"A Common Virtue," by James A. Hawkins (Naval Institute Press, $29.95): The author, an executive with a local development company, used his experience as a Vietnam veteran to write about a Marine who endures trials and tribulations both in combat and back home. Military jargon and off-color language prevail in this gritty novel.

"It’s My Choice," by S.M. Chung (Trafford Publishing, $16.24): In this memoir, the author uses the death of her husband as the launching point for an evaluation of the choices that one confronts throughout life, from how to deal with misbehaving children to pursuing career opportunities in the health care industry.

"The Perfect Tea Thief," by Pam Chun (self-published, $15): The 2005 Kapalapala Po‘okela Award-winning novelist’s latest book melds history with fiction in this tale about botanist Robert Fortune, a Scotsman who brought Chinese tea plants to India in the mid-1800s. Chun’s novel has Fortune falling for beautiful martial artist Jadelin, a member of an aristocratic family out to thwart him.

"Hawaiian Music in Motion: Mariners, Missionaries, and Minstrels," by James Revell Carr (University of Illinois Press, $25): The post-contact spread of Hawaiian music via the whaling and shipping industries is traced in this academic volume. Ethnomusicologist Carr discusses how Hawaiian music and dance pacified potentially dangerous visitors, helped Hawaiian seamen gain respect aboard Western vessels and caused conflict between missionaries and seafarers.

"Second Chance," by Robert T. Kiyo­saki (Plata Publishing, $17.95): Financial guru Robert Kiyo­saki offers his latest tips on how to attain financial success in an ever-changing world. The Hilo native, author of the "Rich Dad Poor Dad" series, takes an educational approach, attempting to explain past financial policies that led to more recent problems, current opportunities and the path to future success.

"Zombie City," by M.F. Soriano (self-published, $14.99): The zombie apocalypse genre refuses to die, as Hono­lulu writer M.F. Sori­ano’s novel demonstrates. "City" takes a bite out of San Francisco’s techie, hipster scene as its protagonist, a custodian and frustrated writer named Shane, kicks, punches and shoots his way to peace and love with help from the oppressed and underprivileged.

— Compiled by Steven Mark, Star-Advertiser