Review Tales
Trusted Reviews and Author Features Since 2016
Watercolors and Tears by José Orlando Castañeda (Book Review #1998)
Watercolors and Tears by José Orlando Castañeda is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery, set against the backdrop of immigration and the intricate web of human emotions. The novel follows Manuel, a young Ecuadorian who leaves his homeland in search of a better life in New York, and his wife, Elvira, who embarks on her own journey of transformation after a tragic shipwreck changes her path.
Read MoreWhen I Became Never by Nathalie Guilbeault (Book Review #1997)
Nathalie Guilbeault’s When I Became Never is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the dark recesses of the human mind through a complex web of revenge, madness, and narcissism. A stand-alone sequel to Inhaled, this novel delves deeper into the sinister psyche of Benjamin Rodriguez, a sociopath whose manipulative and toxic behavior leaves a trail of destruction across Spain, Nicaragua, and America.
Read MoreA Love That’s Sure by Tami Ullom (Book Review#1996)
Tami Ullom’s A Love That’s Sure is a heartfelt children’s book that weaves a touching narrative of love, healing, and resilience. With its tender portrayal of the bond between a grieving woman and an equally wounded shelter dog, this book offers a poignant reminder of the transformative power of love, even in the face of loss.
Read MoreHustling the Mob: The Mafia, Malware, and Murder by Don Spillane (Book Review #1995)
In *Hustling the Mob: The Mafia, Malware, and Murder*, Don Spillane crafts a high-octane, international crime thriller that keeps the tension tight and the stakes higher than ever. The story revolves around Joshua, a world-class hacker, and Sarah, a master safe cracker, whose skills are typically put to use pilfering the bank accounts of other criminals. However, when they rob the wrong target—a mafia-connected bank—they quickly find themselves in over their heads, running for their lives as both their talents and wits are tested like never before.
Read MoreThe Unbearable Lightness of Prose by By Brian J. Dolan
Writing has been a part of my life since childhood, but it’s rarely been for my own satisfaction, driven instead by mainly academic or professional concerns. In recent years, I’ve ground out several pieces a year for trade outlets, always with an eye towards a commercial outcome. Unsatisfying in the end, and a slog to write.
Read MoreA Crow in the Canyon by Melissa Widmaier (Book Review #1994)
**A Crow in the Canyon** by Melissa Widmaier is a gripping epic fantasy novel set in a world where elemental spirits, prophecy, and family honor intertwine. The story follows the Ganwin family on a dangerous quest to rescue their patriarch, General Nojhi Ganwin, who has been imprisoned for the murder of Chieftain G’Nirac and his daughter-in-law, Hereu. Despite his past as a traitor to the crown, Nojhi’s family—his wife Messa, sons Marl and Natsir, and other allies—are determined to free him.
Read MoreA Woman Like Maria by Gabriel Constans (Book Review #1993)
In *A Woman Like Maria*, Gabriel Constans delivers a deeply reflective and emotionally charged narrative that spans decades, exploring the life of Sophia, a young woman whose journey of self-discovery unfolds through her relationships and the choices she makes.
Read More*Devil by the Tail* by Caroline Lavoie (Book Review #1992)
*Devil by the Tail* by Caroline Lavoie delivers an intense blend of folklore, mystery, and coming-of-age challenges. Seventeen-year-old Alex is fiercely independent, stubborn, and reluctant to acknowledge a curse that supposedly runs through her family. When her mother left, Alex wrote it off as an excuse to avoid their tough life in the Rockies, despite local legends of a shapeshifting trickster—the chat-cornu—that brings doom to those who encounter it.
Read MoreHunted by Fate by Adam Opaciuch (Book Review #1991)
*Hunted by Fate* by Adam Opaciuch weaves a gripping narrative that spans decades and continents. The story begins in 1973 with the brutal murder of a New York City restaurateur, which lands David Archer in a psychiatric hospital under dubious circumstances. Pamela Gordon, a Legal Aid attorney, is convinced that Archer may not belong there and starts investigating his case. Her quest leads her to an astonishing, thirty-year-old tale from World War II-era Poland, where the Polish Resistance embarks on a dangerous mission to capture a Nazi scientist.
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