Reviews
Exile of the Heart: A Memoir Across Three Continents
Rasheed Abou-Elsamh (Story Bridge Agency)
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, t...
The Unabridged Life of Missy Kinkaid
Kirsten Pursell (Self)
Kirsten Pursell’s The Unabridged Life of Missy Kinkaid is a character-driven tale perfect for the holidays, one that examines family, friendship, and self-discovery. Set in Sullivan’s Island, the story follows Missy Kinkaid, who is feisty, bold, and an independent spirit. She belongs to the Scarlet Harlots book club and has always stood by her beliefs. But in the aftermath of her tumultuous marriage, she loses her mother, and her life spins out of control. It is a time of reckoning for her, and while caring friends and a secretive cousin surrou...
ALL THAT SMOLDERS: A Mystery
James Sulzer (Morgan James Publishing)
All That Smolders by James Sulzer is a crime mystery with a finely drawn setting, a propulsive conflict, and unforgettable characters. Set in 1980 on the Island of New England, the story introduces a community of locals with different lifestyles and occupations. It is peaceful until a prominent lawyer is murdered. Peter Christie is a reporter for the Island Forum who has arrived on the island for a new start, and he becomes utterly invested in the murder case while developing a romance with Haddie Danville. The story opens with the shocking dea...
Beyond Zero
Asawer K (Independently Published)
Beyond Zero by Asawer K. is a haunting tale that plunges you into the depths of trauma, mental health, and the indelible scars of depressive pain and struggle. The narrative centers mainly on Lily, a young woman struggling with invisible wounds. It intertwines her journey with mythic tales of girls like Serelai and Eline, who confront their own darkness in unique worlds. The book explores the complex layers of grief, silence, and grit, capturing the often-unnoticed struggles of those experiencing depression. Lily’s internal monologues unveil de...
LOVING JESUS AND HIS CHURCH: God's Love Design for Your Local Church
Karen E. Cedergren (Woodbridge)
Loving Jesus and His Church by Karen E. Cedergren is a compelling, biblically rooted exploration of the profound relationship between believers, their local churches, and Jesus Christ. Structured in three parts, the book begins with a foundation of biblical truths about the nature of the church, then delves into common challenges, misunderstandings, and pitfalls in church life, and finally offers a divine blueprint for loving and honoring Christ’s church. The author’s extensive pastoral experience and deep scriptural insight make this a practic...
The Karma Club
Harbinder Mathadu (Amazon)
The Karma Club by Harbinder Mathadu is a gripping novel that features multiple subplots spanning India and the UK, centered on themes of guilt, redemption, and the cyclical nature of karma. The story begins with a vivid depiction of a rural Indian village where a tragic fire claims the lives of a family, leaving a young Raj haunted by guilt, believing himself responsible for their deaths. Years later, in London, Raj struggles with deep-seated trauma and loneliness, finding solace only in fleeting moments of connection, especially with Gabby, a...
Promised Land: The Encoding
Katib bin Vilio (Palmetto Publishing)
Promised Land: The Encoding by Katib bin Vilio is a tangled narrative set in a dystopian future where the laws of physics are metaphorically applied to the lives of the African diaspora. The story follows Ida, Soweto, and Abeni—three young Black women who, on a trip across the United States. They encounter supernatural occurrences involving their ancestors and historical traumas through water, a symbol of communication and memory. As they meet with spirits, explore historical sites, and experience police brutality, they unravel a deeper connect...
Matthew (A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series, Book 3)
Alisa Jean (Self)
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 fr...
Luka (A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series, Book 2)
Alisa Jean (Self)
Luka (A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series) by Alisa Jean is the second, enthralling entry in the series, and it follows Luka Ribic, a gifted NHL hockey player, who must deal with the lows of his career. After a severe head injury during a game, Luka struggles with the physical pain and the mental toll of panic attacks and memory loss. But something else eats him from deep inside, trauma from his abusive father. He begins to shut himself out, holing up. The journey toward healing is not easy, but friends and family stand by him. Then enters Lilia...
Lincoln (A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series Book 1)
Alisa Jean (Independently Published)
Lincoln is the first book in the Los Angeles Quakes hockey series by Alisa Jean. This narrative examines the high-stakes world of professional hockey and follows Lincoln Cavanaugh, a seasoned goalie struggling with a recent slump, personal doubts, and injuries. The book takes readers on a rollicking ride through some of the Lincoln’s wins and losses on the ice, complicated by his growing romantic tension with Catherine Bishop, the ambitious daughter of the Quakes’ owner. As Lincoln fights to regain his confidence after a string of defeats, he a...