Recent books in stores and coming soon with Oklahoma ties

•”In the Morning, the City Is the Prairie ” by Rob Roensch (Belle Point Press, 184 pages, in stores) Matt Bennet, a soulful yet aimless 20-something who has little more to offer than a Costco discount, lives with his parents in Oklahoma City. Confronted by a family health crisis, Matt becomes more attuned to the needs of those he loves, and how he can best fit himself into the world-largely inspired by the more passionate and ambitious young women in his life: his girlfriend, a public school teacher participating in the Oklahoma teachers’ strike of 2018, and his younger sister, a teenage idealist determined to make a difference.

•”Joe Cocker: With a Lot of Help from His Friends” by Mark Bego (Yorkshire Publishing, 264 pages, in stores) In “Joe Cocker: With a LOT of Help from His Friends,” every aspect of the singer’s life and career is examined and explained. Though he was an Academy and Grammy Award winner, Cocker’s life was not always on an uphill track. He suffered from low self-esteem and bouts of depression. It wasn’t until later in his life that he met the love of his life, Pam, who helped him put his personal life back on track before his death in 2014.

•”The Cardinal in the Snow” by John Kenney (Parson’s Porch, 138 pages, in stores) John Kenney uses personal stories to lead readers through lessons that build upon each other to discover “God’s plan for the next phase of the reader’s life.” With the inclusion of reflection questions and spiritual exercises, this book is both educational and devotional.