Reviewed by Frank Mutuma for Readers' Favorite

As Sabine texts Sandy on the plane on her way back to Florida, she can only hope that he has survived the events of World Day that have left so much death and destruction. Both Sandy and Sabine were top athletes in baseball and tennis, respectively. Lolo Samuels had taken Sabine to her first baseball game, and that's when she met Sandy. Just before the terrorist attack on World Day, a Jewish boy is murdered and left on Sandy's doorstep. Is this attack a precursor to what is to come? After the attack that leaves Nick and many other players dead, Sandy moves back home, but within 2 weeks he must report back to his team. To find out how things unfold, Sandy's reunion with Sabine, and how he copes with the death of his best friend, get a copy of Amerikaland by Danny Goodman.

Amerikaland by Danny Goodman is marvelously written with a fast-paced narration that kept me on my toes. The vivid descriptions of events and the emotions of the well-developed characters captured my imagination and kept me entertained and eager for more. The plot line also flows seamlessly, leaving no room for confusion for the reader. Readers will also appreciate the thought-provoking themes such as terrorism, tolerance, drug abuse, and the lives of celebrities who are portrayed as humans with various challenges, unlike the popular narrative of just being glamorous. The book subtly conveys the intended messages without alienating anyone. I cannot wait to read something else by Danny Goodman.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Where the Seams Meet by Patrick Holcomb is about growing up, coming to terms with life, loss, and dealing with family issues. Frank Romano was on track to become a college athlete. Sure, his academic progress was a struggle but his talent on the baseball field was undeniable. With an abusive and strict father whose version of love was unending discipline, plus an alcoholic mother, Frank turns to his school baseball coach, Coach Baker, for succor, understanding, and advice. Seeking freedom and a new start in life, Frank follows his mentor into the world of firefighting. It seems, though, that tragedy is never far away and Frank ends up having to raise his young son Danny on his own. Danny, like his father, proves to be a baseball prodigy and it is not long before he attracts the interest of the “Big Boys”; the MLB scouts. What should have been the start of a glittering career will again be dogged by Romano tragedy. Through all this, the Romano family tries to hold together the tenuous bonds of love and respect but it seems that even as the final innings approaches, mending the broken bridges in life may well be too great to overcome.

Baseball metaphors abound in this wonderful story. Many people have stated that baseball is an allegory for life and author Patrick Holcomb makes great use of the principle in this work. What impressed me most about this story is the ability of the characters to rise above the endless stream of tragedies that assail them and come to terms with the harsh realities they face. I particularly liked the delicious irony of Danny’s joking remark to his high school teacher that his ambition in life was to be a teacher, just like him. The story covers a long period, from Frank’s childhood right through to Danny’s fatherhood of twin boys. However, the author manages brilliantly to keep the reader’s understanding of the timeframe and interest in the story despite the often large gaps in years between chapters. The author shows how easily relationships can be damaged by simple misunderstandings or assumptions made about other people’s feelings or motivations. Blame and guilt are two emotions that we easily ascribe to ourselves and others, often without a solid basis or understanding, an aspect highlighted in this narrative. The overriding lesson, perhaps illustrated by the seventh game of the 2014 World Series, is to never give up, no matter how unlikely the circumstances may appear. This is as equally true in life as it is in baseball. Where the Seams Meet is a sports story that is so much more; an allegory of life, love, and relationships. I greatly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Death and Resurrection of Baseball: Echoes From A Distant Past is a work of fiction in the sports and futuristic fiction subgenres. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author William R Douglas. We find ourselves in the year 2166, the not-too-distant future, but in a world far from our current recognition. A divisive America has suffered a deadly and severely bloody Second Civil War, which has resulted in many casualties, both in terms of people and in terms of culture. One such relic is the sport of baseball, now lost to history, until a discovery by a young boy that will spark echoes of a long-past time, and perhaps light a brighter path for the country’s future.

Author William R Douglas uses the camaraderie, tradition, excitement, and enthusiasm around the sport of baseball to create an excellent metaphor in this novel, which seeks to heal a broken and divided country. One of the things I especially enjoyed about the work was its dialogue and narrative quality, which is evocative of a very different future world, but also harks back in the right places to nostalgic moments and the parlance of days gone by. Connecting the past and this imagining of the future gives readers insight into the major problems of the present world, whilst also delivering a classic story with suspense, action, intrigue, and, perhaps most importantly, hope. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend The Death and Resurrection of Baseball to fans of fascinating fiction everywhere.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Foulshot is a work of fiction in the crime drama, mystery, and intrigue subgenres, and forms part of the Frank Renzi thriller series penned by author Susan Fleet. It is best suited for the general adult reading audience. Detective Frank Renzi finds himself embroiled in a high-stakes case involving a murdered mobster, a bookie, and an NBA ref, all killed in a New Orleans club. The mystery deepens as Renzi attempts to unravel the motives behind these murders. He's a seasoned and dedicated detective, driven by a strong sense of justice and a passion for solving cases, but the mastermind behind this one poses a very harrowing challenge indeed.

Author Susan Fleet has crafted an involved thriller tale that holds your attention from beginning to end. Frank Renzi is a compelling protagonist with a sense of moral responsibility, but he also possesses a realistic and practical approach to his people skills that makes him relatable. The narrative is filled with suspense, and Fleet keeps readers on the edge of their seats as Renzi navigates the complexities of the case with smooth transitions that leave no stone unturned. As the story unfolds, you're drawn deeper into the world of murder, mayhem, and political intrigue. The novel blends action and character development seamlessly so that we get a strong buildup of information and emotional investment. Readers are not just treated to a thrilling crime story but also to an exploration of Renzi's personal life and struggles, making it all the more exciting as the danger amps up. Overall, Foulshot is a compelling and memorable read for fans of crime thrillers that I would wholeheartedly recommend. I’m intrigued to see where the rest of the series takes Frank on his many adventures.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Last Football Player is a work of fiction in the science fiction, sports fiction, and interpersonal drama subgenres. It is intended for the young adult reading audience and was penned by author John Blossom. In this inventive and immersive work filled with great sci-fi concepts and plenty of action, we meet our protagonist, Dude McPherson, who was a star athlete until his father’s tech developments threatened to put a stop to the game he loves. As this near-future novel explores the dangers of over-protectiveness and over-reliance on technology, Dude and his friends take to the lab to examine the spirit of football and find a balance between traditional sport and the possibilities of technology that lie ahead.

Author John Blossom puts a new, original spin on sports fiction in this exciting teen adventure novel, and I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like these concepts before. Whether it’s the sporting side or the science fiction elements that appeal to you in this tale, the merging of the two brings an accomplished sense of balance to the storyline, and it’s interesting to see traditional and modern issues clash, both on the field and in the laboratory. Dude is a suitable hero for the piece as a star player, but he’s not alone, and I was impressed with the diverse range of other characters who take part in the action and the time and care that the author takes to ensure they are fully developed as real people you can root for. Overall, I’d definitely recommend The Last Football Player to fans of engaging sports fiction with clever concepts and great character development.

Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

Jeffrey Recker's The Humiliation Tour is a riveting, sensational coming-of-age tale that follows the hilarious failures of two talented runners separated by time and connected by blood. Billy Ball, who is a celebrity high school cross-country runner, is a failure magnet. His long list of failures includes being dropped on his head by his father after his birth in a recliner, being stuck in the friend zone, leaving a school pep rally in handcuffs, and losing his pants in a public event. Jimmy Flynn, another gifted runner, is no stranger to failure himself. Running away from a fight, botching a robbery, and becoming a subject of ridicule in Wilmerding are only a few of his many misfortunes. Fortunately for the humiliated runners, one of them will get a final chance to redeem their family glory on the grand terrains of Boston. Does another failure lie in the paths of our fast, unrelenting protagonists?

The Humiliation Tour takes off on the right track and maintains an engaging pace and string of incidents that alternates between two main perspectives. I seriously enjoyed Jeffrey's brilliant use of similes and his poetic description of events. The sheer absurdity of some incidents and characters is sure to get you laughing out loud—such as a runner who starts reading books on how to run faster but ends up not running and reading for nine months. Despite its humorous nature, the book includes a thought-provoking portrayal of various themes: bureaucracy, court cases, substance abuse, gambling, dating, policing, pornography, growing up, and more. Running enthusiasts, athletes, and fans of funny coming-of-age stories will love The Humiliation Tour. Just when you think it can't get more hilarious, it does.

Reviewed by Joy Hannabass for Readers' Favorite

Worlds Collide by Traci Hunter Abramson continues the story of Pairs figure skaters Tyler and Amaliya and finally their win of the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics in Russia. And now it's on to Canada, and hopefully another gold medal. Tyler and Amaliya face much more than skating in Canada when Amaliya's mother decides to go with them to Canada in hopes of seeing her brother. Russia sees Katerina as a defector because she left Russia illegally to marry her American husband Robert. This will be a dangerous endeavor for everyone. The Canadian police and the KBG from Russia will be out in full force to make sure nothing happens on their watch.

I don't find a lot of ice skating books so I am always happy when I have the opportunity. Worlds Collide by Traci Hunter Abramson is absolutely wonderful. Tyler and Amaliya are loveable characters and their determination on the ice had me in awe of their talent. It's easy to see the deep research the talented Abramson does by the details throughout the book, not only with figure skating but with the details of Russia and the KBG. I was glued to this book especially when the story got to Canada. I was familiar with the Canadian part of it but knew nothing about the Russians and the KGB. It's all still buzzing around in my head, and it will stay there a good long while.

Abramson knocks it out of the park on this one. She had no trouble keeping my attention, and the characters were fabulous in playing their parts as they developed so well throughout the story. If you enjoy ice skating, and especially Pairs figure skating, you will love this book, and you will get a little lesson on Russia along the way.

Reviewed by Frances Deborah Kerr-Phillips for Readers' Favorite

Doubleday Doubletake by JB Manheim is the third novel in the Cooperstown Trilogy. Manheim does not disappoint his fans, managing yet again to create a plot of dazzling ingenuity. The Commissioner of Baseball plots to halt and reverse the financial demise of Major League Baseball. Professor Dickens of the mysterious Applied Human Potentiality Department at Columbia University is funded by the billionaire Paul Chi Mannington to unearth anything in the beliefs of Theosophy that could have a technological application. Mannington appoints Adam Wallace to unravel a mystery involving Abner Doubleday, one of baseball’s forefathers and a Theosophist to boot. Manheim keeps the reader intrigued as to how on earth these seemingly disparate storylines will ultimately collide and resolve. The reader cannot but be hooked!

JB Manheim is a master at luring his reader into his stories. The title Doubleday Doubletake is immediately enticing, whilst the chapter headings are somewhat unusual, with the potential to turn a casual perusal of the novel on a bookshop display into a definite sale. I particularly enjoyed Manheim’s incorporation of photographic ‘evidence’ into the novel as this lends a sense of reality to what is already a blur of fact and fiction, rendering the reader malleable to what actually could be or could have been true. The plot gathers momentum, and Manheim’s twists and turns continue apace until the very last page, where the final twist is sprung. I was left wondering – is this it or could there possibly be a fourth book?

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Catching the Wind by Steve Physioc continues the story of Sam Cloud-Carson who we first met in Walks With The Wind. After losing his freedom, his family, and everything he loved, Sam thought his life was over. Reluctantly working for Drake Dixon was Sam’s personal hell. However, Sam was finally able to get away from Drake’s clutches and find a fresh start in Nicaragua. There, Sam was able to be himself and play baseball as much as he wanted. Getting the attention of scouts, Sam was relieved to find his groove back. However, that relief was short-lived as someone from Sam’s past was back, and he wanted Sam to lose everything once again. This was not the time for that. Sam needed to keep his attention on the Big League and prove his talent. He wasn’t ready to face his demons once again. Can Sam win this time?

Author Steve Physioc is a grand storyteller. He is a maestro with words and knows how to make things work for his readers. The descriptions are out of this world. I felt like I was transported to Nicaragua with Sam, I felt the change in the winds and could see the colors of the wilderness. I could feel Sam’s passion, his frustration, and then his determination as he fought to reclaim his life. Sydney’s character was fascinating, to say the least. She was relatable and very vital for Sam’s recovery. Physioc made sure to give enough attention to Sydney’s story and keep the main focus on Sam’s journey to redemption. As expected, the dialogues were crisp, the plot was thrilling, and the narrative was entertaining. There was never a dull moment in Catching the Wind, and Sam’s progress made me love this sequel even more. I loved the change in Sam, and enjoyed how he stood up for his dream! I would highly recommend both novels to the fans of sports/action novels.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Last At Bat: Small Town Big Secrets by Mark Donahue is a remarkable story of the human spirit in its capacity to beat tremendous odds. The story opens with the crash of a passenger airplane where baseball star Dylan Michael is among the passengers. The sporting world and his wife mourn his passing, and even Dylan himself has no remembrance that he survived. Only the four people who rescued him from the crash know everything. Living a new life as Matt Wolf, he slowly tries to recuperate. And as his body is beginning to gain strength, he begins to have a persistent memory of playing baseball and tries to reclaim who he once was. Of course, he could resurface in a world that has already moved on and has long accepted his death. This could prove costly as his former self is expected to do time in prison. But Matt is determined to make a comeback, and he will need the help of the folks in the small town of Blossom, South Carolina, a black town that is not fond of white guys like him.

You can feel the angst of Matt Wolf/Dylan Michael as he tries to make sense of the unusual circumstance that he finds himself in as he tries to reclaim who he once was. The headlines will not focus on the hostile black community but the white player who has been resurrected from the dead. This premise is what makes Last at Bat a powerful page-turner, and Mark Donahue is aware of this. That is why he writes his chapters in short, intense bursts. Matt Wolf/Dylan Michael is a brilliant study in character, working as the fiery, intense protagonist who, unconsciously, is making history by trying to redeem himself. What better way to examine the moral scale of racism than to place it in the competitive and emotionally-charged world of professional baseball. Last At Bat rises above the standards of race themes in fiction. It’s a must-read story for its rousing and sensitive treatment of social issues that most of us find difficult to address.