Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

The McCoys Before the Feud is the first entry in The McCoys Before the Feud Series by Thomas A. McCoy, a historical western tale packed with action. It begins in the last few days of the Civil War when everyone knew that the South had lost. Thomas McCoy Jr. receives a letter from his former betrothed, Teresa, and the contents bore information that was troubling: “I’m sure you’ve heard of the rumors of all the valuables taken from the Southerners. It’s hard to believe it’s true. Come to me as fast as you can when the war is over.” The year is 1865 and Tommy McCoy is buoyed up with the desire for justice. He can’t let the corrupt general get away with the bounty of the Confederacy, so Tommy and his intelligent father hatch a plan to recover the spoils or die trying. And they have to recover the bounty before the general gets help.

Thus begins an engrossing western yarn that is filled with historical details and breathtaking action. The McCoys Before the Feud explores the legacy of a family bent on recovering the stolen wealth. The story is filled with action and gun fighting. The author captures the atmosphere during the Civil War with clarity, evoking vivid images of the setting and the general culture of the time. The narrative is composed in excellent prose and the descriptions are wonderful. Thomas A. McCoy seems to have researched the novel so well; the prose is impeccable with humor filling every page, and the characters are rock-solid. This is a rare gem for fans of historical novels and western stories.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Good Buddy: A Novel by Dori Ann Dupre is a southern romance with a powerful twist, sophisticated characters, and a satisfying denouement. Jonathan “Buddy” Cordova is a defense lawyer in a small town, practicing law from his home in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He is not a very successful lawyer, just the kind who defends clients who eventually end up in jail. But Jonathan has a dark secret. When he meets Julie Saint, a part-time kindergarten teacher and an army widow, he falls in love. He is delighted to be stepfather to Molly, Julie's daughter, and the bond between Jonathan and Molly grows every day. He is happy to have the perfect family, but when faced with a tragedy, he is forced to battle the demons of his past. He can also lose the family that wasn’t legitimately his. Can he look at himself with honesty and find a path to redemption?

Dori Ann Dupre introduces readers to characters that are real — they are genuinely flawed and their vulnerability quickly becomes a channel through which a strong bond is built. Both Julie and Jonathan have suffered losses in their childhoods and both of them bear the scars of the past with them. It is interesting how the relationships between the characters develop in the narrative and how well the author explores the hearts of the characters. Dori Ann Dupre keeps the writing strong, deepens the characters and keeps them real, and infuses the narrative with humanism. The story has powerful plot points, is emotionally engaging, and hides surprises that readers will want to discover.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Love, Loss, and Lagniappe: A Love Story That Defied the Laws of Nature is a literary fiction novel written by Richard Robbins. It was spring of 1982, and Drew was enjoying being a part of the Admissions Office tours that showcased the Tulane University campus to junior and senior high school students and their families from across the country. He was in his second semester as a freshman now, and he somehow felt so much older than those high school students were. Drew and his friends knew that fraternizing with any of the prospective students was strictly forbidden, and he ordinarily had no problem conforming to that, but then something strange happened. It wasn’t just her eyes, which were the most amazing color, or the way she looked. The attraction he felt to the girl from Virginia went much deeper than that. He was in a daze as he guided her group through their tour and rushed through the next one in the hopes that he would be able to see her again. Her group had already left, however, and, besides, he knew the rules about not making contact. But something about that momentary connection stayed with him. She was the ideal compared to which each girl he met while in college invariably paled.

Richard Robbins’s literary fiction novel, Love, Loss, and Lagniappe: A Love Story That Defied the Laws of Nature, is a sweet and enthralling tale about two lovers whose chance meeting resonates with each of them for years. Robbins is the consummate guide to Tulane University and New Orleans, and I loved getting to know that city through his story. While I’ve read travel guides about New Orleans, somehow following Drew as he showed “his city” to Kate helped me get a bit closer to the magic and mystery of that historic place. The plot is engaging and unpredictable in the best of ways, and the character study of Drew is unforgettable and profound, especially his time spent on the road and on the Appalachian Mountain Trail. Love, Loss, and Lagniappe: A Love Story That Defied the Laws of Nature is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

Every so often a book comes along that you believe everyone should read. For me, The Emancipation of Evan Walls by Jeffrey Blount is that book, a story in which not only the protagonist, Evan Walls, is liberated from the demons of his youth, but through which receptive readers will be freed of uninformed notions about what it was like to grow up black in America before and after emancipation. This incredible story might shock you, or at the very least will move you to tears. Either way, you won’t forget it any time soon, if ever.

As a wide-eyed, curious and intelligent youngster, Evan loves the weekly gathering of friends and family for Kool-Aid, chatter and gossip on his parents’ verandah. At one such gathering, he tunes into Bojack’s grumblings on the status of the black people of Canaan who seem content with and intent upon staying where years of white suppression have put them ie. not seeking to better themselves, to get an education, and one day become somebody who matters. Evan takes Bojack’s views to heart and from that point on is determined to make something of himself. He learns to read; he slowly replaces his “black” way of speaking with proper English. He is mentored for years by both Bojack and his beloved great-grandmother Jennie, but along the way he is rejected, not just by his peers who see him as an Uncle Tom and as turning his back on his race, but by his own status-conscious mother and father. After schools become integrated, the friendless, unloved and abused Evan finds friendship in some white classmates. Unfortunately, that fuels even more anger from his family, and triggers complete isolation and violence from his black brothers. Despite a broken heart and incredible loneliness, Evan weathers it all to become a star athlete. But even that cannot salvage the damage his determination to become a somebody has caused in his personal life. He has broken the unspoken rule of accepting the status quo, of fitting in with everyone, and now he must pay the price.

The Emancipation of Evan Walls is a gut-wrenching read, delivered by a brilliant, award-winning author and television director, Jeffrey Blount. He is a master of telling a story, revealing characters and their motivations primarily through dialogue. This style of writing not only makes his characters utterly realistic and emotionally engaging, but also moves the story along quickly. This is one of those books that keep you turning pages, not because of non-stop action or unexpected twists and turns, but because of the stark reality and truths explored through the characters and setting. The Emancipation of Evan Walls is utterly riveting reading and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Brilliant!

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

Emily, Gone by Bette Lee Crosby is the story of three mothers who love their little girl more than anything else. Unfortunately, each mother loves the same little girl as their own. Rachel Dixon has given birth to a beautiful baby girl named Emily. Vicki does the unthinkable and steals baby Emily from her crib and names her Lara. Angela is the older sister of Vicki and believes the beautiful Lara to be her niece. The Dixons and the local sheriff in Hesterville, Georgia never give up the search for baby Emily against all odds. These three women all go about their lives, loving their families and dealing with the joys and sorrow of life. Until one fateful day when everything comes to a crashing conclusion, which I will not spoil for readers in this review.

I found it almost impossible to put down Emily, Gone, feeling the joy of motherhood and the loss of a child. I found myself rooting for a happy ending for Rachel and Angela. It was kind of hard to like Vicki, but she certainly had my sympathy. Emily, Gone is a heartbreaking story but is filled with love too. Bette Lee Crosby has woven a fictional tale that will pull at your heartstrings from beginning to end; her writing talent is amazing. I cannot stress enough that Emily, Gone is a must-read; every mother will be drawn right into the story and hug their child just a little tighter at bedtime. Please, please do not pass this one up.

Reviewed by Stacie Haas for Readers' Favorite

Phoebe Hawley is on a mission to find a new home for her family. She’s got her twelve-year-old sister, Maydean, and five-year-old brother, Willie-Boy, in tow, and a ma, pa, and sister waiting in Cottontown for news that she has found them a place. Phoebe is ferocious about her quest and won’t be derailed at any cost—not by lack of food, gas, or her homeless state—and certainly not by the intolerable Gage Morgan, who holds her car bumper and tags hostage after the two are involved in a car accident. As she’s busy devising a scheme to get her bumper back, Phoebe and her family happen upon Gage’s home. Others may see a junkyard, but Phoebe sees a land of opportunity. Now that she’s found a home, can she find a way to make it hers?

I found Finding Home by Jackie Weger to be an irresistible read. Its originality is absolutely refreshing—like a cool sip of lemonade spiked with a splash of that special something. Finding Home just drips with Southern charm and oozes wit and spirit. Proud of her family roots and “Hawley” pride, twenty-four-year-old Phoebe is not your typical female protagonist. In pursuit of her mission to rehome her family, she figures seduction of the stubborn Gage Morgan is the only way to make it happen—not a simple task for an inexperienced woman with unkempt red hair and the shape of a skinny, flat-chested boy.

What’s absolutely delightful is that Phoebe’s beguiling attributes are actually found on the inside—she is fierce, resourceful, and absolutely intoxicating in her determination to make a home out a junkyard, of all places. Whether she’s learning how to catch crabs for money, trying to steer Maydean properly, caring for Willie-Boy during an asthma attack, or exasperating her unexpected landlord, Phoebe is a force to be reckoned with. This is not your typical romance—it is so much more. Highly recommended!

Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

Shadow Mountain by Tess Collins follows the life of one strong woman, Delta Wade, who holds on to the possibility of her husband’s return with every shred of strength left in her. Her son, Lafette, will soon take up the position of “Watcher” of the mysterious mountain and Delta feels the weight of teaching her son his responsibility. Surrounding her are those who view themselves as “civilized”. To them, the mountain has no special value, it is only a source of much-needed timber. Everything gets even more complicated when Delta has to fight off the powers of the witches of the mountain. Still, someone is ready to fight for her and with her. The love of one man gives her strength and comfort, despite the surrounding peril. His loyalty is tested and he suffers insurmountable loss but his heart is set on her.

There are many conflicts in Tess Collins’ book, Shadow Mountain; the conflict between different cultures, the dissension between a parent and her child, and the falling out of a mentor and a mentee. I felt that Collins presented a compelling picture of the times, the late 19th century, mostly in the region of Kentucky. Delta and her son, Lafette, are caught between two worlds. One is the world of greedy developers who will stop at nothing to get what they want and who have little regard for the previous inhabitants and their beliefs. The other seeks control and power. Collins also sheds light on the culture of the Melungeon, which adds a delightful flavor to the book. Shadow Mountain is a definite treat for all lovers of fantasy with an aspect of history.

Reviewed by Amanda Rofe for Readers' Favorite

Mourning Dove by Claire Fullerton is historical fiction at its best. The novel begins in America during the 1960s and charts the lives of Posey and her two offspring, Millie and Finley. Originally from Minnesota, the two youngsters are shunted to their mother's childhood home in Memphis. Here, they become immersed in tradition and a set of bewildering societal rules. Posey, who has been trained in the nuances and manners required to survive in such an environment, is in her element. She is like a musician playing expertly to a tune she knows off by heart. The children watch and learn, but never fully become a part of the Memphis experience. This book weaves a story of wealth and privilege which buffered families against tragedy but did not fully protect them from it.

Claire Fullerton creates a wonderfully atmospheric coming of age drama. The lives of wealthy families in the deep South is depicted with a gracefulness and eloquence that characterized society at that time. Manners and duty were maxims of the day. However, beneath the rather thick veneer of propriety lurked a raft of issues, including racial tension and the seemingly desperate need to conform to a rather absurd strict code of conduct. The writing is often haunting. It depicts lives where families were inextricably interconnected and good lineage paramount. I enjoyed this book tremendously. I was drawn in and mesmerized by the narrative. Mourning Dove was thoughtful, wonderfully descriptive and incredibly insightful. I did not want it to end.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

Brother Daniel's Good News Revival by Bruce Joel Brittain is such a refreshing change from the hundreds of books I read each year. Brittain’s cast of characters is colourful and different, yet completely realistic and believable. Now, put these characters into a religious revival troupe travelling from town to town - complete with a road crew, a pianist, and a dollar counter - and you come up with an entertaining plot reminiscent of a circus: there’s just so much more thumping going on behind and inside those wagons and we’re not talking only about Bible thumping! When naive, polite 19-year-old Michael Boone (no relation to Daniel) joins Brother Daniel’s Good News Revival, he’s eager to please, keen to learn, and forever in fear of doing anything that might jeopardize his first job. That includes staying on the good side of Brother Daniel’s woman, Anna, and not messing around with her daughter, Ruth. Unfortunately for Michael, both ladies have other ideas about Michael. Then there’s his road crew buddy and learned mentor, Bert, who knows everything about everything, has no use for religion and too much use for the demon drink. As for Brother Daniel himself, well, he’s a real piece of work, but I’m not going to spoil your enjoyment of this excellent book by telling you any more about him.

Suffice to say that over the course of this book, a bit like the protagonist in the movie “O Lucky Man”, Michael Boone learns about life by living it, and what an education he gets. A decade or more after Michael first meets this fascinating troupe, has graduated from college, fought in the big war, married and become a father, his past as a member of Brother Daniel’s Good News Revival catches up with him in ways in which he…and readers…never expect. But throughout it all, Michael Boone is, and remains, one very likeable and admirable fellow. While Brittain tells the story of Brother Daniel’s Good News Revival with humor and sensitivity, he also paints a vivid picture of the thinking, mores and culture of that era in US history. The book is rich with historical content but never boring; it teaches but never preaches; it makes one reflect, often with amusement but occasionally with sadness and bewilderment. If this book leaves readers wanting anything more, it’s only more books by Bruce Joel Brittain. Five stars all the way!

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

The Last Road Home by Danny Johnson is set in the deep South in the 50’s and 60’s. Junebug and Fancy become best friends at the age of eight. One is a white orphan, the other, a black sharecropper’s daughter. The story follows them as they grow and their relationship deepens when they come of age. Sex between a white boy and a black girl was a big no-no and it doesn’t take long for them to come to the attention of the KKK. They are threatened with terrible consequences if they don’t end their relationship. Fancy heads to New York, ending up in France, while Junebug becomes a sniper, fighting in Vietnam. They meet again and find that they still are in love with one another, but they cannot stay together. Fancy can't return to the South and goes back to France while Junebug moves to the isolation of the mountains. Will they meet again or will they each take the path they have chosen and ne’er the twain shall meet?

The Last Road Home by Danny Johnson is an evocative and emotional story, delving deep into the issues of race relations in the deep South in the 50’s and 60’s, issues that are, for the most part, non-existent now. It is packed with history, a mixture of tension and tenderness, violence and love, taking us on a journey from childhood to adulthood, through tough decisions and realizations. The characters are brilliantly developed and because we follow them through their lives, we get to know them personally. The story is written in a believable way, with a unique plot and plenty to grab your attention. This is a powerful tale, gritty, dramatic and hard-hitting, not to mention emotional. Great story, I really enjoyed it.