Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

Jeffrey Recker's The Humiliation Tour is a riveting, sensational coming-of-age tale that follows the hilarious failures of two talented runners separated by time and connected by blood. Billy Ball, who is a celebrity high school cross-country runner, is a failure magnet. His long list of failures includes being dropped on his head by his father after his birth in a recliner, being stuck in the friend zone, leaving a school pep rally in handcuffs, and losing his pants in a public event. Jimmy Flynn, another gifted runner, is no stranger to failure himself. Running away from a fight, botching a robbery, and becoming a subject of ridicule in Wilmerding are only a few of his many misfortunes. Fortunately for the humiliated runners, one of them will get a final chance to redeem their family glory on the grand terrains of Boston. Does another failure lie in the paths of our fast, unrelenting protagonists?

The Humiliation Tour takes off on the right track and maintains an engaging pace and string of incidents that alternates between two main perspectives. I seriously enjoyed Jeffrey's brilliant use of similes and his poetic description of events. The sheer absurdity of some incidents and characters is sure to get you laughing out loud—such as a runner who starts reading books on how to run faster but ends up not running and reading for nine months. Despite its humorous nature, the book includes a thought-provoking portrayal of various themes: bureaucracy, court cases, substance abuse, gambling, dating, policing, pornography, growing up, and more. Running enthusiasts, athletes, and fans of funny coming-of-age stories will love The Humiliation Tour. Just when you think it can't get more hilarious, it does.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Last Football Player is a work of fiction in the science fiction, sports fiction, and interpersonal drama subgenres. It is intended for the young adult reading audience and was penned by author John Blossom. In this inventive and immersive work filled with great sci-fi concepts and plenty of action, we meet our protagonist, Dude McPherson, who was a star athlete until his father’s tech developments threatened to put a stop to the game he loves. As this near-future novel explores the dangers of over-protectiveness and over-reliance on technology, Dude and his friends take to the lab to examine the spirit of football and find a balance between traditional sport and the possibilities of technology that lie ahead.

Author John Blossom puts a new, original spin on sports fiction in this exciting teen adventure novel, and I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like these concepts before. Whether it’s the sporting side or the science fiction elements that appeal to you in this tale, the merging of the two brings an accomplished sense of balance to the storyline, and it’s interesting to see traditional and modern issues clash, both on the field and in the laboratory. Dude is a suitable hero for the piece as a star player, but he’s not alone, and I was impressed with the diverse range of other characters who take part in the action and the time and care that the author takes to ensure they are fully developed as real people you can root for. Overall, I’d definitely recommend The Last Football Player to fans of engaging sports fiction with clever concepts and great character development.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Death and Resurrection of Baseball: Echoes From A Distant Past is a work of fiction in the sports and futuristic fiction subgenres. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author William R Douglas. We find ourselves in the year 2166, the not-too-distant future, but in a world far from our current recognition. A divisive America has suffered a deadly and severely bloody Second Civil War, which has resulted in many casualties, both in terms of people and in terms of culture. One such relic is the sport of baseball, now lost to history, until a discovery by a young boy that will spark echoes of a long-past time, and perhaps light a brighter path for the country’s future.

Author William R Douglas uses the camaraderie, tradition, excitement, and enthusiasm around the sport of baseball to create an excellent metaphor in this novel, which seeks to heal a broken and divided country. One of the things I especially enjoyed about the work was its dialogue and narrative quality, which is evocative of a very different future world, but also harks back in the right places to nostalgic moments and the parlance of days gone by. Connecting the past and this imagining of the future gives readers insight into the major problems of the present world, whilst also delivering a classic story with suspense, action, intrigue, and, perhaps most importantly, hope. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend The Death and Resurrection of Baseball to fans of fascinating fiction everywhere.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Nosferatu Conspiracy: Book Two, The Sommelier is a work of fiction in the horror, action, and supernatural subgenres, and was penned by author Brian James Gage. The work is intended for the mature adult reading audience owing to the presence of graphic violence and explicit combat situations throughout and it follows on from the first book in the series, The Sleepwalker. In this gory alternate history filled with secret pacts and dangerous new figures, the author explores the ‘real’ reasons for the onset of the First World War by introducing us to the murderous and bloodthirsty Elizabeth Báthory, whose immortality tempts Kaiser Wilhelm to ally with her as he seeks to conquer the world.

After really enjoying the exploits of Rasputin in the first book, I was fascinated to see this series move into new territory with the First World War, and even more excited by the presence of Elizabeth Báthory as such a central figure to the narrative. Chilling and terrifying in equal measure, author Brian James Gage creates the kind of intelligent and convincing historical horror novel that makes you feel like the history you know really is a lie, and this is the terrifying truth that will keep you awake at night. The plot is clever and never feels contrived to ‘fit’ with known history, such is the intricacy of the research and structure involved. The dialogue too is a standout feature, giving all the trademarks of classic, sinister horror and wartime action, without ever becoming laughable or clichéd. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend The Nosferatu Conspiracy: Book Two, The Sommelier for fans of espionage fiction, war stories, supernatural tales, and horror. This novel delivers it all, and then some: a truly unmissable read.

Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite

The Ominous Trail is an action-packed and suspenseful story by J.C. Fields. Former FBI agent Sean Kruger starts a defense contractor firm with his friends following his retirement. Diamonds worth a hundred and fifty million dollars are stolen from The Field Museum. The insurance company hires Sean to investigate the theft before any payments to the insured will be considered. With no leads available, Sean approaches his friend JR for help with the investigation. It is soon clear that there is more behind the theft than the selling value of the diamonds. Sean and JR cross paths with Hunter Holden, a psychopath who wants to become as rich as possible. Hunter won't let anyone stand in his way to get what he wants.

The Ominous Trail is suspenseful, thrilling, and entertaining. It kept me on the edge of my seat, turning the pages as fast as I could. J.C. Fields keeps you guessing with all the unexpected twists and turns, and the story kept surprising me until the end. With thrills and action waiting around every corner, this rollercoaster ride was fast-paced and unpredictable. The characters are authentic, well-developed, and carefully thought out, and they work well together. The characters' backgrounds provide a deeper understanding of their actions. The story is brilliantly written, and the tone is natural and realistic, with the writing so vivid and descriptive that I got lost in the investigation. The ending was fitting and a surprise.

Reviewed by Bernadette Longu for Readers' Favorite

In The Cottage on Winter Moss by Allie Cresswell, the characters belong to the Forrester and the Winter families. The story starts around the year 1906 and finally ends in 2020 with the third generation of the family. Each character has their own special place in the story and they pop up from time to time and reveal a little more about these two families and their ups and downs through life. The author has used a Silver Birch, which is found in the middle of the Moss, as a place where various members of the families meet. It is called the Trysting Tree and plays a pivotal part in both the good and the bad that happens as the story unfolds.

In The Cottage on Winter Moss by Allie Cresswell, the reader’s attention is caught from the very first paragraph and is held until the last line in the book. The descriptions of the surrounding area somewhere in Cumbria are so skillfully interwoven into the lives of the main characters. The image on the cover of the book sets the scene for this tale. What a beautiful and enticing written book! Although on the long side, once the reader starts, they will not be able to put it down until the very last page is read and the final twist in the tale is revealed. This is the type of book that would make a lovely talking point in a book club, but it also will make the reader remember someone who had a similar life, experience, and family. I found this to be an exciting read and could not wait to get back to it after I had done my work for the day. It is well worth a second read. Thank you, Allie, for taking me into a world far, far away and giving me the courage to take life by the horns and get on with it. An excellent book.

Reviewed by Anelynde Smit for Readers' Favorite

The Key to Kells by Kevin O’Connor is an exciting read. We follow Key Murphy, an almost police officer, who gets visions of an old Irish monk who fought against the Vikings and saved a treasure. The valuable object is a book, the Book of Kells. Highly decorative, this was a rare object. Some of its pages that were torn out were clues to the location of a great treasure that is said would unite all of Ireland. The visions seem to run in the Murphy family bloodline, a genetic mutation that allows them to see through the eyes of others in the Murphy clan line. Mack Murphy was the most recent to find the treasure and hide cryptic clues to its location. They follow the clues and try to find the treasure but they are not the only ones. Padraig Collins is also after the treasure and the book, his motives being something entirely different and he will use any method to get what he wants. Along with Arin Murphy, a Jamaican professor, and Buck, a long-term friend and colleague, Key tries his best to avoid being killed and find the long-lost treasure. Will Key find the treasure before Padraig? Could the treasure be the Holy Grail?

The Key to Kells by Kevin O’Connor was an action-packed read for me. I loved the character of Key and his visions. I loved how all the Murphy clan got these visions and it wasn’t just him. It made for an interesting story idea. A genetic mutation was something I didn’t expect to see and it was a good twist. I adored the character of Buck too, the ever-present big brother figure that only had Key’s best interests at heart. Some shocking twists and turns waited for me and I loved every second of it. The action sequences were delightfully detailed as well, and the fighting and the treasure hunting were fun to read. Padraig was your not-so-typical bad guy, which made him interesting. Each character in this book played an important role. I found myself loving each character in their own unique way. I highly recommend this book; it was a joy to read. Absolutely a good read.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

When news of their deadbeat dad is delivered by their dying mother who had left them to their own devices for years, Charly and her brother Jacob have an unexpected change in their financial circumstances. In The Excursion by T.O. Paine, Charly is handed the paperwork to a trust fund and the keys to a Colorado cabin where memories of the good outweigh a lifetime of the bad. Charly invites their two cousins, Amanda and Cam, who used to join Charly, Jacob, and their parents while they stayed at the cabin in their youth. Amanda is wildly manipulative and Cam has sadistic tendencies, perpetrating cruelties that terrified the neurodivergent Jacob and continue to haunt him as an adult. On arrival, there is confusion about the ownership of the cabin. A man named Randall, who says his company is the owner, is there to entertain a wealthy client named Barry on a mysterious excursion worse than any of the horrors that Charly and Jacob have experienced even in the worst of times.

The Excursion is a deliciously grim thriller with all the best components necessary to hook a reader and keep them almost obsessively engaged. From a literary standpoint, T.O. Paine is pitch-perfect with prose that reveals only enough to satiate readers on a need-to-know basis, employing a slow unpeeling of what's to come with skilled pacing and organic dialogue. I loved the variants incorporated into Charly's experiences through her point of view in the present, alongside the excursion organizer, Randall. This contrasts with her view of her past and a game her father once organized at the cabin. The nuanced theme of how we cannot escape our past and that life has a way of coming full circle whispers through a plot that is thick with tension. Even the perpetually drunk Kennedy and the paying hunter Barry remind Charly of her parents. The hunts by Zaroff Excursions are only nominally different from the years Charly was forced to survive, reinforced when Randall himself says to Kennedy, “It's hostile outside.” There are some excellent surprises, including a MacGyver transformation from the least expected in a cast of fully-fleshed-out characters. This is a fantastic read that, despite its colossal size, can be devoured in a single weekend.

Reviewed by Bernadette Longu for Readers' Favorite

In The Spectacular Life of Benito Martin del Canto by David Towner, it is clear the author has studied the work of the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. He then wrote a story about a boy who becomes a man and has the most amazing adventures, both good and bad. The story starts in the year 1952 but in between the reader is transported to the year 2022 or thereabouts into the life of Peter Michaels and his daughter Taryn. Other characters include Principal Kelly, Spanish teacher Alice Loureiro, and Professor Daylet Dominguez, to name a few.

The book catches the reader's interest from the start and with wonderful words and scenes and the most unusual tales, the reader is taken from page to page, meeting the most extraordinary people who make up the life of Benito Martin del Canto. Each tale as it unfolds is more extraordinary and keeps the reader’s attention to carry on to the next one. The author holds the reader riveted from the opening paragraph to the very last line of the book. The twists and turns in the story will make readers envious of the writer who has such a vivid imagination. Readers will long to have the same or similar adventures as the people they meet.

This book piqued my imagination which is why I wanted to read it. It gives hope to aspiring writers with its beautifully written tall tale of adventure. What a delight to read and how inspiring. This was a fun and interesting book and the author knew just when to end so that it leaves a very interesting message. Thank you for an intriguing read and for giving us an insight into the writings and mind of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Anyone who reads widely will know of his most famous book Don Quixote which was translated into English and made into several movies. If I am not mistaken there is an opera as well.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

My Year at the Good Bean Café by EA Luetkemeyer is a work of literary fiction that teases its readers with its synchronicities and coincidences. When Adrian Lomachenko decides to quit the well-paying high life of his financial career in San Francisco and settle down to write in the quaint, quiet, artistic community of Jacksonville, Oregon, his primary task is to come up with a suitable idea for his first novel. As a man who has been the subject of unlikely and inexplicable events in his personal life, he determines that he will write one short story every month of the coming year that deals with the unusual and mysterious events that happen in people’s lives. Using interviews with the many local characters in the region as his inspiration and his muse called Miranda, he sets about putting together this literary work. Basing himself at the local eatery, the Good Bean Café, Adrian will find himself drawn into a tangled web of stories that somehow seem inextricably linked one to the other.

Although My Year at the Good Bean Café is essentially a collection of short stories, due to their coincidences and synchronicities, readers will make correlations that give the work a solidity as a whole that one wouldn’t normally find in a collection. Author EA Luetkemeyer employs several techniques to make one feel a part of Adrian Lomachenko’s exploration of the human condition. His personalizing of the reader is not something I’ve come across before but, as a literary device, it does draw the reader in and make the stories seem like a fireside chat with the characters. Although some of the tales may seem beyond inexplicable and more in the realm of fantasy, the author has an innate ability to convince you that even if these events didn’t happen, the characters themselves are convinced they did occur. As with any collection, there will be personal favorites amongst the twelve tales and, for me, my favorite narrative was November’s Ten Thousand Hours in Shadowland which examines the idea that great talent is sometimes nurtured outside the earthly realms of time and space, before being again released into the world. I found this premise fascinating. All the stories are great though and readers will find themselves chuckling and nodding at some of the mystifying synchronicities that appear. I loved this read and can highly recommend it.