Reviewed by Alice DiNizo for Readers' Favorite

It is those years just before the American Civil War and James Buchanan is President. Twenty-eight year old Fletcher Stedman is returning to his family's estate in Crisfield, Virginia, and he is going home angry and looking for justice as ten years before he was attacked and badly wounded by thugs hired by his cousin Buck Bannistre. Fletcher was kept for most of those ten years in an asylum where he was tortured and beaten. Going now by the name of Zachary Brown, Fletcher suffers from horrendous headaches and nightmares and is beginning to recall what happened on the night ten years before when he was savagely beaten, and his neck and face sliced severely. What he recalls is that his childhood love, Kyndee (Katharine) Brocke, may have betrayed him. Fletcher stays with his childhood friend Caleb Jenkins as he attempts to find out what really happened on that long ago night and how he can regain his home and his love, Kyndee.

"Season of The Shadow" is a long but well-written and well-edited story of a man, Fletcher Stedman, who has his home, his life, and almost his life taken away from him. Fletcher, Kyndee, Fletcher's mother, Buck Bannistre, and Fletcher's friends Sage Jurrell and Caleb Jenkins are all totally believable characters who are true to those long-ago times. Buck claims Kyndee as his property once they are married and that is just the way it was back then, long before women's liberation. Kyndee fights back but in just the way a women would back in the 1850's. The plot follows a long path to the story's ending where true love survives and all the bad guys get their just deserts. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy Fletcher's book "Season of The Shadow."

Reviewed by Rita Vetsch for Readers' Favorite

"The Father’s Love" is an emotionally charged and inspiring short novel written by Dave Moore. This story is inspired by true events and real people. Dave Moore’s son, David, is a freshman in college who is facing difficult times when he suddenly leaves a note and vanishes. David is too afraid to admit to his father that he might have let him down. When Dave’s son disappears, he sets out on the most heart-wrenching mission that a father wishes they would never have to go on. The pain and desperation drives Dave to the depths of hell and back. Dave’s story is not only about him being a father, but also about trusting in The Father above to help him find his son.

This short Christian novel is truly inspiring and uplifting. Even though this is a short book, the wording flows nicely and the plot is solid. Each chapter is filled with emotions, faith, loss and love. The cover of the book is truly captivating and catches the reader’s eye. It is a book that the reader will want to pick up and not put down. Any parent can relate to this story as we all have fears that our children will wonder off, be abducted or even worse. Dave Moore brings us along on his true-life, desperate journey to find his son and God is always there alongside of him. I could not set this book down and had to finish it in one setting because I was so emotionally invested in this incredible story of strength and determination. Dave is entwined with personal tragedy and incredible pain, and then is transformed before our eyes. God truly does change lives if we let him in and accept his help. When Dave is at his lowest and he surrenders to God, he will provide the answers that Dave so desperately needs. I recommend this book to people in all walks of faith as well as every parent. This is a must read and something we can all relate to. We all need to be reminded of how strong and unconditional God’s love for us is. Dave Moore hits it out of the ball-park with this outstanding short Christian novel.

Reviewed by Alice DiNizo for Readers' Favorite

It is 1995 and South Carolina Senator Buck Ravenel smiles, knowing that his gift of special snakeskin cowboy boots to his friend Judge Dupree Jones was a good thank you for political favors. Ravenel, Jones, Ravenel's longtime friend Vince Stone and all their associates and friends understand well the Code of the Forest which is "friends to the end" and making sure all of their allies have "ducks in their freezer"(political payoffs). Now Buck has friends who want to build the Carolina Phosphate plant on the Waccamaw River on a location just above Wright's Landing, once the site of the old Rice Heart Plantation and now the property of the Wright family, whose ancestors were plantation slaves. Environmentalists oppose the phosphate plant as it will poison the Waccamaw River and destroy the Carolina low country's balance of nature and its intricate food chain. Wade Hampton's family newspaper, the "Georgetown Pilot", publishes information that reveals Carolina Phosphate's money involvement with South Carolina's politicians, notably Buck Ravenel, and lawyer Kate Stewart defends Wade in Judge Dupree Jones' court. Now how do they have a chance against the network of South Carolina political intrigue?

"The Code of the Forest" is a brilliantly written and well-edited story that will hold any reader's interest until its very last page. Jon Buchan is a first-rate writer and his abilities come through loud and strong in this story of intertwined lives and political intrigue that is second to none. The characters of Kate Stewart, Wade Hampton and their families are memorable. Buck Ravenel, Judge Jones, Vince Stone and the men who use Bowman's Forest, a hunting and game preserve, are well-created and totally believable, despite their behind the scene corruption or as they called it, "friends to the end". "Code of the Forest" is a memorable story of memorable people with that flavor that only novels of the South can give.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

In "The Compassionate Rebel Revolution: Ordinary People Changing the World" you will meet people who are stepping out of their comfort zones to meet the needs of others. The first section of this book shares the stories of ordinary people who became heroes at ground zero. 'A Song For Deora' is the story of Derrill Bodley, a father who lost his daughter on 9/11. Deora was on Flight 93. Derrill had a little doubt she was one of the heroes that fitful day. He wrote two songs in her honor:

Each to Give
The world’s made up of those who do
And those to whom it’s done
But peace would cone to every soul
When both of these are as one.

Derrill is determined there will be no more violence done in his daughter’s name. He formed a core group of families facing the same loss he was facing. They are working together to bring peace to a violent world. Chapter 5 covers 'Community Builders'. Muriel Simmons lives in a neighborhood called Phillips in Minneapolis, MN. Minneapolis filled the summer months with community events. Phillips rarely participated in any of the activities. The area was packed with crime, violence, fear and depression. When Simmons moved to the neighborhood things began to change. Change began with a snow cone machine. Chapter 6 is 'The Care Givers'. This chapter shares the stories of Diane Knobel and how she assisted the people most affected by Katrina. She describes the devastation she saw in Biloxi, Hattisburg and Ovette. Knobel and the group she was with were the first volunteers to visit a church in Central City New Orleans. She made ten trips to the Gulf Coast. Knobel states, “I struggle with the fact that I haven’t yet made any effective lasting change.” Ms Knobel, you have touched lives; there is no way to know the long-term effect of your ministry. In my heart, I believe your presence changed lives.

"The Compassionate Rebel" was written by Burt F. Berlowe. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began reading this book. What I found was humans making a difference in the world. Each one is humble, compassionate, and caring. Most have no idea they are making changes; they are just doing what they know they must do. Berlowe’s book is well-organized but more importantly, it encourages readers. It proves that even an ordinary person can make a difference. Well done Mr. Berlowe! I believe this book puts you right up there with the heroes you have shared with us; for your book may inspire someone else to change the world.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

At last Dr. Joseph Sengele had been captured. He was the epitome of a mad scientist: he had created the airwars which was responsible for killing tens of millions of humans. An airwar looked similar to a Man O’War with its painful stinging tentacles, but this creature could float in the air and was much larger. Its sting paralyzed a human, and then its tentacles would lift the human into the air where it was consumed. When the airwar was attacked it reproduced millions of offspring. The world was in a panic. A world government was formed and it was proved to be as inefficient as can be expected and the citizens began losing their individual rights. However, there is hope. A few people were born genetically immune to the stings of the monsters. A mission rests on the shoulders of a single immune man. He and he alone has what it takes to end the crisis.

"The Immune" by Doc Lucky Meisenheimer is a fantastic read. The action begins on the first pages and doesn’t end until the end. It would not surprise me at any time if something similar to this were to show up in the headlines, as in 1973 Herbert Boyer produced the first transgenic bacterial organism. Similar documentation continues throughout the years. Much of this book is un-politically correct and a bit cheeky. However, I was disturbed by the realism of the governmental actions and reactions. I saw truth in Meisenheimer’s words. This is Meisenderimer’s debut book. I am sure it will not be his last. He is a talented author able to create scenes that keep us on the edge of our seats and at the same time they will amuse and entertain us. Meisenderimer has set the bar high; I expect he can not only meet it but clear it next time.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

DeAnn Lubell, author of "The Last Moon", transports readers back to May 8, 1902, when Mt. Pelee on the island of Martinique erupted in one of the most deadly and destructive events recorded in history. The pleasure of reading this book comes in the minute details. Lubell shares the philosophy, the Creole language, the routines, the topography, and the ecological phenomena with regard to the eruption. While Lubell accurately portrays the events, it is the people that make this book special. The tale begins with Captain David desperate to arrive in Martinique. The ocean around his ship was littered with human and animal bodies. He prayed Mt. Pelee had not erupted. Lubell skillfully weaves the threads of Yvette, Andre, David, Aza, Father Roche and the evil, greedy politicians together into a tapestry upon which the events are played out. The women are portrayed as resilient yet elegant. Voodoo and brothels are part of the accepted culture. Politicians can think only of what it will take to win a racially charged election.

It is obvious DeAnn Lubell spent much time researching the event she writes about. She brings the eruption to terrifying life. Her descriptions of the island before the eruption are magnificent. I have never been to Martinique but after reading the vivid descriptions I plan to vacation there. The descriptions of the aftermath are horrifying. "The Last Moon" is a historical novel but it also has intrigue, action and romance. I found the book riveting, mesmerizing and a must read tale.

Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite

“The Colony” by Blaine C. Readler is a thriller of a different flavor. In this fascinating tale, a handful of farmers and one hitchhiker defend themselves from a vicious alien attack, in an isolated area of rural Wisconsin farmland. As events unfold, this alien species replicates and evolves, becoming larger and more intelligent with each passing hour, literally making evolutionary leaps of millions or even billions of years in mere hours, mimicking native life forms as they adapt to the planet’s environment. Ultimately, the handful of human survivors, using tactics largely proposed by a 13 year old boy, manages to defeat the alien horde. But the subsequent appearance on the scene of two “men in black” leads the hitchhiker to suspect that the “aliens” weren’t alien at all, but rather a top secret military experiment gone awry. His suspicions are ratcheted up a notch when they threaten him with a charge of treason before a military tribunal if he ever says a word to anybody about what he witnessed.

In good conscience I have to start with a warning: do not start reading this book if you have plans or obligations for the following several hours. You simply will not be able to fulfill your obligations until you finish reading it. Putting it down, unfinished, is not an option. I was absolutely captivated by this book! It is one of the better thrillers I have read in quite a while. It is very well-written, with characters as real as anybody you would meet on the street. There are characters you are happy to see survive, characters you are sorry to see die, and maybe even a character you are happy to see die – depending on your mindset toward real jerks! When the book ends, you still won’t know for certain whether these were aliens or some secret government experiment. What you WILL know is they are very, very bad. They are ruthless. They are incredibly resilient and adaptive foes. And they make for very good reading. I recommend "The Colony" by Blaine Readler to anybody looking for a top quality book to read. You will take a long time to find a better one.

Reviewed by Lynette Fowlston for Readers' Favorite

"The Roman, the Twelve and the King" is the second book in Jenny L. Cote’s 'Epic Order of the Seven Series' for children. It is a story about a wonderful team of animals that God created and they are about to go out on a special mission. George F Handel, one of the greatest opera composers in the world, is about to find out that God has a special assignment for him and this team has been sent to help him, albeit hidden in the background so to speak. As the music is composed, the team goes on a journey from the birth of Jesus through His ministry right up to the resurrection and His ultimate glorification in heaven. This is when the King of England, who kept passing by Handel for other musicians, finally realized who the true King is, that being Jesus.

This is the first book of Ms. Cote that I have read and I just fell in love with it. There is just so much in the book that it is impossible to be able to tell one all about it. The adventures of the seven, which consist of dogs, cats, a mouse, a lamb and a mountain goat, will keep any child entertained as they follow along with them on their adventures. There are some parts in the book that are quite comical that will even make a child laugh but there is a serious side also. I enjoyed the way Ms. Cote presents the different varieties of speaking Scottish, French and German. I feel this is an excellent series that should be in every child’s home library. Not only do they learn about the Bible and the characters but they go along on an adventure as well.

Reviewed by Stephanie Dagg for Readers' Favorite

"Tides of Avarice" by John Dahlgren is a quirky, swashbuckling, original combination of pirates, treasure maps and lemmings. Sylvester Lemmington is our hero: a timid, serious lemming who works as a translator for the head archivist at the library. The love interest is Viola, a pretty, feisty lemmingess who merrily leads Sylvester into trouble, along with his treasure map. Add a missing father, Jasper, who took part in the last great lemming Exodus, from which mysteriously none returned many years ago, a whole host more slightly off-the-wall characters, plus of course an original plot, and you have a very entertaining, enjoyable book in your hands. There is plenty of skulduggery going on, and not just from the pirates. The lemmings and other animals share all our human characteristics, including the less wholesome ones so that there is a layer of social commentary buried in the humour.

I read this with my ten year old - neither of us quite in the intended YA audience - but it is hard to say which of us enjoyed it more. I could pick up some of the humorous subtleties of the writing that he missed but he could clearly imagine every single scene going on in his own head. We were both hooked. Dahlgren, a Scandinavian by birth, has an incredible mastery of language and is a very, very clever, creative writer. The story twists and turns, with enough of the extreme and ridiculous to keep youngsters engrossed and adults chuckling. It is refreshing and ingenious – it’s brilliant!

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

The people of the town avoided Zeke; they thought he was crazy or at the least a tramp and that he didn’t smell very good. However, the animals knew better; he always had little treats in his pocket for him. Most of the town’s people just kept hoping he would disappear. The widow woman and her daughter who lived closed to Green Meadow were kind to Zeke and would leave out a bowl of stew or soup each day along with a piece of bread. Miriam questioned her mother as to why she worried so much about a stranger. The widow was grateful to him for he had brought Miriam to her and Ben, her deceased husband. This just made Miriam more curious. Zeke stayed away for a long time but when he did return it was with a warning. Suddenly they were surrounded by danger. Everyone in Apple Grove feared the forest, yet that was where Zeke led them.

Young adult fantasy is one of my favorite genres, especially when it has that special quality that makes it mystical, suspenseful with a touch of danger. Kevin White’s tale quickly captured my attention and held it to the very last page. Zeke and Miriam are both heartwarming characters. Nanna is such a kind and perceptive character in this tale that she demonstrates compassion and mercy where few others in Apple Grove demonstrate anything other than fear, suspicion and cruelty. Kevin White is a name to remember. I will be looking for more books by him.