Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

The Straight Crimes by Matt Juhl is a brilliant romantic suspense novel that follows the relationship of teenagers Harper Jones and Nik Roberts. Harper is trying to start over. When she becomes the new kid in town and meets Nik, sparks fly and they fall in love. This sounds like your typical girl meets boy premise, but the thought-provoking twist is its man versus society conflict. Their heterosexual relationship is forbidden to blossom in a society where homosexual relationships have become the norm. This is alternate America where straight relationships are perceived as taboo and have become the new target of prejudice. Throughout her life, Harper had longed for stability, a place to belong, and someone to love her. Despite an uncertain future that their relationship faces, Harper and Nik will fight for each other.

The Straight Crimes not only delivers an entertaining read but also a powerful social message. Matt Juhl boldly writes about a sensitive hypothesis that will challenge your perception of gender bias. It is a heart-piercing tale that invites you to exercise empathy, by placing yourself in someone's shoes and gaining an insight into their experience. The narrative is fast-paced without making you feel rushed as it delicately balances how Harper settles into the rhythms of an alienating place in which she has found herself. In a world where Harper and Nik’s relationship does not fit societal patterns, you cannot help but feel happy and protective over them when you come to grips with the thought that they live in a world that could possibly come true. The Straight Crimes is a highly-recommended read for the challenge that it poses to society to make a stand not only on its position about gender bias, but about drug addiction, bullying, mental abuse, and other contemporary social problems.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Best Part of Us is a contemporary literary fiction novel written by Sally Cole-Misch. Beth had always known that her mother, Kate, had expected her kids to follow the roadmaps she had charted for their futures and to see the island everyone else in her family had loved so dearly expunged forever out of their lives. Beth had gotten over losing the island and all it meant to her. It had been where she had always felt most alive until it was torn from their grasp after a massive storm and an even more massive disagreement between the First Nations people and her hot-headed grandfather. Now she faced a decision, the biggest one in her life in so many ways. What would letting the island back into her life mean to them? How could she reconcile the demands of Kate with the needs of her grandfather and her own?

Sally Cole-Misch’s novel is a lush and lovely homage to the natural places where her protagonist grew up. The careful reader won’t fail to hear the haunting cries of the loons in the early morning as Beth and her grandmother row out to catch the day’s fish or feel the sun begin to warm the chilly morning air as she and Dylan set out for that day’s painting adventure. Readers who are into the outdoors, hiking, and nature won’t be able to resist the pull of this remarkable novel, as will, no doubt, many more who’ve never quite seen the outdoors made real and tangible in such a persuasive way before. The author has done a grand job of making Beth, Dylan, Ben and a host of other original and genuine characters come to life. The plot spanning past and present kept me enthralled and engaged throughout my reading of this exceptionally good book. The Best Part of Us is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

Floating in the Neversink by Andrea Simon is an extraordinary novel. In the summer of 1955, nine-year-old Amanda Gerber has to say goodbye to her best friend, Francine. She travels from Brooklyn to deep within the Catskill Mountains, where Grandma Sarah lives. Although she is sad to be apart from Francine and worries that her absence will end their friendship, Amanda soon meets her cousin Laura who joins her on an exciting and sometimes dangerous adventure. Amanda also meets some eccentric and colorful members of her extended family. With each summer break spent with Grandma Sarah, Amanda learns that becoming a teenager brings new challenges and responsibilities. She also discovers that sometimes not everyone has good intentions or values. As her family faces tragedy, relationship breakdowns, and dark secrets from the past, Amanda learns the importance of treasuring the relationships with those you love.

Floating in the Neversink by Andrea Simon is a descriptive narrative that will transport you back to the innocence of your childhood. I resonated immediately with the eclectic mix of characters. Each of their backstories was well-detailed, which made their personalities so realistic and vivid. Their reactions to each situation were believable. I feel the sharp and authentic dialogue was the strength of this novel. It powerfully encapsulated the emotions of the characters. I thought the conversation between Amanda and her father around mental illness was particularly poignant. Although I adored Amanda, I also loved Laura and her strong character and sharp sense of humor. Her personality particularly shone through when discussing the origins of snow with Grandma Sarah; her reply was hysterical. The plot explores vital issues that every teenager will face in their lives, such as relationships with the opposite sex, family tensions, peer pressure, and grief. There were also subtle but powerful life lessons entwined throughout the plot, like her father not becoming a doctor. This line from Amanda around qualifying as a doctor was superb: “I guess they didn’t need to know that stuff in the sweater factory.” Many scenes highlight the importance of accepting differences in others, the willingness to step out of your comfort zone, and attempting new challenges. It is a highly engaging coming-of-age novel.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

A Song of Hope by Sophia Davidson is the first book in the Search for the King’s Staff series. As a child, Cierra was gifted with a key and the knowledge that she has been chosen as the Keeper of the Key, which means one day it will be up to her to search for the King’s Staff. That day arrives just before her coming of age ceremony which finds her life veering in a new direction as she embarks on the path to discovering her destiny. As darkness seeps through the Spirit Realm and grows closer to claiming everything she knows, Cierra is the only one that can find the staff and destroy the darkness. With the help of her cousin James, her tutor Windsong, temperamental dragons, and a mysterious stranger, Cierra sets off through a dangerous wilderness and must discover the strength of her power if she’s to save them all.

Sophia Davidson weaves serious themes throughout though the tone remains light-hearted thanks to the genuine personality of Cierra and the way she sees the world. The writing is lovely with descriptions that paint vivid images, beautiful and action-filled, which transport you along with Cierra’s emotional journey. The beginning finds Cierra preparing for her coming-of-age ceremony, which is a lovely way of introducing her journey into self-discovery, the depth of her powers, and becoming a hero. The adventure is full of action-packed moments, bandits, dragons, dangerous assassins, and unexpected allies which make for an exciting read for all ages. The other characters in Cierra’s life play key roles in her journey with James and Windsong as her two greatest influences and who aid her along the way. Windsong is her tutor and mentor, serving as a father figure to them and who keeps them in line while providing a source of wisdom and understanding. James is her cousin but acts like a brother to her, with bickering and fighting while also supporting and building each other up. James is a great source of camaraderie and family as he stands by her and helps throughout her journey every step of the way. Davidson knocks it out of the park with The Search for the King’s Staff which is a lovely debut about self-discovery, darkness, and finding the light.

Reviewed by Michelle Mollohan for Readers' Favorite

The Shepherd's Burden by Ryan Young tells the tale of Daniel Jeffries, a Staff Sergeant who survived an IED explosion in Iraq. Daniel returns home to New York, where he is struggling to come to terms with life outside of the military, while plagued with the memories of those that he lost. He is seeing a therapist and taking medication to cope with PTSD related to his time spent in Iraq. Daniel is working in a comic book store and living in a cheap apartment, with no real opportunity to improve his life. Running into Sonya, the love that he let go when he went overseas and finding that she still loves him, gives him hope that his nightmares will finally end. Just when his life starts to make sense and he feels he can let the past go, it comes back to haunt him and he learns that his life will never be the same.

Ryan Young's The Shepherd's Burden is a riveting tale that takes you on a journey from the deserts of Iraq to the suburbs of New York. It is full of mystery, intrigue, and murder with a supernatural element. I found myself empathizing with Daniel and his plight as he learned his true calling, and feeling his pain as the unforeseen consequences of his choices unveiled themselves. Ryan Young crafted a tale of suspense in The Shepherd's Burden that left me longing for more. I can't wait to read what is ahead for Daniel in The Shepherd's Duty!

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

The Lost Symphony: A Historical Mystery Thriller is the sixth book in the Jack Rogan Mysteries by Gabriel Farago, and you don’t need to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy this spellbinding story. Jack Rogan is an Australian journalist who inherits an old music box. A letter is hidden inside the box. When he decides to find out more about the music box, he quickly becomes entangled with powerful people who are after what he has — an art dealer, Frieda Malenkova, will kill for it and a billionaire, Victor Sokolov, will stop at nothing to have it. Jack knows very little and that alone is frustrating and dangerous. As he digs deeper, with the help of Mademoiselle Darrieux and Claude Dupree, a retired French police officer, he realizes that he is in very dangerous waters. His journey unearths deep truths about a murdered tsarina and a relic that belongs to the heart of a revered tradition. Can he do what is right before someone else takes his life?

If you love stories that are well-plotted and characters that are unforgettable, then The Lost Symphony: A Historical Mystery Thriller is a must-read for you. Gabriel Farago is a terrific writer with a unique gift for plot and character. The author picks a seemingly insignificant relic and transforms it into an element that takes center-stage in a mysterious tale. Jack is a character that I adored and his curiosity, coupled with a hunger for truth, places him in an enviable, yet dangerous path where betrayal and greed are commonplace. The author weaves strong elements of history into the story, bringing to life rich Russian culture, creating characters with solid backgrounds, and skillfully developing a setting that feels both real and frightening. The narrative is filled with mystery, overflowing with action, and leads readers on a ride that is bursting with uncertainty. I enjoyed everything about this book, and the authorial prowess glows in this tale.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

In The Shadow Of Gold by Michael Kenneth Smith is a historical fiction novel about lost Confederate treasure set in the 19th century. When Jonas Arvin asks his associate, Klinger, to dig up the source of his family fortune, his investigation reveals a long-lost tale of Confederate treasure during the end days of the American Civil War. After Yancey Arvindale joins the United States Naval Academy against his wishes, he finds the perfect opportunity to create his own destiny when Jefferson Davis collects all the Confederate treasure and places it in the hands of the midshipmen for protection. Biding his time, Yancey steals the gold bit by bit and buries it in different places to recover later. However, he finds his true purpose in life the day he meets a runaway slave named Ellie.

Filled with romance, heartbreak, and compassion, In The Shadow Of Gold is a riveting novel that will woo lovers of historical fiction with a tale of human ingenuity and perseverance. Author Michael Kenneth Smith tells a poignant story showcasing the plight of freed slaves who faced appalling discrimination and hardship even after the end of the Civil War. I found the characters thoroughly engrossing. Yancey and Ellie steal every scene they are involved in, but I also enjoyed the minor characters such as Roy and Jonas. The narrative is well-paced, and the plot moves in unexpected ways to keep you on your toes. If you enjoy intimate stories that incorporate major historical events, you're going to love In The Shadow Of Gold.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Murder in the Crypt by Irina Shapiro is Book 1 of the Redmond and Haze Mysteries. Parish Constable Daniel Haze has his first solo murder case to solve when a body is found inside a medieval knight’s tomb. Just before the murder, a stranger appeared in the town, and, naturally, he is the first suspect. A former army captain and a surgeon, American Jason Redmond soon proves helpful to Haze and, innocent of the crime, is prepared to put his own life on the line to help solve the murder. Time is running out though; Haze and Redmond have no clues, no motive, and no suspects. Can they solve this before one of them falls victim to the murderer?

Murder in the Crypt: Redmond and Haze Mysteries Book 1 by Irina Shapiro is set in the UK around the time the US Civil War ended. It is something a bit different from your standard murder mystery; instead of knowing all the details upfront, the clues are drip-fed to us throughout the story, each one taking us a step closer to the truth. And yes, there are some red herrings and plenty of twists and turns and they all keep you on your toes. The characters are wonderful, so well-developed that you feel you know them personally. They each have their own personalities and you can easily relate to them. With plenty of action, this book will keep you guessing all the way through. I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the next one in the series.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Dark Secrets of the Bayou is a work of fiction in the murder mystery genre. It is aimed at all ages and was penned by author Kim Carter. The novel follows the homecoming of attorney Tink Mabry as she visits Kane, Louisiana with a co-worker to deal with the dilapidated homestead she’s just inherited from the family she barely knows. No sooner has she arrived, however, than she ends up as the prime suspect of multiple murder investigations. As Tink explores her new surroundings she begins to realize that the family secrets that plague her inheritance may hold the key to exonerating her, though some things are best left in the past.

Author Kim Carter has crafted a sinister and spine-tingling work of dark mystery fiction which is an ideal read for a cold winter’s night. This story really combined so many elements and genres that I adore, from the historical references to the 19th century and the creepy, dark expanses of the Louisiana bayous, through to chilling, horror, and family drama elements. The complex plot interweaves all of these factors seamlessly, delivering a smoothly-told narrative with sharp, exciting deviations in the mystery plot. It certainly kept me guessing until the end, and the close narration of Tink and her emotional journey really got me rooting for her (and fearing for her) as the story developed. Overall, I would highly recommend Dark Secrets of the Bayou for those who enjoy a dark mystery with lots of horror elements and a spellbinding atmosphere. This was a worthy introduction to an author worth reading again and again.

Reviewed by Lexie Fox for Readers' Favorite

The Advocate’s Killer is a work of fiction in the legal and mystery genres, the eleventh title in The Advocate series and suitable for all ages. The book was penned by Teresa Burrell. The book follows the journey of a talented attorney named Sabre Brown as she becomes entangled in the dangerous pursuit of a killer who is targeting people from Sabre’s past, one by one. As the threat toward Sabre and her loved ones escalates, she and her private investigator must race to discover the identity of the stalker before she becomes another victim.

Author Teresa Burrell delivers a captivating murder mystery tale that follows Sabre O. Brown and JP as they chase down a stalker against the clock. One of the things that resonated with me the most in this novel was the three-dimensional and fully fleshed-out characters. Every character, from Sabre and JP to characters that only appeared briefly, felt like they were fully realized characters, making all the characters feel relatable. Burrell has a great mind for creating an atmosphere that builds tension and offers clues to the mystery through the dialogue used, and the way each setting and character is described. This is the first book in the series I had the pleasure of reading, and it gave me an appetite for more. I can’t wait to read the other books in the series. I would highly recommend The Advocate's Killer to anyone who enjoys mystery novels, thrillers, and character-centric stories.