A CLOSER LOOK AT SEPTEMBER’S
THE POLITZER SAGA
by Linda Broenniman
Long-hidden secret leads to a remarkable search for eight generations of her Hungarian Jewish ancestry
THE BOOK
A housefire in 2011. A box survives. Its contents become the catalyst for a quest whose seeds were planted in 1983 — the day Linda Ambrus Broenniman learned that her Catholic father was Jewish and what little family history she knew was a lie.
Searching for truth, Linda pieced together the astonishing story of eight generations of her Jewish ancestors — the Politzer family — their remarkable lives lost to her father’s secrets.
In this rich narrative, Linda’s search becomes a remarkable epic — part memoir, part biography, part history — that illuminates the Hungarian Jewish experience over the last 300 years. She finds her family: doctors, lawyers, bankers, entrepreneurs, writers, musicians, art collectors, and philanthropists — and learns of the resilience in surviving religious persecution, wars, epidemics, and economic upheavals.
THE AUTHOR
Linda Broenniman grew up in Buffalo, New York. She is the middle child of seven born to Hungarian physicians who survived World War II and started their new life in the U.S. in 1949.
Linda left mainstream corporate America to follow her path as an entrepreneur, and she let her passion for uncovering hidden potential in unexpected places guide her. This passion fueled the search for her hidden family. Linda lives in Great Falls, Virginia with her husband of 28 years and their dog, Juno.
LEARN MORE
To learn more about Linda Broenniman, visit her website.
SAVING MYLES
by Carl Vonderau
A father’s struggle to save his son, defying all odds
THE BOOK
Saving Myles is a gripping tale of sacrifice, redemption, and unexpected alliances, perfect for fans of Harlan Coben and Lisa Scottoline.
In a desperate race against time, an unassuming banker defies danger and dives into a perilous underworld to save his abducted son. When the FBI’s reach falls short, Wade, a respected banker, must forge alliances with unlikely figures, battle his own doubts, and face criminal forces beyond his imagination.
As he races against the ticking clock, Wade discovers that the ransom demand is just the beginning of a harrowing journey that could cost him more than he ever bargained for.
THE AUTHOR
As a child growing up in Cleveland, Carl Vonderau loved to write. His ghost stories scared the bejesus out of other kids. He left Cleveland to study at Stanford, then spent more than 30 years as a banker. Now he is an award-winning author of crime fiction. His first novel, Murderabilia, was published in 2019 and won a Left Coast Crime award for Best Debut, and a San Diego Book award for Best Mystery. Carl lives with his wife in San Diego. His two grown sons live close by and wonder how he knows so much about serial killers and banking crimes.
THE BOY FROM BOADUA
by Patrick Asare
One African’s journey of hunger and sacrifice in pursuit of a dream
THE BOOK
Patrick Asare’s life began in the impoverished Ghanaian village of Boadua, where illiteracy and scarcity were daily companions. His family, burdened by both their size and financial struggles, battled to put food on the table despite relentless labor. Education beyond middle school seemed an unattainable dream for the village’s youth — until Patrick.
Defying countless hurdles, Patrick pursued education despite hunger, exhaustion, and the demands of laborious chores. His journey eventually led him to the United States, where he not only taught languages and math but also studied advanced education at esteemed American universities. His experiences in urban high schools highlight the unique challenges faced by Black youth in America.
In sharing his remarkable narrative, Patrick Asare imparts a profound message of resilience and hope, a beacon for those confronting seemingly insurmountable odds.
THE AUTHOR
Patrick Asare was born and raised by illiterate parents in the remote Ghanaian village of Boadua. After completing secondary school, he attended university in the former Soviet Union, studying electrical engineering at Donetsk National Technical University in the then-Soviet republic of Ukraine. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and completed a certification program to become a Russian language teacher. Patrick resided in the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991, during the historic perestroika era, when President Mikhail Gorbachev introduced the reforms that ultimately led to the breakup of the Soviet Union.
U.S. EDUCATION IS IN TROUBLE, LET’S FIX IT! 22 REFORM PROPOSALS
By Richard Garrett
The time to act is now when it comes to our public education system
THE BOOK
On the world stage, the United States is a middle-of-the-pack performer when it comes to academic performance, says Richard W. Garrett, author of U.S. Education Is in Trouble, Let’s Fix It! 22 Reform Proposals. Some of the vital statistics at his disposal are downright scary. “If you knew what I know, you’d be worried too,” he is quick to note.
In this research-laden analysis, Garrett methodically and intricately shares with readers what he does in fact know and why the existing situation is so dire — and aims to offer solutions to fix it, like the title suggests.
Garrett takes a very granular approach to his topic, going into great detail about the state of our nation when it comes to learning, student proficiency statistics, the plight of teachers, breakdown of the current school day, how schools should be organized, the all-important discipline issues, and much more. His analysis is compelling — and frightening.
THE AUTHOR
Richard W. Garrett PhD has been studying the U.S. public education system for 10 years and has concluded that major reforms are needed. This is his second book on this subject area. In 2017 he published: The Kids Are Smart Enough, So What’s the Problem? This new book is much more comprehensive with its 17 chapters touching on many diverse topics. What is unique about the new book is the set of 22 recommendations to improve the system.
MOTHERS OF THE MISSING MERMAID
By Brandi Bradley
A daughter’s quest for truth and identity
THE BOOK
Bea’s mother, Kate, was diagnosed with breast cancer. But that’s not the biggest news Bea heard that day.
When they return home, Kate makes a shocking confession. She is not Bea’s birth mother.
Kate’s breast cancer along with the realization that her life was a lie motivates Bea to search for the truth about her birth parents. She packs her car and drives north to Kate’s last-known address in Southern Illinois. Far from everything she knows, she introduces herself to the group of strangers who are her birth family. While there, she tries to understand why Kate would flee with her while also trying to protect the only mother she has ever known.
THE AUTHOR
Brandi Bradley is a writer and teacher who lives in Atlanta. Her short stories and essays have been published in Lousiana Literature, Carve, and Nashville Review. She writes stories about family drama, crime, rowdy girls, gossip, cowboys, and flea markets.
1770: THROUGH THE FIRE
By Fiona Cawdron
A tale of love and tensions in pre-revolutionary America
THE BOOK
In 1770, Alison Singleton’s future seemed bright — London’s high society awaited her upcoming debut season. The allure of elegant ballrooms and candlelit dances overshadowed the harsh reality that her peers often succumbed to early marriages. When word arrives from the colonies that her father is stationed in Virginia, and her mother chooses to accompany him to the New World, Ally sees this as an opportunity to break free from the confines of English social hierarchy and embark on an exploration of America. But the Atlantic holds many surprises.
This historically faithful portrayal of pre-revolutionary America will captivate readers, offering a blend of romance and realism. Perfect for fans of Julia Quinn and Barbara Davis.
THE AUTHOR
Fiona Cawdron was born in New Zealand, but has spent the last 30 years living in Brisbane, Australia. She has a love for all things historical and enjoys writing romance. She specializes in researching the background behind native cultures and brings the subtle nuances to life in her novels.
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LOVE: A NOVEL OF GRIEF AND DESIRE
By Jefferson Blackburn-Smith
A heart-wrenching journey through love, loss, and redemption
THE BOOK
Ed Gideon is still in grief’s grip when he meets Bobbi Love, the 15-year-old daughter of the drunk driver that killed his wife. Her mother, Andie, has overdosed and is in a coma. Now, Ed must decide whether to help Bobbi navigate her mother’s care, or condemn Andie to the death Ed thinks she deserves. Meanwhile, Ed also finds himself caught up in his desire for two very different women, further collapsing the careful wall he’s built around the emotions he’s kept bottled up for two years. How can he help anyone else when he is still lost?
THE AUTHOR
Jefferson Blackburn-Smith, the second of four boys, was raised in rural Ohio. He and his brothers were the original free-range children, raising horses, reading obsessively, and hiking the farmland around their home, guns at the ready, hunting anything in season and varmints all year long. Jefferson met his wife Denise in Quebec City, 1,500 miles from their homes, when he was 17. He and Denise have three grown children, two Boston Terriers and a grumpy, old retriever inherited from his father.
