There is an almost frantic pace to the narration of the events that fill the 495 pages of The Fall and Rise of Tyler Johnson by Patrice Johnson … and that pace is a perfect fit for what the principal character in this biography, Tyler...

Whispers in the Alders by H.A. Callum is a lyrical story that combines an eclectic set of literary elements to introduce readers to great characters, the story of an impossible love in a setting that is harsh and unforgiving, a coming of age, a romance...

Salleys Kitchen by Bruce Wise Weeks is a historical event/era fiction novel that would appeal most to a mixed audience of mature young adults and adults who enjoy historical fiction that focuses on the Jim Crow era in the South during the 1960s, and who...

Thirteen-year-old Poppy Wainwright’s mother is a drug addict and drunk who roams the United States, leaving Poppy to be raised by her Grandma Lainey in Arkansas. When Lainey dies, Poppy is sent to live with her grandmother’s sister in Savannah. Aunt Sookie is an abrasive...

Keystone by Bernard Leo Remakus is a novel about a young man’s life told in his own words. Keystone begins with a young boy named Peter Kaminski who lives with his parents in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. His father is a serious-minded Polish immigrant and his mother...

I really enjoyed reading Grains of Truth by Elizabeth Ferry-Perata. The story is about friendship and always being there for each other. It is also about accepting things that you cannot change in life. This is one book that I will not soon forget. Grains...

One of the joys of being a book reviewer is suddenly discovering a brilliantly talented author like Peg Brantley. Brantley is a crime fiction writer with three previous books to her credit. If Trafficked is any indication of the kind of writing one can expect...

Veil of Walls by Patricia Panahi is a compelling story that plunges the reader into the heart of Persian culture and norms, exploring social issues and powerful themes like family, the rights of women, and marriage. A ten-year-old girl goes on a one-month vacation to...

Kurt and Bongo and the Hippies by Al Gromer Khan revolves around three main characters: Kurt (a German), Bongo (an African), and Toby (an Indian). There are other side characters in the story, but they are just that -- side characters. This does not mean...

Key Largo Blues: The Sequel to Dakota Blues (Karen Grace) by Lynne M. Spreen is a compelling novel that explores social issues and follows one woman’s struggle to come to grips with problems in her life. The story takes off from the previous book, where...