Reviewed by Stephanie Lynn for Readers' Favorite

Lemonade! by Melane Mullings shares the author’s personal journey and encourages listeners to find their potential and passion. She talks about how some of the most challenging moments in her life shaped her and set her on the path to finding professional and lifelong purpose. In the book, she uses some of her own stories as examples, along with relevant quotes and advice from other famous and successful voices that have inspired her. Mullings delivers powerful advice alongside motivational and actionable content. She balances encouragement and purpose, then delivers a section of useful questions and personal challenges after each chapter to help readers get the most from this book. For those who want to go deeper, additional resources are offered on her website.

One of the biggest things I learned was that when we combine the skills we were born with and the thing that we are most passionate about, that is where she says we will find our purpose. This theme was repeated throughout the book, and combined with the author's own experiences became the mantra throughout. Lemonade! by Melane Mullings reminds us that what can seem like a negative event might actually be just the thing we need to launch us on the path toward a successful, purpose-driven life. I enjoyed hearing the author’s take on how she overcame challenges and learned to turn them into something that wasn’t just successful on paper, but her life’s mission, something that she was actually passionate and excited about.

Lemonade! by Melane Mullings is narrated by the author. I found that having the author read the book turned out to be a great choice. Mullings delivered the information in a clear and professional tone. Her confidence could be heard, as well as her passion for the information she was sharing. This choice also allowed for her emphasis and emotion to drive home the personal impact the stories and events had on her as she shares about the path that led her to this point and talks about the hardships and setbacks faced along the way. Her compassion toward others and the genuine excitement for the life she now leads are also evident. That clear passion in her voice adds extra weight and believability to the information presented as she encourages others to discover their passion in life.

Reviewed by Olga Markova for Readers' Favorite

Voices Within: Family Chronicles by Lana Stasek tells the author’s life story, reconstructing her memories and ancestral tree from the 1960s. The book starts with her family history before her birth and spans all five decades of her life. The book describes the milestones that defined the author’s life, from childhood fears and corporal punishments to failed and successful marriages, parenting, emigration from Ukraine to the USA, the lessons the author learned, and reflections about topical social issues, such as depression, suicide, and social media privacy violations. Originally intending this book for herself, the author eventually saw a wider purpose to help others see their own lives differently and even brought this story to an English-speaking audience. What will you learn from Lana’s life story?

Voices Within: Family Chronicles deserves so much praise! As a contemporary with a shared ex-Soviet and divergent background, I appreciated the walk down memory lane and admired Lana Stasek's direct, detailed, and accurate portrayal of life in the USSR and post-Soviet wild West, including the challenges of public transport, housing, law enforcement, education, passion-or-paycheck career choices, and even death. The author’s animal-loving, kind, and defiant personality appealed to me, and I shared in the horror of the suffocating predictability of life’s blueprint loop that drove Lana - and me – out of the post-Soviet space. I also admired Lana for recovering the long-lost relationships with her extended family and friends and reassessing what she would do differently now. In addition, I liked Lana’s defiant, witty humor, especially in ridiculing the stance of fairy tales on man-woman relationships. But most of all, I enjoyed Lana’s take on neuro-linguistic programming and reincarnation.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Megan Tusing, a talented and experienced voice actress with many audiobooks to her credit. The hours the audiobook lasted passed in a flash and left me wishing for more. I liked Megan’s dynamic, confident, and direct narration style – it interplayed perfectly with the author’s vibrant character and storytelling honesty, and captured every tonality of the author’s messages. The clear diction and flawless sound recording made this audio production praiseworthy. All in all, this admirable memoir will resonate with adults interested in family relationships and anyone curious about life in the Soviet and post-Soviet Ukraine. In addition, young adults and older couples will discover an abundance of inspirational wisdom in this touching, introspective, and thought-provoking story.

Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite

This inspirational audiobook, Make Your Destiny Happen, is written by Donzel A. Leggett to help the reader go from just thinking about something to actually doing it. It is based on Leggett’s Destiny Development Delta™ Model. It focuses on the need to assess and evaluate one’s current circumstance, relieves the feeling of being stuck, and inspires the redefinition and revisioning of success. Leggett also provides tools, techniques, and transformative strategies to help the reader make and maintain permanent change. The author provides personal stories and lessons learned from his extensive experience in executive leadership. From this, he developed a series of steps that he hopes will motivate the reader to take control of their life and define their future in a more meaningful way.

Make Your Destiny Happen throws you into the story as the main character and encourages you to discover your own path of personal development. As you progress, Donzel A. Leggett guides you with certain attitudes of leadership as well as principles of managing change. By the end, you should have a better understanding of accountability, resilience, authenticity, and disciplined planning. The narrative is clear and straight to the point. It manages to avoid the technical jargon that comes with leadership and management. The consistently steady pace and the clarity should encourage you to think and appreciate the system ingrained in the book.

The audiobook, read by Donzel A. Leggett, allows you to experience another dimension of his work. Without a doubt, Leggett demonstrates the particular tone of a veteran mentor. The performance was measured, confident, and encouraging. The sound is very polished, and the production quality is excellent, which contributes to the experience of a personal leadership seminar. For those who are ready to own their future, this well-designed resource will help them achieve that goal.

Reviewed by Robert A. Groves for Readers' Favorite

Twice the Family traces Julie Ryan McGue’s life as an adoptee and identical twin. The girls grew up in a large Catholic family in the Chicago suburbs. The memoir follows Julie and her twin sister Jenny from infancy through adulthood. The backdrop of their childhood is set against a series of family tragedies. There are miscarriages, the death of a newborn brother, and the sudden loss of a toddler sister. All these life events formed the emotional landscape of their home. As the family expands, Julie must work through many issues: twin identity, adoption, and faith. She writes about belonging and finding her place within a family structure that contains lingering grief. Structured in three parts, Identity, Belonging, and Becoming, the book chronicles her evolving sense of self. As she moves from childhood into motherhood, readers learn about early bonds, unanswered questions, and family expectations. All these factors influence the woman she ultimately becomes.

I was surprised by the feelings Julie Ryan McGue’s Twice the Family caused within me. I had to pause the narration more than once, either to catch my breath or to think about what she had just shared. The mix of grief, strength, and quiet humor drew me in and kept me there. As someone with siblings, I especially connected with the twins’ changing relationship. The book reminded me that family stories, with all their messiness, play a big part in determining who we become. I recommend this audiobook to listeners who appreciate memoirs that are filled with honesty and grace. I found myself carrying it with me to listen to as opportunities presented themselves throughout the day. I think you will, too.

Katie Hagaman’s narration makes the experience even better. She is a multi-award-winning voice actress. Her professional expertise is quite evident in this presentation. Her voice is warm and steady, and she brings gentleness to the harder parts of the story. She reads in a way that feels almost like someone is telling you the story across the table. I felt she captured and conveyed the emotion of McGue’s words across the sound waves without fail. Her care with the material helps carry you through both the painful moments and the lighter ones.

Reviewed by Miche Arendse for Readers' Favorite

My Life Isn't Perfect, But My Testimony Is: I Don't Look Like What I Have Been Through by Michelle M. Brown is a powerful and inspiring story of Michelle’s life as she encounters various hardships, from losing her mother and her grandmother at a very young age to facing health issues in adulthood. Michelle recounts her memories and experiences and how she got through it by the grace of God and the resilience instilled in her by her grandmother and her faith.

My Life Isn't Perfect, But My Testimony Is immediately caught my eye the moment I read the title. I can’t explain it but I felt the need to listen to this story and, once I did, I realized why. Hearing Michelle’s life story and how she overcame whatever life threw her way inspired me and gave me the courage to face my own hardships. The attitude she has toward life isn’t one you find very often and I found it to be very empowering. She has an almost no-nonsense type approach to dealing with hardships in the sense that she refuses to wallow in self-pity or let things drag her down easily or for too long.

My Life Isn't Perfect, But My Testimony Is was beautifully narrated by Deja Nance. The quality of the audiobook was clear and Deja elevated that with her strong yet emotion-filled voice. She narrated the story in such a way that it almost felt like the author herself was reading the story aloud. I enjoyed how she sang at certain parts and felt that it added something extra to the listening experience. Overall, I loved listening to this audiobook and I would recommend it to anyone who needs a little push in getting through hard times.

Reviewed by Jaqueline Neves for Readers' Favorite

All You'll Never Be: Because of Who You Are by E. L. Neve and Tal Boldo is a profoundly insightful audiobook that ventures into the intricate relationship between one's perspective on life and the resultant happiness. In this unique and thought-provoking exploration of happiness, the authors offer a valuable addition to any audiobook collection. The wisdom within its sections is refreshingly simple yet profoundly genius, ensuring that it becomes a resource to return to time and again when seeking guidance on the journey of life. Without giving away any spoilers, the audiobook's content serves as a beacon of clarity, illuminating the impact of our chosen paths on our overall well-being.

The quality of All You'll Never Be: Because of Who You Are by E. L. Neve and Tal Boldo shines through in the writing. The authors adeptly deliver profound insights in a concise, engaging manner, making this audiobook a must-listen for those seeking a deeper understanding of happiness, life choices, and personal fulfillment. The audiobook excels in conveying its impactful message with a masterful blend of pacing, reflection, well-drawn characters (the authors themselves), and profound thematic exploration. This audiobook has the potential to reshape perspectives, offering valuable guidance and enlightenment in today's distracting world. The content's structure is well-crafted, with an accompanying ebook that enriches the experience through captivating imagery.

Thoughtful music interludes effectively set the tone, facilitating contemplation of the presented philosophies. With author E. L. Neve serving as the narrator, her authenticity and passion shine through in every word, adding a personal touch to the content. The clear and articulate narration facilitates a full engagement with the material, making it easy to follow the profound insights presented. Furthermore, the crisp and clear sound quality ensures that listeners can fully immerse themselves in the audiobook's content without any distractions.

Reviewed by Frank Mutuma for Readers' Favorite

Turning the Pages: How Exploring My Past Lives Led Me on the Journey of Healing Memories, and What I Learned While Traveling Back in Time by Alla Kaluzhny explores her past lives and how they affect her present life. Alla was raised in the Soviet Union before relocating to the USA. Dreams have always played a significant role in her life. One dream of importance is where her husband gives her a book but she is not able to open some pages, which is interpreted as her subconscious protecting her from something. In another of her dreams, she is born as a noble poised to inherit her father's titles, but she dies a violent death on the battlefield. In another past life, she lost her child at the hands of the midwife, who was also her mother, which might explain the tensions with her mother. In another experience, she gets a rash and forms a bond with a Buddhist monk.

Turning the Pages by Alla Kaluzhny was an interesting read for me. It triggered my curiosity about reincarnation, a subject I am not familiar with. I loved how every event and emotion was vividly described, making the book entertaining. Alla utilizes suspense to great effect, which makes me look forward to the next adventure in her life. Another thing that caught my attention was the concept of forgiving oneself and the importance of healing from the soul level. Though subtly, the thought-provoking work also got me thinking about issues such as religion, immigration, and the freedom of citizens to practice their beliefs.

Turning the Pages was amazingly narrated by Lea Greene. She did not just read the book; she brought the characters to life by changing her voice where necessary. She also used relevant intonations and ensured that the pace was neither too slow nor too fast to follow.

Reviewed by Jennie More for Readers' Favorite

Don't Expect Me to Cry by Janet Bentley is a memoir audiobook detailing the author's life and sexual abuse from her father and other men. Bentley provides in-depth descriptions of her traumatic abuse, which includes not only sexual but also physical, emotional, and verbal abuse. When she could not find the normality of a loving family at home and from her father, she sought other avenues, like friends and church. Still, ultimately, these also proved futile, and she was always left feeling unloved and not belonging. Bentley describes her journey toward healing as an ever-present process, and even though it's decades later, she is still on the road to recovery, which is testimony to the fact that overcoming childhood trauma is not something you get over but something you work through daily.

Don't Expect Me to Cry by Janet Bentley is a candid, emotionally charged, and revealing audiobook. Bentley's experience of sexual abuse as a child is unimaginable, especially at the hands of her father, whom she rightfully expected to be her protector. The narrative is filled with raw emotion that comes through in every experience that Bentley shares. Though a lot of healing still lies ahead for Bentley, the book is also a testimony of her courage and the immense healing she has already achieved. Reaching a point to publicly speak of what many abuse victims and society deem the unspeakable requires a great deal of strength, as the revictimization of victims when speaking out is quite common in society. I have never heard such an authentic, honest, and brave testimony. Undoubtedly, this book will provide solace and relief to many victims of abuse as they will be able to relate to the turmoil of emotions that Bentley experienced and continue to experience and become forgiving toward themselves for mistakes they made later in life as a result of the abuse.

Listening to Don't Expect Me to Cry, narrated by the author Janet Bentley, was an eye-opener to the reality of the lives of child sexual abuse victims. It is incomprehensible that it is possible to overcome the trauma, but Bentley, through her narration, makes it appear likely. I loved that Bentley narrated the book herself because hearing the story from the voice of the person who experienced it made it more accurate and authentic. During particularly devastating stories or emotional letters that Bentley shared, I could hear the inflection in her voice showing the lingering pain, but also the immense and inspirational strength. I am impressed by how Bentley's voice remained clear and coherent throughout the narration because this was certainly a difficult story to tell. Still, she made listening to and empathizing with her emotions easy. The sound quality of the audio was exceptional, and Janet held my attention throughout.

Reviewed by Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers' Favorite

Using her testimonial as a springboard to talk about miscarriage, A.C. Babbitt relates her experience and that of others in her audiobook The Miscarriage Project: Testimonials of Parents Who Found Hope in God. Babbitt recalls her feelings at the time of and after the miscarriage of her son, Timothy Lyle Babbitt. She created a blog, and, with their permission, she recounts the stories of other women who commented as they comforted her and shared their private moments of infant loss. The book moves beyond the initial shock of miscarriage and follows the grieving process past the short period society usually allows.

A.C. Babbitt has created a book that will be a treasure to families who have lost a child due to miscarriage, stillbirth, adoption, or abortion, and offers them peace through biblical quotations and comforting words. Fathers who have lost babies can also find solace in Babbitt’s words, as the author’s husband and a teen father describe their experiences. Applicable scripture will speak to readers and outline women’s struggles as they relate their shaken and renewed faith. The author communicates grief while still providing hope to struggling mothers who had dreams and plans for their unborn children. Even though Babbitt speaks about loss, fear, guilt, and anger, the book encourages understanding, sympathy, and faith in God. The Miscarriage Project is a great selection for anyone who has lost an infant and can benefit from the written testimonials, so they know they are not alone.

Deja Nance is an experienced narrator who is credited with over twenty books of audio performances. Her voice is smooth and even, transporting the reader seamlessly from one chapter to the next. Even though several women and two men contributed to the book, Nance conveys their parts easily, as if she is relating them through the voice of the author. The book was delivered calmly, extending a level of peace to readers. With good sound quality, the reader will have smooth transitions between sections and no background interference as they enjoy this meaningful audiobook.

Reviewed by Kayleigh Perumal for Readers' Favorite

You Know it’s a Verb, Right? by Dr. Wayne Applewhite and Jennifer Milius explains how to develop positive leadership qualities in individuals at any stage of their leadership journey. The book guides readers through the core principles of leadership. Each chapter in the first section requires you to ask yourself several key reflective questions to help you understand what type of leader you are and can be.

To be a good leader, you must know how to communicate effectively with others, be aware of your ethics and morals, and understand how culture affects this. It is also vital to know about the various cultures in your organization and the industries in which it operates. The authors advise leaders to improve their credibility in the eyes of their followers, which will cultivate greater trust. In You Know It's a Verb, Right? Dr. Wayne Applewhite and Jennifer Milius highlight the importance of diversity and representation (gender, race, age, and ethnicity) in organizations for them to be successful. As a concept, leadership is outlined as a practice and an intentional action ("a verb") that requires preparation and continual learning.

I found the ‘Wayne remembers’ and ‘Jen remembers’ sections to be particularly useful, as they provide real-life examples that support and illustrate the authors’ arguments. The use of plain language makes this audiobook easy to understand and follow. The audio quality is clear, and the narration (done by the authors) is evenly paced, with an appropriate tone and rhythm, which makes it an enjoyable listen. Anyone who wants to improve their leadership skills will appreciate this book.