JB Richards

"Nova" is, in all its glory, simply stunning! There is something I must explain to my readers before I begin my review of Joanne Van Leerdam’s “Nova”. Having a young adult son who is a published poet, former National Poetry Slam (NPS) finalist, and winner of numerous poetry awards, I tend, as a rule, not to not to gravitate toward books containing written poetry. For me, flowery odes of artist’s musing on an ideal utopia, a glorious sunset, or an unbound love hold no comparis

Fates Are Determined and Destinies Fulfilled! In this much anticipated third chapter to the popular Sci-Fi novel series, Author Lyra Shanti propels us forward on the exciting adventures of Ayn, Axis the Sarax, Reese and other favorite characters who discover new life paths as they come together in preparation of settling old scores and meeting their fates head on. In “Shiva XIV The Riddle of the Gods”, Shanti takes us deeper into the dark side of the Un Galaxy’s war between r

Absolutely Unforgettable! From the very start of this highly imaginative and captivating novel series, Author Lyra Shanti grabs the reader's interest, taking us on an epic journey through space - and sometimes time - that leads one to the Un galaxy where the denizens of various worlds fight for power, freedom, and justice. As we pick up the story in book two, Ayn - the namesake and main character of the Shiva XIV novel series - is in hiding. A young man now, he has yet to acc

A Heartwarming Holiday Story! If you enjoy Lifetime TV movies and the Hallmark Channel, this book is for you! Joan Carney’s “Remember” is a simple but enjoyable journey into the life of a young woman named Gracie who finds herself in a hospital bed with no memory of who she is or how she got there. And did I mention Christmas is just around the corner? Sure, the plotline sounds a bit like a cliché, but the likeability of Carney’s protagonist and the mounting curiosity of why

A Fast-Paced, Stomach-Churning, Down-Right Dangerous Thriller! I have a confession to make. I’m an historian with an addiction to storybooks, fairy tales, and folklore. In particular, I enjoy a well-written story with well-developed lead characters who are either themselves paranormal beings, or have a great deal of interaction and history with paranormal beings. Now I’m not talking about the odd superhero saga or two—although I do glance at the occasional Marvel comic featur

Rivals Lucas’ & Herbert’s Epics! Author Lyra Shanti is a remarkably gifted Master Storyteller, as I discovered some months ago in another brilliant novel of hers: “The Rainbow Serpent”. The introductory chapter for her Sci-Fi space drama, “Shiva XIV” (Book I), set in a faraway galaxy, rivals—and in many places exceeds—one’s expectations from those epic tales presented by the likes of George Lucas (Star Wars) and Frank Herbert (Dune)! The Shiva saga begins with the birth of a

A Fast-Paced Sexy Thriller That Will Leave You Out of Control! At first glance, Author R.M. Gauthier’s Mystery Thriller novel, “Control”, appears to be just another tale about a bored housewife having problems with her humdrum marriage. But once Alexandria Shaw is offered a choice between the Red Pill and the Blue Pill by best friend Haley, she is ushered through the world of an illicit private adult nightclub where public nudity, dominant/submissive role-playing, and sexual

A Beautiful and Soulful Tale about Trust and Belief in the Lord! Having herself experienced a lifetime of tragedy and joy, Author Brenda Mohammed assumes the mantle of theologian/philosopher in her quest to understand and explain the elegance and meaning found in the biblical verses extolled in Ecclesiastes 3. In "Your TIME is NOW: A Time to be Born and a Time to Die", Mohammed fully examines each memorable and precious verse and applies them to her own life experiences. In d