A seemingly naive and innocent girl is turning eighteen when her world falls apart. Lacking family or support and with her identity apparently stolen, she needs to navigate a world where she is both suspect and victim. Entering adulthood is not without its complications, but in her case she is also the target of ruthless criminals. Can she survive; uncover who lies behind her troubles; even find love?
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An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze by David Scott Richardson
“Suspenseful WWII mystery rich with empathy.”—BookLife
“A balanced tale that remains refreshingly optimistic.”—Indies Today
“…sure to leave a lasting impression on readers…”—Readers’ Favorite
An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze renders life on the home front through the watchful eyes of 15-year-old Scotty Johannsen as WWII rages across the globe. Against the backdrop of blackouts, bomb shelters, rationing, and victory gardens, Scotty and his friends follow the rhythms of yesteryear, weaving their wartime worries through the “wilds” of Seattle’s Ravenna Park, where their imaginations run free.
Into this fragile balance a neighborhood threat emerges: Someone is lighting fires during the mandatory blackouts. Scotty, whose father is an air raid warden, is soon caught up in the firebug mystery and tries to smoke the arsonist out. When the local bully throws suspicion on Scotty’s draft-age brother, and when even his best friend’s actions don’t seem to add up, Scotty must navigate a moral and ethical thicket while treading a path toward maturity. Even as scarcity slips into every nook and cranny, An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze celebrates a youthful spirit and hearkens to simple pleasures, where free time and family abound.
David Scott Richardson’s An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze is a work of historical fiction set in 1943 in the Pacific Northwest. A heartwarming and playful coming-of-age adventure, this novel is suitable for MG/YA and the young at heart. It contains no gratuitous language, but there are a few slurs that are true to the historical setting and swear words—in keeping with the characters and story.
Targeted Age Group:: 12-18+
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
Relatively late in life as careers go, I became a public-school teacher. Faint echoes of WWII lingered outside the curriculum and periodically bubbled up in the form of student questions or sometimes, a disturbing remark about Jews, suggesting that the vaccination of the war hadn’t been completely effective. Even though a few students had read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl or Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, most knew nothing about the war. Few had any idea of what Adolf Hitler represented and even fewer could fathom shortages that led to rationing in America. After all, sixth graders are eleven and twelve years old. Not even Vietnam is in their living memories. Even so, a surprising number of students were curious once the subject came up. Very few, it seemed, had ever talked about WWII with an adult.
Young people aren’t typically endowed with an appreciation of history, and, as a young country, many Americans seem unaware of how we got where we are today. It’s appropriate that the young are looking forward, but there’s a balance to be achieved between blindly forging ahead and reading the charts drawn by those who’ve navigated before us. In fog-shrouded waters, it’s difficult to decipher rocky shorelines. Some basic understanding of history is the keel that keeps us upright in heavy seas.
In An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze, I wanted to keep some of this history alive and present it in a way that younger readers might relate to, hence the mystery format. During my teaching career, those who remembered WWII firsthand began passing on, and their children, like me, were getting on in years as well. Thinking a work of historical fiction held some promise, I focused on the home front, hoping to forge a connection with those who were more than a generation unborn when the world went to war.
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Do You Believe in Monsters? by Jim Melvin
Do You Believe in Monsters? by Jim Melvin
“Be prepared for a full-blown launch into a fantasy realm loaded with magic, monsters, courageous acts, and a dash of sweet romance.” — Chris Harold Stevenson, award-winning author of everything fantasy and paranormal
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From the author of The Death Wizard Chronicles comes a new adventure suitable for teens and adults.
Do You Believe in Monsters? is book 2 of Dark Circles, a fantasy trilogy for readers 13 and older. This is a great coming of age series for fans of J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, and Brandon Sanderson.
Book 1: Do You Believe in Magic? (May 25, 2023)
Book 2: Do You Believe in Monsters? (Oct. 23, 2023)
Book 3: Do You Believe in Miracles? (February 2024)
Book 2 synopsis:
When Charlie Magus enters a fantastical world hidden deep in the forest, his life is turned upside down.
The timid 13-year-old transforms into a powerful wizard wielding formidable magic.
In the real world, life goes on as usual. But in the fantasy world, a war is brewing that will dwarf all others. Charlie’s newfound powers stand between victory and defeat.
But in which world does he truly belong?
Dark Circles is an adventure of epic scope. Only those with a hero’s heart will dare to stand at Charlie’s side as he battles an army of monsters led by an evil being of immense power.
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Third Wheel by Richard R. Becker
Third Wheel by Richard R. Becker
Third Wheel is an exhilarating coming-of-age thriller about belonging, betrayal, and breaking away. It is the story of a boy trying to find his identity without the benefit of clear role models. He takes chances on random and fragile relationships forged in the pre-boom hours of Las Vegas, 1982.
Brady Wilks is remarkable as a transformative protagonist. He must make tough decisions as his friends try to navigate a dangerous path selling cartel-supplied drugs.
Four-time award-winning author Richard R. Becker once again shares his unique insight into the human condition. Desolate and gritty, Third Wheel is a triumphant debut novel.
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Do You Believe in Magic? by Jim Melvin
Do You Believe in Magic? by Jim Melvin
“Transcends fiction and fantasy by exploring the struggles of those coming of age.” —Chris Worthy, Upstate Parent magazine
~~~
From the author of “The Death Wizard Chronicles” comes a new adventure suitable for teens and adults.
“Do You Believe in Magic?” is book 1 of “Dark Circles,” a fantasy series for readers 13 and older. This is a great coming of age series for fans of J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, and Brandon Sanderson.
After discovering a magical waterfall deep in the forest, a boy and his dog embark on an epic adventure in a fantastical world filled with monsters and magic.
In the real world, Charlie is a 13-year-old nerd picked on by bullies. But in the fantasy world, he becomes a wizard wielding formidable powers.
Standing in his way is a vile monster bent on destruction.
Only those with a hero’s heart will have the courage to stand at Charlie’s side when the war begins.
~~~
“Be prepared for a full-blown launch into a fantasy realm loaded with magic, monsters, courageous acts, and a dash of sweet romance.” —Chris Harold Stevenson, award-winning author of fantasy and paranormal tales
“If the first book of this new series is any indication, you are in for a big treat and wild fantasy ride.” —Dave Scheiber, nationally renowned journalist and author
“Melvin shows his literary mastery as he weaves elements of potential and transformation.” —Ann Allen, The Charlotte Observer
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Katarina’s Dark Shadow by MJ Krause-Chivers
A suspenseful, faith based-coming of age mystery set during the Russian civil war in Ukraine and post-war Germany — with themes of intergenerational trauma, perseverance, and resilience — Katarina’s Dark Shadow prequels the courageous human struggle inside a distinct faith during violent political times.
The only certainty of war is uncertainty.
1951: Peter stumbles on his adopted mother’s diaries from the Russian Revolution. What happened during those early years that prompted Katarina to go back to Ukraine during WW2? What secrets lie behind the Iron Curtain?
1915-1917: During the great war, Ukraine seeks independence from Russia. Fifteen-year-old Katarina also yearns for freedom from her restrictive German Mennonite roots. She dreams of traveling the world and creating her own destiny. Then, a rebel attack at the family farm prompts her to move across the Dnieper River to her wealthy sister’s heavily guarded estate. But things are not as safe as they seem. As Russia implodes, the separatist army grows, and suspicion lurks at every corner.
As society crumbles, the solid foundations of faith and family weaken, and emigration lures. Katarina faces the ultimate decision that will determine her future. Will she choose to stay in Ukraine with her pregnant sister and wait to see if the political situation improves? Or will she abandon all hope and embrace an unknown future, knowing she can never see her family again?
Inspired by true stories and actual events based on the harrowing tales of the author’s ancestors, this book will particularly interest those with German-Prussian, Ukrainian, or Russian Mennonite ancestry.
If you enjoyed The Memory Keeper of Kyiv and The Girl with the Silver Star, you’ll enjoy stepping into this intriguing and unusual world with its unique cultural dynamics.
***** “A chillingly realistic, yet fictional, account of what happened to ordinary people in Russian Ukraine when their world was overthrown by social unrest, war, and then a revolution. I couldn’t put it down.” *****Author P.C. James.
***** “A gripping historical fiction and true to its time. Highly recommended for those interested in a different viewpoint from WWI.” ***** Author Nola Li Barr.
If you enjoy strong women of faith and suspenseful reads, get the first book of this dynamic series today. Katarina’s Dark Shadow will pull you into a world that you never knew existed.
Targeted Age Group:: 35+
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
My Mennonite grandparents were refugees from Ukraine during the Bolshevik Revolution/Russian civil war. Growing up, I listened to their war stories. I wanted to write and record them at some point. But life got in the way. Then, in 2014, I traveled to Poland and Ukraine to visit the ancestral lands. There I realized the horror that they'd lived through. Although I no longer had access to those original stories, I found enough historical information to write a fictional saga based on those terrible years.
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Grim Daze (The Grim Chronicles Book 2) by D.R. Martin
Grim Daze (The Grim Chronicles Book 2) by D.R. Martin
I intended the Grim Chronicles series for young adult fans of Harry Potter, Narnia, and Redwall. Book two continues the magical adventures of Howl, the boy wizard, and his human and animal companions in their battle for freedom. As new evils come to Grimsland, they must find new allies, stand with old foes, and tap into unimagined wonders. The story also includes chapter illustrations of scenes and characters. Your feedback is vital to improve the series. All reviews are welcome and appreciated.
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Beyond the Song by Carol Selick
Beyond the Song by Carol Selick
“Beyond the Song” is an autobiographical novel, based on the author’s coming of age in the ‘sixties and early ‘seventies. A singer-songwriter like her alter-ego Carol Marks, Carol Selick begins each chapter with lyrics she wrote and still performs today.
There’s a lot of nostalgia for that time period. In many ways, my character’s search for her voice expresses the search of a whole generation of women. The settings in New York and Berkeley, are immediately recognizable. Drugs, sex, and rock ‘ roll provide a provocative landscape for Carol’s journey into womanhood.
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Fortune by Katie Godman
1800, Bristol.
Jessica is widowed and finds her husband was in debt. After losing the family hotel, she faces destitution along with her teenage daughters until her new acquaintance, Captain Parnell, offers her a role of landlady at his boarding house while he is away with the navy.
Jessica’s youngest daughter, Amelia, becomes a companion to the frivolous Mrs Betsey Webster. It’s not long before Amelia is caught up in Betsey’s giddy world of parties in Bath and Brighton while two suitors: the friendly but illegitimate Lt Driscoll and his legitimate, wealthy half-brother, Charles Snowden, vie for her hand.
Lydia, the eldest daughter, yearns to help her mother and earn her keep. Had she been born a boy, she feels sure she could have trained as a surgeon…and she would be free to marry her best friend, Miss Thomas, the daughter of a local abolitionist.
Meanwhile, Jessica has established an increasingly affectionate correspondence with Captain Parnell. On his shore leave, Jessica and the captain grow ever closer, but can Jessica learn to love again after her husband’s betrayal. Is the Captain all that he seems?
A tale of rebuilding life after loss and shaping your own destiny.
Targeted Age Group:: 16+, adult but clean
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
It is set in my home town of Bristol (UK) which has a rich history I wanted to explore. I wanted to explore the lives of those who lived in Regency Britain but who were in the 'trade' classes, often referenced in the works of Jane Austen and similar but not often fully explored. I also wanted to examine the lives of women and look at the diversity in Regency cities.
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April’s Heart by Shilah Ferr
Autumn 1977. Thirteen year old cheerleader April Schweiter falls hard for Mitch Hudgins, putting an end to childhood and changing her life forever. April embarks on a coming of age journey full of angst and unanswered questions. And her dysfunctional family is only one of the problems in her way.
Classmate and wrestler Mitch Hudgins can’t get enough of April either. She stirs in him surprising passion that is new, unfamiliar and needs to be explored.
But they say goodbye when they attend schools in different towns, far away from each other. Surely staying together wouldn’t have a chance of working out. But they were crazy for each other! Would breaking up have a chance of working out?
“You guys are the nicest friends anyone could have!” April choked down a sob. She was still emotional at the realization of the future of her romance with the guy who took her virginity, the guy who once told her he loved her, the guy she fought for, the guy with whom she was really very happy with. She was heartbroken but didn’t know it yet.