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

Adoration and Affliction: Novellas and Short Stories

Robert Scott Leyse (Shattercolors Press)

| Reviewed by Meg McKinnon

In Adoration and Affliction by Robert Scott Leyse, love and obsession walk a thin line. Each story explores how desire can quickly turn dark, from unwanted attention at a glamorous party to office flirtations gone wrong. Sixteen-year-old Nicoletta refuses to be a victim when her parents’ friend crosses the line, choosing her own path to justice. In another tale, Penelope’s body draws unwanted attention, leading to misunderstandings with dire consequences. Tales explore the unsettling side of infatuation, offering the possibility of romance, onl...

The Limited Edition Bicentennial Cadillac Convertible Joy Ride

Michael Jai Grant (Word Binders Publishing)

| Reviewed by Hannah Bietz

The Limited Edition Bicentennial Cadillac Convertible Joy Ride by Michael Jai Grant follows the unlikely partnership of Eve, a restless and disillusioned Florida teenager, and Muriel, an octogenarian resident of a managed care facility, both running from the confines of their everyday lives. When a chance emergency leaves Eve temporarily in charge of Muriel and the keys to her prized 1976 Cadillac Eldorado, the two impulsively embark on a cross-state (and ultimately cross-country) road trip. Their journey, narrated with wry omniscience by the C...

The Ghost of Seagull Cottage

Anne Allen (Sarnia Press)

| Reviewed by Krishna Blackwood

Anne Allen’s The Ghost of Seagull Cottage is the ninth book in The Guernsey series, and it tells the story of Annabel Easton, a recently widowed artist, and her ten-year-old daughter Emilia, as they relocate from Manchester to Annabel’s native Guernsey in search of a fresh start. They move into Seagull Cottage—a charming seaside home with a storied past and a resident ghost, Captain Daniel Gallienne, the original owner, who died 70 years ago in 1946. Initially unnerved, Annabel finds herself negotiating a truce with the salty but charismatic Da...

Sketches from the Periphery

MP Summers (MP Summers)

| Reviewed by Lee Robbins

Sketches from the Periphery by MP Summers is a novel set against the backdrop of the Darfur conflict in 2005-2006. Alexander Barr is a young American contractor supporting the African Union’s peacekeeping mission in Sudan, and Cassandra is a Belgian journalist navigating war-torn Darfur. Through episodic encounters and multiple perspectives—including those of local rebels like Tariq and everyday Sudanese—the novel explores the intricate relationship between foreign intervention, local resistance, and personal awakenings. As Alex becomes immerse...

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