Reviewed by Samantha Rivera for Readers' Favorite

Vampires, fae, spriggins, nymphs and more are taking up residence in greater Manhattan. Of course, as long as they obey the rules and laws of The Vault, that’s just fine with the Regent in charge. When humans start turning up dead and the creatures of the forest are being corrupted through dark magic, it’s time to find the culprit. Addison, as Regent, is in charge of discovering just what is going on in his area, and with the help of his Guardians as well as a local half-dryad named Saraia, he’s hoping to do so before another person ends up dead, human or not. There is evil corrupting Manhattan and it’s infecting the many creatures who live there. If they can’t find the source soon it could be the end of the Seelie, mages and humans alike in The Regent’s Gamble by A. Payne and N.D. Taylor.

Reading about the Seelie and Unseelie courts as well as magic users of any type has always fascinated me. I read absolutely anything I can get my hands on and this book did not disappoint. I was kept enthralled by every page as Addison and Saraia fought for their lives and the lives of their people. There was plenty of amazing action in this book as well as some pretty interesting romance scenes. Each of the characters (like Addison, Saraia, Noah and Liv) was very realistic and I had a real interest in what happened to them. I wanted to learn more and even at the end I wasn’t done getting to know them. The Regent’s Gamble by A. Payne and N.D. Taylor is definitely one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

How can a spoiled French princess and a young peasant save a world inhabited by beings of myth and legend? That is the basis of Shield of the Palidine by Barbara T. Cerny. Beginning in France in the early 1600s, the tale brings seven-year-old Pierre into possession of an unusual necklace that he and his friend Guy use as the basis of all their childhood adventures. When financial hardship causes Pierre to try to sell the necklace, he and Guy meet the chubby self-serving Princess Elise, niece to the King of France. As Pierre clasps the necklace around Elise’s neck, they are both transported to a magical land – the home of creatures of Greek myth and other ancient legends that have sought refuge away from the hatred of man. Unable to stand up to the threat of destruction at the hands of the evil Asmodai as individual races, these inhabitants of the land of Amorgos look to Elise and Pierre as the fulfillment of the prophecies that tell of The Redeemer and her Consort who will come to lead them to victory. In spite of lengthy training, powerful mentors, and the possession of magic armor and weapons, will two humans live through a real life adventure and be able to defeat evil that has grown for over 2,000 years? Will all the different races agree to follow them?

Tremendous action, historical references and fantastic imagination combine in Shield of the Palidine by Barbara T. Cerny to create an excellent story of hope, dedication, loss and love. An incredible number of well-developed characters, both historical and mythical, take part in several quests to find the tools mentioned by the prophecies to aid in the final battle. Elise and Pierre try to bring the quarrelsome races together in order to lead them into an epic battle that will determine the fate of Amorgos. This story is full of emotion and clearly follows the growth in maturity of the young French princess and the peasant she thinks is beneath her. It is an outstanding book for fantasy readers of all ages.

Reviewed by Michelle Robertson for Readers' Favorite

Laird Galen Graham stumbles upon an injured woman who needs care and protection, but she cannot speak. He tries to find out who she is, but finds himself falling in love with her instead. Legend of the Fae (The Dark Fae Saga Book 1) written by April Holthaus is a unique story based on centuries-old tales passed down through the people of the Scottish Highlands. These stories were told about the Fae, better known to a reading audience today as the Fairies. Some tales of the Fae are told of them being evil, some of them being mystical creatures of good; this story, however, tells a tale of both good and evil Fae, magic, love, danger and mystery.

Author April Holthaus writes a plot of wonderful creativity with adventure, romance, and folktales. A reader has not a spare moment to ponder what will happen next as the suspense will keep them turning pages to find out. The story has different transitional plot settings from childhood friendship scenes, to the customs and responsibilities of a Scottish Laird, and a much talked about battle of good and evil, only portrayed with the culture of the Fae.

Not only is this story entertaining, but it is also resourceful and educational. For example, a reader can learn about a few Scottish customs, life style habits, and way of living in the 1400s, as well as learn a version of the origin of a commonly loved folk tale character, a fairy, or in this case, a Fae. Being an avid reader of Scottish romance books, as well as the romance/science fiction genre, I absolutely enjoyed this book very much and look forward to any future works from this author.

Reviewed by Natasha Jackson for Readers' Favorite

Neil and Candy are happily married and desperately in love. They fought hard for the relationship and it is perfect now, except Neil really wants a baby and Candy can’t give him one. Neil steamrolls over Candy and hires a surrogate as Candy begins to fall in love with a lost little girl inside a local orphanage. The Price to Love is an emotional story about a marriage on the brink of falling apart and how two people cope with changing relationships. Lorhainne Eckhart has written a fantastic novel about secrets, desires and the lengths we’re willing to go in order to make our dreams come true.

The Price to Love is a lot of story and by that I mean that a lot happens in this story, but it isn’t a long one. Candy feels bad that she can’t give her husband the one thing he really wants — a baby — but she also feels unsettled about the situation with the surrogate, rightly so as it turns out. I loved the way Lorhainne Eckhart played the turmoil Candy was feeling; she was still deeply in love with her husband, but his actions were ripping her apart and she was torn. The tension between them was palpable, so much at times that you really just wanted to grab Neil by the collar and say, “Really Neil? Really?!” As much as he was downright loathsome at times, it was a great twist to make the man the one desperate for a child. The story doesn’t quite get resolved at the end of The Price to Love, but it is still one great piece of storytelling.

Reviewed by Michelle Randall for Readers' Favorite

Life as the daughter of two of the greatest rock singers in the world is never easy, and when your parents are divorced and feuding against each other, it is even worse. Sadie McRae doesn't think it can get any worse than this, but she is about to learn that everything can be taken away in an instant. Things Lost In The Fire by Katie Jennings follows Sadie as she rebuilds her life with the help of her grandparents, after she survives a terrible assault in her mother's house. Even if that means she must return to Hollywood and face her demons. Katie Jennings takes the time to develop true to life characters that you can relate to and understand, that you feel for and want to see overcome their pasts and find a brighter future.

Things Lost In the Fire touches on a physical assault, stalking, drugs and rock 'n' roll. The characters are all touched by a fire, or event that destroyed something in their lives, but how each one reacted is completely different. Sadie retreats far from public view and becomes a shy, scared version of herself that needs to be brought back into the world. Her mother refuses to accept anything and lives in an almost fantasy. Katie Jennings gives us a compelling story of life that does not have to be defined by one incident; there is more to each person than one event or one mistake. This is a wonderful book for young adults as well as adults.

Reviewed by Janelle Alex, Ph.D. for Readers' Favorite

Kathryn Guare has brought an enchanting tale into the world by writing The Secret Chord. This mystery suspense thriller is the second in The Conor McBride Series. Conor leaves Dingle Peninsula, Ireland, behind and heads to Hartsboro Bend, Vermont. He is full of secrets, which he really needs help dealing with, but he wants to keep inn owner, Kate Fitzpatrick, in the dark. However, Kate has a number of secrets and hidden traumas that she needs to deal with too. As each of their secrets begins to come to light, the shock for both Conor and Kate is gut-wrenchingly severe. Their fates have been intertwined for years upon years, completely unbeknownst to either of them. One man is at the center of the grave deceptions and traumatic experiences that Conor and Kate have endured and continually face. Will this drive them apart or bring them closer together?

Nicely done, Kathryn Guare's The Secret Chord is a little slow to start, but has compelling twists within the plot that keep you engrossed until the end. There is also a marvelous artistic connection between Conor and Kate as Conor is a violinist and Kate is a painter. The reader is drawn in to discover whether or not the colorful strokes of Kate's brush and the lilting notes brought forth from Conor's bow can create a strong enough opportunity for these two broken individuals to find love. Amidst it all, there is a great deal of suspense that keeps the mystery at the forefront. Guare's work is paradoxically charming and suspenseful. I most certainly recommend reading The Secret Chord and the rest of The Conor McBride Series.

Reviewed by Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite

Cyndarella, Tavie, Denise and Vette had been best friends since high school, but Cyn was the pivot of the friendship and her friends could talk to her about their deepest secrets. Cyn's life was, however, far from perfect itself. Although now happily engaged to a truly wonderful man, memories of her greatest love still haunted her. Bashar was her first love and she had been deeply in love with him. They had made plans for their future and everything was going according to plan until he left on a business trip to Baghdad and never came back. No final goodbye and no reason; he just vanished and for thirteen years she did not know what had happened to him. Since Bashar, Cyn found it hard to trust any man; all her relationships had been filled with scepticism and were always short lived until she met Thad. Cyn was all ready to get married and start a new chapter with Thad when Vette discovered some horrifying truth about Bashar's disappearance. Suddenly Cyn was stuck between her greatest love and her fiancé.

One Foot Outside The Door by Vina St. Fran is a fascinating contemporary romance story that takes you deep into the lives of four women as they try to find their right footing in the world of relationships. The four were all comfortable in their professional lives, but it was exciting to follow their personal journeys and witness a friendship so pure and fierce. The story portrays the beauty of having friends you know you can count on at any time and turn to with/for anything. I loved the way the other three completely trusted Cyn and knew that they could tell her anything without fear of being judged or ridiculed. One Foot Outside The Door by Vina St. Fran delivered a story filled with romance, suspense and relationship drama through love triangles, betrayals, broken trust, and second chances.

Reviewed by Tracy A. Fischer for Readers' Favorite

The Crossings by Barry Kienzle is a delightful coming of age story that follows young George “Georgie” Martin as he hops on a freight train from his home near Cincinnati, Ohio, determined to experience the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans. Georgie, once an innocent altar boy, crosses paths with many unique individuals. From each, he learns a valuable life lesson. Georgie’s experiences help him to grow from a child into a man, from a naïve little boy into a wiser soul. Georgie is dealt a significant blow during his journey, and it is during this journey that he learns the importance of depending upon oneself and others, the importance of self-sufficiency as well as inter-connectedness.

Barry Kienzle’s debut work is a lovely story of adventure, growth and maturation. It would appeal to readers young and old, but is targeted towards a young adult audience, a niche it fits well. The Crossings has many lessons to teach its readers, but not in a preachy, interminable fashion. I found the book to be an easy to follow read, short enough to read in one afternoon, and very well worth the time. It is clear that Mr. Kienzle spent a great deal of time researching the time period in which this story takes place, the 1930s, and that this book was very lovingly written. Based on an actual experience in the life of the author’s father, this book was a joy to read. Through Georgie’s travels, we are taken along on his passage from boy to man, and it’s a trip worth taking.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

The See-Through Leopard by Sibel Hodge is the story of Jazz who meets with an accident and loses her mother. The accident leaves some facial scars which make her conscious of her looks. She falls into a kind of depression. It is at that phase in her life that her father decides to move to a game sanctuary in Kenya. She finds an orphaned leopard cub there and her association with that animal takes her on a path of healing and love.

I found the book beautiful with lovely moments. The book has a purpose and a moral that is highly motivational. A percentage of the proceeds of the sales of this book goes to Panthera, an organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the wild cats of the world. The book teaches you how to love and heal yourself. It is the journey of a girl who finds love, discovers herself, and finally embarks on a journey of mental and spiritual healing.

The See-Through Leopard touches you on many levels. The love and compassion Jazz feels for the leopard is worth mentioning. The book has an educational theme which speaks about the extinction of animals, poaching, and endangered species. The story has a circular effect. The emotions are raw and it calls out to humans to rise and protect these wild cats before all of them disappear from the earth. The backdrop of the African jungle makes the story and narrative scenic.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Search for the Stone of Excalibur is the second volume of The Chronicles of the Stone, a children’s and preteen historical adventure series written by Fiona Ingram and illustrated by Lori Bentley. Adam and Justin are South African cousins who played vital roles in discovering the first Stone of Power in Egypt while they were on a trip with their Aunt Isabel and their Gran. James Kinnaird, the archaeologist they helped rescue on that adventure, has sent word that the second Stone of Power has been located, and he’s invited them to his family’s castle in Scotland for their summer vacation to help with researching it. When they meet Aunt Isabel at the airport, Justin’s a bit taken aback by her companion, Kim, Isabel’s 12-year-old protegee, who’ll be spending the vacation with them. While she’s the same age as Adam, and only a year younger than Justin, he feels that he and Adam were a pretty good team in Egypt. Adam’s a bit more open to their new companion’s presence, and, before they know it, they've arrived at Heathrow Airport and are on their way to Oxford.

Fiona Ingram’s children's and preteen adventure novel, The Search for the Stone of Excalibur: The Chronicles of the Stone, Volume II, continues the excitement, danger, history and discoveries of the first book in the series, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab. Ingram’s done an impressive amount of historical research into the legend and history of King Arthur, and her carefully depicted setting in an ancient Scottish castle is inspired. While the author gives enough background to enable this book to be read as a standalone novel, I would suggest reading the books in order to get the full impact of the adventures and their effects on the cousins. I loved watching how Adam and Justin began their coming of age in the first volume, and seeing them continue to hone their detection skills and recognize their strengths and fears in The Search for the Stone of Excalibur is a joy. Ingram’s storytelling is masterful; she adroitly weaves historical fact and fantasy in a smooth and fluid style that makes reading this book both an exciting and intellectually satisfying treat. The Search for the Stone of Excalibur is filled with action and adventure, puzzles and ghostly presences, and stalwart companions ready to face any and all perils that come their way. What more could a reader ask for? The Search for the Stone of Excalibur: The Chronicles of the Stone, Volume II is a marvelous historical adventure tale, and it’s most highly recommended.