Reviewed by Rolanda Lyles for Readers' Favorite

Emery Magnolia Brighton is the spoiled and privileged daughter of James and Lisa Brighton. In the past, when she got into trouble, all she had to do was call her dad or uncle Judge Henry and they got her out of trouble. On this particular day, Emery went to hang out with her friends and got drunk. She decided to attempt to ride a police horse and got caught. She called her dad, but instead of being rescued, she is sentenced to either prison or community service. Not wanting to go to prison, she is sent to stay with her father and her uncle Judge Henry's friend Nell, her grandson Hudson Cole, and his daughter Crickett. Emery is tasked with working for minimum wage and doing community service hours at Summer Creek Ranch. Emery finds that her scandalous behavior and reputation have followed her, and Hud isn't too keen on Emery staying with their family and influencing his daughter. Will she be able to make a new and positive name for herself and find redemption, and what other changes will come to the little town with Emery in residence?

Shanna Hatfield's Catching the Cowboy is a romance novel about past hurt, personal growth, and finding purpose. Shanna's writing is encouraging and inspires us not to let our past mistakes define us. I loved how Emery learned from her previous behavior, saw herself as the selfish and spoiled person that she was, and decided to become someone better. I also found Hud and his daughter's relationship refreshing in the way that he was affectionate, protective, and supportive of his daughter. Shanna's writing is compelling and I found the characters to be very human and believable. The pacing and progression of the story were masterfully written and I never lost interest in the story. A gripping love story that I found inspirational as well.

Reviewed by Deborah Stone for Readers' Favorite

The Butterfly Recluse by Therese Heckenkamp is a touching story that starts out slow and serene but takes us step by step on Lila’s journey of discovery. Lila lives in a world of her own since losing her entire family in a car accident. She has retreated to a safe place where she thinks she can control what happens. Lila cares for and photographs butterflies, provides a safe haven for Monarchs, and keeps to herself. She potters in her garden, looking after her butterfly habitat, and sees nobody. She shops online, has groceries delivered and her only friend now is Jess, an online-only friend with no other contact. Harvey Sanford invades her world on a noisy motorcycle. Aside from disturbing her peace and quiet, he has disturbed her butterflies. He wants to buy some butterflies, but they’re not for sale. Persistent and insistent, Harvey keeps coming back. After accidentally breaking Lila’s camera, Harvey convinces her to leave her sanctuary long enough to buy her a new camera. Friendship and trust slowly develop and she agrees to attend his sister’s wedding with him. At the reception, she feels betrayed by Harvey and she meets Jay. Everything Lila has trusted and held dear is suddenly being ripped away. Her quiet and peaceful existence has been twisted into a nightmare. She needs saving, but who can she trust. As she cries out to God, her prayers are heard.

Therese Heckenkamp takes us on an extraordinary journey in The Butterfly Recluse. What seemed like a slow start was actually the first step in the buildup to exciting events further down the road. As Therese Heckenkamp lays the groundwork for this fascinating story, we learn about a lonely young woman who has carved out a quiet and secluded life for herself until Harvey bursts into it in full force and keeps coming back. Therese demonstrates how tragedy can alter our lives and how we sometimes need help redefining who we are. Each character is well defined, realistic, and at times frightening. This story takes us into Lila’s world and shows us how she struggles to reluctantly step back into the world around her. We also experience the consequences of the betrayal and lies that threaten to destroy her. Faith, second chances, trust, and forgiveness are key components of Therese Heckenkamp’s love story that will tug at your heartstrings, thrill you, and scare you all at the same time. The second half of the book caught me totally by surprise, but no spoilers here.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Danger on the Loch by Paige Edwards tells the story of a young photographer named Paisley Clark. She is passionate about her art, and although she has advanced to more sophisticated cameras, her old 35mm remains her most cherished possession—for it is the only memory she has of the father she has never known. Her mother has obliterated any traces of her father’s identity in their lives, and any topic about her father is considered taboo in their household. But curiosity festers, and it has driven her to take a DNA test in the hope of connecting with someone in her father’s family. She then discovers that her father is from Scotland. Upon accepting her father’s invitation to visit, she learns that he is a duke and that she also has a brother and a grandmother. As she gets acquainted with the overwhelming developments in her life, she and her childhood friend James Pressley-Coombes are about to discover that something sinister operates within her father’s estate.

Danger on the Loch grips your attention with its mix of romance and mystery to which any reader regardless of age can relate in terms of identity, family, and relationships. Castle Rannoch is a brilliant setting that breathes with a life of its own. With its stone walls, secret passages, and staircases, it exudes an air of mystery and foreboding that you want to unravel. Paige Edwards has created a mystery case worthy of someone like Sherlock Holmes to crack. The estate is a character in itself made only more haunting by the diverse characters within it. As part of the Pressley-Coombes Series, Danger on the Loch meets reader expectations in terms of offering high-tension suspense and feel-good romance.

Reviewed by Joy Hannabass for Readers' Favorite

When Allie Petrenko's father is murdered, she retrieves the contents of his bank box and contacts Grady Jamison. Petrenko's warning to his daughter was to trust no one but the Jamisons and to clear his safety deposit box. Now Allie and Grady are on their way to Grady's parents, trying to keep her father's killer at bay. But it's not easy when the killer knows their every move, trying to take them out, but thankfully not succeeding. As Allie reads the journals out loud so Grady can hear them, she finds out things about her dad that turned her world upside down. The Janus Journals by H. L. Wegley will take you on a wild, suspenseful thriller of a journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you turn every page of this amazing story.

Wow! The Janus Journals has it all. Espionage, mystery, thrills, romance, family and it all comes together with faith in God that gets them through. I fell in love with Allie and Grady from the start but I was really frustrated at Allie's father as she continued reading the journals and uncovering secrets. I could understand Allie not wanting to talk about a relationship with God, with losing her mom so young and now not sure about her dad. And when you read this book you will find all details. I have to admit, there were times I wasn't sure if Allie and Grady would make it to their next stop, and to be honest, they didn't at times without a fight. H. L. Wegley did an outstanding job of keeping my interest throughout the book. With so many twists and turns, it was impossible to guess what was coming next. I like the faith element running throughout the book. And I like the way Grady tries to introduce Allie to faith in God in his own subtle way. I love everything about this book. The Janus Journals is a fantastic read and I can't wait to read more from author H. L. Wegley.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Tree of Knowledge is a psychological thriller written by Daniel G. Miller. Professor Albert Puddles lived an orderly, quiet life. His serene and logical universe was only marred by the opening day of class each semester. For some reason, the stage fright he experienced in those first few moments facing those new faces was as relentless as it was incomprehensible. His choice of a woolen suit and his resulting overheated state contributed to the feeling of being out of control. When his graduate assistant, Ying, asked to speak with him outside during his class, Albert was reluctant to lose any control over his carefully planned performance. When he heard that the police were investigating a murder and thought he “might know something about it,” Albert's nimble mind began churning: how could he ever be involved? Maybe they really meant another professor?

Daniel G. Miller’s The Tree of Knowledge is a stunningly accomplished debut novel. Reading the blurb convinced me to give this book a try, and I’m so glad I did. The storyline is plausible and frighteningly on point in today’s world. Miller’s cast of characters is one of fully dimensional, living beings who kept me enthralled as I followed their efforts to cope with an amoral, brilliant, and relentless adversary. I love how this story is so much a coming of age tale for the 34-year-old professor whom adversity deals a series of stunning blows, while also freeing him to experience so much more of life than he had ever realized existed. Watching Albert Puddles come of age, face his fears and become a full-fledged human being is a high point you really don’t want to miss. Seeing how he gets there alone is well worth the price of this book and the time you put into reading it.

But there’s so much more going on here. There’s romance, mystery, math, logic, and adventure all wrapped up in a thriller that had me happily reading until I hit the last page. I can’t help but wonder and hope that Mr. Miller will decide to give these characters a sequel to work with. It would be a shame not to see them again. The Tree of Knowledge is an awesome, fast-paced, and beautifully written debut novel that demonstrates the promise of a talented author. It’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Animal lovers should rejoice for The Wise Ass seems to be the perfect embodiment of animals altering a person's life with their love and positivity. Jimmy McCarthy is an Irish American from the Bronx who works for the mob boss Ty Valanchi and his crew. After decades of working for the mafia, Jimmy, Valanchi, and his associates get arrested on a RICO case by the FBI. Jimmy decides to enter into the witness protection program and bring down the entire organization when he gets news of his brother's murder on the orders of Ty Valanchi. The FBI relocates Jimmy and his wife Gina to Berthoud, Colorado, where Jimmy's life takes a drastic turn when he comes in contact with a talking mule named Claire.

The Wise Ass is a riveting story that perfectly encapsulates how a change in one's environment can significantly impact a person's outlook on life. Author Tom McCaffrey's novel is well-written, smart, funny, and above else, heartwarming. Every single one of Tom McCaffrey's characters is fully fleshed out with layers of depth to them. The conversations between Jimmy, Claire, and Gina were some of my favorite portions of the book. I found Claire's backstory to be very compelling and was particularly impressed with Jimmy's gradual change as a person as he spends more time with Claire. There are also bouts of humor sprinkled throughout the book that make for an entertaining reading experience. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Wise Ass, and I would highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

VanWest The Present is the second entry in the VanWest Series by Kenneth Thomas, a fast-paced, engrossing science fiction story with a protagonist that I loved. VanWest has grown up to be a loyal Enforcer, who blindly obeys every command — however dark and morally corrupt — from the Universal Council. He has ingrained in his mind the mission to serve without question, to work for the growth of humankind and the universal commandment, and to destroy everything or anyone who stands in the way of the Universal Council.

Everything changes after his promotion to captain and after getting injured at the Games. But this also unveils his latent psychic sense — the ability to see future events. The Council sends him on a precarious mission to stop the Utopians, a renegade set led by the former Head of Science, the genius Dr. Isaac VonHelmann. While he is about to be reunited with his childhood best friend, Iris, the daughter of the Utopian leader, there are far more disturbing truths when he gets to Mars. The choices he makes with what he knows will determine the survival of Earth. Will he follow orders or his heart on a far-off planet?

I didn’t read the first book in this series but I absolutely enjoyed VanWest The Present. The characters are exceptionally written and the adventure is exciting. I also loved the twist in the plot. The protagonist is a multi-layered character whose complex nature is brilliantly written. The conflict — both on internal and the physical levels — is well-conceived and deftly articulated. Kenneth Thomas’s gift for plot and character creates the success of this story that puts the past and the future at an intersection in the present. It is a fantastic story, indeed.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

The Reunions is the third installment of Tina Hogan Grant's Tammy Mellows series. Tammy Mellows continues to fish for crabs off the coast of Malibu alongside her boyfriend, Dwayne, while raising her son, Matt. As the years pass by, Tammy is constantly reminded of her mother's wish to see her three daughters together once again after living separately since their parents' divorce. After a particularly unrewarding season, Tammy and Dwayne find themselves forced to give up fishing and relocate to the mountains. As family members die over the years, Tammy feels ever more determined to fulfill her mother's wish. But a cancer diagnosis puts Tammy's plans in disarray as she finds herself fighting for survival. Can she make her mother's wish come true? Will the sisters ever be reunited?

The Reunions is an entertaining slice-of-life novel that recounts the adventures of a tenacious woman who always finds a way to overcome every obstacle life throws at her. Author Tina Hogan Grant's immersive narrative puts the reader into Tammy's world, where you feel every momentous occasion in Tammy's life intimately. The characters are well-realized and have grounded realistic arcs that make them easily relatable. Tammy is a likable protagonist who holds her relationships with her close friends and family in the utmost regard. The narrative is somewhat of a slow burn, but it only makes the story more compelling. Despite being the third book of the Tammy Mellows series, The Reunions also functions seamlessly as a standalone. I will recommend it to readers who enjoy slice-of-life adventure stories.

Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

Masters of the Broken Watches by Razi Imam begins with Vietnamese fisherman Pham Kai making plans to catch the rare su vang fish in the South China Sea and save his wife from cancer with its proceeds. While risking being captured and tortured by the Chinese Navy for trespassing, Pham Kai discovers a new species of fish that could validate Step Evolution. The story centers on this discovery, with different parties making efforts to destroy or secure the discovery. While the governments of China and the US race to seize the discovery, a group called the Paramarines, consisting of adventurers, linguistics, and scientists from the US, Pakistan, Israel, and several other countries acts to exploit it for the benefit of humanity. Will the Paramarines be able to fend off the two governments chasing after them while they search for a breakthrough?

Razi Imam adroitly merges sci-fi with adventure, nautical, and paranormal fiction to deliver a top-level narrative that grabs you by the throat and leaves you panting for more. There are so many brilliant, mind-blowing ideas, which have broadened my scope of imagination. From in-ear translation devices, laser-guided stealth missiles, dark matter particles to time dilation and medical breakthroughs, the concepts in Masters of the Broken Watches have done much more than satisfy my hunger for sci-fi for a good while. It was remarkably easy to read the book because of Razi's great writing style. The characters are portrayed strongly and realistically and the events are fast-paced and hard to predict. If you love a dynamic sci-fi narrative, Masters of the Broken Watches is one book you shouldn't miss!

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

In a dark kingdom ruled by a merciless leader, King Roar, and his fierce, bloodthirsty felines, the five animal kingdoms live in fear and battle to survive. In General Jack and the Battle of the Five Kingdoms by David Bush, when a young ten-year-old boy named Jack arrives from another land, he shows the animals that if they came together as one, they could easily defeat King Roar. Together, Jack and Miaow, the modest head of the cats, plan their deadly mission; to defeat the seemingly undefeatable. As the war against their enemy comes ever closer, can they truly unite the animal kingdom and bring about their freedom? Jack and Miaow realize that they have only one chance at victory and if they do not succeed they will be finished forever. But little do they realize that their friendship will last an eternity and change the animal kingdom completely.

On the surface, General Jack and the Battle of the Five Kingdoms by David Bush seems like an exciting adventure story and the friendship between a young boy and a timid tabby cat, but the plot is multi-layered and has so many life lessons entwined throughout. Jack, who becomes General Jack, teaches the animal kingdom that by coming together and using their unique talents, they are a force to be reckoned with. Anything can be achieved, even the seemingly impossible if you believe it to be so. The build-up to the battle scenes was amazing and filled with brilliant tension, especially when General Jack and King Roar come face to face. The friendship between Jack and Miaow was one of the finest relationships I have read in a long time and there are some quite heartbreaking scenes between them. The plot encompasses not only life lessons but also political and social topics too. The storyline reminded me a lot of Animal Farm. The author has created a most wonderful story with strong and realistic characters that you genuinely care about. The ending is spectacular and reminds us that life goes on and why it is important to leave your mark for future generations.