Reviewed by Shannon Winings for Readers' Favorite

On March 1, 1932, Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr. was abducted from his crib in his parents' New Jersey home. His nanny, Betty Gow, was the first to notice his disappearance. This stirred a massive hunt for baby Charles and the kidnapper(s). The Lindbergh Kidnapping Suspect No. 1: The Man Who Got Away by Lise Pearlman starts by introducing the Lindbergh family and their history before describing the now-infamous kidnapping. Following the disappearance, readers are then taken on a journey to search for the suspect(s). Ten weeks later, this turns into a manhunt for the killer(s). Lise Pearlman takes readers on an adventure behind the scenes and delves into what the evidence says to reveal a shocking conclusion. Was Bruno Richard Hauptmann's execution for this crime a mistake?

The Lindbergh Kidnapping Suspect No. 1: The Man Who Got Away by Lise Pearlman is a must-read for any true crime aficionado and those fascinated with this highly publicized case. I was thrilled to read this book and am sure others will like it as well. The book is meticulously organized and filled with information. Clearly, the author did an extensive amount of research. The author even provides a cast of characters, photographs, end-notes, sources, appendices, and an index. In addition to this wealth of information, I enjoyed the author's writing style. I felt like I could truly get into the story and picture what was happening. I'm excited to see what other books the author has written and what they are up to next.

Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

As Erin traveled on her life journey, she realized that once the pandemic hit, she, like others, had to rethink their lives. The systems in place to help America sustain itself during this traumatic time are unable to help us maintain our quality of life or save us. With her book, Get the Hell Out of Debt: The Proven 3-Phase Method That Will Radically Shift Your Relationship to Money, you will learn how to overcome and balance your relationship with money, material possessions, and debt. This book will motivate and empower you because the author is transparent and speaks from experience about her struggles that anyone can relate to. In three phases, you'll be able to strategically walk through the process to financial literacy and freedom. Sometimes it takes beautiful words of wisdom to cause us to create a paradigm shift for our future, especially coming from someone that we love and admire. If it wasn't for author Erin Skye Kelly's grandfather Jidi, her life would have turned out differently. The wisdom imparted to her allowed her to view her dreams from another perspective. In creating this book, Erin wants to do the same for you; to live your life and fulfill your dreams without the fear of debt.

Not only did I enjoy this wonderful gem, Get the Hell Out of Debt: The Proven 3-Phase Method That Will Radically Shift Your Relationship to Money by Erin Skye Kelly, but I appreciate the passion that the author has for others to get out of debt. It's rare that someone creates a program to further educate its audience and provides a support group but she has. Not only is this book an excellent resource but the author provides a glossary along with suggested books to keep you educated on money matters. We all need this type of book, no matter where you are on your financial journey. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

The Wholesaling Blueprint: Real Estate Investing with No Money out of your Pocket by Luke Weber is a business book that gives readers inside information about selling real estate without investing any money. In this book, the author defines real estate wholesaling and creates a roadmap that takes readers to success. Readers will find information on how to start, the strategies for quality lead generation places to find properties for sale, getting the properties under contract, and finding clients to buy them. That is the general idea articulated in this book. Still, it brims with information, lessons, and how-tos that are invaluable to readers.

For anyone interested in investing in real estate, this book is the best place to start. It contains what readers need to know and how to successfully navigate the real estate market. However, most importantly, it unveils a goldmine where those without any initial financial investment can still break through. Luke Weber writes in a style that is popular, engaging, and hugely accessible, taking readers through every step of the process, from how and where to start to what they need to know; from finding the right prospects to successfully closing deals, from handling the paperwork to building a successful team. The book is chockful with helpful information. I enjoyed its direct delivery style with real-life situations and examples to drive lessons that will change readers' lives. Luke Weber will make any reader want to get into the real estate business. While this book focuses on real estate, it contains strategies that can be applied to other companies. The prose is strong, the voice authoritative, and the entire book is filled with techniques and practical information that will change the way most people look at real estate.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Sales Accelerator: How to Expand your sales capability to compete successfully in any market is a work of non-fiction focusing specifically on sales techniques, and it was penned by author Yamini Virani. Designed to be read and utilized by those who work in the sales sector of their companies, or indeed CEOs looking to expand into new markets, this well organized and innovative book looks at the top strategies that can be put forward to build new sales teams in new environments and coach those teams towards adaptability, engagement and overall positive results when the sales figures return.

Author Yamini Virani bases this excellent work on years and years of intensive experience side by side with CEOs and sales executives, watching both their failures and successes as a strategy is developed towards faster scaling up and better return in new environments. The world of global communication makes international business a must for any large company, but Virani’s organizational style enables readers to break these vast issues down and understand them better from a specific sales perspective. Rather than a generic catch-all approach, Virani’s advice actually gives practical strategies to train a sales team, old or new, for adaptability and changes, which means that they will have the tools to develop around whatever new information they find as they tackle any international market. Overall, The Sales Accelerator gives some excellent advice which is well worth heeding, and the work comes highly recommended for CEOs and executives looking for solid and reliable advice.

Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

The Happy Leader: A Leadership Fable about Transformation in Business and in Life, by Shawn Johal, is an inspiring, original guide to becoming a better leader. The author uses a fresh, unique approach in this self-help book, incorporating his experience as an entrepreneur and leadership coach. But the most appealing part of this book, besides the valuable information, is the way Johal presents the material: Life-altering advice wrapped in a fable. In the world of business and finance, the words "happy", "forgiveness", or "meditation" may not immediately come to mind, but in this book they do, because these are just some of the concepts that Johal uses to transform your leadership skills, and maybe even your life.

Sometimes in life, or in the working world, you just need a change in perspective, or a new way of looking at what possibilities lie ahead. This is what the fable is all about. You can put yourself in the character's place, and learn something about yourself and what you can do to make changes for the better. The best lessons are often learned through parables, anecdotes, or stories, and Johal is clever in presenting his information this way. It's also entertaining. I especially like Ravi, whose impact on others is illustrated and recognized. Even if meditation is part of your life, the author will show you styles you may not be aware of and can make a difference, starting today. Positive change can come with commitment. It won't happen on its own. So the strategies found in this book are for those who really want to transform but aren't sure where to start, or who need to take a new route.

When the author talks about healing, happiness, and forgiveness, you really feel the personal side of leadership. One of my favorite things about the book is the actionable advice it contains: Establishing routines, creating habits that produce results, incorporating physical activity into your daily life, and being more disciplined. It will take some effort, but the journey will be worth the results. And if you find yourself not quite understanding the story, the author has included a Happiness Guide, which explains the philosophy and psychology behind it. For an inventive, impactful book on leadership, The Happy Leader by Shawn Johal is a must-read.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

“Freestyle cooking is about simply being a little prepared and relaxing around the kitchen.” We don’t have to be highly trained gourmet chefs to make the picture-perfect, delicious, healthy meal. Mind you, picture-perfect isn’t necessarily always delicious and healthy and, vice versa, delicious and healthy isn’t always picture-perfect. The important thing is to enjoy your food, enjoy your food preparations and remember that food is a social activity, a great way to spend quality family time. What you make may not always turn out the way you think it should; it may be even better than the original intent. But remember some words of wisdom, like “there is no way to fail as long as you keep trying.” This reminds me of my great-grandmother’s words of wisdom (which would accompany anything that appeared to be less than perfect): “If there’s good stuff in it, then it must be good.”

Sean Barker’s cookbook, The Easy Eating Diet Cookbook: 150 Fit Food Recipes for Real Life, to Get Leaner, Lighter and Healthier, is as much a guidebook as it is a cookbook. It’s actually his recommendation that readers consider his book as a guidebook, to add or take away as they will, to mix and match ingredients. Each recipe, well organized and presented, is meant as a starting place to broaden the culinary experience and enjoy a wide range of possibilities. His introduction is full of sage advice, not just on cooking and eating healthily, but also on the best foods to choose: the best fats, the best herbs, and some tips to make life easier in the kitchen, like prepping prospective ingredients as soon as they’re brought home from the grocery store and freezing them in containers, ready to add to a given dish at any given time. This eases the stress and the fuss of the actual meal preparations when the time comes. The Easy Eating Diet Cookbook adds more fun and experimentation possibilities to the food preparation routine, making the foods we eat healthier and more interesting.

Reviewed by Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite

In the beginning of Gillian Thorp’s intensely personal and moving memoir, The Colour of the Sun, an early reader remarks: “… there are some stories that don’t just stick with you; they become a part of you.” I quote this observation because it’s true. Sometimes, one comes across an exquisite piece of writing that inhabits one’s own being with the wisdom, experience, compassion, and transformative, cleansing tears of another. One does not simply imbibe a journal of distant recollections. Instead, we are privileged to share the vivid intimacy and higher meaning more often meant for the individual alone. Only great courage and generosity from an author allows this deeper thing to happen.

When the author writes as beautifully as Gillian Thorp in The Colour of the Sun, magic happens. Her story begins in South Africa, and her indelible opening sentence should become a classic of the genre: “I was born among thieves.” In addition, Ms. Thorp employs an irresistible style for telling her life story. First, she speaks as an observer of her time and place with unrelenting, gorgeous prose on which the smitten reader simply wants to float. Then, like a spirit come to earth, she inhabits uniquely defining moments with her unresisting, lucid presence. Just so, the reader is invited to share both her objective observations and her vivid memories. You will not be left unscarred. You will not be left unchanged. This book will indeed become a part of you. Even the trail of tears you walk on at the end will become a part of your path, too.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Athena in the Rathole by Demi K is a memoir that is culturally rich and that will stir the thoughts and emotions of readers. It begins with a reference to the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, a humorous movie that is supposed to portray the typical Greek behavior, but which the author classifies as “skata,” meaning “Shit.” In this memoir, she tells the story of Athena, born to Greek immigrant parents, and deftly explores the turmoil in her soul as she navigates two worlds — her new American environment comprising of a world of abusive classmates and a Greek home where her mother treats her as a shame to the family, blaming her for the troubles they have faced. She is not what her parents wanted her to be, and her pain grows even deeper when she is sent away to a school for disturbed kids. She eventually connects with people who stand up for her, including a hooker, an art teacher, and many others. But will her mother give up in her efforts to destroy her own child?

Athena in the Rathole is a brilliantly written story, exploring historical, cultural, and social themes that are just spot-on. The dark humor is persistent and it hits the reader from the very opening pages of the story – in fact, it was the quirkiness in the author’s voice that pulled me in, as she described her people and their history, noting that most of those that immigrated to the US didn’t know how to write in their language, talk less of English and that “My father, who was pretty much a caveman, was among them.” That immediately signals trouble and I was keen on following what happens in the story. Athena in the Rathole is filled with compelling social and cultural commentaries and the author has a strong story to tell. The exciting thing is that she tells it in an exceptional manner, in a voice that is absorbing and humor that is irresistible. Demi K knows how to connect with readers, a great storyteller who opens a unique door for readers to peer into the soul of her people, into challenges that Greek immigrants faced and to the price of earning the American Dream. It is a must-read, a humorously told story that isn’t lacking when it comes to emotional depth.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

The Moon, the Watching Witching Moon: Our Light and Companion is the first book in the Hearing Others Voices series by David Campbell Callender. This is a beautiful book that almost serenades the Moon, Earth’s satellite, and how it has been the only constant for billions of years for Earth and us. In this simple yet poignant journey, the author shares details from his childhood to his adult life and shows how the Moon was an incredible companion for him. This gave the author the urge to learn more about the Moon and figure it out. From looking into the origins of the Moon to understanding its connection with Earth, the author examines everything with the eyes of a lover.

The illustrations, the writing style, and the actual narrative of The Moon, the Watching Witching Moon was an incredible treat. The narrative had a nostalgic feel to it and made me aware of what I never knew. Each chapter revealed a lot more about the Moon, the author, and the influence it had on the life of David Campbell Callender. To be honest, this book can double up as a memoir, thanks to how up close and personal the reader gets with the author. He didn’t keep anything hidden. David Campbell Callender shared his hardships and his incredible journey of life that he spent with his family and with his friend, the Moon. I found the portions on Moon and its origins to be very entertaining. I loved the way David Callender showed how we affect the Moon. I could feel the love and adoration the author had for his friend the Moon. I loved this book.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Eight different individuals who all have their own share of battling their substance use disorder are the highlights of Michael K. Tourville’s Voices from the Fallen: True Stories of Addiction, Grief, Recovery and Courage. On a very up close and personal level, these eight people pour out their hearts and minds to reveal their bold and eye-opening confessions on the anatomy of their addiction, what they gained, what it took in return, and their path to salvation. It also includes perspectives from friends and families and the necessary intervention to curb their addictions. These are keen accounts of a naked reality that most of us are afraid to address, yet it prods us to face such reality because tomorrow someone you know or love might become one of the Fallen, too.

Like journalistic reportage, Michael K. Tourville writes these stories that expose the hard truths and common misconceptions about addiction ranging from pills to heroin and alcohol. It is a testament to the fact that anyone can fall prey to addiction, thereby getting rid of any stereotyped images commonly associated with substance addicts. Consider the case of Bart, for example. He is blessed with all the wonderful things in life until alcohol addiction drives him out of Paradise. This book is a reminder that there is no magic formula that will help our loved ones stop their addiction. It is what makes Voices from the Fallen an imperative must-read book for anyone to understand that addiction can take its toll on anyone regardless of gender, race, financial status, and religion. If this work has opened your eyes to the necessary steps that you can take to help someone you know who is battling with addiction, then Tourville has not written in vain.