Holiday Edition - 2019

2016 Bookseller’s Sales Catalog -1 A Comprehensive Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

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Grand Prize

WINNER! FEATURED IN THIS HOLIDAY ISSUE

Book Award Winners & Finalists!

Reviews, Reviews, & More Reviews Exclusive Interview with the 2019 Grand Prize Winner, Ramcy Diek

Pages 10 - 23

Pages 37 - 61

Page 9

Holiday Edition, 2019

TopShelf Review of STORM AT KEIZER MANOR on Page 53

978-0990336006

Two-Page Ad The Drake Cody Series

A ligh ning-fa read packed i h i and rn ha ill keep reader f ll engaged and con in all g e ing. The ff blockb er are made of!

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TOPShelf

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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table of contents

masthead

interviews

CEO & Publisher

9 11 17

Sandra Brown Tom Combs Daniel C. McWhorter

columns 19 21 23 25

Could Indie Authors... HUGE Mistake?

The Ultimate Bookstore Experience TopShelf Visits Powell’s Bookstore Thrillerfest ...Is It Right For You

reviews 31 31 31 33 33 33 37 37 37 39 39 39 43 43 43 45 45 45 49 49 49

The Amazing Snowman Duel Becoming Enough The Blazing Gilded Age Blood Lake Born to Hustle Capital Kill Death Votes Last Demon King Ghosts and Shadows The Ghost Manuscript The Kitty Leave No Trace Morocco Or Bust Mother Knows Best Murder in Red Nerve Damage Once a Liar Red Hotel The Suspect The Torch Betrayal Yara’s Tawari Tree

editorial policy TopShelf Magazine is a bookseller-focused trade journal packed with the crème de la crème in indie and traditionally published authors and books. There’s no junk here!

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TopShelf Magazine is offered to bookstores and public libraries across the United States free of charge, and to any bookseller and library in the English speaking world for a

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Contributors & Reviewers Mark Adduci Belle Ami Patrice Benard J. H. Bográn Rosemary Fifield Paul Hollis Sharon Isbell Keith Katsikas Rebecca Katsikas Jon Land Eeva Lancaster Jennifer LeBlanc Kyle Magnus Sarah Noffke Debra Parmley Donald Richard Luke Romyn Michael Rowland Sarah Shefield Timothy Sunderland Robert Walker

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TOPShelf magazine SUMMER2019 3 www.maryclarkdalton.com

TOPShelf

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

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table of contents

masthead

winners 8 Grand Prize - Storm at Keizer Manor 9 Interview with the Grand Prize Winning Author, Ramcy Diek 10-22 1st Place Winners 22-23 Finalists

interviews 27 Tosca Lee 31 Marika Lindholm 35 James Masciarelli

reviews 37 37 37 39 39 39 41 41 41 43

A Classic in Clown Shoes A Letter for Hoot A Single Light Beyond Beauport Bishop’s War Dear Maude Deep Rough Destiny Awaits Dodging Satan Faith in Abertillery

43 43 47 47 47 49 49 49 51 51 51 53 53 53 55 55 55 57 57 57 59 59 59 61 61 61

Finding Miss Write High Alert Home Front Horns of the Devil In the Shadow of War I, Claudia Kick Ass Kinda Girl Let My Legacy Be Love…

Like Footprints in the Wind Meows and Mistletoes Mob Rules Never Give Into Fear Nite Fire: Flash Point Storm of Keizer Manor Penned Without Ink Pinto Reagan Country Restoration Shadow King Sky Parlor Still Harping on My Daughter The 19th Bladesman The Murder of Twelve Vanquish of the Dragon Shroud We Got This You Say Goodbye

CEO & Publisher

Keith A Katsikas Jr keith@topshelfmagazine.net

E.V.P. & Director of Marketing

Rebecca Katsikas becky@topshelfmagazine.net

Editor-in-Chief

Keith A Katsikas Jr

Review Manager Mickey Mikkelson

Interview Manager Katelin Hudson

Contributors & Reviewers Belle Ami Donald Richard Mark Adduci Michael Rowland Robert Walker Micah Richards Patrice Benard Sharon Isbell Keith Katsikas Rebecca Katsikas Jon Land

editorial policy TopShelf Magazine is a bookseller-focused buyers’ guide packed with the crème de la crème in indie and traditionally published authors and books. There’s no junk here!

subscriptions TopShelf Magazine is offered to bookstores and public libraries across the United States free of charge, and to any bookseller and library in the English speaking world for a nominal fee to cover the cost of shipping.

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TopShelf Magazine is also available for free to anyone able to view the online digital version at TopShelfMagazine.net

advertising To advertise in print, online, and in our email marketing campaigns, please visit TopShelfMagazine.net or call 603.785.0560. Our overall reach is currently in the millions and we always strive to go well above and beyond in promoting our valued clients.

TOPShelf magazine

HOLIDAYEDITION2019 5

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“ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS WE'VE READ THIS YEAR. A MASTERFULLY WRITTEN TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE… TREMENDOUSLY SATISFYING!” ~TopShelf Reviews

Grand Prize Winner Full Page Ad

ISBN: 978-0998309804

While her boyfriend Forrest searches for a job, quick-witted Annet works at the Keizer Manor, where the oils from 19th-century master painter Alexander Keizer are exhibited. After a fight, a very pregnant Annet and Forrest figure they'll take a stroll through the ocean dunes, but they become separated when dark clouds roll in, bringing with them a violent thunderstorm. Regaining consciousness in a monastery, Forrest nowhere to be found, Annet is convinced the nuns are playing a prank. The 1800's. Impossible! She must find her way home. But how will she ever get back to her own time?

www.ramcydiek.com

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

interviews

magazine

With a pitch like “Outlander meets art”, which is perfect to describe this book, what made you want to write Time Travel Romance as the genre of your first novel?

I wanted to write a lighthearted novel and was actually inspired by the Back to the Future trilogy with Michael J. Fox. Outlander is more dramatic, with a l ot of details. The quote “Outlander meets art” emphasizes that difference perfectly.

AN INTERVIEW WITH TOPSHELF GRAND PRIZE WINNER RAMCY DIEK Congratulations on the success of your debut novel, Storm at Keizer Manor, which has also been a Reader’s Favorite Book Award Winner, a Best Book Awards Finalist, and a New Apple Medalist Winner, and now, the 2019 TopShelf Book Award Grand-Prize Winner! How has such an incredible reception to your book affected your goals for writing more novels in the future, if at all?

I’ve loved Storm at Keizer Manor since the idea for the story came to me. I wanted to share it with the world and hired a professional editor. She too fell in love with the story and helped me publish it.

Seeing Storm’s success changed me as a writer. I’ve become much more serious about my writing and can’t wait to publish my second novel, Eagles in Flight. This story is very different from Storm at Keizer Manor. I hope people will love Eagles in Flight as much as Storm.

Is Storm at Keizer Manor a standalone book in a world of its own, or will there be a series for this novel touted as “Outlander meets art”?

Storm at Keizer Manor was meant to be a standalone novel. My readers wanted a sequel. I’ve already written half the story.

Will there be other installments? I hope so. I would like to think there is much more to Annet’s story. www.TopShelfMagazine.net

I was born and raised in the Netherlands, in a town close to the dunes that I call Dunedam in my novel. In the town’s square is an old pump where centuries ago, people used to get their drinking water. I always wondered what life would have been like in those days, without all the modern conveniences we’re so used to, and how we would adjust if we all of a sudden had to live like that. I think I would probably have the same struggles as Annet, my heroine. Wouldn’t you?

You’ve also previously shared your love of travel and exploring nature, and that you save writing for the winter months, “when the days are short and cold and the evenings long.” Have you ever tried writing outside of those “seasonal” timeframes?

My husband and I work in the tourism industry and were always busy from early spring to late fall. In the winter, everything quiets down, giving me time to relax and write. Fortunately, we’re not as busy anymore as we used to be. My writing future looks bright.

How do you think this schedule for writing has impacted the way you write? Do you write whatever you can while the “days are cold and the nights long”, then leave the manuscript alone until the next winter season? Or do you still dip into your projects occasionally in between your busy times and adventures in your camper?

All my manuscripts sat for years. In the meantime, I thought about them, sometimes making notes or small improvements. I like

to believe that, like a fine wine, they matured and improved over time.

The process of writing a book beginning to end is different for every author. Tell us a bit about your process—outlining versus “pantsing”, writing routines, the perfect circumstances. What do you need with and/or around you to get you into “the zone” for writing?

HOLIDAY2019

You’ve said that your inspiration for Storm at Keizer Manor came from Dunedam in the Netherlands. Can you give us a deeper insight into what specifically inspired this novel?

When I start a new story, I already know the ending. Then I sit in my comfortable leather office chair at my desktop computer and start writing. Filling in all the details is the fun part. I get so engrossed in the story that I forget about time and everything else.

Your characters in this novel are strongly written and well fleshed-out, and readers get an insight into each of them the moment they’re introduced (like the perfect picture immediately given of Annet and especially her mother in just the first few pages).

Where did you find the inspiration for your characters in this book? Are any of them modeled after people in your own life?

My husband and I meet all kinds of people in our line of work. They’re hilarious, pitiful, admirable, crazy, smart, ignorant, lazy, interesting, and amazing people. Honestly, I could write a book about my experiences with them. I could never do that, because I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.

Many of these people become characters in my stories.

Read more of our interview with Ramcy Diek at:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

HOLIDAYEDITION2019 9

featuredspotlights

...books worth a closer look!

Pages 10 - 22 list all the Top-Placing Winners from the 2019 TopShelf Book Awards!

10

Action (Fiction)

Adventure (Fiction)

This action-packed suspense thriller introduces us to Special Forces Sergeant John Bishop, decorated war hero, and nephew of crime boss, Gonzalo Valdez. After returning home from Afghanistan John’s hopes for a peaceful future are quickly shattered when he is catapulted back into the global war on terror through a succession of life-threatening events and corrupt intrigue…

It's something all pirates are taught when they're very young, but too many forget: never get on the wrong side of a librarian. Especially if the librarian is a lemming! The bookish Sylvester Lemmington simply wants to hunt down the facts. Everyone else just seem more interested in hunting down Sylvester. Especially so, after he becomes the accidental owner of the most sought-after treasure map of all time…

Price $15.99 ISBN 978-0997091915

Price $24.90 ISBN 978-2970120100

Adventure (Non-Fiction)

African American (Non-Fiction)

Follow the story of Rob Besecker, who, from a young age, excelled at sports. Due to many health issues, including being diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, a fractured back ended his college football career, Rob was devasted. He had always been strong, and he refused to let his ailing body limit his existence.

As he neared forty, he set his sights on the challenge of a lifetime: hiking to the base camp of Mount Everest.

Price $17.95 ISBN 978-0999439418

I Am Raymond Washington is the only authorized biography of the undisputed founder of the Crips and provides an unprecedented look into Raymond Washington’s life. If you’re looking for stories of gang violence and crimes committed by gang members, that’s been done before, and this book isn’t for you. But if you’re looking for a factual and intuitive look into what made Raymond Washington unique in the mean streets of Los Angeles, this is the book you want to read.

Price $12.95 ISBN 978-0692359877

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

2018 Indie Book Awards - Winner’s Circle

Winners are listed by category, in alphabetical order, for the category the book won.

All winning books will be reviewed by TopShelf and will appear online or in future issues of TopShelf Magazine.

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Animals/Pets (Fiction)

Autobiography/Biography

A magical adventure of animals traveling worldwide to Noah's ark Max, a Scottish terrier, takes his usual morning trot down to the loch. He embarks on an unknown journey from Scotland, meeting other animals along the way including Liz, a brilliant, petite black cat from France. Max and Liz become the brave leaders for their group, and eventually, for the entire ark. The mysterious journey, filled with danger, humor, trials, and triumphs, leads them across Europe to the Middle East.

If you are grieving the loss of your beloved pet the uplifting and insightful stories within these chapters will help you break through your grief so you can begin healing. Included are actual messages from departed animals who share details about what they experienced as their life ended and from beyond the veil of the afterlife.

Price $16.99 ISBN 978-0899571980

Price $14.95 ISBN 978-1547280780

Anthology

Autobiography/Biography

A collection of stories by Jaidis Shaw. The Reluctant Seamstress is an outcast among her people. Cursed to never set foot on land, she swims in the dark depths below the ocean’s surface. The House on Juniper Lane had always been a mystery. After a family was violently slain within its walls… Blind Justice is what she provides. Molly wasn’t going to let blindness stop her from holding criminals accountable…

A truly unforgettable autobiographical account of war from a brand new perspective, one of a Marine Reservist assigned to recover our fallen service members off of the battlefield and send them home with honor. This superbly written and gripping story begins in 2002 where Christian Bussler worked as an everyday postal letter carrier in Springfield, Ohio. With a single phone call, his life is thrust onto the world stage as an active participant on the frontlines of the war torn battlefields of Iraq.

Price $9.99 ISBN 978-1723831355

Price $20.00 ISBN 978-1546604938

TOPShelf magazine

HOLIDAYEDITION2019 11

TOPShelf magazine

categorywinners

12

Business

Career

If you want to be a professional speaker; if you want to learn how to create a speech and speaking career that is successful; if you want to know how to write a speech that meeting planners and audiences want to hear; if you want to learn how to soar like a TED talk; if you want to be sought after as a public speaker, How to Create a $1,000,000 Speech is the book for you.

The Startup Survivor shows you how to build a better business from the ground-up. By identifying the common blunders that rip startups apart, Maloof’s book allows you to navigate through your company’s vulnerable first years and well beyond into the future. Maloof’s decades of startup experience have been condensed into the guidebook you need to achieve your welldeserved business goals.

Price $25.00 ISBN 978-1885331670

Price $18.99 ISBN 978-1544853321

Children’s Picture Book (0 - 5 years)

Children’s Picture Book (6 years and up)

Yara lives with her Mama in the lush Amazon jungle. She wants to rescue her beloved but increasingly besieged rainforest home. When Yara falls gravely ill, the forest returns the love and saves Yara's life. Written in rhyme and featuring gorgeous watercolor illustrations by Joanna Pasek, this is the first volume in a new series showing children how all living things on our beautiful planet depend on one another.

With Timothy Mean's amazing imagination and time machine, anything and anywhere is possible! Join Timothy on a magical rhyming adventure as he skips through time and pranks with pirates, gets daring with dragons, and even teases a T-Rex!

Price $9.99 ISBN 978-0997389951

Price $9.99 ISBN 978-8269157017

Children’s/Juvenile (Fiction)

Christian (Fiction)

Can one cat detective bring peace and harmony to a family divided within the Korean peninsula? Inca, the Siberian Kitty, and her globetrotting furry family are off to South Korea with their human Mom. Mom created a new cheese and has been invited by a French cookery school to present her cheese but also be the judge of a cookery competition. The cats befriend a Korean dog and his master pining for his long-lost sister living in the North. What dangers await the group of animal detectives as they cross over from South to North Korea.

Price $8.99 ISBN 978-0998429199

Since the age of 14, Jayme’s life has been hell and she has one person to thank for it, Pastor James Madison. He stood in the pulpit on Sundays waving the same hands that abused her at night. Now, 14 years and a son later, she finds herself needing God yet she doesn’t know how to reach Him. She longs for God but isn’t sure He can hear a sinner’s prayer until she starts to say, Dear God …

"It's Monday. Hip hip hooray!

Where shall we travel in time today? “ With Timothy Mean, every day is a rhyme in time!

Price $15.00 ISBN 978-1985824713

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

2019 Book Awards - Winner’s Circle Christian (Non-Fiction)

Coming of Age

With a near-fatal car crash resulting in trauma, uncertainty, and life-long limitations, Penned Without Ink: Trusting God to Write Your Story will draw you into the true story of one family's journey of faith. The experiences shared within the pages of this book will lead you to sit beside hushed bedsides, observe delicate operations, and feel the angst of many lifeand-death decisions. In the midst of multiple layers of pain and loss, you will witness quiet miracles, as well as sure and certain lights that pierce through the darkness.

Price $7.99 ISBN 978-1938499319

If Millie Crossan doesn't know anything else, she knows this one truth simply because her brother Finley grew up beside her. Charismatic Finley, eighteen months her senior, becomes Millie's guide when their mother Posey leaves their father and moves her children from Minnesota to Memphis shortly after Millie's tenth birthday. Memphis is a world foreign to Millie and Finley. This is the 1970s Memphis…

Current Events/Social Change

E-Book (Fiction)

Unlike other books about addiction, Saving Bobby begins after rehab is over. Told in part through journal entries, e-mails, and personal recollections, this raw, honest, deeply moving memoir, begun to keep the family accountable, describes the sixteen months that Hodges, her husband, and their community struggled alongside Bobby as he attempted to successfully re-enter the day-today world. Using a holistic and open approach, the shame and stigma associated with addiction was lessened, and ultimately, Bobby learned he had to save himself.

Snow isn’t all that’s falling in Denver, Colorado on Christmas Eve. A beautiful, young district attorney tumbles to her death on Christmas Eve. Police suspect suicide, but the DA’s sister, newspaper reporter Samantha Church, isn’t buying it. Samantha discovers evidence linking her sister to a drug smuggling case and quickly learns she has stumbled onto a major news story. She must summon the courage to not only face a cartel of criminals, but her own fears and shortcomings when she is confronted by the inescapable specter of a far greater enemy, her addiction to alcohol. ..

Price $16.95 ISBN 978-1631523755

Price $11.99 ISBN 978-1480263185

E-Book (Non-Fiction)

Education/Academic (Non-Fiction)

A heartwarming and humorous book which breaks the Motherhood Code of Silence with A Tell ALL series of essays on Motherhood, Childhood and EVERYTHING in between. It brings humor and love together while honestly sharing the often UNSPOKEN experiences in raising children and the CrAzY balancing act and understanding heart it requires! It’s guaranteed to make you laugh and shed a few tears!

Price $9.99 ISBN 978-0692412459

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Price $7.99 ISBN 978-1946016522

This book is an important and timely research study that explores a little known area of investing, which is that of private mortgage lending. The reason for undertaking the study was twofold; the past 15 years, retirement portfolios have been devastated by stock market fluctuations… The second is because of the adopted Federal Reserve policy of creating an artificially low rate environment…

Price $25.95 ISBN 978-1612443447

TOPShelf magazine

HOLIDAYEDITION2019 13

TOPShelf magazine

categorywinners Fantasy What if you were born with an addiction to magic? What if your pleasure meant their pain? Ian Troy is one of the Shinree, a fallen race born with an addiction to magic.

Enslaved and drugged to suppress their deadly desires, the Shinree live to serve their masters. After years of forced combat in Rella’s long, brutal war, Ian is desperate for peace.

With defeat imminent, he defies the queen’s orders and wields the Crown of Stones…

Affectionately called “Jaybird” by the father she adores, Josie Flint’s idyllic childhood in 1960s Atlanta is defined by her role as the oldest of the three Flint sisters and crowned with the presence of her grandmother, Annie Jo— the maypole that centers the Flint family.

Surrounding their world, however, is the turbulent South…

Price $15.99 ISBN 978-1492829065

Price $11.95 ISBN 978-0998678108

First Novel Over 80,000 words

First Novel Under 60,000 words

A truly unforgettable autobiographical account of war from a brand new perspective, one of a Marine Reservist assigned to recover our fallen service members off of the battlefield and send them home with honor. This superbly written and gripping story begins in 2002 where Christian Bussler worked as an everyday postal letter carrier in Springfield, Ohio. With a single phone call, his life is thrust onto the world stage as an active participant on the frontlines of the war torn battlefields of Iraq.

Move over, Jean Shepherd!

Young Bridget in award winning Dodging Satan takes refuge in wacky misunderstandings of 1960s Bible Stories and Catholic iconography to avoid problems in her Irish/Italian family life.

Her musings will have you in stitches. Get ready for glorious supernatural worlds-with exorcisms, bird relics, time travel, Biblical plagues, even the 'holy' in holy water-as Bridget grapples with sadistic nuns, domestic violence, emerging sexuality, & God the Father's romantic life!

Price $26.95 ISBN 978-1937818616

Price $20.00 ISBN 978-1546604938

General Non-Fiction The Startup Survivor shows you how to build a better business from the ground-up. By identifying the common blunders that rip startups apart, Maloof’s book allows you to navigate through your company’s vulnerable first years and well beyond into the future. Maloof’s decades of startup experience have been condensed into the guidebook you need to achieve your welldeserved business goals.

Price $18.99 ISBN 978-1544853321

14

First Novel 60,000 to 80,000 words

General Fiction/Novel Over 80,000 words With an evenly-divided United States Senate, the stakes are high for the nation's political power brokers. The leader of oneparty decides to change the numbers by arranging the elimination of one of the other party's senators. As the death sends shock waves through the nation's capital, federal prosecutor Jeff Trask and a team of FBI agents and police officers must solve not only the senator's homicide, but the murder of one witness and the attempted murder of another…

Price $13.49 ISBN 978-1619848498

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

2019 Book Awards - Winner’s Circle

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

General Fiction/Novel Under 80,000 words

Gift/Speciality/Novelty Book

Samantha Patrick's cousin Sarah has lived with an abusive husband for thirty years. After a brutal attack she finally finds the courage to leave. Sarah goes to Land's End looking for safety and comfort with her family on this small, idyllic island but the horror is not over yet. Someone is stalking Sarah. Is it the abusive husband or someone else? Will Land's End be the place where Sarah finds new life, or it will be where it ends?

If you are grieving the loss of your beloved pet the uplifting and insightful stories within these chapters will help you break through your grief so you can begin healing. Included are actual messages from departed animals who share details about what they experienced as their life ended and from beyond the veil of the afterlife.

Price $8.50 ISBN 978-1544728582

Price $14.95 ISBN 978-1547280780

Health/Wellness (Non-Fiction)

Historical (Fiction)

Physician is Rajeev Kurapati’s earnest attempt to answer this question and others central to the practice of medicine. For instance, how have the advances of medical technology influenced society’s perception of death? How do physicians balance thinking with feeling when dealing with critically ill patients? How do we meet the needs of patients seeking a personal connection to their doctor in what may seem to be an emotionally deficient medical landscape?

Jana Petken presents Volume 2 of the multi-award-winning Half-Bloods Series.“The Vogels are fighting on all fronts in this compelling story of intrigue and betrayal in a world at war.”European citizens feel the full force of German injustice, but not all are willing to bend the knee. From France to Poland, Resistance groups fight from the shadows to thwart Nazi rule and hinder their goal to exterminate Jews.

In Russia, Wilmot Vogel struggles to survive the ravages of a frigid winter, compounded by the German army’s lack of progress…

Price $17.95 ISBN 978-1632991454

Price $15.99 ISBN 978-1729169698

Historical (Non-Fiction)

Horror

Crush is the story of how wine from California finally gained its global due. Briscoe recounts wine’s often fickle affair with California, now several centuries old, from the first harvest and vintage, through the four overwhelming catastrophes, to its amazing triumph in Paris.

Psychiatrist Sam Lucas doesn't mind listening to his patients fantasies as long as he gets paid. But when he learns more about one patient's decades of paranoid torment, it begins to make him wonder. As Jake's stories of flesh-tearing demons turn into shocking physical wounds, the doctor realizes his patient is in real danger…

Price $34.95 ISBN 978-1943859498

Price $21.99 ISBN 978-1732659391

TOPShelf magazine

HOLIDAYEDITION2019 15

TOPShelf magazine

categorywinners Humor/Comedy

Inspirational (Fiction)

It’s been nearly a decade since Elle Sloan broke up with Luke Hutchins over a single phone call. Elle has done everything she could do to move on... Out of nowhere, Elle receives a phone call from Luke’s mother.

Luke has been in a horrific car accident and has just awoken from a coma and is suffering from amnesia and only remembers his life as it was before his breakup with Elle...

Four years ago, Charlene Perigard survived a brutal kidnapping. Now at twentytwo, she’s put that trauma behind her for a promising future with handsome firefighter Ben Jorgensen. But when new trauma strikes, a new nightmare begins.Sinister threats, a midnight attack, and a deathbed promise drive Charlene to the little town of Creekside, where she encounters a man from her past whom she has long struggled to forget: Clay Morrow—ex-convict and brother of her kidnapper…

Price $10.00 ISBN 978-1718808478

Price $13.99 ISBN 978-0996805704

Inspirational (Non-Fiction)

Memoirs Historical/Legacy/Career

Follow the story of Rob Besecker, who, from a young age, excelled at sports. Due to many health issues, including being diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, a fractured back ended his college football career, Rob was devasted. He had always been strong, and he refused to let his ailing body limit his existence. As he neared forty, he set his sights on the challenge of a lifetime: hiking to the base camp of Mount Everest.

This sweeping biographical novel brings to life the dramatic experience of a valiant woman who, armed only with the white coat of her profession, found the courage to live her life on the razor’s edge and survived it. It’s a captivating story of service and sacrifice, of love and the searing emotions that gripped this missionary doctor throughout her imperiled course.

Price $17.95 ISBN 978-0999439418

Price $18.00 ISBN 978-1719542654

Memoirs

Memoirs Overcoming Adversity/ Tragedy/Challenges

Other

A truly unforgettable autobiographical account of war from a brand new perspective, one of a Marine Reservist assigned to recover our fallen service members off of the battlefield and send them home with honor. This superbly written and gripping story begins in 2002 where Christian Bussler worked as an everyday postal letter carrier in Springfield, Ohio. With a single phone call, his life is thrust onto the world stage as an active participant on the frontlines of the war torn battlefields of Iraq.

Price $20.00 ISBN 978-1546604938

16

This darkly funny, dramatic memoir, describes an emerging standup comic's drug-fueled descent into the underworld, escape from human traffickers, homelessness, and ultimate redemption. With brutal honesty, humor, and clarity, the author vividly describes her experiences as she rides her downward spiral: a nearmiss with a notorious serial killer, a series of tragically hilarious misadventures in the California drug world, and a terrifying account of imprisonment at the hands of Japanese organized crime, to name a few.

Price $15.95 ISBN 978-0986006708

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

2019 Book Awards - Winner’s Circle

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Military (Fiction) Jana Petken presents Volume 2 of the multi-award-winning Half-Bloods Series.“The Vogels are fighting on all fronts in this compelling story of intrigue and betrayal in a world at war.”European citizens feel the full force of German injustice, but not all are willing to bend the knee. From France to Poland, Resistance groups fight from the shadows to thwart Nazi rule and hinder their goal to exterminate Jews.

In Russia, Wilmot Vogel struggles to survive the ravages of a frigid winter, compounded by the German army’s lack of progress…

Military (Non-Fiction)

Price $15.99 ISBN 978-1729169698

Price $20.00 ISBN 978-1535055284

Motivational (Non-Fiction)

Multicultural (Fiction)

Follow the story of Rob Besecker, who, from a young age, excelled at sports. Due to many health issues, including being diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, a fractured back ended his college football career, Rob was devasted. He had always been strong, and he refused to let his ailing body limit his existence. As he neared forty, he set his sights on the challenge of a lifetime: hiking to the base camp of Mount Everest.

This is a coming-of-age story, a love story, replete with milestones, tangled emotions, and adventures that are the embodiments of first love. Not just for the young, but for the young at heart.

Price $17.95 ISBN 978-0999439418

Price $15.99 ISBN 978-1941251898

Mystery

New Age

When the battered body of a teenage girl is found in a dumpster, Lieutenant Jo Riskin is called to take the case.

Investigating with her partner, Detective Lynae Parker, Jo uncovers secrets, loyalties, and ambitions that give motives to a surprising number of suspects , including a boyfriend from the wrong side of the tracks.While immersed in her current case, Jo is battling her own personal demons. After two years, she is still grieving over the loss of her husband, who was killed in the line of duty…

If you are grieving the loss of your beloved pet the uplifting and insightful stories within these chapters will help you break through your grief so you can begin healing. Included are actual messages from departed animals who share details about what they experienced as their life ended and from beyond the veil of the afterlife.

Price $13.99 ISBN 978-1940215846

Price $14.95 ISBN 978-1547280780

This coming-of-age story follows the exploits of a WWII Navy seaplane pilot who became one of the first to fly night missions. From boxes of journals, photos, and artwork comes a true story filled with colorful descriptions of exotic locations, sea rescues, and the humor that was intrinsic to a Navy squadron’s daily life while at war in the South Pacific…

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18

Novella

Parenting/Family (Fiction)

Tequila Rose may have met the man of her dreams.

Unfortunately, she wakes up suffering from alcoholic amnesia and doesn’t remember anything about the night before. Tall, dark, and Jack may be the cure her jaded heart desperately needs, but Tequila’s wary as friends warn her that Jack hangs out with the local drug dealer. Thrust together at a Speed Dating event, their chemistry sizzles, but is Jack after a different kind of fix?

Abbie Rose Stone’s acquired wisdom runs deep, and so do her scars. She has successfully navigated the shoals of a long marriage, infertility, challenging children, and a career. Now it’s her turn to realize her dream: producing hard apple cider along the northern shores of Lake Michigan that she loves. She manages to resist new versions of the old pull of family dynamics that threaten to derail her plan…

Price $9.99 ISBN 978-0473237028

Price $16.95 ISBN 978-1631524752

Parenting/Family (Non-Fiction)

Poetry

A heartwarming and humorous book which breaks the Motherhood Code of Silence with A Tell ALL series of essays on Motherhood, Childhood and EVERYTHING in between. It brings humor and love together while honestly sharing the often UNSPOKEN experiences in raising children and the CrAzY balancing act and understanding heart it requires! It’s guaranteed to make you laugh and shed a few tears!

A psychic medium once said that if you find a random dime, it is a sign that someone that you have loved and lost is thinking of you.

Price $9.99 ISBN 978-0692412459

Price $13.50 ISBN 978-1949483208

Regional Fiction CA & US Regions Only

Relationships (Non-Fiction)

Sherrill S. Cannon's second book of poetry contains messages written through the years in poetic form that put feelings into words. As a teacher, many of her poems helped counsel troubled teens and friends.

A depression-era boy wants to become a musician against the wishes of his hard drinking, heavy equipment operating father. His long-suffering mother wants him to escape the kind of life she's had and supports his musical dream. He convinces himself that music is the most important thing in his life and marries the woman who has set her sights on him and is willing to support his musical obsession. Tears and Trombones is a roller coaster of highs and lows with humorous twists and poignant turns.

My Secret Self: Trials and Tribulations of an Innocent Book 1, is an inspirational and powerful memoir of one girl's life. Her painful struggle and abuse. Through observing her life and realizing it shouldn't be this way. My Secret Self tells the story of discovering how she had been manipulated through pretense and lies. It is a warm-hearted, honest and gratifying tale of overcoming hardship and pulls no punches it tells you the raw true of what she experienced.

Price $29.95 ISBN 978-1937818548

Price $19.99 ISBN 978-0648401308

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

2019 Book Awards - Winner’s Circle Religious (Fiction)

Religious (Non-Fiction)

Four years ago, Charlene Perigard survived a brutal kidnapping. Now at twentytwo, she’s put that trauma behind her for a promising future with handsome firefighter Ben Jorgensen. But when new trauma strikes, a new nightmare begins.Sinister threats, a midnight attack, and a deathbed promise drive Charlene to the little town of Creekside, where she encounters a man from her past whom she has long struggled to forget: Clay Morrow—ex-convict and brother of her kidnapper…

With a near-fatal car crash resulting in trauma, uncertainty, and life-long limitations, Penned Without Ink: Trusting God to Write Your Story will draw you into the true story of one family's journey of faith. The experiences shared within the pages of this book will lead you to sit beside hushed bedsides, observe delicate operations, and feel the angst of many lifeand-death decisions. In the midst of multiple layers of pain and loss, you will witness quiet miracles, as well as sure and certain lights that pierce through the darkness.

Price $13.99 ISBN 978-0996805704

Price $7.99 ISBN 978-1938499319

Romance (Clean) GRAND PRIZE WINNER! While her boyfriend Forrest searches for a job, quick witted Annet works at the Keizer Manor where the oils from 19th century master painter Alexander Keizer are exhibited.

After a fight, the couple strolls through the dunes. When dark clouds roll in, the beautiful sunny weather turns into a thunderstorm so violent that they get separated. The next morning, Forrest finds himself alone. So does Annet.

Regaining consciousness in a monastery, Annet is convinced the nuns are playing a prank on her. It can't be the 1800's! She's a pregnant Twenty-first Century woman and doesn't belong there. But how will she get back to her own time?

Price $14.99 ISBN 978-0998309804

Romance Contemporary

Science Fiction

Second Novel

The end of the world is coming.

How or when, scientists can’t agree upon. For decades, Earth’s best line of defense has been a team of young soldiers known as the Apocalypse Five, forced into virtual reality simulations to train for Doom’s Day. But, this is no game. Death on the grid is brutally final and calls up the next in a long line of cadets. Stationed aboard the AT-1-NS Starship, the A5 are celebrities thrust into the limelight by a calling they didn’t choose. All it takes is one unscheduled mission, showing seventeen-year-old team leader Detroit a harsh and unfathomable reality Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1732613416

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A thrilling and emotionally gripping novel of love, marriage, deception and... murder.

It's one thing to discover your husband is not who you believe him to be.

It's another thing entirely to prove it.

The only question now, is how far he will go to protect his secrets.

Price $14.99 ISBN 978-0648509417

For the Love of Maude is the second book of The Dear Maude Trilogy. The first, Dear Maude, is the award-winning story of a college graduate, whose first job is anything but conventional. Thrust into the mysterious world of time travel, Emily learns to survive by baring her soul and secrets within the pages of a journal she addresses to her greatgreat-aunt, and by losing her heart in a romance that knows no boundaries, including time.

Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1544939636

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20

Self-Help (Non-Fiction)

Short Stories

Fear is a doorway to understanding yourself better.

The secret is to plumb the depth and breadth of your anxiety and confusion in relaxed levels of expanded awareness. Becoming more self-aware of your anxious feelings reveals the personal wisdom hidden within heartache and upset. As we understand our self better, we become less alienated and more content, calmer, happier, and more self-confident. Fewer random thoughts demand our attention…

A collection of tantalizing tales with more twists than braided hair: Mystery, murder and mayhem – plus a moment of romance.

Sympathize with a doomed husband and connect with an altruistic robot. Explore an isolated Scottish isle and touch down on a far-flung asteroid.

Price $19.95 ISBN 978-1543942491

From the light-hearted to the darkest depths of the human psyche. They’re all there in this smorgasbord of short stories to keep you guessing at every turn.

Price $0.99 ISBN B078VL5VSH

Spirituality (Fiction)

Spirituality (Non-Fiction)

Four years ago, Charlene Perigard survived a brutal kidnapping. Now at twentytwo, she’s put that trauma behind her for a promising future with handsome firefighter Ben Jorgensen. But when new trauma strikes, a new nightmare begins.Sinister threats, a midnight attack, and a deathbed promise drive Charlene to the little town of Creekside, where she encounters a man from her past whom she has long struggled to forget: Clay Morrow—ex-convict and brother of her kidnapper…

Facing marital problems and eventually divorce, author Makena McChesney found herself a single mother.

Seeking comfort, she was befriended by the charismatic pastor of a nondenominational Christian fellowship of believers, and she joined the cult in 1978. In Seeking Oz, she discusses the twelve years of entrapment in this cult, predominantly in the 1980s, in a rural community in the United States.

Price $13.99 ISBN 978-0996805704

Price $18.99 ISBN 978-1982206192

Suspense

Thriller

Only three children have encountered the worst the town has to offer and lived, and each of them paid a terrible price. Psyches fractured, each child survived to adulthood as best they could—wrapped in fantasy, the comfort of amnesia, or the silence of isolation. When the town's evil intrudes on their lives a second time, it draws them home, setting in motion a chain of events that can only end in destruction. Who will be destroyed, the survivors or the monsters that plague the town?

Price $19.99 ISBN 978-0999079522

Killing Shore is the first book in the humorous Pepper Ryan mystery-thriller series. If you like everyman heroes, thrilling twists, and laugh-out-loud moments, you’ll love Timothy Fagan’s raucous tale

Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1732459632

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

2019 Book Awards - Winner’s Circle Travel (Non-Fiction)

Women’s Issues (Non-Fiction)

True one-of-a-kind story of an innocent exchange student who moves to Amsterdam hoping to write a book about the red light district and everything that follows. It's an American abroad story, and also a love story; it's an uplifting tragedy, full of humor from beginning to end; it's an Amsterdam survival guide; a sympathetic look at a societal problem; a little piece of policy; a sweet farewell to a world just about gone; and, ultimately, as close as you can come to a free trip to Amsterdam without leaving your couch.

This darkly funny, dramatic memoir, describes an emerging standup comic's drug-fueled descent into the underworld, escape from human traffickers, homelessness, and ultimate redemption. With brutal honesty, humor, and clarity, the author vividly describes her experiences as she rides her downward spiral: a nearmiss with a notorious serial killer, a series of tragically hilarious misadventures in the California drug world, and a terrifying account of imprisonment at the hands of Japanese organized crime, to name a few.

Price $12.95 ISBN 978-0999355909

Price $15.95 ISBN 978-0986006708

Women’s Literature

Writing/Publishing Non-Fiction

When new next-door neighbors Georgia, Midge, and Lula first assembled on Georgia’s porch in Charleston for sweet tea, they couldn’t have known their gathering was the beginning of a treasured tradition. For twenty-six years they have met on Tuesdays at four o’clock, watching the seasons change and their children grow up, supporting each other in good times and in bad. And then, one Tuesday, Georgia shares news that brings their long-standing social hour to an abrupt halt…

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Writing the Cozy Mystery will help you develop your characters, establish the setting, plot the story, add suspense, plant clues and sustain your series. This Second Edition contains more examples; additional writing exercises; expanded sections; and seven new chapters.

Price $11.99 ISBN 978-0998274133

Price $9.99 ISBN 978-0998531731

Young Adult (Fiction) 12 years to 16 years

Young New Adult (Fiction) 17 years and up

A magical adventure of animals traveling worldwide to Noah's ark Max, a Scottish terrier, takes his usual morning trot down to the loch. He embarks on an unknown journey from Scotland, meeting other animals along the way including Liz, a brilliant, petite black cat from France. Max and Liz become the brave leaders for their group, and eventually, for the entire ark. The mysterious journey, filled with danger, humor, trials, and triumphs, leads them across Europe to the Middle East.

Sixteen-year-old Leocadia arrives home from school to find her mom’s bloody body.

Unaware that the killer still lingers, she rushes to her mother’s side, only to be grabbed from behind and then everything fades to black. After a year of retrograde amnesia and battling personal demons, Leo’s dreams are getting worse —she’s starting to remember.

More bodies are discovered and they seem to be oddly linked to her mom’s unsolved homicide…

Price $16.99 ISBN 978-0899571980

Price $11.99 ISBN 978-1507884737

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categorywinners Young New Adult (Non-Fiction) 17 years and up This is The Inspiring True Story of Robert Crown’s amazing journey out of the darkness of his childhood and into a world brightly illuminated by the power of positive understanding and purposeful thought. It’s the story of rejecting the victimhood he once embraced and finding the answers that allowed him to embrace the power to create a new life using universal spiritual laws.

Price $13.99 ISBN 978-0999363928

Eleanor Alspaugh The Mommy-Go-Round Charles Ambrose Death Votes Last Elaine Ambrose Midlife Cabernet Belle Ami The Girl Who Knew DaVinci Karen Anderson The Amazing Afterlife of Animals; Messages and Signs from our Pets on the Other Side Alanah Andrews Eve of Eridu John Arvai The Good Mood Book

TopShelf Finalists in Alphabetical Order Tom Combs Wrongful Deaths

Timothy Fagan Killing Shore

Jenny Cote The Ark, the Reed, and the Firecloud

Ashley Farley Sweet Tea Tuesdays

Christine Cowin My Secret Self: Trials and Tribulations of an Innocent Book 1 Jason Crawford Chains of Prophecy Elaine Crockett Do Not Ask Tanya Anne Crosby The King’s Favorite Robert Crown Suffering Ends When Awakening Begins

Russell Ferrell The Bone War of McCurtain County Betta Ferrendelli The Friday Edition Leigh Fleming Stay Hidden Mackenzie Flohr The Rite of Wands Kathy Florence Joybird’s William AE Ford Timothy Mean and the Time Machine

Stephen Burckhardt Into the West: The Orphan Train

Don Daglow From Dream to Delivery: How to Do Work You Love, Love What You Do, and Launch Your Dream Project

Sara Burr When Time Stands Still

John Dahlgren The Tides of Avarice

Zach Fortier I Am Raymond Washington

Christian Bussler No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor

Sara Daigle Women of Purpose

Erik French Iphelia: Awakening the Gift of Feeling

Linda K Ford Decrypto: Unlock Your Life Journey

Sherrill Cannon A Dime is a Sign Teri Case Tiger Drive

Athena Daniels The Scream Behind Her Smile

S.W. Frontz Closer Than Yesterday

Athena Daniels When Darkness Follows

Claire Fullerton Mourning Dove

Darrell Case Never Ending Spring

Erik Dean Crueler and More Unusual

James Garrison QL 4

Batya Casper Israela

Annalise Delaney Safe in His Storm

Patrick Garry In the Shadow of War

Batya Casper Hidden: Nistar

Mario Dell’Olio Coming About: Life in the Balance

Gustovao J. Gomez Private Money Lending

KM Baginski Rehumanized Drew, A Windstalker Story

Joao Cerqueira Jesus and Magdalene

Michael Benner Fearless Intelligence

Joshua Chadd Wolf Pack

Mike DeLucia Madness: The Man Who Changed Basketball

Robert Besecker Everest Strong

Joshua Chadd Outbreak

Darcy Deming Sage Stone - The Magic Between the Worlds

Chris Bouchard Boy Unraveled

Eleanor Chance Arms of Grace

MariaLisa deMora Hard Focus

Judith Briles How to Create a $1,000,000 Speech

Miranda Chivers Unequally Yoked

Ramcy Diek Storm at Keizer Manor

John Briscoe Crush: The Triumph of California Wine

Wayne Clark That Women: Beating the Odds in Colonial New York

Rich DiSilvio Short Stories II: Mysteries, Thrillers and Historical

Don Broadwell Collaborative Leadership for Classroom and School

Graham Clayton Saving Paludis

Annie Douglass Lima Heartsong

Sue Hamilton Carried by Faith

Nancy Cohen Writing the Cozy Mystery: Expanded Second Edition

Glenn Dyer The Torch Betrayal

Breanna Hayes Billion Dollar Daddies: Jennie

Laurie Buchanan The Business of Being: Soul Purpose In and Out of the Workplace Melissa Burch My Journey Through War and Peace

22

Gustovao J. Gomez Hair Loss Shana Gorian Rosco the Rascal at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Steven Gossington The Diagnosis is Murder Christine Grabowski Dickensen Academy Heather Grace-Stewart Good Nights Clayton Graham Silently in the Night

Samantha Cole Scattered Moments in Time

Sherry Ellis Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China

Therese Heckenkamp After the Thaw

Ellie Collins Daisy, Bold & Beautiful

M.J. Evans PERCY - The Racehorse Who Didn’t Like to Run

Kurt Herbel The Innkeeper’s Son

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

TOPShelf magazine TopShelf Finalists in Alphabetical Order Michael Hicks Thompson The Rector

Arjay Lewis Fire In The Mind

Cindy Patterson Chasing Paradise

Holly Spofford A Letter for Hoot

Rafael Hines Bishop’s War

Arjay Lewis Kept In The Dark

Stephen Perkins Twilight’s Last Glory

Ken Stark Stage 3

Renee Hodges Saving Bobby

Denise Liebig For the Love of Maude

Jana Petken The Vogels: On All Fronts

Barbara Stark-Newman Hard Cider

JoAnn Hogenson Once Upon a Romance

Gloria Lintermans SAM: The Cat Without a Tail

Marie J.S. Phillips Khan: A Maine Coon

Barbara Stark-Newman Even in Darkness

Matthew Hunt Solar Reboot

Alex Lukeman The Eye of Shiva

Ben Jackson Hockey Wars

Marti MacGibbon Never Give in to Fear: Laughing All the Way Up from Rock Bottom

Marie J.S. Phillips The Secret Life of Model Horses Volume 1

Emmy Swain Franklin Bean Hurricane Hilda

Sarah Phillips Penned Without Ink: Trusting God to Write Your Story

Meredith Swift From New Age to New Creation - Set Free

Michael Maloof The Startup Survivor

Anna Philpot A Pilgrimage to Death

Lisa Manterfield A Strange Companion Amy Markstahler Life Happens on the Stairs

Ian Prattis Painting with Words Poetry for a New Era

Carolyn Swora Rules of Engagement: Building a Workplace Culture to Thrive in an Uncertain World

Cathrina Jankowiak Don’t Forget to Breathe Ann Janzer Writing to Be Understood Asoka Jinadasa Flying Penguin Lakisha Johnson Dear God: Hear My Prayer Jenna Elizabeth Johnson Flame and Form Jenna Elizabeth Johnson The Reckoning Allision Joseph Confessions of a Barefaced Women Keith Julius The Robber of Youth Marshall Karp TERMINAL Elizabeth Kirke Semester Aboard Judith Kohnen For the Love of Mandy R.F. Kristi Cat Detectives in the Korean Pennisula Rajeev Kurapati Physician Elsa Kurt Mae’s Cafe Marisa Labozzetta A Day in June Yossi Lapid My Snowman, Paul Yossi Lapid Yara’s Tawari Tree J.M. LeDuc Evil Awakened Christopher Leibig The Isotoner Ordeal Jacqui Letran 5 Simple Questions to Reclaim Your Happiness Sheri Levy Starting Over

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Cory Martin Love Sick James Masciarelli Beyond Beauport Sherry Maysonave The Girl Who Could Read Hearts: A Family and the Power of Intuition Kathleen McCormick Dodging Satan: My Irish/ Italian, Sometimes Awesome, But Mostly Creepy, Childhood Kaylin McFarren Twisted Threads Lynn McLaughlin Steering Through It Daniel McWhorter Restoration Claudette Melanson Rising Tide: Dark Innocence Lisa Meyer All Roads Shattered Maryann Miller A Dead Tomato Plant & A Paycheck

Debbie TenBrink Warped Ambition

Andrea Raine A Crowded Heart

Larry Thompson White Witch

Shirani Rajapakse Chant of a Million Women Michelle Rene Hour Glass

CC Tillery Through the Brown Mountain Lights

Bryan Robinson #CHILL: Turn Off Your Job and Turn On Your Life

Mary Ting Jaclyn and the Beanstalk

Judy Rondeau Finding the Silver Lining: Baby Boomer Life Lessons

Mary Ting ISAN - International Sensory Assassin Network Tracy Taynor Grace in Mombasa

Nicholas Rossis Emotional Beats: How to Easily Convert your Writing into Palpable Feelings

Phillip Vega Last Exit to Montauk

Stacey Rourke Apocalypse Five

Phillip Vega The Captain & the Queen

Stacey Rourke VLAD

Erik Henry Vick Demon King

Michael Rowland Morocco or Bust August ‘69

Kristin Ward Burden of Truth

C.L. Schneider The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price

Thomas Wascoe Child of the Dust

Ron Miner Sketches of a Black Cat

Mordecai Schreiber The Sage: Life’s Key Questions

David Wiener Amsterdam Exposed: An American’s Journey Into The Red Light District

Margaret Mizushima Burning Ridge: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery

Mary Schwaner Courage in a White Coat

Mikel J. Wilson Murder on the Lake of Fire

Mary Schwaner The Traitors Club: Caleb

Jeffrey Wilson War Torn

Wendy Scott Tequila Rose Virginity Blues

Nanci Woody Tears and Trombones

Jaidis Shaw The Lurking Collection

Ronald Yates Finding Billy Battles (Book 1 o the Finding Billy Battles Trilogy)

Jason Myrick Arklight: Force Interdiction David Naiman Jake, Lucid Dreamer Keith Newhouse My Tio’s Pulse Gail Pallotta Hair Calamities and Hot Cash Ward Parker The Teratologist

Judith Shaw Charley’s Horse Dick Snyder Pumpkinfest

Sherry Zedlitz Seeking Oz: My Twelve-Year Journey in a Cult

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HOLIDAYEDITION2019 23

"The a e i de ail a d e ide e e age. The e dedica i f la e f ceme

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ONE DEATH AT A T ME

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Interview rewinds

I’ve never had to live in daily survival mode, but every major life change we go through— independence, job changes, marriage, divorce, parenthood, empty nest, the death of a loved one—requires some reinvention and a certain about of introspection about what to let go of from the old life and what to keep. I’ve definitely had my fair share of hanging-on-bythe-fingernails days.

Congratulations on your recent release in September of A Single Light, the sequel to The Line Between. Did the release of this second part to your Medical Thriller series go as you expected? Did it bring any new surprises?

Every book release has surprises of some kind or another! For A Single Light, I threw a book launch party at my local indie store. We had wine, cheese, sweets, and prizes for all those who could make it—friends, longtime fans, and readers new to my books. The place was packed to the gills!

It was fabulous. The other big surprise for me is how hard it’s been to leave this main character, Wynter Roth, behind. I so enjoyed her journey.

Both The Line Between and A Single Light open with your heroine, Wynter Roth, being sequestered within walls she can’t leave… until she does. And in each book, she discovers secrets about herself and others close to her that change her entire worldview, even in two vastly different worlds.

Were these parallels intentional, did they emerge organically, or was it a little bit of both?

It’s always a little bit of both for me. I like to bring stories full circle with a twist—and many turns along the way—as the main character discovers her true identity.

Wynter’s characterization in A Single Light focuses less on her identifying and overcoming her own demons (as in The Line Between) and more on her redeveloping the kind of person she wants to be in a world where people have been www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Actually, neither one. While I do on occasion borrow the random characteristic of someone I know, I usually just let the characters show up organically. I knew I needed someone like Otto to come along when he did, though didn’t know what a sweet, funny, and lovable young man he would be, or that he would be mute. But when it came time, there he was, with his innocence and silent, snarky wit.

Wynter transforms from being the last person who would ever consider touching a gun to a determined, headstrong woman who does everything necessary in order to save and protect the people she loves—including handling lots of guns and a few explosives. This character growth also parallels her struggle with mental illness— both as someone with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and definitely with some Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after living in the Enclave for fifteen years. What do you hope readers would see in Wynter’s transformation and take away from it for themselves?

Just that heroes comes in all forms. And that those of us who often feel broken—I, like Wynter, have OCD—are often stronger than we know. That those things we think of as our weaknesses inform our particular form of genius and unique lens on the world. It’s been a real privilege to get to write characters who deal with mental illness, and to even speak about it on occasion—most recently at the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention.

I’ve always been a little fascinated with “prepping” and survival stories. But if anything, I’d say marrying a farmer who hunts, fishes, and can pretty much fix anything has made me consider that, should doomsday strike, my chances are vastly improved. :D

HOLIDAY2019

WE FOLLOW-UP WITH NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR, TOSCA LEE

You put a lot of time into researching the catalyst for this rapid early onset dementia sweeping across the US and the world in A Single Light.

Beyond the scientific and medical elements, this book incorporates a little bit of every type of person, all thrust together under this doomsday scenario—from preppers and military personnel to cult survivors, doctors, thugs, and tragically poignant, hopeful characters like Otto. Were any of these people modeled after someone you know? Or were they the product of hours of research as well?

Obviously, we haven’t lived through these doomsday scenarios—yet (your acknowledgments at the end of A Single Light were written during the aftermath of a “bomb cyclone” having hit Nebraska, which you mentioned had eerie parallels to certain scenes in the book). Has writing these books changed the way you look at “being prepared” for any eventuality, from natural disasters to pandemics and everything in between?

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stripped down to nothing but survival mode. How much of this reinventing, if any, was drawn from your own personal life? How much of it came from outside sources and research?

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

Wynter is a fairly young woman in these books —just twenty-two years old. She has never had an intimate relationship before she meets Chase and has no children of her own, yet the risks she takes for her niece Truly and her stand-in aunt Julie are propelled by as much love for them as anyone would have for their own flesh and blood.

How much of this storyline, if any, was influenced by the idea of “chosen family versus blood relations”?

That’s a really good question. I think a big influence on this idea of chosen family was marriage to my husband—a formerly single father. Almost four years ago, I gained four kids in the space of “I do.” I also have a former ballet coach whom I affectionately refer to as an extra parent, so in one sense, my own family is comprised as much of chosen family as of my blood relations.

For Wynter, who ended up at the cult enclave to escape an abusive father and has since lost her mother and then her sister, her only remaining family is her niece. So aside from Truly, it’s all chosen family for her.

There is a lot of devastation, high-intensity action, and emotionally gripping, powerfully tragic events in A Single Light. Beyond this being a Medical Thriller and a speculative doomsday account, what do you hope readers take away from the darkness in these “end times” and Wynter’s fight to keep that “single light” alive?

Well, first and foremost, a good, healthy escape. Because let’s face it; that’s what we love about fiction. But beyond that, the courage to seek out hope in even the darkest situations—or to be that light to others. I truly believe a single kind word or good deed is enough to save the world a moment at a time.

Read more of our interview with Tosca Lee at:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

HOLIDAYEDITION2019 27

featuredspotlights

...books worth a closer look!

Art historian Angela Renatus knows she’s different. She can see into the past—into the lives of the greatest artists of all time —but are her visions a gift or a curse? Angela and her fiancé, Alex Caine—a former Navy Seal turned private detective— recover precious works of art for private collectors, museums, and galleries. Enlisted by the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Angela and Alex investigate one of the greatest art heists in history— the theft of Caravaggio’s NATIVITY.

The world's most powerful CEOs have a plan to save the human race, but they are going to have to break the law to do it.

Evan’s granddaughter, Aubrey, is one of those CEOs and she believes Evan is the key to humanity's survival. With the weight of the world hanging in the balance, can one man really make a difference?

Genre Romance, Thriller Price $14.95 ISBN 978-1732207134

Genre Science Fiction Price $0.99 ISBN B07YN3NCWM

Abandoned and left at a local shelter, a Maine Coon kitten awaits an uncertain fate. During his stay, Khan befriends a wise old tomcat, who speaks about his experiences of life on the streets, bringing comfort to the frightened kitten. Four days later, to Khan's horror, the shelter workers take his friend away to the Big Sleep, as the tomcat called it, leaving Khan scared and alone. Just before Khan's time is up, a man enters the shelter and adopts Khan, bringing him to a new home…

Homicide detective Randy Monroe has plenty of work to do without looking for more cases. But when he gets wind of a rash of strange accidents, his gut says there’s more to it.

At first, there seems to be nothing connecting the incidents, but when he and his partner, Danny Beckman, dig deeper, they find something beyond their expectations…

Genre Pet & Animal Price $10.99 ISBN 978-1502582515

Genre Thriller Price $12.99 ISBN 978-1946892256

Can love heal a wounded army officer who doesn’t believe it exists?

What if God's most closely guarded secret fell into the wrong hands?

Lady Rachel St. Clair has witnessed how powerful love can be, thanks to the example her brother and wife set, and she won’t settle for anything less. At a house party, Rachel meets an officer returning from the Peninsular War and believes she may have found love, thanks to their clandestine midnight lessons in kissing…

Genre Romance Price $11.99 ISBN 978-1093255515

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TOPShelf magazine

The Prophet crucified in a sacred grove…

A millennia-old secret about to be exposed…

A holy relic capable of destroying the world with a single touch…

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $28.99 ISBN 978-1946865007

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

“Atmospheric and tense, with plenty of treachery and a heavy dose of history. What more could you ask for in a thriller?

Take a walk on the perilous side and check this one out.”

—Full Steve Berry Page Ad NY Times, USA Today & Internationally Bestselling Author

A disgraced agent. A missing battle plan.

Will he find redemption or damage the Allies beyond repair?

London, 1942. OSS Agent Conor Thorn is desperate for a second chance. After a botched mission in Tangier, Thorn knows failure is not an option. When confidential directives for Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, go missing, the agent must recover the plans before the Nazis thwart the crucial mission.

Thorn teams up with MI6 agent Emily Bright to seek out the traitor in their midst. Untangling the web of suspects leads them to Nazi sympathizers, double-crossing Soviet spies, and Vatican clergymen with motives of their own. As their mission grows more and more dangerous, Thorn and Bright have one chance to retrieve the document before it falls into enemy hands, leaving countless Allied troops in danger.

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The Torch Betrayal is a high-stakes World War II thriller inspired by true events.

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“. . . a classic spy story in the vein of John Le Carré or Daniel Silva . . .”

— BlueInk Stared Review “ . . . In this highly entertaining tale . . .

Dyer has hit all the notes in the thriller genre . . .”

— IndieReader FiveStar Review

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Interview rewinds

As a successful professor, and having gone through a period of being a single mom, why was it important for you to start ESME?

I’m Marika Lindholm, the founder of ESME (Empowering Solo Moms Everywhere) and coeditor of the new book We Got This: Solo Moms Stories of Grit, Heart, and Humor.

When I went through my divorce and began my solo parenting journey, I read loads of how-to books filled with advice and strategies, but what I really needed was a book that spoke to my heart and showed me that I wasn’t alone. We Got This is the book I craved back then. By showcasing a community of solo mom voices, we celebrate a solo mom’s resilience and strength but also wrap our arms around her as she copes with the hard stuff.

Please tell us a little about We Got This.

What do you hope readers will learn from this book?

Please introduce yourself to our readers?

We Got This is a collection of essays and poems by moms who coparent or parent alone. Well-known writers such as Mary Karr, Anne Lamott, Audre Lorde, and Amy Poehler share their solo mom stories together with up-and-coming writers. By including a diversity of moms who represent different paths to solo motherhood, we are giving voice to moms who often get left out of mainstream discussions of motherhood.

What exactly is ESME? ESME is a social platform that provides support and connection to moms parenting alone, whether by choice or circumstance.

Our website, app, and social media offer information, resources, and—most importantly—a place to connect with other solo moms for advice and community. Our 80 local Facebook groups and ESME chatroom ensure that any mom who reaches out to us will find someone to listen and talk to any time of day or night. www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Regardless of why or how one becomes a solo mom—whether due to a partner’s deployment, incarceration, or numerous circumstances, we show that solo moms in all their beautiful diversity should be heard and honored. I hope that readers will gain respect and empathy for these amazing moms. The common thread that runs through all the stories is a solo mom’s fierce love for her children. Our book says to solo moms, “We see you, and you are incredible!”

Do you have a favorite We Got This story and why?

That’s an unfair question! It’s like asking which kid is your favorite. But there are a few that strike me as particularly unique.

For example, Robin Rogers offers a heartwrenching essay about losing a spouse to mental illness, while Angela Ricketts shares the story of her middle-of-the-night heart attack while her husband was deployed. Evie Peck gives us a hilarious blow-by-blow account of sexting while

Music is highly evocative and can summon a particular feeling faster than words. Using song titles for each chapter was our way of setting a recognizable mood to each chapter’s theme. For example, we conclude the book with “Here Comes the Sun,” making clear the books ends on a positive note. On the way, a reader can pick and choose to read “Good Morning Heartache” for a good cry, “Isn’t it Romantic?” for dating stories, or “The Kids Are Alright,” which needs no explanation.

HOLIDAY2019

Why was it important for you to write We Got This?

What is the significance of your chapter titles being song titles?

magazine

AN INTERVIEW WITH BESTSELLING AUTHOR, MARIKA LINDHOLM

I was teaching at Northwestern University when my divorce left me solo parenting a three- and five-year-old. Although I had medical coverage, a good job, and a support network, it was an extremely hard time for me. As I coped with a shift in identity, new challenges, and stress, I thought about all the women going through this who were not as fortunate.

Lying awake each night, worrying about my kids and feeling very alone, I vowed to myself to make it easier on other solo moms if I ever had the opportunity. It’s been incredibly fulfilling to know that ESME is there to make the challenge of solo motherhood just a little bit easier. .

being snack mom at her son’s soccer game. And Staceyann Chin’s story, “Coming Out Pregant!,” is a humorous look at her neighbors’ confusion over a pregnant lesbian.

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

There are four editors on this anthology.

How did that work? Did you know them before the collaboration? Have they all been single moms?

Three out of the four of us had been single moms. Collaborating with Cheryl Dumesnil, Domenica Ruta, and Katherine Shonk was joyful and rewarding—truly a dream team. Over a span of four years, we connected over Google Hangouts from New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and my home, the Hudson Valley. We all knew one another through ESME, but now we are connected for life. I have tremendous love and gratitude for all of them.

If a library or bookstore would like to request an appearance or signing by you, what would be the best way to schedule that?

I’m easy to find! Either write to contact.us@esme.com or marika@esme.com, and I’d be happy to discuss an event or book-club appearance.

Our events have been very well received because we usually have five to seven contributors read their essays or poems, making for a very powerful and memorable couple of hours! You can learn more at wegotthisbook.com.

Read more of our interview with Marika Lindholm at:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

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Narrated b Jeff Lemucchi

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Dick Sn der provides an e pressive, almost l rical, narrative to the stal art Jonas Kirk, and the intricate details of murder and crime-solving are arguabl some of the best out there.

Kri Miller, TopShelf Revie s for Jona Ki k M

Center Spread Dick Snyder

“If you like adventure, Caribbean seas and family intrigue, you’ll surely enjoy this tale.” ~Katherine A. Sherbrooke, author of Fill the Sky SHANNON CLARKE raised a family and worked waterfront jobs in America’s oldest seaport. Her childhood dream to become a sea captain is revived when her long-lost seafaring uncle Patrick visits with a salty tale of their maritime family ancestry of pirates and privateers. He shares recovered family letters and artifacts from the Golden Age of Piracy. They take to the sea in Patrick’s brigantine to follow the siren song of their ancestors in quest of destiny, truth and treasure. The voyage is fraught with raw forces of nature, pastPage traumas and present day Full Ad sea raiders, as their talents and beliefs of family, Sky Parlor identity and purpose are shaken to the core.

www.JamesMasciarelli.com Koehler Books

SOFT COVER: $17.95 978-1-63393-655-3

HARD COVER: $26.95 978-1-63393-657-7

Interview rewinds

What is Beauport, what does it signify to you?

Do you have particular authors who influenced or inspired your writing?

Why do you write?

Writing is challenging, powerful, and pleasurable— even intoxicating. Writing explores, informs, entertains and endures. It transforms. What is more powerful than that? At its best, writing engages your head and heart in greater wholeness. I spent years writing to move ideas, now I write story; much more challenging and fun. I want to entertain my readers. I believe writing can change a person, even the entire world.

What inspired you to write Beyond Beauport?

I love Gloucester and greater Cape Ann, for its beauty and maritime history–a place like no other, with a strong sense of community, and interesting characters. I was a blue collar kid from a rural farm town that travelled the world in a suit. No more. I do know what it’s like to love a place and have the wanderlust. A quest is invigorating. I’ve had my share and follies too. My protagonist in Beyond Beauport goes on a mid-life quest. I was inspired by the rugged spirit of Gloucester women connected to the fishing and waterfront economy, and decided my protagonist had to be a woman with a history and an uncertain future. I was inspired by Homer’s Iliad and the Odyssey when I read them one summer and later studied them in college classics courses. www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Beyond Beauport is an adventure novel.

What makes you feel most alive?

To exercise my free will, with the attitude to be sensible, fear nothing, and try new things. Every day begins with the computer, research, then the gym, writing and other activities. Mind, body and spirit are important to exercise every day.

To live the golden rule and make a difference. I am a father, twice married, still friends with my first wife, and my wife Judi of 35 years is my best friend.

Soulful relationships over decades take stamina and heart. On the personal side, I have enjoyed fishing, boating, mountaineering, kayak racing, rowing dories, cycling, motorcycling, camping, travel, and cooking. Not enough dancing.

My intellectual pursuits are varied. I am fortunate to have friends around the world to share ideas. The life of a joyful skeptic intrigues me–always seeking, sometimes finding answers. I have had beagles since a boy. They totally get it and are my better selves.

What research was required for the pirate and privateer history of Beyond Beauport?

After learning about Anne Bonny, the wild fearless, Irish redhead pirate of the Caribbean in early 1700s, I researched female seafarers. It took me a while to figure how my main character, Shannon Clarke, would be connected to the Golden Age of Piracy and to Anne Bonny. A genealogical mystery was the inspiration.

HOLIDAY2019

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW TOPSHELF PRO MEMBER, JAMES MASCIARELLI

There are many, but for maritime/sea stories I would say Hemingway, Patrick O’Brien, Jack London, Nathaniel Philbrick, Daniel Defoe, Rafael Sabatini, Morgan Llewellyn, Jules Verne, Robert Lewis Stevenson, and Robert Carse.

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Here’s the best review I ever got on An idyllic place by the sea with a sensibility that represents a paradise lost, but actually exists, where nature nurtures, and citizens care, with diversity of thinking and respect.

Where nobody cares what you did, but care who you are. A special place from where you venture out in the world. But yearn for home with something special to share.

Charting genealogical connections back to 1700’s involved research into true famous courageous captains, privateers, and patriots of Gloucester and Cape Ann, down the east coast, their life and times. This meant serious library and primary research. I have visited and researched locations in this travel yarn of a sea story. To hold actual logbooks of a famous privateer in the American Revolution, amid sea battles, sent a chill up my spine. I have met modern day descendants of some of them and got access to family papers. You only get to use about seven percent of the luminous history to move a novel forward. That takes a lot of painful cuts in hard worked copy. The history itself was as fun as the writing.

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS Your main character in Beyond Beauport wrote several poems. What was it like for you to write poetry in meter?

I always liked classical poetry and remember the newer witty stuff of Ogden Nash and Edgar Allan Poe, and Walt Whitman. I studied Classics at Holy Cross College. We learned about meter and form, but I didn’t do much with it until recently. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner was the inspiration for the poetry for my character Shannon in Beyond Beauport with a classic meter. I enjoy music and lyrical expression. When I practice my guitar, the song, with its melody, back beat and harmony, make me wish I was a songwriter. Lyrical writing is uplift, with narrative descriptive forms that read like poetry and conjure imagery.

I read my work aloud to get the beats to work in final edits.

What is next for you? Will you do a sequel for Beyond Beauport?

I plan to write posts for my readers to delve more deeply into the themes of my novel, maybe show a few of those morsels I found and had to leave on the cutting room floor.

Also take the best of my story briefs and work them into short stories that can grow. As to a sequel or prequel for Beyond Beauport, I have plenty of material. It would be fun to change the point of view character.

Read more of our interview with James Masciarelli at:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

HOLIDAYEDITION2019 35

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REVIEWS

HOLIDAY2019

Self-Help

Paperback

$19.95

Mystery

Paperback

$12.95

Thriller

Hardcover

$27.00

HOOKED ME HARD! SHOULD BE MANDATED READING!

LEAVES A NOTEWORTHY MARK ON A TERRIFYING, EDGE OF YOUR THE CLASSIC WHODUNNIT GENRE. SEAT, HEART-PALPITATING TALE

Becky Kueker thought she had it all–– publishing a new book and launching a national speaking career traveling the country at age 75––what more could you ask for? It wasn't until a complicated surgery landed her in a wheelchair confronted with endless rehab when her life turned toward a new direction.

Fighting fear, depression, and the realization that she would (once again) have to start over, Kueker shares her journey, finding humor every painful step of the way. A Classic in Clown Shoes hooked me hard, immediately transported to lunch with a trusted older friend, who shared with me her deepest secrets. Parts of this book had me in stitches, with tears streaming my face. It's refreshing to read advice from a woman who has conquered every hill and field of battle in the modern sense. A Classic in Clown Shoes should be a stocking stuffer for anyone over 35 and mandated reading if over 50. Heck, before you cash out your IRA, your financial planner should hand you a copy of this book.

The murder of one of Cab Station’s own had rocked town residents, but the case ultimately went cold, forgotten for decades. That is until the identity of the victim gets uncovered by Nicholas Tucker Tyson—NT, for short—and his friend Daisy, who launch their own investigation.

Along the way, they befriend Hoot, who unknowingly holds the key to solving the mystery. In between golf practice, basketball challenges, and trips to the ice cream parlor, NT and Daisy relentlessly search for the truth––a shocking revelation that will rock an already devastated town to its core. We couldn’t find a single reviewer on our staff who was a fan of golf. However, after just a few minutes of reading this book, it became evident that loving the game of golf is by no means a requirement for loving this book. With obvious inspiration from such masters as Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie, literary newcomer, Holly Spofford leaves a noteworthy mark on the classic whodunnit genre, beloved by millions. We eagerly await her next installment.

~Mrs. Y, TopShelf Review

~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

From the second I picked up A Single Light, I… was… hooked! We better hope Lee’s horrific vision of an apocalyptic end of days world never comes to pass. A terrifying, edge of your seat, heart-palpitating tale about what happens when a flu pandemic invades the United States through the food supply delivering an incurable disease of madness and death. People are dying.

Order turns to chaos when 64 people, not infected, enter the silo, which is time-locked not to open for six months. Their only hope is that by the time they reemerge, the world’s scientists will be capable of stopping the disease from wiping out what’s left of Earth’s population. The time-lock opens six days early and one girl emerges with the key to Earth’s survival. But she’s hunted for the murder of her sister. With the clock racing and danger lurking at every turn––societies taken by gangs who will kill for a scrap of food––survival is the game. The future may not exist beyond six days. A provocative tale you are NOT going to want to miss! ~Belle Ami, TopShelf Reviews

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HOLIDAYEDITION2019 37

Readers of inspirational fiction ill lo e this mo ing stor that affirms the po er of God s merc ."

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"Hearts Set Free enthralled, entertained, and enchanted me from the er first page!"

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Hear ss Se Se Free Free is is aa stor stor of of men men and and Hear omen ho ho journe journe from from the the darkness darkness of of omen doubt to to triumphant triumphant faith faith and and from from the the doubt ache of of loneliness loneliness to to ee erlasting erlasting lo lo e. e. ache

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REVIEWS

HOLIDAY2019

Fiction

Paperback

$17.95

Thriller

Paperback

$15.99

PACKED WITH ADVENTURE AND RAFAEL AMADEUS HINES IS THRILLS... A FANTASTIC READ A MASTER STORYTELLER If you like adventure, and sailing the wild blue seas, Beyond Beauport is the perfect read for you.

Throw in a feisty heroine who is searching for a second chance in life, and her seafaring uncle who is determined to help her find it, and you have the makings of a truly entertaining book.

The two chart a course in search of a treasure that their ancestors, the fearless, redheaded, pirate Anne Bonny and her pirate lover Calico Jack Rackham purportedly buried on Marco Island off the coast of Florida. Shannon’s dream is to become a sailing master, and to do that, she must first master Paddy’s sailing brigantine, the Second Wind. They set out from the old port of Gloucester with two intentions, to make a sailor of Shannon and to find a treasure worth millions. The adventure begins with beautifully descriptive historical locations from Gloucester, Massachusetts, to Charleston South Carolina, to Florida, and island hops all over the Caribbean.

Packed with adventure and oceanic thrills Beyond Beauport is a fantastic read. ~Belle Ami, TopShelf Reviews

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

This action-packed thriller introduces readers to Special Forces Sergeant John Bishop, decorated war hero and nephew of the notorious crime boss, Gonzalo Valdez. After returning from Afghanistan, John Bishop’s hopes for a peaceful future are shattered as he’s catapulted back into the global war on terror through a succession of life-threatening events. Bishop battles against terrorist operatives in New York, a powerful Afghan warlord, and a psychopathic billionaire with powerful White House connections. When Bishop’s crime boss uncle gets involved, Bishop’s enemies are treated to the bitter taste of mob vengeance. Not for the faint of heart, Bishop’s War had us breathlessly grasping pages as they seemed to almost vanish at lightning speed.

Rafael Amadeus Hines is clearly a master storyteller, which begs the question––nearly four years since this book’s stellar debut––where the heck is the next book? ~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

Romance

Paperback

$14.99

BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN AND CHOCKED FULL OF ADVENTURE Emily Staton, a sociology major, received a full scholarship from Evergreen Research Corporation with the agreement that she works for the company for four years after graduation. However, the work she was expected to do for Evergreen was never clearly defined. Her roommate, Sophie, comes for a wealthy family. Before graduation, Sophie introduces Emily to Gerd as well as her father, George - the distinguished yet deceptive Lord Winston.

Throughout the story, Emily journals her life, writing the entries to her favorite Aunt Maude, who died when Emily was 15. Dear Maude is beautifully written and chocked full of adventure, mystery, romance, and time travel. Its told from the first-person point of view, which is exciting because the reader gets to hear all of Emily's questions, doubts, and insecurities. My only complaint is that the story is slow to start; however, it quickly changes into a roller coaster ride, once time travel emerges. ~Rebecca Katsikas, TopShelf Review

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HOLIDAYEDITION2019 39

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HOLIDAY2019

Thriller

Paperback

$18.99

Romance

Paperback

$12.99

KEATING IS A CLEAR MASTER AT HIS CRAFT

HAD ME FLIPPING PAGES WELL INTO THE NIGHT

One man faces challenges as a pastor in China.

His son has become a breakout phenom in the world of professional golf. The Chinese government is displeased with both, and their lives are in danger. Onetime Navy SEAL and former CIA operative Pastor Stephen Grant has a history with communist China, while also claiming a pretty solid golf game. His unique experience and skills unexpectedly put him alongside old friends, at some of golf's biggest tournaments as a caddy and bodyguard, and in the middle of an international struggle over Christian persecution, a mission of revenge, and a battle between good and evil. The latest in a long-running Pastor Stephen Grant series, Deep Roush, is a squarely hit hole-in-one! Author Ray Keating is new to TopShelf, and this, our first review. However, it most definitely will NOT be our last. Keating is a clear master at his craft, and Deep Roush is proof he's mastered the game.

Twenty-year-old Alayna Scott receives visions around water, but even her foresight couldn't prepare her for the tragic accident that claimed the lives of her parents. With everything she loves gone, Alayna packs up and moves to the small town of Juniper Grove in hopes of starting over.

Jayden McKnight can't explain the attraction that he feels whenever Alayna is near, but he does know that he will do whatever it takes to win her heart. When a vampire selects Alayna as his next victim, Jayden will stop at nothing to ensure her safety – even if that means bringing Alayna into a world that she never knew existed. Love blossoms, challenges are made, and Alayna will find herself fighting not only to survive but to understand what she has become. Award-winning author, Jaidis Shaw, paints an intriguing fantasy world and tells a familiar tale in a way that feels fresh and unexpected. This is one of Shaw's earlier novels, and it reads as such. However, Destiny Awaits had me flipping pages well into the night and held my attention throughout.

~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

~Rebecca Katsikas, TopShelf Review

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Humor

Hardcover

$26.95

AN ENTERTAINING, COMEDIC, RELIGIOUS, COMING-OF-AGE Bridget Flagherty, a student at St. Michael's Catholic school outside Boston in the 60s-70s, takes refuge in wacky misunderstandings of Bible Stories and Catholic beliefs to avoid problems in her Irish/Italian family life. Newcoming author, Kathleen Zamboni McCormick has penned quite the entertaining, comedic, religious, coming-of-age tale with the multiaward-winning Dodging Satan, which does NOT shy away from controversy. Bridget Flagherty's musings on sadistic nuns, domestic violence, emerging sexuality, and God the Father's romantic life will intrigue some, disturb others, and entertain almost all. It's obvious to TopShelf why Dodging Satan has won so many awards. However, as good as this book is, it’s not for everyone. ~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

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HOLIDAYEDITION2019 41

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Christian

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$9.05

Christian

Paperback

$11.99

Thriller

Paperback

$11.95

A BEAUTIFULLY HISTORICAL CHRISTIAN ROMANCE

A FABULOUS AND WHOLESOME ROMANTIC MYSTERY

HITS ALL THE PULSE POINTS FOR A GREAT THRILLER

South Wales, 1905. Faith only believes in the certainty of pain and suffering. Born with a club foot and harboring a dark secret, the barmaid can’t escape her sinful past. But after the country’s religious revival puts her out of a job, hope sparks when a handsome aristocrat gallantly offers her a second chance. Lord Geoffrey Driscoll fears his estate will run out of money before he can find a suitable bride. However, the devout nobleman can’t keep his mind off the stunning redhead despite her lowly status. As their attraction grows, Lord Driscoll is torn between his need for a wife of means and his heart. Can the troubled couple trust in God to light the way to true love? Faith in Abertillery by Tracy Traynor is a beautifully written, wholesome, and tremendously touching historical Christian romance. You will be hardpressed to find another gem as bright and as worthy of your attention as this wonderfully entertaining and enlightening book.

"I'm thinking of killing Danny." When suspense novelist Carla Williams is accused of planning an actual murder, her life takes on more plot twists than one of her books. Sure, her life's in danger, but she's also caught the attention of a handsome detective by the name of Roger Graf, so that kind of evens things out. As Carla nears the end of her novel, it's up to Roger to catch the killer; but it might just be the end of Carla's life story as well. Author and retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant, Gena Webb, has penned a fabulous and wholesome romantic mystery with a clever plot and well-drawn characters that readers will instantly love.

When a nuclear sub is downed off the shores of North Korea by their deranged ruler, who bears a keen resemblance to Kim Jong Un, all hell breaks loose. The drone is a top-secret weapon developed by the US military with top-secret technology, meaning there’s a highlevel traitor out there. Things heat up quickly, and the world seems destined for a nuclear electromagnetic pulse attack from North Korea, and/or all-out nuclear war between China and the US, and/or a nuclear holocaust between the Russian Federation and the US. Why is this happening? The President of the United States is having none of it, and our heroes, known as “The Project,” a covert counter-terrorism unit that answers to just one boss, the President, are put on the case. Next stop North Korea. High Alert by Alex Lukeman hits all the pulse points for a great, suspense fueled thriller. An intriguing adventure that pits absolute evil against absolute good.

~Rebecca Katsikas, TopShelf Review

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~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

~Belle Ami, TopShelf Reviews

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HOLIDAYEDITION2019 43

featuredspotlights

...books worth a closer look!

TOPShelf magazine

The world's most powerful CEOs have a plan to save the human race, but they are going to have to break the law to do it.

Evan’s granddaughter, Aubrey, is one of those CEOs and she believes Evan is the key to humanity's survival. With the weight of the world hanging in the balance, can one man really make a difference?

London, 1942.

The world is at war.

Genre Science Fiction Price $0.99 ISBN B07YN3NCWM

Genre Thriller & Suspense Price $15.99 ISBN 978-0999117309

Without expecting praise from the man who trained him to survive this centuries-old, malignant war against the inhuman followers of an invincible lord.

A Blazing Gilded Age is the epic story of a volatile nation burning with ambition, yet bleeding with injustice. It was a time of profound change; boldly transforming from an agrarian backwater into an industrial powerhouse.

A disgraced agent. A missing battle plan. Will OSS Agent Conor Thorn find redemption or damage the Allies beyond repair? The Torch Betrayal is a high-stakes World War II thriller inspired by true events.

Both powerful and poignant, “A Blazing Gilded Age" serves as an entertaining and enlightening read of how and why America has gone astray, and why it became a world leader.

44

Genre Science Fiction Price $16.95 ISBN 978-0994495600

Genre Action & Adventure Price $34.95 ISBN 978-0981762562

When an American missile submarine is sunk in the Sea of Japan, it's the opening move in a madman's plan to plunge the world into war. A day later the Chinese ambassador to Washington is assassinated.

Meanwhile, the unstable leader of North Korea prepares to attack America with a terrible weapon. The U.S. President calls in the Project, a deep black ops unit that goes places and does things others can't or won't do…

Join an unforgettable cast of characters on a journey from the darkness of doubt to triumphant faith and from the ache of loneliness to everlasting love.

Genre Conspiracy Thriller Price $11.95 ISBN 978-1545119730

Genre Christian Fiction Price $12.95 ISBN 978-1098511098

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

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HOLIDAY2019

Historical

Paperback

$18.95

A REAL GEM THAT IS AS WARM AND GLORIOUS AS IT IS REFLECTIVE AND TIMELESS Home Front: A Memoir from WWII chronicles a farm family in the 1940s and how their lives are irrevocably changed by the war and by "progress" in the post-war period. Share in their story––the blackouts, rationing, fears, patriotism, and the absolute unity felt by all involved. As the men head to war, our narrator grows to an obliged maturity, shouldering the work left behind while struggling with the daily impact of the war on his world. But the most significant impact comes after the war when the country becomes all about returning to normal. But, for this farm family from the 1940s, normal is gone. Rarely do we recommend a book as strongly as we recommend Home Front. Author C.D. Peterson has written a real gem that is as warm and glorious as it is reflective and timeless. This book is sure to move you.

Mystery

Paperback

$10.50

FIVE ENTHUSIASTIC STARS! DON’T MISS THIS ONE! In this edge-of-your-seat crime thriller, the brilliantly fast-tracked mind of Washington, DC prosecutor Jeff Trask is put to the most dangerous challenge yet. A series of brutal murders, presaged by the brazen and violent beheading of the Salvadoran Ambassador’s son outside the embassy, take out members of the infamous M-13 and M-18 gangs in the beltway. Horns of the Devil is an immense and immersive rollercoaster ride of heart-stopping suspense with fully realized characters who will live and breathe in your imagination with vitality, inhabiting a world where darkness and evil co-exist with peace and justice. It is a world that is closer to our safe and well-lit experience as we would perhaps like to admit, but all too real to safely ignore. ~Donald Richard, TopShelf Review

Fiction

Paperback

$5.99

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! In The Shadow of War centers on a group of individuals that deal with causalities of war. The author does a magnificent job building all of the characters in this story, with great insight into their personalities. I felt the characters were real, in fact I thought it was a true story. And I especially loved the affection between the brothers, which was heart-warming, and exceptionally written. Glen, the main character in the book, lives with his deluded grandfather and an array of desperate residents in a Midwestern prairie town in the ’70s. The relationships between the other characters are intense, but they work together toward a common goal, renovating an old ballroom.

Unfortunately, this is threatened when a disgraced war veteran arrives in town, harboring a secret about one of the husbands that will thrust the residents into the center of political controversy. The descriptions about the town and the area bordering it are very concise and believable. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I devoured it in two days. Highly recommended! ~Michael Rowland, TopShelf Reviews

~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

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HOLIDAYEDITION2019 47

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Historical

Paperback

$15.75

MASTERFULLY WRITTEN, AND TREMENDOUSLY ENTERTAINING Claudia Procula--wife of one of the most controversial figures in ancient history--comes alive to twenty-first-century readers in a groundbreaking novel by award-winning author Lin Wilder. For decades, the daughter of the last Oracle at Delphi has suppressed the secrets of her birth, extensive education, and marriage to the notorious Fifth Prelate of Judea--Pontius Pilate.

Now, at age seventy-nine, she feels compelled to leave behind her story for the world and set the record straight about the beginnings of modern history. In a surprising change of genre and style, Wilder brings her extensive research and wideranging imagination to bear on the seminal story of our time: the passion of the Christ.

The result is a compelling and harrowing love story replete with historical figures such as Seneca, Socrates, and Pilate himself. A dramatic departure from the norm for medical mystery author, Lin Wilder, this historical fiction romp is deeply researched, masterfully written, and tremendously entertaining. ~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

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Memoir

Paperback

$16.00

Memoir

Hardcover

$35.95

NOT TO BE MISSED! 500 STARS! A SUPERBLY-WRITTEN MEMOIR. HIGHLY Emotional and profoundly affecting, Kick Ass Kinda Girl hits every note on the scale. Between RECOMMENDED! deep joy and crushing sadness, the lowest despair, and the highest level of soaring victory, this true story of love, loss, and quiet triumph is truly inspiring as it brings you on an unforgettable journey of love and selfdiscovery. Kathi Koll, the founder of the Kathi Koll Foundation, has lived a life of adventure, having been close childhood friends with Lucie Arnez, a young model and an actress in commercials during the Seventies and Eighties. Her toughest challenges come when her second husband, Don Koll––a successful hotel owner and world traveler with an unquenchable zest for life––suffers a tragic and devastating stroke that leaves him prisoner in his own body. But her most significant role was that of a caregiver. Dedicating all of her heart, soul, and strength, Kathi Holl's story of endurance and love, dotted by moments of soaring triumph and agonizing grief, will not easily be forgotten and will keep readers turning pages deep into the night.

When Christina's second marriage comes to a tragic end, she finds herself on an unexpected path of discovery, revealing the root of a lifelong avoidance of the mirror, lack of personal boundaries, a mystery illness, and her belief that she was never quite good enough.

By digging in and, for the first time, taking a candid look at the childhood events that shaped her adult life, Christina finally discovers her truth. Few books have the genuine potential to impact lives as powerfully as Christina Beauchemin’s superbly-written memoir, Let My Legacy Be Love: A Story of Discovery and Transformation. This award-worthy book clearly sets out to help people struggling with self-confidence and self-forgiveness, and it does so with poise and heartfelt musings.

Highly recommended!

~Donald Richard, TopShelf Review

~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

TOPShelf magazine

HOLIDAYEDITION2019 49

TOPShelf magazine It's the 1940s. WW II. Home Front chronicles a farm family and how their lives were irrevocably changed by the war and by"progress" in the post war period.

“The lawyer-hero remains, as always, resolute and razor-sharp . . . Plenty of backstory on the villains makes them both intriguing and intimidating . . . A riveting final act which delivers plenty of action.” ~Kirkus Reviews

Genre Historical Fiction Price $18.95 ISBN 978-0960081509

Genre Crime & Mystery Price $10.05 ISBN 978-1537610757

The Dear Maude Trilogy, is a multi-genre novel that blends time travel romance, mystery and intrigue, set in different time periods, with enough twists and turns to keep you turning the pages. It's the multi-award winning story of a naive college graduate, whose first job is anything but conventional.

The MoMmY-Go-RoUnD is a heartwarming and humorous book which breaks the Motherhood Code of Silence with A Tell ALL series of essays on Motherhood, Childhood and EVERYTHING in between. It brings humor and love together while honestly sharing the often UNSPOKEN experiences in raising children and the CrAzY balancing act and understanding heart it requires!

It’s guaranteed to make you laugh and shed a few tears!

Genre Time Travel Romance Price $5.99 ISBN B07LGRCL57

Sean Hightower, a regretful and resentful “one-hit wonder” rock musician hoping for a comeback, returns to his girlfriend’s condo seeking comfort from the woman he loves. But after letting himself in, he discovers her naked body on the bed, murdered from a bullet to the head. When the police detective arrives and sees the two taped pieces of paper on the wall with the word, “hello,” on one and “goodbye,” on the other, he realizes that the renowned serial killer, The Beatles Song Murderer, has struck again.

Genre Thriller Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1644370957

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Genre Motherhood Price $9.99 ISBN 978-0692412459

"I'm thinking of killing Danny."

When suspense novelist Carla Williams is accused of planning an actual murder, her life takes on more plot twists than one of her books. Sure, her life's in danger, but she's also caught the attention of handsome detective, Roger Graf, so that kind of evens things out. As Carla nears the end of her novel, it's up to Roger to catch the killer, or it might be the end of Carla's life story as well.

Genre Christian Romance Price $11.99 ISBN 978-1946892133

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Christian

Paperback

$18.95

TREMENDOUSLY POWERFUL Few people know about the "Purge of the Kulaks," as this is a suppressed part of Russian (and world) history. Based on real stories of people who lived through this terrible time, the fictional Jahnle family is falsely "evacuated" from their farm in a small village near the Black Sea, and is forced on a journey north, into the unknown, with many other German-Russian families. The year is 1929, its nearly harvest season, and not understanding what's happening, the family traverses the first four hundred miles of their mass exodus by horse and wagon. During this trip, they come in contact with what would later become the KGB. They are loaded into the overcrowded cattle-car of a very long train and taken hundreds of miles to labor camps scattered along the coast of the White Sea, in western Siberia, where they are exposed to separation, interrogation, starvation, over-working, cruelty, and death. One of the best historical novels I've ever experienced. The passion the author has for this award-winning masterpiece is palpable, and it shines through every detail woven throughout this––a tremendously powerful book that absolutely everyone should read.

Paranormal

Paperback

$18.99

A SPLENDID ROMANTIC HOLIDAY ROMP In the quaint town of Cat's Paw Cove, Florida, the citizens possess something extra in their lives––something magical. The town is also home to many intriguing cats, some baring the extraordinary capability of helping the humans they come in contact with. Cleverly written in the form of an anthology by several uniquely talented authors, Meows and Mistletoe is a splendid romantic holiday romp, brimming with holiday spirit, the undeniable charm of cats, and the mysterious mystique that envelopes the fascinating town Cat's Paw Cove. ~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

Thriller

Paperback

$14.95

MASTERFULLY WRITTEN I have not read many crime thrillers in my long reading history. But that's about to change. Marc Rainer’s experience as a big-city Prosecutor working both the DC and KC circuits shine through with this spine-chilling thriller, Mob Rules––a gritty, intense potboiler that beats with a pulse of pure adrenaline-laced excitement. Jeff Trask, a former DC Prosecutor who has just transplanted to KC along with his wife and three beloved rescue dogs, never expected to handle a case such as this as his first in Kansas City. The cities volatile underground drug culture, hidden within a maze of "juice" bars soon has him embroiled in a dangerous battle with the seedy goings-on of the cities illegal trade in fentanyllaced heroin. Packed with action, humor, and a few sad, sentimental moments, Mob Rules is a masterfully written thriller that left me longing for more of these characters and their true life (yes, much of this story is based upon Rainey's own experiences) heroic adventures. ~Donald Richard, TopShelf Review

~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

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HOLIDAYEDITION2019 51

"F ff-f ee, a d e e ai i g hi e e ce i a ef . Achie e e f d ea a d ea a d ea a i hi he e age ."

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Memoir

Paperback

$15.95

READ IN A DAY! This story of addiction and sexual slavery is all the more potent because it is absolutely true, which makes the ultimately triumphant climax even more powerful. For Marti MacGibbon, stand up comedian and already a rising star in the early '80s, life appeared to be on an upswing.

Having recently moved from Texas to San Francisco to break into the business and scheduled for an appearance on the iconic Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, MacGibbon's chances at superstardom seemed almost secure. Unfortunately, her developing addiction to crystal meth and other substances, at that point, began to tilt her world into a downward spiral of hopeless despondency that would lead to domestic violence, homelessness, and even a period of sexual slavery in Japan. In the end, it's the forgiveness of her adult daughter that inspires her to conquer her many demons and come out a stronger and better person, compassionate and committed to helping others, becoming a motivational speaker and advocate for addicts and victims of the underground sex slave industry. (More of this review found online.) ~Donald Richard, TopShelf Review

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Paranormal

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$14.99

Romance

Paperback

$14.99

NEVER DISAPPOINTS. AN EMPHATIC 5 STARS!

MASTERFULLY WRITTEN ROMANCE...

TREMENDOUSLY SATISFYING!

Slated for execution, shapeshifting assassin, Dahlia Nite, flees her world to hide in the human realm. In exchange for the shelter they unknowingly have given, Dahlia dedicates herself to protecting the humans from that which lives in the shadows. But the shadows are shifting. The lies, adding up. And when Sentinel City is threatened by a series of bizarre brutal murders, the secrets that have kept humanity in the dark for centuries are in danger of being exposed. Wrestling with a lifetime of her own deceptions, Dahlia investigates the killings while simultaneously working to conceal their circumstances. But with each new murder, the peace she had found in this new world crumbles––each new clue leading to the one place she had resolved to never return. Nite Fire: Flash Point is a brilliantly written dark fantasy worthy of any fantasy fan's nitestand (see what I did there?). A fantastic, magical new realm, complete with masterfully drawn characters, and an epic plot that NEVER disappoints. An emphatic 5 STARS!

While her boyfriend Forrest searches for a job, quick-witted Annet works at the Keizer Manor, where the oils from 19th-century master painter Alexander Keizer are exhibited. After a fight, a very pregnant Annet and Forrest figure they'll take a stroll through the ocean dunes, but they become separated when dark clouds roll in, bringing with them a violent thunderstorm. Regaining consciousness in a monastery, Forrest nowhere to be found, Annet is convinced the nuns are playing a prank. The 1800’s? Impossible! She must find her way home. But how will she ever get back to her own time? Grand-Prize Winner of the 2019 TopShelf Book Awards, Storm at Keizer Manor is easily one of the best books we've read this year. A masterfully written time travel romance, which does NOT fall back on sex as a way of covering up the fact that there really isn't much of a story. No. The story rules the day here, and it is wonderfully imagined and crafted in a tremendously satisfying novel. ~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

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HOLIDAYEDITION2019 53

"Hi all he p l e poin fo a g ea , pen e f eled h ille !"

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Christian

Paperback

$7.99

INSPIRES, OPENS HEARTS, AND CLEANSES TEAR DUCTS With a near-fatal accident resulting in trauma, uncertainty, and life-long limitations, Penned Without Ink: Trusting God to Write Your Story is one family's true journey of faith. Sit beside hushed bedsides, observe delicate operations, and feel the angst of life-and-death decisions. Author, Sarah Lynn Phillips, captures the essence of hope born through her struggle to trust and rely on God. It is clear to see why this book has won so many awards. An incredibly fast read worthy of every second invested. This book will inspire, open hearts, and cleanse tear ducts. If you’ve ever experienced a dramatic event that has caused you to question your faith, Penned Without Ink is a book that could be prescribed in place on any medicine; for its healing properties are as true as the words written therein. ~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

Children’s

Paperback

$10.95

A GREAT READ! A book about a little horse named Pinto with big dreams. PINTO, a children's historical fiction book by M.J. Evans, follows four men, calling themselves the "Overland Westerners," who, back in 1912, decided fame and fortune awaited them if they embarked on the longest horseback ride in history. Their goal was to visit all forty-eight state capitals over three years and complete their journey at the San Francisco World's Fair on June 1, 1915. This is Pinto's account of his arduous adventure, crossing fast-flowing rivers, snow-covered mountains, treacherous valleys, red-hot deserts, and wetlands in this gripping tale.

And the hardships and joys the men and horses experienced along the journey will touch readers. Being from the UK, I loved this book, especially reading about the United States back in 1912. PINTO is well written, and you don't have to fancy horses to gain a real appreciation for their strengths, emotions, and steadfastness. A great read! ~Michael Rowland, TopShelf Reviews

Thriller

Paperback

$17.99

JAW-DROPPING… AN EXCITING READ THAT INFORMS, ENTERTAINS Reagan Country––the most recent in the Pastor Stephen Grant series ––is a political thriller tackling the “what if ” a leader was to rise in Russia whose beliefs were altered by Ronald Reagan and his economic vision. Reagan Country pits two opposing doctrines: Sovietcontrolled communism against capitalism and a free marketplace and serves as a platform and historical reminder of one of the most important accomplishments of Reagan’s presidency–– bringing down the Soviet Union, starting with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. An exciting read that informs as well as entertains. Follow Pastor Stephen Grant, as he finds himself protecting the life of Vassily Orlov, a Russian businessman and front-runner in the Russian Presidential election after the sitting president has been assassinated.

With endless twists and turns, beginning at the Reagan Library, where Jennifer Grant, Stephen’s economist wife, speaks at an event honoring Reagan and ending with a jaw-dropping climax, Reagan Country reminds us, relationships are not always what they seem. ~Belle Ami, TopShelf Reviews

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Sci-Fi

Paperback

$15.99

Fantasy

Paperback

$17.99

Sci-Fi

Hardcover

$37.50

WHAT AN UNBELIEVABLE PAGE-TURNER!

INTENSE… BURNS HOTTER AND FASTER WITH EACH PAGE

MAGNIFICENT… IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN

Restoration, by Daniel C. McWhorter, brings up the morality of human cloning and where the line is drawn. Is it okay to clone an entire body or just parts that may be malfunctioning? Dr. Feldman wakes up after 52 years in a cryogenic state. His granddaughter Aubrey is now the CEO of the Genetics Company Evan started. Science has advanced beyond his wildest dreams and Evan faces internal conflict as he tries to catch up.

Human Kind is dying––something is causing infertility, and no one can figure it out. Evan, Aubrey, and their trusted few are determined to make it to a distant planet and find a cure. The Global Federation of Nations is after them.

They've been alerted that Aubrey brought Dr. Feldman back from the dead––an act made illegal. They are pursued across the world and into space. What an unbelievable page-turner!

Picked this book up and finished it in one afternoon––it just wasn't going to be put down!

Hundreds of years ago, the Faerie Realm was separate from the human world. All that changed when two evil Fae brought down the wall, separating the two worlds, and killed many of their own kind in what is now known as the Desolation.

This cataclysmic event was dreamt about before its occurrence by a small child, Seireadan, a Faerie girl who would become a Seer. Today, Faerie and humans live in the same world, but a lot of animosity and hatred exist between them. Aohdan Collins is the patriarch of the Boston brainse, or the Fae contingent, that rules the underworld and much of the city’s criminal activity. He and his men are feared and loathed by both the Faerie and human world. When Aohdan and Seireadan meet, the attraction is overwhelming, and they soon fall in love. Shadow King is an intense romantic thriller that keeps burning hotter and faster with every page. By the time the climax came, I could feel my heart pounding with every word! Susan K. Hamilton has written a stunning romantic crimethriller set in a world of fantasy. Whether a thriller fan or fantasy, you will devour Shadow King.

What if our entire history from the biblical Garden of Eden until now is due to a love/hate relationship between two ancient gods? When these gods are in love, peace reigns across the world. When they're in conflict, chaos and calamities run rampant. From the dawn of mankind, through America's Civil War, and well into the distant future, these gods influence and shape our world. Then comes the Great Rapture, and Sky Parlor is created. Is it the Utopia of dreams, or the final battlefield?

Author, Stephen Perkins is a master wordsmith who clearly loves exploring and expanding lexicon, which works well in this highly intellectual genre. Sky Parlor is a magnificent portal into an expansive realm spanning a millennium––a massive undertaking that blends science-fiction, fantasy, Greek mythology, and American history––packed with intrigue, nailsplitting action, and thrills, resulting in a novel that's impossible to put down.

~Jenn Kraft, TopShelf Reviews

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~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

~Mark Aducci, TopShelf Reviews

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REVIEWS

HOLIDAY2019

Humorous

Paperback

$14.99

A WELL-WRITTEN SCI-FI FANTASY ROMP WITH HEART AND HUMOR Harold Goldfarb is a sixty-year-old retiring actor who's only looking for some peace and contentment in his advancing years. In the middle of the night, he is visited by an otherworldly being (who looks remarkably like Mel Brooks), and Harold's whole world, or what he thinks is his world, is turned upside down.

Harold is tasked with an outrageous assignment.

The fate of mankind depends on what he does next. Still Harping On My Daughter by Marc S. Silver wasn't at all what I was expecting from the title. A Sci-Fi fantasy romp with heart and humor, God and aliens, bird-monsters, and all kinds of peculiar twists that lead to the most fantastic places. Witty and well written. The author clearly has a great sense of humor, and it comes across in this fun book. Well worth the read, you will not be disappointed. ~Michael Rowland, TopShelf Reviews

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Fantasy

Paperback

$17.99

Sleuth

Hardcover

Pre-Order

A MASTERPIECE TO BEHOLD FOR FANTASY ENTHUSIASTS

JAW-DROPPING MURDER MYSTERY FEATURING AMERICA’S ALL-TIME FAVORITE AMATEUR SLEUTH!

Kill. Die young. That’s what a swordsman bonded to the ancient gods does. But Kaell–– trained to survive a centuries-old, malignant war against the inhuman followers of an invincible lord––wants more. More of his trainer, Val Arques’ attention, his approval.

Just more. But Val Arques is a bladesman of formidable power, entrusted not only with Kaell’s life but with the truth that will destroy him. Banished to a grim outpost of this doomed kingdom of sorcery, poetry, and treachery, he cannot afford to care about the young warrior. For love means loss. And Val Arques harbors a shameful secret ... As a vengeful god escapes his ancient prison and Kaell is drawn into his web of deception, even Val Arques can’t protect him from the dark prophecy awaiting him. The first, in hopefully what will become a long-running epic fantasy, The 19th Blademan by S.J. Hartland will enthrall fans of the Game of Thrones series and without question merits the attention of all who love the genre. Hartland has imagined a fantastical new realm––a masterpiece to behold for all walks of fantasy enthusiast

In The Murder of Twelve, the latest entry in the USA Today bestselling Murder, She Wrote series, Jessica Fletcher takes on an Agatha Christie-style mystery when she finds herself stranded in a hotel during a blizzard with twelve strangers and a killer in their midst. This literary masterpiece never bows to the lowest common denominator in terms of language or sexuality— proof that such is not necessary to achieve storytelling greatness. The snappy repartee between characters who have clearly known and trusted each other for years is equally impressive and engrossing, making it all too easy to forget you’re reading a work of fiction. The Murder of Twelve is a screaming roller coaster ride with suspense and surprises at nearly every turn that will keep you up past midnight, afraid to even pull up the covers. The identity of the killer will shock you, as will the neck-breaking twist right at the very last second. Even if you don’t think you’re a Murder, She Wrote fan, READ THIS BOOK! A Fist-Pounding 5-Stars!

~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

~Donald Richard, TopShelf Reviews

TOPShelf magazine

HOLIDAYEDITION2019 59

featuredspotlights

60

...books worth a closer look!

TOPShelf magazine

Sometimes, the High and Mighty need to be taken down a peg or two. Everyone should have a purpose, and this is mine: to make a difference. One death at a time. San Antonio Police Detectives Randy Monroe and Danny Beckman know two things: a serial killer is on the loose, and they don’t have enough clues to catch him.

Surely the fact that the victims are murdered elsewhere and the bodies moved and dumped at churches means something, but what?

Could President Ronald Reagan’s influence reach into the former “evil empire”? The media refers to a businessman on the rise as “Russia’s Reagan.” Unfortunately, others seek a return to the old ways, longing for Russia’s former “greatness.” The dispute becomes deadly. Conflict stretches from the Reagan Presidential Library in California to the White House to a Russian Orthodox monastery to the Kremlin. Stephen Grant, pastor at St. Mary’s Lutheran Church, a former Navy SEAL and onetime CIA operative, stands at the center of the tumult…

Genre Thriller Price $11.99 ISBN 978-1946892102

Genre Thriller Price $17.99 ISBN 978-1979463515

With a near-fatal car crash resulting in trauma, uncertainty, and life-long limitations, Penned Without Ink: Trusting God to Write Your Story will draw you into the true story of one family's journey of faith. The experiences shared within the pages of this book will lead you to sit beside hushed bedsides, observe delicate operations, and feel the angst of many lifeand-death decisions.

What if... our entire history from the biblical Garden of Eden until now, is due to a love/hate relationship between two ancient gods named Apollonia and Artemis?

Genre Spiritual Meditations Price $7.99 ISBN 978-1938499319

Genre Science Fiction Price $20.50 ISBN 978-1684540150

London, 1942.

The world is at war.

A disgraced agent. A missing battle plan. Will OSS Agent Conor Thorn find redemption or damage the Allies beyond repair? The Torch Betrayal is a high-stakes World War II thriller inspired by true events.

The most dangerous part of jury duty may be when it's all over. Always ready for some inthe-field research, author Carla Williams is almost happy when she’s called in for jury duty. She’s not so happy to discover it’s a high-profile trial for the attempted murder of a San Antonio police officer, especially since her fiancé, Roger, is a homicide detective…

Genre Thriller & Suspense Price $15.99 ISBN 978-0999117309

Genre Amateur Sleuths Price $12.99 ISBN 978-1946892218

When they're in love... peace reigns across the world.

When they're in conflict... chaos and calamities are commonplace.

And then came the Great Rapture... and Sky Parlor was created.

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

reviews

TOPShelf magazine

REVIEWS

HOLIDAY2019

Literary

Hardcover

$27.99

Parenting

Paperback

$17.95

A SUPERB, BREAKNECK THRILLER WE COULD NOT POSSIBLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK Maxine is the stunning wife of a successful Beverly Hills hedge fund manager. A ANY STRONGER! celebratory evening on the company yacht turns to horror as the boat explodes, engulfed in flames. Maxine is thrown overboard by her husband as the ship sinks. "You'll forgive me," he says. Then vanishes. Was he trying to save her or kill her? In the quest to find answers, Maxine becomes the target of kidnappers and killers, as do those friends and business associates who try to help. As she learns more about her husband's mysterious clients and business dealings, her pursuers get dangerously close. In desperation, she seeks help from a shadowy, reclusive figure from her past, who tells her of something called "the red secret," and how all who learn of it, die. Reminiscent of Hitchcock and hailed by some as the financial-world equivalent of a John Grisham novel, Vanquish of the Dragon Shroud by Gregory Seller, is a breakneck thriller that relies on superb storytelling and character development to hook and entertain readers, rather than blood, violence, and sex. ~Kyle Magnus, TopShelf Review

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Suspense

Paperback

$14.99

ONE OF THE MOST TOUCHING CRIME THRILLERS WE'VE READ

In the United States, more than 15 million women are parenting children on their own, either by circumstance or by choice. Too often, these moms who do it all have been misrepresented and maligned. Not anymore.

In We Got This, seventy-five solo moms tell the truth about their lives. Joined by their strength, pride, and dedication to their children, they unite with the same message: you are not alone.

Your tenacity, courage, and fierce love are worthy of celebration. The finalist in numerous competitions and 2019 Best Book Awards Winner in Women's Issues, it's indisputable that We Got This is a winner on many levels.

Brilliantly written by numerous talented mom writers, this book comes together with one powerhouse voice than everyone––not just single mothers––should read. We could not possibly recommend this book stronger! Buy this book–– buy multiple copies and gift them today!

For Sean Hightower, musician, songwriter, and former recording artist, life in the 1980's had brought him a sudden burst of notoriety for his chart-topping hit "Looking Glass." But it was all lost when his record company was bought out.

Even more tragically, Sean's girlfriend, Marissa, falls victim to the notorious "Beatles song" killer–– a killer infamous for leaving Beatles song references at the scene of each murder, after binding, raping, and then firing a fatal shot to the right temple. In Marissa's case, two notes, one with the word "Hello" and another with the word "Goodbye" are taped to the wall above the horrific scene. A phone call from police detective Ray Maldonado and a chance meeting with, quite literally, the girl next door, Kayleigh bring Sean from the brink of suicide. While Maldonado needs Sean's help to solve the murder, Sean’s new friend Kayleigh has reignited his own will to carry on. As he digs deeper into the case, he unwittingly draws danger to both himself and Kayleigh, culminating in a desperate confrontation with the serial killer. You Say Goodbye satisfies on a profoundly emotional and thrilling level, with both a heart-pounding climax and a genuinely touching conclusion.

~Rebecca Katsikas, TopShelf Review

~Donald Richard, TopShelf Reviews

TOPShelf magazine

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When an alien race sei es Laura's son, she'll stop at nothing to get him back. Entrenched in a ar of attrition ith both aliens and Earth authorities, Laura discovers the secrets behind the e traterrestrial incursion. Challenged to breaking point, she fights for the survival of her son but quickl reali es that the aliens have plans for her, too. Can she accept the vision of a ne interplanetar Earth, or ill she fight to the end for some form of normalit ?

See h the MILIJUN series has been called the most engaging alien invasion ever!

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“An invigorating thriller with an engaging protagonist surrounded by equally worthy characters.”

“In this third installment, Rainer has provided another unflinching, engrossing chronicle.”

~Kirkus Reviews

~Palmetto Reviews

Full Page Ad Charles Ambrose

Federal prosecutor Jeff Trask is back after a series of drug overdoses places investigators face to face with Los Zetas, the most dangerous of the Mexican drug cartels. Drawing from Mexico’s real-life cartel wars, Death’s White Horses is Rainer’s third book featuring Jeff Trask. While showcasing the challenges faced by law enforcement on both sides of the border, it also highlights the deadly consequences seen on both ends of the US-Mexico drug trade.

www.MarcRainer.com ISBN: 978-1495322334