Susan Beth Miller | Fiction -Mystery-General

In A Beautiful Land by Susan Beth Miller, Raissa's family's flight from political violence forces her to confront her deepest desires and darkest fears. Bound by memories and maternal longing, she risks everything to remain in her childhood home, only to find herself driven into a mysterious forest. With sparkling prose and distinctive voices, Miller crafts a tale of strained family ties, displacement, and strong echoes of maternal imagination. Raissa's journey is haunting, drawing readers into a world of struggle and delight where the line between love and desperation blurs.A Beautiful Land by Susan Beth Miller is a captivating tale of survival and the enduring power of hope in a world torn...

R. Christian Bohlen | Spirituality & Inspiration

R. Christian Bohlen's Miracle at Angels Bend is a profound and compassionate exploration of faith, healing, and personal transformation framed within the struggles of several characters in a small town. With an engaging and thoughtful narrative style, Bohlen weaves together various lives, each character struggling with unique challenges, dilemmas, and hopes for redemption through faith and the teachings of Jesus Christ. The book introduces readers to characters like Josh, Hannah, Dave, and Larina, who represent a spectrum of contemporary issues, including familial strife, grief, addiction, and the search for identity and belonging. Hannah is dealing with the aftermath of a tragic a...

Mari-Carmen Marin | Poetry

The Valley of Your Life: Ekphrastic Poems by Mari-Carmen Marin is a poignant, poetic exploration that interweaves personal reflections, historical pain, and a deep appreciation for the arts. Each section, titled after visual art pieces, is a launching point for an introspective examination of life’s many facets—from love and solitude to trauma and healing. This intricate canvas of imagery and emotion highlights the profound connections between poetry and visual art, inviting readers to see the world through a dual lens. “The Dance of Life,” inspired by Salvador Dali’s vibrant work, sums up grit amid adversity: “When your life becomes a desert—sand shifting, burying your path, dance.” Th...

Barry Robbins | Historical Fiction

Tears of the Titans is a thought-provoking book that explores the theme of regret through the eyes of history's most influential figures. The author, Barry Robbins, takes readers on a journey through the lives of individuals who contributed significantly to history, from Galileo Galilei to Mahatma Gandhi, examining their choices and the regrets that followed. The book is structured as a series of intimate, first-person narratives exploring a specific individual's mind and soul. The selection of historical figures is noteworthy. The inclusion of Galileo Galilei, for example, provides a fascinating insight into the struggles of scientific inquiry and the consequences of challenging established...

Charlotte Zang & Alex Knudsen | Fiction - Mystery -Murder

 Lost Grove by Charlotte Zang and Alex Knudsen unfolds a thrilling narrative at the intersection of mystery, psychological tension, and supernatural themes. The novel pivotally revolves around the unexpected discovery of Sarah Elizabeth Grahams’ body at Mourner's Beach, igniting a chain reaction of investigations and revelations that ripple through the seemingly tranquil town of Lost Grove. Sergeant Seth Wolfe becomes entangled in the town’s mystery, and as he begins to seek the truth, he discovers a connection between the murder and the past —his past. Meanwhile, a group of teenagers sets out to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the brother of one of their friends. What is...

Monique Verpoort | Self- Help

Monique Verpoort's Is This All There Is? Living a Life Beyond Obligation explores the emotional and spiritual landscape of the individual who finds themselves ensnared in the web of obligation and unworthiness. Verpoort’s insightful book draws readers into deep introspection, urging them to confront the detrimental beliefs and stories they tell themselves—beliefs that often take root in childhood experiences. The book is structured to guide the reader through understanding the genesis of these limiting beliefs, how they manifest in adulthood, and the powerful techniques such as Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) that can help dismantle them. Verpoort emphasizes the importance of self-awarene...

Laurel Osterkamp | Romance - Contemporary

Laurel Osterkamp's The Side Project delivers an engaging exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery against the backdrop of small-town intrigues. The story follows Rylee, a young aspiring writer dealing with her father's death and her romantic entanglements while striving to carve out a future in the fiction world. She dreams of moving to California, writing literary fiction, and pursuing her late father’s dreams. But then she unexpectedly runs into the man who rejected her ten years ago — Carson. Carson’s dream of the Ivy League is shattered when his girlfriend unexpectedly becomes pregnant, making him a single dad. They become writing partners when they find themselves in the...

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...

R. Christian Bohlen | Spirituality & Inspiration

R. Christian Bohlen's Miracle at Angels Bend is a profound and compassionate exploration of faith, healing, and personal transformation framed within the struggles of several characters in a small town. With an engaging and thoughtful narrative style, Bohlen weaves together various lives, each character struggling with unique challenges, dilemmas, and hopes for redemption through faith and the teachings of Jesus Christ. The book introduces readers to characters like Josh, Hannah, Dave, and Larina, who represent a spectrum of contemporary issues, including familial strife, grief, addiction, and the search for identity and belonging. Hannah is dealing with the aftermath of a tragic a...

Rachel Bate | Children - Fiction

Rachel Bate's Hatch Chile Willie is an enchanting children's book that combines cultural heritage, imagination, and the warmth of friendship against the backdrop of New Mexico's famed Hatch Chiles. With a lyrical narrative and delightful illustrations, this story entertains young readers and introduces them to the Hatch Chile Festival's rich traditions and the Southwest's vibrant spirit. Hatch Chile is a cornerstone of New Mexican culture, touted as the “state vegetable.” Bate infuses authentic regional flavor into the story by highlighting the importance of Hatch Chiles, both gastronomically and culturally. The annual Hatch Chile Festival depicted in the book celebrates community and a...

Alisse Lee Goldenberg | Teen & Young Adult

Alisse Lee Goldenberg’s The Ghost in the Garden is a captivating middle-grade novel that deftly navigates themes of friendship, grief, and the supernatural through the lens of a young girl named Sophie Madison. After moving from her bustling city life in Calgary to the quieter Stratford, Ontario, Sophie struggles to adapt to her new surroundings and confronts unsettling experiences in her new home. The narrative begins with Sophie’s reluctance and disdain for her new life—emotions relatable to anyone who has faced significant change. Goldenberg’s portrayal of Sophie’s alienation captures the complex world of young adolescence while employing a charming blend of humor and angst. The real twis...

R.M. Tembreull | Science Fiction & Fantasy

R.M. Tembreull’s Fractured State, the inaugural entry in the Blighted Earth series, blends dystopian fiction and socio-political commentary to examine chaos, existential risk, and human folly. Set against the backdrop of a fractured modern society teetering on the brink of collapse, Tembreull crafts a narrative that is both intricate and unsettling, weaving together various storytelling threads that highlight humanity's struggles with ideological extremism, environmental degradation, and the pursuit of power. Chaos, the Destroyer, unleashes his most audacious campaign, aiming to initiate the Great Cascade and plunge North America into the Discordant. As the eternal strugg...