Reviewed by Michelle Mollohan for Readers' Favorite

The Survivors, Book 1: Summer by V.L. Dreyer is a science fiction romance set in post-apocalyptic New Zealand. Sandy McDermott has been surviving for over 10 years since the world as she knew it ceased to exist. Only eighteen when the epidemic took her loved ones and spared her by some fluke of genetic immunity, Sandy has learned to do what she must to carry on. Alone with only her memories of the loved ones she lost and the horrors she has endured, Sandy is existing but not truly living. She has learned the hard way that while she longs for companionship, she is better off alone and trusting no one. When an accident requires Sandy to seek medical supplies in a big city, she is risking her safety by encountering other survivors, but knows that without aid she will likely die anyway. Will she encounter friends or foes?

The Survivors, Book 1: Summer by V.L. Dreyer is a refreshing take on the popular post-apocalyptic theme. No hordes of boring undead, The Survivors takes the reader on a journey inside the survivor's head, providing a unique perspective of surviving in this new world. Haunted by her memories of loved ones lost and traumas endured lends authenticity to Sandy's character. The reader can easily imagine being in Sandy's shoes and feeling how she feels. The flashbacks of her traumatic experiences are tastefully written and not too graphic for the young teenage audience. V.L. Dreyer's tale left me longing to finish Sandy's story and I'm looking forward to the second book.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

Mark Sheridan’s life is taking a strange turn; three curiously related murders had taken place within twenty-four hours of each other, and both murder scenes had happened within close proximity to him. The strangeness only intensifies with the arrival of Sylvia Martin from London, a mysterious pretty girl with weird eyes. She moved in after Mark’s loud and obnoxious neighbor was murdered in his apartment one night. Enchanted by her, Mark could not help but feel truly infatuated with her, ignoring his friends’ advice to be cautious, including a priest’s ominous warning about Sylvia. The Vampire Girl Next Door is a fast-paced, immersive supernatural fiction by Richard Arbib.

Narrated from a first person point-of-view, readers could tell right away that protagonist Mark is an average guy with a busy life schedule – gym, Kung Fu and film classes as well as working thirty hours per week selling advertising for a weekly newspaper. Readers don’t have to wait long for the eerie supernatural scenes to start. Right at the start of the novel Richard Arbib introduces Sylvia, whom Mark’s friend Dave caught staring at him from outside the gym’s window. As he walked home, Mark was attacked by three young thugs but he was saved by someone or something that swiftly killed two of them without being seen. We could already guess who his ‘savior’ was.

Overall, the story’s pace is definitely a fast one, and yet it does not feel rushed at all. The plot is adroitly written and I myself feel drawn to the mysterious Sylvia. This is perhaps the best supernatural fiction that I have read this year.

Reviewed by Tania Staley for Readers' Favorite

The Sexy and the Undead is a deliciously sexy new romance novel by Charity Parkerson. Ella is your normal, single young woman trying to make it on her own and longing for companionship during that harsh holiday known as Valentine’s Day. That is, if your definition of normal is a modern-day witch who has charged herself with watching over Freddie, a former stud turned zombie because of his wandering eye and a very jealous and powerful girlfriend. When Ella’s loneliness and desire for companionship of the non-walking-dead variety gets the better of her, she concocts a spell to summon her dream man. In a noxious explosion, her potion backfires, but brings her someone she would never have dreamed of — the kilted and shirtless angel, Samuel, and his sarcastic and flirty companion, the pixie, Tam. Now, not only has her life gotten even more complicated, as she realizes there are realms beyond even her comprehension, but it has gotten a whole lot hotter as she discovers that sometimes dreams — even one you didn’t know you had — do come true.

Charity Parkerson’s novel is a quick, steamy read that I was hesitant to put down. Ella is a fun heroine to follow, and her awkwardness in relationships is something that I think many can relate to. Samuel’s hunky physique and passionate attitude is sure to get readers’ hearts racing. Parkerson’s tongue-in-cheek wit about romance and sex will have you laughing and blushing at the same time. The Sexy and the Undead is quite enjoyable, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and sexy romance novel. I can’t wait to read more from Charity Parkerson and find out what is in store for these characters.

Reviewed by Bil Howard for Readers' Favorite

Post-apocalyptic survival isn’t easy for anyone, but it just got tougher for Ruin Rat Kayla in Jamie A. Waters' The Two Towers. Headstrong and independent, Kayla is a skilled scavenger and an intelligent computer hacker. She has caught the eye of one of the lead traders which supplies Omnilab’s two towers with the luxury items their residents once enjoyed 150 years before the destruction of the cities. Digging through the ruins, the items are recovered and sold by traders to Omnilab; what’s left over after the traders leave the sector is left to a group of scavengers called Ruin Rats. When Kayla discovers a particularly valuable Aurelia Data Cube after trader Ramiro had cleared the area, she suddenly finds herself in conflict with the trader who later proves that he will stop at nothing to get even with her and everyone associated with her. Having been discovered by another trader, Carl, who is a leader among his peers, Kayla is brought on board with him, initially because of her scavenger instincts, but also in order to provide her with protection from Ramiro. As things heat up in the conflict with Ramiro, they also heat up between Kayla and Carl whose chemistry at times is simply out of control.

The Two Towers is a well-written and action-packed sci-fi thriller that is the first in a planned series by Jamie A. Waters. The action, intrigue and suspense keep the story moving, while the explosive romance between Kayla and Carl adds plenty of extra spice. This is a well thought-out plot which is perfectly executed in a way that draws the reader into a deeply emotional attachment with the hero and heroine. Once caught up in Kayla’s plight, it is impossible to put the book down. Suspenseful, steamy and action-packed, The Two Towers is a blockbuster opening to a series which is certain to thrill sci-fi readers for years to come.

Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite

“Drowning Mermaids” by Nadia Scrieva is an excellent, well-thought-out novel – book one in a series of three, already published. As the title suggests, the story features mermaids. These mermaids look exactly like humans, with two legs rather than the tail we have come to expect. In fact, they suggest they should be taxonomically classified as Homo sapiens marinus. Their two primary advantages over the rest of us humans are: they can breathe under water as well as above water; and they have extraordinarily long lives, spanning hundreds of years. But all is not well under the sea, and our main characters have come ashore to earn money and purchase weapons on the black market, preparatory to an anticipated attack from another band of aggressive mermaids. Why do they suspect they are about to be attacked? Can they earn enough money in time to purchase the weapons they need? What "marketable skill" can they possibly have?

I was frankly astonished after finishing this novel to learn from her bio that Nadia was born in 1988, and just graduated from college with honors in 2011. I have to give her a great deal of credit: Nadia created such realistic personalities that I felt somewhat attracted to the main female character. Considering she was 608 years old, that’s saying something! Her characters are not simply well developed, but they came alive on the pages of this book. The author astutely weaved several sub-plots into the fabric of this story, each of which furthered my interest in the overall story. I have only read the first of these three novels, but I will read the next two for my own enjoyment. I invite you to join me, if you are intrigued by the concept of entire ethnic groups of aquatic humans living in our midst for eons. I highly recommend this book, and expect to recommend the next two books in this series as well.

Reviewed by Katelyn Hensel for Readers' Favorite

Both a mysterious and cryptic tale about legends coming true, "The Selkie Spell" by Sophie Moss was a great break from reality. Told in alternating perspectives, it gives a glimpse into the rich mythological history of Ireland through a modern day lens. If you thought "Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty" had it tough, wait until you hear the legend of the Selkies of Seal Island. When a man steals the pelt of an Irish Selkie, or seal maiden, he has power over her for the rest of her life! "The Selkie Spell" delves into this myth head first, and tracks down a small town full of really big characters who all live and work together to form a real community. Even newcomer Tara finds a place within the town, healing her soul and her spirit from a dark past. However, her past may soon come back to haunt her. She struggles to discover her heritage among the people of Seal Island, all the while building a family and a romance that allows her to withstand the demons that come back to haunt her.

This book was a hauntingly beautiful mythological adaptation. I am a huge fan of myths being brought to modern times, and "The Selkie Spell" has been one of the best I have read. Though the pacing is a bit odd the plot seems to plod along as the romance burst out of nowhere. I found myself captivated by the beautiful scenery and enjoying the heartbreaking but moving story that drove the novel. A very enjoyable book for those who love thrillers, romance, history and drama!

Reviewed by Trisha Dawn Daffon for Readers' Favorite

"Wicked Sinners" entails the story of magic, power and love. Adriana moved to Martinique to get a peaceful life away from those who caused her pain in Alabama. Here she met twins Jacques and Julien Dubois on separate occasions. Albeit confusing both men at first, she soon found her way to one of them and become immersed in their magical world. Later on, Adriana came face to face with another surprise in the family and everything seemed to be heading for a good conclusion. However, things were destined to fall apart in their glorious front and it led to a painful journey of finding revenge and peace for each of their own personal gains. In the end what they found was something unexpected and it is up to Adriana to accept it or refuse to do so.

I was enthralled with the story. It has something to do with how it was written. There were plenty of scenes about making love but the author was able to cover it up pretty quickly without sounding rude. She made it sound romantic. I had to go back to make sure I got the story right but it was what made the writing elegant. I also love the fact that the characters are well molded. They stay true to their personalities until the end of the story. All in all, "Wicked Sinners" is in a class of its own. I was following the story as though there were no tomorrow. I think the story is very original despite having the usual common mythological people and creatures, and the emotions are genuine albeit complicated. I think anyone of any age group would want to grab hold of this book.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

'The Six Saviors' is a new series focusing on six men on a mission to retrieve twelve murderers that escaped planet SR44 to Earth. Noah, Hudson, Talin, Cohen, Rayner and Jovan were handpicked for their training and special abilities. Noah is the lead in "The Light Within Me", the first book in Carly Fall’s new series. This tale takes place in Reno. Criminal reporter Abby knows something is missing from her life; she isn’t sure what. She contacts Noah, who is posing as a criminal profiler, for an interview. Perhaps Noah can fill the void in her life. There is a strong attraction between the two but both are resisting the magnetic pull. Noah must decide between immortality and his alien soul or his love for Abby. When he discovers she is the next intended victim of one of the criminals, Noah will stop at nothing to protect her. Noah is an alien from planet SR44. He has taken on the form of a human so that he can live and interact with humans and procreate. Criminals from his home planet have taken refuge on Earth where they continue to commit horrendous crimes. Noah and the Saviors have to destroy not only the criminals but also their progeny. The Saviors are determined to complete their mission although it has taken more than two centuries.

The first part of this book sets the groundwork for the series. This book is a combination of science fiction, action, humor, romance, paranormal and fantasy. Though Noah is over two hundred years old, he is a very appealing and desirable character. Carly Fall has a talent for creating strong male leads who are tall, strong, handsome and hunks. The character of Abby worked perfectly with Noah. She comes across as rather innocent and naïve. Fall allows her characters to be realistic. They have flaws that make them life-like and likable. The Saviors are amusing when they were interrelating. Abby is at the center of a surprising twist. The plot is well done. For the most part it is easy to see where this plot is going but that does not detract from the entertaining element of this book. The author throws in plenty of twists and turns to keep the plot interesting. This is a highly entertaining book. Beware of some sensual scenes that could be objectionable to some.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

Keir was a mere child when he was taken from his home and runes were carved on his tiny body. His father considered him a curse; the town people feared him and would destroy him; they called him the Blue Demon. To hide the scars covering his frame he kept his body wrapped in a tattered cloak. He was innocent of any wrongdoing but was imprisoned anyway. When Quin discovered him in the prison he was ill and dying. With a mighty explosion she freed both him and herself from the vile, dank jail. She transported him to her home in the stars. Even there his survival was uncertain; Quin bound herself to him for life to save him. During the bonding Quin discovered that Keir had healing powers. Intrigue and danger were at hand and Keir could not stay.

Author Pippa Jay offers readers a tale filled with love, romance, intrigue, danger, fantasy, science fiction and action. I enjoyed watching Keir and Quin’s relationship grow into love. But there is a more important aspect to this tale. The author has demonstrated the plight of those who are different. While many tolerate differences should they not be celebrated? I found it amazing that a father would reject his child because he was dissimilar to those around him. The father hated the son so much that he had him imprisoned. Pippa Jay is a talented writer. Her plot is captivating. I stayed up most of the night reading it. I just could not lay it down. Her lead characters are well-conceived. This is Jay’s debut novel but I am sure there will be several more to come from her in future.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

Did you ever wonder what if . . . I could live my life over again and know what I know now? Andrew gets his chance in “Remember Me” by Brian MacLearn. The date is May 22, 2010, the place is Amy and Andrew Johnson’s backyard with a thunderstorm very near, the time is the day before the big party for Andrew’s 50th birthday. Andrew doesn’t finish mowing the backyard, when the storm hits and the ground shakes and nothing will ever be the same again. Andrew has been swept into a worm hole and now finds himself in 1985. He is alone, confused and very scared. He changes his name to Peter Warren and spends the next 25 years trying to make the world a better place than it was the first time, for his country, his beloved Amy and his family. His goal is to survive until 2010 and find the same worm and return to those he left behind.

Brian MacLearn has taken us to a place we all imagine ‘reliving our lives’. As I read this book I could easily put myself in Peter’s shoes and travel with him back to the past. It is a time to remember and reflect on September 11th, Black Monday and life in the 80s but even more than that it is a time to look into a man’s heart and soul. “Remember Me” has romance, suspense, intrigue, science, God and characters that become our friends and enemies. Brian has a best seller with “Remember Me” It should top the lists for a very long time. I highly recommend this book.