Reviewed by Anne Billings for Readers' Favorite

When a discussion on the origin of the earth comes up most people will have one of these two opinions. There are those who will take the side of science; they believe in the big bang theory and evolution. The other popular belief is that God created heaven, earth and all living things in 6 days and rested on the 7th day. Daniel Friedmann combines parts of the two theories. Friedmann does not attempt to discredit either theory but focuses on how they complement each other. Friendmann takes a look at creation from a unique, logical, and sensible approach.

I enjoyed reading "The Genesis One Code". The book of Genesis has always fascinated me. I truly believe that the foundation for the Christian faith can be found in Genesis. Currently I am teaching a Jr. High Sunday School Class. When I realized they had little Biblical foundation to build on I decided to change my teaching strategy and assist them in a study of Genesis. "The Genesis One Code" and its invaluable information came in at just the right time. I have also visited the Creation Museum in Petersberg, Kentucky, several times. While the museum and Friedmann do not completely agree with each other there are many points where they do agree. "The Genesis One Code" is well-researched. Author Daniel Friedmann has well-documented his sources. His writing style is fine and easy to understand. Mr. Friedmann uses a mathematical formula to “marry” the scientific and the creationist theories. This is a book that needs to be studied as it is being read. It also needs to be pondered on. There will always be those who are unwilling to compromise on their opinion of how heaven, earth and all living things were created. However, Daniel Friedmann offers a rational and reasonable theory. I highly recommend "The Genesis One Code".

Reviewed by Alice DiNizo for Readers' Favorite

The year was 1944 and twenty year old Rudolph Meier was a Nazi POW working in local cotton fields while he was held at Camp Papago Park near Phoenix, Arizona. He was serving as a radio operator on a German submarine stationed near the eastern coast of the United States. After it was bombed the survivors were taken captive. Rudolph, or Rudi, still believes in Adolph Hitler and the Third Reich of Germany; he was convinced that Hitler had put food on the Germans' tables, given them work, and made life better for them than it was under the Wiemar Republic and the injustice it brought Germany from the Treaty of Versailles. Rudi was a twelve year old boy when he became a willing member of the Hitler Youth, despite the unspoken caution of his grandparents with whom he lived. He even had a swastika tattooed on his right arm. As a POW, Rudi met Bob Feller and his mother and sickly father Vern who owned the cotton farm where he worked. Rudi was adamant in his beliefs that America is a country of mixed races with a foolish love of individual freedom. Then, he got to know the Fellers, who were Jewish, and watched the American guards at Papago Park. Will Rudolph Meier rethink his hardened beliefs and the intolerance of other people and their cultures?

"The Swastika Tattoo" by Geraldine Birch is a brilliant, extremely well-written book that demonstrates how a young German POW, indoctrinated by his school teachers and leaders came to question the intolerance of other people and cultures. The characters and dialogue are fine. Rudolph, Bob Feller and his mother, Ruth, Rudi's friends, his grandfather and grandmother and all the other characters are all believable and highly relevant in the story. The plot proceeds realistically to the story's end. The author's glossary of German words and their meaning is a terrific asset to readers. The essay questions help reinforce the message behind this book. This book is a potential classic, for it portrays the world so accurately.

Reviewed by Brenda Casto for Readers' Favorite

This was a different kind of book, now when I say different I mean it in a very good way! There were so many things that made the story a standout read. I don't think I have ever read a story where a man and a dog had such an interesting relationship. The author also shares tidbits of information about Houston that flowed easily within the story, which allowed me to learn a bit about the city. As an animal lover I fell in love with Dudley, and loved that he was an adopted shelter dog. His funny antics, such as driving a truck, shredding a sofa, or the way he acted around the neighbor E.D. were just hilarious!

Cary Robinson also known as Careless lives alone in the Big Rock Lofts in Houston, Texas. An unusual character to say the least, he enjoys iced coffee, with a shot of Jack. He has a way with women--not--but that doesn't stop him from trying. He thinks he is happy living alone, but his friend Birk decides that Careless needs to adopt a dog, and that's when the fun begins. Careless adopts a big hound dog named Dudley from the SPCA and the two become inseparable. The antics of Careless and Dudley are often funny, that is until they are asked to help solve a mystery involving a country western singer. It will take Dudley's nose to figure out the mystery!

The author weaves a tale wagging read, full of interesting characters that literally jump off the page. Careless was such a funny character, but he also had a few serious moments. I loved the relationship that sorta developed with the new neighbor E.D. The names that she called Careless was priceless. Birk was a larger than life "redneck" who loved zooming around in his Cowboy Cadillac, and I have to mention Sarge, such an oddball character that fit into the story perfectly.

I thought the mystery, which actually only encompassed the last third of the book, was very well done, and the ending left me hoping that this might be the first in a long line of books featuring Dudley, Careless and the gang. Anyone who enjoys a very well written story, where one of the primary characters is a dog will fall in love with this book, but if you enjoy a fast paced plot, wacky, but lovable characters, along with interesting glimpses of Houston then you're going to want to read this one as well!

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

"The Arcane Awakening" by Riggo/Crippen is a comic book with graphics to be envied. While this book will appeal to adults young and old, the readers should be aware that like most novels of this type, it has it's share of graphic violence. The story is loosely based on Genesis 6:2, 4. The plot focuses on God sending his Angels to mate with humans and Lucifer sending his demons to do the same. The mating produced Nephilim, half humans with supernatural powers. After many generations the power became diluted. However, Lucifer is back in full force and the "Arcane Warriors are needed to lead God's ministry to humanity's final conflict." Satan's warriors are fighting among themselves for the right of leadership. The battles are bloody and fatal. The Arcane Warriors are Shroud, Paragon and Mojo and their leader is Stigmata. "Their ministry is to bring peace to earth, through compassion and faith."

The shock value of the violence and language will catch the attention of and appeal to this genre's intended audience. The illustrations are beautifully done, I am amazed at the talent of the artist. Overall this comic is well done and will certainly appeal to those interested in the 'no holds barred" graphic novel genre.

Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Ironic, hilarious and informative are three words that immediately came to my mind when I started reading this book. Seraph Contingency is proof of the rich and edgy imagination of its author Jennifer Fales. Truly, who can write a novel with characters like the seraph, the wicked duchess, the violet haired vixen, a witch, an amazing little boy, and many others? The names of these very colorful characters are Anael, Gaap, Deumos, Thomas, Dabber, Anael, Jezebel and Teivel. There's also Ereshkigal, one of the former rulers of hell and Pete, a backsliding saint who now runs a hip bar in purgatory. The story starts when a bored angel escaped from heaven and ended up in, of all places, a dive bar in Purgatory. Meanwhile, a duchess with a not so beautiful past staged an abduction because she wants to have a more interesting wardrobe. A transporter demon then has to be called in and we get to meet a colorful cast of characters whose personalities defy imagination. In short, reading this book is really just like going on a roller coaster ride on an imagination that has seemingly gone completely wild.

The novel may seem like a product of a wild imagination but there is a lot of humor, science, and magic in it too. It climaxed in what is claimed to be the wildest party ever staged in Hell. There is an allusion to the Greek and Sumerian underworld mythology. There is also a healthy dose of jokes on scientific and mathematical principles that will probably give Jennifer Fales the reputation of being the wackiest novelist in town. Behind this story, however, is a social commentary on what is going on in our world today. And the author tells it by using irony, which certainly proved to be a very effective tool. She surprised me with all the humorous coincidences of contradictions in her story. I also have the feeling that many of the words she used in telling her story are meant to give the opposite of their meanings. And there is also a lot of contradictions between what the characters in the novel knows, and what I think as a reader. Lastly, there is irony in that the ending is completely different as to what I was expecting. Ms. Fales tied her story together with irony, and this kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time I read the Seraph Contingency.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

“The Last Supper Catering Company” by Michaelene McElroy is a book with a different flavor. This is the first novel by the author. I certainly hope it will not be her last. I have nothing to compare the plot to; it is unique, imaginative and wonderfully developed. In "The Last Supper Catering Company" we meet an original character, B. Thankful Childe Lucknow. To say her life was simple would be somewhat misleading. From the day of her birth B. Thankful was different. B. Thankful was in fact the epitome of innocence. Her mother died before she was born. Little G pulled her granddaughter out of the womb and willed her to live. B. Thankful had unruly red hair and eyes of two different colors. But the most unusual thing about her was her ability to hear whispers of the departed. B Thankful had a happy childhood although somewhat isolated. She was rejected by the town’s people but was loved and nurtured in her home in the woods by her grandmother Little G and her father. B. Thankful allows readers to travel with her as she comes to discover why God blessed her with a special gift and his plan for her life. B. is sweet, kind, loving and caring. She doesn’t judge others and has an air of innocence about her. But don’t be fooled; she is highly intelligent. During her journey we will meet many characters often with a quirk or two and the reader will come to love each one.

It is difficult to believe this is Michaelene McElroy’s debut novel. Her talent outshines some of the most experienced authors of her time. Her writing style is the use of prose that floats off the page. She illustrates emotion through her words. In this book the reader will experience joy and sadness often, just a few words separating the two. As I savored this tale I found myself smiling, giggling, laughing out loud and in the next paragraph sobbing for the pain B. was facing. My mere words cannot possibly do this book justice. I highly recommend this book. Get your copy today.

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Readers' Favorite

Mary McDonough began playing the part of Erin Walton on the TV program "The Waltons" when she was just ten years old. She shares her memories and experiences from that period of her life in her novel "Lessons From The Mountains". It also explores the real Mary McDonough who is not only an actor, but a dancer, singer, speaker, and an activist for women’s health.

Mary faced many issues in her life, including the baggage that came with being a child actor. She held in her feelings, but thanks to a suggestion by fellow actor John Ritter, she began journaling which allowed her to release her pent up emotions.

After "The Waltons" was canceled Mary had to rediscover herself. “Whether I wanted to be or not, I was off of the mountain...Little did I know the road would be filled with boulders, potholes, and even a little quicksand.” Mary's health began to decline but it took years for her to receive a diagnosis of Lupus.

Mary McDonough writes from the heart and it is that raw emotion that pulls the reader along with her on the extraordinary journey of her life. Although much of this book is focused on "The Waltons" years for which she is best known, I found her later years very gripping as she searched for a diagnosis and her self identity. McDonough is a very talented woman. It is amazing how this quiet introspective woman has found her voice in the role of an advocate for women's health, especially for those with Lupus.

Reviewed by Darin Godby for Readers' Favorite

Michael Whitworth in his book "The Epic of God" does a beautiful job of weaving together the story of creation and other biblical stories that transports the reader to a different time. The story flows smoothly and with a richness of depth into biblical meanings. It appears that nearly all of the major points found in Genesis are covered and given enriching thought and meaning.

The author also includes talking points at the end of each chapter, which I found very rewarding and beneficial. I appreciate how the author speaks of his own personal life and experiences. He allows me as the reader to relate to him on a personal level.

Covering the Book of Genesis the author helps me to see how my life can be valuable by learning from those in the past and looking forward to my future while enjoying my present. Preparing my life for eternity is the closing point of the book and a great way to allow me to look within my life for spiritual direction. "The Epic of God" is an excellent guide through the Book of Genesis.

Reviewed by Ty Mall for Readers' Favorite

"The 4-1-1 on Surviving Teenhood" by Michele Sfakianos is a book to equip parents and teens between thirteen and nineteen by giving suggestions about how to deal with issues and conflicts that come up. After describing her motivation for writing the book, the author mentions the different emotional and physical changes teens go through, proper nutrition habits and calorie intake, sleep disorders, peer groups, computer use, and so on. This book also discusses styles of parenting, drug abuse, suicide risk and prevention, dating, and pregnancy. The conclusion ties together the concepts about relationships that are mentioned throughout the text. There is a sample contract for cell phone use at the end of this book, along with a list of websites and organizations for more information.

I enjoyed this book. Teens in today’s society face more problems than their parents and grandparents did, and this author has addressed many topics that reflect her understanding of that fact. The symptom and warning sign lists play a large part in this book. I was surprised by how thorough the discussions about computer safety, teens running away, and parenting styles are. The most important part of this book, in my opinion, is the message that communication between parents and teens is essential. The suggestions about “teachable moments” made a lot of sense to me. I also appreciated that the author said both teens and parents should read her book. This author did a great job of informing readers of facts, statistics, and studies without making it boring. Very well done.

Reviewed by Ty Mall for Readers' Favorite

"The Silver Sphere" by Michael Dadich is about six teens sent from the Earth to a place called Azimuth after members of the Aulic Assembly disappear. Only these members can work the Silver Sphere. The Sphere pinpoints the location of an evil being called Biskara, whose sons threaten an entire civilization. Each teen is mentally connected to one operator of the Silver Sphere, and inherits some of their operator’s abilities. With the help of the native military, some renegade knights, the mysterious Fugues, and others, the teens set out to rescue the Assembly members and foil the plans of Biskara’s son Malefic. Along the way, these teenagers find that there might be more that connects them to this strange new land than the portal that transported them there.

I liked how the author assembled each member of the group, while keeping some away for a while. Some words slow things down from time to time, but not enough to be a major impact. This book has intrigue, betrayal, suspense, and a lot more. I appreciated seeing the threads of the plot tied together, after they started so far apart. Certain interactions between characters were predictable while some others were a complete surprise. The characters’ backgrounds were worked out well throughout the story, and appear to have influenced their actions in ways that made sense. The illustrations of some of the creatures in the book helped a lot. The best part by far was that this author made me care about his characters. "The Silver Sphere" is a very enjoyable book.