Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Advent of Dreamtech: A Post-Apocalyptic First Contact Epic is a work of fiction in the science fiction subgenre, and was penned by author Isaac Petrov. Written as the opening novel to the Dreamworms series, the work is best suited to the adult reading audience but is moderate in its content and contains only a few explicit words. In a novel that deals with many different concepts, we see the titular Dreamtech being used for the central characters (and indeed the reader) to glimpse a world on the point of total collapse. In a time when the hyper-religious rule in a supposed utopia that is, in fact, only a step away from extinction, the stakes are high for the future of humanity: one woman and the alien she meets may hold the key to life – or death.

Isaac Petrov promises no-bull science fiction, which is exactly what we see delivered in The Advent of Dreamtech. Petrov has crafted a straight-talking story with a fast-paced plot that introduces readers to a bevy of interesting concepts and new storytelling devices that turn the idea of seeing dreams into a post-apocalyptic nightmare. I particularly enjoyed the dark psychology and emotional exploration of the Alien Master section of the story, which was totally fascinating and wove itself back into the main ideas of the plot in such interesting ways. Overall, I would recommend The Advent of Dreamtech to science fiction readers seeking exciting new concepts, fast-paced writing, and epic settings with plenty of danger and intrigue in every chapter.

Reviewed by Jennifer Donovan for Readers' Favorite

In the Heart of Paradise is the third book in the Rainier Series by Jamie McGillen. While it could be enjoyed on its own, In the Heart of Paradise builds upon the story told in the previous two installments, so it is best read after In Sight of the Mountain and In Light of the Summit. In this third book, Anna is now pregnant, and while she feels she should be elated, she is filled with doubt. How will a baby impact her ability to climb Mount Rainier? Is she ready to be a mother? While Anna struggles internally with this unplanned surprise, Elizabeth, twice rejected and struggling with obsessive tendencies, fights for control of her mind. Her lifelong dream is to follow in the footsteps of Florence Nightingale, but after a disaster, she finds herself crippled by a new phobia that may put her aspirations in jeopardy. When a new man enters her life, she is compelled to push him away, convinced that her mental illness will lead to a life of solitude.

In the Heart of Paradise maintains the overarching theme of the series by empowering its female characters to break the norm and challenge those who seek to stifle them. Set in the 1890s, the book addresses Anna's and Elizabeth’s challenges with mental health when societal expectations of women further complicate these matters. Readers who are pregnant or who have been pregnant will be able to empathize with Anna’s anxiety and doubts. She is stricken with a fear of causing harm to the baby growing inside her through overexertion, but she feels she cannot waste away at home without losing a part of herself. Furthermore, readers will feel Elizabeth’s mental illness almost physically, experiencing the tingling in her extremities and the panic that consumes her. With characters so admirable yet raw, I have come to love each of them in my time spent reading the series, and I hope that I can raise my own daughter to be as independent and true to herself as the unbreakable women Jamie McGillen has created.

Reviewed by Tiffany Ferrell for Readers' Favorite

The Locket by Brittany Bessonett relates that nine years earlier Katie experienced a horrible sexual assault that changed her life. Constantly living in fear and dealing with the PTSD that followed, she kept away from the place where the attack occurred in the hope of living a relatively normal life. For this reason, she never stayed in one place for long, until she found herself in Victoria, Texas, finding a job that she enjoyed and a friendship she deemed worth keeping. Even her best friend's stepbrother is looking unthreatening, which is extreme growth on her part. Everything feels as if it’s falling into place until a stranger comes to her work, looking for her. Once again she’s on high alert and she is terrified that the man who destroyed her life was back to finish her off. Suddenly everyone she has come to know is being thrown into question, especially when the locket that was stolen during her attack turns up in an unexpected place. Will Katie ever get the closure that she needs, or will she be plagued to run from town to town having no one she can truly trust?

I found The Locket a very powerful read that puts you in the shoes of a sexual assault victim. As someone who has never personally had this happen, I found it realistic and you could understand where Katie was coming from and why she was the way that she was. Katie is a very relatable character because even if you have never suffered an assault, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can occur as a result of many different experiences or events in a person's life. I understood why it was hard for her to trust and make friends, as well as the need to keep moving. How it feels to have life finally seem to be going your way only to be shattered by something that triggers your memories takes you three steps back. I think Brittany Bessonett has done an amazing job bringing this subject to the fore and creating a character that many people can relate to in one way or another. I can’t wait to read more of Bessonett’s work.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

In The Christmas Cards: An Amish Holiday Romance by Sylvia Price, Lucy was not married for very long when her husband, Albrecht, died unexpectedly. The first Christmas that Lucy and Albrecht were to share is now a sad, difficult time for the young widow. Andy is also having a hard time and struggling with the fact he is going blind and believes he will never have a wife or children to call his own. When Lucy finds a beautiful hand-drawn Christmas card on her porch several mornings in a row, signed only with an initial, she knows she must find out who from and why these cards are being left. When Lucy discovers it is Andy, the next store neighbor, she immediately confronts him. The two form a friendship, each filling a need for their problems. Their friendship is the building block of The Christmas Cards and, as the reader, it pulled me right along.

The Christmas Cards: An Amish Holiday Romance is a bittersweet yet happy love story. There are so many factors in this very simple and elegant Amish story. Lucy finds love, suffers loss, and has to find a way to move on with her life. Sylvia Price has put all of the pieces together in a heartwarming Christmas story. She has created warm, loving characters and a plot that will make you happy and sad while cheering Lucy on and hoping things turn out better than expected for Andy. After reading The Christmas Cards, it has been added to my list of favorite holiday books and I am hoping to see it as a Hallmark movie next year. The Christmas Cards is a winner and will help to put you in the Christmas spirit.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

The Last Relapse by Sathiya Sam is a Christian self-help guide for men who are willing to address an addiction to pornography to “Realize Your Potential, Reclaim Intimacy, and Resolve the Root Issues of Porn Addiction”. Sam begins by opening up about his 15-year struggle with pornography addiction and the proactive, Bible-based approach that finally broke the cycle. Broken down into four distinct and interconnecting sections with two to three chapters in each, Sam covers Taking Back Control Of Your Life with the fundamentals, Healing From Your Past to address pain, triggers, and moving forward, Regaining Your Confidence and its requirement to dig deep to answer uncomfortable questions, and Becoming A New Man in which Sam really brings in the spirituality aspects for long-term success.

Sathiya Sam presents a well-written, no-holds-barred book on accountability and healing in The Last Relapse. The narrative is relatable and incredibly intelligent and has the right amount of compassion to make a reader feel comfortable while addressing an addiction that is exceptionally uncomfortable. I was heartened by Sam's profound honesty and saddened by the losses he describes. I am also heartened by the hope and positive reinforcement provided and executed so deftly that there is no doubt that those two things have no meaning if a reader is not willing to put in the hard work. And it will be hard. Scripture is employed heavily as the backbone to Sam's coaching and the Bible-based model works to bring readers who are likely to feel unworthy back into God's embrace. It should be noted that this is a guide geared very specifically toward men, and while most of it can be applied toward addicted women with the mental flip of a pronoun, it might not have the same degree of impact. Overall, this is a fantastically written book that will certainly be a catalyst for change.

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

Do you feel overwhelmed and frustrated with your life? Do you feel like you should be more fulfilled as a Christian? You Can Hear the Voice of God Through All Your Spiritual Senses (The Awakening Christian Series: Book One) by Sallie Dawkins teaches us that God gifts us all with supernatural spiritual senses. Encouraging us to release our old ways of thinking, outdated beliefs, and practices, we become more open to allowing God's miracles into our lives. By letting go of antiquated doctrines and limiting beliefs, we can learn how to activate our spiritual senses and, by taking every thought captive, we fully align with God's voice. Complete with frequently asked questions for clarification, application challenges, and prayers at the end of each chapter, this study guide will increase your spiritual knowledge and enhance your love of yourself and Christ.

The non-fiction spiritual book, You Can Hear the Voice of God Through All Your Spiritual Senses by Sallie Dawkins lovingly reveals what's truly broken in the belief system of the Church. I'm impressed with how the author, Ms. Dawkins, gives her testimony. Her eloquence speaks to the reader, her writing shows glowing heartwarming honesty and humor. Incredibly intuitive, Ms. Dawkins teaches us how to experience God's incredible love through faith and belief. Unconditional love from the Divine Source can potentially transform the world. A must-read for those who long for and are seeking more from their relationship with Christ. It is a powerful read and a splendid and uplifting tool for those who wish to enhance their spiritual lives.

Reviewed by Natalie Soine for Readers' Favorite

In The Prisoner's Cross by Peter B. Unger, Don Campbell returned from his summer job at the Ford plant in May 1993. Don’s father Jim, a Ford mechanic, and his mother Alberta came from a working-class background. Don and his sister Sue had been witness to Jim’s lifelong relationship with alcohol addiction and abusive behavior. A tragic accident brings pain, sorrow, and anger to the family. Don’s years of being bullied and traumatized cause him to become detached from people. After studying at a seminary, Don meets Jop de Vries, a bookstore owner and Japanese POW during the Second World War. Don had agreed to interview Jop who also grew up with an abusive father until he obtained a college degree, and then went to Indonesia in 1938. Jop shares with Don his experience in the POW camp and how it impacted on his life as a Christian.

Author Peter B. Unger produced The Prisoner's Cross based on his father's experiences in the Japanese WW2 POW camps. Peter shares how God's love and grace - uncorrupted by politics, sectarianism, and church institutionalism - could transform lives for the better. The story is professionally researched and beautifully written with an interesting array of characters from all walks of life including students, professors, POW soldiers, and their captors. The scenes and locations come to life in the story as Don joins the seminary and interviews Jop about his time in the POW camps. The Prisoner's Cross is a remarkable story, highly recommended to young and old.

Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers' Favorite

End Times prophecy has been with us for millennia and, in that regard, the Christian Bible has a rich tradition. For example, the Old Testament prophet Daniel gave a vivid account, while the enigmatic New Testament book of Revelation is even more graphic. All of this has been the subject of wide interpretation. In writing Living in the Last Days, Carol McCormick seeks to provide clarity and guidance by linking the predictions of the past with current events. The underlying theme behind the prophecies is well known. It symbolizes the final clash between good and evil, with the return of Jesus heralding a new golden era. There will be a time of Tribulation, a Judgement Day, and the final battle of Armageddon. Despite the hope provided by the Rapture, which will uplift Christians, it will not be an easy journey. Even committed Christians will be tested and may be subjected to humiliation, hardship, and even death during the Tribulation. The rise of the Antichrist and the Mark of the Beast is dealt with in detail, with new insights provided. A stern warning is sounded that a new world government is being formed with a 2030 target date to impose what the author refers to as The Great Reset, which will require the digital chipping of individuals and the erosion of freedom. Signs that humanity is entering the Last Days abound and are evaluated in detail, with advice on how to achieve eternal life through Jesus.

Living in the Last Days is an in-depth analysis of the available Christian literature on the subject, backed by considerable research and some fresh interpretations of the scriptures. Internationally acclaimed author Carol McCormick underlines the traditional wisdom of Christian teachings while relating them to present worldwide political and spiritual trends. There will be false prophets. The information regarding The Great Reset and its sinister agenda is a significant departure from the conventional approach to End Times predictions. This is highly relevant as digital technology, smart bank cards, and a host of electronic devices already enable intrusive surveillance and allow the tracking and control of individuals. Further danger threatens in the form of a one-world government, a single world currency, and combined religions, which will undermine traditional Christian beliefs and suppress opposition. These modern phenomena are compared to biblical predictions and a remarkable match is apparent, sounding an early warning of troubled times ahead. Christians will have to stand by their beliefs and preparation is essential. The book is aimed at a wider audience than practicing Christians and the author reminds readers that it is for all people, particularly the lost.

Reviewed by Natalie Soine for Readers' Favorite

In his novel The Penitent: Part 1, author A. Keith Carreiro tells the story of Pall Warren. Pall’s mother died during childbirth, leaving his father, David, to raise him. Pall met High Marshall Solace Umbré, who commanded an elite unit of men called the Aeonian Guard, and his captain, Joseph Martains. Pall joined Solace’s army under the tutelage of Sergeant Meginhard and Sergeant Burchard. Pall went to war where he met Commander John Savage and the two encounter a Valravn, a supernatural raven. Pall and John find shelter in an abandoned farmhouse where Paul is attacked by Captain Error and his men, Gregor and Gordo of the Mordant Marauders. Savage kills two of the men before seeing an Ünger, an evil three-in-one monster who devoured people. After his escape, Pall met Thomas and Alicia Cooper with their two daughters, Myra and Mary, and traveled with them to Gullswater. Along the way, Ünger found them and it was up to Pall to save himself and the Cooper family.

The Penitent is a suspenseful story filled with action and adventure. Author A. Keith Carreiro has penned a beautiful novel with an array of unusual characters, both real and imagined. The scenes and locations including the farmhouse, forest, rivers, and trees come to life as Pall makes his way to Gullswater. I love Keith’s use of the English language and descriptive writing, including poems and songs. The battle scenes show us that war is brutal and causes only suffering and pain. “The wonder and guilt of it all were seen in the survivors who walked away from the sufferings of war. However, if you want peace, prepare for war.” The Penitent is an exceptional story, highly recommended to everyone.

Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite

Shawn Michael Gotch pens an out-of-this-world narrative in The Scent of Heaven. Throughout the ages, humans have pondered the question of life after death. Is there a heaven and what is it really like? Aubrey Christopher Lewis discovers the answer to this question. Aubrey is a writer and a journalist. After dying in a car accident, Aubrey arrives in heaven. It's not quite what he imagined, but it far surpasses all he could have ever wished or hoped for. Using his gift of writing, Aubrey attempts to chronicle his heavenly adventures. Yet earthly words cannot truly do it justice. Upon his arrival, he is transformed in body, soul, and spirit! His graduation from earth to heaven is beyond description. He hears angelic language, meets his “guardian,” sees unfathomable sights, and experiences the extraordinary as he discovers his true self. There is nothing ordinary in heaven, mysteries abound, you “learn as you go.” The Breath of Life beckons Aubrey to come, behold, and breathe in The Scent of Heaven.

The Scent of Heaven by Shawn Michael Gotch takes us to where we all long to go – Heaven. Mr. Gotch is an excellent wordsmith. He takes you into the realm of heaven with vivid and imaginative descriptions. The plot is written intelligently, yet with joviality. It captures your heart and pierces your soul with “could this be possible?” amazement. The inclusion of angelic language gives depth to the dialogues and adds to the air of mystery of the marvelous world of heaven. Gotch skillfully uses creative liberties in developing the ethereal setting. He gives us a story that goes beyond singing and harp music. The plot depicts heaven with an eternal objective, and its residents have a purposeful forever life. I like that concept. The narrative does have elements of fantasy, unusual characters, and visions of the vastness of the heavens. Gotch transports the reader into the heavens, revealing the never-ending wonders of God. “The heavens proclaim the glory of God, and the skies display his craftsmanship” (Psalm 19:10). This scripture is illustrated with an incredible imagination. The Scent of Heaven lingers in your mind; it touches your soul in unusual ways. Its aroma hovers long after the last word is read.