Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

There is good magic and bad magic all around us and when witches and warlocks plot their battles, good against evil, anything can happen, especially on Halloween. Elliott is a boy growing up in a non-magical world. But he has the potential to do magic. Both his parents and his teacher, Mr. Moonbeam, have magical powers. But Elliott’s magic seems to be out of control. He never knows when something he thinks will happen, like throwing a book at the mean girl at school, Allison. He only thought about it; he hadn’t actually intended for a book to go flying into the back of Allison’s head. With magical powers out of control, how is Elliott ever going to learn? With the king and the gentle guidance of his wise teacher, Mr. Moonbeam, Elliott learns a valuable lesson, that “Each mistake is a learning opportunity and life is full of mistakes, or learning opportunities.”

As a retired teacher myself, I have to admit I can see the markings of a teacher-written masterpiece in this work. Perhaps that’s what makes this story so genuine and complete and a powerful tale for young readers to enjoy. Author and teacher, Ryan Cowan’s novel, Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal, has all the ingredients of a great adventure: magic, witches and warlocks, dragons and mermaids, and so much more. The plot develops at a rapid pace, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, waiting for the next unexpected twist. The characters are both believable and lovable, except for the evil characters, which are believable, but certainly not lovable. With great dialogue, narrative and character description, the reader is thoroughly immersed in this story from beginning to end.

As an author, I know that sometimes the most difficult thing to do is choose the right name for each character. Ryan has chosen wisely. In particular, his choice of Mr. Moonbeam for the teacher whose light and magic shines its greatest underneath the light of the moon which breaks the darkness of night. Noir is French for the color black but is also associated with crime fiction and all things evil and is the perfect name for the evil warlock who threatens the stability of many worlds on Halloween with his evil magic. The other names were also well-chosen, but these two specifically stood out as being symbolic of the good versus evil plot of the story. A great read.

Reviewed by Sarah Scheele for Readers' Favorite

Miracle on Aisle Two is a light-hearted, feel-good Christmas novella. Author Beth Carter writes about a surprise romance between a struggling single mom and a wealthy architect with a spirit of generosity. Adam Donovan grew up poor before he became successful and when he spots a desperate single mother failing to recover layaway toys in Target because she’s just lost her job, he offers to pay for everything. Madison is suspicious of him, but one date leads to another date, a tour of the amazing hotel he’s renovated, and an introduction to her whip-smart, cute little daughter Betsy. Adam is finding his way into Madison’s life and he seems too good to be true. But does he have a connection to the bitter divorce that put Madison’s dentist employer out of business and ruined her life?

What a perfect story for Christmas! Much like Madison who falls for earnest, slightly goofy Adam, I found myself delighted by Miracle on Aisle Two’s encouraging tone that sometimes good things really do happen to people. There are miracles, surprises, and a touch of Santa-for-grownups in the world, giving the mature gifts of friendliness, caring, and making things right. Madison is a practical person who struggles to accept a sudden turn for the better, with an endearing klutziness in the face of so many changes crowding into her life. I saw a lot of myself in her and I think most women would find Beth Carter’s book a pleasant, surprisingly vivid story about the strength and hopefulness that the holiday season brings out in people. A nice supporting cast of a loyal friend, a distraught dentist, and a much-loved but hard to manage child round out this cozy little novella that has a warm and fuzzy twist at the end.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Easter Hair Hunt by Nancy J. Cohen is the sixteenth book in the Bad Hair Day Mystery series. It’s Easter time and Marla is only a few months away from the arrival of her baby boy. During what should have been a routine visit during an egg hunt at the Tremayne Manor to see her client Blinky, things take a turn for the sinister when she stumbles upon a dead body in a bunny costume. For a moment she fears that her client is dead, only to discover that the body belongs to the gardener while her client has mysteriously disappeared. Adding to the mystery, the owner of the manor reveals that artifacts have been slowly disappearing and Marla herself stumbles upon the theft of a Faberge egg. She has her plate full as her due date is fast approaching, her mother announces her engagement, and she’s planning her friend’s bridal shower, all while trying to solve a disappearance, a theft, and a murder.

Marla is back with a new mystery while adjusting to upcoming changes in her life. She’s seven months pregnant which is constant excitement and concern for her as she worries about tempting fate by decorating the nursery too soon and helping her mother plan her baby shower. Throughout the previous couple of mysteries, Marla has explored her changing identity and what she wants in life. With this latest mystery, she continues to explore herself and how to balance the different facets of who she is, which sets the stage for her finding a balance between work, friends, and sleuthing after she has the baby.

Easter Hair Hunt by Nancy J. Cohen also has several aspects to it with various threads that pull Marla in various directions until coming back together for a shocking turn of events. Her client goes missing, a murder shocks the historic manor, and theft could be the center of it all with each part of the mystery taking Marla deeper into the lives of all those who live at the manor. Easter Hair Hunt is another delightful mystery for Marla as she embarks on new changes in her life while she works to solve the triple threat of a mystery that delivers an exciting and fun read.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

Prince Nicolas of San Cecilio is set to marry the girl of his dreams, a commoner named Brittany, even though Princess Rosalind of Mondovia had for many years been the girl he was to wed. Princess Rosalind is obviously upset and even more so when she finds out that she is to spend some time at San Cecilio, helping Britt learn to become a princess. Surprisingly, the two girls do become friends of a sort. When Princess Rosalind, aka Rose, escapes the castle for a few hours and pretends to be a normal girl visiting a bookshop, she meets the most handsome man she has ever set eyes on and is immediately drawn to him. Zachary is also taken with Rose and the two spend an enchanted afternoon together, knowing they will probably never see each other again. Rosalind has no choice but to hurry back and fulfill her princess duties. The surprises and events that follow make Once Upon A Midnight Clear the wonderful story it is and you must read it to learn of the Christmas magic and the royal wedding.

Once Upon A Midnight Clear by Jacqueline E. Smith is a sweet and loving 'happily ever after' princess story and the fact that it takes place during the Christmas season makes it even more fun. I was caught up from the first word right until the very last. I found Once Upon A Midnight Clear to be a real life fairy tale story that was perfect in every way. Jacqueline E. Smith is a brilliant romance author and I can only hope that there will be a followup book. There is all the magic of Christmas, the excitement of a royal wedding and characters that are impossible not to like. Please, please do not pass this up if you can’t resist a love story taking place in a charming setting. It doesn’t have to be the Christmas season for you to enjoy this lovely romance.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Pumpkin Everything by Beth Labonte tells the story of Amy Fox. Successful horror writer Amy has called off her wedding, a fall-themed wedding that has left her cold at the thought of anything pumpkin or fall. An accident changes everything; her grandfather needs someone to look after him or he will have to go into assisted living so Amy takes off back to her hometown of Autumnboro. It’s more than just the thought of fall and pumpkins that puts Amy off though; it’s the green-eyed boy she left behind. Kit Parker was one of the reasons she left Autumnboro behind and he could be the reason she comes back, until his secret is revealed and everything changes. Plus there’s the fact that Amy might just have based some of her book characters on real townsfolk...

Pumpkin Everything by Beth Labonte is a cute story set in the New Hampshire White Mountains. The descriptions of the scenery, of the town, all drew me in and had me picturing the place in my mind, bringing the story well and truly to life. This was an easy read, a story that bobbed along at a nice rate. There was always something going on and a couple of different stories being woven through the main plot. The characters are likable and they are identifiable; I’m sure we all know a Kit or an Amy, and especially an Amy’s mother! I enjoyed this; it’s a quick read with plenty of go, well written and very descriptive. Great book for someone who wants a couple of hours curled up on the sofa with an easy read.

Reviewed by A. L. Peevey for Readers' Favorite

A story about the magical possibilities of the holidays, Coming Home by Jane Suen brings together five people connected by the common thread of living in a closely knit town. But, Connor Norton is the catalyst for the events in the story. Despite his successful career, Connor Norton is struggling. Four months earlier, his mother passed away in the little town he grew up in, and all he has had for consolation is her cat, Tom, and Mary Ann, the local florist. After her funeral, he returns to the city where he works with Tom and the intention of staying in touch with Mary Ann, who awaits his call, hoping for some romance. But, can Connor come to grips with his grief, and is he too late to tell Mary Ann about his feelings for her?

Coming Home by Jane Suen reads almost like the script of a beloved holiday movie. With a natural talent for storytelling, the author has penned a tale that makes readers believe in the whimsical power of Christmas to bring about miracles in people’s lives. We crave a happy ending, even though we know that life is not perfect and, quite often, is messy. Written in everyday natural prose, Coming Home is a fairly quick read about characters who are certainly not very different from us, and that realization leaves us wanting to know more about them; in fact, this book is a sequel to Flowers in December. So, if you did not read it before Coming Home, you will want to.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Claustrophobic is a holiday-themed romantic comedy written by Bernadette Franklin. Braving the mall on Black Friday was not something Chloe Mitchell would ever consider, even if she didn’t dislike Christmas as much as she did. Spending hours there dressed as one of Santa’s elves in a dress that was at least one size too small and threatened a wardrobe malfunction if she sneezed had somehow become her nightmare of a reality, thanks to her best friend, Kristine, who called in a favor at the last minute. Kristine was smaller than she was, especially in the bust department, and the red elf dress Kristine had loaned her seemed more a slutty-elf leftover from Halloween than was suitable for wholesome family fare -- not that the dads waiting for hours with their kids minded. The moms in line had better things to keep their eyes on and imaginations distracted, as Julian Carter was playing Santa Claus. There were few things better than watching Julian doing anything, and besides being heart-stopping eye candy, Julian was a nice guy.

Claustrophobic is a fast-paced and absolutely marvelous novel that will get even the most claustrophobic closet Scrooge feeling just a bit more in the Christmas mood. Franklin’s characters perfectly fitted her New York City environment -- I loved watching as the two main characters find common ground over a Scrabble game and couldn’t help but feel good about the quirky and loving relationship Julian has with his parents. The author’s writing style is assured and breezy, and her plot rocks on so many levels. Anyone seeking a change from the sometimes over-sentimental holiday fare out there will probably be as pleased with this nifty and sweet tale as I was. Claustrophobic is most highly recommended -- even for Grinches.

Reviewed by Sarah Scheele for Readers' Favorite

A Holiday by Gaslight: A Victorian Christmas Novella by Mimi Matthews is a short historical romance set in England during the 1860s. For Sophie Appersett, the daughter of an established, but almost bankrupt baronet, life isn’t easy in this time of tremendous change. After her father spends her dowry on an expensive installation of gas works in their lovely country estate, Appersett House, her family plans to marry off responsible, selfless Sophie to some rich, but despised tradesman like Ned Sharpe. Her spoiled sister, Emily, still has a dowry and hopes to compete socially, but Sophie must think of the family first. She doesn’t know the serious, distant Mr. Sharpe at all and is afraid they can’t love each other. But when she invites him to a Christmas party at Appersett House, the days hold plenty of surprises for everyone—and not least for Sophie herself.

A Holiday by Gaslight is a real delight. Completely satisfying as a graceful love story, it also doubles as a family drama and an authentic presentation of the 1860s that reads with the simplicity and visual gusto of a period movie. Even though the short length of the book will leave avid period fans wanting much more, Mimi Matthews puts a lot of story line into it. It’s a sweet tale filled with believable characters and fleshed out far beyond the two central leads—likable as they are. Stern, proud Ned Sharpe did indeed remind me of Mr. Thornton from North and South, but he’s a wholly distinct character as well, and Sophie was attractive and genuine as his opposite. Sophie’s hysterical father, in denial about how his actions impact his family; her cunning, dignified mother and immature sister; the guests at the Christmas ball; the settings of London and the countryside—everything was developed really well and the dialogue deserves praise all on its own. Fun to read and fun to read again, this book is one of my favorites now.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

The Daughter Claus by D. Thrush is the first book in the Santina series. Tina has never been her father's favorite. Her brother is the one always fawned over, meant to follow her father's big plans for him to take over the family business. Only one catch: Nick doesn't want anything to do with it, instead being consumed by his dreams of becoming a rock star. At least her life is looking up. She makes a new friend and develops a crush on her brother's band mate, but her life is quickly put on hold when her dad suffers a heart attack and she has to go up to the North Pole to run things after her brother refuses to go. Now she's swept up into making changes her father won't approve of, navigating her best friend's elf crushes, dealing with her fun loving ex pulling her back into the life she left behind, and the upcoming delivery she has no one around to make.

A unique spin on Santa Claus that follows the life of his daughter, The Daughter Claus is a delightful read with charming characters and full of heart. Most Santa stories center on the delivering of toys to the good children of the world, but D. Thrush takes a unique approach by exploring the idea of what it's like to be the child of Santa by playing with two perspectives. Tina is the one who always gives up her time and puts everything on hold to go run things when her parents need her to, yet she's the one her father often ignored because she wasn't the one who was meant to take over one day. She has a lot of issues with him, resenting his attention to her brother and often resenting how her brother always seems to get what he wants while she's the one expected to give up her dreams to do what he's supposed to be doing. Her brother, on the other hand, is rebelling against everything expected of him and against Christmas itself, yet the fact he can't quite let go of any of it is shown through most of his songs, which are winter and Christmas themed. He's rather selfish in a lot of ways, not caring about anything other than his dreams, and often leaves everything up to his sister to fix. Tina has a touch of romance in her life as she navigates her feelings for George, while also dealing with her friend's various crushes which provide the story with some romantic comedy-like humor. Romance is kept largely in the background as the larger story focuses on the family unit.

The Santa myth has a modern tinge to it as Santa has to deal with health issues and a constant fight to meet demand with outdated machinery. He refuses to update the way the North Pole is run and is very traditional in his views. His personality is cutely balanced by his wife, who's gotten into a healthier lifestyle and has subtly been trying to get him to do the same. The North Pole has a modern take on it with a union, and business meetings with it being treated like a real life company, but with a fun twists including talking reindeer who are always complaining, and a local pub that gives the North Pole a real community feel to it. The Daughter Claus is a delightful read that is captivating and stunning, a fun coming of age story about the Claus family and the fight to follow your dreams.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

The Christmas Redemption: A Courtroom Adventure by Landis Wade acquaints the reader with an unusual attorney, one with intimate connections with Santa Claus and Christmas — and there is no joking about this! For how could Thad Raker even defend people working for Santa Claus? And how on earth could he win a case for people working for a myth? It has been eleven years since he was the Christmas hero. Now, he is defending a toy company that has offered the world the best Christmas toys for five decades. But this case poses the greatest threat to Christmas and the protagonist finds himself not only fighting to protect Santa’s village in the North Pole, but also a huge challenge from the skeptical FBI, the unbelieving judge, and a host of plaintiffs. Where can he find the help he needs to protect what is dear to his heart and that of many others? You’ll be surprised at how things turn out in this mesmerizing read.

Tantalizing, gripping, and permeated by a rare sense of humor, The Christmas Redemption: A Courtroom Adventure is a great story that will warm the hearts of readers as they follow Landis Wade’s compelling characters. This kind of work could only come from a hugely imaginative mind. And the birth of characters like the attorney, the strange Hank Snow, Judge Augustus, Henry Edmunds, and others could only be the work of genius. The writing is excellent with pacing that is fast and measured to a heartbeat. It won’t take any reader long to find a character to care for in this spellbinding meld of Christmas thriller and humor. The style is suspenseful and the plot pulls readers deeper and deeper into the mystery until the satisfying denouement.