Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

In his memoir Inner Trek, Mohan Ranga Rao is coerced by land mafia leader Jalli Jagdish into selling his valuable Bangalore property through threats. His lawyer, Advocate Hegde, is found to be involved in the illegal activity, prompting Rao to engage a new lawyer, Mehta. Mehta successfully addresses the encroachment issue, leading Rao to sell the property to Suresh, a buyer with political connections. Following this, Rao undertakes a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, fulfilling his wife Mamatha’s wish by sponsoring a Vedic fire ritual, Rudra Homa. Preparation for the trek involves arranging flights, permits, and acclimatization, and Rao encounters various challenges such as extreme weather, altitude sickness, and logistical issues. Despite difficulty and even death, Rao completes the trek, which proves to be a transformative experience, gaining a deeper understanding of spirituality and personal endurance.

In Inner Trek, Mohan Ranga Rao does well in first offering a detailed exploration of Bangalore's cultural landscape so we can better understand his motivations, which is incredibly important. Rao uses playful humor, such as a quip about not buying five- or seven-faced rudraksha from two-faced stores, which balances the more serious elements of the journey. I think where Rao shines is in his vivid descriptions and his creation of a strong sense of place, evoking the atmosphere everywhere he visits. I admit to a moment of tingly and sweaty palms when he walks us on a swaying narrow bridge over a deep divide and this puts his journey's point of view into strengthened context. The writing is simple and straightforward and, overall, this memoir will be enjoyed by readers interested in experiences in 20th-century mountaineering. It is a solid addition to the accounts that have been written over time. Greater still, I think the biggest boon will be to Rao's own family who will no doubt treasure this look into their history for generations to come.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Twenty-Seconds: A True Account of Survival and Hope is an inspirational memoir written by Robert M. Tremblay. The author was born and raised on a multi-acre spread of land in Vermont, surrounded by mountains and nature. His family’s influence and his own natural inclination led to him finding satisfaction and enjoyment in work; he especially loved learning new things, making them work better and then finding something new to challenge himself with. He and his wife were quite successful in business; however, Tremblay began to suffer from poor health. At first, it was extreme fatigue and nausea, which he worked through, but Tremblay was eventually unable to ignore the increasingly severe symptoms. He lost weight and, along the way, lost his source of income and his health insurance. When he finally surrendered to reason and sought medical help, his doctor hit him with the worst possible news. He had about thirty days left to live, and he should go home and get his affairs in order. Tremblay had end-stage AIDS and, while there were medications available to treat and control his condition even at this late stage, without the money to pay for the medications and treatments, he had no way to survive. His brother drove him back to Vermont to die; his only belongings being some casual clothing and a suit to be buried in.

Robert M. Tremblay's spiritual memoir, Twenty-Seconds, charts the author's life before and after a crucial event -- his near death experience -- which forever changed his life. I was immediately struck by Tremblay's gift of communicating directly to his audience. He pulls no punches nor does he shy away from sharing with his readers the awful truths of coping with end-stage AIDS. He realized that something he was never all that concerned about, a disease that he thought was a gay or drug abuse-related ailment was much more than that, and was actually something that could be radically diminished if early detection and proper treatment became the norm rather than the exception. I was moved by his change of heart and mind and found his description of his NDE to be fascinating. Twenty-Seconds is a story that everyone should read. It's not always an easy read and some may find his spirituality to be at odds with their own beliefs, but the messages he worked so hard to impart in this work are invaluable and well worth the effort. I was inspired by Tremblay’s story and found his wisdom, humor and candor to be refreshing, accessible and authentic. Twenty-Seconds is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Danelle Petersen for Readers' Favorite

In You Are Deathless, author and wellness guru Nicole Angelique Kerr opens up about her near-death experience as a young lady. But because she didn't understand what was happening then, Nicole decided to suppress it, only coming to terms with it 20 years later. Growing up in a strictly religious home with a disciplinarian as a father, life at home was tense; Nicole and her siblings were constantly being reminded of what God expected of them. Feeling compelled to do what was expected of her, Nicole never had the chance to embrace her individuality. In You Are Deathless, Nicole explains how, over time, she started changing her perception of who she was while getting to know a different God than the one she was taught to fear.

Nicole Angelique Kerr has a way of drawing you in with her warm and gentle personality. She is transparent and offers great insight into the human mind and how it handles different types of trauma. Nicole also helps us understand how important it is to heal. Her story is about more than a personal encounter with God; it's about helping others realize that death is nothing to be afraid of and that loving yourself is the key to maintaining healthy relationships with others. On account of her injuries, Nicole was hospitalized for four months, having to rely heavily on others for assistance. Years later, Nicole was to face yet another life-or-death situation. Today, Nicole is internationally recognized as an award-winning health expert and advocate for healthy living. With You Are Deathless, Nicole hopes to help others find their path to God.

Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite

Have you ever wondered why, despite your best efforts, things always seem to fall apart before you can accomplish your goal of achieving something you are passionate about? You may be shocked to learn how many people deal with similar situations daily. The reason for your failure is much closer to home than you may think, despite the widely held belief that failure results from the universe not wanting you to succeed. For years, Vincent Genna honed his skills as a gifted psychic medium and licensed psychotherapist. His investigation produced a compilation of information on why you are not succeeding in your endeavors and how to get past those roadblocks. The Secret That's Holding You Back answers all your questions and more.

The Secret That’s Holding You Back is a thought-provoking manual on how to overcome a pre-programmed defeatist mindset and improve your situation. Vincent Genna simplifies his explanations so that any reader can follow along. Genna uses actual sessions with clients for his research, which gives his work a believable level of credibility. His ideas on the significance of manifesting your desires and the impact of the Adult Made Mind (AMM) and Environment Made Mind (EMM) on a person's decision-making processes are profound, thought-provoking, and deserving of more in-depth examination. Genna supports his claims with thoroughly investigated scientific data, which is awe-inspiring. It offers a sensible counterbalance to the spiritual aspects of the book, which readers of all backgrounds will appreciate. I strongly recommend everyone read Genna's masterpiece, The Secret That’s Holding You Back. This book contains pearls of wisdom that will improve your life.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

What is the purpose of our existence? Is it possible to reach a higher consciousness? Human history encompasses diverse cultures, backgrounds, races, and ethnicities, yet a common thread connects us all -- love. A powerful spiritual experience led Jane Kim Yu to the conclusion that love is the only reality that matters. In Journey of Awakening and Higher Consciousness, you will discover your personality type, learn to appreciate and embrace yourself for who you are, and manifest your own reality to become a thriving part of the collective consciousness. The journey of awakening requires us to honor and appreciate everyone and everything. To begin the awakening, acceptance of the self is a necessity. Practice compassion and meditation, forge healthy relationships, delve into arts/music, and learn to embrace life with all it encompasses.

Jane Kim Yu takes readers through an enlightening journey that focuses on the fundamental tenets of humanity and life. Journey of Awakening and Higher Consciousness is a thought-provoking book that will help you on your path to a fulfilling and meaningful life with clearly explained guidelines to improve your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual attributes. According to Yu, to heal the world, you have to heal yourself. The author draws upon her own experiences to offer readers some profound insights into the nature of reality, life, and higher consciousness. Using an engaging writing style, Yu covers each topic meticulously and explores answers to some existential questions that many of us have contemplated at one point or another in our lives. I found this book inspirational as well as thoroughly illuminating. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

After publishing The Atheist and The Afterlife, Ray Catania presents its sequel, You Are Still Alive, Now Act Like It. The book is aimed at empowering readers to achieve everything they want and more. It is a compilation of lessons from his mentors and his personal experiences—which ​are constantly transforming and expanding into the metaphysical world. Ray shares that learning and mastering the universal laws that have existed and ​will exist endlessly is how you access your full potential and succeed ​effortlessly. In the book, you will learn about Ray's theory of the creation of the universe, higher levels of consciousness, how to manifest through meditation, moving from self-destruction to reconstruction, and many more spiritual and philosophical topics. Prepare to discover how connected you are to the creator and all that constitutes the universe as you unlock your full potential.

You Are Still Alive, Now Act Like It contains some of the most engaging stories I've read in spiritual nonfiction. As these engaging stories are consistent throughout the book and are complemented by intelligent and profound deductions, the book is deeply engaging from start to finish. Ray does not sugarcoat his words nor shy away from telling uncomfortable stories. Consequently, I felt confident about the sincerity and transparency of his messages. Additionally, the book's instructive, explanatory, spellbinding language makes learning its principles and insights an effortless task. I can't wait to chant and experience vibrations running ​through my "body and mind and out into the universe". Spirituality enthusiasts, readers who have always believed there's more to life than the physical, and others who are always open to learning more about our magical, vast universe are in for a life-changing experience with this book.

Reviewed by Kathy Golden for Readers' Favorite

On My Way to Greatness by Wildine Pierre is a compact and inspirational book on how to use the power of affirmations in your life. What I liked most about the book is that this author lets readers know that the power of affirmations goes beyond just saying them. She explains how some of the underlying principles and truths about the brain and the human mind come into play to create affirmations: not just words, but tools of the mind that open the thinking and allow it to take hold of the words until their reality becomes the everyday state of mind of the person working with them. The overview of The Law of Attraction and her discussion on what she calls the “magicking perspective” helps to stimulate the mind and to prepare it for the necessary positive changes.

The most important part of the book is that each chapter lives up to its promise and goes into detail in a way that calls for a reader’s participation. This is a hands-on, mind-engaging type of instructional book that is an example of what is required by people who need to understand what affirmations are, how they can change lives, and exactly how to use them to do just that. If you’re looking for an easy-to-follow detailed course on using affirmations to make your mind genuinely more positive and to help you strengthen and build your inner happiness, then you need to read Wildine Pierre’s On My Way to Greatness. Thank you for this life-changing book, which also has a high-energy and engaging cover, well-suited to the subject of affirmations.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Whatever the Future Holds: A Story of Grace, Resilience, and Love by Heidi E. V. McCann is an up-close and moving glimpse into a real love story more powerful than any travail encountered, including death. For all its devastating effects, it leaves a lasting inspiring impression on readers. It begins in the summer of 1990 when the author first meets Curtis Roger Vance, who has a penchant for Belgian horses and racecars, and plays varsity baseball, basketball, and the drum in a high school marching band. Their relationship blossoms and eventually becomes serious, strengthened by many challenges. But the biggest challenge to their love story comes from a progressive nervous system disease that Curtis develops. Untiring efforts to prevent him from deteriorating lead to questions about evaluation, passion, optimism, faith, and love.

Whatever the Future Holds is a rare type of story that attests to the adage of 'love conquers all.' What makes this love story noteworthy is the strength that Curtis and Heidi gain from coping with uncertainty. You can feel the burdens added to Heidi’s shoulders as Curtis becomes sicker, and anxiety about care options builds, triggering difficult emotions and concerns about their future. Heidi E. V. McCann has written a moving record of her past twenty-two years of experience to gain perspective about herself and the wonderful things that Curtis added to her life. This is a beautiful tale that should be read and I highly recommend it to anyone, especially those considering giving up on life’s challenges.

Reviewed by Grace Masso for Readers' Favorite

A Knock in the Attic: True Ghost Stories & Other Spine-chilling Paranormal Adventures by John Russell is an engrossing, at times, disturbing nonfiction book in which the author narrates his supernatural experiences. At the tender age of five, John had his first encounter with a black ghost. The image of the old black man's face peering around one of the doorways from down the hall will always stay with him, and he refers to it as “the harbinger of the beginning” of his psychic, mediumistic, paranormal life, a life lived at the edge of the Veil which separates the seen and unseen worlds. This book is composed of stories that detail paranormal occurrences and experiences involving those who have passed on to another life. John has had run-ins with spirits, developed healing powers, and been saved by angels. His incredible experiences with the otherworldly creatures are recounted in this book, and they are stunning.

This is a book that is filled with adventure and mind-blowing experiences, and the author provides ample proof that there is life beyond death, that those who have died still have the power to influence us, that the universe is a mystery that is bigger than our physical world. John Russell might have had and still has extraordinary experiences, but he also has the gift of storytelling which allows him to communicate his adventures in prose that is crisp and in a voice that is irresistible. A Knock in the Attic: True Ghost Stories & Other Spine-chilling Paranormal Adventures is a book that will entertain fans of the paranormal, but more importantly, it is one that will make any reader question existence and change what they think they know about life beyond the tomb. I was mesmerized by the writing and enamored by the experiences the author shares in this book.

Reviewed by Emma Megan for Readers' Favorite

In The Way of the Goddess, Ananta Ripa Ajmera, a spiritual teacher, shares her experiences of overcoming sexual and narcissistic abuse, codependency, betrayal, and eating disorders. She also shares her journey to connecting with her higher Self to help us connect to the divine feminine worshipped during Navratri and the divine feminine inside us. This book is inspired by the nine-night fall goddess festival of Navratri from the ancient Vedic spiritual tradition. It's about expanding the annual nine-day festival into a daily Navratri practice, as every day can be an opportunity to celebrate the divine feminine in ourselves and others. Every chapter introduces us to one goddess, her story, and the power she represents so we can identify and cultivate the same within ourselves. This empowering book is for anyone who wants to walk the path of the Navratri practice to discover who they are deep inside.

The Way of the Goddess by Ananta Ripa Ajmera is an extraordinary account filled with ancient wisdom you can apply to your modern life to realize your divine potential. It is an engaging, detailed, and transformative book that teaches readers about nine goddesses and their powers, nine different practices for each of the nine chakras, and also about cultivating creativity, transformation, love, expression, intuition, transcendence, rejuvenation, and intentionality and practices for each of them. It's an excellent resource for learning how to regain your power in the face of adversity, cleanse yourself of attachments, create a new reality, and embrace new beginnings and the benefits of abstaining from sensual enjoyments. Anyone who implements the steps in this beautifully illustrated book invites lasting transformation of different kinds (big or small) in their lives.