Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

Deb Preston documents her heart-warming and humorous journey to motherhood in Learning on the Fly and Laughing Till I Cry: A Journal of Mothering My Daughter From Ages One to Seven. The journal captures the highs and lows of motherhood and everything in between. It includes many moments of introspection and learning. The work shows the beauty within the mundane. It involves many beautiful events experienced in Preston's and her daughter's everyday lives, including funny conversations, warm hugs and cuddles, and enlightening instants when both mother and daughter learn from each other. The diary is comforting too and aptly captures the challenges and rewards of parenting. In between entries, hilarious snippets of amusing observations or experiences shared are included, which further enliven the journal.

I loved that the incidents captured often resulted in profound faith-based messages that expound biblical lessons and show how they apply in daily life. I also appreciated the work’s honesty in its depiction of motherhood. Mothers will relate to Deb Preston’s struggles and share in both mother and daughter’s wonderful, joyous moments. I enjoyed their lovely, close bond and loved the amusing observations and conversations included. Since the work is organized in a day-to-day format, it will offer aspiring mothers a candid look into what motherhood and parenting involve. While demanding and trying, the book shows that motherhood can be a wonderful, fulfilling journey. Told through the lens of a mother and her daughter, Learning on the Fly and Laughing Till I Cry is a must-read for any mother looking for a light-hearted, relatable, and uplifting read.

Reviewed by Demetria Head for Readers' Favorite

Tackling the Taboo by Terica Turner invites you on a transformative journey, delving into the depths of navigating life with mental illness from a unique perspective. This profound and eye-opening book unveils the author's personal and spiritual encounters with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges, further challenging prevailing myths and misconceptions surrounding these issues. With unwavering honesty, the author demolishes the notion that Christians are immune to such struggles, emphasizing that mental health concerns do not reflect a lack of faith or spiritual devotion. From developing a suicide safety plan to engaging in open dialogues with loved ones, the author provides tangible guidance to nurture resilience and foster healing. With each turn of the page, readers are equipped with the essential knowledge and skills needed to embrace life's complexities and flourish despite the shadows that may loom.

This book is a beacon of light, shining brightly with practical tools and resources to aid in coping with mental health challenges. Tackling the Taboo is a testament to Turner’s courage and vulnerability, as she fearlessly bares her soul, inviting readers into her world of triumphs and tribulations. It's an intimate connection that resonates deeply, creating an empathetic bond between the author and her readers. The book's seamless and engaging narrative style offers a riveting reading experience, effortlessly weaving personal anecdotes, biblical teachings, and therapeutic recommendations into a tapestry of enlightenment. As you delve into its pages, you'll discover the profound impact this book can have on your own journey. It's a transformative guide that empowers, educates, and uplifts.

Reviewed by Stephanie Chapman for Readers' Favorite

Kerry Evelyn’s Love on the Brain features Jane Porter Allen and Ryan Engstrom as they deal with grief, hope, and prayer for Noah’s survival. Jane was still grieving over the loss of her husband Casey to cancer. Now her son Noah has a brain tumor. The failure to perform a biopsy had Ryan advising Jane to bring Noah to Austin. As a pediatric neurosurgeon, he could remove the tumor. Staying at Ryan’s home opened the door for Ryan and Jane to take their friendship further. However, guilt over betraying Casey’s memory made Jane feel conflicted about how she felt. Noah and Jane returned to Maine to wait six weeks before an elite team could perform the delicate surgery. Ryan was faced with a difficult decision. If the procedure was not successful, would Jane see him as a failure and end their complicated relationship? If Noah died, would she blame him?

Kerry Evelyn’s portrayal of faith in God, grief, recovery, and hope in Love on the Brain is full of suspense. I kept holding my breath when Noah had to wait for answers. It brought tears to my eyes when Noah asked, “If you can't fix my head, I'm going to go to heaven to be with Daddy, right?” A five-year-old child facing a life-or-death situation would break anyone’s heart. Jane had videos of Casey that she played at least four times a day, explaining why she was stuck in the past. The perspectives of Ryan and Jane transition effortlessly. The family support for Noah was endearing, and the prayers relayed the emotions felt in the hospital. The theme of processing grief by having faith in God’s timing is present throughout. The supporting characters added to the plot and brought to light the vulnerabilities of Ryan and Jane. Love on the Brain will appeal to Christian readers who enjoy emotional romances full of hope.

Reviewed by Delene Vrey for Readers' Favorite

Ophelia Day is practicing her mayoral debate speech when she meets Chase Bondurant – the owner of Bondurant Construction. For Ophelia, winning the election will be the pinnacle of her career in Goodwater Ranch, a small city in Texas. Over the past ten years, she has built a life for herself that she never thought she would achieve. The Goodwater women's shelter is her passion, giving down-and-out women opportunities for a new beginning and a meaningful life. Chase settled in Goodwater Ranch, successfully building his construction business. When he meets Ophelia, he has no idea of the drama he is about to be drawn into. He is caught off guard by Ophelia and the past that has caught up with her on the eve of the election. Will Chase run away, or will he allow Ophelia to help him deal with his personal issues while he protects her in her time of need? The Marine: A Goodwater Ranch Suspense Romance by Amanda Lewis is the third in the Goodwater Ranch series.

The Marine by Amanda Lewis is a romance with Christian themes. It is refreshing to read any romance in which the characters have self-restraint and values, and they can sit and converse and deal with trust issues before acting on their mutual attraction. This book series shows that it is possible to write emotionally charged stories without compromising values and beliefs to make them sell. Lewis has written a suspenseful story that reflects growth in the characters, emotionally and spiritually, without any Bible bashing. She interweaves belief and faith in Christ into the plot so that it feels natural and right. May we see more of these stories that reflect the values that Christians live by and want to read about.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

The Flowers of Penruddock: A Romance Collection from Ronnda Eileen Henry is a collection of seven substantial novellas that all focus on the mythical land of Penruddock, which Henry has created and expanded on over time. The novellas all take place over different periods of Penruddock’s history; a history, it seems, that is measured by before and after the rule of Good King Adelard. King Adelard was the last king to rule over a unified and united Penruddock. Upon his death, the island nation was divided up into six kingdoms, each to be ruled by one of his six sons. The story of Good King Adelard and what led to his decision to split his kingdom is told in the fourth novella, Hyacinth: Love Royal and True, and is in itself fascinating. Each of the seven novellas is named after the lead female character in the story, also being the name of a flower. So, we have Poppy, Rose, Violet, Hyacinth and more. As a bonus, at the end is a story written by the author titled Cousins One and All, a Jane Austen fan fiction story.

I loved this wonderful collection of simple love stories. There is nothing pretentious about Ronnda Eileen Henry’s writing and in The Flowers of Penruddock: A Romance Collection, she gives us simple, sweet and uplifting love stories about real characters. I particularly liked that age, occupation and social status had no bearing in the characters’ choices of who they fell in love with. Many of the stories are centred around nobility and royalty, where “love matches” are often the last consideration when arranging a marriage. More important are improving one’s status or adding a title to one’s family name. Henry’s characters rise above these material issues and true love is found, pursued and defended stoutly. Because all the stories revolve around the land of Penruddock, albeit at different times in history, I always felt an affinity with the location of each new story. This is a long collection of stories, but one that can be delved into and read at one’s leisure. Each story stands alone and I can highly recommend this to anyone who loves, good, clean, but exciting romantic adventure. My favourite stories? Marigold: Love in Two Acts, closely followed by Peony: Forged in Love, but truth be told, I enjoyed them all immensely.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

It is said that to err is human and to forgive is divine, and how this might play out is a foundational element of the Christian romance novel The Rock at the Bottom by Cynthia Hilston. But forgiveness of who? Your biological father? Yourself? Stephen starts his life under a cloud of hatred, his father's contempt for him further complicated by a penchant for drinking. Stephen tries his best to craft a place for himself in an imagination that thrives against a backdrop of abuse. He is a wordsmith, a writer, and proving his worth is a powerful driver. Once old enough to leave home, Stephen moves out with his childhood friend and marries the tenacious Anna “Julie”. Stephen's success and his life with Julie, along with those of two others, are abruptly interrupted when Stephen dredges up his father's own issues from within himself. Stephen is haunted by his mistakes but whether or not he can overcome his own worst enemy, himself, will determine the rest of his life, both lived and eternal.

I love a good redemption story and my goodness author Cynthia Hilston is able to serve it up in The Rock at the Bottom. The analogy of the title shows up unexpectedly as Stephen's story progresses, and the nuance of Hilston having one word or phrase narrated and a reader discovering it is the sign of a gifted writer. She does this a few times and it is fantastic. I admit that I did not read books one or two in the Lorna and Tristan series, Lorna Versus Laura and Rocks and Flowers in a Box, but it didn't impact the readability of book three. That said, I was clueless about how the story of a guy named Stephen tied into a series with a different name, but Hilston unveils the connection in a beautiful, metaphysical reveal. Readers should be warned that Stephen goes through a dark period where he is deeply troubled and, frankly, becomes a character so flawed that he morphs into one that is genuinely unlikeable. This is the moment we start to witness God's grace and mercy and, yet again, where Hilston proves the divinity of forgiveness that comes. I'm human and struggled with Stephen...but God is patient and loving, and readers who stay the course will see how amazing this can be, no matter how far we fall.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Birds in the Black Water by Kodie Van Dusen is a supernatural tale that is as suspenseful and intriguing as it is introspective. This is the story of Neviah. Ever since she was a child, she has been able to see a dark world known as the Other Side, where shadowy figures dwell and are ever vigilant. It is a place of many things, but forgiveness is not one of them. She uses this access to build a thriving counseling practice, but deep-seated guilt continues to haunt her after a professional decision 10 years before resulted in a client named Martha being placed in protective custody. Now a young boy comes to her, introducing himself as Martha’s son. This allows Neviah to rectify her error. This proves to be challenging because the shadowy figures are on the move, and they are bent on destroying Neviah by getting to her loved ones.

Most of the action in this supernatural tale is related by way of conversations. The protagonist is a professional counselor and talking to people is an essential part of her job. This gives you a low-key feeling at the beginning, and then it jolts you into awareness as you move along with the plot. I am personally fascinated by the idea of the Other Side. As Kodie Van Dusen wrote this tale after losing a loved one, this may well be her figurative interpretation of the human psyche where feelings and thoughts come to dwell during times of loss, grief, and confusion. This is what makes Birds in the Black Water a brilliant psychological and supernatural tale that you don’t find every day. It’s a powerful story about loss, guilt, and renewal. This story strongly establishes these themes with its readers because we’ve all been there at some point. It’s a sure-fire must-read.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Welcome to the Silent Zone: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller by Csák Viktor is a supernatural dystopian novel that revolves around four main characters seven years after the Breakdown, marked by the fall of humanity to zombie-like creatures known as ferals. Siblings named David and Megan flee an outpost of survivors. Pregnant, Megan neither trusts the motivation of those who have provided sanctuary nor is she willing to live forever in that single place. At a pivotal moment, they are saved from ferals by the unlikely alliance of Cassius and Abigail, whose near familial relationship remains intact despite the heavy personal loss on both sides. Megan has a secret in her belly, and possibly in her entire being, that can change the survival game radically...but first, they really do have to survive, and when ferals choose who they are going to hunt they will not stop until they've caught their prey.

Welcome to the Silent Zone by Csák Viktor offers a slightly different angle to the post-apocalyptic 'virus turns people into killing machines—who turn other people into killing machines' genre, choosing to refurbish the wheel rather than reinvent it. The writing is clean and Viktor is skilled in action scenes that keep the pace at full speed ahead. Once I got to the desirability of Megan and her baby, it did strike me as uncomfortably similar to the hook of a wildly famous video game, but in a novel format, it was fun to be immersed in the world and get to know the characters. Abigail is the most likeable and her youth gives us hope for the future. I think what I like most about her is a naivete that is refreshing in her innocence, like her only having her second drink ever in the middle of the book, and her overlooking of a document that is, in boldface font, literally called the NEW WORLD MANIFESTO, as if it's unlikely to be anything important. I laughed because that's something my own kid would do. Overall, this is a polished novel with a great, action-packed plot and a standout in the genre. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Dawn of AI is a work of fiction in the science fiction, dystopia adventure, and thriller subgenres, and forms the opening novel of the Paper War series. Penned by author Ryan LeKodak, the work is best suited to the general adult reading audience. In this chilling futuristic work filled with grim technologies, near-future catastrophes, and dark disasters, we are introduced to the tragedy of Mayday. In this AI-run transportation nightmare that causes millions to die worldwide, conspiracy rears its ugly head. Was it all just a simple accident, or is there a sinister subplot resulting in deliberate slaughter across the globe?

Author Ryan LeKodak has crafted a thrilling and deeply suspenseful science fiction novel with a lot of food for thought. The story plays out across different elements to cover this global disaster from many different angles, all of which ultimately weave into the central debate about the dangers of letting our lives be totally ruled by AI systems that we may have created but have no true guarantee of ever fully controlling. As these debates become a more and more popular theme for novels, it’s refreshing to see a talented author like LeKodak take the trope into the dystopian disaster novel niche and deliver an action-packed tale that gives just as many blockbuster thrills as it does intelligent technological questions. The plot and its themes are the primary focus, but in the ensemble cast of characters caught in the crossfire, each one has good solid development and moments to shine. Overall, I would certainly recommend The Dawn of AI to enthusiasts of intricately penned and exciting science fiction everywhere.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

In Painter of the Damned: Painted Souls Book 2, Rob Samborn presents a devilish story of mystery and deceit when Nick and Julia O’Connor try to return home at the end of what was supposed to be an idyllic vacation. But returning home won’t be easy. They are arrested as a result of a skirmish and inappropriate behavior that involved Interpol -- as if the couple had committed an international crime. They try to explain to their interrogating officer what appear to be serious accusations: the police kidnapping Julia and a museum director killing a countess. It occurred to Nick that they have no shred of evidence to support their claims. Salvatore Della Porta, head of the Ancient Order of the Seventh Sun and murderer of Countess Baldessari, wants something from Nick. He believes that Nick is the key to finding an ancient book that could either change the world or destroy the Order.

Gripping. This is one word that comes to mind about this second installment. Rob Samborn can give Dan Brown a run for his money. He weaves a story in a web of psychological intrigue that takes his readers on a roller coaster ride with an ancient order, a framed couple, and a Renaissance painting with an eerie secret. But it doesn’t stop there. Samborn has eloquent prose that gives a level of sophistication to a story with a broad mass appeal. Painter of the Damned is an exciting novel and immensely stylish in the way the plot makes a twist before concluding. Adding color to this thriller is an assortment of interesting characters that contribute to raising the stakes that Nick and Julia are up against. This is a story of survival and ultimately finding peace. If you are into enigmatic thrillers, this book will leave you wanting more.