Reviewed by Frank Mutuma for Readers' Favorite

Blackwater chaos was about to engulf America, and the town of Caldwell was about to become the center of something bigger than they ever imagined. Hank was employed in the water department and was a part-time plumber for his community. He notices two Chinese nationals who seem suspicious, something he shares with Officer Stanley. The Chinese president, Li Sanshu, is a very happy man after the presentation of Doctor Ming and his assistant, Chao. He is optimistic that the Black Water Project will be a success and bring America to its knees, but those among his closest advisors are concerned about the repercussions of such an act. Will Chin and Li be caught, and how do the different agencies come together to fight this threat? Get a copy of Black Water: The China Connection by Robert J Saniscalchi to find out.

Black Water: The China Connection by Robert J Saniscalchi is a wonderfully written book. I loved the issues the book captured that affect society, such as immigration, our values and unity, and the thorny issue of meritocracy in public appointments. I also loved the appreciation shown for the law enforcement agencies. The steady narration and the flawless plotline kept me entertained and intrigued. Robert described events and emotions vividly, helping the reader create a mental picture of what was happening. The characters are also well-developed and relatable. The reader will also appreciate the easy-to-understand language the book uses, making it accessible to all readers. I cannot wait to read something else from this talented author.

Reviewed by Natalie Soine for Readers' Favorite

In John Winn Miller’s novel The Hunt for the Peggy C, Captain Jake Rogers commands a dilapidated cargo ship, the Peggy C, and solicits cargo and contraband to smuggle on his ship. During a violent storm, Jake and his crew rescue a group of sailors from a sunken ship. Upon their arrival in Amsterdam, Jake is surprised at the occupation by German soldiers. The crew loads a large crate onto the Peggy C. They are heading for Gibraltar when they are stopped by a German U-boat. Oberleutnant zur See Viktor Brauer is the U-boat’s commander. Jake and his crew manage to escape which leaves Brauer incensed and determined to hunt down the Peggy C and destroy her with her crew, no matter what it takes. It will take all the experience, skills and knowledge of the crew to save the Peggy C from destruction while protecting her human cargo.

The Hunt for the Peggy C is a gripping historical WW2 novel filled with suspense and action. Author John Winn Miller has certainly done his research in producing his account of men forced to survive the most frightening events. Surprising, beautiful, and heart-warming instances make for a unique addition to the story. The descriptions of the crew members and the dialogue create a feeling of reality. I especially enjoyed learning about how the crew of a ship work together as well as the mechanics involved in sailing, including managing a U-Boat. All-round, a fantastic story that is highly recommended to all adults, young and old.

Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Angels and Bandits by Brodie Curtis is a historical fiction novel set during the early days of the Second World War. After being given a taste of flying on a plane, working-class Eddy Beane is hooked on returning to the skies again. Eventually, he finds himself flying for the RAF after going through training and doing delivery jobs. As a flight instructor, Eddy Beane takes on upper-class society girl June Stephenson as his flying student and eventually starts a relationship with her. With the Second World War looming on the horizon, Eddy finds himself in the same Spitfire squadron as Dudley, June’s ex-fiance. With the incoming war and heightened emotions between both men, will they set aside their personal feelings and class differences and fight together to protect Britain.?

Angels and Bandits by Brodie Curtis is one of those books that you don’t want to put down because you don’t want it to end just yet. Curtis has a proficiently mixed history, suspense, romance, and drama and has given us a war story that’s more than meets the eye. I don’t know much about planes, but Curtis conveniently eases us into a pilot’s point of view of the war. Eddy, June, and Dudley are well-written characters that inform us of a more complex world behind flying planes and the oncoming war. This is not just a love story or another World War novel. This is a story of people working toward what they want and fighting against all odds to reach that goal. Angels and Bandits is a heart-wrenching, suspenseful, well-written book that will keep you wanting more.

Reviewed by Scott Cahan for Readers' Favorite

Chevalier: War Horses Book 1 by Scott Warren is the beginning of a new military science fiction series. The weapons of choice in this futuristic world are Upright Battle Tanks, giant fighting machines that walk on mechanical legs and shoot missiles with lethal arms. The men and women inside the uprights are the focus of this story. They are a ragtag group of tough-as-nails jockeys who routinely put their lives in danger to hold back the forces of evil. Rande Vandal, the main character, starts out as a lowly mechanic for the uprights, but ends up being called upon to step into a jockey’s role after a devastating attack from enemy forces. The story follows Vandal as he learns the ropes of piloting the temperamental uprights while also learning the rules of combat. The practice of simulated battles lasts for only a short time before a real live threat appears and suddenly Vandal is thrust into a life and death situation.

Although Chevalier: War Horses is set in the future, the story structure leans heavily on the lingo and tactics of modern-day warfare. One glance at author Scott Warren’s biography confirms he knows his stuff. He uses his extensive military background to give this book a uniquely authentic feel. Even though his characters are sitting in war machines that don’t yet exist, Mr. Warren makes the uprights feel as real as a fighter jet in a Top Gun movie. He uses military phrases, technical specs, and tactical capabilities that will feel very familiar to anyone who has been in the military, or anyone who enjoys reading and watching military dramas. Couple this kind of real-world grounding with a cast of solid characters, and you’ve got an exceptional sci-fi story. If Chevalier is any indication, the War Horses series promises to be a showcase for great storytelling, involving endearing heroes, cool weaponry, and epic battles.

Reviewed by Manik Chaturmutha for Readers' Favorite

Song of the Partisans is a military historical novel by Kathryn Gauci. The story follows the life of a young Parisian nurse, Simone, who helps the Resistance cause havoc against the German forces who have France under their control. She is first used for minor jobs of delivering to couriers or tending to wounded members of the Maquis but, seeing the potential in her, Jacques proposes a job far more dangerous and vital. From Paris, she has to relocate to the wine village of Verzenay in the façade of filling in the position of a live-in nurse and companion for an older woman, Madame Marie Legrande. While traveling, she meets one of the German officers, Oberstleutnant Bruno Albrecht. Little did she know this would be the start of the many meetings. The story outlines the bloodshed occurring on both sides, betrayal, loyalty, uncertainty, and a hardening of hearts, knowing only one thing; whatever happens, life moves on, even when war is waged.

Gauci's writing makes us travel with the Resistance. We can almost feel the tension of getting caught by the Nazis and French society's pressure. Narrated in the third person point of view, the story revolves around the protagonist, Simone. I adored Simone and how she hides her vulnerability yet rises to the occasion when called upon. Seldom letting her emotions take the upper hand, Simone is one true war hero who puts her country first but not without self-doubts. Simone has been adequately fleshed out and made remarkably relatable with different emotions. Simone's little romantic encounters leave us with a heavy heart, knowing nothing is certain in war, not even love. Gauci has a strong grip on military history and has effectively used it in this book. The details of how the Resistance would have worked, up to even the type of guns they used, are mentioned. Overall, Song of the Partisans by Kathryn Gauci is a true feast for readers of historical fiction.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Punjab: War Against the Sikhs by Nigel Seed takes us back to 1843 when India was ruled by a loose configuration of British residents and British sovereignty was maintained principally by the private, yet government-sanctioned army of the all-powerful East India Company. When two young shrimp fishermen, brothers Thomas and Steven Rushforth, are inadvertently caught up in a pub brawl that leaves the local magistrate lying dead on the pavement, Tom and Steven know they are certain to face the hangman’s noose despite it being an accident. They flee Morecambe Bay with just the clothes on their back and head for the nearest port of Liverpool with the “peelers” hot on their tails. Planning to emigrate to the United States, they sign up for the first available ship leaving port, which just happens to be an East Indiaman ship heading for Madras in what is now modern-day Pakistan. To keep body and soul together, the pair joins the local East India Company Army on arrival and prepares to head out to do battle, principally with the Sikhs who are rebelling against the British rule in the province of Punjab. There they will have their courage, their honor, and their mettle well and truly tested in a series of bloody encounters that will change their destinies.

Punjab: War Against the Sikhs was an absolutely rollicking read that flowed seamlessly from one horrific battle to the next. Author Nigel Seed has given us a fascinating and chilling story that could well have come directly from the pages of the “Boys’ Own Annual” that I read as a child. Thomas is a wonderful character who comes alive on the pages and, despite the gruesomeness of the task and the many temptations of life in a foreign and exotic land, he manages to display the best qualities of humanity, kindness, and honor. What I particularly liked about this story was the willingness of the author to credit the bravery, dedication, and sheer grit of the army’s opponents. It is so easy to gloss over much of the severity and unfairness of British rule throughout the world in the nineteenth century but the author was prepared to expose the reality, warts and all. I also appreciated the relationship that developed between Thomas and the young green Ensign who looked to and appreciated Thomas’s assistance but still without allowing Thomas to cross that invisible dividing line between the classes and the ranks.

The story is fast, furious, and there is no shortage of action to keep the adrenaline junkie fully engaged but it is also woven through with quiet, contemplative periods in which Thomas and others question what they were trying to achieve in India. This is a fantastic book that opened my eyes to an area of the world and a war, the extent and ferocity of which I was not truly aware. I am looking forward to reading book two of this particular series, as I loved this read and its characters and can highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

A Lion's Share is Brad Graft’s second book in his Brotherhood of the Mamluks Trilogy. Set in the 13th-century Middle East during the Seventh Crusade, the story begins with a former French Crusader named Leander, who becomes a member of the Mamluks—highly trained soldiers who were originally sold as slaves. He no longer sees much nobility in the French code of chivalry and no longer embraces their religion. He is thankful to be more than just a crossbowman, more than a warrior. He is now a Muslim, a Mamluk serving in the Bahri. He fights against his Crusader brothers as King Louis IX of France plans to attack Egypt. However, when the Bahri’s adored sultan dies, Leander and the Egyptians will face other problems, as Leander falls for an Egyptian woman while the Mamluks attempt to seize power.

One cannot say that A Lion’s Share is based on violent battle scenes and shifts in loyalty. It is based on Brad Graft’s ability to imagine and recreate the past and paint it with sensory details. Reading this work will make you know how it feels to be there and it convinces you that this story has earned its rightful place in the canon of historical fiction. There are moments of profound introspection within the protagonist Leander, as he finds himself facing difficult moral choices. Perhaps the decision to defect from the Crusaders was easy for him, but he needed to prove his shifted loyalty from external circumstances that surround him. If you can visualize the pressure, you will understand why A Lion’s Share is a powerful work. It is not a simple historical or adventure novel; it is a story that uses an epic period in history as the stage for the moral, spiritual, and political development of a disenchanted man.

Reviewed by Keith Mbuya for Readers' Favorite

It was two years in service for the Whitlow brothers in the Union army and the war was not over yet. This was since the secession of the Southern states of the US in 1861, which saw the outbreak of the Civil War between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states (the Confederates). James Whitlow and his younger brother Solomon had enlisted with the Nineteenth Indiana regiment which was fighting in Virginia. The Union army had been forced to move toward Maryland following speculations that General Lee of the Confederate army was on a mission to invade Pennsylvania. The Union army encountered General Lee’s men at Gettysburg. Both General Lee’s men and the Nineteenth Indiana regiment had a formidable reputation on the field. What will happen to the Whitlow brothers and the Nineteenth Indiana regiment? Will the Union or the Confederates win the war? Find out more in Michael Eisenhut’s Brothers of War.

Michael Eisenhut shows great imagination with his demandingly engaging plot. He has a unique style of writing. He gives very vivid depictions of his scenes and characters. The narrative made me feel like I was right there in every scene, watching every character’s move. This especially came in handy for the action scenes. I felt like I was a Union soldier in the Civil War and it thrilled me. There is so much adventure in the plot. Reading the book felt like watching a movie. I could feel the tension, frustration, loathing, satisfaction, and despair among other emotions of his characters. His quite subtle way of aligning his ideas gave the storyline a feeling of suspense. I loved the level of character development; simply amazing. The conversations were lively and witty. I looked forward to Private Hawk’s banter with Private Henry or any other member of the Whitlows' squad. Michael Eisenhut laces his long and twisted sentences with the military vocabulary of the nineteenth century, giving his story a perfect period setting. Enthusiasts of historical fiction books of the Civil War will love Brothers of War. I loved it.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

DMZ: This is the Future of War (Future War Book 7) is the latest installment of the series by FX Holden. Set in the year 2036, the book follows several characters caught up in a devasting conspiracy in the Korean Peninsula. The unexpected bombing of the village of Panmunjom derails the process of the Peace Accord, starting a series of events with catastrophic ramifications. Tasked with training South Korean pilots, Lieutenant Karen "Bunny" O'Hare suddenly finds herself in a battle zone as North Korea initiates a seemingly unprovoked attack. When two nuclear bombs detonate over the Sea of Japan, it is up to Lieutenant O'Shea Lomax, commander of the USS Cody, to find the rogue North Korean submarine. Meanwhile, Supreme Guard detachment commander Captain Jong-chon Ri must do everything to protect the Supreme Leader from assassins.

Fast-paced, action-packed, and filled with political intrigue, DMZ is a stellar culmination of the Future War series. FX Holden draws upon existing geopolitical rivalries to create a convincing scenario of war between superpowers, showcasing the men and women on the ground dealing with its consequences. Every action sequence seems believable, and you get the sense that this is what actual war might feel like. Holden gives the points of view of characters from all the factions involved, making the narrative all the more compelling as you find yourself rooting for your favorites. The stakes feel genuine, and no victory comes without our heroes making enormous sacrifices. If you're a fan of military thrillers, this is the perfect book for you.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Mission: Repair is a work of fiction in the military genre and serves as the latest installment in the Rise Again Warriors series. It is aimed at the mature reading audience and was penned by author Stacy Eaton. The book follows Sergeant Brady Vanover as he struggles to recover from PTSD after being sent home from deployment after being injured. As he tries to come to terms with the loss of his career with the support of his family, his descent into addiction only serves to make life worse, but with the help of the Rise Again Warrior group he may stand a fighting chance of living a happy life once again.

This book quickly established itself as one of those important pieces of literature that shine an understanding and sympathetic light on an important issue that gets swept aside too easily; the trauma experienced by soldiers upon returning home. Brady is depicted with an honesty that is both brutal and heartfelt in equal measure, with author Stacy Eaton pulling no punches about the downward spiral that men in his position so easily find themselves in. This stark realism is contrasted beautifully by the themes of hope and optimism for the future that are present throughout this series, and Mission: Repair continues this tradition by beautifully presenting the idea that a future with peace, happiness, and recovery is possible through effort. Overall, Mission: Repair is a wonderful telling of one man’s story to stop being a soldier and start being a husband and father once again. I recommend this book to all.