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Editor's Pick

The Last Advocate, by Linda Jane Goodman — Book Review

5.0
Reviewed by Maria Ashford December 1, 2024

“The Last Advocate” presents an ambitious and thought-provoking exploration of humanity’s final chapter on Earth. Set in 2098, Linda Jane Goodman crafts a richly detailed, dystopian Earth divided into stark zones – the privileged crystal zone, the struggling yellow zone, and the…

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Editor's Pick

Camel from Kyzylkum, by Lara Gelya — Book Review

5.0
Reviewed by Maria Ashford December 1, 2024

“Camel from Kyzylkum” captures one woman’s remarkable journey from Soviet Ukraine to building a life in the United States. Lara Gelya deftly chronicles her unique story, from her Ukrainian beginnings through twenty years in Uzbekistan, following her path through Austria and Italy…

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Editor's Pick

Citrus Bravo, by Christopher Quick — Book Review

5.0
Reviewed by Maria Ashford December 1, 2024

“Citrus Bravo” by Christopher Quick is a thoughtfully crafted blend of workplace comedy and cosmic science fiction that will delight fans of Kurt Vonnegut’s and Douglas Adams’ absurdist imaginations. The novel follows Arthur Bartlebee, a world-weary plumber aboard the eponymous Citrus Bravo…

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Editor's Pick

This Shape Is My Heart, by Reina Sasaki — Book Review

5.0
Reviewed by Maria Ashford November 27, 2024

“This Shape Is My Heart” by Reina Sasaki is a richly nuanced coming-of-age story that explores the dynamics of teenage friendship, the meaning of self-expression and the fragile nature of trust. Set in a Japanese town in the late 1980s, the story…

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Editor's Pick

Between the Clouds and the River, by Dave Mason — Book Review

5.0
Reviewed by Maria Ashford November 25, 2024

“Between the Clouds and the River” is a quietly powerful novel that snuck up on me with its depth and emotional resonance. Dave Mason’s writing has the lyricism of a poet, especially in scenes set in nature such as along Montana’s rivers…

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Editor's Pick

Little Brother, by Adam Cosco — Book Review

5.0
Reviewed by Maria Ashford November 25, 2024

“Little Brother” tears into our primal fear of losing control – not through tired possession tropes, but through the raw horror of having your own flesh turn against you. Where Jekyll needed a potion to unleash his darker self, Leslie Adams faces…

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Peak to Peak: Mastering the Appalachian Trail, by Jim Todd — Book Review

4.0
Reviewed by November 22, 2024

The Appalachian Trail stands as America’s most iconic long-distance hiking path, stretching 2,190 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. First proposed in 1921 and completed in 1937, this historic footpath traverses 14 states, 8 national forests, and…

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Editor's Pick

Secrets, Scars and Heart Shaped Jars, by Pattie Vargas — Book Review

5.0
Reviewed by Maria Ashford November 22, 2024

This heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful memoir takes readers through Pattie Vargas’s journey of unimaginable loss and resilience. The narrative opens with her divorce but finds its true power when delving into her children’s battles with addiction. Her son Joel’s story – from…

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Editor's Pick

Montjoy, by Curt Finch — Book Review

5.0
Reviewed by November 22, 2024

“Montjoy” is a gripping literary novella that masterfully weaves together multiple narrative threads exploring guilt, memory, and the echoes of historical trauma. Through the story of protagonist, a Jewish academic studying Nazi-era documents, and his parallel journey processing his son’s suicide, the…

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The Paroxysm Deception, by Jastrow Book Hill — Book Review

4.6
Reviewed by November 14, 2024

In this labyrinthine legal thriller by Jastrow Hill, the lines between justice and vengeance blur into a compelling exploration of human nature at its breaking point. “The Paroxysm Deception” distinguishes itself from standard crime fiction by refusing to paint its characters in…

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