Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews

Review: Rem’s Chance by Dave J. Andrae

Rem's Chance by Dave J. Andrae

Capturing the quiet struggle of a resilient generation with scathing wit and emotional depth, Rem’s Chance by Dave J. Andrae is a sardonic portrait of a generation.

A washed-up musician plagued by worst-case-scenario thinking rediscovers an almost forgotten passion when he embarks on a quest to uncover the past. After serendipitously running into an old bandmate in the midst of a tragedy, Remy Bruxvoort is catapulted back into the memories of his rock ‘n’ roll youth with Gene and Dusty, the other members of The Bubbling Samovars.

Setting aside his daunting ambition of writing a novel, and the painful stress […]

Review: Two by Nathan Nicolau

Two by Nathan Nicolau

A pair of young strangers embark on an unconventional odyssey through Charlotte, North Carolina in Two, a quietly wise novel by Nathan Nicolau.

When Howl observes Ella reciting a passionate soliloquy to a statue in the park, he breaks out of his comfort zone to get some answers. As their day intertwines, small talk turns into big conversation, and an unlikely wander blossoms into something far more precious – an adventurous reinvention for them both. From art, philosophy, and aesthetics to books, people-watching, mental health, and overbearing mothers, the narrative weaves through myriad themes in the pair’s joint quest […]

2024-05-28T12:15:35+02:00April 29th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Diary of the Broken by Malachi Lambert

Diary of the Broken by Malachi LambertIn the dark and lonely spiral of grief following the death of his beloved wife, Aaron returns to old comforting demons, even as his friends and children try to pull him back from the brink of crushing sorrow in Diary of the Broken by Malachi Lambert, a raw and relentless tale of loss.

From the bottom of the bottle to the tops of hiking trails, Aaron gradually finds a new lease on happiness with a community who cares, but the journey to get there is marked by tears, blood, self-reflection, and more than a few hangovers. Through Aaron’s dark internal […]

2024-04-10T15:40:05+02:00April 10th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Review: Finding Isobel by Mary Behan

Finding Isobel by Mary Behan

An absorbing and poignant novel about a woman’s search for identity and path in life, Finding Isobel by Mary Behan examines the complex and painful choices that can rip families apart, as well as the kind, loving choices that can bring families together.

Isobel has always had nagging questions about her roots, as her adoptive parents were reluctant to disclose anything about where she came from. In a quest to uncover her past, Isobel travels from Canada to New Zealand in an inspiring and emotionally charged journey, reflecting on the human need to have a sense of belonging with one’s […]

Ambitious’ Secret by Dameyon Allen

Ambitious' Secret by Dameyon AllenPosing hard questions about when we need to adjust our moral compass, Ambitious’ Secret: Hope’s Story by Dameyon Allen brings readers into the heart of Houston and its pulsing throb of hustlers, heartbreakers, and aspiring legends.

Hope is a fast-talking boss lady who knows how to work any player to get exactly what she wants. With her star on the rise, there seems to be no stopping her, until ambition collides with the unavoidable realities of an unforgiving game, in this brutal story of gritty city survival.

Allen’s visceral writing style is an uncut stream of consciousness, instantly immersing readers […]

2024-03-11T12:25:03+02:00March 11th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Wreck and Return by Tom Kranz

Wreck and Return by Tom Kranz Probing the complex emotions of a first responder and the physiological strain of getting by in America today, Wreck and Return: An EMT’s Journey Into and Out of Darkness by Tom Kranz is a powerful narrative loosely based on the author’s own dual life.

Moonlighting as a volunteer EMT while navigating the career perils of local news broadcasting, Griffin Ambrose is used to stretching himself thin, as well as calming his mind with an evening drink or three before switching career caps. Living in two separate high-stakes worlds begins to fray his nerves, and when a tragic swerve derails his […]

2024-03-08T12:37:43+02:00March 8th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Review: Insane Angels by Edward Nicholls

Insane Angels by Edward Nicholls

Miracles happen in the most unlikely places in Insane Angels by Edward Nicholls, a whip-smart peek into higher powers, both human and divine.

The only thing that can make a hangover worse – or at least weirder – is finding a halo inexplicably hanging above your head, and that is precisely the predicament of the otherwise unremarkable Michael Flagg, setting an original and smirking premise for this tongue-in-cheek novel. Though Michael considers himself a bit of a mad chemist, this seemingly heavenly accessory goes beyond garden-variety bizarre, and it doesn’t take long for the world to notice. Whether he’s being […]

Review: Clans by Frederick Albert

Clans by Frederick Albert

Showing the rise and fall of beliefs in two men connected by loyalty and brotherhood, Clans by Frederick Albert is a modern-day musing on race relations and the gap of ideologies still fracturing America.

Jimmy Brett is doing all right for himself, enjoying the fruits of early internet success, including a fancy Jaguar and a sprawling house he can almost afford, but he’s still missing someone to share it with. When a blast from his romantic past reappears, it feels like the chance at happiness he’s always dreamed of, but the timing is awkward.

Jimmy has just come into possession […]

2024-03-26T14:35:06+02:00February 5th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |
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