Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Blood in the Water by Rick Outzen is the story of a man named Walker Holmes, a newspaper publisher whose life is falling apart. He got the shock of his life when his girlfriend left him, his arch nemesis is trying to become unstoppable and a woman he saved from a terrible life is found brutally murdered. As if that wasn’t enough, nature strikes his city in a devastating way and almost everything is destroyed. To make matters even worse, the county jail has an explosion in which hundreds of people are injured and many die. Now it is up to Walker to investigate what really happened at the county jail and uncover their nefarious plans. However, things are a lot more complicated than he initially thought, but he is not one to hold back.

Blood in the Water by Rick Outzen is an amazingly entertaining and thrilling novel. Although this is the second novel in a series that I haven't read, I had no issues in catching up with the characters and enjoying the story. There wasn’t a moment in which I felt as if the story was lagging or there was anything missing. I enjoyed the characters, the storyline and even the vile Sheriff Ron Frost. I think this is largely because of the narrative and how the story was written; the author did a wonderful job at keeping the narrative light, humorous and very witty. These were perhaps some of the best dialogues I have ever read; they were well constructed, crisp and very entertaining. There isn’t any aspect of the novel that I did not enjoy. Simply amazing!

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

Jarvis Mann is an old-fashioned private eye facing today’s world of murder and bedlam. A twenty-two-year-old horrific serial killer case has resurfaced and Jarvis is hired to find the new “Butcher” and discover what the relationship is to the old one. Jarvis is being kept busy on other cases too and he faces death, bodily harm and threats to his loved ones before the cases can be closed. Jarvis matches wits with the now wheelchair-bound Simon Lions, whom some believe is the original Front Range Butcher, hoping to find clues and dig deeper into the mystery. Jonas, Doris and FBI agent Alegre are there to offer both opposition and support; Belinda and her son Darren for secrets and information. April is a member of the Colorado Police Department and Jarvis’ love interest. Melissa is studying to be a lawyer, and the old love interest that still has a very special place in the heart of Jarvis. All of these factors combine to create a mysterious sleuth story that is hard to beat. It is a 'must read for yourself' kind of book that you don’t want spoiled by any pre-knowledge.

The Front Range Butcher by Randy Weir will keep you reading and unable to stop. I have read many mystery/sleuth/detective stories but this is the best one in a very, very long time. While there is some strong language (not very much) and sex, it is done tastefully and without details. The Front Range Butcher is a true example of a thriller with all of the twists, turns and psychological surprises very well presented. Just when I was sure that I knew the ending, there was a surprising twist and turn, and I was back to not having a clue. Randy Weir has written six previous Jarvis Mann Detective Mystery novels. I have not read any of them but it in no way affected my enjoyment of book number 7. It is my intention, however, to go back and read them, just because Weir is that good a writer. The Front Range Butcher is a winner; do not pass it up.

Reviewed by Amanda Rofe for Readers' Favorite

The Scream Behind Her Smile by Athena Daniels is a romantic thriller. After reluctantly agreeing to accommodate her husband's old school friend until she finds a job and place to stay, Claire finds herself increasingly sidelined in her own home. While Claire is a successful designer, she previously suffered a breakdown after the couple lost their four-year-old child. Derek uses his wife's mental health issues as leverage to manipulate her, increasingly calling into question her state of mind. Claire's friends side with her husband and, when she attempts to leave and cut all ties with him, she finds herself completely isolated with no money and no access to her business. However, there is a glimmer of light on the horizon. She attracts an unlikely proponent in the form of Zach Argos, a brooding local artist, famous for his art and rather shady lifestyle.

Athena Daniels has created a gripping novel full of heart-stopping drama and suspense. She has a natural ability to portray myriad emotions including grief, fear and passion. The way Claire is manipulated by her husband is well depicted and I felt a great sense of injustice on her behalf. Claire is incredibly likable and I immediately felt a fondness for her character. Derek, the villain of the piece, is played to perfection. He gives a chilling performance of an intense and controlling husband. The powerful hero of the hour is portrayed as a bad boy, brim full of raw sexuality, but this is tempered with a strong sense of honor. The Scream Behind Her Smile is a great contemporary psychological thriller with a solid plot line which had me reading late into the night. I thoroughly enjoyed every word.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

The Girl in Red: A Chilling Psychological Thriller by John Nicholl is a novel with strong psychological underpinnings, a novel that explores the depths of an abusive relationship and what it takes to make difficult choices. Kathy finds herself in a fix, for what began as a beautiful relationship with Police Inspector Michael Conner quickly turns into mental slavery. Conner’s behavior suddenly changes after their wedding and he becomes a control freak. Life becomes unbearable for her and when she tries to run off, Conner convinces everyone that she is mentally ill. But her twin sister Anna thinks differently and she knows her sister needs her help. The two sisters execute a plan to end Kathy’s suffering, but will they succeed against a man as ruthless and as controlling as Conner?

John Nicholl hasn’t only plotted this novel expertly but has written it in a masterly manner. It is engrossing, psychologically exciting and with characters that are hard to ignore. Kathy Conner is the perfect example of what many women experience in abusive relationships. And her policeman husband is very manipulative. Kathy has reported the abuses, but the husband convinces his superiors that she is mentally unstable. It is interesting to follow her through the mental torture and to see her find a great ally in her sister. The emotional level of the novel is excellent. The prose is exciting and the conflict so well managed that it escalates at a great pace, without letting readers lose interest in either the characters or the storyline. The Girl in Red: A Chilling Psychological Thriller is a fantastic read with gorgeous characters.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

All the Broken People by Amy Rivers is a suspenseful story that explores the brokenness in the characters, which are poignant and deeply human. Alice Bennett has finally let the pain of her past go, forgetting her abusive childhood and rebuilding her life around the perfect gentleman. But it is as if pain can’t leave her alone as her past catches up with her and this threatens her marriage. Alice decides to travel to north Georgia to take care of her mother-in-law, injured in a bad fall. But things aren’t what they seem, for her mother-in-law’s fall wasn’t an accident. Alice is thrust into a family with deadly secrets and a world where everyone seems to be hurting deeply. Can she survive the threats and attacks from an unknown enemy and can she reconcile with her husband’s past?

You know a good writer from their ability to offer important background information that deepens character and plot without taking the reader’s attention from the present moment, and Amy Rivers is good at that. She combines streams of consciousness with succinct commentaries to add flesh to the story. Right off the bat, she offers: “Over the years, Will and Alice’s visits to his hometown had been infrequent, and each time she felt like she was entering an alien world. Having grown up in a city in the dusty Southwest, Alice was taken with the Southern landscape, the friendly people and especially the kudzu.” All the Broken People is filled with realism, a riveting story with rich characters, delightful prose, and a setting that unfolds vividly in the mind of the reader. The story is emotionally rich and psychologically engaging.

Reviewed by Louanne Piccolo for Readers' Favorite

The Going Back Portal by Connie Lacy is a suspenseful novel portraying a battle between good and evil. Kathryn Spears, a producer for an investigative news team, takes care of her grandmother – Nana – who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. When Nana speaks about a family living on her land, Kathryn dismisses the story as a symptom of the disease. There is no family, or is there? While checking out Nana’s story, Kathryn stumbles into a time travel portal and finds herself in 1840 where she meets Forest Water, a young Cherokee Indian. Forest Water is married to an abusive white man she cannot escape, as leaving him will mean giving up her ancestral land. Unwilling to leave Forest Water to her fate, Kathryn intervenes. Will she be able to save Forest Water? And if she does, will changing the past jeopardize the present?

The Going Back Portal is possibly one of the most intriguing novels I’ve read this year. There’s nothing as wonderfully frustrating as willing a character not to make a choice it is obvious she will make, and then see her make it anyway. What can a reader do other than frantically turn the pages to see how the drama will play out? Connie Lacy spins a spell-binding story that will seduce fans of time travel and take them on a thrilling ride through the ages. Her compelling writing style coupled with elements of high drama and relatable characters makes for an emotionally intense read. Connie Lacy has a new fan in me!

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Afterlife of Alice Watkins is a fascinating journey into science fiction penned by author Matilda Scotney. Titled Book One in a continuing series, the novel deals with the tricky concept of time travel as well as aliens, space and wild adventures. The title character of the novel takes a strange journey at the very end of her life when, as a grey-haired old lady, she suddenly dies and finds herself aboard a space station orbiting the planet Saturn. Meanwhile, in this same locale in 2513, protagonist Dr Grossmith is shocked to find that the phenomenon of immortality which he’s been investigating for years has suddenly shifted, leaving him with a Sleeping Beauty who is very wide awake.

This was a bizarre journey of weird science that delighted and vexed on every page. It is well worth getting your head around the concepts for entertainment value, as author Matilda Scotney weaves a fascinating tapestry of strange occurrences which seem to make no sense at all, until they suddenly do. The elements of space and time are well placed amongst the author’s vivid descriptive techniques, bringing the Saturn Station to life in full glory. I also especially enjoyed the development of such quirky lead characters who aren’t afraid to ask bold questions about the nature of time, life and death. The plot twists suddenly, keeping readers interested, and there’s certainly plenty more to come from this revelatory work of fiction. Overall, I’d definitely recommend The Afterlife of Alice Watkins to weird science fiction fans everywhere.

Reviewed by Charles Remington for Readers' Favorite

Quinn is the present-day incarnation of an ancient soul, cursed with the memory of his numberless past lives. He is the envoy of an ancient civilization in search of the love and soulmate he lost thousands of years ago. The Emissary by Tamara Veitch and Rene DeFazio chronicles his early life in an idyllic city prior to the Great Year turmoil, a cataclysmic planetary event which occurs every 26,000 years. In this original life he is called Marcus - he has two close friends, Helghul, a boisterous, ambitious young man and Theron, the daughter of the city’s spiritual leader. The love that develops between Marcus and Theron breaks up the friendship, and a jealous Helghul is enticed by dark forces to embrace their nefarious plans for the future of mankind. After the turn of the Great Year and the destruction of the trio’s society, we follow Marcus through a number of incarnations where, as an emissary, he is tasked with promoting knowledge, peace and harmony, while searching for his lost love. His efforts are hampered by his former friend, but now sworn enemy, Helghul, who pursues a very different agenda. Which line will the new civilization of planet Earth follow? Can Marcus /Quinn prevail over the dark forces that have seized control over his former friend? Will he ever be reunited with his lost love Theron?

The basic tenet of The Emissary is the concept that our sun is part of a binary system with the two suns reaching a nexus every 26,000 years. At this time a great change will take place on our planet and some believe a new Dark Age will commence. Tamara Veitch and Rene DeFazio have produced a compelling narrative, full of intriguing concepts and insights, which moves at a brisk pace through a lucidly-imagined history. The ambitious theme is peopled with rounded, believable characters and pulls no punches in its descriptions of turbulent times. I enjoyed the story and was prompted by the list of references at the end to look further into the concept of the Great Year. I hope the authors will accept this as a compliment to their narrative skill. Well-written and researched - a sound, thought-provoking start to what I predict will be a successful series.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Fresh off the Starship is a work of contemporary chick lit with a science fiction style twist, written for adults by author Ann Crawford. The heroine of our tale is Missy, a being from a race far across the galaxy, who is sent to Earth with a single mission: help humanity by whatever means she can. But something goes wrong in Missy’s travel plans, and instead of arriving in Washington, D.C. where she can help the world on a higher political scale, she ends up in Kansas. This strange environment presents challenges that Missy wasn’t prepared for, but she is determined to fulfill her mission no matter where she is. What follows is a light and enjoyable adventure that comments on human nature and the beauty of our world.

Sometimes you need to see the world through someone else’s eyes to appreciate what is still good about it and in the current state of the world, that’s more true than ever. The story author Ann Crawford presents is light but executed beautifully, lifting readers out of their contemporary misery to rediscover what it is about being alive that is so fantastic. Missy’s plot line is much as you’d expect from this hi-jinks kind of tale, with an amusing romance plot and a lot of misplacement and confusion on her part that’s very funny, but it was the wider ethos of the tale that really grabbed me. Overall, Fresh off the Starship is a brighter look at life today that is sure to keep you smiling from page to page.

Reviewed by Charles Remington for Readers' Favorite

Quinn is an emissary. Born in ancient Atitala, sometimes known as Atlantis, more than thirteen thousand years ago, he carries the memory of the countless lives he has lived through the darkest period in Earth’s history. That knowledge, along with the loss of the love of his life, weighs heavily on him. To remember all one’s past lives is not a gift - it is a burden. But today, in Seattle of all places, to his surprise and great joy, his soulmate is delivered to his apartment by his best friend. There are some snags, however. Nate, the best friend, has declared he is in love with her, and Eden, which is her name in this incarnation, has no past life memory, so Quinn is a stranger to her. Thus commences The Emerald Tablet, the second book in The One Great Year series by Tamara Veitch and Rene DeFazio, a far-reaching narrative which will take you on an incredible journey through our planet’s history.

The sweeping storyline will take you to the last days of Atitala, the pinnacle of the previous twenty-six-thousand-year cycle and its destruction as the new age begins. Three characters, interlaced like ‘the cords of a whip’, carry the narrative through ancient Greece and Egypt and the Mongolian Steppes, right through to the Second World War and on to the present day. Carefully researched historical detail brings fantastic clarity to the past lives of the characters and the times in which they live, bringing the carefully structured plot to a truly breath-taking finale.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Emerald Tablet, particularly the handling of historical characters like Plato and Aristotle, and the careful construction of the places and times, with lucid depictions of life on the Mongolian plains and the streets of Paris during the Second World War. The well-written narrative moves along at a brisk pace, introducing many original, thought-provoking concepts and ideas along the way. As with book one in the series, which I also enjoyed, I was again prompted to look up several historical events and was happy to find them accurately reported. A good few New Age ideas and concepts are also woven into the storyline. Crystal Children, also known as Indigo Children, was another subject I was prompted to look up. Tamara Veitch and Rene DeFazio have produced an exciting adventure story which also manages to incorporate many historical facts along with some astounding New Age ideas. An excellent second installment to what I believe will be a very successful series. I do not hesitate to recommend this book.