The Kings of Vegas

The Kings of Vegas by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

In “The Kings of Vegas” by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman, Josie King is summoned home after her father’s death for the family reading of the will. Her father, Roy King, is among the few men who came into town with nothing, before rising from a mere idea straight into the American Dream. Upon reaching her father’s ranch, where everyone else is gathering, Josie learns that her father requires any sibling who is not a Nevada resident to become one, and anyone living outside of Las Vegas to move back. Also, he needs them to work together for three years at his famous casino, the Jackpot. Anyone who contests the will gets nothing under the attached “in terrorem” clause.  Purchase Here.

The book brings the reader into the Jackpot, a setting that feels like a character in its own right. It is where the character’s emotions, predicament, and worries take a name. Most outstanding is Josie, whose instincts, trained from a young age, tell us that all is not well beneath the forced smiles of family reunion and the veneer of wealth and success that her father spent a lifetime building. The story involves a union crisis that threatens to tear the establishment apart, a lover who turns out to be next-door competition, and an FBI agent who plants early doubts in Josie about her brother, who runs the business. A lot is thrown at the reader, leaving them to wonder whom to trust and who is telling the truth as various factors arise, threatening an already cracked household.

The story incorporates vivid imagery like “Red-tailed hawks circling their prey screeching like a coven of witches,” as well as gambling language- “a hot hand,” “blowing on dice,” when not referring to the game itself, making the conversations feel like a bet and a high-stakes gamble. Each chapter drops either a new revelation or another rumor, and every one of them leaves a mark the Las Vegas sun can’t quite bleach out. As the story progresses, the tension tightens into a web of suspicion, with small doubts slipping in until everyone ends up caught in it. Instead of offering easy answers, it keeps handing you more uncertainty, until the truth starts to feel like just another lie waiting to surface.

And so, “The Kings of Vegas” by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman will resonate with any reader who enjoys questioning every character’s motives and piecing together a puzzle whose pieces keep changing shape. It is a great slow-burn mystery with morally-complex characters and a family drama that refuses to tie itself up in a neat bow.

 

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The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted House

The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted House by Jan Berenstain and Mike Berenstain

Reviewed by Nancy Eaton

The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted House is a classic Bear Country story that’s spooky, silly, and comforting. It captures the fun of Halloween without becoming too scary for young readers, which is why it’s so effective.  Purchase Here.

Brother and Sister Bear explore a creepy old house filled with cobwebs, shadows, and classic haunted details. True to the Berenstain Bears vibe, the suspense never gets too intense. The “haunted” house is really just a backdrop for teaching kids that being scared usually comes from not knowing what’s going on, and that once you look a little closer, those fears can turn into something enjoyable.

The illustrations by Stan and Jan are expressive and detailed, with many small visual jokes for kids who like to look closely at each page. The spooky parts are drawn playfully, so even sensitive readers can enjoy the story without feeling scared.

The pacing is really what gives this story its charm. It creates just the right amount of suspense to keep everyone interested, and then it all ends on a good note.   It’s a great pick for autumn, but honestly, it fits any time of year if your kid enjoys a soft, spooky story.

Basically, it’s a warm, mildly spooky story that delivers the classic Berenstain Bears mix—soft life lessons, comforting family time, and a kid‑friendly way to talk about fear and bravery.

This book is recommended for ages 4-8.

 

 

 

 

Kauai Spies and Bald-faced Lies

Kauai Spies and Bald-faced Lies by Larry and Rosemary Mild

Reviewed by Lorena Padureanu

Larry and Rosemary’s book is such a wonderful discovery. Blending mystery, thriller, and espionage around a warm core of family and human connection, Kauai Spies and Bald-faced Lies completely draws you in from the first page to the last.  Purchase Here.

The novel opens in 1996 Russia, where Max and Anya Volkov are left without a home or a future after a brutal antisemitic attack, with no choice but to emigrate to America alongside their closest family. Over the span of years, we follow their journey, from fleeing a homeland that had nothing left to offer them to slowly, painstakingly building a new life in a place completely foreign to them.

After learning about the Volkov’s family history, the narrative shifts to the year 2006 and to Kent Brukner, former spy turned Honolulu attorney, whose quiet daily rhythm is disrupted when a mysterious new client draws him into a dangerous case filled with hidden agendas. What begins as a legal dispute over a stretch of land bordering a U.S. military missile range quickly spirals into something far darker — a web of secrets, espionage, kidnapping, and gunfire that tightens with every chapter.

Throughout the novel, we follow Kent as the case pulls him deeper at every turn, all the while becoming increasingly involved in the Volkovs’ unfolding fate in ways none of them could have anticipated.

As the tension and dangers deepen, eventually reaching into Kent’s own home and threatening those he loves most, his former spy instincts are tested to their limits, as the truth proves harder to reach than he ever expected.

Beyond the gripping mystery and nerve-racking suspense, what sets this book apart is the human warmth that runs through it. At the core of every challenge, every danger, and every difficult choice stands the sustaining force of family, friendship, and human connection. It is these bonds, between husband and wife, between sisters, between unlikely allies, that give the characters the strength to endure, to grow, and to find their way through.

The Volkov family stands as the novel’s most powerful example of togetherness in both joy and hardship. From the moment they are driven from their home in Russia, Max and Anya face every obstacle as one. Watching them navigate a new country and a new life, always side by side, is one of the most quietly moving threads in the entire book.

Kent’s home life is one of the novel’s other treasures. His marriage to Katcha feels completely genuine – a partnership of equals, full of mutual devotion and trust. When a colleague is invited into their home and glimpses the warm family life, she finds herself wondering, with a pang of envy, whether she will ever be that lucky.

Larry and Rosemary Mild’s own partnership shines through the characters and the relationships they have built — loyal, generous, honest, and real. Characters lean on one another across distance, difference, and danger, and those bonds prove as vital to survival as any act of courage.

Kauai Spies and Bald-faced Lies delivers on every front: the plot keeps you invested, the characters keep you caring, and the ending brings both threads together in a deeply satisfying way.

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Advent

Advent Blue by Roland Allnach

Reviewed by Timea Barabas

Roland Allnach’s Advent Blue is not a pleasant read in the traditional sense. If you are looking for a cozy book to curl up with before bed, this isn’t it. This is a book for readers who are willing to step outside their emotional and mental comfort zones and engage with something unsettling. Set against a backdrop of severe overpopulation on Earth and a blooming Mars colony, mankind is torn between implosion and expansion.  Purchase Here.

At first glance, Will Fortner appears unassuming. He dresses casually and does not seek to stand out from the crowd. Yet beneath this seemingly ordinary exterior lies a remarkable depth and complexity. Will’s bold perspective and strategic mindset are among the qualities that make him exceptionally effective in his work. He is willing to look directly at truths from which others turn away.

Will works as a map navigator at the Choice Institute, where he helps clients make informed decisions based on potential outcomes. The map contains a multitude of realities, each branching from the choices a person might make. Drawing on his expertise, Will interprets the complex data set and offers his perspective on which path may lead to the most desirable outcome. Ultimately, however, the choice remains with the client.

Throughout the novel, Roland Allnach explores the tension between fate and destiny. Fate is a self-fulfilling force that ultimately becomes self-defeating. Destiny, by contrast, remains an open question, shaped by the choices we make and the paths we choose to follow.

When Will is offered the promotion he has long aspired to, triple-A level, he finds himself questioning whether this opportunity is the result of fate or destiny. Regardless, he accepts the position. As he steps into his new role, however, a third and more unsettling force begins to emerge: manipulation.

By accepting the promotion, Will gains access to the deeper mechanics of the Map, as well as a clearer view of the Institute’s layered architecture. With this expanded role comes a heavier burden of responsibility. However, this is partially eased by the introduction of a mandated companion, Mirai Redwater.

Their partnership becomes an anchor to Will’s experience of his new position. As they work together, the evolving dynamic between them reveals unexpected emotional depth in Will. Together, they bleed out the past as they chart a future.

Advent Blue stands out as a psychological thriller set within an unsettlingly familiar sci-fi framework. Roland Allnach demonstrates a sharp ability to elicit strong reactions from his readers, surfacing buried emotions, raising difficult questions, and sparking thought-provoking discussions long after the final page. Do you accept the challenge?

 

 

 

Dadd

Daddy, I Love You by Elena Ulyeva

Reviewed by Nancy Eaton

Elena Ulyeva’s Daddy, I Love You is a gentle and heartfelt picture book about the special bond between a father and child. The story is about a young bear who loves being with his dad. What makes this book stand out is how honestly it shows real family life, from playful moments to small adventures, and the comfort of knowing Dad is always there to come back to.  Purchase Here.

Little Bear wants to spend each day being near his Dad.  Outdoors, he notices and laughs at the tiny things only children seem to catch, and he falls into those familiar quiet pauses any parent knows from having a little one always nearby. And those quick looks kids give — that mix of excitement and pure admiration — show up here too, the kind that makes you stop for a second because they just want to be close. Ulyeva keeps the feelings steady and believable, never pushing the sweetness too far, which is why the story feels honest rather than polished.

The illustrations are a highlight. They are bright, expressive, and warm, bringing the characters to life with soft textures and inviting colors. Each page feels cozy and welcoming, the kind of art that draws kids in and makes them want to look longer. The pictures show the father bear’s patience, playfulness, and love in a way that young readers can easily understand.

This book is perfect for reading together. It is short enough for bedtime, but still has enough heart to inspire extra snuggles and requests to read it again. It would make a sweet Father’s Day gift or a nice choice for any dad who wants a story about the joy of being with his child.

Overall, Daddy, I Love You is a warm and reassuring picture book that celebrates everyday love in an honest and simple way. It’s the kind of story families choose when they want something gentle, sweet, and full of heart.

Based on a True Story

Based on a True Story by Sarah Vaughan

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

I started Based on a True Story by Sarah Vaughan, not knowing what to expect. The story follows Dame Eleanor Kingman, a hugely famous children’s writer — the kind who’s everywhere and has sold an unbelievable number of books. You can feel the weight of all that success on her right from the start, tightening around her even before the book hints at anything darker.  Purchase Here.

There’s a moment early on at her birthday event where a little boy suddenly yells that she lies and makes everything up. It’s quick, but it hits her hard. His words shake her in a way that feels almost too accurate, like he’s spotted something she’s been trying to hide for years.

Next, we witness a dreadful moment as strange emails begin flooding her personal account. Their deliberate word choice leads her to believe that the sender either knows her just too well or knows something cold about her from before her fame. Here, the reader joins her as she tries to deduce the source, flipping through rejected manuscripts and a young woman’s first identity. You sense that failure to do that will not just be an embarrassment but the total annihilation of everything she has become.

What impressed me most was how the author weaves in secondary accounts of Eleanor’s children, including Rachel, who is her accountant, and whose husband is deeply weighed down by life-threatening financial issues. As I engaged with her, I felt the tragic irony of two women, a mother and a daughter, both terrified of exposure and both hunted by versions of themselves they want to keep hidden. Their stories move with what feels like tide pacing, each adding several inches of water with every new chapter. They are, however, made more interesting to follow by a critical detail, that one of them has long learned to compartmentalize all her negative emotions and thus cannot afford to feel any sorrow. As secrets unfold about her children, one wonders whether she might drift from them as she focuses on finding the anonymous sender.

The conclusion of Sarah Vaughan’s Based on a True Story left me stunned. As someone drawn to psychological suspense that digs beneath the surface, this hit exactly the right nerve. Readers who’ve ever felt the tension between their outward persona and their inner truth will find an uncomfortable, familiar echo in these pages—and that’s part of what makes it so powerful.

 

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Goodnight Sister

Goodnight Sister by Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt

Reviewed by Nancy Eaton

“Goodnight Sister” is a sweet, reassuring story about growing up, change, and the kind of sibling bond that makes even the scariest night feel safe.

Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt captures a moment many families know well: the first night two siblings sleep in separate rooms. Kat is thrilled to move into her own “big girl room,” while her younger sister Tina is… not so thrilled. The mix of excitement and anxiety feels incredibly true to life, and the book handles those emotions with a gentle touch.  Purchase Here.

What makes the story work is how honestly it portrays both girls. Kat wants independence, but she also wants to protect her sister. Tina wants to be brave, but she’s not quite ready to let go. Their back‑and‑forth feels tender and believable, especially when Kat shares her stuffed animals — each one representing something comforting or empowering. It’s a lovely way to show kids how we pass courage to the people we love.

When a storm rolls in, and the girls end up needing each other, the moment doesn’t feel forced. It feels like the natural reminder that growing up doesn’t mean growing apart.

Lucy Fleming’s illustrations add so much warmth. The soft colors, cozy rooms, and expressive faces make the book feel like a hug. It’s the kind of art kids will want to linger on.

It’s the kind of bedtime story kids ask for again, especially if they’re dealing with big changes or just need a little extra comfort at night.

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A Twist in the River

A Twist in the River by Stig Abell

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

A Twist in the River starts out feeling like a straightforward mystery, but it slowly becomes something more personal — almost like you’re watching someone get pulled back into a life they thought they’d stepped away from. Jake Jackson tries to keep his distance when Livia tells him about the missing woman’s belongings turning up. You can feel him trying to protect whatever peace he’s managed to build. He knows how cases like this can take over his mind, and he’s not eager to go down that road again.  Purchase Here.

But then Claire’s husband shows up, and the whole situation shifts. The man is exhausted, scared, and clearly out of options, and Jake can’t pretend he doesn’t hear the desperation in his voice. That moment pulls him back in, not because he wants the attention or the challenge, but because he can’t ignore someone who genuinely needs help.

The pacing is steady — not slow, not rushed — just steady enough to let the characters breathe. Jake feels like someone who’s been shaped by the things he’s seen, and Livia balances him out. She’s the one who keeps him from slipping too far into his old habits, especially once she tells him she’s pregnant. That news adds a different kind of pressure, the kind that makes every decision feel heavier.

What stood out to me is how Abell mixes the personal moments with the darker parts of the story. He doesn’t gloss over the reality of violence against women, and he doesn’t turn Jake into some larger‑than‑life hero. Jake cares, maybe more than he should, and that’s what makes him compelling. As people start praising him — both in town and online — there’s this uneasy feeling that the attention might not be harmless. You start to sense that something is building underneath all the admiration.

The suspense grows quietly, almost unnoticed. It’s the uncertainty around Jake that keeps you hooked, the sense that he’s walking into something he can’t fully see. It’s the kind of book you can read in a couple of sittings, but the ending hits with enough force that you keep thinking about it afterward. The final twist lands clean and sharp, leaving a little echo behind.

 

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Sometime This Century

Sometime This Century: A Regency Rom-Com by Samantha Silva

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

“Sometime This Century: A Regency Rom-Com” by Samantha Silva follows Annabel Blake, who has just finished writing her first novel titled “What You Wish For.” Her mother wishes she could instead focus on getting a real estate license and, in due time, move out of their house, even though she is still paying rent. Annabel is a Jane Austen fanatic and has even mashed up Austen’s heroines for her pen name.  She can’t wait to present her manuscript to her boss, Stella, who until now didn’t know Annabel writes. Stella, however, detests anything related to Jane Austen’s world. To her, Jane Austen is dead!  Purchase Here.

As a fan of Jane Austen, I couldn’t wait to see how Stella would react to Annabel’s Regency manuscript. In all honesty, the world Annabel captures made me early on agree with Silva that she might have been born in the wrong century. But what especially moved me was that Annabel had never fallen in love, so someone like Stella could easily believe she was way out of line to write about the Regency. And true to my suspicion, Stella advises her to rewrite the novel, but this time stick to what she knows.

Annabel is a woman her family believes is living in a fantasy world. I found myself appreciating what Silva does with her, including throwing her headfirst into a historical recreation of the Regency Society setting before sending her into another world where she gets to decide whether to write her love story or simply live it. Silva deliberately injects Annabel’s family’s sentiments here and there, as well as their pressure on what she should become. This made me, as a reader, care about and worry for her dream at the same time, especially for her influencer sister, Cassie.

“Sometime This Century: A Regency Rom-Com” is dialogue-heavy and is explicit in its reveal of the power of desire. It moves at a deliberate pace, every page sinking the reader into a world that some characters see as captivity but that the reader knows is the heart of the novel. It’s a great read, well-choreographed, and though dense, worth every page for a reader who’s ever wished for a world of their own.

 

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