Rasheed Abou-Elsamh | Memoir
Exile of the Heart by Rasheed Abou-Elsamh is a deeply personal memoir that chronicles his life across three continents—Europe, South America, and the Middle East—highlighting the complex intersections of identity, culture, and belonging. The story begins with Rasheed’s childhood in Geneva, Cairo, and Brasilia, where he steers through a multicultural upbringing, and continues through his academic pursuits in the U.S. and his career in journalism in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Philippines. The narrative depicts his struggles with loneliness, the pain of family and cultural dislocation, and his journey toward self-acceptance amid social and religious constraints. Rasheed’s story is peppered...
Continue ReadingKaren Black | Teen & Young Adult
Heritage Mountain by Karen Black is a tale of adventure, magic, and a battle to preserve ancient secrets. The story follows a diverse group of characters, including archaeologists, supernatural beings, and guardians of the forest, who explore the Adirondacks in search of artifacts, lost relics, and even a legendary gold mine. Marco Cason is exploring the mountain history with Chase, Maria, and Anita, but he is unaware that they are the guardians of the fae. With maps, they explore the legends of the mountain and discover folklore that reveals the existence of a mystical clan in the mountains a long time ago. The discovery of creatures like elves, stargazers, and goliaths happens just when th...
Continue ReadingLawrence P. O'Brien | Science Fiction & Fantasy
Swallowing the Muskellunge by Lawrence P. O’Brien is a haunting historical fantasy that blends Black and Indigenous histories with supernatural horror during the years between 1796 and the early 1800s. The novel follows London Oxford, a formerly enslaved man in Massachusetts, and his children, Abner, Annie, and Rachael, as they join the Wright family’s expedition north into Canada. After London’s wife, Jane, dies under mysterious circumstances linked to a malevolent entity, the family becomes ensnared in a terrifying conflict involving ancient Indigenous lore, vampiric creatures, and the painful journey of settler colonialism. All along, young Abner Oxford has kept something from his mother,...
Continue ReadingGregory L Fischer | American Dramas & Plays
In Dream of Writing by Gregory L. Fischer Jr., College senior Ramen Noodle (Ray) dreams of making it big as a screenwriter, but his reality is far from Hollywood fame. He sacrificed a football scholarship to attend Orleans University, yet now he’s stuck working as a bartender in the French Quarter, failing his crucial capstone course. Haunted by recurring nightmares of a cannibal wearing an alligator mask terrorizing a rural town, Ramen channels his dark visions into a horror screenplay. But as his drug-induced dreams blur the line between fantasy and reality, he begins to question what’s real—his love for his girlfriend or his obsession with success. As his nightmares threaten to consume hi...
Continue ReadingAG Flitcher | Fiction - Horror
Wasp Oil by A.G. Flitcher is a dark, spellbinding work of fiction that plunges readers into a dystopian world of supernatural horrors, political intrigue, and psychological torment. One of the greatest nightmares of Halburton has been Chelsea Tygrah, and now she is gone, but is she really? Something new, horrifying, and utterly sinister replaces her, like a shadow left behind. There is an evil eating into the hearts of those it can penetrate, and the strange orange light that follows everyone’s move is a being with sinister intent. Rosaria Castilla is a dedicated detective who becomes embroiled in a series of bizarre, violent events linked to Frankie Branza and a series of gruesome murders....
Continue ReadingGlenville Ashby | Poetry
Glenville Ashby's 40 Days of Fasting: 40 Inspired Recitations is a profound spiritual journey born from a period of disciplined fasting that coincided with Ramadan and Lent in April 2025. Through these forty days, Ashby channels a divine voice named Carlos, delivering poetic recitations that explore themes of divine mercy, inner purification, mortality, and spiritual awakening. The poems have a prayerful tone; at times they are exploratory of the spiritual sentiment of the personae, at times a direct engagement with God, and at times observant. They put together personal trials with universal truths, underlining the fact that true awakening comes through surrender, love, and divine connectio...
Continue ReadingAlisa Jean | Romance
Matthew (A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series, Book 3) by Alisa Jean is just as tantalizing as the first two books in the series. This entry introduces another unique, compelling hero, a character as genuinely flawed and lovable as those in the other books. Meet Matthew Holt, a Hockey player for the L.A. Quakes team and a man who will do anything for his team. He spares no energy when he plays and can even get brutal if that is what it takes to defend the team and teammates. Then something bad happens: he is traded to a team thousands of miles from home, away from friends and family. And he doesn’t like that. Now his anger has only one outlet—the hockey pitch. But something else is happening:...
Continue ReadingOliver Libby | Non-Fiction - Government/Politics
Strong Floor, No Ceiling: A Bold Plan to Rebuild the American Dream—for Everyone by Oliver Libby offers a radically moderate blueprint for a fractured nation. Entrepreneur and policy innovator Oliver B. Libby urges us to move beyond division with a pragmatic vision rooted in both tradition and innovation, equity and growth. Libby’s “Strong Floor” approach ensures every American has access to healthcare, education, and opportunity—while his “No Ceiling” philosophy champions the limitless ambitions that drive progress. Inside, you’ll find actionable strategies to restore trust in institutions and elections, a new model for bipartisan cooperation, and a call to civic renewal. Learn how capital...
Continue ReadingDorothea Jensen | Poetry - General
Dorothea Jensen’s Liberty-Loving Lafayette is a delightful and accessible introduction to the Marquis de Lafayette, the young French nobleman whose courage and idealism played a crucial role in securing American independence. In rhyming verse, Jensen swiftly summarizes Lafayette’s journey: from his youthful enthusiasm for the American cause, to his pivotal friendship with George Washington, his bravery in battle, his role in securing French support, and his decisive contribution at Yorktown. With lively illustrations and supplemental resources, the book invites young readers—and adults—to discover Lafayette’s remarkable story in an engaging, memorable way. This book provides intriguing detai...
Continue ReadingLawrence Rosenberg | Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
From Vision to Vitality by Dr. Lawrence Rosenberg is a blueprint for transforming healthcare organizations through visionary leadership, innovation, and a human-centered approach. In this book, the author presents practical strategies, leadership principles, and real-world examples from his career, ranging from managing complex surgical cases to leading large-scale healthcare reforms. The book underlines some important themes such as values-driven leadership, the importance of courage and humility, building a culture of continuous improvement, and the critical role of data, technology, and teamwork. This book teaches you how systemic change requires not only strategic planning but also a min...
Continue ReadingLaurel 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...
Continue ReadingCarol B Allen | Science Fiction & Fantasy
One If is a well-written science fiction by Carol B. Allen, which presents a compelling and imaginative story about three teenagers, Parker, Edison, and Henley, who are unexpectedly kidnapped and transported to the mysterious world of Spyridon after encountering a seemingly ordinary hummingbird. As they navigate this ethereal realm, they discover a planet facing an environmental catastrophe, with its avian society fighting for survival. The planet brims with political intrigue, threats of war, and ecological disaster. The teens are tasked with helping Spyridon’s inhabitants address environmental stewardship issues. They must face many challenges, but falling in love only makes matters w...
Continue ReadingColin 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...
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Lawrence P. O'Brien (LoonCE)
Swallowing the Muskellunge by Lawrence P. O’Brien is a haunting historical fantasy that blends Black and Indigenous histories with supernatural horror during the years between 1796 and the early 1800s. The novel follows London Oxford, a formerly enslaved man in Massachusetts, and his children, Abner, Annie, and Rachael, as they join the Wright family’s expedition north into Canada. After London’s wife, Jane, dies under mysterious circumstances linked to a malevolent entity, the family becomes ensnared in a terrifying conflict involving ancient...
Lawrence Rosenberg (Forbes Books)
From Vision to Vitality by Dr. Lawrence Rosenberg is a blueprint for transforming healthcare organizations through visionary leadership, innovation, and a human-centered approach. In this book, the author presents practical strategies, leadership principles, and real-world examples from his career, ranging from managing complex surgical cases to leading large-scale healthcare reforms. The book underlines some important themes such as values-driven leadership, the importance of courage and humility, building a culture of continuous improvement,...
AG Flitcher (Library and Archives Canada)
Wasp Oil by A.G. Flitcher is a dark, spellbinding work of fiction that plunges readers into a dystopian world of supernatural horrors, political intrigue, and psychological torment. One of the greatest nightmares of Halburton has been Chelsea Tygrah, and now she is gone, but is she really? Something new, horrifying, and utterly sinister replaces her, like a shadow left behind. There is an evil eating into the hearts of those it can penetrate, and the strange orange light that follows everyone’s move is a being with sinister intent. Rosaria Cast...
Karen Black (Karen Black)
Heritage Mountain by Karen Black is a tale of adventure, magic, and a battle to preserve ancient secrets. The story follows a diverse group of characters, including archaeologists, supernatural beings, and guardians of the forest, who explore the Adirondacks in search of artifacts, lost relics, and even a legendary gold mine. Marco Cason is exploring the mountain history with Chase, Maria, and Anita, but he is unaware that they are the guardians of the fae. With maps, they explore the legends of the mountain and discover folklore that reveals t...
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