Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Beast of Rose Valley: Lorestalker #1 is a horror novel written by J.P. Barnett. Something was killing livestock in Rose Valley, Texas. Steve Witmer and his friend, Jake Rollins, were stunned and saddened at the sight of one of Steve’s lambs which had been savagely ripped in two. Sheriff Cam Donner actually considered briefly that the two of them had pulled this as some sort of deranged publicity stunt, but this was not the first such killing in the area. Donner wanted the matter dropped and forgotten, dismissed as the actions of coyotes or maybe even the cheetahs from the nearby animal reserve, but Jake and Steve knew no coyote or animal would have sufficient ability or inclination to rip a creature in two and leave it uneaten. The sheriff’s interest in keeping the matter under wraps was instantly thwarted, however, by the arrival of Shandi Mason, the local investigative journalist. Jake had made sure to send word to her before the sheriff locked it down. They all had history together, having grown up in Rose Valley, but Shandi had the rare ability to stand up to Cam Donner and actually win.

J.P. Barnett’s horror novel, The Beast of Rose Valley: Lorestalker #1, is a marvelous romp into the little-known world of cryptozoology as townspeople and a world-renowned cryptid hunter try to survive repeated encounters with a powerful and deadly creature. The author’s characters spring into being in that opening scene wherein childhood friends play very different roles as adults. I loved the rural setting with the town’s football games and the solidity of a place where everyone knows just about everyone else, and that bucolic ordinariness makes the bizarre aspects of the story work so very well. Barnett’s plot is clever and irresistible, and his book is a sheer pleasure to read. Horror, thriller and mystery fans alike will find much to their liking in this intriguing story about the unknown. The Beast of Rose Valley: Lorestalker #1 is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

A Trace of Revenge: A Paranormal Thriller by Lyle Howard is a paranormal novel with an interesting protagonist. Matt Walker is a young boy when his parents are murdered. He witnesses the gruesome act but is able to escape. He eventually loses his sense of hearing but develops something else in its place — the unique ability to know the history of an object by simply touching it. Now a top secret weapon has been stolen from the government and someone is out to make a fortune from it. At a major baseball league game, it will take just a foul ball hit to set Matt on the journey to find the killer of his parents. The unraveling of the truth is filled with exciting action and fraught with danger. Follow this protagonist in his quest for answers.

What first caught my attention was the powerful premise. It is already a unique tragedy to witness the murder of one’s parents. But losing one’s sense of hearing just makes it even more complicated. But then the author is clever enough to compensate the protagonist with something even more astounding — his unique ability. The fact that the protagonist is limited makes him vulnerable and believable. He is not a superstar, in spite of his ability to know things by simply touching them. The suspense is strong and I kept on reading, wondering if the protagonist would get his revenge for the murder of his parents. The writing is atmospheric, with wonderful descriptions. The author takes readers on a journey into the heart of a young protagonist suffering loss and consumed with the desire for revenge. A Trace of Revenge: A Paranormal Thriller is deftly written, a real literary success.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Give Them Unquiet Dreams is a paranormal coming of age novel for young adults written by James Mulhern. Aiden Glencar was quite certain that his mom shouldn’t be locked up in McCall’s, a mental institution outside Boston. They had diagnosed her as being schizophrenic because of the visions she was experiencing about a man who needed help. Fourteen-year-old Aiden went to live with his Nana, his mom’s mother, and his older brother, Martin, had gone to live with their Aunt Clara. Aiden also had the gift of sight. The ghost of his grandpa visited him at night. Grandpa was in many ways the mentor Aiden needed so badly, especially with his father distancing himself further and further away from his two sons. It was 1976, and mental illness was not really understood, was considered a stigma and a source of familial shame. Aiden also had other issues he wished he could share with someone, even his no-nonsense, earthy Nana, but he seemed to be lacking the words to start. First he needed to get his mom out of McCall’s and back at home with them, and he would figure out a way to do just that.

Give Them Unquiet Dreams is a moving and evocative tale about a young adult coming of age in 1976, under the care of his brash and unorthodox grandmother, while his own mom is institutionalized. Mulhern brings the seventies back to life particularly well in this story as his character wrestles with the social implications of a mother in an insane asylum and his own worries about his inherited second sight and other issues. The author peoples this world with unforgettable characters, from Nana’s zany group of friends, to the quiet and supportive relationships between Aiden and Martin, and Aiden and his departed grandfather. After reading the blurb, I knew this book would be special, but had no idea just what a marvelous read it would actually be. Give Them Unquiet Dreams is brilliant; it’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Evening in the Yellow Wood is a paranormal coming of age novel written by Laura Kemp. Justine’s childhood essentially ended one afternoon when her mother came and dragged her out of the community swimming pool where she was hanging out with her friend, Sherry. As her mom pulled into the driveway, she finally broke the news that Justine’s dad was gone. Her mom had no idea why or where, and the note her mom found added little to the mystery of his disappearance. He had indicated that one of his paintings had been sold, and he wanted the proceeds to be put towards Justine’s college funds, and he asked that they not try to find him. Justine would finish high school and go on to college as her dad had envisioned, but always there was that ache for what had been so abruptly torn away. Then, one day, a headline and a photograph on the front page of the local newspaper grabbed Justine’s attention. Her dad was in that picture and she was determined to go to Lantern Creek where the photo was taken and find him.

Evening in the Yellow Wood is unutterably transcendent and extraordinarily powerful. I was drawn into the story with the opening lines and loved every moment I spent following Justine as she leaves her familiar world and goes north to find her dad. The Northern Michigan setting cast its spell upon me, and it was only in remembering the harshness of winter that I was able to dissuade myself from considering a similar relocation in the future. Kemp’s characters are multifaceted and credible, and their interactions drive this compelling and remarkable coming of age novel as a quixotic adventure to find a long-absent dad becomes a life-changing reality. Kemp’s plot is original and complex. Mystery, the paranormal and cultural aspects add to the depth and intensity of this well-written and enthralling first novel. I’m looking forward to Laura Kemp’s next offering. Evening in the Yellow Wood is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Tanja Jurkovic for Readers' Favorite

Cally Edwards' novel Playing With Demons unravels an exciting world where humans are merely spectators, oblivious to the existence of powerful supernatural beings we only know from tales. These beings are running the world and maintaining the balance inside it. Introducing a very interesting background story, Edwards gives us a heroine of the modern-day, Grace Campbell, who is half-Nephilim, half-demon, fighting on the side of good. Grace is sent on a mission to infiltrate the demonic lair, or Hell, if you will, and obtain an artifact so powerful that it could destroy the world as we know it! Being half-demon herself, Grace blends in easily with the rest of the demon lot and joins a set of dangerous trials that will change how she sees the world, herself, the balance between good and evil, and life in general.

Cally Edwards puts Grace in the middle of an unlikely romance with none other than Lucifer's offspring, Zadeon, a Prince of Hell, during which she has to come to terms with her dark side and make tough decisions along the way. The playfulness and the excitement of this relationship is one of the things that makes this novel a thrilling read. Edwards describes it very vividly and realistically, sometimes putting the reader in Grace's shoes, thus allowing them to experience all the emotions that she has towards this dark creature, who is also her most dangerous opponent. Playing With Demons is an exciting supernatural story of love, unlikely friendships, full of action, challenges, and fights between good and evil, which shows us that nothing in life, especially the familiar, is what it seems at first.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Hypnos is a work of urban fantasy fiction penned by author R J Blain, and the first book in the Seeking the Zodiacs series. Set in a future world where the nuclear radiation brought about by World War Three has resulted in many people developing magical abilities, there are new squads of supernatural lawmen and women ready to protect humanity from magical threats. One such threat lands in San Francisco on the doorstep of FBI Special Ops leader Olivia Abrams, and she is determined to find out the source of this powerful dark force before it engulfs her whole city.

Part crime drama, part magical fantasy adventure, this is a fresh and modern twist on the urban fantasy concept which will excite fans both old and new. I loved the diverse nature of R J Blain’s writing, set in the glorious melting pot of San Francisco where a bold cast of characters can take their places in the adventure. The post-nuclear worldbuilding was also strong but not overwhelming, giving us enough to convince us of the new lore of magic so that the real excitement of the tale can take place. Olivia was a strong female lead to be admired throughout the tale, but also relatable in her struggles and great to solve the mystery alongside. I found her dialogue really compelling with a strong sense of who she is coming through right from her earliest lines. Overall, Hypnos is an exciting start to a conceptually thrilling series with plenty of action and drama for fantasy fans.

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

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 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 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.