Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

School Dance by Janice Spina is book one in the new series, Abby & Holly. Some readers might already know the two girls from one of the author’s earlier books: they were first introduced in Book 5 of the Davey & Derek Junior Detectives Series. However, you do not need any knowledge of that novel to understand what is happening in the new series. I never read the other book, and had no issues with understanding and enjoying the girls’ story. Abby and Holly are excited because the sixth grade school dance will be soon. They are wondering whether twin boys Derek and Davey will invite them to go with them, but soon they discover a bigger problem. A girl called Justine is being bullied in the meanest way – a way which threatens her health and mental well-being at the same time. The two girls decide to become friends with Justine and find a solution to the situation so that everyone can enjoy the ball. But it seems like the bullies have come up with a new plan just a few days before the ball!

While School Dance by Janice Spina is obviously aimed at younger readers, I did enjoy the light, but quite serious read. It took me back to my own school time, but bullying then was something nobody every really talked about. And not much was done about it. So it’s delightful to see books like this in which the characters make sure that one message comes across: Bullying, no matter the reason, is not okay. The story encourages kids to be brave and stand up for the victims, and it shows that everyone will have a lot more fun if they all just get along. The language and reading level is suitable for pre-teens and young teenagers. The topics will feel familiar to them and it will be easy for kids to be drawn into the plot. It’s also clever to use a bigger font and many white spaces to create a book that makes kids feel like they have read a couple hundred pages. It will feel like an achievement to them, and will encourage them to tackle even more books.

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

Mabon is the first book in The Clandestine Chronicles by Kellie M Davies, a spellbinding tale of romance and magic with memorable characters. The narrative begins on the day her father died, sixteen years ago, and on her birthday. “I wasn't a rule-breaker, but today brought with it a fog that stuck around; a gluey force field I couldn't escape.” Lucy DeBane knows something is wrong and that her life is about to change irreversibly before the end of the day on her sixteenth birthday. Her family secrets are about to be brought to light and a very important decision rests on her shoulders — choose between becoming the family witch and forsaking family to follow Gil, the handsome young man who makes her heart throb. Or is there a way to follow her family’s tradition while winning the love of her life?

A skillfully plotted and well-written tale that will have readers emotionally hooked and excited about the characters. I loved the heroine from the very beginning of the narrative and the deft manner in which the author portrays her point of view. The writing is engaging and insightful with prose that is crisp and loaded with vivid descriptions. The dialogues are well written, and these enrich the characters, enhance the conflict and move the plot forward. Character development seems to be one of Kellie M Davies’ fortes. They are complex and 3-dimensional, with deep psychological and emotional layers for readers to navigate. Lucy’s dilemma is very strong and readers will quickly become interested in finding out how she evolves through the conflict. Mabon is deftly written, cunningly plotted, and skillfully executed; a compulsive read that is hard to put down.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Longevity: The Wardens of Time by Caleb Smith is a paranormal adventure story. Noah Thomas is nothing special to look at and, after moving to a new town, he seems to be the focus of a bunch of bullies. He only has one friend, a tomboy called Wendy who gives him the confidence to stand up to the bullies. One afternoon, while running from two of them, Caleb finds himself in a bookshop where he discovers an adventure that will change his life forever. The bookshop leads him to the Akashic Records, tablets of light that store spirit lives and it is there that he learns to face up to his fears. Before he can do this, he needs to banish the five demonic spirits that he accidentally let loose. Will he succeed or is all hell about to be unleashed? Keeper, Noah’s guardian angel cat, is there to lend a paw and help Noah through the toughest adventure he will ever face.

Longevity: The Wardens of Time by Caleb Smith is a wonderful adventure story with a paranormal touch woven through it. I couldn’t put the book down; it grabbed me from page one and dragged me headfirst into the story, holding me until it was over. The character development is second to none, with the main protagonists built into believable and likable characters that you can't help but root for all the way through. As well as a great adventure story, this is a real coming of age story, with Noah learning the confidence to stand up to his bullies and making new friends. It also teaches that there is always a solution, no matter what life throws at you, even demonic spirits! Great story, recommended for teens and young adults everywhere. I hope there is a sequel!

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

A terrifying presence is out for revenge in the haunting supernatural thriller The Schoharie by Diane M Johnson. Until the erection of the Schoharie bridge in Fort Hunter, Joe Bonner was considered an upright young man. Soon after the bridge construction began, Joe started acting strangely. He was sabotaging work at the site, but maintained he wasn't responsible. Joe insisted he was being possessed by an entity resembling an Indian, and the Indian was the culprit for his malicious deeds. Joe's mental imbalance ultimately led to his infamous death. Thirty years later, Joe's son, Aaron, is still living with the stigma of his father's insanity and actions. When a flood ravages the bridge, Aaron is nearly a victim to the currents eighty feet below. Narrowly surviving the bridge's collapse, Aaron is standing next to the chasm where the structure once stood. There he witnesses a native in full dress standing on the opposite side. From that moment, the native spirit haunts Aaron, leaving him fearing for his sanity. The return of the phantom Indian once again causes havoc in the community. Is Aaron following in his father's footsteps or is there an ancient dark force punishing those who live in its territory?

The Schoharie by Diane M Johnson is an electrifying supernatural tale infused with mystery and suspense. With life and death hanging in the balance, the unearthly aura of the story draws the reader in at the opening of the story. Hints of sorcery and Native American history weaving in and out of the plot give the story an ominous quality that haunts the reader long after they are finished reading. With unique characters and an eerie backdrop, this is an excellent book to read on a dreary day and will not fail to raise goosebumps. It is an outstanding mystery novel that will delight those who enjoy bone-chilling mysteries with a supernatural flavor.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Mirror Me is a coming-of-age psychological thriller written by Tara St. Pierre. Hannah doesn’t like to look in mirrors, and she especially avoids looking into the judgmental gaze of her reflection’s eyes. Her life has been closely monitored and scrutinized by her all-too-perfectly coiffed and attired mother, ever since they moved out of the house she had grown up in and into the townhouse in their new neighborhood. Her mom had somehow transformed herself from being a fun and loving confidante into a suspicious and at times openly hostile jailer. Everything had changed when her dad left them and moved out. Hannah and her best friend, Nikki, who also had to deal with a young and not-too-nice stepmother at home, went sort of wild in response to the stresses at home. They cut classes, teased boys and sneaked out of their houses at night -- until that evening when everything changed.

Now, Hannah’s mom had a new sales territory, and she had pulled Hannah out of her high school and into a preparatory academy for her senior year. The transition had been awful. It was hard to make friends, especially when you were essentially grounded on a 24/7 basis. Hannah did have two friends who made life bearable for her. Grace was an overachiever who took Hannah under her wing and helped her keep her academic grades respectable. Zo was a whimsical and warm counterweight to Grace, and the two of them were lifelines for Hannah. But then, strange things that made no sense began to happen. Somehow she ended up plagiarizing Grace’s work and alienating both her and Zo. Hannah even began to wonder if there was a separate person glaring at her in the mirror and if that malevolent being was trying to take over her life.

Tara St. Pierre’s coming of age/psychological thriller, Mirror Me, is a taut and moving tale that had me rapt and engaged in Hannah’s situation. I couldn’t help but feel for her as her mother’s controlling issues seemed ready to overwhelm her daughter, and wondered when Hannah would reach a breaking point. St. Pierre’s characters are beautifully portrayed and authentic, especially Hannah, Zo and Cole, the bad-boy who catches Hannah’s eye and begins her process of coming alive again. St. Pierre’s tale addresses the stresses and strains felt by students, especially those at prep schools where academic excellence is made sacrosanct, as well as the issues of guilt, forgiveness and redemption. This powerful and unforgettable story is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Michelle Randall for Readers' Favorite

Life for seventeen-year-old Abby Renshaw has not been easy. Her father died when she was young, her mom moved her from Florida to New Jersey away from her Granma, and she started having vivid dreams and visions. Of course she was treated by a psychiatrist for those in New Jersey, but they have started to return. Only now, Abby feels compelled to return to Florida to visit her Granma on Bliss Bayou. While there, Abby has more visions, but this time she learns more about her family history and the history of Bliss Bayou as a magical place. She is introduced to Violet who practices magic and is able to help Abby understand the visions and not run from them. Ghosts of Bliss Bayou by author Jack Massa tells the story of the Renshaw family and the practice of practical magic that existed in the area. The truth of the family history has been buried in lies by those greedy for power, and it becomes Abby's job to uncover the truth and set things right.

Author Jack Massa has created a wonderful little world that is historic and steeped in tradition and magic, but not your wand waving kind of magic, the more practical magic of a naturalist, listening to the elements of the world and being in tune with them. Ghosts of Bliss Bayou falls into the paranormal genre for the appearance of a number of ghosts who help lead Abby to the truth, as well as the use of the practical magic. It is just as much a coming of age story as Abby finds her way in the world and what she wants to do and who she really is. This is a well written and engaging book that is great for young adults, teens and adults alike. Although at times the visions get a bit confusing, if you just press on reading, it all becomes clear. This is a very clean book, no language or sex, so I recommend it for any reader.

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!