Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

Hold the Faith: Early Christianity Comes to Life, The Apostle John series by Susan MB Preston tells the story of John. John is the author of what many people consider the definitive gospel on the life of Christ. I read and studied this gospel and most of the Bible as a boy growing up in Alabama. I often found myself wishing I knew more about the lives of the people mentioned. I realized that these people lived with rules very different from ours and I wished I knew more about that life. Bible verses are terse and usually give the bare minimum of description, mostly just concentrating on telling the reader what occurred. Susan MB Preston has invested a lot of time in historical research to tell the story of John and his family so that we can relate to them as people like us with a family similar to ours.

In my opinion, the author has succeeded admirably. The writing in Hold the Faith is top notch. The details of life in 92 AD are descriptive and bring the past to life. Susan MB Preston shows us the stress between the followers of Jesus and the Orthodox Jews. We see the pain and politics of the Roman occupation of Ephesus in Asia Minor, but just as importantly we see the daily life of ordinary people. John is old by 92 AD and we see most of this story through the eyes of his great-grandson Benjamin, and other young people. The characters are portrayed very well, bringing a new perspective to an old story. Susan MB Preston has done a great service for Christians everywhere by bringing this story to life.

Reviewed by Hilary Hawkes for Readers' Favorite

The Castle by Lorilyn Roberts is book three in a Young Adult (Christian) fantasy series. Daniel finds himself trapped in a seventh dimension where “time is an illusion.” Here many events from history appear to merge or connect – from events in Palestine at the time of Christ to trains taking Jews to Auschwitz. Concerned to rescue his father from a castle, escape the seventh dimension and get back to 2015, Daniel must complete the journey that God has for him. In the same dimension, a girl called Shale encourages Daniel, but he finds it hard to believe that a man called Yeshua is the Jews’ Messiah. Daniel witnesses the events that led up to the crucifixion. He then needs to find a special set of scrolls that contain the truth about Yeshua and His followers, and place them where they will be found many centuries into the future. All the while he must evade capture by the Roman soldiers who mistakenly believe him to be an abductor, murderer and escaped prisoner.

The Castle is beautifully written with an intriguing, well thought out plot that carries the reader through mystery, danger, horror and amazement. I liked the way Roberts connects Daniel’s modern day belief as a young Jew with the events of two thousand years ago, and his desire to make sense of things and find a truth. The dreams, memories and apparitions that affect Daniel give the story layers of mystical intrigue. The characters are strong and believable, and Daniel himself is very likeable. I love the way he grows and develops spiritually and emotionally through the story (especially the point where he chooses to help a man who wronged him), eventually piecing his life’s purpose or meaning together. The action and suspense-filled plot gradually link all the different parts of the story, ending in a satisfying way. This is a book that has been written with great care and thought. It refers to many Biblical references, and ties major and significant historical events into a plot where fictitious characters are used to convey a profound message, as well as entertain. Recommended.

Reviewed by Tiffany Davis for Readers' Favorite

The Daughters of Jim Farrell is a Christian novel written by Sylvia Bambola. This story is set in the coal mine industry in the 1800s when poverty was at an all time high. Jim Farrell was hanged for murder, and as a result his wife turned their home into a boarding house to maintain herself and her daughters. The oldest daughter, Kate, had a hard time believing that her father committed the crime and set her mind to finding out the truth. After pleading with her sisters, they all band together and hire a private investigator to seek the truth. This story tests the faith of the entire family but especially the sisters' trust in one another. Sylvia Bambola did a great job with tying the story together and making the reader understand the emotions of each of the crazy occurrences. The daughters of Jim Farrell did not realize that by simply questioning their father's death they would be faced with so many unanswered questions.

The plot of the story was good from the very beginning. The story is totally well written and takes you on a suspenseful journey through a small town mentality of family and belief. This Christian novel left no questions unanswered and provided very good details to the background of the story, allowing the reader feel the intensity of each and every word. This is definitely a very well written, excellent novel!

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Annabelle Ross has lost so much to the Civil War and now she faces the fear of losing the plantation that had been her family home for generations. Having nursed countless soldiers when the house was turned into a hospital, she's not surprised to find letters hidden in the patients' pockets, messages that need to reach their destination. A cryptic letter, however, leads her into a quagmire of espionage at the losing end of the war, a war that no one can really win when so many lives have been lost and so many families split by divided loyalties. And now the life of President Lincoln is at risk and Annabelle finds that she is caught in the middle of the plot. The subplots are intriguing as well, like the plan to wed Annabelle against her wishes to her step-mother's brother.

Stephenia H. McGee's novel, Leveraging Lincoln: A Civil War Novel (The Liberator Series) (Volume 1), is the first in a series that finds Annabelle and her co-conspirator-turned-love, Matthew Daniels, caught up in espionage and subterfuge to eliminate President Lincoln. The story is well constructed with good characterization and lots of descriptive passages. In fact, it's quite the page-turner. The only disappointment is that the well developed plot really has no resolution. Otherwise, this is a powerful tale of survival in the southern states at the end of the American Civil War. Overall, a great read.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Defender of Jerusalem: A Biographical Novel of Balian d’Ibelin is an historical novel written by Helena P. Schrader. This is the second book in Schrader’s historical trilogy which follows the life of Balian d’Ibelin during the 12th century. The author precedes her story with a detailed list of characters, the family trees of the Ibelin family, the kings and queens of Jerusalem and the Greek/Byzantine Emperors, as well as maps of modern-day Jerusalem, the 12th century kingdom of Jerusalem and a map showing the Baronies of Jerusalem. In her introduction, Schrader gives a brief digest of the contents of the first book in the series, Knight of Jerusalem, which followed Ibelin’s life from 1171-1177. As the youngest son of the first Baron d’Ibelin, Balian was landless and was charged by Jerusalem’s King Amalric to care for young Prince Baldwin, who had been diagnosed as having leprosy. The two became close friends; a relationship which survived Amalric’s sudden demise and Baldwin’s unexpected accession to the crown. At first, little changed within the kingdom until Baldwin reached his majority. He then turned from the advice and counsel of his former regent to that of his mother, Agnes de Courtenay, whose ambition and bitterness towards Maria Comnena, Amalric’s second wife would precipitate a rift between Balian and his former royal friend. Before that break, however, Baldwin approved the marriage of Ibelin to his step-mother, the dowager queen, Maria Comnena, and persuaded Ibelin’s eldest brother to give Balian the barony known as Ibelin.

In the opening pages of Defender of Jerusalem, the barons and counselors to Baldwin have met to discuss their lack of access to the dying king. Agnes, his mother, has blocked all of them, supposedly to protect him, but Balian knew exactly how to get past the gatekeeper and gain access to his friend. Baldwin’s main concern during his illness was for the future of Jerusalem if he should die, which he fully expected would happen. His younger sister, Sibylla, would have to be married off, and quickly, as she was not queen material and would need a strong hand to guide her. While the fever that had nearly killed the king had abated, his concerns about the succession remained; however, his plans ran counter to everything that Balian and his other counselors recommended. She would marry the Duke of Burgundy, a match that would empower the kingdom, but Baldwin’s plans for Princess Isabella, Maria’s daughter from Amalric, caused the beginning of that great rift between Ibelin and Baldwin. The eight-year-old, who lived with her mother and Ibelin, would be married off to Humphrey de Toron, and while the marriage would still be some years away, she would be leaving immediately to live with him in Kerak, under the care and supervision of his mother, Stephanie de Milly. This, Agnes de Courtenay believed, would remove Isabella from the influence of Balian and her mother.

This was the worst of times for a break in ties between the ailing king and his traditional counselors as relations between Jerusalem and the Kurdish leader, Salah ad-Din, continued to break down. A series of skirmishes between the Christian Franks and the Muslims seemed destined to end any attempts at truces and negotiations. Truces were often broken by barons for their own profit or glory, giving no thought to the impact of their action on the kingdom. While Jerusalem had the barons, the Knights Templar and the Hospitallers to defend the Kingdom and the Holy City, there was no getting past the fact that Salah ad-Din had infinitely larger forces at his command. There was so much at stake as well. Jerusalem had historic religious importance to both Christians and Muslims, and the pilgrims who arrived daily had to be kept safe.

Helena P. Schrader’s historical novel, Defender of Jerusalem: A Biographical Novel of Balian d’Ibelin, is a meticulously researched and well-written work that examines a crucial time in the history of the Christian occupation of Jerusalem. This is a complex, professional and intellectually challenging work that is well worth the effort a reader will put into it. The author’s introductory materials and digest of the first book in the series were infinitely valuable for me as reference tools as I began reading. I had not read the first book, and while I was able to enjoy and appreciate Defender of Jerusalem, I found myself wishing I had begun with the first book in the series -- the story is that good. Schrader makes this time in history come alive. The reader gets a real feel for the culture in Jerusalem and the Middle East at the time both for the Christians and, to a lesser extent, the Muslims. She eloquently conveys the impact of the Crusades on the area and the challenges faced by the Christians who settled and had made the kingdom their home. I was fascinated by the political machinations that take place in Defender of Jerusalem and found myself often reminded of Robert Graves’ biographical novel, I, Claudius, as I watched children being wrested from their families and royal babies dying untimely deaths. While there is no villain in Defender of Jerusalem quite as ambitious and evil as Livia, Claudius’ grandmother, some characters in this tale come relatively close.

Schrader’s battle scenes, and there are lots of them, are brilliant. She gets the confusion and chaos of hand-to-hand combat and graphically conveys the sounds of battle, the shouting and the screams of horses, and the sight of the almost mesmerized combatants fighting desperately and at times nearly insensibly. Her Leper King is valiant, unforgettable and larger than life as he grips on his charger with his legs, having lost the use of his hands and leads his troops into battle. Balian is seen at home, on the battleground, and in the midst of diplomatic discussions where thousands of lives are at stake, and it’s a joy to see how he rises to each occasion and becomes a true statesman.

The author concludes her tale with an Historical Note which details the factual basis for her plot, and then she discusses those areas where she blended fiction in with those facts. There’s also a fascinating historical note on leprosy, a glossary, and an extensive list of recommended readings. I was so impressed by the depth of Schrader’s research and the job she did in recreating what was for me, at least, a little known historical time and place. Defender of Jerusalem: A Biographical Novel of Balian d’Ibelin is a grand read. It’s not light reading, but it’s so worth any initial effort getting involved with the characters and the history behind it. This historical novel is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

When the walls of Jericho came tumbling down, one family survived and was welcomed into the Hebrew faith and community. It was the family of the innkeeper, Rahab, also known as a zonah or a harlot. Rahab and her twin sister, Rohat, were the most beautiful girls in the family. Three other children had already been sold into slavery, but when Rahab’s twin sister and best friend is sold to the temple of the goddess Ashtoreth to help feed her family, Rahab realizes her parents' disregard for her well being. She takes matters into her own hands, settling into a life as a harlot to support herself. Although her family forgets that she is one of them, Rahab never forgets her family and works hard to help support them, saving all the while to create a more satisfying home and income by purchasing her own inn. This is where she first meets the Hebrew Prince Salmon. By helping him escape, she seals her fate when Jericho falls and it is not so different than what the fortune teller once told her.

Carlene Havel and Sharon Faucheux’s novel, The Scarlet Cord, takes the reader back to the days before and after the fall of Jericho. The Hebrews, who recently escaped Egypt, follow God’s course and plan to create their own home. In the process, pagan communities like Jericho fall to the power of God’s will. It is not an easy time to be a woman, especially in Jericho, and the authors develop a plausible plot around the character of Rahab, who is herself a very strong character, a survivor as well as a compassionate person. A fascinating story of the early days of the Hebrews in the Promised Land. Well done!

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

The Protective Archangel is a historical Christian fiction by Eduardo Mayen. It consists of three stories set in significant time periods, but they are intertwined. Year 30, Joseph of Arimathea is entrusted by an Angel to protect a cross Michael the Archangel will use in future centuries to free humans from physical and mental slavery. In 1492, a priest carrying the cross boards the Archangel, a fourth ship assigned to Christopher Columbus’ expedition that has troubles at sea. Miracles occur on a Maryland plantation in 1840 after the birth of a boy named Michael, whom slaves fondly call “Boson.” He spiritually motivates people with his wisdom and caring ways, but Andrew, his father, disbelieves that men are created equal and refuses to listen to Michael’s reasoning. Evil and jealousy seep through many sources, blinding Andrew into making rash decisions that affect the well-being of his family.

Be prepared to be swept through a riveting mystical fantasy when reading The Protective Archangel by Eduardo Mayen. The novel is an absorbing, intricate drama with a theme based on love and religious beliefs, and endearing fictitious characters. Eduardo Mayen has proven his capabilities as a writer by creating this unique book, which I found spiritually thought-provoking and deeply emotional due to the sequence of events. He has cleverly combined historical facts and fiction, and has a bold writing style I admire. The intriguing stories alternate per chapter, juggling from the past to present, so readers will easily follow the drama. I highly recommend this entertaining Christian novel.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Always October by C.E. Edmonson is one of those novels that requires a lot of word space to review, which is why I’m not using my regular review style. Lucas Taylor has lived his life. He may not live long, but he is not giving up. His body is losing the battle, but his mind is just as strong. As his final act of rebellion, he remembers his journey of life and recounts everything that happened. Lucas’ strength was tremendous and very endearing at times. His grief and loss was hard and raked through the storyline. The reader is not immune to Lucas’ despair; you will feel it in your heart and in your soul. He was erratic at times and somewhat obnoxious, but the reader is so much invested in the story that this doesn’t annoy you. Instead, it feels like a part of Lucas.

The novel was a little hard to read, not because it was badly written, but because it was so good that it seemed too real at times. The story was true to life and scarily real. It was honest and pure without being cheesy or clichéd. I don’t say this about many novels, but this one is pure gold. I have no words to describe the feelings the book evoked in me. It was tremendous and heart warming as much as it was emotional. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I usually have issues with writers using covers for their books that have no meaning or reference to the story. Edmonson chose well. The cover not only reflects the title, but also the story. Five well-earned stars!

Reviewed by Kathryn Bennett for Readers' Favorite

The Salt Covenants by Sylvia Bambola is a historical fiction that takes place in Spain, starting in the year 1493. We meet Isabel who has broken her mother's heart by converting from Judaism to Christianity. Despite this, however, when she is noticed by Friar Alonso at La Casa Santa, the Holy House, she must flee or be submitted to the Inquisition. She marries a man she does not love and catches a boat to the New World as Christopher Columbus heads on his second voyage. Things take a turn and Isabel finds that she must make her way in this dangerous New World alone; will she be able to do it?

The first thing you should know about this book is that it is not a light and fluffy historical fiction; it is deep and heavy and has many layers to it. That said, it is a great read and it is that 'meat' which makes it so good. The first two chapters seem a little bit slow, but they set up a lot of details that you need for the book. Once you get past those first two chapters, however, the story seems to fly by and you will not want to put it down. I found Isabel an amazing woman for making her own choices in life in a period where a woman generally had little choice in what she did. She answered first to her family and then was married off. But this woman makes her own choices and, while she must face many hardships, she keeps moving on in the face of them. I wish I could be more like Isabel! You can tell that author Sylvia Bambola has put a lot of work into this book. Isabel shines through as a very realistic character and the backdrops of the story stand out vividly. Any historical fan is going to enjoy this book and I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

A perfect blend of history and fiction, The Templars, Two Kings and a Pope: A Historical Novel of Spirituality and a Covert War by Grigor Fedan relates the history of the Templars last years through the life and adventures of William Montfort. As a young man with pure devotion to the Church, William is disappointed by the hypocrisy he sees and is given the opportunity to better serve the Lord. After becoming a Templar Knight, William embarks on a journey to the Holy Land in search of his uncle who has a secret that will change Christianity. Unfortunately, many people would kill to keep this secret hidden and it takes William and his many connections significant effort and hardship to succeed. From the English countryside to the deserts of the Middle East and back to the courts of kings and noblemen, William learns what true devotion to the Lord is. Will he be able to keep the secret safe so it can be shared or will it die with the Templars?

With dramatic action on the battle field, intrigue among the members of the king's court, and secret plots by the Templars, the reader receives a wonderful history lesson woven into the excellent narrative of a fiction story. The Templars, Two Kings and a Pope: A Historical Novel of Spirituality and a Covert War by Grigor Fedan offers a rather detailed look at the history of England, France and the Papacy in the 13th century in an engrossing fictional narrative that makes the reader cheer and cry along with the characters. Absolutely brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and felt as though I was living right along with the characters. The author's combination of history and fiction struck the perfect blend.