5⭐ Wild Dark Shore is tense, beautiful, and quietly devastating. The island setting feels alive, Rowan and the Salt family ache with secrets, and the climate dread hits hard without drowning the story. Loved the atmosphere 🌊
This was absolutely captivating from the start. Boudreaux has a way with words, building tension and drawing you in from the first page. The story moves along pretty quickly, and you’ll be just as invested in getting to the bottom of what’s going on as Blake and Enzo. This is definitely more thriller than mystery, however. There’s the mob, and someone behind the scenes trying to take out members of it while Blake is trying to take them down the legal way. I really enjoyed diving back into another Blake thriller, and the change in scenery to Chicago was nice. The story has a pretty quick pace, but doesn’t feel rushed. Final note: while this is a sequel, you don’t have to read book one before this, although I do recommend it so you can get to know Blake better.
The Doomsday Butcher: A Gripping Serial Killer Thriller with Apocalyptic Stakes (Cole Chambers FBI Profiler Thrillers Book 1) by S.E. Stitcher
Any fan of crime thrillers will tell you that an antagonist who uses delusion and grandiose theatrics to commit their deeds will instantly spark a reader’s interest. The four riders of the apocalypse? Yes, please.
The local police here certainly aren’t equipped to deal with a massacre of this type, so in steps FBI agent Cole Chambers, who has his own demons to contend with while hunting this Angel of Justice.
The main characters here feel like they have depth, and the plot is solid. There's definitely a high-stakes feeling throughout that creates a sort of pressure and pace that goes beyond just the "we need to stop this serial killer" due to the well-developed doomdsay theme that the 'Angel of Justice' employs. Stitcher did a good job of crafting this concept. This is a great first book to the series!
The local police here certainly aren’t equipped to deal with a massacre of this type, so in steps FBI agent Cole Chambers, who has his own demons to contend with while hunting this Angel of Justice.
The main characters here feel like they have depth, and the plot is solid. There's definitely a high-stakes feeling throughout that creates a sort of pressure and pace that goes beyond just the "we need to stop this serial killer" due to the well-developed doomdsay theme that the 'Angel of Justice' employs. Stitcher did a good job of crafting this concept. This is a great first book to the series!
Arelis Calkins’s reminiscence of her upbringing is mesmerizing, fascinating, and horrific all at once. Reading Rising Above Adversity is like watching a horror movie, knowing something terrifying is about to happen again and again, and that the main character doesn’t know when or in what direction it's coming. Years of verbal and physical abuse blinded her to what was coming over and over again. I loved it when sparks of kindness were extended to her, which gave her hope and a vision for a life different than what was given her.
Rising Above Adversity is a beacon to others who feel unloved, depressed, and abused. Arelis Calkin is a phenomenal writer who will have you in tears. Her ability to rise above what she endured is a testimony to anyone who has faced tremendous problems in their life. This book will change your life and give you clarity about true forgiveness and peace.
Rising Above Adversity is a beacon to others who feel unloved, depressed, and abused. Arelis Calkin is a phenomenal writer who will have you in tears. Her ability to rise above what she endured is a testimony to anyone who has faced tremendous problems in their life. This book will change your life and give you clarity about true forgiveness and peace.
I'm a fan of Colleen but I guess this book is just not for me. For me it's not bad but like I said, it's prob not for me....
Full Story of the Anglo-Saxon Invasion is an absorbing and richly detailed exploration of a pivotal moment in history. Michael G. Kramer’s depth of knowledge shines through on every page, bringing intense historical revelations and little-known perspectives to life with clarity and precision. The book reads well; it is thoroughly researched, engaging, and full of information. The writing skillfully weaves together historical detail, cultural insight, and solid analysis. So if you're interested in early British history and the Anglo-Saxon era, this is a great book to dive into. Recommended.
King Sorrow: A Faustian Fable of Dark Academia, Summoned Dragons, and the Terrible Bargain Six Friends Make by Joe Hill
Wow, This is... SO GOOD.
I seriously can't put it down way too long, everything I do everyday is basically trying to have my free time and read this book. This is the kind that you want to erase your memory so you can read it for the first time again.
I seriously can't put it down way too long, everything I do everyday is basically trying to have my free time and read this book. This is the kind that you want to erase your memory so you can read it for the first time again.
‘You are who I’ve been searching for my whole life’
Texas author JoDee Neatherly has enjoyed careers in banking, the recruiting business, public relations for a non-profit, writing freelance articles for newspapers, trade publications, newsletters, and chairing, writing minutes, and reviews for her book club, Bookers, for the past eighteen years. She also enjoys a byline, Back Porch Musings, a light-hearted view of life in general, in an area newspaper. Her novel debut was LIFE IN A BOX, followed by A KIND OF HUSH, and now she adds to her growing stature as an author - WINGS AGAINST THE WIND.
The author’s polished prose creates a credible atmosphere as the opening of the story set in Paris, 2014 suggests: ‘To the casual observer Andrew Dupont and Gretchen Cassidy might be seen as a doting father and daughter out for a Sunday stroll along the pedestrian bridge, the Pont des Arts, over the River Seine. Keener scrutiny unwrapped a different state of affairs as their love and lust revealed itself when they leaned into each other…’ Inviting the reader to explore this poetic stream, the author condenses the plot well, as follows: ‘Gretchen Cassidy, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is in Paris, France, on a missionary trip when she falls in love with the co-owner of a rare and antiquarian bookstore. Navigating a maze of emotions, she fights invisible forces to right a wrong, moving forward through roadblocks littering her path as she show more strives to create a new beginning after an untimely tragedy tosses Gretchen into uncharted territory. Alone and singularly responsible for more than herself, she faces roadblocks at every turn that test her resolve. But her strength in the face of unimaginable odds carries her step-by-step until she regains her balance. Follow her journey from France to Germany to the Texas Hill Country as she searches for what she gave up.’
JoDee examines forbidden love, the vagaries of passion, and repairing youthful missteps – once again displaying superb writing from an impressive author! Recommended. show less
Texas author JoDee Neatherly has enjoyed careers in banking, the recruiting business, public relations for a non-profit, writing freelance articles for newspapers, trade publications, newsletters, and chairing, writing minutes, and reviews for her book club, Bookers, for the past eighteen years. She also enjoys a byline, Back Porch Musings, a light-hearted view of life in general, in an area newspaper. Her novel debut was LIFE IN A BOX, followed by A KIND OF HUSH, and now she adds to her growing stature as an author - WINGS AGAINST THE WIND.
The author’s polished prose creates a credible atmosphere as the opening of the story set in Paris, 2014 suggests: ‘To the casual observer Andrew Dupont and Gretchen Cassidy might be seen as a doting father and daughter out for a Sunday stroll along the pedestrian bridge, the Pont des Arts, over the River Seine. Keener scrutiny unwrapped a different state of affairs as their love and lust revealed itself when they leaned into each other…’ Inviting the reader to explore this poetic stream, the author condenses the plot well, as follows: ‘Gretchen Cassidy, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is in Paris, France, on a missionary trip when she falls in love with the co-owner of a rare and antiquarian bookstore. Navigating a maze of emotions, she fights invisible forces to right a wrong, moving forward through roadblocks littering her path as she show more strives to create a new beginning after an untimely tragedy tosses Gretchen into uncharted territory. Alone and singularly responsible for more than herself, she faces roadblocks at every turn that test her resolve. But her strength in the face of unimaginable odds carries her step-by-step until she regains her balance. Follow her journey from France to Germany to the Texas Hill Country as she searches for what she gave up.’
JoDee examines forbidden love, the vagaries of passion, and repairing youthful missteps – once again displaying superb writing from an impressive author! Recommended. show less
Travel With Style by Anastasia Pash prepares you for just about every wardrobe necessity globally. She meticulously packs with the three C’s in mind: Climate, Comfort, and Culture. She doesn’t leave the reader guessing what to pack; it’s all laid out. I think the best part of this fashion guidebook is her passion for traveling. She purposely designs her outfits to make the most of her destinations. Anastasia appears fearless as she embraces the world's cultural wonders, allowing us to boldly travel with a style in mind.
I found Anastasia Pash refreshing and insightful. While reading Travel With Style, I came across several situations in which I would have dressed foolishly. Though tennis shoes come in many different styles and purposes that we find acceptable in the US, they’re not the go-to shoe worldwide. The author’s extensive travel provides the reader with guidelines for appropriate clothing choices, so they can be prepared without costly last-minute shopping trips. This was insightful and creates a desire for my next holiday.
I found Anastasia Pash refreshing and insightful. While reading Travel With Style, I came across several situations in which I would have dressed foolishly. Though tennis shoes come in many different styles and purposes that we find acceptable in the US, they’re not the go-to shoe worldwide. The author’s extensive travel provides the reader with guidelines for appropriate clothing choices, so they can be prepared without costly last-minute shopping trips. This was insightful and creates a desire for my next holiday.
The Swedish Prince gives the royal romance fantasy all the sparkle you want, but what really sold me was the emotional grounding underneath it. Maggie is not just swept into some glamorous fairy tale. She is carrying real responsibility, real grief, and a whole life that makes every choice feel complicated. That gives the romance more weight than a simple prince meets girl setup.
Viktor has the charm, the mystery, and the royal drama, but he also feels like someone caught between duty and desire, which made the connection work for me. I also liked that the story leans into the two worlds problem instead of pretending love magically fixes everything. It keeps the book sweet and swoony, but with enough heart to make it stick. A very readable, escapist romance with substance 👑
Viktor has the charm, the mystery, and the royal drama, but he also feels like someone caught between duty and desire, which made the connection work for me. I also liked that the story leans into the two worlds problem instead of pretending love magically fixes everything. It keeps the book sweet and swoony, but with enough heart to make it stick. A very readable, escapist romance with substance 👑
Why They Stay lingered with me less as a catalogue of scandals and more as a study of compromise, ambition, and the strange loneliness of public marriage. Anne Michaud looks at eight political wives, from Eleanor Roosevelt and Jackie Kennedy to Hillary Clinton, etc… and asks a question that sounds blunt at first but becomes more complicated the longer you sit with it, not simply why they stayed, but what staying made possible, protected, or cost.
What I appreciated most is that Michaud does not flatten these women into victims or masterminds. Again and again, she returns to the emotional logic beneath the headlines: family duty, legacy, status, patriotism, fear, endurance, and the quiet calculations people make when private hurt is tied to public power. The “White Queen” idea could have felt gimmicky, but here it becomes a useful lens for thinking about how patriarchy reshapes intimacy over generations. The book is especially strong when it shows the aftershocks on children, and how often these marriages become acts of management as much as love.
Michaud writes with real intelligence and restraint, and the research gives the book weight without turning it cold. It is quietly brutal, surprisingly tender, and difficult to forget.
What I appreciated most is that Michaud does not flatten these women into victims or masterminds. Again and again, she returns to the emotional logic beneath the headlines: family duty, legacy, status, patriotism, fear, endurance, and the quiet calculations people make when private hurt is tied to public power. The “White Queen” idea could have felt gimmicky, but here it becomes a useful lens for thinking about how patriarchy reshapes intimacy over generations. The book is especially strong when it shows the aftershocks on children, and how often these marriages become acts of management as much as love.
Michaud writes with real intelligence and restraint, and the research gives the book weight without turning it cold. It is quietly brutal, surprisingly tender, and difficult to forget.
I really enjoyed Never Did I Dream: A Second Chance Off-Limits Romance by Tricia Newlan. The story pulled me in quickly, and I found myself rooting for the characters, especially Megan, from the start. The chemistry felt genuine, and the emotional tension kept the story flowing along nicely. I especially liked how the second-chance theme was handled with both heart and a touch of drama. It’s a satisfying, feel-good romance that’s easy to get lost in for a few hours, and is highly recommended.
Italian author Lilian Gardner lives in the Po delta and teaches English to fellow retired Italians. Her books to date – FREAKOUT, WHEN THE STORM BREAKS, and now BRING BACK THE LOVE – an intriguing novel that traces ‘immigration issues’ in a style that not only informs but also entertains.
The novel opens with a dark moment of attempted suicide that invites understanding of a family’s fragile accommodating to changes in living locations – a unique manner of addressing those challenges that may accompany immigration issues. The author distills the storyline well: ‘Bill Garth, once a dedicated officer in the Pakistan army, finds his life taking a surprising turn when he resigns and moves with his wife, Anne, and their children to Abu Dhabi for a promising job at an oil company. The Garth family flourishes in Abu Dhabi until their children finish elementary school, prompting Bill to consider the future. Wishing for his children to attend English-speaking schools and enjoy a prosperous future, Bill consults his mother in California. She promises to sponsor their immigration to the United States and offers Bill a managerial position in a family-owned, thriving restaurant. Reluctantly, Anne agrees to leave behind the comforts of Abu Dhabi for the sake of their children. Initially, their stay in the United States seems promising, but tension mounts when Bill’s sister grows tired of hosting them and asks the family to leave. Now jobless and struggling, Bill rents a show more modest home in the suburbs, where Anne's despair deepens and drives her to drastic measures.’ The Garths navigate their challenges and strive to make America the home they always dreamed of.
This fine novel introduces a new author who deserves wide attention. Skillfully written, BRING BACK THE LOVE touches the heart with compassion and empathy. Superb! show less
The novel opens with a dark moment of attempted suicide that invites understanding of a family’s fragile accommodating to changes in living locations – a unique manner of addressing those challenges that may accompany immigration issues. The author distills the storyline well: ‘Bill Garth, once a dedicated officer in the Pakistan army, finds his life taking a surprising turn when he resigns and moves with his wife, Anne, and their children to Abu Dhabi for a promising job at an oil company. The Garth family flourishes in Abu Dhabi until their children finish elementary school, prompting Bill to consider the future. Wishing for his children to attend English-speaking schools and enjoy a prosperous future, Bill consults his mother in California. She promises to sponsor their immigration to the United States and offers Bill a managerial position in a family-owned, thriving restaurant. Reluctantly, Anne agrees to leave behind the comforts of Abu Dhabi for the sake of their children. Initially, their stay in the United States seems promising, but tension mounts when Bill’s sister grows tired of hosting them and asks the family to leave. Now jobless and struggling, Bill rents a show more modest home in the suburbs, where Anne's despair deepens and drives her to drastic measures.’ The Garths navigate their challenges and strive to make America the home they always dreamed of.
This fine novel introduces a new author who deserves wide attention. Skillfully written, BRING BACK THE LOVE touches the heart with compassion and empathy. Superb! show less
This was a funny, well judged middle grade story with more heart than I expected.
The setup is delightfully odd, a fame-hungry opossum keeps chasing newspaper glory, while his best friend Joey, a shy ten year old who can speak Animal, gets pulled into the mess. What worked best for me was the character balance. Oswald is vain, dramatic, and often a complete nuisance, but never so much that the book loses him. Melvin the cat gets some of the driest laughs, and Joey gives the whole thing its emotional weight.
The book is longer than the premise first suggests, but the short chapters help. It keeps finding new ways to turn animal chaos into something surprisingly affecting. Under all the comedy, this is really about friendship, loneliness, and finally learning that being important is not the same as being loved.
I was more invested than I expected, and the ending landed. Solid, funny, and quietly moving.
The setup is delightfully odd, a fame-hungry opossum keeps chasing newspaper glory, while his best friend Joey, a shy ten year old who can speak Animal, gets pulled into the mess. What worked best for me was the character balance. Oswald is vain, dramatic, and often a complete nuisance, but never so much that the book loses him. Melvin the cat gets some of the driest laughs, and Joey gives the whole thing its emotional weight.
The book is longer than the premise first suggests, but the short chapters help. It keeps finding new ways to turn animal chaos into something surprisingly affecting. Under all the comedy, this is really about friendship, loneliness, and finally learning that being important is not the same as being loved.
I was more invested than I expected, and the ending landed. Solid, funny, and quietly moving.
Lush, bleak, and funny in the way a bad dream can grin at you.
Fuller, billionaire financier, snaps in a Monday meeting when the corporate mask slips and his colleagues become something else entirely. He bolts, hides in plain sight as a janitor, and drives an old truck toward a snowy Upstate refuge where the air feels scrubbed clean and still somehow contaminated.
This book runs on atmosphere. Fluorescent boardrooms turn into tomb bright corridors. Snowdrifts and small town streets carry a hush that makes every footstep sound like an accusation. The surreal intrusions are pitch perfect, especially when a gigantic Nixon steps into the landscape and addresses Fuller like they have unfinished business. Dread, yes, but also a wicked tenderness for the trapped and the numbed.
The voice is barbed and oddly lyrical, and the satire lands hard. A few passages blur into manic riffing and the intensity can spike without warning, but the overall spell holds. By the end I felt grimy and awake, which seems like the point.
Fuller, billionaire financier, snaps in a Monday meeting when the corporate mask slips and his colleagues become something else entirely. He bolts, hides in plain sight as a janitor, and drives an old truck toward a snowy Upstate refuge where the air feels scrubbed clean and still somehow contaminated.
This book runs on atmosphere. Fluorescent boardrooms turn into tomb bright corridors. Snowdrifts and small town streets carry a hush that makes every footstep sound like an accusation. The surreal intrusions are pitch perfect, especially when a gigantic Nixon steps into the landscape and addresses Fuller like they have unfinished business. Dread, yes, but also a wicked tenderness for the trapped and the numbed.
The voice is barbed and oddly lyrical, and the satire lands hard. A few passages blur into manic riffing and the intensity can spike without warning, but the overall spell holds. By the end I felt grimy and awake, which seems like the point.
Mademoiselle Le Sleuth by Theasa Tuohy takes you on a wild roller coaster ride through the City of Lights, France, where Sarah and her spunky four-year-old niece, Miranda, find themselves at the heart of yet another murder mystery! When a murder takes place at rehearsals, Sarah is determined to find and capture the killer, but of course, it is not that simple. Enter the little one, Miranda, and the drama becomes quirky, frightening, and enticing!
I loved Sarah’s personality and if she was a bit scatterbrained at times, it made me love her even more. Miranda is the perfect partner and acts like any four-year-old detective would! I loved Mademoiselle Le Sleuth and eagerly await the next mystery novel from Theasa. It is a sweetly-written and enjoyable read fit for a night curled up on the couch.
I loved Sarah’s personality and if she was a bit scatterbrained at times, it made me love her even more. Miranda is the perfect partner and acts like any four-year-old detective would! I loved Mademoiselle Le Sleuth and eagerly await the next mystery novel from Theasa. It is a sweetly-written and enjoyable read fit for a night curled up on the couch.
An excellent, stunning comedy of manners that still feels sharp enough to draw blood, then gentle enough to make you forgive everyone anyway. This book has the rare confidence of something that knows exactly what it is doing on every page.
A young woman with too much intelligence for her social options meets a man with too much pride for his own good, and the whole neighborhood starts vibrating with opinion, gossip, and marriage math. Elizabeth Bennet is not “relatable” in a modern, sanitized way. She is quick, fallible, and awake. Mr. Darcy arrives like a locked door you want to kick open. 😉 That’s the premise. Austen does the rest.
When I was done, I wanted to start over at Chapter One and watch the first impressions form again, knowing what they cost.
A young woman with too much intelligence for her social options meets a man with too much pride for his own good, and the whole neighborhood starts vibrating with opinion, gossip, and marriage math. Elizabeth Bennet is not “relatable” in a modern, sanitized way. She is quick, fallible, and awake. Mr. Darcy arrives like a locked door you want to kick open. 😉 That’s the premise. Austen does the rest.
When I was done, I wanted to start over at Chapter One and watch the first impressions form again, knowing what they cost.
Echoes of One Night is an emotional, page-turning romance that captures the thrill of forbidden love with sincerity and heart. The chemistry between the characters is great, pulling you into a story filled with tension, vulnerability, and hope. Newlan strikes a balance between passion and meaningful character growth, making every interaction authentic and earned. The pacing keeps you hooked, while the emotional impact stays after the final page. It’s a satisfying, swoon-worthy read for anyone who loves romance with depth and intensity. You will definitely want to read more from this author. Recommended.
‘Great morning, I call on your powers of light to destroy this darkness’ – A powerful fantasy!
Author J.L. Marrain writes fantasy worlds haunted by loss, driven by destiny, and forged by the fire that shapes identity, where a new legend begins. On his website the author condenses the scope of this new book well: ‘Follow 16-year-old Alick Rae as he discovers his magical heritage, navigates a hidden world of protectors called Lightholders, and faces cosmic threats that could destroy Earth. After being orphaned and sent to live with his estranged grandfather, Roderick Rae (Double R), Alick discovers his latent wizard powers. Together, they uncover The Gridd, a mystical energy mesh that protects Earth from cosmic dangers. As Alick trains, he forms alliances with diverse clans, including the ice-wielding Algrids, Amazonian shapeshifters called Fortrills, underwater Atlanteans, fire-wielding Stygeons, and the Scottish Rudyah Clan and magical Faerys. Each group brings unique skills, challenges, and friendships, guiding Alick toward his ultimate destiny.’
Yes, the novel is rich in fantasy myths, but the opening lines wisely introduce the primary character as a credible being: ‘Alick Rae was in the zone. The grass was plush under his feet as he flew down the right flank of the field. He outpaced the opposition, running easily past the defense. He kept the soccer ball close to his feet and cut to the middle of the field. He could dimly hear the cheering of his teammates show more from the sidelines as the world slowed down. The breeze was light, and he paused to line up a kick. He struck hard with his left foot. The ball bent around the keeper and went into the net, “Goalllllllll!” he heard the cries of joy’. This vigorous lad draws the reader into an unforgettable fantasy, his journey greatly enhanced with richly colorful, excellent illustrations. A very impressive writing debut for JL Marrain! show less
Author J.L. Marrain writes fantasy worlds haunted by loss, driven by destiny, and forged by the fire that shapes identity, where a new legend begins. On his website the author condenses the scope of this new book well: ‘Follow 16-year-old Alick Rae as he discovers his magical heritage, navigates a hidden world of protectors called Lightholders, and faces cosmic threats that could destroy Earth. After being orphaned and sent to live with his estranged grandfather, Roderick Rae (Double R), Alick discovers his latent wizard powers. Together, they uncover The Gridd, a mystical energy mesh that protects Earth from cosmic dangers. As Alick trains, he forms alliances with diverse clans, including the ice-wielding Algrids, Amazonian shapeshifters called Fortrills, underwater Atlanteans, fire-wielding Stygeons, and the Scottish Rudyah Clan and magical Faerys. Each group brings unique skills, challenges, and friendships, guiding Alick toward his ultimate destiny.’
Yes, the novel is rich in fantasy myths, but the opening lines wisely introduce the primary character as a credible being: ‘Alick Rae was in the zone. The grass was plush under his feet as he flew down the right flank of the field. He outpaced the opposition, running easily past the defense. He kept the soccer ball close to his feet and cut to the middle of the field. He could dimly hear the cheering of his teammates show more from the sidelines as the world slowed down. The breeze was light, and he paused to line up a kick. He struck hard with his left foot. The ball bent around the keeper and went into the net, “Goalllllllll!” he heard the cries of joy’. This vigorous lad draws the reader into an unforgettable fantasy, his journey greatly enhanced with richly colorful, excellent illustrations. A very impressive writing debut for JL Marrain! show less
4/5: A stunning, bruised portrait of sisterhood that refuses to behave nicely.
Blue Sisters starts with a death and then does the harder thing, it stays with what comes after. Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky return to New York a year after losing Nicky, circling the apartment they grew up in and the version of themselves that only exists when they are together. Grief is the premise. Identity is the real plot.
Mellors understands how sisters can be a lifelong witness and a lifelong wound. These women feel specific in the way that matters, not quirky on paper, but shaped by the roles they were assigned and the coping mechanisms they turned into personalities. Avery’s tight control reads as both survival and self punishment. Bonnie’s physicality is not a gimmick, it is a language for what she cannot say out loud. Lucky’s beauty and chaos could have slid into cliché, but the book keeps dragging her back to the emotional bill she keeps trying to skip. The fourth sister’s absence is its own character, a gravity that pulls every scene off balance.
The novel is also sharp about addiction without turning it into a morality play. It treats relapse, obsession, self harm, and ambition as variations of the same impulse, the desire to outrun your own interior life. That’s culturally aware writing in the best sense, not a lecture, just an honest recognition of how class, access, and expectation can make self destruction look glamorous right up until it doesn’t. Dark.
A small show more reservation. This is intensely character driven, and there are stretches where the forward motion thins out, where you can feel the book choosing mood over momentum. The emotional beats still land, but a few scenes linger past their usefulness.
Still, Mellors delivers what most family novels promise and rarely pull off. Compelling, messy, and unputdownable in the way a good argument is unputdownable. When I finished, I wanted to call my siblings. Then I wanted to sit in the silence for a minute longer. show less
Blue Sisters starts with a death and then does the harder thing, it stays with what comes after. Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky return to New York a year after losing Nicky, circling the apartment they grew up in and the version of themselves that only exists when they are together. Grief is the premise. Identity is the real plot.
Mellors understands how sisters can be a lifelong witness and a lifelong wound. These women feel specific in the way that matters, not quirky on paper, but shaped by the roles they were assigned and the coping mechanisms they turned into personalities. Avery’s tight control reads as both survival and self punishment. Bonnie’s physicality is not a gimmick, it is a language for what she cannot say out loud. Lucky’s beauty and chaos could have slid into cliché, but the book keeps dragging her back to the emotional bill she keeps trying to skip. The fourth sister’s absence is its own character, a gravity that pulls every scene off balance.
The novel is also sharp about addiction without turning it into a morality play. It treats relapse, obsession, self harm, and ambition as variations of the same impulse, the desire to outrun your own interior life. That’s culturally aware writing in the best sense, not a lecture, just an honest recognition of how class, access, and expectation can make self destruction look glamorous right up until it doesn’t. Dark.
A small show more reservation. This is intensely character driven, and there are stretches where the forward motion thins out, where you can feel the book choosing mood over momentum. The emotional beats still land, but a few scenes linger past their usefulness.
Still, Mellors delivers what most family novels promise and rarely pull off. Compelling, messy, and unputdownable in the way a good argument is unputdownable. When I finished, I wanted to call my siblings. Then I wanted to sit in the silence for a minute longer. show less
This was such a fun, tense ride, and it surprised me with how much heart it has. Jim Brown is coming back to Earth after putting down a revolution on Pirrus, only to learn he is part alien and that Earth has been quietly infiltrated by an alien faction. Before he can even make it home, an attempted kidnapping and a web of power plays pull him into survival mode aboard the Space Adventurer. Marika, his wary EPA minder, and Leela, an industrialist’s daughter with secrets, add real tension and push Jim to question who to trust.
The pacing moves fast but stays easy to follow, and the writing is smooth and engaging. Was it a bit jam packed sometimes? Sure. Did I still inhale it? Yep. If you like sci fi intrigue, conspiracies, and big stakes with identity themes, you’ll probably enjoy this. Honestly, 5 stars.
The pacing moves fast but stays easy to follow, and the writing is smooth and engaging. Was it a bit jam packed sometimes? Sure. Did I still inhale it? Yep. If you like sci fi intrigue, conspiracies, and big stakes with identity themes, you’ll probably enjoy this. Honestly, 5 stars.
This was such a sweet, cozy little confidence-booster of a story. Ali is a puffball who loves to bounce, except he can’t stop, and it keeps turning into chaos (skunks, a mud hole, even a pond full of startled frogs). He misses his friends Mika and Scout, but first he has to figure out how to control himself, and I loved that he finally asks his dad for help instead of trying to muscle through alone. The best part is when Ali gets tangled in vines and has to face a ganderwat he’s terrified of… only to find out help can be kind. Was it perfect? No. It’s very quick, and I wanted just a little more time with Mika and Scout. Still, the pacing is breezy, the tone is warm, and the message lands. Great for early readers who like gentle humor and big-hearted lessons.
I was in by the first chapter, when the book drops you into a coal mine and makes the danger feel close enough to taste.
A Blazing Gilded Age follows the Wozniak family, poor miners clawing for stability while a ruthless coal baron, Archibald Desmond Huxley, keeps tightening the screws. As their world splinters, the story widens into a sweep of American power and corruption, with famous names crossing the pages as the era lurches forward.
What worked for me is the momentum. Chapters are dated like dispatches, and the book cuts between viewpoints at the right moments, often ending scenes on a turn that forces you into the next episode. The stakes keep stacking: livelihood, freedom, reputation, and eventually survival. Even when the canvas expands to presidents, financiers, and inventors, the pressure stays anchored to what the family can lose right now.
There are a few stretches where time jumps cool the immediate heat, and some cameos read more like a quick spotlight than a lived scene. But the central drive, revenge and justice against a system built to crush the powerless, keeps pulling the line tight.
If you like big historical fiction with a propulsive revenge engine and a front row seat to the Gilded Age machinery, this hits.
A Blazing Gilded Age follows the Wozniak family, poor miners clawing for stability while a ruthless coal baron, Archibald Desmond Huxley, keeps tightening the screws. As their world splinters, the story widens into a sweep of American power and corruption, with famous names crossing the pages as the era lurches forward.
What worked for me is the momentum. Chapters are dated like dispatches, and the book cuts between viewpoints at the right moments, often ending scenes on a turn that forces you into the next episode. The stakes keep stacking: livelihood, freedom, reputation, and eventually survival. Even when the canvas expands to presidents, financiers, and inventors, the pressure stays anchored to what the family can lose right now.
There are a few stretches where time jumps cool the immediate heat, and some cameos read more like a quick spotlight than a lived scene. But the central drive, revenge and justice against a system built to crush the powerless, keeps pulling the line tight.
If you like big historical fiction with a propulsive revenge engine and a front row seat to the Gilded Age machinery, this hits.
A time-slip, philosophical adventure where a burned-out 36-year-old Athenian named Theodore wakes up in the body of a young man in ancient Greece and immediately has the very relatable reaction of “WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING.” It starts with a car crash, a suicide attempt, and a whole lot of “I should probably make better choices,” so be warned. Theo stumbles into Delphi, gets marched straight to the Oracle, and gets told he’s basically stuck between life and death and needs to find his “true teacher” to get home. Which is terrifying, but also kind of hilarious because Theo’s coping mechanism is sarcasm and I respect that.
Then the book pivots into this really fun blend of spiritual training and curious science-y ideas, because his best shot at leveling up is studying with Pythagoras on Samos, and suddenly you’re learning about self-mastery while also watching Theo try to survive on watered-down wine and pure confusion. I loved the big themes here: identity, purpose, and how you can waste years sleepwalking through your own life until the universe literally body-swaps you as an intervention. The lucid dreaming thread (especially the longing for Elena back in Athens) adds a surprisingly tender emotional spine.
It can get a little info-dense in places, but the story kept pulling me forward anyway. Compelling, thoughtful, weirdly hopeful. 4.stars.
Then the book pivots into this really fun blend of spiritual training and curious science-y ideas, because his best shot at leveling up is studying with Pythagoras on Samos, and suddenly you’re learning about self-mastery while also watching Theo try to survive on watered-down wine and pure confusion. I loved the big themes here: identity, purpose, and how you can waste years sleepwalking through your own life until the universe literally body-swaps you as an intervention. The lucid dreaming thread (especially the longing for Elena back in Athens) adds a surprisingly tender emotional spine.
It can get a little info-dense in places, but the story kept pulling me forward anyway. Compelling, thoughtful, weirdly hopeful. 4.stars.
The Arnolfini Art Mysteries by Rich DiSilvio is an engaging collection of mystery- and action-oriented art stories. I loved its colourful, art-filled cover page.
The book comprises six short stories that blend with mystery. Each story involves Armand Arnolfini, a charismatic private investigator specialised in art-related crimes. Although each story works as a standalone case, they serve best connectivity if you read them in the given order. The gradual unfolding and increasing suspense make each story uniquely gripping and engaging.
The prime character, Armand Arnolfini, is a well-crafted and memorable figure who embodies a person whose expertise lies in uncovering art forgeries, thefts, and complex criminal networks. The author has enriched each story with real historical and artistic details, blending fact with fiction in a way that feels entertaining and informative. I am learning more about art while enjoying a well-crafted world around me.
This book will be a good fit for mystery lovers and art enthusiasts alike. I picked it based on a recommendation, and it turned out really well. Looking forward to reading more stories like this.
The book comprises six short stories that blend with mystery. Each story involves Armand Arnolfini, a charismatic private investigator specialised in art-related crimes. Although each story works as a standalone case, they serve best connectivity if you read them in the given order. The gradual unfolding and increasing suspense make each story uniquely gripping and engaging.
The prime character, Armand Arnolfini, is a well-crafted and memorable figure who embodies a person whose expertise lies in uncovering art forgeries, thefts, and complex criminal networks. The author has enriched each story with real historical and artistic details, blending fact with fiction in a way that feels entertaining and informative. I am learning more about art while enjoying a well-crafted world around me.
This book will be a good fit for mystery lovers and art enthusiasts alike. I picked it based on a recommendation, and it turned out really well. Looking forward to reading more stories like this.
‘There are lots of things to explore in life’ – and this novel is one of them!
Michigan author Dawn Chalker earned her Bachelor’s degree in Science from Western Michigan University, her Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Michigan, and is a Certified Master Gardner and Northern Naturalist. She has written four books to date – a collection of stories for middle grade children and two novels – LOST AND FOUND and now BEAR ME IN MIND, a novel about Northern Michigan.
Chalker lights a firecracker with the opening words of her novel: ‘Taking a picture of a tourist couple at their request seemed like a harmless thing to do. Little did Emily know what events would be set in motion.’ Chalker’s ability to suffuse her novel with the beauty of nature in Michigan brings this novel into a very special visit to the Great Lakes as her interesting story unwinds – ‘Emily moved to northern Michigan with her partner Ryan to take a job at the Nature Center. She loves the outdoors and enjoys helping people understand their relationship to nature. Taking a photograph of a tourist couple ensnares her in an unexpected and dangerous situation. After an encounter with a bear while hiking, Emily finds herself stranded in the woods, unable to remember what happened. The friendly woods now seem dangerous. When Ryan and Emily’s sister Candace discover she is missing, they set out to find her. Emily and Ryan confront what it means to be a hero when show more they find they are still in danger.’ Richly colorful, this fascinating story holds attention to the last page. A very fine evening’s read! show less
Michigan author Dawn Chalker earned her Bachelor’s degree in Science from Western Michigan University, her Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Michigan, and is a Certified Master Gardner and Northern Naturalist. She has written four books to date – a collection of stories for middle grade children and two novels – LOST AND FOUND and now BEAR ME IN MIND, a novel about Northern Michigan.
Chalker lights a firecracker with the opening words of her novel: ‘Taking a picture of a tourist couple at their request seemed like a harmless thing to do. Little did Emily know what events would be set in motion.’ Chalker’s ability to suffuse her novel with the beauty of nature in Michigan brings this novel into a very special visit to the Great Lakes as her interesting story unwinds – ‘Emily moved to northern Michigan with her partner Ryan to take a job at the Nature Center. She loves the outdoors and enjoys helping people understand their relationship to nature. Taking a photograph of a tourist couple ensnares her in an unexpected and dangerous situation. After an encounter with a bear while hiking, Emily finds herself stranded in the woods, unable to remember what happened. The friendly woods now seem dangerous. When Ryan and Emily’s sister Candace discover she is missing, they set out to find her. Emily and Ryan confront what it means to be a hero when show more they find they are still in danger.’ Richly colorful, this fascinating story holds attention to the last page. A very fine evening’s read! show less
This is a big, blunt, history-first novel with a personal thread that keeps it grounded.
The book opens its lens wide on the political chain of events that led to war in Indochina, then narrows into a generational story that stretches from a German engineer in 1904 China to an Australian infantryman in Vietnam. Mick’s connection to a Buddhist monk becomes the spine of the narrative, while the wider chapters tackle the conferences, alliances, and decisions that shaped the conflict.
What worked for me is the sheer ambition. Kramer doesn’t just summarize, he argues, and you can feel the author’s conviction on the page. The soldier’s-language voice gives the combat-era sections a rough immediacy, and the mix of personal experience with historical framing makes the stakes feel real.
What didn’t fully land is the density. Some stretches read more like a guided lecture than a novel, and the dialogue can be a little direct in how it explains motives. A tighter trim in the middle would improve the flow.
If you want sweeping war context with an unapologetic perspective and a lived-in edge, this is for you. If you’re looking for subtlety or a tight, character-driven plot, maybe not. I’d read Kramer again.
The book opens its lens wide on the political chain of events that led to war in Indochina, then narrows into a generational story that stretches from a German engineer in 1904 China to an Australian infantryman in Vietnam. Mick’s connection to a Buddhist monk becomes the spine of the narrative, while the wider chapters tackle the conferences, alliances, and decisions that shaped the conflict.
What worked for me is the sheer ambition. Kramer doesn’t just summarize, he argues, and you can feel the author’s conviction on the page. The soldier’s-language voice gives the combat-era sections a rough immediacy, and the mix of personal experience with historical framing makes the stakes feel real.
What didn’t fully land is the density. Some stretches read more like a guided lecture than a novel, and the dialogue can be a little direct in how it explains motives. A tighter trim in the middle would improve the flow.
If you want sweeping war context with an unapologetic perspective and a lived-in edge, this is for you. If you’re looking for subtlety or a tight, character-driven plot, maybe not. I’d read Kramer again.
Steel Blood is one of those books that got under my skin in a slow, insistent way. The opening chapter is all carnage and mud and clashing armor, a nameless knight carving through an invading army, and I thought, fine, I know this story already. Then the visor comes off, Julianna shakes out that long gold hair, and the ground moves. Suddenly the bravest knight in the castle is a woman who refuses to be treated as fragile, and the victory arrives with a sharp ache, not just triumph.
What stayed with me is how the novel keeps folding that moment into something larger. In the distant future, Dr Winton James Cancilleri and his exhausted assistant Michael watch Julianna on a holo screen, sifting through her life while they chase a dangerous ripple in time that threatens to wipe out his ancestors and the thousands of people saved by his research. Those lab scenes feel oddly intimate and sad. He is not a sleek action hero, just an aging scientist with a stiff hip, staring at this fierce woman across nine centuries and trying not to admit how much he cares.
The medieval chapters are vivid and strangely tender even when they are soaked in blood. Julianna is not a clever twist, she is a woman who wakes from nightmares, stokes a fire in the dark, argues with God, and still drags herself back to her quest. Her grief for the man she loved and her stubborn belief that her suffering must mean something give the book a raw, human center. The link between her choices and the fate of show more Cancilleri and his descendants gives the story an emotional weight that surprised me. I kept thinking about all the ordinary decisions buried in our own families, and how this novel treats those hidden moments like sacred ground.
I do think the prose sometimes lingers a little too long on stone walls and armor and rain, and a few jumps between eras left me blinking and needing a second to catch up. But honestly, I kind of liked being slightly off balance. It suits a story where one wrong move could shatter an entire bloodline. For me this is a clear five star read, brutal and tender at the same time, and I am genuinely glad I spent time in its strange, bloody, hopeful world. show less
What stayed with me is how the novel keeps folding that moment into something larger. In the distant future, Dr Winton James Cancilleri and his exhausted assistant Michael watch Julianna on a holo screen, sifting through her life while they chase a dangerous ripple in time that threatens to wipe out his ancestors and the thousands of people saved by his research. Those lab scenes feel oddly intimate and sad. He is not a sleek action hero, just an aging scientist with a stiff hip, staring at this fierce woman across nine centuries and trying not to admit how much he cares.
The medieval chapters are vivid and strangely tender even when they are soaked in blood. Julianna is not a clever twist, she is a woman who wakes from nightmares, stokes a fire in the dark, argues with God, and still drags herself back to her quest. Her grief for the man she loved and her stubborn belief that her suffering must mean something give the book a raw, human center. The link between her choices and the fate of show more Cancilleri and his descendants gives the story an emotional weight that surprised me. I kept thinking about all the ordinary decisions buried in our own families, and how this novel treats those hidden moments like sacred ground.
I do think the prose sometimes lingers a little too long on stone walls and armor and rain, and a few jumps between eras left me blinking and needing a second to catch up. But honestly, I kind of liked being slightly off balance. It suits a story where one wrong move could shatter an entire bloodline. For me this is a clear five star read, brutal and tender at the same time, and I am genuinely glad I spent time in its strange, bloody, hopeful world. show less
Mixed Bloodline: The story of a young biracial boy overcoming racism growing up in the South during the 1930's Jim Crow era by Octavia Yvonne Webb
I finished Mixed Bloodline with my throat tight in that familiar way—like my body remembered something before my mind could name it. This is Octavia Yvonne Webb telling her father’s story: a biracial boy in the Jim Crow South, raised in a white household, trying to survive the daily math of hunger, fear, and being told you don’t belong anywhere.
We follow him from early childhood in 1937—crowded rooms, the stink of an alley, an uncle who spits “half-breed” like it’s a verdict—to the moments that shape a lifetime: being coached to claim he’s “Mexican,” being singled out at school by grown men, and later becoming a child caregiver to Virgie Birchfield, the first mother-figure who offers him any warmth, until diabetes takes her away. I felt that ache of attachment and loss. I felt the rage underneath it, the kind that builds when humiliation becomes routine.
What resonated most for me—both as a clinician and as someone who grew up using books as escape—was the book’s insistence that identity injury is real injury. Racism here isn’t abstract; it’s hands on a child’s jaw, it’s the threat of violence, it’s the way a community can decide a kid is unworthy of care. Webb weaves scripture and reflection throughout, pushing toward reconciliation and a relational, healing faith that she believes can outlive what was done.
I didn’t connect equally to every reflective aside, but I appreciated the intention: to name harm, to refuse silence, and to show more reach for meaning without minimizing pain. If you care about how racism shapes self-worth and mental health, this is worth your time—blunt, compassionate, and ultimately hopeful. show less
We follow him from early childhood in 1937—crowded rooms, the stink of an alley, an uncle who spits “half-breed” like it’s a verdict—to the moments that shape a lifetime: being coached to claim he’s “Mexican,” being singled out at school by grown men, and later becoming a child caregiver to Virgie Birchfield, the first mother-figure who offers him any warmth, until diabetes takes her away. I felt that ache of attachment and loss. I felt the rage underneath it, the kind that builds when humiliation becomes routine.
What resonated most for me—both as a clinician and as someone who grew up using books as escape—was the book’s insistence that identity injury is real injury. Racism here isn’t abstract; it’s hands on a child’s jaw, it’s the threat of violence, it’s the way a community can decide a kid is unworthy of care. Webb weaves scripture and reflection throughout, pushing toward reconciliation and a relational, healing faith that she believes can outlive what was done.
I didn’t connect equally to every reflective aside, but I appreciated the intention: to name harm, to refuse silence, and to show more reach for meaning without minimizing pain. If you care about how racism shapes self-worth and mental health, this is worth your time—blunt, compassionate, and ultimately hopeful. show less
Death of an Officer by Mark Ellis is a gripping historical crime novel where the plot follows DCI Frank Merlin investigation into the death of a police officer, uncovering corruption, and moral dilemmas along the way. Ellis skillfully weaves historical context into the mystery adding realism and weight to the story. Immediately I was grabbed with pace of the novel and building tension. Overall Ellis did a great job and any readers who love historical mysteries and crime fiction will enjoy this book. The strong atmosphere and mystery rooted real world social issues along side a protagonist with a sense of duty and internal conflict is so well portrayed. Great read.