Immortal

Immortal by Josiah Akhtab

Reviewed by Daniel Ryan Johnson

If you have ever imagined a postapocalyptic diaspora of humanity to worlds unknown accompanied by vampires, immortals, and other supernatural beings, Josiah Akhtab answers all your questions in Immortal. Packed to the brim with action and intrigue, this page-turner is hard to put down.  Purchase Here.

The novel centers around Brandon and Ellie, partners working for the immortal Vanguard at the Porting City Detective and Vampire Hunting Agency on planet Vayne. While the story builds slowly at first, once the action gets going, it is a non-stop action-packed thriller that never lets up until you hit the back cover of the book. With vivid fight scenes and an endless supply of baddies, our protagonists’ adventures take them from rooftops high above the cities of planet Vayne deep down into the sewers.

Immortal is filled with mystery, grand plans of world domination, quests for vengeance, and plenty of gore. The characters in the book are intriguing, and discovering the various motivations behind their actions pushes the story forward and keeps the reader glued to the page.

Josiah Akhtab’s novel is not for those with an aversion to violence, as the fight scenes in the book are vivid and plentiful. While action of this level can be hard to capture in writing, the author paints a clear and thorough picture that transports you to the scene and makes you feel like you are dishing out the hits and taking them yourself.

Immortal certainly isn’t lacking in originality. While the book contains many well-known creatures and staples of the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres, Mr. Akhtab combines them in new ways and provides plenty of unique ideas to make what could be a predictable story in the hands of a less imaginative writer a captivating and surprising tale that leaves the reader guessing. Around halfway through the book, it becomes clear that there is more story to tell than can be contained in the pages that remain, and when you reach the final period, you will be anxious to get your hands on the next book in this expansive epic.

Donkey-Donk

Horse Show! A Donkey-Donk Story (The Donkey-Donk Series Book 2) by Ellen F. Feld (Photographed by John Cebula)

Reviewed by Nancy Eaton

Donkey-Donk is a miniature donkey. She is going to a horse show and has big dreams of possibly winning a blue ribbon. Donkey-Donk knew there would be many obstacles. She had to practice. She might be required to jump, open a gate, and walk around cones. Before the show, she got a much-needed bath.  Purchase Here.

When Donkey-Donk arrives for the show, she is surprised by the number of horses present. This meant there would be a lot of competition. It did not seem to bother Donkey-Donk that she was the only donkey in the competition. She is prepared. Will she win a blue ribbon?

The one thing I love about children’s books is authors always emphasize a particular message. Donkey-Donk wants to prove that practice makes perfect. The story is simple and sends this message throughout the book. The photographs are adorable. Who wouldn’t fall in love with Donkey-Donk’s face? I know I did! This book is recommended for ages 2 and up.

 

My Father's Suitcase

My Father’s Suitcase: A story of family secrets, abuse and betrayal – an

Reviewed by Lily Andrews

“My Father’s Suitcase” is a heartfelt memoir that chronicles author Mary Garden’s struggle with sibling abuse, an understudied and rarely spoken kind of domestic violence.  Purchase Here.

Garden’s life altered radically when her younger sister, Anna, began to physically abuse her during their childhood. Her reaction to this was one of fury and terror at what the sibling, who suffered from mental illness, might do to her next. Garden was always under the impression that her turbulent family life had a significant part in the disintegration of her connection with her sister since she had a violent father and a melancholy mother who was constantly running away from a past she could never bring herself to disclose to her spouse. Garden’s parents made her feel constantly alone by publicly supporting Anna’s actions and holding her responsible for all of her issues.

Her rivalry with her sister did not fade quickly; rather, it intensified throughout adulthood, leaving her deeply wounded and with a warped perspective on life. Garden was especially horrified to hear that her sister had embarked on a project that she believed to be an extension of her abuse. Her brother Robert and other family members were aware of the situation but opted not to notify her. This served as the last blow to her hopes of ending Anna’s pervasive hatred and rekindled her urge to exact reckoning—something she had long resisted doing.

The most prevalent type of domestic abuse today is the subject of this real, thoroughly researched story. Through it, the author exposes the behaviors and potential consequences experienced by those who attempt to conceal and repress their stress. This is the ideal book for people who have controlling or abusive siblings because it provides guidance on self-rescue and clarifies what many perceive to be typical sibling conflict. When sibling violence is ignored and persists in the lives of many individuals, society bears a heavy price.

“My Father’s Suitcase” effectively illustrates the need to close the knowledge gap that currently exists on sibling abuse. “My Father’s Suitcase” is highly recommended.

 

The Prophet Song

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

Reviewed by Teri Takle

Families can be complicated. For Eilish Stack, having a full-time job as a scientist, and having a husband, four children, and an aging father is often overwhelming, but she feels competent in her abilities.  Purhase Here.  

Her husband works as a trade unionist and frequently faces opposition, even from the government.

The characterization is phenomenal.   The reader becomes Eilish as she struggles to keep her family and their everyday life together while she questions what is happening around her.
The structural aspect of Prophet Song is disturbing. There are no paragraphs and no quotation marks. This style abnormality becomes troubling to read, but it perfectly parallels what is happening in Eilish’s life. She is trying to save her family because she has to choose what is most important for her family..

The purpose of any novel is to teach the reader another perspective, another insight. Prophet Song unquestionably deserved the Booker Prize last year. The writing is clear and vivid, placing the reader in the protagonist’s shoes. You feel like you are Eilish and wonder what is best for you and your family.

Prophet Song is dystopian fiction at its best.   You think, almost become haunted by the characters’ circumstances, wondering how you would act if this happened to you.

Paul Lynch is an Irish author who has won numerous prizes worldwide for his previous novels.
His choice of setting Prophet Song in Ireland is brilliant.

Some of my favorite bits of wisdom from this book are, “…seeing that out of terror comes pity and out of pity comes love and out of love the world can be redeemed again,” along with ” the fury of some god incarnate in the mouth of the prophet raging at the wickedness that will be cast out of sight, and the prophet sings not of the end of the world but of what has been done and what will be done and what is being done to some but not others, that the world is always ending over and over again in one place but not another and that the end of the world is always a local event…”
Prophet Song is disturbing, a must-read, a haunting tale that leaves the reader reevaluating what is essential in their life and what becomes their breaking point. What will you do?

Bella's Fables

Bella’s Fables by Deb Evans

Reviewed by Michaela Gordoni

Bella’s Fables by author Deb Evans is a charming book about a mama golden retriever who teaches her children how to behave by telling age-old stories. Each night in their barn at the farm, Bella rounds up her playful puppies, Abby, Emma, and Freddy, and tells them a timeless story that teaches them a valuable lesson. Full of innocent curiosity, the little puppies are eager to listen and learn about each story’s characters and how they benefitted from doing the right thing, or suffered because they didn’t. Bella tells her pups classic Aesop’s fables like The Ant and The Grasshopper, Four Oxen and a Lion, and The Bat and the Weasels.  Purchase Here.

The stories sound great while being read aloud. What makes Bella’s Fables particularly engaging is the interactive nature of the storytelling. Deb Evans has done an excellent job of creating her canine characters and setting with young children in mind. Kids will be captivated by the lovable puppy character’s and resonate with them as their own parents read them these stories. Through Bella’s narratives, children are not only entertained but also encouraged to reflect on moral principles. These chapters are perfect for read-aloud sessions before bed. Evans expertly weaves in the classic Aesop fables, and has her puppy characters ask follow up questions which Bella answers. This fosters engagement and encourages critical thinking in children. Each fable teaches an important lesson, from sticking together to survive, to being wise, preparing, and why it isn’t good to be too greedy. The puppies have funny little sayings like kids do, but they still act cute and cuddly, playful, just as real puppies are.

The book occasionally has wonderful, cute illustrations that help bring the book’s characters to life. Children are sure to love looking at the pictures. While the absence of credit for the illustrations’ artist is a curious omission, the illustrations undoubtedly enhance the reading experience, captivating young imaginations. Evans goes the extra mile by including some fun activities for kids to enjoy in the last pages of the book. These include mazes and word puzzles that tie-in with the book’s theme. These additions not only reinforce learning but also provide opportunities for children to engage with the material in a playful manner.

Overall, this is an excellent book for parents to read to their kids. Bella’s Fables is a thoughtful gem for parents seeking to instill moral values in their children while fostering a love for storytelling. With its endearing characters, timeless lessons, and interactive elements, this book promises delightful bedtime reading sessions. In the effort of keeping things fun and simple, it’s a creative way to learn about Aesop’s fables. It’s a book that is both joyful and meaningful to parents and children alike.

Pebbles and the Biggest Number

Pebbles and the Biggest Number: A STEM Adventure for Kids by Joey Benun (Author), Brooke Vitale (Editor), Laura Watson (Illustrator)

Reviewed by Teri Takle

Pebbles and the Biggest Number is a children’s book about Pebbles, a butterfly, and his adventures.

Pebbles counts the flowers in the garden daily.   Life gets boring when you only get to count small numbers.    After counting his eyes, wings, legs, and all the flowers visited, Pebbles realizes that there are many more numbers and things to learn as he sets off on an adventure to discover enormous numbers.  Purchase Here.

As Pebble’s explorations begin, he discovers a different environment on every page, introducing a related vocabulary word for the new habitat along with connected facts, an animal, and always referring to some large number.

Pebbles and the Biggest Number is an excellent STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) book for young readers, ideally aged 4-8, or for students with special needs. The colorful pop-up bubbles on each page contain facts that can quickly be learned, helping developing readers become independent readers.

The various habitats and settings are colorfully and richly illustrated, and every page has text bubbles that perfectly match the pictures.   This compact 27-page gem travels from a flower garden to a desert, a tropical rainforest, a beach, an ocean, the mountains, a science lab, and space.   Each page is bright, engaging and inviting; speech bubbles are filled with text appropriate to the setting and involve large numbers.

What is most impressive is the vocabulary is not limited to young children. Words such as atoms, lifespan, tsunami, population, bacteria, and many more, as well as the concept of infinity, are all discussed.

This STEM book is perfect for young readers. Every page has a centralized theme with science and numbers surrounding the words. The vocabulary selected perfectly matches the pictures and compliments the setting.

What is truly unique about this small book is how engaging and exciting it is for readers of all ages.   I was engrossed with every page, not even realizing that I was learning as I read.

What stands out is the usage of large numbers appropriately into every-day life discussions.

The author, Joey Benun, decided to write this book after discussing big numbers with his nieces and nephews, making it his first published children’s book. The author also included his contact information, inviting the lessons learned from the book to continue with a possible letter-writing experience for him.

Laura Watson illustrates many books with her love of color using a digital platform that looks hand-painted. Their collaboration makes Pebbles and the Biggest Number a compact science gem in just 27 pages.

Feeling Special

Feeling Special by Jennifer Kurani (Author) and Valentina Jaskina (Illustrator)

Reviewed by Nancy Eaton

Turtle feels ordinary and sad. Why? When Turtle observed his friends, they all seemed to have a special ability. The squirrels can jump from branch to branch, bees could fly and make honey, rabbits could hop up and down, and fireflies could fly and light up the sky.  Purchase Here.

Turtle wondered what he could do to be special too. He could not do any of these things like his friends.  Then his special moment came. It started to rain and all of Turtle’s friends were getting wet. He hid himself inside his hard shell and stayed dry. Turtle now felt special. He no longer felt ordinary or sad.

Feeling Special is a large sized picture book. This book points out that even though everyone is different, they have something unique to make them special in their own way. The illustrations are delightful and match so well with each of Turtle’s friends. Some readers might consider this book to be a little dismal because the phrase “Turtle felt ordinary and sad” is repeated on many pages. I did not feel this way. To me the phrase was a way to build up the excitement for the moment Turtle realizes he is special too.

Feeling Special is recommended for ages 3-6.

What is a Family

What is a Family by Cassandra Hames (Author) Nila Aye (Illustrator)

Reviewed by Nancy Eaton

What is a Family points out the importance of the bond that families share even though each one looks different. The book emphasizes that friends can be considered part of your family. Many topics are covered such as support, adventure, laughter, helping each other, encouragement to lift your spirits, and bravery. What is a Family is an excellent book to read aloud to your little children.

The book cover really caught my eye! The cover is padded with board pages that make it perfect and strong even if little ones tug on them. It’s filled with animal families and a text that rhymes. The illustrations are colorful, bright and very cute. I loved the quote in the book that states “Remember love’s your lighthouse and your family is your sail”. That says it all! This book is a terrific gift for many occasions including baby showers, holidays, etc. because it stresses unconditional love and how a family is “love”.  This book is recommended for ages 1-5.  Purchase Here.

What is a Family is part of the Love You Always series. This series now consists of 11 books.

Broken Chord

Broken Chord by Alice A. Jackson

Reviewed by Lisa Brown-Gilbert

Alice A. Jackson’s Broken Chord: A Music Row Mystery, offers a compelling collaboration of love betrayal, passion, intrigue, and murder set in Nashville’s famous Music Row.  Purchase Here.

Captivating from the outset, we meet relatable protagonist, the beautiful but middle aged-beleaguered, Sarah Ann Boswell. She finds herself beset by the throes of a middle of her life crisis, when not only does she turn fifty years old, loses her husband to unfaithfulness and divorce, and feels largely ignored by her children, as well as finding herself unceremoniously fired from her job. At a loss for direction or self-esteem, Sarah Ann does the unthinkable and tries to take her own life; nevertheless, she survives with the staunch love and support of her longtime friends, her prayer group.

While hospitalized Sarah Ann meets godsend, the savvy, smart and talented, Jill Edgerton, who offers her the promise of a renewed life with an offer to join Edgerton Group, her Nashville based talent management firm. Accepting the offer, Sarah Ann embarks on a new and happier journey through life and into the alluringly lucrative world of the country music business. They strike country music gold with the advent of newly discovered artist Jared Parson. Although he’s handsome, talented, and virile he also seems to harbor a secretive side. Besides turning out to be a cash cow for Edgerton group, Jared also starts to cause a divide between partners Sarah Ann and Jill, as an illicit relationship forms between him and Jill. Moreover, events take a turn for the twisted and mysterious when Jill Edgerton is found murdered, leading to an investigation focusing on multiple, possible suspects including Sarah Ann.

Wholly entertaining, Broken Chord: A Music Row Mystery turned out to be an enjoyable read that moved as a crescendo does, steadily paced with slow building intensity that culminates into a well-orchestrated conclusion. The story itself was well written. Author Alice A. Jackson writes in a literate, polished, easygoing style, while the overall story keeps you engaged with its setting, plot twists and cast of resonate, fleshed out and likable, characters. I especially liked Sarah Ann, whose honorable personality, struggles and triumphs were easy to commiserate with. Additionally, the character of Jared Parson was also done well; he was a character whose formidable personality made him an engaging personality, albeit it was a “love to hate” connection. This book would make a terrific read for adult fans of mystery reads.

 

Leave No Choice

Leave No Trace by A.J. Landau (Jon Land and Jeff Ayers)

Reviewed by Russel Ilg

LEAVE NO TRACE, the latest thriller from Jon Land writing under the pseudonym A. J. Landau, is subtitled “A National Parks Thriller” for good reason. The book opens with a domestic terrorist attack on the Statue of Liberty and ramps up from there with more of America’s most iconic parks, monuments and memorials in the crosshairs.  Purchase Here.

If you think that’s all, though, you haven’t read a Jon Land book in a while. He teams here with fellow thriller maven Jeff Ayers who just happens to be an expert on all things National Parks. Adding that bite of reality to a heavy dose of knife-edged action makes this not just a surefire pick for best thriller of 2024, but also the most relevant. See, the bad guys, most notably a white nationalist general, are targeting America’s icons because they intend to burn the country down and rebuild it from scratch. Viewed from that perspective, LEAVE NO TRACE reads like a harbinger of what might truly be in store for the United States if we continue down the road we’re on.

Leading the charge to prevent that is the stalwart team of park service Investigative Services Branch agent Michael Walker and the FBI’s Gina Delgado who’s second-in-command at the FBI’s New York field office. Walker and Delgado cast aside their early jurisdictional squabbles to form a brave and able pair, as determined to stop the carnage as the villains are to murder ten million Americans in the centerpiece of their plan.

The action winds from Liberty Island, to Independence Hall, the Gateway Arch, and Zion National Park, before finally climaxing at Wind Cave National Park. Oh, and there’s also a flashback sequence on Mount Rainier where Michael lost both his wife and left foot in a violent confrontation with serial killers picking victims from park grounds. If you know your thrillers, you’ve probably already figured there’s more to that tragedy than meets the eye, ultimately forming the book’s biggest twist among many.

The fact that Michael has a prosthetic foot renders him the only current disabled hero in thriller fiction today, if memory serves. He’s the ultimate underdog, totally overmatched by the bad guys he’s taking on and yet able to prevail through a combination of guts, guile and knowledge of the rattlesnakes that call Zion National Park home. For her part, Gina serves up a comparable complement of gravitas and grit, especially in a harrowing sequence when she spirits the country’s first female president out of harm’s way and then must continue to protect her alone, since there’s no one left she can fully trust.

LEAVE NO TRACE is a rip-roaring, no-holds-barred thriller of the highest order that mines today’s political climate for a tale that should feel over the top, but instead flashes a bright red warning sign. That helps makes this series debut a stunning, truly terrifying triumph of pitch perfect storytelling, begging to be read in a single sitting. It’s the Super Bowl of thrillers where genre fans come out the biggest winners.