Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Beyond the Cabin by Dana Ridenour is a terrorist thriller that is skillfully plotted and written to perfection. The head of the Undercover and Sensitive Operations Unit needs an undercover agent who has experience working extremist groups, preferably a southerner, and Lexie Montgomery fits the bill perfectly. She is to investigate the extremist group in South Carolina Lowcountry called Earth Liberation Front. Her undercover gets blown and she finds herself fighting to survive. The bad guys now know who she is. The only problem is that she doesn’t know who they are.

The opening is powerful, starting with a gripping prologue that features the protagonist running from pursuers and lost in an unfamiliar and unfriendly landscape. The last words of this prologue offer readers something of the style of the author, a promise of a suspenseful story and great entertainment: “The harder Lexie struggled against the thick, sludgy pluff mud, the deeper she sank. Weak, bleeding, and up to her knees in unyielding pluff mud, she felt a large hand brutishly grab her shoulder.” The writing is gorgeous and tight, leaving the reader wanting more.

The author does an incredible job in writing focused scenes, exploring the emotions of the characters with great vividness and creating dialogues that sound natural. The narrative is filled with suspense and Dana Ridenour has the gift of arresting the attention of readers and keeping it throughout the narrative. Beyond the Cabin is fast-paced, suspenseful, and delectable, a story with a protagonist readers will stick with and root for.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Imagine, for a moment, an America that has turned inward, disrespected and disregarded the wishes and feelings of the rest of the world (not too hard to do in these times really). This is the premise of Pete Conrad’s novel Survival of the Sparrows. A coalition of forces from Russia, North Korea and the Middle East has invaded the American homeland and is pushing on with its plan to rule the USA. In rural Johnsonville, Georgia, May and Winston Sparrow, a middle-aged African-American couple, are worried the invading forces will pass through their small town on their way to take over Atlanta. Winston has constructed a false wall in his barn where he and May will hide out until the invading army has passed through. Things don’t go quite according to plan for the couple, though, and they are caught, trapped in their wall space as the Generals make May and Winston's smallholding their Southern headquarters.

Survival of the Sparrows is a chillingly frightening reminder of just how fragile our world order and peace truly is. Given the current situation in America and the rest of the world, the scenario painted by Pete Conrad is not too far-fetched at all. This book is a fantastic read, with Winston and May lurching from one crisis to another. Fast-paced, with just the right amount of stereotyping and violence, tempered by the true spirit of human kindness and understanding, this is a very enjoyable book. The two main characters, May and Winston, and their travails, trapped inside their tiny wall space, were incredibly easy to identify with and I particularly enjoyed the good ole Southern accent and slang in the dialogue. Intentionally or not, Conrad has hit upon a realistic scenario that was both believable and riveting to read. I truly couldn’t put this book down, even when I knew I should be doing other things. That is probably the best tribute I can give to author Conrad. A real bottler of a read!

Reviewed by Cecil Brewer for Readers' Favorite

Haris Orkin has produced a rip-roaring tale of derring-do by a highly unlikely and slightly eccentric character. You Only Live Once jumps from the pages with sharp, witty writing in an intelligent parody. It is almost like Ian Fleming might have re-crafted Cervantes' Don Quixote with a strong dose of hilarity. James imagines himself to be a "Double-O" and, because of it, lives in a contemporary but pleasant dungeon. He believes it is "headquarters" and begs for a mission. When evil invades it, saving his threatened comrades compels him to launch an irrational operation. And, like the original 007, during his impossible mission he finds ways to overcome hopeless situations (firing heat-seeking rockets is side-splitting), help others to see around their own corners, and all the while maintaining his loony courtly noble outlook. Orkin reproduces the spirit of Agent 007 as he and his reluctant esquire ricochet from one dire situation to another while pursuing a fantasy mission.

Someone important might recognize You Only Live Once one day for its interpretation of two dissimilar classics melded into a charming burlesque. Today, the closest modern expressions of chivalry are action-hero champions that grew from an implausible secret agent who saved the world, or at least some of it. Orkin captures chivalry's essence in a quixotic quest and has saturated his tall tale with it. The twists of this story incorporate several entertaining fictional devices created by Cervantes roughly four hundred years ago and they still work. Haris Orkin has blended cinema's formula for the James Bond franchise with characters conceived in one of literature's greatest works and he makes you laugh. Haris Orkin has written a classic from thoroughly different eras, both engaging in their own right, but hilarious when combined.

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

Phoenix by Alex Lukeman is a political thriller that features first-class intrigue, betrayal, and a plot structure that echoes the ingenuity of Sidney Sheldon. The narrative begins with the catastrophic collision at sea of a U.S. Navy missile destroyer with a Chinese freighter. Director Elizabeth Harker of the Project is charged by the President to investigate the incident, but unknown to her, someone right inside the White House is setting her up for failure and pulling strings that are deadlier than anyone could imagine. Meanwhile an evil genius is manipulating the world powers — China, Russia, and America — into nuclear confrontation, using a supercomputer with artificial intelligence. The world is poised for nuclear war, and time is fast running out while the Project is headed for inevitable doom. Is there enough time to unmask the bad guys?

You’ll be surprised at the whip-smart plotting, the intelligent building of characters, the ingenious handling of conflict, and the exceptionally good story structure. The story starts in the midst of action — it is intense — and from the very first page, you will be on the edge of your seat. The twists in the plot are not announced and this unpredictability constitutes one of the elements of the narrative that make it irresistible. Alex Lukeman’s writing is top-notch and the descriptive prose reflects the author’s ease and confidence in writing. The story is infused with a rare sense of realism and even when AI computers do battle, it feels real. Phoenix is a stellar thriller with huge potential to entertain fans of the genre. It’s absorbing with the chapters well crafted to literally push readers onto the next page. You won’t be able to resist it.

Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite

Wow! Just, wow! That's exactly what I thought when I finished reading Hell is Naked by author duo Jean James and Mary James. This story grabbed me from the very start and kept me obsessively reading all the way through to the very end! Follow the story of Warren Roberts, a man used to his role as a tough guy. SWAT team member, all-round macho man, he finds himself in one of the most embarrassing roles of his life, that of an undercover agent as a movie extra. Warren longs to get back to what he loves best, the manly world of real detective work. It takes him only a short time to find the object of his worth, Rainy Wray, although he's not quite sure why anyone would want to find her. It doesn't take him to long to figure out that there's more to Rainy and her situation than meets the eye, and soon he realizes that he just might be fighting for both of their lives. Will they make it through? You'll need to read the book to find out!

I very much enjoyed Hell is Naked. Authors Jean James and Mary James have done a great job in creating characters that their readers will relate to, connect with, and truly come to care about. If that isn't a hallmark of a great author, I'm not sure what is. Their writing style is crisp and full of action, and has a great deal of humor as well. Any reader looking for an exciting, action filled and fun new read of fiction should absolutely give this book a chance. I am so pleased to be able to highly recommend Hell is Naked and look forward to reading more from Jean James and Mary James as soon as I possibly can!

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Hearing Voices: An Isaac Blaze Thriller by Axel Cruise is the story of a man named Isaac Blaze. Some might call him crazy, some might call him a sociopath, but to himself, he is just Isaac Blaze. He has two voices in his head; one is that of a British man (cool, sexy and very suave) and the other voice is that of a woman (just as unhelpful as you could expect). Needless to say, people think he is trouble and some might even agree with it wholeheartedly. He is trouble and finally a SWAT team has got hold of him. Now what can he do? Can he escape and get away before they actually “break” him? How did they find him in the first place, because the closest relationship he has is with the two voices in his head? What happens next? You will have to join Isaac to learn what happened next.

You know you have hit the cool character jackpot when the first sentence of the book starts with this much action. I love Isaac and his ability to cope. He is very much like a realistic version of Deadpool and there is nothing about him that I don’t love. I love the two voices in his head and I am very partial to his twisted humor. Hearing Voices started with a bang and Axel Cruise kept the momentum going until the very last sentence. This is one of those novels that you are glad you choose and you keep on going back for more again and again. Isaac is definitely an unforgettable character and if you do have the audacity to forget him, he will come back with a vengeance to get your attention once again. I really enjoyed it. Great character creation!

Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite

Wow! Just, wow! That's exactly what I thought when I finished reading the debut book by author Gretchen Jeannette, The Devil Take Tomorrow. This book is a roller coaster ride of a read, full of action, adventure, historical intrigue, and yes, even a bit of romance! Following protagonist Ethan Matlock, a Revolutionary spy bent on helping the cause of the fledgling United States as he infiltrates the highest levels of the British military presence, this story will grab readers by the throat from the very start and won't let them go. Full of excitement, espionage, and the complication of the burgeoning romance between Ethan and the lovely Miss Maddie Graves, readers will find themselves obsessively turning the pages from the start all the way through until the very end.

I loved The Devil Take Tomorrow. Loved. It. How's that for a review? Well, it's definitely how I felt about this gem of a book. As a person who does a great deal of reading in the historical fiction genre, I found the plot believable, authentic, and mired in historical truths. Author Gretchen Jeannette must have truly done her homework in the writing of this novel, and it really shows. Readers of historical fiction should certainly take note of this book, but any others just looking for an excellent story should also pick it up. It is easy for me to give this book my highest recommendation, and I look forward to reading more in this excellent new series as soon as possible!

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

A Gossamer Lens by M.R. Mathias is the tenth book in the spellbinding and epic fantasy series featuring Vanx Malic, a work of great depth and length in the arena of fantasy that can find a comfortable place alongside the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Readers are introduced to a compelling cast of characters; Vanx and his companions, Gallarael, Chelda, Master Ruuk, Moonsy and Poopsalot, who are on a perilous mission to smash a few gem-seeds, to retrieve the final gem-seed, and bring it to the Great Carpi Ultura. Nothing seems to go as planned, because there are powerful enemies who are determined to protect their own worlds and interests, and they will do anything to thwart the path of Vanx and his friends. Will they succeed this time?

I loved this epic story and the creatures and characters featured in it. M.R. Mathias imagines a setting that will entice readers and lead them, along with his characters, on a breathtaking adventure. They will encounter the fae who will do anything to protect the Great Heart Tree. Beyond the Wildwood, giants wait for them and they are merciless. In the usual signature of the author, A Gossamer Lens features beautiful writing, infused with eye-catching descriptions that capture intense action, explore the thoughts and emotions of the characters, and paint the setting in the minutest detail. The words leap off the pages like magic, and they create a vision in the reader’s mind of the world they evoke. This is a work of great entertainment. I have followed M.R. Mathias’ writings and it is always exciting to read anything from him. Readers will find in these pages a magical place to escape to and interesting friends to keep company with.

Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

Time travel and alternate reality stories seem to be very fashionable in movies and on TV these days. I like them when they are done very well and the characters involved are realistically portrayed. It's About Time meets and succeeds my expectations for this kind of story. I really got into Angela Mercy, a.k.a. Angel of Mercy. I like strong female characters. I like soldiers, scientists, and spies. In It’s About Time, author Lyle Howard gave me all this and more. Rich in detail, a variety of cultures and characters, and an intelligent but totally ruthless villain, It’s About Time is a wild adventure that I found difficult to put down. What I liked is that it shows the exciting possibilities and potential for disaster in some of the scientific research being done right now. This can be a little daunting, but something we must learn to control and utilize as a species if we are going to move much further up the evolutionary tree.

Lyle Howard takes us all over the globe as well as back and forth through time in this fast-paced adventure. I like this kind of story. Sometimes Americans are a little too sure that the future will be determined in our country, when in fact there is serious research with paradigm shifting possibilities going on all over the world. It’s About Time shows us some of that. The players are international, the plot is very complicated, and the good guys are my kind of people. I couldn't want more in a story. Great job.

Reviewed by Marta Tandori for Readers' Favorite

JD Ward is a former farm boy and a former army combat tracker who has some very unique talents. It’s those talents, and a raw determination fueled by the death of his father when he was eleven, that give him the impetus to uproot his wife, Lucy, and their two young children, Karley and Jaxon, in order to move to St. Jude, Ohio, a rough inner city within the city of Cincinnati proper. As a new recruit to the St. Jude Police Force, JD is already making a name for himself and is the apple of his chief’s eye – so much so that Chief Rush promotes him to the lofty heights of detective after JD’s apprehension of a local gang member. However, the course of his life changes dramatically several nights later when JD comes upon two biker gang members attacking a young woman during a sweep of the inner city streets during his midnight shift. High on PCP-laced meth, the two savages attack JD and he is forced to use every ounce of his combat training and strength to kill his attackers before they kill him and the young woman.

Unfortunately, it isn’t until his chief is called in that JD learns the identities of his two assailants; one is Chuck Wholf and the other is his cousin, Lee Maddox. Both are the youngest offspring of the Wholf and Maddox clans, the founding fathers of The Dixie Wholfpack, a brutal motorcycle gang that is the enforcement arm of a nasty organization dealing in drugs, prostitution and guns. Knowing that retaliation by the gang would be both imminent and brutal, JD’s chief and the older colleague on the scene come up with the idea to dress the crime scene with the mark of “the White Wolf”, a lone vigilante, which will hopefully keep the victim, JD, and both of their families safe.

Becoming the Wolf by R.H. Neil is one of those vigilante justice thrillers that makes you want to strap on your Glock and go and hunt down the bad guys! Intense, emotional and passionate, there’s much to like about Becoming the Wolf. Neil has a good grasp of the story line and manages to keep it on track, all the while making it a compelling read. The violence is necessary to the story line, but it’s not so over the top that it alienates its readers. The use of Cincinnati’s long-forgotten underground was also a nice touch, as were the historical references to the speakeasies from the days of Prohibition. A reader cannot help but root for JD as he systematically takes out his enemies. The fact that one of them happens to use a vicious cougar called Freya to finish off his adversaries while another thinks nothing of cold-bloodedly wielding his Louisville Slugger to kill an enemy just serves to underscore Neil’s imagination and determination to make his story stand head and shoulders above others in the vigilante thriller genre.