In Mataluna: 151 Afghan Pashto Proverbs, Captain Edward Zellem introduces us to the culture of the Pashto language, spoken by people of Afghanistan through their proverbs. The preface is lengthy with explanations of how the book was formed through social media outlets; the sketches in...

Kevin J. Parham’s The Vineyard We Knew: A Recollection of Summers on Martha's Vineyard is an engaging memoir of an African-American who spent the summers of his growing up years in what is considered the playground of America’s elite. In the 1930s, Kevin’s grandmother, Carrie,...

Learning to Laugh When You Feel Like Crying: Embracing Life After Loss by Allen Klein takes readers through the emotions of grief and sorrow, and makes a good companion during dark periods in life. The author shares his wisdom with words of love and humor,...

The main protagonist of Rhythm for Sale, Leonard Harper, is a talented African-American born in an era of discrimination and of a blossoming entertainment industry to which he was drawn. He was the son of a poor singer from Birmingham, Alabama. He learned the art...

Short Tales of Horror Part II by Regina Puckett is a collection of short horror stories with a twist in the tale. Each story is well constructed with solid characters and each story hooks you in. From a haunted asylum to a creepy cat lady...

Even if you don’t like opera, you’ll like The Tenor by Peter Danish, and if you do love opera, you’ll love it even more. And the book makes opera so appealing that, perhaps, it will make new opera lovers out of some of its readers....

Now and again, one of those stories for children (who are relatively new readers seeking a “chapter book”) comes along that is truly worthy of attention. Hapenny Magick by Jennifer Carson is just such a story. From the lovely cover art and internal pictures to...

Alaska Travelogue by State - Experience Both the Ordinary and Obscure by Amber Richards is a fascinating glimpse into what is truly the “last frontier”. I have always loved Alaska and to read about it from someone who calls it their home is indeed a...

Journey to the Center of the Mirth is a thought provoking book about the advantages of humour. Author Leonard Ryzman speaks about the various facets to humorous situations. He relates the evidence from researchers who have touted the physical attributes of laughter. One example given...

In The Sham by Ellen Allen, eighteen-year-old Emily just wants to get out of her town that they call “The Sham.” She repeats quantum equations out loud when she feels nervous or is in uncomfortable situations, which makes her seem a bit odd. She meets...

“Either give me more wine or leave me alone.” – Rumi. Perhaps you should make your own wine instead. Kyle Richards gives you the opportunity to do so with his book, Wine Making for the Total Novice. He gives a historical introduction to wine and...

We've all heard the story of Adam and Eve and their fall from grace, but what if the story was changed. What would the world be like if Adam didn't give in and only Eve was tempted? If only Eve was banished from the garden?...

A beautiful, beautiful read. That is what I thought when I finished Among the Olive Groves, the newest book by author Chrissie Parker. Written in a split style, the story simultaneously follows Elena Petrakis, a woman living on the Greek island of Zakynthos in the...

I must admit that the title Jupiter and Gilgamesh intrigued me. Then when I read the subtitle, A Novel of Texas and Sumeria, I had to throw out my preconceptions and wonder what Texas and Sumeria had in common. More than I originally thought. Jupiter...

One of the most hotly debated subjects around the country, education in America's schools has been suffering in recent years. Unbroken Circles for Schools by Ken Johnson dives into one of the toughest issues facing public school systems today: Student conflict and behavioral issues. Conflict...

War Babies by Richard Pells covers well-trodden territory, but does so with a difference. America and the world went through a transformative period in the 1960s and 1970s. The history of this time has been written about extensively, but most of it has been told...

Current Impressions by Kelly Risser is an absolutely stunning book. The second book in the series follows Meara along on her journey as she starts a whole new life as a selkie with her father. She learns how to wield her new found powers and...

I love historical novels. Anything with history makes a story that much more real. I feel like it could actually have happened, even though the story is fiction, because it is set in an era or around an event that did happen. That is exactly...

Brendon and Carson’s Ninja Training and Adventures by Rod P. Stoner is an interactive puzzle book which not only tells the story of Brendon and Carson (B and C) as they begin their training in Ninjutzu, but also integrates word search puzzles, crosswords and a...

Brendon and Carson's Ninja Adventures Rise of Bad Boys Inc by Rod P. Stoner is a puzzle book for boys (and girls) who like ninjas and martial arts tales. The book contains a basic story that explains who each of the ninja characters are, including...