Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Hoboman: The Higham Cut is a work of fiction in the humor, slice-of-life, and adventure genres. It is best suited to mature adult readers owing to the use of strong language and references to sex and violence throughout. Penned by author Liam Higham, our protagonist Hobart Mann finds himself thrust into the superhero life when his trolley is stolen, and his conscience manifests as a female entity. Adopting the alias 'Hoboman,' Hobart discovers the perks of being a superhero, including combat prowess and property damage. Joined by eccentric companions from different walks of life, Hoboman embarks on an epic quest to retrieve his stolen trolley. However, he soon finds himself entangled in a bizarre adventure involving ASIS agents, covenants with God, and a plot that involves the fate of Heaven itself.

Author Liam Higham has a natural gift for pacing and humor that allows him to craft a wild and hilarious adventure filled with glorious absurdity from start to finish. Higham's comedic take on the superhero genre was refreshingly unconventional, blending action-packed sequences with laugh-out-loud moments, thanks to his confident command of story and character. Our central hero is a brilliant piece of relatable yet ridiculous characterization as Hobart Mann's reluctant transformation into Hoboman unfolds with wit and charm. There’s a keen sense of tongue-in-cheek storytelling to the narrative, yet there are tender moments grounded in reality that bring you back to the emotions behind the story with sudden resonance. The absurdity of the cast’s adventures kept me entertained and engaged throughout the plot, and there were plenty of twists so that there was never a dull moment. Overall, Hoboman: The Higham Cut is a hilarious and irreverent take on the superhero genre that will please adventure fans everywhere.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Lynn Hesse’s Part of the Stars begins in 1878, Arkansas, when midwife Myra Logan vanishes after visiting the McCurdy family and wakes inside a mountain cave ruled by pale beings. Her husband Zepeda searches across the winter frontier while Myra’s aunt, Nellie Gatewood, presses officials to treat Myra as a missing woman in danger. Beneath the earth, Myra uses her medical skill to survive among the cave people, then learns that the blue-robed visitors have plans for the child growing inside her. When her daughter Adeline is born with signs of both worlds, escape becomes only the first part of Myra’s fight to return home before the forces below claim the baby as their own, placing Zepeda’s search against a hidden world that has already marked his family from a place still unknown.

Lynn Hesse’s Part of the Stars turns its title into a family mark, as lost loved ones become celestial presences. I like Myra because she remains a healer even after terror remakes her home. She warns Adeline to hide her plant-reviving power, then shelters Sarah after silver-being nightmares leave her pregnant. Sarah, the mother Myra trains, becomes an affecting ancillary figure. She learns midwifery at the Logan farm, then searches the remote country after Alice vanishes. The blue-robed beings make great antagonists through serene violation. The Boston Mountains feel cinematic because homestead life holds cosmic danger. The supernatural material works because it changes family life itself. Adeline heals a dying plant by touch, while Loca’s oval weapon turns red light into defense. This novel suits historical fantasy readers drawn to frontier midwifery shaped by supernatural suspense.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Night's Fable is a work of fiction penned by author Ochoie in the fantasy, humor, and adventure genres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience. This enchanting work is a magical and original tale set in New York's underbelly and the mystical Mystic Realm. Celestial deities and intricate plots unfold as Night falls ill, leading to unexpected heroes and surprising revelations. The premise of Night falling ill and his mischievous brother seizing control sets the stage for a series of delightful and unpredictable events. Ochoie has crafted a narrative that skillfully intertwines urban grit with celestial wonder, creating a tapestry of intrigue and magic and it feels like you’re stepping into a fantastical dreamland where whimsy meets philosophy at every turn.

What resonated most deeply for me was the blend of humor and profound themes woven throughout the story, which are effortlessly evocative and laced with strong emotion, but never overwhelmingly so. Characters like Night and his Chosen One, unexpected in their roles yet compelling in their journeys, breathe life into a narrative rich with balls, romances, and secret missions. The exploration of themes like destiny, sacrifice, and the balance between light and dark adds layers of meaning beneath the playful surface, and Ochoie's prose sparkles with wit and imagination. Overall, The Night's Fable not only entertains with its whimsical storytelling but also leaves a lingering sense of wonder and contemplation about the forces that shape our destinies. I would not hesitate to recommend it to fans of gorgeously-penned fantasy adventures everywhere.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

The Wellermans' Tale by Samson's Sister is a YA fantasy following siblings Barron and Adeline Wellerman, who are convinced there is truth behind the stories of Davy Jones, his ability to make the impossible happen, and the tattoos that seal his deals. The pair manipulates passage onto a ship, finding themselves surrounded by a crew with identical tattoos. Barron and Adeline brave the journey, wary of ghostly apparitions and intent on their ultimate destination, the Flying Dutchman. Deeper secrets hidden among the crew and their captain cast doubt on Barron and Adeline's full assessment of the circumstances. When it turns out that Davy Jones might not even be the worst thing they could face, the Wellerman siblings are thrust into a world where few come out alive, and nobody is ever the same.

“While up aloft in storm, from her his absence mourn, and firmly pray, arrive the day, he’s never more to roam.” I was in love with The Wellermans' Tale before Samson's Sister gave us a literal siren song, but I married into the series the second it rang in Adeline's ears. Samson's Sister does an excellent job of intermingling folklore, fantasy, and the objectives of the characters. The world-building is spectacular, from the Billy O’Tea with its golden oak wood and shimmering purple sails, and Shell’s Cove, with its towering cliffs and bustling docks, to the actual appearance of the Flying Dutchman and its ghostly crew. The ship's sails flaring offers both the atmosphere and the emotion of each scene. The character arcs run the gamut and press far beyond just the Wellermans. There's one scene with an insane twist that throws all notions of trust into the ocean, and a moment of betrayal that I absolutely did not see coming. Overall, this is a fantastic work, a solid entry into what promises to be a great series, and I look forward to seeing where it goes. In the words of Barron, “This is not how our story ends.” Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Something of a Tall Tale by Christopher C. Tyler follows Joe, who has some very big shoes to fill after the passing of his jet-setting father, Paul Cvozbo. It turns out that the shoes might be even bigger when, while in pursuit of escapism, Joe meets Biff, a bonafide Bigfoot “In the flesh—or fur I suppose.” Joe is shocked further when, instead of having his memory fried, he accompanies Biff and a Frog-Man named Franky to the American Legends Organization for Restricted Exposure, only to find Joe's father is known to them. Joe's first mission produces more questions than answers and turns up more folkloric beings that run the gamut from thunderbirds and anthropomorphic lizards to water creatures with, literally, bubbly chatter, and even the prospect of aliens. The deeper Joe and Biff dig, the more truth there appears to be in the brazen stories Joe's father shared, as well as who his father truly was.

Christopher C. Tyler wastes no time pulling us directly into Something of a Tall Tale, kicking the adventure off near the start. Joe is a likable character and even though he is totally blind-sided by what he starts to uncover, he never comes across as someone whose motives or authenticity we would question. He is thoroughly developed and a protagonist that we are happy to root for. What I really love is that Tyler gives equal treatment to ancillary characters, and, without turning their backstories into lengthy soliloquies, we walk away feeling as if we know them, even if it was just for that moment. These are often intertwined with the atmosphere of the scene, such as a story about a character who has an encounter with the Devil in the same chapter where Joe stares into a fire much more comforting than the belly of Hell. “A trapped pocket of sap would occasionally pop and send a flurry of embers skyward where they would dim before fading away, guiding Joe’s eye to the swath of stars that stretched across the big Texas sky." Excellent storytelling, plenty of twists, and a fantastic ride. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

My Year at the Good Bean Café by EA Luetkemeyer is a work of literary fiction that teases its readers with its synchronicities and coincidences. When Adrian Lomachenko decides to quit the well-paying high life of his financial career in San Francisco and settle down to write in the quaint, quiet, artistic community of Jacksonville, Oregon, his primary task is to come up with a suitable idea for his first novel. As a man who has been the subject of unlikely and inexplicable events in his personal life, he determines that he will write one short story every month of the coming year that deals with the unusual and mysterious events that happen in people’s lives. Using interviews with the many local characters in the region as his inspiration and his muse called Miranda, he sets about putting together this literary work. Basing himself at the local eatery, the Good Bean Café, Adrian will find himself drawn into a tangled web of stories that somehow seem inextricably linked one to the other.

Although My Year at the Good Bean Café is essentially a collection of short stories, due to their coincidences and synchronicities, readers will make correlations that give the work a solidity as a whole that one wouldn’t normally find in a collection. Author EA Luetkemeyer employs several techniques to make one feel a part of Adrian Lomachenko’s exploration of the human condition. His personalizing of the reader is not something I’ve come across before but, as a literary device, it does draw the reader in and make the stories seem like a fireside chat with the characters. Although some of the tales may seem beyond inexplicable and more in the realm of fantasy, the author has an innate ability to convince you that even if these events didn’t happen, the characters themselves are convinced they did occur. As with any collection, there will be personal favorites amongst the twelve tales and, for me, my favorite narrative was November’s Ten Thousand Hours in Shadowland which examines the idea that great talent is sometimes nurtured outside the earthly realms of time and space, before being again released into the world. I found this premise fascinating. All the stories are great though and readers will find themselves chuckling and nodding at some of the mystifying synchronicities that appear. I loved this read and can highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Sheena Monnin for Readers' Favorite

In a Nut’s Hell: Literary Doodles by Jim Wood is a zany, quirky, and utterly unexpected series of humorous stories that will make the reader laugh, roll their eyes in glee at the intentional absurdity of each story, and eagerly turn the pages for more. The author tackles complex topics involving religion, following the rules, writing, success, and many more with ease. He is skilled at taking a mundane scenario and flipping it upside down with the objective of surprising, shocking, and generating laughter in the reader. His perspective and writing style are both unique, and he is a champion of the unpredictable. The names he chooses for his characters, the dialogue, and the lack of context for the stories work beautifully together to meet the author’s end goal: shockingly funny stories for the discerning adult.

In a Nut’s Hell by Jim Wood had me laughing at every page, every scenario, and every character. The author did a fantastic job of diving right into the middle of the action with each short story. He is a master of flash fiction and creates intrigue within the first few sentences. I appreciated the vastness of variety in the topics he explores and brings to light in this book. This is comedy at its best. He skillfully combines dark humor with quirky perspectives and lighthearted banter. I love the combination of subtle messages mixed with in-your-face assertions and comic relief. This book is a fun read and will appeal to adults who appreciate skillful writing, great pacing, and somewhat shocking and utterly hilarious scenarios.

Reviewed by Bernadette Longu for Readers' Favorite

In The Spectacular Life of Benito Martin del Canto by David Towner, it is clear the author has studied the work of the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. He then wrote a story about a boy who becomes a man and has the most amazing adventures, both good and bad. The story starts in the year 1952 but in between the reader is transported to the year 2022 or thereabouts into the life of Peter Michaels and his daughter Taryn. Other characters include Principal Kelly, Spanish teacher Alice Loureiro, and Professor Daylet Dominguez, to name a few.

The book catches the reader's interest from the start and with wonderful words and scenes and the most unusual tales, the reader is taken from page to page, meeting the most extraordinary people who make up the life of Benito Martin del Canto. Each tale as it unfolds is more extraordinary and keeps the reader’s attention to carry on to the next one. The author holds the reader riveted from the opening paragraph to the very last line of the book. The twists and turns in the story will make readers envious of the writer who has such a vivid imagination. Readers will long to have the same or similar adventures as the people they meet.

This book piqued my imagination which is why I wanted to read it. It gives hope to aspiring writers with its beautifully written tall tale of adventure. What a delight to read and how inspiring. This was a fun and interesting book and the author knew just when to end so that it leaves a very interesting message. Thank you for an intriguing read and for giving us an insight into the writings and mind of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Anyone who reads widely will know of his most famous book Don Quixote which was translated into English and made into several movies. If I am not mistaken there is an opera as well.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Awful Truth About The Herbert Quarry Affair is a work of fiction in the dark humor subgenre. It is best suited to mature readers owing to the use of strong language throughout and was penned by Denis Shaughnessy, writing as the central character of the book itself, Marco Ocram. In this first novel of The Awful Truth series, Marco finds that he has written himself deep into trouble, thanks to his mentor’s encouragement to write with total freedom and devoid of thought. When his mentor, Herbert Quarry, finds himself caught at the scene of his lover's murder, it’s up to Marco to write them both out of this terrible mess.

This fascinating work of satirical mystery fiction has much to offer those who have grown tired of the many tropes and conventions of the typical murder mystery. Denis Shaughnessy has plenty of tricks up his sleeve writing in the guise of the surreal Marco Ocram. This book breaks just about every taboo that publishers tell new authors to stay miles away from. The book does it so bravely in the narrative style, dialogue, and plot delivery that it cannot fail to bring a brazen smile to the faces of rebellious readers everywhere. I also enjoyed the character development and the mentorship between Herbert and Marco, which was suitably sharp-witted and ridiculous in all the right places. I would recommend The Awful Truth About The Herbert Quarry Affair to fans of convention-breaking and highly engaging mystery tales.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

How the Ə Got Producted: A Love Story is an unusual work of fiction in the humor, alternative thinking, and adventure subgenres. It is aimed at the general adult reading audience, contains moderate usage of explicit language throughout, and some unusual sexual situations. It was penned by author N K Von S. The story follows the exploits of protagonist N. after she is left in emotional ruin by a failed love affair. Throwing herself into her work in Washington D.C., N. enters a world of influence and lobbying surrounding the biomedical technology industry. Here she discovers the Ə, a technology that could change the world forever.

Politically savvy readers will find much to engage with in the central plot of this highly original and intriguing novel. Author N K Von S packs a surprising amount of detail, critical thinking, and plot points into a concise space, moving the story along at a pace that allows readers to let the details sink in, but also keeps things hurtling along as N. gets more and more deeply involved in the consumerism and competition of it all. There’s much to be said about our modern take on technology so closely integrated into our modern lives, and this novel really homes in on why we feel such a desperate need for “the next big thing” all the time. Overall, How the Ə Got Producted has to be read to be fully understood, and it comes highly recommended to satire fans seeking critical commentary on our world today, as well as those looking for original storytelling with unpredictable new ideas aplenty.