Reviewed by K S Marsden for Readers' Favorite

In The Selah Branch: A Novel of Time Travel and Race in America by Ted Neill, when Kenia's summer intern plans fall through, she thinks that spending months in Selah Branch, researching poor diets in poor communities, will be a frustrating waste of time. She has to research the usability of a new app, designed to help the average American create a more nutritious diet. Kenia doubts the usefulness of the app itself in a Trump state with vast unemployment, alcohol and drug addiction, and where people can't afford or can't source fresh food. What she doesn't know is that maybe fate brought her there to change everything. Kenia is black, and a woman. This is more than enough to make her feel threatened by the way the world is going. Kenia maintains a professional air and quickly becomes interested in the town's history. Selah Branch had once been a forward-thinking utopia where races and genders were equal, and Kenia starts to dig into where it all went wrong.

This story is very current and up to date with the politics and racial tension occurring in the US. It is well-written, and you stand beside Kenia as she goes through the struggles and prejudices that are very real for many people. The story takes on a sci-fi twist, as Kenia learns that she has inherited a time-traveling gene from her African roots. In increasingly long and dangerous jumps, Kenia is shot back to 1953, to the time of the disaster which destroyed Selah. The Selah Branch has a very scientific voice. The first half, in particular, could have been a university essay condemning the political machinations that gave rise to a new wave of racism. There were a few info dumps as a way to give a full and immediate description of the place. The second half is smoother as Kenia starts to make friends with some of the townsfolk, and the mystery of Selah Branch is slowly uncovered. Then the adventure really starts to kick off. In the end, I really enjoyed this book.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Meet Me Under the Stars by KD Proctor is a tantalizing romance between two irresistible characters — DIY TV star Charlie and a handsome British guy, Nate. It has been three years since Charlie dumped Nate, out of fear of hurting him. She has secrets of her own, but she has never stopped loving him. Nate believes that Charlie never loved him, that she’s been cruel to him. Yet, he still can’t get over losing her. But the last wishes of Gwen, Charlie’s sister, will have the two working together to fulfill that wish, something that also stops Nate from being deported to England to face a family that has already disowned him. Will they have the courage to seize this second chance and make it work?

This is what a real romance feels like — not-so-perfect, genuinely and humanly flawed characters seeking to understand who they are and how they feel, an intense emotional conflict, and a strong plot. Each character is broken in their unique way. The story has many emotional layers and it was just gorgeous watching Nate suffer, clueless of why Charlie would break up with him. KD Proctor has the gift of transporting readers into the hearts of the characters, making them feel the heat, suffer the suspense, and anticipate the outcome.

The realism in this story lifts its level of entertainment and allows readers to see something of themselves in the characters. A fierce romance that will arrest your attention right up to its predictable but satisfying denouement, with writing that is colorful, filled with witticism and a rare sense of humor conveyed through exciting and engaging dialogues. Meet Me Under the Stars turns up the heat and makes sure it stays high.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

“Where are you? he wondered. Where am I? Where is everybody?” are words that introduce the reader to the strange state of mind in which the protagonist finds himself. Dardic Jennings has just found out that he has been thrust into a completely new reality. His beautiful life with a nice job and a gorgeous fiancée and a home are gone. Now, he finds himself a beggar and in need of help. Sherry Rosen, a psychologist, takes on Dardic as a pro bono case, and as she works with him to bring him to reality, she begins to believe him, and this has staggering effects on her own perception of reality. Could she be losing her mind too? Or is she being pulled out of her reality into Dardic’s world? Cinnamon Kisses by Ra Lynn LoneWalker is a story that fans of Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson will delight in.

Cinnamon Kisses is a psychological novel that features a powerful conundrum. Readers who love books that transport them into the inner workings of the hearts of the characters will love this story. In very beautiful and insightful prose, Ra Lynn LoneWalker creates two memorable characters and explores the psychological problems that faintly brush the minds and hearts of readers. The author masterfully integrates the themes of connection, self-awareness, and the liberating character of reality into the work. The novel features compelling passages and streams of consciousness that will absorb the reader into the viewpoints of the characters. This is a very enjoyable read.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

The Finest Hat in the Whole World by Colleen A. Parkinson follows a family's journey through the years 1917-1937, from the Great War to the Great Depression. Des Stewart is the responsible member of his family, having never married or left home and devoting his life to caring for his younger sister and ailing mother. Both of his brothers lead opposite lives with fractured marriages and children. His family has been haunted by a past of death, guilt, and secrets. All of this changes for Des when his older brother insists he take in nine-year-old Phena after her parents tire of her insolent behavior. As Des tries to steer Phena onto the right path, their unbreakable bond ends up saving them both.

Though the events take place during significant time periods such as the Great Depression and the flu pandemic, the story primarily remains focused on the characters and leaves most of the historical context largely in the background. Redemption is a key factor in several of the characters' lives. Des finds his second chance in life when he gets custody of Phena. He finds fulfillment in his life by giving her a better chance at a future. She's a spit-fire, attacking when she feels attacked, and calling out what she finds to be wrong, but her second chance with Des makes her a stronger character. He teaches her kindness and forgiveness, and gives her a real chance at a happy life. The characters are deeply flawed, but very real with some redeeming themselves along the way while others don't change at all.

The most shocking change is found in Des's younger brother's journey from a drunk bored with his marriage after week two to someone who has some redeeming qualities. Phena has the most significant change as she experiences a coming of age journey going from childhood to adulthood. Colleen A. Parkinson writes a realistic and human story about family and second chances. There's a lot of tragedy, but also a lot of heart as this family may be estranged, but love is still there. Secrets are revealed in this emotional read about how a fractured family becomes whole. The Finest Hat in the Whole World is a story of past regrets and second chances in a journey of love and loss.

Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Stalker, My Love is a romantic tale of suspense and mystery, written by Zack Scott. As the well-known admirer and stalker of Rosalyn Ray, Rhett Calloway seems to be the likeliest of suspects when Rosalyn disappears, after she storms out of a bar where her friends had been drinking. Rosalyn’s best friend, Elliott Venice, had woken up the next morning in the bed of Earl Wick – Rosalyn’s boyfriend. After finding Rosalyn’s abandoned car overturned by the river bank, a frantic search begins. The discovery of a man’s body nearby leads to more questions than answers, leaving an entire town aghast as all fingers continue to point towards Rhett. Why had Rosalyn been so anxious to leave town that night? Who was she running from? With all parties, from her boyfriend to the mob, under suspicion, people’s deepest and darkest secrets are unveiled as each piece of the puzzle from that evening unfolds, leading to a shocking discovery.

Zack Scott’s incredibly well-written story brings many different genres together in order to tell a complex tale. Rosalyn is the daughter of the most powerful family in town, and their connections and influence reach farther than anybody could have thought. As a battered woman who refuses to leave her abusive boyfriend, Rosalyn was destined to meet with a shocking fate. Each character in the story seems to have motive, an incredible lack of memory, a deep devotion towards Rosalyn and a subconscious regret which they cannot explain. It makes for one of the most exhilarating and thrilling whodunit stories I have ever read, with just the right amount of mystery, humor, love and hate. Rivalries are at their most explosive as the truth slowly comes to light. No crime is more horrifying than the one you had no idea you’d committed before it’s too late. Stalker, My Love is masterfully presented and will be sure to appeal to readers who are die-hard fans of mystery, romance, and more plot twists than the most daring of roller-coasters. I thoroughly enjoyed the emotional journey which Stalker, My Love took me on, and look forward to Zack Scott’s next masterpiece.

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

Jellybeaners by Gene Scott is a heartbreaking story of the opioid epidemic, a story that captures the drug plague in the very heart of Appalachia. In this spellbinding story, readers will navigate the pains and peril and the despair that surrounds the use of the opioid. The story features a game of power and money, political corruption, untold misery resulting from drug abuse, and a lot more. In vivid and captivating prose and making compelling historical references, the author leads the reader into a vivid setting, a world cursed by drugs.

The reader is left in no doubt that the author has done his research very well, because he writes like an expert in the field, unveiling facts and scientific truths about the use of the drug that aren’t accessible to the ordinary person. The novel’s plot is very unusual, told in a highly descriptive style; it is focused and purpose-driven. I was drawn in, pulled irresistibly from the start, and having worked in a mental hospital, I could see the same drama I have witnessed in mental patients unfolding within these pages. The story has a realism that forces the reader to take note, to stop and contemplate the insidious events that literally rob millions of people of life and an abiding sense of meaning. The conflict is unique and strong enough to allow the reader to continue from page to page. This is a story that combines history with powerful social commentary to offer an exposé of a dark reality that is woven into the fabric of modern society. Jellybeaners by Gene Scott is a succinct indictment for the lucrative trade of drug trafficking.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Butts for Readers' Favorite

Beautifully Undone (The Beaumont Brothers Book 3) by Susan Griscom is a stand-alone book that is a part of a series. It does not end with a cliffhanger and can be read separately. This book follows Asher Beaumont, a damaged character who has just been dealt the blow of his mother's death. Outside of his mom, the only other 'family' he has is his best friend, Melody, and her brother, Teddy. Asher's dad was never really in the picture. Melody wants to be seen as a LOT more than best friend/little sister and, through some fun (and sexy) circumstances, starts turning Asher's head. One of the challenges Asher's mom put in his path before she passed was to find his half brothers. However, Asher grew up hating them, jealous of the relationship with their father that he believed they had. He is pushed to find them, hopeful that they will welcome him into their family with open arms, and not be one more rejection attached to the name of Beaumont.

Beautifully Undone is beautifully gritty. Asher is a wonderfully written character. He is damaged, broken, hurt, angry, loving ... everything you want your next book boyfriend to be. Melody is sunshine, warmth and open arms. She understands all his hurt and wants to do all sorts of things to help heal those wounds. I fell in love with these two as a couple. They were real in their imperfections. Susan Griscom painted a portrait of them that was easy for me to visualize and put myself in the scenes of the book. I highly recommend Susan Griscom's Beautifully Undone for anyone who enjoys a sweet romance with some grit.

Reviewed by Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite

According to college freshman Amy, there are three types of guys: forks, knives, and spoons. When she unpacks her belongings at Syracuse University, she also unpacks her father’s theory on the appropriate gentlemen types. Amy York’s roommate, Veronica, is skeptical at first, but soon finds comfort in her friend’s words. As the girls acclimate to college life, join a sorority, and collect more memories in friendships, break-ups, surprising romances, and common conflicts in their freshman year, the cutlery theory broadens to encompass every level of relationships.

The girls try to avoid all forks and are cautious amid the spoons. The knife is the way to go: “The knives are right in the middle, they have an edge and can be sharp when they need to be. Not too sharp and not too dull. They’re smart. They have drive, fortitude, strength of character, and they may not be as sure of themselves around girls as the forks are, but they will find their confidence.” Her father’s words became a silent anthem to Amy and her friends, making it their goal to find the perfect, shiny steak knife in the drawer of eligible Syracuse males.

Forks, Knives, and Spoons by Leah DeCesare is a plucky story relevant to any college coed. DeCesare expresses the fears, dreams, and insecurities of the modern day college student. From yearnings to be loved to the realities of loveless families, it is all here. As the characters come to realize that the bonds they make in college are so different from any they have ever forged, the reader will revisit their own college days.