I read this book as part of a reading group and I’ll say up front that this is not my usual genre. There are eight stories in the volume. Six involve a female protagonist who seeks and finds love. One is a cautionary tale from the perspective of an 18-year-old girl about the perils of … More Lightning in the Snow, short stories by Virginia Babcock [Review]

          “You think you can guess where a book is going? Good luck. This is one of the most original plots I can remember.” The mind sleuth series from Bruce Perrin is filled with original plots, psychological investigations, and richly drawn characters. They are also exceptionally well-written, making them a pleasure to read. The Mind … More From the Mind of a Witch, by Bruce Perrin [Review]

This novella introduces the Galactic Culinary Society, a multi-species organization dedicated to exploring the galaxy looking for unique food experiences. Here, the search is for the legendary edible sonnets of Umami – poetry you can taste – which hasn’t been experienced in two hundred years. Our hero, Jeane Oberon, is a human who must match … More The Secrets of Umami (The Galactic Culinary Society) by D. R. Schoel [Review]

I’m a science fiction fan and had positive expectations for Mr. Flynn’s attempt to construct a serial space opera consisting of a progression of short stories. Naturally, the key to success is an opening segment that captivates the reader, who then can’t wait for the next installment. Unfortunately, for all its action, this story falls … More Mara’s Awakening (The Mara Files, Book 1), by Leo Flynn [Review]

If you are a fan of paranormal historical horror, you may well enjoy the second installment of Robert Herold’s Eidola (Eye-DOH-La) Project series, Moonlight Becomes You. The author takes us to post-Civil War Virginia, where the Ku Klux Klan is happy to lynch the Black member of the paranormal investigation team, where they have to … More Moonlight Becomes You (An Eidola Project Novel Book 2), by Robert Herold [REVIEW]

James S.A. Corey is the pen name of the two principle writing assistants of a fantasy author you may have heard of . . . George R. R. Martin. This explains the glowing cover quote from the Game of Thrones author on this Sci-Fi epic, billed as the first installment of The Expanse series. It … More Leviathan Wakes, by James S.A. Corey [Review]

The Russian Assassin is a prototypical spy thriller, with Russian spies, CIA spies, hired mercenary killers, a shadowy billionaire pulling the strings behind a global conspiracy, and a non-stop series of firefights, fist fights, torture, chase scenes, and plot twists. It’s a roller coaster of action that will keep all thriller fans happy and on … More The Russian Assassin (Max Austin Thriller #1), by Jack Arbor [Review]

First, kudos to Anthony DiComo, a gifted and experienced sports writer, for crafting the life story of David Wright and making it a pleasure to read. The writing here reads as if it’s David Wright’s voice, and it’s masterful in presentation and flow. Great job by a writer who rightly gets co-writer billing (rather than … More The Captain: A Memoir, by David Wright and Anthony DiComo [Review]