Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Flowers by Night is an LGBTQ romance novel by Lucy May Lennox set in mid-19th century Japan. Uchida Tomonosuke, a Japanese samurai, finds himself deeply enamored with his masseur Ichi, a member of Todoza, the guild of blind men. Much to the dismay of his wife Okyo, Tomonosuke finds women sexually unattractive and is therefore unable to consummate his marriage and produce an heir. Meanwhile, Okyo herself is in a passionate relationship with her maid Rin. To avoid a scandal, she tries to persuade Ichi into providing her with an heir, but her world turns upside down when Tomonosuke gets arrested on false embezzlement charges. However, fate intervenes, and Okyo manages to free Tomonosuke from prison. They must now travel north to try to build a life with their respective lovers.

Author Lucy May Lennox's riveting tale of forbidden love captivates you from start to finish, providing an authentic portrayal of 19th-century Japan. Flowers by Night is an intoxicating love story that keeps your eyes glued to the pages without a single dull moment. The pacing suits the plot, and the narrative sails smoothly. All the characters felt three-dimensional, containing depth and complexity that make them pop out of the page. I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic between Tomonosuke, Ichi, Okyo, and Rin. Okyo was my favorite character of the bunch, and her scenes with Tomonosuke and Ichi provide plenty of entertaining moments. The lovemaking scenes felt intimate, encapsulating the emotions of the characters seamlessly. I highly recommend Flowers by Night.

Reviewed by Jose Cornelio for Readers' Favorite

Crystal’s House of Queers by Brooke Skipstone is a sweeping and passionate romance with strong gay themes, following compelling characters. It is the second time that Crystal Rose wakes up drenched in sweat after dreaming of having sex with Haley Carson, a girl with whom she has previously had a thing. At school, Haley is assaulted by her abusive boyfriend and Crystal comes to her rescue. They renew a love that has been kept hidden in the past, and this time, with the help of Payton Reed, they are ready to face life and anyone who may stand in the way, including Crystal’s addicted parents. Follow these characters on a rollicking ride to transform Crystal’s home into a haven where they can be free to do what they want — free to be themselves and to love.

The setting is well-written in the small town of Clear, Alaska, and the author does a wonderful job of capturing elements of the weather, the locale, and social realities like the strain of the Covid pandemic. It is a small town in which many people think that Covid is a hoax, a reality that still persists in many small towns. The characters are well-written and the author explores their personalities and their qualities in depth. For instance, Crystal has a great gift for drawing and it is intelligently communicated in the novel. The world-building is excellently accomplished. The plot builds up with emotional intensity, and the characters develop throughout the story to a point where they realize it is time to override the prejudices of society, a time to fight: “Because we love.” This is an immersive narrative with a tense plot and characters that swept me away. Brooke Skipstone’s exploration of character and her gift for atmospheric writing are elements that augment the entertainment quality of this emotive and engaging tale.

Reviewed by Natalie Soine for Readers' Favorite

Carlos (The Gates Book 6) by Michelle Pashko is an intriguing, suspenseful novel. Renowned artist Carlos Fernandez meets his younger brother Miguel for the first time at their mother’s funeral. The brothers form a close relationship and Carlos moves to LA to pursue his art career and finally rejoin society after being in hiding and allowing his manager Jeremy to administer the sales of his work. Carlos attends Miguel and Finn’s wedding where he meets Clay Everett, an LAPD Central Community Police Officer. Clay and Carlos discover that they have much in common and were both abused as children. When Carlos’s foster father Earl Roy is released from Ironwood State Prison, Carlos fears for his life. Clay and Detective Ross investigate Earl and his new wife Sally, hoping to arrest Earl for stalking. Carlos’s new family will do whatever it takes to protect him from evil.

Michelle Pashko is a fantastic author and does a great job of capturing the essence and personality of each character. The relationships and love scenes are beautifully written and show that we all need family and friends such as Miguel, Clay, and Carlos even if we don’t always agree. The various locations visited by Clay and Carlos are vividly described, especially Little Tokyo and Santa Barbara. This novel will help people to understand that the trauma of childhood abuse remains with people for the rest of their lives and will always have an impact on their own relationships. The story is smooth flowing and comfortable to read – highly recommended to adults only.

Reviewed by Shrabastee Chakraborty for Readers' Favorite

The inhabitants of Little Sister Island have grown accustomed to the ancient magic that lingers in the bedrock, entwining the island and the islanders together. When an unexplainable quake hits the island, they believe it foretells some future event, although no one is certain what it might be. Meredith Turner, miles away from the island, once again wakes up from the recurring, haunting nightmare of a shipwreck. After knowing the same dream plagues her mother, Meredith seeks help from a Native American healer. When she spots a photograph of Little Sister Island, all the puzzle pieces fall into place. Why does the island call the Turners? What fate awaits them there? To learn the answers, read Face the Wind by Caren J. Werlinger.

Caren J. Werlinger’s novel is a combination of romance, LGBTQ fiction, and magical realism. Although this is the second book of the Little Sister Island series, not reading the previous one posed no issues. Werlinger sketched each character down to the minutest detail; however, Molly and her partner, Kathleen, stole the show for me. The island community as a single unit helped and looked out for each other. When the arrival of the Turners raised conflicts among the islanders, some bitter memories resurfaced, and I waited impatiently for the issues to resolve. Despite the perils of living at the mercy of the sea, the simple life on the island lured me. I would recommend Face the Wind, a story of love, acceptance, and healing, to anyone looking for a heart-warming read.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

A Prison In The Sun is a work of mystery fiction with plenty of intrigue and was penned by author Isobel Blackthorn. Forming the third book of the Canary Islands Mysteries series, this installment focuses on the difficulties facing ghostwriter Trevor Moore. Desperate to find his muse, the young writer takes up in a farmhouse in Fuerteventura, but no sooner than he’s landed there, trouble rears its head. After uncovering a huge sack of cash that seems to have no owner, Trevor is sent down the rabbit hole of a story that goes back to the fifties and sixties, where he discovers the ugly truth about the Franco regime, and how the island was used to persecute gay men for nothing other than being themselves.

Author Isobel Blackthorn explores many intelligent themes throughout this fascinating work, which gives a true literary quality to the cozy island mystery genre. As one might expect from a literary title, the story starts slowly and establishes Trevor’s character well, outlining the reasons why he is suddenly on his own and down in the dumps as he seeks solace in a Canary Islands break. Having been to Fuerteventura many times, I loved the description of the island itself and the history surrounding it, and the uncovering of both the prison and mystery elements of the plot was really well constructed and poignant in its presentation. Overall, A Prison In The Sun is an excellent work of mystery fiction for those who want to devour a literary sensation over a longer period.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Thirst Trap is a work of romance fiction and interpersonal drama that was penned by author Zachary Ryan. Written from an LGBTQ+ perspective, this highly engaging and eye-opening work is best read by mature teens and adults due to the nature of sexual themes and substance abuse references. A coming of age drama with the emphasis fully on drama, our protagonists are four friends who each have their own deep personal issues to deal with. As Dillon and Jesse both deal with grief and loss, Ivan and Leo try to cover up their individual relationship problems with denial and deflection. So begins an important journey of accepting tragedy and moving forward into a brighter future.

Author Zachary Ryan has crafted a contemporary romantic drama that hits all the right buttons for modern readers. One of the particular strengths of the work is in its characters and the development of their dynamics. The plot is firmly character-led, and Ryan allows us close narrative and strong thought and speech presentation so that we can really get to know the four young leads of the tale. Their issues are represented with emotive scenes that really show their tragedy through thought and deed, rather than just telling us about it. The work is cinematic in its interpersonal scene description, and truly at its best when the characters come together to learn from one another, be that through triumph or tragedy. Overall, I would highly recommend Thirst Trap for romance fans who also want an inspiring dramatic narrative in their reading.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Living on Air by Susan Mac Nicol is an engaging romance with a strong appeal to fans of LGBTQ themes. The only thing that keeps Cary Stilwell going is his highly paid job as an aerialist in a popular traveling circus, and apart from the applause and the accolades he receives, there is little that makes his life enjoyable. That is until he meets Rhys McIntyre, a man who has had his share of pain and tragedy. Once he was a passionate war photojournalist until his body was riddled by bullets and he left the front. Now on a new assignment, he finds himself in the circus to capture its inner workings. When he meets Cary Stilwell, he is irresistibly drawn to him. The only problem is that Cary is emotionally cold and distant, an individual who seems to carry darkness within him. Can he break down the walls Cary has created to guard his heart and win him over?

A compelling novel with sophisticated and well-developed characters. Susan Mac Nicol creates characters that are deeply flawed and convincing. They are real. Cary Stilwell looks like someone who has lived without living and is a man broken inside. Rhys has also suffered and thoughts of his tragedy are at the forefront, haunting him. It isn't easy to break through Cary's walls, but Rhys is relentless and his persistence determines what happens between the two of them. Living on Air is a beautiful story told from the heart and filled with unpredictable moments. The prose is strong and it features descriptions that capture details of the story and the plot elements without becoming a distraction from the events. A richly plotted story equally balanced with different elements of style. It is fast-paced and well-crafted to a satisfying conclusion.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Barren is a work of fiction in the character-driven, LGBTQ+, adventure, and romantic fiction sub-genres, and was penned by author Yolanda Olson. As a novel that forms the first part of the Carnaval des Ténèbres series, the work does contain material suitable for more mature readers. Our central protagonist Yager is a young man who cannot feel, either physically or mentally, but this loss brings him turmoil and a sense of never fitting in. In his group of traveling performers, Yager finds comfort amongst other unusual people, but further heartache ensues when he encounters the mysterious Indigo. Can a man without feelings learn to feel, or will he tear himself apart in the process?

Author Yolanda Olson has created a sensory feast in this short but very effective novel, which sparks off an intriguing and immersive series. As a huge fan of the carnivalesque setting and atmosphere, I adored the introduction of a stylish, emotive, and larger than life ensemble cast. With such promise for the rest of the series, we then concentrate on Yager with some truly effective psychological development, and a speech and thought presentation that puts a deep, emotive focus on, perhaps ironically, someone who cannot feel, yet yearns to. The dialogue of the work was also engaging, developing plot and character relationships, but also providing wit and personality to the surrounding ‘family’ of the players. Overall, I would highly recommend Barren as a lavish and poignant emotional adventure, and a promising start to a very exciting series indeed.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Invisible, as Music by Caren J. Werlinger is an engaging, character-driven narrative with hints of romance. At almost forty, Henrietta Cochran is a loner, a woman who still suffers the effects of polio contracted in 1945. Physically limited, she pursues her artistic passion, and that is the only world where she connects intimately with herself and experiences inner freedom. Then Meryn Fleming, an opinionated and adventurous young woman, comes into her life. Ryn is starting her first job as a history professor at the local college and she is the type of person who challenges the status quo. She has literally crashed the defenses and the walls that Henrietta has built around her, opening doors to possibilities. Can she resist this dynamic young woman?

Invisible, as Music by Caren J. Werlinger is a beautifully written story with strong LGBTQ themes and sophisticated characters. The prose is delightful, with phraseology that is carefully constructed to build the tension and the drama. I loved the way the author explores Henrietta’s art. She is a great painter and the theme of art comes out as an extension of the protagonist’s personality. But is her art a means of escape from stark reality and her excruciating sense of loneliness or does it really fulfill her? The novel enjoys psychological and emotional depth and the characters are real and believable. Caren J. Werlinger has the unique gift of exploring emotions that are real and giving a human face to the characters that readers can easily recognize. Invisible, as Music is a gripping romance with great potential to entertain fans of LGBTQ novels.

Reviewed by Hilary Hawkes for Readers' Favorite

A.D. Pritchard’s young adult novel, The Pebble Champion, tells the poignant story of fifteen-year-old Chris in the aftermath of surviving the car crash that killed his mother. Sent by Auntie Wendy to live on the Isle of Wight with the father he has never known, Chris takes solace in walks on the beach and an imaginary world where he becomes the pebble hopping champion. But Chris is wracked with grief and confusion that he was to blame for his mother’s death. Hiding his pain from new friends, Thane, Deidre and Evelyn, and his father hinders his healing and relationships. Is his hopelessness and bewilderment at life, love and relationships a normal teenage challenge or is he really condemned (by himself) to an existence of misery?

The Pebble Champion is beautifully and sensitively written and I very much enjoyed reading it. Author A.D. Pritchard really gets inside the minds and emotional states of his characters and conveys this to his readers perceptively and brilliantly. With believable characters, this is a well-structured story with lots of depth and pace, and I found it a page-turner from start to finish. I especially like the method of using flashbacks to very gradually reveal Chris’s past and the build up to the tragic accident. This is more than a story of one boy dealing with profound loss and grief; it is also very much about growing up/coming of age, finding who you really are, your talents, and allowing yourself to be that person. I feel the author captures Chris's inner world perfectly and with empathy - his anger, heartfelt guilt and despair, and fear of further losses.

The imagined “pebble hopping championships” mirror Chris’s real life growing ability to let go of the past as he slowly builds the emotional skills to begin to do this. Chris grows through his pain and eventually realizes that he must also be true to himself to be happy. I liked his friend Evelyn’s gift of an acorn and wise words that no matter how much it may wish to be an apple tree, “it will always be an acorn” (oak). So The Pebble Champion is a story about grief and guilt, empathy and self-compassion/acceptance. As such I’d especially recommend it to teenagers, particularly those struggling with loss, personal identity or other growing up issues. An author and book you'll be glad you discovered.