Lynn Hesse’s Part of the Stars begins in 1878, Arkansas, when midwife Myra Logan vanishes after visiting the McCurdy family and wakes inside a mountain cave ruled by pale beings. Her husband Zepeda searches across the winter frontier while Myra’s aunt, Nellie Gatewood, presses officials...

Nubia Johnson is a disciplined, principled USCIS officer who discovers that her case files and digital badge are weapons in a hidden war in David L. Wadley’s Passport Bro. She has always believed in justice and fairness, even if it is difficult to find justice...

In Teri M. Brown's novel, Peg, Unhinged, Peg and her husband have split. He left her. She credits the decline of her marriage to many things – his lack of contribution, both emotional and financial – but also to her change of life. Her son...

In Pleasure Submission, BJ Masterson introduces Emily, a divorced schoolteacher, as she continues to explore BDSM. She becomes intimately involved with Dominic “Titan” Vale, the man considered to be the king of kinkdom. Their romance is electric, starting in a New Mexico club and involving...

In Painting Over Cracks by Lee Bukowski, Beth and Danny were in an accident. They were hit on Danny’s side of the car; he was thrown out and died at the scene. Beth survived with a few injuries but now faces life without Danny. To...

Mitchell and Michael, twin brothers, were child prodigies. In Charter Road’s Play with My Heart, Mitchell is hailed as being perhaps the greatest violinist in the world, while his twin brother, Michael, is one of the best pianists. Their father promoted the boys’ talents, wanting...

Parallel Peril by Maria Lynn Barrs is an enthralling story that I rank among my top reads of the year, so far. Dallas TV journalist Vicky Robeson is on vacation and has just been promoted to News Director. While on a two-week vacation in California,...

Palms and Pomegranates by L.S. Csida is one of those atmospheric novels that really pulls you into its setting—a North African city caught right in the middle of a tug-of-war between ancient traditions and modern hustle. Perin's first week brings everything at once: a violent...

In James Dunlop’s Plausible in Parts, Andy MacKay returns to his Camden flat after a contract mission in Kosovo that involved an attempt on General Marku Berisha, expecting to resume his routine, but the police arrest him and link the case to his actions abroad....

Patient Zero by Dr. Emil Šabanović follows the stories of five patients as they navigate their struggles with the help of their therapists. A twenty-two-year-old woman suffering from DPDR slowly starts to overcome her dissociation with reality after some therapy sessions. Intrusive, violent thoughts plague a...