Reviews
The Scarlet D
Kirsten Pursell (Kirsten Pursell)
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 re...
Echoes Lost in Stars: Poems
PS Conway (Literary Revelations)
PS Conway’s exquisite poetry collection Echoes Lost in Stars delivers a transcendent journey through a constellation of themes, prominently highlighting love, loss, and existential reflection. Each section—Sun, Sun (light), Star (light), and Stars—invites the reader to contemplate the intricate back-and-forth between the celestial world and human emotion, akin to the works of John Keats. One of the most compelling aspects of Conway's work is his expert use of vivid imagery and symbolism that lends depth to the reader's experience. For instance,...
Things I Never Told My Father: Growing Up Gay as a Preacher's Son
Jeffrey L Carrier (Anson Breck Publishing (April 5, 2024))
Jeffrey L. Carrier’s memoir is a compelling exploration of what it is like growing up as a gay preacher's son in the conservative South. Spanning from his childhood in rural Tennessee to his struggles with identity and acceptance, Things I Never Told My Father: Growing Up Gay as a Preacher’s Son intricately intertwines personal anecdotes with broader themes, such as the conflict between sexual identity and religious norms. The narrative arc begins with Carrier's idyllic early childhood memories but quickly unravels as he navigates the dissonanc...
Kings of Muraine
J.R. Vaineo (JRV Books, LLC)
J.R. Vaineo's Kings of Muraine launches The Journals of Ravier series, delivering a richly woven tale about loss, the struggle for identity, and the intersection of fantasy with reality. Tyler Ravier has a hard time recovering from the death of his father and the emotional turmoil that followed the loss as he encounters magical beings and realms tied to his lineage. The plot unfolds with Tyler struggling with the dual realities of his mundane life and the burgeoning world of Muraine, a land his father cherished but never revealed to Tyler. Foll...
Gin and Toxic
Rita H Rowe (Rita H Rowe)
Rita H. Rowe’s Gin and Toxic delivers a gripping exploration of love, identity, and the threads of an abusive relationship that will cost the heroine almost everything. The plot spans decades, beginning in post-colonial India and extending into a new life in Australia. This vast timeline enables Rowe to delve into Elizabeth's evolution, tumultuous relationships, and the psychological ramifications of her choices. When Elizabeth D'Souza falls in love with Mike, an officer who likes gin and passion, her life changes unexpectedly. She co...
The Gallucci Gallery
KB Richards (Grandeur Publishing)
K.B. Richards’ The Gallucci Gallery is an expertly woven psychological thriller that intricately weaves trauma, identity, and morality. The story follows a mother struggling with her tumultuous past—specifically with her abusive father—which has manifested as a dissociative identity disorder, introducing the formidable persona of Elizabeth. She is accused of murder, but she isn’t even sure whether she committed it or not. Things become more complicated for Bianca when a mysterious character enters her life. She can’t believe that Vincenzo Gallu...
The Greatest Thieves
Neboysha Saikovski (KDP)
The Greatest Thieves by Neboysha Saikovski is the first entry in the Pink Panthers trilogy and an electrifying read. The story paints a gripping tale of the audacious Pink Panthers, a notorious gang engaging in high-stakes theft amid the backdrop of socio-political turbulence following the dissolution of Yugoslavia. The narrative thrives on intense plot elements, intricate characterizations, and vivid settings interlacing crime with a personal quest for meaning and connection. The plot unfolds in a chaotic world—war, collapsing families, and th...
The October That Changed Everything
Connie Lacy (Wild Falls Publisher)
Connie Lacy’s The October That Changed Everything offers a compelling narrative set against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis, intertwining personal and political conflicts that resonate deeply. In 1962, Cheryl Donovan falls in love with an Army pilot just when the Soviet Union deploys nuclear missiles in Cuba aimed at the US. While her love interest has different values from hers, Cheryl is thrust into a world of uncertainty and must struggle to remain true to her heart and values. What chances does she have in love in a world on the br...
Black Rose Cocoon
AG Flitcher (Library and Archives Canada)
Black Rose Cocoon by A.G. Flitcher is a gripping narrative that intertwines characters' lives steeped in a chilling atmosphere of secrecy, horror, and dark familial connections. It is 1986, and a dark cloud of despair hovers over the streets of Halburton City as a serial killer targets the community's children. The pain of loss reverberates through the hearts of those closest to the victims, revealing a chilling truth — the true horror lies not just in the murders but in the emotional scars that haunt the survivors. As the body counts, the dram...
Milestoneville Drama Series
Golden November (Independently published)
Milestoneville Drama Series is the first book in a new series by Golden November. It delivers thrilling drama that examines the intersection of several lives and characters within the vibrant and tumultuous setting of Milestoneville. This drama deftly explores themes of ambition, self-discovery, and the relentless pursuit of success, all while maintaining a grounded sense of humor and camaraderie among its cast. The drama features intriguing characters like Jimbo (JBT) and Good (G), whose camaraderie is marked by their shared exp...