Reviewed by Julia Schemmer for Readers' Favorite

Many agree that dogs are a man’s best friend. In Bubba the Bulldog Tries to Smile, author Bree Clausen illustrates the love an owner and a dog can have. Bubba, a bulldog with a lip too heavy to smile, will go through all kinds of adventures – from a sticky situation with tape to encountering the dreaded mop – to make his best friend Ryan smile again. After Ryan broke his leg, Bubba the Bulldog notices that he is not the same smiley, positive friend he once was. Therefore, Bubba the Bulldog will make it his personal goal to put a smile on his owner’s face. Does he succeed or not? You will have to find out. Don’t delay – pick up Bubba the Bulldog Tries to Smile today!

The love a dog has for his owner can transcend circumstances. In Bubba the Bulldog Tries to Smile, author and fellow dog lover Bree Clausen demonstrates this through the adorable, fun-loving Bubba the Bulldog. This story will make you laugh, smile, and leave you feeling satisfied. This is the kind of book that you will want to read to your children before bed. Overall, I was very pleased with the quality of artwork, the development of the story, and the purely sweet tone of the work. After I put it down, I had to give my lovable puppy a big ol’ hug! Dog lovers, children, and even the average Joe will get a smile out of this work.

Reviewed by Michelle Robertson for Readers' Favorite

"You Can’t Take the Dinosaur Home" is written by Mary Esparza-Vela. It is a uniquely written adventurous story created for children of the preschool age. The design and layout of this book is excellent and it is loaded with colorful illustrations for a child to enjoy and follow, whether the story is read to them or they are reading themselves. "You Can't Take the Dinosaur Home" tells of a threesome group of siblings on an adventure to find a new treasure, but when the youngest doesn't find any and the other siblings do, he becomes very emotional. He becomes sad, and mad, and begins to throw a temper tantrum. I loved the way this story was told as the youngest of most families would have the same reactions and emotions of the young character described in this story. While the older siblings are busy searching for more of their own treasures, the youngest slips away to find his own, innocently. Again, a typical move of a group of siblings: the eldest not paying attention while supposed to be watching the youngest because they are too much involved in their activity, and the youngest straying off to find their own excitement because the attention isn't on them.

"You Can't Take the Dinosaur Home" portrays the attitude and emotions of a young child. It is exactly how I would imagine them to be in the situation presented in the story. The characters themselves are aliens and the special treasure the youngest sibling finds is a dinosaur. What young child at one point or another hasn't played with, watched, or read about dinosaurs or aliens? Not many. The story is a perfect match for the 3-5 year old's mind and imagination. In addition, the characters in the story have been developed into award-winning plush dolls that are also available.

Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite

Moore Field School and the Mystery by Liam Moiser is the first book in a new series for middle grade students. It is reminiscent of the Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys series. Moore Field School, a private boarding school in England, run by a Miss Moore, has been forced to shut down and find a new location. Miss Moore serendipitously learned of another school building in a nearby town that was available. Because it was a bit further away from home for many of the students, Miss Moore decided to take all her students, including a number of new students, to a camp for a week. In the meantime, one of the former students disappeared. Police thought she had been kidnapped, possibly along with a teacher who also disappeared at the same time. However, once the police found out that teacher was using fake identification papers, and had a criminal record, he became the primary suspect in the kidnapping of young Laura.

Laura’s best friends, Samantha and Jessica, along with a few of their new friends, learned the kidnappers were actually after an old trophy they believed Miss Moore was hiding somewhere. The girls, and a few boys, decided to find the trophy themselves, so they could use it to ransom Laura. A few other girls had overheard Samantha and Jessica making plans, and decided to do the same. Unfortunately for them, both groups decided to look on the same night, and they ran into each other. Consequently Samantha decided to bring the others into her confidence, and they agreed to help. At the same time they were bumping into each other, the bad guys were sneaking into Miss Moore’s office through an unlocked window. As if that wasn't enough, out of nowhere three ghosts appeared!

Moore Field School and the Mystery is shaping up to be a captivating new series for middle grade students and older. Liam Moiser has virtually promised a sequel to this story, and I personally hope there will be many more sequels. Moore Field School seems like just the kind of place where a lot of “mysteries” could occur. Moiser’s talent for eschewing obfuscation while writing to that age group is ideally suited to capturing a faithful audience of young readers. This is a must read story!

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The She Wolf is a fantasy novella for young adult and preteen readers written by T.L. Needham. Ted Bredwell and his family have moved away from their house in the city to the outer suburbs. Ted's not too thrilled with the change, but his parents have explained it all to him. His dad had been out of work for a year, and they needed to sell their house. The builder of this new housing development had offered them this rental property at an affordable rate. Still, Ted misses the city and wonders about the farms and wilderness surrounding him. When we first meet him, it's a late summer evening and he and his little sister, Skye, are waiting for their parents to come home. They're late and both kids are hungry. Ted's on the front porch with his dog, Chase, when suddenly Chase is up and alert. They see a huge dog where the pasture lands meet the woods and hear a mournful howl, and Chase breaks free to pursue it. Ted's parents do finally arrive with all their possessions, but Chase doesn't return.

T.L. Needham's young adult and preteen coming of age fantasy, The She Wolf, is engaging and quite fun. Ted's adventures in the woods across from his house are marvelous, and the author's deft touch with nature writing makes each scene come alive. Coming of age stories are one of my favorite genres and The She Wolf did not disappoint my expectations. Ted conquers fears and risks parental displeasure and injury to find his missing dog. Along the way, he discovers an inner strength and resolve, and comes to appreciate and love the natural surroundings of this new home and its inhabitants. There's so much to The She Wolf: adventure, mystery, fantasy and football, and it's all beautifully put together. It's highly recommended.

Reviewed by Maria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Vaya Dauphin’s novel, The Turquoise Tattoo, is a mystical tale set in North Island, New Zealand. Scarlet Flint’s mother is dead and she is left by her absentee father in the care of her Aunt Sarah. The young woman is telepathic and before her departure from Australia to New Zealand, where her Aunt Sarah is opening a veterinary practice, she starts to be bothered by new images that keep appearing like turquoise tattoos on her skin. In her new school in Waihi College, she picks a fight with Manu James and meets Sterling, who tells her that she has special abilities given to her by her Maori ancestors. Scarlet thus discovers her elemental powers and learns the secrets of her past. In the process, she is caught in an ancient battle that for her is a matter of life and death.

The Turquoise Tattoo is a young adult coming of age fantasy that takes us from Australia to the Maoris of New Zealand. As we follow the adventures of unwilling elemental Scarlet Flint, we cannot help but empathize with her. Technically an orphan, she is ripped away from Australia and thrown into a new environment that is foreign to her. In the first few chapters of the novel, Vaya Dauphin has successfully set the stage for the next chapters in Scarlet’s life and, at the same time, intensifies the reader’s curiosity and excitement. What follows certainly does not disappoint - and the ending is something that one may not expect at all. Written with just the right pace and in crisp language, the plot of the story is as fluid as it is creative. This is a book that will keep you burning the midnight oil until the very end.

Reviewed by Bil Howard for Readers' Favorite

Being a faerie guardian has dominated Violet Fairdale’s thoughts and graduating from training at the top of her class is the most important part. All of that begins to fall apart the moment she lays eyes on the human, Nate, that for some reason has the ability to see her. Rachel Morgan unravels this intriguing tale of fantasy in The Faerie Guardian. Humans are not meant to be able to enter the world of the fae and the fact that Nate latched onto her and followed her through has threatened to end her run to finish at the top of her class. But once he kisses her and she begins to feel what’s like to have someone, finishing at the top begins to dim a little bit. Once she discovers that Nate is actually a Halfling, things begin to make more sense, but she has little time to ponder over it as a wicked faerie is trying to capture her and use her because of a special skill that she has. The same special skill can be used to help Nate find his faerie mother. Against her better judgment and ignoring the rules concerning guardians being underground, Violet sets in motion a series of events that begin to spin out of control. She suddenly finds herself facing a sinister plot that even her faerie magic and guardian training might not be able to handle.

Rachel Morgan has done an excellent job of luring the reader into the fantasy realms of Creepy Hollow in The Faerie Guardian. Drawing upon the deep emotions that motivate individuals to reach beyond themselves and to do things that are against the rules, Violet sets out on a dangerous path in pursuit of a deep love that she thinks will finally dispel her loneliness. The drive and tumult of her emotions are extremely realistic for a seventeen-year-old and the depth with which they are portrayed makes it impossible to put this book down. The action and intrigue keep the story moving and keep the pages turning. The exciting twists and mysterious turns make this a must-read. With plenty of magic to make it a fantasy and plenty of action to be a thriller, you won’t be able to put The Faerie Guardian down until you reach the very unexpected end.

Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

Fortunately, Melissa Eskue Ousley's Sign of the Throne is only Book One in the Solas Beir Trilogy because it's one of the books you don't want to put down, but you also don't want it to end. The story is all about Abby, a girl who didn't really think she was very special. When she dreams of a mysterious, handsome boy and then meets him in real life a few days later, things start to change in her life. She feels magically drawn to him and strange things start to happen. The couple she baby-sits for fortunately knows a few things about ghosts, spirits and other folklore, so they try to help Abby with making sense of what is happening around her. The boy, David, plays a more important role in the safety of the world - and an alternative world - than anybody could have imagined.

The characters Melissa Eskue Ousley created in Sign of the Throne are very well described and you immediately like or dislike them. I can see, however, how some readers might prefer either Jon or David over the other. It's a lovely story that shows how the decisions of individuals, even if it's just a little nixie, can make a difference for good or for bad. I definitely never got bored with the book and can recommend it to all people who love fantasy books that are page-turners. It has just the right mix of romance, action, tension and fantasy to make it a good read for all ages.

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

The Hunter Awakens (Book One of the Morus Chronicles) is written by J.R. Roper. Ethan Morus' grief for his deceased father deepens when his home is damaged in a storm, and his mother sends him and Destry, his sister, to stay on a farm with grandparents they have never met. Eccentric Grandpa talks about a legendary treasure hidden on the farm that their family has been seeking for centuries, and he and Ethan conduct nightly searches following clues. However, it is the neighbour Grandpa dislikes who guides Ethan when he battles poltergeists protecting an ancient burial chamber they discover. Can he be trusted, or was Grandpa right? Unknown to Ethan, there are monstrous sorcerers watching his movements, waiting for him to locate the treasure for them, including devious Uncle Nero.

In The Hunter Awakens, the story is nicely creative with a wonderful fantasy plot and setting. The author captures the expressive feelings of Ethan who is extremely protective of his spunky sister, but who doubts his own courage and strength when he encounters strange magical forces. J.R. Roper knows how to keep a reader in good suspense with an even distribution of action and compelling characters. It was not easy to detect the good characters from the bad ones because the author is adept in his writing and has an imaginative mind. He will take preteens on an exciting adventure in The Hunter Awakens, Book One of the Morus Chronicles series.

Reviewed by Patricia Reding for Readers' Favorite

I just completed one of the most engaging reads of recent months: Long Live the Suicide King by Aaron Michael Ritchey. It opens with 17-year-old JD, who is troubled by an event that transpired just days prior while with his friends and under the influence of drugs. JD decides to leave behind those friends and to go straight. But then, not wanting to face the difficulties of life or the knowledge that death will come to him one day anyway — and probably after a prolonged and painful disease as happened to his grandfather — JD decides he will either commit suicide or instigate an event so that someone will do the deed for him. All JD needs is a plan, time to dispose of his worldly possessions, and a note to leave behind. When others at school learn of his intentions, JD is dubbed “the Suicide King.” But then unexpected things begin to happen.

The beauty of JD’s story is that he discovers more about life and about himself with each passing day. He comes to appreciate that to commit suicide would be to take the life of someone he does not even know yet, someone still in the process of becoming who he will one day be, someone who will continue to change as time moves forward. When JD befriends an old woman and neighbor, Inga Blute, he discovers from one who has experienced extreme violence that every moment of life is one to guard and savor. With insight from friends - Marianne, the “model” Christian girl who has problems of her own, Cathy (nicknamed “1066”) who, though an outcast, is enormously talented and a big dreamer, and Ray, a former drug dealer who decides he can begin his own life anew - JD hovers between the darkness of despair and the light of a new life.

Aaron Michael Ritchey tells JD’s story with compassion and with a unique voice that shows itself most notably through JD’s sarcastic, humorous bent. Indeed, Ritchey’s voice is one this reader most certainly will want to read/hear again. When push comes to shove and JD thinks his life most surely is lost, he discovers all the things worth living for — and they are simple things, like “the way girls smell.” Long Live the Suicide King is an engaging, thought-provoking read, particularly worthy of the attention of anyone who has ever engaged in dark suicidal thoughts and/or of anyone who has ever encountered someone who has done so. Hard to put down, Long Live the Suicide King is thoroughly satisfying.

Reviewed by Cheryl Schopen for Readers' Favorite

Remnants of the Damned, the first book in the Abyssal Sanctuary series by Gavin Hetherington, takes place in a little eerie town called Lakefield View. Five friends and co-workers from Pandora Café are about to experience the worst 24 hours of their lives. It all starts when Tiffany’s sister is murdered right before their very eyes. Thinking that was the worst of it, Justin, Christina, Eric, Carmen, and Tiffany all go home and try to move on from the tragedy they just witnessed. Unfortunately, they each go through their own living nightmare. As they each struggle to survive and protect their loved ones, horrible secrets are revealed and puzzling mysteries get closer to being solved.

I will start by saying that Remnants of the Damned does not end with a nicely wrapped bow. There is pretty much no closure and readers are left with even more questions than answers. That being said, the huge cliffhanger had absolutely no negative effect on my feelings for this book; if anything, it made me even more intrigued and desperate to continue reading the series. New author Gavin Hetherington is such a fantastic storyteller. Throughout the book, we see things happen from different points of view. In each part of the book, more details emerge and readers get to see how these five friends are ultimately connected. Also, the plot was awesomely horrifying. There are some disgusting and disturbing scenes that will be ingrained in my brain for a very long time. It was unpredictable, completely memorable, and terrifying to the point where I had trouble sleeping, and I enjoyed it beyond words could describe. I will most definitely be keeping my eye on this author and the rest of this series.