Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Beyond The Gate is an urban crime novel by Nicole E. Avery. Seventeen-year-old Nyla Slayings' life didn't turn out quite the way it was supposed to after her parents were deported six years ago. Forced to live with her abusive foster father, the only respite she gets is being a vendor of food products at the local baseball stadium. However, things take a turn for the worse when her foster father catches her being intimate with her boyfriend, Juan, leading to a confrontation that results in his death. Plagued by guilt, Nyla and Juan find themselves blackmailed by a corrupt detective who wants to take advantage of their situation. Deeply in love, Nyla and Juan are determined to get through their predicament together. But Juan's untimely accident puts Nyla into a dire situation she never could've envisioned.

A tragic tale about parental abuse, systematic corruption, and the loss of innocence, Beyond The Gate is an absorbing read from start to finish. Author Nicole E. Avery tells a gut-wrenching story of a foster child who finds herself being the victim of abuse by the very people meant to protect her. The narrative follows Nyla, an enterprising seventeen-year-old who struggles to navigate her precarious situation surrounded by an abusive father, corrupt cops, and a hostile work environment. Through this captivating crime thriller, Avery tackles some heavy topics, such as child abuse, rape, harassment, corruption, and much more. Nyla is someone you can't help but root for. If you enjoy books containing relevant social issues, don't miss out on Beyond The Gate.

Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

The Buzz Boys, by Edward Izzi, is a touching and powerful coming-of-age novel about secrets, trauma, and friendship. The Buzz Boys centers around a group of friends who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s. They could have called themselves the Z Boys because each of them had a Z in their last name. But they were dubbed The Buzz Boys because their voices made a buzzing sound when they were talking in shop class. The unique thing is that each of them suffered physical and emotional abuse, and grew up with the aftereffects. They had to live in the shadow of their fathers' abuse. Each boy is different, and so is affected in different ways. The main character Robert Mazzara is an attorney in Chicago, and when he hears about the suicide of one of his best friends, he realizes the Buzz Boys were a long time ago, and it's been fifty years. They've been through a lot together, and this is their story.

Izzi has created a novel that is compelling, dark at times, and has its finger on the pulse of trauma and how it follows victims through life, coloring their choices, emotions, relationships, careers, self-worth, just to name a few. Opening with Mazzara's friend Marco and his father, this impactful, heart-twisting novel gets to the point of how damaging abusive fathers can be. This author writes characters that could walk off the pages and into your living room. They're real, personal, fully formed, and different from one another, yet share similar pain and outcomes. The writing is captivating, the plot strong and poignant, but there are some unexpected events to keep you wondering what will happen next. I love how Izzi takes you back through the decades and makes their childhoods real for you, and then leads you through their process of going from boys to men. Mazzara is a great character to know.

Though this is a hard book to read at times, as a former child/adult protection social worker, I can say that you will be emotionally rewarded if you stick with it, and there are some uplifting parts to balance the dark. The end gave me a chill, and that rarely happens when I read a book. As you read and get to know these characters, you want to right the wrongs, you want to do something to change their lives for the better, you want to help them. If you like friendship stories and character studies as depicted in works like Stand by Me, It, or Mystic River, you will connect with The Buzz Boys by Edward Izzi.

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

When a young man takes his injured friend's place in his band, he gets caught in a mad world of murder, magic, mythology, and time travel in the urban fantasy novel, The Devil Pulls the Strings by J. W. Zarek. Boone Daniels inadvertently injures his friend Flynn when someone blows an air horn during a jousting contest at the Renaissance Faire. Due to Flynn's injuries, Boone agrees to stand in for him in his band, The Village Idiots. The gig takes place in NYC, and Flynn insists that Boone go ahead of the band and meet their contact, Professor Stone. When Boone arrives as instructed, a piano and a dead body falling from the balcony above him nearly crushes him. Things get worse when two thugs start shooting. While fleeing the bullets, Boone's life takes a drastic turn when floating taxis, disappearing doors, and altering realities save his life. Why are they chasing Boone? What do they want?

The Devil Pulls the Strings by J. W. Zarek is a brilliant urban fantasy enhanced with magical beings and time travel. It has a dramatic storyline with an action-filled plot, and I enjoyed every element of the story. The storyworld's imagery is incredible, transporting the reader between modern-day New York City to nineteenth-century Italy. A combination of the television series Warehouse 13, The Librarians, and The Magicians, the storyline flows swiftly and is spellbinding from the first page until the last. The story ends on the ideal place to segue into a sequel and is the perfect beginning for a sensational series. It is an engaging and exciting urban fantasy that promises to thrill everyone from twelve to a hundred.

Reviewed by Stephanie Chapman for Readers' Favorite

Thorn of Secrets by B. Truly is the sequel to Scorn of Secrets. Madison moved to Baton Rouge with her daughter, Justice. She mourns the loss of her relationship with Justin, especially since his twin sexually assaulted her, and is mortified that her sister began dating Jackson. As her family gathers for Thanksgiving, her mother reveals that she has married Regan Jenkins, making Justin and Jackson her stepbrothers. To complicate the story further, her sister Tanya is actually Regan’s daughter and Aunt Cassandra’s ex from nineteen years ago. Madison recovers from the revelation and confides in her cousin, Dariel. When school starts, Madison becomes friends with Chauncey, who makes it obvious that he is infatuated with her. Madison consents, but as soon as they attempt to become intimate, she feels panic from her rape invade her mind. While Chauncey doesn’t push her, Madison doesn’t know how she will be able to tell him about the truth of her past.

B. Truly made this an increasingly intense story told through Madison’s eyes. Thorn of Secrets had me hooked in with the suspense to see if Madison would be able to make Jackson face justice. I was able to understand the cold feelings she had for her mother and sister. Knowing someone had raped me, I would hate my sister if she chose to date the monster. To add salt to the wound, having my mother marry the father of my attacker would probably have me disown my family. I appreciated that Madison did not fit the normal victim mentality because she had the fortitude to move forward with her life. The pace of the story blended well with the vivid imagery. Tastefully written intimate details are left to the imagination. There are several young adult social issues addressed, including being aware of your surroundings, dating abuse, and having someone that you can trust if you are struggling with trauma. I highly recommend this book to young adult readers who enjoy a suspenseful story of a young woman’s recovery from trauma.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

The 'Great' Kickin' Dog: A Family Tree by Kenneth Allen Crutchfield, Sr. is a novel with its own beauty and dignity in exploring the life of a dysfunctional family. John Coleman is the main protagonist, an ex-musician, assembly line worker, and alcoholic. Don’t call him a loser yet. He tries his best to be a good provider. You might even think that he is the sanest member of his family when you get to know the members of his coop. His wife, Mary, is struggling to overcome her own neurosis. Together, they are raising a large family of four girls and two musically-inclined boys in the low-income housing unit of Chicago in the 1960s. The neighborhood is not exactly a conducive place to raise a family, as it is infested by drug-dealing, gun-toting gangs. But John is determined to make a better life for his family. As he battles with his alcoholism and copes with domestic challenges, a tragedy strikes that will test his mettle to the limits.

The ‘Great’ Kickin’ Dog is a tribute of intense passion to those lives fractured by marginalization and injustice. Its protagonist puts into action his heroism through his resolve to keep his family away from a corrosive society. Richly evocative, Kenneth Allen Crutchfield, Sr.’s characters blend well with the time period that they represent. It is a work of intense moral seriousness with a literary quality that might remind you of the works of James Baldwin. As the story is based on the author’s family, you get a stab of realism in the narrative artistry. It is supercharged with a good balance of humor and drama working together like a Yin and Yang to bring forth a storyline that transcends the consciousness of today’s racist world. This is the type of novel that I will not hesitate to recommend.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Scorn of Secrets by B. Truly is a mesmerizing coming-of-age story with strong themes and elaborately developed characters. When Madison Guillory’s father dies leaving a huge gambling debt behind, her mother doesn’t wait long to start dating again. After just a few months, she introduces Regan Jenkins to Madison and her sister, Tanya. Madison and Tanya are moved across the state to live with her mother’s “Rico Suave” and his two sons. Madison is not as outgoing as her sister, and she wants to give her new family a chance. Everything seems to be just fine until a dreadful night in which her life is completely shattered. The problem is that she can’t talk about what happened that night. No one will even believe her. But can she live with the secret?

This story is emotionally rich and filled with psychological underpinnings. Madison is a young girl who experiences sexual abuse and she finds herself in a very difficult situation. It is an experience that many young girls will identify with. B. Truly writes relationships brilliantly and I particularly loved the realism written into the encounter and the effect it has on her life; the text messages feel real, depicting the world of teenagers. The treatment she has received is something that will haunt her forever, but the challenge is communicating what happened to someone else. Scorn of Secrets is an immersive story with unforgettable characters and themes that are skillfully written, including love, sexual harassment, family, and friendship. The gorgeous prose is enticing and the conflict is expertly written to keep readers’ eyes on Madison as they want to know what happens next.

Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

With life there are all types of experiences, lessons and challenges that shape us. It is the beginning of life from the womb to our formative years, up to the age of five, that help to create who we will be. If something drastic, brutal, or unfavorable occurs during these times, it can have a negative impact, but all is not lost - you can still overcome. Follow Tara Walker as her diary entries take us through the channels of her life from being a child, through puberty and teenage years to a young adult where each of these phases will have a tremendous influence on who she is and will become. Cheryl Denise Bannerman teaches us about how life can be happy yet have its dysfunctional elements, especially with those around us, from domestic violence, alcoholism, drug addiction and sexual abuse to feelings of isolation and loneliness. But in all things, despite what we face in life, God has another plan.

As I read Black Child to Black Woman: A Journey of Tremendous Proportions by Cheryl Denise Bannerman, I began to think about women like Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey. These two women are prime examples of how when our young lives are riddled with unfavorable occurrences, our choices and decisions make the difference. Just as Tara did in Black Child to Black Woman, as she transitioned from wife to mother, she began to see her life through different lenses. If you are looking for a true, gritty story about life in its rawest form, then Black Child to Black Woman: A Journey of Tremendous Proportions by Cheryl Denise Bannerman will fit the bill.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Balancers is a work of fiction in the urban fantasy, action, and adventure sub-genres, and was penned by author M.C. Alexander. A slick, sharp look at the nature of vengeance, the work is largely suitable for all reading audiences, with only a few moderate instances of non-graphic violence and explicit language. Our central protagonist for this unique adventure is Alessandra Genovese, who sees injustice all around her in the social structure of city life. She and her fellow Balancers seek to right these wrongs with powerful acts of justice, but when a murderer wreaks havoc on their city, the work becomes a race against time to stop innocent bodies piling up.

Author M.C. Alexander has crafted an excellent work of urban fantasy which will certainly tick all the boxes for readers who want thrills and spills from their adventure tales. More than this, though, I was impressed by the conceptual framework of the story, which goes further than your average fantasy novel into exploring the concept of divine justice and the ideas of vengeance that religion teaches us. Alessandra was a well-formed central heroine who had room to grow and developed really nicely throughout the story when she was put to the test. The plot construction was also a real high point, as it was paced almost like cinema to transition into pivotal scenes and never leave the reader bored or going through unnecessary details. Overall, I would recommend Balancers as a unique work for fantasy readers seeking new concepts to immerse themselves in.

Reviewed by Jessica Barbosa for Readers' Favorite

Cracks Of Light by John Charles Reedburg centers around the life of a young boy named Demetrius. He lives with his mother in a cramped two-bedroom apartment on the third floor of the Park Arms Apartment. Their lives are anything but ordinary, Demetrius’ mother is bipolar. She raises her son with “Geppetto”, but “Geppetto” isn’t Demetrius’ father or her boyfriend. “Geppetto” is her bipolar disorder. Demetrius is wary of her manic moods and prefers to avoid the terrible pain his Momma’s “other half” often inflicts. However, things start to change when Demetrius forms a hidden friendship with a being called “The Light”. He hesitates to tell his mother about this strange happening and soon Demetrius is taken into a different realm called “The Other Side” and finds out some unexpected things.

Cracks of Light is unlike anything I have ever read before. The blend of unique fantasy and traumatic drama captured my interest from the very start. This book has taken me through an unexpected but riveting journey of the characters’ past, present, and future. Nine-year-old Demetrius is a wary, frightened boy, which isn’t surprising considering the trials he has been through in his short life. He is careful and walks on eggshells around his mother, who could be unpredictable and often violent. My heart broke as I read through the abuse Demetrius, Olivia, and Lydia went through. John Charles Reedburg is not afraid to show us the far-reaching consequences of psychological and physical trauma and that bravery has shaped this story into something distinctive and unforgettable.

Mystery is woven skillfully among the words and often I found hidden gems in the pages. An example is this excerpt from chapter 27: “Anytime she fought with Geppetto it was hard to tell who was wrong. I just thought that was how violence and chaos got along. Stillness was the escape I found inside myself.” I was often left speechless by how beautiful and heartrending this story is. The words are often melodic in expression in the heavier aspects of the book and just added to the overall magnetism and beauty of the story. The ending definitely left me curious for more! Overall, this was definitely an eye-opening, brilliant book. Great job!

Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

Loose Lips by Mack Guinness is a gripping suspense thriller set in New Orleans. The main character, Cleveland Jones, isn't a cop anymore, but a veteran who minds his own business running a homeless shelter. His life takes a dangerous turn when he is suspected of killing the two sons of a friend, Margaret, and she wants him to find the real killer, as she feels she won't get justice from the police. As one victim leads to another, Jones (also known as Mr. J) realizes he is on the trail of a vicious killer, but he has to clear his name. What follows is a taut murder mystery that will satisfy the biggest crime drama fan.

Loose Lips by Mack Guinness is immediately engrossing, pulling you into the dark side of New Orleans with a few characters you never want to meet in person, but know they're there, lurking in the shadows; and a few characters you wish were around all the time. Guinness is a pro at writing lean and tight, with palpable descriptions and well-paced action. I liked several things about this crime novel. The unique setting and characters, especially Jones and his buddy Chill. Jones is realistic and likable. I liked that it's an everyday guy hunting for the killer, not an active detective. I liked the logical flow of the story. While reading, you feel that the author knows what he's doing, and really enjoys the genre. He builds his world with ease, energy, and grit, making you rush through pages to find out what happens next. He grounds the story in a lot of relevant details about New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina, prison life, running a shelter, etc., without slowing the story. Guinness's style takes you back to hardboiled crime dramas of earlier days, where anything goes, and no punches are pulled. Fans of James Patterson's Alex Cross novels and Tarantino's Pulp Fiction should pick up Loose Lips by Mack Guinness.