Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite

Snapshots: A Collection of Short Stories, written by Eliot Parker, contains a fascinating set of stories. With settings in large cities and small towns, in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky, each story is distinctly unique. Some stories are tinged with magical realism, while others are filled with everyday, real-life circumstances. From funeral homes and cemeteries (with some unexplainable, ghostly appearances), to local baseball games and neighbors’ feuds about dogs, to mysterious truck accidents and local prisons, the variation of plots is remarkable. Each one captures the reader’s attention immediately and keeps the reader engaged throughout the story. Some stories may mystify the reader, while others will elicit feelings of wonderment, or sadness; all have gripping elements. Once a story is started, the reader has to finish it immediately.

Skilled short story writing requires clear and concise descriptions and character development. In this book of short stories, this type of writing skill is evident. Within a paragraph or two, the situation has been clearly defined, and many unexpected twists and turns occur throughout the tale until the story has reached its resolution. The development of each main character is also well done. For example, when the parents of the Chillicothe Paints’ baseball pitcher sit down in front of Harvey and Amanda, the personalities of the four spectators are quickly established. How they interact with each other, and how the story ends are the unexpected parts. Author Eliot Parker has masterfully developed a set of captivating stories in Snapshots: A Collection of Short Stories. A thought-provoking and entertaining read!

Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

Walks Through Life is a collection of nine short stories that convey messages about being humane and having empathy. From powerful kingdoms to sea monsters, each story has a memorable setting that is distinct from the others. Divine Ax is about an enemy king who finds himself at the mercy of a mediocre householder. Beyond the Bar of Humanity tells how a village looks for ways to deal with a wild cat that raids every night. Blessing of a Curse is about a male, spiritual and scholastic, and a female sex worker that live next to each other. The other six narratives explore themes of parenthood, religion, gambling, kingship, mischief, and greed. Santhosh Komaraju creates his own folklores from different walks of life in Walks Through Life.

A good way to understand a concept is to see it play out in a lifelike scenario. The tales in Walks Through Life are set in times when guns are yet to be discovered, but the values portrayed are relevant in today's world. Each tale drove me to a core message while arresting my attention with the rich and vibrant backgrounds. Though the stories are short in length, the characters are developed well enough to capture emotions and give readers a sense of familiarity. I loved all of them, but my favorite was King of All: two brothers that are next in line for the throne display some unusual traits for people in competition against each other. Santhosh Komaraju's book gets a big thumbs up from me!

Reviewed by Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite

Little did Todd and Mary McGee know as they quietly discussed plans for their retirement that FBI agents were seconds away from cementing their decision? One bullet; that’s all it took for Special Agent Thompson to extinguish the paid assassin known as the Lion. While insisting on the innocence of their father, Mark and Tessa support Mary’s insistence that Todd was a mere investment counselor in charge of the McGee family business. Their father a murderer? Nonsense! With that strength at their backs, Mary and her children disregard the possibility of retirement to forge ahead with their own investigations into a world of discord and national security. With Todd McGee gone, there was neither reason nor desire to abandon a life of dangerous espionage. It’s what they know and what they do.

Pride and Extreme Prejudice: Prequel to Outsourced/Full Disclosure by Eric J. Gates is a gripping story that packs the punch of a fully-fledged novel. Eric J. Gates brings to life a crew of believable characters while exhibiting obvious knowledge of military tactics and contemporary warfare. In this condensed version of what could easily be a series thriller, Gates doesn’t disappoint with this fast-paced story of revenge and government nuances. Vivid descriptions, balanced character development, and realistic settings paint an explosive cinematic backdrop for an intoxicating read. Eric J. Gates makes writing look easy and leaves the reader quick to research further books by him.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Ten Tales of a Dark Tomorrow by Kevin A. Kuhn is a collection of short stories, which the author describes as inspired by the original Twilight Zone series. The majority of the stories are either science fiction or unusual happenings in normal life. The author brings us variety from My Little Girl, which explores the concept of parallel worlds and how a mother would deal with her daughter being sucked into one and replaced with an “almost” perfect copy through to a humorous story of a young girl, chosen at random, to be Sally-Ann Queen of the Galaxy – will this pre-teenage earthling be as easy to manipulate as the powers-that-be believe? In between we have a collection of sci-fi and paranormal including Let’s Ride Bikes, where time appears to slow down dramatically for two young friends whenever they go bike-riding; Nana’s Memory Box that allows a young woman to experience the memories of her grandmother and her mother through the magic of some ancient Shaman beads; Teach A Man To Fish, which explores the moral dilemma of killing alien beings for food that may in fact be sentient, just like us; and a number of others.

As a reader, it is nice, sometimes, to put down the long, epic novels and pick up a book of clever, well-written, pithy short stories, often with a message. Ten Tales of a Dark Tomorrow certainly fulfills that desire. Author Kevin A. Kuhn has done an excellent job of putting together a collection that has enough variety to sustain the reader’s interest and also stays true to his concept of following the Twilight Zone paradigm. Each story was unique, interesting and enjoyable – unlike many collections of this nature, I didn’t feel there was a dud in amongst the ten. When you are reading a collection like this, though, certain stories do jump out and resonate more with you than others. Such was the case with me and my two favorite tales in this collection were For the Hive, in which I felt the author perfectly summed up the dangers to humanity on relying too heavily on AI. Here we have AI whose core programming was to protect humanity at all costs – what this essentially meant was reducing all risks and the result of that, not surprisingly was boredom, lassitude, and a lack of creativity within the population. I thought this was a telling tale, well worth the read. My second favorite story in the collection was The Case Against Humanity which raised some fascinating insights into how humanity could be viewed by superior beings in the universe and how we would fare in comparison to other alien societies. All in all, an excellent collection and one this author should be very proud of.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Sparkles of the Season by Susan Jean Ricci is a short seasonal story. Sonia is facing losing her husband to an early death. Lars plays in the NFL but his wife doesn’t share his passion for the game, left at home with their son while he’s off touring. When she serves him with divorce papers during a game when he gets injured, he starts a battle for the custody of their son, Jeff. After losing her husband, Sonia picks up her camera again and sets up her own business. Hired as Santa’s Helper, she photographs the children as they visit him in his grotto. And that’s when she meets Lars and Jeff. Falling hard for each other, Lars and Sonia find themselves being egged on by their own single parents. With Christmas and the New Year on the way, can the season work its magic? Or will real life get in the way?

Sparkles of the Season by Susan Jean Ricci is a short, sweet story. It’s not just a Christmas romance story; it’s a story about dealing with loss, about learning to grow and about second chances. There are two separate stories that intertwine perfectly, with well-developed characters that are realistic and likable. You will feel the pain, the joy and the love these characters feel as their stories play out in this heartwarming tale. You don’t need to wait for the holiday season to read this; it’s a charming read at any time of the year. It is well-written with a great plot and more than enough action to keep you reading. It deals with loss and grief very well in a story that will stay with you long after you have finished it.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

In The Black Knight’s Tune: Ruby’s Story, Ruby has the good fortune to be adopted by kindly white folks in New York, but as she grows up and becomes a journalist, her longing to know about her true heritage becomes overwhelming. When her white boss, with whom she has fallen in love, has her accompany him on a visit to the deep South, where the lady he loves is involved in the abolitionist movement, Ruby gets to participate in the lives of her black brethren living on the plantation. Though their lives differ from hers in New York, more than ever she feels their shared connection to the past and their resiliency. She is enriched by that experience and a couple of others that mean the world to Ruby and which I’ll leave for the reader to enjoy with her.

It never ceases to amaze me how some authors, like Naomi Finley, can write a sensitive, realistic story in only a few pages while others will take twice as many pages to tell a similar story and not touch your heart. What a talent! The Black Knight’s Tune: Ruby’s Story is one of a series planned by Finley who tells us in her bio that she has “an affinity for the Deep South and its history” and is “fascinated by the resiliency of the human spirit.” That resiliency is evident in the female protagonist, Ruby, born to black slave parents but separated from them while still a youngster. Beautifully written, tightly edited, and with plenty of revealing dialogue and reflection, The Black Knight’s Tune will resonate in your memory long after you set the book aside. Like that famous song, “Amazing Grace”, Naomi Finley as crafted this novella with amazing grace. I look forward to her next book in this series.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

In Hurricane Crimes by Chrys Fey, Beth Kennedy is alone in her house with Hurricane Sabrina beginning to bear down on her Florida home. As she watches the storm through her front window, a car comes zooming down the road and slams into a tree. Beth fights the elements and makes her way to the smashed car, to find a handsome man draped over the steering wheel. Beth pulls him out, drags him home, and the story begins. Donovan Goldwyn is bruised but otherwise fine. Donovan’s picture appears on the TV as a wanted man and Beth’s first reaction is to panic. As the storm rips apart Beth’s home, the two are forced to spend several hours together and they cannot deny the attraction they are feeling towards each other. As the storm’s eye passes over, the two take a canoe through the flooded streets and attempt to prove Donovan's innocence. Together, they are faced with life threatening dangers.

Hurricane Crimes by Chrys Fey is a pure delight. It is a romance first and a suspense novella second, but both are combined in a perfect formula for a wonderful afternoon’s reading. Chrys Fey is a talented author who has blended the best of two genres into one wonderful story. I really enjoyed my afternoon curled up in my favorite chair and reading Hurricane Crimes. This was a love story against all logical odds, but it was impossible not to hope that Beth and Donovan would find happiness together. I highly recommend Hurricane Crimes and can’t wait to read more of Chrys Fey’s books.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Diamonds and Lies is a romantic suspense novella written by Inge-Lise Goss. Mia had thought that her other life, that shadow existence she had led with her brother, Andy, as the apprentices of their burglar father, was tucked away in the past, but that morning’s call from Andy had her worried once again. It had been three years since their dad had been apprehended with a bag filled with rare coins sitting in plain sight in his home.

Mia’s father had died in prison, and for a few years Andy had continued setting up the heists while Mia provided the distractions and set up their targets. Andy thereafter purchased an auto shop, and Mia got involved in the advertising world. Her mind had been focused, in fact, on her work as an account executive, when Andy called and asked her out for an early breakfast. Andy was in trouble. He had shorted their last client, who was asking for what he was owed plus a penalty. It bothered Mia that Andy had let his addiction to gambling put their lives in jeopardy again, but she would do whatever she could to fix the situation. He was, after all, her brother.

Inge-Lise Goss’s romantic suspense novella, Diamonds and Lies, is a taut and thrilling look at high stakes burglary and a family secret with deadly repercussions. Goss’s plot is intricate and ingenious, and her characters are well defined and credible, particularly Mia. Diamonds and Lies is action packed and fast paced, and Goss quickly gets her readers involved in the story of the brother and sister who have to do just one more heist. Diamonds and Lies is highly recommended.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

One day. One moment in time. That’s all it takes for a tragedy, a sorrow that will seep through the soul of a child forever. The memories that fill this tiny space of eternity are enough to make the reader weep for the child who couldn’t find the love she craved, certainly not from her parents. And, for the child who must give up so much for others: the taste of fresh milk meant for sale or for the piglets, the cherished doll that she willingly bequeaths to another child who needed its love more, and the crushed egg that would never secure her the much-desired tasty bun. Her parents may not love her, but her brother did and so did her aunt, whose words of wisdom stayed with her: “You cannot change things now, but you can always change your life when you grow up.” It is a harsh world where a child learns at an early age that “Life is erratic. It isn’t easy.” Meshed in the hardship and harsh realities, a young child can learn, prosper and rise above his or her current circumstances, and the most important life lesson of all is to “love the person next to you if you want to be loved in return.”

Award-winning author Olga D'Agostino takes the reader to a different time and place where daily life was a struggle at best. Her novella, A Taste of Bread, explores the power of love and how it affects children. Taking a simple story of a fresh egg saved to trade with the bread man on his daily delivery, the author explores the many poignant memories that lead up to the race to catch the bread man. Through it all, a little girl learns to accept God’s will, even when it’s not her own, discovering the love she craves in the most unlikely places. A powerful story.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

World War II is beginning and the boys are marching off to war, but Becoming Mrs. Smith takes a very different and enlightening look at the families and friends left behind in a very beautiful love story. We are not on the battlefields; we are with Violet who is at home in a small town in South Dakota, worrying about John. They have been best friends since childhood, but more importantly, they are hoping to marry when he returns. Violet is constantly thinking of John and hoping that he will soon be coming home to her. She spends her days working and her evenings doing volunteer work with her best friends for the war effort. When others receive the dreaded telegram about their loved one, Violet mourns with them and prays that John is still alive. When he is missing in action her imagination takes awful turns. John’s mother and father are also distraught and together the three spend time sharing letters and memories with each other.

Becoming Mrs. Smith is full of happiness and sorrow, taking me back in time and pulling me right into the pages of the story. It was impossible not to feel Violet’s misery as well as her joy. Tanya E Williams is a superb writer who brought the wartime home front alive and Violet, John and the supporting cast became very real people to me. Becoming Mrs. Smith covers love, friendship, small town life and war in a kind and thoughtful story that is hard to put down. I am anxiously awaiting a follow-up book to join with my new friends again. Please do not pass up reading Becoming Mrs. Smith.