In "Making It Work", the Vietnam era serves as a dynamic backdrop for the story of a young woman’s journey to maturity. "Making It Work" by Kathleen Glassburn follows Sheila Doty as she grows into a self-assured woman. Sheila’s... Read More

The novel excels in its depiction of wine country and wine production. It’s set out in loving, exciting detail, with ample sensory elements. Patrick Ember’s "Wine Runs Deep" is part heist caper, part romance, and part redemption... Read More

Mysterious and intimate elements elevate this optimistic romance. Andrea Thome’s "House of Belonging", the third book in the Hesse Creek series, is an intriguing romance with a surprisingly mysterious layer underneath. A recent... Read More

"Another Son" is a spiritual parable that connects complicated questions with the lives of ordinary people. Kurtis Bell’s quirky modern parable "Another Son" mixes religious ideas with scientific thinking. The story takes a parabolic... Read More

The Sow’s Ear Cafe is an avidly inspiring and comforting story. Down-on-her-luck Lucie swaps a Vancouver office job for “tumbleweeds and cowboys”—and finds herself along the way—in Holly Quan’s inspirational novel The Sow’s... Read More

The Biographies of Ordinary People: Volume 2 is a satisfying family saga about growing up and coming into one’s own. Nicole Dieker’s The Biographies of Ordinary People, Vol. 2: 2004–2016 brings back the Gruber girls as they grow... Read More

"Worthy" is a highly readable novel with an uplifting reminder that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Judy Salz’s illuminating "Worthy" features realistically flawed characters with a message to deliver. In this... Read More

"The Treehouse" is earnest, sweet, and charming as it works through the struggles of its shining lead character. Randi Triant’s insightful character-focused novel "The Treehouse" finds an intertwined cast dealing with relationships,... Read More