Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

"Yes, I understood the natural world despite their horrific dispositions. I respected that they had only instincts to guide them. A simple purpose to fulfill: survive. But wasn’t knowing that fact what kept us from living in such a way? The fact that we knew the difference? The fact that we could be better? People were content acting like wild beasts, it seemed. That saddened me. They could have been so much more. Perhaps they still could." In Red Sand (The Creations Series, Book 1) by Anne MacReynold, the immortal Lilith constantly finds that existing on Earth has its wonders but also terrors; love and hate, trust and betrayal, life and death. Can she find her true purpose and guide humanity to its highest potential?

The combination of Jewish folklore, The Alphabet of Ben Sira, and the Greek mythology of Troy as the foundation of the plot is deftly done. I’m more familiar with the fictionalized versions of Lilith where she’s often envisioned as an unsympathetic, dangerous being. MacReynold's Lilith in Red Sand is undoubtedly fascinating and much more complex. This is a different and interesting take on Lilith’s tale including how Eve and Adam came to be. The different views of Lucifer and Lilith regarding life are intriguing, and how she handles and feels about immortality are at times poignant to read. Her genuine hope to lead humans to the right path is admirable. Simply put, this is a great start for The Creations Series and I look forward to the continuation of Lilith’s journey.

Reviewed by Steven Robson for Readers' Favorite

The Swords of Blood and Gold by J. C. R. Paulino casts its spell of mysticism over a broad horizon of adventure, anchored around two swords of incredible power. These immortal tools have traversed centuries, wielding death and destruction on their journey to sustain one entity; an entity driven to maintain itself no matter what the cost may be. Jon Sherman is an attractive 28-year-old guy with an exhilarating career as an ocean treasure hunter. He knows nothing about worlds of mythical powers and unfathomable entities; that is until his company is brutally attacked on an otherwise normal Monday afternoon. This catalyst propels Jon into a race with destiny, forcing him to confront not only unknown dangers but also his belief system and understanding of reality. Whether he survives this convoluted journey is the only question, and you will be compelled to read through to the explosive climax to discover the answer.

J. C. R. Paulino’s The Swords of Blood and Gold is a high-quality mythical adventure steeped in some truly engrossing Chinese legends. I found the plot to be well-paced, intriguing, and fresh without being overpowered by excessive convolution and complexity. The characters were quite palpable and unique in personality, and the relationships were crafted supremely well. This was particularly so with the relationship between Jon and Natalie; the pace and at times awkwardness that flowed between these two was very on point. In fact, the first intimacy between these two was handled in one of the best ways I have ever read. All told, The Swords of Blood and Gold is a thoroughly enjoyable read, suitable for every reader with a sense of adventure and magic within their heart. A remarkable, first-class book.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Katie, Bar the Door: A Novel by Ruth Hull Chatlien is a story filled with realism and humanity, following a young woman on her journey to find a foothold in a world that has mercilessly broken her. Yes, Katie is broken. She has suffered a lot from childhood. As a child, she has been religiously stifled, treated as bad in school by Mrs. Loiseaux, who accuses her of making Jesus die. She has experienced loss in the family, been sexually shamed, and bullied. Follow her on this journey as she seeks love and meaning. In a world where she struggles to be herself, can she find love and inner freedom?

This is a brilliantly written story filled with realistic themes and readers will enjoy the way the author allows the humanity and the struggles of the protagonist to shine through the writing. Ruth Hull Chatlien writes in captivating prose and creates a world that readers can relate to. It is one that most of us are familiar with. Relationships are impeccably written and readers will enjoy the family dynamics as the author builds the relationships between Katie and her parents and as she explores her emotional depth in the context of disturbing situations in which she finds herself. Characters like Joe and Marietta are written with ingenuity and I particularly enjoyed how the author handles the effect of Joe’s death on Marietta. Katie, Bar the Door: A Novel is the story of someone who struggles to be herself in a world that forces her to be like others; it is deftly accomplished with unusual expertise.

Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite

It was in the fall of 1985 that Laura’s woes began. She was only nine years old, the last child of loving parents who traveled. Laura always stayed at her cousin’s place whenever her parents went on their trips, but it soon became a nightmare. Her cousin’s dad, Uncle Max, returned from active duty with obscene intentions. He sexually assaulted Laura until everything about her felt useless and tainted. Who could she tell? Who would believe her? Laura bottled up the pain and took her anger out on teachers, academics, men, and everyone else. Then, out of the blue, the most irritating yet daring man showed up with enough love to attract the saints. Will Laura’s demons stand in the way of love? Find out in The Secrets We Conceal by S. R. Fabrico.

After some years in the medical profession, a few things still scare or horrify me. Child sexual molestation/assault and defilement, especially by family members, are some of the things that give me chills. I cannot imagine the powerlessness, panic, betrayal, and defeat felt by the victim. The Secrets We Conceal by S. R. Fabrico made my heart ache for Laura. She was a warrior! I cried every time Max hurt her and kept praying not to fail my children. Child molestation and sexual abuse often occur with the most trusted people. However, the victim doesn’t just forget. There are ripple effects that manifest even in adulthood. This book is an awakening to parents. We must endeavor to prioritize our kids, be approachable, pay more attention to them, and take every mood change seriously. Fabrico is a fantastic storyteller with a captivating writing style. I loved the dialog flow, character development, and plot. This book was very educative, and I hope to read Susie’s story. Great job!

Reviewed by Jose Cornelio for Readers' Favorite

The Essence of Nathan Biddle: A Novel by J. William Lewis is an engrossing coming-of-age story with an interesting protagonist. It has been a year since Nathan Biddle died, and life hasn’t been easy for young Kit Biddle, his cousin, who thinks the death was inconceivable in any sane world. Uncle Nat has committed a grave evil in the name of some omnipotent Being, a story similar to Abraham’s, only it is not justifiable. Kit thinks too much for his age and the question he can’t answer is this: “If an omnipotent being could stop an evil, what is the moral difference between ordering the evil and permitting it?” But neither the ocean nor his mind can provide answers to the questions that occupy his thoughts. He is a fretter, and when he gets something on his mind, he can’t let it go. In a thoughtless moment and after a huge disappointment, he steals a maintenance truck and drives on the highway, getting into an accident that will change his life in many ways and alter his sense of reality.

Philosophical, evocative in style, and intellectually exciting, The Essence of Nathan Biddle is a novel with strong existential themes. The young protagonist is depicted as a loner, someone who gets absorbed in his own thoughts. While at Bridgewater Academy, he feels awkward, staying away from groups and team sports, but he joins the track team because he likes to run and it is something he can do alone. His inner world is superbly written and the reader finds it easy to follow his thoughts, expressed in bursts of consciousness that are captivating. The transformation that happens in him after the accident as he heals is cathartic. J. William Lewis is a great storyteller and The Essence of Nathan Biddle is a classic with characters that are real and relatable. The relationships are intelligently written and readers will enjoy watching Kit as he grows through these relationships, with both boys and girls, and how his relationship with Anna pushes him to the brink of despair. The prose is exquisite, lyrical in style, and delightful. It is a compelling novel with strong philosophical themes and psychological depth; one of those books that are hard to put down.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

The Coven's Secret by Alicia Rades is a paranormal tale that will send shivers down your spine. After losing her parents, Nadine goes to live with her grandmother where she discovers she is, in fact, a witch. On her 19th birthday, her powers will awaken but first, she must learn about magic. Attending a magic academy, she meets a warlock called Lucas, an enigma she can't work out. But she can't spend all her time mooning over him; she has to pass the goddess's test or face being banished from the coven for life. Lucas is a Reaper's Apprentice; his job is to take the dead's last thoughts with him to the afterlife when he dies. Not a job he wanted and he can't seem to find a good side to it. Until Nadine appears in town. But he can't fall for her. A curse means that anyone who falls for a reaper will die and Lucas is destined to live a lonely life. Or is he? Can he and Nadine break the curse? Can they save each other?

The Coven's Secret by Alicia Rades is a thrilling tale told from two perspectives. Each chapter is written from either Nadine's or Lucas's perspective, giving you an insight into how the two main characters think. An intriguing tale, this story will put you firmly in mind of the Harry Potter series. A delightful story, if a little steamy in places, this book is packed with cool characters, all well developed, especially the main ones. Each has their own story to tell and those stories come out over the course of the book. One thing that stands out is how Alicia Rades dealt with the subject of Lupus, a medical condition that few really understand. She clearly researched it and provided plenty of details to help us see how the condition fits into the story. The story has a lot of action and plenty of twists - the ending will leave you wanting to read the next book straight away.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

An effective work of suspense fiction has the power to trap you in a nightmare in which formidable forces elude your comprehension and stand in your way with seemingly no escape. This is the kind of fate that Kaitlin Maverick faces in The Catalyst by Selin Senol-Akin. Less than two years ago after marrying Paul Maverick, Kaitlin left her life in Toronto to join him in Norway for his new job as a computer specialist for Statoil Petroleum. But adapting to small-town life in Stavanger proves boring for Kaitlin. As she tries to meet new people, she encounters the enigmatic Finn and his friends. This is the start of a secret that she will have to keep from Paul. Finn has a way of awakening Kaitlin’s deepest desires, and he uses her life of dullness to get into her life. As Kaitlin begins to sense something evil about Finn, she will have to muster up her courage to escape from their intense affair.

The Catalyst is a romantic suspense novel, but it has the unique trappings of a supernatural thriller, and Selin Senol-Akin places the storyline in a plausible world. The dialogues between Kaitlin and Finn can sometimes get a little cheeky, especially in contrast to her relationship with Paul, which has undertones of a serious domestic drama since they often bicker over trivial things brought about by her uneventful small-town life. One of the novel’s subtexts involves ways to make the most of living in a small town. Kaitlin manages to settle into the rhythms of Stavanger by getting out of her comfort zone and, based on that, her life takes a significant turn—for the worse. And this makes for a brilliant conflict against herself and others. This book is highly recommended if you want to read romantic suspense with an unexpected twist and a little supernatural element thrown into the mix.

Reviewed by Natalie Soine for Readers' Favorite

The Starlight Club is the 14th installment in Joe Corso’s incredible award-winning Starlight Club series. The story begins in Darien, Connecticut when Bobby tells his daughter Lynn of when he was part of Red Fortunato’s crew and frequented The Starlight Club. Bobby and his crew lived in Queens in 1961 when the city was governed by the Mafia. Red, Ziggy, and Trenchie had grown up together and became part of the local mobster family, protected by Red's uncle Yip. Red's father Rocco had been killed some years before by gangsters Enzo Batto and Willie Largi. What follows is an intriguing story of how Red, a man of honesty and integrity, came to be the owner of The Starlight Club, a medieval castle and gambling den that once belonged to the infamous Don Castillo.

The Starlight Club is a thoroughly enjoyable novel. Author Joe Corso is a fantastic writer with a vivid imagination and superb writing style – succinct and smooth-flowing. The interesting array of characters is all well-defined including the mobsters, criminals, and ordinary citizens, making them easy to relate to. All the locations and events are described in detail with attention-grabbing elements and features, such as The Starlight Club and Castillo’s castle. I especially enjoyed the way Joe Corso shows how the relationships between the various characters are developed and maintained over decades. The Starlight Club certainly is an entertaining story and a page-turner, highly recommended to all adults. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Reviewed by Hayley Haun for Readers' Favorite

The Art of Creating Story by William H. Coles is a writing help masterpiece. The massive work is loaded with priceless nuggets of literary knowledge. Get on your brain’s wetsuit and be ready to plunge into the invaluable treasures offered within. Coles leaves readers wanting for nothing. There are essays, sections on story and craft, interviews from countless authors, writing blog posts, and short stories that are great examples of literary work.

Every segment in The Art of Creating Story is useful and well thought out for those looking to improve in the literary writing scene. Coles has truly integrated his love for writing into these pages. His knowledge is awe-inspiring, and he transforms a self-help book for writers into a shining gem of his own design. No wonder he has more than several works under his belt, and for good reason too. William H. Coles is a writer through and through. He has talent.

To make a non-fiction book full of depth and life is a feat; there is so much to learn. Sometimes, it feels like it is the only writing book I’ll ever need. I am still trying to figure out what the cover of the book means. It is intriguing, to say the least, and perhaps it is what drew me to this book. A white rhino is rare (don’t quote me on that, because I may be wrong) and quite possibly, so is a true literary writer. But the great thing about life is you don’t have to go trampling through the wild to find one. All you need to do is pick up The Art of Creating Story, and you will be well on your way.

Reviewed by Barbara Harper for Readers' Favorite

The Near-Death Experience of Justin Parks by R.A. Williams is a story about a young man in his early twenties, who suffers the tragic and senseless loss of his fiancée, Kayla, on New Year’s Eve, one week before their wedding day. Justin then decides to take matters into his own hands by becoming a police officer with the intention of ridding society of criminals and preventing future harm. This decision also backfires as Justin ends up shooting an innocent man. He then blames God for the tragic events and misfortunes that seem to plague his life, and for three years he aimlessly drifts along feeling worthless, his mind clouded in darkness. Fortunately, Justin has the unconditional love and support of his mother, an uncle who offers him a job at his apartment complex, and his best and only friend Lance. One cold winter's day, a sullen and unfriendly Justin knocks on a tenant’s door to demand payment of outstanding rent. This culminates in an act of violence, and Justin lands up submerged in icy water, with a head injury. When he awakens almost a week later with his memory fuzzy, he is informed that he has a head injury and had been submerged in icy water for fifteen minutes without oxygen before being resuscitated. Later while resting in his hospital bed, Justin sees a bright light. Frightened, he dismisses the experience, believing it to be a result of his head injury. Then a chain of events occurs that leads Justin to new places and new faces. Has his near-death experience been a random event, and is his life the sum total of numerous coincidences? Or could this be Jesus’s way of showing Justin that God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform?

The Near-Death Experience of Justin Parks by R.A. Williams is an inspirational story. Justin thinks that his life is worthless as a loving God would have prevented all the pain and suffering that he has endured. I think that the author makes Justin relatable as I too have felt the heavy burden of misfortune and longed for God to reveal his presence, to light the way, and show me the path that I should follow. Justin is searching for answers and trying to find solutions instead of trusting and having faith in God. So, God uses drastic measures to grab Justin’s attention. One of those measures is allowing Justin to be hit on the head and have a near-death experience. When he wakes up, God continues to reveal Himself in what appears to be random events and situations. In the story, there is a recurring theme of three. The three years Justin suffers from depression, three individuals offer Justin unconditional love and support, and in the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, God is defined as being three distinct persons in one Godhead, namely God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit. After three years of walking in darkness, Justin has a near-death experience that illuminates his life. Readers who enjoy Christian fiction will enjoy reading this insightful and thought-provoking book.