Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

Corrigans’ Pool is an historical fiction drama that will transport you back to the 1860s of southern plantation days. The Civil War is about to begin and life will soon change for Ella Corrigan and her family. Ella meets and falls in love with Gentry Garland. Gentry is far from his Texas home and hoping to find some good horses to add to his herd. Victor Faircloth is the owner of a nearby plantation and hopes to win the hand of Ella, even though he knows she has no interest in him and tries to avoid him at all costs.

Events follow that change the lives of many, but mostly Ella's. She soon finds it necessary to marry Victor and give up the life she has always dreamed of. Victor is a mean man, who shows his cruelty to all; his new wife, his slaves and anyone who gets in his way. Gentry has left and gone back to Texas. Ella soon gives birth to a son that is the only light in her life. We are drawn into the events, adventures and actions that mold each of these characters and we cry, laugh and hope right along with them for the answers.

Corrigans’ Pool by Dot Ryan will remind you of Scarlet O’Hara and her precious Tara and if you enjoy this kind of history then you must read this book. I was hooked on the first page and never disappointed. I so wanted it all to work out for Ella and see justice against Victor. The supporting cast was equally as entertaining and they too had me totally involved in the story. Corrigans’ Pool is definitely a winner and Dot Ryan is a master writer on matters of the “Old South.”

Reviewed by Sarah Rollins for Readers' Favorite

The Scattered Flock is the second novel in The Flock Trilogy by Jana Petken. Set in Spain during the Spanish Inquisition, the book immediately struck me as incredibly well researched and thought out in terms of the historical elements built into the story. The author has a very natural writing style as she develops her characters and the plot itself. David Sanz is the lead character, who is re-introduced following the first book, and is a Spanish Jew who has endured many tragedies in his life to date. We are then introduced to a second protagonist, Rafael Perato, leading a much more regal existence, who gives the reader a definite contrast to the life and times during this era. Both, however, are on their own quest for justice during what is evidently a cruel and torturous period of history.

Jana Petken writes a real page turner in The Scattered Flock, and I didn’t feel that I had missed out by not reading the first book in this series. This is the art and quality of a good writer, one who allows a reader to pick up any novel in any order, but at the same time, leaving me, as the reader, wanting to go back to the start and read the first book in this intriguing and cleverly written trilogy. I congratulate Jana on her style, poise and passion, and whilst the story line can be graphic at times, she does this with grace, making me feel like I was there watching every moment in her characters’ lives. Truly deserving of its five star rating, The Scattered Flock is a fantastic read! Really excellent story - I literally could not put it down, reading from cover to cover!

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

It’s somewhat disconcerting to be all caught up in the latest plot twist which has come suddenly toward the end of a book, to turn the page and suddenly find yourself reading the “Acknowledgements”. What happened after the protagonist put a letter in her pocket and decided she knew what she must now do? Then it dawns on you: of course! A Ring of Truth is the second book in a series set in Chicago in the mid 1930s, starring the beautiful Henrietta and her handsome, rich fiance, police inspector Clive Howard. We have been so caught up following the romantic love story of these two, who have just had an elaborate engagement party and have set their wedding date for three months away, that we’ve forgotten A Ring of Truth is part of a series that began with Michelle Cox’s first book, A Girl Like You. How clever of the author to hook us like that. Will we be able to wait to find out what Henrietta’s decision was in book three, A Promise Given?

While the primary focus in A Ring of Truth is the beautiful love story of Henrietta and Clive, which reminds us of classics like Pride and Prejudice or the movies My Fair Lady and Pretty Woman, it comes with a sinister sub plot involving criminals, violence against women, theft and murder. This subplot is what first brought Henrietta and Inspector Clive Howard together. It leaves Clive worried what danger may befall his beloved Henrietta in the months ahead, while she and his high society mother, Antonia, plan the wedding of the year. Simultaneously, it leaves the reader anticipating the upcoming book. Where will Michelle Cox take us, her protagonists and their immediate families?

Michelle Cox is wonderful at creating characters who come alive on the page. As Henrietta, who comes from a very humble, lower class part of Chicago, wonders how she can possibly fit in at Highbury Estate, where she feels more at home with the servants than with Clive’s often very proper parents, her struggle is so real that readers feel her every emotion and doubt. The same applies to Clive, who, while he never questions his love for his bride-to-be, is also dogged by questions about his future as a police inspector and/or, one day, the master of Highbury Estate and taking over his father’s business. Cox weaves a rich tapestry of characters into the primary plot of A Ring of Truth and keeps her readers guessing till the end…and then even after the last page is read! If you enjoy series of this kind, love touching romantic stories, well defined characters, and just enough nastiness to keep you turning pages, you’ll love A Ring of Truth.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Set in the glitzy atmosphere of eighteenth century England, Deadly Peril: A Georgian Historical Mystery by Lucinda Brant is book 3 in the Alec Halsey mysteries. When Alec Halsey escaped from Midanich for the first time, he vowed never to return there again. But now, Emily St. Neots and Sir Cosmo Mahon are imprisoned in this place that holds many dark secrets and their lives are in grave danger. This time, Alec has no choice but to go back to the place where the Margrave and his sister await him, not as an old friend, but with deadly intent. What was it he did to draw the anger of the Margrave and can Alec, with the English delegation, outwit the enemy and save their friends?

Lucinda Brant is a gifted storyteller and she has the gift of recreating history, making readers relive a historical era with vividness. This is a book with well-explored themes, like love and romance, kidnapping, war, and much more. The author lets these themes come across beautifully through the narrative. The book is laced with action and I enjoyed the fact that Alec and his companions have to brave many odds, including the inclement weather and a solid army as they journey to the rescue of their friends. The romance featuring Alec and Selina that is introduced in the story beefs up the plot and helps in adding to the powerful suspense. The setting is nothing short of glorious, with the rough landscapes, the people in a culture of war, and fascinating landscapes captured in elegant prose. From plot to character, Deadly Peril: A Georgian Historical Mystery is an intriguing, beguiling, and utterly entertaining story.

Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

Constant Guests by Patricia Nedelea is a complex story with multiple themes, and, as a debut novel, it is little short of a masterpiece. Isa’s story covers so many centuries, involving a tarot deck from 1389. It isn’t until the time of her real mother’s death that Isa finds out that the person she’d thought to be her mother isn’t her real mother. She doesn’t even know who her father is. When she discovers the truth about her parents, she sets out on a very dangerous journey to uncover her real identity, but little does she know that things have been kept hidden from her for a reason. She’s in for the most disturbing discovery of her life, if only she can live long enough to find out what it is.

Constant Guests combines different elements of storytelling to deliver a literary treat that readers will find irresistible, the kind of work that will appeal to lovers of fantasy, thriller, and mystery. Patricia Nedelea seems to have done her homework and her work features compelling historical elements, a bubbling imagination, and characters that are hard to let go. The reader is hooked from the opening lines of this interesting novel. The girl wakes up behind bars and has a hard time determining why she’s locked up. Her recollections of the previous night offer readers a powerful glimpse of her personality and set the tone for the entire story. The writing is polished and reads smoothly. I was most impressed by the powerful plot lines and the seamless integration of different historic moments into an absorbing story.

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

The Vatican Cameos: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure is a historical mystery by Richard T. Ryan. In 1501, Michelangelo is commissioned by the pope to create cameos of specific cardinals portraying the seven deadly sins they commit. Michelangelo becomes a pawn in a scandalous religious game among members of the Holy Order. In 1901, Pope Leo XII hires Sherlock Holmes to retrieve the precious cameos that were stolen from the papal apartments. The thief gives the pope an ultimatum, which he is reluctant to agree to, but the cameos will cause the Vatican embarrassment if they are shown to the public. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson find themselves playing cat and mouse with a crafty thief who knows how the game is played, but so does detective Holmes.

The Vatican Cameos: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure is a historical mystery I found intriguing and thought-provoking. “Practice what you preach,” is a phrase many cardinals did not observe and Richard T. Ryan’s vivid descriptions of their activities make this cleverly written story engaging and witty. It is also somewhat similar to certain incidents that have occurred in modern society. There are sections in the novel that are based on historical facts, such as “The Ballet of Chestnuts,” and the characters of Cardinals Medici and Rovere existed. I have more appreciation for Michelangelo’s art as I learned more about his talents as an artist and sculptor while reading. Sherlock Holmes is another character who made this book more fascinating and I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite

Henrietta, eldest of eight children, often feels the burden of trying to keep her family afloat after the death of her father. While her mother takes in mending and her younger sister does the same, most of the living expenses fall on Henrietta’s shoulders. Henrietta does not complain, though, as her assortment of jobs gets her out of the small home filled with children and misery. Her employers are kind folk and always willing to do what they can to help Hen, but times are difficult and the economy suffers.

So, when her friend, Polly, announces that Hen really needs to apply for an usherette position at the Promenade, Henrietta is forced to lay aside good judgement in lieu of the extra money she can earn working at a job of which she knew her mother would not approve. All goes well until Mama Leone, the proprietor of the Promenade, is found dead, putting everyone under suspicion and the careful eye of detective inspector Clive Howard. With Howard on the case, Henrietta is alarmed when she realizes that this is much bigger than one dead woman. As the body count grows, so do Hen’s feelings for Clive Howard.

Reminiscent of clandestine affairs with a Philip Marlowe vibe, A Girl Like You: A Henrietta And Inspector Howard novel by Michelle Cox, will transport the reader into that golden era of gumshoe romance. Cox’s use of literary detail brings scenes into full focus as the reader anxiously races through the pages of this deliciously written cloak and dagger affair. A delightful story.

Reviewed by Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite

Last Stop: Paris by John Pearce is the thrilling sequel to Treasure of Saint-Lazare. Ex-soldier Eddie Grant is just starting his life over in France with his beautiful fiancée, Aurelie. As a favor to a friend in the CIA, Eddie and Aurelie attend a banker's party in Paris. Excusing themselves from the party early, they plan to meet some friends at a small cafe within walking distance. On the way, they witness a man thrown from Aurelie's rental apartment. Suddenly, Eddie and Aurelie are flung into the middle of a conspiracy that spans several years. As they become more involved in the plot, Eddie's happiness is threatened when his old flame, Jen, appears, asking for his help. Through her, he finds out that the elusive man he is after is the same man that killed his family a few years ago. Can Eddie focus on the present and stay true to Aurelie? Or will he succumb to Jen's seductive charms and their recent past? Things heat up when Aurelie disappears and they discover what the abductors really want: Eddie.

Last Stop: Paris by John Pearce was a fast paced book set in various, richly described locations in Europe. Although it's the second installment in The Eddie Grant Series, I didn't have difficulty following what had happened in the first book, Treasure of Saint-Lazare. I loved that the reader is thrown into the story immediately and the action just keeps going to the last pages. Last Stop: Paris is filled with action, political espionage, and a murderous vendetta carried out by one of the world's most elusive and richest men. A fascinating book and a great sequel. I would suggest Last Stop: Paris to those that enjoy action, thrillers, espionage, and seeing politics from a different vantage point. A great thriller by John Pearce. The book was awesome!

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

Posie Parker rushes to the aid of an old friend, only to find him up to his neck in a murder case in Murder Offstage: A Posie Parker Mystery by L.B. Hathaway. Rufus, Lord Cardigeon, has fallen head over heels in love with an aspiring dancer. Out of the blue, Georgie flees as a man is shot dead in the lobby of the Ritz hotel and leaves Rufus to answer to the police. Fortunately, loyal to a fault, Posie is on the case to track down the priceless diamond Rufus’s fiancée has run off with and to restore the family honor. Thankful for the work for her detective agency, Posie tracks down leads to a questionable theater, an underground nightclub, and even back to events during the Great War with Belgian entertainers. Despite the support of the police, Posie finds herself sinking deeper and deeper into an apparent crime ring that may be more than she is prepared to handle. Will her untiring quest for justice lead to a solution to this crime or will the hidden surprises Posie uncovers prove to be too dangerous for a young woman on her own against a ruthless villain?

Delightful, suspenseful and completely entertaining sum up Murder Offstage: A Posie Parker Mystery by L.B. Hathaway. With the backdrop of London society in 1921, the characters provide just the right mixture of personalities and abilities to carry out the intrigue and action that keep you turning the pages to see just what will happen next. Posie demonstrates plenty of quick thinking and tremendous bravery as she works with – and against – the London police to crack this case and save her friend from wrongful accusations. You can’t help but love her and cheer her along, page after page. This is an excellent opening volume in what promises to be a terrific series along the lines of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple books.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Forgotten Soldiers: What Happened to Jake Walden by Warren Martin is an intriguing story, one that is portrayed as fiction but could so easily have happened – and may well have done for all we know. It’s the story of Jake Walden, an American soldier, the only survivor when the helicopter he was flying in was shot down in 1970, during the Vietnam War. The story starts with his capture by the Vietcong and his introduction to life in a Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp. Forgotten Soldiers follows Jake Walden as he is moved from camp to camp, narrowly missing a rescue attempt, until finally being transported to Russia and placed in a camp with a number of other foreign prisoners. Jake manages to keep track of his time in prison and, despite harsh treatment and torture, he keeps his wits about him and makes a couple of long-lasting friendships. Read the full story to find out what did happen to Jake Walden.

I enjoyed reading Forgotten Soldiers – What Happened to Jake Walden by Warren Martin. It’s cleverly written as a fiction story with a lot of fact woven in, so much so that it actually felt like I was reading a narrative from someone who could have been there, a firsthand account. The story was fresh, something different from many other war stories that are on the market and, to my mind, it is recommended reading for anyone who wants an insight into what war is like from a prisoner’s point of view.