Editorial Reviews

A manic sci-fi fling into truth, justice, and family loyalty, Benny Dubious: Hiding from the Feds is a wildly creative novella from Maxwell Hoffman. Suspension of disbelief is essential as Benny Dubious hides out with a suspicious group of his relatives, some of whom don’t appreciate his connections to a group of vigilantes gone bad in Los Angeles. However, if he can convince his brainiac cousin to build him a time chamber, he just might be able to outsmart the relentless Felix Fromm and the Feds, giving his crime syndicate the upper hand once again. While the unpredictable plot moves quickly, there are some serious formatting, editing, and storytelling gaps that make the reading experience challenging. A thorough edit is highly recommended for this and future installments from Hoffman, but the story’s lead character makes a solid foundation for a new series.

An old-fashioned story with a compelling cast of characters, Nellie by Amy Walsh is a classic work of historical romance. Set in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1931, Nellie takes up a job as a cook for a well-to-do family, despite her obvious inability in the kitchen, due to a case of mistaken identity and some good intentions. An exploration of moral dilemmas, the novel traces Nellie’s growing affection for the patronizing, but well-intentioned Mr. Mason Peale, whose high moral standards are a challenge for Nellie, as she desires to catch his romantic attention. While set in a different time, some of the social mores in the novel may seem particularly outdated, but Walsh is exceptionally strong with characterization, creating a charming story that will immediately appeal to fans of clean-read romance.

A coming-of-age thriller packed with shadowy conspiracies and unburied legacies, Jordan Frost and the Awakening by J.A. Simmons is a YA adventure of slow-burning revenge and powerful self-discovery. Jordan, an orphan, has never met his parents, but after being swept into The Desert by a mysterious woman to avoid a malicious killer, he discovers the unbelievable truth of his ancestral origins. Quickly mastering the rigorous Ways of a secret warrior society, Jordan taps into a power he didn’t know existed to find the redemption he didn’t know he deserved. While the fast-moving story is undeniably exciting, the text requires a thorough edit, both for proofreading errors and to improve the believability of the dialogue, which tends towards over-explanation, rather than authentic conversation. That said, as the first installment of a new fantasy saga, the author has established a fascinating foundation that opens up many possible storylines.

A patriotic and passionate ode to citizenship as an idea and a state of being, Citizen Can: Just a Concerned Person Who Believes We Can Attain a Higher Level of Mutual Existence by John L. Hurlbut is a timely reflection on responsibility to ourselves, each other, and the nations we call home. A memoir, political primer, and self-help manual all rolled into one, the prose is philosophical but accessible, peppered with powerful quotes from great leaders and thinkers of past and present. Exploring societal dynamics, tribalism, and the contemporary landscape of immigration, citizenship, and national loyalty, Hurlbut makes a compelling argument for critical thinking, active listening, and greater compassion for the world we’re all co-creating together.

Designed to help higher learning institutions and educators increase retention and graduation rates among college students, Real Outreach: A Practical Guide to Retaining and Graduating College Students by Ezella McPherson, Ph.D. proposes a proven model to more deeply engage with young people and enhance academic outcomes. Supported by her lived experience as a collegiate student of color and her many years in academic advisory positions, this book offers actionable information on how best to help students succeed, beyond helping them pick classes and balance their schedules. From mentoring programs and novel technologies to supporting student organizations and facilitating networking opportunities, this thorough but concise framework is an invaluable model for educators, administrators, and parents navigating the collegiate landscape.

A harrowing and heart-opening tale of resilience, Should’ve Been Dead: Lessons from a Crack Addict Who Broke Free by Sweta Patel with Rory Londer delves into the psychology of addiction, the unexpected triggers that overtake self-control, and the journeys of healing and reinvention that can pull us back from the brink. Rory Londer spent nearly two decades as a crack addict, but transformed himself into a successful entrepreneur and a compelling public speaker, determined to share his hardest lessons after receiving a cancer diagnosis. Reminding readers that they too can transcend the greatest challenges of their lives, this gripping memoir reveals the weight of grief, the toll of substance abuse, the slippery nature of recovery, and the ultimate serenity of taking back your power.