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Christine Rose |
Christine Rose's One Reason to Live: A Memoir About Surviving Trauma opens with a moment of crisis in the author's life. She already considers herself a failed author and filmmaker. But failing as an author is far less than what Ms. Rose has experienced in life. She has suffered from multiple traumatic events, including sexual assault and divorce after fifteen years of marriage, and it is more painful because she didn't make the choice to leave her husband. Her life has been characterized by depression and suicidal thoughts, and having hit rock bottom, she wakes up with a strong desire to reinvent herself. On a scrap of paper, she writes the words: ''Reasons to Live.'' After a few days, she remembers her dream of traveling to Europe. She knows what to do to change her life and heal. Follow her on a journey that evolves against the backdrop of new landscapes, new cultures, and the company of animals. The opening pages of this memoir document a tragic incident involving the author's husb...
Continue ReadingJonathan J. Brown | Detective & Mystery
Lou Crasher is a drummer & private detective who has stumbled into trouble. He discovers singer Trix Rockland dead, her face buried in a pile of Cocaine. There is evidence of foul play. The police initially suspect Lou, but he provides an alibi and possesses no motive. The lead detective politely warns Lou not to interfere with the homicide investigation. However, Trix’s daughter reaches out to Lou and begs for him to dig into the case. Lou conducts a sub rosa inquiry, talking to Trix’s bandmates. Lou learns that Trix was about to sign with a record label. The owner of the label seems sketchy to Lou and therefore a subject of further interest. Lou comes to an arrangement with Lead Detective Tanaka to share information, but Lou soon finds out that this arrangement is as complicated as the investigation. Lou will need to tread carefully or find himself wearing an inmate jumpsuit or toe tag.Drums, Guns ‘N’ Money is a spirited mystery with comic undertones diving into the often ch...
Continue ReadingDan McDowell | Psychological Thriller
After the death of their son Jake, Ben and Hannah Decker hope for a new beginning when they move into their home at 1737 17th Street in Dan McDowell's When She Comes Knocking. Ben is a sales rep in the pharmaceutical industry, and Hannah is an artist. Ben and Hannah try their best to cope with the loss of their eldest son while still raising and being there for their youngest, Davey. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned once they meet their new neighbor, Jean Jackson. While Jean is a welcome distraction for Hannah, Ben feels she has ulterior motives. Neither wants the other to hurt, so they've developed coping mechanisms to manage their grief. Ben and Hannah start taking copious amounts of Garashock 500 (a blue pill), part of Ben's medical supply, to help numb their pain. What's more, they've kept this hidden from one another. Hannah continues strengthening her relationship with Jean while Ben tries his best to investigate and figure out why Jean enjoys Hannah's con...
Continue ReadingGary V. Brill | Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
In this gripping sequel to Journey Book 1, the story starts in the tumultuous years prior to the Civil War, with free black James Woodman and his family as they struggle to keep control of their Pennsylvania farm and their freedom in the increasingly hostile environment. James’ dangerous double life as a conductor on the Underground Railroad has become known to ruthless men, and he has to flee for his life, joining runaway slaves in a frightening, danger-laden journey to freedom in Canada. Five years later, he is called home. The immediate danger has gone, but a far bigger one is coming up the pike—the Confederate Army is marching north and in June 1863 the Woodman farm is in its path.Brill skillfully weaves the historical context throughout the narrative, bringing the Battle of Gettysburg right to their door, without ever losing sight of the human story at the heart of the book. One of the strengths of this book is the depth of characterization, as he details the struggles and tr...
Continue ReadingRosalie Rayburn |
The dry desert town of Las Vistas, New Mexico is growing in population and sprawl. Its problems are growing too. Torrential rain causes massive flooding and property damage, which could have been avoided had the developer not cut corners. In covering the story of the flood, journalist Elizabeth “Digger'' Doyle discovers that the developer, Johnny Raposa, has a habit of cutting corners with his developments. While investigating Raposa, Digger is approached by a local activist named Maria who is bent on stopping a road project Raposa is behind that would endanger a historical chapel. Digger quickly develops feelings for Maria, but their budding relationship is complicated by a tug-of-war between love and Digger's journalistic integrity. While Digger navigates her complicated relationship with Maria and follows mysterious leads into Raposa’s past, the developer uses his money and influence to back a new candidate for mayor to ensure the project he desperately needs in order to remai...
Continue ReadingJerry Lovelady | Poetry
Grief and Her Three Sisters by Jerry Lovelady is a gorgeous collection of poems that capture life, love, and loss. The first thing that catches the attention of readers when they start reading Lovelady's poetry is his incredible ability to write with clarity while allowing the fusion of nature with human emotion. And then there are those moments that compel readers to reflect on insights about life and the author’s wisdom. You'll find one as you open the first poem, “The Great River Taketh.” It reads: ''In death there is always life. / In a seed there is hope for life. /In our offspring resides all genetic diversity.'' The collection is moving, powered by strong streams of emotions and words to heal grieving hearts. Jerry Lovelady's poetry stands out in its symbolism and the breadth of its imagery. The author has the uncanny ability to capture the different seasons of the heart while inviting readers to look past their hurts to discover a new beginning in the ending. Each poem is uniq...
Continue ReadingSharon Steeber | Fiction - Cultural
Can a couple's love transcend time, family traditions, loyalties, and a willingness to compromise with each other regardless of the cost? Author Sharon Steeber's But Do You Love Me With Locura explores this question by introducing readers to a complex and beautiful love story between Rosie Logan and Doctor Juan Ramón Villaseñor. Rosie is from California. She is visiting Cuernavaca in Mexico to learn Spanish. While there, she meets Doctor Villaseñor. They develop a friendship, which progresses to a relationship, thus causing them more friction, questions, and uncertainties that neither of them anticipated. ''They had become two countries on the verge of war, each with camps pitched on the border.''The author beautifully details a whirlwind romance that Rosie and Juan struggle to sustain. Each chapter delves deeper into the connection between the main characters and the challenges surrounding them. The author also reveals how the power of love can bring new life into...
Continue ReadingFrederic Seager | Non-Fiction - Historical
Neville Chamberlain's War: How Great Britain Opposed Hitler, 1939-1940 by Frederic Seager is a historical book that will have an irresistible appeal to history buffs and readers interested in modern politics. In this narrative, the author takes readers on a rollicking ride back through time to relive one of the disastrous moments in British history. The phoney war was declared by the UK against Germany. Britain and France had made elaborate plans to cripple the Germans economically and militarily. Compelled to go to war because of public opinion and in the hopes that the Germans would overthrow Hitler after witnessing the display of the full force of the British and French armies. He was wrong! He sacrificed Czechoslovakia by allowing Germany to seize Sudetenland in the hopes that Germany would stop there, but what ensured was a disastrous defeat in the hands of the Germans who swept easily through Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. After thirteen days, the British Expeditio...
Continue ReadingSharon Steeber | Fiction - Cultural
Can a couple's love transcend time, family traditions, loyalties, and a willingness to compromise with each other regardless of the cost? Author Sharon Steeber's But Do You Love Me With Locura explores this question by introducing readers to a complex and beautiful love story between Rosie Logan and Doctor Juan Ramón Villaseñor. Rosie is from California. She is visiting Cuernavaca in Mexico to learn Spanish. While there, she meets Doctor Villaseñor. They develop a friendship, which progresses to a relationship, thus causing them more friction, questions, and uncertainties that neither of them anticipated. ''They had become two countries on the verge of war, each with camps pitched on the border.''The author beautifully details a whirlwind romance that Rosie and Juan struggle to sustain. Each chapter delves deeper into the connection between the main characters and the challenges surrounding them. The author also reveals how the power of love can bring new life into...
Continue ReadingLinda Keen | Fiction — Coming of Age
The Dream Keepers by Linda Keen is a rollicking ride that follows two young characters, Starlight and her older brother, Thatcher O'Day as they set out on the adventure that will shape their lives in inscrutable ways, from the Deep South to the West Coast. The kids are seven and eight when — together with their grandfather — they must embrace change at the break of a new Millennium. Grandma Gloria has followed the advice of the social worker and has asked Star and Thatcher to leave their regular middle school for the unknown. So, from the treacherous and dangerous journey to settling into a new environment, the young hero and heroine must face challenges bigger than their age. Follow them as they evolve through each year and trying circumstances. Linda Keen's book is a delightful read for fans of YA, a story that opens with a mysterious tragedy unfolding before the eyes of the young characters. Being uprooted from one's immediate and familiar environment is a strong plot point for a...
Continue ReadingJoey Benun | Children-Educational
What's the biggest number you know? Is it 27 Million, 1 Billion, or 3 Trillion? Find out the answer in Joey Benun's Pebbles And The Biggest Number. Pebbles is a butterfly, and he journeys in different parts of the world to discover the largest number. He asks various animals he meets what they think the most significant number is. They give him their answer, but it doesn't satisfy his curiosity until he meets another butterfly, who, like him, is on her journey to find the largest number. Will Pebbles find the most significant number?The fun and colorful illustrations by Laura Watson beautifully complement this story. Throughout the story, the Science Spots and Did You Knows detail informative, educational insights that can be used as icebreakers. Themes include friendship, discovery, and teamwork, and they are cleverly developed throughout the narrative. Anyone can enjoy this book, but it is most suitable for Children, especially four to eight-year-olds. Pebbles And The Bigge...
Continue ReadingW. G. Hladky | Sci-Fi and Fantasy
The Last Skinweaver by W. G. Hladky is a novel with a strong appeal to a wide audience — thriller lovers, fans of science fiction, and fantasy enthusiasts. The novel delivers a setting that captures the austere and challenging, featuring characters that are vividly drawn, complex, and memorable in many lights. The protagonist is Roge Callan, a man who has grown tired of his father and now changes his name and finds refuge in the camp of a former enemy, together with a banished RangerKnight. The Skinweavers are known for their barbarism in the past which they want to shun, but their Widow Witches and their sentient Yetis have gone missing. Roge becomes the only one who can help them to find the witches because he has Widow Witch blood in his veins. With a small crew of misfits, Roge sets out on a dangerous adventure to the Middle Kingdom, facing perils and dangers along the way — from ruthless ambushers to strong storms, from invaders to enemies with alien technology. Can they survive o...
Continue ReadingElsie G. Beya | Romance
Daisy is a florist who loves her life the way it is — without a man in it. She is tough, speaks her mind, and possesses sarcasm that stings. But her life changes when she meets Stewart Burns, a frontman for an indie band. While there is obviously nothing to connect the two, Stewart's charm rubs off so easily and quickly on Daisy. The walls she has built around her life begin to crumble like petals as she falls for him. But can she allow herself to be vulnerable and be touched where she hurts deeply or will she risk her life with Stewart? Readers will love and hate Daisy, but she is a genuinely flawed character, and Elsie G. Beya has done an extraordinary job of exploring her brokenness, allowing readers to see her hidden wounds and silent tears, and the darkness in her inner world. Her tough demeanor becomes a mask that hides her deepest wounds. The romance is cleverly written and I enjoyed the way events unfold in this unpredictable novel — just so naturally. Themes of love, friendsh...
Continue ReadingFrederic Seager (Independently published on Amazon)
Neville Chamberlain's War: How Great Britain Opposed Hitler, 1939-1940 by Frederic Seager is a historical book that will have an irresistible appeal to history buffs and readers interested in modern politics. In this narrative, the author takes readers on a rollicking ride back through time to relive one of the disastrous moments in British history. The phoney war was declared by the UK against Germany. Britain and France had made elaborate plans to cripple the Germans economically and militarily. Compelled to go to war because of public opinio...
Brandon Foster (High Bridge Books)
Narrow: Preserving Fundamental Beliefs from Progressivism by Brandon Foster is a book with a very simple and straightforward message: ''If we desire to follow His (God's) ways, which lead to life, we have to follow His desires and decrees.'' In this book, he illustrates how progressive Christianity has departed from the concept of the straight and narrow path, embracing biblical interpretations in a way that does not reflect the mind and character of God. Just like most traditional Christians, the author has felt annoyed at the popular group wh...
Freddie Floyd Jr. (Covenant Books)
The Mental Fight of Your Life by Freddie Floyd Jr. is a book that will shape the way most people, both young and old, see themselves and those they love. It is a book that is essentially about relationships — with ourselves, with others, and we God — and the author offers surprising lessons on love, explores the primacy of love as a gift from God who has loved us unconditionally and deeply, examines contemporary relationships and what hurts them, provides a winning path to succeed in life while finding meaning and purpose. Readers will understa...
Joey Benun (Joey Benun)
What's the biggest number you know? Is it 27 Million, 1 Billion, or 3 Trillion? Find out the answer in Joey Benun's Pebbles And The Biggest Number. Pebbles is a butterfly, and he journeys in different parts of the world to discover the largest number. He asks various animals he meets what they think the most significant number is. They give him their answer, but it doesn't satisfy his curiosity until he meets another butterfly, who, like him, is on her journey to find the largest number. Will Pebbles find the most significant number?The fu...
W. G. Hladky (Middle River Press)
The Last Skinweaver by W. G. Hladky is a novel with a strong appeal to a wide audience — thriller lovers, fans of science fiction, and fantasy enthusiasts. The novel delivers a setting that captures the austere and challenging, featuring characters that are vividly drawn, complex, and memorable in many lights. The protagonist is Roge Callan, a man who has grown tired of his father and now changes his name and finds refuge in the camp of a former enemy, together with a banished RangerKnight. The Skinweavers are known for their barbarism in the p...
Christine Rose (Blue Moose Press)
Christine Rose's One Reason to Live: A Memoir About Surviving Trauma opens with a moment of crisis in the author's life. She already considers herself a failed author and filmmaker. But failing as an author is far less than what Ms. Rose has experienced in life. She has suffered from multiple traumatic events, including sexual assault and divorce after fifteen years of marriage, and it is more painful because she didn't make the choice to leave her husband. Her life has been characterized by depression and suicidal thoughts, and having hit rock...
Jeremy Sherr (Independently Published)
The Noble Adventures of Beryl and Carol opens in the midst of a crisis when Beryl and Carol find themselves at a dead end on their escape from bullies who can be there any moment too soon. The twelve-year-old girls are best friends who live in a small beautiful town in England. While they love their city and its natural environment, they are always at the mercy of bullies. When cornered by the bullies and reaching a dead end on their escape, the two girls find themselves in the Forbidden Forest and thus begin an adventure that is as rollic...
Dan McDowell (Black Rose Writing)
After the death of their son Jake, Ben and Hannah Decker hope for a new beginning when they move into their home at 1737 17th Street in Dan McDowell's When She Comes Knocking. Ben is a sales rep in the pharmaceutical industry, and Hannah is an artist. Ben and Hannah try their best to cope with the loss of their eldest son while still raising and being there for their youngest, Davey. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned once they meet their new neighbor, Jean Jackson. While Jean is a welcome distraction for Hannah, Ben feels she has u...
Shirley B Novak (Fulton Books)
The Story Of... by Shirley B Novack follows Jacob Kalinsky, born in Poland in 1904. His father, Max, is a poor chicken farmer in the town of Koretzis, and he is a bad-tempered man who has no patience, especially for his children. When Jacob's sweet and loving mother dies, he is just 12 and he and his nine-year-old brother are sent to live in a brothel. They are under the care of Jordanna, a kind woman who runs the brothel, but it will be three years before Jacob's father comes for them. By that time, the young Jacob is already a broke...
Regina Toffolo (Barletta and Bellami)
The Second Child by Regina Toffolo is a spellbinding, gorgeously written, and poignant memoir that examines the effects of addiction and mental illness, following the author's painful journey. Raised in Maryland, Regina grew up with an elder sister who was 11 years older than her and two adopted brothers, aged 3 and 4. Her mother grew fonder of her older sister with whom she shared a unique bond. The two created a world of their own, shutting out Regina's other siblings. While her older brother always defended her, she felt hurt when he drifted...