Unlike a lot of people, I’m not that big on Christmas, but the idea of An Unconventional Christmas caught my attention. What was author Tara Fox Hall's vision of an “unconventional” Christmas? Would I agree and even enjoy her concept? When Hall introduced her protagonist,...

Colony's Dawn by N. Joseph Glass commences with Raffaella discovering a secret chat embedded in the data logs she was required to log. This leads to a meeting with a secret action group that believes the rules constraining colony life are based on propaganda. Then...

We Don't Matter by Juliet Rose is a coming-of-age story of a young man who discovered himself in the strangest of ways. Aidan was just 22 years old and was on his way to graduating from college. However, Aiden wasn’t so sure what he wanted...

A Sanctum of Swords: Embers Edition is penned by author John Malone in the epic fantasy, adventure, and interpersonal drama genres, and is part of the Embers of the Past series. The work is intended for young adult readers. This thrilling adventure delves into a...

Lucas Mack's life is upended when he loses Addy. He seems to drift without an anchor, yet he is determined to start anew. So, he decides to test the Maelstrom. The maelstrom appears as a swirling circle of water for only three days each year,...

When someone steals a magical artifact, the combination of its loss and old secrets threatens a family's survival in the urban fantasy novel, The Magical Tarot Deck (The Madigan Chronicles Book 2) by Marieke Lexmond. Tara Madigan feels good after outwitting her sister Lucy by...

In Ray Jorge Ryes Jr.'s House Xrion, Winston Xrion orchestrates the assassination of a House Reston ambassador and subsequently accepts a contract to eliminate the king of House Urian. As negotiations fail between House Reston and House Carthania, House Xrion's military, the Hammer Fleet, takes...

Written between 1987 and 1994, Dead in the Heart is an emotionally poignant collection of poems by David Marr. These poems cover a variety of themes and topics, as seen from the perspective of a young adult trying to find their place in the world....

Deep Breaths: Tales of Hope and Inspiration by Tara Fox Hall is a collection of previously published non-fiction articles about the author's experiences with nature, animals, and living a rural life. Many of the stories revolve around the rescue and subsequent lives of animals: hummingbird...

Sunshine Over Hero by J. Steven Lamperti, the fifth installment in the Tales of Liamec, is for young adult fans of fantasy, adventure, and romance. Strange things happen in the town of Hero. Young girls go missing and return after some time with suspicious marks...

Danforth: Eldritch Tales of WWII (A Cthulhu Mythos Story) by Christopher Michael is a fascinating blend of fantasy, horror, paranormal mystery, and historical fiction. Robert B. Danforth has a PhD in Sociology focusing on Occult Studies. As a child, he encountered an apparition in the...

Dangerous Attraction by Dori Pulitano weaves an intense tale of crime, loyalty, and romance, centered on Massimo, a Mafia figure, and Madison, who finds herself reluctantly drawn into his dangerous world. Madison applies to work at Velvet Ace Lounge and Casino, the Anastasi family's business....

Santa Overboard is a slice-of-life holiday romance by Carolyn McBride. Katie Young, a fifty-one-year-old mother, is slowly getting her life back on track in the small town of Occoquan after separating from her ex-husband, James. Furthermore, she recently lost her mother to COVID-19 and now...

Zahara and the Lost Books of Light by Joyce Yarrow is a captivating blend of historical fiction and suspense. The story follows journalist Alienor Crespo, who stumbles upon a hidden library containing priceless books saved from the Spanish Inquisition. What sets this novel apart is...

The year is 856. Princess Judith, the teenage daughter of King Charles of Francia, is being used as a pawn in her father's plans for political stability and advancement. Judith is expected to marry Aethelwulf, King of Wessex, a man who is forty years older...

Dangerous Pursuit by Bethany Rosa follows Jackson Soloman as he battles with dealing with his new and very much unwanted assistant. Mia Marcos finds herself on the receiving end of not only her boss's desire but his ire as well. As the two continue to...

Welcome to Wendtmurhoefen: Book Two, The Fourth Magic, written and illustrated by Bryan Beaunoyer takes place in the enchanting land of the same name, where a cast of charming characters, led by the spirited unicorn Horace and his noble friend Sir Gilderlilly, embark on a...

The magic continues in The Madigan Chronicles series by Marieke Lexmond, who has delivered book four in The Cup. Lexmond has a flair for cinematic landscape no matter what world[s] the characters inhabit. The Cup traverses London, Boston, New Orleans, the land of Fairy, and...

To Do Justice is a work of fiction in the recent historical, cultural issues, and slice-of-life genres, and is the final novel in the Chicago Trilogy penned by author Frank S. Joseph. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience. Set against the...

Sentience Hazard is a work of fiction in the science fiction, techno-thriller, and interpersonal drama subgenres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience as it contains some mild violence and sexual references. Penned by author Alexandru Czimbor, the story is set in...

Pursuit of Innocence is a work of fiction in the romance, interpersonal drama, and coming-of-age subgenres. It is best suited to mature readers owing to the presence of sexual scenes and the use of explicit language throughout. Penned by author Bethany Rosa, the plot follows...

Canceled by Tim Cann is a delightful read, especially if you relish sharp satire with humor and absurdity. This comedic drama plunges readers into the frenzied world of social media influencers, reality TV, and the elusive quest for privacy in a hyper-connected society. The story...

The Adventures of Henry and Eulalie: Worlds Beyond is the second book in Mushin Knott's young adult fantasy/sci-fi adventure series. After saving the world from destruction at the hands of the evil Mocarsto, the great tyrant of Silver City, eleven-year-old Henry Harris finds out that...

Just City is a coming-of-age story by Olga Tymofiyeva. Twenty-one-year-old Nathan is excited to join the New Entrepreneur Incubator, with his friend Jack, to complete his vision of a start-up company. However, to be a founder, he needs $10000 as pre-seed money to enter the...

Lisa Y. Potocar’s Gold, Guts, and Glory, the third book in Glory: A Civil War Series, is a meticulously researched historical novel that balances adventure, romance, and social commentary. Set in the aftermath of the American Civil War, the story follows Jana Brady, a former...

Certain Sensibilities by Sondra Rice Newman is the unusual, slow-burning romance of a May-December relationship. As the plot unfolds, Elizabeth is a new resident at an assisted living facility in Tucson, Arizona. Her attending nurse is a tall, dark, and handsome young man named Cary....

In Predestined by Rachel Byrne, strong-headed and rebellious Catalina Jamison is surprised when she receives an invitation to the prestigious Haverford Pines Academy for a six-week intensive summer program that promises to harness her potential. Haverford Pines Academy boasts the crème de la crème among...

David Litwack’s The Light of Reason is Book Three in The Seekers series, another brilliant and compelling entry to a series that is already growing long legs. In an alternate world, two seekers return from across the sea, having acquired exceptional knowledge and wisdom, with...

While awaiting trial in Poland between 1946-47, Rudolf Höss, the man referred to as the greatest mass murderer in history, wrote his memoirs. Höss systemically executed 1.1 million men, women, and children with a chilling lack of empathy or culpability. As the prisoners entered the...

Picospores by Ryan LeKodak, set in 2043, centers around an eclectic team led by Manar, with DJ, Ndidi, and others dealing with the resurgence of an advanced AI, Helene. The story follows Ndidi's investigation into her parents' deaths, suspicious of Helene's involvement. Another subplot involves...

The Other Place by Scott Nagele begins with Emma, a young girl having lifelike dreams involving “the Gatekeeper,” a figure with the power to manipulate her into committing horrible acts, such as starting fires. She is troubled by these dreams, which are amplified when she...

Armored Hours: Reincarnated Souls Book One by Stephanie Hansen is a fantasy/sci-fi romance set in the 1920s. The story follows Claudia, Kiersten, Lina, and Florian, four women leading a feminist movement, who mysteriously vanish. Alexander, a bootlegger deeply connected to the group and secretly in...

I, Robot Soldier by Joel R. Dennstedt is hauntingly beautiful and poignant beyond compare. In a post-apocalyptic world, a solitary soldier robot calling itself One Shot awakens after the war. It comes across a young human girl, Amy. Its primary directive is to protect her....

The Voice and Other Stories by Ann Grant is a thought-provoking anthology of fictional tales rooted in personal experiences. The collection centers around a mysterious, protective voice that warns a young Ann of impending danger. Later in life, this voice reveals profound insights, including a...

Armitage: Children of Arcanum by Atlas Creed follows Rebekah Daroh, a young woman battling with the loss of her sister and the strange voice in her head that compels her to do things she can’t understand. Rebekah can’t remember when everything went wrong but in...

Summer of Mud is a work of fiction in the coming of age, recent historical fiction, and slice-of-life subgenres. The work is best suited to mature teen and adult readers. Penned by author Rebecca Bischoff, the plot follows twelve-year-old Scoob, a musical prodigy dreaming of...

Women, Work and Triumph is a compilation of Beverly Gandara’s interviews with 26 marvelous women from different fields. It’s a celebration of success over remarkable hurdles and a shout-out to all that daughters of Eve can achieve in a male-dominated world. Their stories are testaments...

Blank by Nanette L. Avery is by far one of the most interesting novellas I’ve read. Imagine the world just reset itself, everything goes blank, and mankind can’t remember the past. No one knows how much time has passed since the blank, no one...

Virtual War by Ryan LeKodak operates in both the real and virtual worlds as the crew of survivors works to confront and shut down the autonomous AI opponent, Helene, once and for all. In the virtual world, Manar adapts to the digital landscape with new...

A Buss from Lafayette by Dorothea Jensen is a historical fiction tale set over the course of a week in the early 19th century, as narrated by a fourteen-year-old girl named Clara Hargraves. She lives in a small town in New Hampshire with her father,...