Editorial Reviews

Kana Wu carves out a new niche in the romance genre with No Romance Allowed, a lighthearted, witty, and insightful novel about the struggles of being single, and the secrets we struggle to keep. Watching a different type of relationship blossom in such a traditionally predictable scenario is refreshing, while the first-person narration gives readers carte blanche access to the protagonist’s mind in a compelling and slightly voyeuristic way. There are some stumbles in the writing, and certain passages that could be more descriptive, but these are the exception, not the rule. Boasting realistic dialogue, slow-burning suspense, and a […]

His 7 Deadly Kins. by The R-n-R Hour™ is a thought-provoking novel about taking advantage of life’s surprising opportunities, and taking control of your destiny. With elements that are thrilling, contemplative, spiritual and downright unbelievable, readers are pulled into an eye-opening journey of self-reflection and salvation. The author succeeds in weaving philosophy throughout this fast-paced narrative, but it can make the dialogue feel somewhat stilted. Fortunately, the pervading themes of reconciliation and redemption are strong and well-developed. Though the narrative doesn’t quite convey natural colloquial speech, the book delivers a powerful story from a unique perspective, for an unusual and […]

A deadly warrior raised in a crucible of blood must fight her way through family, fear and a galactic conspiracy in Crestahn Kingdom by Dartanyan Johnson, the entertaining first book in The Crystal of Life series. Action, betrayal, sci-fi tech, and savage battle scenes dominate this intense, genre-bending family drama. The plot is occasionally hard to follow, as the slower, narrative-heavy scenes can feel tangential, and the vying motivations and schemes of secondary characters get tangled, but the prose is still gripping and well-edited. Driven by a striking female lead who is multilayered, sharp-tongued, independent, and wickedly good in a […]

Authors Elizabeth Walter and Debra Thro break down the critical elements of financial aid, scholarships, hidden costs, and resources for university students in Pay Less for College: The Must-Have Guide to Affording Your Degree. Organizing crucial information in intuitive ways and eliminating unnecessary narrative chaff, this is a reliable resource that can be read in a single sitting for an in-depth overview, or returned to at any point, given the encyclopedic amount of information. Bolstered by real-world examples, easily understandable graphs, hard numbers, and an informal, yet authoritative tone, this book is packed with accessible guidance that will help […]

Boasting a powerful cast of complex female characters that will stretch a reader’s idea of morality and the lines of the law, Crooked by Bronwen John is a bold and unforgettable thrill. With flashes of YA informality and easy reading, but also offering up nuanced ideas about art, criminality, human development, and ethics, this swirling heist novel is both unpredictable and highly polished. There is the occasional tendency to over-explain the significance of a plot point, or an interaction, but these subtle flaws don’t undercut the impact of the story, nor the unique perspective of this book’s feisty and fearless […]

Nik Graveson’s rock ‘n roll ride as a musician and poet leads him into the underbelly of a life lived in the wreckage and back again in Tough Luck Idiot: Memories of a Flipass Soul. From the writer’s teenage years as he joins a band in ‘Noweheresville’ and experiments with drugs under the bleachers, to the obligatory musician’s pilgrimage to 90s Los Angeles, memories are laid bare in a brutally honest Molotov cocktail of a memoir. The story is hurled straight at the reader with a wry humor that makes it hard to resist Graveson’s gritty coming of age […]

Descend into the fantastic and untamed realm of purgatory in The Last Breath World of Souls: The Grave Robber’s Despair by David H. Brumfield II, the first book of a unique series. Unfurling a fantastic world of ghosts, ogres, stone giants, witches, lost souls, and the mysterious powers of a king’s last breath, this novel sparkles with creativity and flair. Packed with detailed history, exposition, and world-building from the very first page, this is an immersive and richly layered story, but one that also boasts allegorical and philosophical elements as well, touching on mortality and morality in equal measure. Despite […]

A shocking and multi-layered thriller, Perilous Last-Minute Christmas Shopping by Annie de Muynck is an unpredictable tale of terror, freedom, perseverance, and the occasional horror of the holidays. Written with a matter-of-fact, methodical tone that still pumps suspense into every scene, the plot moves quickly, giving readers a relentless ride through one woman’s seemingly endless nightmare. The dialogue is snappy and keeps the pace moving, although more emotion in the relationships and interactions could give the story more appeal. Despite the choppy writing and largely procedural narration, this is an expansive and spine-chilling read, and a perfect guilty pleasure for […]