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 Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

I loved The Stonegate Sword! This is all you really need to know. I'm going to tell you about the accurate portrayal of the characters. I'm going to tell you about the very realistic feel of this fictional world, a world that feels so real you are drawn into it, not just reading about it. It's probably not everyone's type of book, but it is my type and I will tell you why. Harry James Fox has created a post apocalyptic America where, although life is hard and evil abounds, people are still good and good ultimately triumphs.

I am often disappointed by fantasy books and their writers. I am especially drawn to books with the right combination of medieval daily life and military life. In The Stonegate Sword, Harry James Fox gives us a detailed look at both. I was completely immersed in the tale of Donald of Fisher, a Lore-man or scribe, who becomes a fierce warrior due to fate and prophecy more than any desire in his own heart. He fights for all the right reasons, and Harry James Fox describes the process of Donald going from boy to man AND from scribe to soldier with just the right touch. When I joined the army, an old sergeant told me that the secret to success in the army is attention to detail. He was right. It's actually the secret to success in life. In The Stonegate Sword, Harry James Fox gets all the details right.

Reviewed by Brittney Rossie for Readers' Favorite

Alana Candler, Marked for Murder was just one twist after another in an action packed mystery that reads like a thriller. Toss in a dash of romantic tension and I just couldn't put it down. Literally. I read it in one sitting. It was well-paced and well-written. It is clear that author Joanie Bruce has a gift for suspenseful story telling. The story follows Alana, who finds herself unsuspectingly targeted for murder. Confused and on the run, she finds an unlikely hero in her brother’s old high school buddy, Jadyn, now a successful businessman. When the two collide, there is an attraction that can’t be denied, but neither can it be dealt with easily because Alana’s life is on the line and Jadyn must hide his profession since she has had a bad run of relationships with men in powerful positions in the past.

There was solid character development, including the development of dynamic supporting characters that made the story feel authentic and truly come to life. The romantic thread was well balanced with the main plot of Alana's survival. The hero, Jadyn, is definitely a likable fellow as the dashing knight in shining armor who constantly swoops in to save our helpless heroine. My only minor complaint is that his character was pushed a little bit into the zone of too idealistic. Even still, it was one of those suspenseful romances that was clean and I could still feel the pull between the characters in a way that made me root for love to win!

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

It is said that God works in mysterious ways and that was certainly the case when ‘Joan of Arc’ became the savior of France in 1429. Maiden General: How a 17-year-old Girl Saved France at Orleans: A True Story by Mike MacCarthy tells the true story of a 17-year-old virgin farm girl, Jehanne. Since the age of 12, this young woman had been receiving messages from God regarding removing the English from French soil and ensuring that Charles VII be crowned King of France. After defying the odds to obtain a meeting with the Dauphin, the heir apparent, and gaining his trust and support, Jehanne went on to lead French troops into battle to lift the siege of the city of Orléans. Jehanne’s devotion to God and her deeply held Catholic beliefs enabled her to inspire the men to fight and, in spite of serious injuries, she led them to victory, bringing the Hundred Years War to a close. From humble beginnings, never asking for praise, Jehanne trusted in the Lord, dedicating her life to His purpose for the sake of her country.

The history of 15th century France and the Hundred Years War comes alive through the detailed yet engrossing narrative masterfully created by Mike MacCarthy. Full of passion, Maiden General: How a 17-year-old Girl Saved France at Orleans: A True Story paints a clear and poignant picture of life in the French countryside and court, as well as providing a touching testimony to the intensity of Jehanne’s belief. To read this tale is to marvel at the accomplishments possible through absolute faith in and devotion to God. All history should be written this well! This is a beautiful story and the author's passion is obvious. If only more people listened to what God wants from their lives, imagine what a wonderful place the world could be!

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.

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 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 Jane Finch for Readers' Favorite

Angels and Imperfections by Daniel Roland Banks is the story of Private Detective John Wesley Tucker whose life revolves around fighting evil. From his neighbour to the streets of a small town in East Texas, it seems Tucker’s mission will be never-ending. What starts out as a routine assignment takes Tucker into a world it is hard to admit might exist in such a quiet, small town. His missions can be likened to that of an angel, trying to save those who have gone astray or those who have suffered at the hands of evil. As Tucker tries to bring home the lost, he puts his own life in danger in his quest to conquer the evil that seems to be all around him.

There are unforeseen twists and turns and an unexpected viewpoint in this fast-paced thriller that will have any reader on the edge of their seat. The author, Daniel Roland Banks, has really excelled with a superbly written story that will equal any crime thriller writer. The first chapter grips the reader and I found myself unable to stop reading as the pace increased. Captivating from the start, the story unfolds and moves in peaks and troughs, lulling the reader into a false sense of security until another twist yanks them out of their seats and compels them to keep reading. A truly excellent piece of writing that I enjoyed immensely. As a keen thriller reader, I find this book is up there with the likes of James Patterson. Highly recommended and I look forward to the next book by this author.

Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite

Life's Choices by Paul Turk conveys the reality of hard decisions. Carlos is an ex-con who finds himself in a precarious situation which could send him back to prison. Lourdes is young, fresh out of high school, and has her whole life in front of her. Life throws her a curve ball when she discovers that she is pregnant. Both Carlos' and Lourdes' lives are touched by Robert and Coral Williams. Robert is an ex-con who has devoted himself to helping others, especially those incarcerated. He is very serious about doing the Lord’s business. Both Robert and Coral believe in the power of prayer. When Carlos finds himself in trouble, he reaches out to Robert. Robert believes Carlos is innocent and goes the extra mile for his friend. Meanwhile, Coral becomes personally involved in the prevention of abortion volunteering at a pro choice clinic. When praying outside an abortion clinic, Coral encounters Lourdes and her sister Lydia. From that moment on a bond is forged, and God begins to move in incredible ways.

The choices we make dictate the life we lead. Often our life choices are not ours alone to bear. Many times the decisions we make touch, mold and directly affect someone else’s life. We find evidence of this truth in Paul Turk’s, Life's Choices. Mr. Turk weaves together two separate stories within this narrative. The characters intersect, allowing the stories to coincide with each other. The characters are sincere, loving, devoted, but not perfect. I really appreciated the portrayal of different denominations working together for the common good. Very refreshing! Turk keeps true to the theme - all of us make mistakes, life is full of difficult choices, but with God’s help we can get through it all. But even more so is the correlation of life over death and adoption over abortion. Jesus conquered death. By making Christ your Savior, you choose life. By doing so, you become adopted into the family of God and are no longer aborted to the world.