The Beautiful Pretender

The Beautiful Pretender by Melanie Dickerson, 2016 Thomas Nelson Publishing

     The King had separated Thornbeck and Plimmwald from the duchy of Geitbart because the Duke had chosen to marry against his liege's wishes. Avelina Klien is the maidservant to the Earl of Plimmwald's daughter, Dorothea. When Dorothea flees to be with her lover, one of her father's knights, Avelina discovers just how far the earl will go to try and protect his people: he commands Avelina to take Dorothea's place in the bride-quest the king has commanded of Thornebck's margrave. 

     Avelina is terrified the margrave will discover her deception and that the grumpy lord will punish her for trying to protect her people and provide for her family. Her instructions are simple: fly under the radar while ensuring the margrave doesn't marry the Duke of Geibart's daughter. Her reward is the funding to support her family and a dowry to marry the man of her choice. 

     Reinhart Stolten, the margrave in question, is not pleased the king is requiring that he marry one of ten young ladies from a list. He begs time from the king to choose one, but to get to know all of the ladies in the timeframe allowed. With help from Odette and Jorgen, the steward and his wife, Reinhart sets up a two-week house party to get some measure of the young women--without telling them why. 

     There are more deceptions and secrets about than any of the major players are aware of: Avelina struggles to keep her identity secret from Reinhart and her new friends, Magdalen and Odette. The duke fo Geibart's daughter is plotting something, but what it is no one knows until it may be too late. Avelina's identity is discovered placing her life in danger, but can she convince the margrave that she meant no harm? Geibart's plans may prove their concerns premature as Reinhart and Avelina battle for their lives. 

     Avelina has fallen for the one man she cannot have and her deception discovers the margrave has fallen for her straightforward charm -- despite her attempts to bring Magdelen to the center of his notice. 

     Beauty and the Beast meets the Princess and the Pea in this tale of secrets and surprise. Dickerson weaves historical romance into Christian fiction that readers of all ages will enjoy--some suspense and violence will limit younger readers. 

That's Amore

That's Amore by Janice Thompson, 2014 Revell Publishing

     Several years after her wedding to DJ Neely, Bella is in her husband's hometown to set up a second Club Wed. Shortly before the two relocate with their children Bella discovers that her family will be growing and plans to continue her work in Splendora as long as she can. 

     In Galveston, Bella's sister and her husband have taken the lead in her absence. DJ's business is booming and they turn their eyes back toward Splendora, Texas, and the renovation of Club Wed no. 2. Bubba Neely, DJ's younger brother, and his wife, Bella's best friend, have moved back to his hometown to open a Bar-B-Que joint but face opposition from some town influencers. 

     Neither DJ nor Bubby knows why the mayor opposes both of their enterprises--they'll bring commerce to the small town. As they battle to make a life, even temporarily, in Splendora Bella and her friends struggle with the temptation to give in to wants rather than behaving as her faith prescribes. 

     Halfway through her pregnancy DJ suggests renewing their vows when the chapel at Club Wed is complete. Bella finds the challenges of pregnancy--with twins no less--the frustration caused by Splendora's mayor, the distance from her family, and the minor dramas of small-town life combine to be more than she can handle alone. 

     Bella repeatedly learns she cannot do it all, especially not on her own. This final installment in Bella and DJ's story focuses on faith and family to get through difficult and unexpected times. 

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson, 2015 Thomas Nelson Publishing

     Odette is one of the most sought-after young women in Thornbeck. Now twenty years old Odette has been living with her uncle for the last ten years--since her parents died of the plague. She has a soft spot for the poor of their town. Odette's uncle supports her decision to wait to marry and allows her more freedom than she can expect after marriage: he even helps her distribute the food she illegally poaches from the margrave's forest. 

     Jorgen is the margrave's huntsman and tasked with ensuring the wealth of animal life in the forests. He notices a significant dearth of large game and worries about wolves or large boar, both of which pose a danger to Thornbeck's people. When Odette loses an arrow in the woods Jorgen is certain the poacher who killed his father has returned. 

     When the two meet at the midsummer festival Odette and Jorgen are unaware their mutual attraction is overshadowed by their professional animosity. They develop a liking for each other fraught with uncertain tension: Odette knows he is the forester who seeks to catch her and stop the supply of food to Thornbeck's orphans, Jorgen seeks the poacher with vengeance on his mind. 

     Outside political forces force Odette to take risks which causes her to be caught and brutally injured. Jorgen discovers the identity of his poacher but tries to protect the woman he's come to love. Neither can stop the margrave's justice and neither expects the young lord's punishment. 

     In this blending of Robin Hood and the Swan Princess Odette and Jorgen find friendship and faith leading them to each other. Other suitors try to blackmail Odette and her uncle into a match she resists and to remove Jorgen from the social and political landscape. Younger teens will enjoy the clean romance and quick adventure of The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest. 

A Kind of Magic

A Kind of Magic by Betty Neels, 1992 Harlequin

    Rosie MacDonald and her parents left their family home in the Scottish Highlands to "Uncle Donald" after Mr. MacDonald realized an unfortunate investment. The family is living in Wiltshire when Rosie's grandmother demands the young lady accompany her on a rail tour of the highlands. 

     Eager for a vacation and a glimpse of her old stomping grounds, Rosie consents to her domineering grandmother's demands. Rosie plans the time as a break for her aunt who normally cares for her grandmother. Mrs. MacDonald demands the constant attendance and exacting standards of those who care for her. 

     When her grandmother sprains her ankle at their first stop Rosie and Mrs. MacDonald must allow their new acquaintances on the train to move on without them. The local doctor has several responsibilities and has received assistance from Fergus Cameron. 

     Mrs. MacDonald finds the youngish doctor to be competent despite the dislike between Rosie and the doctor. Fergus doesn't reveal to Rosie or her grandmother this renown in the medical world. Fergus takes every chance he gets to visit with the young lady, even going so far as to bring her along with him when he examines her Uncle Donald. 

     With her grandmother's recovery and Uncle Donald's death, the MacDonald family returns to their home allowing Fergus to further his suit with the unsuspecting Rosie. 

     More passionate than her earlier novels,  A Kind of Magic follows the meeting of independent Rosie and strong-willed Fergus as they grow toward each other in a true Neels romance. 

Conceal, Don't Feel

Conceal, Don't Feel by Jen Calonita, 2019 Disney-Hyperion

     Arendale's Princess Elsa has magic--she can create ice and snow out of thin air. She and her younger sister, Anna, love to play with Elsa's magic, but when Elsa accidentally hits Anna with a blast of her magic something goes wrong.
     Their parents take the two princesses to the trolls on the Great Mountain. Grandpappy Troll reveals that the accident could result in Anna's death if they cannot remove the magic. Grandpappy proposes to remove all memory of magic--but Elsa cannot stand the thought of losing the joy Anna finds in her gift.
     Elsa's interference has catastrophic consequences for the sisters: If Anna and Elsa are physically too close together the ice magic would spread to consume Anna's entire body. The king and queen must make a choice and request the trolls work a memory spell across the kingdom until a solution can be devised.
     Years later Arendale believes Elsa is an only child, heir to the throne, and an excellent successor to her father. The princess applies herself to her studies, but she is lonely. A sudden shipwreck brings Elsa to the throne far earlier than anyone expected, but at eighteen the crown Princess must have a regent and the magic of her past comes shuddering back under the stress of leadership and her new role: a magical snowman named Olaf becomes the reclusive young queen-to-be's best and only friend.
     Elsa struggles to keep her magic under control as she prepares for her looming coronation and Olaf is more audacious. When a visiting dignitary begins to court her, Elsa finds a slow, comfortable courtship until he attempts to badger Elsa and her regent to announce their betrothal. The stress causes her magic to break free and Elsa releases winter across Arendale in the heart of summer.
     Anna has grown up in a comfortable cottage at the base of the mountain. Regular visits from her adoptive mother's best friend are the highlight of Anna's memories. Both women insist Anna stay in the small village until the time is right, but the vivacious Anna dreams of opening her own bakery in the big city. The lovely court lady brings Anna stories of her family and gifts too fine for the daughter of a humble baker. Anna's most treasured moments are the stories of the crown princess Elsa. She feels an affinity for the girl and, after the loss of the king, queen, and her courtly visitor, deep sympathy for the princess.
     Elsa's sudden winter means destruction for the people outside the capital city -- summer crops are hidden beneath feet of snow and people lack basic supplies. Anna somehow knows she is meant to find the princess and help her, but she can barely walk to the barn without help. Accompanied by the handsome, but not-so-charming Kristoff and his reindeer friend, Sven, Anna sets off to find the princess and the secrets she hides.
     What if Elsa's fear of her own magic and losing her beloved sister caused the spell to save Anna to curse both girls to be separated their entire lives? This take on the blockbuster Disney story is a vivid re-imagining of two sisters struggling to find themselves and finding each other. Conceal, Don't Feel is written at a middle- to high-school level and readers will enjoy this Twisted Tale.

The Dollhouse Murders

The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright, 1983 Scholastic

     Amy Treloar, her sister Louann, and Amy's best friend Ellen discover a beautiful replica dollhouse of the family home. But playing with the house causes the dolls to reenact the murder of Amy and Louann's great-grandparents thirty years before.
     The girls believe the repeated reenactment of the grisly murder is trying to tell them something. They struggle to solve the murder. Aunt Clare, who owns the house and dollhouse, believes it was her fiancee, but there is evidence it could have been the gardener.
     In investigating the family secret Amy discovers her mentally challenged sister is much more capable than she originally thought. Amy learns that family endures even after trauma and works through the issues which have plagued her family for decades.
     Amy's story is suspenseful and deals with tough issues including trauma, crime, and mental illness. The crimes against the family are more than many children are ready for but handled in an age-sensitive manner. Wright's story is a powerful ghost story aimed at middle school readers.

The Ghosts Beneath Our Feet

The Ghosts Beneath Our Feet by Betty Ren Wright, 1984 Scholastic

     Uncle Frank isn't really Katie's uncle - only an elderly family friend living in a dying mining town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Katie, her mother, and her step-brother move in with Uncle Frank when her step-father dies. The trio experience typical family drama upon their relocation: Katie and her mother struggle with each other, and Jay rebels with a motorcycle fascination and a bad attitude.
     Katie hopes the summer in a small town will be fun with new adventures and new kids to meet. She is sorely disappointed when the kids are distant and the mining accident thirty years ago left the town reeling. Uncle Frank's son died in the accident but it isn't his ghost Katie runs into.
     The townsfolk warn of "knockers" - the ghosts of the miners who are trying to return to the surface. Katie meets a beautiful young lady who seems to be warning her about something. The apparition shows up outside the old mine, then in a mirror in Uncle Frank's house. Can Katie decipher the ghosts warnings before it's too late, or will she fall prey to the town's next great disaster?
     The Ghosts Beneath Our Feet delves into the aftermath of a community tragedy, be it a large or small group of people affected. Wright's story is aimed at middle-grade readers with a gentle scare and more accessible language.

The Ghost in the Third Row

The Ghost in the Third Row by Bruce Coville, 1987 Yearling Books

     Sixth-grader Nina Tanleven is trying out for the play and is scared. But she sees a beautiful woman in white in the audience encouraging her and knows there is nothing to fear.
     Nina and her best friend, Chris, do some research and discover a beautiful young actress was murdered in their very theater fifty years before. The girls continue to see the ghost of the woman in white throughout the production. With each encounter, they feel the lady is there to help, not to hurt the troupe.
     Someone is haunting the theater, though. Costumes are destroyed, scripts are shredded, and sets are knocked over when no one is there. Nina and Chris are the only ones who don't believe the real ghost is the one trying to stop the show. The cast and crew take precautions to avoid the superstitions that surround the destruction.
     The two sixth-grade girls refuse to believe the kind-looking pretty ghost could be causing such damage and danger. Nina and Chris decide to do some more sleuthing and discover - with the Lady's help - the ghostly damage is caused by a much less supernatural source.
     The Ghost in the Third Row is a quick and vibrant read in the Grand Theater. Nina and Chris are typical twelve-year-old girls with inquisitive minds and caring hearts. Middle-grade readers will enjoy this friendly ghost story.

Here, There Be Dragons

Here, There Be Dragons by James A. Owens, 2006 Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

     three young men are drawn on a dark and stormy night to meet a scholar of remarkable renown. When they arrive their host has been murdered and the trio is chased by creatures unknown. These wendigoes are creatures of myth and chase the young men across a rainy London night to be rescued by Bert. 

     Bert and his daughter, Aven, help John, Charles, and Jack flee the wendigo abord Aven's ship: the Indigo Dragon. They adventure into Avalon then Paralon in the "Archipelago of Dreams". The young Oxford scholars learn they've inherited a magical book that allows them to sail the archipelago. 

     The group grows with each step in their adventure. Bug (also known as Artus) chooses to board the Indigo Dragon in Avalon. In Paralon they befriend Tummeler the badger who is writing a cookbook. Magwitch is picked up accidentally; abused and threatened by the Indigo Dragon's crew until he escapes back to his own crew in service to the Winter King. 

     The Indigo Dragon's crew and the caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica discover their magical book is the one thing the Winter King will tear the archipelago apart to obtain. His shadow-born are wraithlike and have no independent thought: they do the Winter King's bidding through the enslavement of their souls. 

     John, Charles, and Jack aren't always in agreement with what should happen next, but they do agree keeping the Imaginarium Geographica from the Winter King and finding a stable ruler for the archipelago are the best they can hope for the new world they've discovered. All seems lost as their allies are slowly knocked to the wayside. Their last hope is to find the Cartographer of Lost Places--the author of the Imaginarium. 

     As the two forces drive toward a resounding clash, secrets are revealed. Friends are lost, and allies become enemies. In the end the map's declaration "Here, there be Dragons" becomes a rallying cry. Readers who enjoy the classic fantasies of Middle Earth, Narnia, and the Nautilus will find this sea-faring adventure in line with the magic of the great stories. Classic authors and their stories are peppered throughout Owens's story of strangers who must rely on each other to survive. 

Sapphire Blue

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier, 2010 Square Fish

     Beginning moments after Ruby Red's conclusion is the second installment of Gwen's adventure with time travel. After they return from a failed trip back to obtain a blood sample from Lady Tilney Gwyneth Shephard and Gideon de Villiers find themselves with more questions than the secret Saint-Germain Society is willing to answer. 

     Gideon still insists the society is acting in their best interests and the interests of society at large, but Gwen questions his blind loyalty. Her conversation with Lucy pointed her toward the Society's secrecy as a method of manipulation. Lesley continues to support Gwen and help her seek information. The two girls discover more about the prophecies which drive the society forward, though interpreting those prophecies is like deciphering poetry. 

     Gwen seems to be crumbling under the pressure of an etiquette coach who has no compassion and her cousin, Charlotte's smug, repeated criticisms. Leslie reminds Gwen of her ability to speak with ghosts and the gargoyle ghost who has been following her becomes the girls' best spy and ally. Xemerius is able to provide information the society keeps from Gwen and, when Gideon's brother unexpectedly appears, keeps her grounded amid emotional turmoil. 

     The two time travelers are learning more and more about the time they've been assigned to travel to. Gwen asks the forbidden questions and breaks the rules, but Gideon tries to protect her from the Society and its punishments for disobedience. Slowly Gwen gains hold of her ability to speak with ghosts and gains enough confidence to succeed in the missions set by the Saint-Germain Society. 

     The further down the rabbit hole they go, the less Gwen trusts the Society. Xemerius shadows her distrust, and it becomes harder and harder for her to follow the directions of the creepy count Saint-Germain through the Society. 

     Another meeting with Lucy and Paul's associates points even further suspicion on the Society. Like its predecessor, Sapphire Blue ends abruptly. Gwen's journey is not yet over as she searches for her own way in a role she never even wanted. 

     The second installment of Gwen's story sees her gain confidence in her own abilities. Readers will enjoy her doubt in the secrets she's expected to keep without understanding and her somewhat rebellious response to that doubt. Sapphire Blue is intended for teens with some mature violence and romantic entanglements. 

It Had to Be You

It Had to Be You by Janice Thompson, 2010 Fleming H Revell

    On the heels of her second themed wedding, Bella is overjoyed to be planning her aunt and uncle's wedding, quickly followed by her own ceremony. That is until her little sister decides to marry within weeks of Bella's big day. 

     Rosa and Lazarro's forties-themed bash is a joy to plan and the Rossi family reunites across the ocean. Even Lazarro's old mobster friend Sal shows up. The Rossi clan of Galveston Texas believes they can help the old man find salvation. Laz hopes Sal's parrot Guido can help lead him to faith. 

     Sal finds more than Guido and the Rossis helping him toward the Christian faith. The Splendora trio is always willing to lead a man to water. When Sal seems to find a little more than friendship with one of the ladies it seems he may be drawn fully into the light. 

     The family drama pulls Bella and her family from their roots. Old and new rivalries and jealousies challenge each member of the family but draw them back together and to their faith. 

     In planning her own nuptials, maintaining a happy front while her parents remodel as a surprise for Rosa and Laz, and spreading her time thin enough to help Sophia plan her own wedding Bella forgets to take time for herself. Bella is forced to learn to rely on others and her faith to make her dreams a reality. 

     The Rossi family is grounded in their faith and their connection to each other. Bella and DJ get their happily ever after among family and friends, just as they've helped arrange for many couples before them. 

The Clue of the Broken Locket

The Clue of the Broken Locket by Carolyn Keene, 1965 Grosset & Dunlap

     Nancy, George, and Bess are vacationing at Misty Lake when they meet Cecily Curtis. Mr. Drew has sent the girls to give Cicely the key to her lodgings - the owner refuses to go near the lake because of a ghost ship. Cecily asks for Nancy Drew's help to solve two mysteries: one concerning her fiancee, the other involving a family secret. 

     Cecily's fiancee is Niko Van Dyke a musician who believes his record company is cheating him out of earned royalties. 

     The clue to her family secret is half of a golden locket that Cecily was told leads to a pre-civil war cache of buried treasure. 

     The investigation leads to Pudding Stone Lodge and the Driscoll family who may be involved in Niko's misfortunes. They also discover Cecily's look-alike -- an unknown cousin held in the thrall of the Driscolls.   

     When twin children go missing Nancy, Bess, and George are set on finding the answers to all of their questions. They call in the help of Ned Nickerson, Dave Evans, and Burt Eddleton - the girls' respective boyfriends. 

     Through quick thinking and perseverance, Nancy and her friends solve the mysteries in front of them. Middle grade and young readers will enjoy the mystery, with enough suspense to keep them wondering who is who and what will happen to Nancy on this next adventure? 

Bruja Born

Bruja Born by Zoraida Cordova, 2018 Sourcebooks Fire

     After the drama with her sister's powers, Bruja Lula Mortiz is not feeling he powers. In fact, Lula isn't feeling like herself at all. She holds back from her normal life, and even her magic-less boyfriend Maks notices.
     On the way to their last soccer game of the season, Maksim ends their relationship. Lula is devastated and wishes her magic could heal their relationship and bring back his love - not something bruja magic can or should do. The two busses of teen soccer players and cheerleaders are involved in a horrific accident which very few of Lula's classmates survive.
     Lula uses her powers to save Maks despite Death's protests. She convinces her sisters to help. The Mortiz daughters manage to bind Maks to Lula and to heal his wounds, but the spell is unsuccessful and turns Maks into a casimuerto - quasi-dead. Lula and her sisters, Alex and Rose, delve into Bruja lore but the casimuerto isn't well known. The mythology describes a creature like a zombie and when Maks begins to rampage across the city that's what it looks like: the zombie apocalypse.
     Now Lula, Alex, Rose and the rest of their coven are held responsible for the imbalance caused by the girls' spell. Lula must reset the balance because La Muerta is bound from completing her work and the casimuerto infection is spreading across New York City.
     How does one free Death to complete her work? Lula must figure it out or the witch-hunters will solve the problem in a much more permanent way. After the dramatic ordeal involving Alex's magic Lula is afraid to deal with the physical and emotional results of her sister's actions but learns she's the same bruja as before, just with an all-powerful sister at her side.
     This second story of the Brooklyn Brujas follows the eldest Mortiz sister as the girls learn to manage their magic and their lives in the aftermath of tragedy. Lula learns that just because they have the power doesn't mean they should and the consequences nearly destroy her entire world. Bruja Born is aimed at older teen and young adult readers who enjoy their magic with a touch of gruesome reality.

The Noble Servant

The Noble Servant by Melanie Dickerson, 2017 Thomas Nelson Publishing

     Magdalen of Mallin travels with her maid her Agnes's father to meet her intended grom: Duke Steffan of Wolfberg. On the way to Wolfberg Castle, Magdalen is forced to exchange places with her servant. 

     Unbeknownst to Magdalen, Steffan is having his own issues. His scheming uncle and cousin have kicked the rightful Duke out of his home and taken Steffan's place. After being left for dead on his journey home the rightful duke finds a position as a shepherd on his own estate. 

     Magdalen and the shepherd boy, Steffan find a common purpose in figuring out how to expose their usurpers. The one saving grace is that no one has seen Steffan in two years to recognize him and his uncle and cousin don't know to seek him out. 

     When her maid is kidnapped, Magdalen questions whether or not she should enlist aid to save the girl. Her position in the household is humiliating for a lady of her stature, but Agnes's intended is not the duke Magdalen met at the ball and compassion wins out. The double deception spells trouble for Mallin and Wolfberg.  Alongside Steffan, the more-than-he-seems shepherd, Magdalen uncovers the plotters and finds her place in her new home. 

     Dickerson's retelling of the Little Goose Girlfleshes out the fairytale in historical medieval Germany. Readers will enjoy the clean romance between Magdalen and Steffan as they get to know each other without the expectations and limitations of their status and the just desserts of villainous Agnes and Steffan's uncle. The Noble Servant is aimed at teens and young adults. 

Crimson Bound

Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge, 2015 Balzer + Bray

     Rachelle trained with her aunt to become the village's woodwife--to protect people from the Forest and the evil Forestborn. But Rachelle also dreamed of adventure and when a chance encounter with a Forestborn leads to her being marked as blood-bound--fated to kill or die within three days--she cannot help but murder to survive.
     Her will to live is stronger than her willingness to give up all she knows and Rachelle discovers the Foresborn will not allow her to fight that survival instinct. He brutally mutilates her aunt causing Rachelle to end her suffering. The mercy killing sets Rachelle on the path to become Forestborn herself. The fifteen-year-old escapes to the king's city and becomes one of his guards to survive.
     Rachelle becomes one of the king's best fighters. Her sworn duty is to protect the citizens from the Forestborn. But along the journey, a single crimson thread ties her to the Foresborn who marked her. The young woman doesn't know what it means or how to escape it, but no one else seems to be able to perceive this ever-present leash.
     In the course of her duties, Rachelle catches the notice of the king and is assigned to protect his son Armand. A revolution seems to be building around the young man though he doesn't seem to want to be a part of it. Armand enjoys poking fun at Rachelle and her hesitance to do anything which may offend the upright sensibilities of those who raised her. 

     The Forestborn returns to bring about the end of the world. The king and his overzealous court are mired in their debauchery, the king's mistress leading their parties into eternal damnation. Rachelle depends on her aunt's woodwife teachings to find a way to prevent the Endless Night. 

     Both the tools to defeat the Forestborn, the Forest, and the conspiracies ruling their nation and portal into danger--the Forest--are in the sun palace. Rachelle and Armand are unlikely and untrusting allies against the end of the world. 

    Rachelle is a relatable teen character: as a young teen she has a dream, but when she is tempted, like Little Red Riding Hood, to leave the path she makes a choice which changes the rest of her life. She must live with the consequences. Hodge creates a dark story filled with shades of gray as Rachelle learns how and who to fight to achieve her dream. 

Daughter of the Siren Queen

Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller, 2018 Feiwel and Friends

   Alosa escaped the capture of a rogue pirate, Vordan, with Riden's help. After pretending to be Riden's captive aboard his ship, being locked in a cage at the mercy of her father's enemies is a humbling experience for the part-siren princess. As she continues to search for the magical island of the sirens Alosa's enemies prey on her father's teaching techniques to plant a seed of doubt.
     To keep her father from killing the man she is coming to love, Alosa brings Riden along as a member of her crew. Following her doubts brings the pirate princess to a secret her father has kept her entire life. Alosa frees her mother from a decade and a half of imprisonment. She expects her mother to stay and be a mother, but the Siren Queen has responsibilities of her own, and her daughter is nearly grown.
     Alosa is broken by first her father's betrayal and lies, then her mother's abandonment. She knows the Kalligan will come after his wayward daughter and escaped wife and, to save her crew, Alosa and her ship must put as much room between them as they can.
     To keep the Ava-lee and her crew alive and safe Alosa knows the king must be replaced. If she is to usurp her father Alosa needs gold. All the gold she could ever want is on the island her mother rules and her father seeks. The escaping pirates set course for the sirens' island.
     Alosa's crew encounters obstacles ranging from glass-calm seas without a scrap of wind and raging storms to cannibals and dehydration. It's a race against time and the Pirate King to find a solution to the corruption which has taken over the seas.
     Readers will enjoy the spunk of the half-siren pirate princess as she comes into her own. Pirates of the Caribbean meets the original Little Mermaid with a heroine who won't quit. Alosa appeals to readers of all ages, though her story has elements better suited to older teen and young adults.

Labyrinth Lost

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova, 2017 Sourcebooks Fire

     The three Mortiz girls are brujas--witches. Alex is the middle and hasn't developed her powers yet. And she's okay with that. Alex hates magic, has hated it since an incident resulted in their father's disappearance. Alex's older sister Lula is a healer, like their mother, and her younger sister Rose has spirit magic. 

     When Alex begins to show signs of her magic she fights it. Her Deathday celebration is the event of the decade designed to help Alex gain better control of her magic. She still fights the magic and it results in the expulsion of her extended family into another dimension. 

     Sending her family away tears a hole in reality allowing monsters from the other side into the human realm. Those monsters are hunting the most powerful witch in decades: Alex Mortiz. Alex cannot handle the consequences and follows with her best friend and the neighborhood outcast. 

     On the other side, Alex learns that her magic isn't the curse she's made it out to be in her mind since her father vanished. The anger she has harbored toward Mr. Ortiz's disappearance has been redirected to her uncontrolled power and the journey through the other side reminds Alex that her unharnessed power is a dangerous and unpredictable part of her. 

     When her traveling companions are endangered by the monsters in the realm Alex learns to harness her gift and her emotions as the only way to get them all out and save her family. Alex and her friends meet fae, escape from hellbeasts, and outwit minor deities. 

     Steeped in Latinx mythology, Labyrinth Lost explores family and community through a lens of self-acceptance. Alex learns to accept herself and tap into her magic--learning there is always a cost for magic. The cost to bring her family home may be more than her magic is able to handle. Teen readers who enjoy supernatural stories and the usual self-discovery arc will enjoy this cultural take on the self-realization and -acceptance. 

Ruby Red

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier, 2009 Henry Holt & Co

     All of her life Gwenyth's cousin has lorded it over her that Charlotte has been inducted into "the mysteries" and Gwen is a normal girl. But Gwen has no idea what the mysteries are and doesn't care. Charlotte has spent her entire childhood in music lessons, etiquette lessons, dancing lessons, and--most importantly--history lessons. 

     Gwen has enjoyed a normal childhood with her best friend Lesley. When she discovers she has inherited the family time-travel gene. Lesley is there to help her friend. Gwen's eccentric family drags her into the family secret and Charlotte is thrust into normal life and out of the secret society who has been training her for time travel. 

     Drama breaks out when it is discovered Gwen's mother lied about the facts surrounding her birth. The secret society questions Gwen and her mother, their decisions, and their motives. They refuse to accept Gwen's mother only wanted a normal life for her children. 

     On every mission, Gwen is shadowed by her counterpart, male time-traveler Gideon. He is overbearing and stuffy--and the hottest guy Gwen, or Lesley, has ever seen. But Gideon seems to be interested only in Charlotte until he kisses Gwen. She doesn't know how to handle the proximity to the guy every girl in her class has a crush on, and she doesn't know how to deal with the sudden time travel, and she doesn't know how to deal with the secret society intent on manipulating and managing her every move. 

     At first time travel seems like fun, but Gwen and Gideon's mission seems to take on a mind of its own. Gwen learns that the last two travelers to do the Secret Society's bidding veered from their mission and stole the Chronograph which allows travelers to control their travel. Lucy and Paul are Gwen's and Gideon's cousins (respectively) and their rebellion is the basis of the conflict--they stole the artifact before the circle could be closed so now the last two travelers must close the circle. 

     The Society tries to keep Gwenyth from her cousin and from the secret of their purpose causing her to rely on Lesley's help in solving their riddle. Gwen doesn't trust the society, but she doesn't trust the rogue travelers either. 

     Ruby Red is the first in a trilogy following Gwen as she learns more about history and travels in time. Readers who enjoyed the Agency quartet will enjoy the ever-questioning protagonist who follows the directions set before her until she decides to make her own way. Originally translated from German Ruby Red is funny and accessible for teen readers. 

Swinging on a Star

Swinging on a Star by Janice Thompson, 2010 Baker Publishing

     After Bella's first themed wedding is a success she is challenged by a new theme. Rob and Marian want a Medieval theme and Bella Rossi is more than happy to oblige: she even had a castle built to house the ceremony.
     Rob and Marian have a surprise for their wedding planner. Bella is stunned at the news Rob's best friend is a Hollywood movie star, Brock Benson. They ask if Bella and the Rossi clan can help keep Brock from the paparazzi. Anything to make her bride's day perfect: Bella agrees.
     The young man who deejayed Bella's first wedding, D.J. Neely, has stayed around and the two have been dating. Bella is serious about her beau and enjoys his family and their quirks. When Brock seems to take too much of a shine to the elder Miss Rossi, Bella must figure out how to break it to him that she's taken.
     Her sister has no such claim and enjoys the charming movie star's attention while he hides from paparazzi in the Rossi household. Brock finds family with the Rossis and their flamboyant insistence that on being the very best they could be drives him to seek his own family. The Rossis are happy to be adopted. 

     Despite setbacks Bella and her family band together to make Rob and Marian's wedding an event to remember. Even with a celebrity best man, the focus is on the bride and groom. The challenges help Bella and DJ on their journey closer to each other and forward in their faith. 

     Readers who enjoyed Bella's first themed wedding and meeting DJ will enjoy following their blooming relationship. 

Princess of the Silver Woods

Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George, 2012 Bloomsbury

   The youngest princess of Westfalin, Petunia, has been kidnapped... sort of... on accident. Oliver and his band of Wolves of the Westfalin Wood decide to raid Petunia's carriage on her trip to visit a distance Grand Duchess and come up with more than just the gold and jewels they hope for. The young man didn't mean to kidnap a princess and he plans to confess to his accidental crime and escort Petunia to her destination.
     Petunia is not a wilting lady--when she was a small child she and her eleven sisters were taken to a kingdom under the earth to dance with the sons of the King Under Stone. After several princes and adventurers tried to rescue them, the girls were able to escape the curse and resume normal princess lives. Several princes were killed in the quest for an answer and the king decides his daughters should travel as emissaries to assuage the wounds.
     The youngest daughter spends significant time in a Russia-esque country to the north. Petunia's hostess visits Westfalin and requests a visit from her long-time ward. It is on the trip to visit the Grand Duchess that Petunia meets the Wolves and Oliver, their leader. Oliver is true to his word and transports Petunia to the new residence of the duchess - his familial home.
     With the Grand Duchess, Petunia is plagued by long-gone nightmares of a kingdom underground. She writes to her sisters hoping for a solution, but no news comes from the princesses or their husbands. Petunia enjoys her days with the Grand Duchess and her charming nephew, but the nights begin to wear and answers are still elusive.
     Petunia remembers Oliver and his promise to help. When her suspicions begin to get the best of her, the princess asks for help from the handsome young man. Oliver's assistance finally produces answers, but they aren't the answers Petunia hopes for. She is given the chance to finally end the family's curse permanently when a new King Under Stone takes control and accepts Oliver's help in saving herself.
     The third and final story of the Westfalin Twelve Dancing Princesses blends with Little Red Riding Hood for a story to end the princesses' nightmare. Princess of the Silver Woods concludes the tales of the Westfalin princesses for middle school readers.

Real Mermaids Don't Sell Sea Shells

Real Mermaids Don't Sell Sea Shells by Helene Boudreau, 2014 Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

     Jade and her friends have, once again, saved mer-kind and it's time for some fun in the sun. Her parents have, thanks to Mr. Charmichael, gotten the official paperwork to get married - for real. To get away from the gossips in their small town they decided to enjoy their new freedom to get married in the Caribbean.
     Jade and her best friend go along to help out with the last minute details of wedding planning - only to find that nothing is going according to plan! Their reservations are taken y famous celebrities, the catering fell through, the venue was taken, and their officiant has vanished. With Cori and Jade's help, the happy couple rush to recreate their dream wedding before their vacation is over and the rest of their guests arrive.
     As they're making plans and the girls explore the island Jade runs across a strange sight: someone dumping a body from the porthole of a passing cruise ship. With everything that's happened in the last couple of months, Cori thinks Jade's mermaid senses are over-reacting. But when their new acquaintance goes missing it doesn't hurt to check things out.
     Jade's parents enjoy their pre-wedding honeymoon while the girls discover there's more to the local scene than the tourists see. With their relationships with the boys back home on questionable ground, Jade and Cori are stoked to meet new friends and possibly solve a mystery or two, because things can't keep from getting fishy for this mermaid and her friends.
     In this new setting, Jade learns to trust her instincts and that different cultures have different rules. The fourth installment in Jade's story takes readers along as once again Jade steps out of her comfort zone and learns it's always best to be yourself. Real Mermaids Don't Sell Sea Shells is intended for middle grade and young teen readers.

The Forest Queen

The Forest Queen by Betsy Cornwell, 2018 Clarion Books

     The daughter of the House of Loughsley has always tried to do the right thing. Her older brother John is the heir: he takes advantage of his father's aging mind and his sister's upbringing to manipulate, steal, and use the people under his care. Silvie of Loughsley and her best friend Bird, Robert Falconer, escape John's bullying and increasing torture for the forest.
     John uses his sister as a pawn and when he tries to sell her off in a humiliating replay of her court debut Silvie and Bird make their temporary forest camp a permanent home. Along the way, they meet Little Jane: a girl who has been expelled from her home after being found pregnant. Jane cannot imagine a future of shame at this child forced upon her and she tries to kill herself - only to be stopped by Silvie and Bird.
     The trio becomes the basis of a revolution fighting against John of Loughsley and his bullies as they suck the life from Sylvie's home and people. Sylvie knows if she returns to John's care and submits to his demands his abuse the people dependent on the lords of Loughsley will not change. She questions herself, but with Bird's encouragement takes a stand against her brother's established authority. As John and his cohort try to stop her, Sylvie and her growing band in the forest protect the common people.
     Cornwell's Robin Hood retelling swaps the key characters' gender to tell the story of Loughsley in a new way. Jane is not the only character who faces suicide and even Sylvie faces the fear of socially inappropriate and unwanted advances. The Forest Queen incorporates the harsh realities of medieval life and power dynamics in a quick read for mature readers.

The Gilded Cage

The Gilded Cage by Lucinda Gray, 2016 Henry Holt & Company

     Katherine Randolph and her older brother George are swept from their family farm in Virginia to a new home in Regency England. As newly rich members of society, the two are guarded and guided by their cousins. But after their introductory ball, George Randolph is found dead.
     The locals insist her brother is a victim of the Beast of Walthingham, while her cousins assert it was a terrible accident; Katherine believes George was the victim of foul play. George is not the first or the last victim of Walthinghams's mysteries and the local magistrate encourages the young woman to drop her concerns in exchange for accepting the simplest answer.
     Katherine tries to further investigate but is held back by resistance from her cousins and the household staff. One footman does seem to want to help his young mistress, but Katherine's cousins don't approve of the friendship or any dealings between the two. When the footman, John, is shot during the annual hunt a note amid his belongings seems to wrap up the mystery of George's death, but Katherine is skeptical.
     With the trauma of her stay in England has wrought Katherine is ready to return to her foster family in Virginia. On the eve of her planned departure, Katherine's cousin proposes marriage and Katherine is stunned. She had hoped for a love-match and cannot fathom a marriage to the man her new friend obviously fancies. Katherine goes to her friend who refuses to believe Katherine has not plotted against her or that her plans for the future are thwarted by the man himself.
     Her entire life is upended when Katherine discovers there is more to the proposal, the history of Walthingham, and her cousin than meets the eye. Will Katherine survive the mysteries of Walthingham or will her insistence that something is wrong spell her own ending? In this modern take on the Gothic Romance readers are transported to 1820's England and the social strictures which dictated life at the time. The Gilded Cage is better suited to teen readers with elements of mature romance and flagrant violence (Spoilers: the dog dies).

The Forbidden Library

The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler, 2014 Kathy Dawson Books

     Young Alice Creighton has always had a passion for books and reading, she is a hard worker and a rule-follower. But Alice's familiar life is thrown on its end when a real-live fairy appears in the kitchen one night. The day after her father argues with the creature he sets out on a ship to South America, a trip from which he will never return. Alice is taken to the estate of a distant Uncle Geryon: The Library.
     Upon her first exploration, the large house has nearly everything but a library, though that makes it no less strange. Meals are prepared by invisible and silent hands, the laundry appears cleaned and pressed without disappearing, and the house remains spotless despite not a soul wandering its halls. Uncle Geryon's only visible servants are Emma (a competent but simple-minded girl) and Mr. Black (a gruff man of questionable character).
     Bored with her new life Alice is fascinated when she finally encounters the Library for which the estate is named. The building is separate from the main house and Alice discovers the cats guarding the place are more than they seem: one even leads her to overhear a conversation between the mysterious fairy and the frightening Mr. Black. Ashes becomes her companion in trying to solve the mystery of her father's disappearance.
     In investigating Mr. Creighton's death Alice stumbles across a previously unknown ability to enter some of the books she reads and use their magic to affect the outside world. As she learns how to use her Reader power Alice discovers a battle raging beyond her corner of the universe that threatens to use her as a pawn.
     Though Alice is warned over and over again she continues to believe in the inherent good of people. Her hopes are met with betrayal, but through the conflict, she finds answers she's been seeking, and more questions driving her quest forward.
     The Forbidden Library is the beginning of Alice's journey through literature. The magic of the LIbrary and Alice's ability to Read into books only trigger the start of her adventures. Her story is appropriate for middle-school readers with frightening characters, liberties taken, and children pitted against monsters to gain power.

Beheld

Beheld by Alex Flinn, 2015 Harper Teen

     Kendra is a witch - ever since her family died of the plague she wandered immortal from town to town and country to country. When general opinion becomes fear of other the witch trials spread from culture to culture.
     The young woman appears as a teen, even after her entire world has aged and become history. Kendra finds herself in Salem, Massachusetts in the late 1600s. There she works as a servant for a prosperous family and meets James. Kendra and James share a worldliness which comes from age greater than their appearances -- and Kendra finds herself falling for this warlock.
     Before they can follow where their friendship and attraction might go, the young daughter of the family Kendra works for accuses her of witchcraft. Thus the Salem Witch Trials begin. Kendra is arrested and only freed through James's efforts in a Red-Riding Hood retelling.
     Though her young man is to meet her in Boston their plans fall through. Kendra worries James was a victim of the trials until she runs across him again. The witch is in Europe when she hears of James's survival. A magic mirror allows Kendra to find her young man and check in on him through the ages.
     Kendra discovers the mirror while helping a young woman ina Rumplestiltskin-like series of events. The miller's daughter uses the magic mirror to seek Kendra's aid as she chases her happy ending in feudal Germany. But Kendra loses sight of James.
     During the great wars, Kendra finds her way to England and is caught in the Blitz of London. She meets a young woman who lives out the fairytale: East of the Sun, West of the Moon. Kendra's new friend and her husband lead a lonely Kendra back to James as she helps them recover from their encounter with trolls.
     In modern time, Kendra has returned to the new world. After a stint in New York City where she helps a boy discover there's more to life than appearances, she moves to Florida where Kendra continues to pose as a teen.
     Another new high school leads Kendra to meet two friends who have always been together and have been best friends for years. In high school, Amanda begins to blossom but Christopher remains less than impressive. Kendra watches their friendship and gives a magical nudge as the Ugly Duckling plays out between the longtime friends.
     Throughout her long journey Kendra pines for her missing love, but maintains her own path and allows the mortals she's helping to carry the spotlight. Beheld is about 'otherness' and finding inner strength rather than beauty. Later middle and high school readers will enjoy Flinn's modern retells.

Warrior Princess of Pennyroyal Academy

Warrior Princess of Pennyroyal Academy by M. A. Larson, 2017 G.P. Putnam

   Evie and her friends have undergone many trials and tribulations. Their number has dwindled as they face the challenges required to become Princesses capable of fighting witches,  though Maggie returns for this final adventure.

     Prophecy has dictated the great Warrior Princess will graduate from Evie's class--and many believe it will be Evie. The mystery of her mother's identity and why she was removed from the records drives the young girl even as she questions the assumption that she is the Warrior Princess. 

     Maggie and Evie are among the cadets trying to return home for their break when an army of witches attack the transport carriages. Trapped at the academy with dwindling supplies the princess cadets must find a way out--and to let help back in. 

     A magical harp once owned by Rumplestiltskin seems to be the solution: it will put the giants attacking the magical boundary to sleep. The quartet sneaks out and ventures across the lands overcoming the obstacles in their path only to go their separate ways at the peak of their adventures. Maggie, Basil, Demetra, and Evie meet back at the Academy just in time for the fight for their future. 

     The battle for Pennyroyal is the beginning of the great battle for their world. The aftermath finds the mystery surrounding the identity of the Warrior Princess resolved, but a more immediate question must be answered: how did the academy's security become compromised so easily? The answer solves questions Evie had carried since she came to Pennyroyal. 

     Larson creates a vivid story of young teens learning to believe in themselves and find purpose in the world beyond the familiar. The Warrior Princess of Pennyroyal Academy is intended for eleven- to thirteen-year-olds. Readers who enjoyed Princess Academy and Dragonslippers will find similar elements in this conclusion to the Pennyroyal trilogy.