Editorial Reviews

In Earth Tones: A Journey, poet Gary W. Burns compels readers to lean in, slow down, and savor every thoughtful, delicate verse. Frequently blending the beauty of nature with a longing for connection, tinged with nostalgia, grief, and joy, these poems are powerful and short, some landing hard with the simplicity of a mantra or a haiku, yet also reminiscent of Mary Oliver’s wisdom in certain moments. Some of the ideas and images are recognizable, yes, but the use of such common figurative language aside, this is a meditative collection that bares Burns’ soul in a deeply compelling way.[…]

Self-made investment specialist Brendan Hughes shares his wisdom and jaw-dropping life experiences in The Wandering Investor. Unlike most books on economics, travel or business, this comprehensive memoir easily reads like a novel, but delivers real-world advice that can literally be taken to the bank. This makes the advice and insight not only more palatable, but also more accessible for those curious about finance, particularly younger people who may be intimidated by the field. Hughes can don a journalistic or academic voice, but also the casual, carefree attitude of an adventurer that always manages to keep a good head on […]

Carrying on the Dark Savior series by author Jim Clougherty, Seven Seals answers many of the cliff-hanging questions from Book 1 and expands this wildly unique world. Leaving the cursed mines and their Greed-driven monsters behind, this book sees the protagonists flung apart on separate quests, following interwoven plot lines and introducing creative new pockets of world-building. Boasting sharp, colloquial dialogue, a long and eccentric character list, and a widening web of suspense that leaves plenty of room for more books, Seven Seals is an original fantasy adventure with a classic edge, and one that will appeal to fans from […]

For those who love all things equestrian mixed with suspense, Catch Handle from author Alison O’Mara is an unpredictable and addictive read. Patiently crafted as a classic murder mystery, with the bold and fearless Vivian as the protagonist at its heart, this book dances between genres, from romance and pastoral narrative to heart-pounding thriller. The extended sections of internal monologue can be heavy-handed in terms of plot development, and the dialogue is often functional, rather than organic, but the storytelling is rich and the attention to detail makes the story immersive. As a whole, Catch Handle is a quick and […]

Summer Rideau’s newfound perfect life comes under fire, threatening to destroy the greatest love she’s ever known in Don’t Tear Us Apart by A Kelly, the second installment of the Summer Scipio romantic trilogy. Riveting from the start, Summer and Scipio are written as an incredible team – sexy, supportive and respectful, but also secretive in certain ways that keeps the tension humming. The author captures the complexities of human emotion remarkably well, though the narration can occasionally be too detailed. Touching on tough topics like breaches of sexual boundaries, step-child resentment, and the loss of identity within a partnership, […]

Penned with precision by William Kenneth Jones and boasting a charming narrative voice, Nancy is a striking tale of adversity, faith, deep roots, loss, and resilience. The dialogue is a rich and immersive element of the story, given the heavily accented speech, and an impressive amount of historical research was clearly required to summon this corner of the world in such a believable snapshot. Aside from the poignant writing, characters are developed deeply, with room to breathe and grow; readers are not told this story, but are instead shown through clever prose, authentic relationships, and emotional turns, painting a biographical […]

Author Jim Clougherty pulls readers through a shadowy descent into madness, greed, and the Earth itself in Gold Fever, the first installment of his Dark Savior series. A slow-burning psychological thriller featuring dark prose, gruesome action, and visceral monsters, the spiraling plot is gritty and engrossing, albeit occasionally unpolished with some tangential or repetitive chapters. Bolstered by a unique narrative voice, this lengthy novel captures authentic dialogue well and takes time to develop secondary characters. For those readers seeking an entertaining burst of literary terror, Gold Fever delivers a gripping start to this new series.

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Prepare yourself for a short and addictive dive into shadowy science and the secrets that lurk beyond our understanding in Dark Twists and Surreal Turns by M.G. Spear. Psychological horror fans will be attracted to the sharp descriptions and the ominous mood that permeate this novella, the first in the Dark Twists trilogy, but there are also interesting explorations of mood and panic disorders, and the tangled pain of mental illness. Describing a mind as it becomes unhinged, or begins to disappear entirely, is an ambitious goal, and while the prose is choppy and abrupt at times, this haunting book […]