Reviewed by Alice DiNizo for Readers' Favorite

This is an entertaining, occasionally humorous and always delightful story of Galveston, Texas, in 1900. Before the Great Hurricane of that year tore this coastal city to shreds, Galveston was an elegant place to live and thrive, at least it was if a family was wealthy. But the author introduces the reader to the alley people of Galveston, the misfits, the blacks, the prostitutes, the nuns and the ninety orphans in their care. These people, Maxwell, Newt, disgraced Dr. Frank the vet and his raccoon Lucy, Fanny and her son Cody, Bishop, Elma and their three children, Sisters Ruby and Mary, Marbles and Burly Horse are delightful, believable and not totally perfect people who struggle daily against racism, prejudice, and the poverty to which they were consigned. Maxwell, one of the main characters, takes a stand against the corruption and greed of those in power in Galveston, and learns that his love of long ago wasn't quite as honorable as he thought. The people of Galveston's alley are beaten up, shot at, whipped, raped, and are forced to endure terrible things but they show their bravery and their frontier spirit when the Great Hurricane of 1900 struck without mercy.

"The Last Paradise" is a brilliant story of what life was like in the South in 1900 with the prejudice, the racism and the indifference to poverty that existed quite clearly back then. It is well-written and well-edited with characters that are totally believable and true to them throughout the entire story. The plot flows to the end of the book with moments of glory and also of horror. Maxwell and Fanny find love, Newt discovers he loves the local Catholic orphanage and cannot do enough to help, and Burly Horse and Marbles are deficient mentally but abound in love for those around them. The reader will love them all, but hate the bad guys, and will rejoice in their sorrows and celebrate their good times. "The Last Paradise" is a book to be remembered. It teaches the history of Galveston, Texas, in an unforgettable period of time but in a readable way that the reader will not soon forget. A book for everyone!

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

DeAnn Lubell, author of "The Last Moon", transports readers back to May 8, 1902, when Mt. Pelee on the island of Martinique erupted in one of the most deadly and destructive events recorded in history. The pleasure of reading this book comes in the minute details. Lubell shares the philosophy, the Creole language, the routines, the topography, and the ecological phenomena with regard to the eruption. While Lubell accurately portrays the events, it is the people that make this book special. The tale begins with Captain David desperate to arrive in Martinique. The ocean around his ship was littered with human and animal bodies. He prayed Mt. Pelee had not erupted. Lubell skillfully weaves the threads of Yvette, Andre, David, Aza, Father Roche and the evil, greedy politicians together into a tapestry upon which the events are played out. The women are portrayed as resilient yet elegant. Voodoo and brothels are part of the accepted culture. Politicians can think only of what it will take to win a racially charged election.

It is obvious DeAnn Lubell spent much time researching the event she writes about. She brings the eruption to terrifying life. Her descriptions of the island before the eruption are magnificent. I have never been to Martinique but after reading the vivid descriptions I plan to vacation there. The descriptions of the aftermath are horrifying. "The Last Moon" is a historical novel but it also has intrigue, action and romance. I found the book riveting, mesmerizing and a must read tale.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

Our tale begins long long ago, in a land called the Valley of the Dragon. An evil faerie and her dragon lived on the Mountai of the Dark Shadow. Her name was Drocha, the faerie of nightmares. The Snow Queen was the head of the faeries; she forbade Drocha from bothering the valley people. Drocha was so evil that the other faeries refused to be around her. Dorcha was very angry and rebelled by turning Droch, her dragon, loose on the valley. The dragon would fly through the valley at night capturing and eating the livestock and some of the children. Dorch was turned into a rock when he attacked the Snow Queen and her dragon. Dorcha waited for the opportunity to attain her revenge. At last she had her chance to hurt the Queen by destroying a much loved dragon. Sneachta was badly injured and was left for dead but one special child rescued him. They quickly bonded and Sneachta repaid Dieter’s kindness by protecting him.

"The Last Snow Dragon" by Diana Winter reads like a favorite old fable. This tale, like most good fables, treats good vs. evil. Sneachta and Dieter are delightful characters. There are several important secondary characters who are well-developed and who add depth to the story. This is the type of tale my grandmother would share with me. I would always beg for more. Winter has a unique talent for writing a story and making it feel like a legend passed on by word of mouth. I will be sharing this tale with my grandchildren.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

“The Last Supper Catering Company” by Michaelene McElroy is a book with a different flavor. This is the first novel by the author. I certainly hope it will not be her last. I have nothing to compare the plot to; it is unique, imaginative and wonderfully developed. In "The Last Supper Catering Company" we meet an original character, B. Thankful Childe Lucknow. To say her life was simple would be somewhat misleading. From the day of her birth B. Thankful was different. B. Thankful was in fact the epitome of innocence. Her mother died before she was born. Little G pulled her granddaughter out of the womb and willed her to live. B. Thankful had unruly red hair and eyes of two different colors. But the most unusual thing about her was her ability to hear whispers of the departed. B Thankful had a happy childhood although somewhat isolated. She was rejected by the town’s people but was loved and nurtured in her home in the woods by her grandmother Little G and her father. B. Thankful allows readers to travel with her as she comes to discover why God blessed her with a special gift and his plan for her life. B. is sweet, kind, loving and caring. She doesn’t judge others and has an air of innocence about her. But don’t be fooled; she is highly intelligent. During her journey we will meet many characters often with a quirk or two and the reader will come to love each one.

It is difficult to believe this is Michaelene McElroy’s debut novel. Her talent outshines some of the most experienced authors of her time. Her writing style is the use of prose that floats off the page. She illustrates emotion through her words. In this book the reader will experience joy and sadness often, just a few words separating the two. As I savored this tale I found myself smiling, giggling, laughing out loud and in the next paragraph sobbing for the pain B. was facing. My mere words cannot possibly do this book justice. I highly recommend this book. Get your copy today.

Reviewed by Maria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Eleven-year-old Brody Boondoggle is walking in the woods with his hard-of-hearing Grammy when they discover an animal track of an Akaway – one of the rarest creatures in the universe that nobody has ever seen before. Before they can catch the animal, it bites Brody and something strange starts to happen. However, Brody’s friend Rudy and 13-year-old brother Jake do not believe him. Meanwhile, the Akaway gets weaker and weaker after a hunter hits it. Brody has to do everything in his power to rescue his animal friend even if it means making a journey into the spirit animal world. The Last Akaway by Gary Karton is a story that will certainly hold any child's undivided attention.

The author successfully creates a magical world that children will truly love. Gary Karton knows how to tell his story not only to children but also to young adults while preventing boredom. The main character, Brody, is such a lovable kid. At his young age, he knows what is the best and right thing to do when you are in a challenging situation, especially if it involves an animal friend. Every chapter is certainly interesting to read and it gets a hold of you even at the very start when the strange animal bites the little boy. It is interesting to note how Karton uses it, enough to intrigue his readers to continue reading.

The adventure of Brody, his brother Jake, and Grammy is not about fun but it provides a wonderful message of love and friendship. The Last Akaway and the entire magical world is fresh and wonderfully written. Thumbs up to the author!

Reviewed by Jean Hall for Readers' Favorite

The burden of achieving social acceptance and outward, physical beauty can be crushing for a teenage girl. But then there are the victories, both small and large; little feats of independence and larger, inward self-acceptance. Jacquelyn Eubanks in The Last Time showcases a sympathetic and beautiful soul with her heroine Charley. Charley (which is short for Charlotte) has been transplanted from rural Georgia to the more sophisticated suburb of Yonkers, New York.

Although she was born in Yonkers, her experience is decidedly Southern. She has left her heart in Georgia and his name is Frankie. But the fledgling couple keeps in touch as pen-pals in the post-war innocence of the 1950s. Charley loves baseball, it is true. She is a tom-boy, no doubt about it. But all the appealing attributes of Charley make her an object of jealousy with the popular clique at her new, all-girls Catholic high school.

Jacquelyn Eubanks keeps the story of Charley lively but with some heartbreaking moments. Charley does find unusual courage in the midst of adolescent taunts. The scenes at Charley's home keep the innocent plot well-grounded. There is mother-daughter friction and a grandfather's illness. The book has some nice visual elements. There are clumsy, hand-written notes from Charley and Frankie, as well as elegant, cursive chapter headings. The setting of the 1950s is a nice choice to show this bobby-soxer's life at home and at school. The Last Time by Jacquelyn Eubanks shows the strong but tender heart of a girl who feels the grief of last times, but with the hope of new beginnings.

Reviewed by Janelle Fila for Readers' Favorite

The Last of the Firedrakes by Farah Oomerbhoy is a young adult fantasy about a sixteen-year-old orphan named Aurora who gets kidnapped and taken into the magical world of Avalonia. There is dangerous magic in Avalonia and a wicked queen who has proven she will stop at nothing to rule all seven kingdoms. When Aurora is dumped into this magical mix, she unexpectedly threatens to destroy the queen's plans. Aurora is helped by a wide range of interesting characters including Rafe, a handsome mage, a magical Pegasus, and a young fairy. The group heads across Avalonia to discover Aurora's past and help her understand the wickedness of the queen. Can Aurora stop the queen from leaving the entire kingdom in darkness? Or does she just want to go back to her safe, boring life on Earth and forget that anything magical could ever happen?

This is a nice fantasy story with some traditional elements that fantasy fans will recognize and appreciate. It is a good damsel in distress story, how an ordinary girl discovers that she might have the power within her to change the world. The world building is beautiful and I like the fact that there are human characters and fairy and fae characters. That really made the book more complex for me and I think other readers will enjoy learning more about these magical creatures. In fact, it is the journey of discovery for Aurora and the reader that makes this an interesting story.

Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

The Last Orphans by N.W. Harris is a story about teenagers and kids who have to learn to deal with the fact that all the adults are dead, and that they might be next. A deadly virus was accidentally let loose on the planet, and it killed every adult. Only teenagers and young children are left. Shane is one of them. With a group of other kids, he tries to survive, and comes across the horrifying message that the virus will soon attack even younger victims. Only he and his new friends can stop the total destruction of all humanity - but will everyone be on his side? And how can kids survive without adults?

The Last Orphans by N.W. Harris was a nicely paced book with interesting characters, an exciting plot, and enough surprises to keep you turning page after page. While I am not a young adult or teenager any longer, I still enjoy reading books with younger characters as they usually have a different dynamic than books with "older" people. While the circumstances of those kids in this story are, of course, horrendous, and you wouldn't wish it on anybody, it was a very enjoyable and entertaining read. N.W. Harris also wasn't afraid to kill off nice characters, so you could never be sure who would make it to the end - or whether the kids would even be successful. The characters are well developed, and some of them stand out. It's definitely worth a read if you enjoy dystopian YA novels.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Last White Ruby: The Vanishing Polar Circles is a collection of poetry written by Ronnie J. Smith. Smith is a professional aviator whose flights took him over both poles, and he was also the in-theater Commander of Operation Deep Freeze which enabled him to spend 2005-2008 in Antarctica. His poetry shows the deep inspiration he gathered from his flights over, and time spent, on the ground in the polar regions. Many of his works are free verse and rely upon the pairings of sound and sense to impart their own internal rhythms. In Iluliaq, the sound and sense pairings work with the repeated refrains to heighten the tension and reflect the subject of the waves lapping on the ice.

Smith’s work is rich in imagery that builds the mood at the same time that it creates endless vistas in the reader’s mind’s eye. He frequently uses alliteration and the repetition of vowel sounds to marry the form of his words to the sense of his subject. In The Only Road, the lines: “Star-eyed falcons stun/ Those frozen seas” illustrate his use of alliteration in a palindromic form that’s evocative, pleasing to the ear and dramatic. At times, Smith’s use of refrains creates a chant-like rhythm; a music that seems to stamp and roll and immerse itself into the reader’s consciousness.

I must confess that I have long been enraptured by the polar regions, and have spent untold hours enchanted by the tales of those explorers Smith memorializes in his poetry, and awed by the photographic images of those icy wastes and the harsh grandeur. And while I’ve never been more than an armchair adventurer in those polar climes, I felt, reading The Last White Ruby, as though I were in the presence of a kindred spirit, albeit one whose adventures are indeed first-hand.

Smith’s words capture the magic, mystery and majesty of his subject, and I frequently found myself reading the same lines aloud over and over, letting my tongue and mind taste the meeting of form and sense. His images are crystalline and flowing all at once, and his style is reminiscent of that of the Victorian poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Edgar Allan Poe. I was drawn to Smith’s tributes to Amundsen, Shackleton and Hillary, and bemoaned anew the plight of Scott’s ponies in Sonnet to the South Pole Ponies.

The Last White Ruby is the real deal. It’s a collection of marvelous poetry that spoke so directly to me that I’m still seeing vast white canyons, summer dusks flowing into dawn and the ineffable sadness of what has been irretrievably lost. The Last White Ruby: The Vanishing Polar Circles is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Samantha Dewitt (Rivera) for Readers' Favorite

The Hunter seeks only to live as normal a life as possible, but with demons haunting him everywhere he goes such a life is beyond him. With Soulhunger and the demon to lead him, there is little that he can do but kill again and again, bringing himself to a chaos and a hatred that has led him to nearly take his own life. But when he meets Sir Danna and Visibos, he’s certain he can hide the part of himself that wants to kill, at least, until they discover who he is. Now he’s on a hunt to find that which is his and to protect himself and maybe the rest of humanity from the demons that seek to destroy them all, but is it even possible? Between Bardin and the others, he’ll have to find a way to overcome the power that has controlled him for as long as he can remember - but will he succeed in The Last Bucelarii: Lament of the Fallen (Book 2) by Andy Peloquin?

This book is filled with a whole lot of action and adventure. You feel like you know where things are going and what’s going to happen and then it turns things around. Even though The Hunter isn’t a ‘good guy,’ you still feel like you’re rooting for him to succeed the whole way and you’re hoping that he’ll overcome what’s holding him back and find the woman that he’s seeking from his dreams. It’s an intriguing book and there are plenty of interesting characters, from Aspos and Bardin to Sir Danna and Visibos and, of course, The Hunter himself. Lament of the Fallen is definitely a book for anyone who likes plenty of action and violence in what they read.