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 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 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 Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite

In Expired Listings by D.M. Barr, a murderer with a special taste for real estate agents is loose in Rock Canyon. Unfortunately, the real estate business has previously cried wolf so when two agents are killed, the police are not in any hurry to investigate. Everyone is terrified but not as much as Dana Black. Due to her very complex family dynamics, if anyone dug hard enough, they would find Dana a perfect suspect. Even worse, she suffers from severe blackouts and as it just happens, she has no memory of where she was at the time leading to both murders. On top all this, Dana has big secrets and lives a double life. It is through the connections in her secret life that she reaches out for help in getting to the bottom of the murders. Secrets will be revealed in the process and her relationship with her estranged family will never be the same.

Expired Listings by D.M. Barr is a thrilling story that combines enthralling plot and detail, all delivered in flawless style. Right away, the story came to life with a gripping scene that had me feeling like I was watching a scene out of 'Criminal Minds', only better. D.M. Barr effortlessly captures the intensity of the moments and characters' emotions to draw you in and completely immerse you in the story, luring you to go with her on this engrossing journey filled with a mix of pain, pleasure, romance and darkness; and she blends all this together perfectly without allowing one part to overshadow another. Every time I thought I was close to figuring it all out, D.M. Barr threw in a fresh curve ball that made me question my theories, with a mother of all twists at end that made me realise how wrong I had been all along. D.M. Barr wrote an absolute winner that cuts across genres and delivers an amazing experience.

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.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Didn't Get Frazzled is a humorous novel about the American medical school experience written by David Z. Hirsch. Studying and acing exams were things any medical student could take in their stride, but the real challenges facing the first year medical students in Seth's class had everything to do with their gross anatomy class. Teams of desperate students cut, sawed, and used memorization tricks to remember the parts of the human body that were - absurdly enough - laid out before them on their examination tables. Their subjects' bodies reeked of formaldehyde and, by extension, they stunk of the preservative as well. One could always tell when a first-year was approaching by that smell. Once, when he came home in a total state of exhaustion, Seth neglected to shower off the stink before he went to bed, and his bed reeked for months afterwards. It was all a matter of perspective, such as looking at a barrel filled with amputated limbs and not getting spooked. At least, Seth had a semblance of normalcy to come home to in the shape of his live-in girlfriend, April. However, as Seth and his classmates got more and more involved in the shared challenges of their schooling, April became more involved with her own co-workers, and their worlds gradually grew further and further apart.

David Z. Hirsch's humorous medical school novel, Didn't Get Frazzled, left me feeling profoundly respectful of those students who survive their academic and internship experiences while retaining their humanity and compassion at the same time. This beautifully written and very funny story also reveals the harsh truths medical students have to face and learn to live with. As I write this, I'm thinking quite vividly of the papoose board and the heart-breaking work faced by pediatricians. Hirsch's character, Seth, shares his personal and professional life with the reader, and it's a fascinating account. Some of the patients Seth deals with are unforgettable, and, likewise, there are doctors described who gave me chills and those who still maintained a connection with their patients. While some aspiring doctors may find this an inspirational read, I found myself glad that while I had seriously entertained veterinary medicine, I had never considered medical school. That said, Didn't Get Frazzled is a marvelous read, funny at times, even uproariously so, and poignant at others. As I finished this book, I thought how lucky Seth's patients were to have him as a doctor. And that's what it's all about in the end. Didn't Get Frazzled lets you live the medical school experience from a safe and sane distance. It's most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Janelle Alex, Ph.D. for Readers' Favorite

Desperately Seeking Sixty-Nine (The Green Room Chronicles Book One) is a very unique book indeed. What J.D. Frettier has crafted within the pages of this one-of-a-kind tale is a mix of grief, metaphysics, erotica, and love. The main character, Bonnie, suddenly finds herself in the emergency room with emergency technicians using the shock paddles on her. She's initially torn between leaving Earth as her old friend calls out to her, "Come on...it's fun over here," and staying as her husband, Peter, refuses to leave her side. Yet, it doesn't take her long to give in and follow her friend to a holding area between life and Heaven. As her friend pushes her to get "Body Sculpting" and regain her youthful looks, Bonnie starts to panic over what her super conservative daughter will find when she goes through her mother's things in the master bedroom closet. With the help of her friend, they not only get a message to Peter to hide the adult items in the closet, but Bonnie learns how to engage in metaphysical sex with her husband from the other side. Along the way, she becomes frustrated because she deeply misses him and wants him to join her sooner rather than later in this holding area.

J.D. Frettier melds sex, death and a metaphysical view of what happens after one dies into a hot, erotic story that may very well light some fires of Desperately Seeking Sixty-Nine's readers. It reads almost like a low-budget pornographic movie, but if it creates tingles in its readers, that's all that really matters. Written from the perspective of a much older woman, it isn't likely to light the fire of millennials, but it might make older women think differently about their current sex lives and about potential sexual options once either they or their spouse face death and cross over in the future. Taking on a serious topic such as death and grief can be challenging, but Frettier did a nice job of using this rarely used perspective and turning it into a hot-to-trot erotic novella for the older population. Readers who want something far outside of the norm, with liberal views of sex, lovemaking and relationships, are likely to enjoy the titillating prose within Desperately Seeking Sixty-Nine.

Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Call Me Pomeroy: A Novel of Satire and Political Dissent is a humorous fictional narrative, written by James Hanna. Fifty-seven years ago, Eddie Beasley was born. Now, he finds himself forever on parole for a crime he unknowingly committed after bedding a woman who'd lied about her age. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time seems to be Eddie’s, or rather Pomeroy’s, gift in life – a moniker he assumed during his first stint in San Quentin. Diagnosed with several different personality disorders, Pomeroy wants nothing more than to make it big with his natural poetic talent. Unfortunately, he instead constantly finds himself in all sorts of trouble with the police, as he unwittingly happens upon riots and protests against the presidency and regime – even being arrested for rescuing a policewoman from unruly thugs mid-riot. Seen as a pest by police, a hero by protesters, and a quirky musician by many, Pomeroy will stop at nothing to fulfill his dream of becoming a household name around the world ... but only for the RIGHT reasons.

In all honesty, I do not think I have ever laughed so hard whilst reading a book. From the very beginning to the very end, James Hanna’s talent shines through in every single word (and verse) he writes. Pomeroy’s use of vile language adds to the humor – and reality – of the tale being told. Poor old Pomeroy seems to be a victim of circumstance on a daily basis, with the worst always being assumed about him by police. It was quite clever, and true to point, with all of the riots and discord surrounding the Bush presidency. Never before have I come across a writer who had me laughing so hard at such an unruly tale, where the main character was forever in the wrong place at the wrong time, a victim of circumstance, when all he wanted to do in life was to make people happy – especially the women he meets, since he seems to be the constant object of their obsession and lust (in his own mind). I very much enjoyed reading Call Me Pomeroy, and recommend it to mature readers aged over 18 years, due to the coarse language used throughout.

Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Double Blind is the first book in the Thanatos Rising series written by Tiffany Pitts. After Delilah Pelham gives herself a good workout at the gym, her twin brother’s new (and socially awkward) roommate, Dr. Carl Sanderson, hands Delilah a letter, clearly showing that Paul is in over his head and needs help. Although skeptical, Delilah is far from surprised that he has landed himself in yet another jam. At the airport, Carl realizes something is off and quickly books a ticket on the next flight, desperate to keep Delilah safe. Back at Delilah’s apartment, her huge cat (with way too many toes), aptly named Toesy, befriends and reveres Jake while making a discovery which leads to his own unexpected transmutation. As Delilah and Carl become embroiled in a sinister game of cat and mouse in the bid to rescue Paul, little does everybody know that all hell is about to break loose.

I very much enjoyed Double Blind in that it had just the right amount of balance in drama, humor and suspense. The chapter headings were eye-catching and quite clever as they clearly painted the location of the chapter contents in advance, much like a scene change in a movie. The main character’s horse-sized cat, Toesy, is a real hoot and I couldn’t help but chuckle at each encounter people had with the not-so-miniature fluff ball, and the hilarious thoughts that danced around inside Toesy’s head. The stories taking place, both in America and in Hong Kong, are shrouded in mystery and excitement, leading to one of the most entertaining books I have ever read. I applaud Tiffany Pitts’ excellent beginning to the Thanatos Rising series and recommend Double Blind to all readers who enjoy their action, adventure and crime fiction served up with a hilarious dose of animal antics.