Category: Book news

Looking for Your Next Dark Speculative Read? Try ‘Soul or Keep’

‘Soul or Keep’ is Chad Taylor’s debut novel. Photo: Amazon

Book Review: Soul or Keep by Chad Taylor

Genre: Dark Speculative Fiction / Occult Thriller

Publisher: Alien Buddha Press

Synopsis

Nathaniel “Nate” Simpson is a truck driver trapped between unexplained blackouts, sleepwalking episodes, and the lingering effects of a spell cast long ago during Hurricane Susan to pull him out of a coma. To manage his memory loss, Nate relies on meticulous note-taking, especially around his home life with his girlfriend, Rebecca, and her grandmother, Evelyn, who recently moved in. Routine tasks come easy, but any new, non-repetitive information slips through his fingers.

The slight memory loss soon spirals into something far darker, stranger, and deeply addictive.

Nate’s uneasy reality shatters completely when he receives a cryptic, threatening message from a woman named Tammie:

“Meet me at Doug’s Waffles 143 Maple Court. We have some catching up to do. Unless you want me to call your girlfriend’s business phone instead. Rebecca’s Wedding Planning isn’t it?”

Cornered, Nate has no choice but to meet her to find answers. He is thrust into a world of fog-dense streets, hypnotized employees, and power-hungry mystics seeking to ascend to warlock status. At the center of it all is a game called Soul or Keep that lingers like a curse in the bloodstream. As Nate struggles to separate truth from illusion, he must free himself from spiritual bondage to save Rebecca and their unborn child before their souls are claimed.

Get your copy of Soul or Keep today!

Review

If you’re searching for a supernatural thriller that seamlessly blends psychological horror, dark fantasy, and occult mystery, Chad Taylor’s debut novel Soul or Keep is a compelling read. Packed with eerie atmosphere and emotionally grounded stakes, it keeps readers questioning reality from start to finish.

Unreliable Narrators & Character Dynamics

Nate is a deeply sympathetic and well-developed protagonist. His fear, determination, and unwavering love for his family make him instantly relatable. However, his internal battle with memory loss creates a fascinating layer of psychological suspense—his untrustworthy perceptions make him an inherently unreliable narrator.

The supporting cast amplifies the novel’s mounting paranoia and supernatural danger:

  • Rebecca: A loving, supportive partner who carries trust issues from a troubled past, making Nate’s erratic behavior a constant strain on their relationship.
  • Donnie: Nate’s brother, whose desperate attempt to help with the sleepwalking—literally strapping Nate to his bed—fails when Nate mysteriously breaks free.

Vivid Prose & Central Themes

Taylor’s descriptive prose brings the uncanny world to life with precise, vivid imagery:

“He then popped out of the window with a look of concern while the yellow light blanketed his mocha colored skin which appeared almost like clay.”

At its core, Soul or Keep tackles heavy thematic ground:

  • Fate vs. Free Will & Destiny: The mysterious game Soul or Keep serves as both the central conflict and a dark metaphor for human agency, questioning whether destiny is preordained or something to be reclaimed.
  • Fractured Identity & Memory: Exploring how memory shapes who we are, and what happens when those foundations crumble.
  • Sacrifice & Love: Positioning love as the ultimate form of resistance against supernatural control.

Final Verdict

Soul or Keep is a haunting, moody debut that establishes Chad Taylor as an exciting new voice in dark speculative fiction. Fans of supernatural horror, atmospheric thrillers, and occult mysteries will be captivated by its memorable characters and lingering, haunting conclusion.

“In the game of life, every action has a ripple effect.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

About the Author

Chad Taylor is a writer and artist based in Cincinnati, Ohio. He studied Writing Studies at Northern Kentucky University and has published indie comics such as The 5ivefooter and Drips under his Uni5icomics banner. Soul or Keep is his debut novel.

** Thank you to Chad Taylor for the gifted copy for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

The Real Cost of the American Dream: A Review of Craig Yorke’s ‘Steep’

‘Steep:’ is the inspiring memoir by Craig Yorke. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Related Post: Book Spotlight: ‘Steep: A Black Neurosurgeons’ Journey’ by Craig Yorke.

Book Review: Steep: A Black Neurosurgeon’s Journey by Craig Yorke

Steep: A Black Neurosurgeon’s Journey by Craig Yorke is an inspiring memoir that explores the sacrifices, resilience, and determination required to overcome adversity. Yorke chronicles his remarkable journey from a struggling Boston neighborhood to becoming a respected neurosurgeon in the American Midwest. What began as a personal letter to his sons unfolds as a candid life narrative: while Yorke has gained immense wisdom, he refrains from lecturing or preaching, and, above all, he refuses to see himself as a victim.

An Uncompromising Opening

The narrative opens with Dr. Yorke taking a middle-of-the-night emergency call for a severe motorcycle accident. Covering Topeka’s hospitals and the surrounding region every other night and weekend alongside his daytime practice, he rushes into the ER. As the nurse cuts away the patient’s t-shirt, a prominent WHITE POWER tattoo covering the man’s chest is revealed—setting the stage for a story deeply rooted in composure, duty, and professional detachment.

This intense opening flashes back to his childhood in Boston, when a young Yorke was rushed to the ER after accidentally eating poisoned bread left behind the refrigerator for rats. Known mostly through family lore, the incident left a lifelong mark, he still recoils at the mere memory of Ipecac.

As the only child of Dorothy and Craig Sr., he grew up sickly, struggling with asthma and a clubbed right foot. Throughout the book, Yorke explores how his parents’ backstories shaped their parenting style, leading into his school years, surgical career, eventual retirement, and the enduring lessons of his journey.

Table of Contents

  1. Stealth
  2. Crucible
  3. Educated
  4. The Better Angel
  5. Fledgling Pillars
  6. Peaks and Valleys
  7. Twilight of Enterprise
  8. New Eyes

Chapter Highlights

Chapter 6: Peaks and Valleys

Yorke detail the launch of his independent practice with a close friend, revisiting memorable cases, including a young neighbor who developed a life-threatening brain clot. Most insightful are his encounters with uninsured patients: while accustomed to delivering difficult medical news, he found himself unprepared for the devastating financial catastrophes his patients faced. Even when waiving his own professional fees, the external medical costs wreaked havoc on their lives.

Chapter 7: Twilight of Enterprise

Here, Yorke candidly recounts facing a legal malpractice suit after failing to diagnose a fractured larynx in a patient. Though the lawsuit ultimately failed, the emotional impact was severe. As Yorke reflects:

“The ordeal was a blow to a kid whose identity was yoked to his confidence.”

Core Themes & Takeaways

Yorke writes with exceptional honesty and humility, revealing moments of doubt and self-reflection that make his story deeply relatable. His path underscores the importance of discipline, education, and refusing to let circumstances dictate one’s future. The narrative thoughtfully balances professional achievement against personal fulfillment, demonstrating that compassion and empathy are just as vital in medicine as technical expertise.

While Yorke’s identity as a Black surgeon in a predominantly white field provides crucial context, Steep ultimately moves beyond a simple critique of systemic bias. Instead, it serves as a raw, honest exploration of the heavy cost of high achievement and the quiet sacrifice required by the American Dream.

At its core, the memoir delivers profound lessons on resilience, identity, and personal reckoning:

  • The Price of Ambition: Success often exacts a steep personal toll, demanding emotional compartmentalization, strain on relationships, and constant self-reliance.
  • Resilience Over Circumstance: Roots do not define limits; discipline and laser-focused perseverance can bridge the gap between systemic disadvantage and elite achievement.
  • Reconciling the Past: True fulfillment requires making peace with where you came from rather than attempting to outrun your origins.

Final Verdict

Overall, Steep is an engaging, introspective, and essential read for anyone navigating their own steep climb. It offers a poignant reminder that reaching the peak is only half the battle, retaining your humanity is the rest.

“We neurosurgeons are caricatured as filled with conceit, short on empathy. And there’s truth in that cartoon. But hubris is tough to maintain while completing and signing your patient’s death certificate.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

** Thank you to Wes Seely and PR by the Book for my gifted ARC for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Essential Reading for New Clinicians: ‘The Pediatric PT Playbook’ Book Spotlight

‘The Pediatric PT Playbook’ is the ultimate pediatric pt survival guide. Photo: Amazon

Book Spotlight: The Pediatric PT Playbook

A Practical Guide to Clinical Reasoning for Students and New Clinicians

By Kyan Sahba, PT, DPT, PhD

Your peds clinical is coming, and you don’t feel ready. That’s exactly why this book exists.

Physical therapy school teaches you the science. It doesn’t teach you what to actually do when a two-year-old won’t cooperate, a parent is watching your every move, and your clinical instructor (CI) is waiting for you to take the lead. (Amazon, 2026)

The Pediatric PT Playbook was written for that exact moment.

This isn’t another dense textbook, it’s the clinical companion you wish you had before day one of your pediatric rotation. It’s built around how real pediatric PT actually works, not just how it’s described in a lecture hall.

What’s Inside

  • Structured Frameworks: Master clinical reasoning across every pediatric setting—outpatient, school-based, NICU, acute care, and home health.
  • CI Expectations: Learn exactly what your clinical instructor expects to see from you and how to deliver it with confidence.
  • Smart Goal Writing: Write goals that actually make sense in a pediatric context, including educationally relevant goals.
  • Family Communication: Discover real-world communication strategies that don’t make you sound like a reading textbook.
  • Clinical Red Flags: Fast-track your assessment skills with clear breakdowns of movement quality, symmetry analysis, and red flags.
  • Documentation Made Easy: Master SOAP notes and documentation tailored specifically for pediatric settings.

Who Is This Book For?

Written by a pediatric PT, educator, and researcher who has trained students across real clinical settings, this guide targets the exact gap between classroom theory and clinic reality.

This playbook is essential reading for:

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Students preparing for or currently in a pediatric rotation.
  • New Grad PTs stepping into their first pediatric role.
  • Experienced Clinicians transitioning into pediatric practice.

Whether you’re two weeks out from your first peds rotation or already in the thick of it, this book will help you feel more confident, prepared, and effective from day one.

About the Author

Kyan Sahba, PT, DPT, PhD is a pediatric physical therapist, researcher, and educator with experience spanning home health, school-based practice, outpatient pediatrics, and pediatric oncology. She earned her PhD in Physical Therapy and is dedicated to bridging evidence-based research with real-world clinical practice.

Beyond her research and clinical work, she founded the Barry Blue Foundation in honor of her parents. The foundation supports families facing financial hardships due to cancer through a series of children’s books that teach kindness, courage, and emotional resilience.

Book Review: ‘Artemis’ by Andy Weir – Life on the Moon & High-Stakes Heists

‘Artemis’ by Andy Weir is a sci-fi crime story set on the Moon. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Book Review: Artemis by Andy Weir

Synopsis

Jasmine “Jazz” Bashara lives in humanity’s first lunar colony, Artemis. She never signed up to be a hero—she just wanted to get rich. Not crazy, eccentric-billionaire rich, like many of the visitors to Artemis, but rich enough to move out of her coffin-sized apartment and eat something better than flavored algae. Rich enough to pay off a debt she’s owed for a long time. (Barnes & Noble, 2026)

When a chance at a lucrative heist presents itself, Jazz can’t say no. But engineering the perfect crime is just the start of her problems, because that little heist is about to land her in the middle of a conspiracy that threatens the future of Artemis itself.

Trapped between competing forces, pursued by a killer and the law alike, she’ll have to hatch a truly spectacular scheme to have a chance at staying alive and saving her city. Jazz is no hero, but she is a very good criminal.

Review

Artemis begins with Jazz reeling from failing her EVA exam, which she needs to join the EVA Guild. Members of the guild lead groups of tourists across the lunar surface and earn a significantly better living. She tries to talk her way into passing, but Bob Lewis, former US Marine and head trainer, doesn’t budge. He tells her to try again and focus on the quality of her equipment.

The story centers around Jazz, a clever, sarcastic porter and small-time smuggler who dreams of escaping poverty. She’s an engaging protagonist whose intelligence, resilience, and moral ambiguity make her both flawed and relatable. Unlike the idealistic heroes often found in science fiction, she survives through quick thinking, technical expertise, and sheer determination. Her growth from a self-serving opportunist to someone willing to risk everything for others forms the emotional core of the story.

“How dare you call me lazy? I’d come up with a scathing retort but, meh, I’m just not motivated.”

Weir once again showcases his talent for making complex engineering and scientific concepts accessible without slowing down the narrative pace. Themes of survival, greed, class inequality, and redemption are woven throughout the novel, highlighting the real-world challenges of building a human society beyond Earth.

Weir’s signature worldbuilding shines brightest here:

  • Lunar Economics: The realistic financial friction between tourists, workers, and corporations.
  • Life-Support Mechanics: Detailed systems keeping the dome breathable and safe.
  • Industrial Realism: Meticulously researched aluminum-smelting processes that anchor the plot.

The fast-paced plot keeps the tension high as Jazz relies on her sharp technical instincts and criminal ingenuity to pull off a spectacular multi-stage scheme.

However, Jazz’s dialogue and internal monologue can feel somewhat forced and juvenile at times, occasionally undermining the tension. While it doesn’t quite match the sheer survivalist charm of Mark Watney’s journey in The Martian, Artemis still delivers a fun, fast-moving sci-fi crime caper.

The Bottom Line

Artemis by Andy Weir is a fast-paced science fiction thriller that blends suspense, humor, and real-world science into an entertaining lunar adventure. If you enjoy hard science paired with high-stakes action, it is well worth the trip to the moon.

“People will trust a reliable criminal more readily than a shady businessman.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Get your copy of Artemis today!

About the Author

Andy Weir built a career as a software engineer until the success of his first published novel, The Martian, allowed him to live out his dream of writing full-time. He is a lifelong space nerd and a devoted hobbyist of subjects such as relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and the history of manned spaceflight.

Bonus

If you enjoyed the fast-paced survival, witty problem-solving, and high-stakes criminal plots of Andy Weir’s Artemis, these sci-fi heist and mystery novels offer a similar blend of technical intrigue and fast-paced schemes.

High-Stakes Sci-Fi Heists

The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi features post-human master criminal Jean le Flambeur breaking out of prison to pull off an impossible heist across a high-tech moving city on Mars.
Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds follows a security operative hunting a ruthless killer through a bizarre, virus-corrupted sci-fi metropolis while navigating high-stakes crime networks.

Space-Bound Sci-Fi Mysteries

Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty combines a locked-room murder mystery with cloning technology as a spaceship crew wakes up to find their previous bodies murdered and their recent memories wiped.
Leviathan Wakes by S.A. Corey pairs a hard-boiled detective on an asteroid belt with an ice-miner captain as they unravel a system-wide conspiracy triggered by a missing girl.

Which Should You Pick?

For an intricate, mind-bending criminal heist set in a futuristic solar system, go with The Quantum Thief.
For a claustrophobic, locked-room whodunit packed with survival tension, start with Six Wakes.
For a grounded space-noir investigation with vast geopolitical stakes, choose Leviathan Wakes.

Book Spotlight: ‘Resilient in Business’ by Jad Atwe – The Ultimate Founder’s Guide

‘Resilient in Business’ by Jad Atwe. Photo: Barnes & Noble

📚Book Spotlight: Resilient in Business: The Founder’s Roadmap to Lead Through Uncertainty and Win the Long-Term Game

By Jad Atwe

In today’s economy, founders are under relentless pressure. The stakes are high, the path forward isn’t always obvious, uncertainty is debilitating, and outcomes are unpredictable. All of this takes a huge toll on the single quality that will actually see a founder through to success: resilience. (Amazon, 2026)

In this timely and practical book, entrepreneur and business coach Jad Atwe delivers a decisive framework for building the capacity to navigate competing demands and boost your entrepreneurial resilience.

Based on his proprietary Resilient in Business Operating System™, the book guides you through a transformative process to position your business for the success you know is possible—all by developing the capacity to:

  • Rise above the chaos
  • Move beyond survival mode
  • Step into sustainable business leadership

If you’re a founder carrying too much, feeling the cracks forming beneath your feet, and refusing to let pressure dictate your future, this book is for you. It’s time to discover the edge that will help you win the long game.

Ready to Read?

Resilient in Business is available now. If you’re looking to transform how you lead under pressure, grab your copy today and start building your roadmap to long-term success.

About the Author

Jad Atwe was once on the verge of losing everything. After leaping into a general contracting business that leveraged his engineering background, sudden policy and economic shifts forced him into uncertainty, nearly turning his aspirations to dust.

Determined to deconstruct what it truly takes to navigate volatility and “make it” in entrepreneurship, Jad spent years studying founder psychology, operational excellence, and the patterns that differentiate those who merely endure from those who thrive.

Having walked through storms that break most founders, he emerged with a clear understanding of entrepreneurial resilience—the inner operating system that allows leaders to build, lead, and scale under uncertainty.

Today, Jad speaks on entrepreneurial resilience and guides founders to lead through uncertainty, build reliable operations, and scale their companies without losing themselves in the process. He is the originator of the Resilient in Business Operating System™, designed to help founders move past what’s holding them back and break free from survival mode.

‘The Secret of Secrets’ Book Review: Dan Brown’s Most Ambitious Novel Yet

‘The Secret of Secrets’ by Dan Brown. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Related Post: Dan Brown’s ‘Origin’ Review: Where Science Meets Faith

📚 Book Review: The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

  • Author: Dan Brown
  • Genre: Thriller / Mystery / Speculative Fiction
  • Pacing: Fast & Cinematic
  • Audiobook Length: ~23 Hours (Hardcover: ~700 Pages)

📖 Synopsis

Robert Langdon, esteemed professor of symbology, travels to Prague to attend a groundbreaking lecture by Katherine Solomon, a prominent noetic scientist with whom he has recently begun a romantic relationship. She’s getting ready to publish a breakthrough book that contains explosive scientific discoveries about the nature of human consciousness, revelations that threaten to disrupt centuries of established belief. (Barnes & Noble, 2026)

When a brutal murder catapults the trip into chaos, Katherine suddenly goes missing and her manuscript disappears. Desperate to find the woman he loves, Langdon embarks on a thrilling race through the mystical landscape of Prague, ruthlessly hunted by a powerful organization and a chilling assailant sprung from the city’s ancient mythology.

As the action expands to London and New York, Langdon plunges into the dual worlds of futuristic science and historical lore, navigating a labyrinth of codes and symbols, and finally uncovering a shocking truth about a secret project that will forever change the way we think about the human mind.

📝 The Review

Dan Brown returns with another intellectually charged thriller in The Secret of Secrets, a breathless, high-stakes story that seamlessly combines ancient lore with cutting-edge science. Set against the atmospheric backdrops of Prague, London, and New York, it delivers the classic, fast-paced puzzle-solving fans expect while raising provocative questions about human potential.

🔍 Character Dynamics

The story centers around Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, whose usual intellectual detachment is challenged by personal dangers. His romance with Katherine Solomon grounds the narrative, significantly raising the emotional tension. Langdon remains a compelling protagonist, balancing academic brilliance with humility and determination, and his personal tie to Katherine adds welcome depth to his character.

Katherine is equally engaging, portrayed as an intelligent and courageous scientist whose research into human consciousness challenges long-held religious and philosophical beliefs. She is far more than a simple damsel in distress; their partnership creates a refreshing dynamic, with both characters contributing equally to the unfolding mystery.

🧠 Core Themes

  • Science vs. Belief: The narrative continuously pits revolutionary neuroscience against rigid, established dogmas.
  • The Nature of Human Consciousness: Solomon’s findings explore whether the human mind holds untapped power capable of altering reality itself.
  • Mythology as Historical Truth: The story weaves Prague’s rich lore—including dark mythological guardians like the Golem—into modern technological secrets, suggesting that ancient myths often mask advanced truths.

“Brown has written a thought-provoking ride that will leave readers questioning the untapped boundaries of their own minds.”

As expected, Brown fills the narrative with cryptic symbols, historical references, and unexpected twists that keep readers hooked. While some plot developments stretch credibility, the intricate puzzles and cinematic pacing make them easy to forgive. With relentless momentum and a haunting antagonist, it’s a deeply compelling read.

🎧 Final Thoughts

Overall, The Secret of Secrets is an entertaining blend of history, philosophy, and speculative science that will satisfy longtime Dan Brown fans while offering newcomers an exciting introduction to Robert Langdon’s world.

At almost 700 pages (or nearly 23 hours on audiobook), it’s one of Brown’s longest books to date. The experience of reading the physical tome versus listening to the immersive narration will likely feel vastly different, but either way, it’s an adventure worth taking.

“Religions had learned long ago that a human mind facing the terrifying prospect of eternal nothingness would believe almost anything. Timor mortis est pater religionis, Langdon mused, recalling the ancient saying made famous by Upton Sinclair. Fear of death is the father of religion.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Get your copy of The Secret of Secrets today!

📚 The Robert Langdon Series (In Order)

  1. Angels & Demons
  2. The Da Vinci Code
  3. The Lost Symbol
  4. Inferno
  5. Origin
  6. The Secret of Secrets

✍️ About the Author

DAN BROWN is the author of several #1 bestselling novels, including The Da Vinci Code, one of the bestselling books of all time, as well as Origin, Inferno, The Lost Symbol, and Angels & Demons. His thrillers have captivated readers worldwide and sparked global intellectual debate. He is also the author of the bestselling children’s book Wild Symphony. Brown’s novels are published in 56 languages internationally, with over 250 million copies in print.

Book Review: ‘Famous Men’ by Julie Buntin – A Compelling Tale of Ambition and Power

‘Famous Men’ is the new literary fiction novel by Julie Buntin. Photo: Penguin Random House.

Book Review: Famous Men by Julie Buntin

From the acclaimed author of Marlena comes a “magnificent” (The New York Times) novel about a young woman looking for a father and finding herself. (Penguin Random House, 2026)

“The right book at the right time can change your life.”

Quick Details

  • Title: Famous Men
  • Author: Julie Buntin
  • Genre: Literary Fiction / Coming-of-Age
  • Themes: Ambition, Identity, Power Dynamics, Mentorship

Synopsis

Will Miles is trapped in the suffocatingly tiny town of Greening, Michigan, having never known who her father is. Haunted by a toxic rumor that turned her into a social exile, the teenage Will yearns for escape. At fourteen, she discovers the poetry of literary giant Nathaniel Fellow, a man four decades her senior who shares her hometown. A passing comment from her mother only adds to Will’s fascination: Is Nathaniel the father she’s never known? She becomes convinced that he may hold the answers to her literary aspirations and her family history.

Her obsession drives her to New York City, drawing her into Nathaniel’s orbit and sparking a deeply complex, years-long entanglement that offers a seductive doorway to intellectual life, mentorship, and security, at a devastatingly ambiguous cost. When information about his past threatens not just her life with Nathaniel, but the story she tells herself about him, Will is faced with a choice that will change everything.

Review

Famous Men is an emotionally rich novel that explores identity, ambition, and the complicated power dynamics between young women and influential men.

Buntin challenges typical coming-of-age narratives, refusing easy moral clarity or simplified stories of victimhood. Will’s journey from small-town outsider to New York’s literary circles is both inspiring and unsettling, revealing how easily dreams can become entangled with manipulation and self-deception. Her relationship with Nathaniel begins as admiration, but eventually evolves into a complicated bond that forces her to question the true cost of chasing success and validation.

Through a first-person narrative, Buntin captures:

  • The desperate craving to be seen by our idols.
  • The quiet concessions women make to build a life.
  • The painful reckoning when the truth about a mentor finally surfaces.

Buntin writes with empathy and passion, making Will’s search for belonging feel authentic and deeply relatable. The beautiful, razor-precise prose draws readers directly into Will’s complicated life:

“Watery sunlight fell across the spines, landing in a warmish puddle on the floor where I sat, cross-legged, to begin at the beginning.”

Ultimately, Julie Buntin delivers a beautifully written novel filled with emotionally layered characters, sharp observations about fame and influence, and an honest exploration of how women often bear the consequences of men’s mistakes. The story balances literary depth with emotional tension, making it difficult to put down.

Final Thoughts

Famous Men is a compelling exploration of ambition and the intoxicating danger of artistic idolatry.

Recommended for:

  • Readers who enjoy character-driven literary fiction and stories of self-discovery.
  • Fans of introspective fiction, literary intrigue, and emotionally complex relationships.

“New York wasn’t an island of skyscrapers, tethered by bridges, its heart the gentle hills of Central Park-it was a million  tiny rooms and the people inside, their desire mixing with the wishes of everyone who had once passed through. I could have stood there with my head outside the window forever, just watching.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Get your copy of ‘Famous Men’ today!

About the author

Julie Buntin‘s debut novel, Marlena, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize, released in ten territories worldwide, and named a best book of the year by over a dozen outlets, including The Washington Post, NPR, and Kirkus Reviews. 

She is the co-editor of Notes to New Mothers, a collection of dispatches from postpartum life by sixty writers and artists. Previously, Buntin was an editor and director of writing programs at Catapult. Now, she writes and teaches in Ann Arbor, where she is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan.

**Thank you to Sarah Jean Grimm and Broadside PR for my gifted ARC for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Book Spotlight: ‘Uncommon Sense’ by Mel Blackwell

‘Uncommon Sense’ by Mel Blackwell features battle-tested culture secrets from a former EOS Integrator. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Book Spotlight: Uncommon Sense: The Fight to Fix Your Workplace Culture in the Wild West of Business

By Mel Blackwell

Does your business look successful on the outside but feel chaotic on the inside?

Are you stuck in constant firefighting, watching the same problems repeat while people dodge responsibility and culture slowly erodes? Is your culture just dysfunctional enough that everyone’s comfortably miserable, too afraid of the change that actually removes the root obstacles? (Barnes & Noble, 2026)

You don’t need another trendy leadership theory. You need something that actually works. Fix your culture, and all metrics improve immeasurably.

The Synopsis

After more than 35 years leading startups, turnarounds, and large organizations, former EOS Integrator Mel Blackwell has seen what really breaks businesses, and what actually fixes them. He’s led from the shop floor to the C-suite, rebuilt broken teams, and helped leaders move from chaos to clarity when pressure was real and payroll was due.

Uncommon Sense: The Fight to Fix Your Workplace Culture in the Wild West of Business is built on battle-tested leadership, not buzzwords. Through gritty stories, plainspoken wisdom, and practical tools, Mel shows you how to build a culture that can take a hit, solve problems fast, and keep moving forward.

This book doesn’t sell theory. It gives you a roadmap.

What You’ll Learn inside:

  • Problem-Solving over Complaining: How to build a solution-oriented culture.
  • Leverage & Traction: How to build winning momentum directly into your company culture.
  • Structure First: Why structure must come before people, and how to get it right.
  • True Accountability: How to lead with ownership, not excuses.
  • The Toxicity Antidote: A system for eliminating toxic behavior that attracts, empowers, and develops good people.
  • The Best Pledge™: How to get the absolute best from your team (because people at their worst self will never deliver best practices).
  • Alignment & Execution: How to align your team around a unified vision and stellar execution.
  • The Two Visions: Why every organization needs two visions—and exactly how to use them.
  • Courageous Leadership: How to lead with courage and win when pressure hits.

Plus, you’ll discover why most leaders are “worshipping problems” instead of solving them, why not everyone belongs in every role, and how real leadership shows up when things get tough.

Why This Book is Different

This book doesn’t read like a consultant talking at you. It’s written by a mentor walking beside you, telling the truth, sharing the scars, and showing you what works in the trenches.

When you apply what’s inside, leadership gets clearer. Problems get smaller. Teams get stronger. You gain leverage, and your business becomes something that can survive storms instead of being wrecked by them.

If you’re tired of drifting, guessing, and putting out fires, it is time to lead with clarity, courage, and confidence.

👉 Buy Uncommon Sense Today and Start Building a Culture That Actually Works!

About the Author

Mel Blackwell

Senior Executive Mel Blackwell is a visionary renowned for driving extraordinary results and fostering high-performing cultures using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). With over three decades of unparalleled expertise in operations, sales, and marketing, Mel’s diverse experience spans industries from forestry and wood products to global trade shows, 3D agency marketing, telecom, and software, leading organizations from startups to billion-dollar enterprises.

Holding a BS in Marketing from Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business and an MA in Management from The University of Alabama’s Manderson Graduate School of Business, he masterfully combines academic rigor with real-world mastery.

As a dynamic public speaker, storyteller, and thought leader, Mel captivates audiences with his sharp insights, infectious energy, vivid metaphors, and plain-spoken humor. Attendees leave his talks not only entertained, but equipped with actionable tools to drive success in their organizations.

The Ultimate Leadership Field Manual for Uncertain Times: ‘Citizen Servant Leader’

‘Citizen Servant Leader: A Doctrine for Leadership When Control, Authority, and Permission Are No Longer Guaranteed’ by Steven Kuhn Photo: Amazon

📖Book Spotlight: Citizen Servant Leader

A Doctrine For Leadership When Control, Authority, and Permission Are No Longer Guaranteed

By Steven Kuhn/Ron Lynch

The Synopsis

Citizen Servant Leader is a doctrine-based field manual for leadership when authority, control, and permission are no longer guaranteed. (Amazon, 2026)

Rather than teaching influence, motivation, or personal branding, this book focuses entirely on the behaviors that stabilize systems under pressure. It is built on one uncompromising principle: responsibility always comes before authority.

Responsibility Precedes Credibility.
Credibility Precedes Authority.

Drawing from combat experience, high-stakes international business, and decades of organizational leadership across ten countries, the authors show how leadership forms naturally when individuals are willing to carry burden early, speak truth when it costs something, and create space when control is gone.

What’s Inside?

Each chapter combines real-world stories with clear standards, recognizable failure patterns, and practical field applications designed to be practiced, not admired. The book examines:

  • How silence and passivity quietly erode trust.
  • Why truth functions as a structural requirement rather than a moral preference.
  • How small, disciplined actions prevent collapse at personal, organizational, and civic levels.

This is not a motivational book. It is a practical guide for becoming reliable when others hesitate, and for leading with clarity, restraint, and integrity when systems fail.

Who is this book for?

It is written for people who already feel the weight of responsibility: leaders without titles, citizens navigating uncertainty, business operators, veterans, parents, and community builders who are done waiting for permission to act.

Exploring the Citizen Servant Leader Series

This book is the foundation of the Citizen Servant Leader series, a values-first leadership doctrine designed for individuals who choose responsibility before authority.

VolumeTitleFocus
1Citizen Servant LeaderThe foundation. Who you are, what you owe, and what it means to lead with integrity.
2Financial FreedomBuild wealth, break dependence, and use resources to serve.
3Health, Wellness and ResilienceThe physical infrastructure the mission requires.
4Information WarfareThe defensive manual.
5IncorruptibleThe capstone. The standard every Citizen Servant Leader is building toward.

About the Author: Steven Kuhn

Steven Kuhn is a decorated U.S. Military combat veteran who has been hand-picked to consult with some of the most influential people in the world (including rock stars, actors, business leaders, and politicians) on how to expand their brand, build loyalty, and develop strategies for increasing beneficial relationships.

Steven served in the U.S. Army in combat and was awarded the Bronze Star. After his military service, he spent over 30 years living and working internationally, advising business leaders, organizations, and public-sector decision-makers across Europe and the Middle East.

His grassroots movement, Take America Back, grew from these experiences after observing similar patterns across multiple countries: centralized power, declining accountability, and citizens disengaged from responsibility.

‘I Know a Place’ by Nat Cassidy Book Review: The Best New Atmospheric Horror

‘I Know a Place’ by Nat Cassidy. Photo: Shortwave Publishing

Related Post: Stephen King to Write Introduction for Nat Cassidy’s New Horror Collection

Book Review: I Know a Place: Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours

By: Nat Cassidy

Featuring an Introduction by: Stephen King

The first collection from author Nat Cassidy features his unique blend of gleefully terrifying short fiction, including the hit novella Rest Stop.

“These stories are f*cking great. They rule. So read them.” — Stephen King, from his introduction

Synopsis

There are locations in this world where the light doesn’t seem to reach. Where, no matter how illuminated the place might be, shadows creep in too strongly to fight back.

These locations and more are your destination, and bestselling author Nat Cassidy will be your guide. Featuring the Bram Stoker Award-nominated, critically acclaimed novella Rest Stop (one of Esquire’s Best Horror Books of 2024), along with a number of other original short stories—some of which have never been published before—I Know A Place: Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours is a travelogue down twisting side streets and through alleyways where the darkness has eyes and teeth.

Let’s hope you make it home in one piece.

The Table of Contents (Stories):

  • Rest Stop
  • Meet-Cute #1: The Unluckiest Girl
  • Generation
  • Nice
  • The Art of What You Want
  • The Lunar Eclipse
  • Laughlines
  • Run for Your Life
  • Jubilee
  • Juncture
  • Come Into the Life of Things
  • Meet-Cute #2: The Scariest Thing
  • A Fruiting Body

My Review: Creeping Dread in Everyday Places

Nat Cassidy is a Stephen King fan, and his influence absolutely shows. King has a keen gift for turning ordinary situations into absolute nightmares, and this collection proves that Cassidy has that exact same superpower.

I Know a Place: Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours is a chilling collection that proves horror doesn’t need haunted castles or isolated mansions to unsettle readers. Instead, Cassidy transforms the mundane—a lonely highway rest stop, a doctor’s office, a cramped apartment, even a modern kitchen—into landscapes of creeping dread where something always feels just a little wrong.

Anchored by Rest Stop, which absolutely lives up to its award-nominated reputation, the book delivers relentless tension and a growing sense of unease. Throughout the collection, Cassidy expertly blends psychological horror, supernatural terror, and deep human emotion. His characters feel completely authentic, making their encounters with the bizarre all the more impactful.

Standout Highlights

  • Rest Stop – Abe is in a band that has a gig coming up, but for now, he’s on the road in the middle of the night to visit his grandmother in the hospital. He has a complicated relationship with her, but she’s the only grandparent he has ever known. When he sees a sign for a gas station, he takes the next exit for a much-needed break. What could possibly go wrong? Next time you stop at an isolated gas station in the middle of the night, try not to think about this story.
  • Nice – Mitchell is a six-year-old boy obsessed with Santa, much to his parents’ chagrin. When Twinklebottom the Elf visits him in the middle of the night to ask for his help in easing the elves’ workload by not being too nice, he’s unprepared for how far Mitchell will go.
  • The Lunar Eclipse – A woman waiting for an eclipse looks back at her life and the man she met when they were six years old. They eventually became romantically involved but have since moved on. He has passed away, but she can’t help but remember the promise they made 50 years ago while witnessing another eclipse: no matter what happened, they’d be together for the next one. No matter what…

The Verdict

Each story explores different shades of fear, from grief and guilt to obsession and isolation, while maintaining a distinctive voice that is equal parts unsettling and compassionate. Cassidy’s vivid prose creates immersive settings where darkness seems to seep through every crack.

“This parking lot has gotten too dark and it feels like that van, with its impenetrable windows, is swelling in size, blotting out what little light there is.”

He takes places we all instinctively distrust, like an empty midnight gas station littered with googly eyes, and injects them with a creeping, visceral malice. The atmosphere throughout the anthology is thick and heavy; no matter how well-lit these venues claim to be, the shadows always fight back with teeth.

Cassidy’s writing is remarkably adaptable. He bounces effortlessly between psychological unease and sharp, bloody terror, ensuring that each detour feels uniquely dangerous. It’s a sharp, terrifying read that reminds us exactly why we look over our shoulders in empty rooms.

For those brave enough to step off the main highway, I Know a Place is a brilliant, dark journey that’s well worth taking. Just be prepared for the nightmares that may follow. Perfect for fans of atmospheric horror and unsettling short fiction, this exceptional collection showcases Nat Cassidy’s remarkable imagination and storytelling skill.

“It was a joke, more or less. He had to have known that.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Get your copy today!

According to Deadline, Gary Dauberman’s Coin Operated has secured the rights to Rest Stop for a future feature film. Cassidy will adapt the screenplay with Dauberman and Mia Maniscalco as producers.

** Thank you to Eve Bailey and Flo Communications for my gifted copy for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.