978-1-4567-5071-8
Amazon; B&N
Sell or Sink bridges the gap between sales theory and reality with strategies, tactics, and tools to help sales people generate income and strengthen positive branding.

Core Strategy for Success: How to Lead in a “Dog-Eat-Dog” World.
Fred A. Manske Jr. Leadership Education & Development. $16.95 paper (150p), ISBN 978-1-60013-782-2
www.leadershipdevelopment.com
Practical leadership advice focuses on the implementation of a powerful core strategy comprising three critically important leadership values.

Safe 4 Retirement: The 4 Keys to a Safe Retirement.
Jack Tatar. People Tested Publications. $14.95 paper (288p), ISBN 978-0-615-52007-0
Amazon
A holistic approach to retirement for pre-retirees and retirees explores the four key elements to sound retirement planning.

Cooking

Joy’s Recipes for Living Younger... Longer: An Eighty-Something Beauty Reveals Her Secrets.
Joy Gross. Epigraph Books. $19.95 (108p), ISBN 978-0-9830517-2-5
Amazon
The author shows how to make a variety of plant-based offerings—nutritious salads, innovative raw and steamed vegetable dishes, chlorophyll-rich juices and smoothies, and even delicious desserts.

Education

lol... OMG!. What Every Student Needs to Know About Online Reputation Management, Digital Citizenship, and Cyberbullying.
Matt Ivester. Serra Knight Publishing. $24.95 hardcover (160p), ISBN 978-0-615-52889-2
Amazon
Using real-life case studies and offering actionable strategies and best-practices, this book empowers students to clean up their online presences and to become responsible digital citizens.

Family & Relationships

Kevin’s Last Walk: A Father’s Final Journey with His Son.
Barry Adkins. Red Willow Publishing. $14.95 paper (224p), ISBN 978-1-936539-05-5
Amazon
Inspiration meets adventure as Adkins chronicles his 1,400-mile journey from Arizona to Montana with his son’s ashes in his backpack. His son had died at 18 from alcohol poisoning.

What’ll I Do with the Baby-o? Songs and Rhymes for Little Ones.
Jane Cobb. Black Sheep Press. $14.95 paper (12p), ISBN 978-0-9698666-5-7
Amazon
Three dozen delightful tunes to sing to children up to six years of age.

Privilege of Parenting.
Bruce Dolin. PoP the World. $15.95 (400p), ISBN 978-0-9846257-5-8
Amazon
Privilege of Parenting provides a toolkit for parents dealing with problem behaviors ranging from everyday sadness and fears to severe clinical issues.

Confessions of a Band Geek Mom.
Stacy Dymalski. Saffire Press. $14.99 paper (220p), ISBN 978-0-615-47499-1
(435) 901-8977
A hilarious account of how an L.A. stand-up comic gives up celebrity to become a stay-at-home mom... in Utah.

Relational Tri-Umph: Solving Relational Stress and Building Relational Success.
Gerry Goertzen. AuthorHouse. $19.99 hardcover (171p), ISBN 978-1-4567-2144-2
Amazon
This book is intended to help self-understanding under relational stress, and offers steps to help transform thinking, feeling, and behavior.

The Marriage Story: A Timeless Tale About Staying in Love.
Dennis Edward Green. Boulevard Press. $17.95 hardcover (80p), ISBN 978-0-9832411-3-3
Amazon
A parable about a couple’s lifelong challenge to stay in love while chasing the American dream.

The Special Needs Parent Handbook: Critical Strategies and Practical Advice.
Jonathan L. Singer. Clinton+Valley Publishing. $14.99 paper (102p), ISBN 978-1-4700-4721-4
Amazon
A comprehensive compilation of life lessons learned by the parents of a child with significant special needs.

If I Had as Many Grandchildren as You....
Lori Stewart. Palmar Press. $19.95 hardcover (32p), ISBN 978-0-9839293-0-7
www.ifihadasmanygrandchildrenasyou.com
Advice in rhyme for grandparents on places to go and uplifting things to do with a “gaggle of grandchildren.”

Fiction

A Contented Mind.
Samantha Hoffman. Two Dog Press. $17.95 paper (360p), ISBN 978-0-9848258-1-3
www.bysamanthahoffman.com
Love, hope, and the complicated mess of redefining one’s life are explored.

Incensed: The Novel.
Cary Jane Sparks. Strange Boat Publishing. $15 paper (410p), ISBN 978-0-9837612-0-4
caryjanesparks.com/strange-boat-p
Graphic artist Michaela Thomason is distraught when the arrogant owners of the hot new restaurant Eighth (as in eighth chakra) proclaim her “not spiritual enough” to design their menus, sending her scrambling for instant higher consciousness.

The Arctic Rose.
Richard Joseph Zazzi. CreateSpace. $10.99 paper (286p), ISBN 978-1-4662-0773-8
Amazon
Two lovers, Lea and Jacob, and their friends in Hawaii embark on an adventure of high-stakes, high-seas robbery targeting an unscrupulous Alaskan diamond industry.

Plantanimus: Awakening.
Joseph M. Armillas, illus. by the author. $18 paper (502p), ISBN 978-1-4653-8608-3
Amazon; B&N
The saga of Kelem Rogeston, a Martian psychic and scientific genius who fights against Terran spies trying to subvert Martian society and discovers a form of telepathic plant life.

Devil’s Den.
Timothy Ashby. CreateSpace. $15.34 (502p), ISBN 978-1-4565-4524-6
Amazon
The 1923 murders of Civil War veterans leaves a trail of conspiracy, coverup, and corruption stretching from the Battle of Gettysburg to contemporary Washington, D.C.

Montfort: The Early Years, 1229 to 1243.
Katherine Ashe. Wake Robin Press. $12.99 (321p), ISBN 978-1-4392-6466-9
Amazon
Simon, a French youth, arrives in England, becomes King Henry III’s best friend, and falls in love with the king’s sister, a nun—and with the queen.

Montfort: The Viceroy, 1243 to 1253.
Katherine Ashe. Wake Robin Press. $12.99 paper (265p), ISBN 978-1-4505-7423-5
Amazon
Palestine falls to barbaric invasion. Guilt-stricken for having left, Simon’s one goal is to return to the East. But King Henry has other work for him.

Montfort: The Revolutionary, 1253 to 1260.
Katherine Ashe. Wake Robin Press. $17.99 paper (454p), ISBN 978-1-4528-4447-3
Amazon
A novel of Simon de Montfort and the founding of the English Parliament, the beginning of modern democracy.

Montfort: The Angel with the Sword, 1260 to 1265.
Katherine Ashe. Wake Robin Press. $19.99 paper (538p), ISBN 978-1-4528-4423-7
Amazon
Simon is lured to reinstate Parliament. Believed to be the Angel of the Apocalypse, he leads lordlings, commoners, and outlaws from Sherwood against Henry and the pope.

The Midget’s House.
Anita Bartholomew. Bartholomew & Co. $14.99 paper (294p), ISBN 978-0-9839922-0-2
Amazon
A tale of two women (one living, the other long dead), each mourning lost love and struggling for control of the home they share.

Enemy in Blue.
Derek Blass. Rogue Books. $14.99 paper (334p), ISBN 978-0-615-48103-6
Amazon
A cop thriller explores the underbelly of law enforcement and courtrooms.

The Unauthorized Biography of Michele Bachmann (and Other Stories).
Ken Brosky, illus. by Chris Smith. Brew City Press. $10 paper (142p), ISBN 978-1-4679-7437-0
Amazon
A white man lost in Darfur, phone hackers, honey thieves, an Iraq War veteran searching for his missing leg in the dead of night—these are just a few of the characters inhabiting Brosky’s first collection of stories.

William & Lucy.
Michael Brown. CreateSpace. $15.95 paper (356p), ISBN 978-1-4563-6143-3
Amazon; B&N.com
The poet William Wordsworth falls in love with a 17-year-old mystery woman in a tale of suspicion and love set in 1798, with England at war with France.

Night Journey.
Goldie Browning. Storyteller Publishing. $14.99 paper (370p), ISBN 978-0-9847254-0-3
Amazon
A romantic weekend at a haunted hotel goes wrong in a ghostly tale that blends the past with the present and the living with the dead.

A Welcome Walk into the Dark.
Ben E. Campbell. Outskirts Press. $13.95 (170p), ISBN 978-1-4327-7891-0
Amazon
Twelve short stories from Appalachia that represent the universal struggle of choosing between the path that’s bathed in light and the one eclipsed by darkness.

Helter Skelter: Tales of Horror.
Bryan Cassiday. CreateSpace. $19.99 paper (218p), ISBN 978-0-9834989-3-3
Amazon
Zombies, vampires, and other wicked creatures wreak mayhem in Southern California. Not all of these creatures are supernatural—some of the scariest ones are human.

Zombie Maelstrom.
Bryan Cassiday. Create Space. $21.95 paper (300p), ISBN 978-1-4679-3136-6
Amazon
CIA black-ops agent Chad Halverson and his fellow passengers crash-land in Los Angeles and find that the world has become a wasteland.

Departure, Part 1: Green on Green Trilogy.
William Chapman, illus. by Robert Jaffe. William R. Chapman. $14.99 paper (264p), ISBN 978-0-9837178-0-5
Amazon
An antiwar Army infantryman, due to fly to Vietnam in1967, shows up on LSD and states that the war is anti-American. A standoff with military bureaucracy ensues.

The Unnatural Aging of Cheese: From Partying to Parenthood.
Steve Chrisman, illus.. by Ed Cameron. Dancing Moon Press. $12 paper (167p), ISBN 978-1-892076-95-3
Partners West; Baker & Taylor
Hilarious short stories recount the painfully slow maturation process of a New Jersey slacker—nicknamed Cheese—as he transitions from partier to mild-mannered parent and bumbling homeowner.

Damp Whisper.
Gabrielle Culmer. Vantage Press. $14.95 paper (249p), ISBN 978-0-533-16405-9
Ingram
Amelia Mullbury is a young woman with everything to look forward to in life, but a shadow falls over her when she and her family are victimized by a daring theft attempt.

The Wonder of Ordinary Magic.
Lilli Jolgren Day. CreateSpace. $10.75 paper (252p), ISBN 978-0-615-48039-8
Amazon; B&N
Bobby Weaver is a young writer who just happens to be in a coma. As he continues to work on his unfinished novel, he shares his thoughts about his current situation, his family, and life in general.

Splattered Blood.
Michael A. Draper. Vantage Press. $14.95 paper (307p), ISBN 978-0-533-16469-1
Ingram
A gritty tale in the vein of Dennis Lehane and Robert B. Parker, Splattered Blood keeps readers guessing with suspense and retribution on every page.

Polly’s Wild Dance: A Life Serialized in Sporadic Spurts.
Sydnee Elliot. CreateSpace. $15.95 paper (324p), ISBN 978-1-4635-0757-2
Amazon; Ingram; B&N; sydneeelliot.com
A middle-aged Jewish woman sells everything and moves to a Greek island to paint, write, forget about the zany men in her life, and discover who she really is.

When Horses Had Wings.
Diana Estill. Corncob Press. $12.95 paper (305p), ISBN 978-0-9799708-8-7
ipage.ingrambook.com
Pregnant at 16, Renee Goodchild drops out of school and marries. Now she’s trapped in rural Texas with Kenny, her violent, garbage-collecting husband. A bleak future seems assured until she meets a self-appointed relationship guru.

Deadly Pleasures.
Mary Firmin. iUniverse. $14.95 paper (304p), ISBN 978-1-4620-4237-1
Amazon; B&N
Megan and her three friends seek revenge on their cheating husbands by hiring a time-share boytoy, unaware he is a suspect in the Bondage Murders.

Teddy Bear Murders: The Four Deadly Hellos.
Jack Fitzgerald. iUniverse. $19.95 paper (344p), ISBN 978-1-4620-6048-1
Amazon; B&N; Ingram
Four people are strangled and the psychopathic killer signs each death by leaving a teddy bear. A high school English teacher battles becoming victim number five.

The Moonhawker.
George A. Fox. iUniverse. $21.99 paper (636p), ISBN 978-1-4620-4649-2
Amazon
After Atticus Gunner receives an offer he cannot refuse, he and his daughters embark on a dangerous adventure in the untamed waters of northern Lake Michigan.

The Alhambra Decree: Flower from Castile Trilogy.
Lilian Gafni. Lifeline Publishing Books. $17.99 paper (396p), ISBN 978-1-4637-4458-8
Amazon
In 1491, a beautiful young Spanish noblewoman is kidnapped a week before her wedding and discovers she has a double identity.

The Darkening Dream.
Andy Gavin. Mascherato. $14.99 (382p), ISBN 978-1-937945-01-5
the-darkening-dream.com
A teenage girl in 1913 Salem, Mass., fights vampires, warlocks, and ancient sorcerers for a mystical artifact, but the ultimate prize might be her own soul.

Hang On.
Nell Gavin. Book and Quill Press. $12.99 paper (240p), ISBN 978-0-615-50923-5
Amazon
In 1973, Holly falls in love with a roadie for a famous British rock band and joins him on tour, trying to hide her mental illness.

The Voice.
Paul Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould. CreateSpace. $14.99 paper (235p), ISBN 978-1-4392-1201-1
Amazon
The Voice is a dream-inspired esoteric thrill ride into a possible multidimensional future.

The Burning Veil: A Novel of Arabia.
Jean Grant. Mishmish Press. $15 paper (360p), ISBN 978-0-9825074-0-7
Amazon; Ingram
An American woman and her Saudi lover forge a new relationship in the kingdom in this contemporary love story about colliding cultures.

Chain Gang Elementary.
Jonathan Grant. Thornbriar Press. $16 paper (334p), ISBN 978-0-9834921-0-8
Amazon
A tale of war between a PTA president and a principal, with casualties—and jokes. A One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest set in a public school.

Halloween Is for Lovers.
Nate Gubin. CreateSpace. $12.99 paper (298p), ISBN 978-1-4664-6005-8
Amazon
A lovelorn ghost has one Halloween night to find the girl he loves, a girl who has the power to bring him back to life.

American Fever: A Tale of Romance & Pestilence.
Peter Christian Hall. Arterial Witness. $14.99 paper (306p), ISBN 978-0-9846780-0-6
Amazon; B&N; iBooks
An East Village blogger details an avian flu pandemic that rocks America and unleashes national repression, even as his personal life explodes with promise.

Slotback Rhapsody.
Christopher Harris. CreateSpace. $12 paper (265p), ISBN 978-1-4664-8556-3
www.slotbackrhapsody.com
An undersized running back tries to make a pro football roster. Locker-room hijinks, on-field action, human growth hormone abuse, and bowdlerized Buddhism follow.

AcaPolitics: A Novel About College A Cappella.
Stephen Harrison. Aftermath Press. $11.25 paper (304p), ISBN 978-0-615-51305-8
www.AcaPolitics.com
A cappella sounds so innocent. But when freshman Ben Jensen auditions for the Chorderoys, he finds himself caught in a chorus of fierce competition.

Dusk in Del Rio.
Joe Hassett. Vantage Press. $16.95 paper (276p), ISBN 978-0-533-16504-9
Ingram
Enter America’s Old West in the 1870s, where Jim Rutley, a native Bostonian, tries his luck on the brave new frontier of Del Rio, Tex.

Night Machines.
Kia Heavey. Unfiltered Creative. $11.95 paper (304p), ISBN 978-0-615-48709-0
Amazon
Maggie loses control of a romantic fantasy, and the nightmare begins.

This Is the House.
Deborah Hill. North Road Publishing. $17.95 paper (441p), ISBN 978-0-9844414-0-2
Amazon
A reissue of Hill’s 1975 historical novel about one woman’s life and loves, from the end of the American Revolution to the War of 1812, set on Cape Cod.

The Railroad, Book Two: Adirondack Trilogy.
Tony Holtzman. Cloud Splitter Press. $16.95 paper (260p), ISBN 978-1-61468-049-9
Amazon; tbmbooks.com
Forced to jump from a railroad trestle, Tommy Carter becomes a paraplegic, while his uncle dies in a forest fire started by a spark from a locomotive.

The Myth Makers.
J. Houston-Emerson. Publish America. $34.95 paper (324p), ISBN 978-1-4512-2509-9
www.publishamerica.com
False prophets, missionaries, and witches appear among the Cherokee following the earthquakes of 1811. This family saga captures the resulting turmoil.

The Long Road to Paris.
Ed Howle and Janet Howle. Xlibris. $15.99 paper (332p), ISBN 978-1-4568-1858-6
Amazon
A world race, international espionage, a dangerous liaison, and deadly secrets feature in this fast-paced thriller.

Rice, Fish, Squid and Lamb: A Novel on Deception.
Miriiam Isa. Lulu. $32 paper (413p), ISBN 978-0-557-53152-3
Amazon
A twice-jilted woman narrates to her spouse the heady joys and devastating pain caused by her first love, across time and continents.

Joshua. A Brooklyn Tale.
Andrew Kane. Abbott Press. $28.95 paper (484p), ISBN 978-1-4582-0074-7
Amazon
A story of racism, betrayal, and redemption through a trio of people unknowingly connected by family secrets and deceptions.

The Brain Vault: The Stephanie Chalice Mystery Series
Lawrence Kelter. F Street Books. $13.95 paper (280p), ISBN 978-1-4565-7286-0
Amazon

NYPD Det. Stephanie Chalice must enlist the services of a madman to deliver a killer.

The Trade.
Thomas Kirkwood. CreateSpace. $15.99 paper (394p), ISBN 978-1-4611-4147-1
Amazon
The Trade deals with trafficking in teenage girls who are destined to become sex slaves. An early victim escapes from Sing Sing and takes the police on an international chase into the heart of a growing criminal activity.

Painted Women: A Warbonnet Mystery.
Robert Kresge, illus. by Matt Kresge. ABQ Press. $15.95 paper (287p), ISBN 978-0-9838712-1-7
Amazon
A pair of greenhorns, smalltown schoolteacher Kate Shaw and Marshal Monday Malone, try to identify a killer and save an innocent man in 1871 Wyoming.

Just Out of Reach: A Novel.
Danette Kriehn. iUniverse. $15.95 paper (236p), ISBN 978-1-4620-1538-2
Amazon
A skeptical FBI agent is unwillingly drawn to the beautiful but clairvoyant psychologist he is assigned to protect, when her would-be killer re-enters her life.

If Thy Right Hand.
Robin Lamont. Dog Ear Publishing. $14.95 paper (280p), ISBN 978-1-4575-0026-8
Amazon; B&N; Books-A-Million
When her autistic son is accused of abusing two boys, an impassioned prosecutor’s world falls apart. She becomes caught between his claim of innocence and her lifelong dedication to putting sex offenders behind bars.

The Bow of Heaven: Book I—The Other Alexander.
Andrew Levkoff. Andrew Levkoff Publishing. $14.99 paper (420p), ISBN 978-0-9839101-2-1
Amazon
A Greek philosophy student is wrenched from a life unlived and forced to submit to the will of an empire—as a slave of Rome.

Angels at Sunset.
Tom Mac, illus. by Marc Ferguson. Hill Song Press. $16.95 paper (378p), ISBN 978-0-9745159-5-3
Hill Song Press
A woman in 1920 relives her suffragist past while being pursued by a man intent on killing her and her family.

Turtle Bay: A Mystery.
Helga Stipa Madland. Aventine Press. $14.95 paper (237p), ISBN 978-1-59330-740-0
Amazon
A robbery and the disappearance of an English professor at the famous Turtle Bay resort in Oahu, Hawaii, keep Detective Kahamala on his toes.

That Which We Are.
Martin Malloy. CreateSpace. $12.99 paper (286p), ISBN 978-1-4563-4778-9
Amazon; B&N
A realistic portrayal of life on the beat for patrol officers.

Hitler’s Silver Box: A Novel.
Allen Malnak. Two Harbors Press. $16.95 paper (319p), ISBN 978-1-937293-36-9
Amazon
A historical thriller in which a worldwide Nazi resurgence is inevitable unless a physician destroys an old document hidden in a silver box buried in a Czech forest.

The Guys’ Guy’s Guide to Love.
Robert Manni, illus. by Chris Lenox. Live Oak Book. $16.95 paper (338p), ISBN 978-1-936909-25-4
www.greenleafbookgroup.com
This sexy romp through the fast-moving, high-stakes world of Madison Avenue is a tale of flawed men and savvy women competing for love, sex, power, and money.

The Andorra Conspiracy.
Andrew March. Vantage Press. $17.95 paper (246p), ISBN 978-0-533-16473-8
Ingram
In his new international thriller, March takes readers on an action-packed chase, as ex-British serviceman Magnus Peterfield attempts to track down his sister, who has disappeared under disturbing circumstances.

Rackle’s Tub.
Dorian Martin. Black Rainbow Books. $14.95 paper (413p), ISBN 978-0-615-44580-9
www.racklestub.com
Is your guardian angel bugging you? Call Punch, angel exterminator.

Born in Rio.
Cássia Martins. CreateSpace. $17.50 paper (330p), ISBN 978-1-4664-4179-8
www.borninrio.com
An engaging and heartwarming story about Rita, a driven New York banker who embarks on a journey to discover an unforeseen and life-changing reality in Brazil.

Nikolas and Company: A Creature Most Foul.
Kevin McGill, illus. by Carlyle McCullough. Aero Studios. $14.99 paper (394p), ISBN 978-1-4664-3043-3
Amazon
The Moon was once the cradle of all magical civilization, and the city of Huron was its capital. Nikolas and company are called back in time to the fantastic city to save it from a creature most foul.

Alabaster Houses.
Lara McLaughlin. Wye Knot Books. $14.99 paper (346p), ISBN 978-1-4563-5462-6
www.alabasterhouses.com
Two troubled women meet through having unknowingly loved the same man. Their friendship transcends ethnic and generational differences and allows each to reveal her darkest secrets.

Frankenstein’s Daemon.
Michael Meeske. Usher Books. $14.99 paper (201p), ISBN 978-0-9838989-0-0
Amazon; B&N
An imaginative takeoff on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein that aims to capture the spirit of the original.

Spoonful.
Chris Mendius. Anything Goes Publishing. $14.95 paper (322p), ISBN 978-0-578-09541-7
(773) 255-1906
Set in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago in 1992, Spoonful is the story of Michael Lira and his friends, a bunch of junkies, artists, and has-beens, trying to make it as their world changes around them.

Lillie’s Redemption.
Lydia Waring Meyer. La Loba Publications. $20 paper (450p), ISBN 978-0-9834589-0-6
lilliesredemption.com
While rediscovering friendship and more, Lillie and Joshua uncover a mystery about the local church and then lead their small town in a fight for justice.

Coming of Age... Again.
Carol Mizrahi. CreateSpace. $6.99 paper (227p), ISBN 978-1-4663-3743-5
Amazon
Four lifelong friends prove that coming-of-age can happen more than once.

Editor of the Year: A Newspaper Tale for the Internet Age.
Barbara Nachman. Lulu. $14.95 paper (340p), ISBN 978-1-4583-9516-0
Amazon; B&N
Editor of the Year asks: who’s really killing American newspapers? is it the Internet? or an enemy within?

Treasure Me.
Christine Nolfi. CreateSpace. $12.95 paper (347p), ISBN 978-1-4637-6524-8
Amazon
Beautiful thief Birdie Kaminsky searches for treasure in a small town and discovers a rich family history through the story of a Civil War freedwoman.

The Stygian Conspiracy. Nexus Arcana.
Kodai Okuda. Yesod Publications. $14.95 hardcover (730p), ISBN 978-0-615-45607-2
Amazon
Amid a solar system in turmoil, one man’s mad ambition awakens an ancient, alien evil at the center of an antediluvian conspiracy.

Eirelan.
Liam O’Shiel. CreateSpace, $17.50 paper (798p), ISBN 978-1-4635-6932-7
Amazon
Two thousand years into a postindustrial future, the Province of the Twenty Clans fights for its existence against determined foes and a coming ice age.

Hollywood and Wine.
R M Pala. CreateSpace. $11.99 paper (246p), ISBN 978-1-4636-5019-3
Amazon
Linda McLane transforms from a shy English village girl to Hollywood sophisticate after her aunt, movie star Vera Sinclair, sends for her in the 1930s.

Neila.
Martin L. Pinsky, illus. by Mary Meckstroth and Nathalie Gavet. CreateSpace. $9.99 paper (247p), ISBN 978-1-4637-4625-4
Amazon
Neila is a joyful female alien stranded on Earth as an infant, and found and raised by two loving adoptive parents.

Two Weddings.
Farin Powell. iUniverse. $11.68 paper (163p), ISBN 978-0-9785317-3-7
Amazon; B&N
While in Heaven, Catherine discovers that life is still a mystery and full of surprises. An angel helps her find a husband for her daughter.

The Children’s Crusade: The Eighth Air Force series.
Cheryl Pula. Whitehall Publishing. $19.95 paper (346p), ISBN 978-1-935122-29-6
(315) 736-1269
A novel about bomber crews in WWII England, based on actual interviews with veterans of the Eighth Air Force.

Abducted.
T.R. Ragan. CreateSpace. $2.99 paper (349p), ISBN 978-1-4637-1709-4
Amazon
Escaping from a madman should have been the end of her nightmare—but it was only the beginning.

Twixt.
Diane J. Reed. Bandits Ranch Books. $13.99 paper (400p), ISBN 978-0-9849129-0-2
B&N
A modern fairy tale about a woman who faces her magical past life (and mistakes with Mr. Wrong) to heal her present and find love.

Blood Money.
Laura M. Rizio. CreateSpace. $12.50 paper (338p), ISBN 978-1-4536-1870-7
Amazon
A young litigator discovers his firm is killing its clients to win huge settlements. He sets out to lose the firm’s biggest case to expose his bosses.

Crimson Groves.
Ashley Robertson. Ashley Robertson Books. $14.97 paper (282p), ISBN 978-0-615-53176-2
Amazon
A vampire barges into Abigail Tate’s life and holds her captive. An innocent human can help her escape, but he has secrets—and Abby discovers that she does as well.

The Seeds of Rapture.
DC Ryder. Tyche Press. $12.99 paper (474p), ISBN 978-0-692-01580-3
Amazon
Rae Daly is a young activist forced by circumstance to infiltrate a doomsday cult by posing as a woman wanted for the murder of an abortion provider.

Dirt: A Story About Gardening, Mothering, and Other Messy Business.
Susan Senator. Stellated Books. $14.99 paper (263p), ISBN 978-1-4664-5915-1
Amazon; susansenator.com
Emmy’s trying to raise her three sons, the oldest of whom is severely autistic. Her life feels barely in control—and then chaos erupts.

Running in Bed.
Jeffrey Sharlach. Two Harbors Press. $14.95 paper (291p), ISBN 978-1-937293-48-2
www.runninginbed.com
From the New York club scene to summers on Fire Island and the dawn of AIDS, Sharlach paints a brilliant picture of life in New York for a gay man coming-of-age in the years after Stonewall.

Depth-of-Field.
Susan Spencer Smith. CreateSpace. $15.99 paper (462p), ISBN 978-1-4564-8123-0
Amazon
Photographer Diana Williams struggles to find her artistic and sexual identity in the late 20th century, when much of society still resists a changing world.

The Compass Master.
Helena Soister. Lafayette Books. $16 paper (523p), ISBN 978-0-615-46162-5
Amazon
A powerful enemy traps antiquities hunter Layla Daltry in a deadly endgame, and to save herself she must search for and find lost biblical epistles.

The Tower at Petite Vigne: A Novel of Occupied France.
Rob Stone. Rob Stone Books. $15 paper (257p), ISBN 978-0-9838783-4-6
www.robstonebooks.com
When a German construction unit enters a French village in 1943, the stage is set for clashes that will test the occupiers and occupied alike.

From Africanus: A Boy’s Quest to Save the Last Roman.
Matthew Jordan Storm. CreateSpace. $9.99 paper (262p), ISBN 978-1-4664-7982-1
Amazon
From Africanus is the story of a young boy’s quest to survive the Nikka riots and save the emperor known as the Last Roman.

A Nest Egg Poached.
S.C. Strange, illus. by Sue C. Hughey. Associated Arts Publisher. $14.95 paper (392p), ISBN 978-0-9840358-0-9
Amazon
A once wealthy, now penniless retired couple chase their embezzled fortune and its thieves across the country, encountering humorous and sometimes perilous situations.

Down at the Golden Coin.
Kim Strickland. Pink Castle. $13.95 paper (227p), ISBN 978-0-9819794-5-8
www.kimstrickland.com
During the economic downturn, Annie Mullard, an unemployed airline pilot, meets her savior, a young girl named Violet, at a Chicago Laundromat.

Cover Her Body: A Singular Village Mystery.
Eleanor Sullivan. Yesteryear Press/Wyatt-MacKenzie. $14.99 paper (302p), ISBN 978-1-936214-55-6
www.eleanorsullivan.com
A midwife finds a murdered girl, but she’s the only one who believes it’s murder, putting herself in danger when she tries to find the killer.

Manhattan Affair.
Jack Sussek. CreateSpace. $7.95 paper (341p), ISBN 978-0-615-58007-4
Amazon
Seduction, murder, betrayal, and conspiracy figure in this portrait of a world of secrets and lies that entwine the lives of three former college classmates.

Out from Edom: Book I of the
Irredente Chronicles.
J. Patrick Sutton. Marwolf Press. $16.95 (525p), ISBN 978-1-4524-0136-2
Amazon
In a far-future galaxy ruled by an antitechnology, theocratic regime, a young boy rescued from a working-class “outlier” world embodies a genetic errancy that might save mankind from its Luddism and hypocrisy.

Tribes of Eden.
William H. Thomas. Sana Publications. $14.99 paper (382p), ISBN 978-0-615-57605-3
Amazon; www.Tribesofeden.com
A dystopian thriller asks if trust, community, and wisdom can overcome tyrannical power.

The River Within.
Baxter Clare Trautman. CreateSpace. $12.99 paper (384p), ISBN 978-0-9848508-1-5
Amazon
The River Within, from a Lambda Literary Award nominee, follows three women whose bonds are strained, reforged, and strengthened as they struggle to choose between lives they think they should have and the lives they want.

Shadow on the Wall: The SandStorm Chronicles, #1.
Pavarti K. Tyler. Fighting Monkey Press. $11.95 paper (250p), ISBN 978-0-9838769-0-8
Amazon
A brutal, self-appointed morality police force controlling modern Elih, Turkey, is challenged by Recai Osman, a Muslim, philosopher, billionaire—and, perhaps, superhero.

Tax Collectors and Other Sinners.
Wayne Vinson. AuthorHouse. $16.99 paper (336p), ISBN 978-1-4567-3429-9
Amazon
After the IRS seizes and sells his shop, Curt Bain commits suicide. His son Bobby swears vengeance and begins killing IRS agents in spectacular ways.

Hear, O Israel.
Sam Jon Wallace, illus. by Sandra Allik. Puna Press. $14.95 hardcover (243p), ISBN 978-0-578-09635-3
www.harvard.com
Will Israel attack Iran’s nuclear sites? This novel takes you behind today’s headlines to the lives of characters caught up in this terrifying drama.

Take the Fourth.
Jeffrey Walton. AuthorHouse. $17.95 (436p), ISBN 978-1-4520-8929-4
Amazon
A government conspiracy thriller in which Fourth Amendment rights are at risk.

Never Say Good-Bye.
Eden West. Vantage Press. $14.95 paper (401p), ISBN 978-0-533-16442-4
Ingram
With the Civil War looming, Jules Gallant and his best friend, Armand “Beau” Beauchamp, embark on a desperate journey into the Louisiana swamp in search of a missing twin.

In His Very Steps: What Does the Bible Say?
Dr. Charles J. Williams Jr. CreateSpace. $14.95 paper (292p), ISBN 978-1-4637-8689-2
Amazon
A church is gripped by deadly sin, and its members promise to make no other decisions without the Bible’s guidance.

A Matter of Doubt: The Novel of Claude Bernard.
Peter Wise. CreateSpace. $20 paper (383p), ISBN 978-1-4663-3989-7
Amazon
A novel based on the extraordinary life of Claude Bernard, a pioneering physiologist in 19th-century France.

The Prodigal’s Foole: A Novel of the Arcana Chronicles.
R.B. Wood. Pfoxchase Publishing. $11.99 paper (269p), ISBN 978-1-936827-34-3
Amazon
Symon Bryson lives in self-imposed exile until Monsignor DuBarry goes missing, and not even the most adept of the magic practitioners can determine the reason for the abduction.

Health & Fitness

Get the Best Medical Care—You Can Navigate the Medical Maze.
Donna Maldonado-Schullo. CreateSpace. $14.95 paper (231p), ISBN 978-1-4538-8648-9
Amazon
A guide for patients, with 325 questions and 193 Internet resources grouped for quick reference. Tests, surgery, medications, and terminology are all made easy to understand.

The Replacement Diet.
Chris Stefan. Virtualbookworm.com Publishing. $19.95 paper (146p), ISBN 978-1-60264-628-5
www.virtualbookworm.com
Lose weight replacing calorie-rich foods with healthy choices; includes daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus.

History

The American Challenge: Preserving the Greatness of America.
Robert C. Etheredge. MiraVista Press. $14.95 paper (404p), ISBN 978-0-9665804-4-0
Amazon
An illustrated review of American history, civics, and culture covering what all Americans should know about their country. A helpful guide to passing the U.S. citizenship test.

Reflections of a Civil War Locomotive.
Diana Bailey Harris. CreateSpace. $17.95 (275p), ISBN 978-1-4611-2954-7
Amazon
Separated as adolescents in Canada, reunited by the U.S. Civil War, two brothers forged bonds that ensured their survival in the turbulent years that follow.

Born in Forty-Two.
Michael P. Kost. Vantage Press. $19.95 paper (186p), ISBN 978-0-533-16480-6
Ingram
Taking a firsthand look at the events that have shaped the U.S. over the past 70 years, Kost shares his life experiences and perspective on our nation’s history.

Let the Faggots Burn: The UpStairs Lounge Fire.
Johnny Townsend. Booklocker. $17.95 paper (342p), ISBN 978-1-61434-453-7
booklocker.com
On Gay Pride Day in 1973, an arsonist set fire to a French Quarter gay bar in New Orleans, killing 32 people.

Pakistan: Roots, Perspective and Genesis.
Khan Hussan Zia. Trafford Publishing. $26.16 paper (517p), ISBN 978-1-4269-5586-0
Amazon
An in-depth study of the history of Muslims in the Indian subcontinent and the creation of Pakistan.

House & Home

Organizing paper @Home: What to Toss and How to Find the Rest!
Barbara Hemphill with Jennifer Wig. Raleigh. $19.99 paper (171p), ISBN 978-1-257-75690-2
bit.ly/organizingpaper
Organize every piece of paper in your life (and on your kitchen counter) with this step-by-step solution from an expert organizer and author of Taming the Paper Tiger at Home.

Juvenile Fiction

SuperDad.
Yana S. Barton, illus. by Mike Dammer. Troika. $19.99 hardcover (24p), ISBN 978-0-578-07688-1
www.superdadbook.com
A picture book about a regular dad who is “super” in the eyes of his children simply because of the love, joy, and fun he brings to them year-round.

Elle’s Journey: Book I, the Foretold Trilogy.
Eliza Ford. Lizzy Ford. $6.99 paper (190p), ISBN 978-1-4681-4755-1
Amazon
According to an ancient prophecy, only the last mage, Elle, can unite the Five Foretold and recover the five magestones, before Darkness consumes the realm.

The Listeners.
Adesuwa Agbonile. Lulu. $14.99 paper (212p), ISBN 978-1-105-05300-9
Amazon
All Tess wanted was the return of her father, who’d mysteriously disappeared. Instead, she uncovers a mysterious secret about strange rocks with magical powers.

Anteater-Boy.
Dean Ammerman. Kabloona. $14 paper (263p), ISBN 978-0-9846822-0-1
Amazon
Zak Dale is trying to survive his freshman year in high school, but life gets in the way.

The Gaia Wars.
Kenneth G. Bennett. CreateSpace. $7.99 paper (286p), ISBN 978-1466211971
Amazon
A 13-year-old boy stumbles upon a mysterious relic while fleeing the law. Along the way, he unleashes an ancient terror bent on destroying the planet.

The Winner Is...
Kathy Brodsky, illus. by Cameron Bennett. Helpingwords. $19.99 hardcover (42p), ISBN 978-0-9828529-0-3
www.kathybrodsky.com
A comic story about a dog trying to win a cat contest—to succeed, he must make physical changes and learn many new skills.

Farsighted.
Emlyn Chand. Blue Crown Press. $12.95 paper (224p), ISBN 978-0-9839308-0-8
Amazon
When a blind teen’s unwanted visions of the future suggest the girl he likes may be in danger, he takes on destiny in order to change it.

The Crowded Backyard.
P.T. Custar, illus. by Jeffrey Duckworth. Black Plume Books. $16.95 hardcover (32p), ISBN 978-0-9785317-3-7
www.blackplumebooks.com
A lighthearted tale with an important lesson for all ages— happiness depends on how you view things.

The Starry Bird: An Easter Tale.
Reg Down, illus. by the author. CreateSpace. $14.95 paper (112p), ISBN 978-1-4565-8633-1
Amazon
In this Easter tale of mystery and adventure, the quest is to find who laid the egg— the large and growing egg—underneath the Great Oak Tree.

Angelee Saves the Sea.
Beverly Factor, illus. by the author. Envirovision. $18.95 hardcover (40p), ISBN 978-0-615-48670-3
www.angeleesavesthesea.com
An educational sea adventure, teaching kids about our oceans and how they can protect them, illustrated with underwater photography.

The Little Rose.
Sheri Fink, illus. by Mary Erikson Washam. Sheri Fink. $24.95 hardcover (28p), ISBN 978-0-9834089-0-1
Amazon
A picture book about a rose that grows in a weedbed and learns to accept and love herself.

Pandora’s Key: The Key Trilogy, Book I.
Nancy Richardson Fischer. CreateSpace. $7.50 paper (304p), ISBN 978-1-4679-6653-5
Amazon
On her 16th birthday Evangeline is given a necklace with a key charm and discovers her life is a lie. Can she unlock and accept the truth or will she destroy the world? A supernatural tale.

Marie’s Nine Lives.
Shana Gammon, illus. by the author. Willow Tree Books. $8.95 paper (80p), ISBN 978-0-9743795-1-7
Amazon
Marie is a cat who attracts trouble wherever she goes. Join Marie on her wild journey as she lives out all of her nine lives to the fullest.

The Christmas Village.
Melissa Ann Goodwin. CreateSpace. $12.99 paper (198p), ISBN 978-1-4636-4625-7
Amazon
Jamie longed to live in Grandma’s miniature Christmas village, and now his wish has magically come true. A holiday adventure for the whole family.

Raja: Story of a Racehorse.
Anne Hambleton, illus. by Margaret Kauffman. Old Bow Publishing. $14.95 paper (262p), ISBN 978-0-615-54029-0
oldbowpublishing.com
A modern day Black Beauty follows the highs and lows of a thoroughbred’s racing and post-racing odyssey, told in the horse’s voice.

A One-Eyed Horse in a One-Horse Town.
Julie Mahler Harris, illus. by Bonnie Lemaire. CreateSpace. $9.95 paper (26p), ISBN 978-1-4565-5337-1
Amazon
Smokey walks with a sideways gait, has a slightly tilted head, and uses his ears instead of his eyes. Based on the true story of a blind horse.

Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare.
Sands Hetherington, illus. by Jessica Love. Dune Buggy Press. $7.99 paper (128p), ISBN 978-0-9847417-1-7
www.delphidistribution.com
The Pineapple Cheesecake Scare is #1 in the Night Buddies series, a children’s tale of antics and excitement.

Bingo Explores the Farm.
Julia King, illus. by the author. King Publishing. $15.99 hardcover (42p), ISBN 978-0-9839827-0-8
Amazon; Baker & Taylor; Ingram
Bingo shows his playful curiosity, questioning spirit, and decision-making ability as he explores the barn, meets the frisky horses on the farm, and makes a new friend.

Hole in the Bottom of the Sea.
Christine Lavin, illus by Betsy Franco Feeney. Puddle Jump Press. $18.95 hardcover (32p), ISBN 978-0-9726487-8-3
www.puddlejumppress.com
A hopeful tale and song inspired by the Gulf oil spill, this book shows how clean energy can help save wildlife and power our world without harm to the environment; includes a music CD.

Creature in the Patch.
Jason L. Levine. CreateSpace. $9.99 paper (172p), ISBN 978-1-4662-4267-8
Amazon
A budding cook seeks to solve the disappearance of a favorite garden squash and discovers a world of trolls, fairies, magic crystals, and adventure.

Dubs Goes to Washington and Discovers the Greatness of America.
Dick Morris, Eileen McGann, and Clayton Liotta; illus. by Clayton Liotta. CreateSpace. $9.99 paper (44p), ISBN 978-1-4392-8026-3
Amazon
Dubs, a golden retriever, teaches kids American history and American exceptionalism while they go romping through Washington, D.C., trying to find Dubs’s lost tennis ball.

GameMonster.
David Marti. David Marti. $10.99 paper (98), ISBN 978-0-578-05701-9
Amazon
A mysterious new video game is making people disappear, and Penny must lead her friends on a daring rescue to uncover GameMonster’s dark secret.

Quincy Moves to the Desert.
Camille Matthews, illus. by Michelle Black. Pathfinder Equine Publications. $15.95 hardcover (40p), ISBN 978-0-9819240-1-4
www.quincythehorse.com
An illustrated offering for ages 5–10 introduces Quincy the horse, who goes west on a journey of self-discovery.

Matson the Mouse.
Duncan O’Brien, illus. by Robyn Drage. Pier 10 Media. $19.95 hardcover (32p), ISBN 978-0-9686734-2-3
matsonthemouse.com
Matson is a young mouse from San Francisco who accidentally stows away on an ocean liner as it sails to Hawaii.

Tomey and the Caterpillar.
Sabrina Panfilo, illus. by Massimo Mongiardo. Vantage Press. $18.95 hardcover (38p), ISBN 978-0-533-16566-7
Ingram
Tomey, an awkward red pony, helps a lonely caterpillar find its true colors through personal strength and positive self-esteem.

Icky & CeCe and the Mysterious Mr. Thuan.
Donna Piscitelli. $9.95 paper (109p), ISBN 978-0-9828959-3-1
Amazon
Icky and CeCe have been best friends since first grade. Among their fears as they prepare to enter Crossroads Middle School as sixth graders is that they are not prepared for the lessons that will change their lives.

The Lucky Cake.
Anna Prokos, illus. by Christina Tsevis. A-to-Z Publishing. $17.95 hardcover (24p), ISBN 978-0-9838560-0-9
theluckycakebook.com
Billy can’t wait for New Year’s Day to eat Grandma’s annual cake. He hopes to win the prize inside so he can have a lucky year. But Billy learns how fortunate he already is—even without the lucky gold coin.

Summer Dance.
Lynn Swanson. CreateSpace. $12.99 paper (260p), ISBN 978-1-4637-4216-4
Amazon
Sara’s summer at dance camp—a lake, a studio, costumes, competition, and boys across the lake—makes her determined to win a scholarship to return the next summer.

Twisted: Tales to Rot Your Brain, Vol. 1.
Nora Thompson, illus. by the author. Hairy Eyeballs Press. $24.95 hardcover (106p), ISBN 978-0-9836699-0-6
www.hairyeyeballspress.com
Twisted collects 28 flash stories for anyone who giggles when a tale takes a surprising turn or when bad things happen to good characters.

Nate Rocks the World.
Karen Pokras Toz. Grand Daisy Press. $7.99 paper (140p), ISBN 978-0-9848608-0-7
Amazon
He’s a baseball MVP, a cowboy hero, a rock star, and your average fourth-grader. Who is he? He’s Nate Rocks.

Rosie and the Wedding Day Rescue.
Lynelle Woolley, illus. by Karen Wolcott. Markelle Media. $4.99 paper (80p), ISBN 978-0-9833116-3-8
www.flowergirl.com
It’s up to Rosie and her new flower girl friends to save a wedding from complete disaster.

Juvenile Nonfiction

But, Mommy, It’s Not Fair!
Sherria Elliott, illus. by Sasha Moore and Wayne Chan. 4Elliott Publishing. $12.96 paper (24p), ISBN 978-0-9846963-0-7
Amazon; B&N
A book of suspense and encouragement that is about overcoming obstacles and educating society about living with “albinism.”

Jack and Larry: Jack Graney and Larry, the Cleveland Baseball Dog.
Barbara Gregorich. CreateSpace. $12 paper (102p), ISBN 978-1-4679-5801-1
Amazon
Jack Graney, his bull terrier Larry, and the Cleveland Indians pursue a pennant in the early 20th century.

Law

Do Your Divorce Right: Straight Talk from Family Court Judges.
Andrew Horton and John David Kennedy. Tower Publishing. $16.95 paper (400p), ISBN 978-0-9827955-3-8
Amazon
Covers the legal, financial, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of divorce, from the beginning to the end of the process, from family court judges who know how it’s done.

Non-Classifiable

Mirror Mirror. A Collection of Memoirs and Stories.
Stephanie Hart. And Then Press. $12 paper (224p), ISBN 978-0-615-49808-9
(800) 937-8000
A series of fast-paced vignettes that explore the author’s childhood, youth, family, and ancestral background through a mix of real and imagined memories and events.

Nonfiction

The Napoleonic Image in Hardy and Tolstoy.
Raymond Marcus. Vantage Press. $28.95 paper (202p), ISBN 978-0-533-16407-3
Ingram
Marcus analyzes the writings of two literary giants through the matrices of their deep historical, sociological, psychological, and philosophical contexts.

Canine Angels.
Carole Villeneuve and Marie-Claude Roy. Roy and Newtown Publications. $22.95 paper (153p), ISBN 978-0-9876995-1-0
www.canineangels.info
A collection of moving true stories of people with various health conditions and their special bond with very special dogs.

A Prayer for the Departed: Tales of a Family Through the Decades.
Bill Broder. CreateSpace. $12.99 paper (258p), ISBN 978-1-4611-3893-8
Amazon
A family history in honor of 20th-century lives steeped in the rich mix of a secular America and Jewish belief and ritual.

Law Made Fun Through Harry Potter’s Adventures.
Karen Morris and Bradley S. Carroll.
CreateSpace. $12.99 paper (256p), ISBN 978-1-4611-5723-6
Amazon; B&N
This book uses the twists and turns in the Harry Potter story lines as case examples to illustrate legal principles as they play out or are violated in the Muggle world.

Delay, Deny, Hope They Die.
William F. Dement and Barbara Mulcahy Dement. CreateSpace. $18 paper (276p), ISBN 978-0-615-48756-4
Amazon
A NYPD lieutenant drove 2,000 miles to respond to the attacks on the World Trade Center towers. The landfill, Yankee baseball, the Flight 587 crash, and the author’s emerging WTC illness intersect.

Miriam’s World—and Mine.
Rosemary Mild. Magic Island. $14.95 paper (266p), ISBN 978-0-9838597-0-3
www.magicile.com
The mother of a victim of the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 chronicles her journey from grief to grace, despite injustices and political betrayal.

Ornamentally Incorrect: Bijoux and Beyond.
Joseph Mirsky. Joseph’s Jewelry. $15.95 paper (185p), ISBN 978-0-9700074-4-5
Amazon
A wide-ranging compilation of 46 jewelry store newsletters written over 15 years. Far beyond just jewelry, it is about life on Main Street, written with wit and attitude.

Tough Care.
Bernard Mooney. CreateSpace. $15.95 paper (130p), ISBN 978-1-4663-9137-6
Amazon
One baby-boomer’s memoir about how he cared for his terminally ill, lifelong mate.

Fixing the Problem: Making Changes in How You Deal with Challenges
G.L. Reed. iUniverse. $9.95 paper (42p), ISBN 978-0-5955-3135-6
Amazon; B&N
Provides step-by-step guidance for business leaders, organizations, and individuals on how to change an environment in order to gain control and live a better life.

Qualified: Candidate Résumés and the Threshold for Presidential Success.
Jamin Soderstrom. iUniverse. $31.95 hardcover (376p), ISBN 978-1-4620-4542-6
Amazon; B&N
Using a résumé-based approach, this book analyzes the constitutional, historical, and practical qualifications of 43 American presidents and 17 current and potential candidates.

Twilight or Dawn? A Traveler’s Guide to Free-Market Liberal Democracy.
Bill Stonebarger. Gilman Street Press. $16.95 paper (396p), ISBN 978-1-55979-195-3
www.hawkhill.com
Explains how we are still at the dawn, not the twilight, of the industrial-scientific-democratic age pioneered by the United States. Personal travel stories, science, and history support the thesis.

Performing Arts

Billion Dollar Batman: A History of the Caped Crusader on Film.
Bruce Scivally. Henry Gray Publishing. $29.95 paper (440p), ISBN 978-0-615-30641-4
Amazon
A comprehensive history of the Caped Crusader on film, radio, and television.

Philosophy

Human Natures of Animal and Spiritual
Carroll Blair. Aveon Publishing Co. $11.95 paper (140p), ISBN 978-1-936430-07-9
Amazon; B&N
Human Natures presents a philosophy of human evolution through inner growth and explores, among other issues, the untenable practice and consequences for humanity of continually putting self-interest above the greater good.

Because I Am: The Joy of Being in a Divine Universe.
Gerald F. Penca. Vantage Press. $18.95 paper (129p), ISBN 978-0-533-164677
Ingram
With a mixture of prose and poetry, Because I Am offers advice and inspiration on how to live a purposeful and empowered life.

Dialogical Practice and the Ontology of the Human Person: A Study of the Philosophies of Charles Taylor and Norris Clarke.
Hugh Robert Williams. Vantage Press. $32.95 paper (390p), ISBN 978-0-533-16426-4
Ingram
A philosophical treatise examining and comparing the writings of Charles Taylor and Norris Clarke, both important North American philosophers.

Poetry

Black Was the Rose.
Maria Dudek-Grzebien. Vantage Press. $10.95 paper (106p), ISBN 978-0-533-16903-0
Ingram
Dudek-Grzebien’s new volume of poetry tells the uniquely moving story of Ika, a Polish émigré who is at once strong and vulnerable, careful and carefree.

Shadows and Ghosts.
Wayne Jackson. Vantage Press. $12.95 paper (51p), ISBN 978-0-533-16455-4
Ingram
These poems and short essays sketch the changing landscape of the 20th century, offering an energetic portrait of the touchstones of American culture.

There’s a Story in Every Box: Poems for Big Kids and Little Kids.
Doc Lawrence, illus. by David DiTulio. AuthorHouse. $13.99 paper (123p), ISBN 978-1-4567-4611-7
(716) 983-7193
Children’s poems and humor, with global and multicultural overtones.

I’ll Go.
Carrie Marabeas. Vantage Press. $11.95 paper (40p), ISBN 978-0-533-16492-9
Ingram
Marabeas’s collection delves into the gritty paradoxes of life with intimacy, offering visceral images of love and loss, society and solitude.

Illuminate Within.
Nyemah. Selah Publishing Group. $32.95 hardcover (208p), ISBN 978-1-58930-281-5
Amazon; www.selahbooks.com
A collection of sayings full of practical wisdom and truth, inspired by the many hardships Nyemah was forced to endure in his lifetime.

Psychology

The Insanity Hoax: Exposing the Myth of the Mad Genius
Judith Schlesinger. Shrinktunes Media. $24.95 paper (240p), ISBN 978-0-9836982-4-1
Amazon
An attack on the stereotype that creativity and mental illness are connected, revealing the lack of scientific proof behind the ”mad genius” idea.

Religion

The V Society: The True Story of Rebel Virgin-Girls.
Adele Berry. 30AD Media Inc. $17.99 paper (426p), ISBN 978-0-9834816-0-7
www.vsocietybook.com
A memoir about an aspiring fashion photographer and four college friends who pledge to remain abstinent until marriage‚ resulting in a wildly unexpected journey.

Pathway to the Palace: Becoming a Person of Influence.
Danette Crawford. Pathway Publishing Group. $13.99 paper (192p), ISBN 978-0-578-09652-0
Anchor Distributors; www.JoyMinistries.tv
Crawford leads readers on a journey of character and leadership development based on the life of Esther.

Dulcified: Sweetened by the Education of Life.
Lisa Ramirez, Ed.D. TP Rewards. $12.99 paper (150p), ISBN 978-0-9838242-5-1
Amazon
An autobiographical account of resiliency in the face of brutal neglect and abuse in which Dr. Ramirez illustrates a life sweetened by God’s mercy, compassion—and a good education.

Grains of Sustenance: A Study of the Faith and Practice of Islam.
Sadoon Sarwat. Birte Kadir. $18 paper (392p), ISBN 978-0-615-54288-1
www.grainsofsustenance.org
This book provides insight into the faith and practice of Islam and also addresses many contemporary issues.

The Tale of Zen Master Bho Li.
Barbara Verkuilen, illus. by Aaron Gilmore. Firethroat Press. $17.95 hardcover (64p), ISBN 978-0-9830972-0-4
www.firethroatpress.com
An illustrated, original, adult Zen fable that teaches three life lessons essential for an awakened life.

Science

Theories of Everything by Logic: Unlock the Secrets of Dark Matter/Energy.
Wan-Jiung Hu, illus. by the author. CreateSpace. $11.99 paper (302p), ISBN 978-1-4565-5152-0
Amazon
This book offers theories to solve dark matter/energy/grand unified theory problems and similar issues.

A Beginner’s Guide to the Brain: Major Discoveries That Will Change Your Life.
Elaine B. Johnson, illus. by Jana Hirst. The Teaching & Learning Compact. $12.95 paper (172p), ISBN 978-0-9830956-1-3
Amazon
In layman’s terms this book shows how experiences alter the brain’s physical structure.

Self-Help

Conscious Calm: Key to Freedom from Stress and Worry.
Laura Maciuika. $17.95 paper (180p), ISBN 978-1-937749-02-6
Amazon; B&N
This handbook to lasting stress relief explains internal stress creation, how to avoid inner stress traps and achieve greater happiness and calm.

The Suited Monk: A Guide to Life Purpose and Happiness.
Raf Adams. WOW! Books. $19.95 paper (194p), ISBN 978-0-9570553-3-9
www.suitedmonk.com
Brings together two worlds: the inner world of happiness, love, purpose, and meaning; and the external world of success and achievement.

EcoChi: Designing the Human Experience.
Debra Duneier, illus. by Jeremy Mack and Bruce Jacobson. New Voices. $23.95 hardcover (162p), ISBN 978-0-9748103-8-6
Amazon
Life is lived the way it is designed, contends Duneier, who invites readers to share her journey and the stories of her clients, who have experienced the power of EcoChi firsthand.

Lipstick and the Leash: Dog Training a Woman’s Way
Camilla Gray-Nelson. Double Dove Press. $17.95 paper (213p), ISBN 978-0-615-46558-6
Amazon
Three quarters of American households leave dog training to the woman, and Lipstick and the Leash shows women how to take control of the dog, without yelling or bribery.

Immortal: How I Learned There IS Life After Death.
Diana Hewson. Balboa Press. $13.95 paper (148p), ISBN 978-1-4525-3204-2
Amazon
Conveys evidence of life after death obtained from communications from Diana Hewson’s deceased husband.

Sexy and Sparkling After 40: 7 Steps to Revitalize Your Radiance & Create Romantic Adventure.
Sherri Nickols. Aviva Publishing. $19.95 paper (284p), ISBN 978-1-935586-44-9
www.SexyandSparkling.com
Sexy and Sparkling After 40 takes readers on a step-by-step journey to banish the blahs and revitalize sexual and physical radiance; includes “playful romance-capades.”

You Are Here.
Dora Nudelman. Mill City Press. $14.95 paper (260p), ISBN 978-1-937600-48-8
www.youareherethebook.com
A simple guide to using the power of the present moment to create the life you want to live.

Job Hunting Techniques for Everyone.
Charles C. Skilling. Vantage Press. $10.95 paper (77p), ISBN 978-0-533-15999-4
Ingram
This new guide focuses on the job-hunting process, providing a vital resource for job seekers during this difficult economic climate.

Know the Name; Know the Person: Decoding Letters to Reveal Secrets Hidden in Names
Sharón Lynn Wyeth. PublishAmerica. $24.95 paper (288p), ISBN 978-1-4489-6223-5
www.KnowTheName.com
A new method shows the personality gifts and challenges within names that determine how a person acts, feels, and thinks so that we can understand each other better.

Sports & Recreation

A Pool Player’s Journey.
Dale Brandt. Vantage Press. $16.95 paper (132p), ISBN 978-0-533-16541-4
Ingram
This innovative guide is for the eager and open-minded player, ready for unusual adventure. “Hustlers need not read this book,” says the author.

River Smallmouth Fishing. The Best Techniques & Best Rivers.
Tim Holschlag, illus. by Ron Nelson. Smallmouth Angler Press. $24.95 paper (358p), ISBN 978-0-9763876-2-6
www.smallmouthanglerpress.com
The first all-in-one river smallmouth bass fishing guide: 17 how-to chapters plus 102 destination descriptions. Large format, 130 photos, 59 instructional illustrations, maps and charts. Dozens of early positive endorsements.

Travel

Gelato Sisterhood on the Amalfi Shore.
Chantal Kelly. Fenicia Press. $16.95 paper (338p), ISBN 978-0-9832217-3-9
feniciapress.com
An unforgettable adventure along Southern Italy’s most enchanting coast, laced with humorous anecdotes, historical reviews, insights, and favorite recipes.

True Crime

The Thefts of the Mona Lisa.
Noah Charney. ARCA Publications. $18 paper (162p), ISBN 978-0-615-51902-9
Amazon
The true history and mysteries of Leonardo and the Mona Lisa, published on the 100th anniversary of its theft from the Louvre. By a bestselling author, professor, and renowned expert in art crime.

Inside DEA: Operation Snowcap.
Robert J Hartman. Trafford Publishing. $25.52 paper (104p), ISBN 978-1-4269-7288-1
Amazon
Operation Snowcap was an eight-year war targeting the infrastructure and transportation networks of the cocaine trade. This story takes you there, through vivid color imagery.