Reviewed by Joshua Soule for Readers' Favorite

“You’re a hero, Jim, plain and simple. But that ain’t necessarily a good thing either.” The Legend of Deputy Jim is the thrilling story of Jim Edwards, working for the Sheridan County, Wyoming Sheriff’s Department in the 1970s. His tale is anything but normal; day one of his career is already filled with the dangerous involvement of the Wild Wolves, a notorious motorcycle gang. A dispute between law enforcement and outlaws is not all that Deputy Jim finds himself involved in - the ties of the Wolves run deep into their cartel drug suppliers and corrupted politicians on the payroll. Jim struggles to do the right thing, fulfill his duty, be a protector, and come out of a death trap alive as the story climaxes toward a dangerous showdown from the outlaw bikers, particularly Grinder, who want him dead. This action-packed novel will have you on the edge of your seat.

Reading The Legend of Deputy Jim was a pleasure, to say the least. Dan E. Hendrickson has done an incredible job of creating a thrilling story with vivid and relatable characters. Hendrickson has clearly poured passion into his work that comes alive in the characters. I laughed, I sat at the edge of my seat, I worried about the wellbeing of the characters. I found it extremely difficult to stop reading once I started. I became emotionally attached, and the story stuck with me long after I put the book down. The Legend of Deputy Jim truly is a once in a lifetime type of novel, and it is highly recommended!

Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite

The first tragedy in Morning Dove’s life was the death of her parents from smallpox, a devastating disease for Native Americans brought by the white man. Morning Dove, a twenty-year-old South Cheyenne maiden, and her eighteen-year-old brother, Black Beaver, were raised by the tribal chief and his wife. Chief Black Kettle and Medicine Woman later instilled their love for peace in Morning Dove’s heart. The chief hired a white man to teach them the English language. At the same time, Clinton McKay, a veteran of the Civil War that had just ended, found himself untrained to do any available job in his hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Joining the cavalry seemed like the best option, although he hated to leave his sister, a war widow, and her two young daughters. While Clinton thought the cavalry’s main focus was the protection of wagon trains and stagecoaches, he soon learned that killing the Indians was another goal. The paths of Morning Dove and Clinton soon crossed, and the story continues in Michelle Roberts’ historical novel, Whispers Among the Prairie.

This book engages the reader from the first page to the last. Beginning with an everyday scene in a Cheyenne village and then moving to life in a Midwestern town after the Civil War is certainly intriguing. The author writes in a smooth, flowing style, capturing the reader’s imagination. There are a number of characters in both settings, and each one is aptly described. Likewise, the settings are also easy to imagine. In Whispers Among the Prairie by Michelle Roberts a cataclysmic decade in the United States’ history is unforgettably portrayed.

Reviewed by Soumya Sreehari for Readers' Favorite

The Exit Strategy by Lainey Cameron is the story of two women, Ryn and Carly, who cross paths in the most unusual circumstances. Ryn Brennan is a formidable investor in a Silicon Valley VC firm. Carly Santos is the co-founder and chief scientist of BioLarge – the healthcare company that Ryn Brennan is about to invest in. On the eve of their first meeting, Ryn discovers a most shocking personal connection with Carly. So starts the roller coaster of the unusual friendship between two remarkable women in a ruthless business world. The story courses through complex issues – betrayal in marriage and relationships, sexism, and harassment in the workplace. It is a story of solidarity among women, the power of solid friendships, and the ability to recover from adversities stronger than before.

I found The Exit Strategy impossible to put down once I started reading. Lainey Cameron weaves a gripping narrative that is relatable on so many accounts. Through alternate chapters of Ryn’s and Carly’s viewpoints, the story held my rapt attention at every turn of the page. All during the story with its numerous twists and turns, I was rooting for the two women to emerge strong and victorious. The struggle for fair treatment in the business world and betrayal in love are universal challenges. The tough exterior covering a soft heart, the self-doubt that comes with betrayal, the constant pressure to prove oneself in the workplace – these are common to women professionals all around the world. Lainey Cameron makes a striking impact with her splendid cast of characters and brilliant storytelling.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Dear Wife is a work of serious and compelling women’s drama fiction which was written for adults and penned by author Jennifer Peel. The third novel in the More Than a Wife Series, this rollercoaster tale takes readers through the full gamut of human emotions as we follow the turbulent and tragic life of protagonist Avery Decker. For a while on the outside, Avery looked like the perfect wife and picture of health, but since the loss of her daughter, life has been a constant struggle. As Avery battles her own grief, fears creep in about the dangerous addiction that her husband James has developed in response to his own high emotions. What results is a deeply emotive and often shocking interpersonal drama as they struggle to recover their relationship.

On opening, I’d like to say that the content of the novel is only suitable for readers who can access sensitive subject matters, especially with regard to child death. From here, author Jennifer Peel sets herself an incredible task – that of accurately portraying the incredible strength that a mother needs to lift herself up and continue life after such incredible tragedy – and she achieves it on every page of this raw and gripping drama. Readers who love family drama and difficult relationships will certainly get their fill as Avery tries to deal with James’s out of control behavior, but there are moments of strength and solidarity amid the darkness as Avery turns to other amazing women to help her out. Overall, The Dear Wife is an unmissable drama for women’s fiction readers everywhere.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

Abigail is an almost 40-year-old author whose husband has recently died and for her, the world has stopped. As she comes out of her year-long hibernation from everyone and everything, she decides to start life again. Sight unseen, she buys a small cottage in a little, out of the way Nova Scotia village. Abigail believes that this will give her peace and quiet away from people and distractions to get back to her writing. This plan does not work out very well. Upon arriving, she finds the cottage needs a lot of work before she can really call it home. Her nosy next-door neighbor runs a bed and breakfast and it is also the town meeting place. The peace she was hoping for does not look promising as all the villagers want to meet the lady from New York and have a chance to welcome her to Canada. She hires Liam, a widower with a young daughter, to do the renovations and the two form an unusual friendship – wanting to be friends and maybe something more. Liam and Abigail face many dilemmas as they spend more time together and get into sticky situations; some fun, some life-threatening, some confusing to them both.

The After Wife by Melanie Summers has a lot of things going on at once and they will all keep you glued to the story. I found it hard to stop reading until I could find out what happens between Abigail and Liam. The After Wife is about love, loss, sadness, happiness, friendship, and life. It was impossible not to like Abigail and, as I read, I felt all her pain and all her gladness. Liam and Olive were a sweet and loving father and daughter trying to make it work without their wife and mother. The After Wife by Melanie Summers is certainly a contemporary romance worth reading.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

The Waratah Inn in Cabarita Beach was run down and neglected as Nan didn’t want to update it and take away all of the memories it held for her over so many years. The sisters - Reeda, Kate and Bindi - each had their own lives and seldom did they return to visit Nan. When they receive the unexpected call that Nan has died, all three drop everything in their lives and hurry to the Inn. They were close as young girls living and playing in the Inn and on the beach but time and life had separated them from spending much time together. They soon learn that Nan’s will asks the girls to decide the fate of the inn together and all must agree to sell it or keep it. At first, they are troubled by this decision and each has their own opinion, but time soon finds them working together and wanting to see the Inn reopen and remain a legacy of their Nan. After several months of hard work, the Inn is ready for business and each of the sisters must decide where their future lies.

I loved reading The Waratah Inn by Lilly Mirren. It is a heartwarming family story about three sisters, Reeda, Kate and Bindi, and their beloved grandmother, Nan. There was family love, determination, mystery, sadness, happiness, friendship, and romance all intertwined to make The Waratah Inn a great book that was hard to put down. Lilly Mirren is a gifted author who created very real, likable characters. I look forward to reading the continuing stories of the sisters and would not be surprised to see this story on the Hallmark Channel (I can even see who will portray the sisters). The Waratah Inn is a book that should not be passed up – it is a guaranteed good read.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

When typical, suburban socialite Laura Beckman’s life is turned upside down by the premature death of her beloved husband, she has to face some searching questions about herself and how she has conducted her life, especially with respect to her estranged eldest daughter, Brooke. Laura’s husband died in hospital after months of pain amid his constant pleading to Laura to just let him go and help him to die. She was not able to grant his wishes and she was forced to watch him slowly slip away, suffering the whole time. In The Chocolate Shop, author J.J. Spring shows us how Laura’s husband’s death galvanized her thought processes and forced her to consider what she had achieved in her “country-club” life. When the previously austere and conservative Laura commits a rebellious act, so out of character for her, in order to fulfill what she believes would have been her late husband’s final wish, her thought processes about her future direction change forever.

The Chocolate Shop is one of those books that crept up on me. Initially, I wondered where Laura’s pain and angst would lead her but once I became aware of the direction the story was headed, I was hooked and, as I’m sure was the author J. J. Spring’s intention, began to seriously think about the legal, moral and spiritual connotations of assisted suicide. I could not put this book down as we were led down the path of pain, suffering, and angst, beautifully leavened by the sheer joy and thrill of these terminally-ill patients, as they were given the opportunity to fulfill their dying wishes. I won’t spoil the story by telling you the many and varied “last wishes” but they absolutely added the lightening that a story on such a serious topic desperately needed.

The author’s greatest success, in my opinion, was the ability to make such a controversial and sad topic so enjoyable to read. The little twists and turns the author threw into the story, along with the incredible emotions that were beautifully woven through it, definitely made this one of the stand-out reads for me this year. You always know when you are reading a book that grabs your heart and your emotions but also your intellect because you simply don’t want it to end and The Chocolate Shop was one of those books for me. I judge a good book in two ways – 1/ Did it move me and 2/ Will I still be thinking about the themes and the characters days from now. The answer, in this case, to both questions is a resounding, yes! One of the best books of the year for me and although it is targeted mainly as “women’s fiction,” I would say poppycock to that – everyone should read The Chocolate Shop.

Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

After years of a self-focused, living-to-work lifestyle that was further worsened by divorce and losing her job, Mary decided to take a new route by traveling to Africa to impact lives as a teacher and conquer herself and her fears. At almost sixty, Mary yearned for a new narrative, one involving uncertainties, nature, simplicity, and unearthing the treasure within: her inner lioness. Looking for the Lioness: A Safari to Myself is a true account of Mary Morrison's experiences of serene and beautiful landscapes, dangerous safaris that include lions and escaping enraged hippos, building wonderful memories with students and teachers she would remember for life, and a sharp change in living conditions that only the strong can survive.

It is always fun to see someone else's view of what you see as normal. Though some things about East Africa are strange to me as a Nigerian, we share some considerable similarities, which I was excited to learn about in Looking for the Lioness. In her expository book, Mary Morrison frankly explores her (American) culture's similarities and differences with the African culture she experienced. Her story is a deep look within, a desperate search for fulfillment advanced by a drastic change of environment. Looking for the Lioness presents a rich depiction of some parts of Tanzania, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Uganda. Learning about religious practices, educational systems, historical facts, living conditions, food, and lifestyles, in general, was an engaging and eye-opening experience. Buckle up for a wild-eyed, insightful, and exquisite adventure!

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

The Water Has Come by Keldra S Pinder is a non-fiction memoir that follows the devastating path of Hurricane Dorian with a first-hand account of its destruction. Situated on Grand Bahama Island in a zone without a mandatory evacuation, Pinder, her aunt and cousin, and her immediate family make the decision to remain at home in the immediate approach of Dorian in September of 2019. Pinder is no stranger to hurricanes and over the years found that news reports broadcasting danger tended to be as murky as the flooding water. As the category five Dorian changes path with an instantly catastrophic landfall, the now terrified family shelters in place. Other families are also trapped in homes and spaces, clinging to life as a deluge overpowers their sanctuaries and mounting casualties are not just the stories of strangers—these are friends, family, and acquaintances now forever connected by a disaster of biblical proportions.

I cried reading The Water Has Come. I cried so much that my wife brought me a roll of toilet paper and recommended I take a break from Keldra S Pinder's deeply cutting book. The truth is, I couldn't and I'm glad I didn't because the hope that rises to the surface as survivors are pulled from the water is as powerful as the hurricane itself. Starved, bruised, shocked, sleep-deprived, and still searching for the dead and living, Pinder describes a reconnection to faith and a cleansing of sorts. The writing is exceptional and I loved how the narrative wove back and forth between timelines where Pinder sheds light on her life. Hurricane Dorian itself has the feel of an additional character, a determined adversary going after every living thing in its passage. “And he brought the ocean inland with him, killing every plant in the ground. But Dorian came to kill more than just the trees. He wanted us too.” Very, very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Before the Curtain Goes Up by India Blake Johnson is a fascinating book that captures the author's interest in theater, which also helped her develop a deep appreciation for small-town community and professional playhouses. The book speaks about the various and distinct operating ways of six small-town playhouses, thereby enabling the communities to experience the best of theater. There is nothing to beat the experience of sitting in a secluded and intimate theatre space, waiting for the curtain to rise. There is something very surreal and human about theater, mainly because it connects viewers with live performances.

Before the Curtain Goes Up captures the rawness, intimacy, and the true human experience of theater and the photographs shared by the author give readers the essence of preparation and the performances. The words and images will fascinate any theater lover and performer. The photographic journey through these six small-town playhouses in America reveals the preparation that goes on behind the scenes, the excitement, and the actors who travel deep within to find others. The pictures capture the important and critical moments of transformation and go through the universal process - applying makeup backstage, running lines with other actors or sometimes alone, memorizing the dialogues, etc.

India Blake Johnson captures the essence of theater through this unique book and encourages readers to look into the eyes of actors and feel the creative process. There are a lot of stories to be told and this book shows how theater connects everyone, the behind-the-scenes, and the sense of belonging that exists there like no other place. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the creativity in theater and the images took me to another dimension.