The Opening by J. Blanes is the first novel in a young adult science fiction series called The Universal Portals. I consider it exceptional in its genre. The science makes sense, the teenage characters are interesting and believable, and the writing and pace are good....

Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume 3 continues the story of Alaska’s history, told by Laurel Downing Bill. This volume covers the period 1912 to 1935 and tells, amongst other things, how the railroad was continued to connect the north to the south, Fairbanks to Seward, and...

Rita Just Wants to be Thin by Mary W. Walters tells the tale of Rita, an emotional over-eater and chain smoker who is dissatisfied with her lot in life. Rita becomes increasingly depressed and disgruntled when the scale tops 200 pounds. Married to Graham, she...

As a writer, reader and reviewer, I was quite interested when I saw the book How To Get Honest Reviews - 7 Proven Ways to Connect With Readers and Reviewers by Shelley Hitz and Heather Hart. But I was also cautious because books like that...

Redneck Debutante by Jenny Hammerle is about a girl (Rachel) and her changing lifestyle. Her father gets into trouble at home so Rachel and her mother and brother get sent to her aunt's house in the middle of nowhere. They were at least 30 minutes...

All of Me Wants All of You, written by J.Z. Howard, is an emotional and provocative tale portraying the depths of love. “In order to receive love, it is essential to enjoy pleasure – and to trust being vulnerable to it.” Dean and Kate’s marriage...

Three Rules is the story of Hope Wellman who suffered abuse at the hands of her stepfather’s brother Lucas. At the story opens, Hope is attending the funeral of her abuser and she slowly unravels the story of how she came to be a Wellman...

Thought provoking tales are told in the short story collection, The After, by L.L. Sanders. The collection tells three very different stories, all relating to the mysteries of the afterlife. In "The After," we meet the mature and thoughtful Wilshire, as he guides his young...

The synopsis for A Hero’s Curse, by P.S. Broaddus, intrigued me. To find a fantasy story for young readers with a blind protagonist conjured up all sorts of thoughts and ideas and Broaddus did not fail to deliver. The story is written from the perspective...

When Everyone Shines But You by Kelly Martin is not just another self-help book lining the shelf, telling you to think positive or obey the laws of attraction to get anything you want. This book shows you how being human is not only okay, but...

Logan and Hailey were excited to get a postcard from their grandma and grandpa while they were in Africa. This postcard was an addition to Logan's collection of postcards, and Hailey had her own collection of beautiful dolls. On this special postcard was a picture...

Sons of the Sphinx by Cheryl Carpinello is a historical, time travel fantasy suitable for young adult and pre-teen readers. Rosa is not your ordinary tenth-grader; she hears the voices of dead people and can communicate with them. Her grandmother had the same gift, but...

Billy and the Cloneasaurus is one of the most brilliantly constructed and elegantly written satirical stories I have ever read. The entire population of the world is made up of identical clones of a single unassuming and frequently annoying individual. All go about their tasks...

Dani and the Haunted House (A Dani P. Mystery) (Volume 1) by K. Lamb is a mystery story that kids will enjoy reading. Dani knows that there is something mysterious lurking around the haunted house in Shady Hollow and she is going to solve it....

Dani and the Mall Caper (A Dani P. Mystery) (Volume 2) by K. Lamb is the second in the series of Dani's mystery stories. Dani has become well known after solving the first mystery. She is also given the title as the best eight-year-old detective in...

Deflowered Lyric by J.J. Staples is a disturbing novel that speaks about the realities of the society we live in. Sexual abuse is rampant in our society and this story is sketched around three characters, Lyric, Jada and Judith, who all undergo abuse at the...

Who said that a home is composed of four walls and a roof? Those who have never ventured past the three dream corners that are within each of our homes, leading to the Dreamside where adventures begin and dreams morph into reality. A seemingly normal...

In this brilliant novel, Xavier: St Griswold College for Abandoned Boys, the story is told of thirteen-year-old Xavier Jones who seems to have a normal life with his parents and younger sister. But one day, for no apparent reason, his parents drop him off at...

In The Seamstress of Jamestown by Barbara Hettwer, Emma has a dream. She's had this dream since she was a young girl and she read her brother's book about the wild west. Emma's dream becomes her life's ambition, to venture west and create a life...

In The Search for Intelligent Life on Earth: A Story of Love, author Gerry Pirani offers readers a glimpse into the lives of disturbed mental health and gay and abusive relationships. John is a privileged Englishman with a dark childhood history which infiltrates and pervades...