Reviewed by Munir Muhammad for Readers' Favorite

Half a Cup of Sand and Sky by Nadine Bjursten is a masterfully crafted novel that seamlessly blends personal narratives with the backdrop of political upheaval and cultural nuances. Amineh's character is the heart and soul of the story, and readers become deeply invested in her journey. Her internal struggles, her complex emotions, and her quest for self-expression through writing make her a relatable and multi-dimensional protagonist. As she grapples with her evolving relationships and the changing world around her, Amineh's character growth is both compelling and authentic. The novel's setting, against the backdrop of Tehran during a time of political upheaval, is vividly depicted. Bjursten's attention to historical and cultural details immerses readers in the complexities of Iran's social and political landscape. The author's portrayal of the Iranian Revolution and its impact on ordinary lives is both informative and thought-provoking, providing valuable insights into a pivotal period in history. The relationships between the characters are a true highlight of the novel. Amineh and Farzad's dynamic is central to the narrative, and their journey as a couple is portrayed with depth and realism. The supporting characters, including Ava, Dariush, and Jalalod-Din, add richness and authenticity to the story, each character contributing to the tapestry of emotions and experiences.

Bjursten's prose is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid pictures of the settings and fully immersing readers in the world of the characters. The descriptions of places like the rose farm in Qamsar and the garden in Masuleh are particularly captivating. The novel explores profound themes of love, loss, guilt, and the pursuit of personal and political ideals. The characters' struggles and dilemmas are intricately woven into the larger societal issues they face, creating a narrative that resonates on multiple levels. Bjursten's ability to interweave personal and political narratives adds depth and complexity to the story. As the narrative unfolds, readers are drawn into the characters' lives, their joys, sorrows, and the difficult choices they must make. The novel's exploration of themes like healing and resilience underscores the enduring strength of the human spirit. The epilogue provides a poignant and satisfying conclusion, leaving readers with a sense of closure and a reminder of the importance of gratitude and kindness even in the face of life's challenges. Nadine Bjursten's storytelling is both emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating, making it a must-read for lovers of literary fiction. This novel is a testament to the power of literature to transport readers to different times and places while exploring the universal themes of the human experience.

Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

To Kill A Unicorn by DC Palter centers around SuprDupr, a startup tech company in Silicon Valley. One day Sumire, now a lawyer, walked into her ex-boyfriend Ted Hara’s office. The last time they saw each other was years ago. Ted thought she came to see him because she missed him and wanted to rekindle their romantic relationship but she needed his help to locate her missing brother, Ryu. The reader will enjoy the exchange between Ted and Sumire as he tries to relive his past relationship with her. However, her main focus is not on him but on utilizing his excellent hacking skills and his resources from MeCan, a popular phone company, to track down Ryu’s whereabouts. He also wants to find out what happened to his childhood friend and has high hopes that if he finds Ryu he can win back Sumire’s affection.

SuprDupr appears to be your typical start-up company with its high-level C Suite positions, venture capitalists and funding investors but what makes this book by DC Palter stand out is how the plot twists and turns as you are let into what is brewing behind the scenes. In To Kill A Unicorn, nothing is as it seems because there are so many layers weaving in and out. I began to put myself in Ted’s shoes and think about how I would utilize his access to MeCan and hacking skills to help find Ryu. As the stakes got higher and Ted put his life in danger, I felt like I was there every step of the way as Ted worked feverishly to crack the case. At times it was like watching a movie. I felt myself making comments to Ted throughout reading the book. Get ready for a wild ride with this book today.

Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

Ellen Mason's No Space for Love is a spellbinding, moving tale about abuse, survival, societal issues, and history. Ha-na and Seng-il are forced to go through monumental challenges while striving to survive chaotic political conditions in North Korea and China. Ha-na is betrayed by her own father, sold like a slave, and abused by ruthless men as she fights to endure her unfortunate reality. With her cherished baby and an empathetic friend, Ha-na lives every day close to the brink of completely giving up. Seng-il faces a similar reality as he gradually finds out the truth about North Korea's government and other countries. He hopes to lose his accent and blend in among the Chinese while risking imprisonment and succumbing to violence. Will Ha-na and Seng-il escape the dangers that surround them and find love in their hearts? 

The protagonists are very likable and inspiring. Ha-na is strong, caring, and emotional. I was astounded by her desire to give her daughter a good life despite facing multiple abusive situations. I loved the orderly storytelling style. The tale focuses on Ha-na's story and Seng-il's journey separately before depicting both of them together. No Space for Love maintains an unpredictable plot throughout, with near-death experiences and welcome interventions. The narrative smoothly merges a wide range of themes, including motherhood, friendship, family separation, faith in Christ, imprisonment, migration, prostitution, discrimination, and more. Ellen Mason's expertly crafted book will compel you to feel strongly for its endearing characters and enlighten you about distinctive historical moments and cultures. A touching novel you can't afford to miss!

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

A Switch in Time: The President is Missing by Casi McLean is an interesting variation on the time travel theme and one which captures the reader’s imagination and interest. President Emery Clayton III is facing an America torn by division, strife, and violence (sound familiar?). Taking a break from the stresses of White House life, Emery is hiding in an attic, away from the constant demands and worries of the position. Stored in the attic is the old Oval Office Resolution Desk. When Emery innocently touches and reads a quotation scratched into the wood, he finds himself transported back in time, into the body of his grandfather, Clayton Emery, in 1960s America. An accountant, Clayton is on his way to Australia to pitch a new project for the large accounting firm he works for. A tragic plane accident will find Clay, his colleague Lou, and James Rucker, an angry, young black man who despises white intolerance and is a tireless campaigner for black civil rights, all stranded on a deserted island awaiting hopeful rescue. What these three men go through on the island will shape their destinies for the rest of their lives. What President Clayton discovers, on his return to the present day, is a vast international conspiracy to destabilize American democracy, ‘the American experiment’, one that would throw the country into anarchy.

A Switch in Time captivated my imagination from the very beginning. The idea that not only did the President travel back through time but was inserted into someone else’s body (his grandfather’s) was an inspired concept and I was intrigued to see how this would play out. Author Casi McLean’s mother, Eleanor LaRue, was actually the author of the original manuscript back in 1960 and Casi is to be commended for completing it and bringing it to the market. It is a fine tribute to her mother’s efforts. I particularly enjoyed the development of the relationship between Clayton and James as each came to realize that their perceptions of the other were colored by their own upbringings and ingrained prejudices and that if they were to survive, they would have to rely on each other. The author comments in the blurb that her mother was way ahead of her time in her thinking and the story absolutely bears out this assertion. In many ways, the America of the book’s present time is remarkably similar to the America we face today. What struck me most about this fascinating, easy-to-read story was not the idea that hate is taught and learned but that it can be changed and a new direction can be taken. The injustices James Rucker had faced from an early age were an accurate reflection of society in America back in the 1960s but are equally visible and relevant in today’s society. This was a fun read but also thought-provoking, especially around issues of prejudice, race, and how we treat our fellow human beings. I can highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite

The Invisible Red String by Peter Berlin and Ann Zachariah invites readers into a world where the ancient concept of an invisible red string intricately weaves love, fate, and healing together. This metaphorical bond connects people across time and space. The novel is uplifting and thought-provoking, delving into the spiritual and emotional journeys of characters whose lives become interconnected through unexpected circumstances. The story centers around John, a successful entrepreneur and devoted father to his son, Noah, who has Down Syndrome. His chance discovery of a mysterious notice promising “hidden treasure” leads him to Soul Haven, a therapy group facilitated by the empathetic Dr. Kathy Rodrigues. What initially seems like an ordinary group session transforms into a profound journey of self-discovery and connection. John, along with fellow group members Anna, Jake, and Lilly, uncovers deep emotional ties that transcend culture, race, and time.

Peter Berlin and Ann Zachariah masterfully craft vivid, multi-dimensional characters that are easy to empathize with, making their personal growth deeply inspiring. The book’s philosophical underpinnings, especially the idea of the red string connecting people beyond rational understanding, elevate it to a realm beyond conventional love stories. Each character brings a rich backstory, and their stories blend to form a narrative that’s as much about healing and redemption as it is about love. Through their interactions, the authors explore the depth of human relationships, the lingering effects of trauma, and the possibility of spiritual connections that guide us. The Invisible Red String is a cultural novel you won’t want to miss.

Reviewed by Jon Michael Miller for Readers' Favorite

The Bookseller: And Other Stories by Peter Briscoe is a series of stories written in elegant, literary style. The first three pieces are very short with the ambiguity of Wallace Stevens’ poems. They seem unfinished, thus, the question: what do they mean? The featured piece of the collection is the much more formidable The Bookseller with the same elevated, challenging style but a tale with a beginning, middle and end. It’s a mystery involving a mysterious series of thefts from a major Latin American library. Amid his world travels, after a fine meal, a bookseller tells the tale to his admirers. A library patron is fed up with his inability to find the books he wants to read and makes a fuss, which eventually reveals that major book pilfering has been going on for years. The quest then becomes to find the who, when and why. Detective Robles and the library’s director of collections Dr. Andres Vidal launch an investigation.

If you love the beauty and depth of fine literature, you will love The Bookseller. Peter Briscoe’s prose is brilliant and flawless, right up there with all the canon’s greats. The plot combines mystery, police investigation, and library protocol. But what I liked most is the idea (theme) behind the majesty of composition: the present clash of the ancient tradition of books and libraries with the present emergence of digital technology, the former to evaluate and codify knowledge and the latter merely to collect it. There’s also the aesthetic and psychological comparison between reading a book and viewing a screen. I think we’ve all seen the clash in our local libraries where books are dumped to make way for computer monitors. In the magnificent tapestry of Briscoe’s story, all these elements blend to perfection along with a startling surprise at the end. If you appreciate mystery, ideas, characterization, libraries, and elegantly written expression reminiscent of Balzac, all woven into a memorable work of literary art, The Bookseller is for you.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Tree of Lives, written by Elizabeth Garden and with artwork by Barbara Brose, is a work of women's fiction in a hybrid historical-contemporary setting that follows the account of one woman's journey to self-empowerment in the face of immense adversity. Through the detailed life of Ruth and with a deeply intimate look at her family, Garden explores the intricacies of familial connections and the profound impact of buried secrets on future generations. The book deftly navigates between the early 1900s tale of Raymond and Ruth's present-day story, weaving together the threads of their emotional narratives with a remarkable and cataclysmic outcome that dredges up a deeply haunting history. Ruth's layers of pain stem from beyond an abusive, unstable upbringing that no person should ever be subjected to, and the outlet she uses to shatter the mold is hers alone.

Tree of Lives by Elizabeth Garden is not an easy read, but it is a very worthy one. For centuries women have been exploited at the hands of abusive men, and Ruth's particularly harrowing experiences are sensitively portrayed in Garden's writing. We are able to witness firsthand as Ruth emerges as the most resilient of female protagonists. She will not be silenced. She will not be robbed of her strength. Through Ruth, Garden offers a poignant reminder of the importance of self-empowerment and the courage needed to break free from the shackles of the past. Within each of us, there is a hidden well from which we can draw our power, whether it is filled with art or any other channel of love. Overall, this is a tale that is often painful but equally inspiring and I have no doubt that readers with an interest in complex soul-searching into family secrets and the dynamics they forge will feel the same way. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

I'll Be Seeing You by Joanne Kukanza Easley is the life story of Ruby, who decides that her middle name, Lauren, is what she wants to be called, despite her mother's strong objections. The story begins in 1938 and we follow her troubled life through 1985 when she is in her 60s and wants to fix the mistakes she has made over the years. We first meet Ruby as a fourteen-year-old girl living on her family's cattle ranch in Texas. When Aunt Imogene comes for a visit, taking Ruby to her home in New York, life will never again be the same for her. Returning to Texas and the ranch leaves her dissatisfied and wanting more. Lauren's dream is fulfilled when she gets the chance to return to New York and become a model. Living in New York with its fast pace starts out as a wonderful experience. Sadly, over the years and making many wrong life decisions and choices leaves Lauren a lonely alcoholic. There have been multiple jobs, husbands, and changes of address before the story ends.

I'll Be Seeing You is the story of a very confused, sad, and misguided woman, and we readers share in all of her highs and lows over her lifetime. I found myself liking Lauren and hoping that she found what she was looking for. There was lots of sadness but joy also mixed in over the years, making her life feel very real and possible. Joanne Kukanza Easley created a strong character in Lauren who had to learn her self-worth the hard way. I'll Be Seeing You highlighted the many obstacles facing today's modern woman, but it also showed the many opportunities and good things available out there. I'll Be Seeing You is a well-written, worthwhile read and would make a great Hallmark movie.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The New Empire is a work of fiction in the historical, action, and alternative timeline subgenres. It is best suited to mature teen and adult readers owing to some scenes of graphic violence concurrent with history, and was penned by author Alison McBain. Set in an eighteenth century very far from our own, we find ourselves following the author into a world where China was the first to land in what we know as the United States of America, merging and allying themselves with the Native American tribespeople there. Our protagonist Jiangxi is sold as a slave the moment he arrives in this harsh land, but the path to freedom has its own problems too.

Author Alison McBain perfectly captures the spirit of the historical novel with such credibility, atmosphere, and detail that I can readily imagine the alternate universe where this history is playing out right now. I was absolutely fascinated by the tribal confederacies and the way that the settlers divided the land and governmental systems. I also especially enjoyed the unique relationship that develops between Jiangxi and Onas, which took turns I wasn’t expecting and played out in a suitably Dickensian fashion for the era, but without glossing over all the gory, difficult details of the reality of the life that starts with slavery. McBain delivers a sensitively portrayed clash of cultures that never relies on stereotypes but is based on the very plausible and dangerous reactions of humans who find themselves in total control of others, and that is what makes the work so believable and thrilling at its core. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend The New Empire to alternative history readers everywhere for its accomplished concept and no-holds-barred storytelling style.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Soulful Return by Fidelis O Mkparu is a beautiful tale about change, death, life, renewal, and identity. Doctor Afamefuna Onochie Nwaku is a Nigerian-born, Harvard-trained medical doctor whose thriving medical practice is disrupted by a phone call from his sister in Nigeria. Adaku implores him to come home because her life is being threatened by those who are trying to take away their land. It has been twenty-five years since Afamefuna went home, as he has been busy making their humble family name known in medical research. He returns to his home country like a stranger in a strange land, as Adaku points out that he is no longer familiar with their native culture. He also finds that the corruption plaguing Nigeria is one disease that will be difficult to cure. But he will also experience an epiphany that he and his sister are equals in every aspect of their lives, and that is the way it is supposed to be.

Soulful Return is a simple story and yet it sings. It will largely remind you of the works of esteemed African writers like Chinua Achebe and Naguib Mahfouz. It has a powerful theme of identity, which is lost and rekindled within Afamefuna. The societal evils are another conflict to be reckoned with as Fidelis O Mkparu prepares you for a culture shock with his vivid descriptions of local color and the corruption that hounds it. Mkparu writes in English, but his use of Nigerian slang makes his narrative authentic. Moreover, he manages to weave different conflicts into the story that allows for its resolution to bridge the two cultures that the protagonist inhabits. Underlying everything, it seems to say that it is important to look back when you are at the pinnacle of your success because your past always has a way of taking you back to where you began. This is a powerful literary tale rich in reflection that everyone should take time to read and absorb.