Month: February 2024

‘What Is Mine’ by Lyn Liao Butler is a thriller about what we do for those we love

/ Pamela Kramer

Motherhood is one of the themes In Lyn Liao Butler’s newest thriller, “What is Mine.” She demonstrates that motherhood, the quality of being a loving and caring mother—or not—does not pass from one generation to the next. Hope Chen and her sister Cassidy had parents who were cold and unfeeling. Yet Cassidy is, to the best of her ability, a caring mother to Luca. When Cassidy dies, Hope and her husband Shaun take Luca into their home and are determined to provide him with all the love and protection they can.

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‘Goodbye Girl’ by James Grippando is a fascinating murder mystery that delves into the music industry

/ Pamela Kramer

In his latest “Jack Swyteck Novel,” “Goodbye Girl,” James Grippando uses his firsthand knowledge of the legal system to create a gripping novel that includes a look into the world of music, music piracy, and how new artists often are cheated out of their recording rights by unscrupulous record labels. New artists don’t have the clout to demand more. In this novel, Jack is asked to defend a recording star, Imani, when her ex-husband sues her. Imani feels cheated out of her royalties because of her early contract with her former husband’s recording company, and she is urging people to pirate her songs. While that means that Imani doesn’t get her tiny share of the royalties, she’s wealthy from other work and contracts, so she’d rather her husband’s company gets nothing.

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‘The Twelve Step Pathway’ by Michael Cowl Gordon is an important addition to addiction literature

/ Pamela Kramer

Addiction is an issue that directly or indirectly plagues all of society. It is the inability to escape a habit that haunts its victim, the “user,” the addict. It is an illness that carries a perfectly awful stigma, an illness which must be fought with the entire being of the sufferer if it is to be conquered. Dr. Michael Cowl Gordon, who has devoted his career and his life to the goal of leading addicts on the road to sobriety, has provided all of us with the knowledge, the guide, and a concrete plan to achieve that victory with his remarkable book, “The Twelve Step Pathway; A Heroic Journey of Recovery.”

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‘One of the Good Guys’ by Araminta Hall is a twisty, timely novel

/ Pamela Kramer

In her new novel, “One of the Good Guys,” Araminta Hall forces us to examine what makes a “good guy.” In fact, when we finish the novel, we are still wondering what determines whether a man is a good guy or not. We are presented with Cole, a man whose first person narration leads us to believe that he’s really a misunderstood guy. He’s not the typical alpha-male; in fact, he just wants to love and support the woman he adores.

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‘Once There Was’ by Kiyash Monsef is a beautiful and compelling young adult fantasy

/ Pamela Kramer

Instead of “Once upon a time…” the fairy tales that we read in Kiyash Monsef’s wonderful fantasy novel “Once There Was” begin with different words. When the main character Marjan’s father, who was from Iran, told her the childhood tales about mythical creatures, he started the stories with “Once was, once wasn’t…” The first story is about a trapped unicorn saved by a young girl; that encounter changes the young girl and the lives of some of her descendants. We learn that Marjan is one of those who descended from that girl.

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‘City Spies: Mission Manhattan’ by James Ponti is the fabulous new middle grade thriller in this exceptional series

/ Pamela Kramer

Can I just say that I love the “City Spies” series by James Ponti? This latest one, “Mission Manhattan,” is just as exciting and thrilling as the preceding books, and reading them brings me as much pleasure as reading one of my favorite adult spy novels, like Tess Gerritsen’s “The Spy Coast” or even John Scalzi’s “Starter Villain.” While granted, these spy novels are geared for middle grade readers, the plots and the action are every bit as well plotted and gripping as many of that genre written for adults. The major differences are that the books in this series are much quicker reads with spies that are underaged. But they are no less brilliant than any seasoned adult spy.

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‘Finally Heard’ by Kelly Yang is a middle grade novel about growing up, technology, and fitting in

/ Pamela Kramer

“Finally Heard” is Kelly Yang’s newest middle grade fiction. Author Yang is known for her powerful middle grade and young adult novels about fitting in, making friends, finding one’s place in life, and appreciating family. Many children appreciate the vulnerability in her fictional characters because it reflects some of their own feelings. Her first novel, “Front Desk,” for example, reflected her own experiences growing up as her parents managed hotels and she helped work the front desk.

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