In Rodney Nelsestuen’s Why Belize?, an American named Eileen Sologoski seeks a fresh start in Belize City, leaving behind her familiar life in Michigan—her husband, two sons, and a steady teaching job. When she arrives in Belize, she rents a modest room from Eduardo and...

The Sooner You Forget by Christopher Bensinger tells the story of a little-known aspect of World War II. Charlton Buckley, a young man, dreams of escaping his miserable Wisconsin hometown, getting away from his abusive father, and becoming a Major League Baseball player. However, those...

In The Butterfly’s Secret, Josephine DeFalco continues Leandra Barker’s story as she returns to the Appalachian Mountains she calls home. Picking up where she left off, Leandra rekindles old connections and steps into a new chapter of her life. With encouragement from her grandparents,...

The Wizard of Odd by Patti Sherry-Crews revolves around Miles, an emotionally unstable voice actor with pseudobulbar affect (PBA), who arrives on Todd Island to house-sit at the Todd estate. Miles is tasked with looking after a dog named Tyrone, but the dog's size and...

A Pleasant Fiction by Javier De Lucia offers readers a raw and emotional exploration of familial loss, personal struggles, and life's unexpected challenges. The story follows Calvin, a man navigating the profound sorrow of losing his parents, brother, and uncle in quick succession. Calvin's family...

The Quiet Unraveling of Eve Ellaway by Melanie Hooyenga is an intriguing YA novel that explores the inner conflict of Eve Ellaway, a high school senior living a double life. Eve is burdened by the secret of her twin sister Gen’s disappearance as a baby....

Mia Amata by Kellie Mickelsen delivers a taut, emotional suspense story about reinvention, love, and the dark shadows of the past. Megan Davis, trapped in an abusive marriage, seizes a rare chance to escape and create a new life as Mattie, finding unexpected joy and...

Father From a Putrid Tree by Richard Hodge is a gritty, multi-generational story that explores the dark legacy of the McConnell family, beginning in 1915. The novel opens with Archie McConnell, a poor but determined bare-knuckle boxer who unexpectedly wins a championship fight and becomes...

The Night of the Animals by J.J. Pascal follows René at his mother's wake, wading through unresolved issues with his estranged brother, Marcel. René feels overshadowed by Marcel at the ceremony and battles anxiety over the family curse of dying at age 35. As René...

Out of school and finally married to her long-time sweetheart, Jesse Reed, Margaret has been trying to establish herself as a reporter at the West Prairie Journal with limited success. When her boss assigns her to cover the ongoing developments in Waunasha, Margaret finds herself...