(NewsUSA) - Dangerous Blues by Stephen Policoff

A dark yet comic storm of family relationships laced with a buzz of the supernatural, where the fleeting light of the present must constantly contend with the shadows of the past.

Paul and daughter Spring sublet a New York apartment after the death of Paul’s wife Nadia. Paul meets the mother of one of Spring’s new friends, Tara, a blues singer and perhaps the spark Paul needs. But Paul fears he is being haunted by Nadia. Tara, who grew up in a New England cult, is haunted, too.

“Wildly creative, the absolute perfect chord of magic, a wifely ghost, a bit of shamanism and a lot about human bonds and beliefs, all set against the backdrop of a Greenwich Village blues club,” says Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3YC953J.
 

Dinosaurs Like Bananas Too! by Erin Ciaravino

An exciting, illustrated children's book for ages 2 to 8 that explores the beauty of unexpected adventure in the most unlikely of places.

Young Logan Ciaravino created the story as a tool of self-expression when suffering from a speech delay. By using his imagination, he was able to articulate his first creative thought, which is the story of “Dinosaurs Like Bananas Too!”

Logan, the story's main character, encounters a new friend, T-Rex, and the two embark on an imaginary journey through Logan's home. Each room transforms into a magical place where new friends teach the pair exciting new things, encouraging us to be unassuming in how we approach the world. The key message: When you are open to adventure, there are lots of new things to try!" Purchase at https://bit.ly/3lkcNRc.

Perfectly Imperfectly YOU by Jamie James

Have you ever wanted to fit in? Maybe wished you could change something about yourself? How about being a little embarrassed of something you feel is out of place? Although it may not always feel like it, all your "imperfections" make you perfect! YOU, as you come, are exactly who our world needs!

Through her deep love and commitment to give her children what her childhood didn't have, Jamie James wrote some stories that would not only be easy to read but contain simple understanding to help children through their questions and concerns. Not only did she fall in love with writing, she saw the beautiful emotion and reactions from children close to her. Jamie's passion is once again shown through this reignited fire. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3S2CphW.

Simplify: Powerful Words for Life’s Complicated Situations by Susan Pazak, PhD

Simplify your day by using these powerful words, scriptures, and thoughts to shift your perspective, mood, and outlook. Life doesn't need to be terribly complicated.

Negative words and thoughts complicate everyday life, especially during difficult times. Core beliefs and negative words and thoughts can be changed to create a simple life. Simplify contains 90 sayings and scriptures that give specific ways to change our words and thoughts during any of life's situations and circumstances.

Discover how changing what we say and think allows us to have peace amidst life's storms. Over time, or maybe immediately, you will experience a simplified perspective. You will discover how to change the way you speak and think, and the shift in belief will be life-changing. Purchase at https://bit.ly/40kngff.

(Revised 4/19)

 

BookTrib’s Bites is presented by BookTrib.com, where readers come to discover new and emerging authors.

(NewsUSA) - With Easter just around the corner, we bring your attention to the work of a Chinese scholar and philanthropist who has combed through 3,000 years of philosophical world history to reveal the truth of Jesus’s message and the Human Calling he brought to all humankind. 

Daofeng He’s illuminating new book, THE HUMAN CALLING: Three Thousand Years of Eastern and Western Philosophical History (Morgan James Faith), is a journey into the past to help us navigate into the future.

Never before has this sort of study included an in-depth look into the development of both Eastern and Western philosophy and examined how the shifting currents of time, including social, economic, political and religious beliefs, have brought us to the present day.

We are living in an era where predatory monopolies are intensified, governments are over-expanded, and personal agency is weakened. Global social turmoil is at an all-time high. From the Occupy Movement, Black Lives Matter and the “Great Resignation” in the United States to the “Laying Flat” mentality in China, we have found that in this global, technocratic, money worshipping, and ultra-pragmatic system, more and more people are losing faith in their value as an individual.

Politicians and corporations around the world have hijacked the public forum and turned public media into a tool to enhance their interests. How can people see the machinations in this enormous, complex international system and realize their value as individuals and members of communities? How can they regain their autonomy? 

He believes that we must understand the origins and development of the competing philosophies, beliefs, and ideologies between the East and the West to truly understand the roots of conflicts and turbulence in the world today. This will allow us to reconstruct the sacred origin of the modern universal value system and help people rediscover the dignity and public grace of individual life. 

A survivor of the violence and famine of Mao Zedong’s totalitarian Cultural Revolution, the dream-crushing violence at Tiananmen Square, and the rise of China’s market economy, He grew up in an atheist society devoid of spirituality. After years as an economist, entrepreneur and NGO director, He retired to Maryland in 2015 with some heavy questions on his mind: “What kind of life is really worth living? Is there any other option for human life aside from the modern grind of forced busyness, manipulation by online advertisements, and hatred and violence generated and directed by those who form public opinion? Can we find a way to make human life return to its former graceful and dignified pace, make it encourage inquiring, independent thinking, peaceful communication, mutual respect and philosophical exchange, and connection to the divine source of ‘the human calling’?” 

To find the answers, He traced the growing dysfunction of humankind’s alienation by examining the rise and fall of the world’s great civilizations and their religious, philosophical, economic and political histories. His intellectual journey led him to a startling conclusion—the calling of Christianity. “My new faith shattered my unreasonable expectation to find absolute truth in the Eastern sages who preached that morality was relative. It also cut off the path to the materialistic gods of the new, moneyed East.” 

THE HUMAN CALLING is the book we need right now to illuminate our shared human history and provide answers as to how we can start creating a better world. 

Visit THE HUMAN CALLING website at https://www.thehumancalling.com or purchase the book HERE.

(revised April 12. 2023)

(PointSpreads.com) - Not all heroes wear capes. Many of them wear football pads, cleats, sneakers, and skates, and some even carry a bat or a stick. We’re talking about transcendent athletes who can make the jump from the field of battle to the silver screen.

With the release of Air - a movie inspired by Michael Jordan - PointSpreads.com, known for its reporting on the latest sports betting news (and the latest point spreads, of course), has compiled a shortlist of athletes whose larger-than-life personas, accomplishments or backstory would be worthy of the big screen - as well as the best actor to portray each one.   Which athlete will be the subject of the next Hollywood megahit?

“That sounded like a fun bet, so we decided to put some odds to it,” says Robert Jones, a former bookmaker at a major sportsbook and senior contributor at PointSpreads. 

Tom Brady

Now that he’s retired, Brady is the glamor boy who showed the world he was much more than a pretty face. Brady had a career spanning two decades, rarely got injured, and has more records than Motown.

A handsome face and an ‘aw-shucks’ demeanor is what is needed to play the seven-time Super Bowl champ. So, who is the perfect fit? We believe Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son, Patrick, would be the man to do justice to the role, according to PointSpreads.com.

“We think Brady has great odds of a Hollywood portrayal of his life and career.  The man is a legend.  The consensus around our office would be +300, or 3-to-1 odds, just behind Kobe Bryant,” Jones says.

Kobe Bryant

The Black Mamba needs to be memorialized in film, and not just any movie, but one that will stand the test of time. An all-time classic with superb directing and cinematography worthy of capturing one of the most electrifying ball players ever to grace the hardcourt.

His tragic death, made even more heart-wrenching when his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven other souls lost their lives in a plane crash on that fateful day in January of 2020, will have the audience misty-eyed and searching for Kleenex. PointSpreads.com’s pick to play Kobe is Michael B. Jordan. 

“There must be a Kobe film coming. I’d give it +150 odds,” Jones says.

Conor McGregor

Another celebrity that is no stranger to the pages of PointSpreads.com is Conor McGregor. Love him or hate him, it’s impossible to ignore him. The Irish MMA superstar exploded onto the scene with outrageous trash-talking and a unique fighting style that seamlessly blended a hammer-fisted boxing approach with the nuanced techniques of capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art rarely seen within the confines of the Octagon.

McGregor is a natural southpaw but can switch to orthodox at the drop of a dime and his Billionaire Strut, fashioned after WWE founder Vince McMahon’s imperious swagger, is cinematic gold. Tom Hardy, an acclaimed martial arts practitioner himself, gets the gig with no audition required.

“McGregor’s personality, backstory and Irish heritage appeal to a big demographic and there must be a producer in Hollywood wanting to make this happen.  I’d give it a solid +450,” Jones says.

Simone Biles

Considered to be the greatest gymnast in the history of the sport, Simone Biles is a 4’8” pixie mounted on a pair of hydraulic lifts and a body of twisted steel that allows her to do what few others have been able to do.

Seven Olympic and 25 World Championship medals comprise her gymnastics resume but the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to her by Joe Biden in 2022 reflects how truly transcendent and entrenched in the fabric of American culture she has become. Marsai Martin has our full support to recreate the wonder that is Simone Biles on the big screen.

“Simone captured our hearts and attention and any movie about her would most certainly be well received.  I’d give it 6-to-1, or +600 odds that we’ll be seeing a trailer with her likeness in the near future,” Jones says.   

Image credit: Brian BAHR / AFP (PointSpreads.com)

(Point Spreads) - Whether you’re a player, fan, coach or bettor, this NBA season has been wild, featuring moments that have shocked and delighted many across the country.

Caught on Camera - The season started with a bang… rather more of a hook, as the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors would witness their inner-turmoil shown to the world following a fight between veteran Draymond Green and rising star Jordan Poole.

Green, known to instigate confrontation with opponents, teammates, or anyone really, would step to Poole during a practice and land a massive right hand on to the side of the fourth year player out of Michigan.

This is not the first, nor the last time teammates would fight at practice, but with the rise of social media and cameras being everywhere, the footage would be leaked to the press and instigate a messy situation into a messier one with record-breaking speed.

Green would be suspended and Poole would deal with having to relive an embarrassing moment now confined to the annals of history.

The multiple time NBA Champion, Green, would be contrite in his apology to Poole, claiming in the days after the suspension that he would give his teammate space and only attempt reconciliation or communication if the younger player was ready or interested in doing so.

As of this writing the Warriors are in contention for the playoffs, standing at the #7th seed, but the impact that this fight had on the chemistry, comfort, and potential for the Warriors to run it back in 2023 has certainly been mitigated.

Despite all of this, the Warriors are currently the fifth best bet to win the NBA Championship this season as per experts at Point Spreads, trailing the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, and the current favorite, the Boston Celtics.

The Brooklyn Shuffle - One team that went from an odds favorite to a team in a drastic rebuild are the Brooklyn Nets. 

Following multiple seasons of injuries, coaching disputes, protests and more distractions than anyone else could bear, the next “Big 3”, consisting of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, which then turned into Durant, Kyrie, and Ben Simmons, is now reduced to Ben Simmons.

Harden would be traded for Simmons in 2022, following numerous alleged issues between the three stars, which would bring out the player in Simmons, who despite his many gifts has had a very public battle with anxiety and numerous injuries that would leave him on the sidelines during the 2022 playoffs.

The next casualty would be Steve Nash, who amidst his first NBA coaching job would be put into a political chess match with Durant, who allegedly demanded that either Nash goes or he goes. Joe Tsai, the Nets owner, would side with Nash and GM Sean Marks - until seven games into the season, when he’d fire Nash amidst a 2-5 start and Irving landed in hot water over promoting a documentary that was alleged to be antisemitic. 

Three months later, Irving would be the next to go, as he would be shipped to Dallas to help Luka Doncic and company in their quest for an NBA Title.

It would seem that the Mavericks are the winner of the trade as they are the sixth seed in the west (half game up on the Warriors), and the Nets are a +25,000 underdog to win the NBA Championship this season and are out of playoff contention, according to PointSpreads.com. 

With Simmons’ injury issues following him to Brooklyn and sidelining him for the foreseeable future. Durant would read the tea leaves himself and force a trade to the Phoenix Suns.

The most shocking was the sudden personality change in Ja Morant.

Morant, who has become one of the best players in the NBA and a leader of the tenacious Memphis Grizzlies, was cause for concern in 2022, when he allegedly threatened a fan on Twitter.

From there, Morant would allegedly threaten a security guard in a Memphis Shopping Mall, due to a supposed confrontation between Morant’s mother and a store employee, which could have been exacerbated by the nine or so people in Morant’s entourage.

Less than a week later, Morant was accused of beating up a teenager due to a basketball accidentally thrown at his head.

These incidents coupled with a confrontation between Morant’s father and Fox Sports 1 Analyst Shannon Sharpe, two confrontations between his friends and members of the Indiana Pacers, and the recent controversy involving Morant brandishing a handgun and leaked photos of him in a strip club with nearly $250,000 spread across the room, Morant was suspended for eight games by the NBA and has entered counseling. He's now back on the court and the fans are loving him.

These are just a few of the biggest surprises that have shaken up fans – and the betting odds – this NBA season, according to PointSpreads.com analysts. 

With the NBA Play-in tournament and the NBA Playoffs just a few games away, what else will have an effect on the NBA season?  

Image credit: Loren Elliott / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP for PointSpreads.com

(NewsUSA) - Presence, the Play by William Jefferson is an allegorical tale woven across multiple levels: Christian theology, media critique, the hero’s journey, and poetic reimagining of classic works, including Dante’s Inferno and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The storyline leads readers to the depths of hell, where they encounter the Reservoirs of Bewilderment, which all inductees to hell must enter. 

The reservoirs number five: Fragmentation, Static, Confusion, Chatter, and Delusion. They function as a horrifyingly surreal training camp for Satan’s kingdom. Jefferson deploys the reservoirs as an allegorical device for addressing the discarnate, fragmenting nature of modern media, underpinned algorithms, and AI. Yet beyond the twists, turns, and bewilderment, Presence, the Play offers a hope-filled message of perseverance that leads from hellish darkness to a celebration of Easter light.  

The story opens at the majestic Theatre Portesque on the fictional Isle of Estillyen. There, a monk named Script eagerly is attending the premier performance of his long-awaited play. Portesque is abuzz with excitement—patrons rushing, bells ringing, stalls and balconies filling—when suddenly tragedy strikes. 

The beloved playwright Script suffers a wicked fall, cracking his skull on the brass guard rail. Unconscious, Script is rushed to the Estillyen infirmary, where a team of doctors monitor his minute-by-minute condition. Nonresponsive, Script drifts into a deep, prolonged coma, in which his harrowing hell experience commences.  

Lucifer himself has taken notice of Script’s play and rejects its premise of presence. The evil one schemes to undo humanity with his message of presence passé—propelled by AI, algorithms, social media, and all manner of “mediated matter.” His goal is to lead humankind down the path of discarnate life and away from incarnate presence.

A brief excerpt from Lucifer’s speech to captives in the netherworld:

“The Race reels in confusion and delusion. They know not what to believe. They are like vipers. And we will it so. We’ve woven a narrative most propitious. It brims with efficacy. It’s called Bewilderment.

Soon, high above a tiny isle, our tower will reach to the heavens and carry our message to an ever-increasing discarnate world. And I promise you this: The isle will have hordes of whitewashed tombs with Estillyen bones.” 

To uncover Satan’s plan, Script must venture to hell and back many times over. It’s an insane mission, one Script is most reluctant to undertake. Although, not unlike Dante guided by the poet Virgil, Script, too, has a trio of wise encouragers who join the mission and nurture him along. 

Two of the three possess rather historic resumes: Melchizedek, the mysterious King of Salem, who blessed Abraham, and Simon of Cyrene, who carried the cross of Christ. The third is known only as Sage, who introduces himself to Script early on: “I’m a crier of olden days, of papyrus, print, and page; just call me Sage.”

The Lenten season can be described as a period of grief that ends with the celebration of Easter. In Easter Orthodox tradition, the season is known as “Bright Sadness.”

It’s safe to say that the tale of Presence, the Play is one of brightness, and sadness not at all.  Particularly when the Estillyen Ferry, packed with Easter lilies, docks in Port Estillyen one early Easter morn.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3VCxepm

(Revised April 6, 2023)

(PointSpreads.com) - The Masters Tournament, held annually at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, is one of the most prestigious golf events in the world. Many sports enthusiasts think they know the Masters but check out these facts and tips that add intrigue to watching and betting on the Masters.

Past Performance Predictions: According to betting analyst Sean Carter at PointSpreads.com, it's wise to consider a golfer's past performance at Augusta National. The challenging course often rewards those who have played it previously, so veterans may be safer bets.

Par-3 Curse: Since 1960, the Masters Tournament has held an annual Par-3 Contest on the Wednesday before the main event that includes past and current participants, often with family members as caddies. However, no golfer who has won the contest has gone on to win the Masters in the same year. Coincidence or risky bet? You be the judge.

Watch the Weather: The timing of the Masters is known for its unpredictable weather, which can significantly impact golfers' performances. Springtime in Georgia may mean sudden changes in wind direction, rain, or temperature that create challenging conditions for even the most seasoned professionals. Golfers who have a history of performing well in adverse weather conditions might have an edge over their competitors.

World Ranking Rules: World rankings are no guarantee of success at the Masters, but they offer valuable insights into the current form of the players. Since 2000, most Masters champions have been ranked within the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking. “Take these rankings into account, but keep in mind that underdogs can make a splash,” PointSpreads experts advise.

Amen Corner Climaxes: The stretch of Augusta National known as “Amen Corner” features the 11^th, 12^th and 13th holes. The 11th and 13th are daunting par 4s with over 500 yards from pin to cup, but the 12th hole is a spot where players are made and golf bettors pray to the heavens. This 155-yard hole, named “Golden Bell,” is a par 3, but features “Rae’s Creek” where players’ hopes may sink if their ball hits the water. Golf greats Jordan Speith and Tiger Woods have suffered the fate of the 12th hole, as did Tom Weiskopf, who shot a record high 13 there in 1983.

Green Jacket Grandeur: In addition to a cash prize and a trophy, the most recognizable symbol of victory at the Masters is the green jacket. Since 1949, each champion receives a green jacket to take home and wear for one year. The jacket must then be returned to August National and can be worn only on club grounds.

Sean Carter is a betting analyst with the sports odds and betting information portal, PointSpreads.com.

(Revised 3/28/2023)

(NewsUSA) - We Are All Addicts by Carder Stout

Expert therapist Dr. Carder Stout believes the soul's authentic voice can heal addictive cycles and remove them from the psyche. The soul is pure consciousness untethered from human experience, and Dr. Stout has maintained sobriety for 17 years using this untapped resource. He also has treated numerous clients for addiction and other mental health conditions using the technique. 

This guide presents a spiritual approach to ridding the mind of the complex problems created by addiction. These solutions have previously been shared exclusively with his patients. Through exercises, meditations, visualizations and writing, Dr. Stout demonstrates how to connect deeply to your soul. Readers will not only gain an understanding of the addiction holding them back, but how to overcome it through self-honesty and self-love. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3kEN0D0.

Secrets of the Penthouse Suite by R.R. Nastasi

Successful but shy Sofia La Scala, a workaholic accountant in New York City, finally dedicates herself to finding Mr. Right, committing to regular happy hours in pursuit of love. She encounters seductive billionaire Alex Chambers and by night’s end is entangled in a lust-driven romance with a man equally full of mysteries as charm.

However, her fantasies come to a crashing halt when she stumbles at work upon what initially looks like a simple programming glitch but is really far more sinister. Inexplicably, it’s also linked to Alex. As Sofia investigates the problem, more questions emerge.

Sofia has embraced her transformation from a shy accountant to a thrill-seeking, fantasy-fueled sex goddess with Alex. But is she willing to face the truth if it means losing him? Purchase at https://www.rrnastasi.com.
 

The Antidotes: Pollution Solution by Patty Mechael

Just when a group of fifth-grade friends return to normal life and to school after a global pandemic, the waters of the Chesapeake Bay become polluted by a plastic-eating bacteria experiment gone wrong—and both fish and kids are getting sick!

Izi, Gir, and their friends discover a fishy cover-up. The school has to close again! These climate warriors who call themselves the Antidotes join forces with public health activists to find clean water solutions. They use STEM strategies to help save the earth from a potential disaster—they also have secret meetings and do a little spy work.

The Antidotes race to tell kids how to stay safe. But will the Antidotes be able to get enough kids to achieve zero plastic use before it makes children sick? Purchase at https://bit.ly/3Heiwz9.

Message in a Matchbox by Sara Fashandi

It all started during the author’s family reunion in the summer of 2006, when she discovered an invaluable treasure: her oldest brother's memories of growing up. His name is Mohsen, and he was born in Tehran, Iran, to poor, struggling young parents. As early as age six, he figured out how to be creative and make money to fill his empty stomach.

As he related his memories, the author understood what made him the fascinating, jovial, and hardworking man he became. He had a calm confidence, and felt no need to impress anyone. He had been through so much, that by the time he was 23, he had lived a fuller life than most people ever experience. These stories are selections from Mohsen's many memories of a childhood in Tehran. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3WROuY8.

BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(Updated 3/21/2023) 

(NewsUSA) - What We Never Say by Paulette Stout

“A deftly crafted, memorably compulsive page turner.” --Midwest Book Review

After a lifetime of lacking confidence, Rebecca has finally found her voice. Her blog for women is gaining traction, getting noticed by the world’s top fashion magazine. When they request an article, she’s thrilled. So why is her boyfriend Kyle so concerned?

Kyle won’t share his past—not even with Rebecca. But his secret is blown when a powerful woman from his modeling days becomes desperate to get his attention. It’s attention he never wanted and has been trying to forget for eleven years.

As Kyle takes steps to heal, Rebecca’s article becomes a global sensation. Events force Kyle’s past and present to converge, putting Rebecca’s future at serious risk. It’s time for the truth, but is it too late?

“Tackled a sensitive subject with finesse and great writing.” -InD’Tale Magazine. Purchase at: https://books2read.com/u/bOz62o

Circus Home: A Novel of Life, Love and New Jersey by Jason Ollander-Krane

For fans of Gower's The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock, Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Doctorow’s Ragtime, and Dickens' The Pickwick Papers, this whimsical tale of a retirement home for retired circus performers wanders through the life stories of the home’s residents, including clowns, magicians and elephant tamers. The novel is narrated by the circus barker, who adds a poignant perspective on his companions.

The sweeping novel springs to life in New Jersey, along with settings as diverse as 1880s Brooklyn, 1920s Mississippi, 1940s Detroit, 1950s New York City, a west-bound wagon train, exotic Havana, pre-revolution Kiev, and Washington DC on the eve of The Great War. From laugh-out-loud funny to magically fantastic to heartbreaking. Purchase at http://bit.ly/3EAMiOL.

Wordslinger by Leonard Novarro

The author didn’t decide to write this book out of some noble dedication to the field of journalism. Or to revitalize “the good old days” by recapturing the past. Or tell a great story or two while singing the praises of newspapers. The newspapers didn’t always get it right, although they did get it right more than they got it wrong.

Now, in this era of the Internet and social media, the opposite often is true. How else would you explain the fact that millions here and abroad believe in a conspiracy theory that a ring of Satan-worshipping pedophiles, cannibals and sex traffickers are working to unseat the President States and take over the world -- a theory that began at Trump rallies in 2018 and one that he clings to? Purchase at http://bit.ly/3AEaddx.

Bad Behavior in the Workplace by Michael Weiner

When an inappropriate and angry outburst at work puts a leading pediatric oncologist’s career, reputation, and personal life in jeopardy, he has to take the first few uncomfortable steps toward change.

With his back against the wall, Dr. Andrew Brown harnesses his years of experience and confronts his demons. With a team of colleagues and sympathetic researchers by his side, Andrew sets out to discover not only the cause of his own temper but the very origins of rage in the human psyche. Delving into the genealogical and historical roots of human anger, his search leads him not only to shocking revelations about the world around him but to a deeper understanding of his place in it. A fascinating novel based on real-life events. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3Y3jNjU.

BookTrib’s Bites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(Updated 3/21/2023)

(NewsUSA) - Every Other Weekend by Anthony Mohr

Shuttling between two fathers and coming of age at a time when divorce is rare and viewed as shocking, the author writes of living at the edges of what others regard as a dream world, a place where reality and fantasy blend, maps lead to the homes of the stars, and obstacles abound.

Anthony's father is a well-known radio actor before slipping to the Hollywood B-list thanks to the advent of television. Accepting the lead in a dying Swedish TV series, he falls for the script girl and divorces Mohr's mother, who marries another divorcee, a credit card industry pioneer.

As his stepfather's career rises and his biological father's eases downward, Anthony tries to find his place: one weekend sailing on a 58-foot catamaran, the next being told he is poor. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3Z50vM5.

The Sundial Inn by Stephen John Ross

A paranormal horror with a streak of dark humor. On a return flight from a dream vacation at the Sundial Inn in the outskirts of New Orleans, Tim and Sara find themselves covered in bruises with no memory of the past three days. The mystery deepens once they learn the inn had ceased operations many decades earlier in 1954.

Plagued with lucid nightmares, Sara struggles to return to her normal life while Tim returns to New Orleans in search of answers. Aided by a local clairvoyant Mrs. Lizzie, the secrets of the Sundial Inn and its founder, Atticus Busby, are unearthed. There’s more to the inn than meets the eye, and Tim begins to realize that his own connection to it is much darker than he could have guessed. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3Gwv5FP.

Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club by Diane Bergner

Julia Wild is thrilled to trade her legal briefcase for stiletto heels and a glam wardrobe when she accepts the position as high-society fundraiser at a prestigious performing arts center. But the gala lifestyle is a minefield. There’s the punishing schedule, her boss is having an affair with an important donor, and someone is trying to sabotage her. But she weakens to the seduction of elite social circles.

The deeper Julia is drawn in, the more fantasy and reality blur, and fault lines in her marriage surface – especially when she meets a debonair Argentinian billionaire. It is only when suspicion caused by an untimely death blows up the carefully constructed glittering mask of the moneyed set that Julia must decide how willing she is to risk everything. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3Ka54Qg.

Starstruck by Michael Kutza

“Starstruck: How I Magically Transformed Chicago into Hollywood for More Than Fifty Years” is the author’s rollicking, provocative, racy, colorful, irreverent show business memoir culled from decades of rubbing elbows with the giants of film at both the Chicago Film Festival, which he founded, and numerous other festivals around the globe.

It was a roller-coaster ride that lasted for almost half a century, with Kutza presiding over gatherings that hosted a Who’s Who of the film world – from Harold Lloyd to Clint Eastwood, Bette Davis to Viola Davis, Steven Spielberg to Spike Lee, Guillermo del Toro to Jodie Foster, Lauren Bacall to Al Pacino. At the same time, the festival introduced a plethora of new talent that would go on to revolutionize the movie business, from Martin Scorsese on. Purchase at https://bit.ly/40E0lMe.
 

BookTrib’s Bites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Murder Baby by G.J. Stoutimore

This is not a fairy tale.
This is a nightmare.

A young orphan seeks vengeance against the Yakuza man who killed her parents…A jaded Ronin seeks out an old colleague before enacting a last ritual…and an ancient demon taunts a former Knight of a holy order from the blade of her ancient samurai sword. This is the story of Raffi Okamoto, the Last Knight of Sadira.

Murder Baby is the debut entry in a twisted, dark fantasy novel series from the mind of
G.J. Stoutimore. It is a story of demons, angels, the humans that fight their wars, and
the lives left broken and buried in their wake. It tells a tale of belonging, the testing of kinship, loss, trauma, identity, and death. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3WgKi4q.

My Name’s Not Jenny by Jeannine Lokey

Though written as a fictional novel, this book is based on the true story of three accomplished individuals who come together after finding themselves faced with major life-changing events. It is a moving and emotionally charged account of doing the right thing despite all odds.

Regardless of criticism from family members and friends, Joseph’s devotion was uncompromising and his love for Anna undeniable. A devoted mother and wife of the CEO of a multibillion-dollar financial institution, Anna is faced with a difficult decision.

Banking executive Jillian, with nowhere to go but up, is faced with her own crushing blows. At the height of her career, she throws in the towel to help Joseph stay the course. A must-read for anyone considering In-Home Assisted Living for a loved one. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3vgq0MK.

Lemon Curd Killer by Laura Childs

High tea and high fashion turn deadly in this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series.

Tea shop entrepreneur Theodosia Browning has been tapped to host a fancy Limón Tea in a genuine lemon orchard as a rousing kickoff to Charleston Fashion Week. But as fairy lights twinkle and the scent of lemon wafts among the tea tables, the deadly murder of a fashion designer puts the squeeze on things.

As the lemon curd begins to sour, the murdered woman’s daughter begs Theodosia to help find the killer. Tea events and fashion shows must go on, however, which puts Theodosia and her tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley, in the thick of squabbling business partners, crazed clothing designers, irate film producers, drug deals, and a disastrous Tea Trolley Tour. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3vuOT7x.

From Scratch by David Moscow & Jon Moscow

“Adventurous Anthony Bourdain-esque eaters and readers will savor David Moscow’s every word,” says Reader’s Digest,  “as he travels far (Ciao, sea of Sardinia) and near (howdy, Texas plains) to learn from farmers, hunters, fisherfolk, and scientists about how our food reaches our plates.”

Moscow, creator and star of the groundbreaking series “From Scratch,” takes us on an exploration of our planet’s complex and interconnected food supply, showing us where our food comes from and why it matters in this new book of global culinary adventures – a Publishers Weekly bestseller.

Moscow has spent four years going around the world, meeting with rock-star chefs, and sourcing ingredients within local food ecosystems. He brings back stories of the communities, workers, and environments involved—some thriving, some in jeopardy, all interconnected with food. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3JzOOHZ.

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Revised 3/7/2023