GSMC Book Review Podcast

Sarah welcomes award-winning children’s author Diann Floyd Boehm to discuss her charming and heartfelt book, Boomer Sees the Town , the first adventure in the Curious Bunny series. Perfect for families, educators, and lovers of children’s literature, this conversation highlights the creativity, warmth, and purpose behind stories written for young readers. Boomer Sees the Town follows Boomer, a cur...

Sarah welcomes acclaimed writer Marshall Fine to discuss Hemlock Lane, his powerful new novel that blends emotional depth with the atmospheric tension of urban and high fantasy elements. Set during the turbulent summer of 1967, Hemlock Lane follows Nora Levitsky as she returns to her family home, a place filled with long-held secrets, generational pressures, and the haunting pull of unresolved rel...

Sarah welcomes author Ursula Werner for a powerful and imaginative conversation about her biblical fiction novel Magda Revealed. Werner’s bold re-envisioning of Mary Magdalene challenges long-held traditions and brings new life to one of history’s most misunderstood figures. Through wit, candor, and deep storytelling insight, she shares how she reshaped Magda’s voice, explored her relationship wit...

Sarah welcomes award-winning author Laura Resau to explore the enchanting and mysterious world of her newest novel, The Alchemy of Flowers . Set within a secluded, centuries-old garden in the South of France, the story follows Eloise, a woman seeking solace after painful attempts to build the family she longs for. Answering an unexpected call for a gardener at the remote Jardins du Paradis, she le...

Sarah speaks with J.E. Weiner, author of the award-nominated southern gothic historical fiction novel The Wretched and Undone. Set in the rugged beauty of the Texas Hill Country on the eve of the Civil War, this sweeping saga follows Polish immigrants Marcin and Agnieszka Anderwald as they seek a new beginning—only to encounter a dark force that threatens their family and faith. Inspired by real p...

Sarah welcomes author Tara Hodgson to discuss her emotional and thought-provoking young adult novel, At Least I’m Trying. This powerful coming-of-age story follows Reese, a teenage athlete whose dreams of playing college volleyball collapse in an instant, sending her on a search for identity, freedom, and belonging. Reese has always been the perfect daughter, student, and athlete until her world b...

Sarah welcomes Kelli Estes, bestselling author of T he Girl Who Wrote in Silk and Today We Go Home , to discuss her latest novel, Smoke on the Wind . This sweeping story connects two women—centuries apart—through love, loss, and an inexplicable bond that transcends time. Set in both contemporary and early 19th-century Scotland, Smoke on the Wind follows Keaka Denney, a mother struggling to rebuild...

Sarah welcomes back award-winning author Michael J. Cooper to discuss his latest historical fiction novel, The Rabbi’s Knight —a thrilling prequel to his acclaimed “Empire” series. Set in 1290 at the end of the Crusades, The Rabbi’s Knight follows Knight Templar Jonathan St. Clair as he joins forces with Rabbi Samuel of Baghdad on a perilous mission through Acre and Jerusalem. When they uncover a...

Sarah welcomes J.M. Shaw, author of the gripping urban/high fantasy novel Forsaken Souls. Set in a richly imagined realm where magic and humanity collide, Shaw’s story follows Callum and Jax on a perilous quest to repair the veil separating the magical and human worlds. Their journey leads them straight into the hands of the Der’geron—an ancient enemy plotting vengeance after centuries of exile. A...

Sarah welcomes back Evette Davis, author of The Others and The Gift, to talk about The Campaign, the thrilling conclusion to her Council Trilogy. Blending politics, power, and the supernatural, this urban fantasy finale follows political consultant Olivia Shepherd, who finds herself in the middle of a dangerous presidential race where dark magic and ambition collide. After returning home from a ha...

Sarah sits down with Victoria Dowd to talk about her historical mystery novel, Death in the Aviary. The story begins on New Year’s Eve, 1928, inside the grand yet isolated Ravenswick Abbey on the wilds of Dartmoor. Nine people enter an ornate lift. The power fails. Darkness falls. A single gunshot rings out. When the lights return, Charles Ravenswick, heir to the family fortune, lies dead. No one...

Sarah sits down with author Nick Kolakowski to talk about his gripping noir mystery, Where the Bones Lie . Set in the shadows of Hollywood, this fast-paced thriller follows Dash Fuller, a fixer who has spent years cleaning up the film industry’s dirtiest secrets. Burned out and cynical, Dash has learned to numb himself with bourbon and cynicism—until a new case offers him an unexpected shot at red...

Sarah speaks with author Joan Fernandez about her captivating historical fiction novel, S aving Vincent . Perfect for fans of stories that uncover the hidden lives of extraordinary women, this novel shines a light on Jo van Gogh Bonger, the woman who saved her brother-in-law Vincent van Gogh from obscurity. Set in the late 19th and early 20th century, Saving Vincent follows Jo as she navigates gri...

Sarah welcomes back author Russell Little for a riveting conversation about his psychological crime thriller Murder by Storm . Nearly a year after his first appearance, Russell returns to share fresh insights on his series and the unforgettable characters at its center. Murder by Storm is a high-stakes thriller set against the backdrop of a devastating Houston hurricane. At the heart of the story...

Sarah sits down with author A.T. Balsara to talk about her powerful and thought-provoking novel, The Great and the Small. This richly layered story brings together the worlds of humans and rats in a gripping tale of survival, compassion, and resistance. The novel introduces Ananda, a troubled teenager struggling with grief, isolation, and her uncanny ability to connect with animals. Living in the...

Sarah welcomes award-winning journalist and author Judith Valente to talk about her inspiring new book, The Italian Soul: How to Savor the Full Joys of Life. Drawing on her experiences living and traveling in Italy, Judith explores how Italians embrace la dolce vita—the sweet life—by cultivating beauty, balance, and joy in everyday living. Through stories of community, tradition, and contemplative...

Sarah welcomes acclaimed author Mark Stevens to discuss his gripping new crime fiction thriller, No Lie Lasts Forever . This heart-pounding novel reimagines the Zodiac-style killer story with a chilling twist: what happens when a reformed serial killer must track down a copycat trading on his notorious name? No Lie Lasts Forever introduces listeners to Harry Kugel, the infamous “PDQ Killer” who wa...

Sarah welcomes Bram Stoker Award–winning author Cynthia Pelayo to discuss her haunting new psychological suspense novel, Vanishing Daughters . The story follows journalist Briar Thorne, a woman still reeling from her mother’s mysterious death in their crumbling Victorian mansion on Chicago’s South Side. As she tries to make sense of her grief, Bri is plagued by unsettling visions—a woman in white...

Sarah welcomes Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes to talk about her thrilling new novel, A Fifth of the Story. A gripping blend of espionage, loyalty, betrayal, and personal sacrifice, the story centers on CIA agent Brock, who’s thrust into a high-stakes national security crisis after a deadly attack on U.S. soil. As Brock uncovers a dangerous breach within the intelligence community, he realizes the...

Sarah speaks with author Lisa C. Taylor about her poignant and emotionally layered novel, The Shape of What Remains . The story centers on Teresa Calvano, an English professor whose life was forever altered when her six-year-old daughter, Serena, was tragically killed in a split-second accident. A decade later, Teresa is still struggling to navigate her grief, haunted by unanswered questions and t...

Sarah sits down with G.T. Karber, the brilliant author behind the international bestselling Murdle puzzle series. Karber’s newest releases, Murdle: School of Murder and Murdle Jr ., promise to challenge mystery lovers and puzzle solvers of all ages. In Murdle: School of Murder , readers are transported to the mysterious Deduction College, where 50 intricate murder-mystery logic puzzles await. Each...

Welcome to the GSMC Book Review Podcast, your trusted destination for compelling conversations with today’s most intriguing authors. Hosted by Sarah, this episode features a powerful discussion with Bob Johnson about his debut short story collection, The Continental Divide . In The Continental Divide , Bob Johnson brings readers fourteen unforgettable stories set along the rugged St. Lawrence Divi...

Welcome to the GSMC Book Review Podcast, hosted by Sarah — your trusted guide for discovering gripping new reads and the brilliant minds behind them. In this episode, Sarah sits down with author Brandi Bradley to explore her suspenseful Southern noir, Pretty Girls Get Away with Murder. Set in Western Kentucky, this crime fiction story examines what it means to be openly queer in a place where livi...

Sarah welcomes author Steve Schafer to discuss his thrilling young adult novel, eMortal. This thought-provoking story explores artificial intelligence, humanity, and the blurred lines between code and consciousness. Liv never expected to win the AI coding contest, and she definitely didn’t expect to create something—or someone—like Breck. Breck isn’t just smart; he’s thoughtful, self-aware, and se...

Sarah welcomes acclaimed thriller author Carter Wilson to discuss his latest gripping novel, Tell Me What You Did. Known for his twisty, psychological suspense, Wilson delivers another must-read with this tense, character-driven story. The novel follows Poe Webb, host of a true crime podcast where anonymous guests confess their darkest crimes. The format offers both anonymity and instant notoriety...