Reviewed By Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Weepers by Nick Chiarkas is a murder mystery set in the 1950s. In 1951, Christmas Eve, a man disappeared while walking through the Projects with Angelo, his son. In 1957, an undercover police officer was killed in a housing project in New York. At 2.00 a.m., on the way to setting fire to a grocery store, Angelo saw the cop killing and he was seen by the killers. As events unfold, Angelo forms a gang called Weepers and comes up against the mafia, police corruption and organized crime, not to mention the church. Unions are forged, battles are fought but will justice prevail? And whose justice will it be?

Weepers by Nick Chiarkas is a fantastic first novel. This is gritty, emotional and powerful all the way from start to finish. It’s a novel filled with action, with twists and turns all the way through, designed to throw you off the scent but leading you neatly to a great conclusion. Nick Chiarkas has nailed the era perfectly and you can almost see the story being played out in a gritty noir style. Not only that, the descriptive, compelling style of the writing draws you in and brings the story to life, taking us through Angelo’s life as he grows up. We come to understand the kind of life led by those on the Lower East Side in Manhattan in the 1950s. He creates an atmosphere of tension and courage, love and hostility, and brings out every emotion you can possibly think of. There is some violence but nothing that doesn’t fit in with the story. The characters are wonderfully developed to the stage where they relatable, likable and we can empathize with their situations. A great first novel, and I'm really looking forward to the next one.

Reviewed By Aimee Carol Dixon for Readers' Favorite

Billy is a spirited, good-hearted young man with dreams far bigger than the Valley of the Yew. It isn’t that he minds working alongside his father in The Valley’s Finest Inn. He could find a future happiness if he stayed. But when a noble guest invites him to go on the road with her, Billy leaps at the chance to make his dreams come true. Little does he know that the world beyond his cozy home is a more hostile place than he could ever have imagined, filled with dangers from which his father has done everything in his power to protect Billy.

Dancing back and forth between a unique idea for younger readers and one for older audiences, The Innkeeper’s Son stands strong in a place of universal appeal. There’s a delicate balance between the silly – lending itself to younger readers – and the darker, more mature themes that highlights K.C. Herbel’s skill. The effort made to make The Innkeeper’s Son such a solid work shines through every page; from the quiet strength of the common folk to the imbuing of life into the land and animals, Herbel never disappoints. There are a few rough spots scattered throughout, but none great enough to mar the first installment in a new fantasy series that should definitely be on your bookshelf.

It's a fast read, even taking into account the frequent pauses I took to admire the scenery. Herbel paints a beautiful landscape through the eyes of Billy, the young protagonist who sees the world with a child’s wonder even while confronting dark forces he’s never before known. Indeed, there is an unmistakable sense of magic to the countryside of The Innkeeper’s Son, drawing a sense of wonder and respect for the natural world into the whole work. Billy’s innate response to despair in himself and others adds much-needed lightness for those around him, earning him a cherished place in the hearts of most everyone he meets. Herbel does not shy away from allowing each character to have their own private pain, giving them a depth that cannot be overrated. A truly magical journey, and a delight to read.

Reviewed By Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

It isn’t surprising that Tears and Trombones is the winner of the Independent Publishers medal for “Best Fiction in the Western Pacific Region” because of the great storytelling craft and the exceptional prose readers will find as they begin to read the story. Nanci Lee Woody’s story will be of great delight to music fans and readers who enjoy well-developed characters, swiftly paced stories, and balanced writing.

Meet young Joey, a boy with a dream of becoming a musician, ridiculed by a heartless father and humiliated on every occasion by a father intent on distracting him from his goal to make his dream come true. But nothing would stop the young man who eventually finds the support he needs from well-meaning and generous souls, developing his career to the point where he finds himself performing with icons such as Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, and others. As he scores many successes in the music industry, he has to sacrifice a love ignited in his heart since his high school days. Can one man have it all?

Tears and Trombones is an exciting tale that is inspiring, an impassioned story written most wonderfully. I enjoyed the emotional depth of the story, the strong conflict explored at multiple levels, and the powerful lessons that come across to the reader. One of the lessons of this story is that our dreams have the power to transform our lives. Nanci Lee Woody’s writing had me captivated from the very first page, and I found myself turning from one exciting page to the next mesmerizing one. Here is one of those books you read and want to watch on the big screen.

Reviewed By Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

After a traumatic car accident, a high school student suffers from amnesia that conceals more than teenage angst in the dramatic Young Adult fiction novel What The Valley Knows by Heather Christie. Molly Hanover and her mother Ann have just relocated to Millington Valley. Ann's new boss has offered one of his superior rental properties to them for half the price. Happy to move out of the small, stuffy apartment, they are excited to begin their new lives. Ann has finally got her paralegal license and has a good job, and Molly is looking forward to her senior year. However, men recently introduced into their lives begin to cause havoc. After a late night visit from one of them, Molly now has a horrible secret. If she tells someone, the consequences could be dire. What should she do? However, that problem is moot when Molly is in an accident, and the memory is erased. Will the loss of her memory leave someone else in danger?

What The Valley Knows by Heather Christie is a sensational Young Adult fiction novel that leaves the reader feeling empowered. The story takes the reader from tragedy to triumph as they observe the heartrending and traumatic circumstances that Molly and her mother encounter. It is uplifting to experience Molly's journey from emotions of grief and loss, to see how those feelings are transformed into promise and personal power. It is also very gratifying to see the villain, who is victimizing innocents, brought to justice. This sensational novel is a moving, poignant story and is ideal for readers over the age of sixteen, due to some of the adult content.

Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Snowball: Chronicles of a Wererabbit is a young adult coming of age/paranormal fantasy written by M.Y. Zeman with illustrations by Jason Moser. John Everly is a vampire scientist whose research has been stolen by people who will use it for evil purposes. His friend and partner, Edgar, was able to find out the address where the research was located, and John set out to retrieve it after fortifying himself with some type AB blood. The inside of the building was set up in a similar manner to his own lab, but with a few grisly differences. There were shelves filled with jars of strangely misshapen fetuses and hybrid monstrosities, and empty cages and tanks, and in one tank, John saw a small white bunny surrounded by three dead bunnies. He continued upstairs and was able to locate his research papers, but soon noticed the smell of smoke which became more intense as he headed back down the stairs. The first floor was ablaze. John put his retrieved papers in his coat and was at the door when he remembered the bunny. He couldn’t leave the little creature and ran back for it. The two just barely managed to escape the burning building before it exploded, leaving John sprawled on the snow covered ground with a little bunny watching him.

M.Y. Zeman’s young adult coming of age/paranormal fantasy, Snowball: Chronicles of a Wererabbit, is not your ordinary wereanimal/vampire fantasy. It’s much more than that. It’s a marvelous and simple tale of Snow, a young bunny and her fathers, John and Edgar, two vampires. I loved reading about Snow growing up and witnessing her first transition from bunny to young human, and I chuckled at John’s absolute panic when he realizes that he’s suddenly the father of a human child. Zeman touches on things that cause pain in all beings, be they vampire or wererabbit: being different, being bullied by others, and the need for love, acceptance and companionship. John and Edgar are a marvelous set of fathers for the young wererabbit, with John’s studious nature complemented beautifully by Edgar’s artistic and adventurous spirit. Jason Moser’s illustrations are fabulous! They lit up a brightly glowing story even more by showing the reader tangible images of Snow and John. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from a book about the coming of age of a wererabbit, but Snowball: Chronicles of a Wererabbit surely exceeded any expectations I might have had. It’s magical, moving and, yes, it does cry out for a sequel. This enchanting fantasy is most highly recommended.

Reviewed By Francine Zane for Readers' Favorite

Red Death by Jeff Altabef is a science fiction adventure set in a world where the Soulless are considered less than human by the citizens of Eden, mostly because they fear the Red Death that plagues those poor souls who inhabit this war-torn world. Aaliss is a Guardian of Eden, trained to protect her people from the Soulless. When her genius brother's life is threatened by the Priests who rule Eden, she escapes with him and a Soulless girl on an adventure that will either kill them or rid their world of the Red Death.

Jeff Altabef does an amazing job in creating a diversified world where good and evil populate every tribe. His mixture of scientific with magical elements provides a good balance of variety that will appeal to young adult book lovers everywhere. The characters who star in Altabef's Red Death are thoroughly memorable and decidedly relatable. The author provides a variety of villains to hate, and Viper in particular is downright creepy. The book is liberally dosed with breathtaking action and real-to-life relationships. Altabef kept his writing focused on plot development, with very little superfluous world building that wasn't directly related to the story.

As a reader, I was intrigued by the title and the cover, but it was the story development and the professional quality of the content that earned my respect. I highly recommend this book to anyone who believes the blending of genres can add a new and exciting element to an already great plot. I look forward to reading more from the creative mind of Jeff Altabef.

Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Helga: Growing Up in Hitler's Germany is a work of historical fiction by Karen Truesdell Riehl. It is based on the true story of a young girl who was ordered to become a part of Hitler's Jugend when she was 10 years old. Helga and the other girls in her group were plied with sweets and cookies while their leaders instilled in them a fanatical love of Hitler, who was revered by them as a godlike and all-knowing being. Helga's parents had no way to counteract the programming she was subjected to, as any intervention would result in a knock on the door and their disappearance. As the war progressed, Helga was evacuated with other Jugends to a hotel where food was abundant, but there was no freedom. Their letters back home were collected and examined before sending, and any objections were swiftly and harshly dealt with.

Karen Truesdell Riehl's historical fiction, Helga: Growing Up in Hitler's Germany, is a remarkable and stunning work describing a young German girl's coming of age during World War II. I found myself unable to put the book down and felt compelled to continue following her story. I've read many nonfiction and fictional works dealing with this tragic episode in history, and Riehl's work stands up there with the best. Many of us have seen movies and read stories where Hitler Youth are described as heartless, zombie-like children gleefully denouncing their parents to the Nazis and self-righteously watching as they're dragged away. Most of us probably realized it was not really all that simple and clear-cut. Helga's story helps bring a new comprehension of the strains and complexities the most vulnerable members of German society were subjected to, and how their lives and the lives of their families were affected. Helga: Growing Up in Hitler's Germany is a major and valuable addition to World War II literature. It's most highly recommended.

Reviewed By Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

A Tempest Soul by Oliver Phipps is a coming-of-age story that explores Gina Falcone’s growth curve, the challenges she has to face, and the vicissitudes of her life. But it is mostly the story of her crucible of pain and how she allows it to shape her destiny, an inspiring and entertaining story. Gina lost her father when she was a small girl and now her mother abandons Gina to herself when she has just turned thirteen, after securing her a job to wash dishes. Through hardship, Gina weaves herself a path through life, creating success for herself, but for how long can she keep it? Watch as she discovers the most wonderful lessons of life and as she grows to create her destiny; watch as she learns the dread truth that life could be held together by a very fragile thread in spite of our successes, and that we could lose everything with the snap of a finger.

This is an incredible story of a woman who faces life with courage and who decides to change her stars, a story that is filled with many lessons. I had a lot to enjoy in this story. First, the characters feel real and they are well developed, with their backgrounds well explored. I enjoyed the fact that the author uses lively and entertaining dialogues to give readers the backstory. The prose is enticing, composed of beautiful sentences that are not convoluted at any moment. It reads very fluidly and clearly. The narrative voice is hypnotic and it offers readers powerful images to accompany the story. A Tempest Soul is a story that will entertain and instruct readers, and empower them to face life with some nerve. Oliver Phipps’ writing really captured my heart.

Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Free Passage is an historical coming of age novel for young adults written by J.R. McRae and illustrated by Terry Hand. His commanding officers were stunned when Dane Maguire abandoned his post during combat and later handed in his commission. The heroic soldier was an inspiration to all who came in contact with him, which made his subsequent court martial and mandatory death sentence that much harder for all concerned. Dane stood there in front of the court and offered no excuse or justification. Despite his distinguished service and leadership, they had no option. Dane didn’t care. Something had happened on that field of battle which tore at everything that he held dear. He had no choice but to lay down his arms and surrender to the harsh field justice. McRae’s historical tale follows the lives of young adults whose lives were forever changed by the Civil War. Dane Maguire is one of them. Girl, a deaf-mute slave, who was never given a name, but found love in the least expected place, is another.

J.R. McRae’s historical coming of age novel, Free Passage, is a spellbinding and gripping story about young survivors of the Civil War. While I enjoy history and historical fiction, my focus has always been more on the first and second World Wars rather than on the American Civil War, and I was totally blown away by the power and intensity of these young adult tales. Each story radiates from that tale of the two brothers, Dane and Paul Maguire, yet each of the characters the reader meets assumes center stage at some point in the story. McRae’s heroes pop up in the least likely places in the hostile and frightening terrain of the post-Civil War years.

My favorite character would have to be Herr Adolphus Schmidt, an itinerant tinker who helps Girl, who reminds him of his own missing daughter, find Dane’s Uncle Pelletier. But there are so many unforgettable characters and stories in this superb and moving novel. Terry Hand’s illustrations are masterful, from that first grim court martial scene to the portrait of a shivering Mina after she escapes from the steamboat; each panel fleshes out the characters and their stories beautifully. Free Passage brings history to life brilliantly. It’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed By Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

The Rise of the Dawnstar by Farah Oomerbhoy is the second spellbinding installment in The Avalonia Chronicles, a delightful epic fantasy read for young adult readers. In this latest installment in the series, the stakes are raised even higher. The seven kingdoms of Avalonia are plagued by a new form of darkness and are on the verge of collapse. Queen Morgana is poised to access a magical power that would allow her to enslave the entire world. She is about to find a way to open The Book of Abraxas and, if she does, no one can stop her if she uses the power trapped in its pages. Meanwhile, Aurora must travel through the war-torn lands into the fairy kingdom of Elfi in search of a legendary weapon that still contains the ancient magic of the realm. She once survived a battle against Morgana, but can she still be a match for the evil queen?

The story starts in the midst of action and, from the very first page, the reader moves from one dramatic incident to another — betrayals, intrigue, battles, and a conflict that escalates at the speed of light. Both the heroine and the villain are deftly crafted, each playing a role that enhances the plot and keeps the tension high. Farah Oomerbhoy’s writing is gorgeous and it features great passages and intelligently written dialogues. I enjoyed the way the author weaves mythology into the story. This is fantasy at its best, riveting and utterly enjoyable. The Rise of the Dawnstar will transport readers into a land of magic where nothing is as it seems and where surprises happen at every turn of the road.