Let’s begin this review of Schism by Clabe Polk with what it isn’t: conventional. Because Schism involves people raised in the poorer black areas of the US, Polk has decided to add to the book’s authenticity by using dialogue between black gang members in a...

Short Fuse: A Short Tale of Abuse, Betrayal and Revenge by Clabe Polk tells the story of Ken Handly, a man who thinks he owns the world, or rather perhaps that the world owes him. Dismissing his marriage to Katherine as inconsequential and unworthy of...

In a world where humanity has saturated planet Earth, there’s no time or place for any activity that doesn’t actively support the efforts to sustain the population. Art, philosophy, even the pursuit of knowledge for knowledge’s sake is deemed nothing more than idle self-indulgence. Derek...

Tale Half Told: A Christmas Ghost Story is a paranormal thriller novel written by Killarney Traynor and Margaret Traynor. His wife, Susan, and their friends, Linda and Johnny, were not all that thrilled with Michael’s plan to take a detour on their way up to...

Everyone wants a happy life but it seems to be a far-fetched dream in times where there is so much judgment, suffering, and victimhood. Activate Your Joy: A Transformative Awakening to Health, Happiness, and Success by Erik Ohlsen is an insightful book that gives good...

Chasing the Chalice, by Laura Charlotte Berlin, is a chapbook that entices you into a dream filled with happiness, sorrow, and mischief. Each poem seems to open a rift between reality and fiction. The words invite you to stay for a while, however long you’ve...

If you could read the mind of a bull, what do you think it would say? Bull riding is such an awesome event, yet is an extremely dangerous sport. Bull riding takes a lot of skill, flexibility, and courage. As a bull rider, you need...

With captivating and colorful settings in Newport Beach and Orange County, The Bay: A Mystery & Suspense Novel by Davis MacDonald is a gorgeous treat for fans of mystery. The judge is supposed to be enjoying his vacation with his pregnant wife when he is...

Teenage Mosaic: A Story of Murder, Revenge, and Forgiveness is a young adult and new adult contemporary fiction novel written by Dewey Pasquini. What started out as teens acting out in a restaurant and harassing their waitperson until they got him fired would turn out...

Hop and Chomp: A Caterpillar Story by Gita V. Reddy is the adorable story of Hop, a young grasshopper, and Chomp, a caterpillar, who become friends. Hop sees an egg hatch on a leaf one day and the wiggly thing that comes out takes a...

The Forest Painter is a short fantasy story for children and preteens written by Diane Mae Robinson. It just seemed entirely too big a task for her to undertake, and her grandmother’s abrupt passing meant Aura had never been properly instructed on her role as...

What would you do if you were the chosen messenger for those who are no longer alive, and you were in danger of extreme physical discomfort if you refuse? Kindred Spirits (A Romantic Comedy about Love, Life, and the Afterlife) by Whitney Dineen is a...

Twists of Fate by Robert Gilberg takes you on a romantic journey through time. Tom Patterson decides to take a road trip to California, wondering if second chances are possible. Tom has lived a sensible life. Living in Dayton, OH, he married Sara, raised their...

The Cost of Gold: A True Fairy Tale is a children’s coming of age tale written by Daniel Mault and illustrated by Jessie Miller. The narrator of this fable was sitting in a coffee shop with a pad, pencils, and pens laid by and ready...

“Craving is a food thought.” We all have cravings; we all have food thoughts. How do we control them? Strong, inner self control and a few lessons from an expert on food management and, by food management, I mean controlling what, why, when and how...

Blending In: A Tale of Homegrown Terrorism by Norman Brewer begins with a blast and an explosive moment that threatens an ongoing press conference, when a rocket-propelled explosive rips through the air, stopping short of the Russian Embassy. The casualties cause pandemonium. This entry defines...

Jurassic Jackaroo: Jasper's Junction by Roma Gray is a Prequel to A Hunted Tribe. Karl is one of the best gunslingers the old West has ever seen, a hired assassin now retired. But he’s bored, something is missing. One chance meeting changes his life around...

Wow, what an experience reading Homecoming: A Soldier's Story of Loyalty, Courage, and Redemption. David Arenstam brought me into the war and made me a part of the action. The story follows Russell Warriner and Bobby Connelly as they sign up for the Vietnam War,...

Sarah & Zoey by Linda Watkins opens with Sarah, who is happily married to successful corporate lawyer, David Palmer, and mom to Thad. Her only problem is an unfinished article for the Boston Globe that stops her going on a sailing trip with her husband...

Have you ever read a book blurb, decided you’d like to read that book, gotten into the first section and thought, “This is going to be good!’ Then you move on a bit, change your mind, nearly chuck the book, but then something makes you...