< Back Alex Poppe Jinwar and Other Stories A collection of short stories about the experience of women in the aftermath of war. Jinwar and Other Stories is a collection of six short stories from author Alex Poppe about the experiences of young women, following the war in Syria and Iraq. ‘Jinwar’ is the story of a student nurse at a VA Hospital, who has to care for the ex-commanding officer who harassed and raped her. She describes how she was dishonourably discharged from the Marine Corps for reporting the rape, and attempted to take her own life. She goes on to work at a hot dog stand, and several failed jobs later, she works as a volunteer in Jinwar, a women-only, ecological self-sustaining village, to teach women self-defence. ‘Road Trip in War Time’, tells the story of a woman conducting research in Iraq, and a car journey to Erbil with male strangers. ‘V’ is about a Kurdish-American teenager from Oakland who is lonely, isolated and at risk of radicalisation. ‘Kurdistan’ tells the story of a teenager from Tennessee, whose parents fled to the US during the Saddam regime. After both of her parents die, she is sent to Kurdistan to live with her aunt and must learn how to adapt to Kurdish life and culture. ‘Mosul’ is about a woman who helps another woman to run away to a shelter after she is raped by her brother. The women resort to desperate measures, after she becomes pregnant. ‘Ras al-Amud’ tells the story of a nineteen-year-old woman who experiences unimaginable grief following a miscarriage. Jinwar and Other Stories is an affecting and deeply moving work of fiction by author Alex Poppe, about the aftermath of military conflict in the middle east, and its impact on women and girls. Poppe was compelled to write the book after hearing the stories of survivors of rape in the military. This short story collection shows that women and girls suffer disproportionately during and after war. Existing inequalities are magnified, and social networks are disrupted, making them more vulnerable to gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation. Yet, they show remarkable strength and resilience in conflict situations. While this book is a work of fiction, the experiences of real women ring out from every page. With sharp and eloquent prose, and carefully considered settings and characters, this is a powerful collection of short stories by Poppe. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: An affecting and deeply moving novel about the aftermath of military conflict in the middle east, and its impact on women and girls. Purchase here

< Back Terry Kirk Pitfall Frank Cork had it all. As head trader at Chicago’s leading commodities brokerage firm, Frank made a fortune trading wheat futures. He lived the good life, with his beautiful wife Katrina and their two children. Frank witnesses a gangland shooting and fears for his life when he is noticed by the shooter. Shortly after, Frank’s entire fortune is wiped out when the price of wheat plummets during the 1929 stock market crash. Frank flees to Canada, to escape the mob and recover his losses, leaving behind Katrina and the children. While the firm tasks intern Lewis to find Frank, the police open an investigation into his disappearance. Frank has a plethora of enemies, and the police suspect foul play. Frank travels to the Canadian Prairies where he adopts an alias and takes refuge with a local family. He partners with a bootlegger and begins to smuggle Canadian whiskey to the United States, while secretly orchestrating a high-stakes wheat futures deal to recover his losses. Meanwhile, Katrina, struggles to keep their family afloat and forms a bond with Lewis, who continues to search tirelessly for Frank. Frank’s journey is fraught with challenges, including encounters with mobsters, a relentless investigator, and a rival from the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. Pitfall by Terry Kirk is a gripping historical fiction novel set in Chicago during the 1929 stock market crash. The story follows Frank Cork as his life unravels amidst financial ruin. The novel offers a fascinating insight into Chicago’s financial world, wheat trading, and the great stock market crash. The vivid descriptions of Chicago’s financial district and the wind-swept Canadian Prairies create a rich, atmospheric backdrop for the drama. The characters are well-developed, particularly Frank and Katrina, whose personal struggles feel authentic and relatable. The novel combines historical drama with personal introspection, making it a must-read for fans of character-driven stories and historical fiction. Star rating : 5 Stars Summary : A compelling and emotionally charged historical fiction novel, with memorable characters and a gripping plot inspired by real-life events. Purchase here

< Back Cynthia Hughes Live...But LIVE! Author Cynthia Hughes, tells the story of her diagnosis, treatment and recovery from cancer In 1987, the author Cynthia Hughes was diagnosed with breast cancer, at thirty-two years old. As a wife and mother of four young children, the diagnosis was devastating for the family, and Cynthia experienced a range of emotions from pride, shame, fear and a feeling of failure. Cynthia was told that surgery was the only solution to sustain her life, and underwent a full mastectomy, followed by two rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. She remained strong and positive throughout her treatment, by following her faith and choosing to live her life. Following the treatment, Cynthia was advised not to have another baby, as the increase in oestrogen during pregnancy could cause the cancer to return and the cells to grow rapidly, which would put her life in danger. Thirty-nine months following her surgery, Cynthia fell pregnant and was advised by doctors not to continue the pregnancy. Cynthia ignored the doctor’s advice, followed her faith, and gave birth to a healthy baby boy. The cancer did not return, and Cynthia later went on to have two more healthy babies, another son and a daughter. Thirty-six years after her cancer diagnosis, Cynthia wrote Live...But LIVE! to document her cancer journey, to share her faith in Yah, to help and support others, and to encourage others to choose life. Live...But LIVE! Is a beautiful and inspiring memoir from author Cynthia Hughes, telling the story of her diagnosis, treatment and recovery from cancer. Cynthia describes how her faith in Yah got her through this difficult period in her life, and how she chose to live her life, rather than focus on death. Cynthia describes the ten keys that allowed her to experience faith and live her life to the fullest. Cynthia’s story, guidance and keys may help others who are going through difficult times. This book provides a great record of Cynthia’s journey, which will be treasured by her loved ones for years to come, and will provide comfort, hope and inspiration to others. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A beautiful and inspiring memoir that will provide comfort, hope and inspiration to others. Purchase here

< Back J.R. Rice I Was, Am, Will Be I Was, Am, Will Be is a powerful and deeply personal poetry collection about identity, growth, love, family, and the search for freedom. Through the voice of Jonah Tarver, J.R. Rice creates a journey that moves across Europe while remaining rooted in Oakland, California, and in the memories that shape a person’s sense of self. The collection begins with Jonah leaving the United States after a period of profound change. His travels through Spain, Greece, France, and the Netherlands become a space for reflection and discovery. Rather than simply describing new places, the poems use travel as a way to explore what it means to carry one’s history, hopes, fears, and dreams into unfamiliar surroundings. The recurring statement “I was, am, and will be” gives the book its emotional center: identity is not fixed, but continuously formed through experience. Rice’s writing is energetic, rhythmic, and intimate. His poems often move with the force of spoken word, combining repetition, rhyme, humor, cultural references, and direct conversation. This style makes the speaker feel immediate and present, as though he is inviting the reader into a private journal, a stage performance, and a personal letter at once. A major strength of the collection is its commitment to writing as an act of survival, remembrance, and connection. In “Affirmations (Why-Write),” Rice presents writing as a necessary response to personal pain, community struggle, and the legacy of people denied the freedom to read and write. The poem transforms self-expression into a responsibility: to speak, to witness, and to create meaning where silence might otherwise take over. The collection also gives considerable attention to family, particularly the bond between Jonah and his parents. “Last Letter (Ode-Dad)” and “Depends (Good-Night)” portray a father’s illness with tenderness, honesty, and enduring love. These pieces highlight the difficult changes that occur when a child becomes a caregiver, while also honoring memory as a way of preserving a loved one’s presence. Poems such as “Who I Am (Remains)” and the closing “Sankofa (Faith > Doubt)” emphasize that a person can acknowledge pain without being defined by it. The collection ultimately celebrates the possibility of returning to one’s roots, reclaiming what has been forgotten, and continuing forward with purpose. It is a book about becoming: learning to face the past, value one’s voice, and choose a future shaped by faith, memory, and self-belief. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A vivid, courageous collection that blends personal testimony with cultural reflection. Purchase here

< Back Paul Sanders Victim or the Crime - The Day Before Jerry Died: A Grateful Dead Thriller A successful author is forced to relive his childhood abuse in order to clear his name. Dan Wilcox wakes up one morning with a gash on his head, and his shirt slashed and splattered in blood. He cannot recall how he got into that state and realises he has lost four days of his memory. He changes out of his blood-stained clothes and decides to retrace his steps back to the last thing he can remember, a visit to his parents’ home in Marquette, Michigan . Dan had not spoken to his parents in fifteen years, and he had hoped to speak to them to help him deal with unresolved childhood trauma. He travels to his parent’s house and finds the house ransacked, and his mother dead on the kitchen floor, with a knife sticking out of her neck. Dan calls the police and then Diana, a p sychiatrist who as helping him process the neglect and abuse he suffered as a child, from his mother and father. Detective Robinson is assigned the case and Dan is suspected of killing his mother to inherit her wealth. Dan learns that his father has been dead for several years and his sister Louise has been missing for many years, also presumed dead. His brother, Mark, lives in California and has a solid alibi. Dan is confident he played no part in his mother’s murder and begs Diana to perform hypnosis. Diana refuses but she does review his case files and recorded therapy sessions. When Dan’s bloodied clothes are found by the police, he feels he has no choice but to run. He confides in Diana, and she agrees to flee with him, to try and help him solve the mystery of his mother’s death. As the fugitives travel across the country, they are pursued by Detective Robinson and the Michigan State Police. Dan has flashbacks to the scene of the murder, and he is forced to relive painful childhood memories. As the runaways attempt to track down Dan’s estranged relatives, they discover sordid details about his father’s meddling in a juvenile court case, and the truth about his sister’s disappearance. Victim or the Crime - The Day Before Jerry Died: A Grateful Dead Thriller is a tense and gripping psychological thriller by author Paul Sanders. The novel is a well written, authentic and believable work of crime fiction. Told partly through Dan’s flashbacks with graphic descriptions of childhood abuse, it is a harrowing and difficult read in places. I enjoyed the weaving of the Grateful Dead throughout this story, and the musical references. This is a lengthy novel (at 683 pages), but it flows at a good pace and is easy to read. The book will appeal to readers who enjoy detective stories, psychological thrillers, true crime and the Grateful Dead. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A tense and gripping psychological thriller about one man’s search for the truth. Purchase here

< Back Leah K. Hollon Unwinding the Imprints of Disease: Transforming Intergenerational and Transgenerational Trauma Book blurb... What if the illness you carry didn’t start with you? What if the pain you feel, physical or emotional, is the echo of a story your body inherited? In Unwinding the Imprints of Disease, Dr. Leah Hollon, ND, MPH, invites you to explore a groundbreaking truth: the roots of suffering can extend beyond your lifetime, embedded in the experiences of those who came before you. Through the lens of modern epigenetics and ancestral insight, she reveals how trauma, whether recent or ancient, can shape your health, emotions, and identity. Purchase here

< Back Deborah Erdmann Muriel Finch and The Pageant of Secrets Book blurb... The annual Ms. Seaglass Cove Pageant is meant to celebrate talent, friendship, and community spirit. Instead, it becomes the center of a growing mystery when a series of unsettling incidents threatens to overshadow the competition. "PRETTY THINGS BREAK." A chilling message scrawled in lipstick appears on a dressing-room mirror. A contestant's gown is sabotaged just days before the pageant, and suspicion begins to spread. What starts as harmless rivalry soon gives way to fear, leaving everyone wondering who can be trusted. While her sister Ellie competes for the crown, Muriel Finch finds herself drawn into the investigation. With her sister Ava at her side—and Houdini, her loudmouthed parrot, providing plenty of unsolicited commentary—Muriel discovers that the attacks are only the beginning. Beneath the pageant's polished smiles lies a decades-old injustice someone is determined to avenge. As opening night approaches, Muriel must uncover the truth before another innocent life is shattered. Because in Seaglass Cove, yesterday's secrets always find their way back into the spotlight. Purchase here

< Back Maurice Hicks Looking for Trouble Maurice Hicks’s memoir ‘Looking for Trouble’ is a compelling and deeply personal account of his two-decade career in law enforcement, offering readers a raw and honest look into the challenges, triumphs, and moral complexities of policing in Baltimore and Prince George’s County, Maryland. The book is structured as a series of vivid anecdotes and reflections, focusing on specific incidents and themes that shaped Hicks’s career, including his time as an undercover narcotics detective, his leadership role in the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, and his involvement in high-profile cases such as the dismantling of the Barksdale Gang and the apprehension of the crossbow rapist. Hicks’s storytelling is gripping and unflinching, immersing readers in dangerous situations like undercover drug buys, high-speed chases, and confrontations with violent criminals. These thrilling accounts are balanced with poignant reflections on the impact of crime on families and communities, as well as the toll that policing takes on officers’ mental and emotional well-being. Hicks also delves into his personal life, sharing the emotional weight of losing loved ones, the strain on his family, and the sacrifices he made for his career. Hicks addresses the racism he encountered within the police force and the challenges of being a Black officer in a predominantly White department. His reflections on disparities in treatment of officers and communities of color provide a thought-provoking lens to examine broader issues of inequality and injustice. The memoir also explores the moral dilemmas and ethical challenges of law enforcement, offering a nuanced perspective on the complexities of policing in communities affected by poverty, drugs, and violence. Hicks’s resilience and unwavering commitment to justice shine through, making his story both inspiring and impactful. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A must-read for anyone interested in true crime, law enforcement, or the human side of policing. Purchase here

< Back Margot Keene Maverick Key: Hearts on the Line Five years after the death of her brother Nathan in a tragic cave diving accident, Maddie Carter returns to the place where he died, Maverick Key, Florida. Maddie hopes to start a new life, open a veterinary clinic, and reclaim Nathan’s diving legacy. Before his death, Nathan discovered a cave site with evidence of fossilized remains, possibly linked to an ancient, cultured civilization. He died in the cave while searching for evidence, after his equipment failed. Maddie finds a map of the cave site in Nathan’s cottage, and a cryptic note, suggesting there was more to the cave accident than previously believed. She sets out to learn more about his research and uncover the truth about his death. When fortune hunters arrive in Maverick Key in search of treasure, she meets a widowed diver named Scott Rickter. Their friendship slowly develops into love, but Maddie keeps a secret from Scott that could threaten their relationship. Maddie continues her investigation, but there is someone in Maverick Key who is determined to make sure Nathan’s secrets remain dead and buried. Maverick Key: Hearts on the Line is a gripping romance and mystery novel by author Margot Keene. Set on an idyllic island just off the coast of Florida, Keene transports readers to a lush, tropical paradise of untouched natural beauty. But beyond the picture-perfect façade, Maverick Key holds deep, dark secrets. Maddie Carter’s quest to uncover the truth about her brother’s death leads to danger, unexpected love, and heartbreak. With a lush setting, a gripping plot and a compelling cast of characters, Maverick Key is a place readers will want to revisit. Maverick Key: Hearts on the Line is a strong debut that will appeal to fans of romantic fiction, mystery, and adventure. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A high-stakes cave diving adventure filled with mystery, suspense, and romance. Purchase here

< Back Randy Pressgrove This Car Sux!: Tales and Tips from a Life of Wheeling and Dealing Book blurb... “In THIS CAR SUX! Randy Pressgrove does an exemplary job of colorfully describing the process of getting an automobile from manufacturing through to the brand delivering it to dealerships and into the driveway of its new owner. . . You too may find yourself intrigued, curious, and perhaps tempted, as many of us have been, to wonder what it would be like to be a part of the dynamic story of the modern auto industry.” —John Szymanski, Vice-President, Holman Automotive Group. Purchase here

< Back G.S. Carline Blood Dragon Rising An enthralling first instalment in the Dragon Shadows series, by author G.S. Carline On the fictional Caribbean Island of Los Peces Pequeña, the French aristocracy are attempting to secure their future as rulers of the island by arranging a marriage between Lisette, the twenty-year-old daughter of the Duke and Duchess de Lille, and Eric, the son of the Count and Countess of d’Auguste. It’s Lisette’s birthday and her betrothal to Eric will be announced later that evening. Lisette isn’t too happy about marrying Eric, but she accepts the arrangement and her role as a future wife and mother within the French nobility. During the engagement, Eric suddenly announces he cannot marry Lisette, as it would jeopardize the islands relationship with Spain, and future trade opportunities. Lisette is drugged and kidnapped, and awakes a day later on board the L’Implacable, a notorious pirate ship, led by Captain Rocco. Lisette learns that Eric and his new lover Lady Mercedes de Medina have sold her to pirates to make way for their own wedding. By uniting the d’Auguste and de Medina families they hope to secure Spanish control of the island. Their plan is to displace Lisette, kill off the remaining members of the de Lille family, and inherit the families’ wealth. Rocco confines Lisette to his cabin before delivering her to a wealthy Spanish gentleman. Lisette manages to escape, and flees back to the ship where she finds a Blood Dragon feather and develops a close connection with her Captain. She soon settles into pirate life, and learns key seafaring and combat skills, but is determined to seek revenge on those who betrayed her. Lisette learns that Captain Rocco is afflicted by an ancient curse, and turns into a Blood Dragon after dark, seeking vengeance on all those who have wronged him. But when Lisette is accidently stabbed by one of his feathers, she too becomes cursed by the ancient magic. The couple discover that their lives are inextricably bound by the ancient curse, but will their desire for vengeance destroy them or unite them? Blood Dragon Rising is a fantasy fiction novel by author G.S. Carline, about a young woman’s fight for survival, following the ultimate betrayal of her fiancé. As a gentle noblewoman, protected from the outside world, she doesn’t stand much chance, but she develops into a strong, confident and determined woman, and a pirate you wouldn’t want to cross paths with! With a strong female protagonist, a captivating plot with an unexpected twist, and a fabulous cliff hanger that will leave readers wanting more, this book is a super, swashbuckling, fantasy adventure set on the high seas. I was fully immersed and engaged in this book, and I look forward to reading the next instalment. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A super, swashbuckling, fantasy adventure set on the high seas. Purchase here

< Back Alison Jean Lester The Sound of It Two families come together to build their dream home. Just four months into a relationship, serial entrepreneur Jeremy Markwick-Low and sound engineer, Su Watkins, decide to sell their houses and move in together. Su, a divorcee has one teenage daughter, Caoimhe. Caoimhe uses Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) videos to help her relax. Jeremy is a widow and has two sons, Ned and Tom. The two families move into a large rental property, while their dream house on farmland outside the city of Worcester is being built. The new house is a beautiful, modern, energy-efficient home, large enough for their blended family. It’s a fresh start for both families, as Su seeks stability and security following her divorce, and Jeremy sees an opportunity to impress his father. The family move into their lavish new home, and as the children adapt to their new family life, Jeremy proposes to Su. Meanwhile, Jeremy’s father buys Tom a gun for hunting. But as costs of the house build spiral out of control, Jeremy gets further and further into debt, and considers alternative ways to make some quick cash. With just under a week to their wedding, Su checks Jeremy’s laptop to get an update on the family finances and makes a surprising discovery. Su makes the difficult decision to leave the house and takes Caoimhe with her. But as she has no legal responsibility for Ned and Tom, she makes the heart-breaking decision to leave them behind. Will Su ever see the boys she loves so dearly again? Can Su ever forgive her fiancé? And what will happen to the beautiful dream home they built together? The Sound of It by author Alison Jean Lester is a compelling, modern-day family saga, which examines the unique challenges and complexities faced by blended families. This is a heartrending, and at times disturbing novel, told by Alison Jean Lester with authenticity and compassion. Many readers will relate to the families experiences and will empathise with Su as she discovers the truth about her fiancé. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A compelling and heartrending family saga, about the complexities of modern families, told with authenticity and compassion. Purchase here