Kat Caldwell | Small Town & Rural Fiction

Bended Loyalty by Kat Caldwell is a well-plotted, fast-paced, and intriguing tale that explores family, loyalty, and one man’s journey to create a way forward when the past won’t let him go. Tristen Levisay is the guitarist for The Seethers’ band, and the band is on the verge of success, which means life is about to get better for him, a rockstar. Then everything changes when his twin brother, Talon, the band's frontman, betrays them and joins a different band. Tristen’s life is taken back to the rough beginnings in Kentucky, where his mother is about to lose the house. He must save the house, his mother, and himself; to do so, he decides to return to the underground boxing ring. A few fight...

Stephen Twartz | Fiction - Historical - Event/Era

The Severed Cord by Stephen Twartz is a sweeping, multi-generational saga that traces the tangled lives of Jimmy, a resilient Australian soldier, and his descendants across continents and conflicts. Set against the backdrop of war-torn Palestine, rural Australia, and modern-day Israel, the novel explores the lingering trauma of history and the quest for identity and belonging. The narrative moves fluidly through time, revealing how trauma, love, and betrayal create an invisible but powerful cord between past and present. As Jimmy struggles with external enemies and inner demons, his descendant Harry embarks on a parallel journey decades later, seeking answers buried in family secrets and anc...

Zoe Disigny | Fiction - Womens

Zoe Disigny's The Art of Traveling Strangers explores personal transformation against the backdrop of art and travel. Claire Markham embarks on a transformative journey to Europe as an art guide, hoping to escape the emotional toll of her recent divorce and strained relationship with her daughter, Amber. The novel reveals Claire's internal struggles and features vibrant characters, particularly her employer, Viv Chancey, whose exuberance and impulsive nature challenge Claire's sense of control. The novel begins with an evocative scene aboard Claire’s flight to Europe, where she reflects on her life through the lens of art. Disigny skillfully illustrates how art can symbolize personal experie...

Kevin Hwang | Fiction - Thriller - Medical

Kevin Hwang's The Regression Strain narrates the tale of Dr. Peter Palma, a physician who embarks on a journey aboard the Paradise cruise ship, seeking a fresh start following his personal struggles. His first days are chaotic, marked by tense encounters, medical emergencies, and unusual behaviors among passengers and crew. As the days progress, Peter becomes witness to bizarre incidents, including sudden violence, hallucinations, and unexplained illness spreading through the ship. An affliction pits people against each other, and only Dr. Palma can stop it, but he is struggling with hallucinations as the ship sails through the Atlantic toward New York. But will he be able to combat the...

Edmond A. Bruneau | Poetry - General

Soul of the Song is a poetic journey that skillfully melds genres from country music to rock and folk, while exploring universal themes of love, identity, nostalgia, and social consciousness. Edmond A. Bruneau’s collection reads like an album liner note meets literary anthology, offering both introspection and entertainment. Stylistically, Bruneau excels in the use of metaphor, allusion, and musicality. In How Did I Find You? he uses cosmic imagery— “It’s astronomical. Beam me up”—to convey romantic euphoria, blending science fiction with intense emotion. His use of intertextuality shines in Joni, where references to Joni Mitchell’s music evoke a sense of generational longing and artistic ad...

Sera Maddox Drake | Literary Fiction

Ancilla: Master, Teach Me by Sera Maddox Drake is a bold, captivating work written for mature readers. The story follows an unnamed heroine, who seems to have everything set for her life — a scholarship, wealth, and a girlfriend. But everything changes when her conservative parents discover that she is queer and force her to make a difficult choice, which leads to the end of her academic dreams. Three years later, she meets a public reference librarian in a bookstore, and something magical happens to them in the name of love. She defies the rejection she has suffered, the religious repression, and her family’s conservative views and indulges in a journey of self-discovery that plunges her in...

Kirsten Pursell | Romance

In The Scarlet D by Kirsten Pursell, Scarlet embarks on a daring journey of self-reinvention after a thirty-year marriage crumbles. Seeking solace on Sullivan's Island, she joins a divorced women's book club, hoping to connect with like-minded souls. Amidst the stunning backdrop of South Carolina, her dormant desires come to life when she encounters the charming Ben, a younger man who challenges her boundaries. However, the confident Beau, a maturer suitor and a man more suited for her age, offers a glimpse of true connection. As past wounds resurface with the arrival of an old flame, Scarlet must navigate love, judgment, and the possibility of a second chance. The novel opens with Scarlet's...

Robert Reisler | Children-Educational

Thoughtfully written and exciting, The Story of Atom is a children’s book that follows the adventures of Adam, a curious Carbon Atom, from the dawn of the universe to the present day. Spanning 14 billion years of cosmic history, this beautifully crafted full-color picture book immerses young readers in the wonders of science—Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology—through Adam’s eyes. Filled with hidden Easter Eggs and a special secret to discover, the story sparks curiosity and imagination, encouraging children of all backgrounds to explore the universe within and around them. With an exciting surprise at the end and inclusive illustrations for diverse skin tones, The Story of Atom promi...

Bryan Smeltzer | Non-Fiction - Business/Finance

In The Visionary Leader, Bryan Smeltzer delivers a compelling exploration of what it means to lead with vision, purpose, and conviction. Drawing on the lives and legacies of transformative figures such as Steve Jobs, Jesus Christ, Albert Einstein, and Mahatma Gandhi, Smeltzer outlines the essential traits that define visionary leadership. He identifies 16 key principles—such as vision, faith, dedication, passion, and innovation—that distinguish extraordinary leaders from conventional ones. Through a series of focused chapters, each centered on a specific trait and illustrated with historical examples, Smeltzer provides a roadmap for aspiring leaders who seek to inspire change, drive progress...

Laurel Colless | Children - Adventure

Knights Unite is the fourth book in the Peter Blue Series by Laurel Colless, and it follows Riva du Lac, who is determined to uphold her promise to avoid detentions at Spiral Hall. But a sea cleanup reveals Shem, a mythical fish boy, and a surprise honor from the Spiral Knights forces her to choose between rules and friendship. Meanwhile, Peter Blue has a vision of a water-dwelling monster. Can their unlikely alliance save the knights—and the world? Laurel Colless captures the delicate balance of environmental activism and adolescent adventure through the eyes of Riva, the determined twelve-year-old protagonist. The character development is both nuanced and engaging, particularly in Riva’s j...

Catalina Paris | Fantasy - Epic

In The Midnight Rose by Catalina Paris, sixteen-year-old apprentice alchemist Leo flees a surprise attack on the Alchemical Court. He opens a portal to a forgotten world, where he encounters Lisandre, Lady of the Vines, a faerie stuck under the watchful eye of the Holly Queen. With Leo’s aid, Lisandre uncovers dangerous secrets and powerful threats to her life, forcing her to flee her realm. She helps Leo in his quest to find the lost talismans of Atlantica. Their journey intertwines with Flora, a spirited songstress searching for her true family, and Lucien, a prince of Alyssria, who makes a risky pact with the dark sorcerer, the Dark Alchemyst, determined to acquire all the talismans. Can...

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...