Reviewed by Natasha Jackson for Readers' Favorite

When you’re a waitress in a dead-end Midwestern town and you find out you've inherited a ranch, what have you got to lose? Kody Monroe learns the answer to that question is an adamant “not much.” Broke, divorced and depressed Kody heads to her newly acquired Montana ranch, figuring the universe has finally answered her calls for relief and a break. Kody is curious about many things, including who is responsible for her recent streak of good luck, who is buried in the solitary grave and is ranch foreman Jake Shannon the man from her dreams? Edge of a Dream is a well-written yet gritty tale of loneliness, love and second chances. Diane Brandow has a knack for plain-speaking characters full of depth.

From the first few lines of Edge of a Dream, I was pretty well hooked. Initially, Kody seems to be a bit of a whiner, but before long you learn that with her run of bad luck, including the death of her parents and a divorce, it’s a wonder she’s not wallowing more. But it is really her interactions with Jake that make this story so compelling. At first, they are so tentative with one another, circling to feel each other out and spot any signs warning of a future broken heart. Add into this amazing story a long-lost family and a no-good ex-husband and it’s the stuff of a story you won’t be able to stop reading until the last page. Diane Brandow paints a sad tale of Kody’s life before the Montana ranch, but as the story unfolds she gives us all hope that second chances are not only possible, but truly amazing.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

The Astrologer’s Daughter by Elyse Douglas is a sure winner. The story is a romance that is shared by two generations, mother and daughter, father and adopted son. Joanna Halloran loves her isolated beach home in New York. She loves to walk the sandy shore and think about the charts she is preparing for her astrology clients. Life will change forever the day she finds a man floating in the ocean and pulls him out. Robert Harrison is a rich Senator holding on to his crashed plane. Joanna and Robert quickly fall in love and spend fairy tale days at the beach house. Unfortunately, Robert has to return to the real world too soon. His parents, his fiancée, Connie, and the Senate are commitments he just cannot ignore. We then get transported twenty-five years into the future. Maya, who is Joanna’s daughter, and Matt, the adopted son meet and fall in love. Once again circumstances change the lives of all four characters. I was drawn into the story as each must now face their own truths and values, and make new life choices.

Love is the main message that Elyse Douglas has offered us, that between mother and daughter, father and son, and husband and wife. The Astrologer’s Daughter has happiness, sadness, joy, and sorrow blended together to form a beautiful story. I found myself crying and laughing, unable to put the book down until I reached the end. My only hope is that Douglas writes a sequel and we can share in the future life of the Halloran and Harrison families. The Astrologer’s Daughter is a dream come true for all romance readers.

Reviewed by Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite

Cat has settled into her relaxed schedule as a big time accountant, but her life suddenly changes when she decides to fulfill a promise she made to herself years ago - adopt a child and give them a chance at a better life, one that she was denied as a kid. What she did not count on, however, was adopting a teenage boy, but there is something about Ethan that just feels right so she takes him in and soon she is faced with the troubles of raising a teenager. Mitch, on the other hand, is a self-confessed ladies' man and has no intentions of settling down in the near future; that is until he takes Ethan home one night and meets his foster mother, Cat. Cat is not sure whether starting a relationship is the right thing and Mitch is not sure whether a relationship with Cat, who comes with a teenage boy no less, is something he can do.

To Love a Cat by Billi Tiner is a story filled with intrigue, suspense, and beautiful romance. Billi Tiner created a group of characters that complement each other perfectly, coupled with a plot full of twists and turns and heart-warming moments, to bring to life a must-read story. To Love a Cat by Billi Tiner is one of those books that make you so eager to get to the end and yet you do not want the story to finish. It shows the challenges and rewards that come with taking chances, and the beauty of having a strong support system of good friends. The story has interesting moments that keep you engrossed and eager to know what happens next; it is a definite page-turner.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

He Belongs to Me by Theresa Rizzo is a powerful story of love, honor and betrayal. Following the death of one of her twin boys, Catherine’s husband Thomas is accused of murdering him. They part company after he is acquitted, in search of education and as a way to put some space between them and events. In order to attend college, Catherine hands her son over to her parents to look after, but is shocked to find that she gave them full custody without realising it. She goes in search of her husband, Thomas, and they agree to live together again, to present a united front in their bid to get their son back. They both agree that, once the battle is won, they will divorce and she will retain custody of Drew, although Thomas will continue to support them and have a hand in his son’s life. Things don’t always go according to plan though, and what follows is a roller-coaster ride, full of unexpected twists and turns that heads full speed towards the surprising finale.

Theresa Rizzo has captured the essence of life with He Belongs to Me. This is a real page-turner, full of surprises that kept me hooked right to the last word. It is a skilfully woven tale of lies, love, betrayal and honor. I found myself laughing at parts and gasping in surprise at others as yet another skeleton flew out of the closet of the lives of the rich and successful. I want to read more books from Theresa Rizzo, especially if they are as good as this one.

Reviewed by Lorena Sanqui for Readers' Favorite

Alex is still grieving from the loss of her father and she’s hoping that going to college will help ease the pain a bit. College is going to be fun with her new roommate, Ellie, but Ellie is not who Alex expected her to be. Because it appears that Ellie is really Elijah and Alex’s cousin, Jimmy, forgot to mention that one little fact when he gave Alex his old room. Alex can choose to get another place to reside in or she can just live in the moment and enjoy her stay with Elijah. Elijah also has baggage and he’s trying very hard to spare Alex all the pain in his life. But the attraction between the two is undeniable and it will only be a matter of time before they both give in. Maybe Alex and Elijah will be the ones to help each other heal in My Clarity by M. Clarke.

My Clarity by M. Clarke is a romantic and kind of tragic story starring intense and complex characters. It was a little sad because of the back stories of the main characters and Alex and Elijah were both heartbroken at the start of the story. It was enjoyable to read how they developed and healed throughout the whole book with the support and comfort of each other and the friends they made along the way. There were good dynamics between the characters and the story flowed easily. The plot was engaging and the wait to see how the conflict would happen and how it would be resolved was exciting. The ending was lovely and the book is well written with the right amount of angst and emotions thrown in.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Sofie and Alex come from two different worlds. Alex is an agent who is working to bring a drug mafia down and avenge his friend. When he is in the game, he is in it with his whole self. There is nothing to distract him and divert his mind from the game. But this time, keeping his mind and body in the plan is difficult. An enigma named Sofia is distracting him from day one and now he is finding himself enchanted by her. She is not what he thought he wanted in a partner. Will they ever be together? Sofie has no idea her cousin Ramon is a drug lord. But she does know that he is manipulative. He trapped her into working for him and she cannot say no, not when she took his help in the first place and he is family. Her family became her solace when her mother died in the haven of her “Avalon” and left her with them. There was another instance which changed her perspective: a near death experience hanged her mind and the fatal attraction between her and Alex is exactly what she didn’t want. Will she give a chance to this relationship and see where things will lead her?

“Avalon” is an enchanting novel by Lee Souleles that left me hooked and spellbound. The story is gripping and the thrill of two lovers seeking and finding each other is amazing. The two protagonists fight their own demons to be together and fight the drug mafia to make a better world together. That is heartwarming. “Avalon” is truly an amazing novel that you will love to read time and time again. I surely did!

Reviewed by Dianna Skowera for Readers' Favorite

Carla Ohse’s "Into the Hand of a Woman" is a captivating read for anyone keen on adaptations of historic tales and epic biblical battles. Deborah Miller, a successful New York judge, tries a case that compels her to further investigate the tale of the plaintiff. When Deborah discovers that the atrocities against a group of women in Northern Israel are true, she finds the courage to right the injustice she sees by enlisting the help of her government assigned guide, Lieutenant Barak Cohen. Deborah and Barak become ensnared in dangerous circumstances when they realize the crimes they uncover lead straight to the top of the Israeli Army. Yet what is right is right and our two heroes’ journey of finding the fortitude to overcome these odds is a page-turning tale that would amaze even the most uninspired. Ohse brilliantly spins a modern version of the biblical story of Deborah without inundating the reader with religious opinions. Akin to Joseph Campbell’s journey of a hero, this modern Deborah is the epitome of what anyone would want to achieve in their lifetime.

Ohse masterfully unites history, modern conflicts, and the resiliency of the human spirit in “Into the Hand of a Woman”. Never has a modern tale so poignantly proven the struggles and joys of self-conviction. “Into the Hand of a Woman” may borrow attributes of historical characters, yet be prepared to laugh, love, and go to modern day battle. If humanity read this book and took notes, the world would be a better place. “Into the Hand of a Woman” fights human trafficking the way the Spartans did for Sparta. Ohse’s characters inspire with their dedication to morality in spite of the overwhelming odds in our world today. I haven’t felt so much inspired by a book in years!

Reviewed by Stephanie Dagg for Readers' Favorite

This book, according to its subtitle, is a tasty romantic comedy, and it's exactly that. And also brilliant. Lively and likable Alexandria D'Agostino, the youngest child in a close, hectic Italian-American family, is a fabulous cook as well as a hard working marketer. However, her love life leaves a lot to be desired so she tries the old fashioned approach of winning a man's heart through his stomach. If she puts her wonderful cooking into a guy, surely he'll give her his heart in return. She tries cooking her dates' favorite foods. But there's another saying - too many cooks spoil the broth - and Alexandria gets rather too much advice from well meaning friends and family. Will she find ever the recipe for love?

Love on a Back Burner has all the ingredients for the perfect romcom. It's peopled by fascinating characters who spring from the page with their energy. There are interesting settings that are clearly depicted for us. There's lots of fun, dollops of anguish, and a well thought out and executed plot. Being a romcom, we know our heroine will probably eventually find happiness but we still get swept up by the frustrations and setbacks that life throws at her. You have to give it to Alex - her family would drive lesser people insane! She has big decisions to make but remains strong and in control, and never loses her sense of humor. The book ends with a generous and delicious collection of recipes of dishes mentioned in the story. And, so you know, the butterscotch pie is to die for. Just like you won't put this book down till you've finished it, you won't be able to stop eating that pie until it's all gone!