by Mary Ann Trail Rating: ***** Jeffrey and Georgina Chadwick finally reach a bitterly cold, snowy Boston in January 1805 with their fellow travelers, Eliza, Lauchlin, and Granny Cameron, Paddy Cavanaugh, and two orphaned girls, Margaret and Mairi, all ready to settle down and begin new lives. But, when a dead body is found in the cellar of their rental house and the victim’s father requests Jeffrey’s help, the eight are forced to place their plans on hold to help find the mu

by Jennifer Wright-Berryman Rating: **** There appears to be no motive for the murder of Eric Graham, CEO of a green company start-up, although the words he whispers with his last breath to Shana, his Head Accountant, indicate otherwise. When Shana tells her terminally ill grandfather, Charles, about Eric’s murder, Charles knows this is a case for “The Dying Five”, (TD5) a secret society of, understandably, changing members operating from Courseview Hospice, all of whom are r

by Nat Chelloni Rating: ***** Headstrong Gina Leonardi wants to live life on her own terms but that is beginning to prove difficult when her family is in the Mafia and women’s rights are non-existent. Ruthless mob boss Renzo Castellano represents everything Gina despises but from their first encounter, their mutual attraction is undeniable. Both try to resist for differing reasons but when a mob arrangement requires them to form an alliance, how long can they hold out?... Fam

by Seeley James Rating: ***** Seeley James returns with more Sabel Security adventures, this time with Pia Sabel’s right-hand man and ex-Army Ranger, Jacob Stearne at the helm. Set in Latvia, Stearne is sent in to locate a hard drive containing details of a trillion-dollar revolutionary green technology which is possibly being sheltered by Betty Bardon, Hollywood actress, particle physicist, and her young band of physicist acolytes, the Electric Liberation Army. Problem is, S

by PJ Thomas Rating: ***** Waves is the second collection of poetry from Canadian poet, PJ Thomas. As the title would suggest, the movement, influence, and power of water in all its literal, figurative, and metaphorical guises form a strong, foundational theme for many of the poems. Thomas’ poetry is rich and immersive both in imagery and emotion, accepting and celebrating the natural world’s force and strength with us as scintillas by comparison to its infinite wonder, mys

by George Veck Rating: ***** North Wales and Christopher “Chrissy” Bray, drug dealer to the like-minded locals has no qualms with his place being used as a twenty-four-hour, hard-core party house complete with bare-knuckle boxing in the kitchen. In fact, he thoroughly encourages it. But, when events in the house take a sobering turn, for Chrissy at least, he tries to change, attending college and attracting a new set of friends. Thing is, Chrissy’s old pals have no intention

by John James Minster Rating: *** 17-year-old, Anna Dingel has had a strange upbringing. A religious fanatic for a mother and an undertaker for a father. It’s no surprise she’s not particularly popular with her peers. However, all that changes when she is given a makeover by her only friend, Naomi. Not only does she catch the eye of Timmy, the boy she likes, but she also receives unwelcome attention from the class bully, Bruce Barnette. As events with Bruce spiral horribly o

by James Grant Goldin Rating: ***** Set in the Caribbean in the early eighteenth century, The Further Exploits of the Pirate Queens , takes the reader back on the high seas with Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and Captain John Rackham “Calico Jack” at the helm of the Tigress . However, what Calico Jack doesn’t realize is that Anne has been keeping a secret from him, a secret named Kate who is nearly one and living in Cuba. Anne is determined to be there for Kate’s first birthday, and

by B.C. Walker Rating: **** Idaho, 1885 and a young couple, Simeon and Esther Rapp, together with their eight-year-old daughter, Cassie, arrive to begin a new life as homesteaders. They quickly become central players in the pioneer community and Simeon is integral in irrigating the arid landscape. Modern-day New York, and Emma Rose, an emerging star in the motivational speaking and business consultancy world is trying to cope with the death of her father whose wish is to be b

by Tom Batt Rating: **** Set in London in the late 1980s, Street Siren tells the story of a prostitute, Devlin Hunter, whose partner Roxy is viciously murdered, and her death is filmed for circulation as a snuff movie. Despite clues as to the identity of the killer, the police investigation yields little and when Devlin uncovers a lead, she decides to act alone… Street Siren provides an excellent couple of hours of escapism, the novel is gritty as the subject matter would s

by P. C. Darkcliff Rating: ***** Life is relatively simple for woodsman Baard Thon in the small village of Icecreek in the realm of Thorstorm. His days are spent logging for firewood, looking after his family, and roistering with best friend, Hareth Corwyn, whose sister, Diara, Baard hopes to marry. But then, a mysterious fog swirls through Icecreek leaving its inhabitants partially sightless, all except Baard. As the villagers realize the fog is the curse of a Wrathlord, I

by Robert Lanza & Nancy Kress Rating: ***** Gifted Neurosurgeon, Dr. Caroline “Caro” Soames-Watkins falls prey to a hostile online campaign, leaving her few options for employment and mounting financial obligations. When she is offered a lifeline by her Great-Uncle and Nobel laureate, Samuel Watkins to join the team at his medical research compound in the Cayman Islands, Caro takes the role despite misgivings. What she discovers, learns, and whom she meets there, will cause

by Mark N. Drake Rating: ***** Shards of Shattered Darkness is Drake’s debut collection of eighteen horror shorts, arranged in five themed sections, exploring horror in all its diverse forms and realms whilst being essentially character-driven. Having read Drake’s excellent Darkisle * series to date, I was more than a little excited when I heard he was going to publish an assortment of short horror fiction. My excitement was warranted; this is a truly satisfying and consider

by August Hill Rating: **** Life isn’t great for twenty-four-year-old, Randi Matheson, but it’s about to get a whole worse when her relatives are murdered during dinner by a supernatural beast that bites Randi. During the next full moon, Randi transforms into one of the monsters, nearly killing the remaining members of her family. When she becomes herself again, she is in the employ of “Division X” a secret company that deals with paranormal threats. The Boss of Division X g

by Bronwyn Elsmore Rating: **** New to the town of Rushton, Heather is keen to make friends and get involved. When she is asked to join three women to make up the numbers at their monthly card morning, she jumps at the chance. However, it soon becomes clear that the relationship between the three; Joan, Merryn, and Cecily, stretches back a long way. Can Heather inject new life into the group or was it a mistake to think she could?... I thought I was in for a curl-up cozy read

by George Veck Rating: **** One Visit introduces the reader to twenty-year-old Frankie Gibbs, desperately trying to keep his younger brother, Dazzler, out of care and shield the worst of their father, Guy’s, drug excesses and abuse from him. When Guy is sent to prison, Frankie breathes a sigh of relief, but only briefly, as drug dealers begin to circle Frankie’s home in North Wales and any chance of leading a normal life begins to disappear in a haze of addiction and destruc