Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Journey to the West Valley Wall by Mark L Lloyd is a science fiction story with strong psychological and spiritual underpinnings. Jack Van Horne writes science fiction, but he has a condition that has been having a devastating effect on him. It is called agoraphobia and it reinforces his depression. While Eddy, his editor, thinks that his mental illness is just a form of mental block, Jack knows he can’t dismiss it. The illness has affected the progress of his current writing very negatively. Now, charged with watching his niece for two days, Jack ventures beyond his familiar landscape on a journey to the West Valley Wall. He believes his cure or ultimate curse may lie in this journey, and what if all this isn’t real? The outcome is surprising.

The writing is gorgeous and the reader immediately feels a connection with the protagonist, thanks to the strong and expert use of the first person narrative, a voice that irresistibly draws readers into the worldview of the protagonist. The conflict is mostly internal, and it is introduced in the opening pages: “My editor and good friend Eddy thinks I’m suffering writer’s block as well, but it’s more than just that. My agoraphobia and depression have been getting worse and worse since book one.” It is interesting to navigate the mindscapes of the protagonist, to feel his mental tension, and watch him struggle in his dilemma, torn between what others think and what he firmly believes. Journey to the West Valley Wall is a powerful narrative with deep undercurrents when it comes to meaning and symbolism. While Mark L Lloyd tells the story of an author suffering from a rare mental illness, he invites readers to navigate the gray zone between reality and illusion. The characters are believable and elaborately developed and the conflict so strong that it moves the plot forward. A delightful read, indeed.

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

In When the Haboob Sings by Nejoud Al-Yagout, Dunya Khair had always noticed the cultural injustices around her but never dared to question them. When her conscience can take it no longer, she dares to speak out for the rights of women and others in a strict, patriarchal society. When her article is published, Dunya finds herself the subject of death threats and derision. Overnight her article sparks controversy and she suddenly finds herself in a cockroach-infested prison cell and denounced publicly by her family. Dunya's article draws attention from around the world and when she is released from prison, Dunya believes she must continue to fight all the injustices around her and tackle subjects that many are afraid to confront. Dunya finds herself in the midst of a scandalous witch hunt; many want to silence her, while others support her from behind closed doors. Dunya's steadfast belief that she must follow her truth and speak out continues but sometimes questioning the status quo has serious consequences.

The subject matter of this incredible story is quite relevant in today's society, where many people are persecuted for addressing cultural and religious practices. Dunya is a wonderful character with such a strong resolve but slowly her mental frailty emerges. The main message I gained, however, is that sometimes it cannot be left to one person to speak out while others agree in the shadows; sometimes you have to spread the risk about for change to occur. The descriptive narrative and behavior of characters that live under strict cultural and religious laws were relayed so realistically, and although many citizens of the West understand the difficulty of speaking out, very few experience the implications of having differing views when it could result in imprisonment or death. The entire plot is filled with shocking twists and revelations, especially the explosive ending. This is such a powerful story that the image of Dunya and her fight for the truth and justice is one that will stay with me for a very long time.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

The Ancient Order (Bud Hutchins Supernatural Thrillers Book 0) by JB Michaels is a story with strong supernatural underpinnings, a tale that explores the birth of a powerful order, The Order of St. Michael, designed to fight the forces of darkness. The Roman Empire is experiencing the most challenging and dark period in her history when some of her finest warriors are being mysteriously slaughtered. The highly skilled and battle-tested centurion, Magnus, is sent to Roman Britain to investigate the murders. He is not aware of what awaits him as he sets off on this mission with a warrior woman by his side. Does he have enough fight in him to face the dark powers, the powerful clans, and the innumerable enemies on his path?

This is a stellar work, packed with action, tightly plotted and executed in a way that the reader is gripped from the opening pages to keep on reading nonstop. The author has a unique gift for plot and crafts scenes that are focused, keeping the story balanced, and leading readers into exciting places with the setting. The characters are well developed and they will recall to readers elements of a civilization that has always intrigued historians. JB Michaels builds the tension from the very beginning of the novel and keeps it strong and growing from page to page. The Ancient Order is deft and well balanced. I found it to be engrossing and utterly riveting, a novel with an irresistible appeal for fans of historical fiction and intriguing and action-packed thrillers.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

In The Black Knight’s Tune: Ruby’s Story, Ruby has the good fortune to be adopted by kindly white folks in New York, but as she grows up and becomes a journalist, her longing to know about her true heritage becomes overwhelming. When her white boss, with whom she has fallen in love, has her accompany him on a visit to the deep South, where the lady he loves is involved in the abolitionist movement, Ruby gets to participate in the lives of her black brethren living on the plantation. Though their lives differ from hers in New York, more than ever she feels their shared connection to the past and their resiliency. She is enriched by that experience and a couple of others that mean the world to Ruby and which I’ll leave for the reader to enjoy with her.

It never ceases to amaze me how some authors, like Naomi Finley, can write a sensitive, realistic story in only a few pages while others will take twice as many pages to tell a similar story and not touch your heart. What a talent! The Black Knight’s Tune: Ruby’s Story is one of a series planned by Finley who tells us in her bio that she has “an affinity for the Deep South and its history” and is “fascinated by the resiliency of the human spirit.” That resiliency is evident in the female protagonist, Ruby, born to black slave parents but separated from them while still a youngster. Beautifully written, tightly edited, and with plenty of revealing dialogue and reflection, The Black Knight’s Tune will resonate in your memory long after you set the book aside. Like that famous song, “Amazing Grace”, Naomi Finley as crafted this novella with amazing grace. I look forward to her next book in this series.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Death by the River is a thrilling psychological work by author team Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor, aimed at young adults. Catching the current vogue of teen psycho and revenge tales like Bates Motel, Revenge and 13 Reasons Why, the anti-hero of the tale is the sadistic psychopath Beau Devereaux, a charming top-dog alpha male who abuses his thrall over others to exercise his thirst for evil. At the abandoned St. Francis Seminary on the riverbank, Beau enacts horrors that haunt the nightmares of his classmates. When he sets his sights on a brand new victim for his senior year, it becomes clear that there’s only one way to stop him – blood is paid for with blood.

The only suggestion I’d make is that Death by the River contains such extreme acts of violence and gore that it perhaps ought to have an adult rather than young adult label. Other than that, I found it to be a horrifically brilliant book with a deep psychological connection to its killer. Beau Devereaux could have easily been a clichéd psycho, but the plot constructed around him and his development during the novel really shone as a masterpiece of character creation. In spite of everything, I still almost rooted for him and had sympathy in places, much in the style of Dexter or Hannibal. Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor do a fantastic job of setting a chilling scene with classic horror locations and authentic teen reactions to death and danger. Highly recommended, but definitely for adults.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

The Outlandish and the Ego by O. Ryan Hussain is political satire at its best. Two stories, one reality. The Aide will do anything it takes to stay in power and get his president re-elected and his appetite for victory is somewhat voracious – a bit of wife-swapping, slander, dubious partnerships and more. But he didn’t bank on having to beat The Brethren. Samuel and Roger, homeless vagrants, are on the run from demon gnomes. No one else can see them but the gnomes are making demands and Samuel and Roger must solve a riddle – “The Signal” – to satisfy them. Two plots twisting together as the fates of all three come crashing together.

Oh my gosh! If your mind was in a good place to start with, The Outlandish and The Ego by O. Ryan Hussain is going to mess with it! This is a seriously funny book. Given the current political turmoil in one or two countries right now, it is so easy to draw parallels! I’m not normally a fan of satire or politics but this had me hooked and opened my eyes to yet another genre to add to my collection. It’s a little confusing to start with but hang in there; this is one roller-coaster ride you will want to get off just to catch your breath. The main characters were incredibly well developed and the two separate stories run side by side until they clash in one laugh-out-loud ending. You do need to have a certain sense of humor and be very open-minded to enjoy this and to appreciate just how clever it really is. Very well written, this is one of the most entertaining books I have ever had the pleasure to read.

Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

The Shores of Our Souls by Kathryn Brown Ramsperger follows a romantic affair between a forty-year-old Muslim diplomat in New York City and a young, fresh-out-of-college stunning beauty from the South, a story that explores the dynamics of family, war, and religion. The young beauty, Dianna, finds work in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and she barely has enough to survive on. It is New York in the 1980s. But when she meets Qasim, a Lebanese UN official in a bar, the attraction between the two becomes clear and they find themselves in each other’s arms pretty fast. Despite the strong bond that exists between them, Dianna is unsure of her place in the life of this politician who might have a wife in his home country, a man who seems distant at times and broken. Can their love survive the taboos of religion, the constraints of society, and the challenging political times?

Kathryn Brown Ramsperger creates characters that are psychologically and emotionally rich, characters that will win the sympathy of readers instantly. The social commentaries are relevant and the historical references complement the well-developed setting. Her writing is fluid, seductive, and engaging, scattered with excellent dialogues and vivid descriptions. The Shores of Our Souls is a well-plotted story with great pacing and readers will find it hard to stop reading at any point. The conflict is strong and it makes for a great reading experience as the reader’s curiosity is piqued. This is a story with a strong premise, a well-developed conflict that escalates quickly, and that features a satisfying denouement. It was an exciting read for me and I grew to love the characters so much.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

Every so often a book comes along that you believe everyone should read. For me, The Emancipation of Evan Walls by Jeffrey Blount is that book, a story in which not only the protagonist, Evan Walls, is liberated from the demons of his youth, but through which receptive readers will be freed of uninformed notions about what it was like to grow up black in America before and after emancipation. This incredible story might shock you, or at the very least will move you to tears. Either way, you won’t forget it any time soon, if ever.

As a wide-eyed, curious and intelligent youngster, Evan loves the weekly gathering of friends and family for Kool-Aid, chatter and gossip on his parents’ verandah. At one such gathering, he tunes into Bojack’s grumblings on the status of the black people of Canaan who seem content with and intent upon staying where years of white suppression have put them ie. not seeking to better themselves, to get an education, and one day become somebody who matters. Evan takes Bojack’s views to heart and from that point on is determined to make something of himself. He learns to read; he slowly replaces his “black” way of speaking with proper English. He is mentored for years by both Bojack and his beloved great-grandmother Jennie, but along the way he is rejected, not just by his peers who see him as an Uncle Tom and as turning his back on his race, but by his own status-conscious mother and father. After schools become integrated, the friendless, unloved and abused Evan finds friendship in some white classmates. Unfortunately, that fuels even more anger from his family, and triggers complete isolation and violence from his black brothers. Despite a broken heart and incredible loneliness, Evan weathers it all to become a star athlete. But even that cannot salvage the damage his determination to become a somebody has caused in his personal life. He has broken the unspoken rule of accepting the status quo, of fitting in with everyone, and now he must pay the price.

The Emancipation of Evan Walls is a gut-wrenching read, delivered by a brilliant, award-winning author and television director, Jeffrey Blount. He is a master of telling a story, revealing characters and their motivations primarily through dialogue. This style of writing not only makes his characters utterly realistic and emotionally engaging, but also moves the story along quickly. This is one of those books that keep you turning pages, not because of non-stop action or unexpected twists and turns, but because of the stark reality and truths explored through the characters and setting. The Emancipation of Evan Walls is utterly riveting reading and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Brilliant!

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

The McCoys Before the Feud is the first entry in The McCoys Before the Feud Series by Thomas A. McCoy, a historical western tale packed with action. It begins in the last few days of the Civil War when everyone knew that the South had lost. Thomas McCoy Jr. receives a letter from his former betrothed, Teresa, and the contents bore information that was troubling: “I’m sure you’ve heard of the rumors of all the valuables taken from the Southerners. It’s hard to believe it’s true. Come to me as fast as you can when the war is over.” The year is 1865 and Tommy McCoy is buoyed up with the desire for justice. He can’t let the corrupt general get away with the bounty of the Confederacy, so Tommy and his intelligent father hatch a plan to recover the spoils or die trying. And they have to recover the bounty before the general gets help.

Thus begins an engrossing western yarn that is filled with historical details and breathtaking action. The McCoys Before the Feud explores the legacy of a family bent on recovering the stolen wealth. The story is filled with action and gun fighting. The author captures the atmosphere during the Civil War with clarity, evoking vivid images of the setting and the general culture of the time. The narrative is composed in excellent prose and the descriptions are wonderful. Thomas A. McCoy seems to have researched the novel so well; the prose is impeccable with humor filling every page, and the characters are rock-solid. This is a rare gem for fans of historical novels and western stories.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Backwards K is a sports-themed inspirational novel written by J.J. Hebert. It was the defining moment of his young life, the goal every kid who’s ever played baseball has ever dreamed about. Jet Brine was at bat for his team -- the Boston Red Sox. His fans, who had followed his meteoric rise to fame straight out of high school, were shouting out his name and cheering for his team. Jet could remember the thousands of times he had been at bat since he was young, could feel that satisfying impact of ball hitting bat, the crisp cracking sound, followed by the hushed awe of the crowd as they followed the ball’s trajectory. But this time, at this most crucial moment, when the World Series win depended on him, something awful happened. First, he swings and strikes, and the shock of it seems to freeze him, to end the effortless grace that had gotten him this far, and the next two strikes fly by untried for. Years later, an older, sadder Jet would pack up his old playing cards and other memorabilia and join the graying ex-athletes at the succession of collector shows held in conventions across the country, where he’d haggle with dads who’d try to bargain down his prices.

J.J. Hebert’s inspirational sports-themed novel, The Backwards K, follows the efforts of aging baseball great, Jet Brine, as he tries to get past that awful defining moment of his baseball career and reclaim his life. Hebert’s story examines the concepts of forgiving oneself for the past and finding the courage to start fresh and new. Jet’s first real job as data entry clerk will feel remarkably true to life to most readers who’ve ever worked in a company setting, and his interactions with his coworkers and peers feel authentic and real. Hebert also addresses addictions and the havoc they can wreak on good people’s lives, and the difference that having a support structure can make when trying to change addictive behavior. In Jet’s case, it’s gambling that calls out in a siren song whenever things get bad, and the relationship between him and his sponsor, Boone, as they work to conquer that addiction is a marvelous thing to read. The Backwards K is an uplifting and inspiring tale that is most highly recommended.