Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Last Lumenian is a lavish and engrossing work of fiction in the fantasy, action, and adventure sub-genres, and was penned by author S. G. Blaise. Written for young adult and adult readers alike to enjoy, this immersive tale introduces us to a princess unlike most others, whose fortitude and rebellious nature find her in a precarious position even from the novel’s start. Lilla takes solace in her rebel friends and surrounding servants as his father, the king, is lost to his madness. But when a new general arrives on the scene and a powerful Archgod declares magical war, Lilla discovers that the fight ahead of her is far bigger than she expected.

Author S. G. Blaise has crafted a fantastic escape from reality which is beautifully easy to fall into but very had to let go of at the close. One of the things that really captivated me about the work was its pacing and story construction, which leaves you wanting more and peeking ahead at the end of every chapter. As the story progresses and we learn more and more about Lilla, the character development and close narration give her an inspirational and emotional resonance that makes the story even harder to put down, resulting in a wildly inventive and intricately planned fantasy rollercoaster which delivers everything it promises. Overall, I would highly recommend The Last Lumenian for fantasy fans seeking strong female leads, solid worldbuilding, visceral action, and plenty of magic. A truly epic opening to an exciting new series.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

The Market Stall Girl by AnneMarie Brear centers around Beth Beaumont, a young woman who lives with her middle-class family on a farm and spends her day at the stall selling their fruits and vegetables. Noah Jackson is a coal miner living with his brothers, mother, and irresponsible father, but his real desire is to become a teacher and he is studying hard and taking tests to make that happen. The brothers all work underground digging out the coal, earning little and always in danger of a deadly accident collapsing the mine. Louis Melville is the richest man in the village, living in a luxurious mansion, spoiled, and thinking he can have whatever he wants in any way he can get it. Beth and Noah begin spending time together and find a deep love. But Louis has noticed Beth and wants her as his wife. Beth only has eyes for Noah and this infuriates Louis and he turns mean and dangerous to get Beth to change her mind. The results are what make this book so good and you will have to read it yourself to find out all that happens.

The Market Stall Girl is a story of romance, misfortune, and takes us back to the early-middle 1900s in Wrenthorpe, West Yorkshire, England. The Market Stall Girl was a great story and it kept my attention from the first page to the very last. I loved Beth and Noah but had only bad thoughts about Louis. AnneMarie Brear has written a story that is fiction but is very realistic and believable. I have not read any of her other books, but I have added her name to my reading list and look forward to reading book two to continue keeping up with Beth, Noah, and Louis. If you enjoy historical romance then The Market Stall Girl is a must-read!

Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite

Reyna’s mother had died in a suspicious accident. After being bounced from home to home until she was fifteen, she finally found a place with the wealthy McCalls. Five years later, a dinner date with Davian, the son of a good friend of the McCalls, turned sour when her apartment was burgled. The burglars were after Reyna on the orders of Rui Salko, her believed father cum husband, whom she had never met. Davian vowed to keep her safe, but was he honestly being selfless? It’s a whole tangled web of lies, and everyone had an agenda. Reyna realized that none of the people in her life appeared by coincidence. How will Reyna survive the chaos in her life and heart? The Perfect Wife by A.L. Long contains all the juicy details.

The Perfect Wife by A.L. Long is a novel that will appeal to lovers of sizzling romance novels. Long is an excellent storyteller who has fused crime, romance, and violence together. This is the first installment of the series, and by the end of the book, my suspense was heightened because the show had just started. The Perfect Wife was fast-paced, with an unpredictable plot in which I was none the wiser than the characters in the book. We were thrown new twists at the same time; I didn’t get any special treatment. I love that the book was stylishly written, and the conversations flowed seamlessly. The Perfect Wife is a fun and interesting read. This is a beautiful book, and I’d love to read more from Long!

Reviewed by Stephanie Chapman for Readers' Favorite

As her plane crashes into the Pacific Ocean, Alaina Grace can only think of her husband Chris. Trinity Dunn’s More of Us To The West chronicles Alaina’s struggle to survive and her hopes of keeping her marriage alive. After days of floating in dark waters with nine other survivors, several of whom are gravely injured, land appears in the distance. Alaina’s relief is brief as she inwardly mourns the loss of her husband. She doesn’t trust anyone to understand her pain, especially with the company of the survivors that all came from a background of money. Jack, a star from her childhood, pushes her buttons and nicknames her “Red” despite knowing her annnoyance at the name. As the story continues on, flashbacks of her romance with her husband fill her mind, but the hope of seeing him again slips away. She becomes infatuated with Jack, and begins to feel as though she has developed a family with Lilly, Jim, and the others.

I was immediately drawn into More Of Us To The West. Every personality detail of the characters flowed to where I could envision them. From Jim’s Oklahoma accent and odd sayings, Lilly’s princess actions, and Isobel’s innate ability to understand complex issues despite being deaf made the story come alive. Trinity Dunn created an island paradise for me to wish I was there with them. I couldn’t put this book down with the suspense of whether they would be rescued, or if being stranded on the island was preferable to what may have been occurring around the world. The plane crash happened for no apparent reason, there are no other inhabitants on the island, and the missing satellites in the sky were all included in several conspiracy theories each person had. I couldn’t decide which one to follow because they all were believable. The dialogue seemed to be natural and realistic. The cliffhanger ending nearly killed me. I desperately need to read the sequel in the series. This is a very emotional story, and I caution anybody who chooses to read this epic tale to keep tissues nearby. A 5-star story that will have you falling in love with every character. I highly recommend this book.

Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

Dispatches from the Swinging Door Saloon: Poems from my 10-year bender inside heaven’s dive bar by Randall McNair is a unique collection of poetry about many facets of life. From the first poem, you get a feel for the personality of the author. In these verses, you'll find humor, clarity, and truth. McNair's poetry has something for every taste. If you like abstract ideas, you'll find them. If you like concrete, vivid imagery, you'll find it. McNair is a true storyteller, telegraphing bits and pieces and a myriad of emotions in his phrasing. You'll connect instantly to the first poem as he describes making $50 a year writing poetry. His writing is clear and descriptive, and you get what he is saying when he talks about a blue-collar man being trapped in a white-collar existence. His observations are keen and quick, and you'll find yourself zipping through each poem to read more wit and wisdom.

I like how Randall McNair paints images with his poems, whether it be his thoughts on a woman's body or the loss of a loved one. Each page tells a story of characters and meaning, and most are grounded in everyday life in an observational Stephen King style. As in life, these poems reflect the hills and valleys of experience, so that anyone can relate to the verses. He covers a wide range of emotions, from love to hate and everything in between, but I especially like his views on alcohol. On the surface, his poems seem simple, but deeper meaning lies beneath. If you like poetry, you'll love Dispatches from the Swinging Door Saloon by Randall McNair. And if you don't like poetry, meet the poet who can change your mind.

Reviewed by Tiffany Ferrell for Readers' Favorite

In Luisa Elena Kolker’s The Tearing Apart we are introduced to a variety of subjects such as relationships, loss, dreams, and childhood nightmares. Set in Spain and New Mexico, we travel along with the poet as she tells us her story in perfect, almost lyrical lines. Very raw and personal, Kolker delivers a beautiful array of poetry in her first collection.

Two poems really stood out to me. They were Demons and A Passage Through Spain. In Demons, you read about a previous partner of the author perhaps and the sexual abuse that they suffered at the hands of their father as a small child. You see that this caused a long-term effect on the person, even if it’s not something shown on the surface. It’s a very powerful poem because it’s true; abuse leaves behind scars and demons that linger. The trauma caused can come out in many different forms. I found A Passage Through Spain just brilliant because, as I read it, I went back to all the history books I have devoured about Spain.

I really enjoyed reading this collection. I thought the poems were amazingly written. With each poem, you find yourself in the author's shoes as she expresses grief, love, terrors from childhood, and seeking the truth she wants to find. Overall, I think Luisa Elena Kolker has done a great job and I can’t wait to read more of her work. It’s definitely a collection of poems I will recommend to others.

Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

The Wings of Adversity: Poetry That Teaches and Inspires You to Soar Above Challenges and Persevere at All Times by Vanessa Caraveo is a powerful, award-winning volume of poetry that shows how adversity can be turned into inspiration and victory. This collection covers a variety of adversities, from mental illness to disability, and each poem illustrates an aspect of adversity that most of us can relate to. Even if you haven't experienced all of the issues in the poems, you may have experienced many of them, or know someone who has. We all come up against some manner of adversity in our lives. Some overpowering force us to the point of paralysis, while others serve only to strengthen.

I like how these poems show that adversity can be a force for good in someone's life. As challenges arise, we can choose to use them to make us better. Even though the themes of the poems are sometimes heavy, and some will bring tears to your eyes - like the eloquent but poignant descriptions of someone born with curved legs - they are designed to give hope in the face of difficult times. A message of positivity runs throughout the poems and emphasizes finding the good instead of the bad. Celebrities like Jay-Z, Stephen King, and Bill Gates are used as examples, but there are non-celebrity examples too. It may be challenging for some to rise above life's problems, but these poems encourage a mindset of putting things in perspective and not letting issues get the better of us. You'll be impressed at the wide-ranging issues Caraveo has assembled here, and the uplifting poems that are included, like the one titled "When Comedy Saves", which expresses how Jim Carrey rose from poverty; "The Function of Good Words", which shows the importance of speaking positive things; and "The Power of Resilience", which demonstrates strength in rebounding. As you can see by just these few titles, this isn't a negative volume of poetry.

Vanessa Caraveo writes descriptions that are physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual, sometimes with the simplest of words and ideas that are highly relatable in the natural world. Some take on more abstract, complex ideas that are harder to define but still resonate within you. The Wings of Adversity by Vanessa Caraveo could be a balm for troubled souls. You will want to keep this volume of poetry on hand if you need encouragement or want to give it to someone else who may be in need.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Bubbly By The Sea by B. K. Sweeting is an aesthetic collection of short poems with diverse themes. It will take readers on an exciting journey that will pull them into the poems to feel, see, and learn. The collection has been divided into two sections, Head and Heart, and will mesmerize readers with the messages of hope, self-encouragement, and love. The poet's wordplay and eye in capturing emotions and surroundings, and expressions using metaphorical interpretations, create a variety of moods and give lucidity to the images she weaves into her poetry.

B. K. Sweeting's love for the sea is tangible in this collection and she conveys good messages through the two themes of Head and Heart. Though the themes dealt with in the poems are complex, the poet's exquisite wordplay makes them magical. Along with the illustrations, this collection is any poetry lover's delight. I also love the way in which she combines nature and human emotions together in most of the poems, and having illustrations make it all enchanting and dreamy. Bubbly By The Sea is one of the best poetry collections I have read in recent times. The language used, the images she has tried to create using her words, and the minimalist approach have all contributed to her fabulous work. I loved the collection and I am in love with the poet's style!

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Waiting on the Monsoons for His Desert Soul by Redwulf Dancingbare is a compilation of the author's original poetry that revolves around a variety of moments captured in time, making them timeless through verses that often read like a song. The themes vary in length, tone, tenor, and subject, from the persistent haunting of a man by his memories of the Vietnam War in Grace, to The Baker in which patrons of a pâtisserie are compared to the goods they tend to purchase, and Do You Sing In Your Cage where prisoners in multiple forms have their confinements woven into stanzas. All told, the collection has over eighty independent poems that embody the spirit of its author in so many ways.

There is a beautiful way that Redwulf Dancingbare is able to create imagery in the poetic anthology Waiting on the Monsoons for His Desert Soul. As the pieces do generally have a rhythmic quality to them, there is something of a melody that regularly occurs that breathes life into the people featured and the analogies used. My personal favorite is Earth Day, a poem that has a modern Native American who takes stock of the damage done to the land of his ancestors as he glides down a polluted river that many generations back was in clean, respectful, and full harmony with the soul of his people, who treated this life source with integrity. This book is, plain and simply, a fantastic read that is immersive and profoundly human. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Astrid Iustulin for Readers' Favorite

If you think poetry collections are all the same and that it is difficult, perhaps impossible, to find an innovative one, you will have to reconsider your opinion. I had one of the most pleasant surprises myself when I found Vashti Stopher Klein's The Soprano, the Monster, and the Dragonslayer. The book begins with an allegory. An ill Soprano dreams about an evil monster, seeks a healer, and discovers that the only man who can save her and give her back her voice is the Dragonslayer. After her successful healing, the Soprano starts singing again. As a bonus for readers, some of the poems have hyperlinks that allow you to listen to them recorded as songs.

The Soprano, the Monster, and the Dragonslayer is a collection that effectively blends words, music, and images (you find artistic designs by Carol Collett before each poem). I wrote above that Stopher Klein's book is innovative, and the perfect interweaving of all these elements gives it originality and charm. Each of the poems of The Soprano, the Monster, and the Dragonslayer is remarkable for the story it tells. They are detailed pictures, and whether you listen to the recordings or read the words, they will mesmerize you. I consider them as delightful pieces of a wonderful puzzle. The Soprano, the Monster, and the Dragonslayer is one of the best collections of poems I have read in recent times. I cannot wait to read more work by Vashti Stopher Klein, and I hope it will happen soon.