Lisette – Clare Castleberry

Posted on June 16, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) I'll be honest — erotic horror isn't usually my genre. But after enjoying Clare Castleberry's Bound by Blood, I gave Lisette a chance, and I'm glad I did. Set against the gritty backdrop of New Orleans and its surrounding swamplands, Lisette packs an impressive amount of story into just 77 pages.…

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An Excellent UnderratedRead Revisited:The Riddle of the Sphinx – Alexandre Montagu

Posted on June 13, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)   Eric (Keyvan) fled Iran as a child during the Islamic revolution and grew up in Paris. He later studied Comparative Literature at Princeton. That is one scenario. What would have happened if he was forced to stay in Iran? So much of one’s life (or death) is determined by a…

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An Author’s Dozen: Thirteen Short Stories – Christopher Amato

Posted on June 9, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) If you enjoy literary short story collections that explore the complexities of human nature, then An Author's Dozen is well worth your time. The thirteen stories are remarkably original, taking readers across different locations, time periods, and emotional landscapes. Themes of destiny, regret, resilience, love, and self-discovery run throughout the collection.…

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Precious Friends: Murder in Sag Harbor – Frank Spinelli

Posted on June 6, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) This suspenseful mystery pulls you into the glamorous world of New York’s gay elite. Forty-eight-year-old JB Pulaski, a Columbia professor, has been married to Mike for seventeen years, and together they are raising their adopted son, Emilio. Mike has philandered throughout their marriage, but once JB is diagnosed and treated for…

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Goodbye Chinatown – Kit Fan

Posted on June 2, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) This emotionally layered novel blends food, family, politics, and identity into a powerful story. Set between London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, it follows Amber Fan, a talented young chef determined to build her dream London restaurant, Luna, while guarding a family secret that she must divulge some day. What I loved…

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An UnderratedRead Revisited and Tribute to Sonny Rollins

Posted on May 31, 2026 by J D Jung

JD Jung) Last week, tenor saxophonist and jazz great Sonny Rollins passed away at the age of ninety-five. In 1959, twenty-eight-year-old Rollins disappeared for two years with the purpose of practicing and improving his craft. He wrote down his thoughts on technical aspects of the saxophone, “rethinking musical concepts”, as well as those on perseverance,…

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Final Transaction: Murder, Money & Real Estate – Diane Dickinson

Posted on May 29, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) This fast-paced real estate murder mystery pulls readers deep into Houston’s world of wealth, ambition, and secrets. When successful realtor Todd Drake — co-owner of Drake Properties and one of Houston’s top boutique real estate agents — is found shot to death before an open house, the story immediately hooks you.…

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Inspiration Porn: Essays – Ryan O’Connell

Posted on May 26, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Inspirational Porn is one of the most honest, funny, and emotional memoir collections I’ve read in a long time. Known for the Netflix series “Special” and his television writing career, Ryan O'Connell infuses these essays with humor and vulnerability as he examines identity, relationships, addiction, and a career in Hollywood as…

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A Timely UnderratedRead Revisited: Shameless – Republicans’ Deliberate Dysfunction and the Battle to Preserve Democracy – Brian Tyler Cohen

Posted on May 21, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)   “You can’t understand the Trump phenomenon unless you understand the role that independent media on the right has played in terms of social media, in terms of amplification of his message, in terms of getting his fake news across.” Democrats have yet to create a strategy to compete with the…

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An UnderratedRead Revisited : Great Again – Bill Day

Posted on May 18, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Ex-Marine Jack O’Mally is divorced and estranged from his adult daughter. He just can’t accept that she is married to a black musician and living in California. Jack is captain of his New Jersey neighborhood watch, which targets undocumented workers. Of course, they conveniently overlook the fact that neighbors rely on…

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