Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite

For Duke, the only place he had ever found enough peace and security to consider home was the circus. He learned the ropes and became a sword swallower, among other things, and with that skill, followed them and performed wherever they went. A stint in prison for burglary was an eye-opener for him but now in the twilight of his years, he looks back on how far he has come. Gary left home after school so he wouldn't have to see his mother denigrate herself, but his lifestyle takes him from one mishap to another until he gets into trouble with the authorities in the city of Chico. A chance meeting with Duke creates an opportunity for redemption in Gary Robinson's The Sword Swallower and a Chico Kid.

You slowly come to anticipate the passing of the torch in the storyline of Gary Robinson's emotional novel. His characters are deep and faceted, carrying their hidden scars in a way that many men, irrespective of their backgrounds, will have no trouble identifying with. Gary's and Duke's numerous adventures are hilarious, if not downright frightening at times, but behind the laughs they dish out, they provide some much-needed comic relief in a novel whose undertones have the seriousness of the pitfalls that come with being on the wrong side of life. Once you get past the alcohol-fueled parties and the drug-induced incidents, you realize there are numerous nuggets of philosophical wisdom that are strategically placed in this novel. The Sword Swallower and a Chico Kid is an impressive piece of work by Gary Robinson.

Reviewed by Adanna Ora for Readers' Favorite

One would think that at the ripe age of 80 plus years old, Seamus Damp would desire to live his last days in the company of his family and loved ones. Instead, Seamus wants to live on an island with his dog, Olivia, with no connection to the outside world, just doing what he loves best, writing. This he does, despite the protests from his son, Aiden, and doctors. While living on the island, he comes into contact with a young woman named Maddie, who makes his decision to live on the island worthwhile. The Islander by David W. Berner tells the story of Seamus, his family, art, and how his decisions have culminated in the life he has.

In a unique narrative style, David Berner exposes us to Seamus's life and its events. He uses simple and relatable language that makes us eager to read more. Most significantly, I love that the main character, Seamus, is out of the norm and shows that not everybody wants the same thing. The Islander also portrays the importance and joy of family. It shows that family sticks together no matter what. This is seen in the character of Aiden, Seamus’ son, who never stops showing love and care to his father, even when it isn’t easy. Nobody can do life alone, and I appreciate that Berner shows this in the clearest possible way. This story will entertain and educate you. Kudos on this one.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

'Til All These Things Be Done is a dramatic slice-of-life novel by Suzanne Moyers set in 1918 Texas. Leola Rideout was just a teenager when her father, Frank Rideout, lost his arm in a fateful accident in the local town sawmill. Frank leaves his family to look for work in Houston, only for him to lose contact with them soon after. Already reeling from the blow of their missing father, Leola and her little sisters Mae and Karla tragically lose their mother to an influenza outbreak. Leola must shoulder the responsibility of raising her two younger siblings while continuing to chase her dreams and navigate her relationship with a young Italian man in a place where the KKK was at the height of its powers. All the while she is plagued by memories of her father.

A captivating tale of forgiveness and sacrifice, 'Til All These Things Be Done is rich in emotional resonance and captures the complexity of human behavior perfectly. Suzanne Moyers sets the story in deeply segregated Texas, where white supremacy was rampant and her relationship with Joe Belfigli, a Catholic son of immigrants, is deeply frowned upon. Leola is a protagonist to whom readers will be attached from the outset, and her continued development as a character only makes you root for her all the more. Her relationship with her father provides the narrative thrust to the story and influences every decision she makes throughout her life. To readers who love character-driven dramas, this is a gem of a book.

Reviewed by Bernadette Longu for Readers' Favorite

In You can See More From Up Here by Mark Guerin, the story is set in 2004 but takes the reader back to the year 1974, the year the main character Walker Maguire was torn between getting ready to study medicine or choose another path. But things happened over the years that weighed him down. Walker Maguire needs to find answers to his questions as to what happened in the summer of 1974 - 1975. The other characters are Michael Maguire Piper, his mother, Frazier, Norm Detweiler, Patty, Gayle, Kurt, Manny Camarasa, Fernando, and Connie. The author uses each of his characters to bring out the best and the worst in his main character, Walker Maguire. They take the reader gently by the hand and lead them through the story, always holding on to them through the good and the bad and never letting go.

You Can See More from Up Here by Mark Guerin is about one of the most challenging subjects -- the relationship between children and their parents -- and how it affects their lives. They can sometimes take too long to accept that parents are also human and carry grudges that only hurt the person hanging onto them. Mark Guerin takes his reader on a heartfelt journey from chapter one to the very last page. The author holds the reader's attention right to the end because the twists never stop until the very last page in finding the solutions. It was a riveting, interesting read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was a privilege to read this book.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Long Way Home from Crete is a work of fiction in the historical, military, and cross-cultural fiction subgenres. It is best suited to the adult reading audience and was penned by Isaac Kal. In this fascinating and socially relevant work of historical fiction, we explore the world through the eyes of father and son Abraham and Aaron in the time preceding, during, and after the Second World War. Based on a true story, we explore the life of an Israeli Royal Pioneer Corps member who enlists after escaping Germany in the 1930s, only to find that the pressures of global war put yet more strain on his family and relationships than he had ever thought possible.

Isaac Kal delivers a tribute to soldiers like Abraham from the 1930s through to the present. They were displaced from their homes and turned to a solid career in the army in an attempt to live a more stable life. This is balanced with the realistic and emotional struggles of his wife Genia, who was a standout character for me. She had a fighting spirit and a desire for hope and companionship that was powerfully relatable. Then along comes Aaron, born into a dangerous and difficult world on the precipice of destroying itself, which makes for a heartfelt narration and some cinematically described images of a lonely child in a broken world. The Long Way Home from Crete is a detailed and evocative read that relates personal, religious, cultural, and familial issues in a highly engaging, heart-breaking, and relevant way. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

More Than Halfway There is a work of fiction focused on small-town drama and character-led story arcs, and was penned by author David Hartshorn. The central drama is based around Jake Taylor, who abandons a successful law practice to return to Jackson Meadows, New Hampshire, where he once grew up. Returning to the past in his current lonely state is bad enough for Jake’s psyche, but when complications arise with old friends, old flames, and a demented father who now lives in a nursing home, it seems Jake will never get his life back on track. However, maybe a small-town visit is just what he needs to get some real perspective, however happy or sad those are.

Heart-warming and superbly poignant in the writing, author David Hartshorn has created a literary styled slice of life that speaks volumes about the human condition. Central to the emotional powerhouse of the piece is the character work and devotion to the development of Jake, who is relatable in his conflicts, and the heartaches that he has carried from the big city back to the small world of his roots. Despite these serious themes and emotive truths, the novel is also layered with intelligent and subtle humor that keeps you smiling throughout, bringing the many simplicities and complexities of life into stark and humorous contrast. Jake’s story is well told and well settled, but beyond that, there is an even bigger message for readers to absorb. Overall, More Than Halfway There is a highly recommend and thoughtful work of fiction.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Reasons for Waking is a work of fiction in the Southern fiction, family saga, and interpersonal drama subgenres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience and was penned by author Karen Foster. In this heartfelt tale about family dynamics, secrets, hurting, and healing, we discover how life has turned out for Philip, a reclusive man with a lot of pain in his past. He’s brought back into family life by a young woman touched by the same tragedy that sent Philip off on a lonely road, and together they begin to unpick the complex web of misunderstandings, assumptions, secrets and lies that have led to a difficult and prolonged silence.

Author Karen Foster has crafted a truly unique family drama like nothing else I’ve read this year, and one which has a poignant message about openness, communication, and the danger of not speaking up when you really should. One of the features that most impressed me in this emotionally intelligent work was its commitment to character, as every figure in the family and those close acquaintances around them all seemed totally realized with their own personality, dialogue style, attitudes, and values. The layers of realism surrounding the estranged Philip make the impact all the more enjoyable when he’s able to dig deep and break down some of the walls he’s built for himself. Combining this with the hardships, struggles, and tearjerking moments of pure emotion, Foster delivers a stellar drama in Reasons for Waking that is both highly recommended and not to be missed.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

When asked his name, the frightened young boy who has just shot his mama replies: “Earl, honey.” The officer sniggers, except the response isn’t funny. Nor is Earl being sassy. He is simply slow after being brain-damaged by his abusive father years before. It’s episodes like this that will have readers coming to love the young protagonist of Earl, Honey by D.S. Getson. Based on information in Getson’s family history, the author has penned an unforgettable historical novel that I found impossible to put down. Getson is an author who does more than create an engaging plot: her characters are so realistic that readers feel every emotion, especially Earl’s. He’s a lonely, often confused, and scared child, eager to learn and please his elders, and devoted to his younger sister, Lucy. His bond with Lucy and his desire to be with her when life separates them drive the plot.

Equally impressive about D.S. Getson’s writing are her settings and dialogue: both are in keeping with country farm folk and the gentry of the 1920s. No anachronisms here! Likewise, Getson perfectly captures the attitudes of the various classes of society, and many of those, while realistic, are heartbreaking. But there’s one other thing that Getson does that is rare: Earl’s story, and who he becomes is a sustained metaphor. Getson prefaces each of the three sections of Earl, Honey with a description of 3 plants and how they grow to maturity: chickweed, sourwood, and American holly. Those processes parallel Earl’s development, making this novel a stunning coming-of-age story. In this respect, Getson’s Earl, Honey is a classic that deserves your attention. It would make a wonderful movie too. This is brilliant writing and highly recommended reading.

Reviewed by Bernadette Longu for Readers' Favorite

Waterbury Winter by Linda Stewart Henley takes place from 2008 through 2009 in a town called Waterbury, approximately an hour's drive from New York in Connecticut, New England. The main character is Barnaby Brown with his parrot Popsicle - a Green Amazon Parrot - who is his best friend and even goes with him to the watering hole O'Malley's. Other characters that cross Barnaby’s path are Sean who owns and runs the watering hole which Barnaby frequents. Then there is Sal, his boss at the hardware store. Barnaby has been on a downward spiral since his wife’s death, the loss of his teaching job, and having to move back in with his parents. He is an excellent artist but because he is always drinking, he has not painted since his parents passed. Barnaby also seems to think by moving to California and getting away from the cold winters of Waterbury, he would be better off. Certain things happen that cause him to rethink his life, life choices, what he is doing to himself, and allow him to start following his dream and getting back to painting. This is one of the few books I have read that has caught my attention from the start to the end and makes a person think.

The plot of Waterbury Winter by Linda Stewart Henley is very well laid out and takes you on a journey from the first line to the last. It does go on some side paths but eventually meanders back to the main route. Each character is important to Barnaby Brown on his journey to finding himself, being true to himself, and getting back to his painting. The pace is not too fast; it is like a lovely meander through a beautiful garden. The theme has been well written and gives the reader food for thought about life in general and what is available for the reader personally going forward. The action is more like interactions between all the main characters in the story as well as some sub-characters, so it keeps everything going forward and becomes a page-turner. I found I could not put it down until I had reached the end. It makes you think about how you are handling your life and if you are stagnating because you are too afraid to take a chance. I enjoyed reading this book from the first page to the last and found the ending the best, due to the fact that I had started rooting early for the main characters.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

When I reflect on Moss by Joe Pace, three words come to mind immediately: deep, unique, and extraordinary. All three adjectives apply to Pace’s characters, plot, themes, and style...in fact, everything about this novel. Quite honestly, I cannot get this exquisite literary novel out of my thoughts, and here's why. The style is primarily reflective narrative. In many novels, that approach slows down the pace of the plot. But Oscar Kendall, the narrator, is such a conflicting blend of emotions that, like a Venus flytrap, he grabs a reader’s psyche and won’t let go. The same applies to May: she fascinates both Oscar and the reader. What is it with her? Why does she behave as she does? And then there are the almost strange members of May’s family. Each character is unique; their motivations and actions are complex. But it is how all these characters’ lives intersect that gives readers a plot so extraordinary that few of us see the twists coming our way. When they do, Moss becomes unforgettable.

But Moss’s intense impact on the reader goes beyond its plot, characters, and style. Overshadowing everything in Oscar’s life is his father, Isaiah Moss, a famous author Oscar knows very little about until he inherits his father’s cabin and his old typewriter. Through letters that Isaiah has written to his estranged son, and through May’s experience, readers so thoroughly feel the devastating effects that war has on those called to fight that we are beyond moved. Pace’s ability to capture the emotional and physical suffering is unique: it cuts deeply into readers’ minds and hearts and holds us captive long after the story has ended. As a would-be writer, I felt compelled to make notes on some of the insights Isaiah Moss offered on writing, e.g. “My writing teachers were my eyes and ears and my imagination…ears are more important to writers than eyes or hands.” Moss is a deep and unique novel, and Joe Pace, like the fictional Isaiah Moss, is one extraordinary writer.