Reviewed by Kathryn Bennett for Readers' Favorite

A Faithful Son by Michael Scott Garvin is the coming of age story of a young man who is trying to find his place in the world. Zach Nance is struggling to decide where he belongs in the world while it changes ever faster. Durango, Colorado is where we find Zach and a group of characters that all have their own color to offer the story. When Zach's previously close family falls apart, he finds himself needing to protect his mother and his sister from the choices his father made. Can he keep his vow of protection without losing himself?

Michael Scott Garvin has created a cast of characters that you feel you could drive out and see at any moment. This book reaches out and grabs you by the collar and hauls you into the story, not allowing you to leave until it is done. There is a little something for everyone in this book, from spinsters to drag queens, and you can't help but enjoy each little tidbit you learn about the lives of these people. The story flows perfectly and is like a fine piece of craftsmanship. I could feel what Zach was going through as I read each word, a young man who really did have to redefine his entire life.

It is moments like a family falling apart in which any of us would find ourselves tested, and how it would test loyalties and our mettle in general. I won't give away how Zach's journey ends, but he truly does go on a journey, and this book makes you feel like you are walking right along with him as he travels. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a well crafted story that comes to life and leaps off the page and into your heart.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Art of Hero Worship is a new adult contemporary romance written by Mia Kerick. What was supposed to be a pleasant evening watching a friend perform in a college production of Shakespeare's Hamlet turned into a night filled with unrelenting horror for Jason Tripp, when a lone gunman stepped out onto the stage and began shooting into the audience. He seemed determined to kill everyone in the theater and, to Jason, it seemed that the killer wouldn't give up until he had found him where he was crouched on the floor next to his girlfriend Ginny, who had already died. As the killer approached his aisle, he heard a voice whisper instructions to him, telling him to squeeze down tightly under the seats, and then the speaker covered Jason's body with his own. The gunman seemed almost right over them when a sound distracted him and he turned away. Jason's protector seemed to know exactly when it would be safe to make a run for it, and he guided Jason straight to a trapdoor. As he was opening it, the gunman saw them and came running down the aisle towards them, but, somehow, miraculously, his hero got the two of them out of the building and into his car, and they drove away to safety.

Mia Kerick's new adult contemporary romance, The Art of Hero Worship, begins with an explosive and gripping scene that catapulted me into the action and kept me on edge as Jason and Liam attempted to survive the gunman's attack. I've read and thoroughly enjoyed several of Kerick's young adult romances in the past, and I fully expected that I would be entertained by this book as well, but, if anything, The Art of Hero Worship far exceeded my expectations. Jason and Liam's harrowing experiences at the theater begin the process of forging a sweet and utterly mesmerizing friendship that turns into a love that neither of them expect or really know what to do about at first. Kerick handles the gender and sexual orientation issues in this book with respect and an uncanny depth of insight and compassion. Watching as these two young men fall in love is transcendent, and their story is oh, so beautifully told. I'm eagerly looking forward to reading more young adult and new adult fiction from this very talented author. The Art of Hero Worship is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Tracy A. Fischer for Readers' Favorite

In The Lives Between Us by author Theresa Rizzo, we are faced with the question: how far would we go to avenge the death of the one person we allowed ourselves to love? That is the exact question faced by our protagonist, reporter Skylar “Skye” Kendall. Skye lives her life in such a way that she’s been able to shut everyone out, and that’s the way she wants it. Fearful of being left by someone who loves her, she prefers to leave before that can happen. At least, until her niece, Niki, is born, and Skye finds it impossible not to love the little tyke. But when Niki falls gravely ill at nine years old, and the only treatment with a chance at helping her involves stem cells, Skye is desperate to do all she can to help. When all that she can do isn’t enough, Skye’s desperation turns to anger, and she’s determined to take that anger out on the senator whose voting record she blames for blocking the help Niki so desperately needed. When the senator’s best friend is determined to find out what is behind Skye’s scathing articles, and Skye is determined to use his connections for an even more in-depth look into the politician's making decisions that are so important to her, the last thing either of them expect is to fall in love.

I loved this book. It’s not an easy read, but it is extremely worthwhile. Author Theresa Rizzo is an extremely gifted storyteller, and one who is wonderful at crafting characters that you will truly care about. Skye Kendall is such a character, and I find that I am still thinking about her and her story, long after I finished reading the book. The Lives Between Us would appeal to any reader who enjoys fiction, stories about politics, stories with a bit of romance, or someone looking for just an excellent read. I am very pleased to highly recommend The Lives Between Us by Theresa Rizzo and I, for one, am very much looking forward to reading her next work.

Reviewed by Tracy A. Fischer for Readers' Favorite

In an absolutely fascinating new read by author Jim Bailey, The End of Healing is certainly a story that will stick with its readers long after the final page is turned. The story is written through the eyes of a new physician, a doctor-in-training if you will, naive to the ways of the American healthcare system. Dr. Don Newman, our newbie protagonist, seems to find, with every twist and turn that this novel takes, that the Hippocratic oath he took when becoming a physician, the promise to do no harm, is nearly impossible to accommodate in the world when doctors must bow down to the requirements of insurance companies, Medicare and Big Pharma. Giving up his dream of focusing on cardiology, he decides instead to focus on studying the medical underworld that seems to rule the world. Will he be able to help to make changes that our country so desperately needs, or will his findings be silenced by the mighty powers that be?

I so enjoyed The End of Healing. Written with a true insider's perspective, the author's decision to make this book a fictional novel was a wise one. Both entertaining and able to impart the truth of our troubled medical system, this story will captivate readers from the very start. I learned a great deal from this book, and was thoroughly entertained at the same time. Any reader with the slightest interest in our medical system should put this on the top of their "to be read" list. I highly recommend The End of Healing. I certainly hope that author Jim Bailey is hard at work on his next effort in this vein. I, for one, will be anxiously watching for its arrival!

Reviewed by Ankita Shukla for Readers' Favorite

Spirit Woman by Debra Shiveley Welch is a magnificent combination of fiction and reality. Nickie, tormented by her troubled childhood, shuts herself down to her surroundings. She does not share the details of her past with anyone. Her low self-esteem forces her to believe that there is no hope for her to find love, and so she has almost given up her quest for true love until she meets Javan Whitman. With him, her fears and doubts vanish into thin air, and -- in spite of her well wishers' warnings -- she ties the knot as soon as he proposes. However, right from the next day of her wedding, she realizes that she has married a demon, and thus begins her marital journey filled with violence and hatred.

The portrayal of the characters is done on an emotional level by sharing their stories. In any book, as a reader, I find it the best way of making an instant connection with the characters. The narrative style of writing does justice to the overall plot of the book. The introduction of a guardian angel was a pleasant and welcome surprise. Some readers may find it bizarre, but being a hopeless believer in extraordinary existences, I found it intriguing.

In Spirit Woman, Debra has touched on many social issues. In her sneaky way, she advises everyone not to jump into a relationship. Love is blind, but you don't have to be. Living alone may be depressing, but living with a monster would be life threatening. She has also highlighted the lifelong lack of self-esteem in people who have had a less than happy childhood. The story is packed with dramatic twists, which are capable of keeping readers' eyes fixed on the pages. I would recommend this book to readers who feel very strongly about the prevailing injustices against women and who believe in the existence of angels -- or, at least, enjoy reading about them.

Reviewed by Raanan Geberer for Readers' Favorite

Before the Court of Heaven by Jack Mayer tells the story of Ernst Techow, a young German who, in the years following World War I, gets caught up in what can be called the pre-Nazi movement. As a youngster before the war, he learns, both from his nationalist family and from the Wandervogel, a “back to nature” youth movement, to dislike Jews, socialists, bankers, “decadent” modern culture, and Slavic immigrants. After serving in the Kaiser’s army, he joins the Friekorps, a conglomeration of militia groups that are called into service to fight pro-Bolshevik revolutionaries. Then he joins a secret group and is part of the team that assassinates Walter Rathenau, a Jewish statesman whom Ernst and his colleagues blame for “stabbing Germany in the back.” You would think that with this background, Ernst would be a natural candidate for the emerging Nazi movement. But when he finally does join the Nazis, he’s in for a rude awakening.

Seventy years after it ended, the Nazi period continues to draw the attention of novelists, and Before the Court of Heaven is one of the best. The characters are subtle and three-dimensional. Ernst, for example, has a softer side — he likes the poetry of Heinrich Heine, a Jew, and the paintings of the French impressionists. This side of him gives a clue as to his eventual disillusionment with the Nazis. Another character that is superbly drawn is Hans Gerd Techow, Ernst’s asthmatic, disabled brother, who tries to overcome his disabilities by becoming one of the most militant fascists around. Mayer also does a good job of depicting the subculture of ultra-nationalist youths in the early '20s, and he shows us that anti-Semitism was part of German culture long before the Nazi era. All in all, Before the Court of Heaven is a fascinating historical novel.

Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite

Although distressing, painful and despairing, Amita Trasi's writing portrays the resilient power of hope and the unbreakable bond of friendship in The Color of Our Sky: A Novel Set in India. Two young girls, with very different backgrounds and personalities, form an everlasting alliance. Mukta, born into a generational curse, is bound by the tradition of prostitution. Like her mother and grandmother before her, Mukta’s destiny is to be a slave to the Hindu goddess, Yellamma. Tara, born into prominence, is free to choose who and what she will become. Tara’s kind-hearted father rescues Mukta and brings her home to live. The two young girls forge a unique childhood kinship, believing they would always be together. Then one night Mukta is kidnapped. Their lives are ripped apart. Days turn into years, and there is no reason to believe they could one day be reunited. But, “Hope always outweighs reason.”

The Color of Our Sky is a story of monumental courage. I admire the eloquence of Amita Trasi. Through her exceptional gift of storytelling, she genuinely expresses the horror of sex trafficking without being repulsively horrific, and describes the profane without using profanity. She pens profound images of India, revealing the life, traditions and religious rituals of her native homeland. Through poetic metaphors and sensory descriptions, the reader becomes a part of the unfolding story. In this novel written in first person, you experience first hand what the characters see, hear and feel. You see the stars in the sky through hopeful eyes, you smell the despair and grief of the brothel, and you hear the cries of the enslaved victims. You cannot help but be touched by the inspirational story of The Color of Our Sky. This beautiful quote from the novel sums up this poignant story: “When you bind one’s thoughts with words that touch the soul, they call it inspiration.”

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Shatter Point by Jeff Altabef is a gripping psychological thriller set a little in the future. Maggie was only young when she first met Cooper. At first friends, she soon found out that there was a darker side to him. She rejects him and moves away with her family, marrying and having two sons, Jack and Tom. Cooper doesn’t forget her though, and every year he writes to her, sending her a photo of a woman he has tortured and murdered in her name. Jack is involved in an accident and, to save him, he is given an experimental drug without his knowledge. Unfortunately, testing is not complete on it and the results so far are not good. One day, things change. Cooper takes Maggie and it is up to her sons and friends at the Fourteenth Colony to find her. Can they locate her before it’s too late? How many more people have to die before the nightmare ends? Can Jack be saved before the drug takes his life?

Shatter Point by Jeff Altabef was an amazing read. There were two separate stories here fully entwined together. The story started on a high note and never dropped a beat the whole way through. Excellent thriller, a scary one because the experimental drug side of it is something that could possibly happen, or may even be happening today. This is one of those books that no reader will be able to part with until they reach the end, I guarantee it.

Reviewed by Jackie Timmons for Readers' Favorite

Things are looking bleak for both Kate and "the kid" at the start of Anne Rothman-Hicks and Kenneth Hicks' novel, Kate and the Kid. Kate lost her editorial job at a NYC publishing company and had a huge, possibly relationship ending, fight with her lawyer boyfriend. The kid, Jenny, fell asleep one night with her mother and awoke the next morning to find she'd been abandoned and left to stay with her mom's friend, Sally, who refers to Jenny only as "creep-head." Jenny's previous six years likely hadn't been much better since she's so scared and shy that she only speaks through her one armed Barbie named Miranda. Both girls desperately need a break and a friend when they are thrust together. Despite her lack of motherly instincts and her issues with her own mother, Kate connects quickly with Jenny. Kate seems to understand Jenny and treats her like a real person instead of some annoying burden. Jenny latches onto her and the two end up spending more and more time together while Kate unwillingly takes on more and more parental responsibility. As Kate tries to reconnect Jenny with her mother, she ends up getting seriously involved in a world she knows nothing about. A world of drug dealers, attempted murder, and family court. Through everything, Kate wants only to help Jenny and do what is best for the sweet little girl. But with so many factors involved, from Jenny's mother to her alleged father to social workers, Kate has a big challenge ahead.

Warning: reading Kate and the Kid might cause you to lose all track of time and anything going on around you. This novel was completely engrossing. Anne Rothman-Hicks and Kenneth Hicks created characters who were completely relatable but still surprising. I loved Kate and Jenny and really wanted everything to work out for both of them - to the point that they were on my mind even when I wasn't reading the book. Kate's boyfriend, Jenny's mother, Sally and the rest of the characters were so well developed, I felt like I knew them. Even Kate's mother, who we never meet, felt real to me. The descriptions of all the NYC parks, playgrounds and other places Kate and Jenny visited were vivid and beautiful. There are stretches of the novel when everything was going great and I ended up totally stressed out wondering when and what would happen to interrupt the bliss. This is one of those books that you don't want to ever end!

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

How to Knock a Bravebird from Her Perch (A Family Saga): The First Novel in the Morrow Girls Series by D. Bryant Simmons is a powerful story that revolves around the theme of domestic violence. Pecan is brought up by a loving father in the absence of her mother. She leads a happy life. It is at that time she meets Ricky Morrow, who also sets his eyes on her. Fate intervenes in the form of Pecan's father's death and Ricky convinces her to marry him as she is alone and needs someone to take care of her. They move to Chicago as Ricky wants to concentrate more on his boxing career. Ricky's abusive behavior starts coming to the fore slowly and this book will inspire all abused women to put their feet down and not take abuse any more in their lives.

It's a compelling read with characters and situations that are tangible and connect with readers very well. The story is encouraging to all women to handle their tumultuous lives in a positive way and make the necessary changes required. It also helps them to step out of the fear zone and accept that they have a problem and work towards solving it, instead of living in denial. The emotional roller coaster ride in the story is interesting and this book of love and loss will definitely strike a chord in the hearts of readers. Pecan's journey, though a difficult one, gives hope to readers. An encouraging story for all women readers who have undergone and are undergoing abuse in their marriage.