Book Awards, Editorial Reviews & More!
Book Awards, Editorial Reviews & More!
A wacky book you’ll be talking about with your friends. In what has to be the most random and unpredictable collection of stories ever conceived, all celebrating the ridiculous addiction that Americans have to celebrity, Ross Dreiblatt has penned a pop culture dream entitled I AM NOT BRAD PITT: And Other Stories. Three real person […]
Utopia Cafés have popped up all over the place, serving free coffee to citizens of the Republic of Equality. However, complimentary caffeine isn’t enough to engender loyalty in everyone. Izzy Fanella is part of an underground freedom movement hoping to restore more capitalistic, conservative values in a country that has completely shifted from the principles
A lovely dramatic fiction novel based on real people and their eventful lives. “She was played out in spirit and body, but steeled herself for another difficult day.” Many difficult days, in fact. Newly widowed and with a baby on the way, Mary Johnnie, a First Nations woman living in the stark Yukon territory, must
Anna Pasteels is a vibrant, young immigrant with her whole life ahead of her. Unfortunately, life has dealt Anna an unlucky hand in the form of a father who doesn’t want her, a mother who died too young, and an older sister being ravished by consumption. All the possibilities for a better life in the
Feast on Faust in this agile and buxom tale. The prologue to American Faust begins with a monumental scene in a grand theater play. In this opening sequence, Lord and Devil make a deal for the fate and future of some unsuspecting souls. The body of the novel then pivots to a bizarre residence dubbed
At the turn of the century, like so many other courageous men and women of the time, the level-headed Romeo and his quick-tempered brother trek into the Yukon during the gold rush. The brutal climate combined with rapid population increase leads to extreme challenges for the incoming migrants. When in need, Romeo and his brother
A flawless literary gem. Andrew O’Connell is a rising star whose talent is equal only to his charm. Hot off the heels of a wildly successful film, he is one of Hollywood’s most desirable actors. The stage of a late-night talk show introduces him to Dr. Kary Ashe. Starting her career in medicine, she reinvented
Marching in a parade among the Knights of Columbus may look like evidence of Frank DioGuardia’s devotion to Catholicism, but he is a man who harbors conflicting views on the Church, his relationship with God, and life in general. When a test of faith, or perhaps loyalty arises, Frank commits a violent act in order
As sophisticated and refined as it is emotionally fervent. There is no question that grieving is a process that takes time to work through. How that process flows, whether a trickle or a cascade, is a highly personal experience. For Serena, the death of her mother elicits a different reaction than that of her sister
A luminous and heartfelt novel. How do you find fulfillment and contentment in life when all the major boxes are checked, yet you still feel empty? This gnawing void is beginning to eat away at Rachel’s sanity, is affecting her relationships, and is even invading her dreams. Sure, she has a lot going for her
It’s always enlightening to be able to walk in the shoes of another. Dovetails in the Grass is a powerful book that affords that unique opportunity among the Dakota Sioux as they collide with white settlers on the Minnesota prairie in the early 1860s. Samantha Specks’ moving story begins just hours after the tragic real-life
Marcello’s artfully distinctive love story flows like a sentimental ballad. Cenotaphs is a tender love story about two very different individuals embarking on an unconventional relationship that is both terrifying and rewarding. Ben Sanna is well into his golden years, trying to find redemption from a few bad choices that he cannot fully put behind
Destiny of Dreams: Time Is Dear is an eye-opening look at the long-lasting effects of religious persecution on a hardworking Armenian family from those dark years at the turn of the century, and then again in the 1960s. Hrant is but a young boy watching his family try to escape genocide. Rather than becoming embittered
A grand emotional journey that exudes warmth and hope. The dawn of the 1920s has ascended and change is in the air. The devastating effects of the 1918 influenza have begun to subside and the Great War has ended. Lou can’t imagine her life as a vapid socialite or a family woman, so she makes
The expression ‘roll with the punches’ makes sense in the context of adapting to a difficult situation in order to minimize or mitigate the impact. While Eddy Kimes and his wife, Gayle, aren’t facing opponents in a boxing ring, they are certainly learning how to ‘roll with the punches’ as they encounter dramatic life changes.
Effortless yet sincere collection of intimate human stories. “But nothing stays the same. Not forever. Not the wars or the weather or the wind.” From the humble work of a shopkeeper to a single heartbreaking moment of loss, The Old Men Who Row Boats and Other Stories is a delicate collection of incisive short stories
If you think all librarians are meek older ladies wearing horn-rimmed reading glasses with pearly beaded straps, then Syntell Smith’s novel is going to totally alter your opinion of these hard-working state employees! Book Endings is a character-driven drama that focuses on the employees at the 58th Street Branch Library in bustling Manhattan. The theatrics
Breathes new life into a consequential time period. The Turn is a gripping and objective look at American history, specifically of President Abraham Lincoln and his inner circle, and the ideologies and politics that ruled the day. Spanning nearly a decade in the mid-1800s, DL Fowler fills in history’s gaps with intelligent deductions and a
A stunning emotional journey. Fate may be a cruel mistress, but she doesn’t always get the last word. As a child, Emma had to endure the tragic loss of her best friend Kate to an indomitable enemy. Vowing then and there to fight the brain cancer that stole Kate from her, Emma has devoted her
Feels like a found collection of beloved memories from a true literary icon. In Love’s Labour’s Won: The Secret Life of William Shakespeare, William Gray seamlessly blends historical records with believable fiction. This tantalizing fictionalized retelling of the life of one of the most acclaimed writers ever to live is a treat for lovers of
A dusky, gorgeous paranormal fantasy novel. Sold into servitude as a young child, Asagi’s mother dressed the young boy as a girl to protect him. With master after master, the gender ambiguity continues to draw unwanted attention, cruelty and abuse, forcing Asagi to retreat into herself and shut others out. Years later, Asagi is tasked
Gripping and suspenseful. Rachel Goldberg has put a lot of effort into distancing herself from her past. Raised in a household that included an uncompromising and overbearing Orthodox Jewish grandmother, Rachel’s lifestyle is nothing like her formative years. But her progressive views do more than separate her from family. Rachel tries to ignore it when
A recent university graduate, Richard is eager to begin his career in teaching. With improbable timing, his grandfather suffers a stroke and leaves Richard as the sole full-time caregiver. Lovingly, Richard puts his entire life on hold to care for all the daily needs of his ailing relative. During their time together, his grandfather whets
A surprisingly touching, and at times tender, tale of a man haunted by his choices. A successful novelist by any account, Charlie Forte is putting the finishing touches on his magnum opus. Only this story will transcend the written word. This is the story Charlie. His conquests, his insecurities, his missed opportunities, his successes. “No
