Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

If you decide to tackle The Lay of LaLa Land by A.Y. Miles, expect the unexpected. Expect to find yourself laughing out loud at Lenny Dushoff’s wild mental meanderings, social and personal insecurities, and multitude of physical…or is it psychosomatic…ailments. Expect to be repulsed by his successful, overweight father whom Lenny hates with a passion. Depending on your sensibilities, expect to be possibly offended by the language and preoccupation of his hormone-overloaded college buddies with sex. Expect to be as puzzled, curious and confused, as Lenny is, by his first sexual experience with his ultimate true love, Jane. And finally, expect to be shocked by the ending of The Lay of LaLa Land which, unless you’re very intuitive, you most likely will never see coming till it does.

A.Y. Miles is a very clever writer. Skilled at coming up with fresh metaphors that fire your imagination, his way with words is enviable. He captures Lenny’s rather nerdy persona beautifully: he is a 135-lb naive, insecure young adult who tries hard to never offend anyone. Unlike his successful father, a psychologist and acclaimed author, Lenny doesn’t see himself as succeeding at anything: his career or his love life. Lenny’s buddies want to help him out and cheer him on, but it is Jane who ultimately helps him find himself and his strength. Miles uses Lenny’s reflections and dialogue between the characters so well, readers can easily feel their emotions and understand their motivations. As crazy as this story, its characters and the plot line sometimes seem to be, one gradually senses this is not really a funny, coming of age story after all. It is, as a Seattle Book Review reviewer stated, “a brutally honest portrait of life and reality”, and that reality is neither funny nor pretty.

Pick up a copy of The Lay of LaLa Land by A.Y. Miles if you dare to be shocked on several levels. This book is not for those offended by colourful language full of sexual innuendo and even borderline pornographic description. But it is an absorbing read for anyone with an open mind who reads a book to get at its real message. That message, in The Lay of LaLa Land by A.Y. Miles, is an important one.

Reviewed by Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite

A middle-aged woman decides she has had enough of her car lot business and makes a crazy and desperate pact with her husband to get her dream vacation in the comedic novel, Cars, Coffee, and a Slightly Used Casket (Julia Karr 2) by K.C. Hilton. Julia Karr thought that she had enough on her plate when she challenged her husband, Romeo; she would sell a specific amount of cars by a certain date and Romeo would have to take her on vacation. Now, halfway into the agreed upon time, Julia finds her life on the threshold of chaos. Her house has been ripped apart and lies in rubble around her feet; she has more past due accounts than she has sales; and her clients refuse to pay. Her repo guy has met with an accident and, to make matters worse, she is being dogged by an old high school frenemy who likes to streak during business hours. Just when things look hopeful, Julia is attacked by an irate customer. Suddenly, she is left contemplating her mortality. Becoming obsessed with preparing for the Afterlife draws a whole slew of new problems Julia's way. Will she finally get a much deserved break? Or will she die trying?

Cars, Coffee, and A Slightly Used Casket (Julia Karr 2) by K.C. Hilton is the hilarious sequel to Cars, Coffee and A Badass Ninja Toilet. Owning a car lot may be a challenging profession, but being a female car lot owner is near insanity; though Julia handles business like a pro. What would you do if faced with a gun-toting angry customer, a burglary gone horribly wrong, and a dead man in the back of a repossessed car? Ask Julia! I loved book one, but book two is even better. I couldn't stop laughing! The characters are so believable and interesting, the settings so realistic, and the story is the perfect blend of humor and sadness. Be prepared for more laugh-until-you-cry moments, more cloak-and-dagger repossessions, and more exasperated sighs from Romeo. With awesome new characters, including Ash Dedman the Undertaker, and undercover work at a cemetery, who needs television? If you like a twist of humor with your morning coffee and bedtime wine, then this book is a must-read!

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Odyssey in a Teacup: Ruth Roth Series Book One by Paula Houseman takes us on a journey of self discovery through the eyes of a young Jewish Australian girl, Ruth Roth, who along with her three best friends - Vette, Maxi and her cousin Ralph - all try to find their place in a society that doesn’t seem to accept them for who they are. Reminded from an early age by her domineering and sharp-tongued mother Sylvie that she was a “mistake” and a “bad mistake” at that, Ruth wants to allow her natural tendencies to rebel to flourish, but she feels unwanted and her spirit is crushed by the lack of her mother’s acceptance. We follow Ruth and her friends from their innocent youth and childish games through to her approaching middle age, all the time with Ruth searching for the true purpose of her life and her place in this world. Told in part as a series of reminiscences of disasters and bad decisions in all of their lives, Ruth slowly becomes aware that her spirit has been stolen from her and in order to rise above all the dysfunction, she needs to reclaim the free spirit that belongs to her.

This story is a mixture of humorous anecdotes that tie together with Ruth and her friends' anxieties, flaws, and self-perceptions. The use of Greek mythology and the duplicitous nature of the gods and their questionable characters and morals is a perfect analogy in describing the foibles and eccentricities that beset this fascinating group of friends. Paula Houseman has given us a plethora of readily identifiable characters from our own lives to hate, to love, and to groan and empathize with in Odyssey in a Teacup. Written with that underlying self-deprecating Jewish humour that we have come to love so much, this story has some truly inspired and genuinely funny moments that had me constantly chuckling to myself, as I was able to identify with it. Writing genuinely funny tragi-comedy is not an easy thing and certainly Houseman is to be commended and admired for her efforts here. For all of us who have suffered periods of self-doubt, this story will help to remind you that we are all unique individuals and it is our diversity, not our homogeneity, that makes us special as a species. This was a cracking good read and I look forward to reading the continuing adventures of Ruth Roth soon.

Reviewed by Charles Remington for Readers' Favorite

Marty, who is the erstwhile hero of Time Is Irreverent, has been abducted by aliens but, contrary to his initial fears, these are nice aliens. They are here to try to put things right on our planet before the crazy presidential incumbent currently in charge manages to destroy it in a nuclear holocaust. In order to do this, they must change the course of history and they must select a human whose time line would not be affected by the change – one who, in other words, would survive the mission. Marty, who is the human selected for the task, must travel back to the time of Christ and present a different version of the Sermon on the Mount, one designed to deliver a more harmonious history for our race. But time travel is no easy matter, even for aliens with technology far in advance of our own.

Due to his claustrophobia and subsequent panic attack, Marty finds himself catapulted into the Cretaceous period when dinosaurs reigned and must avoid becoming a tasty lunch for the carnivores of the time before being retrieved. A second attempt finds him landing into a future USA at a time when global warming is changing the landscape and Christian Fundamentalism has become entrenched, before a third attempt when he finally makes it to Galilee to try to complete his mission. In between he manages to enjoy a romantic liaison with one of the female alien crew, make camping and picnic visits to most of the planets in the solar system, and spends a good deal of time getting high using the alien ship’s euphoria dispensers. But is Marty capable of successfully completing his critical mission? Can he change the course of human history and, more importantly, can he ensure his beloved rock music is not deleted from the new time line?

Time Is Irreverent by Marty Essen is, on the surface, a light-hearted science fiction romp which plays with a number of themes in a novel way. But there is a serious underlying core to the book which looks at where we are heading and how prejudice and bigotry are gaining ground against tolerance and understanding. ‘Why can’t we just get along and be nice to each other’ is a distressingly common cri de coeur among thinkers and philosophers, and while a man was nailed to a cross just over two thousand years ago for saying the self-same thing, it seems that very little has changed since. Time Is Irreverent is a well-written, well-paced novel peopled with solid, likeable characters. Marty Essen is a talented author who has managed to wrap several complex threads into a light, enjoyable narrative. I hope he will continue writing in the sci-fi genre and I look forward eagerly to his future works.

Reviewed by Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite

Like the reality behind the term made famous by this book’s leading character, one is never quite so sure that what he reads is not truer than the facts – if one is reading Fake News by David Hutter. The subtitle best explains the premise of this funny, funny book: “Strange historical facts reimagined in the world of Donald Trump.” By now, the cast is all too familiar. The names of Trump’s cabinet and advisers are household names. But Mr. Hutter takes us back to the beginning (Inauguration Day), when our newly elected “greatest-President-ever” assumed this republic’s throne, deciding on Day One to replace the Lincoln Memorial with one of his very own and, oh-by-the-way, to suddenly declare war on North Korea by way of Twitter. It’s all going to be okay. Ivanka approves. And he trusts Ivanka.

This will give you a taste of David Hutter’s more-than-satirical treatise on Mr. Trump’s dubious ascension, and will provide you with an early warning that all the contents of this funny book may indeed be Fake News. What is not fake is Mr. Hutter’s keen attention to the quirks and foibles, the tones and attitudes, and the incredibly misinformed antics of our country’s first lunatic – not a political stance or conjecture, mind you; simply a statement of the news. The reader feels as if he has gained front row access to the crazy show, with only one choice left for him to make: to laugh or cry. I guarantee you, this book will make you weep with glee. But the truly ingenious part of this book is that David Hutter follows each Fake News chapter with reports on similar real-world historical events (fascinating trivia), proving in the end that Trump and readers have all been here before.

Reviewed by Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite

How do you feel about unexpected visitors? At one time, random company would not have bothered Claire. After the death of her husband, though, Claire faces a life alone with no surprise visitors and the impending departure of her college age twins. Alone except for the midnight visits from Clint, her adopted raccoon, who is intent upon bringing his uninvited raccoon posse outside her bedroom window every night. Maybe alone is better after all. She knew she had to ready herself for the empty nest syndrome that would settle soon upon her home. But she isn’t ready for the wave of unexpected guests in the form of Napoleon Bonaparte, Count Dracula, and Janis Joplin.

Occupying every inch of her home, eating Fruit Loops in her kitchen, these visitors are related to the job she left many months before. Unwanted and uninvited, Bonaparte, Joplin, and the Prince of Darkness were somehow detoured on their way from In Between to After. Fortunately for them, Claire is a retired Afterlife coach. Unfortunately for Claire, she said farewell to that job some time ago. All those years she managed to hide her profession from her friends, family and her beloved Daniel. She wasn’t ready to start explaining herself now.

Enjoy the antics of Claire and her deceased buddies in The Afterlife Coach by Susan E. Paul. Outrageously funny and remarkably witty, Susan E. Paul has created the novel of the decade. I am so glad that I selected this book to review. I haven't laughed so much in a long time. Hope to read about Cleopatra soon! There is never a dull moment, never a wasted page in this literary romp on the wild side.

Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite

No fluff! Pure cowboy! Midway is the tenth book in Tell Cotten’s The Landon Saga. The Landon brothers, Cooper and Yancy, are just your average Texas Rangers. Well, maybe not average! Returning to Midway, after a rescue mission in New Mexico, Yancy is eager to see Jessica. He is going to propose right away, but Cooper convinces him to bathe first. Yancy awkwardly pops the question, and Jessica accepts. Much to everyone’s surprise, Yancy and Jessica agree to get married the following day. Why wait? While Yancy prepares for his wedding, Cooper is left handling all the town’s law issues. In one day’s time, Cooper must settle a domestic violence dispute, handle an alcoholic cowpuncher who destroyed the saloon, deal with Wyatt, his coming of age adopted son, and confront four Mexican bandits who want to kill Yancy. Proving once again, the Landon brothers rarely experience normal, peaceful days. Don’t mess with Texas!

Midway by Tell Cotten is an amusing gun-slinging western. Not having read any of the previous books in The Landon Saga, I was grateful for the list of the main characters and their current status given at the beginning of the book. Tell Cotten quickly catches the reader up on what is happening with the Landon brothers, and then jumps right into their continuing saga. The short chapters propel the plot action, creating a steady pace from one chapter to the next. Far from boring, there is no hitch in the giddy-up of this story at all! Being born and raised in the Texas panhandle, I felt right at home with the story’s West Texas setting. The narrative is written in first person, told from Cooper’s point of view; however, Yancy’s personality speaks loud and clear! The brotherly banter throughout the story was warm and comically entertaining. I believe the continual changing of shirts was my favorite part. Most would simply iron a shirt, not use them as element of irony! It wouldn’t be a western if the lawmen did not strut down the street to a gunfight! With this in mind, Tell Cotten totally delivers. Midway concludes with a happily ever after ending, well at least for the Landon brothers. Midway’s town sheriff might think otherwise.

Reviewed by K.J. Simmill for Readers' Favorite

Melvin is dead. There's no beating around the bush with that. But what a mess he left in his wake, or rather his Aunt Martha left after a brief possession of the priest to give him the 'no punches pulled' send-off she thought he deserved. His mistress is pregnant, and his wife, Melody, has made her own withdrawal from the Rogue Sperm Bank in the hope of letting her husband's legacy live on. Melvin has a choice: his aunt is insisting he is born again, and he must quickly choose which vessel his soul should enter, the child carried by his wife, or that of his mistress. There are, of course, complications that cause even those against idle chatter to sow the seeds of gossip. Melvin was indeed reborn, and what a stir it caused.

Lately, whenever I pick up a book claiming to be comedy, a brief wave of dread passes over me. Today's amusement seems often to be nothing more than a string of put-downs, and jerkish behaviour, something I would call closer to bullying than humour. I actually heaved a sigh of relief when I first started reading James Pumpelly's Twice Melvin. I don't remember the last time a book with such witty humour crossed the screen of my kindle. Only a few paragraphs in, I found myself chuckling, and the momentum continues. Refreshing wit, great banter, some ironic humour, all wrapped up in an interesting and enjoyable plot. This book certainly rekindled my faith in the genre, and restored my hope that there are still people who can be funny, without it being at someone's expense.

Within Twice Melvin you'll find some great characters, deep and real with their own unique personalities and agendas. The book itself is written in alternating perspectives between the first person narrative of Melvin (later Melvin Jr.), and the third person perspective of the other characters. Whilst Melvin, for a large portion of the book, is deceased, it in no way hampers the story-telling, and James Pumpelly manages to spin a creative, humorous tale with serious aspects, romance, otherworldly meddling, and mortal gossip. A refreshing read that had me laughing aloud more than once.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

Ever met a creative genius? Read Garage Band and you'll meet two of them. The first is the author, Adam Rabinowitz; the second is his protagonist, Lanthus Trilby. And Lanthus is surrounded by a supporting cast of colourful characters, each of whom is a genius in his or her own field, whether it is hacking into complex security systems, or swinging from building to building as easily as Tarzan does from trees. This Garage Band does not create music. It creates mayhem for a massive corporation, security companies, police and computer experts. This Garage Band is a group of highly talented and skilled individuals brought together by Lanthus Trilby when he is suddenly let go after years of service as an actuary for an insurance company.

Tired of being dismissed by his boss and co-workers, along with his wife and children, as being competent but dull, "beige" as it were, Lanthus launches a scheme that proves how very much everyone has underestimated his genius. His plans to financially bring down his former employers by threatening to destroy an entire shopping center parking lot full of expensive cars are pure genius. Lanthus Trilby's plot is so convoluted that one readily grasps the concept that genius is very close to insanity. And as all hell breaks loose everywhere, readers are simultaneously holding their breaths and smiling as they turn the pages of a book written by a creative genius, Adam Rabinowitz.

Garage Band is an impressive bit of writing, near impossible to fault. Characters are realistic; dialogue flows naturally; the plot is complicated but logical, and the conclusion is utterly satisfying. Those who will enjoy this book are intelligent, clued into the ramifications, both good and bad, of modern technology, and love a well-thought out and executed plot. But these readers will also have a soft side that understands how losing a job after years of loyal service can unravel an employee. They will identify with family members losing touch with each other to the point that they don't even know each other.

In its own way, Garage Band is about music, the music of life, where harmony isn't possible unless all the players are in sync and in tune with each other. Lanthus Trilby makes sure his garage band knows their parts perfectly till the very last note is played. And Adam Rabinowitz deserves the applause readers will give Garage Band.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Up To No Good by Marsha Cornelius is an engaging story that revolves around Rachel who is soon going to turn forty. Her husband, Brian, thinks she is inquisitive as she loves gossiping about her neighbors. Brian is a photographer and Rachel is a writer and they work together at ‘The Good Life’, a wildlife magazine. Since they work together, Rachel does not seem to have much to talk to Brian about. Rachel slowly starts getting curious about the house nearby where the blinds are always drawn and no garbage cans are put out. She tells Brian about it and, as the story progresses, readers get to see how the mystery becomes exciting and enjoyable. Will Rachel be able to find out more about the mysterious house and what is going on inside?

I enjoyed the story as it not only throws light on the relationship of a middle-aged couple, but also has ingredients of fun, humor, sexual innuendo, mystery, suspense, and intrigue woven into the plot with expertise. The conversational style of writing makes it entertaining and the story connects well with readers. I like the way the author has brought out the curious streak of the main character, Rachel, which makes her real and relatable. The author handles relationship between friends, acquaintances, family, and marriage well. All the characters in the story complement the main characters, Brian and Rachel, very well, making it a fun and interesting read. Though the author makes it a light read, the reality behind the mystery house coupled with the intrigue make the story unique and thrilling! Loved the cover. It captures the essence of the story well.