Dead Reckoning by M. Ray & T. Vannier

Dead Reckoning (a great title) is a novella-length story about an incredible and terrible accident that occurred off the California coast in September 1923 involving several Clemson-class naval destroyers. I picked up this book because I like historical fiction, and I like stories set at sea. It’s also always great to get to read about…

76 & the Odd 93 by Paul Jameson

This is my second novel by Paul Jameson (I also read and reviewed his novel, Nightjar), and I’m now confident in saying he is equal parts a masterful storyteller and a marvelous crafter of words. (And I say that as someone who doesn’t usually read either folklore or horror.) Grim, gritty, and atmospheric (the author…

Knight in Paper Armor by Nicholas Conley

First, let’s start with the title. Every good novel needs a good title. Not enough attention is paid to good titles. (I’m especially looking at you right now, traditional publishers.) But “Knight in Paper Armor”? That’s a title I wish I had come up with myself. Kudos to the author for coming up with a…

Creating Cinderella (Anthology)

“Creating Cinderella” is a collection of twelve short stories all based on the traditional Cinderella fairy tale. I have never actually read the original “Cinderella,” but I am familiar with the fable and the 1950 Disney film. As a “fresh take” on Cinderella, this story collection included a variety of point of views, including the…

Nightjar by Paul Jameson

Wow. I picked this novel to read as part of #IndieApril, and I am so glad I did. I read “Nightjar” slowly because the writing was so lyrical, haunting, and atmospheric that I wanted to take my time and enjoy each page. I found myself stopping repeatedly as I read to reread particularly stunning passages.…

Empire's Daughter by Marian Thorpe

So let’s start with an admission on my part: I’ve never actually read a historical fantasy before. I love magical realism, but I find the world-building and all the rules in fantasies to be a little too confusing and tedious; I tend to like my fiction set closer to the real world. (To give you…

Big Mouth Blues by Danalynn Donovan

I read this book through Kindle Unlimited for #IndieApril. It’s the first book I have read by the author. From the first page, I found Kacy’s story gripping and thought-provoking. A very realistic, believable, and difficult story about child abuse handled with extreme sensitivity and tact. I would definitely read another novel by the author.…

Resilience in the Face of Multiple Sclerosis by Dr. Brandon Beaber M.D.

Over a million Americans live with MS—a debilitating and widely varying neurological disease which comes in many forms and progresses in different people at widely different rates. In this absorbing and truly exceptional book, Dr. Brandon Beaber, a neurologist who works with patients with MS, explores the concept of developing resilience and overcoming adversity using…