Tag Archives: Books

Picks of the Week-March 8

Spring is just around the corner and we are so excited for the warmer temps! It’s the perfect time to start listening to a fresh new find. We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down some of their top picks for you.

The Haunting

A dark family secret prompts a ghost to wreak havoc in this spooky novel in the spirit of Mary Downing Hahn.

Note: In this spooky middle-grade story, a 12-year-old orphan gets adopted and swept off to a haunted manor in London. Emily becomes fast friends with Kat, unaware she is a ghost! Join Emily as she uncovers the mysteries surrounding Kat, her new family, and the weird incidents that keep almost killing her! -Jannah McCowan

Publishing Date: 3/2/21

Written by: Lindsey Duga

Read by: Piper Goodeve

Roxanne

Peter Grainger presents Book 3 in the Kings Lake Investigation series.

Note: Peter Grainger is an author all murder mystery and police procedural readers should know. While a work of fiction, the realistic storyline of ROXANNE will thrill Grainger fans new and old. -Kara Boucher

Publishing Date: 3/2/2021

Written by: Peter Grainger

Read by: Gildart Jackson

Where Dogs Go To LIVE!

This book focuses on the stories of the senior dogs that have been taken in by Michele and Jeff through Monkey’s House, a dog hospice and sanctuary. Share in their journeys, laugh at their crazy antics, and shed a few tears while witnessing miracles of transformation.

Note: We’ve all heard the stories of sick and/or senior dogs abandoned or surrendered to shelters by their owners. To animal lovers, it’s a story that forms a knot in the stomach as we think about our own beloved pets, but Jeff and Michelle Allen chose to do something about it. In the last 5 years, they have opened up their home and hearts to over 100 dogs with terminal diagnoses or hard-to-adopt disabilities, and, in WHERE DOGS GO TO LIVE!, Jeff shares the stories of 37 of these dogs – not just the stories of where they came from, but how they thrived when given a second chance. The dogs who cross paths with Jeff, Michele, and their team are shown true love and then guided over the rainbow bridge as a member of a real family. Before you press play, make sure to have tissues handy – you’re sure to shed happy and sad tears listening to this inspiring story. -Jenn Eschrich

Publishing Date: 3/9/21

Written by: Jeff Allen with Michele Allen, Foreword by Larissa Wohl

Read by: Barry Abrams

Attack of the Not-So-Virtual Monsters

Kim Harrington presents Book 1 in the Gamer Squad series.

Note: “Equal parts action and adventure, your child won’t want to stop listening with a thrilling narration from Amy Melissa Bentley. Catching virtual monsters is Bex’s favorite hobby, but when those monsters find their way into the real world, she’ll have to enlist the help of her best friend Charlie before they become monster lunch.” -Ashley Fortier

Publishing Date: 3/16/2021

Written by: Kim Harrington

Read by: Amy Melissa Bentley

Picks of the Week-March 1

Spring is just around the corner and we are so excited for the warmer temps! It’s the perfect time to start listening to a fresh new find. We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down some of their top picks for you.

Covet

The third book in the smash-hit Crave series will not disappoint—full of shocking twists, high-stakes romance, and deep fantasy lore, it’ll be a must-have for die-hard series fans and new audiences alike.

Note: The highly anticipated third installment in the Crave series is finally here! On top of her love life being a mess, Grace has to juggle winning over The Circle and an arrest warrant out for her and Hudson. You don’t want to miss what comes next. -Kelly Srubas

Publishing Date: 3/2/21

Written by: Tracy Wolff

Read by: Heather Costa & Tim Paige

Fast Funny Women

In Fast Funny Women, you’ll find everything you want from thoughtful essays in a short, delicious form.

Note: In Fast Funny Women, Gina Barreca has brought together seventy-five internationally celebrated women, including Jane Smiley, Dawn Lundy Martin, Susan Shapiro, and “Judge Judy” Sheindlin, with each contributing their own hilarious and insightful essay. This collection of flash nonfiction essays is sure to delight! -Kim Budnick

Publishing Date: 3/2/2021

Written by: Gina Barreca

Read by: Allyson Johnson & Cindy Kay

George Washington’s Final Battle: The Epic Struggle to Build a Capital City and a Nation

In George Washington’s Final Battle, Robert P. Watson brings this tale to life, telling how the country’s first president tirelessly advocated for a capital on the shores of the Potomac.

Note: In George Washington’s Final Battle, author Robert Watson examines an often-overlooked achievement in George Washington’s long political career. Hear the full story of how he used all his political savvy and influence to help establish, plan, and design the city that would be seat of the federal government and a reflection of the American identity. For anyone seeking new insight into the founding era or a story to the origin of the national capital George Washington’s Final Battle is the right title.  –  Nick Pouliot

Publishing Date: 03/02/2021

Written by: Robert P. Watson

Read by: Peter Lerman

Silicon Values

In Silicon Values, leading campaigner Jillian York looks at how our rights have become increasingly undermined by the major corporations’ desire to harvest our personal data and turn it into profit. She also looks at how governments have used the same technology to monitor citizens and threatened our ability to communicate.

Note: We hoped that the Internet would be a great leveling field. A place where everyone’s voice was heard equally without the continued distortion of corporate and political gatekeepers. On the surface, it still might seem that way, but underneath, as Jillian C. York shows, it’s anything but. For fans of The Social Dilemma and The Age of Surveillance Capitalism. -Aaron Piccirillo

Publishing Date: 3/2/21

Written by: Jillian York

Read by: Megan Tusing

Picks of the Week-February 22

We hope that you’ve all kept your resolutions to read or listen to more books! We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down a couple top picks for you.

Tales of the Astonishing Black Spark

This wry debut is at once a fanboy’s homage to the history of superhero storytelling in America and a keen-eyed satire of those same stories, raising questions about race and privilege that are becoming impossible to ignore.

Note: When a lightning strike gives Donald McDougal superhuman powers, he must navigate his new identity as a superhero while being a Black man in America. Author Charlie J. Eskew wryly subverts the tropes of the superhero narrative while engaging themes of race and privilege with humor and humanity. Peppered with comic book culture references and social commentary, Tales of the Astonishing Black Spark will appeal to the superhero fiction enthusiast and newcomer alike. -Sonia Brand-Fisher

Publishing Date: 2/23/21

Written by: Charlie J. Eskew

Read by: Sean Crisden

Love at First

From Kate Clayborn, the acclaimed author of Love Lettering comes a sparkling, tender novel about bickering neighbors, surprise reunions, and the mysterious power of love. Contains mature themes.

Note: Kate is back again with another wonderfully cute and heartfelt contemporary romance. Stubborn Will meets quirky Nora, when trying to sell his newly inherited apartment, in the community that Nora adores. Nora will do anything to stop this close-knit community from gaining an unwanted interloper, while Will just wants to get back to his life as an overworked doctor. With this increasing feud between the two, will Nora and Will find love or are they just to different? If you loved Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn then you don’t want to miss her newest novel, Love At First. -Jordan Spellman

Publishing Date: 2/23/21

Written by: Kate Clayborn

Read by: Lauren Ezzo

Marketing in the News-January 2021

COVID-19 still dominating the News cycles as vaccinations are rolled out, new variants of the virus are discovered and lockdown continues. Check out these Tantor titles and learn more about the Healthcare system, the debate over vaccinations and the newest techniques in medicine:

Cells Are the New Cure: The Cutting-Edge Medical Breakthroughs That Are Transforming Our Health, by Robin L. Smith, MD, Max Gomez, PhD link

Still Not Safe: Patient Safety and the Middle-Managing of American Medicine, by Robert L. Wears, Kathleen M. Sutcliffe link

Anti-vaxxers: How to Challenge a Misinformed Movement, by Jonathan M. Berman link

Microbes: The Life-Changing Story of Germs, by Phillip K. Peterson link

The Panic Virus: A True Story of Medicine, Science, and Fear, by Seth Mnookin link


Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States on January 20th.  Learn more about Pres. Biden, his Vice Pres. Kamala Harris and the office of the presidency with these titles:

The Book of Joe: The Life, Wit, and (Sometimes Accidental) Wisdom of Joe Biden, by Jeff Wilser link

Joe Biden: Our 46th President, by Beatrice Gormley link (publishes 03/23)

Breakthrough: The Making of America’s First Woman President, by Nancy L. Cohen link

Under This Roof: The White House and the Presidency–21 Presidents, 21 Rooms, 21 Inside Stories, by Paul Brandus, link

U.S. Presidents For Dummies: 2nd Edition, by Marcus A. Stadelmann


The elusive Bigfoot made appearances last month prompting the first ever Bigfoot hunting season in the U.S. Learn everything you need to about Sasquatch from these Tantor titles:

The Essential Guide to Bigfoot, by Ken Gerhard link

Beyond The Fray: Bigfoot, by Shannon LeGro, G. Michael Hopf link

The One Who Runs and Hides: A True Story, by Chris Merola link

Monsters Among Us: An Exploration of Otherworldly Bigfoots, Wolfmen, Portals, Phantoms, and Odd Phenomena, by Linda S. Godfrey link

 Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science, by Jeff Meldrum link


Wolves have always had a connection to the Americanwilderness and their resurgence in recent years are still the center of legislation and debate. Learn more about Wolves and the effort to reintroduce them in the west.

In the Temple of Wolves: A Winter’s Immersion in Wild Yellowstone, By Rick Lamplugh link

A Wolf Called Romeo, by Nick Jans, link

Decade of the Wolf, Revised and Updated: Returning The Wild To Yellowstone, by Douglas Smith, Gary Ferguson, link

How the Dog Became the Dog: From Wolves to Our Best Friends, by Mark Derr, link

The Wolf in the Parlor: The Eternal Connection Between Humans and Dogs, by Jon Franklin, link

Wolf Nation: The Life, Death, and Return of Wild American Wolves, by Brenda Peterson, link


New studies reveal interesting facts of plant behavior, discoveries of new plant species and techniques for growing and their influences on humans. Learn more fascinating Plant facts with these books:

Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Updated and Expanded, by Douglas W. Tallamy link

Brilliant Green: The Surprising History and Science of Plant Intelligence, by Stefano Mancuso, Alessandra Viola link

The Secret Teachings of Plants: The Intelligence of the Heart in the Direct Perception of Nature, Stephen Harrod Buhner link

The Nature of Plants: An Introduction to How Plants Work, by Craig N. Huegel, link

Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln’s Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities, by Amy Stewart, link

Urban Forests: A Natural History of Trees and People in the American Cityscape, by Jill Jonnes link


Looking Ahead to February check these Awareness Days and Historical Anniversaries:

February 1st: National Texas Day

Lone Star: A History Of Texas And The Texans, by T. R. Fehrenbach link

February 6th: National Chop Sticks Day

Chop Suey: A Cultural History of Chinese Food in the United States, by Andrew Coe

February 8th: National Iowa Day

The Conservative Heartland: A Political History of the Postwar American Midwest, Narrated by Mike Chamberlain, Teri Schnaubelt link

February 9th: National Pizza Day

Slice Harvester: A Memoir in Pizza, by Colin Atrophy Hagendorf link

 February 18TH: National Drink Wine Day

The Dirty Guide to Wine: Following Flavor from Ground to Glass, by Alice Feiring link

February 26th: National Read a Fairy Tale Day

Timeless Tales of Beatrix Potter: Peter Rabbit and Friends, by Beatrix Potter link

This Month in History:

February 2, 1848 – The war between the U.S. and Mexico ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent, by Robert W. Merry link

February 6, 1952 – King George VI of England died. Upon his death, his daughter Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Young Elizabeth: The Making of the Queen, by Kate Williams link

February 14, 1929 – The St. Valentine’s Day massacre occurred in Chicago as seven members of the Bugs Moran gang were gunned down by five of Al Capone’s mobsters posing as police.

Al Capone’s Beer Wars: A Complete History of Organized Crime in Chicago during Prohibition, by John J. Binder link

February 20, 1962 – Astronaut John Glenn became the first American launched into orbit.

The Last American Hero: The Remarkable Life of John Glenn, by Alice L. George link

February 24, 1867 – The House of Representatives voted to impeach President Andrew Johnson.

Impeached: The Trial of President Andrew Johnson and the Fight for Lincoln’s Legacy, by David O. Stewart link