Reviewed by Marta Tandori for Readers' Favorite

She Lights Up the Dark is an exciting paranormal read by writer A.M. Manay, and the second book in the November Snow Series. November is now a vampire, thanks to the last-minute ministrations of her maker, Ilyn, the recently-deposed vampire king. There’s one problem, however. November is invisible to all she cares for. They can neither hear her nor see her. In fact, there’s not a single vampire, fairy or werewolf who can receive any communication from her – except with Luka’s permission. Luka is powerful and offers November the world; a world they can rule together, but November wants nothing to do with him. Instead, she sticks close to Ilyn, Gregory, and the others, but things are tricky because they can’t see her. As Luka’s army wreaks havoc on everything they hold dear, the group decides that they’re better off separated. November wants to stick close to Ilyn and, much as Ilyn loves November, he can’t afford to have her close by because it puts her at risk. Instead, he tells her to stay with Gregory so that he can teach her the basics of being a vampire. However, Luka’s presence is everywhere, threatening the lives of those November loves, and she’s determined to stop Luka at all costs…

She Lights Up the Dark has plenty of kick-ass action, lots of twists and turns, and a few “never saw that coming” surprises that keep the reader engaged from beginning to end. What also makes this story so interesting is the fact that there’s such a diverse group of characters, from vampires to werewolves and fairies that aren’t your basic two-dimensional characters hell-bent on destruction and mayhem. Yes, there’s certainly action and violence, to be sure. However, vampires and werewolves don’t exactly have a reputation for emotional and moral values and yet Manay’s characters have them in spades. They also have special abilities such as the ability to heal, to hide and to find. Although the cast of colorful supporting characters provides three-dimensionality and interest to the story, the same cannot always be said about Manay’s main protagonist, November. Although her heart appears to be in the right place, she nevertheless doesn’t always have the emotional maturity, which makes her less effective and, sadly, not always compelling. This notwithstanding, there’s plenty to love about She Lights Up the Dark and with the climactic end, more of the same is sure to follow in the next installment.

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

A young girl imbued with an unusual ability may be the only hope of catching a serious criminal in the thriller I Can See You (Emma Willis 1) by Joss Landry. A serial pedophile is raping and murdering little girls, and the only eyewitness to his crimes is ten-year-old Emma. The problem is, Emma doesn't see him in the flesh, she views him remotely. The last time Emma found him harming another victim, she yelled at him to stop. Stunned, he heard and saw her. From that moment, Emma became the sole object of his plans for his next abduction. Because her father forbids her to speak of the things she ascertains from an abnormal source, Emma is unable to speak out to help herself and the others. However, when the depraved killer climbs the tree outside Emma's house and enters her room, the serial killer case takes a turn. Detective Hank Apple, the investigator for the homicide of the young girls, is now involved and discovers Emma's secret. He takes an interest in Emma and asks her for her unique help. With the murdering psycho undeterred from his obsession with Emma, Hank resolves to protect her. Can Hank convince Emma to assist him and keep her safe from the elusive madman at the same time?

I Can See You (Emma Willis 1) by Joss Landry is a spectacular, spine-tingling paranormal thriller. This is a phenomenal novel that rivals Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas series. From the first page to the last, the plot is filled with engaging characters and action-packed suspense. Emma is a captivating character who endears herself to the reader with her selfless and charitable demeanor, laced with wisdom far beyond her years. The paranormal dimensions of the story are impressive and remarkably accurate. This novel is sensational with unforgettable characters, and I recommend it to anyone who loves breathtaking thrillers with a paranormal theme. This book is the first in a series, and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Landry's work!

Reviewed by Tracy A. Fischer for Readers' Favorite

In a great new work of supernatural fiction by author Linda Poitevin, Sins of the Lost, one of the books in the fantastic Grigori Legacy series, readers will be treated to the continuing story of homicide detective Alexandra "Alex" Jarvis. In a literal fight between good and evil, Alex finds herself pitted against the powers of Lucifer and his Nephilim army. Alex is desperate in her battle to save humanity, but when Lucifer kidnaps her niece as vengeance for the recent deaths of some of his Nephilim children, her desperation rises to a level she's not sure she can overcome. Heaven is demanding that Seth be returned to them, also something Alex isn't sure she has the ability to deliver on. Will Alex and humanity prevail this time, or will Lucifer have the final destruction he aims for? You'll need to read this great book to find out!

I so enjoyed Sins of the Lost. Author Linda Poitevin has done a fantastic job in continuing the story of characters that readers have connected with and care about, and her writing is so exciting that it leaves one breathless at times. Readers will find themselves up much later than they ever anticipated, when reading 'just one more chapter' will lead to finishing this whole book in one night. It's just so good you won't want to put it down! I highly recommend Sins of the Lost to any reader who enjoys supernatural fiction, or to anyone who is looking for a great read of fiction in general, and I will certainly look forward to reading more from the very talented author, Linda Poitevin, as soon as I possibly can!

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Tim on Broadway is a new adult fiction novel written by Rick Bettencourt. Tim’s been in a sort of limbo lately. He was fired from his job at the Good Barn and is coasting on unemployment, and he’s not gotten over feeling bereft and guilty after the death of his beloved mother. His best friends are Dixie, his rescue cat, and Julia, his best friend since they were growing up in Salem, Mass. He lives in Manhattan now, and while she’s still living in New England, the two of them talk constantly together over the phone. When she asked him to guess who was having a comeback concert, Tim never dreamed that it would be Carolyn Sohier. He and his mom loved Carolyn, particularly her singing, and he still vividly remembered the two of them trying to get to see her during the filming of the ill-starred Witches of Salem. And while the concert would be held miles away on an island off of Bar Harbor in down east Maine, Tim would still go in a heartbeat. That is, if Javier pays him back the money he owes him which he needs to buy tickets. Julia’s not too impressed with Javier, whose sexual encounter with Tim in the walk-in beer fridge at the Good Barn resulted in Tim losing his job. She doesn’t believe that Javier ever intends to pay that money back either, but despite Julia and Tim’s misgivings, the forces that be might conspire to get Tim to the concert.

Rick Bettencourt’s new adult fiction novel, Tim on Broadway, is a heartwarming and entertaining novel about a young gay man’s coming of age at the ripe old age of twenty-eight. Along the way, the overweight and relatively reclusive former momma’s boy falls in love with a straight hunk named Javier, who oddly enough seems not to notice the hefty stomach that figures so large in Tim’s psyche, and who may just be gay himself. I loved watching Tim and Jav as they navigate the city and then head up to down east Maine, one of my favorite places on earth. Tim and Jav’s budding romance is classy and sweet, and an utter joy to read about. Bettencourt’s plot is sumptuous and heady, and, at times, the stuff that dreams are made of. His characters zing and literally pop out from the page, from the mysterious truck-stop Bill and Father Al at St. Charles, a gay-welcoming neighborhood Catholic church, to the marvelous Downeasters living on Summerwind Island who soon become family to the young couple. I loved every minute I spent reading this book and was thrilled to read that a prequel is in the works. Tim on Broadway is a book to sing about, and to most definitely put at the top of your reading list. It’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

“Our gifts are our curses,” is a statement that can aptly be used to describe the predicament of November Snow, a young woman with extraordinary psychic gifts, whose tragic story is narrated in the first book of the November Snow series, She Dies at the End. In a world where people easily go from the small skirmishes of life to wars of staggering proportions, who wouldn’t love to ally with someone who can see beyond the present? It is in such a world that November evolves, and while she’s not of any interesting background — the daughter of a woman who sleeps in a trailer — she has the one thing that everyone covets. Will she give in to their wishes, or will she fight to impose her own terms? A.M. Manay has created an exciting and beautiful world with all sorts of creatures that readers will love to read and talk about.

I was first drawn to this book because of the title and the synopsis that offered a powerful dilemma. It’s intriguing to read about a character with psychic powers, one who can see the future, and of course, her own death. The question is: Does she know she will die, and what will she do about it? From the very beginning, readers are hooked because the author carefully introduces them to the extraordinary psychic gift of the protagonist with a vision in which “she sees them bury her.” Indeed, from that moment on, and that is from the very first page, the reader already has many questions he or she wants answered and A.M. Manay answers them with skill and great imagination.

I loved the well-grounded and highly convincing characters — even the creatures of myth that seem to walk side by side with humans, like vampires. She Dies at the End features a character that readers will easily sympathize with, but they will love the multilayered conflict and the neat and beautiful prose even more. If you’re a fan of fantasy, then this book is a great adventure.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

In Countenance by Joy Ross Davis, 38-year-old Nealey Monaghan's life is turned upside-down when her husband Hank, their two children Nicholas and Lauren, and her sister Naomi are killed by Naomi’s estranged ex-husband. A year later, her charmingly eccentric and cookbook author Aunt Sylvie Wolcott made her co-owner of the Playhouse Inn Bed and Breakfast in the hills of Tennessee, hoping it would help Nealey start living her life again. However, Nealey is about to find out that it isn’t easy to run the business, especially with the inn’s ghostly tenants.

There is history as well as secrets to be discovered and the arrival of a guest named Max Leighton makes everything more complicated. I love a good mystery, and Davis did well to entice readers with the secrets that Sylvie is about to share with her niece. Before her death, Nealey’s mother made her daughter swear not to go back to Playhouse Inn. Intriguingly, something happened to her mother when she and Nealey spent the night at the inn.

The characterization is good; Sylvie, Benton, brothers Worthy and Noble, the ghosts, as well as Lulu the Irish wolfhound (my favorite member of the group) make an odd but intriguing ensemble. The prose is evocative; the description of the inn is wonderful and it makes me want to go there myself. Some parts of the story progress at an unhurried pace, but the twists and turns of the central characters will keep readers engrossed. It’s a great mix of good versus evil and a ghost story. On the whole, Countenance is a solid novel from Davis.

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

Beth Teliho’s Order of Seven is a paranormal mystery for young adults. Devi Bennett is an eighteen-year-old, highly strung girl who yearns to know who her birth parents are. She and her albino brother, Nodin, know they are different from most people and possess special powers. Devi has constant dreams of African tribal ceremonies that she feels are connected to her, and gets energy and visions from a special tree. When Nodin’s friends, Ben and Baron, visit, the four realize how different their powers are and wonder why they are being brought together by an unknown entity. Devi is warned not to stay close to Baron because their combined powers can be harmful, while a stranger attempts to unblock her thoughts.

Order of Seven is a thrilling story that brings together a group of young people who have special paranormal gifts that bond them together. It is very suspenseful, has a continuous flow of engaging banter, especially from Devi who has a sharp tongue, and is an exciting adventure steeped in spirituality with a bit of romance. Beth Teliho writes in a skillful manner, developing a wonderful story that includes a set of diverse characters with distinctive traits. Order of Seven is a bit more creative than a few paranormal stories that I have read and I liked it a lot. It also has a nice ending that suggests there could be another adventure for the group. Young adults will find Beth Teliho’s book interesting and it is highly recommended.

Reviewed by Amanda Monell for Readers' Favorite

Double Visions by Matt Drabble is a tale of murder, suspense, and thrills. Jane Parkes, a psychic, has always had the ability to see the dead. However, when she starts seeing killings through the eyes of a serial killer, the true mystery unfolds. Eight years prior, she and Detective Inspector Karl Meyers worked and solved a case (The Crucifier Case) involving the murder and crucifixion of several girls. However, Meyers was killed in the line of duty, while in pursuit of the killer. Jane, who had encouraged him to go into the killer’s den without backup, carried the guilt of surviving the ordeal ever since. With this new killer using the same MO as the original crucifier, Jane is wondering if she put the right man in jail. Accompanied by Meyers’ son, the two set out to find the truth.

My mind is still reeling over Matt Drabble’s Double Visions. I have never read an author who is so flexible a wordsmith. With this novel, every aspect of it is balanced. There are two mysteries to solve (one dealing with Jane’s gift, the other with the murders). With every scene, he knows when to stop with the exposition and add a dash of action. The visuals that he provides in the Shadow World and Jane’s visions are gruesome without being overtly so. Each piece of the puzzle is stylishly executed and controlled, a most difficult feat indeed. This is definitely a book that I would recommend to any reader or fan of the genre.

Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite

"Hollowing Screams" is one of those rare books which are difficult to put down before finishing. The action takes place in a 'typical' small town, peopled with 'typical' small town residents. Having myself lived in small towns for almost 25 years, I felt I knew the characters personally, and I empathized with their concerns, their fears, and even their prejudices. The book is very well-balanced in its flashbacks to earlier times, clearly explaining why certain circumstances existed. Or, at least clearly enough to serve that point in the book. When the story demanded it, additional history was provided. The author did a very good job of inviting me to become a part of the story, watching over the shoulders of the so convincingly developed characters.

I found early on that I cared about specific characters, and felt 'creeped out' by others, which is quite typical of small town life. I experienced laughter, anxiety, concern, fear, satisfaction, and a host of other, often conflicting, emotions while reading this story. Many creepy-scary events occurred, both past and present, but I finished the book convinced that the scariest part of the story is not fiction at all - it is the way this book demonstrates how thin is the line between sanity and insanity. Imagine, if you will, the sanest person you know. Now imagine how you would react to learn that person had just murdered his/her entire family in a vile, atrocious manner. That depth of feeling is well-represented in "Hollowing Screams". There were times when I thought I hated what appeared to be imminent in the story, but at no time did I want to walk away from it. If you enjoy your fiction loaded with suspense, crime, moments of terror, a touch of the supernatural, and a totally unexpected ending, by all means I highly recommend that you beg, borrow, or buy a copy and read "Hollowing Screams". A word of warning: you should, if at all possible, not be alone at home while reading it.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

The Short Life of Sparrows by Emm Cole is a magical love story that, apart from romance, also has its moments of fantasy and intrigue. Told from the point of view of Calli and Isaiah, the story revolves around Seers and Nightbloods. Calli, a Seer, is turning eighteen and she has a vision of what will happen among the Ordinaries. Isaiah, the hero of the story, is an Ordinary who works with Calli's aunt. The book is about the unshakable bond between Calli and Isaiah, a story of two different people whose emotions and feelings are tangible. This excellent book will keep readers riveted.

The story has many dimensions, many layers that will take readers on a roller-coaster ride of myriad emotions; love, laughter, friendship, suspense and sacrifice. The plot is unique and the secondary characters are also well portrayed as the story progresses. The detailed narration makes the scenes clear and visual. There are a lot of things happening in the story other than just romance, and that makes it a compelling read. The story is original and the whimsical angle of the plot makes it more appealing and magical as readers flip through the pages. The author's style of writing is creative and imaginative and that adds to the haunting and seductive elements of the story. The unexpected happenings, twists and turns as the story progresses pull readers into the book until the very end.