John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Someone is manipulating the free will of powerful Spellbinders in From the Ashes by Shari Marshall, the thrilling third installment of the magical Ember Files series. Still reeling from the death of his twin, Kyson Adelgrief lusts for blood and vengeance against the Influencers, forcing them to embark on an offensive rescue mission, but he may not be the only threat in the shadows. Continuing to balance creative fantasy with tense relationship-building among the uniquely gifted but relatable protagonists, Marshall’s whip-smart writing and sinister themes make this novel a gripping addition to a wickedly creative and superbly plotted saga.[…]

A gentle introduction to cognitive awakening and the power we all have to pursue mindful practices, Spiritual Enlightenment: A Guide to Awakening to Your True Self by L. Owen Paxton overflows with honesty, humor, lived experience, and relatable wisdom. Dissecting the oft-overlooked corners of our internal world, the book provides cognitive tools and strategies to achieve mental clarity, a stable identity, and a balanced relationship with ego. Though the book doesn’t break a lot of new ground for the subject, it is still a well-conceived and thought-provoking blend of philosophy, psychology, spirituality, and science, for a deeply compelling and perceptive […]

A dramatic and timely historical novel from Ray Keating, Subversion is a fast-moving international thriller rooted in faith and noble heroics in the face of evil. In pre-war 1930s, the violent scourge of Nazism is spreading on either side of the Atlantic, and the secretive Alliance of Saint Michael takes charge of protecting both the flock and the shepherds. This is thriller fiction with a purpose, featuring a balance of rapid-fire action sequences and thought-provoking exchanges on politics, philosophy, and morality. Keating has found another layer of thematic depth in this second installment of the Alliance of Saint Michael Novels[…]

A futuristic blur of sci-fi and dark fantasy, Outcasts, Book 3 in the Wardens Universe, by Jonathan Staten is a page-turning installment of this universe-jumping series. When a deadly enemy from the past unleashes a shadowy slaughter and a secret heist in the city of Sephria, the Augur-augmented Wardens of the Interstellar Space Association may be the only force that can stop their destructive plans. Elizabeth Stone will have to master her new abilities in the crucible of combat, and learn to trust her centuries-old comrades, or succumb to the wrath of a vengeful monster from another world. […]

A sarcastic and self-aware whodunit by Josh Harper, Additional Attendee is a smart, snarky, and satisfying high-rise mystery. A self-involved elder millennial named Paul is determined to catch his cheating wife in the act, but after finding a corpse, rather than a tryst, he ends up as a prime suspect in the suspected suitor’s murder. To complicate matters, Paul’s adulterous wife is missing, his lobby attendant crush is acting suspicious, and his tepid career as an actor makes it hard for the authorities to believe anything he says. Neurotic narration, gleefully cartoonish characters, and a twisting plot make this first […]