"The Judas Ride" by author Peggy Sue Yarber hits the road running in the opening pages, where Sonia and Xavier argue explosively about whether Sonia should have their unborn child and about who the father is: Xavier, a struggling Christian, or Vader, an abusive and abused drug dealer. As the pages turn, readers continue to meet a hodgepodge of troubled teens and eclectic characters, including Pastor Manny, a quirky immigrant pastor infatuated with John Wayne. Pastor Manny desires to help the tortured souls in his community but finds that it takes more than unconditional love to reach them.

Poker-playing Dawn Carlisle is running from a domineering mother, a penchant for alcohol, and an ex-husband suing her for custody of their daughter. Abner Weaver, nursing a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) hangover acquired in Vietnam, has drifted back into long haul trucking, his truck cab a "foxhole against the world." An injured dog draws Dawn and Abner together. "3 Aces" by author Richard Ide involved a vicious gang of cardsharks, a globalist trucking company owner, and a shower of Las Vegas Texas hold 'em winnings sever their relationship, ultimately driving them to a moment of perception and healing.

"Screwing the Pooch" by J.B. Bergstad is a collection of seven eclectic tales filled with thrills, suspense, chills and romance. There's even a little laughter and murder to liven up a coffee or lunch break. If agony, redemption, love and laughter are your cup of tea, you will find them stylishly attended in this compilation. The unusual mix of genre fiction is bound to please the most discerning fiction buff and may even please the reading palate of the nonfiction lover. "Screwing the Pooch" is a fun romp and a fast ride.

"One of us must die," is the mantra of Lee Thames, a bi-polar, sexually driven woman who, additionally, suffers from multiple personality disorder. She escapes from a mental hospital, where she was confined after an unsuccessful suicide attempt, and spends a reflective five hours, hiding in her home, preparing for the 'perfect murder.' Thames takes the reader on a rough ride throughout "In and Out of Madness," with her multiple personalities, through an abusive childhood, raging sexual encounters with multiple partners, and life threatening outbursts that culminate in the act she is preparing to commit.

"Shakespeare Ashes" by author Chris DeBrie portrays the relationships of several unique and interesting characters. Donna, who believes that issues of equality for women and minorities have been laid aside too soon, struggles to move on from her last relationship. She is resisting her mother's friendship with her ex and looking forward to a possible romance with her troubled and unique new friend. Erven, that friend, is recovering from the death of his mother and always looking for the next high. An escapist, his honesty and sometimes cruel humor along with his mysterious appeal seem to draw people to him. Robbie is the football star: Bound for greatness, he's the one with a steady girlfriend and plenty of action on the side. With an ever-present 'sinking' feeling, Charlene is recently laid off and facing her last semester of college with uncertainty, questioning both the relationships she has left behind and those she maintains.

A work that can take one on a brisk stroll amidst the skin of a concentration camp victim, or ruminate solemnly the deeper questions posed by sanity and reason. "Meaning and Relatedness" by author Khepri Rising stands obscured by an unrelenting boundless thirst for the purview of ethics: "what is right action?"; yet naked and humbly before it. The book masks myths cloaked and eclipsed; interesting, provocative, and mind bending; yet concise, pithy, and alluring enough that nearly anyone could find appreciation for its "stitched light". Playfully serious, dark-twisted and right on! It may become the new "Beat" manual for generation X.

Saffron Dreams by Shaila Abdullah This year I decided to read mostly foreign authors and multicultural themed books and this week’s selection was a fiction novel, Saffron Dreams by Shaila Abdullah. This book looks at the treatment and lives of Muslims in America after 9/11. Arissa and Faizan married in Pakistan in a traditional Muslim wedding and were the love of each other’s lives from the beginning. They moved to New York where Faizan worked as a waiter while secretly writing his first novel. After two years of marriage, Arissa finally became pregnant and they were both excited about their first visit to the doctor for an ultrasound. Then, 9/11 happened and Faizan never made it home. “That’s how God made us, in pairs so we complete each other. And then he snatches one away, I thought, and makes us dispensable mortals. Alone we come, and solo our return.” Pg.101 Shaila Abdullah gives us a clear picture of what it was like to be Muslim and a widow in America after 9/11 through the story of one courageous woman who faces raising a child alone and the possibility of finishing her husband’s novel. She addresses the balancing of cultural traditions with American realities and her writing flows like a river from the first paragraph to the last sentence. Ms. Abdullah provides an accurate and insightful story of love, loss, fear, anger, and finding the strength to survive. This book is a must read for everyone and can provide understanding for those with little experience with other cultures. Luckily I have had the great pleasure to experience many different cultures, religions, foods and customs and met many wonderful people while traveling and working internationally. I have found many women indicative of the values that Arissa displays in this novel which made this book very personal and identifiable to me. I give this book a big “thumbs up” and can’t wait to read the next novel by Shaila Abdullah.

An unexpected story, growing into a memorable and thought-provoking ride. What happens when you mix the holiday season, and a confused young boy with a troubled grifter searching for a sure thing, the big bankroll? This unlikely plot delivers one of the best novels I have read in some time. Richly drawn characters, slowly revealing their inner demons and dreams to each other, offer a fascinating view into the human psyche. You'll care about them, and hold your breath more than once while reading this unusual tale of a kidnapping, a lonely man and a young boy. A welcome mix of humor, suspense, twists and turns, you'll enjoy this book, whether at Christmas time or a sweltering summer day.

"Sailing on an Ocean of Tears" takes the reader on a journey through the hearts of three women on two continents, from New York City and the Appalachian mountains, to a coastal hamlet in Ireland and a warm southern Italian village. Kendall writes with honesty and compassion for her characters as when she describes Bridget's love for her children: "The soil of a mother's heart is made for suffering so that the children may bury their pain there; every hurt, every tear, every disappointment. Tis the only way they can grow." Without being sentimental, Kendall turns "Sailing on an Ocean of Tears" into a cathartic experience with three women who become the reader's friends.

Racing home to share news of a long awaited book deal, Aaron Abrams unexpectedly finds his wife and beloved brother together. Tossing a few mentionables into the car, along with his golden retriever, Churchill, Aaron embarks on an odyssey like no other. With his own music as a backdrop, Aaron begins in Youngstown, Ohio, travels interstate 80 in Pennsylvania, and continues into Gettysburg, Pa., Boston Ma., Roswell, NM., to name a few, ultimately ending his road trip in scenic Niagara Falls. In "No Mad" by author Sam Moffie, Aaron embraces each moment, every situation, all relationships and brief encounters, while remaining upbeat and open for adventures.