Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

The Calling: Unleash Your True Self by Priya Kumar is an inspirational book that fans of The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho and The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma will enjoy. Arjun is on the point of a divorce and feeling as though nothing works in his life. After an accident, an unusual encounter sets him on a spiritual odyssey into the heart of the Himalayas on the counsel of a sadhu. His life is about to change as the experience strips him of burdens, leaving him face to face with the most essential: his purpose. At the start of the story, he is a man who goes through a serious breakdown: dislocated shoulder, injuries to the head, a broken neck, kidneys that are failing, blocked valves in the heart, and other imperfections that the sadhu sees. But can this journey mend him?

This is a story told in a unique voice that is both compassionate and compelling. It is the voice of wisdom. In this book, Priya Kumar teaches readers about the power of facing their truth, of looking at their own self with courage. The Calling: Unleash Your True Self is a story that proposes a path to unveiling one’s purpose in life and how to find the courage to embrace it. The story is filled with insights about life and a spiritual depth that ushers readers into a new kind consciousness, prompting them to look past the ordinary things of life and to tap into their spiritual source to find their strength and purpose. This book will change the way readers see themselves and life. It is both entertaining and enlightening, written in prose that is fluid and in a tone that draws the reader in irresistibly.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Heather and the Jabberwocky: An Amorous Journey into the Mythical Antiquity of Now by Peter Kelton is the story of a married couple just trying to enjoy a good holiday, but MI6 and the Italian Mafia have other plans. Heather never had a good life until she met Paul. She might have killed a man or chased a mailman with an ax, but she had her reasons. Tried and pardoned for the murder, she was put under psychiatric care, but she and her husband found that she was most stable when she was near water. They were enjoying their holiday at the Straits of Messina when she was kidnapped while swimming in the ocean and her husband was left baffled by what was happening. She had been kidnapped in a crazy scheme to trade her for a Mexican criminal being held in Brazil before being sent to the USA. Now Paul has to come up with an obscene amount of money to get Heather out of the clutches of her kidnappers, while Heather is trying to make sense of what is happening.

Best described as eclectic and fantastic, this is the perfect example of modern absurd literature where the reader has a grand time trying to solve the mystery and come up with their own conclusions. Even after spending a good amount of time thinking about it, I have not decided if Heather is delusional or if she is a genius. She and Paul are as bizarre and extraordinary as anyone could be; their adventures were filled with witty humor, impressively crafted scenarios and amazing ways through which this couple handled the situations. At first, I was confused but as the story continued, I knew that this was going to be a gem of a novel that I would love. The author is very good at building up a situation, taking it to epic heights and taking the reader there with it so that they experience the best literary adventure. Imperfectly perfect and simply a magical novel that I loved!

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

A Prison In The Sun is a work of mystery fiction with plenty of intrigue and was penned by author Isobel Blackthorn. Forming the third book of the Canary Islands Mysteries series, this installment focuses on the difficulties facing ghostwriter Trevor Moore. Desperate to find his muse, the young writer takes up in a farmhouse in Fuerteventura, but no sooner than he’s landed there, trouble rears its head. After uncovering a huge sack of cash that seems to have no owner, Trevor is sent down the rabbit hole of a story that goes back to the fifties and sixties, where he discovers the ugly truth about the Franco regime, and how the island was used to persecute gay men for nothing other than being themselves.

Author Isobel Blackthorn explores many intelligent themes throughout this fascinating work, which gives a true literary quality to the cozy island mystery genre. As one might expect from a literary title, the story starts slowly and establishes Trevor’s character well, outlining the reasons why he is suddenly on his own and down in the dumps as he seeks solace in a Canary Islands break. Having been to Fuerteventura many times, I loved the description of the island itself and the history surrounding it, and the uncovering of both the prison and mystery elements of the plot was really well constructed and poignant in its presentation. Overall, A Prison In The Sun is an excellent work of mystery fiction for those who want to devour a literary sensation over a longer period.

Reviewed by Charles Remington for Readers' Favorite

Mazie sits on the swing on the porch of her family home, she is alone but comfortable and happy to be there. Her senses are alive to her surroundings; the clanking of the chain holding the swing, the warm balmy weather, the earthy smells from the nearby orchard - an orchard located in such an odd, inhospitable part of the farm. Her mind drifts back to her early life, then on to her teens when she first became involved with a boy called Sean. The Rocky Orchard by Barbara Monier tells how one morning Mazie is interrupted in her musings and recollections by an elderly female marching through her orchard and across her land. Surprised but glad of the company, she engages the elderly woman in conversation which prompts regular morning visits. Mazie discovers that the woman’s name is Lula and, like her, she likes to play card games. So, every day they sit on the porch with Mazie reflecting on episodes from her life while Lula deals the cards. As Mazie’s reflections become increasingly vivid, some happy, some sad, some disturbing, she starts to wonder what is actually going on. Why is she there? How did she arrive? Who is Lula? Is there some purpose to this seemingly innocuous daily routine?

Barbara Monier is a talented author who has crafted an enthralling dreamlike tale that gently picks apart the central character’s life. Her fears and longings, joys and sorrows are brought to life by way of the author’s eloquent prose. Though grounded in Mazie’s family home, an otherworldly atmosphere permeates the narrative. Well-written and peopled with solid believable characters Ms. Monier’s descriptions are a joy. I find it hard to pigeonhole The Rocky Orchard in any particular genre but can honestly say that I enjoyed it. Intriguing from the very start, it was an excellent read. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Jon Michael Miller for Readers' Favorite

In Beena Khan’s The Name of Red, a beautiful, sexy woman in a tight red dress walks into a busy bar, orders a vodka, opens a book, and starts reading. She shuns the advances of all admirers. She returns each night. Kabir, the owner, is entranced and begins leaving books for her with little notes. Their relationship weaves and grows from there at a slow, intimate pace. The characters are mid-Eastern, giving us a peek into this under-exposed minority—their speech, their internal struggles, their hearts. “We’re all people who life has messed up,” the bartender explains. Beena Khan’s first novel is an in-depth exploration of how love relationships begin from nothing and grow in small steps to overwhelming importance in our lives. And the novel deals also with how they end.

I loved Beena Khan’s The Name of Red. First of all, it’s about readers—two at least. Second, it’s a powerful look into how love starts and how it grows. The insights reach our innermost being. Third, the writing is innocent and engaging, especially in that it is unabashedly English as a second language, which, though not always “correct,” gives us the feeling that we are glimpsing into a sub-culture. I’m glad the “mistakes” were not edited out. The read is quick and easy, always clear. There’s an innocence about the writing that grows in intensity, even passion, to a deeply moving climax. I recommend this novel to anyone who has been hurt in love and yet realizes that after all the hurts we may suffer, love, with all its difficulties, is what matters most. Bravo, Ms. Khan, for a triumphant debut as an author!

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

The Last Seer King is book two in the Shadow Sword series by S.J. Hartland, a well-plotted and wonderfully written epic fantasy with characters and worlds that transport readers. In a realm that is fast heading towards annihilation, heroes and brave warriors fight to restore the realm to its former glory. There is only one way for Roaran to beat the tyrant and it’s very painful, but will he tread the path he swore he never would and find redemption in doing what is right? Once a dangerous man and a slaver, Dannon is heeding a new call, one that compels him to change his old ways and embrace a new path. Val Arques is a powerful warrior, but he is in chains and all he yearns for is to find Kaell, but he only has one small opportunity to escape. Can he succeed?

A tale filled with action, dark magic, and powerful heroes fighting deadly enemies, The Last Seer King is replete with suspense and told in a style that is atmospheric, in prose that is delightful, and with characters that are real and compelling. What grabbed my attention as I opened the book was the author’s prose. It is filled with vivid descriptions and strong imagery. For instance, the description of Kaell caught up between the twilight zone of death and wakefulness is appealing to the senses: “But familiar sensations poured into him. Groping hands that pulled him towards wakefulness. The aroma of candlewax. The sight of dawn’s pink flush beyond a window. Cloth rubbing his skin. Even the weight of his head on a downy pillow.” The beauty of the language is one of the elements that set this narrative apart, both highly descriptive and insightful with poetic lines like “the silence sank into him, a beast of a thing that pawed his neck with unease as the clanging, pealing iron and the screams of men ebbed away.”

S.J. Hartland has a strong gift for plot and the shifts in points of view create suspense that gets the reader racing through the pages, always looking forward to what happens to the characters. The subplots are used to reinforce the suspense and sustain the reader’s interest in the story. This is a series I’d love to watch on screen. It is delightful and utterly gripping, with strong plot points and elaborately developed characters.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Through the Redwood Hollow by Kenna Paige is the first book in The Zylandia Series. It all starts with a normal camping trip for two little girls and their family when an earthquake changes everything. Suddenly, cousins Molly and Jill find themselves in a different world. One where they meet pixies and giant triplets and where everyone seems to think they're here to save a pixie queen because a prophecy predicted their arrival. The two cousins turn to new allies as they embark on an adventure to save a queen and to find their way back home. As they make their way through this other world, they make new allies who quickly step up to help them.

Molly and Jill have a deep bond between them but the two are very different girls with a few years between their ages. This age difference creates a clash between them as Jill feels that, being older, she shouldn't be hanging around a little kid. Jill has an air of maturity about her in the sense that she thinks of herself as more grown up, enjoys reading about old cultures, and looks down on Molly for crying like a little kid. As they band together to try to find a way home, they face various dangers and obstacles which help them create a stronger bond. The other world they find themselves in is a place of wonder and magic with a variety of magical beings and prophecy. The adventure is fun as the girls have the role of savior placed upon their shoulders and they're faced with unusual things which start off with three giant triplet kids who think they're talking dolls.

Kenna Paige keeps the story light and with a tone that's reminiscent of a child's imagination. The names add to this sense of fun and fit perfectly into this unique world with unusual rhymes and sounds, including the triplets Lolly, Nolly, and Bolly, and the various beings Quizzlebin, Herzdon, and Philbellee. The story also includes an evil sorcerer for them to face and conquer their fears. The prophecy places a destiny upon them as the fate of the queen and others becomes their responsibility. Through the Redwood Hollow is a delightful read and a magical adventure about friendship, family, prophecy, and the journey home.

Reviewed by Steven Robson for Readers' Favorite

In Jana Petken’s Before The Brightest Dawn, Book 3 of The Half-Bloods Trilogy, we are enfolded in a time in history that bears witness to the clichéd saying 'war is hell.' This is a story that reaffirms this wretched truth in a deeply moving way. Told from the perspective of the Vogel family, this epic work of fiction, framed within actual events of World War Two, immerses the reader in foreign worlds torn apart by the ravages and brutality of a global battle for survival. German-born Dieter Vogel and his English wife Laura are proud parents to three sons and a daughter, and when the war erupts in earnest, each member of their family becomes engulfed in fighting in their own particular way, subjected to horrors that confront them and challenge all they hold dear. Thomas Jefferson once said the most successful war seldom pays for its losses. After reading The Brightest Dawn, I know this should read 'never pays for its losses.' In the words of Jana Petken, war holds a ubiquitous disregard for life, and I know life can never be repaid.

Before The Brightest Dawn, Book 3 of The Half-Bloods Trilogy by Jana Petken is absolutely compelling reading, which is almost impossible to put down. What is particularly impressive about this book is that in spite of the complexity and detail of the subplots running through the story, the consistency, accuracy, and preciseness of content is maintained to a flawless level throughout. This story has been meticulously laid out to form a coherent and wonderfully gripping tale. The characters and relationships are as real and diverse as any I know, and the empathy I developed for the main players was impressively genuine. I challenge anyone to read this engrossing masterpiece without shedding tears. In summary, this has been one of the best books I have ever read.

Reviewed by Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite

The Rabbit Skinners by John Eidswick is fully comparable and sometimes superior to any Jack Reacher or Lucas Davenport novel on the market. Such comparison is meant to convey just how good this book is. Besides the meticulously satisfying plot (more on that later,) this deftly-paced mystery thriller checks every box included in the mythical Writer’s Guide to Writing. Namely, dialogue is pitched so finely tuned that one actually hears the characters speaking; these characters themselves are so well sketched, one thinks he must have met them somewhere before; and the myriad tiny details necessary to establish place are so lavishly but unobtrusively sprinkled throughout that one feels (and hears, and smells) himself to be fully there in person. And all of this precision writing skill is devoted to telling a marvelously plotted story about a 9-year-old missing girl.

Like both Reacher and Davenport, James Strait, lead character and FBI agent-on-hold, is a BIG man in John Eidswick’s The Rabbit Skinners. Unlike his uber-healthy predecessors in this popular genre, however, Strait suffers from debilitating bouts of Ménière's disease, as well as some lingering guilt from a previous raid gone wrong. In one of life’s mysterious synchronicities, Strait’s search for the missing child resonates much too strongly with the case of another child he could not save. This time, he does not mean to fail. A twisting but logical plot line moves Strait among an intriguing cast of people, places, and potentially fatal situations, making this book a truly exciting and highly enjoyable read.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

The Seavers Conspiracy by Travis Pearson is a thriller and mystery weaved tightly together to offer a scintillating story that will have your mind reeling. There was a time when Seavers, Texas used to be a bustling little town that thrived, but lately, homes have been vacated, people have gone missing and something strange is happening in this once lively town. So when Randall’s niece calls him over to see what is going wrong, Randall has no idea that he is about to come across something that he might not be ready for. He never thought solving this issue was going to be easy, but he had no idea it was going to be this hard. The moment he starts counting the bodies, he realizes that he has some dangerous enemies that will do whatever it takes to stop him before he digs a little too deep. Can Randall solve the mystery in time before he becomes another casualty of the Seavers conspiracy?

Randall is an incredible character; he is intelligent, witty and sharp. He is an observant man, one who believes what he has seen and known and this makes him perfect for this story. He is a leader; he is a man at the front line and trying to make a difference. The mystery is thick from the very beginning. I was trying to figure out why people were leaving the town, why only a certain type of person was disappearing and who could actually be behind this all. The ambiance became a little creepy at times, but it all added to the story. The narrative was powerful, the dialogues were crisp and the overall atmosphere of the story was perfect. I enjoyed The Seavers Conspiracy by Travis Pearson a lot more than I expected and the cover is gorgeous too! It is very entertaining and so well-written.