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 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.

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 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 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 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 Gisela Dixon for Readers' Favorite

Smoke From Small Fires by Anne Powers is a fictional novel on the life of Anna Tollett, told to us in the first-person. The book starts with the reminiscences of eighty-one-year-old Anna Tollett, who is now bed-ridden with age. We then follow Anna on her mind’s journey into her childhood, adolescence, and adulthood as she relives her past through her memories. Anna was abandoned as a baby and brought up by a loving couple who found her on their doorstep in Blackshale, a small coal mining town in Tennessee. Right from the beginning, Anna has an artistic bent of mind and creates and depicts art as she sees and feels it. This is her life story about growing up in the South, her relationships with the people she loves, and most importantly, how life inspires art in all forms.

Smoke From Small Fires by Anne Powers is a novel set in the American South during the twentieth century. Anna Powers has written a thoughtful novel about people and society that portrays the Southern lifestyle, culture, and language, as well as the racial stereotypes in an authentic way. I thought the plot was simple but realistic, and I enjoyed the peek into the daily lives of people in the South. The characters are well drawn and the main protagonist, Anna Tollett, is a feisty, fun, and artistic character that one keeps wanting to read more about. The writing style is enthralling and brings the story alive in a unique, visual way. All in all, Smoke From Small Fires by Anne Powers is a fun and enjoyable read.

Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite

Murder at the Ocean Forest by Robert “Digger” Cartwright is a hauntingly beautiful, sinister tale of malevolent revenge. A group of rare individuals, all touched by the war in Europe, cross paths at the Ocean Forest Resort. Meet the Underwoods - Terence, the arrogant, wealthy womanizer, and Faye, the beautiful southern belle who wears the shroud of the distraught victim, and carries the weight of the world upon her frail shoulders. The unhappy couple returns to their honeymoon hotel, hoping to rekindle the love between them. Or is there another purpose for their return? Preacher Cooper, who is wound up like a two dollar watch, speaks boldly against the atrocities of war. His peculiar outbursts and mannerisms lead the others to believe he is hiding something. Also in their midst is a British wounded war veteran, Lord Ashburn, and his snobbish, yet stunning wife, Lady Jane. Last but not least, Elizabeth Bascomb, a blind, world renowned clairvoyant. A chance meeting it would seem, or could a mysterious, evil force be drawing them together? The mood turns fiendish as the weather turns foul. A hurricane approaches, the storm violently invades the Ocean Forest resort, and with its rain and gale force winds, murder occurs - three deaths in three days. Inspector Feltus La Mont, sets out to find the murderer, whether it be phantom or human.

Robert "Digger” Cartwright’s mystery novel Murder at the Ocean Forest takes the reader into a setting and time when life was simple and complicated, peaceful and warring, and audacious and fragile. A time when wealth was flaunted among the social elite and the lesser folk humbly bowed to their every wish. In the southern landscape of Myrtle Beach, the Ocean Forest Hotel stands erect, never wavering in its decadence. Cartwright sets the stage for murder in an aura of elegant ambiguity. World War II is the compulsory element that drives the plot. Each character feels the painful effects of war. The characterization is wonderfully written. Cartwright is patient and precise in the introduction and portrayal of his characters. Always leaving an air of mystery, their unique qualities and personalities are shadowed reflections, seen but not seen, as the story unfolds. The descriptions are a mixture of the uncanny and the articulate. Cartwright writes figuratively, with a sensory style. As you attempt to decipher what is real or menacing apparition, your senses are enveloped by the vivid and intentionally vague imagery. Twists of fate, veiled characters, and a shocking turn of events make Murder at the Ocean Forest a one of a kind “whodunit” mystery.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Digger Cartwright welcomes you to the world of online dating in The House of Dark Shadows. On the outside, it appears that Alex Rommel has everything. He has the best of everything, but on the inside, he is just a lonely man. When he meets an old friend, he finds out that his old buddy found love on the internet and is blissful to say the least. Envious and desperate to let go of the past and lost love, Alex ventures into the world of online dating to see what it has in store for him.

The murky world of internet dating brings Hope in his life. Hope is a French journalist and just about everything he ever desired. But she has her own secrets and her past. It appears that something sinister is coming towards him from all directions. His mother is constantly badgering him, his lusting secretary is getting on his nerves, his business is getting more demanding, and Hope is making him suspicious. There are shadows all around him and he cannot decipher if any of them are friendly or all of them are enemies. Can he rescue himself before all is lost and he is destroyed?

Since I started reading this novel, I have been thinking of a word to describe Alex Rommel. The only word I find suitable enough is jaded. The House of Dark Shadows is an amazing psychological thriller and it entices the reader from the get go. The storyline is good and very entertaining. Alex is a little tough to love, but I think that is just a part of his character. Nonetheless the novel was good and deserves to be read again and again.

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

A prominent client that expires while having a facial is not the best endorsement for a spa's reputation. When that client is a significant benefactress of the organization that your spa is hired by, it is not good for business. In Facials Can Be Fatal (A Bad Hair Day Mystery) by Nancy J. Cohen, Marla Vail, the owner of Cut 'N Dye Salon, is in the middle of that nightmare. Marla is also competing for the educator position for Luxor and they don't want any unfavorable notoriety attached to their products. On top of that, on the night of a prestigious fashion show that Marla's stylists are working, another body is found and a unique headpiece is stolen. In the hopes that the murders won't affect her business, Marla is now working with her husband, Dalton, to track down the killer. Who is killing Friends of Old Florida and are the murders related? Will they catch the killer before another life is taken?

Facials Can Be Fatal (A Bad Hair Day Mystery) by Nancy J. Cohen is a nice, comfy, cozy mystery starring Marla Vail and her new family. Dalton and Marla have reached their first year of marriage, and Marla's friends and family are pushing her to have a baby. She and Dalton work well together, and she is content with her life the way it is. It is enjoyable to read how they balance their sleuthing around their lives. Although this is one book in a series, it is a great stand-alone. I recommend this book to those who are cozy mystery fans and enjoy a sleuth mystery with many twists and turns.