Category: fiction

Author: Barry Wilker
Publisher: Archway Publishing
Genre: Women’s fiction
ISBN: 978-1-6657-2343-5
Pages: 314
Price: $28.95

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Yvonna Lapone was born in Romania, and suffered a terrible tragedy during World War II. After losing most of her family in a bombing, she decides to name her three daughters after her sisters – Shmellda, Sorina, and Esmerelda. The Lapone Sisters follows the family during the summer of 1976, after an unusual bank robbery in Nashville affects them all.

From multiple viewpoints, author Barry Wilker visits the lives of all three sisters, their parents, and a few other Nashville residents. We see Shmellda blossom after altering her appearance and her career. Sorina discovers hidden talents and overcomes her biggest weakness. And Esmerelda takes off on an adventure that will change her life. Yvonna and Frank Lapone can only smile as they watch their daughters grow into such beautiful young adults.

The Lapone Sisters is a feel-good story full of sensory imagery that provides a happy ending for almost everyone involved. It would make a fabulous vacation read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: William Delia
Publisher: CreateSpace
Genre: Christmas
Pages: 211
ISBN: 9781515068945
Price: $11.58

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Being a lover of the outdoors, I wanted to read a book this past Christmas that reflected the spirit of the season, but yet was set in the mountains or countrysides of rural America. With a little research, I found HOME TO THE MOUNTAINS: A Fawn for Christmas by William Delia. The book pleasantly exceeded my expectations.

After a terrible personal tragedy, Rafford Brown is a man seeking to piece his life back together in his native Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. His journey affords him a chance meeting with Abigail Sherwood, a widow living alone while trying to maintain the upkeep on her extensive mountain home.

His friendship with Abigail and her grandson brings him a sense of family he thought he had lost forever. In the meantime, Rafford has to come to grips with the past, the pain that sent him out into the wilderness away from his former life in the first place. Abigail’s strong-willed daughter, Carolyn, looking for her own answers, doesn’t make life any easier.

The book is compelling with the beauty of wintertime in the Adirondack Mountains ever present. Nature plays a key role in the growth of the characters, but a touch of God’s wisdom adds to the warmth and gentleness of the story.

This is not a Christmas story per se, but one that will light up your holiday season as would a warm blanket enjoyed with a cup hot chocolate on a cold, snowy night. You won’t regret delving into this wonderful book, and it may even become for you, a traditional read.

Reviewer: Gene Berger

Author: Susan Elliot Wright
Publisher: Skyhorse
Genre: Women’s fiction
ISBN: 978-1-63220-708-1
Pages: 384
Price: $24.99

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She has finally built a life for herself after a rough beginning. Her husband takes good care of her and her daughter, and she’s happy. Although she knows she’s living a lie, she feels secure in the faith that no one ever needs to know the truth. But one day, a phone call out of the blue changes everything.

As she comes face to face with the one man who knows what really happened – and is demanding that she reveal it all – she finds herself reliving the summer of 1976, when it all took place. Alternating between present-day and 1976, her story comes to life, bit by bit. Will she be able to take her secret to the grave, or will he force her to tell all? Would it really be better to be free of such a burden and just let go of all the lies?

The Secrets We Left Behind is a haunting story of uncomfortable choices and their eventual consequences. I found myself sympathizing with the main character’s youthful, quick decision and hoping for everything to work out for the best. This is a well-written, emotional story that lingers with the reader long after finishing it. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: Melissa DeCarlo
Publisher: Harper
Genre: Women’s Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-06-239054-7
Pages: 432
Price: $15.99

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Mattie hasn’t got a clue what to do, now that she’s homeless and pregnant with no one but her stepfather to turn to. But when she arrives on his doorstep, he informs her that her grandmother in Gandy, Oklahoma has passed away and left everything to her. On a whim, she drives to Gandy to collect her money, and discovers her inheritance will take a few months to process. But, since her aged Malibu’s transmission has died, she’s stuck there for at least as long as it takes to get fixed. And since she’s flat broke, that may be a while.

As Mattie gets to know the town people, she learns more about her mother’s earlier years. Mattie only knows her as a broken alcoholic who kept making a mess of her life, but now she finds out her mother was once a talented girl with a bright future. But something happened that changed her, forcing her to flee town.

Mattie sees only heartbreak and struggle in her own life, which has mirrored her mother’s in many ways. In solving the mystery of what really happened to her mother, she believes she may find her own way. Learning the secret will finally give her peace and the motivation to start over again.

I really loved Mattie and found her story immensely compelling. Although she sees herself as trailer trash, she’s a warm-hearted girl who’s just made some really bad decisions in life. It’s so nice to see her grow through her discoveries and turn her life around. The Art of Crash Landing is funny and heart-warming, and I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: Lorin Morgan-Richards
Publisher: A Raven Above Press
Genre: Literary
ISBN: 978-0-615-35964-9
Pages: 75
Price: $20.00

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A boy comes to life, mysteriously born from some mold in an old quilt in the basement. Watching the family from a distance, he comes to think his name is Ruin (or Rune proper), and stays in hiding until a tornado forces him out.

A vampire named Zoog is allergic to blood. Fearing his parents’ displeasure, he drinks it anyway, with terrible gastronomical results. A woman feeds her 100 cats on a strict schedule and a precise diet, until one day she runs out of cheese. And a strange little man is mistaken for a garden gnome.

A Boy Born From Mold is an unusual look at some of the stranger things in life. Printed using soft acid free blue linen paper and faux leather, this book is completely handmade by the author.

In a style reminiscent of Edward Gorey, Lorin Morgan-Richards presents these gloomy tales of dark humor. They serve as a reminder that no matter how bad our lives may seem, they’re nowhere near as bad as they could be. At least we can still laugh at the absurdities of life.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: Lorin Morgan-Richards
Publisher: A Raven Above Press
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-615-27052-4
Pages: 68
Price: $20.00

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In picking up Simon Snootle and Other Small Stories, one immediately notices the fine craftsmanship in creating this little book. Each copy is assembled entirely by hand with acid free linen paper and faux leather.

This collection of short stories tells of characters who have fallen into misfortune, sometimes literally, and can’t quite seem to figure out how to get out of it. The title character, Simon Snootle, spends most of his life in a cistern with the neighborhood cats, a boy desperately longs to be an earwig, and a shrub loves to steal hats and hairpieces. No happy fates await these poor lost souls.

In a style reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe crossed with Edward Gorey, Lorin Morgan-Richards presents these gloomy tales of dark humor. They serve as a reminder that no matter how bad our lives may seem, they’re nowhere near as bad as they could be. At least we can still laugh at the absurdities of life.

Reviewer: Alice Berger