Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

In The Underground by Roxanne Bland, the reader is introduced to an underworld with a mix of vampires, werewolves, elves, shapeshifters and witches. It is in this community that Kurt, the ruthless vampire, rules and no one dares to challenge him. Parker Berenson, a powerful werewolf, lost his love to Kurt and still holds a grievance against him. Now, working under him, nothing could be sweeter than to mastermind the downfall of a heartless vampire who has stolen the love of his life. One is pulled into an enchanting world, a society with all sorts of creatures, and the conflict in this story drives the plot in dramatic ways.

There is a lot in this urban fantasy for fans looking for an exciting and delightful read. What pulled me in was the compelling cast of characters. From the very beginning, the reader already gets the feeling that the characters are well-imagined. I also enjoyed the originality in the plot and the setting is a place readers would really want to peek at — beautifully constructed, and rendered vivid with detailed descriptions. Roxanne Bland has a way of holding the reader’s attention by weaving scenes that are emotionally charged and action-packed, focusing on a plot-driven conflict that is irresistible. The Underground features the finest writing, punctuated by lovely, insightful passages and descriptions. The novel is well-structured to have the reader turning the pages. There are many moments when the reader expects a denouement, but the author introduces yet another twist that invites them to turn to the next page. This book was exciting and immensely enjoyable.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

The Best Part of Love by A. D'Orazio is a beautifully plotted and well-executed historical romance with a cast of exciting and delightful characters. After the merciless murder of her first husband, Elizabeth Bennet knows there is no future for her with any man. In fact, she spends her days hiding from the people who destroyed her marriage. Many people know this is no secret, except Fitzwilliam Darcy, and he is growing fonder of the country girl than he is aware. Elizabeth quickly develops a friendship with him which soon transforms into love. They are wedded, and, not long after settling into their married life, a condemned man about to serve prison time divulges a secret that makes Elizabeth question everything she thought she knew about her late husband. Now, she could be walking a path that might destroy her new happiness and her entire life.

This isn’t your run-of-the-mill kind of romance with predictable plot lines and one-dimensional characters. The plot is well-conceived and it unfolds in an unpredictable manner with surprising turns for readers. I enjoyed the compelling cast of characters. Elizabeth is a broken woman and readers will love the way she’s fleshed out. It is just natural to feel her hesitation when she meets Darcy. The conflict is well developed and it enhances the emotional depth of the story. A. D'Orazio’s writing features great prose and passages that are delightful to read. The Best Part of Love is a book that will transport readers into the inner world of the characters’ hearts; it reels with intense drama and is so emotionally charged.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

The RN Diaries by Dolyn Keys is a hot entry in The Naughty Nurse Series, a hilarious, captivating story that follows the lives of three nurses and what they do when they are not working. Their names are Vanity Carter, Nadia Hollinsworth, and Kensington Dumas, and they love to party, and when they do, they do it hard. Vanity warns that she can do things that could give anyone a heart attack, but she says not to worry because she can also do CPR. These women all work at the Ellerton Memorial Hospital. Apart from saving lives at the hospital, they share a common passion — sexual pleasure. So when they are not at work, they are out exploring their wild sides, looking for hookups, and organizing adult parties. But for how long can they continue this way? Read on to discover more!

I was hooked from the very beginning of the story and it is only fair to warn readers that this book contains adult content, and it borders on the dark side of it. The book is well structured and the chapters are modeled after each character’s point of view, creating a sense of suspense that makes it irresistible. Each chapter begins with an entry from a character’s diary and it unveils their views on sex, men and relationships. About sex, Vanity says: “At the most random of times, I find that I'm ready to do it anytime, anywhere, and almost with anyone, trying to get that ultimate orgasm that holds me over until the next encounter.” There is great humor sprinkled throughout the book and readers will find themselves laughing through every page. The characters are wonderfully built and thoroughly explored. Dolyn Keys’ The RN Diaries is the sexiest thing I have read in many years, sizzling and spellbinding.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Heart of the Highlands: The Beast is a historical romance novel by April Holthaus set in the wild lands of medieval Scotland. Part one in the Protectors of the Crown series, the novel weaves the expected intense romantic action into an unexpectedly intriguing political landscape. The Protectors of the Crown are allied to King James V of Scotland and are set to work against the burgeoning threat of English invasion. One such warrior is the Beast, our hero Ian MacKay, who captures nineteen-year-old Keira Sinclair when she is on her way to marry her betrothed, a powerful man whom she doesn’t love. Amidst the war and threat all around them, this unlikely pair first find attraction, then love despite their differences.

Romance fans will find very little to complain about in Heart of the Highlands: The Beast, as author April Holthaus displays a split-perspective narrative which follows both Ian and Keira through their gamut of emotions. The Highlands of Scotland are beautifully described and the political plot between the clans and the warriors is well developed and credible, grounding the whole romantic storyline in a place that feels real. I particularly enjoyed Holthaus’s use of dialogue to make the broad Scots’ accents stand out, and the fact that Keira was a feisty heroine rather than a passive one. Overall, The Beast was a highly enjoyable romance, and I’d recommend it to any reader looking for a lavish, imaginative and high-quality story to lose themselves in for a while.

Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

You’re the Rogue That I Want is the first book in the Rogues of Redmere series, written by Samantha Holt. Red is a smuggler who lives and works by his own rules. When Hannah St. John meets with him in a bar, he is anything but impressed with the woman who seeks his assistance in smuggling an ancient Egyptian artifact across the border. Although he first rejects her request, Red and Hannah inadvertently cross paths again, which ultimately leads Red to bend to her wishes. Little does Hannah realize that Red is, in fact, of royal blood, nor does Hannah know that the stone they are carting is cursed. With both feeling an inexplicable desire for each other, it is just a matter of time before they bend to each other’s wills.

Samantha Holt’s intricate tale of a rogue-smuggler of title is more charming than not. Initially loathing each other, Hannah and Red are glad to finally part ways after their first meeting, but it is not long before they are pulled back towards each other, in order to smuggle an artifact over the border and into her father’s hands. I liked how Hannah thought Red to be a low-life bum, smuggling goods in order to make ends meet, only to find out that he was titled and did it for adventure, and nothing more. As each member of Red’s crew becomes ill, blaming the curse of an artifact for their ailments, it is not long before Red and Hannah are forced to work with each other, one on one, to get the job done. Red’s longing for Hannah is overridden by his desire to get back to his men, but he is inexplicably lured back into her company by an invisible pull, as Hannah inadvertently steals his heart in every possible way. I quite enjoyed You’re the Rogue That I Want, and recommend it to fans of mystery, madness and mayhem, which is embroiled in a love that will withstand all that gets in its way.

Reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite

The Renegade Wife by Caroline Warfield is a historical romance novel which takes the reader from the wilds of Canada to London society and back. Rand Wheatly wishes for nothing more than the sanctity of his cabin in the wilds of Canada, fleeing from a failed relationship and family betrayal. However, when he arrives, he finds a woman and her two children have taken up residence. At first Rand is livid, demanding they leave immediately, but he soon softens to Meggy Blair and her renegade family. As time passes, Rand learns of the reasons why Meggy fled her husband, and resolves to help the little family however he can. Yet, with a brutish Scottish soldier on their tail, Rand must return to England, and face demons of his past in order to find happiness with the woman he has come to love. Can he put his heart on the line again, not knowing what the end result might be?

I certainly was not expecting some of the turns in this novel, and that is what kept me fully engaged in the story from start to finish. I appreciated Miss Warfield’s adherence to historical fact of the time, especially involving how a woman and her children were property upon marriage. It seems so antiquated to us now that a man could openly abuse his family and not face repercussions for it. Miss Warfield has carefully woven a plot around such constraints to create a beautifully written historical novel. The Renegade Wife by Caroline Warfield harkens back to the historical romance authors of old, and I gladly look forward to the next installment in her Children of Empire series!

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

The Soldier's Seed: Southern Skyes Book 1 by Sharyn Bradford Lunn is a story set deep in the rich, dynamic and very diverse history of Australia. Book 1 in the series follows Nicholas Thomas, who is a soldier in the New South Wales Corps. Nicholas is tired of his life and he does not really care for Sydney Town. Wanting a change, he takes it upon himself to start a new settlement where he wishes to find himself and create a path that he could follow and build his life on. However, it is not easy, especially when he has to face troubles that come with establishing your own settlement.

His real tests begin when he falls in love with a woman that he has no business falling in love with. She is a convict, he is a soldier, and there is no place in this land where he can live a happy life with her. Devastated and conflicted, he sets out on a path that leads him to tragedy. However, luck is on his side when he meets a beautiful woman who might be just what he needs. But will he give it a chance? Will he allow himself to love once again?

Set in the 1800s, the novel takes the reader to a time and a place that we are not familiar with, yet at the same time, Sharyn Bradford Lunn writes the novel in such a way that you feel like you are reading about your home. The characters are very well-developed, primarily because she did her research really well. She went deep into the history of this rich country and pulled off writing a novel that is thrilling, interesting, entertaining and simply marvelous. Brilliantly well-constructed!

Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

The Third Throne: Angel of Darkness by Tabitha Barret is a mesmerizing entry that brilliantly combines elements of urban fantasy, paranormal, and romance to take readers on an adventure to the darkest place ever — hell itself. There is quite a lot going on in this novel, and not too much to have the reader distracted. Meet Michelle Black, a teenage girl who is poised to graduate and get on with the thrilling adventures of life. She lives in hope and anticipation of a trip with her favorite Uncle Bob, who’s promised to bring along the guy she pines for. But things take a different turn weeks before the time for her trip. Michelle finds herself literally trapped in hell, desired by Lucifer, who sees in her a wonderful mistress, loathed by Hades who’d kill her for her destiny, and those around her in hell see in her the subject of much confusion and conflict. Can she discover her destiny and embrace it, and allow it to guide her, or will she allow herself to be manipulated by the powers of hell?

I couldn’t resist opening this book when I first read the blurb and I am happy I did. Tabitha Barret combines mythology with her great imagination to create a story that readers can’t put down. The characters are just extraordinary and the drama is intense. The protagonist is in the middle of a powerful conflict and she could choose to become the author of her fate and redeem humanity, or be a pawn to the devious, selfish interests of the powers of hell. The Third Throne: Angel of Darkness has great writing woven into it, featuring a captivating setting and unusual characters. The entertainment is huge and the writing is spellbinding on every page. You just can’t put it down!

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

The Homecoming by Tammy Tate is a great opening for the Bayou Shifters series, a perfect blend of sci-fi and fantasy and a book for readers who are into unusual characters. Sydney, a rare breed, a half-human and half-wolf, has been having unusual dreams for the past six months, and those dreams have been about Kyle, a shifter. After her first transformation into a wolf, her father sends her to live with the clan of her deceased mother in Bayou. To her great surprise, she learns that the man in her dreams is in Bayou, but the council has already chosen someone else for his wife. Can Sydney stand it? The reader is introduced to great drama as one woman fights for what she believes to be hers.

Tammy Tate has created lovable and memorable characters in this gripping story. Readers will love to watch Sydney as she steels her will and makes the decision to go after the man who has walked into her dreams. Things become complicated when Kyle's twin brother pairs up with her. The plot is well-crafted to keep the reader hooked throughout the story and it is interesting to see how Tammy Tate builds up the conflict. The action is intense and the reader is eager to discover the outcome of the conflict. Readers who love prose that is tight and that features powerful and vivid descriptions will enjoy The Homecoming. It is evident that the author has a singular gift for plot and characterization, and writing about werewolves and shifters without clichés is something praiseworthy; she has succeeded in accomplishing it.

Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Secret of True Love: Poems from the Heart is a book of prose and poetry written by The Duke of Quails. In the introduction, the Duke explains his quest for love, inclusive of his determination and his destiny. The poems that follow describe how love has no shape, no ideal, and that love is neither shallow nor ornamental in its purest form. The first title in the book – BIG LOVE – displays the harshness, critique, shallowness, cold-hearted attitudes towards those with fuller figures, before crushing the insults and pointing out that inner strength is a magnificent gift which attracts true love. Different types of love in the world do not discriminate, whether it be between those older or who live apart, sometimes in great distance. Love is not measured in how close you can stand next to somebody or inhabit the other’s personal space. Love can also sometimes bring out ugly aspects of a person’s persona, such as jealousy, ego and snobbery. Having the love of another does not make you better than anybody else, but it does make you that person’s whole world; hopefully it brings you to become a better person than you once were or which you could have been.

The Duke of Quails has introduced a book of many different sonnets and poems, showing there are many different types of love, including that in the innocent eyes of a child or a love for animals, young love and more. Some also show the emotion behind those who are abused and battered, giving examples of how love can prevail, even against reason, such as in the title: ABUSIVE WAYS. As a domestic violence survivor, the words within this particular poem rang true and brought tears to my eyes. As I read through each poem, my heart almost felt like it would burst from my chest at the incredibly beautiful and descriptive words which lay before me. With so much darkness and hate in today’s world, I pondered how different life would be if we all lived by kindness and giving, thus dissolving the racism, torment and ill-feelings towards others. Even a love for one’s pet is so strong that it defines true love, as it comes without conditions, without a catch and without restriction. The Secret of True Love: Poems from the Heart is a book of pure emotion, which brings out love, light and positivity in the reader. I very much enjoyed reading The Duke of Quails’ writings within this book, and recommend that it be stocked in school, city and home libraries in order to bring inspiration to all readers when they need it the most.