Darya Nandkarni moves to Chapel Road in Bandra, Mumbai because, according to her, the place has a lot going on. It is true for both good and bad reasons. The good one is that it is a prime spot in the area; the bad one...

In ABC D is Ability, we are introduced to some kids that have disabilities and are a bit different from you and me. We first meet Austin who has Autism and sees the world differently than others. Then we meet Brandon who is blind, Coral...

Playing with #Fire by Micky O'Brady is a YA coming of age novel with something different. The unique premise of this story focuses on bullying, teenage life, and the dark side of social media, but uses a fresh vehicle--pro wrestling--to drive the story. Meet Everly,...

Taaraa loved to make Raakhi for her elder brother, Chundoo, and it was a ritual every year that she followed a day before Raksha Bandhan. She picked up an orange silk thread from the bundle, knowing orange was her Bhaiya's (brother's) favorite color. She then...

Amir of Guelph by Albert Marsolais is about a group of eccentric characters who come together over a common cause. It’s set in the future which makes it technically a science fiction novel, but this book is more about the people than the science or...

Keeping Secrets by McGee Mathews is an intriguing novel of historical fiction set during the Civil War era. The story has Elizabeth Hepscott escaping the traditional role expected of her--wife and mother--when she enlists in the war as a young man (EJ) alongside her brother,...

My Blank Page: The Power Of Imagination by Tracy Weldon is a colorful, beautifully illustrated adventure about a bored boy who uses his imagination and a blank piece of paper to transport himself to exciting new worlds full of lively characters and surprises. He soon...

Children who love poems will be fascinated with this teaching collection. How Many Lines in a Limerick?, written by Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan and illustrated by Jennifer Gibson, begins with a section of poems that teach many different types of poetry, not just limericks. This book...

The Mom Prom Murder: A Berger & Fryze Mystery is a murder mystery novel written by Trish Evans. Someone killed Vickie Mack, and her belated appearance at the Calivista Heights Elementary School Auction was bizarre and terrifying. The steamer trunk, which was brought out for...

The Art of Creating Story by William H. Coles is a writing help masterpiece. The massive work is loaded with priceless nuggets of literary knowledge. Get on your brain’s wetsuit and be ready to plunge into the invaluable treasures offered within. Coles leaves readers wanting...

I stood in awe of the amazing writing skills of William H. Coles in Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016. This collection of short stories will not leave you with that fuzzy feeling of happy endings, but you will view humanity in times...

Suzanne Lowe’s The Pirate Princess and the Sirens’ Song is the sequel to the award-winning Pirate Princess and the Golden Locket and it continues on with Lotty, her dog Mr. Jacks, and her newfound family. Despite being treated as an outcast by most of the...

Lake Fun For You and Me by Rinda Beach is an unconventional and innovative approach to a book as it is a part storybook that takes readers along with Zoe and her family on their lake vacation. The story unfolds on the right side and...

Penance is a crime drama novel by Edward Daniel Hunt. Retired Boston Police Sergeant John Gilfillan -- now a private detective -- has a cold case on his hands when the daughter of a murdered doctor comes seeking his services to capture her father's killer...

Rowan has been drinking himself into a haze for the past few years. He knows he hasn't always been this way. He knows something happened that made him this way, but, for some reason, he can't remember what it is. Then there are the strange...

Cooking for Cannibals by Rich Leder is a horror-comedy novel that revolves around an introverted scientist, Carrie Kromer, and a freshly paroled expert meat butcher looking to parlay his skills into a new career as a chef. When Carrie steals the recipe for an age-defying...

Emma (aka Emily) is the heroine but also the victim of False Front by Debbie Baldwin. Nathan is the hero and romantic interest. The two were close childhood friends that haven’t seen each other for many years. When they do meet again the magic is...

There is so much one can do on the computer, from surfing the net to chatting with friends you’ve never met, and so much more. It’s scary, really. And then there’s the growing unease around cyberbullying. Bullies have existed since the beginning of time, but...

McDowell by William H. Coles is the story of Dr. Hiram McDowell. A celebrated surgeon, Dr. McDowell is single-minded in getting what he wants. His climb to the top is not without casualties and is not without some questionable practices. Cold and calculating, there is...

Stay Safe and Kiss the Babies: Delightful COVID-19 Reflections from 100 Days on a Great-Grandmother’s Back Porch by Bonnie Huber is the author’s account of her life during the pandemic and lockdown of 2020. Huber navigates the challenges of being in lockdown with humor and...