John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

An investigator hunting down a shadowy murder syndicate and a mystery writer pulled into one of her own stories make Criminal Intent by Joanne Swain a compelling, multilayered thriller. This female-driven tale is a frantic spiral of brash characters, surprising plot twists, and tragic revelations, laced with eroticism and character-rich drama. With a consistent lack of formatting for dialogue changes and long paragraphs that cover too much ground, the clarity and pacing suffers, so an aggressive edit is recommended. However, the bones of this story are worth exploring, as are the two lead characters, so if more attention was given […]

A darkly demonic thrill from Lauren Louise Hazel, The Queen of the Underworld is the resurgent second chapter of her Occult urban fantasy series. Though magic Users are now free from their merciless hunters, the realm of the Fae is a blasted ruin, and an ancient threat has emerged from the shadows, seizing the moment to retake her throne. The book’s titular ruler has possessed the body of Prue’s dear friend and is killing innocent mortals to fully regain her power, and once again a motley crew of YA heroes and unlikely allies unite to defeat a demonic enemy of […]

An enigmatic collection of unconventional tales featuring cerebral wit and a uniquely strange imagination, Briefs: A Word Salad of the Surreal, Absurd & Black-Comedy by Thom Cree is a madcap but cleverly crafted work of absurdist fiction. From invisible drinking buddies and talking fish to eel-heavy pranks and snarky Irish stoners, these seven stories and one darkly brilliant screenplay are inventive snapshots of contemporary surrealism. Laced with linguistic flair and narrative twists, the carefully selected prose leaves readers unsettled and uncertain, but undeniably entertained, as the stories offer a masterful balance of the impossible with relatable lunacy, revealing the undercurrent […]

An inspiring tale of healing, resilience, and faith, Until Shiloh Comes by Sophia Rose is an empowering reminder that our path toward peace does not need to be walked alone. In this engrossing mixture of memoir and spiritual self-help, a skeptical and wounded woman finds an enigmatic guide named Shiloh who profoundly leads her back to a more joyous and authentic version of herself. Offering deeply relatable wisdom for any reader who has lost the map to their own happiness and purpose, this book resonates with endearing honesty, passionate conviction, and deep devotion to spiritual teaching.

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A stirring treasure hunt of puzzling clues and time-travel romance, One Day A Year by J. Lamont Jones is an ambitious and satisfying YA plunge into the past. Bestowed with a rare gift to travel back in time once a year, young Benny Jones has found love, but more than a century separates them, and messing with the past could radically shift the future. In an emotionally charged race to decode the secret to his own happiness, Benny will need all the help he can get, from his father and new allies in the 19th century to a beguiling woman […]