Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Antiques and Avarice is the first book in the White Mountains Romantic Mysteries series written by Jane Firebaugh. Olivia McKenna searches a second hand store, feeling blessed to be the only customer scouring the shelves for antiques which her customers have requested. At the cash register, Olivia is unable to get the cashier’s attention and quickly discovers the store owner, Lewis Ketterer, murdered in the back room. Olivia is listed as a suspect due to the fact that she’d been the one to call 911, was able to point out the murder weapon at the scene, and was in the store at the time of the murder. But the chief investigator, Josh Abrams, knows that something doesn’t fit and believes Olivia to be innocent, while wondering why she keeps obsessing over a cat. When he realizes the link between the cat and the dead body before him, his protective instincts kick in. Olivia finds herself thinking about Josh as more than a detective, not realizing that the attraction is mutual. When Olivia becomes the repeated target of a stranger, Josh breaks his own rules and gets personally involved, determined to do whatever it takes to keep Olivia safe at all costs.

Jane Firebaugh pulls out all the stops to deliver the most explosively powerful romance novel I have read in a long time. Amidst all of the crime, suspense and drama, Olivia’s love of animals shines through, and when she sees how much of a soft spot Josh has for them too, the dam wall of their attraction shatters, allowing the romance to flow so beautifully. I enjoy stories that feature animals in such a positive atmosphere, and the lengths that a police officer will go to in order to protect the woman that he loves warmed my heart. Antiques and Avarice is a real winner in my book, and I recommend it to readers who enjoy a whole lot of animal antics, police drama, murder-mystery, and action entwined in an epic romance which sizzles with every turn of the page.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

A Dewdrop Away is a woodland fantasy novel by C.A. Allen which is suitable for all ages. Following in the great tradition of classics like Watership Down and The Wind In The Willows, Allen’s novel centres primarily on a society of squirrels living on the island of Arborand. Its main characters are spread across various locations in this lavish woodland world, which is also filled with strange prophecies, wicked overlords and dictators, legends and, of course, magic. Their initial stories of oppression, fear and anger towards their society begin to intermingle as the novel progresses, culminating in a joining of forces against some of the most evil creatures to ever be put on the page.

Well written and well thought out in terms of plot, A Dewdrop Away constantly struck me as ‘Lord of the Rings with squirrels’ whilst I was reading it. There is something truly epic and fantastical about the journey that Rupert, Mae and Theo take, but also a great realism to the political and social problems which they face. I was particularly impressed with the tension and occasional moments of horror that C.A. Allen was able to create without resorting to gratuitous description on the page, thereby enabling all types of readers to enjoy the novel. I think it is possible that readers may take one look at this story and brush it off as a children’s novel, but believe me, there’s a lot more than meets the eye to this in-depth look at oppression, freedom and destiny. An excellent read.

Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite

An Animal Life: A Chance to Cut by Howard Krum is an animal lover's dream book. Mike London is a true romantic and sincere animal lover. In his final year of veterinary school, Mike struggles through the day to day grind required for graduation. Being a Senior has its advantages, like doing countless shifts at the school’s emergency service (ES), guiding first year students, rescuing aquatic wildlife in the midst of a terrible winter storm, and facing off the faculty in the annual hockey game. After making a critical mistake, Mike finds himself crumbling under the pressure and scrutiny of a relentless faculty doctor – “Special K.” Special K’s infamous words: "a chance to cut is a chance to heal" simultaneously motivate and haunt Mike. With the help of his crew of friends and some crucial “resourcin,” Mike overcomes some devastating odds. Regaining his confidence, Mike London finds his “place” as a soon-to-be veterinarian.

Howard Krum and his co-authors log the antics and the responsibilities of veterinarian school students in An Animal Life: A Chance to Cut. The narrative is written in three parts, chronicling a day to day timeline. However, at the beginning of each part, the author uses the flashback technique, revealing vital information regarding the main character’s childhood. These flashes into the past are critical in the overall understanding of the protagonist. The characters are driven, resourceful and passionate. Making them whimsical and overtly eccentric, Krum gives many of them witty and hilarious nicknames, revealing tremendous insight into their personalities. The narrative is intelligently written, using vet school terminology. But, it is much more than alphabet soup dialogues. It is full of comic relief offsetting critical events, which takes the reader from tears to laughter. At times the descriptions are delightful and poetically beautiful. Through all of the fun and heartache, ups and downs of vet school, one theme flows carefully throughout: Love is the answer to the brokenness inside.

Reviewed by Isabelle Reding for Readers' Favorite

Ralph Ribbit's Wacky Week Off by Louise T. Constantinople starts out with Ralph, the main character, learning that his job will be on hold for a while. Because of this, Ralph Ribbit has the week off! Assuming he'll be able to relax for the week, he is taken aback when he realizes that will just not be the case. His wife, Ramona, becomes sick with the flu, and as a kind gesture Ralph steps in and takes over her duties while he has time off. Throughout the week, things are hectic and busy, as most families’ lives are. Ralph runs into a series of issues: his son Reggie ordering too many pizzas for dinner, being surprised with career night by his son, his kids bringing the wrong bags for lunch to school, burning the soup he was making for Ramona, accidentally covering the deck with black paint, and more! In addition, at the end of the week is his daughter Roxie’s birthday, which they are preparing for all the while. Overall, Ralph's week is filled with quite a few surprises, so much so it quite literally knocked him out!

I give this story five stars for many reasons, but first and foremost, for the impeccable grammar. It was exceptionally easy to read and I wasn't stopping to mentally fix anything grammatically, which is usually what happens! The second thing I loved was the great message it had for a kid’s book. I also really appreciated the illustrations; they were incredibly cute and I honestly wish there were more, even though I know it’s meant for older kids. That said, the way the writer writes paints a picture by itself; whenever a new character was introduced, she seemed to paint them like an expert. The final way I was impressed by the book was apparent to me very early in reading it — there is some pretty genius wordplay, which I thought really spiced up the overall story.

The only two complaints I have about this book are pretty minimal: I was expecting Ralph’s week off to be huge adventures at every turn, but for the most part the issues weren't exceptionally big. In addition, the family members forgive each other after five seconds of being mad, and it almost never works like that. However, I believe this fantastic book deserves a fantastic rating, five out of five stars. Well done, Ms. Constantinople, I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Henry and Tom is an action and adventure novel written by Michael Atkins. A San Diego native, Tom Campbell grew up loving the ocean and sailing, and he dreamed of becoming an oceanographer like Jacques Cousteau. He studied marine biology in college but soon found that the Cousteau Foundation wasn't hiring. He realized he'd need a different route to make marine science and exploration his life. He worked his way up from an entry-level job at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography to being their Director of Public Relations. On his usual morning run on the sandy shores of Pacific Beach, Tom saw a young sperm whale calf stranded on the sand. His tail was torn, and the circling Great White sharks in the water explained the young whale's actions. Tom waited with the 18-foot-long youngster and spoke to him while the Cetacean experts were on their way. The whale seemed to click in response to what Tom said, and Tom decided that the whale needed a name, so he called him Henry. Henry was distressed when help arrived and Tom was leaving, so Tom stayed until the exhausted whale was safely in the water hours later.

I just finished reading Henry and Tom, Michael Atkin's action and adventure novel, and my mind is still visiting the waves and the sandy shores of Pacific Beach in San Diego. I love the area and spend as much time as I can in the water, so this book was of particular interest to me. I sat down and was spellbound by what I read. Tom and Henry is beautifully written and filled with powerful and moving images of the great whales, the Pacific Ocean and the marvels to be found therein. Tom's story is also grand and inspirational as the man rediscovers the dreams he had put on hold for far too long and sets out on his great adventure. Reading Henry and Tom was an exhilarating and profound experience for me, and I am so very impressed by the story Michael Atkins brought to life. Henry and Tom is the best thing I've read in an awfully long time, and it's most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite

In Burp Gun Bandit by Cary Robinson, Carlos, or Careless as he was known to everyone, was a man on a mission. He left home in Houston, Texas, and flew to Mexico to chase after a girl, Maria, that he had only met once and whose address he did not have. He did find Maria but the two months it took him to find her were enough for her to fall in love and get married to someone else. He returns home and now hopes that he has a chance with E.D. but, as always, it does not pan out. Careless goes back to his life of working at the family steel business and taking on odd investigations. He then lands what would turn out to be the best job of his career as an investigator - helping a family solve the mystery surrounding the estate of their recently deceased grandfather, Colonel Albert Swift of the 90th Infantry Division, World War II.

Burp Gun Bandit by Cary Robinson is a captivating story recounting the life of a man who, by any account, lives a rather peculiar lifestyle; the type of man who jumps onto a plane to chase after a girl he does not really know and has a dog for a best friend. He always takes on weird investigation cases and he uses his equally odd friends, including his best friend, the dog, to help him solve the best mystery of his career. Cary Robinson filled the novel with surprises, intrigue, drama, and humor to create a fast-paced page-turner. I enjoyed reading every page and did not want to put it down until the last one.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Sword of Demelza by J.E. Rogers is a fantasy adventure that is geared towards preteen and young adult readers, but should have many adult fans as well. The author set her fantasy in Australia, and the heroes and villains in the tale are native Australian animals. Devon is a young fox who was orphaned at an early age and raised by Bede, a Bilby monk. When dragon lizards attack the monastery where they live and kill Bede, Devon swears that he will avenge the killing. On his travels, he meets Erik and Emma, two young Kowaris who are gathering the herbs and flowers needed to help their mother survive the venom of the brown snake that bit her. Devon continues on his quest, leaving the two Kowaris, who then meet Slade and Stokely, young Echidnas, whose village was also assaulted by the king's dragon lizards. They are following the lizards to try to rescue two young Puggles, baby Echidnas, who're being taken to the castle's dungeons. Erik and Emma must decide if they should help them rescue the young Puggles, which means a delay in getting the medicine back to their mother.

J.E. Rogers' The Sword of Demelza is high epic fantasy, complete with swords and sorcery and lots of adventure. It's also a great way to learn about the animals and their environments in Australia. The illustrations by Guy Atherfold and William Hulbert make Devon, Erik, and Emma, and the rest of the questers and villains come alive. While the author geared The Sword of Demelza toward a young adult and preteen audience, I found myself every bit as enthralled and entertained as I would be with a first-rate fantasy geared towards adult readers. I hope there'll be a sequel as the characters brought to life in The Sword of Demelza are well worth following in their future adventures. The Sword of Demelza is great fantasy, and I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Katelyn Hensel for Readers' Favorite

An Animal Life: The Beginning is a fabulous story from Howard Nelson Krum and Roy PE Yanong. Veterinary School: no matter where you go, getting into this level of veterinary medicine is basically Harvard for animal lovers. What do you get when you mix a horse racer, a pageant queen, and a K-9 cop? An amazing and funny read! The first years of the Death Row Crew are interesting, to say the least. But this enthralling story goes even deeper than a funny take on vet school. There are moments of pain, of deep thought and learning, as well as a few romantic pairings that will definitely have you scratching your head.

This is a very realistic and funny story. I had roommates in college who studied veterinary medicine, and while I was reading it was almost like I was back in my dorm room listening to them tell me stories about their day. Krum and Yanong really captured the light-hearted humor that they were going for. On one hand, the story is quite funny; on the other it's a really accurate portrayal of one of the best feelings in the world - when you close a book, and have a warm happy glow because the book brought you such joy. An Animal Life: The Beginning really is that book. It's a great read for vets and vets in training, as well as anyone who loves animals, people, and the crazy glue that holds us all together.

Reviewed by Laura Hartman for Readers' Favorite

Rescue Me, Maybe by Jackie Bouchard addresses love and loss as well as how to move on. Cancer claims Jane’s husband Ryan and her dog Barnum within the first chapter. Jane is sorry her husband died, but she is devastated over the loss of her dog. Unbeknownst to anyone but Jane, she and Ryan were going through a rough patch in their relationship before his diagnosis, one that both of them believed would end in separation. She felt guilty playing the grieving widow, yet could find no easy way to tell his overbearing mother or his father that she no longer loved their son. Soon after the funeral, she heads to San Diego via Prescott, AZ. Jane wants to go straight to California to start her new life with old friends she and Ryan had left there when they moved to Pennsylvania so Ryan could work with his father. Her aunt and uncle run a quaint but shabby B&B in Prescott and they need Jane to come and help run it while her aunt travels east for medical treatment. Reluctantly she agrees, denying her own desire to start afresh by the ocean. On her way, she finds a stray dog that might help her fall in love again if she will listen to her heart.


Jackie Bouchard grabbed me by the heart and did not let go until the last pages of Rescue Me, Maybe. She expertly taught Jane a lesson without preaching and along the way taught me to take a closer look at living like a dog – in the moment. This is a novel about love and loss and change. Parts of it are sad, yet there is a witty, sharp humor laced throughout which helps put Jane’s life back together. The characters were easy to love and some of them were easy to hate. Bouchard gently wraps the message to bloom where you are planted in this novel. She also lets the reader know that your garden just might be in a different spot than you originally thought it should be, but that does not mean you need to move it. I loved this novel, and recommend it for adults, YA readers and feel that dog lovers will really connect with the plot.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

Rim-Fyre and the Stones of Time by Mitzy Tait-Zeller tells the story of Serena and her gallant horse Rim-Fyre. A strange thing happens during Serena and Rim-Fyre’s usual ride, where a brilliant flash of white light surrounds them as if Rim-Fyre has stumbled upon a hidden place. She later finds out that they are standing in a circle of ancient stones. To her surprise, they have journeyed back through time and going home seems impossible.

Mitzy Tait-Zeller has written a beautiful tale. I was so immersed in the story that I had to slow myself down so as not to finish the novel too quickly. Tait-Zeller has a wonderful and absolutely engaging prose, which is also supported by vivid portrayals of the surroundings. In the end, I finished Rim-Fyre and the Stones of Time in two sittings. Rim-Fyre is definitely a proud and stubborn horse, but Serena really has the ability to control the mighty animal. I admired her patience and assertiveness when dealing with Rim-Fyre.

I really love the fact that time travel plays a major role in the story line. The entire novel is a journey of love and soul-searching. As I kept reading this mesmerizing tale, I couldn't help but sink into my own feelings of nostalgia, when Serena and Rim-Fyre are transported back into the 19th century. This is a must read novel and I’m more than happy to recommend it to my fellow readers.