John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

The Pastor Stephen Grant universe grows a bit wider and more fascinating with Ray Keating’s latest short story release, What’s Lost? (The Pastor Stephen Grant Series Book 15). Told in the first-person style Keating has recently adopted, this gripping tale of deception, retribution, and redemption careens from New York and France to Vietnam in a journal entry plotline filled with espionage, action, and a good deal of enticing mystery. While this story – and many other Pastor Grant adventures – can feel like a rushed cross between Clive Cussler, “National Treasure,” and James Bond, Keating’s original twists and singular […]

Explore the untold stories behind an honest day’s work in Trips Down Blue Collar Lane by Steve Amoia, a personal recounting of his unpredictable professional journey, coupled with the valuable lessons gained along the way. From painting bunkhouses in Montana to delivering packages to government offices in the nation’s capital, Amoia engagingly captures his philosophy of honest effort, purpose, and meaning, regardless of title or pay rate. The storytelling is rough around the edges – a bit unpolished, peppered with occasional errors – but this jibes with the conversational, easygoing tone of this working man’s memoir.

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Fast-talking Torian Aneiress returns for a third installment of his heroic YA journey in Athens Ophelia The Partitioner: Esoragoto by Zachary Aneiress. Navigating the aftermath of his recent epic battles, and more betrayal and loss than most teens could dream to handle, this unabashed and unfiltered protagonist continues to brim with energy and appeal. The technical execution of the writing is problematic, with the prose needing a heavy editorial hand for repetitive grammatical errors, formatting issues, and overly informal phrasing. While these errors diminish the book’s overall readability, the narrative captures the authentic voice and personality of a young protagonist, […]

A classic heroine-driven adventure, Saving the Dragon by Sara R. Cleveland is a high-fantasy romance that will thrill YA readers and veteran fantasy fans alike. Leveraging love and loyalty like magical weapons, this book is a creative, well-penned coming-of-age story with clever spell-casting laws and strong-willed characters that are both recognizable and unique. The plot moves quickly, with regular jumps of weeks or more in the storytelling, which can make this foundational tale feel rushed at times, but the world-building is still impressively detailed. Pulling themes from traditional sagas, fairy tales, and fables, but weaving them into an expansive new […]