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Confessions of a Wayward Baby Boomer, by Kevin Conway—Book Review

4.0
Reviewed by Maria Ashford December 30, 2024

“Confessions of a Wayward Baby Boomer” by Kevin Conway offers a compelling glimpse into both the glitter and shadows of 1970s Hollywood through one man’s tumultuous journey. This memoir traces Conway’s path from a child model in 1950s Long Island to his…

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Editor's Pick

Radishes and Red Bandanas, by Trudy Knowles—Book Review

5.0
Reviewed by Maria Ashford December 30, 2024

“Radishes and Red Bandanas” by Trudy Knowles captures the heartbeat of the Vietnam War era through the story of Becky Jamison, a young woman navigating love, loss and activism at Lake Forest College from 1967-1971. Rather than focusing solely on major historical…

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Death Follows Me, by Fenrir Bogear—Book Review

Reviewed by Maria Ashford December 18, 2024

“Death Follows Me” offers a haunting glimpse into the world of a medical examiner’s corpse transporter through a series of interconnected tales that blur the line between memoir, creative non-fiction and even a hint of poetry. Bogear’s (a pen-name) authorial voice is…

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Editor's Pick

Death’s Kiss, by M. M. Reeves—Book Review

5.0
Reviewed by Maria Ashford December 17, 2024

“Death’s Kiss” draws readers into a realm where naval power and supernatural gifts intertwine beneath the watchful eyes of ancient gods. M.M. Reeves crafts a dark fantasy epic that eschews typical maritime tropes, instead presenting a world where every advantage comes with…

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A Promise, by Amelia Martin—Book Review

Reviewed by Maria Ashford December 12, 2024

Amelia Martin’s historical novel “A Promise” subverts expectations from the start. Rather than focus on soldiers, resistance fighters, or political figures of WWII, she centers her narrative on three ordinary young people in Munich who have no special power or influence. Elisabeth…

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Editor's Pick

What’s So Bad About Being Poor?, by Deborah Foster—Book Review

5.0
Reviewed by Maria Ashford December 12, 2024

In “What’s So Bad About Being Poor?”, Deborah M. Foster delivers a raw and powerful memoir that serves as both personal testimony and pointed rebuttal to conservative poverty “experts” like Charles Murray. The book opens with Foster’s encounter with Murray’s provocative essay…

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Tales of Weirderland, by Kyle Steenblik—Book Review

5.0
Reviewed by Maria Ashford December 12, 2024

“Tales of Weirderland” is a charming and thoughtfully put-together collection of six interconnected stories that follows the adventures of royal siblings Iris and Cael Wilding. While the first volume presents more traditional children’s fantasy quests, as the stories go on they approach…

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Schlock, Featuring Russia Cop, by David Low—Book Review

4.5
Reviewed by Maria Ashford December 5, 2024

“SCHLOCK” is a deliciously odd collection of four interconnected stories that reads like a fever dream of post-Soviet absurdity. David R. Low crafts a world where Japanese music obsessives chase the ghost of Russian singer Viktor Tsoi through the streets and a…

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Editor's Pick

The Archer’s Diary, by Liam Cadoc—Book Review

5.0
Reviewed by Maria Ashford December 5, 2024

“The Archer’s Diary” blends medieval history with modern thriller in this ambitious novel by Liam Cadoc. When Logan Daggett’s parents die in a suspicious car crash in England, he finds himself inheriting mysterious ancient artefacts and discovering he has an unknown sister.…

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The Renegade Lightning Muffins, By D.I. Edwards—Book Review

4.5
Reviewed by Maria Ashford December 5, 2024

What truly elevates D.I. Edward’s “The Renegade Lightning Muffins” beyond typical American high school YA drama is its unflinching portrayal of the messiness of being sixteen – that volatile mix of moral certainty, hormonal confusion, and the desperate need to belong. The…

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