Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke for Readers' Favorite

Betrayal of Faith by Mark M Bello tells the story of a family ripped apart after widowed Jennifer Tracey persuades her two sons, Kenny and Jake, to go on a church camping weekend led by the newly arrived Father Gerry. On both those nights the boys were subjected to rape and for weeks they would not talk about it. In one weekend their behaviour had changed drastically. On mentioning this to the church, they arranged for the boys to receive professional help and the story finally comes out. Jennifer decides to pursue the matter through the courts to prevent any more children becoming victims. She consults her former lawyer, who in the meantime has fallen on hard times. It’s the start of a long, hard road as she fights for justice, not only against Father Gerry but also against the Catholic Church.

I was so glad I chose to read and review Betrayal of Faith by Mark M Bello. It is one of those books when I ignore the dishes in the sink, the unmade bed, and sit and read, totally absorbed, from beginning to end. The characters are well drawn and spring to life off the page. The pace was brisk, never stalling on too many technical and legal details as the legal battle continues. There are heart stopping moments when you’re not entirely sure of the outcome. Vital witnesses go missing, one witness won’t commit to appearing for the defence. I liked the private investigator called Micah Love with his idiosyncrasies, and admired Zachery Blake as he pulled himself back on track. In the background are the shadowy figures of the Coalition, a church group set up to spy on how priests behave, but more importantly to cover up any mistakes and prevent any publicity detrimental to the Church. There is nothing they are not prepared to do to preserve the perfect image of their religion. There was a surprise twist at the end and the author did a great job in tying up all the loose ends. A modern book that peels away the layers of secrecy that surround the sexual abuse of children by the very people they trust. It’s a topical subject and Mark M Bello has created an excellent story. A well deserved 5 stars.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Deviant Agendas: A Victoria Rodessa Legal Thriller by Katherine Smith Dedrick is Volume 1 of the V-Files. Victoria Rodessa has graduated from law school and has gone to join Acker, Smith & McGowen, one of the top international law firms that pushes female lawyers to succeed. The partners have high ambitions and when a top case falls into Victoria’s lap, a case that is important to their ambitions, she starts the journey to become the first female partner of the firm. Things are not what they seem at first glance though, and Victoria could be heading for trouble. She has to make a big decision – listen to her conscience and risk losing all she has worked for, or stay quiet and pay a far higher price. Which path would you take?

Deviant Agendas by Katherine Smith Dedrick is a cracking legal thriller. This is real edge of your seat stuff, a gripping rollercoaster ride of a story. Victoria is the kind of character you can instantly feel an affinity with, a smart woman who is good at what she does. The development of the characters throughout the book was excellent and I really felt as though I were a part of their world. This book has a great plot, intriguing and deep without being complicated. It was an easy story to read and follow, highly entertaining with plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked. Absolutely loved this story and I am so looking forward to reading the next installment. I would recommend this book to anyone – it has a bit of everything!

Reviewed by Sandy Appleyard for Readers' Favorite

First time author Emme Dun has done a remarkable job of pulling together a thought-provoking and important story about the gay rights movement, one that will touch many readers regardless of beliefs or sexual orientation. The title is apt since at the heart of Bully are two couples; one homosexual, another heterosexual, who are being bullied into surrendering their full parental rights as retribution from the other party for breaking up the relationship.

There is an important lesson to be learned in this novel, and it isn’t simply about ‘coming out’ of the proverbial homosexual closet, or fighting for LGBT rights; it’s more about reading the signs of a failed relationship and acting on them, especially when children are involved. Bully illustrates the anguish and familial turmoil that can happen when an unstable person is pushed away much too long after they've been given a free ride. It’s about what can happen when people exploit laws, and corrupt members of the justice system work hand-in-hand for their own personal benefit, dismissive of what damages they inflict on families.

Emme Dun’s knowledge of the American justice system is clear and well-defined as she paints an unambiguous picture of court proceedings and the sabotage occurring behind each custody case. Bully is a nail-biting, heart-breaking, and educational account of what can unfold when hot worldly issues are mixed with the failure of the systems that have been put in place to protect us. This is an account of the domino effect that can happen to anyone involved in a parental relationship, whether homosexual or heterosexual; Bully is entertaining, enlightening, and has been tastefully written to maintain equal understanding and respect for all walks of life.