A special bond exists between a pet and its owner/caregiver. It’s difficult to explain to someone who doesn’t (and never has) owned a pet. But, from one dog lover/owner to another, I can vouch for its existence. So can Don Hughes, as evident in his...

In The Right Words by Meg Rosenthal, college student Ember Owens is assigned a partner project in her advanced creative writing contest. Group projects are not her jam. To make matters worse, social phenomenon Matt Callahan is her designated writing partner. Their writing topic is...

Jenna Papponetti’s illustrated children’s book, The Little Bird Who Wanted to Fly, is a beautiful way to motivate children not to give up and to appreciate who they are. When Little Bird hatches, he is eager to start flying immediately, but his mother tells him...

George WB Scott's captivating novel The Good King transports readers to the dawn of the Middle Ages and the emergence of Christendom in Europe. The book masterfully depicts the transformative power of this new religion which offers a stark counterpoint to pagan customs that reigned...

Two siblings must overcome their own individual hardships in The Soul of Chaos by Gregory Wunderlin. While Rurik spends his days in the mines, overseeing and looking out for his fellow miners, his sister Arkalis must manage the family estate and lands. Neither sibling expected...

The Seeking Tree by Jodi Dee starts with a breathtaking illustration of a forest filled with beautifully painted trees and distinctively drawn animals. A young sapling was slowly growing among the trees and was excited to learn about the world. It wished to get to...

The Rocking Chair Prophet by Matthew Kelly is a captivating novel that offers a lot of wisdom about the experiences we all face in life. Daniel is happy and content in his life, family, and career. He is successful on Wall Street and has everything...

The Boy Who Said Baa: A Christmas Story is a children’s picture book written in rhyme by Judy Dryden with illustrations by Rosie Brooks. A young boy with delayed speech issues has his parents worried because the only word he says is “Baa,” no matter...

The Legend of Rachel Petersen by JT Baroni follows Christian Kane and his anticipation of being named the next chief sports journalist at The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. It doesn't go as expected so he leaves his job and starts a new career writing fiction. He...

In The Significant by Kyra Anderson, a precarious living situation has Kailynn experiencing the aftermath of a night of heavy drinking with her roommate, Raphael. Despite her challenging circumstances, she prefers this life over illicit activities in a wealthier district. Her brother, Theo, proposes a...

The Becalmer is a young adult sci-fi novel by Nick Wilford. Harica Spindelman is a teenager gifted with the ability to calm others with her mind and uses her powers specifically for conflict resolution in school. But when she is called upon to mediate a...

The Text by Julane Fisher is a YA thriller set in 2048, 25 years after a deadly pandemic. America is now thriving under STaR, the Department of Safety Threats and Reinforcement. They monitor everyone and even have their own social media app called Allico. Everything...

Mónica Esgueva discusses The 7 Levels of Wisdom: A Path to Fulfillment in this titular book. She starts with the lowest developed on her list and moves to the highest, citing character traits of each stage and noting the view of the greatest stage attained...

The Music Within Your Heart by Isaac Samuel Miller is the story of Sophia as she walks down memory lane. The first big shock of Sophia’s life came when her brother’s mutilated body was found in a lake, and she could do nothing. Sad and...

The Best Reading Buddy is a children's picture book written by Sherry Roberts and illustrated by Marta Taylor. Sage and her grandfather are forever best reading buddies. They love reading good books, and while sometimes they sit quietly reading independently, the best moments are when...

The Oil Change by D.A. Northup offers a basic education on changing a vehicle's motor oil, as experienced from a youngster's perspective. During a visit with grandparents, the child is invited by Grandpa to assist with a routine oil change. The eager and helpful youngster...

The Misadventures of an Imperfect Woman is a work of fiction penned by author Bela Gary in the women’s fiction, metaphysical adventure, and personal journey subgenres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience. A work that feels deeply and emotionally real, this...

The Ghosts of Minera Springs is a young adult mystery by Charles Franklin. The book starts by transporting us to Minera Springs in the summer of 1982. When ten-year-old Tobi Sloan is sent to live with her grandparents at the farm, she can't wait to...

In The Curse of Moonseed Manor by D Lieber, Wren's life was turned upside down when her father died. Her dreams of becoming a professional photographer are dashed, so when Wren sees an advertisement for a photographer position at Moonseed Manor, an isolated manor on...

Amish women are known and respected for their prowess in the kitchen. Not only do they cook and bake, and sell much of what they create, these women can just about everything they grow in the kitchen gardens, providing for their large families all through...