Book Awards, Editorial Reviews & More!
Book Awards, Editorial Reviews & More!
Will leave an annoying song stuck in your head and a smirk plastered on your face. Elvin is one angsty elf, but in all fairness, he’s seen a lot of shady things and has even been party to more than a few himself. If his many decades living under the influence of peppermint sticks and […]
A touching read with the poignant message that love starts within. You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family, as the saying goes. Unfortunately, good choices and solid decision-making are two skills Kim Kincaid has yet to master. Her best friend happened by accident, her boyfriend happened by surprise, and her only
A gripping tale of sacrifice, deception, and devastating secrets. Chinasa at birth, First Lady Zayani Ada is now in a unique position to help her Ijun people. A revered philanthropist and wife of the president, Zayani is outwardly the picture of grace and an example of human triumph. But those outward perceptions stop when the
An utterly delightful novel that maps out a moving journey. Without her permission, Karen Whittington has unceremoniously become a woman of a certain age, someone staring into the eye of looming retirement. Looking forward to leaving her library job and routine about as much as a root canal, Karen still has lots of life ahead
Particularly earnest and incredibly powerful. How would you sum up the American experience? There is really no simple answer to that question, as we are all shaped by our background, upbringing, experiences, and outlook. And these criteria differ wildly from one person to the next, one location to the next, one time period to the
At seventeen, Adamo Di Cristo has reached a nominal milestone, high-school graduation. But with abandonment by his mother in the name of her faith, this Massachusetts native will have to get creative in order to survive. Subsistence on meager rations and an unethically paltry salary quickly become the norm, so Adamo enrolls in the military
Awash with emotion but never drowning in sentimentality. It wasn’t just a husband that died in the accident. When a drunk driver struck the car, it not only took the life of Sam’s husband but also of her mother-in-law, leaving both Sam and her father-in-law completely bereft. Sam hasn’t yet found the energy to fight
A bustling, contemporary collection of vibrant fiction. A hapless college grad from Pittsburgh finds herself in over her head when she follows her childhood dream and moves to Rome. A small-town girl and a man who thrives on precision take a romantic holiday to soothe their failing marriage, changing the dynamics of their relationship. A
A collection that is bursting with heart, dynamic energy, and unbounded creativity. Years after the initial outbreak of Covid, this deadly disease is still an invariable topic of conversation. With lingering effects that include diminished life expectancies, volatile economies, increased fear for public health, and widespread mistrust of medical experts, this disease has had far-reaching
Engaging, exciting and filled with seemingly impossible complexities. Extraordinary imagination is on exhibition in Karen A. Parker’s The Art of Capturing Phantoms: Definitive Edition. The author gathers wisps of ideas, fragments of thought, and creative writing prompts and turns these into a quirky digest of dodgy characters, bizarre situations, and action that moves at the
Buritaca, Columbia, is home to one of the few recognized blue zones in the world. It is here that Leo Lumière, an undergrad science student, works to figure out just what it is that contributes to the longevity of the locals. But rather than uncovering some protected regional herb or a soil sample that promises
Stunning emotional crescendos, timely dramatic syncopations, and lovely romantic refrains. Aria is a spirited mermaid princess who possesses a passion for life and unbreakable loyalty to the Creator and to her family. Her existence beneath the waters is a purposeful one, a duty-bound life that is as rich in wonder as it is devotion. She
An unvarnished coming-of-age story set in a time of geopolitical unrest. Approaching the teenage years is never without trouble, but growing up in an era of random air-raid drills and looming nuclear attacks adds a constant haze of dread for 12-year-old Willie Blevin. Having lost his parents at a young age, Willie is left with
A seductive reflection on ambition, desire and tortured journeys. “Americans don’t have royalty… We have rich people. Business and tech genii. And we have Hollywood, which will have to do.” Book 2 in Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt’s sweeping Pride’s Children series, Netherworld, pulls readers back into Hollywood’s kaleidoscopic underbelly as we catch up with Bianca, Andrew,
Captures the innocence of fully losing yourself to love. Violet is an honest collection of fifty poems that may look small on the outside but reveal themselves as huge on the inside. The frame of mind when falling in love for the first time and other emotional excerpts are explored from the perspective of a
Cathartic, poignant and sensitive. Claire and Ondina share a close bond of sisterhood, but couldn’t be more contrasting in personalities. Ondina is the stable, dependable older sister, living a clean life in her home country. Everything in her world is ordered and purposeful, contributing to a centered and contented life. An ocean away is little sister
An epic story that boasts a classic fairy tale feel, an intellectual bite and a heaping portion of wit. The family Sosunov are the keepers of an important legacy, protecting the residents of their small fishing village, Fortitude, from malignant witches who prey upon innocent dreamers. Generations of Sosunovs have toiled and sacrificed to keep
The closest you’ll get to sharing tea and scones with the famed novelist. Are you guilty of naming a beloved pet Mr. Darcy? Were you disappointed to discover that Austenland isn’t a real resort? When you dream, do you see yourself in elegant but stifling formalwear that requires assistance to put on? If so, Joe
Poetic prose and intense introspections. Villeton High School is home to jocks, cheerleaders, bookworms, burnouts, and Basil Francis. Fitting into no particular social circle, Basil is happy to go unnoticed by her classmates. No attention is better than the wrong kind of attention, after all. But Basil’s loner status just got an upgrade. Almost overnight,
Deliberately unnerving and impressively intricate. Devon and Gavin DiMasi may look like the mirror image of one another, but looks are only skin deep. Though they’re twins, these two boys couldn’t be more different in the ways that count most. ‘Devious Devon’ lives up to his nickname through his narcissistic personality and an obvious disdain
A Reservoir Man begins Michael’s story where all stories begin. His arrival in this world occurs in the late 1940s, where he becomes the precious child of a loving Italian father and a resilient Polish mother. Family is paramount for Michael, and this quirky family fills his life with security, satisfaction and plenty of drama.
A curious story that includes deep philosophical musings. Tommy Pharoni is approaching middle-age with about as much enthusiasm as a patient waiting to get a root canal. His job as a copywriter at an unremarkable ad agency is a stopgap until he can finish a quality screenplay. Inspiration ebbs and flows for any writer, but
A contemporary treat that will absolutely put a smile on your face. A Healing Hand is a charming New Age store and the brainchild of self-sufficient Mary Pontrelli. Located in the vibrant French Quarter of New Orleans, Mary has been fortunate enough to enjoy a steady customer base and reasonable rent, on both her store
Demented short stories pulsating with a peripheral darkness. The headsman has a distasteful but necessary job in the village, to serve justice. And serve justice he shall, no matter his personal feelings for the recipient of his ever-sharpened ax. After all, rules are in place to keep order, even in a cheerless, unnamed town where
