Reviewed by Kathryn Bennett for Readers' Favorite

Forgotten Objects by Carlos Rubio introduces us to the life of Anna d'Amio who is the daughter of Louis and Francesca d'Amio, opera singers. The trail follows them from Mussolini’s Italy to the city of Pittsburgh during the roaring time of the mid-sixties. You will follow the story through three main sections of time and place; Italy, Cuba and the United States of America. Anna has a pretty exciting life in search of fame and fortune, and while looking for that, she finds the love of a second husband and family.

This was an interesting and touching story put together in a way that I have not seen before. The format of the book, the way the story is told, and how the end of it finds us with letters and other objects - what a touching way to tell a story. Carlos Rubio has found a magical way to tell a story of love, life and what you do when everything goes pear shaped. I cannot imagine having to flee not one but two countries due to war and things like communism. The ebb and flow of this book is perfect and there was not a single moment wasted. I felt connected and in touch with Anna and her story throughout the entire book. If you are looking for a book that is emotional, touching and will bring you into the world of the characters, this is a good read. Sit down, open up and be ready to enjoy yourself for hours because you will not want to put this book down.

Reviewed by Nandita Keshavan for Readers' Favorite

Wai-Nani is an exciting historical drama about a Hawaiian girl from a royal family, who runs away from her family to escape an unwanted wedding. She swims to another island, and there she meets and falls in love with Makaha, who is a son of the king. How she fares in a childless marriage and tries to gain the trust of the people, despite being the daughter of a rival king, adds to the suspense and intrigue. Author Linda Ballou writes beautifully and the pages of this book are filled with such vivid descriptions of the culture and imagery of old Hawaii that the effect of the writing is believable and compelling.

Ballou includes an informative preface which explains that the protagonists are based on important historical legends, but that the book is written with creative license. Significant research by the author on what is known of the Hawaiian psyche at the time shows clearly in the book, which is very realistic. The book also depicts an account of Captain James Cook's arrival at Kealakekua Bay, how he was taken at first to be a god, and how this perception changed later on, along with an unexpected turn of events. This is followed by the arrival of Captain Vancouver, although his interaction with the Hawaiians differs considerably. These passages are written very well and, despite the tensions in the islands, there is always a fear of unknown dangers which adds to the suspense of the interactions with the Europeans.

Wai-Nani rebels against customs for the sake of her own freedom, and during the story her character retains her innocent beauty whilst adopting traits of feminine grit due to difficult circumstances. Makaha is an interesting character who is bold, skilled and brave, while at the same time having a raw greed that drives him to supreme political heights. An invigorating aspect of the book is Wai-Nani's friendship with the dolphin Eku, who becomes a solace in difficult times. The relationship of Wai-Nani with Makaha goes through a range of extremes and it is a sub plot which alternates between love, suspense, loneliness and extra-marital affairs. The emotion, suspense and adventure are written wonderfully against the natural beauty of the islands, making the book colourful, gripping and dramatic.

Reviewed by Danielle Urban for Readers' Favorite

The Vintner's Daughter by Kristen Harnisch is by far the best historical romance novel that I have read in a while. It centers on a young woman growing up on a farm, whose family sells white wine until the fatal death of her father. Soon life on their farm becomes worse when Sara Thibault's mother chooses to sell the farm to the eldest son of a rival family who marries her eldest daughter. But then violence causes both Sara and her sister to flee their only home. Sara goes about making her life in the world of wine and it is there that everything once more changes. Will fate allow Sara that chance to have her home once more or will it be the death of her?

The Vintner's Daughter by Kristen Harnisch will completely sweep readers off their feet and deep into a historical romance of winemaking. This brilliant piece has everything readers will want in a novel. Danger, suspense, and romance are all wrapped up in a perfect story. A story that leave readers in awe as two young people make their way in the world of winemaking, a fast-paced and exciting world where the main character breaks out of the norm of her time period. Women were to stay in the kitchen, not work in the fields on the farm with the men. The words pop off the pages, making you feel that you are really there. Excellent piece! I loved reading this novel. The author has done wonders in creating such a rich and engaging world that is memorable. I highly recommend this to readers everywhere and rate it a five out of five stars. I look forward to reading more novels by Kristen Harnisch.

Reviewed by John Thornton for Readers' Favorite

The Road Home (The Letter Series Book 2) by Kathleen Shoop is a very well written and engaging book. I am a fan of historical novels, and The Road Home is a well-told yarn that held my attention and gave me a wonderful reading experience. Kathleen Shoop can paint vivid pictures with her words. I got the feeling of being immersed in the culture, the times, and the characters’ lives. Emotionally, this book hooked me.

The plot involves twins Katherine and Tommy Arthur but is in no way constrained to just them. The author weaves the tale of their lives and brings in supporting characters as needed to keep the flow of the story moving along at a steady and page turning pace. The opening situation with the twins’ mother is unforgettable, and in a way that dramatic event casts its shadows over the rest of the book. Life in the late nineteenth century and into the early years of the twentieth century was not easy, and those times are well described. So many things done by hand, and so much hard and long work.

The characterization is one of the stronger elements in The Road Home as each characters has his or her own quirks. Some are quite lovable, and some are people I felt like yelling at. Some characters are religious in a good way, some are spiritually abusive to others, and that accurately reflects reality, not only in times a hundred plus years ago, but also today. I found myself thinking about this story as I went about my daily life, more than I usually do with books I read (I read a lot).

The chapters are set up with a date, name, and location. I found this personally meaningful for I live in the areas described (my home is Sioux Falls). The setting and feel for these places rang true. There are 45 chapters. At first glance I felt this might be an issue, keeping track of the changing flow, but the author did a superb job weaving all the threads together to tell a tightly knit story. Dialogue was excellent. Phrasing and idioms sounded real to the era (although I am not a history teacher), and I did not find any anachronisms. The story truly felt like circa 1900. I liked the way the author used some varied points of view (consistent within each chapter) to tell the tale. That was done very effectively.

There are a number of different families, all with their own flavor, and the characters move in and out of the interactions with those families. That plays an important role in the relationships between the characters. This too was effectively done, and none of the people seemed too much like a card-board cutout. Even the minor characters had depth. A well told story, with quality dialogue, vivid descriptions, and an accurate feel for an historical setting.

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

The Scanlons, Fitzpatricks, and Quinns represent a segment of American society in the latter half of the 19th century and their interaction with friends, neighbors, and others broadens our view regarding what was happening throughout most of the United States. In Beyond the Divide, J.P. Kenna portrays the effects of major events on the everyday lives of people from the point of view of a New Jersey Irish family. From the reconstruction and post-Civil War growth of industry to the social issues facing the poor, women, unappreciated working men, unmarried mothers, African-Americans, and many more groups, the Scanlon family weathers the changes. Their conversations and letters provide a rich depiction of their lives. From the heyday of the family patriarch, the Irish immigrant James Fitzpatrick, to the adventures in the expansion of the west experienced by his grandson, the growth of the labor movement and the role of politics, religion and money in the events that have shaped the course of this country are creatively, informatively and engagingly presented.

J.P. Kenna has created an engrossing history lesson through excellent story-telling and well-developed characters in Beyond the Divide. Painting clear pictures of life in urban New Jersey as well as the nearly virgin Northwest through the lives of varied yet highly believable characters, Kenna sets the action of his story against the major movements and players of the second half of the 19th century. Kenna creates the basis of social commentary regarding the rise of the vastly wealthy industrialists in contrast to the lives of the working man and farmer. He outlines how government, religion and natural human prejudices were bent to influence the outcome of elections, the course of social policies and the overall future of the American people. This is an excellent novel that deserves a careful reading and deep contemplation.

Reviewed by Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite

Scrooge and Marley by Karl F. Hollenbach is a follow-up story to Charles Dickens' novel, A Christmas Carol. The book builds on the story of Ebenezer Scrooge who had made amends for his mean-spirited ways after an encounter with the ghost of his dead business partner, Marley. Scrooge had spent the last 12 months of his life a very happy man; he had completely changed his attitude towards people and life in general and everyone was happy to be around him. Then on Christmas Eve, he returned home to find Marley's ghost in his fireplace. Through Scrooge's recent good deed, Marley was having a much more pleasant time, having crossed from darkness to the shadows, but he needed Scrooge's help to make the final transformation from the shadows to the light. He presented a number of tasks to Scrooge through which he would help Marley make amends for his past mistakes. Marley's last request was the strangest and most illogical of all his requests, but it also turned out to the most life changing for the two men.

Scrooge and Marley by Karl F. Hollenbach is a very compelling story about life, family, business ethics, making amends, and reincarnation. The story keeps you completely engrossed as you discover the ghost's end game and how it will affect the living. The story has a perfect mix of drama and intrigue and enough bizarre events to keep you glued to the pages until the very end. By creating a continuation of a story written by such a great author, Karl F. Hollenbach took a very big chance at attempting to step into the very big shoes of the great Charles Dickens, but he pulled the story off so perfectly and I think Charles Dickens would have been proud.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Woman of Flames by Kim Stokely is a well written historical fiction which will enthrall readers with its imagery, passion, and story line. Deborah is a gifted child and from childhood she has this task of convincing people around her that she is special and it is God's will that she is the spiritual leader of Israel. She grows in stature and power and the only person who stands in her way is the General of the Canaanite army, Sisera. He succeeds in capturing Deborah and finds himself drawn to her beauty and power. Will Deborah be able to resist the temptation and be able to save her country and set her people free?

The compelling theme that revolves around a biblical character is not boring; instead it will draw readers with its bold depiction of the triumphs and terrors in the ancient world. The characters are well defined and their relationships with each other are also portrayed strongly and with a lot of clarity. The story will excite readers on many levels. The battle stories, life in Israel in those days, the everyday life, their food habits and culture, and the relevant characters are fascinating and keep readers glued to the book until the end.

The imagery is wonderful. The author has masterfully written the physical battles and the emotional battles inside Deborah and woven them together, making it more dramatic metaphorically. Readers who like historical characters, The Old Testament stories, and Biblical women will love this book. This compelling historical fiction will keep you riveted with its powerful story line, wonderful imagery, and rich passion.

Reviewed by Samantha Rivera for Readers' Favorite

Liddie is a farm girl who’s never wanted to stay there. She’s always wanted to explore the world and she’s finally gotten the opportunity. But then things change at home and she is forced to change her plans. When her luck turns around yet again, Liddie is determined to make the most of the opportunity. Escaping her farm is more wonderful than she could have dreamed, but at the same time Liddie isn’t sure what she wants to do with her new-found freedom. Being a seamstress is everything she could have imagined, but there’s much more to living in the city than just the job that she wants. Go Away Home is the perfect story of coming home.

If you’ve ever had bigger dreams than your current circumstances allow then you know exactly how Liddie feels living on a farm and dreaming of the big city. I could definitely relate to her and that made it even better reading her story. There’s so much happening for her and each time you think it’s over there’s more. Poor Liddie goes through a lot in her life, but that’s nothing compared to what her friends and family go through. After all, there’s danger and problems in everyone’s life. I couldn’t get enough of Go Away Home by Carol Bodensteiner. This was an amazing story and I will be recommending it to all of my friends. Excellent characters and an extremely realistic plot made this a great book that I know I will be reading again.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte by Ruth Hull Chatlien tells the true story of Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte, better known as Betsy. She was the daughter of a Baltimore merchant, William Patterson, and was the first wife of Jérôme Bonaparte and sister-in-law of Emperor Napoleon I of France. I enjoyed learning about Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Bonaparte as my knowledge about her is almost non-existent. Getting to know one of the historical figures famously known as the ‘Notorious Belle of Baltimore’ through this novelized fact-based book is pleasant and enlightening at the same time. Betsy attended Madame Lacomb's Academy and studied history, culture, mathematics and French – knowledge that would later serve her well.

I personally think that Odette, Madame Lacomb’s slave, was an important catalyst for choices that Betsy made in her life – regardless whether Odette’s prophecy was legit or not in the first place. It still amazes me what we can learn from someone back in the past. Betsy’s determination transcends time because she was a strong-minded woman who shaped her own destiny, despite the obligatory limitations that society and her family tried to impose on her. Her choice to be with the man she loved, her fight for her marriage, plus her daring French fashion sense showcased her strength, charisma and wit. This is a laudable work from Chatlien. Her writing resonates with elegance, yet is simple and clear. It is easy to become absorbed in this well-written historical novel. The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte will appeal to all avid readers of the genre.