Reviewed by Kathryn Bennett for Readers' Favorite

Hollywood Heartbreak: New York Dreams by Kody Christiansen introduces us to Kaleb, a well known female illusionist whose journey took him from Texas to New York and then to Hollywood. A story that is tragic, inspiring and very true. Kaleb goes onto national TV as an alter ego known as Sarah Summers and gets lost in the famous and sometimes toxic Hollywood culture. Kaleb abuses alcohol and drugs in a story of success, love, rock bottom, and the struggle to come back from that.

Wow is the very first word that comes to mind when I think about the experience I had while reading this book. All of us have ups and downs in life, but few can probably say they have experienced the extreme highs and extreme lows that Kaleb has. This story is emotional and follows such a journey that I found myself wondering what could possibly happen next. The ebb and flow of the book is good and sometimes you can almost find yourself forgetting this is all based on a true story. This is not a fictional tale being told for extremes, but someone's real life. I held my breath in parts, cried in others, and laughed as well. I was joyful when Kaleb managed to pick himself up from the pit of being addicted and on the streets of New York to find life again. A true inspiration to all of us. It leaves the reader with a feeling of the ability to overcome almost anything.

Reviewed by Katherine Williams for Readers' Favorite

Some Things You Keep is a poignant yet inspirational memoir about the life of the author, JJ Landis. When JJ was around twelve years old, her mother committed suicide and her life soon changed forever. The night her mother died, she immediately had to move in with her father, stepmother and stepsister, which made her feel guilty. She understood herself to be an outsider, a person forced to move in with a new family that she didn’t feel a part of. Guilt and even deeper feelings of sadness end up haunting her through most of her life. In each chapter, her age advances, and her years as a teenager and young adult are filled with unhealthy coping mechanisms of dealing with pain. These coping mechanisms include constant partying, drinking, drugs, and sex. While doing these things, JJ believes that she will always feel empty inside. But her belief slowly changes as an adult when she finds Christianity, accepts Jesus’ love for her, and comes to terms with her depression. This story is a story of struggle, but it is also an amazing testimony of faith and courage.

When I finished Some Things You Keep, I was speechless. All I could think was, “Wow, why is this book not a best seller?” Sometimes when reading a memoir, it is easy to get the sense that the author is not being genuine about their story. But JJ Landis’ writing style is raw, compelling, genuine, and honest all at the same time. Through her writing you discover that she is a compassionate, bright and wonderful woman. The way she tells it all and bares her soul in the written word is amazing and inspiring. It is written in a bit of a slower pace in order to highlight the intensity of her emotions, which I thought was done beautifully. She also manages to include an incredible amount of detail which made the book feel so real to me.

Reading of her struggles was not easy, but being able to discover her major victory made this book so memorable. Despite her hardships, she has such an amazing and radiant view of life that embraces growth. She states that “growth comes from letting go of past and pain and stepping forward each day. And with growth, the wisdom to know what to hold close and what to keep. And what to let go.” No matter what stage of life you are currently in or what you are doing at this moment, I suggest that you read this book right away. It will definitely make you cry and feel sad, but in the end it will make you contemplate life and inspire you to become a better person.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Children of Dreams: An Adoption Memoir by Lorilyn Roberts is a beautiful memoir of the author and her story which will encourage many readers to pursue their dreams of adoption. The author's story is one of struggle, hope, and fulfillment, and she tells how her pain and suffering pale in comparison to what God does for us. The author's journey of adoption also shows the inheritance awaiting us when we reach heaven through God's adoption of us. Her adoption of her two daughters, one from Nepal and one from Vietnam, is a must-read for all those who are preparing to adopt, going through a foreign adoption process, would like to know about the corruption, heartache, and cultural challenges that would stand in the way of adopting, and also the kind of commitment a parent should make to bring a child home.

The author's pain and struggles are heart wrenching, palpable, and relatable to readers. The memoir is honest and the author takes readers into her world and will make them appreciate and respect all those parents who adopt children and take care of them. The memoir is also a journey of self-discovery where the author discovers her faith and trust in God being reiterated through experiences while dealing with people and situations. Her adoption journey is a unique journey that will inspire and motivate readers to be confident and go through an established agency while adopting. It's a fascinating memoir, especially for all those who are thinking of adoption.

Reviewed by Susana Pena for Readers' Favorite

Garbage Bag Suitcase by Shenandoah Chefalo is a very emotional story about the author’s difficult and lonely childhood. Her alcoholic and drug addicted mother and step-father lacked the adequate parenting skills needed to raise a child. They lived as nomads, always running away from something and constantly moving to different places. The author endured physical and mental abuse at the hands of her parents. She was locked in her room for long periods of time, starved as a form of punishment, belittled by being called stupid and worthless, and was often hit. Her birthday and the holidays were never celebrated, and her only true friend was Love Bunny; her favorite stuffed animal that kept her feeling safe. The author always wished for a family that would love and protect her. She thought she would find that while in foster care, but that never happened. She had to become independent at a young age and this taught her to strive for a better life and future. The end of the book also mentions ideas on how to improve the broken foster care system because it is clearly in need of being repaired.

I really enjoyed reading Garbage Bag Suitcase by Shenandoah Chefalo, because it was a very interesting and heart-breaking autobiography. The author was brave enough to share her story about her abusive childhood where it was common for her to be locked in her room and starved. This led her to feel lonely and sad all of the time, because her parents didn’t seem to love her and she felt unsafe in her house. It was very sad to read all of the abuse that the author was put through, because kids shouldn’t have to suffer that way. Kids need to feel loved, protected, and wanted. They also need to be fed healthy meals, kept clean, and be treated with respect. The author also mentions her stay with a foster care family that didn’t give her the love and attention that she had hoped for. They clearly took her in because of the money that the government had to pay them in order to raise her. The second half of the book contains eye opening statistics on foster care children and it elaborates on different solutions that are needed in order to end this cycle, and I agree with what was mentioned.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

America’s Got Talent Winner Landau Eugene Murphy Jr: From Washing Cars to Hollywood Star by Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. and Rick Robinson is a story about the 2011 AGT winner’s humble beginnings, success and his new life as a singer. I followed AGT almost devotedly in 2007 when Jerry Springer was the host along with judges David Hasselhoff, Sharon Osborne and Piers Morgan. The participants, especially the ones with incredible talent, were enjoyable to watch. Afterwards, due to the inconsistent airing time of the show (at least on my side of the world) AGT simply fell off the radar for me, but I’m always aware with its popularity.

I searched for Landau’s videos on YouTube starting from his audition, which I always consider the best part in any talent show. “The funny thing is, I didn’t enter America's Got Talent expecting that I would win.” This is the first sentence that begins his story and he looked relaxed enough during the audition. However, in his own words, “I was so nervous from the interview (with host Nick Cannon) I forgot to toss my gum into the garbage can before I walked onto the stage.” He was told by Piers Morgan to spit his gum, which he had to put in his pants pocket. Then he wowed the crowd with Sinatra’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.”

With a clear-cut and witty prose, this is a great book and I enjoyed looking at the included photos of him with friends, fans and famous people. Gifted with a great voice, Landau’s story is humble yet deeply inspiring. To have a crooner like him is truly a blessing, as I don’t really get what the ‘kids’ are listening to today.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

In With Angel's Wings by Stephanie A. Collins, Laura is a military wife who is expecting her second child. She has a beautiful three-year-old daughter and another beautiful girl on the way. But before she can give birth to the baby, her husband Kevin is deployed. At birth, the new baby is perfect, but thirteen days after her birth the doctor detects a heart murmur. Left alone with the responsibility of a young child and a toddler, Laura is desperate, but she never backs down. Soon her other daughter is also diagnosed with a disease that cripples Laura. With two children with special needs, she has to navigate a very narrow path. The horrors of both diseases bring out the strong woman in her and make her understand her own powers.

There are very few writers who have the ability to make the reader live the story. Stephanie A. Collins is one of those writers. With Angel's Wings is such a powerful tale of motherhood and love that your heart will cry for her. I really appreciated the fact that Collins did not sugarcoat anything. When diseases are this bad, there is nothing magical. Her passion and her despair were real and the reader could feel the emotion. You will not find many flowery words in the novel, but the words used are enough to move your heart and soul. Kudos to Collins for verbalizing her story in such a beautiful and riveting manner. Five stars!

Reviewed by Roy T. James for Readers' Favorite

Life, Love, and a Hijacking by Wendy Sue Knecht begins with the great elation she felt at her selection by Pan Am, the joy of flying and the greater joy of clearing the bone caliper test. Getting nicknamed goodie-goodie for her adherence to rules, falling in love with her job, how the sweet aroma of travel as well as the fun of living with pools made this a remarkable life to lead; how each of the lands she frequented had their own distinct olfactory experience - like the pungent spicy smell of India or the smoky Turkish aroma of Istanbul - find description here. Missing out on planned events by unscheduled stops and delays, as well as her most idiotic move, a solo visit to Africa on an eight-day off, add anxious twists to this page turner.

Life, Love, and a Hijacking by Wendy Sue Knecht is a collection of memories rich in its variety and content. The excitement of the glamorous life the high flyers lead comes alive in these pages. Though in this book she mentions a condition, OCD, obsessive cleaning disorder, I think it is more likely that she has ORD, obsessive recollection disorder. I can tell that there aren’t many opportunities for entertainment or celebrations associated with a flying career that are not mentioned here. An excellent read, it held my attention from the moment I started till I turned the last page.

Reviewed by Lia Simitsiadou for Readers' Favorite

Broken Pieces by Rachel Thompson is truly a unique book. A compilation of essays, each one independent of but connected to the rest, so as to construct a seemingly random string of confessions from the very soul of the author. Seen as one, they make up a powerful narration of her life. Life-changing, scarring experiences that no woman should have to endure, such as childhood abuse and a passionate, karmic, but destructive love, deeply affected the author's psyche. Each word, each line leads the reader through her experiences, the depth of her emotions, flowing seamlessly from past to present, depicting how her past marked her marriage and family and formed the remarkable person she is today.

Rachel Thompson endeavors and eventually succeeds in getting the reader emotionally involved in her life's story, the unfathomable darkness and rawness of a multitude of the feelings she describes but which a large majority of readers will relate to. Every woman can relate to another woman's emotional world, her soul and the impact of tragedy, love, family and motherhood on a female's life. A large majority of women will even be able to identify with many of her expressed (or unexpressed) thoughts and emotions, even the more delicate nuances and colors. Broken Pieces is not only a memoir of the soul-searing experiences of a special woman. It is a tribute to the greatness of every woman's truth and essence, how deep she can love and trust, how dark the depths of her grief and pain are, but simultaneously how magnificent is her ability to rise from her ashes and love again. That's what all women are: the total sum of our scars - but glorious, nonetheless.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Unsinkable Spirit: One Man's Journey that Changed the Lives of Thousands of Children by Fred Engh is an inspirational memoir where the author takes readers into the world of sport. The book reveals the ugliness that exists in sports, thereby hampering the growth of a person. Fred Engh, a true visionary, dedicated his entire life to making a difference in the lives of children. This book is his story of fortitude, belief, determination and perseverance, and is definitely a book for all coaches, parents and children, irrespective of their age. The author created a global organization from humble beginnings that altered the landscape of youth sports for the better forever.

The book shows the spirit of Fred Engh, how he overcomes the obstacles in his life to create a non-profit organization, The National Alliance For Youth Sports (NAYS), that provides safe sports to the youth of America. The author's story and the pictures shared in the book help readers connect with the author and his story. The author's achievements speak of his caliber and his efficiency. The book is uplifting and changes the perspective of readers about sports, training and sports management. The author's passion, vision and commitment to reach out and help children throughout the world as well is motivational. An interesting memoir that speaks about one man's dedication to reach out to the youth and give them a healthy ambition to pursue sport.

Reviewed by Roy T. James for Readers' Favorite

Hard Days Hard Nights by Patrick J. DiCesare is the story of the birth of the rock ’n roll concert business in Pittsburgh. The book begins with Pat's rather humble beginnings, migrating from Italy in 1920, and dwells on his childhood, earning nickels by delivering newspapers and learning music on a second hand bass. Soon he starts playing, joining a newly opened nightclub, and is eventually offered a position as the head busboy. The author describes arranging a Beatles’ show, the sensation of the times, with great difficulty, only to find himself drafted, and every month collecting a part of his share of the show’s profit (a hundred dollars) and feeling like the highest paid soldier in the US Army, as well as hobnobbing with bigger names like Jim Morrison, Led Zeppelin or Aerosmith, and conducting his own concerts and shows.

Hard Days Hard Nights by Patrick J. DiCesare is an authentic report of the early days of rock, with Pat being a pioneer of great repute, an entrepreneur and rock concert promoter. In these pages we can feel the trials and tribulations Pat faced in his early days, and how his father’s implicit faith in him by advancing 5000 dollars through a lien on the house, and other motivating factors, made him the highest earning concert promoter in the USA. Deeply inspiring, this book chronicles all the efforts that went unseen during the latter half of the 20th century of the music industry in general, and of his hometown Pittsburgh in particular.