John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Michael Santino kicks his series off with an explosive start in The Frontline: Season 1 – Episode 1. Seemingly ripped from today’s tumultuous headlines, this small-town tale of crime and power runs head-on at issues like domestic terrorism, anarchists, white supremacy, law enforcement, and the judicial system. Some of the dialogue feels too explicit to be believed, particularly between law enforcement agents, but the narration is sharp, clever, and unpredictable. Along with the heavy and timely themes, this first installment is also focused on gritty character-building, setting the stage for an action-packed, twist-driven series.

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A whimsical and heartwarming children’s book about loyalty, trust, and responsibility, Illegal Beagle by Sandra Ourique Gonsalves and Nelli Aghekyan is a surefire hit for young readers. The rhyming is clean and amusing, while the illustrations are vibrant, with plenty of details to study, making it perfect for additional vocabulary practice. Strong themes of family relationships, honesty, and independence are woven throughout the text, which is wonderfully engaging while still keeping the language simple. All told, this colorful caper is creative, thoughtful, and will keep readers engaged for multiple reads.[…]

Placing an accessible lens over a complicated but important topic, Fostering Energy by Kyle Pleasant LMT is a spiritual self-help book with lessons that are applicable and useful for any reader. The author’s essential thesis is that by taking control over your personal energy, it can have a measurable effect on your life. Some readers may scoff at the claims of energy transfer and manipulation, but Pleasant’s straightforward presentation of ideas, anecdotes, and layman-level science are continually intriguing. Though there is some redundancy between larger sections and in specific passages, the book is well-edited and logically ordered. Whether you are […]

Authors Holly Hertzel and Mike Prittie offer a thoroughly entertaining cozy mystery with Mystery at the Ruby, a densely packed and carefully penned novel that will please thespians and thriller readers alike. The cast of larger-than-life characters keeps the plot entertaining, while their tangled past histories, overinflated egos, and well-rehearsed lies keep readers guessing throughout this surprising mystery. The exposition is a bit sluggish at the front of the book, and there is some heavy-handed narration that occasionally shoves the plot forward, but this locked-room murder mystery gains steady momentum, and the whip-smart dialogue makes the prose a pleasure. […]

An emotional and contemporary novel, Home Again 2020 by Roberta M. Roy is a deeply relatable and engaging tale of our times. The omniscient narration gives readers a bird’s-eye view into an ordinary family who has already faced extraordinary challenges long before the chaos and stress of Covid sets into their everyday lives. Thoroughly developed characters and unfiltered commentary on middle-class existence give this book an authentic feel. Time passes very quickly, but that does give readers a chance to watch the family dynamic evolve and witness these relationships fully play out, though the interactions can often feel unnatural, and […]

Over seven action-packed episodes, The Frontline: The Complete First Season by Michael Santino proves itself to have a finger firmly planted on the pulse of middle America. This uniquely styled crime serial focuses on a potential domestic terrorism group as it evolves from a hunting club of good ol’ boys to something more dangerously powerful and politically motivated. Painfully relevant to the divides we see across the United States today, this series runs headfirst into volatile issues of police brutality, systemic racism, white supremacy, privilege, and power. While the content and insider perspective are important, the dialogue comes across as […]

Jemme MD Art presents an intimate confession of art and prose in We Are All A Beautiful Mess. Capturing the intense pain of a degenerative disease diagnosis, and the crumbling foundation that can cause, this collection of deeply personal essays, poetry, and striking photography is both haunting and hopeful. Simultaneously analyzing her journey through illness and the road to becoming an artist, this results in a stirring memoir of strength, resilience, and unexpected beauty. The dramatic photography speaks for itself, as does the raw poetry, which work exceptionally well together. A physically and emotionally revealing book, We Are All […]