Editorial Reviews

An inspiring romance novel with a unique focus, Courageous Love by Paul Nankivell offers an important perspective on romantic relationships. Alan and Catherine both have cerebral palsy and have overcome the challenges that come with the condition to become successful in their fields, but now new trials arise in the world of romance, as Alan pines for Catherine from afar. Highlighting issues about disabilities, the corporate workplace, and the innate humanness of love, this is a multilayered contemporary romance that is handled with great skill and sensitivity. Though the cover may not reflect the draftsmanship inside, Nankivell is a subtle […]

A determined resistance movement mounts an intimidating attack in space in Geoffrey Robinson’s entertaining work of sci-fi, Irrelevants. Celta Jetson, a detective for the Earth Agency, is traveling onboard the ship the Hennit when the vessel is sabotaged and damaged by explosives. With the help of another officer, Celta is soon leading a critical investigation to weed out insurgents, while the threat of interplanetary guerilla war approaches. Featuring rapid-fire dialogue and intense scenes of negotiation, Robinson’s intricately plotted and fast-paced futuristic novel will appeal to fans of both police procedurals and political science fiction.

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An endearing, passionate collection of real-life love letters between a WWII naval officer and his sweetheart, My Dearest Darling captures the romance and longing of one affectionate couple separated by the war. Author Franco, who discovered the writings at a Cape Cod antique shop, provides informative annotations that place the missives in a wider historical context for readers. Covering everything from mundane daily activities like watching films to world-changing events like dropping the atomic bomb, the correspondence is simultaneously sweet and sad, conveying an achingly human blend of the personal and the political that sheds new light on life during […]

A sprawling but delicate story of personal evolution, Journey to the Heartland by Xiaolong Huang expertly navigates the fine line between heartbreaking and inspiring. This story is woven together on multiple levels, with themes of sexuality, cultural pressure, academia, and personal exodus, for a poignant meditation on freedom. The tone of the writing is unique and striking, boasting unexpected flourishes of description that make the prose vivid, yet understated. Huang captures the intersection of personal autonomy, conscious liberation, and critical thinking in a timely and undeniably powerful read.

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An edgy YA tale for a new generation, Potion: A Witchy Fairy Tale by Dorlana Vann is a supernatural romp through the perils of self-discovery. Melrose is trying to find her place in the world, and where she actually came from, while her brother desperately tries to keep her safe from sinister powers – and the prettiest girl in school. Exploring classic themes of tragic heroes, petty bullies, and dark secrets from the past, this read covers some familiar ground, but Vann’s story-crafting and angsty prose make this title stand out.

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A Fledgling Bond (A Night Fae Novel) by A.E. Kost is an engaging and creative work of fantasy that will satisfy readers of the growing fae genre. The Night Fae are on the edge of extinction after a war with witches, and Lye, a rare young male, must leave his world and enter the human one, for a clash of cultures that might ignite a larger conflict. This dark fantasy epic has sorcery and beasts woven throughout that fans of magical quest fiction will soak up. However, the prose suffers from redundancy and too much detail, diluting the plot, engaging […]

A healing balm for troubling times, Cemetery Reflections by Jane Hopkins is a thoughtful gathering of wisdom and compassion, offered through a sensitive portrait of final resting places. Spanning graveyards from California and South Carolina to Massachusetts, Canada, and Chicago, this book is a gentle visual meditation on grief, death, and perseverance. Peppered with poetry and quotes from legendary writers and thinkers, as well as poignant personal reflections from Hopkins herself, this collection is thematically heavy, but it is also imbued with the enduring hope that we can all overcome the pain of loss.

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A city boy named Cort uncovers his intimate connection to nature in G.S. Kenney’s Saving Aran: Redemption for a Ravaged Planet (Sons of Aran Book 1), an eloquent science fiction adventure novel with an essential environmental message. Starmen from Earth have colonized the planet Aran for its profitable forest resources – physically and spiritually harming the land in the process. Spurred by the kidnapping of his best friend, Cort undergoes a mystical journey of self-discovery and vows to take back his planet with the help of a crew of animal companions. Filled with lyrical writing and intriguing, magnetic characters, […]