Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

A Kind of Hush by JoDee Neathery is a tale about profound loss that is shrouded in mystery. One of the biggest heartaches that parents can experience is the tragic loss of a child. Matt and Summer married in 2002. They adopted Willa and they added their son Griff the next year. Gabe completed their family in 2005. A heartbreaking accident took the life of their six-year-old Griff. Just as they were beginning to put the pieces of their lives together, another tragedy occurred. During their trip to Zoar Valley Gorge, Matt, Willa, and Summer fall from a cliff. Summer doesn’t survive, and this throws the family into another cycle of grief. Deputy Sheriff Conner Boyle intends to find out if the tragedy is purely an accident or foul play, as Matt and Summer may have made enemies in the past. One name that crops up is a registered sex offender named Victor Kurtz.

A Kind of Hush is a powerful mystery drama with all the usual trimmings of police procedure and the intensity of family relationships in crisis. JoDee Neathery places the story in a plausible world, where the setting pervades your senses and the characters feel like the folks you would typically meet at an outdoor activity. Even as a pedophile, Victor fits into the realm of stark realism. Neathery has a good grasp on the nature of grief and uses it as the dominant emotion to tug at your senses. It is also the novel’s subtext that shows how grief can be leveraged as a coping mechanism when tragedy strikes repeatedly. It is a brilliant story, one that is a must-read for its great plot, character, setting, and theme.

Reviewed by Lex Allen for Readers' Favorite

Lily doesn’t remember her death or even her reawakening, but she knows this: the sun is to be feared, words are her salvation, and—above all—the bench facing the playground is hers. She is the pin holding the hands of the clock, watching the world move and change around her while she remains fixed, lonely, and unchanged... until a boy takes a seat beside her.

Author R. Raeta's debut novel, Everlong, is remarkable in many ways. Start with the title, a made-up word that was also used as a song title by the band Foo Fighters in the late 1990s that urban dictionaries might loosely define as forever, is the perfect fit for Lily's glove. Follow that with exemplary literary prose that weaves a love story unequaled in a vampire story and you've got a worldwide bestseller in the making. Raeta's writing style is one where every word is weighed and measured in a cadence that demands savoring, like a fine wine or the perfect steak.

Everlong is an emotional experience lived through Lily and Sam, a most remarkable man, and all the ramifications and beauty of love between a mortal man and an immortal woman. Though the battle with Lily's maker is inevitable, Raeta draws it out until late in the story because, though vital, it's actually the smallest piece of the story. The palpable story of Everlong is one of family, friends, love, life, death, and what it means to live forever in a character-driven, literary style guaranteed to bring even the most emotionless reader to tears... or at least some leaky eyes.

Reviewed by Carolina Restrepo for Readers' Favorite

Lost Girls goes through a variety of stories from different women; they range from love to heartache, to grief, to making themselves heard and the importance of leaving the past behind. An unmarried young woman finds solace and comfort in a breast feeder’s support group, a girl creates a ritual when it comes to commemorating the life of a kidnapped girl from her town, time and old age haunt and follow a woman. More than a dozen stories fill this novel with eloquent experiences that shed light on the challenges and joys of being a girl, teenager, young adult, and woman in this world. Ellen Birkett Morris gives life to stories that are typically overlooked by everyday life. These women confront their challenges and find some peace.

Ellen Birkett Morris has reminded me of how fragile and yet how strong women can be, regardless of age, economic situation, sexual orientation, and everything else. I have smiled, frowned, cried, and sighed while reading such amazing stories. There are value and importance in every woman’s story, no matter how far they are from the commercialized conventional woman. I whole-heartedly recommend this book to every single man and woman out there. Lost Girls has made me love women even more than I did before. No woman’s life is easy; we all know that there are more than enough unpleasant experiences, but thankfully there are incredible and unforgettable experiences that allow us to forget about the evil out there. Thank you, Ellen, for giving us these stories.

Reviewed by Tom Gauthier for Readers' Favorite

There are few inhabited places on earth as remote as the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Northern Scotland. A windswept victim of whatever the North Atlantic Ocean storms deliver with unchecked fury. These same storms gather the flotsam of a world far away and gently deliver it to the hightide mark of the beaches. This is the setting that Dianne Ebertt Beeaff has chosen for her cleverly composed stories of lives as disparate as a Chicago widow in Quebec and a North Carolina shrimper’s daughter in a hurricane gleaned from a discovery on a small beach on the west coast of the Isle of Harris.

A young writer, Erica Winchat, has come to this place on holiday, seeking some refuge from the stress of her first writing contract and her doubts about her ability to write more. Walking along Tràigh Lar, she stumbles on a seaweed tangle of fishnet flotsam. Idly curious she counts thirteen items in the jumble. And sees a story in each one. Who lost these? Where did they come from? Erica sets out to tell their stories and the result is a collection of stories, uniquely written around a character named for a wildflower that grows on the machair above the beach, Tràigh Lar, where she stands. Thirteen unique and compelling stories of the lives and the dramatic events that left their shadow thousands of miles away and set an item afloat into the unknown. Common items, a cigarette lighter, a jar of pickled onions, the handle of a child’s bucket, an empty ketchup holder, a green plastic laundry basket, a packet of arthritis pills … with uncommon stories. The last item, the thirteenth, a laminated badge for entrance to a rock concert, inspires Erica to write a novella with the separate first-person stories of four fans of the Scottish rock band Datha. A story that culminates in their reunion at a concert in Chicago. And a tragic ending.

I was immediately drawn to Dianne Ebertt Beeaff’s writing style in On Tràigh Lar Beach. It is free, fresh, and spontaneous yet peppered with crisp particulars of setting and people. A stream of consciousness that reflects how real people actually think and brings her characters to the front, shoulder to shoulder with me as I read. Each of the characters that Diane introduces through Erica is dealing with their own unique demons. She is masterful in allowing them, in the first person, to slowly reveal their circumstance and ability to deal – or not deal – with it. Especially with the four rock star fans, we see a range from dangerous addictive personality to devil-may-care/comme ci comme ça flings, delivered without pop-psych analysis. Just allowing us to be there, feel, see, hear, and care about each individual as they experience elation and despair, soaring and plunging through their lives. Dianne Ebertt Beeaff deserves every accolade for On Tràigh Lar Beach.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Best Part of Us is a contemporary literary fiction novel written by Sally Cole-Misch. Beth had always known that her mother, Kate, had expected her kids to follow the roadmaps she had charted for their futures and to see the island everyone else in her family had loved so dearly expunged forever out of their lives. Beth had gotten over losing the island and all it meant to her. It had been where she had always felt most alive until it was torn from their grasp after a massive storm and an even more massive disagreement between the First Nations people and her hot-headed grandfather. Now she faced a decision, the biggest one in her life in so many ways. What would letting the island back into her life mean to them? How could she reconcile the demands of Kate with the needs of her grandfather and her own?

Sally Cole-Misch’s novel is a lush and lovely homage to the natural places where her protagonist grew up. The careful reader won’t fail to hear the haunting cries of the loons in the early morning as Beth and her grandmother row out to catch the day’s fish or feel the sun begin to warm the chilly morning air as she and Dylan set out for that day’s painting adventure. Readers who are into the outdoors, hiking, and nature won’t be able to resist the pull of this remarkable novel, as will, no doubt, many more who’ve never quite seen the outdoors made real and tangible in such a persuasive way before. The author has done a grand job of making Beth, Dylan, Ben and a host of other original and genuine characters come to life. The plot spanning past and present kept me enthralled and engaged throughout my reading of this exceptionally good book. The Best Part of Us is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Jose Cornelio for Readers' Favorite

Slender Notions by Nicholas Antonopoulos is a unique, emotionally intense narrative. The protagonist is Leo, an indifferent and bored twenty-three-year-old man stuck in a small town in Massachusetts. He is a victim of opioid addiction, which brings his life to a standstill. His addiction numbs him, makes him indecisive even when overtaken by the urge to go out and roam in the woods. There is also Cole, a divorced, unhappy Bostonian of middle age. He suffers from regret and experiences spells of rage. In a moment when he is really low, he makes a surprising discovery when he wakes up laughing in the morning. His life might have some direction and purpose after all, and that purpose is in infecting the entire city with joyous laughter. At a poetry reading, Leo and Cole launch what they call the 'laughter challenge' in an effort to create unity. They become popular and are challenged to face their personal struggles.

This is a captivating story that stands out in its originality. The first-person voice pulls the reader into the conscious minds of the characters, inhabited by wild thoughts at times. The lethargy they experience, the depression that tugs at the edges of their hearts, and the overpowering thought of living a meaningless life are conveyed through streams of consciousness and the visible effects of the mental struggles the characters face. Slender Notions tells the story of two misfits with strong psychological issues and the path they take toward liberation. The humor is biting, the imagery very strong, and the narrative voice gripping. The power of shared laughter is beautifully captured and the humanity of the characters is deeply explored in the narrative. Readers are pulled into the inner world of deeply troubled characters and, as they navigate that world, they find echoes of their own broken humanity. It is a hypnotic and hugely entertaining story by Nicholas Antonopoulos.

Reviewed by Teresa Syms for Readers' Favorite

Becoming Olive W.: The Women of Campbell County by S. Lee Fisher tells the story of the youngest daughter of Henderson Westchester. Olive, who was left orphaned at the age of three when her mother died in childbirth, struggles to find her purpose and place as the youngest child in the Westchester family, the business, and the world. She is feisty, dominant and, most times, a rude young girl who grows up and learns the family farming business from the financial side, challenges her father, controls the money and the rest of her large family. Henderson wants Olive to attend finishing school, as most women of the early 1900s did. What Olive wants is to further her education by going to high school and then college, but Henderson will not allow it. Olive fights her family at every turn and the society where she finds herself trapped in the male-dominated times. How will Olive cope with the pressures of life, love, and family while trying to carve out a life for herself? Only time will tell.

S. Lee Fisher has created a beautifully written and well-developed story. Becoming Olive W.: The Women of Campbell County highlights the rural life of Olive Westchester and her dysfunctional large farming family. Henderson only tolerates Olive's behavior because she is so like her deceased mother in looks and behavior. Her siblings, spouses, and teachers despise Olive and her abrupt, harsh, and rude mannerisms. However, her brother Fred is her only true champion. The reader will be transported and absorbed in the story as Olive fights for her place. The author provides a clear picture of what rural Pennsylvania life was like in the early 1900s. Fisher’s detail in describing clothing, furnishings, rural life, West Point, and New York City will leave readers with a clear picture of how Olive suffers at the hands of her family. I found it difficult to put the book down. I needed to keep reading to discover what happens to Olive and her family. A well-written story and I look forward to more from this author. A great book.

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

Floating in the Neversink by Andrea Simon is an extraordinary novel. In the summer of 1955, nine-year-old Amanda Gerber has to say goodbye to her best friend, Francine. She travels from Brooklyn to deep within the Catskill Mountains, where Grandma Sarah lives. Although she is sad to be apart from Francine and worries that her absence will end their friendship, Amanda soon meets her cousin Laura who joins her on an exciting and sometimes dangerous adventure. Amanda also meets some eccentric and colorful members of her extended family. With each summer break spent with Grandma Sarah, Amanda learns that becoming a teenager brings new challenges and responsibilities. She also discovers that sometimes not everyone has good intentions or values. As her family faces tragedy, relationship breakdowns, and dark secrets from the past, Amanda learns the importance of treasuring the relationships with those you love.

Floating in the Neversink by Andrea Simon is a descriptive narrative that will transport you back to the innocence of your childhood. I resonated immediately with the eclectic mix of characters. Each of their backstories was well-detailed, which made their personalities so realistic and vivid. Their reactions to each situation were believable. I feel the sharp and authentic dialogue was the strength of this novel. It powerfully encapsulated the emotions of the characters. I thought the conversation between Amanda and her father around mental illness was particularly poignant. Although I adored Amanda, I also loved Laura and her strong character and sharp sense of humor. Her personality particularly shone through when discussing the origins of snow with Grandma Sarah; her reply was hysterical. The plot explores vital issues that every teenager will face in their lives, such as relationships with the opposite sex, family tensions, peer pressure, and grief. There were also subtle but powerful life lessons entwined throughout the plot, like her father not becoming a doctor. This line from Amanda around qualifying as a doctor was superb: “I guess they didn’t need to know that stuff in the sweater factory.” Many scenes highlight the importance of accepting differences in others, the willingness to step out of your comfort zone, and attempting new challenges. It is a highly engaging coming-of-age novel.

Reviewed by Jon Michael Miller for Readers' Favorite

In Beena Khan’s The Name of Red, a beautiful, sexy woman in a tight red dress walks into a busy bar, orders a vodka, opens a book, and starts reading. She shuns the advances of all admirers. She returns each night. Kabir, the owner, is entranced and begins leaving books for her with little notes. Their relationship weaves and grows from there at a slow, intimate pace. The characters are mid-Eastern, giving us a peek into this under-exposed minority—their speech, their internal struggles, their hearts. “We’re all people who life has messed up,” the bartender explains. Beena Khan’s first novel is an in-depth exploration of how love relationships begin from nothing and grow in small steps to overwhelming importance in our lives. And the novel deals also with how they end.

I loved Beena Khan’s The Name of Red. First of all, it’s about readers—two at least. Second, it’s a powerful look into how love starts and how it grows. The insights reach our innermost being. Third, the writing is innocent and engaging, especially in that it is unabashedly English as a second language, which, though not always “correct,” gives us the feeling that we are glimpsing into a sub-culture. I’m glad the “mistakes” were not edited out. The read is quick and easy, always clear. There’s an innocence about the writing that grows in intensity, even passion, to a deeply moving climax. I recommend this novel to anyone who has been hurt in love and yet realizes that after all the hurts we may suffer, love, with all its difficulties, is what matters most. Bravo, Ms. Khan, for a triumphant debut as an author!

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

On Swift Wings: The Travails of Cygnus by Brett Wiens is a meld of adventure, fantasy, and humor, a novel filled with humor and fun moments. The protagonist is Cygnus, a young man who survives a plane crash in the ocean, and unwittingly finds himself stranded on an island inhabited by a race of horses that holds humans captives, and the humans do not look normal. It's just the beginning of an adventure that leads to an encounter with unusual situations and peoples - immortals of Loogenage, sorcerers, magicians, giants, and miniature creatures. He goes through heart-wrenching experiences and encounters with strange races. The conclusion to his adventures is as exciting as it is revealing of the mysteries of life. Rollicking and fun!

On Swift Wings: The Travails of Cygnus is a deftly written story that is most appealing to fans of the classic Gulliver's Travels and it is designed to offer pure entertainment. The imaginative character of this novel is noticeable from the way the setting is described and how the author brings to life geography that is fictional and races that are imaginary. However, the sense of realism and humanity is apparent, perhaps because the protagonist is a character like any of us. And I like how the author creates rules in this world. I am writing this review after a good sleep that followed my reading of this book and the world this author created inhabited my dreams. Readers will feel like they are waking from a dream with a "Wow" after reading this book. It is well-plotted and the characters intelligently developed. Brett Wiens has a strong imagination but apart from that, the author is a great storyteller. This is a must-read for anyone looking for a good adventure.