Editorial Reviews

A charming children’s book from Ana Cortes that explores the unique challenges of young people starting fresh in a new city, Marco, Pablo, and Olivia: Fútbol Tryouts is a colorful, funny, and touching read. Marco wants to make his mark and some new friends in Guayaquil by trying out for the football team, but that means dealing with Victor the Fútbol King, a bully who takes a special interest in embarrassing the new kid. Fortunately, Marco’s two siblings always have his back, and with whip-smart writing, evocative illustrations, and three very memorable characters at its heart, this book is not […]

Prolific children’s author Michael A. Brown takes readers on a new journey of self-discovery in his latest book, Ships: Where Do You Want To Go? Embarking on an allegorical quest of youth, Dave wanders amidst a port of chatty boats, trying to find the ship that will take him to Life Island. Along the way, he meets sneaky submarines and brash aircraft carriers, as well as feisty cargo ships and humble tugboats, all of which teach young readers about a variety of marine vessels, as well as the framework and fit of a good relationship. The illustrations could use a […]

Author Morgan James delivers another masterful and colorful whodunit in The Havana Story, the playful and creative third installment of The Beyond Mysteries. Paula Vega is desperate to write the romance novel of her dreams, but her waking life as the manager of a B&B in North Carolina is as good as any thriller, particularly when the coastal escape turns deadly. Despite some heavy-handedness in the exposition and narration, the scene-building is beautifully done, and James has a keen ear for sharp dialogue. Boasting evocative characters, an unpredictable plot, and the perennially pleasing premise of a writer turned […]

Path of the Bearers and Other Stories by Nicholas Licalsi is a creative collection of seventeen science fiction tales that test the ingenuity and limitations of both man and machine – an orphan who grows to 1200 pounds eating pizzas in a spaceship, dangerous multi-limbed creatures, orbs that hold every child’s purpose, and humanized computers are among the original inventions that populate these stories. Thematically linking explorations into outer space and the examination of the interior space of human emotion and fallibility, Licalsi’s stories are uniquely varied and inventive. Several pieces would gain strength from more plot development and less […]

A woman struggles with a mysterious disease, a difficult marriage, and clandestine affairs in Metamorphosis by Isabella MacLeod, an original work that veers into supernatural fiction, erotica, and psychological thriller. The novel chronicles the life of Miranda, who is in a desperate search for someone who can provide a cure for the painful, debilitating, and often grotesque symptoms that threaten to dismantle her life as a nurse, wife, and mother. The story is compelling in its originality and creativity, but it is hampered by grammatical issues and a first-person narrator who is somewhat hard to follow given the abrupt transitions […]

Countess Joliette de Verzat is determined to preserve the legacy of her family’s vineyard in Debra Borchert’s captivating novel, Her Own Legacy, the first book in the Château de Verzat series. The young Countess fearlessly navigates the obstacles of her destiny – duty to the Queen, laws prohibiting her inheritance, a forbidden love, the discovery of an illegitimate brother, and war. When the French Revolution erupts, armed and hungry citizens march towards the Versailles palace – leaving the formidable Joliette to battle for her Verzat legacy, life, and love. With an equally eloquent and dynamic tone, the novel is […]

An action-packed work of paranormal fantasy, The Three Witches and The Three-Headed Dagger by Henry Regnault is a master class in world-building, character creation, and finely drawn action scenes. Cadence Mage is an accomplished demon hunter and suspects the three-headed dagger – a fierce weapon that feeds on its victims – may be the cause of a spate of murders of young women. Mixing contemporary reality with ancient fantasy lore, Regnault immediately immerses readers in this grisly and occasionally graphic story with well-drawn characters and original magic. The prose is sometimes too reliant on dialogue, but overall this is a […]

Blending mystical folklore with real-world terror, Quiet Fury by Morgan James is the latest genre-blending installment in her Promise McNeal Mysteries series. Sheriff Allen and Promise McNeal are once again on a psychologically twisted hunt, staying one step ahead of sinister forces, and one step behind a rash of inexplicable crimes in the North Carolina mountains they call home. This tightly penned book is a fast read, with quick-moving action scenes and intriguingly dark settings. From fiery infernos and haunted dreams to backcountry conspiracies and secrets buried in shallow graves, this macabre whodunit is another strong chapter of a continuously […]