Editorial Reviews

Psychologically dark and viscerally penned, How a Monster is Made by author RaShell Lashbrook is a gripping and provocative novel about the long-term impact of abuse and childhood trauma. Exploring both the painful origin story of Randall Carter and the cruel manifestations stoked by his damaged youth, this intense read provides a troubling perspective on modern life. Psychotic and sociopathic behavior, as well as chronic abuse, are troubling realities that Lashbrook delicately unpacks in this hard-hitting story. Written with fearless nerve and a goal of seeing past society’s easy label of “monster,” some occasional lapses in editing are easily forgiven […]

Obsession, love and dark flames of the past light up the pages of Boulder Girl, Remember Me When the Moon Hangs Low by author Cynthia L. Clark. In this compelling thriller, twisted memories and sinister schemes lay bare the rotten core of old envy, threatening two new lovers unexpectedly falling into happiness. Poignant narration and emotional complexity elevate this simple story of unrequited love to a complex examination of human nature, lust, and the delicate line between violence and passion. While the internal monologuing is occasionally melodramatic, Boulder Girl is a dark and thrilling escape that doesn’t disappoint.

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Laced with sardonic wit and a devil-may-care style, The Hack by Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev is unclassifiable, but undeniably interesting. Walking around in the mind of a neurotic writer can be exhausting, particularly one as vulgar and base in its instincts, but Mikheyev weaves fine wisdom from coarse thread, touching on deep grief, personal disappointment, lack of fulfillment, and the desire to leave a legacy. A comprehensive editing sweep could polish some of the sharper edges out, and make some of the characters more palatable to all readers, but there is also an authentic narrative charm in the uncouth self-reflection. Boasting […]

Author Peter Sellin fearlessly explores the seemingly taboo subjects of mental health and mental illness in his short collection of non-fiction stories, A Fracture Within. Told with brutal honesty and complete vulnerability, the book helps decrease the stigma of mental illness as a result of trauma or life’s unpredictable cruelty. From detailed descriptions of his symptoms to the labyrinthine patterns of his fractured mind, this raw confessional feels rare and powerful. The unpolished prose would benefit from moderate editing, and some key points deserve more explication, but as a whole, A Fracture Within provides first-hand insight to a topic […]

A Kelly ‘s new romantic thriller Don’t Leave Me Breathless lives up to its name, boasting a savvy blend of erotic morality with tangled family roots. There is a seamless quality to the writing, exposition is delivered in clever ways, and seemingly stock characters are given a great deal of attention and depth. Touching on popular themes and exploring the long-overdue sexual liberation of women from a relatable protagonist, Kelly delivers a steamy page-turner with a three-dimensional heart.

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Epic love gets a second chance at life in Season of ’72 by author Karen Tomsovic. Following a tragic accident, Robin Stewart must put the pieces of his life back together, and maybe add the piece he’s been missing for years: his old co-star Christine. Patient storytelling help this book rise above the romance genre. Tomsovic has an ear for unique imagery, a clear passion for music, and a bold focus that breaks down gender stereotypes. Insightful character development and the stirring hope of redemption carries this book forward, making it an unpredictable and heartwarming escape.

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Author David Crane has crafted a historical gem of swashbuckling heroes and sinister plots during some of the most tumultuous points in France’s history in Swordpoint. Eugene Francois Vidocq is revived from the annals of history as a charming and ambitious adventurer who must escape the sins of his past to forge a brighter future, preferably not at the point of a sword. The energy level occasionally slips in extended narration, but Crane is diligent in his descriptions, painting pastoral scenes and grisly corners of Napoleonic France with equal skill. Holding impressively to an elegant 18th century tone in […]

Author Monika Kloeckner deep-dives into personal growth, professional confidence, spiritual enlightenment, and goal-oriented thinking in The Rebellious Singleton, outlining in part how women are often held to unfair standards and expectations in the modern world, but their mental flexibility and emotional resilience are also invaluable resources. Kloeckner’s enlightening tome has some elements of a traditional self-help book, but is also a spiritual guide and a self-worth-boosting read for anyone, regardless of gender, who is trying to forge their path as an unattached person in a world that prizes marriage. While some of the ideas recur repetitively, this is a […]