Editorial Reviews

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 […]

A high-stakes extraction thriller with a compelling, freshly haunted hero at the helm, No Sanctuary by Camden Mays is the third gripping installment of the Cole Cameron Thriller series. After returning to the scene of his most recent trauma, it isn’t long before Cole is meeting with Mossad agents, infiltrating hostile territory, dealing out death, and pushing his own limits, both physically and psychologically. Reading like a behind-the-scenes scoop on espionage fieldwork, this is a captivating burst of fiction, penned with the tension of a noir drama, and the fast-paced payoffs of modern revenge thrillers.

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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 probing novel with a touch of the paranormal, Where the River Runs Deep by Lynne Handy is a stunning story of violent truths clashing with long-hidden hate, exposing the scarred soul of America, both past and present. Maria is a striking protagonist, blending her deep belief in people, a love of poetry, and a freshly damaged heart. As she digs into the mysteries hidden in the death of her brilliant student, and the lost-in-time town she’s temporarily calling home, Maria finds far more visceral terrors on the outer banks of North Carolina. Handy has a quick and unpredictable style […]

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 […]

A journey of blood and buried secrets pulls readers through time in On Moreton Waters by Casey Walsh, an impressive blend of historical fiction, contemporary fiction, and mystery. Focused partially on the social puzzle and stunning backdrop of Australia in the early 20th century, and again in the much-changed landscape a century later, these female-led stories of the McPhee family are framed by betrayal, desire, desperation, greed, and violence, showing the past’s indelible impact on the present. Capturing the colloquial rhythm of the region in both dialogue and narration, and weaving in a strong thread of mystery that reveals itself […]

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 […]