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A stellar cozy mystery, replete with infidelity, a Halloween setting, an empathetic protagonist, and two well-drawn detectives, Bonnie Traymore’s Killer Motives is a superb first installment of the Hudson Valley Mystery series. There’s a tragic death in Hudson Valley, which brings married couple Victoria and Nick’s life to a standstill, as the victim is Nick’s lover. Could they be the next victims, or is Nick darker than Victoria ever imagined? With spot-on realistic criminal procedures, and the historically detailed setting of the Sleepy Hollow area giving the story a brooding feel, Killer Motives offers a thrilling escape, even with the […]

Kimberly Sullivan’s compelling literary work, In The Shadow of The Apennines, is an emotional journey following an American woman as she escapes to the mountains of Italy, fleeing the memory of a failed marriage, only to find that a getaway can be just as isolating. When she finds the journal of a local woman from a century ago, her world starts to transform, as she finds she is connected to the woman in ways she couldn’t have imagined. While readers may have to suspend disbelief for our heroine’s abrupt mastery of the Italian language, Sullivan’s novel is romantic in the […]

An epic western replete with historical detail, A Distant Ridge: A Novel of the Northern Plains in the 1870s by James McDonough takes the reader back to the post-Civil War United States when the country was expanding and exploding at once. Following Jake Rogers and the 7th Cavalry, McDonough shows how the American Indian was forced into submission while the United States prospered from the resources and land it acquired, offering an accurate depiction of just how the US was able to grow into the country it would become. With a long list of well-crafted characters, including sensitive portraits of […]

A riveting sea adventure with a top-rate protagonist, Bravely and Faithfully by Edward M. Hochsmann throws the reader into a series of missions carried out by the Cutter Kauai and her crew. When a young Coast Guard officer gets her first command, she thinks she is on top of the world until she finds herself supporting dangerous operations which require her to go far beyond her training. With strong characters that have ties to the other books in the series, this military thriller enthralls with fast-paced action and carefully-crafted detail, which brings to life the setting in every scene. Hochsmann […]

A stirring work of paranormal fiction, Birds in the Black Water by Kodie Van Dusen is an intricate and original novel. Neviah has seen The Other Side since she was a child, where supernatural beings she’s named Koels, like the birds, appear to her everywhere, ominously keeping watch. This dark paranormal story spans Neviah’s psychic childhood and adult life, navigating The Other Side with its own strange rules, and how they affect her relationships. Although at times the plot and characterization are overwhelmed by dialogue, the world-building is immersive, the premise is singularly inventive, and Van Dusen delivers engaging prose […]

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 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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