Reviews in Brief

A series of snapshot vignettes that weave into an immersive “novelloir,” Dinosaurs & Snow Angels by Mary Taylor is a non-traditional story of the watershed moments that mark every family and life. Capturing nuanced identities in a single turn of phrase or offhand comment, and pulling readers into the intimate scenes that define a young girl’s perspective, this book is a visceral ode to childhood, sisterhood, and the silent struggles of youth. Easing readers in with a conversational narration, the author also delivers striking strings of language throughout this unique and revealing read.

An homage to fatherhood, history, and America’s beloved pastime, Shadows of Swayne Field by Ronald R. Harrington is a masterful journey of memory and a nostalgic adventure into the past. Family secrets and paternal legacies give this book a looming sense of mystery, while Harrington’s patient storytelling and creativity will appeal to readers of all genres, whether they’re sports fans or not. While there are some editing errors and occasionally heavy-handed passages of exposition, the narration is charming and the characters are relatable. Ultimately, this book is a love story to baseball, a celebration of forgotten history, and a narrative bridge to a critical crossroads in America. For fans of historical fiction, sports legends, or touching tales of grandfathers and grandsons, this heartfelt novel is poignant and well-told.

Dirt Road Main Street by Cynthia L. Clark is an engaging rock ‘n’ roll dive into the world of music, memory, and the madness only love can inspire. Tano and Holly are star-crossed and time-cursed lovers, allowing this book to explore the challenges of true connection, the pain of life’s lonely roads, and the indescribable power of music. Written in simple prose, but edged with truck-stop grit, the dialogue is sharp and Southern, while the plot moves quick, unconcerned with excess descriptions or flowery language. Navigating life’s obstacles to hit the perfect chord of true love is no easy feat, but this melancholic ballad of a novel tells a universal tale with insight, honesty, wit, and a soundtrack you’ll think of long after the story is finished.

Obsession, love and dark flames of the past light up the pages of Boulder Girl, Remember Me When the Moon Hangs Low by author Cynthia L. Clark. In this compelling thriller, twisted memories and sinister schemes lay bare the rotten core of old envy, threatening two new lovers unexpectedly falling into happiness. Poignant narration and emotional complexity elevate this simple story of unrequited love to a complex examination of human nature, lust, and the delicate line between violence and passion. While the internal monologuing is occasionally melodramatic, Boulder Girl is a dark and thrilling escape that doesn’t disappoint.

A 2020 collection of savagely good writers, The VD Anthology, Vol. 2 brings together more than a dozen excerpts, stories and poems from Club Verbal Discharge. From letters to Coronavirus and nostalgic greasy spoon tales in London to modern-day bigotry and the trauma of losing one’s sight, these are hard-hitting and unpredictable pieces. Laced with British vernacular and colloquial speech, this eclectic gathering is well-edited and curated, without any notable weak points, and displays a masterful use of language. These stories come across as gritty, authentic and raw, yet they are also polished and precise, evidence of the obviously talented contributors behind this quick, impactful collection.

A shocking and multi-layered thriller, Perilous Last-Minute Christmas Shopping by Annie de Muynck is an unpredictable tale of terror, freedom, perseverance, and the occasional horror of the holidays. Written with a matter-of-fact, methodical tone that still pumps suspense into every scene, the plot moves quickly, giving readers a relentless ride through one woman’s seemingly endless nightmare. The dialogue is snappy and keeps the pace moving, although more emotion in the relationships and interactions could give the story more appeal. Despite the choppy writing and largely procedural narration, this is an expansive and spine-chilling read, and a perfect guilty pleasure for the holidays.