Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

Rim-Fyre and the Stones of Time by Mitzy Tait-Zeller tells the story of Serena and her gallant horse Rim-Fyre. A strange thing happens during Serena and Rim-Fyre’s usual ride, where a brilliant flash of white light surrounds them as if Rim-Fyre has stumbled upon a hidden place. She later finds out that they are standing in a circle of ancient stones. To her surprise, they have journeyed back through time and going home seems impossible.

Mitzy Tait-Zeller has written a beautiful tale. I was so immersed in the story that I had to slow myself down so as not to finish the novel too quickly. Tait-Zeller has a wonderful and absolutely engaging prose, which is also supported by vivid portrayals of the surroundings. In the end, I finished Rim-Fyre and the Stones of Time in two sittings. Rim-Fyre is definitely a proud and stubborn horse, but Serena really has the ability to control the mighty animal. I admired her patience and assertiveness when dealing with Rim-Fyre.

I really love the fact that time travel plays a major role in the story line. The entire novel is a journey of love and soul-searching. As I kept reading this mesmerizing tale, I couldn't help but sink into my own feelings of nostalgia, when Serena and Rim-Fyre are transported back into the 19th century. This is a must read novel and I’m more than happy to recommend it to my fellow readers.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

I just finished reading The Battle of The Grandmas by Anthonette Klinkerman. I absolutely adore this book! The premise of the story is one little girl with three sets of grandparents all vying for her love and attention. As so often happens, the little girl is wiser than the adults. They shower her with gifts of clothes, toys, and trinkets until her home is overflowing with stuff. She doesn't want clothing; she doesn't want toys; and she doesn't want trinkets. The little girl wants her grandparents to spend time with her, to take her to the park, to read to her, to show and tell her they love her.

We live in a world of blended families. Rarely do children have only 2 sets of grandparents the way we older folks did when we were growing up. This can cause a sense of competition between grandparents, which can result in spoiled kids and hard feelings. I am the grandmother of twelve precious grandchildren. Yes, we are a blended family. They all crave and love one-on-one time. Children need to know that, no matter at what age they came into a grandparent's life, they are loved. Sometimes you receive the precious gift of a child as a newborn and sometimes it is as a half grown or fully grown child; it doesn’t matter because they are all precious.

Anthonette Klinkerman is a talented and wise author. The illustrations are whimsical as is the rhyming text. I loved the beginning:
“There once was a little girl who couldn’t live in a shoe;
She had so many relatives she didn’t know what to do…"

Reviewed by Patricia Day for Readers' Favorite

Across the River by Elaine Russell, is powerful reading. It is the harrowing tale of a family’s escape from the horrors of the Vietnam war.
At the time, Nou is a child. It is her family's story. Freedom is when the Americans leave the country. All they can do is escape across the river Mekong, into Laos and to a refugee camp. If that fails, they are dead. Reaching Laos is their only hope. The story is told through the eyes of little Nou, or Laura as she chooses to be known much later, of her parents and family members. You become embroiled in the nightmarish battle for survival. Nou’s brothers are lost along the way, as are more family members. The journey to Laos is laced with tragedy, and what follows is equally heart-wrenching. She grows up confused and scarred. Born into an Asian farming culture, she has to adapt to Western civilization. Along the way and to avoid derision, she changes her name. She no longer wants to be identified as an alien in America.

When her father discovers what she has done, traditional methods are used to rid her of the spirits of disrespect and dishonor. She has disgraced her family and must pay the price. Her struggles, and those of her parents, hold the reader captive as they encounter one obstacle after another. It is hard to put the book down. Nou’s daily challenges became my own. I felt her pain as she strove to change and become another person – to fit in with the culture around her. It is not a sad read – tragic, yes, but enthralling. Nou takes you along on her frantic journey to escape the country of her birth, and into the world of refugees and eventual freedom to a new country.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

On the Hole by Jeff Bacot tells the story of Jay ‘Skew’ Hewitt, a vice president of a production and music distribution company, and Nick Landers, a tax attorney. They are both regular golfers at the Regina Buck & Duck Hunt Country Club. After eighteen holes, the friendship between the two men is explored; suddenly, it is not just about golf anymore. It is about life.

If I were to pick one word to describe this novel, it would probably be “genius”. Golf is not my favorite sport, but this novel might just changed my mind about it. On the Hole is an engaging story about the game between two men. Jeff Bacot has written some of the best complete characters that I have read so far. But the greatest thing about the story is that it is not just about golf, but thought-provoking things such as relationships, love, friends, family, and even oneself. It is fiction but it is definitely has a lot of heart. And to categorize On the Hole in one genre seems inappropriate because it has adventure, romance, tear-jerking moments and of course, humor as well. All in all, Jeff Bacot gives everything in this book for readers to enjoy. You don’t have to be a golfer or even love golf for that matter to read the story – this is not just for the guys as my fellow female readers will enjoy reading it as well. A highly recommended book for a fun, relaxing read.

Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite

The Sect: The Windgate, Book 1 of The School of Minsitry Series by Braxton A. Cosby is a tantalizing tale of the ongoing battle of Good versus Evil in the supernatural realm. Three men are essentially kidnapped and brought to the School of Ministry, where they are informed that each of them has important spiritual gifts of great value to The Way, a secret society of Christian warriors, and they will be trained as a team to fight demons and evil spirits. The three are each put through excruciating training, where they are developed physically, mentally, and spiritually. They are taught to trust and be trustworthy. They are taught to respond quickly and correctly to any situation without wasting even a split second to “think” about their response. They are faced with all seemingly unacceptable choices, from which they must choose the most correct one immediately, before the choice is taken out of their hands. They struggle most of all with learning to trust each other, rely on each other, and know what each other is capable of and likely to do in a crucial fight.

The School of Ministry is not a religious “beat-them-over-the-head-with-the-Bible” kind of story. There is a great deal of praying, reliance on the Holy Spirit, and facing down demons and other evil spirits, but at no time does Braxton Cosby attempt to convince the reader to follow any particular religious sect or dogma. Indeed, I know of no such sect as the one featured in this engrossing tale. Cosby presents a fictional account of a very real ongoing battle, which takes place outside the normal reach of human senses. He presents this battle in a way that is tantalizing, as I noted above; I can think of no better word to describe this tale, not even by using my thesaurus.

The team of three new recruits faces many trials and tribulations, individually as well as together. The spiritual gifts they possess are extraordinarily helpful and effective as they work together toward common goals. Ultimately, they are sent to protect “the Windgate” from an extremely wicked man and a host of demons which he controls. The Windgate is a portal from Heaven to Earth through which the Holy Spirit travels; if the Windgate is destroyed, the Holy Spirit will cease to be a factor in the war of Good versus Evil. Consequently, the team’s mission is as critical as any mission could conceivably be. This story is fascinating, and will be appreciated by virtually all who read it. I highly recommend this engaging adventure.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

In Charity Kountz's book Jason, Lizzy and the Snowman Village, Jason and Lizzy are homesick for their friends and life in Chicago. Their family recently moved to Texas and they want something of their old life back; so they wished upon a star for snow. The next morning the ground was covered with a thick blanket of beautiful white snow. While playing in the snow, Jason and Lizzy wandered away from their home and into a special place where snowmen are alive; it is a place where Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus live along with Jack Frost, Morty the Snowman, Jonah the Penguin,and Gary the Turkey. Jason and Lizzy accept a special task that could save Christmas for all the girls and boys of the world.

I love this story. Jason, Lizzy and the Snowman Village is a delightful read for preschool and early elementary students. Author Charity Kountz offers readers a delightful tale that will be enjoyed by children for years to come. The pace is brisk, the plot is imaginative, and the characters are endearing. It is very difficult to write children’s books because the author must write on the audience’s level, which in this case is between the ages of 2 and 8. The author has successfully written a book that will entice younger children and elementary children. Many adults will also enjoy reading this book. I suspect this book will become a Christmas tradition in many families. The theme of forgiveness is perfect for the Christmas season. Jason, Lizzy and the Snowman Village is a breath of fresh air in the genre of children’s literature.

Reviewed by Maria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Based on a true story, Eaten by the Tiger by Emile Allen, M.D. is about a doctor who survives a near-death experience while saving a patient’s life. Through his transformative journey of self-discovery, Allen had to face the fear of the unknown, which he calls “the tiger”.

Eaten by the Tiger is an inspirational book that can help anyone rebuild their life. For example, in the hospital, a patient is provided with the medical treatment needed in order to survive; however, helping the patient regain their emotional life balance is often ignored. This book provides the missing piece in the healing process. Emile Allen shares his moving story without exaggeration, yet all the while illuminating us in so many ways. He divides the book into four parts: Part I: Awareness, Part II: Clear the Path, Part III: Gratitude, and Part IV: Moments of Reflection.

Written with honesty and insight, the author's life story unabashedly shows us his shattered pieces and how he manages to put them together. Even though this process apparently is not easy, the path Allen took allowed him to reach higher levels of awareness, which was a very rewarding experience. There is so much to learn in this life, and this book shows us some of life’s most valuable lessons. Readers will absolutely find gold in this book that they will treasure forever. Eaten by the Tiger opens another door for us to look at life from a different perspective.

Reviewed by Kristie Ingerto for Readers' Favorite

The Ten Commandments: Ancient Words - Timeless Truth by J. Rodman Williams is an in-depth look at the Ten Commandments that will deepen one’s understanding of these timeless laws. The text from the Bible containing the Ten Commandments is shared at the beginning of the book. Following this is an introduction and discussion about how this text has historically been a unifying force among religions. The Ten Commandments represent moral laws that are accepted in all religions. Each Commandment is discussed and analyzed. At the end of each chapter, there is an empty page included for the reader to write personal notes and meditations.

This is a fantastic read. Because it is not geared specifically to one particular religion, this is a book that anyone from any religious background could pick up, read, and enjoy, as well as deepen their knowledge of the Ten Commandments. This is not a book to rush through as a quick, easy read; this is a book that you will want to take your time over. There is a lot to absorb and think about in order to really experience some spiritual growth in your life. I love that there are blank pages included at the end of each chapter as this is a book that will really encourage deep thinking and further discussions with others in your religious circle.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

The Romanian Connection by Richard Roche is a work of fiction that reads like non-fiction. I had to check more than once to make sure the author had correctly listed this book. The prologue hints at the intrigue that lies ahead. The setting is 1995; Jack Hollingsworth had questions and was determined to find the answers. His wife was found dead with a blood alcohol level of 0.24, three times the legal limit. Cynthia would drink a glass of wine on holidays but that was all. She was found in five feet of extremely cold water; that alone was enough to kill her. The more he searched for answers the more questions he found. Who was the extremely ugly man she was seen with right before the accident? Jack discovered she had written a manuscript that exposed corruption in the Romanian government.

Jack had spent many years in Romania and he suspected his wife’s death was connected to Romania. The CIA has a problem; one of their operatives spotted what he thought was a nuclear warhead and five long range missiles. They felt Jack was the best man to send to Romania to investigate; this could be the opening Jack needed to find out the truth behind his wife’s death.

I was quickly drawn into this tale. I walked alongside Jack Hollingsworth as he searched for information concerning his wife’s death. His search led to extreme danger and the death of his daughter, keeping me on the edge of my seat. The Romanian Connection is a stunning work filled with intrigue, romance, and danger. There are twists and turns to keep readers turning the pages. The plot has great potential; however this book needs more editing.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Supernatural Hero and the Witches is a young adult and preteen supernatural fantasy written by Eran Gadot, illustrated by Salit Krac, and translated by Gilah Kahn-Hoffman. Andy's a nerd who also happens to see ghosts. He sees them everywhere, but the one who matters the most is his grandfather. He's really more like a friend in many ways, and is one of the few people Andy feels he can discuss just about everything with. Andy's new and very popular girlfriend, Zoe, has a problem that she doesn't want to hear about. Her mother's been transformed into a witch, and she's made an evil-smelling soup for Zoe and Andy to eat. Zoe gets angry if Andy brings the subject up, but her mother's blank white eyes are proof. Andy and Tom, his best friend who's even geekier than Andy, must find a way to free Zoe's mom from her possession.

Eran Gadot's young adult and preteen supernatural fantasy, Supernatural Hero and the Witches, is zany, exciting, action-packed and heartwarming all at once. It's also a marvelous coming of age story about an ordinary yet very special kid who's got his feet in two different worlds. I loved Salit Krac's illustrations and found myself looking forward to the drawings that began many of the chapters. They fitted perfectly and enhanced the mood and spirit of the story. Sometimes Gadot's writing hits a higher realm; one where I had to stop, reread, and simply think about a paragraph or scene, as I had to with the passage in chapter 26, when Andy is talking with Victor, his imaginary friend, and Andy has what "feels like a holy moment" when Victor tells him about the Land of Imaginary Friends. But it's one of many magical moments in a story that is often transcendent and, at times, sublime.

This is the second book in the Andy, the Supernatural Hero series. You don't have to read the first book to enjoy this one, but you'll probably find, as I did, that you won't want to miss out on reading the first one either and will be looking forward to the third in the series. Supernatural Hero and the Witches is most highly recommended.