Sassy Reviews

January 6, 2026

Dave and Me

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Dave and Me 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Rusty Austin ✍️
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Dave and Me is a gritty, laugh-out-loud memoir that captures the essence of lifelong friendship with brutal honesty and irreverent humor. Rusty Austin doesn’t romanticize the past; instead, he recreates it exactly as it was – messy, reckless, absurd, and deeply human. Through episodic storytelling, the book reads like a series of unforgettable bar stories that somehow carry real emotional weight beneath the laughter.

What makes the book stand out is its voice. The narration feels unfiltered and conversational, pulling readers directly into moments of lightning strikes on golf courses, doomed betting systems at the racetrack, and misadventures fueled by youth, bravado, and poor judgment. Austin’s writing reflects the authenticity of the era, the friendship, and the personalities involved.

At its core, Dave and Me is a love letter to a best friend who is no longer around. Beneath the chaos and comedy lies a quiet grief that sneaks up on the reader. The book reminds us that the most meaningful relationships are often built not on grand gestures, but on shared stupidity, loyalty, etc.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

Uncommon Poems Common People

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Uncommon Poems Common People 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: T.D. Kruser ✍️
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Uncommon Poems Common People is a deeply introspective collection that explores the emotional terrain of love, loneliness, identity, and personal growth. T. D. Kruser writes with an unfiltered honesty that makes each poem feel less like a performance and more like a confession. The recurring image of “The Edge” serves as a powerful metaphor for the moments in life when certainty fades and self-reflection begins.

The poems move fluidly through stages of human experience: joyful connection, heartbreak, isolation, and healing often mirroring the reader’s own emotional cycles. Kruser’s language is simple yet emotionally charged, allowing the feelings to take center stage rather than elaborate literary devices. This accessibility makes the work especially relatable, as if the poet is speaking directly to the reader rather than at them.

What makes this collection stand out is its emotional consistency and sincerity. The poems do not try to resolve pain too quickly; instead, they sit with it, examine it, and gradually transform it into understanding. Uncommon Poems Common People is not just a book of poetry, it is a companion for anyone navigating the quiet struggles of being human.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5

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January 5, 2026

West of Tomorrow

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: West of Tomorrow 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: D.B. Sayers ✍️
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D.B. Sayers delivers a captivating novel in West of Tomorrow, blending corporate intrigue with the inner turmoil of a man shaped by war. The story features Clay Conover, a retired Marine officer who appears to have successfully reinvented himself in the upper ranks of the business world. Yet beneath the surface of professional stability lies deep uncertainty, as Clay confronts a failing economy, a shrinking job market, and a corporate culture far removed from the clarity and structure of military life. Sayers draws a striking parallel between the dangers of combat and the moral minefields of corporate America.

The novel gains momentum when Clay is tasked with training Sheera Prasad, a brilliant rising star. As he grows to respect her intelligence and ambition, Clay uncovers a disturbing truth: Sheera has been hired to quietly unseat their boss, a man Clay deeply admires and feels loyal to. What follows is a tense moral standoff. If Clay chooses self-preservation and plays along, corporate power promises rich rewards. If he refuses, he risks losing everything alongside his boss. Sayers excels at exploring themes of loyalty, integrity, and identity. West of Tomorrow is a sharp, engaging novel. I am glad to get my hands on this book. Hats off to the author for this amazing story.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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January 1, 2026

Unicorn Mafia Sex Sells Vol. 1

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Unicorn Mafia Sex Sells Vol. 1 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Amanda Lane ✍️
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Unicorn Mafia Sex Sells Vol. 1 by Amanda Lane is a gripping and engaging read. The story centers on Danielle DeBarbarak, a bartender working at the Crown & Crop bar. One day, a charming and handsome man named John Merrick walks in. Dani immediately feels that John is far out of her league. When he leaves, he surprises her by slipping his business card her way.

Several months later, John returns to the bar and confesses that Dani has been on his mind. He expresses a desire to get to know her better. At the same time, Dani is dealing with her own complications. Her boyfriend is in county jail, and she isn’t ready to reveal everything about her life to John right away. What unfolds when they reconnect forms the heart of the story.

The storyline is captivating and keeps the reader hooked. The cover design is attractive, the title suits the theme well, and the pacing is excellent. I found it hard to put the book down once I started reading. The language is clearly intended for adult readers. Overall, the book gave me Pretty Woman vibes and made for an enjoyable read.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

December 31, 2025December 31, 2025

Best Case Scenario: Act I of Nyra’s Journey

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Best Case Scenario: Act I of Nyra’s Journey 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: D.B. Sayers ✍️
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Best Case Scenario: Act I of Nyra’s Journey by D.B. Sayers is a gripping and engaging read. The story follows Nyra Westensee, an intern at Timmons Financial Group, where she spends her days doing cold calls while hoping to land a full-time professional role. Despite her efforts, Nyra often feels stuck, unable to catch a break—both in her career and personal life.

The novel touches on several moments that shape Nyra’s journey. She recently went on a sailing trip with her brother Kip, his friend Mark, and their girlfriends. With the economy being especially tough on non-tech professionals, listening to her mother talk about laying off employees is deeply unsettling for Nyra. Her time working at The Blue Macaw also leaves a mark, particularly after an awkward kiss with the night manager, Kevin. Along the way, Toni, an IT Applications Manager, offers Nyra valuable guidance on presenting herself professionally, building a resume, and navigating the corporate world.

Sayers’ writing style is easy to follow and keeps the reader engaged throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book—the pacing is smooth, and I found myself binge-reading it. The cover design is attractive, and Nyra’s character is both well-written and highly relatable. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more books by the author.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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December 31, 2025

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Best Case Scenario: Act I of Nyra’s Journey 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: D.B. Sayers ✍️
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Best Case Scenario: Act I of Nyra’s Journey by D.B. Sayers is a gripping and engaging read. The story follows Nyra Westensee, an intern at Timmons Financial Group, where she spends her days doing cold calls while hoping to land a full-time professional role. Despite her efforts, Nyra often feels stuck, unable to catch a break—both in her career and personal life.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

December 28, 2025December 28, 2025

Between a Rock and a Holy Place

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Between a Rock and a Holy Place 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Thomas Patrick Nolan ✍️
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In “Between a Rock and a Holy Place”, Thomas Patrick Nolan offers a rich and thoughtful collection of sermons shaped by a lifetime of pastoral ministry and deep attentiveness to Scripture. These sermons are incarnational reflections that arise from real congregations, real stories, and real struggles.

This book provides readers with a sense of sacred time, reminding us that faith unfolds season by season, moment by moment. Nolan’s preaching is marked by clarity, warmth, and an understated theological depth that rewards careful reading. His reflections consistently draw the reader toward Christ, not through grand pronouncements, but through small, faithful acts of love, mercy, and attentiveness.

What stands out most is Nolan’s pastoral wisdom. He speaks with compassion to those who feel weary, overlooked, or uncertain, offering a faith that is neither sentimental nor rigid. Instead, he presents a God who comes near especially in moments of vulnerability and waiting.

Between a Rock and a Holy Place is a valuable resource that reminds us that faith is not lived at the extremes, but in the sacred, sometimes uncomfortable space where God meets us with grace, healing, and hope.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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December 27, 2025

It Happened in the Hollow

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: It Happened in the Hollow 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Brenda Stanley ✍️
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It Happened in the Hollow is a haunting, slow-burn novel that lingers long after the final page. Brenda Stanley weaves together grief, secrecy, and generational trauma against the eerie backdrop of a divided rural community. The alternating perspectives particularly between the living and the dead add a deeply emotional layer that makes the story feel both intimate and unsettling.

What stands out most is the novel’s atmosphere. The hollow itself feels like a living presence, heavy with memory and unresolved pain. Stanley’s prose is reflective and immersive, allowing readers to sit with the characters’ guilt, longing, and unanswered questions rather than rushing toward easy resolutions.

This is not a fast-paced thriller, but a thoughtful and emotionally rich story about loss, love, and the weight of the past. Readers who appreciate character-driven fiction and introspective storytelling will find “It Happened in the Hollow” quietly powerful and deeply affecting. Both Landis and Benji will stay on your mind long after you finish reading this book.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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December 27, 2025

MIT-RO-DON: 1974

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: MIT-RO-DON: 1974 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: D.R. Spires ✍️
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MIT-RO-DON: 1974 is a fast-paced science fiction novel that blends military realism, UFO lore, and speculative philosophy into an immersive first-contact narrative. Set against the stark deserts of Arizona during the mid-1970s, the novel follows helicopter pilot and engineer Jim DeLuca as an ordinary life collides with an extraordinary extraterrestrial encounter.

What begins as concern for Jim’s sister and her husband, Ronny, a former Vietnam pilot obsessed with UFO sightings quickly escalates into a gripping sequence of aerial chases, mysterious radar anomalies, and impossible technology. Spires excels at grounding the story in technical detail: aircraft mechanics, radar operations, and military flight maneuvers are described with precision, lending authenticity and credibility to the unfolding events.

The book is well paced. The early chapters build tension steadily, culminating in dramatic encounters that are both thrilling and eerie. The UFO itself is not treated merely as a spectacle but as a catalyst for deeper questions about human perception, preparedness, and our place in a much larger universe. As the story progresses, the narrative expands beyond simple sightings and pursuit into broader themes involving alien intelligence, hidden bases, time, and human conflict.

The characters are well developed. I am impressed by the author’s vivid imagination in world building. Go ahead with this book without any second thoughts.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

December 27, 2025

Olympus, and the House of Tchrlok

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Olympus, and the House of Tchrlok 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: D. R. Spires ✍️
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Olympus, and the House of Tchrlok blends epic world-building, philosophical inquiry, and deeply personal emotion into a vast interstellar saga. D. R. Spires does not merely tell a story; he constructs an entire cosmology political, scientific, and moral where power, creation, and consequence are constantly in tension.

The novel explores empire: how it is born, how it justifies itself, and how it inevitably reshapes both the conqueror and the conquered. The Traxian Empire, with its rigid hierarchies, pod-mothers, and chilling pragmatism, feels unsettlingly believable. Spires excels at presenting an alien civilization. The echoes of colonialism, exploitation, and moral compromise are unmistakable and intentional.

One of the most compelling elements of the book is its treatment of intelligence and creation. Through characters like Tchrlok and the brilliant Designer, the novel raises profound questions about consciousness, godhood, and responsibility. Power in this universe is not simply physical or political, it is intellectual and temporal, capable of bending reality itself. Yet Spires is careful to show that such power always comes at a cost.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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