Book Talk

  • Gordon Jefrries, NetGalley Reviewer

    Byhlesbrown

    The story of Tony Keating (Kit Foxx) is heartbreaking at times and uplifting at other times, but always gripping — a story that, once you get started, you struggle to put down. Each chapter builds on the last, and yes, you want to read it all, but at the same time you don’t want it to finish. Maybe it hasn’t yet — there is surely a sequel in the pipeline. If not, there should be. Enjoyed every minute, and highly recommend. Reviewed on NetGalley, September 24, 2026.

  • Rudi McKay, Ed.D

    Byhlesbrown

    Sycamore Boy is such an emotional, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful coming-of-age story. H. Les Brown takes Tony through first love, devastating loss, survival, chosen family, and the complicated process of figuring out who you are when the life you knew is ripped away from you. I really connected with the queer coming-of-age aspect of this story. Tony’s relationship with Jake felt tender and electric, but the danger surrounding them made their love even more heartbreaking. I also appreciated how the story expands beyond that first love and becomes something much bigger—a story about survival, identity, trauma, resilience, and finding your…

  • Luis J.

    Byhlesbrown

    That line in your blurb about Bishop Sean Foley facing an accuser who was “judge, jury, and executioner” made me stop mid-scroll like, “Alright, who brought courtroom thunder into the Vatican?” The tension between Foley and Cardinal Nwadike reads like someone took faith, politics, secrets, and emotional landmines, mixed them together, and said, “Good luck, reader.” I could practically hear the walls of Rome whispering.

  • Ben R.

    Byhlesbrown

    There is something deeply magnetic about We Are Not Saints: The Monk. From the first encounter with Jeff Hensen’s journey, I felt the weight and wonder of a story shaped by struggle, faith, and the fierce search for meaning. The emotional clarity of his inner battle, the stark honesty of his wounds, and the quiet strength of his perseverance create a narrative that feels both raw and luminous. The way the book blends spiritual reflection, moral tension, and human vulnerability gives the story a living pulse that stays with the reader long after the final line.

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    Nakoa H.

    Byhlesbrown

    Compelling Drama with Depth Compelling Drama with Depth– This book delves into the complexities of morality, redemption, and the human condition with gripping intensity. Through Bishop Sean Foley’s turbulent journey, readers are drawn into a world of intrigue, heartache, and ultimately, resilience. With its authentic portrayal of flawed characters and ethical dilemmas, it leaves a lasting impact that prompts reflection and empathy.

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    Paul B.

    Byhlesbrown

    This book and series face an intense issue that is common in the Catholic Church. Tackles it head on in fact, and for that the author should be praised. Not always the easiest read, this is still an important one and would recommend to those interested in the inner dynamics of the Catholic Church and its priests.

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    Kirkus Reviews

    Byhlesbrown

    A Well-written, Effective Story A gay Roman Catholic clergyman faces the sharp scrutiny of a homophobic dignitary in Brown’s novel, the fourth in a series. A Well-written, Effective Story A gay Roman Catholic clergyman faces the sharp scrutiny of a homophobic dignitary in Brown’s novel, the fourth in a series.

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    Frank G. D.

    Byhlesbrown

    Intriguing PageTurner—Absolutely brilliant. Les Brown tells a story that is complex, multi-layered, full of strange landscapes as divergent as organized crime and monastic life, yet one so well crafted that the reader becomes engrossed in it, unable to put it down. Intriguing PageTurner—Absolutely brilliant. Les Brown tells a story that is complex, multi-layered, full of strange landscapes as divergent as organized crime and monastic life, yet one so well crafted that the reader becomes engrossed in it, unable to put it down.