Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Plan is a work of women’s fiction and chick lit written for adults by author Whitney Dineen. Forming the third novel of The Creek Water series, this delightful and charming story features moderate content and is suitable for readers of all sensitivities. The story centers on Amelia Frothingham, whose secret-keeping ways are about to catch up with her when the arrival of a rock star in her small Missouri town sends her life spiraling out of control. Huck Wiley should be high in the hills of Hollywood, but he too is keeping something hidden. What results is a whirlwind of romance, insecurity, and fear of taking the plunge that will suck them both in.

Author Whitney Dineen has created a sweet romance that still offers plenty of tease and sizzle without ever crossing the line, and that’s sure to make it a fully enjoyable read for romance fans of all kinds. Amelia is a protagonist to whom others can relate for her hidden reservations and insecurities, but she’s also a woman to admire when challenge and opportunity land right in front of her. The description of rock god Huck is deliciously vivid, and the dialogue between the two sparkles with both wit and sensuality. Romance fans are also sure to be charmed by Creek Water, the series’ setting, for the place has its own quaint character and carefully crafted atmosphere in Dineen’s wordplay and descriptions. Overall, The Plan is an essential read for anyone seeking a light yet fully immersive holiday read to devour, or indeed a cozy romance read for nights by the fire.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Man on the Rails is a work of fiction in the psychological drama and literary style writing sub-genres and was penned by author Rovshan Abdullaoglu. Written with a dedication to “everyone who does not give up and stands up to cancer and other great challenges”, this is a heartfelt tale exploring human fortitude and emotional strength during times of trial. We begin with a shocking scenario of suicide, an instance that rockets us back into the past to the conflict between Bosnia and Serbia. We meet Adriana, whose life story changes and affirms what the human spirit can endure despite hopelessness, thus affecting the later storylines and bringing everything into perspective.

Author Rovshan Abdullaoglu has crafted a wide perspective on humanity which homes in at the perfect moment to bring us detail and emotional impact as the story progresses. I knew very little about the Bosnian war and the conflicts of the different parties involved, so the novel delivered a lot of historical, cultural, and social perspectives from that time which all readers can benefit from understanding. I was most impressed by the character development, which creates the strong protagonists who underpin every action of the novel, and of course, Adriana stands out as a proud figure who undergoes quite the learning experience. The dialogue was a strong point too, driving important philosophical questions and digging deep into the emotive content of the tale, but remaining realistic and not clichéd. Overall, I would highly recommend The Man on the Rails to readers who appreciate thoughtful literary fiction with a wide-ranging perspective.

Reviewed by Gobi Jane for Readers' Favorite

The Greek Persuasion: A Novel by Kimberly K. Robeson is a wonderful story that explores strong themes with an irresistible appeal to fans of mythology and readers interested in the concept of soulmate. As a young girl, Thair Mylopoulos-Wright learned from her mother that humans were created to be whole and that it was Zeus who cut out a part of them. So, we have to search for our Other Self. Thair is in her thirties and still not feeling completely fulfilled with her partner. Desirous of discovering her authentic Other Half, she begins a spiritual odyssey that takes her to the Greek island of Kythnos for a summer. Alone on the idyllic island, she begins to write stories about her grandmother in Egypt, her mother in Greece, and her own life in America. By looking into the past, can she find the key to unlock the mystery that can lead her to the Other Self?

This is a novel with a beautiful concept, a story that is complex in both plot and the exploration of the themes. In this narrative, the author explores the possibility that humans were created to be self-sufficient until Zeus cut off part of them, which is why they have to find their soulmate to feel complete and contented. The characters are exceptionally developed and I loved discovering Thair, Dita, and Phaedra. Themes of maternity, mother-daughter relationships, and maternal influences are ingeniously developed. It is also interesting how Kimberly K. Robeson explores the influence that fairy tales and our connection with our mothers have when it comes to making decisions in life. The Greek Persuasion: A Novel is beautifully written and Kimberly K. Robeson writes in a voice that is strong and compelling, exploring human sexuality with skill and from unique perspectives. It is original and utterly engaging.

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

The small town of Bergama, Turkey, is about to be brought to its knees when terrorist and Muslim convert Osama Flynn's mission of martyrdom is 'successful'. Tugce Iskan is sent by the Ministry of Culture in Ankara to investigate the motives behind the attack. When she discovers one of the victims of the attack had an ancient gold coin on his person, she must find out if indeed the attack was an act of terrorism or connected to the ancient cache of Galen, a well-respected philosopher and architect from the second century of the Common Era. What Iskan uncovers is a wall of silence to her questions, but slowly her investigation reveals a lucrative business of selling artifacts by the powerful Hamit crime organization and a retired archaeologist called Ozlem, who has in her possession an ancient Roman letter. Iskan is not the only one who wants to know if Ozlem is hiding the whereabouts of an ancient burial ground filled with antiquities. The Hamit family are on her trail too.

From the first chapter, The Healer's Daughters by Jay Amberg gripped my imagination and attention. The main plot is filled with tension and suspense and there are many interesting subplots that support and add depth to the story. The characters are believable and introduced gradually so the storyline was easy to follow. The characters of Ozlem and Iskan were superb, strong and focused on achieving their aim, and the scenes between them were my favorites. The author has a clear skill of building tension and suspense and taking you into the world of the characters. Jay has cleverly woven so much into this novel; acts of terrorism, the kidnap and indoctrination of a young child, and the abuse of his mother. There were also great scenes showing the complex family dynamics of Ozlem and her two children who all have secrets to hide. There are some brilliant twists to the plot that are uncovered towards the end. This novel has a clear 5/5 for me and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a gritty, powerful story.

Reviewed by Jessica Barbosa for Readers' Favorite

Gill D Anderson’s The Chosen Seven tells the story of six strangers whose lives are changed forever when a lunatic with a gun came into Alessandro’s Cucina. Farzad Abed, crazy and angry with the world, claimed to be a terrorist and that his sudden violence was an Islamic State attack on Australia. He started with a restaurant full of hostages but narrowed it down to six. He claimed that he and his remaining hostages would be known as the chosen seven. Farzad believed that after brainwashing the hostages to take his side, they could make the world sit up and take notice. The chosen seven would change the world. Jacob Brown, Jagriti Goshal, Regina Terry, Levi Haines, Bill Walker, and Paul Townsend were brought together by a dangerous situation. Helpless, frustrated, and angry, they were handpicked by Farzad to play along in his delusion. Stuck inside the restaurant with their lives on the line and their rescuers hesitating outside, the handpicked victims realized that if they want to survive that night, they may need to work together and rescue themselves.

The Chosen Seven is a remarkable book that captured my attention from the very first chapter. Gill D Anderson wrote in so many characters with differing characteristics and backgrounds that it was hard to believe sometimes that they weren’t real. Their struggles and regrets in life were realistic and easy to relate to. The six hostages were so different from each other but they came together brilliantly when the situation called for it. Of course, in a situation like that, there were bound to be some challenges. I love how it all came together in the end. All the loose strings were tied up neatly. It starts with these different people, each living their own lives, minding their own business, each with their own imperfection, and their own problems, and I got to see into their lives and understand them on a deeper level. Their stories reached out and took hold of my heart and it was easy to sympathize with them and fear for their lives. Most of the characters changed after the harrowing incident and I think it was a perfect depiction of how people evolve from their experiences and learn something new. The hostages and their families’ new perspective in life after the incident was my most favorite part of the entire book. This was an incredible and exceptional piece of work and I would definitely read it again.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

In The Poe Consequence by Keith Steinbaum, 35-year-old Warren Palmer received an ominous reading from a psychic in an unknown street of New Orleans. Back in Los Angeles, he and his son, Seth, find themselves at the wrong place and the wrong time when they get caught up in a shooting between two notorious gangs. Warren’s attempt to save Seth resulted in his own death. Rather than moving on to the light, his soul gives in to anger and unfinished business on earth. He has a new purpose－seek out the gang members and kill them. The first to die will be the one who shot him.

Steinbaum’s deft integration of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart as a core element, along with his other short stories in the premise, gives The Poe Consequence a slightly different kind of intriguing factor. The well-paced plot is substantiated with heavy subjects of gang crime, depression, racial hatred, alcoholism, family obligations and many more. Between an angry soul causing death and panic among the gang members, and an alcoholic who tries to honor his family responsibility, my focus was much more on the young Seth, and how he finds guidance and regains hope through a compassionate mentor. The prose is straightforward, and the narrative is clear cut overall, despite some awkward parts of the dialogue. All in all, The Poe Consequence is a solid combination of supernatural, crime drama, and a dose of Edgar Allan Poe’s mysticism.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Poseidon Network is a work of fiction in the historical, emotional drama, and espionage sub-genres, and was penned by author Kathryn Gauci. Set during the Second World War, this engrossing and atmospheric drama tells the tale of Special Operations Executive Larry Hadley who arrives in occupied Greece in 1943. As the Second World War engulfs Europe, Larry must work with the titular Poseidon Network to bring the conflict to an end, but the deeper he gets into this new world, the more complex and entangling it becomes. What results is a dangerous thriller novel with plenty of twists, traitors, and treason in the mix.

Author Kathryn Gauci has crafted a lavish and detailed novel that leaves no stone unturned as it delivers a fully immersive historical espionage experience. The settings are less typical for a Second World War novel, showcasing the Mediterranean and its surroundings with gorgeous descriptions and a classic feel that evokes images of 40s cinema and glamour. There is also a gritty realism in the spine of the tale, which increases with the tension as the stakes get higher for the agents involved. Larry is an exceedingly well developed central protagonist, one who grows and shifts with the story into a man you really want to root for and investigate alongside. The final essential element to the tale is the plot, and this is the true highlight which delivers in spades, with some very unexpected and exciting conclusions. Overall, I would highly recommend The Poseidon Network to fans of wartime mysteries and spy thrillers that tick every box for maximum engagement.

Reviewed by Maureen Dangarembizi for Readers' Favorite

The Girl Who Found The Sun by Matthew S. Cox is a YA sci-fi fantasy set in a futuristic Earth. After decades of world leaders ignoring environmental threats, the planet is finally brought to its knees when the insects die out and a climatic disaster hits. Humanity is nearly wiped out. Less than two hundred people remain in an underground Arc and they are the last of humanity. At least that's what Raven Wilder has been taught all her life. As an engineer who keeps the Arc from falling apart, she's aware of their home's failing systems. The situation is brought to a head when her six-year-old daughter gets sick and a trip to the surface proves that the ground may not be as toxic as they have been led to believe. Raven must not only face her fears but break a centuries-old belief system.

I really loved The Girl Who Found The Sun, not only because I love science fiction but it could not be more relevant than at this particular point in human history. Matthew S. Cox takes a birds-eye view of what could happen if we continue to ignore the planet's environmental woes. The fact that Raven is living at least six generations after an environmental melt-down makes her the perfect judge for this generation. She's part of the generation that has been affected by other people's ignorance and thinks it's stupid to ignore such signs. Make no mistake, this book is not preachy but an entertaining history of what could happen if humanity doesn't wake up. I loved the characters in this book and the plot is thought-provoking. Lovers of the CW's The 100 will love this book.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Enemy of the Gods: Sometimes, Dreams are Overrated is a work of science fiction and paranormal fiction penned by author C. Hofsetz. The premise of the novel works with the idea that the realm in which we go to dream is a different but parallel reality altogether, known as Pangea. Here, a race of alien god-like creatures resides, but when they call upon the help of prisoner Zeon on Earth, they expect him to help them with their war. Neuroengineer Zeon knows little of the consequences of failure for without a world in which to dream, the whole of the human race would die.

Exciting, conceptual, gripping and fascinating, this is a novel that ticks all the boxes for a truly alien science fiction experience. Subverting so many of the traditional norms about alien wars, conquest and contact has enabled author C. Hofsetz to create a serious, credible and often quite frightening type of alien ‘god’. Their presence gives chills to the reading experience at every appearance, and the description and struggles of Zeon in between make the whole novel rush by at a breakneck pace. There’s plenty of personal drama for the conflicted Zeon, who is a well-drawn and relatable hero that readers can get behind but also be fascinated by his skills and his past. Scenery descriptions also have that fantastic cinematic quality, making them larger than life and easily imagined in readers’ minds. Overall, Enemy of the Gods is a superb novel with much to offer both casual and hardcore science fiction readers.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

The World Without Flags by Ben Lyle Bedard is a post-apocalyptic sequel to the first installment, The World Without Crows. While the entry novel certainly props up its sequel, the book reads perfectly well as a stand-alone as it follows protagonist Kestrel, also known as Birdie, through her first-person narrative. Birdie and a communal group of survivors are in a perpetual fight against a devastating worldwide plague aptly named the Worm, a parasitic invertebrate that infects its hosts through water and renders them either catatonic or a “crack” into a zombie-like state. The ravaged landscape of what used to be the United States is broken down into pockets of body politic clusters that are incredibly and justly terrified of new outbreaks. A war of power brews between two of these pockets: the Stars and the Gears. When Eric, a man Birdie regards as family, falls ill, Birdie is pushed to the limit to save him against all odds in a new world that offers no mercy.

Ben Lyle Bedard does an excellent job of crafting a fresh story in the dystopian genre with The World Without Flags. The world-building is exceptional and there are no holds barred when it comes to the horror and more violent aspects, offering instead a visually brutal prospect that is reminiscent of The Clockwork Orange in its gritty, terrifying depictions. A prime example of this is the pyres established to burn the dead, who are first pulverized by worms that internally devour hosts, and excreted by flame as it licks away at what's left of a human body. The body count is high and any attachment a reader might have to the ancillary characters will be as short-lived as those who become infected. I loved Birdie's tenacity and the fact that she is a young black woman. I was also impressed by Bedard's pragmatic approach to Birdie's feelings, especially how cognizant she is of a romantic attachment being preposterous even if control over caring is impossible. It's refreshing when an author bends closer to realism. It is the restraint that is the hallmark of a seasoned writer, which Bedard clearly is.