Category Archives: Five Stars
Promise of Mercy
Promise of Mercy pushes the Dreamscape Warriors saga into darker, sharper territory as the long-idle Utopian Founders wake after six centuries and move to seize power by force. Their plot spirals outward fast. Liam O’Connor is kidnapped and flung through an ancient portal into the unknown, the Temple priestesses are drugged and held hostage, and the O’Connor children are thrust into a frantic rescue operation that tears across worlds. The book mixes political upheaval, telepathic warfare, and tight family bonds in a story that never stops moving.
While reading, I found myself pulled in by the heart of the book, which is not the action, but the relationships. Springs writes family moments with a warmth that caught me off guard. A quiet conversation between Liam and Deirdre over pastries feels as gripping as any firefight. Even scenes of chaos keep circling back to loyalty, fear, duty, and love. I liked how the story makes room for softness inside a hard universe. The writing itself is straightforward, sometimes almost plain, but the plainness works. It lets the emotions land without dressing them up.
I also caught myself getting fired up during the more intense chapters. The Founders’ arrogance, their cold talk of “genetic purity,” and their plan to eliminate Liam or “correct” his children stirred real anger in me. On the flip side, the fight inside the Temple hooked me completely. Seeing Bayvin take a hit, Aisling and Deirdre charging in, Celinia steadying herself even while drugged, and the arch priestess trying to hold everything together made the stakes feel personal. The author writes these scenes with a quick rhythm that kept me flipping pages and muttering under my breath. The book might lean heavily on lore sometimes, but even then, I didn’t mind. It felt like being swept into a world that genuinely believes in its own history.
By the end, I walked away feeling surprisingly moved. This is a story where the characters’ courage matters more than their weapons, and where mercy is treated as a kind of power. The book would be a great fit for readers who enjoy sci-fi adventures with real heart, for fans of military space opera with family drama baked in, and for anyone who likes telepaths, portals, and rebellions, all mixed with warmth and humor. If that sounds like your style, Promise of Mercy delivers.
Pages: 446 | ASIN : B0DBBBNN5P
Saturdays With Gramps
Saturday With Gramps follows Sam, a boy who spends every Saturday wrapped in the cozy routines he shares with his grandfather. They eat Grampscakes, play chess, watch for cardinals, and just enjoy being together. Then Gramps grows tired, and Sam learns he has died. With his mom’s help, Sam starts to understand how love sticks around even when someone is gone, and he finds small ways to keep Gramps close.
This is a very emotional children’s book. The writing feels gentle, simple, and totally honest. I liked how nothing was rushed. Gramps grows tired slowly, and Sam notices it in those tiny everyday ways that feel so real. The moment his mom explains what happened is soft but clear, and I appreciated that. It does not sugarcoat the truth, and it also does not overwhelm. The whole thing felt like being spoken to kindly. I also loved the little details. The root beer, the petunias, the cardinal. They made the story feel warm and lived-in.
This whole picture of grief as something you move through by remembering what you shared felt calming. I found myself smiling at the thought of those Grampscakes and the way love turns into traditions you carry forward. It reminded me of how small rituals can feel huge when someone is gone. The message that love never dies felt simple in the best way. It stayed with me after I finished the last page.
I’d totally recommend Saturdays With Gramps for kids who are dealing with loss, and for the grown-ups trying to help them through it. The story is gentle, the pictures are bright and comforting, and the message feels steady and warm. It is a great read for families, counselors, teachers, or anyone who wants to help a child understand grief without making it scary.
Pages: 31 | ASIN : B0FFNC6BDF
Born Again American Megan
Born Again American: Megan is one of those books that sneaks up on you. At first, it feels like a quiet, character-driven story about reconnecting with someone from your past, but it quickly turns into something much deeper and more emotional. The opening chapters set a vivid scene in Alaska and immediately pull you into Isaac and Megan’s shared history, making their unfinished high school bond feel authentic and unresolved. The writing is straightforward and easy to sink into, which makes the emotional moments hit harder because they don’t feel forced or over-polished.
Megan, in particular, is a raw and painfully honest character. Her struggles with grief, addiction, depression, and self-worth are portrayed in a way that feels uncomfortable at times, but that’s kind of the point. She isn’t written as a “fixed” or sanitized version of someone going through trauma. Instead, she’s messy, sarcastic, defensive, and deeply human. Isaac works well as a counterbalance to her chaos, bringing steadiness and patience without coming across as some unrealistic savior figure.
What really stands out is how the book handles healing. There’s no overnight transformation or miracle cure. Progress comes in small, uneven steps, going to the gym, sharing meals, and talking instead of running away. The relationship builds slowly, grounded in friendship and trust before anything romantic takes center stage. Even when the story leans into intimacy, it feels like an extension of emotional connection rather than the main attraction.
Born Again American: Megan is a heartfelt, sometimes heavy read that rewards patience. It’s not just a romance, and it’s not just a redemption story, it’s a mix of both, anchored by believable characters and emotional honesty. If you enjoy stories about second chances, personal rebuilding, and relationships that grow through shared struggle rather than perfection, this book is worth your time.
Pages: 145 | ASIN: B0G75T3YLD
Ghost Brother
Ghost Brother is a young adult novel that opens with twin brothers, Cris and Carlos, heading to a school dance in South Texas, only for a violent storm, a pair of bullies, and a disastrous crash to shatter their lives. Carlos dies instantly. Cris survives. What follows is a story told in both of their voices, one alive and drowning in guilt, the other watching as a ghost who can see everything but cannot be heard. The book blends grief, memory, and mystery as the brothers struggle, separately and together, to face what happened and what it means for their family.
Reading it felt like sitting with someone who is trying to talk through the hardest moment of their life, stopping and starting, sometimes whispering, sometimes spilling over. The writing is simple and direct, which fits the teen voices. I liked that the author didn’t rush past the emotional fog after the accident. Cris moves through the world as though he’s wrapped in wet cotton, and Carlos drifts with this strange mix of clarity and longing. Their alternating chapters make the tragedy feel bigger and messier because you’re seeing it from both sides of the veil. Some scenes hit with sharp force, like the mother collapsing when she hears the news or Carlos watching her cry and being unable to touch her. Others move slowly, the way real grief does, circling the same memories again and again.
I was also drawn to the author’s choices around culture and community. The book is rooted in Mexican American traditions, beliefs, and rhythms that shape how the characters mourn and how they make sense of death. There’s a spiritual layer here that never feels like decoration. Carlos isn’t just a ghost for plot convenience. His presence echoes the stories their grandmother told, the prayers their mother whispers, the sense that the dead stay close. The supernatural moments glide in quietly, almost like a breeze shifting the curtains. At other times, they feel heavier, especially when Carlos tries to warn his family that the sheriff may twist the truth about the accident. The blend of realism and the supernatural makes the book feel like a hybrid of contemporary fiction and ghost story, but always grounded in teen experience.
By the end, I felt like I’d spent time with a family trying to hold itself together. The story doesn’t pretend grief is tidy or that answers neatly appear. It sits in the uncertainty, in the fear that justice may not come easily, and in the hope that love still stretches across impossible distances. If you like young adult fiction that honestly explores loss and adds cultural depth and a touch of the supernatural, this book is for you. It’s especially suited for readers who appreciate emotional stories that explore family bonds, healing, and the invisible threads that connect us even after death.
Pages: 182 | ASIN : B0CZPLPB7P
Letters From the Sand
Letters From the Sand, by Scott G. A. Metcalf, feels less like a traditional memoir and more like sitting across from someone who’s quietly telling you what deployment was really like, no bravado, no Hollywood gloss, just honest moments layered with dust, heat, and reflection. From the opening pages, the writing pulls you straight onto the tarmac, letting you feel the weight of the environment and the emotional whiplash of leaving home behind. Metcalf’s descriptive style is immersive without being overdone, making it easy to visualize each scene and feel grounded in the reality of military life.
What really stands out is how much attention the book gives to the small, everyday details like mess hall food, cramped tents, patrol routines, and the quiet rituals soldiers use to stay sane. These moments give the story its heart. Instead of focusing solely on danger or action, Metcalf spends time on camaraderie, boredom, humor, and exhaustion, which makes the experience feel incredibly authentic. You get the sense that these “in-between” moments are just as important as the missions themselves.
The tone throughout the book is thoughtful and grounded, with an undercurrent of respect for both fellow soldiers and the families back home. There’s a strong sense that this story isn’t just about one person’s deployment, but about shared sacrifice and the invisible support systems that make service possible. The chapters on holidays and daily routines are especially poignant, reminding you how strange and heavy time can feel when you’re far from home and living in a completely different world.
Letters From the Sand is an engaging, quietly powerful read that doesn’t try to impress; it just tells the truth. It’s the kind of book that stays with you not because of dramatic twists, but because of its honesty and humanity. Whether you have a military background or not, it offers a meaningful glimpse into a life most people never experience, told in a way that feels personal, respectful, and real.
Pages: 201 | ASIN : B0G2335VNQ
Too Complex: It’s a (Enter Difficulty Setting Here) Life
Cody Redbond lives to game. Addiction defines him. His fixation centers on Fantasy Estate, an online battle royale that consumes his days and erases everything else. Hours disappear. Priorities collapse. The game becomes his only reality, while the world beyond his screen loses all appeal. Employment slips away. Social skills erode. Eventually, eviction follows. Even then, Cody refuses to move on. He is too deeply embedded in the digital realm to disengage on his own.
Enter leasing agent Mavirna Holmes and property manager Corey Dwellen. Their task is simple in theory and nightmarish in practice: reach Cody and reclaim the apartment. Doing so requires navigating a living space that has deteriorated into absolute chaos, a physical manifestation of Cody’s inward retreat.
Too Complex: It’s a (Enter Difficulty Setting Here) Life, by Anthony Moffett, is a compact and sharply comic work that blends prose with illustrations. It occupies a space somewhere between novella and graphic novel, using visuals to punctuate its humor and heighten its absurdity.
At its core, the book is an absurdist adventure tailored to video game enthusiasts, but its reach extends further. It functions as a satire of modern adulthood, skewering burnout, disconnection, and the quiet despair that drives escapism. As Cody’s story unfolds, sympathy becomes inevitable. He has not merely abandoned reality; he has replaced it with something brighter, louder, and more responsive. Ironically, the so-called real world offers little incentive to return. It appears dull, unforgiving, and deeply uninspiring by comparison.
This contrast captures the enduring appeal of video games. They promise immersion without consequence, excitement without monotony. When everyday life feels hollow or exhausting, fantasy becomes irresistible. Mavirna and Corey, the unfortunate duo assigned to retrieve Cody, find themselves on a quest of their own, one that mirrors the very games Cody adores. The ultimate irony lies in the aftermath of his obsession. The artificial world he clung to has reshaped reality itself, transforming his apartment into a grotesque, pest-ridden dungeon.
The result is a book that is unabashedly fun. It is silly, unhinged, and gleefully excessive. Beneath the humor, however, lies a pointed warning. Too Complex entertains first, but it also lingers, offering a sharp and thoughtful reflection on escapism, avoidance, and the cost of choosing fantasy over life. I highly recommend this humorous and highly relatable tale to gamers and non-gamers alike.
Pages: 73 | ASIN : B0BR4J3L9Y
Don’t Be a F*cking Idiot
The book lays out a straight-talking guide for men who want to understand their own emotional messes and stop tanking their relationships. It mixes attachment theory, love languages, and daily rituals with stories that bounce between funny and painfully honest. Hill explains his ideas through wild metaphors like Golden Retrievers, Chihuahuas, and Cats, and he folds in pieces of his own journey through divorce, heartbreak, and personal rebuilding. The message is simple. If you want to be loved well, you’d better figure out your patterns and step up.
The writing hits fast. It rarely softens the blow, and that worked for me. It made the ideas feel human instead of clinical. I liked the mix of raw emotion and humor because it turned something heavy into something you could actually digest. I also appreciated that he doesn’t pretend to be perfect. He shows his avoidant streak, his panic, his screw ups. It made the whole thing feel more real. At times, the tone gets a little abrasive, but honestly, that seems to be the point. He wants men to wake up, not tiptoe.
The ideas themselves make sense, and the way he frames them kept me hooked. Attachment styles are usually presented in some dry classroom voice, yet here they’re brought to life through dogs and cats, storms and ships. The stories he shares about couples are goofy but strangely accurate. I’ve seen versions of those people in real life. His approach to rituals also hit home. The notion that small, repeated behaviors can shape a relationship for better or worse is something lots of books mention, but Hill says it in a way that sticks. Sometimes he leans into silliness, and sometimes he goes philosophical. The mix kept me guessing.
By the time I finished, I felt like the book works best for men who know they need to grow but don’t want to wade through academic sludge. It is for guys who can handle blunt honesty and want advice that feels lived in, not polished in a lab. If you want a kick in the ass wrapped in humor and heart, this is your book.
Pages: 53 | ASIN : B0G8RY5KTL
When East Meets West: An Integrative Guide to Self-Care
When East Meets West is a warm and wide-ranging guide to self-care that blends Eastern and Western practices into an easygoing daily toolkit. Author Deborah Dolan Hunt walks readers through teas, essential oils, tinctures, foods, body-based therapies, mind-centered habits, and spiritual practices. She mixes personal stories with straightforward explanations. The book moves from herbal infusions and oils to yoga, meditation, hypnotherapy, and folk traditions. It also highlights the need for safety, moderation, and collaboration with a healthcare provider. The author urges readers to build a personal wellness plan that is realistic and kind.
I appreciated Hunt’s honest tone. The simple way Hunt describes her own anxiety and how meditation helped her made the material feel real. I liked how she shared moments of discovery, such as learning therapeutic touch or making her own tea blend. Her writing is plainspoken, almost conversational. It felt like sitting at a kitchen table with a friend who wants to help you feel better. The long lists of benefits were helpful, though I sometimes wished for clearer examples or stories to bring them to life. Still, the variety kept me turning pages because I never knew which soothing idea might show up next.
I found myself reacting emotionally to the mix of family warmth and practical advice. The book is full of heart. I smiled when she talked about her kids asking for her “magic” and felt moved when she described using energy work to help a friend’s dog. Some sections felt dense because of the many bullet points, yet the gentle spirit underneath held it together. I appreciated that she never positioned these methods as cures. She consistently framed them as supports. That made the book feel grounded and trustworthy.
I would recommend When East Meets West to anyone who wants a simple and friendly introduction to holistic wellness. People who enjoy herbal teas, gentle rituals, or calming daily routines will find a lot to try. Readers who feel overwhelmed by jargon-filled health books will, no doubt, enjoy the down-to-earth voice here. It is welcoming and steady. It would suit beginners, busy people who want small habits, and anyone curious about blending modern care with old traditions.
Pages: 144 | ASIN : B0G18V65H7
LITERARY TITAN 