Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

“A rough day at sea is better than any day in the office.” – Sailor’s Code # 75. The After House is a young adult paranormal story by Michael Phillip Cash. After a painful divorce, Remy Galway and her daughter, Olivia, move into a 300-year-old cottage in Cold Spring Harbor. The house has an eerie feeling and Remy believes she’s being watched. Captain Eli Gaspar’s ghost wanders the house, brooding over a woman he cares for, but he can’t recollect some things from his past. He dislikes the new tenants who disturb him, so he goads them to leave with a few of his antics. Remy is disheartened when the house is ransacked, but refuses to let anyone, including a ghost, chase her away. However, the Captain has been around for ages and doesn’t intend to leave either.

“The man who has experienced shipwreck shudders even at a calm sea.” Captain Eli is one such man who has experienced shipwreck in this very beguiling novel, The After House. Michael Phillip Cash's writing style is unforced, absorbing, and stirring. There are books that remain memorable because of their poignancy. The After House happens to be one of them that I’ll always remember. Even the book’s cover artwork has a haunting effect. The prologue was suspenseful and I had to know what transpired next. Historical information on whaling, which provided numerous products, as well as Cold Spring Harbor, was interesting. I highly recommend Michael Phillip Cash’s novel for a delightful read.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Corruption, greed, black operations, shadowy organisations and the lust for unadulterated power is the setting for Gregory Meritt’s The Adoption. Claire and Logan just wanted a child to complete their lives but, unable to have one of their own, they turned to the adoption route and were rewarded with a beautiful, five-year-old girl by the name of Samantha. Samantha, however, was much more than she appeared to be on the surface. Part of a dangerous experiment conducted by a secret organisation hidden beneath the desert, Samantha is just one of two children “created” by this shadowy organisation and imbued with special powers that the backer hopes will eventually allow him to rule the world. Caught up in an unstoppable chain of events, Claire, Logan and Samantha find themselves running for their very lives, unsure of who or what was after them and who to trust.

This story is incredibly fast-moving and, for me, was an absolute page-turner. I really had to find where the tale was ultimately going to lead. For a debut novel, The Adoption has certainly struck all the right chords with me, the reader. As what may well be the first in a series of stories about the crime-fighting organisation Omega, this book certainly piqued my interest. The author took us on a journey full of twists and turns, engaged in the ultimate of all battles: good vs evil. The characters were strong and believable. I especially liked the way Samantha and her seven-year-old compatriot in the experiment, Scott, were the perfect antitheses of each other in all ways. This story is well written and would be an absolute must-read for conspiracy theorists, but anyone that loves a good, rollicking, spy-style story will certainly enjoy this book. A great first effort from Meritt.

Reviewed by Michelle Randall for Readers' Favorite

Altmore Manor has sat empty and crumbling for over sixty years, but as an architect, it is a dream come true for Will to be able to restore it to its former glory, and Lexie is willing go to along with her fiancé, until she walks into the house and realizes that something isn't right. Of course being the practical man he is, Will doesn't believe in her feelings or ghosts, but as Lexie starts learning about the house, she learns of the tragedies that occurred there. Lexie also meets the ghost of the former owner, Magnus Blackwell, and from there things get complicated. Damned is the story of Lexie, learning to deal with her gift and helping the ghosts of the house, and Magnus finding redemption for his previous sins during his lifetime. It is a complex story with lots of twists and turns and, just when you think it is over, you find you are only halfway through. Authors Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor have created a multilayered story that is complex and compelling. As a reader, you find yourself drawn in and wanting to know more and keep reading until, before you know it, the book is finished and you are begging for another installment in the story.

Damned: A Magnus Blackwell Novel is the first book in a series. Given the title, one would assume that the series revolves around Magnus Blackwell and his exploits, but as he is already dead in book one, I am not exactly sure what book two would be about unless it goes back and revisits his life before his death. This is a complex story with two very dynamic characters taking the lead in Magnus and Lexie. Will plays a supporting role. The whole story speaks of life and death, atoning for your actions, and the actions you take having consequences. Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor make an amazing team in that they have created a multilayered story that is complex and compelling, that feels like real life, and that draws you in and makes you want to keep reading. There are some adult themes in the story because it does talk about the death of Magnus and a few other people, and there is some talk of sex, so I recommend it for adults, although in reality it is probably nothing more than most high school students have already read.

Reviewed by Kris Moger for Readers' Favorite

The Uncommitted by Margaret M. Goss is an intense and harrowing journey built upon love, fear, faith, and destiny. Josie, a young mother, is doing her best for her family. She has an unusual gift, one that her grandmother and mother also shared: taking messages from the dead to the living via visions, dreams and telepathy. Unfortunately, channeling the dead opens her up to dangers she never imagined. When her sanity is questioned, she meets Dr. Andrew Chase, who also has special abilities. The fates of these two characters – Josie and Andrew – are intertwined by their Catholic faith and their supernatural gifts. As Josie strives to understand her path, she discovers a deeper calling that may undo the love, loyalty, and security of her family. As the story progresses, an evil haunts her, intent on destroying not just her life but her spirit.

Author Margaret M. Goss has a wonderful ability to create suspense in The Uncommitted. Through her deft use of descriptive writing and realistic dialogue, she builds a story that is hard to put down. The journey of Josie’s struggle is so honest and raw, it keeps The Uncommitted from falling into a cliched portrayal of faith in one’s religion. Added to that is the sincerity of the character of Andrew and the straightforward use of his gifts, which helps to build an intriguing tale. None of the scenes ever felt forced, and the story moves along at a pace that held even my squirrelly attention. I enjoyed this read even though it has a heavy Christian component to it. This seemed so natural to the characters that I never felt the author was preaching at me.

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.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Highway Thirteen To Manhattan: The Six Train to Wisconsin Series by Kourtney Heintz is EPIC! This novel will probably fit in three genres and it will come out at the top in all of them. It is that good. This is the second novel in the series (I have not read the previous novel) and I loved it. The novel is about a couple that loves each other, but they are drifting apart. Kai is not like other women. She has telepathic powers and she is slowly healing from a near death experience. Nonetheless, that is not what worries her. She can feel the darkness inside her and she cannot stop it. No matter how hard she tries.

Oliver can see that there is something amiss with Kai; she is moving away from him and their relationship. Nevertheless, he will not let their love and marriage die like this. He simply can’t. However, he knows that he will not be able to help her if she does not want help. The only thing he can do is hunt down the person who destroyed his life.

This novel is seamlessly good. There is nothing faulty in this novel. From character development to plot to even the most minor details, Heintz has done an amazing job of creating a world that is believable, relatable, and enjoyable. I love romance, but she has mixed suspense and paranormal with it so well that I am literally speechless. I am so glad that I gave it a chance because it is priceless. Heintz is an incredible writer and she has wowed me beyond words. It was an absolute pleasure reading this novel.

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 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

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 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.