Fantasy/Urban Fantasy

mind when she =inds out they have been captured by the fae, but she quickly follows her neighbor, Shane, to the land of the fae where she begins to discover strength and magic of her own. When Shane and Willa are attacked, Shane learns he seems to have developed new magic too. In a moment of desperation, Willa calls in a favor from a goblin. As she spends time learning from the goblins, she begins to learn more about herself. Willa’s priority is to save her children, and she only hopes that doesn’t mean sacri=icing everyone she has come to love along the way.

A unique fantasy, Ms. Panikian takes the magical and makes it seem plausible and real. As the fantasy world comes to life, there are so many wonderful details. With only days to reach her kids, it seems impossible for someone who didn’t even know the fae existed the day before to face the fae queen. But soon a way is found where time moves slower, and in this story within the story, a relationship between Willa and her goblin friend, Kalo, begins to evolve. Each piece of this vital story clicks into place with another piece of the intricate puzzle in a fabulous way. The development of Willa as she becomes strong enough to face the queen draws the reader in as if they are experiencing this fantasy realm and growing stronger along with her. With a jaw dropping twist at the end, the second book in this series can’t come soon enough! A fantastic read!

Cara Cieslak

The Whisperer’s Wish

Janilise Lloyd

Laurelin Moore has a secret. She is a whisperer, and she has kept her abilities hidden for sixteen years. Revealing her ability is incredibly dangerous, but now that Ausland’s queen has died, she has the opportunity to become a Rook in a competition that will not only decide who Ausland’s next leader will be, but the winner will also be granted one wish. She is determined to win because her brother, Pippin, has been sick for four years. Cancer is killing him, and the elixir that she brings to him won’t last much longer. This is her only chance to save his life, but what will it cost her?

“The Whisperer’s Wish” is an enthralling urban fantasy with a remarkable magic system. While the magical creatures known as pygmys are a very important part of this fantasy world, there aren’t a lot of descriptors to indicate what they look like. Readers may have a dif=icult time developing a mental image of pygmys because of this. Nonetheless, this competition inspired novel has characters that are very relatable, and readers are sure to grow attached to them. The story is packed with action, fast paced, and intense. There are also some very sentimental and real moments between characters. The emotions of the characters and their feelings when it comes to dealing with terminal illness are very well written. With the perfect mix of mythology, fantasy elements, adventure and a little bit of romance leading them on, readers will not want to put this one down!

Jennifer Shepherd

Cocktails & Cauldrons

giving a focal point that will entice the reader to follow the series from beginning to end. Each character is distinct and rounded, and the author is able to articulate this well with humor and snappy dialogue. The romance is PG rated, and that too works well, allowing the focus to be on the magical elements and plot lines. The reader will willingly get sucked into this world of humor, magic, and love.

Rika Chandra

dancing and axe throwing. Zane can only hope it’s due to her becoming more outgoing and ambitious, but he has a feeling there is a lot more to it than that.

Reclusive artist Eoin O’Malley has made a name for himself in the art world and comes from a long line of powerful witches that have only recently had their magic returned to them. Wall=lower Brenna Sullivan is the niece of one of Eoin’s patrons. The quiet, mousey girl has intrigued Eoin over the last four years, all while rebuf=ing her voracious Aunt Odessa. When Brenna loses her job and is cast out of her home by Odessa, Eoin employs her to be his manager, but Odessa’s jealousy knows no bounds, and Brenna is oblivious to the world of magic, let alone her own magical background and latent powers. An age-old family rivalry rears its ugly head just as Brenna unravels her powers as a Siren, which could be detrimental to Eoin and everyone in her path. A sweet and endearing story of love and discovery, this is the fourth book in the Unlucky Charms series that follows the lives and loves of the O’Malley clan as they each =ind their soul mate and break the curse to discover their magical abilities. It is interesting, humorous, and sweet, with the feud between the O’Malleys and the O’Connors

Dream Rider (Dream Weavers #3)

Kimberly Dean

“Dream Rider” is a super fun slow-burn paranormal story that is enthralling from beginning to end. The dialogue between the characters is fantastic and while it can be very amusing and entertaining, there are also some tender moments and super steamy scenes. Ms. Dean does an excellent job of building up a world full of paranormal components that make this book incredibly unique, fast paced and very engaging. Readers will be on the edge of their seats toward the end of story with a plot twist that they won’t see coming. With preternatural elements, steamy romance scenes, and dangerously thrilling moments, “Dream Rider” is one readers won’t want to miss!

Zane Oneiros is a dream weaver, and with this, he has the ability to enter someone’s dreams and in=luence what happens in them. Out of curiosity, Zane decides to enter Emily Hutchin’s dream. Their relationship has only ever been platonic. They do work together after all. But his curiosity gets the better of him, and his desire to know if they could ever be more than friends causes Zane to become a bit reckless in her dream. After this, things begin to unravel rather quickly. Emily is suddenly having a hard time sleeping, and she begins acting out of character, doing things she never usually does such as belly

HORROR: Elle Barclay thought that appraising a =igurine collection would be a simple task. As a spiritual medium, it takes an interesting turn when a spirit tells her that she must protect the property for Martin. Even more strange circumstances arise when a man appears at the door claiming to be Martin Foster; even more curious is that he states he’s been lost in the Bermuda Triangle for the last one hundred years. The spirits of the house are determined to succeed in their mission, and this makes things dif=icult for Elle – even more so when Martin seems to be ill due to his journey, and his health is deteriorating quickly. Will Elle be able to achieve what the spirits want? Or is she doomed with the other residents of Horned Owl Hollow?

This is an interesting premise, and Karla Brandenburg has done well to tell a ghost story that mixes with a little fantasy and science =iction with the time travelling aspect. There are an array of interesting characters –both human and ghost – that bring this book together. There are some aspects where more description could have been used, but ultimately the lack doesn’t take away from the overall feel of the book. Those who are fans of ghost stories with a twist will really enjoy this, and “Horned Owl Hollow” is one to download to your e-reader this spring. It might be even better reading this in the dark with the =ire going – or hiding under the blankets! Whatever the circumstances, it’s a fascinating read.

Lynn-Alexandria McKendrick

Fallen Angel (Coven Daughters Book 4)

Kat Turner

back and caring man who tries to win Cynthia over, and readers can’t help but like him. It is recommended that readers should read the series in order, so as to have a better understanding and enjoyment of the world building, events, and characters. Nevertheless, this fast paced tale will be entertaining for all who love action-packed romance!

Victoria Zumbrum

Cynthia Fields is a witch trying to =igure out the Coven Daughters’ prophecy. She comes from a troubled past where no one stays around for her. Cynthia needs to connect with her =ive coven sisters and unlock the secrets of Fire and Chaos. In her quest for answers, she goes on a crosscountry hitchhiking trip where she meets a truck driver who has the ability to jump into different bodies. She also meets Raven, who she has a one-night stand with. It turns out he is a shifter with an agenda of his own: revenge. Raven knows a lot about the prophecy and can be very valuable to Cynthia, so they form an alliance.

“Fallen Angel” is a enthralling paranormal romance =illed with witches and spells. Kat Turner, has created an interesting and fascinating storyline which is somewhat hard to follow if one has not read the books in order. Characters are complex and strong, some appealing, and some that de=initely aren’t. The reader may not be a fan of Cynthia in the beginning as she seems to always be on a downward spiral and doesn’t trust anyone. On the other hand, Raven who is such a laid

Security Force of Two (Mountain Town Mysteries Book 1)

Tena Stetler

Candle Bearclaw is a gifted computer analyst/programmer recruited right out of college by the CIA. Her latest assignment is going down a very dark and dangerous path. After 15 years she resigns and returns to her hometown of Aspen Ridge, Colorado, where her father was Chief of Police. Miacoh Zane, a Special Forces Veteran returns to Aspen Ridge to settle his grandmother’s estate. Neither counted on the horrible crime of murder committed against the new chief who replaced Candle’s father. Neither counted on having to help Homeland Security, the

FBI, and the local police to solve the murder.

“Security Force of Two” is a wonderful start to a new series! The author has created a storyline that pulls the reader in from the =irst page until the very end. The characters are well written and complex, and one is going to love the small town setting. The story has some fun moments with a dog thrown into the mix. The reader will love Candle, who is tough as nails, knows what she wants, and doesn’t need rescuing. Tena Stetler has successfully included many different genres in this tale. such as a touch of paranormal, sparks of romance, suspense, and action, all within a small town setting! The relationship between Candle and Miacoh slowly develops naturally while their chemistry and attraction between them steams up the pages. One may feel the story seems long in places, and wish for a little more of the paranormal element, but overall, “Security Force of Two” is a brilliantly told tale!

Victoria

Zumbrum

A Flock of Vampires

Everlyn C. Thompson

Stood up by an online date, lonely witch Keltti heads home and walks into the cross=ire of a battle between vampire warriors and rebels. During night patrol, hunting vicious soul eaters of the local rebel vampire army, Stu, a Vampire King's Warrior, =inds himself guarding a petite witch who had the misfortune to get caught in the cross=ire. When the battle ends, Keltti feels compelled to use her magic to heal one of the wounded warriors. Her skills bring about an offer from the leader of the King's Guard to become their of=icial healer. Accepting the job puts her in close contact with the brooding Stu, who =inds himself irresistibly drawn to the little witch. Will they accept their magical bond before the forces of evil win the night?

A slow-burning love story guaranteed to cast a page turning spell on its readers, "A Flock of Vampires" is an action-=illed urban fantasy of good versus evil. Romantic tension gathers to a semi-satisfying state, leaving readers wanting more. The battles are thrilling confrontations promising to hold the reader's attention. Readers will fall under the spell of this paranormal world where the cast, major, secondary, and bit, are intriguing, well-de=ined individuals. The alluring world they inhabit is as vividly dark as it is vibrantly real, however, readers are sadly denied the reasons for the main hero's keenly felt sense of unworthiness. The happy ever after promises to be an ongoing tale readers will anticipate with glee. Hopefully Ms. Thompson won't disappoint her welldeserved fans, and continue to provide more gripping stories from this world of Vampire Warriors battling evil and hoping for the bonds of love to come their way.

My Song’s Gift (Duet of the Gods Book 2)

Alex is a god and has fallen in love with Lula, a siren, but now Zeus wants Lula to rule Olympus so that she can become as evil as he is. However, Zeus isn’t the only one who is trying to tear Alex and Lula apart. When Alex confesses his secret to Lula about when they =irst met, Lula grows angry and runs away from him. As Lula runs, she runs right into the arms of the enemy: Moros. So not only do Alex and Lula have to deal with the chaos from Zeus, now they must deal with the evilness from Moros. What will Lula choose? Will she choose chaos, or will she choose to stay with Alex whom she loves?

“My Song’s Gift” is an adventure of the new age. With a mixture of paranormal and fantasy, Poppy Minnix takes another turn on theology. Zeus is a bad god instead of a good god as he is explained in other folklore adventures. The book is told by two points of views which shows the readers the attraction between the main characters. The author uses the connection with theology and fantasy to keep her readers on the edge of their seats with continuous action throughout the book as the characters’ chemistry emanates from the pages. Readers looking for a book that contains theology with spicy romance, this novel will not leave them disappointed.

Stephanie Bell

his fated mate until he rescues an unknown paranormal from the clutches of The Order, a human organization that targets all species of non-humans for torture, experimentation, and extermination. When the lovely young Joelle rushes forth to heal her injured captors, Alexei realizes two things: that he has found his soulmate, and that this angel is too good for him. Believing that only demons could sense their mates, Alexei thinks he is protecting Joelle by not drawing her into his dark and dangerous world but he is wrong, and he is only hurting her by denying the bond that she feels as well!

Dark Wine at Dawn

Jenna Barwin

Wicked Grace (Wicked Book 3)

Luna Joya

“Wicked Grace” is full of frenetic energy and romantic angst. It launches directly into Joelle’s rescue from The Order, but with the promise of retribution from the organization’s cruel leader, Noxx, the sense of dread is ever present. At the same time, the witch world is in political turmoil and although Alexei and Joelle’s story is insulated from much of the bigger picture, the frequent mentions of concurrent storylines can result in some sensory overload. It is also easy to become angry with Alexei’s =ixed belief in his unworthiness of his “Angel” and his lack of insight into the pain he in=licts on his rejected fated mate. On her part, Joelle is a con=licted blend of tortured survivor, intellectual genius, and gullible innocent. With perseverance, fans of Luna Joya’s wicked and entangled paranormal world will be rewarded with a just and “orderly” conclusion!

Joan Lai

Demon Prince, Alexei Maronov, is kept busy as the general of his father’s criminal empire in the shadows of Los Angeles. He’d almost given up hope of =inding

Henry Bautista and his =iancé e, Cerissa, have traveled to the New York Collective in order to ful=ill Henry’s bite requirements with his maker, Anne-Louise, but of course, when Henry and AnneLouise are near each other, all hell breaks loose. On top of dealing with the maker-child drama, highranking of=icials within the Collective are being found by the human NYPD, completely drained of blood. Thankfully, AnneLouise’s boyfriend, Rick, is on the case… until he disappears too! Tig gets called in by Leopold, the leader of the Collective to help with the case – and then they learn an old enemy has resurfaced. Can Cerissa help Tig solve the case without revealing her extra powers as a Lux? Can Henry =ind a way to =inally be rid of his maker? What should have been a fun vacation in the Big Apple during the holidays turns into anything but!

Avid fans of the series will relish the chance to spend more time with Henry and Cerissa – and a few of the starring secondary characters – outside of the Hill. Having this story based in New York is a welcome change from the usual locale, and brings with