Reviews
The Wish
Lena Gibson (Black Rose Writing)
Lena Gibson’s The Wish delivers a story that melds trauma, time travel, and the pursuit of redemption. Elizabeth is a woman haunted by a tragic past marked by a car accident, a failed marriage, and the loss of her voice—both literal and emotional. After wishing for a second chance, she inexplicably finds herself transported five years into the past, where she encounters her younger self and begins unraveling the tangled threads of her life. As Elizabeth faces her new-old reality, she seeks to alter her past mistakes, especially concerning her l...
Archer's Moon
J.W. Webb (Self Published)
Archer’s Moon: Dawn of Legends by J.W. Webb is a wide-angled prequel to the fantastic universe of Legends of Ansu, delving into the creation of its mythical environment many years before the main story begins. The tale of the young goddess Argonwui “Aggy” and her relationship with the mortal Eltayn Elafan, a young hunter who finds himself embroiled in divine schemes, ancient rivalries, and cosmic forces. As Aggy yearns to be free and have an adventure in the mortal world, she struggles to understand her divine blood. She is constantly thwarted...
Mama’s Boy: A Young Boy’s Memory of Childhood
Rev. Michael H. Lavery (Readersmagnet LLC)
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 awakenin...
Desiderata
M.P. Desmarais (self-published (IngramSpark))
Desiderata by M.P. Desmarais delivers an engrossing science fiction novel with fully fleshed-out characters and a conflict that grows in stakes with each page. The hydropower systems of Gracyr are failing, and there is an urgent need for a new source of energy. Four unlikely allies—a gifted swordsman Gerrard, a fierce swordfighter Andromeda, a relentless scholar Regina, and a disturbed fighter Hector—are on a dangerous quest to find a solution. From bartending to privateering and bounty hunting, their journey takes them deep into uncharted terr...
Flying Circus Above and Beyond
Leona Cobham (Cobham Wings)
Flying Circus: Above and Beyond is the third installment in the Airplane Adventures series by Leona Cobham. It is a captivating and hugely imaginative aviation adventure with an irresistible appeal to young readers. The story follows a diverse group of aircraft characters as they face challenges, seek resolution, and explore the themes of purpose, perseverance, and the importance of teamwork. The story opens with Nighthawk, a stealth fighter jet, on a tense encounter with a rogue Hercules C-One Thirty, known as Albert, who feels discarded and s...
The Assays of Ata
K.I.S. (K. Schultz)
K. I. S.'s The Assays of Ata is a spellbinding fantasy tale brimming with intrigue, political machinations, and the struggle for survival against the backdrop of a nightmarish setting and formidable foes. Set in the richly imagined world of Áitarbith, the story follows Ata—a Pandial spy masquerading as a maid in the Cinnaen royal household. The setting—a glass-encased palace highlighted by its fragility and vulnerability amid a winter storm—acts as both a luxurious home and a precarious haven fraught with danger. Ata's covert operatio...
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Life Sucks: Memories and Introspections During the Great COVID Lockdown
PS Conway (Fictional Cafe Press)
Life Sucks by P.S. Conway is a darkly humorous, genre-defying collection of essays that pulls no punches in its exploration of modern life’s absurdities, frustrations, and existential foibles. The book is a chaotic yet strangely cohesive blend of satire, memoir, social commentary, and philosophical musings, all delivered with a sharp tongue. Conway fearlessly tackles everything from the chaos of the pandemic lockdowns and the failures of the American healthcare system to the banality of suburban living, the futility of diet culture, and the abs...
The Severed Cord
Stephen Twartz (Sid Harta Publishers)
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...
Big Lake Troubles
Jeffrey D Boldt (Atmosphere Press)
Big Lake Troubles is a gripping legal and environmental thriller set around the fictional Blue Lake in Wisconsin, where a diverse group of activists, lawyers, and former convicts unite to fight against a powerful coal company threatening their community and ecosystem. Jason, a guilt-ridden writer with a traumatic past, teams up with Grace, an idealistic environmental attorney, to expose corporate greed and protect the region’s health and natural beauty. Their fight for justice leads them into dangerous confrontations involving hidden evidence,...
The Visionary Leader
Bryan Smeltzer (LiquidMind Press)
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...