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Recent Reviews Focus Review Featured Reviews Author Spotlight US Review Blog   Author Spotlight Bill Resimont In 2024, I started looking closely at something most take for granted: the paragraph... (read more) Author Spotlight Laurel Downing Bill My work focuses on bringing Alaska's history to life through engaging, story-driven nonfiction. I strive... (read more)

Recent Book Reviews

 

Focus Review

1 True College Money Since 1978 - Seventh Edition by Idalah D. Womack, M.S.W., P.T.S., L.C.S.W. "People who have completed college and received grants while they were students are more likely to share grant information with you." Over the past several generations, the cost of higher education in the United States has risen to the point that it may be considered the expectation, rather than the norm, that students and prospective students need to secure outside funding for their academic pursuits. While loans are often available and eager to generate mountains of student debt, there are also plenty of grant programs and other sources of support that students can access based on their field of study, demographics, religion, community, or military service, among other factors. With this book, students of all ages will not only learn how many such opportunities are available to them but also the best strategies for reaching out and securing these grants to help with tuition, books, and living costs. ... (read more)

• Archipelago of Light by Dmitri Lincoln Mehlhorn - RECOMMENDED
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Featured Book Reviews

 

Enduring

Highlight Review They Called Me a Conspiracy Theorist: How I Got Red-Pilled and Targeted by Susan E. Schenck Awakenings Publications reviewed by Philip Zozzaro "When you first wake up, you want to tell everyone. But when you do, people think you are insane, delusional, paranoid." The term "red-pilled" is associated with the blockbuster movie The Matrix and how, by taking the pill, one awakens from their slumber and becomes aware of the harsh truth in reality. In the same year that The Matrix was released, Schenck experienced an awakening of her own when she read The Biggest Secret by acclaimed conspiracy researcher David Icke. The shocking information in the book called out a globalist cabal intent on enslaving humanity, and while some might be inclined to ignore the warnings, Schenck plowed headfirst into the world of conspiracies and deep state skullduggery. As the years passed, events in the United States became more alarming, with the attacks on September 11, 2001, which occurred with possible foreknowledge of members of the United States Government in conjunction with foreign intelligence agencies. ... (read more)

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Beyond Story

Madden's work sheds light on the mythologies of cultures and civilizations worldwide. More than that, though, it establishes how myths have always acted as the language of understanding, a means to articulate the way the world worked before any other mode of communication existed. From the origin stories of the natives to the myths that define the world's continents, Madden showcases his impeccable research, especially in identifying myth patterns across commonly observed cultures throughout history. ... (read more)

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Standing Watch

Highlight Review Delaware Keepers: Life at the Edge of the Sea by Dave Tabler reviewed by Kate Robinson "This is a book about how lighthouse keeping emerged as a profession, matured into a respected federal career, and then vanished entirely." This title reveals the inspiring history of Delaware's lighthouses and the men and women who served as keepers, assistants, and mechanicians of the flames and automated lights that guided ships along Delaware's dangerous, shifting shoals and powerful tides. Well researched and written with a deep regard for the subject matter, the book wends its way through nearly two hundred years of history, from the first appointment of a keeper at Cape Henlopen Lighthouse in 1769 through the complete automation of lighthouse beacons along Delaware's shores in the mid-twentieth century. ... (read more)

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Honoring Legacy

Author Carole captures the recollections and understandings of her youthful self as, beginning at age ten, she visits with her grandmother, whose skills at cooking delicious meals and managing daily chores are underpinned by deep qualities of generosity and mercy. She is fond of pronouncing simple yet significant "rules" for living—primary among them the admonition to her granddaughter not to be in such a hurry to grow up that she might "jump over the lilies and land in a cow pie." These wise and folksy exhortations give the girl rich food for contemplation. ... (read more)

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All Stops Pulled

Highlight Review Dangerous Cargo: Book Three by Clark Selby Pristine Press book review by Mihir Shah "I think if we weren't working trying to find al-Sadr, I just might spend my time wooing her." Vengeance can drive one to great lengths, especially when fueled by a deeply personal loss. Meanwhile, being entrusted with the survival of an entire nation supersedes vengeance and prompts one to restore order and safety by any means necessary. This dichotomy spurs the tug-of-war between nefarious terrorist al-Sadr, who is fuming after losing his brother in a surprise military invasion, and the tag team of CIA stalwart Tom Parker and Army brigadier Jack Hayes. Although the two teamed up in Vietnam years ago, this is an entirely different challenge: stopping a vindictive terrorist whose bloodlust will only be pacified by slaying as many innocent Americans as possible. ... (read more)

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Social Pressures

Todos Los Santos Middle School is a chaotic Arizona educational institution where students spend more time filming online challenge videos and fighting each other than learning anything. George Shelf is a seasoned, grizzled security monitor doing his best to help these kids stay out of trouble and stop from attacking each other, within the confines of being a modern-day mediator for pre-teens. Every day is both an adventure and a nightmare filled with pranks, violence, immorality, immaturity, and the occasional heartwarming moment. George, known as Mr. George to the children, is often tasked with intervening or supporting them, although he has the experience to know when to step back and protect himself from the chaos or an angry parent. ... (read more)

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Evoking Dogs

Highlight Review Forever Dogs: Wit and Wisdom from the Great Canine Beyond - Wagging Tails Telling Tales! by Tricia Spencer Lilac Bloom Press book review by Barbara Bamberger Scott "This book is a glimpse of Americana as imagined in a dog's mind." Author Spencer offers a unique, delightful, and well-researched view of the canine population, depicting dogs as humans' best friends, entertainers, and guardians. She opens with her own attachment to these lovable, loyal, quirky creatures, which began when, on her first birthday, she received Gizi. The puppy would wear costumes designed by Spencer's mother, perform with the child in "Beauty and the Beast," and portray a horse to the girl's act as her rider. Gizi died in Spencer's loving arms when the girl was sixteen, a happening that, as she now declares, "elevated the canine-human bond to the nth degree for me." Thus began Spencer's ever-widening exploration and depiction of what dogs may mean to, and do for, the humans that care for them, peppered here and there with photographs, allowing pets to offer wisdom and share delightful humor. ... (read more)

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Fruitful Living

This book is filled with illustrations, commentaries, and poems reflecting on how religious, political, and social identities influence local, national, and global identities and policies. It examines how, when "crises appear / leaders meet with folded arms" and give "speeches but no acts." It encourages individuals to set aside their social, cultural, and religious differences to build better communities and, ultimately, a better world. Some of the verses even go as far as to examine how the way children are raised influences their future approaches to dealing with others, resolving conflicts, and contributing to their communities. Ultimately, this book guides its audience on how to trust "the gift of difference," which leads to people having "no fear in the heart." ... (read more)

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Rough & Ready

Highlight Review The Archangel by Bobby Lopez book review by Jennifer Soper "Killing became my business, and business was paid in blood." Lopez delivers a dark post-apocalyptic novel set in Nevada after Civil War II. The story follows Dante, a former contract killer known as the Angel of Death, who transforms into a leader determined to rebuild society through rational governance. As raiders and armed groups fight for power, Dante works to replace fear-driven rule with systems based on logic and structure. His greatest threat is not only the broken world around him but his brother, Lucas, who leads a rival force shaped by a different philosophy and vision for Nevada's future. ... (read more)

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Realism & Life

Johann Gutenberg is a skilled artisan in Germany in the 1400s. He is a gem cutter, engraver, and smelter, among other things. His talent helps him stand out, and he is soon approached by a friar who wants him to embellish a book with some silver adornments and stamp a long Latin phrase on the cover. Gutenberg becomes engrossed in the work and begins to form ideas in his head for improving the stamping method. These ideas will eventually lead him to dream up a new idea—a printing press. Books are currently made only by painstaking hand copying, mostly by religious orders. A single book can take a year to copy, and the price is exorbitant. In order to pursue his dream, Gutenberg must give up his job and constantly borrow and worry over money. Also, he meets a young woman named Ennelin, and the two begin a passionate relationship. He plans to marry her, but when his finances crumble, he insists on breaking the engagement, convinced she deserves better than to be tied to a man constantly in fear of debtor's prison. Through years and years of hardship along with trial and error, Gutenberg eventually realizes his dream. However, old debts and misfortune are not finished with him. ... (read more)

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Spiritual Journey

This book is an in-depth exploration of one of the best-known sections of the Bible—the Book of Ecclesiastes, specifically Chapter 3, verses 1-12. Its chapters challenge individuals to consider not only how they interpret this set of scriptures, but also how they apply them. It also asks them to consider how they perceive, utilize, and approach their faith. These chapters also provide insight into how to cope with life's difficult circumstances, particularly the negativity one may encounter from others. Other chapters provide personal narratives about incidents that may test one's faith. The author shares how her faith guided her through both difficult and easy circumstances. Other chapters remind readers that they must take care of their spirits as well as their bodies and minds. ... (read more)

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No Problems

No two children are the same, and so it stands to reason that no two parenting journeys will follow the same trajectory. Every parent will, at some point, face behaviors or responses that leave them scratching their heads, unsure how to proceed. For children ages two to eleven, this book offers a spectrum of best practices to help parents and children live in a more loving, harmonious environment. It teaches parents how to identify what children are doing and interpret the meanings behind their actions, and at the same time gives them the language and methods that children will respond to, helping them understand why things are the way they are regarding homework, bedtimes, and family dynamics. ... (read more)

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Wild, Poetic Rollercoaster

This epic-like prose poem/novel defies categorization by exploring the what-ifs that could occur in a dystopian, monocentric society. The speaker's allusions and references to important American documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, politically charge the verses. The speaker explores a government's abuse of power. The ability to bear a child determines an individual's worth. Mother Nature no longer exists as a divine, respected entity. Instead, she has been replaced by a selfish monocrat who controls every aspect of the population's existence. Nonetheless, one individual's defiance of society and selflessness lead to a dramatic, global turning point that—"from the summoning Appalachians to the Himalayas"—leads to a strange renewal where "everything" is "alive and moving." ... (read more)

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A Celestial Body

Mila Belova and her father, Anton, have been traversing through sorrow ever since the untimely passing of family matriarch, Raisa Belova. Father and daughter have been a mutual source of comfort to each other. The loss of her mother cuts Mila deeply, but the presence of her father and his ability to make her smile and laugh ease the pain she feels. Everything changes, however, when Mila learns that Anton has secretly remarried. When Mila is introduced to Henriette, she feels betrayed by her father in the worst way and has no desire to address Henriette as Maman. ... (read more)

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Hidden Ancestors

This masterpiece of historiography through genealogy traces many stories of multiple generations of the author's ancestors and current family members. Compiled as eight books, the chapters entwine significant portions of the history of Jewish culture, tradition, and transitions with historical explanations of families' and communities' actions. For example, younger sons were sometimes fostered out to relatives so they would not be impressed into service. Their older brothers remained at home, exempt from military service. The book shifts seamlessly from micro to macro examples (and back again) of Jewish life and migration. Book I introduces the author and his family. Subsequent pages tell stories that predate the Exodus out of Egypt to the author's piecing together his family's history through name and location changes, translations, naturalization records, photographs, and Milavetz's recollections of the stories that were told by some of his dynamic family members. ... (read more)

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Project Laura

In every darkness, hope allows the human spirit to endure. Mahler's narrative intertwines deep-seated faith and a coming-of-age arc to deliver a young adult story that touches on friendship, loyalty, and battling back against adversity with a roar. The story revolves around a tight-knit bond between James and Laura, siblings three years apart who may as well be twins given how connected they are. When Laura is diagnosed with leukemia at fourteen, the family's life is upended, especially James' life. With all the focus on Laura, he feels lost and unsure how to process everything happening. ... (read more)

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Adventurous

Caruthers offers a scintillating saga of ten-year-old Marlene, who, with her parents and younger brother, lives in Turtle Dove Junction, Tennessee, in the mid-1930s. Her father struggles to support his family while her mother performs burdensome housekeeping chores and cares for hens. Marlene's narration begins as she delivers the latest batch of eggs to the burg's general store. She sees a flash of red breezing by while chatting with two old men, Mr. Sam and Mr. Jake, who are sitting outside the store. They reckon that the color is a bounding hound dog banished by a man locally distrusted, whom Marlene thinks of as Evil Old Mr. Arthur. ... (read more)

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Getting Stronger

Setting forth a sound, substantial thesis, author Gitagia here explores the ways in which one can and should pursue one's Christian faith, avoiding the ever-present temptations to immerse oneself in earthbound limitations and ignore or withdraw from well-established biblical tenets. In a brief introductory segment, the author includes a compelling quotation from the Holy Bible that underscores her book's major theme: "Lazy hands make poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth" (Proverbs 12:24). The referenced wealth, Gitagia asserts, is spiritual identity, an essential ingredient that is diligently developed through an underpinning of unfailing faith. This will require one's continual connection to God and his son Jesus, and will allow believers to walk with God, avoid the evil schemes of Satan, and inherit the heavenly conclusion that the Bible so clearly promises. ... (read more)

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Electric Pacing

Set in the racially charged southern landscape of the Mississippi Delta in 1969, Lynchard's work fuses a scintillating murder mystery with probing commentary delivered impeccably through introspective character analysis. The narrative revolves around one Paul Lane, a newly minted investigator at the DA's office, a recently released prisoner—Tyrone Braid, and a perfect storm of tumultuous events that leaves an entire community in fear and tests even the sturdiest of moral compasses. ... (read more)

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Unsolved Murder

As Jennifer Garrett tends to her poor, run-over poodle, the assailant gets the drop on her. She never stands a chance as she is violently throttled, her attacker subjecting her to further degradation before discarding her in a nearby field. Jennifer's parents are quick to reach out to law enforcement upon noticing Jennifer's absence from home. Within hours, the town of Roundaway learns of the brutal assault and murder of eighteen-year-old Jennifer. When investigator Paul Lane receives the news of Jennifer's murder, he is more than concerned, as her murder bears a resemblance to the unsolved murders of two women in the previous year in Bolivar County. The possibility of the same culprit committing all three murders is too great to discount. ... (read more)

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Selfless & Cathartic

Malzon's life has been disrupted by a functional neurological disorder (FND), an affliction that often results in seizures. There seems to be no panacea for this condition, merely ways to help alleviate the symptoms. The author and her husband, Ron, decided a change of living environment might help, along with the medicine Malzon was taking. The journal the author began keeping was a way to chart seizure activity and determine if there were any triggers to the disruptive and often traumatic events. As the journal begins, Ron is attempting to have a cabin constructed in the secluded area of San Juan County, Washington. Malzon records the good, the bad, and the ugly with consistency, and the havoc caused by acute seizures resulting in blurred memories. While the journal spans nearly a year of pain, comfort, and unease, Malzon's determination to confront her disease is unquestioned. ... (read more)

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Uplifting

Through this book, young readers will be made familiar with the incredible story of Thea Bowman, a cheerful, caring, and devoted woman who defied the odds of segregated America to become a nun, a teacher, and an inspiration to generations of students. From a young age, Thea's dedication was apparent as she set her mind to goal after goal and pursued them without wavering. Moving away from home, finishing school even after contracting tuberculosis, joining the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, and beginning a teaching career at age twenty-one were all just inevitable steps in her journey of faith and service. Though there was initial pushback to an African American teacher in some of her early schools, even as a nun, she was able to change minds by demonstrating her passion for education and support of children. ... (read more)

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Identity & Acceptance

This novel is a powerful coming-of-age story that follows two boys as they navigate their sexuality, their families, and the complicated world around them. Karl writes with tenderness and honesty, capturing the confusion, longing, and self discovery that shape queer adolescence. Saint's early obsession with Tony becomes the emotional starting point, but the real shift happens when he begins to understand that love must be mutual, safe, and rooted in honesty. Through the examples of Julia and Dariana and Sebastian and Victor, he sees what genuine connection looks like: not fixation, but reciprocity. His relationship with Teo grows from that understanding, offering both boys a space where they can be truthful, vulnerable, and fully themselves. Their bond grows from vulnerability and truth, offering both boys a chance to understand what being gay means for them personally. ... (read more)

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Kindness

Hetzer's memoir depicts his incredible transformation from a me-centric life to one dedicated to serving the Lord. On an otherwise ordinary Labor Day weekend in 2008, Hetzer is enjoying his yacht and contemplating how material success has come at the expense of church time and service. A series of losses punctuated by the death of his father furthers the realization that God is speaking through the grief. The author's search to find himself leads him to the Knights of Columbus, bringing him one step closer to his ultimate goal: protecting the unborn children of God. ... (read more)

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Nature Prose

Rife with self-reflection and contemplation on literature, philosophy, and the world, this book takes its audience on a dreamlike journey. The speaker of each poem approaches the natural world, social interactions, and his own ideas about existence and mortality with awe, wonder, and excitement. Some poems ruminate about the future's looming "soulless AI artifice." Others wonder about the erasure of the past and the attempts to rewrite history. Other verses offer transcendentalist pieces of advice about how "Birdsong can fill our barren hearts" and offer "pure musical empathy / For an ever-needy world." In the collection's other sections, romance, love, and poetics collide. Emily Dickinson serves as a kind of muse amid the speaker's ponderings of death, beauty, and complexity. ... (read more)

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Impressive Debut

Leyla, a forty-something wife and mother, is unraveling. Her own mother, Aurora, insists on humiliating her before the other well-heeled grandparents during an assembly at the independent school her kids attend. The only decent night's sleep she's gotten in recent months involved a cocktail of valerian tea, GABA gummies, magnesium foot spray, and various other tonics. And she's begun to fear that her husband, Stephen, may be having an affair. ... (read more)

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Deceit & Cunning

In a novel derived from his own career as a trial attorney, Shipman delivers a poignant fusion of murder mystery and courtroom thriller that adds an impeccable glimpse into the anatomy of a case. When Howard Graves enters the office of prominent attorney Garret Cole, he brings along a seemingly unsolvable conundrum: to investigate the coroner's ruling of suicide on his father's death certificate. On the surface, this appears to be an easily correctible error on the part of the coroner, but as Cole dives deeper into the case, two things become distinctly clear: nothing is as it seems, and there is a far greater conspiracy brewing. ... (read more)

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Window in Time

College friends reunite twenty years after their graduation for their favorite college pastime—bid whist—which the four play at midnight. Having bonded over the game during their freshman year at South Carolina State College in Orangeburg, South Carolina, they find themselves falling easily back into their younger roles: Sardis, the light-skinned doctor's daughter; Grace, the opinionated girl from the Alley, Charleston's poorest black neighborhood; and Dorcus, the preacher's daughter who dreamed of one day marrying an Army officer. ... (read more)

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Bigotry Unveiled

Hartman, an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of South Florida, explores the role of three Nazi feature films and their influence as propaganda meant to make genocide acceptable to the German public during Hitler's Third Reich (1933-1945). Hartman writes in his introduction, "In this book I shall address five major questions related to the role of propaganda in the promotion of racist ideology and social violence..." His five primary goals (in a nutshell) are "understanding the emotional basis of the ideology of antisemitism;" exploring how these ideas are "translated into mass media like film, television, and the internet;" ascertaining the emotional appeal of the propaganda to both supporters and average citizens; exploring the role of propaganda to move people to "social action, including violence;" and finally, discussion of what the antidotes to racist propaganda might be. ... (read more)

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Intricate & Accessible

Encapsulating a range of emotions, Martin pours herself into a poetry compilation that becomes a microcosm of her life, both the tribulations and the ensuing resilience, as well as added commentary on the overall divisive state of the modern world. While the compilation opens with a hopeful haiku of floating butterflies, "I want" immediately contrasts the whimsical with intensity and cynicism toward the clichأ╚ that "happiness is what you make it." Overall, Martin's command of poetry is on point, whether through haikus or a plethora of figurative language, ranging from alliteration and enjambment to simile and metaphor. ... (read more)

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Natural Gifts

Author Harkey has created a children's book that is both enjoyable and educational, highlighting many fascinating features of animal life through the eyes of two enthusiastic German Shepherds—Nini and Lobo—and a helpful, if sometimes sneaky, pack rat named Speedy. Brightly enhanced by artist Mike Minick, the two dogs trade reminiscences of the good times they have enjoyed. One shared enthusiasm was awakening their sleeping human caretakers with screeches made by pressing Nini's prized squeeze toy, Pink Piggy. But Nini tells her friend with deep anxiety and genuine misery that the beloved Piggy is now missing. ... (read more)

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Finding Uniqueness

A small, adorable, pinkish-purple blob of watercolor comes to life as a slug—one with a story to tell. Creeping along land is cumbersome, so the little slug takes "to the sea to be free." There, he harmoniously floats, glides, and swims. When other sea creatures call him silly for using seaweed for a bed, the slug embraces his uniqueness, declaring, "I am happy. Life is swell." The white whale, curious, asks the slug what his secret must be. The protagonist exclaims, "I am merely me," adding he is and does what "comes naturally." ... (read more)

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Making Waves

The book begins with a poem that examines ripples of water that become waves. Just as thoughts in the mind grow, and just as deeds grow, one can turn these thoughts and actions into waves of action by doing good and being kind. Written in response to bullying and violence, the teaching focuses on forgiveness and the need for peace. Emerson promotes this concept for children as well as for the adults—little ripples leading to big waves. A note to adults written on Independence Day emphasizes the need for freedom. The "Preface to Activities" indicates that the activities are for children as well as for the child within the adult, and they are to be done with the child, as the child learns by example. Finally, there are eleven activities listed with descriptions, including doing community service, taking timeouts, and parenting the inner child. ... (read more)

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Great Pacing

Stuart's novel blends mystery, cultural history, and Alaskan atmosphere into a story centered on Jonah St. Clair, a former LAPD officer now serving as the only law enforcement presence in the remote Native village of Koloshan. Though not Native himself, Jonah was raised by his adoptive grandfather, Dennis, and carries a deep respect for the community's traditions, stories, and responsibilities. When sacred artifacts, including the Raven House Screen, are stolen, and a respected community member named Will is found dead, Jonah is pulled into an investigation that forces him to confront both the crime and the cultural weight behind it. As he follows the trail of missing relics, he must navigate long standing tensions, community expectations, and the delicate balance between honoring tradition and enforcing the law. ... (read more)

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Conscience Map

Envision a work that encompasses the essence of what it means to be human, both inside and out. Amudsen's work epitomizes this spirit of humanity in the most uncanny ways, tackling everything from language and culture to politics and the environment. Nevertheless, when that all ceases to exist, he hones in on what's left, the true identity that has always been there, waiting to be seen. Amudsen's work carries an aura of freedom from the rigidity of judgment. He writes to simply write and convey his message to the masses. ... (read more)

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Humanist History

In many ways, the author's book is both a defense and an explanation of humanism. Humanism is about making the most of one's life while living on Earth. For many, this means living in harmony with nature, enjoying a sunset or a mountain view. For some, this philosophy is the foundation on which to place one's religion—so long as the leaders don't ask for "blind faith." Living life to the fullest on Earth begins with recognizing controlling environments and seeking truth for oneself. Sorting through available facts or digging into published scientific research are two ways to uncover the truth and verify information. The younger generations ask: do I control my life, or does a god control me? To this question, humanists offer one path crisscrossed with footprints from Epicurus of Athens to the psychologist Abraham Maslow to the present-day American Humanist Association. ... (read more)

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Beating Terror

Dr. Shane Smith is a young research veterinarian who assists Dr. Logan H. Price, one of the leading American experts on mad cow disease, at Iowa State University. One fateful day the trajectory of their careers change when CIA and FBI agents Tom Parker and Bob Barker arrive with a threat to national security: a purported scheme by al-Qaeda to introduce a super strain of mad cow disease into the American beef supply. A cooperative between US and British scientists is soon struck when Shane takes a flight to London to meet Dr. Price—oldest friend, Dr. Clive Browning—and his daughter, Dr. Elizabeth Browning. ... (read more)

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Unexpected Turns

Freckles tell a story—that is, they do for Kikiloa. As the mother of humanity, she counts her daughters by the freckles dotting her body, down her arms, hiding on her ankles. In the present-day, best friends Hazel and Kiki, for short, scramble up onto a ledge along San Francisco's cliffs. Kiki is about to tell her friend an important secret she's kept all this time. The pages of Hazel's journal bottle up Kiki's zingers in doodles like a time capsule. But an ominous figure lurks at the top of the cliff, above the ledge. Kiki disappears. In snapshots through time, Kikiloa's story unfolds, not only in the present day or the years prior, but in the hundreds and thousands of years before. ... (read more)

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Culture Clash

Imagine living with your mother (aka Hitler), your entitled brother, Selva, and his wife, Sue, who does everything for him because of an arranged marriage in a traditional Ceylonese family, when you're a staunch feminist. This is the fate of Yuva, a thirty-two-year-old bank manager who has strong beliefs but lives at home with her family and struggles with how her mother reveres her brother and treats her and Sue as second-class citizens in an abusive manner, as does Selva. But there are also marital problems. Yuva struggles with men in general, but love is in the air. The family is the main focus of the book, with others included, such as friends and other family members. But who is in love and how have hearts been caged over the years? And how can such love be forbidden? Will Yuva be able to fix the problems within the family? ... (read more)

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Insightful Chaos

When life's journey turns one of its final corners, one finds oneself floundering for meaning or in such a state of tranquility and complacency that one lives out one's days on repeat. In Steinberg's novel, divided over three sections, he explores an intriguing conjecture: what if you could take your most harrowing moments of grief—the ones that leave scars so deep, they're invisible—and avenge them? Centered around the National Security Agency, agents Paul Stanton and Carl Sipowicz revive a shelved program that recruits those with nothing to lose and an undeniably acute connection with the mission. That mission is to eliminate "undesirables" who were instrumental in ripping away someone dear to these candidates in their younger years. ... (read more)

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Musician on the Road

Born into the creative richness of a home with his jazz-drummer father and brother, it seems almost inevitable that the author would begin his working career in a band. However, being hired by Sammy Davis, Jr. to take over as drummer when his brother Ray Porrello left the band is the impetus for this memoir. It is an unusual coming-of-age story, as at the young age of eighteen, the author began a two-and-a-half-year stint touring the world with Davis and his band. ... (read more)

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Art Alive

The painting, Netherlandish Proverbs (also known by its original title, The Blue Cloak), which was created by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, is the impetus for the plot of a young woman, Chloe, who is motivated by the lessons in the artwork as she interprets them to tell her older sisters that Bruegel's work from the sixteenth century has shown Chloe how she wants to live. Since Chloe has some wealth that her sisters do not, she has the means to potentially follow her dream. Her older sisters taunt her and try to deprive their youngest sister of the will and means to be independent, but Chloe's intelligence, courage, and help from an eccentric friend—to whom Chloe finally pays attention—facilitate ultimate justice. ... (read more)

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Credible Essays

In academia, economics is the study of how best to meet people's needs within the context of limited resources. But this topic doesn't operate in a vacuum. Quite the opposite, economics intertwines so closely with the social and political environment that it requires an interdisciplinary approach. These essays go beyond classical economic theory to seek answers to real-world economic challenges. Books on classical economic theory are classics for a reason, forming the foundation of conventional economics. However, problems arise when economic theories fall short, such as during atypical economic crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Unconventional economics, charting the dark corners of this map, attempts to address today's most pressing issues, such as sluggish economic growth, increasing inflation, the climate emergency, rising nationalism, and barriers to global cooperation. ... (read more)

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No Rest

This third and final book of The Girl, the Pendant, and the Portal trilogy picks up in the middle of the consequences of the previous book. With Enlitra nearly destroyed, Faith's father, the powerful entity known as He, turns his attention to Faith and Tomas' hometown. From the living, he sucks them so dry of life that they turn to dust. From those already dead, he raises them from the earth to descend on Faith and her friends in an unrelenting army. Their retribution will come with the help of old and new friends, including Amita, a mysterious girl who survived the annihilation of everyone else in the town. In the very end, Faith will need the help of all of her friends and all her control of the power of En to defeat her father and save the world. ... (read more)

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Shaply Drawn

"I was in the modern world once," Jessie Calder tells one of his grandsons at a party for the widower's seventy-sixth birthday. Living alone in an over-fifty-five community, Jessie's gift from his family is a new laptop computer that unexpectedly resurrects a face from his past. A book that begins as a wise commentary on aging then deftly slips into a flashback more than fifty years past—one in which a winter storm becomes an important character in a tightly constructed thriller. ... (read more)

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We Have Met the Enemy...

This collection of short stories is about people facing moral or social dilemmas. All of the tales touch on social issues, and the reader's experience is mostly through the thoughts and actions of one, two, or three protagonists. A main character thinks their way through a situation as the reader is treated to the character's thoughts and conflicts. That person interacts with other characters. The situations vary in intensity and perhaps in importance, but each story carries similar messages: everyone is a social being, like it or not, and there is some ambiguity even in friendly interactions with others. ... (read more)

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Great Narrative

Iran and China plot a strike that will make a statement to their enemy, the United States. Their attack on the US will be from within and cripple a critical part of the country's infrastructure. Various power stations will be targeted by suicide bombers. The destruction of the plants will trigger a domino effect, leading to the failure of the California energy grid. The economic impact will be devastating to the United States as a whole and will weaken the country in the global community. Once the right personnel are recruited and the weaponry is secured, the plan will go forward. ... (read more)

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At Every Turn

What is technology capable of? Can it do more than observe and mimic behavior? Can artificial intelligence exhibit human qualities if it studies the right humans? Cyber espionage takes on a whole new meaning in Bennett's work as he returns with special agent Ava Martinez, placing her in another adventure that blurs the lines between humans and machines. The premise is simple, but the execution is its own conundrum: a persistent hum in the corridors under Lambeau Field in Green Bay takes on a life of its own, growing so intense that the lives of nearly 100,000 attendees are in direct peril. ... (read more)

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Effective Progress

In this journey, Creswell effectively helps readers understand themselves and take the reins of their own lives, come what may. Seeing herself as a guide in this process, the author provides vital tools to tackle challenges like generational and childhood trauma. The metaphor of carrying a small backpack that continues to fill with invisible weight that unknowingly is bogging you down resonates seamlessly and is a pertinent part of the self-awareness process. In fact, this weight even gets glamorized as a demonstration of one's strength and ability to push through. However, Creswell succinctly provides the tools to first identify and name this weight. In essence, the author dives into both the therapeutic and scientific aspects of the invisible weight to convey that this trauma fundamentally reshapes our brain and nervous system. ... (read more)

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Healing Us

Using deeply personal and intimate language, this book strives to convey a single, powerful message—"When one of us heals, all of us heal." It also asks the important question, "Is suffering inevitable, or is it a choice?" ... (read more)

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History Alive

The infamous charge of the British Light Brigade on October 25, 1854, receives an imaginative take in this curious account, narrated by a fictitious war correspondent for the Times (London). The newspaper correspondent and his fellow reporters are on the ground in Balaclava, Russia, preparing to view this tragic charge in the Crimean War. Told in the first person, the chronicle never shares "the newsman's" name, but many hints suggest that he is a fictional version of Dublin-born reporter William Howard Russell, whose war reports inspired Alfred, Lord Tennyson's most famous poem, "The Charge of the Light Brigade." ... (read more)

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Spiritual Warfare

It is almost strange how this beguiling literary political thriller is so timely, considering that the author began writing the story some forty-five years ago. Gurr, now ninety years old, explains in his author's note that when he began writing his prophetic fiction, before setting the manuscript aside for personal reasons, the world was certainly different. For example, the Berlin Wall, a 103-mile concrete barrier erected to cut off Germany's democratic West Berlin from the communist East Berlin, was still standing. America and Russia, two of the most powerful countries on the planet, were in the midst of a decades-long ideological battle between capitalism and communism known as the Cold War. And the AIDS health crisis spread across the globe, bringing fear and prejudice worldwide. ... (read more)

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AI Bad Actors

Roare Murdock is a filmmaker making the rounds to promote her latest film, which tackles drug abuse. It is a very personal project, as she battled her addictions in her teens. A lot of her demons resulted from abandonment issues. Now in her mid-twenties, she is a successful documentarian and is married to Wyatt, who loves and comforts her unequivocally. While her promotional tour has had the occasional hiccup with nosy interviewers, Roare is dumbfounded after a random encounter on the street with a musician leads to an introduction to Transhumanism and the agenda of those promoting the use of artificial intelligence. Roare has encountered disconcerting sights before, but the insidious implications of cyborgs warrant further investigation and a subsequent documentary. However, corporations such as CoSynthesis prefer to keep their technology a trade secret until the time is right. ... (read more)

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True Gifts

Eight-year-old Maddie cannot contain her excitement as Christmas is just around the corner. However, hearing Harper, her younger sister, cough through the night worries her that the extravagant Christmas she has envisioned might be ruined. Grimm's work is highly plot-driven, with dynamic character arcs, providing ample opportunities to develop strong readers at the primary level. Overall, the fusion of an engaging storyline and resplendent colors in the illustrations captures the spirit of the season. ... (read more)

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Monumental Journey

In this fourth installment of the series, Birkmyer returns with the same electric energy and seamless character development that have become trademarks of her work. The story opens with a girl-next-door, coming-of-age connection between Melissa McNabb, with her free-spirited, artistic personality, and Tony Paniagua, the heartthrob, racecar aficionado with a subtle emptiness who just moved into their Pennsylvania neighborhood. It doesn't take long for Birkmyer to move the plot along, however, and turn this work into an insightful gem that probes long-hidden secrets, setting the central characters on a path of self-discovery and exploration. ... (read more)

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Intriguing Characters

George and Mary Darling are Wendy's parents. One day, they receive a visit from a doctor named Johann Hanover Heinrich, who claims to be their son-in-law, meaning he is Wendy's husband. At first, George mistakes the doctor for Captain Hook because of the doctor's barbaric scars on his face. Despite Wendy writing a letter stating that she is married to him, George and Mary struggle to believe the doctor is truly their daughter's husband, suspecting she may have been coerced into writing it. Mary convinces George to accompany the doctor on a voyage to find Wendy. Throughout the voyage, George discovers that Wendy now goes by the name Jill and is actually married to someone else. This revelation leads George to question who Doctor Heinrich really is. ... (read more)

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Dust Bowl Journey

Life on the plains is hard for the Dolan family. In Matthias' moving novel, she illuminates the 1930s Dust Bowl through the eyes of twelve-year-old Caroline. Witnessing the ceaseless intensity and challenges of a landscape ravaged by drought and storms that fill the skies in "Corn silk yellow," orange, or sometimes "a pale sick green," Caroline grows up faster than expected at her age. Alongside her is a nine-year-old brother, Daniel, and the close siblings depend on each other as they experience a childhood that transcends any normal childhood. Even from the opening page, the two wake to what appears to be a happy midwinter morning that quickly shifts into a stark reminder of what they face each day. Amid constant dust storms, they complete necessary chores around the farm and walk to school, where even then they are subjected to the fearsome storms that rattle the shutters "like a hundred galloping horses." At home, the "silky, talcum-fine dust" is ever-present, and their youngest sibling, Nell, is a baby already rasping and coughing up "gobs of thick, brown drool." ... (read more)

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Faith Affirmed

Wendy's life is going great. She's about to have a baby, she has a fulfilling career in teaching, and her husband Kevin is perfect, or so she thinks. Sanders' novel is about how a seemingly perfect life is an illusion and that it takes courage to rebuild amid lies and pain. It's a sexually transmitted disease diagnosis that literally opens the protagonist's eyes to what is really happening in her life and marriage. Wendy's sister Kim helps her pick up the pieces, though the message isn't just that family is there for you, but also that faith is. Even when not only Wendy but also the other characters waver in their faith, they still find their way back to God. ... (read more)

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Loved Compilation

In Janssen's latest poetry compilation, the darkness and pain from Ruined and Nightmares give way to a hopeful outlook. However, the same raw vulnerability infuses this work and brings each poem to life. Janssen's poetry embodies the saying "It's always darkest before dawn," as there is discernible healing from her previous works. While the prose is aesthetically pleasing, the poet's ability to evoke emotion through the unfolding narrative is unparalleled. Almost a personal introspection, Janssen probes deep into the depths of her spirit to deliver poetry that is highly relatable and reflects what it means to experience the highs and lows of being human. ... (read more)

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Festive Fear

Bridgett Bishop has the candy laid out for the local children on Halloween, but instead of gratitude, all she receives is a vicious assault of eggs and rocks by rowdy kids who believe she is a witch. In fact, Bridgett is a witch, descended from a long line of witches who had been subjected to persecution and torment by the townspeople. Bridgett had been saved by the kindness of a priest, only to be found and beaten by a band of vigilantes on Christmas Eve while the priest and his family stood by. This latest indignity only stirs Bridgett's desire for revenge, and she plans to take it out on the people of Killington, Vermont. As the holiday season gets rolling, Bridgett wants fear and chaos to roam the streets more than any festive cheer. ... (read more)

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Absorbing Narrative

From a young age and into adulthood, Masanobu Tsuji believes he is destined to be a warrior. He has never shied away from questioning his superiors, whether it be his Kendo master or a military officer of a higher rank. Tsuji hails from a distinguished family in Japan, and he is entrusted with redeeming the family's name. Tsuji joins the Imperial Army, wherein he witnesses the corrupt actions of his fellow soldiers and impulsively burns down a brothel frequented by his countrymen. Tsuji is saved from a lengthy punishment by his superior officer, Hideki Tojo, who believes Tsuji could be useful in undercover work. Tsuji's reprieve doesn't rule out future rash actions on his part as Japan continues to flex its imperialist tendencies in the 1930s. ... (read more)

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Dream Come True

Charles Cone was born into a farming family in Upstate New York. The family subsisted on the marketable crops they grew, yet Charles' ambition reached beyond the homestead. The nearby airport allowed Charles to watch as planes traversed the skies, and the idea of becoming an aviator took hold of him. His school projects revolved around airplanes, and he began saving extra money to pay for flight lessons. His attempt to enlist in the Navy was nearly scuttled by his own physical limitations (hay fever) and frustrating government bureaucracy, and while he missed out on serving in World War II, Cone would see flight time in the late 1940s and '50s, flying through various hotspots in Asia during the early days of the Cold War. As Cone continued to serve his country, he took the opportunity to further his education, which served him and his growing family well when he ultimately retired from the armed forces as a colonel. ... (read more)

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Twin Challenges

Every story in this collection features water. Lakes in Arizona and Japan, a river in India, and the ocean are some of its settings. In "Drought," not enough water is a problem, while in "The Ark Encounter," too much is. In all the stories, water is a vehicle, literally and figuratively, in big and small ways, to change. ... (read more)

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Unconditional Faith

As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. When his boss, Hank, suffers a heart attack, Scott Anderson is thrust into the role of head honcho at the construction site. Similarly, Tim Lusk has a whimsical innocence best observed in his daily coffee run just to visit Janna, the barista he cannot stop thinking about. Both central characters stare down the barrel of their own internal pressures, whether it is getting the raise to provide for a family or paying off student loans. Yet, what makes Posey's work intriguing is the idea of temptation and how it's got such a strong gravitational pull to completely disorient one's moral compass. ... (read more)

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Mysterious Relic

The Ghent Altarpiece had been a joint project between brothers Hubert and Jan Van Eyck. Despite Hubert's untimely death in 1426, Jan continued the work on the masterpiece, and it was unveiled at Saint Bavo's Cathedral in 1432. In 1934, a brazen burglary occurred at the cathedral, and a thief absconded with a panel from the work. ... (read more)

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Art Initimacy

Chute, curator at Red Brick Common Public Art Gallery in Stony Plain, Alberta, was two years into her curatorial position when, as she writes, she "envisioned filling the gallery with pages of artists' sketchbooks, displayed nearly floor to ceiling." The idea was for visitors to immerse themselves as though "stepping inside the creative processes" of the artists included in the exhibition. ... (read more)

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Guts & Guns

The author's book takes flight as a multilayered crime story that begins in 1970. It then veers into a saga of revenge before landing on a present-day supernatural runway. With a cast of ninety-seven characters, this is an incredibly ambitious book, as keeping up with all of the various players and personalities as a writer is a Herculean undertaking. Thankfully, all the characters are listed in a playbill of sorts at the end, providing readers with a handy reference. ... (read more)

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Threats & Survival

In the town of River Overlook, residents are preparing for an impending storm, ensuring they have adequate shelter to survive it. Meanwhile, Stephen, the son of Mary Ellen and Allen Everly, witnesses Constable Perkins murder Ben Williams during a heated argument about money just before the storm. Shaken by the experience, Stephen confides in his mother about what he saw. Stephen urges his mother not to call the police because he fears Constable Perkins will find out and come after him. His mother reassures him that she won't let anything happen to him. Later, Mary informs her husband, Allen, about their son's troubling revelation. Concerned, Allen takes action and reaches out to Sheriff Peters to explain the situation. Sheriff Peters advises him not to tell anyone else until the right moment. ... (read more)

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Impressive Detail

In the opening page of their epic historical novel, the authors write, "The storm had struck suddenly in the afternoon, its rolling dark clouds low on the northwestern horizon. Like the other passengers, John assumed God's blessing would ensure their safe passage..." What follows is page after gripping page of real and figurative storms either descending upon John Lee and his fellow Puritan pilgrims or threatening from a near horizon. In a multigenerational saga that begins in 1634 and takes place over nearly half a century, we follow young Lee as he evolves from a thirteen-year-old boy to a colonial soldier to a community stalwart. In between are births, deaths, wars, witchcraft trials, theological and theocratic disputes, and the relentless efforts of immigrant Europeans to carve out new homes from a harsh and stubborn landscape. ... (read more)

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Technology & Politics

Political entrepreneur and systems strategist Mehlhorn ponders a fictional but plausible present and near future in his debut novel, a seriously cerebral sci-fi thriller. The story begins in 2003 with the introductory point of view of Gabriel Hart Calloway, aka Butch, a quirky honors graduate and tech engineer who founds Guardians, a defense operation protecting alternative communities from predatory nation states that have chucked rule-of-law institutions for consolidation of power and authoritarian rule. As the world veers toward increasing chaos and worldwide wars, exacerbated by dwindling sources of truth and facts, various competing networks arise through the efforts of other primary characters in this international drama. Most of these organizations and collaborations depend on technological advances in AI, biometrics, and other forms of electronic technology. ... (read more)

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Musical Lifelines

This book offers an honest and often painful look into Holesworth's childhood, shaped by an addict father and a born again mother whose devotion to religion becomes another form of pressure. The novel's greatest strength lies in its emotional core: the author's resilience. Even as he faces instability, neglect, and constant upheaval, he finds ways to keep moving forward. His earnest voice and his desire to understand himself amid chaos give the story a relatable coming-of-age foundation. Readers who appreciate memoirs centered on survival, identity, and the long shadow of family trauma will find meaningful moments throughout the narrative, especially in the way Holesworth tries to make sense of his parents' choices and the environment he grew up in. These themes align with trauma based storytelling and resilience narratives. ... (read more)

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Give It to God

Writer Floren offers an enheartening treatise, demonstrating how anyone can grasp and utilize the essential truths embedded in the Holy Bible, particularly within the New Testament's Book of John. There, a telling event is described: Jesus clears a temple of ritualistic leaders and their attitudes, establishing his authority and promising followers the rewards of "joy and vitality." This lively theme gives current readers a sense of hope: they can and will experience new life, enjoy protection amidst worldly chaos, all while continuing to assert free will. Some nominal Christians go to church and study the Bible without the required surrender to God's plan. Yet Jesus embraced sinners and mourned "people who struggle." Therefore, seekers must embrace a new perspective, acknowledge their broken lives, and submit to the obedience promising new life through Jesus. ... (read more)

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Under Pressure

This third book in the series opens not with a battle, but with a single man running out of air. Lezah Yetz, an Andrene technician stranded in space after his ship is destroyed, spends his last moments recording a message to his wife and children. He talks about the night he asked her to marry him, about his son's upcoming ceremony, about what the stars look like up close. It is a quiet moment, and it sets up the emotional weight for everything that follows. By the time the war begins, the reader already knows what is at stake. ... (read more)

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