In Orchids in Moonlight by Riordan Yun, Sorrel Hollis takes a job restoring the Wolcott estate’s neglected gardens, focusing on reviving an ancient rose and a rare orchid linked to Kenton Wolcott’s late mother. Kenton takes an eventual interest in Sorrel’s work and background as...

Courage in Capital City by NG Avant is, at its core, a romance. Yet, its plot and characters awaken us to the pressing social issues of violence against women and sex trafficking that are so relevant in today’s world. Calista Caldwell works in local government...

Set in the uneasy hush of pre-Civil War America, Last Stop Freedom by Ann Nolder Heinz is a story shaped by quiet bravery and the kind of hope that refuses to fade. At the heart of the story are Julia, a young woman picking up...

Step Away from the Pizza by Richard Holeton is a fascinating collection that spans nearly four decades of experimental storytelling. The book is thematically organized into sections like "Future," "Father," "Found," and "Frolic," each offering a unique lens through which Holeton explores human experiences, societal...

The Broken Bridge by Mike Cleveland tells an evocative story about rebuilding connections and the challenges we sometimes face when trying to achieve unity. Fidel is a young man living in Eastlight, whereas his beloved Verita resides in Westshore. Both communities are connected by the...

The Conscious Virus by Miki Mitayn centers on Nerida Green, an Aboriginal doctor working in remote Indigenous communities in Australia, alongside her wife Mari, an artist and spiritual channeler. The novel covers their lives dealing with harsh social and health realities—such as mining pollution, historical...

The Path of Saints and Sinners, the fourth book in J.F. Collen’s Journey of Cornelia Rose series, finds Cornelia “Nellie” Wright and her family at a crucial crossroads in 1857, having just survived the rigors of the Overland Trail to reach Great Salt Lake City....

We Won’t Be Kissing by Chris Dungey is a collection of short stories that captures the essence of small-town life, human relationships, and the quiet struggles of everyday existence. The book is structured as a series of vignettes, each offering a glimpse into the lives...

The Teacher Inside Me by Anthony Auswat is about obsessive love and embracing your true identity. Liam is in love with his high school teacher, Mr. Hilton, who’s happily married and completely oblivious to it. Being a closeted gay and crushing on someone you know...

Herb Guggenheim’s The Nothingness Imperative is an unconventional work of speculative fiction that blends science, memory, and existential humor. At its heart is Skip Gershwin, a weary adjunct professor whose life is as cluttered and frayed as the canvas shopping bags he hauls to class....