Reviewed by Gobi Jane for Readers' Favorite

The Measure of Ella by Toni Bird Jones is a mix of crime, romance, and adventure, a story that follows a strong female character in her pursuit of the dream of her life. Having lost her father a year ago, Ella Morgan is ready to realize her dream of opening her own restaurant. Selling her father’s tugboat is the one thing that will help her. Alone and away from her home in New England, she is determined to succeed, but the tugboat turns out to be junk and Ella sees her hopes dashed. But she won’t give up. Davis, a man she’s been dating, gets killed by pirates during a raid and when Rich, her co-sailor, makes her an offer to help him pull off a drug run, she sees an opportunity to make quick money that will contribute to her plans to start the restaurant. But things quickly turn bad and she finds herself fighting for her life in a deadly world of pirates and drug lords.

This is a beautiful story and I loved the way the author crafts the characters. Ella is a sophisticated character, a sailor, flawed in many ways, which makes her relatable. She’s suffered loss, she is an orphan, and she has a strong determination to succeed in starting her restaurant business. It is a motivation that is at the heart of the conflict, for she will do anything to raise funds for her business. The plot is filled with adventure and those who enjoy the high seas will love it. The author demonstrates a unique understanding of the underworld of drugs and crime and allows it to come alive in the narrative. The Measure of Ella is an engaging story and Toni Bird Jones’ characters are compelling.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

It's supposed to be another mundane working day for 46-year-old Doug, a driver for the Greyhound bus company. There's no more spark in his eight-year marriage and the overworked man is tired of fulfilling his luxury-hungry wife’s demands. However, his day is about to change when a young man named Devon boards his bus. Devon has a mission to fulfill; he's going to change the course of the route and take Doug, including the rest of the people on the bus, for a ride. Hilarious but emotional at the same time, Joanie Chevalier's The Bus Ride: A Zany Busnapping Adventure is the tale of an unexpected life-changing experience for passengers of bus No. 255 as their fates are intertwined, whether they like it or not.

As quirky as the story is, the diverse characters are definitely the main driving force for Joanie Chevalier's The Bus Ride. I personally know several overworked and unhappy 'Dougs', and bus hijacker Devon is easy to root for despite his desperation and lack of judgment. A woman named Gloria is almost like a Zen existence for everyone on board, and young rebel Autumn and Frankie's story - as well as the reason for them to be on the bus - is poignant. I gravitated towards another passenger, Dave, and the surprising twist on this 'Spyman's' identity is ingenious. With its multifaceted plot deftly developed and paced, this Zany Busnapping Adventure is an entertaining and uplifting contemporary tale about ordinary people experiencing extraordinary camaraderie in trying times. A commendable novella from Chevalier.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

The Cat Who Ate His Tail by Jacqueline Simon Gunn is a heartwarming and unusual story of love that will thrill cat lovers. Sneakers is a cat, a big one, “think tiger cubbish." He has had his fair share of suffering and has known the worse form of loneliness. His memories of abandonment leave him frustrated and utterly unwanted. Abandoned by his former owner, he finds himself - through unusual circumstances - in the home of a human “who studied and listened to other humans,” a psychologist who struggles in her relationship. In this book, the cat shares the woman's anxiety, her fears and how she deals with emotional pain. Sneakers describes the love life of the psychologist and makes stunning observations in a story that eventually leads to love and healing and a twist that is intriguing.

That this story is told by a cat is one of the things that augment the humor and make it a great read. The author gets into the mind of the protagonist, an animal, and explores the levels of pain he experiences. His memories aren't the best and it is interesting how vividly the narrator shares these memories: "The box reminded me of when I was held captive in a cage for many moons as a kitten, which always invited the memories of my early abandonment and the loss of my biological mother. As if that wasn’t enough to exacerbate my anxiety, every time she put me in that box, something bad happened to me." The story evokes a deep sense of pathos and compels the reader to look at the protagonist with sympathy. Jacqueline Simon Gunn's use of anthropomorphism is very deft and it allows the reader to connect with the cat. The Cat Who Ate His Tail is skillfully plotted and written in beautiful prose. Filled with humor, the story is engaging and has the potential to change the way we look and treat animals. A gorgeous treat for fans of cats and domestic animals.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

“An overwhelming stench of pungent hunters tickles his soggy nostrils, as all hope of evading capture withers away. And the last thing the panda sees before he’s plunged in a sack of darkness, is bedraggled white fur, a wide-open frothing mouth, and eyeballs red as the devil. Heaven will have to wait.” In The City That Barks And Roars by J.T. Bird, Detective Frank Penguin’s former partner, Lucas Panda, is missing. Then, three beavers mysteriously disappear. With the help of a new detective in town, Chico Monkey, the duo searches for clues while solving other crimes in the neighborhood. Something’s going down for sure, and the Kingdom Police Force is racing against time to solve the cases and save the victims.

Set in the 1950s, in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, The City That Barks And Roars is an engaging, funny, and dark detective noir about a subversive beast fable. The intriguing world-building has a sense of familiarity that can be easily visualized in readers’ minds. There’s a good balance between a riveting plot and funny moments where the seedy inner workings of our society become aphotic parodies. J.T. Bird creates a number of interesting anthropomorphized characters from a no-nonsense vulture who’s a Police Chief to a tough female wolf detective named Yuriko, who’s one of my favorites. Despite their differences, the grumpy Frank Penguin and the optimistic Chico Monkey work well together. Each character, main and secondary, complements each other well and efficiently delivers the well-developed storyline that has more surprises than I expected. A blend of a good narrative and thought-provoking elements, this is an entertaining read.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

The Devil and Dayna Dalton: A Bulwark Anthology (Book 9) is a short novella from the pen of author Brit Lunden. Dayna Dalton is known as what we might colloquially call “trailer trash”. She grew up in Bulwark, Georgia and like her mother had gained an unfair (in her case) reputation as the town slut. From an early age, Dayna had designs on the gorgeous Clay Finnes but all through high school, Clay seemed impervious to her charms, placing her fairly and squarely in the “friend zone” or the “sister zone”. Unable to achieve her ambitions of a life with Clay, Dayna managed to escape the incestuous small-town atmosphere of Bulwark and attend Georgetown University on a full scholarship where she studied journalism. Just as Dayna’s career was beginning to take off, she loyally returned to Bulwark to take care of her mother who suffered a cancer scare. Now a reporter on the local Bulwark newspaper, she is still drawn to Clay Finnes, now the town’s sheriff but also now married, with a child. Realizing she can never have Clay, Dayna runs through a coterie of men, never quite finding the love and care she craves, until strange things begin to happen in Bulwark.

I’m not a big fan of novellas, as I like the characters to develop and grow over the length of a novel. However, for The Devil and Dayna Dalton, I’m prepared to make an exception. Author Brit Lunden has given us a complex character in Dayna Dalton who, having run the gamut of the worst in relationships, is ready, willing and able to give herself utterly and totally to the man who steals her heart… and what a man he is! The paranormal feel to the novella coupled with the author’s vivid and breathtaking descriptions of the people and the environment of Bulwark was a true bonus to this story. The story flows and, yes, I was a little annoyed when it ended so quickly but Lunden has given me a thirst and desire to read more of her work and indeed more about this fascinating female lead she has created. I loved the way she so accurately portrayed the dynamic between the public and private persona of Dayna Dalton. Written off virtually from the day she was born, Dayna has the spirit and the intelligence to rise above people’s perceptions of who she is and, most importantly, not care what people think of her. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read and one I can highly recommend, especially if you love strong, female leads as I do and the paranormal touch doesn’t hurt at all.

Reviewed by Bruce Arrington for Readers' Favorite

The Proto Project: A Sci-Fi Adventure of the Mind by Bryan R. Johnson is a fun action-adventure story. Jason’s mom works for a high-tech company, and one day his school takes a tour. From then on, it’s one action-packed scene after another. It’s a clean story, too, entirely appropriate for this age group—say from grade 4 on up. I reviewed the audiobook version over several days while riding my bike, and it was a great experience. The narrator, Michael Mola, is clever, quick, and excels in his voices, adding a lot of humor to the story. He brings the listener along in an entertaining way, keeping them engaged from the first chapter to the last.

The story itself runs along the common theme of the good guys get ripped off by the bad guys, who plan to conquer the world. It also throws in a bit of budding romance between two twelve-year-olds, and all the awkwardness and humor to go along with it. I appreciated the story having two parents, while the kids can still save the world. There is a hint of a sequel, so there may be more exploits in the future. This is certainly a great read (or listen) for the summer months while the kids are out of school. The Proto Project: A Sci-Fi Adventure of the Mind by Bryan R. Johnson brings a fun experience to young readers, who will certainly enjoy this story. Even adults can sit back, relax, and take in this humorous tale. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

The earth's first space launch goes awry, wreaking devastation upon the planet in the exhilarating alternate history novel, The Luna Missile Crisis, written by Rhett C. Bruno and Jaime Castle and narrated by Ray Porter. It's 1961. The Soviets are the first to send a man into space. Tragically, as their rocket exits the atmosphere, it crashes into an alien ship and explodes. Mistakenly believing the United States is responsible, the Soviet government dispatches its nuclear arsenal. The missiles malfunction and decimate a considerable portion of Eastern Europe, creating the Dead Curtain. Stationed within the Dead Curtain a month after the "misunderstanding," combat medic Sergeant Kyle McCoy makes contact with an extraterrestrial visitor, a Vulbathi. Three years later, he is working for the newly instated Department of Alien Relations. Kyle's identical twin Connor is a grifter selling counterfeit Vulbathi weapons. When a deal goes awry, Conner finds himself on a powerful mobster's hit list. Dodging the homicidal gangster, Connor steals Kyle's DAR identity. Posing as his twin, Connor is inadvertently sent to the moon, now known as Luna, to attend the World Summit...

The Luna Missle Crisis does not disappoint. The story is expertly narrated and performed by Ray Porter. I especially enjoyed his Christopher Walken impression of the mobster. I appreciated his acting style in general and was exceptionally impressed with his ability to delineate the characters. With accents and subtle vocal changes, his personification of the characters made them remarkably real. The Luna Missile Crisis by Rhett C. Bruno and Jaime Castle is a stellar science fiction tale. Set in an alternate parallel world, the plot is intense and complex. Plentiful in action and danger, the story moves along at a breathtaking pace, culminating in a dramatic ending. Caught up in their conflicts, I found Connor's and the alien's personas disarming. The story comes to an exciting, albeit an abrupt close, leaving me anxiously waiting for a sequel. This extraordinary novel will appeal to those who enjoy science fiction with extraterrestrial elements.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Challenges of the Gods is a work of fiction in the fantasy and alternate universe sub-genres, penned by author Christian Hofsetz and narrated in its audiobook format by Alfred Tam. The central action of the novel is focused on Mike, who finds himself randomly chosen for a daunting task: to destroy an entire parallel version of Earth. Mike has plenty of his own personal issues going on after he is betrayed terribly by his fiancée, and waking up in another world does little to assuage his confusion. But if Mike finds that he is not up to or is resistant to the task, then the gods themselves will take matters into their own hands.

Author Christian Hofsetz has created a compelling interpersonal drama that works on the character level, then extends into a worldwide catastrophe adventure as it develops and builds to its excellent climax. Slow-burning at first, the plot is well crafted to reveal the fantasy elements alongside the grounded realism of the protagonist, making it all feel extremely real and high-stakes, which makes for a fantastic adventure throughout. In terms of audiobook quality, narrator Alfred Tam lends a lot of characterful touches to the work which really enhance the unique personalities not just of Mike, but of the people he meets along the way in his mission. Tam’s female voices were well achieved with plenty of inflection, and his males were all very distinct from the narrative itself. The editing quality was also crisp and clear for easy listening. Overall, I would certainly recommend Challenges of the Gods in its audio format for readers who want a slow-burning and engrossing parallel universe adventure. This is a tale not to be missed.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

The Reflections of Queen Snow White by David Meredith is a look into the life of Snow White after her Happily Ever After. With Prince Charming dead, Snow White has lost the love of her life and she finds no solace in anything. Now ruling the kingdom as the Queen, even the wedding of her daughter isn’t enough to make her feel happy. Lost and depressed, Snow White comes across the mirror on the wall that was a sort of companion to her wretched stepmother. Is it possible that the mirror once at the center of her misery is capable of bringing her solace when she feels at her worst? However, the mirror proves to be exactly what she needs to feel like herself and remember what it is like to be the fairest of them all.

Narrator Robin Waters did a wonderful job of bringing Snow White to life, sharing her emotions, and making her human. The way Robin expresses and enunciates each word brings life to the story, makes the reader get lost in it, and become a part of it. Robin allows the reader to feel each part of the story as if it was a movie playing right in front of their eyes and that is amazing. The prose is wonderful and makes this story more interesting. The author weaves magic and somehow makes Snow White a relatable character. Snow White is deceptively human, much like an ordinary woman and not the little girl who got her Happily Ever After. She is now smarter, jaded, and in need of anyone to help her get a hold on life. The mirror on the wall and the “reflections” it gives Snow White make the story interesting and very intriguing, to be honest. It is genius and very creative. David Meredith nails it!

Reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite

After Veronica found herself pregnant as a teenage dancer, she decided to give up the baby girl, Isabel. Working at a perfume counter in a department store with twin boys and separated from her husband, Veronica is desperate for fulfillment. Now in her forties, she reflects often on her past life and wonders what might have been had she decided not to give up her daughter. Balancing home and her mother, who is succumbing slowly to Alzheimer’s and has been put in a care home, Veronica wonders if there is really more to life than the path she has set herself upon.

Isabel has grown up knowing she was adopted. When she finally sums up the courage to ask her mother for her birth mother’s address, Isabel struggles with what to do with the information, knowing she must be the one to make the first contact, as dictated by the adoption agreement. Living on the Isle of Wight with her boyfriend, she works as a homeopath, while he works as a painter. Encouraged by a dear old friend, Isabel must decide whether or not to take the plunge and contact the woman who gave her up nearly twenty-seven years ago.

The Dancer by Michelle Vernal is a heart-warming women’s fiction novel chronicling the parallel lives of a mother and her daughter. Although not often a reader of women’s fiction, I am genuinely glad I picked up The Dancer by Michelle Vernal. She develops the parallel lives of Veronica and Isabel very well and is able to weave in the events of Veronica’s past seamlessly. Amongst a cast of colorful supporting characters, Vernal takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery, reflection, and hope. I would certainly recommend this novel for fans of women’s fiction and will look for other novels by this author in the future.