Category Archives: Teen & Young Adult Contemporary

Coming of Age, Standalone, Teen & Young Adult Contemporary

#Review – Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

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An instant New York Times bestseller! “Grown exposes the underbelly of a tough conversation, providing a searing examination of misogynoir, rape culture, and the vulnerability of young black girls. Groundbreaking, heart-wrenching, and essential reading for all in the #MeToo era.” —Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Belles 

Award-winning author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another riveting, ripped-from-the-headlines mystery that exposes horrific secrets hiding behind the limelight and embraces the power of a young woman’s voice.

When legendary R&B artist Korey Fields spots Enchanted Jones at an audition, her dreams of being a famous singer take flight. Until Enchanted wakes up with blood on her hands and zero memory of the previous night. Who killed Korey Fields?

Before there was a dead body, Enchanted’s dreams had turned into a nightmare. Because behind Korey’s charm and star power was a controlling dark side. Now he’s dead, the police are at the door, and all signs point to Enchanted.

“Never have I read a story that so flawlessly hits the highest high and lowest low notes of Black girlhood in pursuit of the American Dream.” —Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin and Jackpot

This book was chef’s kiss in the best of ways. Now I’ll start by saying that as a white woman, I liked being educated as to what black women face when they need help from authorities. It definitely helped open my eyes, so thank you to the author for helping with that.

Now this book…first, it has several triggers. I never thought I had triggers. I read extreme horror. I should be immune right? Well, I was wrong. I told a friend who read this book at the same time I did, that it bothers me because I would have been the exact same way if I was in Enchanted’s shoes. I’m beyond thankful I met my husband when I did.

Okay now for the review. Enchanted wants to be a singer and she has the voice for it. She goes to an audition at the help of her friend and catches the eye of Korey Fields. He grooms her into being someone she isn’t and it all goes down hill from there.

From their very first interaction, my hackles rose and I instantly didn’t like him. I think I was infuriated for most of the book. So kudos to the author for bringing that out in me.

This book is fast paced, action packed, filled with drama, a strong female lead and more. I absolutely loved it and it fits right up there with my love for Allegedly.

If only people listened to the first girl. Maybe then it wouldn’t have taken over 16 to get something done.

Can be read in KU – https://amzn.to/3DRiteV

Ghosts, Paranormal, Review, Teen & Young Adult Contemporary, Urban Fantasy/Urban Fiction, YA

#Review #Haunting – The House on the Hill by William Joseph

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Welcome to The House on the Hill. It is a house unlike any other. Lonely, dilapidated, and with a tragic story.

Now meet Kacy Marie Aspen. A young and curious girl with schizophrenia who just turned seventeen. Upon discovering the house and witnessing several odd figures standing out front, she soon finds herself being stalked by them almost everywhere that she goes.

As she struggles to determine if what she is seeing is real or in her head, will she confront these strange characters and find out their story? Or will she descend into madness and learn that it might be all in her head?

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

It wasn’t every day that the spirits from the local abandoned building wanted to befriend you.

There is a great story buried within these words. I have read other books by this author, and they can get a bit on the scary side. I was really expecting this to be more of a scary, haunting type of story. Or there to be more of a ghostly struggle. I don’t even know if I am describing my struggle accurately. **Note: I am going to attempt to give this review with no spoilers. Proceed with caution.**

Kacy, the main character, has struggled with hallucinations, is medicated and sees a doctor. Nothing else is really explained regarding same. She is drawn to this haunted house and many ghosts. This is where it gets sort of weird for me. The ghosts go silent and we go into a ton of just words about shopping and hanging out with her friend, but it seems to be on repeat just in different areas. I am not sure if it was filler and there was a certain amount of words that had to be met for the book or if there was a point to this, but it caused me to put the book down a couple of times because it just didn’t seem to “fit.” BUT, I am not a quitter! I had to know what happened so I trudged on when all of a sudden…BAM! The story is right here, right now, and is going nuts! It’s crazy, it’s sad, there’s a touch of insanity, there’s gunshots, there’s fire, there’s friendship, there’s crying, and then happiness! Then it was over…

There is truly a great story buried within these words, but you do have to get through some extra stuff to get to it. When you do, it’ll be worth it!

William Joseph profile image

William Joseph is an exciting Horror, Paranormal, and Psychological Thriller writer from New Jersey, USA. He loves to draw the reader into believable worlds, creating everyday characters the readers can relate and connect with, and then forcing them to face their deepest and darkest fears. William Joseph’s writing has been detailed as twisted, dark, terrifying, raw, and emotional.

Paranormal, Part of a Trilogy, short story, Teen & Young Adult Contemporary, Witches, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#WOTR #attendingauthor #shortstory #ya A Snap of Magic (Snap of Magic 1) by Danielle Keil

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Meet Cecilia Chevalier, teen witch. Well, she doesn’t know she’s a witch. But when her powers develop on Halloween night, she does what any teenager who just discovered she has magic would her History grade, because that C- just can’t happen. Get revenge on her cheating ex. Make a table in the cafe disappear Okay, maybe that last one wasn’t on purpose. And the ones before it don’t exactly go according to plan. But learning to control magic is hard! When it’s only a snap snap away, Cecilia’s impulses are harder to control than ever.

Her life gets even more complicated when her best friend Ezra does some research on his family tree, and finds out that his and Cecilia’s families are oddly connected through witch ancestors.

With Ezra looking into the past, especially Cecilia’s mother who left her when she was born, and her magic malfunctioning, what else will go wrong?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219632347-a-snap-of-magic

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Snap-Magic-Danielle-Keil-ebook/dp/B0DJ1SFGRT?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YcQRtHta-Cof0yI18HquSpzgiv5kecT3QG5W81q2BPpqrAY8E7ib5EQnQ8XC8h5OH6ts1t1YOyUXTePYY6GYa2UQTq-ks6Px55XGX_QPzS35H_Yeul_kBGn7kAz2P-0xLZsPUurCzet1eBCs6jQeYeiL_gT5uDeweQwLTvwNEl0-ztbJirR9U8kfdFtk4V_0fP-jvT_6yzKKvYimgxQr3TDsJNsF6Zj9Mo6Fozp6XYA.xMYkabBXxJ5iUt9vtJqT0MU_gYDrtVGeavQCDtERS2A&dib_tag=AUTHOR

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book and here is my honest review

Oh Snap, CC was just your normal high school girl, and loved everything Halloween, the whole town did actually think of it as Halloweentown they went all out carnival the school put on and so much more. Just when she thought it was a normal night CC was having some strange things happening her pool for the duck pond at the carnival one minute it was empty because it fell over and the next its full, she wanted to raise her grade and one snap and the toughest teacher made a mistake on the classes’ grades, and much more. CC was just wanting her bad luck to stop but she got so much more with the help of her bestie Erza, CC was going to get a snap snap reality check. ugh this was so cute and perfect cozy read for spooky season.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.

Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

Part of a Series, Sweet Romance, Teen & Young Adult Contemporary, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#wotr #attendingauthor #ya #partofaseries Dear Emilia (Love Notes 8) by Danielle Keil

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Everyone at Ryder High knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first day of the month.

Skye Turner came close to having one, but considering she and her boyfriend, Andrew Del Marco, had been dating for a week already, she couldn’t take it.

So she decides cheat the Secret Admirer system and divert the teal envelope to someone else.

Emilia Rosemary is just like every other girl when she gets her envelope— shocked.

But the envelope isn’t from a real Secret Admirer. It’s from Skye, posing as Emilia’s crush, Chase McNeill.

Skye and her friends develop a plan to have both Emilia and Chase surprised with the big reveal at the Homecoming dance.

But when Chase learns the truth, will the plans be ruined?

Will Emilia be upset when she finds out her friends deceived her?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62837531-dear-emilia

Amazon https://amzn.to/3wMHX9Q

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book her is my honest review

Dear Emilia,
our sweet girl with her nose in a book and pencil in her hand, for someone so smart yet so not willing to open up and let your feelings be known don’t worry we got you
Love Us…….
Emilia was the brains of Ryder High too smart for her own good but wanted to have someone who made her just as happy as the others around her. Well, our girl is in luck when she finds the famous teal envelope on her locker will she be able to find her admirer before the month is up or will she be embarrassed when it comes out who is behind the envelope. This proves just how far a friend is willing to go to make their friend a happily ever after. But the journey will surprise you, how it ends will have you swooning, and always remember the follow the second star to the left and straight till morning, will Wendy and Peter get their happy ever after? after all you just need faith trust and can’t forget the pixie dust.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.
She also is a fur mom to their Corgi, Cozmo, who loves barking, mud, and peanut butter.
Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

Enemies to Lovers, Fairy Tales, Part of a Series, Standalone, Teen & Young Adult Contemporary, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#wotr #attendingauthor #YA #seriesstarter Protect Me Not (Tangled Web 1) by Danielle Keil

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At Fairview-Teller High, light mixes with dark. Good with evil. And heroes with villains. But there’s a reason students call it Fairy Tale High. They’ll get their happily ever after– even if they have to fight for it.

Popular girl Jessa is caught off guard when the school bad boy—the guy she hates—moves into her house temporarily.
Not knowing how her friends, or the rest of the school, will react, she keeps her new housemate a secret.
Though Jessa loathes Adam for humiliating her at school last year, the more they’re around each other, the more her hatred starts to wane.
And when Adam kisses her?
She doesn’t hate it—or him.
But it does ruin everything.

Tropes:
** enemies to lovers
** forced proximity
** modern day fairy tale retelling

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/87375990-protect-me-not

Amazon https://amzn.to/4aacayi

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book here is my honest review

Welcome to Fairy Tale High well not really but that’s what everyone calls it. You have the queens, wolves, kings and of course a beast, everyone has their roles a d they know how to stay in their own lanes. Jessa got stuck with Adam for a present or fail project and when he didn’t show up to class, she failed and weeks later she still hasn’t let it go, it’s the only time she’s failed at something, and it wasn’t even her fault. Jessa’s dad wanted her with Jay who is from a powerful family and wanted them to rule the kingdom together, but Jessa isn’t having any of that. Jessa wants her own happily ever after even if it’s with someone her dad probably won’t approve of. this queen is her own hero and maybe with the right guy by her side she can truly do good. this was such a cute great story with a plot twist you might not see coming. who will truly rule the kingdom and how will it all play out.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.
She also is a fur mom to their Corgi, Cozmo, who loves barking, mud, and peanut butter.
Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

Part of a Series, Standalone, Teen & Young Adult Contemporary, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#wotr #attendingauthor #YA #partofaseries Dear Spencer (Love Notes 4) by Danielle Keil

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Everyone at Ryder High knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first day of the month.

Spencer Matthews assumes the Secret Admirers game is on pause, since it’s June and school is out for summer.

Then a teal envelope with her name on it arrives in the mail. Spencer is eager to play, but her Secret Admirer makes her work for her clues by playing a trivia game app he created.

Her spreadsheet of suspects is color coded, and Spencer is confident she knows who her admirer is after only the first two clues.

But something goes wrong, threatening the future of the game.

Will Spencer be able to continue playing?

And if so, will her guesses still be right?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61209842-dear-spencer

Amazon https://amzn.to/45rImtZ

Review by Twinsie Dee

Last day of school at Ryder High. Spencer is now a senior, the student body president, and life couldn’t get any better than this. She was ready for her part time internship at her dad’s law firm during the summer. So, you can imagine her surprise when she seen the famous teal envelope was mailed to her and not found on her locker like most girls find them. Also, it was the summer did the game normally go on during the summer? Spencer was just all-around shook, why would she get picked she didn’t have time for a relationship, but she would accept, she loved trivia and games so why not. Spencer was sent a link to a trivia game app, and this would be how she would get her clues to who could be behind this app. Will Spencer guess the correct answers, and will her spreadsheet be able to help her figure it out or will she be completely wrong for the first time. Happy Summer let the game begin.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.
She also is a fur mom to their Corgi, Cozmo, who loves barking, mud, and peanut butter.
Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

Part of a Series, Standalone, Teen & Young Adult Contemporary, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#wotr #attendingauthor #YA #partofaseries Dear Jade (Love Note 3) by Danielle Keil

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Everyone at Ryder High knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first day of the month.

Jade Rose knows. She just doesn’t care.

The Secret Admirers game goes against every feminist notion she stands for. It’s old fashioned, misogynistic, and too mainstream for her.

That is, until she gets a teal envelope. And finds out that she and her secret admirer have a few things in common already.

Her acceptance may have been accidental, but when the clues start coming in the form of movies to watch, she gets sucked in quick.

Will Jade and her friends be able to narrow down their list of suspects and figure out who is behind the camera?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60911464-dear-jade

Amazon https://amzn.to/3qtzwND

Review by Twinsie Dee

A new month at Ryder High and a new secret admirer has left his mark. this time with Miss Jade Rose the one who isn’t afraid to speak her mind or stand up for herself, she didn’t need a guy, she was honestly fine by herself. So, to Jade’s shock when she seen that teal envelope on her locker but unlike the other girls in school, she wanted no part of any of this, so she took the letter off her locker and added an N so now it looked like Jaden was the it girl. To Jade’s shock the next day she had another envelope on her locker from her admirer, and he isn’t ready to take no for an answer for Jade. Jade gives in and figures why not have some fun, movies, mystery, games and she’s planning on not letting anyone help her, this mystery guy has a thing or too coming of her thinks he can win Jade over this easily.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.
She also is a fur mom to their Corgi, Cozmo, who loves barking, mud, and peanut butter.
Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

baseball, Part of a Series, Standalone, Teen & Young Adult Contemporary, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#wotr #attendingauthor #YA #partofaseries Dear Kerri (Love Notes 2) by Danielle Keil

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Everyone at Ryder High knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first day of the month.

But for Kerri Thomas, it’s not quite the moment she was waiting for.

Busy with school, friends, and volleyball, she doesn’t know if she has time to play along and figure out who her Secret Admirer is.

The clues send her on a wild scavenger hunt, proving that her admirer knows her better than she expected.

But none of the clues give her hints about the guy.

Kerri has a team of suspects, including her friends on the baseball team, but narrowing it down is near impossible without more information.

Who could be Kerri’s secret admirer, and why isn’t he revealing anything about himself?

Will Kerri be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together to figure it out?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60729309-dear-kerri

Amazon https://amzn.to/44Vql7P

Review by Twinsie Dee

Kerri was just another girl at Ryder High shocked to find a teal envelope on her locker. she was the chosen one, who would pick her. she was the tomboy whose life revolved around volleyball, school and hanging out with her best guy friend Austin. but once Auston found out that Kerri was accepting the invitation he gave her the cold shoulder not wanting anything to do with it. Kerri goes on this crazy scavenger hunt around town finding clues to hopefully figure out who this guy is. She has the whole month of April to do so will she be able to figure it out or will she be the first one to fail. Ugh I’m loving this series each one gets better and better. 2 down 8 more to go.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.
She also is a fur mom to their Corgi, Cozmo, who loves barking, mud, and peanut butter.
Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

Mystery, Part of a Series, Standalone, Teen & Young Adult Contemporary, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#wotr #attendingauthor #YA #seriesstarter Dear McKinnon (Love Notes 1) by Danielle Keil

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Everyone knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first day of the month.

Everyone except new girl McKinnon Gregory.

The envelope is the start of a monthly tradition called the Secret Admirers, and something McKinnon never thought she’d see.

To her surprise– and everyone else’s– the teal envelope is taped to her locker on March first.

McKinnon only has one month to figure out the clues. But she barely knows anyone, which makes it infinitely harder to determine her secret admirer’s identity.

Will she figure it out before the month’s over?
And if she does, will the guy she’s fallen for through letters be just as amazing in person?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60527972-dear-mckinnon

Amazon https://amzn.to/3qjN9iu

Review by Twinsie Dee

McKinnon was the new girl at Ryder High, she has been homeschooled for her life, and finally when her dad had to move for his job her mom didn’t have time to get the right paperwork and gave in to letting her go to public school. one day McKinnon found a teal envelope in her locker and her bestie Skye started flipping out the first of March meant that a new secret admirer was chosen and he got to pick the person to play their game, if they choose McKinnon was so confused she was the new girl why would a guy pick her , well she was up for it and will she be able to figure out her admirer is before the end of the month or will she quit the game before the month is over.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.
She also is a fur mom to their Corgi, Cozmo, who loves barking, mud, and peanut butter.
Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

Review, Teen & Young Adult Contemporary, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA, Zombie

#WOTR23 #Review Zombie Survival for Foster Kids (A Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Adventure) by L.C. Mortimer

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Zombie Survival for Foster Kids: A Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Adventure by [L.C. Mortimer]

Surviving the zombie apocalypse is tough.
Surviving foster care is even tougher.

14-year-old Lamech Eris has been in foster care for the past three years and is about to be reunited with his dad when the zombie apocalypse happens.

Now he’s trapped in a house with his foster mom, Madison, and the only way to get to his dad is by going directly through the city.

Too bad it’s filled with the undead.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

I feel sort of weird saying this since it is a zombie book, but this is a great “feel good” story. I really enjoyed the fact that it is told from a different perspective, the caseworker/foster mother and the foster child. The real part of the story is being able to love and protect a child that is not yours. Even though the undead are walking the streets, the foster mother tries to move heaven and earth in an effort to reunite the father and son. Lamech is a great kid and even with the insanity going on, he and Madison lean on each other to make it to the end. It is an interesting and quick read. The ending is tied up nicely but could go on with a continued journey. Either way, I definitely recommend this one!

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L.C. Mortimer likes zombies, shifters, and things that go bump in the night. When she’s not busy dreaming up her next story, Mortimer can be found dancing, traveling, or curled up with a cozy mystery.