Daniel Babka | Literary Fiction

Daniel Babka’s Lightning Bugs and Aliens is a nostalgic coming-of-age novella set in the small town of Twinsburg, Ohio, during the summer of 1959. The story follows thirteen-year-old Ben and his eclectic group of friends—Chip, Bobby, Mark, and Isiah—who experience the joys and anxieties of adolescence against the backdrop of Cold War paranoia, racial divides, and local intrigue. The boys’ adventures range from catching lightning bugs and exploring the woods to grappling with real-world dangers, such as a Mafia car bombing at Ben’s family tavern and the ever-present threat of atomic war. Their imaginations are fueled by science fiction movies and rumors of UFOs, leading to a surreal nighttime...

Florence Lea Dombey | Suspense & Thrillers

Consummate Confidences by Florence Dombey is the sixth book in The Willow Chronicle and a sweeping saga that examines crime, deception, and secrets in a seemingly idyllic town in 1957. The story follows Brittany Alistair Macey, who returns to her small hometown of Port Townsend after a daring escape to French Polynesia with Willow Benton, Carl Meyers’ daughter. While Bambi tries to rebuild her life with her infant daughter in her father’s vacant house, the town is shaken by the long-overdue return of Willow, who vanished from Honolulu months earlier. Meanwhile, a series of murders of young women in Port Townsend and Seattle threatens to unravel the town’s veneer of tranquility. As Carl Meyer...

Zoe Disigny | Fiction - Womens

Zoe Disigny's The Art of Traveling Strangers explores personal transformation against the backdrop of art and travel. Claire Markham embarks on a transformative journey to Europe as an art guide, hoping to escape the emotional toll of her recent divorce and strained relationship with her daughter, Amber. The novel reveals Claire's internal struggles and features vibrant characters, particularly her employer, Viv Chancey, whose exuberance and impulsive nature challenge Claire's sense of control. The novel begins with an evocative scene aboard Claire’s flight to Europe, where she reflects on her life through the lens of art. Disigny skillfully illustrates how art can symbolize personal experie...

Linda Watkins | Fiction - Thriller- Espionage

Linda Watkins’ A Cesspool of Spies is set in 1950 and in a world of political turmoil as the Cold War rages, Korea is invaded, and accusations of communist infiltration shake America. The story follows Simon Biggs, a working-class WWII Navy veteran, recruited into the nascent CIA in the late 1940s. After a grueling training period under the watchful (and sometimes sadistic) Major Brad Sullivan, Simon is shipped off to Istanbul, a hotbed of espionage, where he’s quickly forced into a real assassination – killing a Soviet asset with a garrote. As Simon navigates the murky ethics and psychological toll of spycraft, he’s drawn into increasingly dangerous assignments, including an operation invol...

Lucas Raney | Children-Educational

I still can’t believe that The Poetry Coaster is written by a ten-year-old, a short yet spectacular lesson in poetry. In a tone that is jovial and light and that doesn’t miss in humor, this young author delivers a lyrical work that instructs and entertains. I have written for many years, and there are poetic forms I never knew existed. Lucas Raney breaks them down with concise definitions and takes readers on a lyrical ride that describes the rollercoaster experience. From loop-de-loops to snack disasters, from the nervousness of standing in line for a rollercoaster ride to the hilarity of moving up and feeling free, he introduces forms like diamante, haiku, two tone, extended metaphor, pers...

B. Truly | Romance - General

In Summer Fated to Be Mine, B. Truly delivers an emotionally charged narrative of love, heartbreak, and second chances. It is the first and engaging entry in The Summer Choice series. The story follows Zakiah Morelli, who, along with his brother, shares a tight-knit bond—until the fateful summer they all fall for the same girl, Iliana Kaplan. Zakiah always believed he and Iliana were destined. Still, when it becomes clear her heart isn’t entirely his, the resulting heartbreak fractures his relationship with both Iliana and his brother Elijah. Two years later, love finds Zakiah again in the form of Glory Glover. Still haunted by his first heartbreak, Zakiah resists, afraid to risk his heart a...

Kirsten Pursell | Romance

In The Scarlet D by Kirsten Pursell, Scarlet embarks on a daring journey of self-reinvention after a thirty-year marriage crumbles. Seeking solace on Sullivan's Island, she joins a divorced women's book club, hoping to connect with like-minded souls. Amidst the stunning backdrop of South Carolina, her dormant desires come to life when she encounters the charming Ben, a younger man who challenges her boundaries. However, the confident Beau, a maturer suitor and a man more suited for her age, offers a glimpse of true connection. As past wounds resurface with the arrival of an old flame, Scarlet must navigate love, judgment, and the possibility of a second chance. The novel opens with Scarlet's...

Dorothea Jensen | Poetry - General

Dorothea Jensen’s Liberty-Loving Lafayette is a delightful and accessible introduction to the Marquis de Lafayette, the young French nobleman whose courage and idealism played a crucial role in securing American independence. In rhyming verse, Jensen swiftly summarizes Lafayette’s journey: from his youthful enthusiasm for the American cause, to his pivotal friendship with George Washington, his bravery in battle, his role in securing French support, and his decisive contribution at Yorktown. With lively illustrations and supplemental resources, the book invites young readers—and adults—to discover Lafayette’s remarkable story in an engaging, memorable way. This book provides intriguing detai...

Arnold V Page | Non-Fiction - Inspirational

Arnold V. Page’s The Date of Christ’s Return is a bold and meticulously researched exploration of biblical prophecy, well-written for the contemporary audience in an age of uncertainty. Page is a seasoned minister with backgrounds in engineering and theology, and he brings an analytical mind to questions that have stirred the hearts and minds of believers and skeptics alike: Can we know when Christ will return? And if so, what does that mean for our lives today? The book is panoramic in its scope, tracing the world’s timeline from creation to what Page argues is an imminent conclusion. His approach is grounded in a literal interpretation of scripture, particularly the seven-thousand-year pla...

Vegastarchild584 | Romance - Fantasy/Sci-Fi

The Wild & Zany Galactic Adventures of Commander Zhang & Lieutenant Simon, Soul Mates Who Incarnate on Earth and Save the World is the first book in the Starseed series by Vegastarchild584. This genre-blending, metafictional, and wildly imaginative journey follows Commander Zhang and Lieutenant Simon, two galactic officers and soulmates from the Sirian star system. The story opens with Zhang, a popular actor and singer on Earth, whose life is upended by a government-orchestrated scandal that tanks his career and isolates him from his partner, Simon. Simon struggles to save their mission, revealing that both of them are actually extraterrestrial incarnates on a mission to expose corru...

Laurel Colless | Children - Adventure

Knights Unite is the fourth book in the Peter Blue Series by Laurel Colless, and it follows Riva du Lac, who is determined to uphold her promise to avoid detentions at Spiral Hall. But a sea cleanup reveals Shem, a mythical fish boy, and a surprise honor from the Spiral Knights forces her to choose between rules and friendship. Meanwhile, Peter Blue has a vision of a water-dwelling monster. Can their unlikely alliance save the knights—and the world? Laurel Colless captures the delicate balance of environmental activism and adolescent adventure through the eyes of Riva, the determined twelve-year-old protagonist. The character development is both nuanced and engaging, particularly in Riva’s j...

Colin Dodds | Fiction - Literary

The Reign of the Anti-Santas by Colin Dodds is a unique and audacious Christmas tale that takes readers on a rollercoaster ride through a world where the holiday spirit collides head-on with corporate greed, scandal, and societal change. The story is narrated by Elvin, an elf with a front-row seat to the evolution and devolution of Christmas. Elvin's journey begins when he unwittingly accompanies Santa Claus on a Christmas Eve trip, setting the stage for a decades-long adventure filled with intrigue and danger. Dodds creates a narrative that includes Santa's secret affairs, the PR scandal that catapults Rudolph to fame, and the encroachment of humanity on the North Pole. What makes this book...