Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

When Darkness Follows by Athena Daniels is the fourth book in the critically acclaimed, award winning Beyond the Grave series, preceded by The Seer's Daughter, The Alchemist's Son, and Girl Unseen. Set in Western Australia, the book begins with Rachel getting ready to go back onto the Anna-Marie, a shipwreck that may hold answers to a night she can't remember...one that involved an ouija board, a dead friend, and another on the run. She's enlisted the help of a paranormal television crew from the show Debunking Reality. What she wasn't expecting was the arrival of her ex, Daniel. Not ideal. Rachel has enough on her plate and in her life which ultimately requires fighting for.

When Darkness Follows leaves no question in my mind as to why Athena Daniels' series is so wildly popular. It takes off from the first line and just doesn't ever slow down. The tension and pacing are well done, and the hair-raising scares I'd expect in a paranormal thriller were enough to make me yip once or twice. Or more. Even though it's part of a series, this book reads perfectly as a standalone. I haven't read Daniels' other books (a circumstance I will change very quickly), but I slid right into this haunting romance. I'd recommend When Darkness Follows to readers who adore an intense paranormal thriller with a healthy side of sizzle by an author who is as skilled at crafting a story as the list of accolades she's acquired say she is.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Smith by Sam B Miller II is a thrilling paranormal fiction tale in which a young man finds a ring and soon his whole life changes. This is the story of an 18-year-old named Jake, who finds a gorgeous and innocent looking ring, and decides to wear it. Upon wearing the ring, Jake realizes that this is not an ordinary ring and he is really not alone anymore. There is a constant voice inside his head that speaks to him and demands his attention. The ring and the voice (Smith) give him power, but there is a side effect; the ring is attracting a lot of attention from some very bad people.

With Smith constantly speaking to him and giving him sometimes needed, sometimes not needed advice, Jake is fighting battles against the odds that always seem to be stacking up against him. While he is literally fighting evil, he meets the gorgeous and feisty Nava, who is a security agent and Jake’s partner. She is among only a few people Jake can truly trust, especially now that he is facing countless attacks from an unknown entity that wants Jake’s ring. Can Jake survive and keep the ring safe? Or will he perish at the hands of the unknown planner behind these attacks?

This is definitely a unique story that focuses on the main character and the plot, and the smooth development of these two elements. I enjoyed the original concept, how the characters were unique yet relatable at the same time, and how the story connected everything together. I thoroughly enjoyed how sassy and incredibly pompous Smith was at times, and then equally caring and humorous as well. Often seen as one entity, Smith and Jake made a strong team and the addition of Nava made them even stronger. This is an interesting novel that had me wanting more and I was sad to find that I had read it all. It was too entertaining to put down. It truly deserves 5 stars!

Reviewed by Michelle Randall for Readers' Favorite

In another life Ramiel was married to Elise before she became the Vampire Queen, but now he is the Guardian Angel of her daughter Izzy for his final test as an Angel of Retribution. The biggest problem that Ramiel has is his temper, and then his anger over Elise being happy and moving on with her life after his earthly death. Now Izzy has been kidnapped by Lucifer and Ramiel is determined to rescue her on his own. The problem is that he needs the help of a fallen to get into hell, and that requires a bond, which is not in his plans. Throughout this book there are also glimpses into life at Zerum and updates on all your favorite couples and characters from earlier books. Ramiel is the fifteenth book in the Dark Warrior Alliance series by authors Brenda Trim and Tami Julka.

The Dark Warrior Alliance is an amazing series, especially given the fact that Ramiel is book number fifteen. Authors Brenda Trim and Tami Julka still are able to weave a story as fresh and new as they did in book one. Personally I have read every book in this series, and I am always amazed at how the authors are able to weave the story without repeating plot lines and ideas. Each book is new and unique, and could, if needed, stand alone, but the story makes more sense when the books are read in order. Ramiel again is able to pull the reader in and have them feeling as if they are part of this unique and varied world. These are definitely adult books, as there is a good amount of talk about fated mates and the intimate acts that go with it, yet at the same time the writing about those acts fits the story and the descriptions are not overly graphic. There is also a lot of violence between the Warriors and the Demons, but that is to be expected when you are talking about Lucifer wanting to take over the world and get rid of the human population.

Reviewed by Michelle Randall for Readers' Favorite

All her life Callie has felt like a failure, not worthy of the affection of her grandmother or anyone else for that matter. Part of that came from the fact that her father took off the minute he found out her mother was pregnant, and part was the way the extended family treated her. Her misguided attempt to "grow up" and make something of herself found her estranged from her grandmother for the last decade. Now her grandmother is dead and Callie still found herself feeling like a failure. When her Uncle Willard called to tell her that she must be in Louisiana for the reading of her grandmother's will, she found herself at his mercy as he had to wire her the money to get there. There is no love lost between Callie and her Uncle Willard, and once the will is read and what she inherits is discovered, it becomes clear that Uncle Willard wants what she got, and will do anything to get it.

Callie: The Bayou Hauntings Volume 1 is the story of Callie's discovery of her family history and in turn of herself. Author Bill Thompson delivers a southern story high on suspense and family. Callie is titled as the first volume in The Bayou Hauntings, which gives the impression of a series, but not necessarily following just the one character. Bill Thompson gives the reader a book filled with intrigue and the supernatural or paranormal in the form of a friendly visitor that seems real but just might be a ghost. The key to the story is the discovery of the family history, how everything that happened in the past actually came to be, and that history unlocks the secrets of the plantation mansion that Callie inherited and also allows Callie to come into her own.

Callie is a relatable character in that she conveys to the reader her feelings of failure and not being able to live up to others' expectations. Then there is Uncle Willard, from whom readers will immediately get that smarmy, ambulance-chasing lawyer feeling. Of course there is also Mark, and he is the most enigmatic of the characters. Throughout the book you aren't sure which side he is on, or if he is on another side altogether. This book is clean in that there is no sex, although there are the mentions of illegitimate children, and although there are only a few curse words spread throughout the story, they are appropriate when they come into play. Therefore I have no problem in recommending this book to readers of all ages, especially fans of supernatural or paranormal stories.

Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite

Outsourced by Eric J. Gates is a general fiction thriller novel that all begins with a simple question: What is the most dangerous gift a fan could send to an author if the fan were a professional assassin? Nic Stiles is an author in New York whose life path is forever altered by a single package that arrives for him in the mail. That one package has presented him with the chance to alter life and death and it now sits in his hand. What choices will he make; will he use it or protect it?

Outsourced by Eric J. Gates is a book that took me deep down the rabbit hole and into a world of science with quantum mechanics and the supernatural. At first, I was worried that I would not understand the book because of the quantum mechanics involved; however, Gates does a brilliant job at simplifying such a complex science into easy to understand pieces. I walked away from the book with an understanding of what quantum mechanics actually is. Prior to reading this book, the best explanation I could have given was that it was a part of science that involve math. The book itself had a well evolved plot line, no plot holes, and a developed cast of characters. While there were a lot of interesting characters, I would have to say that the main character, Nic Stiles, was by far my favorite. I found him interesting in that he was an everyday person who was suddenly given a gift of unprecedented power!

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Girl Unseen: Beyond the Grave series #3 is a paranormal thriller novel written by Athena Daniels. Pia Williams knew that someone or something was trying to get through to her, almost from her first tentative steps into the lighthouse keeper's cottage perched on Cape Leeuwin. The family who had bought the house had dismissed the reports of hauntings, but their stay in the 1896 cottage had them rethinking their initial skepticism. Cassandra Reynolds, who was nine years old, had been most affected by the house, and her attachment to Sarah, her new “imaginary friend,” was worrying her parents. Chad and Monique Reynolds had decided to call in Debunking Reality, the paranormal investigations TV show that Pia worked with to see if they could help the family resolve the issue of the hauntings. As the team set up their equipment, they could hear glass being shattered upstairs, but Pia’s attention had been immediately captured by the anguish and misery of a young girl’s spirit. She saw disturbing images: a soiled and filthy mattress, chains and an eerie, life-like doll with long blond hair.

Athena Daniels’ paranormal thriller novel, Girl Unseen, grabs the reader’s attention from the very first paragraph and doesn’t let go until the conclusion of the story. Pia Williams is a marvelous main character whose psychic abilities have left her scarred and unable to even think of having a normal relationship with another. Her empathy for the terrifying and murderous spirit haunting the cottage is remarkable, and her courage in facing what could be a demonic power masquerading as a spirit gives this story all the tension and white-knuckled drama a paranormal fan could ask for. Her burgeoning relationship with Nate Ryder, an ex-Special Forces detective who had helped her in the past, is great fun to watch as the two alpha warriors work to confront their own issues while resolving the haunting of the young girl known as Sarah. I’m a big fan of the paranormal and was impressed by the authenticity and intensity of the plot, which works on a number of levels. Girl Unseen is the third book in Daniels’ Beyond the Grave series; however, she gives the new reader ample background to allow this book to be read on its own. But I’m betting that anyone who does start with this book will find themselves eagerly looking forward to reading the first two books in the series -- Girl Unseen is that good. Girl Unseen: Beyond the Grave series #3 is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Maggie by Mya O'Malley is a thrilling mystery. Naomi is living a writer's dream in a 1700's house on the edge of the cemetery. She can't wait to research and explore the history of the spirits buried there. When her cat leads her to the grave of Maggie, she's compelled to solve the mysterious circumstances of her death. Making her life more complicated, Naomi finds herself torn between Ryan, the seemingly perfect man she met during an awful blind date, and Bryce, a charming single father that just moved in next door. The more she discovers answers, the more she finds herself at the center of history repeating itself. Can she solve the mystery of Maggie's death before she's the next victim?

Naomi is charming and driven, embracing her role in solving this death with a genuine need for answers. The past plays an important part of Naomi's journey as it slowly repeats in a supernatural way, but allows for her to learn how to find closure. The dreams are beautiful and tragic, woven into the plot just when a clue is needed most. The other characters are a delightful mix of eerie and heartfelt so it's hard to tell who to believe until the end when the truth is finally discovered. Mya O'Malley keeps you guessing until the very end, successfully leading the mystery astray, only to reveal an impressive twist that pulls everything into place. It's heartbreaking and unexpected, but worked so well that there couldn't have been another solution. Maggie is suspenseful, eerie, and mysterious, with the right amount of ominous foreshadowing and sleuthing.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Lightning Strikes (An Andromeda Spencer Novel, book 1) by Theresa Parker is a paranormal mystery story. Andromeda Spencer was struck by lightning when she was 15 and was in a coma for a month. Not long afterwards, she discovered that she had a few special abilities that she didn’t have before, like knowing where to find things and people, and she can see ghosts. Captain Johnson hires her to help the police out on occasion with missing person cases and the latest case involves children. Detective Nick Cavanagh is partnered with her and he doesn’t believe that Rommy, as she is known, has any special abilities. With failure not an option, Nick Cavanagh is nearing the end of his tether as the case seems to be going nowhere and is about to drop Rommy from the case. Will that stop her? Join Andromeda and her narcoleptic cat as she battles bats, skunks, and Nick Cavanagh in a race against time to find the kids before it is too late.

Lightning Strikes (An Andromeda Spencer Novel, book 1) by Theresa Parker was a fantastic read. Right from page one, the action drew me in and it was action all the way. This is a funny story with some great bantering between characters and the plot was nothing short of ingenious. The characters were a real mixed bag; a woman who sees ghosts, her sister who runs a Gothic nightclub, zany parents, and Nana with dementia (you just don’t know what she’s going to do next!). Not to mention the hottest detective ever! This is one of those stories that I just couldn’t put down, didn’t want to put down if truth be told, and the only disappointment was the fact that it ended. Definitely looking forward to book 2 and, for a debut author, this is a fabulous start.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Blood Shackles by Rosemary A Johns is the second book in the Rebel Vampires series, following Blood Dragons. Light is a Blood Lifer (vampire) in London where First Lifers (humans) have decided they were superior. Now First Lifers have captured and enslaved the Blood Lifers for profit. His past consists of lost love and blood, but he has since changed his ways. When Light is captured, he refuses to lose himself, despite how his captors try to break his spirit and force him into submission. Being sold to Grayse is the ticket he needs out of his cell, even though her father owns the company that enslaves him. She gives him back everything they took from him: his bike, his jacket, his freedom. His growing bond to her gives him the strength to fight for his family, his people, and his rights.

Blood Shackles is brutally honest, tragic, triumphant, addictive, and somehow hopeful. I was so engrossed in Light's story that I didn't notice my Kindle was dying until it died. The whole novel is written as a journal by Light. Nothing is sugarcoated. It's a heavy topic of torture, abuse, rape, and manipulation. The brutal honesty that Rosemary A Johns puts into the story is commendable. Slavery isn't an easy topic to discuss, and taking our perspectives of vampires and turning it into a metaphor. The First Lifers think they're superior and treat the Blood Lifers like they're objects. There's no way to escape the truth of the story. However, Light's story is fulfilling. At the end the right people get what they deserve, and it definitely feels rewarding. This isn't a happy novel at all, but there are uplifting moments. This novel made me so angry, which is the point. Johns succeeded in creating a world, characters, and a story that pulled me in until I had to finish reading it. I had to know what was going to happen to Light, Hartford, Donovan, and Grayse. This is a novel everyone should read, along with Blood Dragons.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Ben A. Sharpton's 2nd Sight is an amazing paranormal fiction that gives any Hollywood movie a run for its money. The novel is set around Scott Moore. He is a normal man, but one thing that sets him apart from other people is that he has hallucinations. He can use something as simple as touch to experience things that "objects" have experienced. This ability or second sight really disturbs him, so when the good Dr. David Blackwell wants to help him, Scott jumps at the opportunity and tries to salvage whatever is left of his mind and his control over it.

With the help of Dr. Blackwell, he is able to understand his ability and how he uses it. Dr. Blackwell gave Scott enough courage and confidence so that he started to strengthen his powers. But Scott finds out that the good doctor is just using him to achieve personal gain. There is no point too low for him; if he has to kill someone to get what he wants, he will do that in a heartbeat. But Scott did not sign up for this. He wants nothing to do with Dr. Blackwell, but will he be allowed to walk away alive?

Interesting and intriguing, 2nd Sight felt like a billion dollar Hollywood movie. The words and the characters are so crisp that you can almost taste them. Scott is such a good man, and Dr. Blackwell feels very real. Even though the subject matter is purely paranormal or sci-fi, you can relate to the characters. There are real people like Dr. Blackwell around us and such works of fiction make us appreciate the normalcy of our lives even more. Sometimes being special is not a gift but a curse because that makes you vulnerable to the coercion of other people and their bad influence.