Author Corey Wolff has delivered a powerful allegory about growth, change, trauma, and independence in The Journey of an Acorn. This simple children’s tale is a quick read, but its message of boldly forging your own way in the world, and helping others along the way, is timeless for readers of any age. Rich with evocative imagery, this is a charming and well-penned fable that can be read again and again.
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Penned from the whimsical perspective of a child, My Mommy Does Weird Things by Amelie Julien is a fun and heartfelt read for both children and parents. Focusing on some of the strange responsibilities of mothers, and how funny some of them must look to children, the book inspires empathy as well as laughs. The full-page illustrations are vibrant and engaging, and the translated text is well done – though “bizarre” may have been a better choice for the title. Most of all, the subject matter is universally relatable, with each page offering amusing insights about parenthood.[…]
Thomas Trimble spins a tall and entertaining tale with Mystery in the Mine, a quick and spooky read with a keen sense of history. When Michael Bishop inherits an old mine, he doesn’t expect the supernatural assistance that seems to be leading him to untold riches. Though the narrative relies a bit too much on exposition, rather than action and dialogue, this charming ghost story focuses on the value of hard work, hope, and a bit of luck to uncover your own personal riches.
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Childhood innocence and grown-up cruelty clash in Cape of Storms by author Bianca Bowers, a gripping coming-of-age tale woven through one of the darkest periods in South African history. Rosalinde is the precocious and endearing protagonist, an 8-year-old whose life is shaken and eyes are opened over the course of two shocking decades. With the South African landscape as a beautiful but sinister setting, this novel is a gripping and unforgettable account of one of humanity’s great failures, told with sensitivity and eloquence from a uniquely powerful perspective.
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No matter how far you go, you can’t run from the past, a hard truth that Stuart James discovers in Did You Hear About Stuart’s Desert Burial?: A Dark Tragicomedy and Cautionary Tale by David Bath. Getting roped into a half-baked scheme to rob a Vegas club, Stuart has no idea the chaos that Jenna and Gabe are about to bring down on his head for a payday. With whip-smart dialogue and visceral narration that would make Hunter S. Thompson proud, this is a savage and unpredictable scramble through morality, love, and deeply desperate times.
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Steeped in sinister plots, apocalyptic threats, and political subterfuge, Drowning is the riveting first book in Dean Comyn’s Something in the Water series. When a priceless new technology and its creator go missing, a new British task force snaps into action to prevent what could be a devastating catastrophe. This thriller is timely and hard-hitting, combining well-researched procedural police elements with high-stakes anti-terror action. Dripping with attitude and brimming with tension, Comyn’s debut novel sets a promising stage for the series to come.
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Set in the idyllic Cascade foothills of the Pacific Northwest, All the Days After by Carrie Thorne is a sexy and thrilling kick off to her new modern romance series. Old heartbreaking habits are hard to shake for Asher, a directionless Navy Seal who just found his way home, and while his kid sister may prefer that he avoid her best friend Sophie, sparks are undeniable. With thoughtful narration and deep character development that is essential for a romance to sizzle, this believable love story is an unexpectedly strong read that also feels like a guilty pleasure.
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The Melancholy History of Mayfly by Mutch Katsonga is a dark meditation on life, justice, family and purpose, narrated by a man who has been sentenced to death, and given only a leather-bound book and a quill to share his final thoughts and confessions. As this articulate prisoner unravels his story, readers are forced to examine their own morality before casting any judgment on the narrator, making for an at-times harrowing but trenchant read. This unpredictable literary novel succeeds both as a work of social philosophy and a vividly conveyed work of contemporary fiction.
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