Two of this week’s books might come under the heading “what we can learn from the animal kingdom?” whether it’s our family pets or someone who calls himself the Bullfrog. We’ll also offer Shannon Bream’s latest “Bible Speaks” series and get a warning from legal heavyweight Alan Dershowitz that America is heading in a very dangerous, unconstitutional direction. But we’ll start things off with the latest Ali Reynolds page-turner suspense, straight out of the imagination of J.A. Jance.
“Collateral Damage,” by J.A. Jance (Gallery Books)
In this 17th Ali Reynolds mystery, an airport shuttle that Ali’s husband, B. Simpson, is riding in is run off the road in what appears to be a deliberate act. If it was deliberate, was he the intended victim, as founding partner of High Noon Enterprises? Or was it the driver, Hal Holden, a retired homicide detective? “Collateral Damage” is a tale of revenge, when a disgraced cop is released on parole after serving two decades behind bars and has but one goal: reprisal from everyone he imagines helped put him in prison. “‘Collateral Damage’ by J.A. Jance blends a very twisted story involving security, battered women, organized crime, murders, corruption, and revenge,” said a Military Press book review. “It is told from different points of view between High Noon characters, several police forces, and investigators trying to piece together a puzzle that spans many different jurisdictions.” (Fiction)
“Get Trump: The Threat to Civil Liberties, Due Process, and Our Constitutional Rule of Law,” by Alan Dershowitz (Hot Books)
Politico called constitutional scholar, New York Times bestselling author and frequent Newsmax contributor Alan Dershowitz “one of the most prominent and consistent defenders of civil liberties in America.” The former Harvard Law professor reveals the lengths to which the government has gone to deny the 45th president another opportunity at the White House, by challenging the very foundations of our liberty: due process, right to counsel, and free speech. “It’s not about Trump — it’s about the precedent that’s being established by targeting individuals,” Dershowitz told Newsmax TV, referring to prosecutors and attorneys general who campaigned on promises to prosecute Trump. “‘Show me the man, and I’ll find you the crime’: that’s what happened in the Soviet Union and banana republics. This is a terrible precedent. Today it’s Trump, tomorrow it’s a Democrat, the day after tomorrow it’s your Uncle Charlie.” (Nonfiction)
“The Love Stories of the Bible Speak: Biblical Lessons on Romance, Friendship, and Faith,” by Shannon Bream (Broadside Books)
Shannon Bream submits that the Bible is, above all else, a love story, whether it’s the time Adam declared Eve to be "flesh of my flesh,” or the sacrificial love of Joseph for Mary (Mary chose life; Joseph chose adoption) to the deep friendship of David and Jonathan. But above all else is the love that God has for us, His creation. “These stories are all there for a reason, and people of faith, we believe that they are important, that God included them, but the fact that they really translate to today — whether it’s financial trouble, or physical problems or marital problems or infertility or widowhood,” Bream said of her Biblical series as a whole. Turning specifically to her latest offering, she said it was her “hope that people will take another look, maybe have some conversations with one another about what marriage was intended to be and this beautiful thing that God created for us. We see that in the story of Adam and Eve. We see desire and romantic love in the Song of Solomon.” She added, “God never meant one spouse to be subjugated by the other or to be dominated by the other.” (Nonfiction)
“The Other Family Doctor: A Veterinarian Explores What Animals Can Teach Us About Love, Life, and Mortality,” by Karen Fine (Anchor)
This is a memoir describing the 30-year career of a holistic veterinarian who has cared for farm animals in New York state and herd animals in Morocco while working for the Peace Corps. Most of her career, however, has been treating those special animals near and dear to us — the family pet.
Her stories include:
- The feral cat who becomes a creature out of a fable when he puts his trust in a young vet to heal his injured paw;
- The pot-bellied pig who grows too big to fit in the car but remains a cherished part of her family;
- The surprising colony of perfectly behaved ferrets;
- The beloved aging pet who gives her people the gift of accompanying them on one final family vacation;
- The dog who saves his owner's life in a most unexpected way.
“For readers facing the end of an animal’s life, the author offers guidance about how to create rituals for grieving, how to write an animal’s obituary, and where to find support books, websites, and hotlines,” writes Kirkus Reviews. “A warm and humane tribute to animals who enrich our lives.” (Nonfiction)
“The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy),” by Adm. William H. McRaven (Grand Central Publishing)
Readers may recall a previous William H. McRaven book that emphasized the importance of performing a simple task each and every morning — making your bed. In this work he draws on his nearly four decades as a U.S. Navy SEAL in leadership positions in major combat operations that included:
- The capture of Saddam Hussein in Iraq;
- The rescue of Captain Phillips from Somali pirates, and;
- The raid on Osama bin Laden’s lair.
“In its simplest form,” he writes, “leadership is ‘accomplishing a task with the people and resources you have while maintaining the integrity of your institution.’ … But leadership is not just about getting the job done. It is also about maintaining or advancing the reputation of your institution.” The “bullfrog” McRaven speaks of in the title of this this book is McRaven himself. He was “the longest-serving frogman and Navy SEAL on active duty.”
(Nonfiction)