Reviewed by Lynn Fowlston for Readers' Favorite

Anything dealing with the Civil War Era has always held an interest for me, whether books, movies or reenactments. Living close to an area where reenactments are carried out, I watch but really do not pay that much attention to the re-enactors. Once More into the Breach takes the reader inside the camp and introduces you to the people, history, and the experiences of reenacting. Written by an actual re-enactor, the book takes you through the daily routine. If you are going to play the part, then you need to act the part: that means no Rolex watches on your wrist, or cell phones hooked to your belt. If you think it would be fun and would like to be a re-enactor, then I advise you to read the book first and then see if you have what it takes. The author discusses issues such as: having a partner and putting safety first; setting up one's tents and keeping up-to-date items hidden; and the cost of and the actual playing the part during a reenactment.

As a spectator, nothing is more exciting than to watch history played out before your eyes as these men, women, and, yes, even children bring history alive. Why do they do it? It's a hobby; they love the history, and they dedicate their weekends to playing out the part. No matter the weather, the insects, the blazing sun and heat, they are there for your enjoyment. The next time you see a reenactment being held close to your town, drop by and visit these folks. Reading the book first would give you a lot better knowledge of what they are doing and why they are doing it.

Reviewed by Tammy G. for Readers' Favorite

The Big Picture is a deep read. The author, Dr. Beyr Reyes, Phd, has done a lot of research on biblical matters pertaining to the End Times. Most of this book is for the scholar who wants to debate the End Times. There is a lot of Scripture references to provide the reader with tools for looking up and deciding what the Big Picture may be for humans.

I don't disagree with the scripture references; however, I think that anyone can "use" God's Word as a tool to make their judgments instead of a "this is right because it's in the Bible" approach. As a Christian and as a reader I felt that this book has great information but might appeal to more readers if it were more on the "everyman's" reading level.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

Elisabeth did not use good manners. She never said "please" or "thank you" and she did not like to share. She and her mother planned a birthday party. They made invitations and sent them to all her friends. Each day Elisabeth checked the mail to see who was coming to her party. But there were no replies.

Her manners hurt friendships and kept people away. Her mother told her it was time to change. Elisabeth learned the magic words, "please" and "thank you." The next day at school Elisabeth remembered to say "please." Her classmates were surprised. They were shocked when they heard her say "thank you." Elisabeth found it was fun to share and to give to others. She asked her classmates to "please" come to her party.

While this book is written for children ages 4-8, I know several adults that could learn from this tale. The message is an important one. Sherrill S. Cannon presents it in a simple and easy to understand way. Children will like the rhythm of the words. They will love the illustrations which are bright colored and appealing. "Please," "thank you," sharing and all good manners are an important lesson that sometimes is lost in our society. I don't think manners should ever become obsolete.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

Stephanie Burkhart offers readers a suspense filled romance in The Count's Lair: Budapest Moon Book 2. The setting is Vienna Austria 1901. Lady Amelia Andrassys music touched the heart of her audience yet she felt empty inside. She was a widow with a broken heart; she discovered her husband's affair the day before the accident that took his life. I had been two months since she had seen Count Anton Varga. She was both happy to see him and infuriated. He explained that he wanted to give her time to mourn and he had some things he needed to consider. There was a strong spark between them. But could Amelia love a werewolf? Could he protect her of the danger that lay ahead?

The Count's Lair is filled with suspense, mystery, passion, and the paranormal. This story is set in the beautiful city of Budapest; the author brings her knowledge of the area to her plot. She describes the history and culture of Budapest. She is a strong but has a wounded heart. Anton was a delightful character: I could picture him as handsome, strong integrity but with a secret. Anton fears his secret will cause Amelia to run. Georg and Esme were gypsies that Anton allows to live with him. Esme was also a witch. Marcus was the ultimate bad werewolf. The description of the battle left me breathless. I was cheering for Anton. However, for me the best scene was the last one when Anton gives Amelia her choice. He held her with an open hand.

Reviewed by Anne Boiling for Readers' Favorite

Spin The Plate is a book that sheds light on child abuse. I found myself wondering which parts were true. Our protagonist is Jo; she was abused repeatedly by her father.

Jo dressed in bib overalls, kept her hair short, and bulked up to over 220 pounds. Jo was strong and fit but she wore clothing that made her look obese. She was a very talented tattoo artist.

Francis knew the moment he saw her that she was the woman from his vision. He had dreamed about a warrior with rust colored stripes on her face. He was riding a bus when he witnessed a man saying something rude to a female passenger. The passenger had jumped up like a warrior and the man scurried toward the door. Yes she was a warrior.

Spin the Plate is a heart wrenching and heartwarming story. The reader watches as Jo is transformed from an angry, terrified woman to a woman able to love and be loved. Reading about Jo's abuse angered me. She was constantly taking in strays, probably because she saw herself in them abused and abandoned. She and Francis were the odd couple and yet they worked well together. Francis was orphaned at a young age and raised by his two aunts. He was a Christian unafraid to carry a Bible in his back pocket or to ask God to guide him in reaching out to Jo. Both characters blossomed when together.

The plot was well developed and edgy. The author successfully shows the long term affect of child abuse. There is strong Christian overtones in this book. I enjoyed Spin the Plate and did not want it to end.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

The Clones believe the Megasphere is an "ark" surrounded by water. If they try to leave, the water will flood the Megasphere drowning the residents. The Clones were created to do their assigned duties and not think for themselves. However, a few of the Clones were beginning to develop an imagination. They wondered what a tree would look like, or a flower. One engineer Clone found a small snake and hid it in his cubicle. Things began to change. A mouse, a parrot, or an elephant, the DNA was all stored there. It was forbidden to clone any animal or plant.

One Clone was sent to detainment, a dreaded place where no one ever returned. He discovered a world unlike he ever imagined: sunshine, grass, dogs, trees, a corridor with a yellow strip and a metal box with four wheels on the bottom and a wheel inside. Suddenly he wanted to share it with everyone.

The government denied the existence of the Clones and would destroy them rather than allow citizens to discover the deception.

In the author's words: "Clones, created and deserted by a corporation, form their own society. But as the facility housing them erodes, they begin to suspect that there's more to the world than they've been led to believe."

I hope I have piqued your interest without giving too much away. A few weeks ago I was at a book fair in the beautiful city of Little Rock, Arkansas. I wandered from author to author talking to each one, glancing through their books. One book kept jumping out at me: The Clones of Langston. The cover alone piqued my interest, but having the opportunity to discuss the book with the smiling author, Carol Fullerton-Samsel, made me more eager to read this book. I was thrilled when a few days later the book appeared on my desk for review.

As I mentioned the cover is wonderfully illustrated. I find it impossible to describe it and do justice to it: a blueish face that looks almost clear, obviously female and a hand holding test tubes. The print is a nice size on paper that is heavy enough to hold up and not so white that it glares. This book is 380 pages and I could have read another 380 pages without complaining. I did not want this book to end. I became so caught up in the plot and characters that I felt I was participating in the rescue. The characters are exquisitely developed. Camryn is a strong female lead. Dobie is a brilliant clone secretly in love with Camryn. Brian is not what he first appears. I loved the characters Freeman and Professor. I wasn't sure if I wanted Camryn's romantic interest to be Mark or Dobie.

I believe this is the first book in a new series. The plot moves along at a swift pace and builds to a crescendo ending. This book was written for Junior High youth but will also please adults. Carol, how long must I wait for Book II? Please hurry.

Reviewed by Dr. Robert Rose for Readers' Favorite

From The ZEN GAME title I thought this book would be about the power of meditation and the values of Buddh's Eight Fold Path. However, the subtitle is more accurate; it is "How to Win at the Game of Life Without Selling Your Soul."

Nancy Pristine states her goal is not about "winning," but on learning from experience. She also emphasizes that you shouldn't allow others to take advantage of you nor should you treat others badly.

Nancy's examples, anecdotes, and stories do a great job of informing us of the things we should be doing to make all our lives more civil, sane, and ethical. Her book deserves an audience.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

This story begins in a tea room at a museum. The people listened closely as he told the story of the Starwatchers and Boann. Theirs was a simple society. They were concerned because foreigners were moving in. their Pikes would be useless against the weapons the warriors brought with them. Cian left the village to live with the warriors against the elders wishes. Boann was just learning the secrets of her people. The Invaders as they called themselves were on a mission to find resources. They had no respect for the simple people of Boyne.

I immensely enjoyed Bending The Boyne. I was so caught up in the story that I actually did a little research on the Battle of The Boyne. The story is well told. I found myself wondering how much was based on fact. Boann was my favorite character. The plot flows smoothly and told more than a bit of history. History buffs will enjoy Bending The Boyle. Well done.

Reviewed by Bernadette Acocella for Readers' Favorite

Why the heck isn't this book a bestseller? Al Lewis doesn't believe that the government should continue doing things that don't work simply because that's the way things have always been done. Lewis has written a smart, hilarious book that says exactly this, and includes ideas from his blog about how to improve the economy. His use of the term "Methadone economy" to describe an economy which is dependent on government spending to increase growth is one of the unique ways he helps readers understand his "out of the box" ideas. Tired of solutions to our economic woes that involve stimulus checks and government subsidies, Lewis has twelve suggestions that might just change the way Americans do business and handle their money. Topics like tax refunds, mortgages, gasoline, and healthcare are what you might expect to find in an economics book, but not the way Lewis discusses them. Nor would you ever guess what he has to say about the penny. Such ideas are creative, clever, and worth some serious investigation by our lawmakers.

This is one of the only books I have ever read that was both laugh out loud funny and extremely thought-provoking. Even if you are like me and have absolutely no background in economics, you will still understand and enjoy this book. I found myself completely engrossed in it and wondering what would come next. Lewis will draw you in with his hilarious introduction, and then surprise you with his thoughtful, logical suggestions for encouraging economic growth. His humorous way of boiling down complex ideas into words I could actually understand made me laugh and seriously ask why these common sense suggestions have not been implemented. His writing is clear and thankfully you won't find a lot of jargon that might normally dissuade the average reader from a book about economics. Included at the end of each chapter are responses from Lewis to positive and negative comments that bloggers posted about each of the ideas he outlines, another helpful aspect of the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is curious about economics, open to new ideas, or just likes to laugh.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

The Many Colors of Friendship by Rita Kaye Vetsch is a delightful book. It tells the story of Katherine, a first grade student. There was a new student in her class whose name was Luis. She wanted to talk to him; but she didn't know how to talk to someone so different, so she ignored him. That night Katherine had a vivid dream. She was in a bright colored jungle. A snake called Sanjay pulled her out of quicksand with his tail. Sanjay didn't look like any other snake Katherine had ever seen. He was brightly colored and friendly. Along her journey she met other creatures, all brightly colored and very different from any she'd ever seen before. The panda, toucan, and sloth taught Katherine a lesson: We should never be afraid of someone just because they look different. People come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. The next day Katherine and Luis became friends.

We live in a diverse society. Too often we are afraid of what we do not understand. We are afraid of different. The Many Colors of Friendship will be an excellent tool for opening the dialogue between parents and children.

The story is written in simple terms making it easy for children to understand. The illustrations bring the text to life; they are brightly colored and eye-catching. I love this book and the message it proclaims. This book will make an excellent book for children in Kindergarten through third grade. I can hardly wait to share this book with my grandson.