John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Author Peter Sellin fearlessly explores the seemingly taboo subjects of mental health and mental illness in his short collection of non-fiction stories, A Fracture Within. Told with brutal honesty and complete vulnerability, the book helps decrease the stigma of mental illness as a result of trauma or life’s unpredictable cruelty. From detailed descriptions of his symptoms to the labyrinthine patterns of his fractured mind, this raw confessional feels rare and powerful. The unpolished prose would benefit from moderate editing, and some key points deserve more explication, but as a whole, A Fracture Within provides first-hand insight to a topic […]

A Kelly ‘s new romantic thriller Don’t Leave Me Breathless lives up to its name, boasting a savvy blend of erotic morality with tangled family roots. There is a seamless quality to the writing, exposition is delivered in clever ways, and seemingly stock characters are given a great deal of attention and depth. Touching on popular themes and exploring the long-overdue sexual liberation of women from a relatable protagonist, Kelly delivers a steamy page-turner with a three-dimensional heart.

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Epic love gets a second chance at life in Season of ’72 by author Karen Tomsovic. Following a tragic accident, Robin Stewart must put the pieces of his life back together, and maybe add the piece he’s been missing for years: his old co-star Christine. Patient storytelling help this book rise above the romance genre. Tomsovic has an ear for unique imagery, a clear passion for music, and a bold focus that breaks down gender stereotypes. Insightful character development and the stirring hope of redemption carries this book forward, making it an unpredictable and heartwarming escape.

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Author David Crane has crafted a historical gem of swashbuckling heroes and sinister plots during some of the most tumultuous points in France’s history in Swordpoint. Eugene Francois Vidocq is revived from the annals of history as a charming and ambitious adventurer who must escape the sins of his past to forge a brighter future, preferably not at the point of a sword. The energy level occasionally slips in extended narration, but Crane is diligent in his descriptions, painting pastoral scenes and grisly corners of Napoleonic France with equal skill. Holding impressively to an elegant 18th century tone in […]

Author Monika Kloeckner deep-dives into personal growth, professional confidence, spiritual enlightenment, and goal-oriented thinking in The Rebellious Singleton, outlining in part how women are often held to unfair standards and expectations in the modern world, but their mental flexibility and emotional resilience are also invaluable resources. Kloeckner’s enlightening tome has some elements of a traditional self-help book, but is also a spiritual guide and a self-worth-boosting read for anyone, regardless of gender, who is trying to forge their path as an unattached person in a world that prizes marriage. While some of the ideas recur repetitively, this is a […]