Reviewed by Golder Hazelton for Readers' Favorite

Everything that happens in Justin Kurian’s The Canticle of Ibiza does so in an ever-present miasma of the mystical. Set, as the title suggests, on the enchanting isle of Ibiza in the late 1980s, this fascinating novel focuses on John, a recently divorced and recently unemployed hedge fund manager who becomes disillusioned with his life and livelihood. He sells his Manhattan apartment and takes off for Ibiza in hopes of a fresh start and of tracking down an old friend with whom he had a shared artistic vision and whom he deeply disappointed fifteen years prior when he decided to pursue his career in finance. As we experience John’s initiation into Ibiza’s eclectic society and follow him on the quest to find his long-lost friend, we also experience a unique armchair tour of what most certainly must be one of the world’s most exotic and breathtaking destinations.

The cast of characters is colorful and fiercely free-thinking in offbeat and delightful ways. The characters are drawn in marvelously inventive detail, the dialogue is pure genius, and the author has a rare and magical way of leading his readers into events and conversations in the most unexpected and unforeseeable ways, making for tantalizing surprises on every page. By the end of the novel, readers will feel as if they have made new friends of their own. The writing style is masterful, with many uncommon words perfectly positioned to let readers savor the uniqueness of the narrative. Justin Kurian’s The Canticle of Ibiza has it all: adventure, romance, humor, drama, magic, mystery, and even a life lesson or two worth remembering. In short, it is a unique and wonderful reading experience, ideal for anyone seeking an imaginative escape from the mundane world.

Reviewed by Adanna Ora for Readers' Favorite

All Goose ever wanted as a 10-year-old girl was to be understood and appreciated. She didn’t have friends in elementary school, and her teacher, Ms. Vincent, always found a way to ridicule her efforts, subtly endorse the bad behavior of her classmates toward her, and dwell more on her inadequacies. Despite all these challenges, one thing Goose derived immense joy from and was very good at was writing. But this great talent of hers was made to seem unimportant and small by people in school, and this affected her a great deal. Little wonder that even though Dillon Hershkop (Goose’s real name) later grew up to become a renowned writer, she still feels a void in her life despite being blessed with fame, a lovely family, and a sterling career. This void forces her to reluctantly agree to a time-travel experiment. Could this be the much-needed revival in Dillon’s life? Find out in this breathtaking novel, Helipads in Heaven, beautifully written by Shanti Hershenson.

First of all, I must say that I have never read a book that struck me and held me spellbound from the first page to the last like Helipads in Heaven. The writer narrates the story with so much simplicity and ease that it makes you feel comfortable and able to relate well to it. We can feel every emotion of the characters, both in their adult years and childhood days. I love the responsibility and eye-opening moments it places on teachers and parents to keep an eye on the children in their care and be sensitive to their needs. It opens us to the mind of a child who needed validation and appreciation from the people that mattered most. It also brings out the vice of bullying in schools and the need to do better as teachers and parents, as bullying has tremendous effects on children. I enjoyed Helipads in Heaven so much, and I will recommend it to everybody I know. Kudos to the author for this amazing book and for blessing the world with such talent and experience.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

With Love, From Planet B is a work of fiction penned by author Zaayin Salaam MD in the visionary, metaphysical, and sociocultural subgenres. It is best suited to mature adult readers owing to scenes of a sexual nature and some complex adult themes. Set in the year 2085, readers find themselves immersed in a poignant narrative amid the backdrop of the sixth extinction event and a world governed by the Free One World Nation. Zara, a Master Lucid Dreamer, holds the key to a hopeful future, training for long-distance teleportation to Planet B, discovered by her girlfriend Lex. As they navigate the complexities of reaching utopia and confronting the Three Spiritual Diseases plaguing Earth, readers are taken on a hero's journey filled with revelations and uncomfortable truths. The narrative not only explores the consequences of environmental neglect but also serves as a spiritual reflection on the human condition.

Author Zaayin Salaam MD weaves a tale that combines the urgency of environmental collapse with the personal journeys of Zara and Lex in a truly momentous exploration of human existence from an abstract and interesting alien perspective. The work is an immersive experience that requires an open mind and a ready soul, prompting contemplation about the current state of our world and the potential for redemption in ways that most writers just wouldn’t be able to think about, let alone put into words. I was impressed by the way the teachings and observations are woven naturally into dialogue and plot events, never too pushy but always challenging typical perceptions. Salaam's narrative mastery creates a story that resonates not just as a speculative future but as a call to introspection, inviting readers to consider the choices we make and the impact they have on our planet and collective spirituality. Overall, With Love, From Planet B is a highly recommended read for fans of metaphysical and contemplative fiction that resonates deeply with real-world issues.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Leaning on Air by Cheryl Grey Bostrom is an emotional journey of love, acceptance, and letting go. The story follows the tumultuous life of Burnaby and Celia. Friends in their teen years, Celia and Burnaby met years later as successful professionals but lacking in their personal lives. Deciding to get married, the couple lived in harmony for a decade before everything went to hell. The couple went through something traumatic, something that shook Celia to her core, and she wasn’t able to get out of that torturous headspace. It was hard for her to let go of the pain, and it was even harder for Burnaby to see her like that. As Celia sought forgiveness and a chance to heal, Burnaby was looking for ways to mend their marriage. Can they find their way back to each other? Or are some relationships never meant to last?

Emotional and well-written, Leaning on Air spoke to my heart and stayed there for days after I finished reading. I loved Celia and Burnaby. They are the kind of characters who leave an impact on you, and you are never able to forget about them. Celia was going through a tough time; she felt what happened was her fault, and she believed Burnaby would never forgive her. However, Burnaby was ready to do whatever it took to protect their marriage and help her heal. Their love was different; it felt more mature and real to me. While Burnaby wasn’t able to articulate his feelings in the best way, he always made sure to show Celia how much she meant to him. I loved the way he adored Celia. The story was satisfying to the last page. Author Cheryl Grey Bostrom touched on sensitive topics with the utmost care. I am a huge fan of this author now! I highly recommend this novel to everyone.

Reviewed by Christine Nguyen for Readers' Favorite

The Rocking Chair Prophet by Matthew Kelly is a captivating novel that offers a lot of wisdom about the experiences we all face in life. Daniel is happy and content in his life, family, and career. He is successful on Wall Street and has everything he desires. Driving home to meet his wife and two daughters for his thirty-third birthday, his life is shattered by horrific news. Grief-stricken, Daniel disappears to the mountains for years. Rumors began to emerge of a caveman living up in the mountains and a legend grew up around the hermit. Daniel comes back to town to take up residence on his father’s deceased best friend’s rocking chair. People from all over the country flock to Daniel as people call him the new prophet, wise man, healer, visionary, spiritual master, and sage.

Author Matthew Kelly pens a lovable and endearing story about a fascinating hero in this modern age. The storyline is captivating and highly creative, drawing the reader in for nuggets of wisdom about many of the topics humans struggle with, from love to work, spirituality, and so much more. I was utterly charmed and engaged the whole time I was reading. The Rocking Chair Prophet is for anyone who is trying to make sense of life. Many important life lessons are revealed in a very uplifting, inspiring way that made me smile from ear to ear. This book will elevate your mood in no time with its whimsical advice that will leave you feeling hopeful and happy!

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Spencer Margaret's 52 Lessons With Finn is a coming-of-age tale. Thirteen-year-old Lola Thune's life turns upside down when her father abandons Lola and her mother to fend for themselves in a small Minnesotan town. Plagued by anxiety and mood swings, Lola enters the rebellious phase of her teenage life completely unprepared. Seeking to get her back on track, Lola's mother forces her to spend time with her grandfather, Finn, as part of her punishment. Finn, a war vet, quickly takes Lola under his wind, giving her a deck of 52 cards, each representing a life lesson he learned along the way. As the years pass by, Lola uses those very lessons during her stay in college, in her relationships, and while opening up her own consultancy firm. But sometimes, the past can come back in unexpected ways.

An inspirational slice-of-life story about a young girl's journey into adulthood, 52 Lessons With Finn pulls on your heartstrings all the way through. Author Spencer Margaret tells a touching tale about a young girl's foray into the real world, using the lessons imparted by her grandfather to navigate through the ups and downs of life. This is a character-driven drama and slow-burn storytelling at its finest. Lola's relationship with Finn feels genuine, and the dynamic between the grandfather and his young protegee warms your heart, making you root for Lola in all her endeavors. I honestly didn't see the twist coming toward the end, and it certainly puts things into a new perspective. Anyone who loves coming-of-age stories will have a wonderful time with 52 Lessons With Finn.

Reviewed by Rich Follett for Readers' Favorite

Stork Lake: Tales From a Wall of Hats by L.C. Reid is a heartfelt, thoroughly engaging chronicle of a family’s experience as they establish, expand, and successfully operate a fishing camp in the wilds of northwestern Ontario from 1964 through 1979. L.C. Reid’s winning characters are portrayed in such vivid detail that readers will feel they know each one personally by the end of Stork Lake: the family members, camp workers, patrons, and business associates all live fully on the pages and, by the end of the story, in the heart and mind of the reader as well. Stork Lake is crafted upon the premise that each hat in a collection on the family’s cabin wall brings back memories for the daughter as she prepares to leave the camp for the last time on closing day – this unique framework carries the reader along effortlessly and keeps the pages turning. Each hat story is followed by an italicized bit of wisdom and reflection that leads the reader seamlessly into the next episode.

L.C. Reid’s writing style is graceful but never florid. Stork Lake is a captivating tale from a master storyteller, from the first page to the last. In addition to the sterling quality of its writing and storytelling, Stork Lake has a value-added feature: L.C. Reid provides her author's website where readers can find out how the principal characters’ lives progressed after the closing of the camp in 1979. Readers will no doubt delight in perusing the site and feeling even more closely connected to their favorite characters from Reid’s hat stories. Stork Lake is masterfully written, imaginatively constructed, and chock-full of all the qualities—drama, romance, suspense, tenderness, nostalgia, mystery, charm, supernatural overtones, and a host of others—that make reading this book such a grand adventure and a wonderful escape.

Reviewed by Nino Lobiladze for Readers' Favorite

Four solitary people sit in a restaurant in Annapolis. It's Midnight Madness, and soon they will head toward the stores. They all have stories and these stories are sad. Eva Levoni's boyfriend, Kyle, left her for another woman. Reid Jones is devastated because his parents are selling his childhood home, and he can't afford to buy it. Lily Webster is confused with the abrupt turn her life has taken recently. Dimitri Vassos struggles with gambling addiction. His overly spoiled wife left him, pursuing a man with more money than Dimitri ever had. These four people don't know yet that around the corner, in a lovely bookstore named Brodie's Books, Meg Ellis, its owner, patiently waits for those who are brokenhearted and unhappy to support them with letters she secretly puts in the books. These letters will change the lives of Eva, Lily, Dimitri, and Reid for good. The Letters in the Books by Stephanie L. Verni is an uplifting story of love, friendship, forgiveness, and dreams coming true.

In The Letters in the Books, Stephanie L. Verni crafts a captivating plot and divides it into sub-plots to show the unfolding events from different perspectives. Characters play the biggest part, and Eva is my favorite. She is loving, strong, and highly professional but never controlling. And, of course, the centerpiece of the novel is Meg. Depicting this amazing character, Stephanie tells us that empathy and compassion require a high price, which an empath pays, but it is worth it. Stephanie touches on the topics of love and betrayal, leaving no doubt that love always wins. I appreciate a well-researched background, as Stephanie gives us a clear picture of how to run a small business. We see it through the loving eyes of Meg and follow the development of stores and boutiques from the professional perspective of Lily, a small business owner, and Eva, an experienced and dedicated PR manager. Stephanie's love for Annapolis shines through almost every page. The author speaks about mundane events almost poetically and surprises us with a dramatic accord at the end of this wonderful book. I highly recommend The Letters in the Books to fans of character-driven stories, inspirational novels, romance, family drama, and fiction with leading female characters.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Just City is a coming-of-age story by Olga Tymofiyeva. Twenty-one-year-old Nathan is excited to join the New Entrepreneur Incubator, with his friend Jack, to complete his vision of a start-up company. However, to be a founder, he needs $10000 as pre-seed money to enter the competition. Left with few options, Nathan enrolls to participate in an online multiplayer virtual reality game "rooted in political philosophy." With Jack and a couple of other friends, Nathan immerses himself in the game, only to become progressively frustrated as the days go by. Through his avatar, Nathan experiences the everyday lives of some of the most underprivileged people in society. After meeting others who have very opposite views of the world, Nathan realizes that he must find his own trajectory in life and do his part to change the world for the better.

How do you choose what's right? What's the difference between facts and values? Is it possible to balance science and holistic beliefs? These are some of the questions posed by author Olga Tymofiyeva in this captivating young adult novella that leaves you with a lot to ponder about long after you've finished reading it. Just City carries the underlying theme of the pursuit of a truly perfect society that is fair and just and showcases whether it is possible to attain it. All the characters have specific roles to shed light on the themes. If you love deep philosophical discourse, you will love Just City. Overall, a thought-provoking young adult novella.

Reviewed by Shrabastee Chakraborty for Readers' Favorite

Eleven-year-old Michelle Naget led a contented life with her family, basking in her profound faith in God. However, everything changed one fateful morning in June 1940, when the mass exodus of French refugees began. Soon afterward, the Nazis invaded the village of Braquis, setting up their headquarters in the Naget family home. With her eldest brother held captive by the Germans and another brother mortally wounded while aiding the French Resistance, Michelle and her parents tried their utmost to placate the Nazi soldiers occupying their home. Michelle became the Post, Telephone, and Telegraph officer, transporting letters, food, and medicine for the entire village. Yet, cycling through German camps each day was not safe for a girl on the cusp of adulthood. Would her faith carry her through the brutality of war? The Letter Carrier, a historical novel by L. C. Lewis, recounts Michelle’s story.

The Letter Carrier was a gut-wrenching read in which L. C. Lewis showed war’s ugly face unflinchingly. She also highlighted that the mindless violence and massive death toll were not the only consequences of war. There could be no way to repair the emotional scars it left, nor could anyone bring back the lost innocence of a childhood fraught with endless worry. I often found myself shaking, unable to hold back my tears. If reading the book could elicit such visceral reactions, I shuddered to think about what Michelle and her family endured. Lewis's writing made me feel constant fear and apprehension, where any little misstep could be disastrous. The entire book resembled a giant bated breath or a skipped heartbeat until the last quarter when I dared to hope, although it was fragile. While reading, I became a part of the Naget family, sharing every heartbreak and reveling in their family reunions. Michelle, our little letter carrier, commanded my respect as she braved her daily tasks even when the world around her crumbled. Her unwavering faith in God kept her strong in those trying times. I recommend this story to readers who appreciate books based on true WWII stories. Lewis deserves my sincere thanks for recording Michelle’s account because, as she rightly mentioned in the epilogue, this story needed to be shared.