Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

One Love: Divine Healing at Open Clinic by Ruth Anderson is the best spiritual book I have read this year. Yes, I have never read anything so inspiring apart from the Bible. Ruth Anderson brings in a completely new way of looking at the realities of life, love, and death, a refreshing testimony of life beyond the tomb. In this moving memoir, the author unveils secrets about the power we carry within us, the power to connect with the spirit world, and to hone our sixth sense to perceive that which the eye cannot see. She shares her experience of energetic healing, underlining the part played by her Spirit Guides to heal spirits and the living. This is a powerful story about the intersection of our mortality with the Divine and the positive connection we share with others.

I was pulled in from the very beginning and intrigued by the author’s childhood experience. She explores her family mechanics and moves on to show how interconnected we are, stressing our ability to unlock the healing energy we carry within us. Her writing feels like magic, sweet like drippings of the honeycomb, but it is what it reveals that captivated me the most. It opens a door for the reader to look beyond the material and enter into a field of energy that is both healing and empowering. One Love: Divine Healing at Open Clinic is a bold witness to Divine Love and to what we are called to be. The author struck powerful chords in me and I am sure I won’t look at life the same way again. A wonderful revelation and a very inspiring and uplifting message.

Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

The Fearless Path: What a Movie Stuntman's Spiritual Awakening Can Teach You about Success by Curtis Rivers is a non-fiction, inspirational book that will change the way readers look at life, reality, and themselves. In this book, the author shares his wonderful stories, surprising readers with powerful lessons from his personal experience. One of the top Hollywood movie stuntmen, the author shows readers how he was able to walk past the fear that held him back to reach deeper levels of inner freedom and go after what really mattered to him. Follow the author in a life-changing trek across the mysterious eastern mountains, drink from the wisdom he shares and learn from the incredible lessons he offers.

The writing is crisp and upbeat and the reader will enjoy the way the author weaves his personal experiences into the writing. This is a book that will have a strong appeal for readers who are seekers and dreamers, people who experience the unhappiness of not pursuing their dreams, and those who want to make a difference. The author integrates deep spiritual insights into the work, showcasing the law of attraction in a way that makes it very easy for readers to understand. The Fearless Path: What a Movie Stuntman's Spiritual Awakening Can Teach You about Success will uplift your spirits and make you believe in yourself again. It will offer the tools that you need to reinforce your sense of self-worth and build your self-confidence. Curtis Rivers’ work is a gift for readers, a must-read for anyone who wants to beat fear and achieve success in life and business.

Reviewed by Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite

Are you tired of moving from one healing modality to the next? Are you ready to truly make The Law of Attraction work for you now? Things Are Going Great In My Absence: How to Let Go and Let The Divine Do the Heavy Lifting (10th Anniversary Edition 2016) by Lola Jones is a spiritually based book that breaks down LOA, showing the student how to bypass energetic healings by helping them connect directly with divine energy, making all other spiritual healing modalities unnecessary and obsolete. Many people have heard of the Law of Attraction, The Secret, and Abraham Hicks, but few actually know how to bring all of the knowledge together to create the lives of their dreams. By learning how to accept all of our emotions, and feel them authentically, we can then release them, instantly raising our vibrations to a higher frequency, thereby resolving lifelong issues. Many LOA modalities don't work because the student is not taught how to first release old, worn-out, outdated stories and perceptions before trying to raise their vibrational frequency. Discover how to stay in "the vortex", stop endless mind chatter, and begin to live life on your terms. Are you ready to embrace your bliss?

Things Are Going Great In My Absence by Lola Jones is a exquisitely illustrated spiritual self-help book. I admit that I was a little put off by the author's claims that this book may be the only spiritual book one would need. However, after reading it, I agree with the author. It deliciously blends humor, spirituality, and emotional maturity into bite-sized increments, making it easy for beginner to novice students to follow along. If you are done trying to heal multiple lives, deep emotional wounds, addictions, bad habits, and trying to manifest your desires, then don't lose hope. This book explains what works, what doesn't, and how to bring it all together to give you the best desired outcome possible. I recommend this book to healers, coaches, and anyone seeking to change their lives forever.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Claiming Your Power Through Astrology: A Spiritual Workbook is a nonfiction New Age religion and spirituality book written by Emily Klintworth. The author is a professional astrologer whose initial interest in the field was sparked by an old volume she found in the 1920s bungalow she and her husband had purchased. Her mentor and friend, Nancy Murdock-Gulliksen, helped her hone her knowledge of the art and science of astrology, sharing her personal insights into reading and simplifying what can be an overwhelming amount of information. Klintworth guides the reader step-by-step in first preparing and then exploring their personalized Natal Chart. She then assists them in reaching an understanding of their place in the cosmos based on that chart. She provides a link to her website to obtain a free Natal Chart Navigator, and she works directly with the reader to fill in, and understand, each aspect of that chart. Each chapter covers a subject and concludes with exercises for the reader to work with. Klintworth also includes copies of her own chart exercises for reference. In the second section of the book, she explains how the alignment of the planets can influence one’s life, and she shows how, using the Natal Chart, one can best use those influences to better one’s life.

Emily Klintworth’s nonfiction New Age religion and Spirituality book, Claiming Your Power Through Astrology: A Spiritual Workbook, is a fascinating and well-organized guide to understanding astrology and the impact it has on one’s life. I’ve often marveled at the insights I discovered courtesy of the astrology sections found in newspapers, but found getting deeper into the subject to be rather intimidating. In Claiming Your Power Through Astrology, Klintworth takes the reader by the hand and shares her knowledge in the most efficient and powerful way -- by having the reader actually perform each step of the process. Her instructions are concise and easy to follow and having her samples to look at made short work of any questions I may have had. As I progressed through the book, I began to see how much better it could be to actually work out your own chart rather than rely on an astrologer, and I enjoyed seeing how the knowledge gained can help one’s understanding of feelings, actions and relationships. The second section of the book answered questions I had had about the influence of Saturn, Mercury and the Moon and dispelled some incorrect popular assumptions. This is not a fast, nor is it an easy workbook to go through, but it’s well worth the effort put into learning more about astrology and accessing the self-knowledge you can gain from it. Claiming Your Power Through Astrology: A Spiritual Workbook is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Carla Trueheart for Readers' Favorite

I could tell right away that The Word Search Oracle: Yoga for the Brain was going to be a fun and unique book. Never before have I seen such a book, with word search puzzles, secret messages, and even more for the reader to enjoy! This fun and inspirational book begins with an introduction about the authors and the book, then discusses some of the aspects, including oracles -- what is an oracle? -- and how to use the book. The word search puzzles are set up in a pleasing way, and these puzzles gradually get harder as the reader progresses. Basically, you are not only doing a regular word search puzzle, but are looking for a secret message that goes along with a theme. Some of the many themes included are ambition, courage, imagination, trust, faith, and happiness. There are so many! Authors Cristina Smith, Rick Smith, and Darity Wesley did a superb job with layout and the overall positive vibe of the book.

What I enjoyed most was that The Word Search Oracle: Yoga for the Brain was not just a word search puzzle book, but also packed with facts and information. There were write-ups about the human brain, fearlessness, trusting intuition, and much more. Sitting down with the book is a great way to relax and stretch those brain muscles. I can see why the puzzles are considered “yoga for the brain!” The themes held my attention. I was pleased that there was an answer key at the back of the book, and I enjoyed my time highlighting the words throughout. This book is highly recommended for those looking for puzzles, relaxation, inspiration, and enjoyment!

Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite

Death Defied, Life Defined, coauthored by Paul E. Perkins and Anita Agers Brooks, is a testimonial of life, death, and life again. Not knowing how much time he had left, Paul wanted his miraculous story written. Inspired by their similar transplant stories, Anita agreed to help Paul pen his story. Paul Perkins faced death many times, and he actually died twice, both medically documented. His experience of enduring years of agonizing and debilitating sickness, followed by becoming a double transplant recipient changed his life. Paul learned how fragile life really is; it doesn’t always turn out like we plan either. Through his sickness and pain, through death and life, Paul discovered that his life had a greater purpose than he ever imagined.

Death Defied, Life Defined not only causes you to think, but to feel. The authors approach life and death in a practical and yet spiritual manner. Death is a part of living, but “death is not the end.” The narrative is emotional and real, it shares intimate details of thoughts and experiences. It is not a selfishly told story, quite the contrary; Paul includes the perspectives of his family, his doctors, and his donor’s family. Creating an astounding narrative hook, the memoir begins with his death experience. Caught up in his story, each chapter tugs at your heart and soul and refuses to let you go. Paul Perkins’s story is incredible and inspirational. It is one of pain, suffering and survival. Through pain he discovers purpose. Through suffering he realizes the resilient, unwavering power of love. Through death he discovers life. Death Defied, Life Defined is remarkable; it is a story that needs to be shared, for written upon its pages is a divine message of hope.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Five Years, Eleven Months and a Lifetime of Unexpected Love by Visakha Dasi is a brilliant memoir about a woman’s struggles in coming to terms with her spiritual realization, conditioning her mind to overcome her atheism, and her transformative spiritual journey amid many challenging circumstances. The memoir speaks about a woman who goes to India with her boyfriend, John, to capture how villagers lived in a quaint Indian village without the complexity and stress which is typical of Western life. Things take a different turn when she comes into contact with her spiritual guru. The book draws readers in with its honesty, faith, and the author’s personal experiences. It is a memoir of self-realization, self-discovery, and an inner journey that will leave readers inspired and motivated to look for answers that revolve around God and faith.

The author’s insights, thought-provoking reasoning, and her account of Prabhupada and his movement reveal the spiritual journey of a young woman who starts questioning her lifestyle, goals, values, and identity. The narration is descriptive and the black and white photographs are starkly vivid - they capture the essence and mood of the author’s words. The way she has woven her story is simple, yet she manages to encourage readers to find their own spiritual path. The book is refreshingly unique, the emotions are palpable through the words and pictures, and the struggles and obstacles undergone and faced by the author during her journey as a spiritual seeker make it a compelling and thoughtful memoir.

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

The Boy Who Knew Too Much (An Astounding True Story of A Young Boy's Past-life Memories) by Cathy Byrd is the fascinating account of a toddler who remembers being Lou Gehrig in another lifetime. The two-year-old toddler is totally captivated and immersed in baseball. As a matter of fact, he is totally obsessed with it. He lives in his miniature Dodger's baseball clothes and cleats and refuses to wear anything else. He plays with his small bat and ball from morning until night. When the toddler surprises his mother with the outrageous statement that he is Lou Gehrig, she is stunned. He describes things from the era in which Lou Gehrig lived and gives her personal information about the legendary man of which he nor any small child his age has access. Needing to know if her son is correct, she begins the search into baseball's early history. What she discovers is phenomenal.

The Boy Who Knew Too Much (An Astounding True Story of A Young Boy's Past-life Memories) by Cathy Byrd is an extraordinary memoir about a mother's journey into her young son's past-life memories and the amazing discoveries that she makes along the way. Despite the implications and far-fetched nature of her toddler's claims and the fact they were outside of her religious belief system, she was willing to go beyond the accepted standard to get answers. Her dogged determination in seeking and sometimes ferreting out the information needed to validate her son's claim to his former identity is admirable. Her loving concern enabled him to accept who he is and helped him ease into this lifetime. This is an amazing story of how far a mother will go to protect and support her child's mental and spiritual well-being. This is a fabulous memoir, and I highly recommend it to those who have had similar experiences, and most especially to those who love incidents that are not conventional, but of a reality beyond our perceived rationality. This book is a winner!

Reviewed by Kathryn Bennett for Readers' Favorite

The Indigo Journals: Spiritual Healing For Indigo Adults & Other Feminine Souls by Yol Swan is laid out as a guide for those people who are sensible, emphatic and creative. It can be hard for those people who are different and often they feel disconnected from the world because it doesn't make sense. The book sets out to help readers awaken their true nature and to break away from codependency; it will also help you to use the natural gifts you have been given and find your true purpose in life.

Whether you are an Indigo or not, everyone and especially every woman needs to take a look at this book. Yol starts the teachings of this book with personal information about what has happened in her life and how she came to be where she is now before diving into the tools that everyone needs in order to understand themselves better. I truly feel this book is a revelation to those who need to understand the feminine soul. The detail and way that everything is explained is refreshing and eye opening. Not only that, but it is put in such a way that even those who are not very spiritual can at least have a basic understanding. I have a few people in my life who may benefit from reading this book so they can understand me a little better. This has been better put than anything I could ever say on the topic. I recommend this read highly.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Good Morning Diego Garcia: A Journey Of Discovery is a true to life travel account by author Susan Joyce, in which she recollects her experiences. The second book in the Journeys series, this adventure follows The Lullaby Illusion, picking up as Susan and her husband Charles are presented with an exciting new opportunity in Asia. A sailboat intends to travel from Sri Lanka across the Indian Ocean towards Egypt, and Charles persuades Susan that it’d be a fabulous adventure for them to be part of its crew. Disaster strikes from day one as India goes into a state of national emergency, and monsoon season begins no sooner than the boat is out on the ocean. What follows is a real story of survival against the elements and, arguably, the even more tempestuous path of Susan and Charles’ marriage.

What I enjoyed most about Susan Joyce’s memoir was her choice to present it in the style of a novel. Though written in the first person, Good Morning Diego Garcia: A Journey Of Discovery has all the readability, flowing dialogue, and narrative charm of a great work of fiction, which makes it all the more incredible that the adventures, heartbreaks, and inspirational moments within its pages are true. Susan is a loving and open woman whom readers can really connect to and, though her stormy seas adventures were genuinely thrilling, I found myself even more enveloped in the emotional journey she undertakes whilst the world goes half mad around her. Overall, I believe that anyone would find something appealing and uplifting in this memoir, and I highly recommend it.