Book Awards, Editorial Reviews & More!
Book Awards, Editorial Reviews & More!
Thoroughly entertaining with enough will-they, won’t-they tension to keep readers fully invested. It’s not unusual for people to carry the weight of emotional baggage, but Rylee Lynch has an overflowing suitcase dragging her down. The relationship with her mother has been thorny in the decade since her dad died. Her younger brother was diagnosed with […]
A hopeful, life-affirming novel that can impart the courage needed to tackle old age. Riding off into the sunset isn’t all it’s cracked up to be for Barry Swanson. Scoring an apartment at the exclusive Blue Loon Village might be a great opportunity for senior living, but it means giving up the home he shared
A heartening tale about ordinary people thriving under extraordinary circumstances. Local lore tells the tale of an unfaithful wife, Wairaka, who paid for her infidelities by being cast into rock. Six centuries have passed and the stone lookout at Wairaka Point still stands, watching over Nick James and his family home. It is sometime in
The island nation of Iceland is a nature lover’s dream. Breathtaking vistas encompass rugged coastlines, untamed landscapes, and unique natural phenomena. Now, native Icelander and one of the world’s wealthiest men, Daniel Pallson, is about to open a spectacular new resort. Featuring fishing, sports, and luxurious accommodations, Pallson’s Salmon Valley resort is poised to stimulate
It may be uncouth to discuss racism, history, or politics at a funeral, but Will Barnes isn’t known for his strict adherence to social convention. His mere attendance at a funeral for a proud German man who served his country during the Nazi regime causes some to bristle. Getting to know Johann, however, was revelatory
A heartfelt novel about trust, tolerance, and aging with—and sometimes without—grace. Life keeps handing Sunny all the hits, but even a period of homelessness can’t slow her down. Gwendolyn runs in fashionable circles back home in New York, though an extended trip to California challenges her ideas on sophistication. Charlie might have a bestselling novel
Emotionally demanding and profoundly rewarding. Laney was barely even legal when Franklin, a man ten years her senior, took her as his wife. Four lackluster decades pass before Laney decides to go a different route. “Forty years is enough. I think it’s time to put a period at the end of this sentence.” Much to
A blend of flavors and textures that will entice any reader. Ah, an Italian wedding! The perfect setting to reflect on your marriage vows. For Toni Agosti, her wedding day feels more like a million years ago rather than the decade she’s brushing up against. At first, Christian was her perfect match, an adventurous soul
An atmospheric fantasy novel that never shies away from complex philosophical topics. “To an alchemist, the pursuit of knowledge is the most enthralling crusade upon which to embark. The only worthy quest for an endless existence.” Foremost among the alchemists of The Orders, The Rector has filled their purposeful existence by zealously collecting and expanding
A melodic story about finding one’s voice when all has seemingly been lost. Memories can be a double-edged sword, a wonderful tool for recalling our most treasured moments but also a terrible weapon reminding us of things we wish we could forget. For Simon Richter, the ability to wield his sword of memories is waning
Deo may be his homeland, but Giels doesn’t know quite where he belongs anymore. Once certain of his future as Lead Storyteller, time with his friends in the Underworld has caused him to question everything. His relationship with his girlfriend is uncertain, the message on his recorder is a mystery, a dear friend is still
An edgy cyberthriller. The truth will set you free, but not everyone cares for the truth. Or freedom. Nobody knows this better than Julian Comstock, a recently widowed man struggling to find purpose in a changed world. Not only did COVID mandates cost his wife her life, but they took a toll on Julian’s physical,
Interesting character dynamics deftly steer this slow-build military mystery. Eddie Profar used to imagine his future as a golden rock star, but his reality is a grudging draftee forced to freeze off his extremities near the DMZ. Teenage dreams usurped, Eddie adapts as well as anyone can to subzero Korean weather, forced proximity to strangers,
A generous coming-of-age story that grants a broader perspective on the world. Jinka Ethiopia is home to a group of friends whose bonds will last a lifetime. They may not have similar home lives or come from the same family, but they have more in common than not, especially as their respective journeys take them
It might be his birthday, but blowing out the candles never seems to grant Jonah Tarver his wish. For as many of his eighteen years as he can remember, Jonah has endured one challenge after another. True, his family loves him, but they don’t always know how to help him through his troubles. His father
When Fox News sends a crew halfway around the world to report on a cow that gave birth in Israel, the new calf must be something spectacular, or at least something likely to increase ratings and fan some flames. Indeed, Lizzy is special, a miracle heifer by many accounts. This red calf born to a
An optimistic novel about looking for the best in everyone, including ourselves. Mar Meyer hopes to have a banner year, a blissful stretch to forget that her quarter-century marriage collapsed, to mend the strained relationship with her son, and to make friends with people who never knew her as Henry’s wife, Margaret. Married life allowed
A sentimental novel that cuts to the heart. “My breath catches. Do I love Nick? The answer terrifies me.” For most people, the notion of being in love warms the soul like a steamy mug of tea, but not so much for Robin. Instead, love is a painful memory that tethers her to the past.
Well-executed, instantly engaging, and lively enough to keep readers interested and eager. Time is an unyielding force, but how we respond to this progression looks different for everyone. And though time is a constant element, our experiences are not quite as consistent. “Are we all born young or are some of us born old?” This
Some experts will tell you that the key to achieving your goals begins with creating a five-year plan. For Astrid Beeswax, the blueprint for her goal has been more than a decade in the making, ever since the fateful day when Harold Braggart dropped a lit match in a tent filled with fireworks. The ensuing
An unconventional collection that serves as fuel to imagination’s fire. When a story is evocative, the words elicit strong emotions and vivid images. Every one of the sixteen stories in Nothing Short of Odd has that powerful effect. A casual collection of short and flash fiction by Loredano Cafaro, the stories each possess a different
Cuts to the heart in so many ways that are personal and profound. Every sport has its storied rivalries. The Celtics and the Lakers. The Red Sox and the Yankees. The Buckeyes and the Wolverines. High school football has Stonewall and Briggs, a matchup the whole city turns out for. But this year’s most highly
A kaleidoscopic cast that is both flawed and fascinating. It wouldn’t be accurate to say that Charley has lived a lot in her 29 years. No, she’s seen a lot, been through a lot, endured a lot, but lived a lot might be a stretch. A bad omen on the morning of another lonely birthday
A slow-burning white-hot tale of obsession and desire. A House of Cranes is a compelling story about sexual awakening set within a chroma color 1960s backdrop. Being orphaned is a painful experience filled with confusion, grief, and uncertainty, and young Lucius Cook has no shortage of any of these. It is at precisely this agonizing
