John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Author Ayla Doan delivers a powerful, mind-bending, and inspiring introduction to astral studies with Soul Stuff: A Personal Journey with Spirit Work and Past Life Regression. While the book might be more quickly understood or valued by a reader familiar with the topics at hand, this book is also ideal for those new to ideas of emotional energy, shadow selves, astral planes, connecting with the spirit world, and accessing past lives, as Doan’s voice is so clear and engaging. Told largely through anecdotes and stories that take the form of personal parables, the author reveals a great deal about […]

A powerful memoir of one woman’s decade-long battle with infertility, I Hear Some People Just Have Sex: An Infertility Memoir with an Ambiguous Ending is vulnerable, wise, emotionally charged, and deeply human. Sandra Vasher writes in a raw and confessional tone, but there are also splashes of humor, reminding readers that there are many different strategies for thriving and surviving in this situation. Vasher’s narrative gives a brutally honest peek behind the curtain of fertility treatments, but is also an inspiring story of a resilient woman defying the odds in myriad ways, even when her luck seems annually absent. With […]

A young man tries to find peace while navigating the troubled waters of trauma and self-discovery in The Pebble Champion by A.D. Pritchard. Stories about life-changing events are often compelling and relatable, as trauma and loss are universal for readers, and this coming-of-age story is no different. Laced with vivid snatches of flashback and memory, this emotionally charged novel is raw and vulnerable, but also told with the confidence of a skilled storyteller. There are occasional sections of dialogue that feel overly wordy, or inauthentic to how young people speak, but this is a small criticism within a largely impressive […]

A young girl’s charming obsession for bears of all kinds takes center stage in One Night in Beartown by Nick Jones. Inspired by a real-life town of painted bears, Congleton, this is a beautiful children’s story of friendship and resilience, and being honest about what you love, without fear of being teased or judged. Packed with vivid illustrations, an engaging story, and strong thematic messages that should resonate for young children, this is a unique addition to any bookshelf, and one that can be returned to time and again. There are a few hiccups in the language that feel a […]