Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

The Outlandish and the Ego by O. Ryan Hussain is political satire at its best. Two stories, one reality. The Aide will do anything it takes to stay in power and get his president re-elected and his appetite for victory is somewhat voracious – a bit of wife-swapping, slander, dubious partnerships and more. But he didn’t bank on having to beat The Brethren. Samuel and Roger, homeless vagrants, are on the run from demon gnomes. No one else can see them but the gnomes are making demands and Samuel and Roger must solve a riddle – “The Signal” – to satisfy them. Two plots twisting together as the fates of all three come crashing together.

Oh my gosh! If your mind was in a good place to start with, The Outlandish and The Ego by O. Ryan Hussain is going to mess with it! This is a seriously funny book. Given the current political turmoil in one or two countries right now, it is so easy to draw parallels! I’m not normally a fan of satire or politics but this had me hooked and opened my eyes to yet another genre to add to my collection. It’s a little confusing to start with but hang in there; this is one roller-coaster ride you will want to get off just to catch your breath. The main characters were incredibly well developed and the two separate stories run side by side until they clash in one laugh-out-loud ending. You do need to have a certain sense of humor and be very open-minded to enjoy this and to appreciate just how clever it really is. Very well written, this is one of the most entertaining books I have ever had the pleasure to read.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Death by the River is a thrilling psychological work by author team Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor, aimed at young adults. Catching the current vogue of teen psycho and revenge tales like Bates Motel, Revenge and 13 Reasons Why, the anti-hero of the tale is the sadistic psychopath Beau Devereaux, a charming top-dog alpha male who abuses his thrall over others to exercise his thirst for evil. At the abandoned St. Francis Seminary on the riverbank, Beau enacts horrors that haunt the nightmares of his classmates. When he sets his sights on a brand new victim for his senior year, it becomes clear that there’s only one way to stop him – blood is paid for with blood.

The only suggestion I’d make is that Death by the River contains such extreme acts of violence and gore that it perhaps ought to have an adult rather than young adult label. Other than that, I found it to be a horrifically brilliant book with a deep psychological connection to its killer. Beau Devereaux could have easily been a clichéd psycho, but the plot constructed around him and his development during the novel really shone as a masterpiece of character creation. In spite of everything, I still almost rooted for him and had sympathy in places, much in the style of Dexter or Hannibal. Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor do a fantastic job of setting a chilling scene with classic horror locations and authentic teen reactions to death and danger. Highly recommended, but definitely for adults.

Reviewed by Amanda Rofe for Readers' Favorite

South of Little Rock by George Rollie Adams is a novel set in a small town called Unionville in Arkansas during the forced desegregation of Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Changes are coming and not everyone is happy about them. Hatred is being whipped up by the new owner of the local newspaper. Law enforcement struggles to keep the peace. Widower Sam Tate and his family are white, and while his mother is fiercely for segregation, Sam is more interested in baseball. He takes his son to black baseball games and gets involved with a 'Yankee' teacher called Becky Reeves. Unfortunately, trouble is waiting in the wings for Sam. It remains to be seen whether he or the town is able to overcome them.

George Rollie Adams perfectly captures the racial tensions of the time including the ingrained prejudices, fear, anger and even resignation regarding desegregation. Set against the background of the social changes of the time, the book conveys the many deep and varied reactions of the people in the town. Layers upon layers of different emotions were woven into the narrative. There was a lovely description of how people filled the seats of the church on Sunday and it is this attention to detail that makes the novel a joy to read. The characters were strong and many. In fact, it felt as if the whole town was included in the book. South of Little Rock was a pleasure to read. It included countless moral lessons which remain pertinent to this day. I enjoyed every word.

Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

The Shores of Our Souls by Kathryn Brown Ramsperger follows a romantic affair between a forty-year-old Muslim diplomat in New York City and a young, fresh-out-of-college stunning beauty from the South, a story that explores the dynamics of family, war, and religion. The young beauty, Dianna, finds work in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and she barely has enough to survive on. It is New York in the 1980s. But when she meets Qasim, a Lebanese UN official in a bar, the attraction between the two becomes clear and they find themselves in each other’s arms pretty fast. Despite the strong bond that exists between them, Dianna is unsure of her place in the life of this politician who might have a wife in his home country, a man who seems distant at times and broken. Can their love survive the taboos of religion, the constraints of society, and the challenging political times?

Kathryn Brown Ramsperger creates characters that are psychologically and emotionally rich, characters that will win the sympathy of readers instantly. The social commentaries are relevant and the historical references complement the well-developed setting. Her writing is fluid, seductive, and engaging, scattered with excellent dialogues and vivid descriptions. The Shores of Our Souls is a well-plotted story with great pacing and readers will find it hard to stop reading at any point. The conflict is strong and it makes for a great reading experience as the reader’s curiosity is piqued. This is a story with a strong premise, a well-developed conflict that escalates quickly, and that features a satisfying denouement. It was an exciting read for me and I grew to love the characters so much.

Reviewed by Maria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Motorbikes and Camels by Nejoud Al-Yagout is a revealing piece of literary fiction set in Kuwait, in the Middle East, a rich and modern country located in a region that's known for its sharp inclination to religious dogma. In this book, we are introduced to various male and female characters chafing under the extraordinary strains of their culture and what family and community expect from them. We get to know Salma, a privileged young woman who finds herself in an unhappy and empty marriage. Khaled, a clumsy young man, falls in love with Saadia, a beautiful girl that lives on the wrong side of the city. We also get to know couples Bader and Maha, and Aisha and Hussam. The lives of these characters and a host of others sometimes intertwine and they are all part of a community that is both privileged and claustrophobic.

Nejoud Al-Yagout is, without a doubt, a daring and honest writer, and Motorbikes and Camels is a masterpiece. And being a Kuwaiti herself, she brings to life a number of interesting characters that may seem extraordinary to outsiders, but are real and palpable in the world they inhabit. What makes this novel extraordinary is that it brings to the literary table a unique voice that is seldom heard. With topics like homosexuality, virginity, double standards, discrimination and other difficult truths, in the midst of a dogma known for its intolerance, Motorbikes and Camels is definitely a thought provoking eye opener. And as author Al-Yagout relates each of these stories and intricately weaves them together, she reveals not only the innermost feelings of her characters but the soul of the community itself!

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Two Days at the Asylum: Inspired by True Events is a powerful narrative by clinical psychologist Frederick S. Walborn that explores the perils of asylum politics, a narrative that reflects the author’s wide experience in dealing with severely and chronically mentally ill patients. The story begins with the psychologist, a character named Jesus, and a mosquito, and while they contemplate the sad fate of the mosquito, they discuss the purpose of life and knowledge, with Jesus leaving the psychologist with two powerful insights: books can get in the way of real knowledge and the purpose of life isn’t change but giving.

In a humorous, engaging, and deeply reflective style, Frederick S. Walborn takes readers into the life of the asylum. It is 1969 and the doors of the asylum are opened to those who can afford a small token. While it is a typical asylum, the narrative explores the game of power and the conventional behaviors of administrators, psychiatrists, social workers, and others in the asylum. I worked for two years in an asylum in Cameroon, a home for the mentally handicapped and the homeless, and even though I had no skills in psychotherapy, I have grown to have an affinity for the mentally handicapped. This book touched me powerfully, apart from it being insightful and entertaining.

Two Days at the Asylum: Inspired by True Events is laced with witticism, insightful narrative, and engaging dialogues, a story with characters that are real, a story that castigates the abuse witnessed every day in asylums across the world. In the introduction the author makes a powerful observation: “One-third of the homeless population is suffering from schizophrenia. One in five of prisoners in our expensive prisons are seriously mentally ill.” You’ll be pulled in by the pathos, you’ll love the humor and the realism infused into the narrative. But after reading this compelling work, do click the link to help this author serve severely mentally ill patients on the streets and in prisons.

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

In Smoke on the Mountains by Sam Knupp, the year is 2018 and a Coalition, including Antifa and Black Lives Matter, has arrived in Timberville, Virginia from Charlottesville. Tensions are high as people have had enough of the uncertainty and feeling that they are not being listened to. The statue of Stonewall Jackson, a brave general killed by his own men, is torn down in a stand against his view on slavery. The Coalition hopes to make America great again. No sooner has the Coalition arrived and set up camp when a child called Pepper Anne disappears while searching for her dog. When one of its high profile and well-respected residents is questioned, the people of Timberville realise everyone is under suspicion and no one can be trusted.

For me, this was a heartwarming look at human nature. I loved each and every character; they were unique to one another and the detail the author has put into each of them was outstanding. I thought Reverend Marvel Goodman was an impressive character, full of wisdom and with a love for his community and everyone that attended his church. The relationship between the residents as the search for Pepper Anne’s killer ensues was a superb example of weaving different plots into each other. I also found the way the writer describes scenes of violence was not graphic; he used his talent for descriptive writing instead. The words of wisdom at the end of each chapter were a great addition and relevant to the story line, my favourite being, ‘the poorest man owns many things. The richest man isn't owned.’ This book had everything for me; an emotional search for a missing child, gripping twists in the plot and an ending that I was not expecting. A fantastic novel and highly recommended.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Pigment: The Limbs of the Mukuyu Tree is a literary fiction thriller written by Renee Topper. Aliyah Scott was born with albinism, and her life in the United States was made challenging by the genetic factor that made her skin white, unlike the rich chocolate tones of her mother and father. But her life was infinitely easier than that of her fellow albinos in parts of Africa, particularly in Tanzania, where witch doctors and hunters preyed upon albino children, and the law did little to protect them. Albinos were considered to be ghosts, not real, live people, so how then could their murderers be charged with killing something that wasn't really alive? Children’s limbs were hacked off while they were alive; their blood drunk as a curative, and sometimes, it would be their own fathers, who would offer up the child for financial gain. Aliyah wanted to be part of the solution to this tragic situation. She felt an intimate involvement in the plights of the children she would be working with at Camp Kivuli. Delila, who had accepted her as a teacher sight unseen, had grave misgivings about Aliyah’s well-being while working in that country. Tanzania was the last place on earth for an American albino to be, no matter how good her intentions. All too soon, Aliyah disappeared, along with Keenan, her Irish friend. Her father, Jalil Scott, who was formerly in the Special Forces and familiar with Africa, if not Tanzania itself, was determined to find his daughter, even as he is told that it was too late, that she was gone. He would find her.

Renee Topper’s literary fiction thriller, Pigment: The Limbs of the Mukuyu Tree, is a gripping and suspenseful story that addresses the plight of albinos worldwide, but particularly in Africa. I was stunned by the ferocity and violence albino infants and children are subjected to in Tanzania, and found myself involved and engaged in Jalil’s quest to find his daughter. Pigment is a glorious read. The setting of the story is stunning. Topper brings the vast open savanna and the complexity of African cultures to the reader in each page of this original and compelling book. Jalil and his daughter are beautifully drawn characters with whom the reader can’t help but get involved. Following as Jalil gets ever closer, despite the obstructions placed before him at every step of the way, is inspirational and exciting. Pigment: The Limbs of the Mukuyu Tree is an extraordinary work about an ongoing societal tragedy. It’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Lie to Me: An Exposé on Sex for Money by Lynda Filler is a spellbinding story that explores the psychology of sex in a way that defies Coelho’s Eleven Minutes. Layla Duncan is a magazine writer, a forty-something woman obsessed with digging into why men sell their bodies for money. Her quest to understand the trade leads her to Puerto Vallarta, a dream world for her, with the affordable cost of living and exciting things to do. But the moment she takes leave from work to have time for herself is when she meets the charismatic young Mexican guy, Mateo, a man whose charm quickly rubs off on Layla. They find themselves in each other’s arms before they are fully aware of what is going on. But what should have been a one night stand soon transforms into frequent hookups that make the professional, opinionated woman question many things she has grown up believing.

Lynda Filler’s novel is character-driven, emotionally intense, and packed with action, a story that explores male psychology regarding sex and a woman’s quest to redefine her identity in a world of twisted morals, where men are driven by the quest for orgasm. The emotional and psychological conflicts are well-explored in this novel and they are at the heart of the plot. The characters are exceptional, written with depth, and a lot of humanity is injected into them. It’s hard not to like the inquisitive and outgoing Layla, but her encounter with the laid-back, easy-going Mateo changes the allure. Lie to Me: An Exposé on Sex for Money is insanely captivating, entertaining and exciting. It’s the kind of book that entertains readers while forcing them to review their sense of reality. A must-read!

Reviewed by Patricia Bell for Readers' Favorite

Summer Girl by Linda Watkins is a heartfelt story of a boy and a girl. For Jake, living on Cutter Island, off the coast of Maine, life is pretty laid back. That is until the summer of ’65 when he meets fifteen-year-old Andi. That was not only the summer Jake fell in love with his “Summer Girl;” it was also the year his heart was torn to pieces. This is a two-part story told from Jake's perspective in the beginning and ending with Andi’s. Although the stories are the same, they are comparatively different. Andi’s story is one of abuse and neglect. One that Jake never knew or understood. Even so, the two of them unknowingly guided each other into adulthood, shaping each other’s lives in the best way possible.

Linda Watkins has effectively taken me on an emotional roller coaster with this book. At times, I was happy, giddy with the feeling of young love, and then my heart was crushed with emotion that sent me reaching for the tissue box. Summer Girl was a beautifully laid out story of a bond created one summer that could never be broken. Without giving away the ending, I just want to say, for the first time in my life, I was rooting for the two lives to collide once again, even at the risk of losing the lives the two of them had independently created. I can’t say enough about this book. It captivated my heart from the beginning to the end. I would love to hear more about Jake and Andi. Beautiful, just beautiful!