Reviewed by Astrid Iustulin for Readers' Favorite

The Juror Rejudges the Trial: The Juror and the General 35 Years Later is the new edition of the book that M. Patricia Roth published a few decades ago. She was a jury member in the Westmoreland vs. CBS trial, which lasted 18 weeks and was considered the trial of the century. In the new edition, the author narrates the trial and includes her reflections. She also reveals to the reader how her life changed after the trial was over and how she found time to pursue her passions after quitting her teaching job. In the end, she includes reflections on the state of affairs many years after the end of the trial.

The justice system has always fascinated me, so I loved reading The Juror Rejudges the Trial. M. Patricia Roth writes very well, and her firsthand knowledge of the trial makes this account a valuable and interesting source. She lets us know everything that is important to know, and it is easy for the reader to follow the events. I enjoyed reading Roth's reflections and the descriptions of the behavior of the various protagonists of the story. Furthermore, I appreciated that she added how this trial changed her life. This helps us know her better and puts her experience into a new perspective; it allows us to reflect on how a single event can change a person's life. I recommend The Juror Rejudges the Trial to anyone interested in the Westmoreland vs. CBS trial and who wants to read a special testimony like Roth's.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

By His Grace by Katy Sudano and Ginger Green is a moving memoir about Sudano's journey from being hurt by others to finding herself and becoming stronger. Sudano tells her story honestly, talking about the difficult things that happened to her and how she found the strength to break free from people who left her. Her story, which she wrote with Green, shows how someone can overcome hard times and find purpose in life. This book is both a personal story and a way to give hope to others who have been through similar experiences. The authors do a good job of balancing sad parts with hopeful moments, telling the story in a way that touches readers while being careful about tough topics. Working together, Sudano and Green make this important story both emotional and well-written.

Author Katy Sudano, working with Ginger Green, tells her story very clearly and bravely, and I felt very moved by how she shared even the hardest parts of her life. The writing moves smoothly between sad moments and times of healing, making a story that feels honest and hopeful. Their teamwork makes the story better while keeping Sudano's real voice. The book talks about big problems in society about abuse and getting better while focusing on personal growth. What I like best is how the authors turn very personal experiences into lessons anyone can learn about being strong and hopeful, connecting with readers in a way that feels real and helpful instead of preachy. When I read about how Sudano overcame hard times, I really cared about her journey and felt inspired by how strong she was. Overall, By His Grace is a very important book for anyone who needs inspiration while healing or wants to understand how someone can move from being hurt to being strong, and I would definitely recommend it.

Reviewed by Mansoor Ahmed for Readers' Favorite

The Rogue's Confession by Serge R. Pospelov carries an unusual disclaimer on its opening page: all the people are fictional; all the events are real. That tension is what makes this book so gripping. Written by a former Russian Army officer who later escaped from Russia under FSB surveillance, the book is a collection of three connected stories drawn from the margins of post-Soviet life. The first and longest follows Yuriy, a man who drifts from small-time extortion in Astrakhan to the Chechen war and, years later, to the Wagner Group in the Central African Republic, where he loses a leg and almost everything else. The second story follows Russian merchant sailors in the Gulf of Guinea as they face a pirate attack at sea. The third follows a Russian defector taking revenge on those who betrayed him. These are not stories about heroes. They are stories about men who had no good options left and took the ones available to them.

Serge R. Pospelov writes with the unsparing clarity of someone who has personally stood on those drill grounds and felt those cold shivers run down his spine. The Chechen battle scene, where two armored vehicles are destroyed in quick succession, and nobody pauses to look at the dead, is written with a visceral precision that no amount of research could produce. The pace is relentless, and the action is real. I found Yuriy's recruitment into Wagner, a sequence involving a polite female voice on the phone, two rough men who never smile, and a promise of a "strong, healthy sunburn," quietly chilling in the best possible way. The themes of disposability, loyalty without reward, and survival at any cost run through all three stories with a dark consistency. The Rogue's Confession is an extraordinary document of lives the world rarely sees and would rather not think about, and it deserves to be read.

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

After Escobar is a true crime story by Chris Feistl and Dave Mitchell. Taking down the notorious Cali Godfathers and the biggest drug cartel in Colombia’s history seemed an insanely impossible mission to many, but Drug Enforcement Agents (DEA) Chris Feistl and Dave Mitchell were determined to make it happen. Cali Godfathers, Miguel and Gilberto Rodriquez Orejuela, celebrated when Medellín’s drug baron, Pablo Escobar, was killed in 1993. Their Cali Cartel then became the most powerful crime syndicate during the 1990s. While the DEA and other law enforcement agencies focused on the Medellín Cartel, the Cali Cartel was able to strengthen and expand without keen observation. The brothers controlled a sophisticated international syndicate and used a supercomputer that baffled experts. They hired skilled personnel and killers, bribed politicians, policemen, and intimidated anyone they wanted in the interests of the cartel, and to avoid extradition to the United States, which they feared. Dave and Chris organized numerous raids, but often experienced setbacks because Cali spies infiltrated their working environment and personal space. The agents were distrustful, but adroit, and knew how to respond to the deadly “hide and seek” games the drug barons played with them and the people who became a threat to them.

After Escobar is a fascinating true crime story that Drug Enforcement Agents Chris Feistl and Dave Mitchell wrote with Jessica Balboni. They recall their years in Colombia working with local law enforcement agencies to destroy the Cali crime syndicate managed by the four Cali Godfathers: Miguel and Gilberto Orejuela, Jose “Chepe” Santacruz Londono, and Francisco Helmer “Pacho” Buitrago. After Escobar is a deeply absorbing story containing graphic details describing how vicious the Cali Godfathers were to their victims, as well as their entrepreneurial approach to the drug trade and real estate. Chris and Dave faced many life-threatening situations, and shared their concerns and fears. They proved how brave, smart, and witty they could be, despite the circumstances. Every page I turned highlighted their dedication and professionalism in doing the dangerous job they loved. Part of Chris Feistl and Dave Mitchell’s story was told in Season 3 of the acclaimed Netflix series, Narcos: Rise of a New Empire. There was so much more content that I wanted to include in this review, but it would become a lengthy essay. I encourage you to read After Escobar. You won’t regret it!

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

By His Grace by Katy Sudano and Ginger Green is a moving memoir about Sudano's journey from being hurt by others to finding herself and becoming stronger. Sudano tells her story honestly, talking about the difficult things that happened to her and how she found the strength to break free from people who left her. Her story, which she wrote with Green, shows how someone can overcome hard times and find purpose in life. This book is both a personal story and a way to give hope to others who have been through similar experiences. The authors do a good job of balancing sad parts with hopeful moments, telling the story in a way that touches readers while being careful about tough topics. Working together, Sudano and Green make this important story both emotional and well-written.

Author Katy Sudano, working with Ginger Green, tells her story very clearly and bravely, and I felt very moved by how she shared even the hardest parts of her life. The writing moves smoothly between sad moments and times of healing, making a story that feels honest and hopeful. Their teamwork makes the story better while keeping Sudano's real voice. The book talks about big problems in society about abuse and getting better while focusing on personal growth. What I like best is how the authors turn very personal experiences into lessons anyone can learn about being strong and hopeful, connecting with readers in a way that feels real and helpful instead of preachy. When I read about how Sudano overcame hard times, I really cared about her journey and felt inspired by how strong she was. Overall, By His Grace is a very important book for anyone who needs inspiration while healing or wants to understand how someone can move from being hurt to being strong, and I would definitely recommend it.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Hurricane Audrey: The Deadly Storm of 1957 by Cathy C. Post is a retelling of the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Audrey on mid-century Cameron, Louisiana. As the storm approaches, families prepare for evacuation, with Captain D.W. Griffith coordinating efforts to evacuate oil rig crews. Local residents, including Clara Broussard and the DeBarge family, express growing concerns about the hurricane. It is chaos when the storm lands, with families fighting against rising floodwaters, leading to urgent evacuations, including those facilitated by the sheriff’s boat. Post's work leans heavily into the community's collective resilience, with survivors seeking refuge and medical assistance when the storm finally passes. The aftermath reveals significant devastation, and families begin to regroup and reflect on their experiences before and after Audrey, showing readers the long-lasting effects of the disaster.

I'm ashamed to say that I knew nothing of this natural disaster before reading Cathy C. Post's Hurricane Audrey, and genuinely appreciate this literary revival that focuses on the real experiences of those who lived through it. Post's writing is clear and often cinematic, pulling us into the terrifying moments. The standout to me is reading about families like Brown and Alice clinging for their lives as the chaos of nature’s fury rages around them. Post captures the raw emotion and grit of the survivors, depicting their determination to assist one another and rebuild, especially after the disaster. I thought Post's descriptions of the community’s hardships, from makeshift shelters to frantic searches for loved ones, especially moving. Overall, Post's work serves as both a historical account and an affecting tribute to the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable tragedy, making it a must-read for those interested in the history and the individual stories that drive it. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Girl, Uncoded: A Memoir of Passion, Betrayal, and Eventual Blessings by Brandi Dredge is an amazing true story of courage and resilience. Sixteen-year-old Caroline loved hanging out with her friends, but she longed to meet the man who owned the apartment they met in. Some said he was a stripper, but she didn’t care—he intrigued her, and once they met, she didn’t want anyone else. When she fell pregnant, she knew that with Gary by her side, everything would be okay, even marrying him at the tender age of 17. But like many fairytale dreams, hers was shattered over the next nine years, and when it was revealed she was the victim of statutory rape for being underage, she struggled to understand. When her son’s DNA proves to be the evidence the prosecution needs, all the pieces finally fall into place. Can Caroline get her life and identity back? This is her story.

Girl, Uncoded by Brandi Dredge is a heartbreaking story about a young girl falling in love with the wrong person. There are references to domestic violence, rape, and sexual abuse that may be triggering for some readers. This is an in-depth memoir of how one young, innocent girl was drawn in by her husband’s lies, believing everything he told her and not believing what she knew deep in her heart to be true about him. You will be taken through every emotion you can think of when you read this compelling account of betrayal, heartbreak, and abuse. While you may get frustrated with Caroline and her naivete, we must remember that this is what abusers do to their victims. The important thing is that she eventually saw the truth and managed to put her life back together again, and her sheer courage shines through in how, with God on her side, she rebuilt her life from the ashes of what she thought was a happy marriage. This is a hard read, but it’s one you will not be able to put down.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Kalman & Leopold: Surviving Mengele's Auschwitz by Richard K. Lowy is a harrowing and profoundly important account that bears witness to the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust through the experiences of two young boys. Serving initially as servant boys in the SS guard shack and later becoming subjects in Josef Mengele's notorious medical experiments, Kalman and Leopold's firsthand testimonies reveal the depths of human cruelty while simultaneously illuminating the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. Through their voices, readers are confronted with a raw and unflinching narrative that captures moments of absolute despair, fleeting instances of hope, and an unyielding strength that defies comprehension. Lowy's meticulous approach to documenting their experiences ensures that these personal histories are preserved with the utmost respect and authenticity, creating a powerful testament to survival in the face of systematic dehumanization.

Author Richard K. Lowy has a truly moving and exceptional commitment to preserving historical truth through the most intimate and personal of lenses. I was profoundly moved by his respectful yet unvarnished approach to storytelling, which allows the voices of Kalman and Leopold to speak directly to readers. Lowy's narrative technique immerses readers in the lived experiences of his subjects, making their pain, resilience, and humanity palpable in ways that transcend traditional historical documentation. His vivid portrayal of Auschwitz goes beyond mere historical recounting, offering an exploration of survival, trauma, and the extraordinary capacity of individuals to maintain dignity in the most inhumane of circumstances. The decision to focus on personal perspectives transforms what could be a distant historical account into an intimate, emotionally resonant narrative that challenges readers to confront the most difficult chapters of human history. Lowy's writing reveals an extraordinary sensitivity to the complex emotional landscapes of survival, showing how individual stories can illuminate broader historical truths. The way he navigates the delicate balance between historical accuracy and emotional depth is nothing short of remarkable. Overall, I would highly recommend Kalman & Leopold: Surviving Mengele's Auschwitz as essential historical testimony that ensures these crucial stories are never forgotten.

Reviewed by Willam Haines for Readers' Favorite

Mavi, My Dearest: An Extraordinary Journey to Motherhood by Duygu Mengioğlu is an emotional and perceptive look into motherhood using surrogacy. This is the story of a devoted wife, Duygu, and her husband, Ahmet, a couple who, after years of marriage, decided to turn to surrogate motherhood to have a child. Duygu, who suffers from multiple phobias, initially hesitates but eventually embraces surrogacy after a miscarriage devastates their hopes. The details of surrogacy and the challenges associated with it are explored. The author takes readers from Georgia to Ukraine while searching for the right surrogate mother. It also depicts the personal and external trials and tribulations involved, including the COVID-19 pandemic and war. This is a riveting story of hope and perseverance in the endeavor to have children.

The quality of storytelling is impressive and heartfelt. Duygu Mengioğlu perfectly portions out the rational and the emotional parts of surrogacy so that the audience can watch the practical side and feel the pain that comes with it. An excellent aspect of the book is that it captures the couple’s experiences of joy, loss, and fear. The author engages readers with clear, concise language, expertly explaining legal and medical concepts in an easy-to-understand manner. The courage of the author in revealing her anxieties and trials is another strength, enabling me to empathize with her ordeals. The surrogates and other characters, such as the Turkish taxi driver, are depicted with considerable warmth. Mavi, My Dearest is one of the most captivating, enlightening, and uplifting books one can read; it highlights the importance of hope and perseverance in the middle of tribulation.

Reviewed by Nino Lobiladze for Readers' Favorite

Nothing is more terrifying for a mother than losing her child. Kathleen's 39-year-old son, Chad, took his own life on October 14, 2014. Since that fateful day, Kathleen's life has drastically changed. She spent three horrifying years immersed in intense grief, anger, and guilt. Kathleen was already familiar with difficulties and hardships. She was married to a Vietnam veteran dealing with PTSD. The abusive marriage left her with many scars, and Kathleen found escape in writing and praying to God. In October Will Never Be the Same, Kathleen Janz-Anderson opens her heart and tries to understand what led her beloved son to his untimely death. Kathleen explains how to cope with grief, gives recommendations regarding grief groups, shares her experience with different therapists, and advises concerning medium interference. October Will Never Be the Same is a heartbreaking and inspirational account of grief and bravery for those who suffer the loss of a loved one and readers who want to understand what a grieving parent is going through.

Kathleen Janz-Anderson is a gifted poet; her writing style is lyrical and beautiful. Kathleen shares many amazing, emotional poems in October Will Never Be the Same. They help us understand her traumatic experience and deep pain. It's hard to imagine what courage and inner strength it took for Kathleen to share these deeply personal experiences. From this book, we learn how to support grieving parents who have lost their children. Kathleen describes the stages of grief in her deeply emotional diary entries. She graciously admits that her reactions to triggers, which bring traumatic memories back, could be disturbing for people around her. Her kindness and wisdom are overwhelming. I appreciated Kathleen's thoughts about God, His will, and the power of prayer. She explains with simple words the essence of humans' free will and our relationship with God. October Will Never Be the Same leaves a lasting impression and helps heal even the deepest wounds of those enduring pain, loss, and grief.