Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine marks a stunning literary debut from Callie Collins, who crafts a raw, atmospheric portrait of 1970s Austin that resonates like the last note of a perfect blues riff. This novel isn’t just about music—it’s written like music, with a rhythm and cadence that pulls you through its harmonies […]
Category: Book Reviews
The Creatures That Time Forgot by Ray Bradbury was first published in Planet Stories in 1946. The story is about short-lived humans on a planet similar to Mercury. This post may contain affiliate links that earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. The Creatures That Time Forgot by Ray Bradbury The Creatures […]
The Lonely Veteran’s Guide to Companionship by Bronson Lemer Genre: Memoir / Iraq War ISBN: 9780299350741 Print Length: 184 pages Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press Amazon Bookshop Reviewed by Peggy Kurkowski A globetrotting Army veteran and teacher reflects on the dynamic people, places, and moments that challenged his conceptions of community and belonging. Former Army […]
Marshall Karp’s latest thriller, “Don’t Tell Me How to Die,” delivers a deliciously twisted tale that will leave readers both disturbed and delighted. Known for co-creating the bestselling NYPD Red series with James Patterson, Karp steps out solo with this morally ambiguous domestic noir that asks the question: How far would you go to protect […]
Categories
Six Weeks in Reno by Lucy H. Hedrick
Lucy H. Hedrick’s debut novel, Six Weeks in Reno, takes readers on an emotional journey through 1930s Nevada, where a determined woman seeks not just a divorce but a reclamation of her very identity. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, this historical fiction weaves together the stories of women who travel to Reno—nicknamed […]
Susanna Kearsley returns to the historical fiction landscape with her latest masterpiece, The King’s Messenger—a novel that deftly balances political intrigue, forbidden love, and the supernatural against the backdrop of early 17th century Britain. Set in 1613, following the suspicious death of Prince Henry, heir to King James’s throne, Kearsley crafts a narrative that is […]
Categories
Crush by Ada Calhoun
In “Crush,” Ada Calhoun’s fiction debut, a woman’s carefully constructed life implodes when her husband suggests opening their marriage. What follows is a narrative both exhilarating and exhausting—a midlife awakening that encompasses intellectual connection, sensual discovery, and spiritual revelation. The novel attempts to dismantle conventional notions of fidelity while exploring one woman’s journey toward authentic […]
Categories
Change of Heart by Falon Ballard
In “Change of Heart,” Falon Ballard’s latest offering in the rom-com universe, we meet Campbell Andrews, a razor-sharp, commitment-phobic lawyer who finds herself unwillingly transplanted into what can only be described as Hallmark movie hell. This blend of magical realism and contemporary romance delivers a creative premise that both embraces and subverts familiar tropes. While […]
In Julie Hatcher’s delightful novel “Not Quite by the Book,” we follow Emma Rini’s journey from burnt-out bookstore manager to self-assured woman ready to embrace life on her own terms. This warm-hearted contemporary romance cleverly weaves literary references throughout a story about finding one’s place in the world—even if that place looks nothing like you […]
Categories
Book Review: Otello’s Oil
Otello’s Oil by D.W. Layton Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Political ISBN: 9798350954302 Print Length: 344 pages Amazon Bookshop Reviewed by Warren Maxwell A sprawling story of espionage, international intrigue, and family ties Unfurling in the year 2031, Otello’s Oil tells the story of Elliot Jones, a senior agent with the US Diplomatic Security […]