"The Inheritors" by Judith Kirscht is a novel of one woman grappling to find her cultural and personal identity. Tolerance of others and the need for communication is required from each of us is an overriding theme in this latest work of Kirscht that explores the complexities of human nature and family bonds.
"Home Fires" is an intelligently written, fast-paced family drama that unfolds into a suspenseful page-turner. Although this novel masterfully renders the emotional hardships and tragedies that are sometimes part of dysfunctional relationships, it is not a depressing read.
What would it be like to discover two connected galaxies that The Big Bang theory says are impossible? Not many people have even imagined facing this question, but in "The Falling Sky" Pippa Goldschmidt takes readers into the mind of an astronomer whose research presents these findings. This conundrum creates a human drama as fraught with turmoil and heartache as any found in the best novels of any genre.
The Somerset Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Contemporary, Mainstream, and Literary Fiction; a division of Chanticleer Writing Competitions. This contest division is named after W. Somerset Maugham (1874- 1965), author of "The Moon and Sixpence," "Of Human Bondage," "Razor’s Edge," and other literary masterpieces. Maugham was trained and qualified as a medical doctor. He served in the Red Cross ambulatory corps in WWI, then was recruited in the British Secret Service.
It is a powerful, un-blinking telling of the hard-fought war between the bravery of one who refuses to give up against the cunning cruelty of a malevolent trio of ruthless men. D. B. Jackson’s "Unbroke Horses" has carefully chiseled characters and is written with unflinching clarity in short, powerful chapters dominated by taut dialogue and hard hitting action. If you’re a Cormac McCarthy fan who appreciates western literary thrillers, this masterfully written novel is a must-read.
“Each book is a separate universe, a cosmos with its own metrics. The only thing that makes sense in my life is nourishing these universes in my mind for years, and when they’re mature enough, converting them into written narratives, fixing their inner logic, setting the laws of their physics.” – Vadim Babenko
"The Memory Thief" is a beautifully written story, with evocative descriptions of a love for nature and adventure, a deep appreciation of friends and family, and heart-breaking expressions of regret and grief and lust and joy. This book is a haunting ghost story, but above all, it’s a memorable tale of how, even after a terrible tragedy, love lives on.
What if you had to live life anonymously? Hide your job? Know your friends by pseudonyms? Meet Sam, Grace, Birdie, and Mary Jane: All are exotic dancers at the Pink Pussycat in Atlanta, Georgia. Life is good until one of their own is murdered. "Tea Leafing" is a fast-paced thriller written by an insider of the world of exotic high-end gentlemen's clubs. Told with a touch of humor.
Be warned, Poe: Nevermore is not a cozy mystery. Ms. Martens succeeds at painting dark, suspenseful, sometimes horrific pictures. It is the type of psychological horror that locking the doors and windows and reading with the lights on will not keep out. Marten’s Poe: Nevermore deliciously feeds these kind of cravings along with satisfying those with classical literary interests.
In this character-driven novel that delves deeply into the psyches of six flawed individuals seeking life’s meaning in post-Soviet Moscow, the most enigmatic character is Russia itself. "A Simple Soul" transcends genres and time as its characters move across the vast lands of Russia and its ever-changing socio-economic landscape. Prepare to be transported.