Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

VanWest The Present is the second entry in the VanWest Series by Kenneth Thomas, a fast-paced, engrossing science fiction story with a protagonist that I loved. VanWest has grown up to be a loyal Enforcer, who blindly obeys every command — however dark and morally corrupt — from the Universal Council. He has ingrained in his mind the mission to serve without question, to work for the growth of humankind and the universal commandment, and to destroy everything or anyone who stands in the way of the Universal Council.

Everything changes after his promotion to captain and after getting injured at the Games. But this also unveils his latent psychic sense — the ability to see future events. The Council sends him on a precarious mission to stop the Utopians, a renegade set led by the former Head of Science, the genius Dr. Isaac VonHelmann. While he is about to be reunited with his childhood best friend, Iris, the daughter of the Utopian leader, there are far more disturbing truths when he gets to Mars. The choices he makes with what he knows will determine the survival of Earth. Will he follow orders or his heart on a far-off planet?

I didn’t read the first book in this series but I absolutely enjoyed VanWest The Present. The characters are exceptionally written and the adventure is exciting. I also loved the twist in the plot. The protagonist is a multi-layered character whose complex nature is brilliantly written. The conflict — both on internal and the physical levels — is well-conceived and deftly articulated. Kenneth Thomas’s gift for plot and character creates the success of this story that puts the past and the future at an intersection in the present. It is a fantastic story, indeed.

Reviewed by Jon Michael Miller for Readers' Favorite

In Ken Gordon’s Bad Dogs: A Black Cadet in Dixie, we first meet the protagonist Jon H. Quest as the CEO of a mega-successful company. He’s late for the monthly dinner get-together of his mega-successful Black family at their mega-amazing family compound. We will get the cadet story as he tells it to family members at this dinner. Gordon starts us off with no doubt that whatever happened to Cadet Quest did not prevent his overcoming it. But we learn that what he overcame was the trauma of racism and violence during his time at M.U.T.S (Military University of The South). An early assault on freshman cadets (toads) was during hazing by upperclassmen who forced them to sing the school’s song “Dixie.” Cadet Quest didn’t like that song and began a campaign to free black cadets from being forced to either sing it or do pushups, or worse—much worse. Also, to endure blatant racist “jokes.” White cadets immediately saw Toad Quest as “uppity” and began a vigorous campaign to bring him to his knees.

What I like most about Ken Gordon’s Bad Dogs: A Black Cadet in Dixie, a serious and important novel, is that even with all their attempts, the white cadets cannot make him quit. On the contrary, he rises, gains strength, pays the difficult price, endures, fights, keeps his sense of humor, his lust for life, and using his smarts becomes a true leader. For years after he graduates (he’s hissed at during the ceremony), he refused to wear the college’s ring. Until his dad reminds him of his slave heritage and the true meaning of that ring. I admired the directness of this novel, its humor, and its grit. As a white, it has continued to instruct me about the trauma racism generates and the strength it takes to overcome. As a reader, I clenched my fist in victory when CEO Quest finally slides that ring on his finger as a symbol of triumph. Bravo, Mr. Gordon! You taught us one helluva lesson!

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

Wow...Sulu Sea...what a fabulous read! Better yet, what a fabulous writer Marshall Riggan is. But then, I shouldn’t be surprised given that Riggan has penned scripts for over 200 TV films and won an Emmy for an ABC documentary. Those skills, coupled with his extensive world travels and familiarity with sailing, provide the authenticity and credibility that readers will enjoy in the exciting adventure story, Sulu Sea. This is one novel you won’t be able to put down. Come aboard the Galway Bay and enjoy a shot or two of vodka with Captain O’Hara and his trusted friend, former priest Toussaint, as they navigate the oceans. Not long after, you’ll be joined by the beautiful Gabriella who hires O’Hara to safely transport her and her priceless cargo of jewelry, art, and artifacts to Miami. It’s a dangerous mission to which O’Hara is agreeing: Gabriella’s husband is the head of a huge drug cartel.

But saying “yes” to Gabriella is only the beginning of a hair-raising adventure on and under the seas, which sees Riggan’s protagonists within inches of losing their lives time and again. With the help of yet another outstandingly beautiful Albino female, Valentina, who just happens to be a former Russian military soldier, the principal characters elude drug traffickers and save a group of children from child traffickers. The occupants of the Galway Bay deep-sea dive to the wreckage of Captain O’Hara’s former cruise ship, the Sulu Sea, and just when it starts to feel like all missions have been successfully accomplished toward the end of the novel, more surprises and sacrifices are in store. In short, the action just about never stops in this brilliantly written novel.

Riggan’s plot is convoluted and perfectly executed. His characters’ emotions, motivations, and actions delight and capture readers’ imaginations and hearts with their realism. Descriptions of the seas, scenery, boats, settings, and weaponry are so well done that envisioning it all is easy thanks to Riggan’s extensive cinematic background and familiarity with his subjects. Reading this story is like watching a movie...and what a great movie Sulu Sea would be. For someone who loves the ocean, but knows very little about it other than how it looks from a cruise ship or the shores of a holiday island, I came away vastly enlightened. But best of all was discovering such a talented author. My sincerest hope is that Marshall Riggan is planning several more books, but my recommendation is that you pick up a copy of Sulu Sea now and embark on a thrilling voyage aboard the Galway Bay. Simply awesome reading!

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

In Cold Solar, the first book in The Inner Solar War series by Anthony C. Robinson, the reader is introduced to a turbulent, futuristic moment in the history of humanity. While governments waste their financial resources and plunge their countries into huge debt, a private corporation explores Mars before 2020. This corporation establishes a colony and exploits a rare fuel source called ziberium, which makes them rich. But they treat the colonies like slave labor. Everything changes when one of the colonies discovers the secret to genetic engineering on Mars, giving them the ability to become supermen that Aether forces could not compete against. Once they defeat Aether Megacorp, they form their own empire called the Soloran Kingdom and shut off all communication with Earth. After several years, they are mounting an act of revenge against Earth. Bowen, Vladamir, Low, and a few others might be the only hope of saving humanity. But do they have enough in them to fight against such an enemy bent on revenge?

Cold Solar is well-plotted and beautifully written, with characters that are rock-solid and sophisticated. A private company is able to buy all the debt of the governments and takes control of the world after making a discovery that can alter human DNA, making the human exposed to it operate at their maximum potential. This is a tale of greed, with themes of slavery and terrorism skillfully included. There is romance as well and readers will adore Bowen and Joanna, the personal guard of a princess and a character who should hate Bowen but who finds herself passionately in love with him. Cold Solar is a well-written, cleverly plotted science fiction novel with an interplanetary setting, compelling characters, and a conflict of huge magnitude. Unlike science fiction books that are filled with jargon and neologisms, this one is written in prose that is not only elegant but accessible and inviting. I enjoyed the action, the pacing, and the compelling plot, as well as the realistic and richly written characters.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Animal lovers should rejoice for The Wise Ass seems to be the perfect embodiment of animals altering a person's life with their love and positivity. Jimmy McCarthy is an Irish American from the Bronx who works for the mob boss Ty Valanchi and his crew. After decades of working for the mafia, Jimmy, Valanchi, and his associates get arrested on a RICO case by the FBI. Jimmy decides to enter into the witness protection program and bring down the entire organization when he gets news of his brother's murder on the orders of Ty Valanchi. The FBI relocates Jimmy and his wife Gina to Berthoud, Colorado, where Jimmy's life takes a drastic turn when he comes in contact with a talking mule named Claire.

The Wise Ass is a riveting story that perfectly encapsulates how a change in one's environment can significantly impact a person's outlook on life. Author Tom McCaffrey's novel is well-written, smart, funny, and above else, heartwarming. Every single one of Tom McCaffrey's characters is fully fleshed out with layers of depth to them. The conversations between Jimmy, Claire, and Gina were some of my favorite portions of the book. I found Claire's backstory to be very compelling and was particularly impressed with Jimmy's gradual change as a person as he spends more time with Claire. There are also bouts of humor sprinkled throughout the book that make for an entertaining reading experience. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Wise Ass, and I would highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Primed to Kill is the second book in the Kill Crime series by Mike Slavin. It follows Jeff Case, a former Green Beret and two-war veteran whose soul is scarred by pain, loss, and tragedy. Life is quiet at his house, a ranch outside Houston, but when the lives of a psychic friend, a child, and a cop are threatened, Case gets back into the game. The hunt for a serial killer morphs into a cat-and-mouse game that puts lives in danger across different cities: Houston, Boston, and Miami. Case and his team are not only dealing with one psychopath but with serial killers who won’t stop piling up the dead bodies. With few resources and the complexity of the case, can they put the killers out of business once and for all?

First, you’re going to love the characters in Primed to Kill. Second, you’re going to be enthralled by the twisted plot. And third, you’re going to be utterly hooked by the conflict. Fourth, you will love how the author ties these elements together. While there is so much to love in Primed to Kill, the author’s gift for character is the best element. I couldn’t take my eyes off the protagonist, a man who has his internal struggles and unique trauma to deal with and who is in the quest for answers to his own personal tragedy. Mike Slavin is a great storyteller whose novel will entice readers who enjoy stories with vigilante themes, sleuthing, and crime. This book is a page-turner with fully drawn characters that readers can’t stop following.

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

How Can a Man Die Better by Roy V Gaston is a compelling historical novel with powerful themes of war and fans of Civil War novels will find it utterly fascinating. While there is chaos as the war rages on, Cage Carew is withdrawn, focused only on his academic pursuits. Although his fiancée covertly helps slaves escaping through the Underground Railroad across the River Jordan, he doesn’t seem bothered. But then his fiancée is killed by the slave catcher, Francois Devol, and everything changes. Cage is deeply wounded and resolved to hunt down the killer. So, he joins the 52nd Ohio Infantry Regiment under Colonel Dan McCook. Cage quickly grows from an intellectual into a dangerous fighter. But what drives him and will he succeed in exacting his revenge on the man who killed his fiancée?

Well-plotted and skillfully written, here is a novel that captures the pulse of the American Civil war in a way that is captivating. It is interesting to notice the transformation in the protagonist and to see how far love and revenge can drive the human heart. The setting takes readers through dangerous landscapes, filled with vivid descriptions that capture details of the environment and locales in which the story takes place. The action is pulsating and it doesn’t overshadow the emotional and psychological depth of the story. Roy V Gaston’s gift for character, prose, and plot is exemplified in this novel. The writing is atmospheric, the characters so alive they feel like part of the reader’s world. How Can a Man Die Better is hugely entertaining.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

I have never before embarked on reading a trilogy, and I might not have lasted the experience if it weren’t for the excellence of Carl Lakeland’s writing. What an amazing imagination Lakeland has, one that steers clear of anything predictable. So refreshing. Each book stands alone, but all three are connected and the characters we meet in the first book, Eagle Shield, appear and disappear in the second book, Project Amber, and resurface in a new way in the final book, The Lost Ones. Along the way, readers are treated to a marvelous mix of characters, both good and evil, and unpredictable plots that never stand still. Eagle Shield focusses on the tough military soldier with a heart of gold, Nathan Masters, who battles hell and high water to fulfill his mission to bring a very special child, Angel, to safety and ultimately to what is her pre-ordained, glorious destiny as a savior.

Where Masters’ covert Eagle Shield mission concludes, the now-adult Angel, a journalist, picks up the narrative in Project Amber. What a narrative it is...a mixture of science fiction and a not impossible future for planet Earth should nuclear warfare ever become a reality. Perhaps the current interest in living on Mars isn’t all that far-fetched if what happens in Project Amber eventuates. The world readers experience in the final book of the Milestone trilogy is vastly different from that in the first two books, and I’m sure it’s one I would never want to live in. Through a new narrator, Lakeland depicts the future of a radioactive planet Earth, where cannibalism, cruelty, and survival of the fittest rule. His rendering of this world is horrific yet oddly credible. One cannot come away from reading The Lost Ones...indeed all three books...without feeling you have just completed a fantastic and unforgettable voyage.

Style-wise, Lakeland expertly uses every literary tool: excellent descriptions that appeal to all the senses; colorful and touching characters with whom we can easily identify; superbly rendered dialogue that captures growing tension one minute, deep love the next; and for those who enjoy military rationale and details before, during and after battle, riveting plots. By allowing each protagonist to narrate his/her book in the first person, Lakeland adds to the immediacy and credibility of the events and those who make them happen. Having lived in Australia for several years, I was particularly drawn to and intrigued by Lakeland setting this trilogy down under. Those unfamiliar with the Aussie “lingo” might need a few minutes to catch on to some turns of phrase, but by using these, Lakeland adds even more color to the narratives. And for readers who believe in the Bible and its stories of angels and devils, Lakeland offers another most unexpected touch, fulfilling his own mandate to keep readers guessing and asking themselves, “what if?” Indeed, what if?

Reviewed by Scott Cahan for Readers' Favorite

Dart by Dale Renton is a science fiction action thriller that features an exciting new hero. His name is Darthanil Black, or Dart for short, and he’s best described as a combination of Captain James T. Kirk and Will Ferrell. He can trade punches and bullets with the best of them all the while cracking jokes and making light of every situation. The story puts Dart in the center of a war between three players; the town settlers called the Formers, the Sylth, humans who inhabit the jungles, and a group of supercomputers that control the planet. He doesn’t choose to get involved but it’s a good thing he does because he has a strong desire to see good win out over evil along with the guts, skill, and sense of humor to make it happen.

I had a great time reading Dart by Dale Renton. As an action thriller, it succeeds with strong characters who are put into many dangerous situations and a nail-biting plot that will keep you guessing until the very end. I also found the science fiction setting to be lots of fun. The story mixes futuristic technology with a wild west sensibility. The book is filled with many interesting characters, but the main character, Dart, steals the show with his dashing looks, fearless character, and ready wit. He’s a refreshing new hero for the 21st century. I highly recommend Dart, the book for anyone who likes a little science fiction thrown in with their action heroes.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Anarchy of the Mice is the first novel in the Third Chance Enterprises series by Jeff Bond. Molly McGill is the quintessential single suburban mother of two. She has a PI business that barely stays afloat, but a woman's got to do what she needs to do. So, when Quaid Rafferty, the former governor of Massachusetts, comes knocking on her door to help him and his “muscle” Durwood Oak Jones uncover The Blind Mice, she knows this is an offer she cannot ignore. The Blind Mice are a group of terrorists/hackers who are trying to disrupt society. Molly needs to go undercover and become a part of the Blind Mice to reveal them; however, they are not your usual terrorists. They are smart, they are wicked, and the leader of the group is vicious. It will take all of Molly’s strength and determination to get the job done. Can she infiltrate The Blind Mice, stop them, and make it out alive?

The intricate, smartly woven plot and complex characters are the highlight of Anarchy of the Mice. I love Molly’s character, her sass, and her ability to just charm her way into situations that might be impossible for others made me fall a little in love with her. To be honest, each character has a certain appeal and an element of surprise that turns out to be a game-changer for the story. Even Sue-Ann adds some extra sparkle to the story and makes it more interesting. The plot runs on a very original idea. The concept of The Blind Mice and what they do is terrifying and believable. Jeff Bond paces the story in a way so that it picks up and drops the speed whenever it is important for the story. The narrative is rich, the characters are flawed with redeeming qualities, and the action is relentless. This is an entertaining novel!