Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

The Imperfect Offering by Gary McCarragher is a quick read, and that has nothing to do with its length. It’s a quick read because it’s utterly engaging from the word go. What makes this fiction drama engaging is not just its intriguing plotline, but the character of its protagonist, Dr. Thomas Haydn: he’s the kind of doctor you’d like all doctors to be - truly concerned about what is best for his patients. But that also gets him into a situation he shouldn’t be in.

After 15 years as a primary care physician, Dr. Haydn has learned how the right words can mean more to a patient, especially one who is dying, than all the meds anyone can prescribe. When we meet him, he has moved into hospice care. As the rather mysterious plot unfolds, the author smoothly inserts brief vignettes that demonstrate Dr. Haydn’s very caring attitude toward each patient. But lest you think this slows down the plot, it doesn’t: these moments help explain why Dr. Haydn ends up finding himself in an ethical dilemma. Most doctors wouldn’t care enough about a dying patient to agree to do what Dr. Haydn does for a dying patient.

And what is that? There is no way I’ll spoil your enjoyment of this story by telling you how the good doctor ends up entangled in a situation involving a huge sum of illicitly obtained money and ultimately facing the possibility that one of his patients was murdered. Approach The Imperfect Offering expecting the unexpected and you’ll enjoy the read. Gary McCarragher keeps the plot moving with plenty of realistic dialogue, one most unpleasant character and plenty of nice ones, and when he ties up all the threads neatly at the end, you will close the book with satisfaction.

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

In an upmarket apartment block opposite Central Park in 2012, the residents are neighbors but know very little about one another. Although they are aware that there are some famous people and residents with murky pasts around them, they know little else, even though they share a postcode. The residents have their own priorities dealing with their complicated lives. However, one fateful day is going to change that. An accident involving an M7 bus is about to bring these distant neighbors into each other's lives, from the well-known writer who resides on the fourteenth floor to the lawyer in 8B. Who are the people that you innocently pass by each day as you go about your daily routine? What goes on behind closed doors may surprise you, if only you take the time to strike up a conversation with the strangers you call neighbors.

Cooperative Lives by Patrick Finegan offers a deliciously rich, intricate plot with so many twists and turns that will take you completely by surprise. Each of the six main characters was extremely well-developed with such a detailed backstory and little personality quirks which made them so realistic and relatable. The storyline moves along at a good pace and is a great example of how an action by one character causes a ripple effect that affects the other characters. The story has everything I look for in a fiction novel; espionage, intrigue, tension, corruption and a fantastic display of real human behavior. Although this is a work of fiction, I couldn't help but draw some similarities to recent US political history. Overall, this is a perfect example of character interaction and development. I think you have to be a writer yourself to really appreciate how the author has entwined such strong sub-plots together so effortlessly.

Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

In The Swan Garden by Anne Biggs, readers are introduced to Alice, who is sent to a mother-baby home by her parents because they don’t want to deal with a pregnant daughter. The pregnancy was not planned, nor did it happen because she carelessly slept with someone she loves without protection. It happened because she was assaulted and raped on her way back home. But everyone, especially the sisters in her new “home,” thinks that Alice must have done something to actually MAKE the rapist rape her. Alice’s life turns into a hell of verbal and physical abuse. People in power do what they want to whomever they want. We follow Alice as she gives birth, loses her daughter and is sent to a laundry home to work off the debt her parents refused to pay. I don’t want to give away too much, but readers spend a lot of time with Alice until she grows into an old woman. It is a life full of challenges, and the story of an extraordinary woman.

I was pleasantly surprise by the quality of the writing of The Swan Garden by Anne Biggs. It is the kind of writing that makes it easy to be drawn into the story, and to imagine how the world the characters live in looks like. There is a fine line between describing too much and too little. Anne Biggs found the golden mean. Her characters come to life on the page; the good, the bad, and the ones who can’t be put into any of these categories. I wasn’t a fan of some of Alice’s decisions, but you never meet characters that always do what you want them to do. I guess, it would also be a bit boring! Alice is quite different from me, so I never quite knew what she’d do next, and that added to the enjoyment of the story. I don’t often read books outside the fantasy, sci-fi and horror genres, but for some reason this book caught my attention, and kept it for every single page of every single chapter. So I really don’t hesitate in giving this a five star rating!

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Tiger Drive is a contemporary family drama novel penned by author Teri Case. Written for adults due to its complex themes, language, and content, the story focuses with a deep and insightful perspective on the Sloan family, residents of the titular address at which the novel is set. Mother Janice is sick of managing her dysfunctional family and drunken husband and still harbors the dreams of her youth. As her daughter Carrie plans a college escape, husband Harry takes a step too far and the whole family ends up under investigation. As the dirt flies, everyone’s dreams seem on the verge of collapse, but there’s a small glimmer of hope that they can prevail.

Fans of family sagas, shifting perspectives and powerful literary fiction are certain to adore this dramatic but highly realistic work by author Teri Case. The connection and commitment to character development stand at the center of this immense wealth of interpersonal knowledge and deep-set family traumas, characterized perfectly in the dialogue style and intimate narrative techniques used. We sit on the shoulders of the family members to glimpse deep into their relationships and alternate ideas about one another, finding pathos and sympathy in some ways and frustration and heartache in others. Janice takes center stage as the action and the mystery elements heat up but, all in all, there’s a well-rounded message with a true emotional rollercoaster right to the end. Overall, Tiger Drive is a superb modern drama work that comes highly recommended indeed.

Reviewed by Samantha March for Readers' Favorite

Degrees of Love by Lisa Slabach is her debut novel, but I would have never guessed that. I was immediately hooked by the story, and I couldn’t stop swiping frantically at my Kindle to see how the story unfolded. We follow Susan Sinclair, a wife, mother, and also career-driven businesswoman who is determined to bring her kids up right, fit in with her Silicon Valley neighbors, and climb the corporate ladder. While I do not have children yet, I immediately could relate to Susan. Through the entire story in each choice Susan makes, I was right there with her, understanding, feeling hurt for her, wanting her to succeed in the end. There are, of course, moments where I felt she was making the wrong decision, but I never felt judgmental towards her, often times more sad or heartbroken for her.

The ending actually made me sit back and think. I couldn’t just move on to the next book. I went back through my Kindle to reread some of the passages. This is a novel that had me talking to my girlfriends about it, going through the scenarios of Susan’s life, asking each other what we would do. The ending physically hurt me to read how Susan’s story had played out, and how much I truly wanted happiness for her. I highly recommend this women’s fiction novel and I encourage readers to order this book in anticipation of the release date. Degrees of Love by Lisa Slabach is going to be quite the 'buzzed about' novel going into 2018, I can feel it.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Murder at Broadcast Park is a murder mystery/thriller written by Bill Evans. John was getting used to his position at the station as the assignment editor. It always did seem rather odd to him that he, the new kid who had just finished college, would have such a major hand in deciding what would be covered as local news each day. His daily routine started with him opening up the station. He would turn on the lights in the studio to give the room a chance to warm up before the AM newscast and then get to work on determining the day’s assignments for the reporters. And that was exactly what was on his mind as he began to open up the station on the morning when he found Steve Johnson’s body. Johnson was the Santa Barbara station’s most popular news anchor, and had been so for over ten years now. John found his body in the oddest of positions. He was sitting at the news desk with a rope around his neck. The young man eased Johnson down onto the ground on the off-chance that the man might be resuscitated, but soon realized that it was way too late for him. News Director Barry Burke took early morning phone calls in his stride -- it was expected in the news business, but his assignment editor’s call took him completely by surprise. Their local TV news station had suddenly become the news, and it would take everyone’s resourcefulness and skill to stay on top of it.

Bill Evans’ murder mystery, Murder at Broadcast Park, is an exciting and fast-paced thriller that follows the investigations of the police and the station’s investigative journalists’ attempts to solve the mystery of the deaths of two station employees found in different locations on the same morning. Evans’ own 45-year career in broadcast journalism gives this well-written and suspenseful debut novel a strong feel of authenticity. The author quickly had me immersed in the personal and professional lives of John, his boss, Barry, the Station Manager, Lisa and Stewart Simpson, the station’s owner and her long-term friend and lover. Evans also incorporates a police procedural aspect to the plot with his inclusion of the Santa Barbara police detectives who work cooperatively with Barry and his journalists. Murder at Broadcast Park is a fine blend of mystery and dark thriller, with elements of horror that work perfectly to keep the suspense honed to a sharp edge, and it’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

It had been a long time since college, but Bobby Wade travels to Cedar Key to take care of business that he should have handled years ago in The Promise of Cedar Key by Rick Robinson. Playing catch-up is difficult though, especially when it involves self-examination and coming to terms with events outside of one’s control. As days go by in this peaceful little town, Bobby comes to some realizations with the help of a unique lawyer and his wife, as well as a few other townspeople. Surprise revelations challenge Bobby’s outlook and bring about intense soul searching, an interesting concept for a writer who has become complacent. With newfound insights, Bobby tries to make decisions about what he wants from the future and may make some changes now that he feels there is something worth his attention.

Rick Robinson creates a clear and interesting look at coming of middle age in The Promise of Cedar Key. Not everyone grows up as an adolescent or young adult – or at least comes to a full understanding of the path to contentment - and Robinson provides plenty of psychological background for a main character struggling to get his life back on track. The support of the other characters is realistic and offers options for Bobby to accept or decline, just as in everyday life. The vivid descriptions of the setting put you in the story and provide the ideal background for the emotional break needed for psychological growth to take place. Great story, well written and deeply moving. The Promise of Cedar Key presents a wonderful springboard for you to begin your own tour of self-discovery while enjoying a deep and satisfying read.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Tears Before Exaltation by Fidelis O. Mkparu revolves around Ben Ava, a medical student who is struggling to make ends meet and pay for medical school since the death of both his parents. It is during these hard times that he receives a letter saying he is the recipient of the Tennessee Medical Scholarship. Ben is overjoyed and he gets ready to go to Memphis. Though he finds financial stability, his girlfriend, Deborah, dumps him. He runs into Brenda there, who had been his friend and lab partner. He realizes that Brenda is not the person he knew before; she is on a destructive path of behavior, but Ben is unable to break away from her. They are like two unstable medical students in a challenging relationship. It is around the same time that he strikes up a friendship with Rita, a beautiful nurse, and this invites the wrath of his supervisor, who is also attracted to her. It is now a question of survival for Ben as he finds himself in a financial mess. Will Ben fight back? Will he be able to get his position back in the hospital? Will he be able to save Brenda?

The story is a gripping psychological thriller that will take readers through many twists and turns and keep them glued to the story till the very end. The author manages to keep the tempo of the plot through Ben's trials, his emotional conflicts, and courage. Ben and Brenda's interaction, Rita and Ben's relationship, and his other relationships at the hospital with the working staff have been woven together to make this a compelling read. The descriptive narration take readers right into the happenings in Ben's life, along with him. The story has intrigue, suspense, courage, love, and friendship that will captivate readers. It is a story of Ben’s honesty, his courage, and his loyalty and that is what makes this book appealing to readers.

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

In Flaherty's Crossing by Kaylin McFarren, Kate, a successful painter, is summoned to the deathbed of her father, Collin, who has only days to live. While Kate struggles to forgive him for the death of her beloved mother, Collin makes a startling confession. Meanwhile, Kate's husband, Drew, realising his loveless marriage has come to an end, decides he must leave home before Kate returns. Drew arrives at his friend's house to spend the night, only to find his friend's sister and ex-lover there. On her way home, Kate’s car is involved in an accident, resulting in a life-changing meeting with a man in a diner. The man is not all that he seems, and a shocking discovery has Kate running for her life, and hoping for a second chance to make her marriage work. Can Kate finally learn to forgive everyone she feels has wronged her? Will she finally find out the events surrounding her mother's death?

Flaherty's Crossing by Kaylin McFarren is a story filled with tension and suspense. There are some fantastic twists to the story which were cleverly entwined into the plot and subplots. The character of Kate was very realistic. She was a strong female protagonist but with a soft emotional side too. Her relationship with her father was quite heartwarming and authentic. The dialogue was uniquely written to suit each well-created character. The ending gave me chills as it was completely unexpected. The author has a real talent for building a scene which you can easily visualise. This is the perfect book for anyone who loves a suspense novel, and is one of the best I have read.

Reviewed by Patricia Day for Readers' Favorite

Meet Bridgette Connor. When luck is being issued, she must feel as if she is the last person in line receiving the good stuff. As her life plummets from bad to worse, she throws up her hands in total despair, and runs. Her heart is broken. Her dreams are shattered. She cannot take any more. Driving along a strange road, her life takes a further battering when her car rolls into a ditch. This moment is a pivotal one. After dragging herself from the wreckage of her car, she painfully makes her way to the only business showing lights in the small town. Despite the place being closed, the owner, Alexis Parker, opens up and so begins a whole new chapter in Bridgette’s life. She experiences not only a place of rest, but also a soul renewal, love, and family. A flicker of hope is kindled in her broken spirit into a glorious fire of realization that everything she has run away from can be healed right in this small town, if she is willing to stay.

Last Things by Betta Ferrendelli is a truly engrossing book. Once in a while you read a book that captivates your imagination, and your heart. This is one of those treasures. It is so engaging that I could not put it down. The characters are so real you can almost feel them beside you. Bridgette receives far more than she can give. Her pregnancy and her broken relationship become shadows of the past as she contemplates, and shares in, a life beyond her wildest dreams. A five star read, because it deserves it. The formatting, story and characters are superb. Wonderful story.