Reviewed by A. L. Peevey for Readers' Favorite

Angie Martin’s Chrysalis is a carefully interwoven story of the supernatural taking place in a very ordinary little town called Nowhere, Kansas. It is told mainly from the point of view of local sheriff Peter Holbrook, who does have some youthful connection to the extraordinary, provided to the reader via a flashback in which butterflies appear to calm his fear of the Gray, a yearly weather phenomenon of rain, thunder, and lightning. The predictable yet almost comfortable monotony of Sheriff Holbrook’s daily routine and that of the town is disturbed by the single-car crash of a young woman, Kaylen. Her extensive tattoos stand out in conservative Nowhere, yet their significance holds the key to saving the town and its inhabitants from enslavement and destruction by demons!

This book is reminiscent of a popular, long running television series, Supernatural, whose protagonists also have roots in Kansas, but while that series contains some humor of the everyday sort, Martin’s Chrysalis takes itself seriously. It portrays the battle against demonic possession in a plausible way, yet without overwhelming the reader’s senses with the overly graphic violence or sex typical of such novels. I liked Peter Holbrook and his self-imposed unrequited love for Hannah, a waitress at a popular café. I found the plight of Kaylen, whose mission to fight not only the demons extant in the world but the one within her as well, to be particularly heroic and selfless. The fact that she really does not have much choice in the matter makes her role in the story particularly poignant. This very human tale of the supernatural is well-written and worth the reader’s time.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

“Much has changed. You called me an Angel. I have not been called that in a long time. I have regretted my actions that brought me in this place. We are no longer called Angels; Death has renamed us. We are now Death’s Reapers,” is one of the ways Lucifer describes himself and his predicament after losing control of his realm.

What would happen if the Prince of Darkness loses his power and finds his consciousness thrown away from his very essence, lingering in the primordial place of existence — heaven? This is the story that Glen Shipherd develops in Infinity: Rulers, a tale of the shift in powers, a supernatural tale of the fate of angels and mankind’s hope for redemption. Separated from the earth where he’s exercised tremendous power and control, can Lucifer make his way back and be on time to assume his role? What will happen to humans when he returns — if only he does? Read this eternal drama from the masterly pen of a gifted and highly imaginative author.

The story is told in the first person narrative and reflects the depth of anguish experienced by the main character, Lucifer himself. This is a very beautiful entry in the area of angelology, featuring humans, angels, and other beings in the quest for redemption. The conflict is monumental and readers will find it hugely rewarding and entertaining to step into the consciousness of the Prince of Darkness. The prose is beautiful, filled with many images that are capable of making readers wake up in the middle of the night with haunting nightmares. Infinity: Rulers is a compelling read for lovers of the supernatural and the mystical. Glen Shipherd comes across as an expert story teller, with great characters and a very powerful narrative voice.

Reviewed by Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite

Clutch Henderson is one of the most legendary poker players of all time. He’s playing toward the dream of owning the prestigious gold bracelet. Just moments away from the prize, his dream is squelched by Adam “Ant” in combination with a massive heart attack. Clutch’s life is over. Or is it? When Telly Martin realizes that his own dream of making the big time as a professional card player is actually that…a dream…reality sets in, amazingly in the form of the ghostly Clutch Henderson. Together, Clutch promises, the two of them can and will earn that chunky golden bracelet. Even if winning is the last thing Telly Martin wants to do, presenting the reader with food for thought. Is winning everything?

Pokergeist by Michael Phillip Cash is a fun novel full of twists, turns, laughs, and heartfelt sensitivity. The perfect story for an empty day, Pokergeist draws the reader into the lives of both the living and the dead while tickling at the edges of laugh out loud comedy. This is a page turner that demands attention with the moving dialogue and unexpected developments that make this a fun read for any setting. Michael Phillip Cash demonstrates a masterful talent of writing specific and vivid detail that exhibits the lesson of “show, don’t tell” that so often eludes the writer. While reading Pokergeist, I was fully immersed into the Las Vegas attitude of leaving it all behind within those state borders. Cash has found the perfect balance between fictional reality and playful paranormal genres. I loved this story!

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Flower Shields by C.A. King is the first book in the Four Horsemen series. After flunking out of college, Tara feels at a loss while her job search keeps turning up empty ... until the rain drives her into a family friend's flower shop. She's thrilled to be given a job with the flowers that have always made her feel at home until a woman comes in, asking for some key. She swears the woman's eyes changed to black, but that can't be possible. When a mysterious stranger shows up, looking for the same key, she has no other option but to turn to him for help. He insists he can be trusted, but can she trust someone claiming to be one of the four horsemen?

Michael has lived with his three siblings for centuries, so he's got an air of wisdom about him, but he's also reserved. He balances out Tara, who is still trying to find her purpose in life, and trying to find an identity away from her parents' funeral home. There's a twist that I honestly didn't expect, and it's done in a devastating and fun way. C.A. King creates a detailed mythology to the world that's tragic and beautiful, delivered with precise details and lots of humor. The magic adds lovely touches throughout, using flowers with a special quality in a truly unique way. A fresh twist on the four horsemen, Flower Shields is a fast-paced adventure, with a rich mythology and fun characters. An exciting read for any fantasy lover!

Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite

Oubliette: A Forgotten Little Place, an offering by debut author Vanta M. Black, is a dark and twisty story that kept me up way past the time I should have been asleep! What is an "oubliette," you might ask? It's a hidden dungeon, one that only has access through its ceiling. In this tale, there is one particular oubliette that appears to have power, especially over lead character Veronica. As a child, she is tormented by monsters, so much so that she is hospitalized for psychiatric problems. As a young woman, she receives a job decorating a castle in France, one that is darkly related to the "dreams" she had as a child, although she is unaware of that until she is pulled to the hidden oubliette and all that occurred there. Will Veronica find the answers she has sought since her childhood? Read the book to find out.

I loved Oubliette: A Forgotten Little Place. Loved. It. How's that for a review? Well, it's definitely how I felt about this book. Author Vanta M. Black has a true gift in writing fiction that is mysterious, dark, funny and thrilling all at the same time. It's easy for me to highly recommend her book, and the best piece of advice I can give to readers, besides being sure to read this book as soon as they can, is to have enough time set aside to read it from start to finish. Once they start it, they simply won't want to put it down!

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

The Invasion of Heaven is Part One of the Newirth Mythology by Michael B. Koep, a mystery with elements of thriller and the supernatural, a story that features great adventure, betrayal, and insanity. A thirty-seven-year-old psychologist is enduring the toughest time of his life: his mentor is suffering from madness, his client has just committed suicide, and his wife is leaving him. Now, as if all these things were not enough to drive a man over the edge, he has a vision of an Eye that won’t leave his mental gaze, an unfathomable eye that seems to be present in the very center of his life, in everything he sees. And the worst part is that there is a secret, ancient group that will do just about anything to get access to what he knows. There is only one way to unravel the mystery: write down everything and allow his mentor, Doctor Marcus Rearden, to fathom what it all means.

Here is a compelling story that features extraordinary characters, a weird and gifted painter, a six-hundred-year-old swordsman and more. In this riveting work, the author explores the depths of one man’s psyche to unveil a conflict that has existed for ages. As the reader reads about love, the perils of the mind, art, and life beyond the grave, the reader comes into contact with the nagging, eternal, and waking thirst for immortality that permeates the work. Who will master the psychologist’s secret?

The writing is powerful, filled with descriptions that immerse the reader in the action, offer clear and sweeping visuals, and allow the reader to easily get into the beautiful setting. Michael B. Koep is a good storyteller, bringing many elements into his work without losing the interest of the reader. He introduces readers to the conflict right off the first page when the psychologist thinks, amidst sobs: “When a client of yours takes their own life, you’ll want to take yours. You’ll believe that it was your fault. And I assure you, after that, there’s no going back.” This is the kind of book that one finishes and has to take a walk afterward, trying to feel the air, to touch things, to talk to the neighbor, just to ensure one isn’t still in a dream. The Invasion of Heaven is the fruit of genius, of rich imagination, and sheer madness. Readers will love every page of this engaging story.

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

Set in Jamaica in the late 17th century, Nights Arose follows an amazing heroine, Arose du Mouchelle, as she constantly combats the efforts of a strong Voodoo priestess to take a coveted jewel, the Gem of the Red Spirit, that has been in her family for generations. Andrea Roche gives Arose strength and intelligence, characteristics unusual in women of that time, so that she can protect not only her family, but also the island and the world at large. Confronting the evil incarnations Morel sends to hurt Arose and steal the Gem, the beautiful young woman is forced to use all the guile she possesses, even to dressing as a man and fitting in on the docks. With an almost Cinderella-like feel, Arose is passed over as the step-daughter when Harold Ambrielle, brother of the Priestess, marries into the family to force Arose to do his bidding. With swashbuckling action, astral travel, and plenty of exotic locales, Arose and the mysterious Captain St. James have their work cut out for them to save their beautiful island home.

Entirely action-packed and with plenty of magic, Nights Arose by Andrea Roche is an exciting and deeply intriguing story. The beauty of the settings and the historical tidbits describing life in a different era add to the dynamic plot that plays out smoothly, although with plenty of twists and turns. Roche uses Arose’s astral travel to fill in the past so that the present makes sense and keeps the action crisp and purposeful. There is so much to this book that it is hard to encapsulate it, but if you are looking for paranormal adventure, romance, action and a strong, beautiful heroine who can take care of herself, this is the perfect book.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

When their lives collide, an unlikely friendship blooms between Magnus Blackwell and Jacob O’Connor, architecture students at Harvard in the late 19th century. The wealthy womanizer, Magnus, is the complete opposite of the righteous and diligent Jacob, whose poor background is often despised by others. It seems Magnus finds his dream woman when he met the sharp-witted Frances McGee. However, his philandering habit becomes the catalyst of romance and eventually marriage between Frances and Jacob instead. Blackwell (A Magnus Blackwell Novel) by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor is a story about one man’s unbound desire. Frances wants a faithful partner, and Magnus has a twisted view of being faithful. His heart is set on revenge against Jacob. Magnus’ desire to get Frances back to his side leads him to dark paths, and his journey to New Orleans has made this possible.

Despite the Victorian settings, the narrative is crisp and has a contemporary ease to it for a flawless reading. The vivid characters are one of the main strengths of this story, other than the fascinating premise and well-paced plot. As for its supernatural element, New Orleans is always a good choice and I’m glad that it’s one of the settings in Blackwell. It is a provoking yet absorbing read about the dark, twisted and dangerous part of the human psyche. Blackwell is definitely for mature readers only. Overall, this is a solid debut for the series from Weis and Astor. I’m curious to see how the story continues.

Reviewed by Michelle Randall for Readers' Favorite

Princess Dracula takes the classic tale of the origins of the first vampire, Dracula, and turns it upside down. Vlad Dracula is the father in this story, and a ruthless man, bent on winning a decades-long war against the Turks, no matter what the cost, even if it means sacrificing his eighteen-year-old daughter Ruxandra. Too bad for Vlad he has no idea what he is doing or who he is dealing with; he is way too confident in himself and thinks he is invincible, which leads to his downfall. Poor Ruxandra has to deal with what her father has done, and what it does to her, which is ultimately to turn her into a vampire of the night. For a young girl raised for the past ten years in a convent, this is unthinkable; how can she live like this? Author John Patrick Kennedy gives the reader a first hand look into the innocence of Ruxandra's mind and her moral and ethical conflicts at having been turned into what she feels is truly a beast.

From the very beginning, Princess Dracula twists in ways I never expected and kept me guessing from the first page! I was hooked, wanting to find out how Ruxandra dealt with this change, and what she finally did. There were some parts I liked less than others, but it all seemed to work together to tell a very convincing story set in 1476. Author John Patrick Kennedy re-imagined the birth of the vampire and gave it a new life and a new beginning that is completely different and unexpected. This was a great read, but it is definitely an adult book. As a note to sensitive readers, there are some mature themes throughout the book, which come with the territory when you are talking vampires.

Reviewed by Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite

What would you do if you suddenly found a key to the mystery surrounding your famous grandmother's death? Fallen Star by Allison Morse is a breathtaking murder mystery set in the 1970s. Kate Bloom has been living in the stunning Gloria Reardon's shadow her whole life. As a young teen, Kate found herself in danger because she looked nearly identical to the beautiful 1940s starlet. For Kate, looking like her grandmother is more of a curse than a blessing. Especially since Kate only knows her from the Silver Screen; Gloria was murdered in 1941. Although Gloria's murder happened over thirty years ago, it has tainted Kate's entire life, leaving Kate abandoned and neglected. When her mother dies, Kate's life takes an unexpectedly new and terrifying direction. As answers to a case buried decades ago start to come to light, Kate is determined to find peace for Gloria finally. But at what price? As Kate uncovers the circumstances surrounding Gloria's horrific death, she feels like she is losing a little more of her identity. Will Kate be able to remove the dark cloud that has haunted her family for so long? Or will the past repeat itself? Will she be the next victim?

Fallen Star by Allison Morse is a brilliantly spun murder mystery with intense psychological thriller undertones and a hint of the paranormal. This book is masterfully written from page one to the exciting conclusion. The characters are well-defined and the red herrings cleverly executed. Having grown up reading Phyllis A. Whitney's novels, I am no stranger to stories with psychological twists. This book had me on the edge of my seat! I love how the characters grow as the story progresses, and the ending was a surprise! Written in form with Phyllis Whitney and Emilie Loring, this book was so enthralling. I was completely immersed in the story's world of extremes: the Silver Screen and beatniks. The main character's ability to move past traumatic event years later was inspiring, and the author did a fantastic job portraying the characteristics of such a victim. I would highly recommend this book to those over eighteen as there were a few adult elements (drug usage and a near-rape) that may not be suitable for younger readers.