John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Johnny, Ella, and Shawn return for another century-jumping adventure in Time Travelers of the Caribbean by Alan Frost, a charming and historical middle grade read with plenty of twists and lessons to be learned. Leaping four centuries back to the seafaring days of savage brigands, rock-hard biscuits, and international rivalries that reshaped the world, Ella and Shawn embark on a mission to rescue friends both old and new, and there may even be some treasure along the way. Subtly laced with historical references, events, and interesting facts, this quick and easy read boasts strong storylines in both timelines, as well […]

Capturing the cadence, charm, and soulful lessons of small-town America, At Trails End: Homecoming by John Strother is a cleverly penned homage to youthful resilience, and the epic trials of survival as new kids in a tough-as-nails Texas high school. Ink, Dusty, Smoke, and Cowboy are victims of circumstance in this compact novella, but rather than wallow in their outcast social status, they define their own version of cool in a world that doesn’t prize originality. Brimming with lessons for any reader in their formative years, as well as sage wisdom for all ages, the writing is authentic, witty, and […]

Navigating psychological battlefields and exploring the long-lasting horror of PTSD, No Pistol Tastes the Same by Jacob Paul Patchen is a visceral novel of wartime, recovery, and healing. Both a slow burn and a grenade blast, the prose spills a relentless tale of hard choices, unforgiving duty, and the depths of utter desperation, even long after the bullets stopped flying. The author sets each chapter off with a tone-setting, thought-provoking poem, then dives back into the mud of war and the mess of domestic life; this palate-cleansing twist on classic military memoirs makes the story shine even brighter. At times […]