Reviewed By Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite

Murder for the Time Being by Joanie Bruce is a fictional mystery suspense novel with a bit of romance that would appeal most to a mixed audience of young adults and adults who enjoy clean reads with no explicit language, sexual situations, or graphic violence. Lexi Wynn is a young computer expert who is terrified for her life after a bank robbery, knowing that someone is after her. Her life is heading downwards fast, with her only hope hinging on her computer skills being enough to help her bring a killer to light, but a car collision with handsome Drew Sheffield might just be enough to turn her life around. Drew Sheffield walks away from the collision with Lexi Wynn lingering in his mind, so when he sees the chance to help her, he seizes it with both hands. Amidst danger and mystery, will these two be able to seize the moment and allow their love to blossom or will it all go down the drain?

Murder for the Time Being by Joanie Bruce has a very vivid cover that hinted at the inner plot of the book without giving anything away; I really liked that Lexi was on the cover as it gave me a clear picture of what she looked like. I only wish Drew could have been on it as well. I personally felt that the author did a good job of balancing the elements of the plot with the attraction between Lexi and Drew. Lexi quickly became my favorite character as she had a sassy personality, good morals, and was willing to fight back instead of giving up. Overall, it was very pleasurable to read a book that had an enjoyable plot, with action that was not bogged down with needless violence and gore!

Reviewed By Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

For No Apparent Reason by SK Derban is a murder mystery. Madison is focused on her life as a law student, with no time for frivolous things like romance. Every stage of her life has been planned to precision and she has made peace with not having any real relationships until she has successfully passed the bar exam. Of course, fate always intervenes and when Madison shelters from a spring storm, her life is changed forever. Suddenly, she is on a different path, a path that takes her into a shady world of money laundering, greed, and murder, a path that teaches her how to choose her friends and what love can do for her. How will Madison’s perfectly planned life ever be the same again?

For No Apparent Reason by SK Derban was an interesting story, one that I found very difficult to put down. There is plenty of suspense and plenty of action, all designed to turn a perfect life completely on its head. This book has an intriguing plot with some colorful and well-developed characters living lives that you can’t help but be drawn into. The development of both the story and the characters was drawn out through the book and each chapter brought something new into the mix. This is a delightful combination of suspense, mystery, and romance all rolled into one, a bit more on the light-hearted side and not too much of the dark, heavy stuff you sometimes get in this genre. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a light read that they can’t put down.

Reviewed By Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

Martin Hospitality is book one in the Martin Generations series by Abigayle Claire, and is a great and inspiring read indeed. Meet eighteen-year-old Gemma Ebworthy, a lonely pregnant woman. She now sleeps in a barn, after being rendered homeless because of her condition, and she doesn’t think things will get better any time soon. But then she must adjust and find her own space within the large Martin family in rural Texas. The Martins seem to attract her in ways she could never have imagined, and when she has to face her past again, she must choose to reveal her entire life to this family animated with a strong Christian faith, and risk gaining their full trust or losing it entirely.

Abigayle Claire’s novel is an inspiring story that centers on hospitality, family, humanity, and faith. The reader is immediately drawn to the young pregnant girl, seeking a home at the beginning of the story, and her encounter with the Martins. The story captures the life of a Christian family living in the rural area; it’s the kind of family one would meet in a developing environment. The joyful and boisterous atmosphere within the family comes across clearly throughout the narrative. The writing is excellent and the prose features vivid descriptions and dialogues that combine humor and wit to enhance the plot. Character development is impeccable and surprises in the plot line are exciting enough to make for a great reading experience. Martin Hospitality is deftly and tightly written, a story with as much entertainment and lessons as anyone can hope for.

Reviewed By Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

There is very little that is as it appears to be in The Field Trip, making for a twisting and turning plot that pulls you in and doesn’t let go until the last word of the book. There are many characters in The Field Trip that are necessary to the suspense, but the main character is Chasen Derrick and his most annoying student, Eddie. Chasen is currently working at the Dysart Academy, receiving an unusually large salary that he appreciates but never questions. He halfheartedly agrees to take a class on a field trip to England, and he and the students set off to enjoy their sightseeing in London. The trip is off to a good start until they become bystanders in a fire and then everything is turned upside down and sideways. As they plan to board the bus to the next spot in Oxford, two students are missing and Chasen hurries off to find them. The students load onto the bus and are driven away without their teacher. Chasen then finds himself and Eddie (the missing student) stranded and they soon are being accused of terrible deeds. The two find themselves being the hunted and use all of their strength, wits and knowledge to move from scary situation to life threatening situation. No one is whom they think and everyone they come across may or may not be a friend or the enemy.

The Field Trip kept me up long past my bedtime and had me ignoring my daytime chores. I can honestly say that this is the best Christian fiction suspenseful book I have read in, well, forever. Greg Elsasser is brilliant in his combining of God, mystery, intrigue and fantastic characters. He brings in religion without it becoming overwhelming; suspense permeated throughout the story and believability was top notch. I was never 100% certain if it was all really fiction or if perhaps there was some truth in it; that is how well the story was presented. Please do not pass this one up; it is sooooo good.

Reviewed By Theophila Igben for Readers' Favorite

The battle between good and evil is a common occurrence in our world. Sean Young clearly showed the battle between good and evil in To Fear The Dawn, with the good side comprising Nicholas Gallagher (the computer genius and billionaire), Decklin Kanabas (the controversial priest), and Lajé Jaffa (the last of her kind), with Hypatia's children representing the evil side (prominent men and women who had infiltrated all sectors in a bid to carry out their global conspiracy and control the world). Nicholas finds an ally and trusted friend in Decklin Kanabas after he escaped from prison because his life was being threatened by the same people who tried to frame him. The trio ( Nicholas, Decklin and Lajé) eventually become bound together by their common interest, which is to protect themselves from Hypatia's children and bring them down. Evil seems to be gaining ground; how long can good hold out?

To Fear The Dawn makes you feel as if you are watching an exciting movie; it is action-packed, interesting and suspenseful. The idea of an imminent danger also makes you feel as if you are right alongside the characters and, just like them, you don't know exactly what you are up against. To Fear The Dawn caught my attention from the cover, which is bold and fierce, and it sustained my attention till the end. I loved the action, the breath-taking suspense coupled with betrayal, and I was really intrigued by Decklin Kanabas' character, his abilities, intelligence, cunning and skill.

Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

The Girl Who Could Read Hearts by Sherry Maysonave is an inspirational story that vividly treats the themes of intuition, religion, God, love, and many others. The book tells the story of a girl with the extraordinary gift of seeing what most ordinary people do not see, the gift of a sharpened perception, and one that troubles her as well as her parents. What does it mean to see colors in the hearts of others? Could she be living within the bounds of the normal or does her experience border on insanity? Such are the questions that disturb Kate Kindrick and her family, but there is worse than that, and can she bear it all in her young heart?

Sherry Maysonave is a very skilled author and her work explores one of the challenging issues that many people face in contemporary society: the loneliness of the gifted person. The story is well written and there is a powerful psychological depth that will haunt many readers. But the story is highly inspirational, one of those tales that will encourage readers to have the courage to stand out, to accept their gifts, and to embrace who they really are. The author’s tone is gentle and compassionate, and her voice rings through with clarity and authority. The highly accessible writing is punctuated by vivid descriptions and colorful dialogue. The author knows how to lead readers into the mind of her protagonist and allow them to connect intimately with her. The Girl Who Could Read Hearts is a story of faith, a powerful defense for those who dare to follow the light they see within them. A highly recommended read!

Reviewed By Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite

Wow. In a sad, touching and unfortunately appropriate story for the times, author Gwen Sutton has provided her readers with an absolutely wonderful piece of work in her new novel, Endurance. Follow the story of the beautiful Dereka Jones as her life changes from one of love and happiness to one of terror and dismay. Dereka has been kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery. Dereka's family, especially her mother, grandmother and two aunts with whom she has very close and special relationships, do all they can to get her back. When they realize who has done this to Dereka and their family, a man who wants nothing but revenge, their fears grow even stronger.

Endurance was simply a great read. It's obvious that author Gwen Sutton put a lot of time and care into her book, and that shows through in the wonderful portrayal of her main characters. Dereka and her strong and loving female family members are characters that Ms. Sutton's readers will connect with, relate to and continue to think about long after the book is finished. If that isn't a hallmark of a great author, I don't know what is. The story is written with a great sensitivity to victims of sexual slavery and abuse, and utilizes a wonderful sense of Christian undertones that doesn't overpower the story line, instead it enhances it. I am very happy to recommend Endurance by Gwen Sutton. I look forward to reading more from this very promising author in the future!

Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Can you forgive? Do you have the strength and the faith needed to forgive? What if someone killed your sister in a brutal act? Could you forgive? In The Ravine, Mitch is very conflicted. His close friend, Rachel, has been brutally murdered by her husband, Danny, a man she loved and trusted; a man Mitch loved as a brother-in-law. Danny also brutally killed his son, Evan, though he did spare the younger son, Christopher. Then, in remorse, Danny killed himself. Mitch is always going to mourn the loss of Rachel and Evan. He can't understand how or why Danny did what he did. And now, he is being told that he should forgive Danny. According to a woman, Joanna, a minister, a spiritualist who reaches beyond the physical world with her visions, God has already forgiven Danny and Mitch should too, in order to prevent the anger within him from festering.

Robert Pascuzzi has written an insightful story about the conflicting powers of good and evil, and how it can be so easy for a man, like Danny, to be led down the wrong path to do something so heinous as brutally and viciously (because it was more intense than just a shot in the head) murdering his own family. The author takes care to provide back stories on the characters, particularly Danny, the murderer, and Joanna, the spiritualist. These back stories build the characters and provide the reader with an understanding of the events that led up to the brutal act and the gentle guidance provided after the tragedy. This is indeed a powerful story about forgiveness.

Reviewed By Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite

Beth Green’s A Rose for Jonathan is an enlightening story revealing the power of prayer and scriptural declaration. Standing guard on a hill above the city are three angels ... a sword pierces the ground, the earth shakes, yet no one notices except for one small two-year-old child. Suddenly, a car crash occurs, traumatically impacting the lives of all those involved. The watching angels flee to their charges. As a result of this accident, a ripple effect unseen by human eyes begins in the atmosphere. A divine plan begins to unfold. The gift within little Rose Louise traverses time and transforms lives. Her donation of life gifts the lives of three others and releases a light, a shimmering glow, into a darkened community. Thirty-five years later, one man’s eyes are opened to the truth. Tension has been building; the spiritual battle has been raging. Standing in front of his congregation, Pastor John Miles prepares to share the incredible story of Rose Louise. Is it a story of mere irony, or is it divine destiny? Will his congregation embrace and believe, or will they shun him, considering him a fool. Looking at his audience, he begins to share the events that transpired to bring him to this moment of time. “I stand before you because of a gift...”

The quote by Alexander Pope, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,” whispered in my head as I read A Rose for Jonathan. Contrarily, Beth Green depicts the angelic realm with boundless and fervent bravery, ever watching over their assigned humans, and graciously heeding the voice of the Father. In this compassionate story, the angels fear nothing; instead, they dare the angels of darkness to tread lightly. Beth Green does a wonderful job at portraying the despair and heartache of losing a child. She reveals the truth that everyone grieves differently; pain is very real and individualized. Moreover, Green uses her experience as a pediatric physical therapist to give insight into the organ donation process. Too often, we forget that someone has to die in order for someone else to live through organ transplant. This story delicately yet decisively weaves together the concept that there is a constant battle for the souls of humankind. Jesus Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice; He died that we might live. A Rose for Jonathan's resounding message is that we as believers are overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

Reviewed By Deborah Stone for Readers' Favorite

In After the Thaw by Therese Heckenkamp, Charlene Perigard is still in the process of trying to put her life together after being kidnapped and traumatized three years earlier. She is in love with a fire fighter named Ben and she is making plans for the future, but first she must fulfill a deathbed promise that will force her to revisit her past. She must deliver a letter to Clay, the brother of her kidnapper and the man who saved her life. Her life becomes steeped in threats and violence and she has to find some place safe, away from family and the people she knows. As she fights to stay alive and find a way to live in peace, as she struggles with possible feelings for Clay, her relationship with Ben begins to fall apart. If Charlene can survive this current nightmare, she will have to make a choice.

Therese Heckenkamp develops a story with descriptive language and sub-plots that draw you deep into this tale of intrigue, romance and terror. After the Thaw is riveting and hard to put down. The characters are vivid and well defined, the emotions are intense, and the story carries you along on a tumultuous journey of love, hate, terror, revenge, regret and more. Charlene Perigard's dark and dangerous present, things that nightmares are made of, force her to rely on her faith, her God that can see her through anything and who is the only one that can keep her alive. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Excellent.