Socrates said, ‘The unexamined life is not worth living.' Starting from that premise, Donna Baier Stein creates characters who are questioning who they are and how they really fit into the world and families around them in her thought provoking anthology, Sympathetic People. Examining feelings...

When we are young we view things differently, everything seems to go slowly, especially when it pertains to time. You often hear children say, “I can’t wait to grow up,” or “Are we there yet?” So what happens when, in The Marshmallow Test by Michelle...

A Sweet Solution by Michelle Claus is a delightful story for children, especially girls. Teresa has invited Julie for her dress-up birthday party and Julie is very excited. She wants to buy a new dress but Julie's mother refuses to get her a new dress...

Lucy’s step-father didn’t like her. In fact, he called her Nuisance. Never Lucy, just Nuisance. He even locked her in her bedroom, not allowing her outside. It was like a prison. So when her step-father took her deep into the woods and left her there,...

Only If by Ariana R. Cherry opens with Bill, an elderly dishevelled man, ranting to himself in his jail cell. He has been accused and found guilty of the murder of his wife, Clara. Bill, however, won’t accept he is in any way to blame,...

Falling into Temptation by Vulyncia Poindexter is a story that has everything required to seduce a reader — gorgeous and well-crafted characters, a dynamo for a conflict, and a character-driven plot with its unique turns and incredible surprises. Tempest Turner is a selfish kind of...

Not a WRITER is a collection of poetry by Roxana Preciado. Preciado writes in a free verse format; her words dash and weave across the page, reflecting her creative process and interior struggles. In her opening piece, The Trenches, the repeated refrain “She haunts me”...

Young Jake has no known relatives and he is heartbroken at the death of his grandmother in Glass Dreams by Helen Laycock. Jake knows it is time for him to grow up. Grandma leaves a box for him without telling him where the key is....

Mandrake’s Plot by Helen Laycock is an exciting mystery that finds two young girls uncovering the secrets of their new boarding school. Evie is on her way to begin a new life at St. Agatha’s Boarding School for Girls when she meets fellow traveler Mia....

Salt by Helen Laycock is an intriguing and mysterious story which begins with Toby receiving a pink envelope addressed to him. His brother starts making fun of him, saying he has a girlfriend. The letter is from Great-Aunt Winifred and she invites Toby to...

Martha and Mitch by Helen Laycock revolves around two children, Martha and Mitch, who lead contrasting lifestyles and meet under unusual circumstances. Martha is rich and lives at Lottery Lodge with her father and stepmother. Her father, Mr. Muggsworthy-Millions, is rich and is the maker...

Garden Walks: Hand in Hand - Poems to Relax By, penned by Gary W. Burns, is a book of poetry about the iridescence of new beginnings, despite knowing that it has to end. The book is separated into five parts. Colorful Blooms describes the start...

Let’s begin this review of Not a Fairytale by asking if it’s not a fairytale, then what is it? Essentially, it’s a rare form of memoir, not told as a story with characters and dialogue, but as a poem based, as many memoirs are, on...

From love to reflection, journeys to interpretations, Gary W. Burns' Bridges: To There is a collection of short poems that reflect on many things, and encourage the reader, in turn, to reflect on themselves. Peaceful, tranquil, and relaxing are but a few things stirred as...

‘Sometimes we get lost. And that’s okay. Life is a mystery. As we go our way.’ Clouds: On the Wind: Poems for the Soul – A Meditation by Gary W. Burns is a contemplative collection of poems that will have a calming and meditative effect...

Hood Educated is Roxana Preciado’s honest and passionate poetry collection that reveals her struggles, pain, courage and healing process. It is a collection about loneliness, brokenness, hopelessness yet defying all odds to become much more than you thought was possible. The collection is powerful and...

Trauma For Sale by Roxana Preciado is a very intimate collection of poetry that comes with full-color artworks and personal photographs of the author. Having gone through numerous traumatic experiences in her life, she has finally conquered her demons and is making a beautiful life...

The recollections of a writing teacher and poet, The Writing Party by Ken Waldman, is not what you might think at first. It’s not dull. The situations he chose to retell – of unfairly critical writing professors and their exact opposites – lead the reader...

Seedtime and Harvest: Volume 1 by Derrick Davis is an inspirational poetry anthology. Davis’ Christian faith is on full display in every line of every poem of this collection. Fittingly, the first poem is titled Content with the contents of Christ. This book consists of...

With the rapid destruction of Earth's ecosystem due to human impact, we must ensure that future generations learn from our mistakes and acquire the knowledge and wisdom to save the planet. Poetry collections like May We Learn From the Earth by Robert J. Tiess are...