Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

High Flying is a work of intriguing drama and time travel fiction penned by author Kaylin McFarren. In a story written for adults due to its explicit language and depictions of violence, we find ourselves following the trials of Skylar Haines, who can’t seem to subdue the deep-rooted anxiety from her dark past. When she learns to be a stunt pilot, the danger and adrenaline take her out of herself and her worries, until a terrifying storm changes everything. With the help of a mysterious voice, Skylar weathers the storm, but finds herself in a time just before she was born, one week before her father was murdered. What follows is a gripping tale of choices, emotions and personal strife.

Mixing science fiction concepts with both mystery and suspense, Kaylin McFarren is an author whose work will span many different genres to entertain different reader types. Skylar’s tale of personal woe and the desire to reinvent herself rings true with genuine emotional depth, which is given plenty of space to be explored when she visits her own pre-birth past. Here, the danger level spikes too, developing into a psychological mystery surrounding her father’s death and what it means to trust and be loyal to people. The writing is solid and well paced for a suspenseful feel, whilst the plot has a fair few twists to keep the pages turning. Overall though, High Flying is most likely to entertain those seeking a deeply personal drama and a strong but damaged heroine whom you can root for to the bitter end.

Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

The Paper Shepherd is the first book in the Grace Everlasting series by Olivia Landis - a powerful meld of Christian romance and coming of age with a great exploration of the emotional and personal development of the characters. Max and Tiar meet in very unusual circumstances. In fact, Max rescues her from bullies who circle her and treat her like a terrorist. Tiar is an orphan who knows very little about her past. They’ve told her lies about her past, starting with her great-grand father who lied about who he was. While she struggles to make sense of why they abandoned her the way they did, Max has to become not just a friend, but her hero. And he is about to make a decision that will change both their lives.

We encounter characters that are young and broken. Tiar immediately draws the sympathy of the reader. The setting comes out vividly through the narrative, from apt and vivid descriptions of places like Hectortown to elements of the weather like the wind and the darkening skies. The author makes it easy for readers to imagine the setting and feel as though they know the places and the alleys the characters walk. The psychological aspect of the conflict just blew my mind. Olivia Landis writes about relevant themes — family, friendship, love, and religion — and she does so in a way that is intimate and that allows readers to think about the themes without losing any of the entertainment the narrative offers.

The writing is impeccably good, with dialogues written so they sound natural, and the plot structure is well thought out. The Paper Shepherd feels real and the characters are appealing. I enjoyed the journey the two key characters make and readers will appreciate the psychological implications of dysfunctional families. This book showcases the author’s great gift for character, a fast-paced, gripping plot, and awesome thematic development.

Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Snooker’s Legacy: Matt Preston Series, Book 5 is a noir political thriller novel written by Paul Shadinger. Matt was in the decidedly uncomfortable position of still feeling the aches and pains from his recent foray into the Middle East, where he helped a friend in need and nearly lost his life in the attempt. The slowness of the healing process this time around made him aware that his aging body just didn’t heal as well or as quickly as it used to. He also realized that he wanted his long-distance relationship with Lois to get to the next level -- or did he? They were perfect together, and he always couldn’t wait to see her, but was she the one? While he mulled over his rather uncertain and short-term future, Matt received a call from Senator Albert Bradson, a long-time friend, who had an important decision to make and needed Matt’s help. Matt knew he would not leave his friend in the lurch.

Paul Shadinger’s hero finds himself in a darker place than his previous tales. Matt would be the first to admit, to Lois at least, there was an anger that fueled his actions since that nearly fatal Middle East mission, and the reader can’t help but see it in his occasionally brutal responses to the bad guys he encounters and his air of nonchalance about that brutality. Though PTSD is never really mentioned, Matt and his veteran friends are no doubt fairly cognizant of the condition and Matt’s vivid dreams and acknowledgment of that anger seem almost to lead to something that might be addressed in a future book. Anger aside, Matt is his usual caring and compassionate self, whose “knight in white armor” persona shows up again and again, most vividly when he rescues an abused wife on the run. As I read, I couldn’t help but wonder what comes next for the hero who is clearly having issues with change, anger, and the future.

Snooker’s Legacy is well written, and the plot will delight thriller readers who like their literature thought-provoking and occasionally deep. Shadinger’s characters are intriguing and credible, especially the diminutive Mouse whose inner rage is also something the reader is witness to in this book. Classic detective fans will also encounter the occasional nod and homage the author pays to his forebears in the genre. I appreciated the marvelous entree into the world of classic cars the author leads into later on in the book. Snooker’s Legacy is highly recommended.

Reviewed By Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Author Tamara Ferguson regularly brings us new iterations of her wounded warrior series and Two Hearts Under Fire (Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance Book 8) is the latest story in that franchise. Airman Russ Quinlan and his team are targeted and their transport destroyed en route in Iraq. When Russ returns to the States, he realizes that someone has been trying to frame him and the subsequent inquiry may well lead to his own court-martial and a lengthy prison sentence. Whilst looking for help, he contacts his old friend, AFOSI Agent Brand Reardon, but instead finds the beautiful Claire Ellis at Brand’s apartment, a friend of Brand’s fiancée, Sarah. When a gunman attacks the pair for no obvious reason, they aren’t sure quite if the target is Russ or Claire. Claire, it seems, is on the run and hiding from a violent and deranged ex-husband who wants to kill her. The pair takes to their heels in a mad dash across country in upstate New York and the Great Lakes area to escape whoever is after either one of them. The attraction between the pair is electric from the first moment they meet and can only get deeper and more intense the more they are thrown together in this race for their lives and safety with their friends Brand and Sarah in Crystal Rock, Wisconsin.

This is not the first Tamara Ferguson book I’ve read. I can honestly say Two Hearts Under Fire is up there with the best of the stories I’ve read from her to date. Two things I particularly love about this book and about all of this author’s work is the immense amount of action, excitement, plot twists, and romance, she can jam-pack into what is essentially a smallish novel. I’ve read some books with this much excitement that are double the size and yet Ferguson loses nothing in the paring down of her work. There are no wasted words or padding in her books, which make them simple and easy to read in one sitting. In fact, it is always hard to put a Ferguson novel down and this one is no exception. The second thing I love about her writing is the sensitive and caring natures she manages to build into these giant, hulking men, many ex-special forces operatives, whom she shows are capable of feeling and expressing deep emotion without shame. I also appreciate that much of the action takes place against the backdrop of The Wounded Warrior Hospital and the school for children with disabilities, both in Crystal Rock. These are obviously twin passions of the author and they fit in perfectly with her stories. This is a great read and one I can highly recommend.

Reviewed By Trisha Dawn for Readers' Favorite

Blackwell: Prequel to the Magnus Blackwell Series tells the history of the titular character. Written by Alexandrea Weis with Lucas Astor, the story explains how Magnus lived his life and how he ended up with such a fate. The year was 1886 when the rich Magnus Blackwell met orphan Jacob O’Connor at Harvard. Despite their great differences, they developed a close friendship. However, both fell in love with the same woman. Although Blackwell denied any ill feelings towards his friend, this drove him to the dark side which eventually led to his own undoing.

Authors Alexandra Weis and Lucas Astor have created a seductive world in which readers will not have difficulties getting deliciously lost. The novel is quite addictive; it won’t be easy to put down! It’s the cohesiveness of the characters, them being at the right (or wrong) place at the right time and human imperfection which make it a successful narrative. Magnus Blackwell is your classic bad boy, chasing skirts even when he had an interest in someone, but his character evolution made him unpredictable and who wouldn’t want to know what he does next, right? Jacob O’Connor, the good guy, had an interesting turn and I doubt people wouldn’t want to follow up on what happens to him. The main women – Frances and Katherine – deviate from the usual 1800s ladies and having them in the story made everything extra spicy.

The authors have also presented us with interesting, mystical and sexy themes but they wrote in such a way that it wouldn’t be confusing or messy. This novel was able to present humanity seriously while injecting seduction and something supernatural, shaping it into a very sexy, magical and compelling read. This book is highly recommended most especially for those who want to get away from daily life for a little while.

Reviewed By Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

In Pretender by Steve Piacente, after ten years Dan Patragno’s journalist career seems to be over and his marriage is hanging on by a thread after his infidelities. He accepts the fact that his job at a launderette and a hostile marriage is his life now. Then he receives a mysterious message from an ex-Senator he helped imprison a decade earlier. Senator Mac McCauley promises he has information that will propel him back into the journalism spotlight, so Dan agrees to meet him. Former KKK leader McCauley is now an aging man halfway through his sentence for a racist murder and wants to unburden his guilt and tell his story. Patragno discovers that McCauley’s confession, if revealed to the outside world, may blow apart the up and coming election.

Pretender by Steve Piacente is a brilliantly written story involving race relations and historical events. McCauley is an excellent antagonist, full of his own self-importance and with a vile arrogance about his actions. The scenes between him and Dan Patragno were electric as they played a psychological game of cat and mouse. The subplots were equally riveting, especially the relationship between McCauley and Haryette Coleman, a strong female personality who fights for racial equality. The author has created a piece of work that explores political corruption, forbidden love, and morality. I was hooked from the first chapter. The account of historical and blatant racism in the South was chilling, and the dialogue suited the characters' personalities very well. Even the minor characters had depth and were believable. I loved the way Piacente weaves so much detail into his story and ties all the loose ends together in a surprising twist at the end. A gripping novel from start to explosive end.

Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Awakening of the Summer by Yorker Keith is a literary fiction story with fine elements of romance. Featuring an interesting cast of characters, the story introduces readers to a love triangle explored from very unique angles. James is an economist at a Wall Street firm, a man with a strong passion for painting. When he takes his summer vacation in a mountain resort, he encounters two sisters, Sophie and Kelly. While he is excited by Sophie’s intellect (she is an editor of a law review magazine), he is hopelessly attracted to Kelly’s sensual beauty. When James rescues Sophie from drowning, Kelly sees him as a hero and falls for him. There are twists in the story, and through a series of events and heartaches, James gets to gamble with the hearts of both sisters. But for how long can the love triangle continue?

This is a brilliantly plotted story that deals with love, family, friendship, and art. The characters are complex and I enjoyed the way the author builds up the tension, creating an emotional conflict that is at the same time intriguing and at the center of character development. James is a fascinating character, a skilled professional with a powerful gift with the brush. This is a story for readers who enjoy examining the hearts of complex characters and navigating hidden and delicate pathways. Yorker Keith’s writing is beautiful and polished, filled with insightful passages and dialogues that read like real life conversations. Awakening of the Summer is an emotionally engaging story with characters that are easy to like.

Reviewed By Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

FBI Trackers Adrian Dillard and Cat Morgan are drawn into a case involving a fellow law enforcement officer with the disappearance of Laredo ATF agent Stuart Dyson in A u 79 by Anita Dickason. Without much to go on, the pair have to depend on local police, the Texas FBI and the ATF to make headway, but encounter resistance and outright hostility. As the clues begin to surface and the connections are made, the action heats up with ever-widening implications. Local Homicide Detective Tracy Harlowe is a big help while also being a loose cannon, and an ambitious young wanna-be reporter may or may not be creating more trouble than his curiosity can handle as all their paths continue to cross.

With internal complications on top of getting any information from the people under investigation, Dillard and Morgan have their hands full. At least the tech guru of the Washington office has a new system up and running that helps to analyze thousands of bits and pieces of information that point them in the right direction. Will the team be able to get to the bottom of the agent’s disappearance before there is a major incident?

Anita Dickason has created an amazing adventure with this riveting action thriller. The action spirals progressively to an explosive conclusion with fantastic details of the process of investigating a major FBI case. There are so many characters that some confusion could arise, but a convenient list of characters helps to keep things clear as the pieces fall into place. Terrific dialogue, amazing intrigue and intense action keep you turning pages to find out what the real mystery is and what Agent Dyson’s involvement actually is. Well written and well worth reading, Au 79 is a great book. Excellent story! I would love to read more!

Reviewed By Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

Kat Michels takes readers back to the US Civil War era in this engrossing historical fiction where genteel Southern belles wore massive hooped gowns and fluttered coquettish eyelids as they played the piano to a room of eligible, admiring males. The beautiful young Kady is one of these belles, the apple of her father’s eye. But it is actually her mother, Anna, whose love and admiration Kady craves. It takes a heartbreaking series of events before mother and daughter can truly find, understand and appreciate each other, something they achieve by working together as spies…and against their own Confederate husbands! In Anna’s case, the circumstances of her marriage readily explain her betrayal. In Kady’s case? Well, you will need to read the book to understand how and why she too worked against a husband she grew to love.

While these two women are at the forefront of the characters in this book, a number of the males captivate readers’ minds too. Some, like Kady’s father (Anna’s husband) are loathesome and cruel. Others, like Kady’s husband, kill for survival or when under orders and hate themselves for it. As is shown repeatedly in the book, war can make good folks do bad things. Through the thoughts, actions and dialogue of the characters, the author explores the racial tensions and often inhumane treatment black slaves endured. Readers unfamiliar with that era will find themselves repulsed and saddened by what they read.

It’s a joy, even a privilege, to find a book that is not only a wonderful read, but wonderfully written in all respects, including its grammar and style. In a Time Never Known is just such a book. This is not a short book but its characters, plot and numerous subplots keep readers turning the pages, unaware that by the time the story ends, they have read nearly 500 pages. That’s how absorbing a read this book is. Given that historical fiction has never been my first choice in books, I’m amazed at how much I enjoyed it. I sincerely hope Kat Michels has another novel in the works, but in the meantime, this one is 5 stars all the way.

Reviewed By Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

In the scintillating supernatural mystery, Eye of the Moon by Ivan Obolensky, two young men battle family discord and the forces of the occult. Percy's parents had no place for him in their busy lives and left him with their close friends, the Dodges. Percy was the same age as the Dodges' son Johnny, and the two boys grew up together as brothers. When they were young, Johnny's Aunt Alice died unexpectedly during a house party. Alice had lived an extraordinary life, and her death was out of the ordinary. Rumors of murder had been whispered about, but nothing ever came of the innuendos. Many years later, at a weekend house party the Dodges are giving for old friends and family, things again take an unexpected and shocking turn, and Percy is surprised to find himself in the midst of it. For a bit of fun, Johnny and Percy delve into one of Alice's ancient occult books and receive unexpected results. A lot of old secrets are revealed, and the familial fur begins to fly. Will Johnny and Percy survive the family celebration without being disinherited or exiled? Or even worse, will they suffer the same fate as Alice?

Eye of the Moon by Ivan Obolensky is a thrillingly eerie mystery novel with a Gothic ambiance and supernatural elements seeping through the story line. The intriguing tale is told from the main character Percy's point of view, engaging the reader with his articulate and conscientious personality. From the beginning, Percy relates his history and that of each person in the narrative, melding their past with the present. Despite the chronology of the many events the characters had experienced before the story began, they are combined to create a fabulously spine-chilling plot. This is an amazing novel, and I recommend it to those who love a spooky mystery with a supernatural flavor. However, it would be more suitable for a mature audience as there are a few mild references to drug use and sexual encounters.