“Never Enough Words” by Jack Hammond Jr.

Jack Hammond Jr.’s “Never Enough Words” digs deep into the lives of ordinary people struggling with the extraordinary weight of history, personal traumas, and the shifting societal landscapes of the American South. Readers should understand that this is without a doubt a heavy read, yet, through the expressive storytelling of Hammond, it is one that is worthwhile because it gives the reader pause. This novel is for thinkers, and I believe there’s no better time for a book such as this. … More “Never Enough Words” by Jack Hammond Jr.

“The Shard of Asclepius” by Stewart F. Brennan

Books, antique shops, and curious rocks.  A mystery that’s rooted in ancient mythology yet threatens to take over the world. “The Shard of Asclepius” is a story that will suck you in. You’ll find yourself turning pages, upset when life calls you out of the world that author Stewart F. Brennan has created so seamlessly. … More “The Shard of Asclepius” by Stewart F. Brennan

“Freja Born” by Jessi A. Charles

After completing her newest manuscript, forty-year-old Freja Born longs for rest (and a break from the LA heat) and heads to her idyllic Monterey vacation home. The introverted writer relishes dipping her toes into the ocean and long strolls with her dog, but fate has something else in store for her. When she runs into her neighboring friends, she gets reacquainted with their son, Frederik, who has transformed into a handsome young man in the two years since she’d last seen him. … More “Freja Born” by Jessi A. Charles

“The Far-Out Adventures of Marty Tomato” by Artemis Andreou

Mercado Tomato is an unusual name for a young school-age boy, that’s why he prefers to be called Marty. He doesn’t have too many friends, and he lives with his family in the small town of Greytown. There are four generations living under one roof that include his great-grandfather Big Pop, his grandfather Little Pop, and his father. They’re all quirky in their own way: Big Pop built the house where they live and spends most of his time in the basement fixing things, Little Pop is a hermit who hides out in his room, but his father is the most optimistic of them all. Life isn’t easy for Marty and that has made him a constant worrier with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and anxiety. Despite it all, he has an active imagination and a sense of humor. … More “The Far-Out Adventures of Marty Tomato” by Artemis Andreou

“Bended Love” by Kat Caldwell

Since assuming full-time guardianship of her nephew, Kentucky-based baker Scarlett has struggled to make ends meet. Without the right business connections, expanding her horizons to include private catering has proved unsuccessful. It seems she is doomed to be a small-town-farmers-market baker forever. With Ben’s father back in the picture and filing for full-time custody of Ben, and Scarlett’s slum landlord threatening to evict her, Scarlett needs a miracle to keep her nephew. … More “Bended Love” by Kat Caldwell

“Stranger in the Mind” by J.R. Berrywood & S.L. Aspen

“Stranger in the Mind” is the first book in the Umbra Mentis series crafted by author duo J.R. Berrywood and S.L. Aspen. In their debut novel, the authors introduce their readers to Amelia Dei. It is 1920 and Amelia has been promoted to detective in the Liverpool constabulary. As a woman in a traditionally male field, she is given all the not-so-exciting cases. It is when she comes across a case of unexplained comas and deaths at the Brownlow Hill Infirmary that she stands her ground and vows to solve the case. … More “Stranger in the Mind” by J.R. Berrywood & S.L. Aspen

“The Oracle of Spring Garden Road” by Norrin M. Ripsman

How does a promising young man wind up living on the street? Is it possible there’s a good reason for it?

“The Oracle of Spring Garden Road” by Norrin M. Ripsman may not give you the best answers in its 407 pages — when is there ever a satisfying explanation for homelessness? — but the ride will be compelling, fascinating, heartbreaking. … More “The Oracle of Spring Garden Road” by Norrin M. Ripsman