Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Duplex is a work of interpersonal drama and LGBTQ+ fiction penned by author Lucky Stevens. Set in the recent past in the glamorous world of Los Angeles in the 1950s, we find our main protagonist Cliff leading a not so perfect life. Being gay is still an offense, and he and his partner Jerry are always only one step ahead of the law. So when they meet Barbara and Dot, the foursome devise a plan to appear normal to the outside world but live in freedom. What results is an even bigger predicament than any of them could have foreseen, with some valuable lessons about the cost of fitting in.

Author Lucky Stevens has created a diverse, modern and highly engaging drama that bears all the golden hallmarks of fifties nostalgia at the same time. I loved the atmospheric touches of the time and place, including descriptions of settings and the way of life back then. This made for an immersive reading experience, as though I was living with the characters and up close to their trials and tribulations. The themes teeter between serious and amusing really well, maintaining the realism of the emotional drama, but with some really funny goings-on as they try to keep everything secret. As the plot progresses and the characters deepen, the story turns into something really heartfelt and special. Overall, I would definitely recommend The Duplex to all readers who love a good romantic and interpersonal drama, and especially those looking for diverse tales set in the recent past.

Reviewed by Steven Robson for Readers' Favorite

Sava Buncic’s Need to Want lays bare humanity’s unrelenting and ageless dance with nature, where survival is woven into the fabric of natural resources upon which we live or die. In a far distant future, the sun burns with a ferociousness that drives all living creatures into protected shelters, unable to negotiate its intensity for any significant period of time. When a handful of adults and children arrive on an unknown island, after fleeing from a world leached of any possible future by overutilization and climate change, a new societal microcosm takes shape and begins anew. Will this reborn community learn from their past or follow what may be inherently contained within all of us; a path to crave more than we need? A Need to Want.

Need to Want by Sava Buncic is an extremely thought-provoking and, in some ways, disturbing read. As I progressed through the story arc, there were many times when I found myself torn between viewpoints, and I still cannot say with certainty that I would have chosen the right path to follow, even having the hindsight I now possess. These philosophical issues are what humanity has grappled with for our entire existence, and Need to Want brings them into crystal clarity. The characters striving to preserve our future are all very real, and their experiences are not only interesting but fully engaging, drawing you into their adventures and subjecting you to extremes of both joy and heartbreak. I found this to be a very stimulating and emotionally invigorating read.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Wheelboys is the debut, coming-of-age novel by Dd Jaseron set around the world of small-town karting and the dreams of adults and children alike as they imagine a life of professional racing stretching ahead of them. Chad and Gary-Lee had grown up together in Blue Springs, Alabama, united in their friendship by their love of karting. Guiding the local wheelboys’ dreams is the notable family of professional racers who live in a mansion above Blue Springs and have their fingers in every pie around the town and the state, exploiting the keen young karters for their own financial gain and prestige. Although both boys had dreamed of a career in the high-powered world of professional car racing, all dreams were put away after one tragic weekend, just before the pair would graduate from high school. Both boys must face their uncertain futures and deal with the competing egos of the many adults that wanted to have a stake in their future directions. For Chad, especially, the decision of a future direction is complicated by the appearance in his life of a beautiful young kart racer from Texas.

What I particularly liked about Wheelboys was that it addressed the many issues that often get glossed over in these coming-of-age novels. Author Dd Jaseron was not afraid to question the adults' motivations as they tried to impress their own dreams and desires on the young people and how many adults were prepared to ruthlessly use young people just for their own financial gain under the guise of helping or mentoring them. This has long been an issue in not only sports but education and other aspects of teenage life in general. The characters were realistic, the pain genuine, and the angst of growing up and experiencing young love was explored and dealt with extremely well. The side story of Uma and her family also rang true as Uma beautifully summed up the uncertainty and fears of having a family involved in a very dangerous sport. I felt the author’s style was extremely readable and I was able to get through large chunks of the story in one sitting. This is a book for parents as well as young people. The issues faced by these three families are universal and ones that we all have to confront at various times in our lives. An excellent first novel from a talented author and one I can highly recommend.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

Novels based on childhood abuse have a special place in my heart, particularly if the victims manage to eventually put their pasts behind them and use their experience to help others. Jessica Aiken-Hall, the author of Boundaries, is one such survivor. I remember reading and reviewing her previous book, The Monster Who Ate my Mommy. I was curious to see what angle she would take to further explore sexual abuse in Boundaries and was delighted to see she has created a completely new story with a new protagonist. With Valerie, a social worker who keeps herself away from people in a basement morgue, the author has gone even deeper into where and how some survivors might feel as adults. Do they just stay quiet and keep their painful secrets hidden forever? Do they ever wish they could punish the abusers? Would any of them dare to exact punishment, even kill for revenge? Thought-provoking.

When Valerie is forced into working with a handful of women in a trauma support group, once comfortable with each other, the ladies begin opening up. Their stories are horrible; each feels the other’s pain. One woman, Sonya, brings up how she wishes she could make the abuser pay for his crime. With each woman’s story, Valerie feels herself being triggered and memories of her own abuse surface. Adding to her growing anger is the brutal, but unsolved death of a beautiful young woman, Carmen, and Carmen’s addict mother. Valerie feels compelled to get to the bottom of Carmen’s murder. Readers will be surprised by her findings, but the bigger surprise is how all this violence ultimately affects Valerie herself.

Jessica Aiken-Hall is an excellent writer and has a gift for letting a plot unfold itself through the dialogue of its characters. Her engaging style is easy to follow and her characters are believable. In these days of trafficking, sexual abuse, and internet predators, books like Boundaries need to be written and read by both survivors and those who work with them to help them put their lives back together after others have torn them apart. If you belong to either group, read Boundaries.

Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke for Readers' Favorite

I have just finished reading The Opium Lord’s Daughter by Robert Wang, which tells the story of the family of Lord Lee Shao Lin, his daughter Su-Mei and his number one son Lee da Ping during the time of the Opium Wars between Britain and China. Many people may not know of the travesty of this unevenly fought war when the British navy attacked China to ensure uninterrupted trade in tea, porcelain, silks, and spices. Since China had no need to import anything from the west, the currency used to buy Chinese goods was Chinese silver which the British obtained by illegally importing opium into China. Everyone was involved, the Chinese merchants, the corrupt customs officials, the addicts who would do what it took to obtain more of the drug. But then the Emperor issued a decree to halt the trade and the troubles begin. At this time, Sue-Mei meets Travers Higgins from Yorkshire and falls in love – a cross-cultural affair unheard of and disapproved of in 1840. The stage is set for an explosive story in more ways than one.

The Opium Lord’s Daughter is one of the best books I have read this year. I read it in a day and a half and loved every bit of it. The characters leaped off the pages. I connected with Sue-Mei, the heroine, and the words flowed effortlessly. For the hours I was engrossed in this book, I was living in the 1800s in China, surrounded by the sights and smells, the customs and the laughter and sorrow of the young couple and their family. The historical information was woven seamlessly into the story and I suspect the author researched the facts thoroughly, backed up by the pictures in the back of the book featuring many of the real characters mentioned at the time. A fairly balanced argument from both sides which highlights the greed and avarice and arrogance of mankind which has not changed one iota in the last two hundred years. I highly recommend this fabulous book, and I shall file it away to read again in the future. I wish I could award it 6 stars.

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 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 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 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 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.