Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

Political intrigue, espionage, and sabotage are aspects of the deadly game that brings together the US intelligence community, a New Orleans Mafia don, exceptional code breakers, and MI6 in a deadly conflict and race in Nazi Saboteurs on the Bayou by Steven Burgauer. The Nazis have conceived a deadly plot to sabotage the production of the Eureka steel-ramped landing crafts built by Higgins Industries. They have discovered a notebook with maps and codes, and they are determined to accomplish their task, taking down anyone who stands in the way. Who will succeed in outwitting or stopping them?

Nazi Saboteurs on the Bayou is a captivating novel that combines history with fiction to offer a delightful reading experience to readers who love well-crafted historical novels. The story features well-imagined and excellently developed characters, a great historical setting with powerful references to World War II. The cast of characters with their specific interests is thorough and it creates the kind of conflict and tension that propel the story forward.

Steven Burgauer seems to have studied the climate of the Second World War intensely because of the verifiable facts that come across in the compelling narrative and, although this is a work of fiction, the reader feels transported into the atmosphere of the war and gets to experience some of its horrors. The writing is perfect and the cultural elements are captured in conversations featuring different languages, something that adds credibility and strength to the narrative and to the dialogues. This is an enjoyable read for fans of historical novels with compelling characters.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Behind the Door: A Sizzling, Psychological Suspense - Hidden Motives Book 1 by A. Gavazzoni is a complicated story, but in a really good and intriguing way. I was unable to put this book down, mainly because I didn’t want to put it down, it was so good. The story follows Simone; she is a psychiatrist by profession and a compassionate person by nature. She is the perfect person for the job. Her clientele are men and women who have issues with sex (think kinky sex, but more) and she enjoys her work.

Her life takes a serious and more profound turn when a defense attorney named Carl offers her a job. She needs to help him prove that his client, Mark, is innocent. Mark is accused of killing a woman named Lara and Carl needs Simone’s help to prove that Mark is innocent. Carl provided her with a diary in which Mark wrote every single detail about his affair with Lara. Now it is Simone’s job to prove if he is the killer or not. To make matters worse, there is a killer on the loose who is murdering women. Can Mark be that person? Or is he innocent? Stuck in a moral and professional loop, it is up to Simone to find the truth through words written by Mark in his diary!

The story was fast paced, intense, and very well written. The characters were very strong; even the characters that appeared in just a few scenes were very well-thought out. The narrative is fragmented and the reader is taken into Mark's world via his diary. This not only adds another layer to the novel, but makes it even more interesting. What I really liked about this novel is the fact that it was complicated without being too difficult. It tackles a theme and topic that not many people know about or are comfortable reading, but A. Gavazzoni handled it with grace and with sheer force of artistry! It was intense and simply too entertaining to put down!

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

The Vatican Cameos: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure is a historical mystery by Richard T. Ryan. In 1501, Michelangelo is commissioned by the pope to create cameos of specific cardinals portraying the seven deadly sins they commit. Michelangelo becomes a pawn in a scandalous religious game among members of the Holy Order. In 1901, Pope Leo XII hires Sherlock Holmes to retrieve the precious cameos that were stolen from the papal apartments. The thief gives the pope an ultimatum, which he is reluctant to agree to, but the cameos will cause the Vatican embarrassment if they are shown to the public. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson find themselves playing cat and mouse with a crafty thief who knows how the game is played, but so does detective Holmes.

The Vatican Cameos: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure is a historical mystery I found intriguing and thought-provoking. “Practice what you preach,” is a phrase many cardinals did not observe and Richard T. Ryan’s vivid descriptions of their activities make this cleverly written story engaging and witty. It is also somewhat similar to certain incidents that have occurred in modern society. There are sections in the novel that are based on historical facts, such as “The Ballet of Chestnuts,” and the characters of Cardinals Medici and Rovere existed. I have more appreciation for Michelangelo’s art as I learned more about his talents as an artist and sculptor while reading. Sherlock Holmes is another character who made this book more fascinating and I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Sarah Rollins for Readers' Favorite

The Scattered Flock is the second novel in The Flock Trilogy by Jana Petken. Set in Spain during the Spanish Inquisition, the book immediately struck me as incredibly well researched and thought out in terms of the historical elements built into the story. The author has a very natural writing style as she develops her characters and the plot itself. David Sanz is the lead character, who is re-introduced following the first book, and is a Spanish Jew who has endured many tragedies in his life to date. We are then introduced to a second protagonist, Rafael Perato, leading a much more regal existence, who gives the reader a definite contrast to the life and times during this era. Both, however, are on their own quest for justice during what is evidently a cruel and torturous period of history.

Jana Petken writes a real page turner in The Scattered Flock, and I didn’t feel that I had missed out by not reading the first book in this series. This is the art and quality of a good writer, one who allows a reader to pick up any novel in any order, but at the same time, leaving me, as the reader, wanting to go back to the start and read the first book in this intriguing and cleverly written trilogy. I congratulate Jana on her style, poise and passion, and whilst the story line can be graphic at times, she does this with grace, making me feel like I was there watching every moment in her characters’ lives. Truly deserving of its five star rating, The Scattered Flock is a fantastic read! Really excellent story - I literally could not put it down, reading from cover to cover!

Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite

Sherlock Holmes and the Dance of the Tiger (The Great Detective in Love Book 2) by Suzette Hollingsworth is a historical mystery fiction novel that takes place after Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Sword Princess. This is a book that would appeal most to a diverse audience of adults and young adults who enjoy Sherlock Holmes stories, as well as those who have enjoyed the previous book in The Great Detective in Love series. An undercover British agent becomes the victim of a tiger attack and the Queen’s cousin, the Commander-in-Chief of the British army, begins to romance a circus rider in the middle of a spy ring. Sherlock Holmes is brought in to handle the situation, but finds himself unable to infiltrate the Cirque d'Hiver due to his gender. That leaves only one choice; to send in his laboratory assistant, Mirabella Hudson. Will Mirabella have what it takes to be a tiger trainer’s assistant, and will she be able to investigate the espionage, murder, secrets, and the lost princess without being caught?

Sherlock Holmes and the Dance of the Tiger (The Great Detective in Love Book 2) by Suzette Hollingsworth was a very well written story that set itself apart from the large number of Sherlock Holmes books with the addition of Mirabella Hudson. I really liked the fact that Mirabella Hudson added a female element to the book; it was nice to read a Sherlock Holmes story with a main female protagonist. I personally found Mirabella to be my favorite character as she was able to think on her feet, roll with the punches, and somehow come out on top. I greatly enjoyed reading this novel and I hope to see more books featuring Mirabella from this author!

Reviewed by Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite

An exhilarating adventure with a fascinating insight into the legal system, The Advocate's Ex Parte by Teresa Burrell is the thrilling fifth book in The Advocates series. Sabre Orin Brown is a smart, successful attorney specialising in defending juvenile delinquents. When Judge "Scary Larry" draws her into his chambers for an Ex Parte hearing, Sabre is concerned. Several of her cases are very touchy and she can't afford for them to be thrown out. Understanding that the judge has something important to say, she calls in a nearby deputy County Counsel, only for both of them to be thrown out of the chambers by the livid judge. The next day, Sabre is informed that "Scary Larry" has been murdered. Sabre is confused and afraid. Before throwing her out of his chambers, the murdered judge had indicated that the Ex Parte hearing concerned one of her clients. The last thing "Scary Larry" said was, "You are on your own!" Which of her clients had the judge been trying to warn her about? Possibly the alleged fourteen-year-old murderer, accused of beating two of his classmates to death with a baseball bat? Or maybe there is something far more sinister going on. Something that could endanger Sabre and everything important to her. When another one of Sabre's colleagues is nearly murdered, Sabre and JP must look more closely at her current cases. Maybe the judge's warning was more than him just being "Scary Larry."

Filled with murder, suspense, betrayal, and red herrings, The Advocate's Ex Parte by Teresa Burrell is a spellbinding suspense novel worthy of Agatha Christie. With a killer plot that will keep you guessing "whodunit" to the very end and characters that are endearing, this book is a must-read! Although it is the fifth book, the author wrote this book as a spectacular stand-alone. Fans of Sabre Orin Brown and JP Torn will not be disappointed. The story takes the reader deep into the conflicted and sometimes confusing lives of a children's attorney and a private investigator to the attorney, giving the reader a well-rounded view of a children's defender and advocate. If you like John Grisham and Dan Brown, then you do not want to miss this book!

Reviewed by Tracy A. Fischer for Readers' Favorite

Wow! Just, wow! That's exactly what I thought when I finished reading The Advocate's Felony, the sixth book in The Advocate series by author Teresa Burrell. This book is a real roller coaster of a read, and will keep you turning the pages obsessively from the very beginning all the way through until the very end. Continuing the story of attorney Sabre Brown, this time she receives a very surprising phone call in the dead of night from her brother, Ron, who has been in witness protection for seven years. His whereabouts have been discovered, and he's calling Sabre to warn her that both of them are in danger. Sabre is determined to help Ron, and with her friend and private investigator, JP, races against time to save both Ron and herself. Will she succeed? You'll need to read the book to find out.

I loved The Advocate's Felony. Loved. It. How's that for a review? Well, it's definitely how I felt about this great book. Author Teresa Burrell has done a fabulous job in creating characters that her readers will connect with, relate to and truly come to care about. If that isn't a hallmark of an excellent author, I'm not sure what is. Her writing style is crisp and authentic, and her scene setting skills are second to none. Any reader who loves an exciting murder mystery, action, adventure, or just an excellent work of fiction in general should absolutely read this book. I am so pleased to be able to highly recommend The Advocate's Felony, and I am very much looking forward to reading more from author Teresa Burrell as soon as I possibly can!

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Pages in the Wind is a psychological thriller novel written by Sally Saylor De Smet. Emily’s all-too-brief moment of calm as she drew the portrait of a young blond girl with waist-length hair was shattered by the impatient tones of the prison guard who was assigned to escort her up to the doctor’s office. Emily was still in shock over the fact that she was an inmate in the San Francisco County Jail on the charge that she had murdered her father. They said she had stabbed him repeatedly and that the two of them were found in the kitchen, but Emily couldn’t remember any of it. It had been two weeks now. Her brother hadn’t come to see her since she was imprisoned, and her mother had only called her once, speaking in impersonal and distant tones that chilled her. The fiance that she was told she had was somewhere in a boot camp training for his tour of duty in Vietnam. Added to that dismal reality was the constant reminder that she must neither cry nor show any signs of weakness. A nineteen-year-old innocent, she would be instant fodder for the more aggressive inmates if she displayed signs of weakness. Her mother had retained Dr. Daniel Lieberman to aid in her defense. He was a renowned forensic psychiatrist, and Emily thought his professional stature seemed at odds with the slight and rumpled figure she first beheld rummaging through papers in the drab, institutional green office where he would conduct their sessions. But he soon had her realizing that he was on her side, and his words, as he hypnotized her that first time, gave her a sorely-needed sense of tranquility and calm.

Who is Emily Quinn and how did she end up stabbing her much larger father to death? Sally Saylor De Smet’s psychological thriller novel, Pages in the Wind, follows the frightened and amnesiac young woman as she and her psychiatrist attempt to revive her life’s story through a sequence of hypnosis sessions. Emily’s tale takes place in the late fifties and sixties, which were a different time indeed when considering the parental right to discipline and exert total control over a child. That said, Emily’s early memories will leave the hardest hearts stunned and saddened as the young girl seeks again and again for love from her daddy and receives only physical abuse that becomes, at one point, a life-threatening assault.

Pages in the Wind is a riveting read; one I found quite impossible to step away from until I had read it through. Within its pages rests a first-rate psychological thriller and one of the most compelling coming of age stories I’ve read. De Smet’s writing style is haunting and delicious as her Emily narrates the marvelous episodes in her life as well as the most awful and nightmarish. Some passages shine so brightly; such as that describing Emily and Perry’s evening at his parents’ home. Others are sadly realistic in their starkness and brutality. Pages in the Wind is not just an impossibly good debut novel; it’s an outstanding work of literature and it’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Kayti Nika Raet for Readers' Favorite

In The Fireproof Girl, the first in a new series by Loretta Lost, Sophie Shields is a woman with a past. Growing up in foster care, she has had to change her identity several times due to unfortunate circumstances. The one constant in her life? Cole Hunter, who grew from foster brother, to protector, and perhaps something more. But all that changes when she finds out that he's been murdered. Determined to find answers and his killer, Sophie uses her computer hacking expertise to get to the bottom of the mystery, dragging up aspects of her past in the process.

A fast paced novel told from two points of view, The Fireproof Girl by Loretta Lost asks the question of how far we are willing to go for the people we care about. I really enjoyed reading The Fireproof Girl. There's a tension that Lost expertly maintains throughout, even as she hops between the past and the present day. Sophie is a strong but broken character, occasionally coming off as unemotional, but also very resilient. It's her connection to Cole that really warms up her character. He's not the typical bad boy of the genre. Smart and warm, he is nonetheless willing to do what it takes to protect those he loves. I enjoyed their dynamic and was rooting for Sophie to solve the mystery. The end felt a little abrupt and I wished it had gone on for a chapter or two, mostly because it raised some questions that definitely needed to be answered. Luckily, The Fireproof Girl is the first of a new series and there will be more adventures in book 2.
 

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Case of Dr Dude: A Michaela McPherson Mystery is a private sleuth mystery written by Judith Lucci. Michaela was enjoying her retirement from the police force and had finally opened up Biddy’s Irish Pub in honor of her parents. She still remembered sitting in her dad’s pub and her enjoyment in being the pub owner’s daughter. Her friend and fellow sleuth, Dottie Borghase, who was a real live Italian countess, had other plans. She enjoyed their sleuthing work together too much to give it all up. Besides, there was a pressing problem that required their attention. Allison Massie, the granddaughter of Margaret and Beau Massie, Dottie’s friends, never came home again after her interview with Dr. Nicholas Smirkowitz, otherwise known as Dr. Dude, the dentist to the stars. Allison had just finished her schooling as a dental hygienist and was considering dental school. Dr. Smirkowitz was a talented cosmetic dentist, and she hoped to get a feel for the business first-hand by working for him. Allison’s parents were still en route from Europe, and her grandparents were getting frantic. Their granddaughter was diabetic, and her survival depended upon her receiving her insulin injections. Michaela knew all about Dr. Dude and had even been a patient of his at one point in time. She also knew he had had a number of complaints lodged against him by both his patients and his staff. Now, she and Dottie were racing against time to find Allison.

Judith Lucci’s private sleuth mystery novel, The Case of Dr Dude: A Michaela McPherson Mystery, is exciting and fast-paced. While it’s not the first book in this mystery series, Lucci gives enough background information to allow this book to be read as a standalone novel. The interactions between Dottie, the octogenarian armchair sleuth, and Mic are grand fun, and Lucci’s plot addresses a real and pressing crisis that is ongoing -- the trafficking of children and women. Angel, Mic’s retired K9 companion, often steals the limelight in this taut and well-written novel of suspense, and that’s just as it should be, it seems. After all, he did take a bullet in the hip in order to save Mic’s life when they were on the job and, even when retired, takes his guardianship of her quite seriously. The Case of Dr Dude is the first Michaela McPherson mystery that I’ve read, and I’m looking forward to reading about her other detective cases. It’s highly recommended.