Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews

Revealing how everyday lives can be extraordinary in countless ways, Revolution by David Dorrough is a deep dive into a Southern California social bubble with a cadre of well-drawn characters and drama aplenty. A commentary on the epic level to which we raise the banalities of our own lives, and the struggle to achieve or feel contentment in the modern world, this book cuts deep into our current culture.

Each player in this drama represents some small and strange slice of California dreaming – seeking something better, newer, faster, sexier, but ultimately finding their hopes dashed, or their expectations unmet. […]

Honestly told and deep in its wisdom, The Uncanny Redemption of Philip E. Loeser by Robert T. Krantz is a clever slice of character-driven drama.

Phil Loeser has been bouncing from one fight to another since childhood, and while he self-identifies as a good guy who never starts a fight, he certainly knows how to finish them. When his temper and fists get him into deeper trouble than usual, unexpected sources of hope appear before him – genuine chances to turn things around, if he can only manage to keep his head on straight.

First, there is the angelic face […]

A short but evocative novella that explores loss, forgiveness, and righteous revenge, Desperate by Narcisse Lorraine Moungounda Pemba is a stark and stunning read.

After discovering that what she knows of her past is far from the whole truth, Amy embarks on a dangerous plan to right the wrongs of her sinister stepmother, Tammy. On the night of their 18th wedding anniversary, Amy testifies to the years of psychological, emotional, and sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of Tammy, escalating the war that has been brewing for years.

Amy finds allies in unlikely places, among those still loyal to […]