Reviewed by Aimee Carol Dixon for Readers' Favorite

Jude Gallagher’s life has been a series of ups and downs. Growing up, she was blissfully happy. She had it all; a mother and a father who cherished her, a best friend by her side through both of their lives, and a glimpse at what true love looked like thanks to the relationship between her parents. And then it was all taken away. When the police showed up at her door with the news of her father’s death, Jude’s life changed in an instant. Her mother lost herself to her depression, leaving Jude to pick up the slack. In a matter of moments, she went from child to adult and had never been able to fully forgive her mother for that abandonment. Now, in the summer before her senior year of high school, and on the cusp of adulthood, Jude must come to terms with the truth of her existence amid the perils of growing up. Firebloods by Casey Hays takes a hard look at loss, love, and accepting who you are.

Casey Hays is a marvel. Rather than force you to love Jude simply because she is a strong girl who’s been through a lot, Hays lets Jude be true to herself. This authenticity allows Jude to be flawed, unlikeable at times, and ultimately more meaningful and real. Jude struggles with her own coping mechanisms throughout Firebloods, and since Hays chose to use first-person narration you get this raw understanding of Jude that really brings the entire story together. With music playing such a central role in Firebloods, Hays’ inclusion of a prelude, various interludes, and a postlude brought a deliciously satisfying flow to it all. It’s clear that Hays put a lot of thought into the setup and plot, with each scene building on all the ones that came before.

Using a science project to really delve into the mythos of the world was a masterstroke on Hays’ part, and it was particularly gratifying to reach the end and discover that breadcrumbs left at the very beginning were fully realized by the conclusion. Firebloods is one of the most perfectly paced books I’ve read in a long time. By the end, I was simultaneously disappointed to reach the final pages and left chuckling over the perfect ending.

Reviewed by Stephen Fisher for Readers' Favorite

Karina by E.B. Mann is a brilliantly written novel that begins with Karina Morgan - after dropping off her younger brother Max at his school - being driven to Vista Verde Middle School along with her socially acceptable womb mate, Jonah. Karina, on the other hand, has a three-inch scar on her forehead as a constant reminder of an accident she had as a toddler. As she reaches for the handle of the front door of the school, she pauses during a brief flashback to a dream she had, until it is interrupted by a growling 200-pound football player's, "Move it, loser!" Mary Blair is Karina's strong-willed best friend that helps her get through all of the ridiculing from the elite group of pretty girls they refer to as the "BB's." This story starts out like most books in the genre, until Karina discovers a cave near her home, with some very unusual inhabitants.

Ms. Mann does an amazing job of relating Karina's feelings as she goes through all of her trials and tribulations, between her crush on the most popular boy at school, and her brothers' constant bickering. All she feels she has, besides Mary, is her favorite person in the world; her Gram, short for grandmother. The characters of this story are well described, as well as flawlessly presented, to bring this story to life. E.B. Mann shifts gears when Karina's dream flashback becomes a reality and sends this story into overdrive. The author is able to grab hold of readers and take them on a whirlwind ride of Karina's journey to self discovery. This story was so hard to put down from the very start. I was thoroughly impressed with this captivating tale, so vividly captured that I could envision it as if it were on the silver screen. This story may have started out like many others, but it took unexpected twists that just turned Karina into a masterpiece, the likes of which I have never seen before. Brava! Encore!

Reviewed by Simone Lilly-Egerter for Readers' Favorite

Destiny Awaits by Jaidis Shaw is a story about a young woman who has visions, some of which are of the man she is destined to fall in love with. A year after her parents' tragic deaths, Alayna has decided to start over in the sleepy town of Juniper Grove. Thanks to the help of her realtor, Dominic, she's bought a lovely fixer upper that only requires yard work. A chance meeting with the young man tending her garden begins stirring a feeling of belonging that she hasn't felt since her parents passed away. An evening stroll turns into an encounter with a vampire, and she quickly learns nothing is quite what it seems in Juniper Grove. Is Jayden the mysterious young man that haunted her visions since she was a little girl? Will Gavin succeed in ending her life?

Destiny Awaits is a wonderful paranormal romance. Jaidis Shaw's descriptions were very detailed. I was able to picture every aspect of the story vividly. The attraction between Jayden and Alayna was instant, and you also watch them grow as a couple. There's some mystery in the story as well; it kept me engrossed and I was really sorry to see the book end. If you like vampire and shifter novels, you will absolutely love this one. I can't wait for the next book in the series, as I'd love to see more written about Juniper Grove and the other residents there - are there other supernatural beings living in the town?

Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite

Prophecy Awakened (First in the Prime Prophecy Series) by Tamar Sloan is a young adult book that falls into the genre of paranormal fiction. This is a book that would appeal most to an audience of young adults who enjoy reading paranormal and supernatural fiction. Eden St. James is a young girl in her senior year who is very shy and has anxiety problems - she just wants to keep her head down long enough to graduate from Jacksonville High School. Her plan is immediately thwarted when Tara Channon comes straight up to her to inform Eden that she is her guide for the school day. As the two girls tour the school, Eden quickly learns that keeping her head down might be more difficult than she imagined due to the small size of the school. Along the tour, Eden meets Noah and, when her eyes meet his, there is an instant undeniable connection that forms.

Prophecy Awakened by Tamar Sloan has a cover that intrigued me as it showed multiple different story elements and I was curious to see how they would all fit together. The book has a slow beginning that the author uses to provide background on both the characters and the setting, which proves vital to understanding the plot. Even though the background information was important, I wished that the author had spent less time in the school setting at the beginning of the book. After a few chapters, however, the pace increased and I found myself hooked. I enjoyed the connection, romance, and interaction between Eden and Noah as it felt like it developed somewhat naturally after their instant connection. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to the sequel!

Reviewed by Kristen Van Kampen (Teen Reviewer) for Readers' Favorite

Colt Harper: Esteemed Vampire Cat by Tyrolin Puxty is a stunning fantasy novel about a vampire cat named Colt. A vampire cat always feels the need to avenge cats who have been treated badly. Colt has possessed a human named Sean for two years. But, one day, he decides to avenge a dead cat, which sparks a whole new adventure. Colt is forced into community service at a theatre with a nervous werewolf and a tickle monster that tickles people to death. And the body Colt inhabits yearns to regain control, forcing Colt out. And even worse, Colt finds himself falling in love with a human girl named Saffy. But that isn't all. Saffy's sister, Brynn, is a chaser; she kills monsters. And it just so happens, Saffy is part vampire cat. The two vampire cats, tickle monster, and werewolf run away, but there is more danger to come. Will Colt be able to survive?

I really enjoyed reading Colt Harper: Esteemed Vampire Cat by Tyrolin Puxty. The book is very well written and descriptive. The story consists of many funny parts that made me laugh out loud. I liked that the book was written from Colt's perspective, because he has a funny outlook on things. The story has many suspenseful scenes, as well as scenes filled with action. The book had many plot twists that made me gasp aloud. I was hooked by the first page, because this is a real page turner, and will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The characters are all very likeable, because they are brave, and show that anyone can change. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. The author clearly put a lot of time into developing the story. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.

Reviewed by Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite

In The Ascension by Lauren Hudson, Desdemona, Felix and Jinx Anchor, triplets separated at birth, were normal teenagers living their ordinary teenage lives with their ordinary parents until their fifteenth birthday, when life as they knew it abruptly came to an end. After each teen received a strange and terrifying dreamlike vision, they are hastily taken from their homes to a secret location where the three meet for the very first time. Without any explanation, their very nervous guardians whisk them off to a strange building where they are abandoned to the hands of the man in charge.

While at The House, they learn their true lineage to be Asterian - a special race whose descendants have special powers. The Anchor siblings soon discover their powers to be the ability to tell the past, the present and the future, but they also discover the identity of their biological mother to be none other than Jane Anchor - an evil and invincible Asterian hell-bent on domination and destruction. After several months of training, the three became extraordinarily powerful, but when a friend's life is in danger, can they defeat Jane and save the Asterian race from her evil plans? They have seven days and time is running out fast.

The Ascension by Lauren Hudson is such an engaging and captivating YA paranormal story you will want to read it nonstop until the very last page. The story comes alive through the detailed narration so that one can easily picture the setting and characters in a very vivid way. The Ascension characters are fresh, engaging and memorable - you will want to follow them on this journey to the very end. You will fall in love with the Anchor siblings and root for them all the way. Fans of the genre, both young and old, will enjoy this incredible story of the Asterian race, their way of life, their powers and their battles. Lauren Hudson delivered it so amazingly.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

The Demon Conspiracy by R.L. Gemmill is Book 1 of The Demon Conspiracy Series. Kelly, Jon, and Travis Bishop are orphaned after an accident and, after being shuffled around, they finally get placed with a family in Northern Virginia. At last, life can get back to normal. Or can it? The family takes a trip to Crystal Creek Park and heads down into a cave, but things go wrong when an earthquake strikes and they are trapped deep inside. That’s not the problem though; the problem is, the cave is full of demons and the kids video a pact made between the demons and a tall businessman. When they get out of the cave, a rescue bid is mounted to save those trapped inside, but that's when the real terror begins. Nobody believes the kids about the demons and the video may still be in the cave. It’s a race against time and demons to save the world.

The Demon Conspiracy (Book 1 of The Demon Conspiracy Series) by R.L. Gemmill stars with a warning from the American Security Administration about the possible psychological effects that the story may cause some readers. The story is written with the point of view changing from chapter to chapter between characters, all of whom are incredibly well developed throughout the story. They are written in such a way that, almost immediately, you will bond with them, and form an unbreakable connection that will stay with you throughout the whole story. The writing style is incredibly visual, allowing you to play the story in your mind as you read it. I must admit to choking back a bit of laughter when the demons began speaking, but other than that, this is an intense story that will have any reader, young or old, hooked from the start. It made a refreshing change to read something quite different in the paranormal genre and I am going to read the rest of the series.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Luminary by P.S. Meraux is Volume 1 of the Luminary Saga. There is no written rule that says you can only have one soulmate in your lifetime. And there is nothing that says you get to choose your soulmate either. A student from Georgia has lost her soulmate; even worse, her backup soulmate has gone as well and she never got to meet either of them. This puts her life on an unexpected course and the Paragons, a race of supernatural beings, must step in and help. They must retrofit a soul to match with Emily and this won’t be pleasant. Unfortunately, it is the only way to make sure that soulmates match perfectly otherwise humanity cannot advance. Things are going wrong in the world of Paragon though; Emily isn’t the only one to lose her first and second soulmates so quickly and the Paragons now have a tough job on their hands to get everyone matched up again or face the failure of the human race.

Luminary (Luminary Saga) Volume 1 by P.S. Meraux is an interesting book with an original and thrilling plot. The detail in this story is superb and written in such a descriptive way that you can’t help but picture the story in your mind as you read it. The plot is original and that is great to see because so many books in a genre follow the same basic outline – it made a nice change to read something totally different. This is a light-hearted story, with humor scattered throughout, blended with fantasy and the supernatural, resulting in a great read that keeps you hooked from the first to the last pages. The characters were very well-developed, obviously in preparation for the next in the series. I can’t wait to read book two.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

I love romance, but I cannot say that I am a big fan of paranormal literature. However, since romance was the primary theme of this novel, I gave it a chance and I am glad I did! The Nearer The Dawn by J.P. Barry follows Nina and Chase and their love. Nina is a Mortal Healing Angel; she is from a long line of such angels, but she must protect her secret from humans at all costs. When she and her family move to Savannah, Georgia, she has no idea that her life is about to be changed because of someone she will to love more than anything in the world.

Chase James is not new to keeping secrets, and he has a big one he must protect at all costs. He and Nina love each other, but Chase has to protect himself and her from the people who want to use him and his soul for their purposes. Both Chase and Nina have a choice to make and their souls can save each other. But they have very strong adversaries, adversaries who are willing to do whatever it takes to win. Can they do it? Can they protect everyone, their love, and themselves?

The Nearer The Dawn was so good; I could feel Nina's and Chase’s fights and internal struggles. The character development was great and the dialogues were wonderful. You will love these characters as much as I did right from the beginning. Nina is a solid, strong young woman who has a lot of responsibilities. Chase is dark and mysterious, but there is a lot more to him than just a pretty face. I loved them and their relationship. The Nearer The Dawn is wonderfully written and deserves more than 5 stars.

Reviewed by J. Aislynn d Merricksson for Readers' Favorite

Paul’s wife, Allison, has succumbed to cancer after a long hard fight. He is grieving still, but time waits for no one. During the final days of her illness, their three children stayed with an aunt and grandparents. Now they've returned home, forcing Paul to engage in life again. Things are still shaky, though, and Paul begins having recurring nightmares that his wife's spirit is being held captive by a grotesque monkey demon. After each dream, Paul wakes to find damage to himself. Scratches on his side. The chain holding his wife's band snapped. Things like that. A few times his son, Jesse, has similar nightmares.

As he settles back into caring for the kids, and returns to his job as a realtor, he is approached by a friend to sell the house left by her husband's parents. Stillwell is a grand old house, dating back to before the Revolutionary War. It is a house with a dark history, though. Most recent was the murder-suicide of Craig's parents. Then there's the ghost of Hannah, a young woman of the family during the Revolutionary War found dumped in the well. Her story is a hauntingly sad one, a story that happens to tie in with Paul’s today. Each visit Paul makes out to Stillwell leaves him a little more of a believer in the paranormal. He gets shoved by an unseen force. Ghostly images show in pictures he takes, and later in those taken by the professional photographer. He sees orbs and apparitions with his own eyes. Finally, he is driven to return to the house one final time in a bid to find closure for both Hannah and himself.

Michael Phillip Cash’s Stillwell is a brilliant read, and a fairly quick one. I finished in less than a day. Granted, I found it difficult to put down. The description makes it seem like it is going to be one of those cheesy '80s horror novels. It's anything but! This is one part psychological thriller and one part paranormal drama. It plays with notions of synchronicity in the connection between Paul's and Hannah's lives, separated by over two centuries, and with alchemical and shamanic work, in learning to accept the Shadow. Things are not always as they first seem and, sometimes, that which you are afraid of need not be feared at all if faced head-on. I loved the historical/archaeological thread woven in, as Paul learns more of Hannah's past. The author concedes at the end that Stillwell and its family are based on a similar true story in the same geographic area.