At 40, Joe Dunning had a heart attack in his cubicle at work, and nobody cared. At 59, he was forced into early retirement. He took that opportunity to turn his back on America, and with a small bag of clothes and his laptop, he...

Mischief and Mistletoe (Betty Benino Mysteries) by Janet Fix is a delightful mystery. It centers on Betty Benino and her family, who are coming to visit her at Christmastime. This is noteworthy because it's Betty’s first Christmas in this town since her husband’s passing. Eventually,...

Glen Branson has moved back to his hometown. It’s just before Christmas, and the villagers are busy preparing the town for the festive season. Keen to be part of the community, Glen joins in. His long-time best friend and bakery owner, Julie, puts him to...

Souls Over The Hill by York Van Nixon III is a collection of short stories that all lean into slices of life that, while technically a blip in the span of an entire lifetime, still have a significant impact. Miz Sadie’s Boyz follows Sadie Johnson...

Ashen Lands by Tess Manchester centers on Randall Colt, a seasoned military veteran who must travel across a civil war-ravaged America. Bombardments have fragmented and reduced it into chaotic regions characterized by mass burial grounds, burnt-out woodlands, and ruthless armed groups. He must deliver a...

The Lighthouse of Fools by Stephen Wayne begins with the collapse of Bradford-Wellington, which pushes Thomas Harker into relocating his family to desert land, where he starts the construction of a lighthouse. While the family starts anew, Thomas’s vision draws a small circle of unexpected...

Where the Crows Watch is the first book in the Black Harvest Trilogy by L.C. Williams. The Harris family has been the resident tenant farmers of Malumdon Farm since 1852. Henry Harris grew up on the farm with his siblings, learning from his mother how...

Horns and Bark by M.M.D.A follows several characters as they try to survive in a brutal world shaped by ancient curses, divine betrayal, and an oppressive empire. At the center is Zethos, a non-human outcast burdened with horns, stone-like skin, and constant pain. He keeps...

Some of the most meaningful moments arrive when we least expect them. In Summer Evenings by Nathan Nicolau, life for Christina seems to be just passing by. She’s a recent high school graduate who isn’t looking forward to choosing or attending college. She’s on vacation...

Valerie Allen’s Holiday Prankster is a short story that follows Alissa and her boyfriend, Randy, as they head to a holiday dinner with his family. It’s the first time she’ll be meeting them, and she’s nervous because it’s important. On the way over, she becomes...