Reviewed by Tracy Slowiak for Readers' Favorite

Drama. Intrigue. Heartbreak. And memorable historical events. All of these elements are what make up a great entry into the genre of historical fiction. And you’ll find all of them, and more, in The Thornbearer by debut author Pepper D. Basham. Follow our protagonist, Ashleigh Dougall, as she tries to escape the betrayals she’s suffered, first by being left behind by her fiancé only eight months before their wedding, and then the ultimate betrayal by her father, sexual abuse. Fleeing on the Lusitania, she finds that a fellow traveler is one she knows well, her childhood friend and the best friend of her former fiancé, Sam Miller. Not pleased to discover he’s aboard at first, Ashleigh soon realizes that her feelings for Sam may be deeper than just friendship. But will he, or she for that matter, be able to look past what she’s suffered, and get over the idea that she is a “ruined woman?” Will God’s plan for Ashleigh ever include true love and a supportive partner?

The Thornbearer is a wonderful book. Not afraid to discuss the ravages of familial sexual abuse and the feelings that its victims often carry with them for the rest of their lives, author Pepper D. Basham does so with a real feeling of empathy and a sensitivity that is absolutely crucial with this subject matter. Strong Christian themes underlie this story, as well as those of redemption and vindication over very difficult life situations. Any reader who likes Christian fiction, historical fiction, or just a great read would love The Thornbearer, and it is my pleasure to highly recommend this book. This is the first in a planned trilogy in the Penned in Time series, and I certainly hope that Pepper D. Basham is very hard at work in the next installment!

Reviewed by Brenda Casto for Readers' Favorite

Elderberry Croft by Becky Doughty is the story of Willow Goodhope and the way her presence brought together many of the residents of The Coach House Trailer Park, changing their lives in ways that they never even knew needed changing. Willow Goodhope moves into a tiny cottage at the trailer park that she immediately names Elderberry Croft. Many of the residents speculate about her exuberance, but she soon becomes their ray of sunshine where things had previously been stagnant. The change that she brings affects each person she meets differently, but the one thing they learn is that perhaps their lives aren't finished yet and they decide to step outside their comfort zones and take a chance at life. Willow is struggling with something that hurts so bad she isn't sure she can ever overcome it. Can Willow find the strength and courage to forgive herself so that she can embrace the future that waits for her?

Elderberry Croft is filled with unique and interesting characters with compelling stories that touched my heart. The book was originally released as a serial novel where each chapter is about a different character in The Coach House Trailer Park. The stories flowed so smoothly that I found myself absorbed, wondering who I might meet next, and the neat thing was that the characters would overlap into other stories, allowing us to keep tabs on them so to speak. Ms. Doughty made the characters so real that it was easy to feel their struggles and their blossoming hope as change began to take place at the trailer park.

Elderberry Croft is such a well crafted book that really took me on an emotional journey with each character. The story wraps up very well, but left me sad to leave my "friends" behind. Becky Doughty has hooked me with her richly descriptive writing style that has the ability to elicit emotion as I stepped into the lives of her characters. She deals with real life situations that aren't always neat and tidy, but the spiritual influence that she infuses into the telling provides hope, healing and inspiration.

Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite

Dottie Rexford pens a soul-searching story in Cora Pooler. It has been twenty years; Cora Pooler decides it is time to return to Amish Country, to the village of Wander Lane. Facing her fears, she seeks the truth. She must confront her past. Hopefully by doing so she will discover who she really is ... Amish or English? Will she be received after all these years? A shunned person is an outcast, considered dead, invisible in the Amish community. She longs to be a part of the community once again, but she is torn; guilt and regret consume her. Her heart is pulling her home to her Da, her precious Maem and her beloved sister, Violet. She has been in the English world for so long. Will she be able to let go of the freedom she has found there, her job, her Daniel? To be recognized by those she loves, she must confess and repent. She places her trust in her Savior, Jesus; after all it is He who is calling her home. She has been forgiven, and is loved by her Heavenly Father. Although shunned, Cora talks to God and He listens. But will the Bishop listen? Will he and the Old Order forgive her unacceptable deed?

Cora Pooler by Dottie Rexford is an enlightening representation of God’s love, His forgiveness and salvation by grace through Christ alone. Rexford’s writing style is figurative and sensory descriptive; she creates mental images using sights, sounds and smells. At times, she even uses the literary device of alliteration. The narrative is poetic prose; beautifully written, the words flow delicately across the pages from beginning to end. Her depiction of Cora and the Amish lifestyle was impressive. Many of her analogies and metaphors were simply brilliant -- "the Amish a great flock of dark feathered blackbirds, the English a bevy of cardinals, canaries and bluebirds...” Wonderful! I currently am residing in a Mennonite and Amish community so I applaud her imagery. As a reader, you feel Cora’s longing and inner turmoil to discover herself. Moreover, I was awed at times with the portrayal of Cora’s relationship with God; sovereign, sincere, liberating. The story of Cora Pooler is masterfully told. All of us at times must face our past to move forward into our future.

Reviewed by Bil Howard for Readers' Favorite

The Gray Season: The Summer of Salvation by Dianna Donnely is not only a story about how the death of two family members only a few weeks apart caught two families completely off guard, but it records the wonderful guidance and nurturing that took place within the lives of those closest to them. Lily Eastbrook Rhodes' story shows how, at each turn, there was another “God Thing” or “Open Door” that led from one seemingly impossible event to another; and how each of those things added up to not only healing for the family, but healing for individuals as well. The events that take place bring Lily out of the high stress corporate world and back to her childhood hometown and ultimately to the "Shop of Her Dreams." Though the healing improves the lives of the individuals and of Lily in particular, there is an ultimate healing; a healing for the emptiness inside that has plagued Lily since she was a child.

“We will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands (2 Corinthians 5:1, New Living Translation).” As the story of Lily Eastbrook Rhodes unravels in this inspired story of her family, the reader will come to realize that the things we see falling into place as we go through open doors are those things which God has been building for us in His Kingdom. Honest, compelling and inspiring; The Gray Season: The Summer of Salvation is a marvelously written chronicle of how those things which seem to be the end of our happiness turn out to be our deliverance.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

Author Nancy LaRonda Johnson brings readers a dark tale of good versus evil in her book Anticipation of the Penitent. Alezea was merely a child when her parents took her out of school and introduced her to their financial enterprise. She was forced to make deliveries to her father’s clients; one of them raped her within the first week. She was homeschooled by her Aunt Nell, who also tried to teach her a few Christian values. Upon leaving home, Alezea began a long affair with a man whom she thought was Satan and she bore him a son named Thomas. He raised Thomas in his image, creating a serial murderer. This was Alezea’s life until she met Martha. After hearing Alezea’s story, Martha suggests she and Thomas go to Gabriel. While there, Thomas meets Rachel. Thomas wants to turn his life around. But is he strong enough to win the battle?

How do I begin to describe Anticipation of the Penitent? It is dark, bold, shocking, riveting, violent, and wonderfully written. The theme of this book is hope and that salvation is possible for anyone. Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins on the cross. From the prologue, I was drawn into this book and could not put it down until I read the very last page. This is one of those books you will want to read again and again, each time getting something different from it.

Reviewed by Brenda Casto for Readers' Favorite

Ernie Price lives in the tiny town of Hubbell, Michigan. He took care of his parents until their death, then he filled his days running the local service station and his evenings volunteering at the church, or working to repair toys so that he can give them to the less fortunate at Christmas. He is always looking for ways to help others, his kindness is truly a testimony of his faith. When crime comes to the tiny town, something happens that allows Ernie to get a glimpse of Heaven, but he is given a choice whether to stay or to return to earth to take care of unfinished business. What will Ernie's decision be?

Service Station Angel by Lisa J. Schuster is a book that grabs the heart and doesn't let go. It's a story that transported me back to simpler time, to a small tight-knit community where everyone sincerely cares about each other. I really felt like I had stepped back in time, becoming a part of the community as I read this story. The people, their emotions, and their faith was so real, I could feel their hurt and heartache, but I could also feel the love and strength in this community. Ms. Schuster truly captures the essence of small town living. Ernie was such a remarkable character. I felt like he truly lived his faith. As the story unfolds, Ernie's life intertwines with the many secondary characters we are introduced to, including the so-called villain of the story. I say so-called, because I really didn't want to like the person who had brought crime to Hubbell, hurting those dear people, but the author allowed me to understand why he did what he did, which enabled me to feel compassion for a hurting soul! An emotionally stirring story that took me on a journey to a simpler time and place. While a work of fiction, there is no way not to be spiritually uplifted by reading Service Station Angel by Lisa J. Schuster.

Reviewed by Dinorah Blackman for Readers' Favorite

Alana Terry writes a riveting story about the cost of professing Christianity in a society that rejects the existence of God. Brave young Chung-Cha endured the unimaginable trauma that comes from being dragged out of one’s home in the middle of the night and being brutally beaten. She survives the terror of watching her father viciously assaulted before her very eyes, and she persists in spite of the perplexity of her mother’s cold denial. Imprisoned, mentally and physically abused, starved, and forced to live like an animal is enough torture to destroy anyone, and it does. But none of that is the end of this beloved daughter. Chug-Cha even had to watch her mother waste away and die right before her eyes, perhaps consumed by the hopelessness of renouncing her beliefs. Add to that having to allow unscrupulous men to use her body just to get a half-decent meal, and then listening to her friend betray her in order to save her own skin, and your heart breaks at the injustice some have to suffer for the sake of the cross of Christ. Chung-Cha is forced to live in underground detention for years, but her undying hope that persists in spite of confusion finally leads her to the light.

The Beloved Daughter is an inspirational book that gives the reader a clear picture of what really goes on in countries where religious freedom does not exist. The story is balanced, sharing both sides tastefully. But at the same time, it removes the blinkers from the eyes of many believers who honestly think they have been persecuted just because somebody rolled their eyes at them. The Beloved Daughter follows the life of one very brave woman who spent her formative years in a dungeon, yet survived to share her story of hope. Alana Terry’s passion for persecuted Christians can be felt within the story and she expertly awakens all those who may be tempted to turn a blind eye. The Beloved Daughter reminds us that if we aren’t willing to stand up for something, we will easily fall for anything.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

30 Days Hath Revenge begins with a man’s death in Buna, Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. Colin Murphy and Ma’mum Khawaji were watching from a distance. They discussed the release of a disease as they watch the man convulse; Murphy was disappointed that the disease did not spread as fast as he’d hoped. At this point author, C. Kevin Thompson moves his tale forward in time four years. FBI Supervisory Special Agent Blake Meyer planned to retire in just a few short months. He looked forward to more time with his family. In Puerde Anapra, Mexico, are two men, coyotes, and gathered families that wanted to cross the border into the US. This was easy: men from the Middle East paid them to bring the families to the border but the coyotes did not have to take the families across the border. Each child was to have a dog collar in their hands. In Romania, Dr. Nicolescu was in his laboratory checking his experiment; he recorded in his notes the “contagion appears to be the most deadly when airborne versus previous testing.” When the CIA caught wind of the terrorist plot, Meyer was called in because of his past experiences and expertise. Would Meyer live long enough to retire? Would Dr. Nicolescu find a way to stop the exploitation of his work? How many would survive the plot to destroy the USA?

C. Kevin Thompson is a master-mind at creating a story that holds readers captive throughout the entire book. I could not go to bed without reading every last word of 30 Days Hath Revenge. This tale is relevant to today’s society; one only has to listen to the news or read a newspaper to know the USA is the preferred target. This book has it all: terrorists, bioterrorism, guns blazing, and explosions. This is one you will not want to miss.

Reviewed by Michelle Robertson for Readers' Favorite

"Her Final Gift" is written by Linda Dunlap Hulen. This book was created as a love story for all ages to read and enjoy. It is the story of the author's beloved parents and their true love at first sight relationship. It is adventurous and exciting with twists and turns that will leave you in a complete state of excitement to read more. It will shift the reader's emotions as often as the pages are turned. It is set in a time that was often filled with the hardships and obstacles that would test one's ability to move forward in life and prosper. It is a love story that begins in a triangle right from the start. It tells of two young people trying to overcome all obstacles life throws at them while trying to raise their children and run a family-operated business in a small town. Filled with raw emotion, true love, sorrow, grief, and happiness, the story will make the reader laugh, cry and experience heartache for the characters they read about. Filled with scripture and inspirational words, this book will fill readers with strength and faith in the lord as they read about this young couple.

As I was reading and becoming engulfed in the story I began to feel a sense of true compassion as if I was a character in the book itself. As it is filled with an overwhelming amount of raw emotion, I found myself stopping reading every now and then to regain my own composure. This story truly touched my heart. I am grateful to Linda Dunlap Hulen for sharing this magnificent story.

Reviewed by Bil Howard for Readers' Favorite

When teens Heather and Jillian sneak out to go dancing at a new club which promises them “more fun than they had ever had before,” they open up the door to an evil that neither of them realized existed in Argenteret. Kevin, Heather’s uncle, comes for a visit, because he is struggling with his own problems at home and is suddenly wrapped up in rescuing Heather from a powerful Vampire who has several teens, including Jillian and several police officers, under his command to help cover up murder, kidnapping and drug dealing. Heather discovers that her faith in Jesus Christ is much more powerful than evil and the testimony of her faith draws the attention of her uncle, who has always had nothing but contempt for God. The strong faith of Heather’s parents and the demonstration of love by Heather’s church community and the power of prayer all work together in combating the evil which threatens to take the lives of Heather, Kevin, Jillian and perhaps even Heather’s parents.

This is a very well-written book which does a great job of developing characters and plot into a highly intriguing and suspenseful account of how one family’s faith is able to overcome a very powerful evil. The conflicts that are attacking and testing the faith of Heather and her family, as well as the struggle that Kevin is having with his own disbelief in God, are well-crafted into the overall struggle of the kidnappings, murder and extortion that are taking place in the main plot line. This is a page-turner with a very strong message about the power of the Christian faith in overcoming evil. The reader will feel the pain, the doubt, the strengthening and the transformation of each of the characters as they work their way through this extraordinary nightmare, which the author has made into a very well-crafted and believable story.