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A captivating historical novel, The Angel of the Penny Rose by Linda Saether is the poignant and affecting story of a young woman’s journey from eighteen-century London to the Americas in search of a new life. The daughter of a famous apothecary, Anna Caldwell asks one of her clients who’s about to cross the Atlantic to marry her and bring her with him to St. Augustine, Florida, leading to decidedly expanded horizons in love, sorrow, and self-knowledge in the greatest adventure of her life. Told in clear, vivid language, this sensitive portrayal is as historically thorough as it is emotionally […]

A romantic and emotional novel about love and faith, Love Without Reservations by Irene Williams is an affecting work of contemporary religious fiction. Simone is a profoundly devout young professional living in London, but when she meets Thomas, an ex-addict and rockstar, she soon realizes that her feelings for him might bring her to act against her religious convictions. Can a believer and a non-believer still be happy together – can opposites attract who are this different? Although strongly driven by a Christian point of view, this engaging novel is relatable for most any reader, as Williams has composed her […]

A piece of exhilarating sci-fi that playfully reflects on the meaning and the perception of time, Time Story by W.W. Marplot is a tantalizing mixture of science, humor, and adventure. When Plunkett’s older brother Applemon invents a time machine, Plunkett and their adoptive brother Woby find themselves uprooted from their shared college flat and involved in incredible time-warping adventures – some in the past, some in the future, some successful, some disastrous, all of them brilliantly told through Marplot’s masterful pen. Echoing Douglas Adams, at times, but with a voice all his own, Marplot’s writing is in turns erudite and […]

Sorority Rumble by Violet Ashcroft from the Sexy Catfight Stories series is a short and playful piece of erotic fiction set on a wild university campus. Mandy is an introverted young woman who desires to become part of the Omega Zeta Psi sorority, but when her initiation takes a humiliating turn, her best friend Zoe intervenes and challenges the Omega Zeta Psi president to a fight with no rules. Ashcroft’s vivid imagination makes Sorority Rumble an enjoyably steamy read, while also touching on sensitive topics such as friendship and sexual identity, for a surprisingly deep read at times, given the […]

Offering a compelling range of emotionally charged narratives, Drink Wine and Be Beautiful by Kimberly Sullivan is a brilliant collection of short stories with an Italian backdrop. The Italian women and ex-pats who find their lives intricately and sometimes painfully tied to Italy are each unique and complex: strong-headed women, vulnerable wives, pained mothers, and women who have run away but have mustered the courage to return. Each one of Sullivan’s characters and personal stories are richly drawn with Sullivan’s vibrant and nuanced prose, for a collection that brings to life the splendor of Italy, while vividly exploring the inner […]