Biographies and Memoirs

Mama’s Boy: A Young Boy’s Memory of Childhood

Rev. Michael H. Lavery | Biographies and Memoirs

Mama’s Boy: A Young Boy’s Memory of Childhood by Rev. Michael H. Lavery is a heartwarming autobiographical reflection that chronicles his early life, exploring the profound influence of his mother, grandmother, sister, and community. The book opens with Lavery’s emotional account of losing his father at a young age, shaping his understanding of love, loss, and inner strength. It then explores various themes, including faith, family, sacrifice, and moral lessons learned through everyday experiences, from childhood innocence to spiritual awakening. Lavery shares stories of his mother’s unwavering devotion, his grandmother’s pioneering spirit as a police officer, and the innocent yet profound q...

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Most Recent Reviews

The Last Ghost: An Unexpected Occurrence

D.E. Ring (Grinder)

| Reviewed by James Farlow

The Last Ghost: An Unexpected Occurrence by D.E. Ring is an enthralling tale that follows Joshua Stewart, a gifted and ambitious young man navigating the complexities of wealth, family, and personal identity. The story follows his childhood on the Toronto Bluffs, the tragic death of his parents in Thailand, his education at prestigious schools, and his daring ventures into business and finance, where he is passionate about technology and innovation. As Joshua matures, he carefully maneuvers through a world of inheritance, trust funds, and entre...

Guilt: Book One of the Nancy Flanagan Chronicles

Maisie Moon (Maisie Moon Books)

| Reviewed by Elena Enger

In the aftermath of World War II, Irish Catholic nurse Nancy Flanagan seeks a fresh start in England. A heartbreaking past, visions of demons and spirits haunt her, and she will do anything to leave that past behind, but when she meets a mysterious patient with dark secrets, she decides to work together for a new start. Imagine her life with a war veteran with a dark secret, a German with ties to the Nazi regime, and a demon-infested entity that threatens her sanity, and it’s a mess. To face their past, Nancy and his patient travel to Argentina...

A Mixed Bag

Agnes McIntyre (FriesenPress)

| Reviewed by Matthew Novak

A Mixed Bag by Agnes McIntyre is a delightful offering for fans of short stories, featuring sixteen tales. This book presents characters who are intriguing and find themselves in resonant situations. In “The Gift,” the author explores the beauty of simple gestures and their profound emotional impact. “Double Whammy” explores the dynamics between luck and grit, and “Some Such Something” delves into the eccentricities of life and the experience of confronting reality. In other stories, a woman in her seventies visits her past and discovers the po...

Oleander Marriage

Eleanor Lerman (Mayapple Press)

| Reviewed by Franklin Bauer

Oleander Marriage by Eleanor Lerman is a profound and emotionally resonant poetry collection that deftly explores love, loss, memory, aging, and the inexorable passage of time. Through a series of richly textured poems, Lerman discusses the fragile threads that connect us to our past selves, loved ones, and the universe at large. The collection features personal reflections with mythic and cosmic imagery, creating a layered canvas that captures life's fleeting beauty and enduring scars. Poems like “A Girl on the Streets” and “Silver Rings and G...

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