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My Murder Year by Kate Larkindale – Review by Megan Conley

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My Murder YearMy Murder Year by Kate Larkindale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a great YA mystery that will keep you on your toes and turning the pages. We follow Stas, who has help from her friend Jonny, as she tries to solve a string of murders that have taken place over that past year. Stas is a high school student who is going to be a bridesmaid in her mother’s upcoming wedding…that is until she finds her mother dead. We follow her journey of not only trying to find who has done this to her mother (as well as trying prove that Mama K…her mother’s long-time partner…didn’t do it) but also Stas finding herself along the way. This is really fast-paced, keeps your attention, and the characters are so well-developed (I love that!) and relatable. YA or not, this is a great read!

Reviewed by @meggs1717
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My Murder Year by Kate Larkindale – Review by Kerry Carr

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My Murder YearMy Murder Year by Kate Larkindale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really emotional rollercoaster of a YA read. The author does an incredible job of taking the reader back to their younger self’s and the journey of self discovery we all have to go through as we progress from teenager to adulthood. This story deals with some topics that are sometimes hard to talk about such as the breakup of a parents marriage and losing someone one we love. The author deal with these topics in a compassionate and respectful way as our main character Stas learns to find her way through.

Stas thought her life was running OK, granted her parents had split up but her mother was happy with her new partner and planning a wedding. Apart from her mother obsession with her weight their relationship was good. And with the arrival of a new love interest in the form of Zane, Stas feels her life is on a better track.
That is until she finds her mother murdered in her dance studio. Who could have done it? Who would want her mother dead?
The prime suspect because Stas’s father and with both her parents no longer around she runs the risk of losing the only family she knows. When relatives from her biological parents turn up wanting to take her away from the only other person she knows (her mums partner Momma K and her brother Teddy) she has a fight on her hands to stop herself being take away by supposedly well meaning relatives.
This is a real emotional rollercoaster of a ride filled with love, grief, family angst, murder, and a journey of self discovery of a young girl/woman.
Stas’s character is beautifully written. Her strength and determination as she faces the challenges in her life made me fall in love with her from the beginning.

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Unclutter (Inner Voice Book 1) by Winnie D Pagora – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Unclutter: A Survivor's Story (Inner Voice, #1)Unclutter: A Survivor’s Story by Winnie D. Pagora
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unclutter is Book One in the Inner Voice Series. This is the debut novel by this talented author and was so beautifully written that I anxiously await more novels written by her. This book touches on difficult topics such as abuse and self harm but was done in a way that is realistic and honest yet done in a respectful and empathetic manner. The story centers around the character of an eighteen-year-old girl named Tina who has never felt like she belongs. After a traumatic incident with an abuser young Tina is labelled as a liar, slandered, and bullied. She must find the inner strength and courage to stand up to her abuser and overcome her inner demons. This was a powerful and poignant read about the journey that victims of abuse struggle through and as a survivor of abuse, this story really hit home for me. I know how difficult it is to find the courage to not only move forward but to find the strength to face your bully or abuser. It is imperative to create a support system as Tina did and have those that will support you through the highs and lows. I loved the character of Tina who was vulnerable yet strong, smart, feisty, determined, and resilient. I loved that she found the inner strength she needed to come forward. Unfortunately, society is often too quick to judge and label victims of abuse while allowing the abusers to get away with what they have done. This creates a cycle of revictimizing the victim which adds to the trauma they have already suffered. This book contained themes of trauma, abuse, gaslighting, cover-ups, injustice, friendship, hope, and faith. A great book and I look forward to reading more by this author.

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Rise of the Y (The Y Chronicles Book 1) by Angela D. Shelton – Review by Chrissy Spulak

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Rise of the YRise of the Y by Angela D. Shelton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a dystopian young adult novel – the first installment in The Y Chronicles series. There are so many of these types of books on the market now, but I assure you, you are not going to want to skip over this one. There are exciting characters, plot twists, and intrigues that will keep you hooked! Lexi is an awesome female lead character, and it was interesting to watch her character develop and grow throughout the story. Even if you are not totally sold on the dystopian genre, there is a little bit of everything for everyone waiting in these pages. I enjoyed it and will be anxiously awaiting the second book!

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Rise of the Y (The Y Chronicles Book 1) by Angela D. Shelton – Review by Carla Clemmons

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Rise of the YRise of the Y by Angela D. Shelton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely love this book! It helps that it is my favorite genre. I am all for dystopian reads and this one did not disappoint. You read from Lexi’s point of view and she has so much character growth. Even though she was so naive about how things are, she still felt something was off. I could definitely see this happening in real life. You may think you have the storyline figured out but then the author hits you with another plot twist. I was not expecting the ending at all and am looking forward to book 2 even more now. I also really like the cover of the book and the way the author writes. I plan to look up more books from her, even the other genres she writes. I wanted to hurry and finish the book to see the ending but then was sad it was over! I will definitely be reading book 2!

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My Murder Year by Kate Larkindale – Review by Callie Luna

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My Murder YearMy Murder Year by Kate Larkindale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stas is your typical high school teenager who is still trying to find herself. She thinks that the biggest issues she has are her weight, which she believes makes her incapable of dancing and be able to wear the clothes she wants. After the tragic murder of her mom the story becomes even more emotionally charged. To make matters worse the prime suspect is her father. Now she must find out who really did kill her mother. She is ultimately on a journey to find herself and to heal from the loss of her mom.

I enjoyed reading My Murder Year due to how much Stas changes from the start of the story till the end. There is a good amount of suspense and twists and turns to keep it interesting. It was realistic and at times heart breaking. It is worth the read of you love stories with suspense, romance, and lots of heart!

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Shadow Bringer (Raven Academy Book 1) by Brandi Elledge – Review by Deb Robinson

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Shadow Bringer: Raven AcademyShadow Bringer: Raven Academy by Brandi Elledge
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The book hooked me right off the bat. I ended up reading the entire book in one day and late into the night. Riley is our main character with her best friend Sam. Sheltered, does not even explain the way these girls grew up. I was shocked but most definitely intrigued how this community lived. The surprise addition of the new kids at the academy causes lots of friction and drama. The new kids seem to not have a care in the world and are strong enough to take care of anything that may come to kill them.

This story had so many twists and turns with some heart wrenching moments as well. I already have book 2 and can’t wait to see what happens. The author’s attention to detail and storytelling was on point.

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Rise of the Y (The Y Chronicles Book #1) by Angela D. Shelton – Review by Angela Hayes

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Rise of the YRise of the Y by Angela D. Shelton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

3 Stars

 

Rise of the Y is the first book in The Y Chronicles by Angela D. Shelton. It is a YA dystopian story with adventure, secrets, agendas, family dynamics, rebels, who-to-trust, a hidden diary that reveals long-held secrets, danger, rebels/rebellion, a quest for truth, duty/responsibility vs freedom, dramatic developments, and religious elements/overtones.
I really love a great dystopian story, and I love YA adventures- so when a book combines both- it’s a YES from me. I really wanted to love this book as it held the promise of great things, but unfortunately, I just couldn’t find my groove with this story- which frustrated me no end. I also didn’t connect with our FMC and character, which made it impossible to invest in her and the outcome of the story. She just didn’t win me over and I found her annoying. This could be a ‘me’ problem though- as I have been on a bit of an action-packed thriller binge of late- so I have decided to revisit this book again in a few weeks to see if I still feel the same way….. so stay tuned.
I am curious to see where we go from here, so hopefully Book #2 will win me over.
Happy Reading…

Thank you, Angela D. Shelton!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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My Murder Year by Kate Larkindale – Review by Ayla Phipps

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My Murder YearMy Murder Year by Kate Larkindale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Devastation. Suspense. This is the first work I have read by the incredible Kate Larkindale, and honestly her skill left me devastated at so many points. Several chapters were read through nonstop tears as I devoured this mystery in hopes of a happy ending of some kind.
Anastasia Nonu goes by Stas, she is seventeen and lives with her mom, mama K (mom’s long-term partner) and Teddy, her little brother. She seemed to be finding acceptance in her life with things she couldn’t change while also finding moments for herself, such as going to her dads for a bimonthly visit but sneaking out to a party with her best friend. Irena Varushkin is her Russian ballerina mother, who teaches classes out of her studio behind their home. Tusi Nonu is her Samoan father that owns a theatre across town and is a contemporary dancer. While their love story started with sparks it ended in a fire that led to them splitting after five years when Stas was only four. With Mom and Mama K’s wedding days away, things were getting stressful. A great day asked out by the cute boy, Zane, at the party last weekend ends in devastation when Stas realizes her mother hadn’t come back inside yet from her “workout” in the studio. In search of her mother before K and Teddy returned home from scouts leads her to the scar of a lifetime and beyond. The only thing worse than finding her mother’s body, being told she would be taken from the only true family she had left by “blood” relatives she had never met or rarely seen. Her only light in all her darkness and grief is Zane but what’s his story?
Who is responsible for her mother’s murder? Her father sees her mom’s relationship is a sin, could he really be behind this? While the world is ours the diversity of the characters is beautiful to mentally picture. Stas is Russian mother and Samoan father, while she mostly takes after her father, she has her mother’s Russian bone structure with her father’s beautiful skin. Teddy is Mama K’s; she is Korean and used a Slavic sperm-donor, so he resembles her mom Irena also to be “their son”. While Teddy has his mother’s Korean features such as eyes and skin tone, he has the Slavic soft blonde hair and blue eyes. Their family truly sounds beautiful with such unique diversity within it. As mentioned above I did bawl like a baby in several parts and for several chapters as I have experienced the unrelenting grief of loss, not with my mother but my Irish twin brother. The author’s ability to capture so much pain and emotion leaves your heart rung out on the floor as you gasp for air and fight through each page hooked by the words and begging for answers to soothe the pain. I certainly will be keeping an eye out for more of Kate’s work, her talent is stunning and all-consuming.

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My Murder Year by Kate Larkindale – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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My Murder YearMy Murder Year by Kate Larkindale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I didn’t even read the synopsis on My Murder Year before I started reading it. I just really liked the name and cover art. I am soooo glad I did, I LOVED this book. I thought it was going to be the main character that was murdered, but no. That’s what I get for just jumping right in.
It is a YA book following Stas, into the hardest and most complicated year of her life. She is a normal teenager, arguing with her mom about her clothes and weekend plans. Then her world implodes, when she finds her mom murdered. Things go from bad to worse, when her dad is arrested for the murder, and a complicated custody battle begins. The only stability Stas finds is in a new boy in town, Zane. However, he is gone as quickly as he showed up, leaving her lost. I wish this book ending wrapped things up better. I was left wondering what will happen next, especially with her dad. But even then, I loved this book and look forward to reading more from the author. I refused to read the sneak peak at the back, knowing I will get sucked into that book and I have too much on my TBR list already.

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy

Rise of the Y (The Y Chronicles Book 1) by Angela D. Shelton – Review by Kerry Baker

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Rise of the YRise of the Y by Angela D. Shelton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a great YA dystopian novel that is easy to get into and interesting to read. It is similar to other dystopian novels I have read but.no less interesting. I enjoyed the premise of the book and I really enjoyed the main character. She was a great fit for the story and I easily became invested in her journey.
This is this the fieat book I have read by this author and I think it is a great introduction. I enjoyed the writing style, the overall storyline and the characters. This is an imaginative and well written story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

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Rise of the Y (The Y Chronicles Book 1) by Angela D. Shelton – Review by Allyson Ware

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Rise of the YRise of the Y by Angela D. Shelton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I cannot ever get enough of dystopian novels. YA dystopian novels always seem to have the best storyline, too. This book has a very similar feeling to Divergent or the Hunger Games, but it absolutely has its own plot and storyline which I loved. You get to know Lexi, part of the white administrative section who takes her placement test with the green garden section in mind. Her plans do not work out and she ends up in the brown trash separator section. I know, but trust me, there is never a dull moment in this book.

Reeves is the man she is assigned to marry. He seems to take his vows seriously and supports her through thick and thicker. I do not blame Lexi for wanting nothing to do with the person they assign you to, but I do not know that she would have been able to find a more perfect match for herself if she tried. She just needs to get past her stubbornness and realize it!

Also, I had goosebumps and chills galore while they were caring for Janie. All of these characters have such a personality that it is difficult not to form opinions about each one. I am not one to spoil the end of the novel, but I promise you will not be disappointed. I cannot wait to read the next in the series!

Review by @aware
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Rise of the Y (The Y Chronicles Book 1) by Angela D. Shelton – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Rise of the YRise of the Y by Angela D. Shelton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this to be quite the intriguing dystopian story. It has a bit of a slow build up that gives us most of the details we need as the story begins to delve into the mystery of Y and if our protagonists should join it. She wants to know the history of Y and if her mother and grandmother were part of it. So many secrets to unravel with this mystery. I was absolutely engaged from the beginning. It’s really kind of scary because in a way it reminds me of our current government, scary stuff. Our protagonist couple is gonna have quite the adventure. I found the writing to be exciting and full of detail. It is full of adventure, deceit and lies. I can’t wait to read where this series will go?

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Rise of the Y (The Y Chronicles Book 1) by Angela D. Shelton – Review by Jenni Bishop

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Rise of the YRise of the Y by Angela D. Shelton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rise of the Y is the first book in the YA dystopian series, The Y Chronicles. This was my first experience reading Angela’s work and wanted to see what she brought to the table.
Angela has created an interesting world. It is a short, clean story with a Christian element that I found to be a little slow in the beginning, but it did pick up. I am not a religious person so I kind of skimmed over those things.
I really wanted to like it and the storyline was intriguing, and the premise was a good one even though I did not connect with the characters. Whether it is because of my age or not I don’t know.
Lexi no longer knows who is friend and who is foe as she is thrust into a world that she no longer trusts. She just want the freedom of choice.
With tragedy, secrets, rebellion, danger, deceit, forbidden alliances, lies, hidden diary, rebels it has a bit of everything.
Overall, this story wasn’t for me but please give it a try, I am sure YA’s will enjoy it.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Rise of the Y (The Y Chronicles Book 1) by Angela D. Shelton

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•°•🔹️•*• BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE •°•🔹️•*•
Rise of the Y (The Y Chronicles Book 1) by Angela D. Shelton
Amazon – https://amzn.to/472OMRa
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Genre – YA, Dystopian
Page Count – 250
Cover Designer – Clifford Fryman

In a world on the brink of revolution, where the iron fist of the Imperium orchestrates every destiny…

Seventeen-year-old Lexi refuses to bow to a future with an assigned spouse and a dictated profession. A fiery spirit of defiance burns within her, ready to ignite a revolt. But destiny has other plans.

When tragedy unveils a hidden diary—a legacy of secrets and rebellion—Lexi is thrust into the perilous shadows of the elusive rebel group Y. In a whirlpool of danger, deceit, and forbidden alliances, every revelation blurs the lines between friend and foe, making trust the ultimate weapon in a battle for truth.

Caught between duty and a yearning for freedom, Lexi navigates a treacherous path where love and loyalty are tested at every turn. Who can she trust in a world where betrayal lurks in the shadows? As the foundations of the Imperium tremble, Lexi battles not only for her world but for the person she is destined to become.

Dive into Rise of the Y by Angela D. Shelton’s young adult dystopian saga.

~ AMAZON ~

Click here to view the Book Trailer for Rise of the Y (The Y Chronicles Book 1) by Angela D. Shelton

Click here to experience a Chapter Reading of Rise of the Y (The Y Chronicles Book 1) by Angela D. Shelton

Tales of Courage, Love, and Faith from the Cattle Fields to the Battlefields.

Angela D. Shelton, the esteemed winner of the 2023 Christian Indie Awards in the young adult category, crafts spellbinding narratives in both young adult and romance genres. As a healthcare accountant, her life extends well beyond spreadsheets and ledgers. Alongside her husband, Tom, she passionately manages a thriving cattle ranch nestled within Georgia’s picturesque landscapes.

Her inspiration doesn’t end at the ranch gates. Drawing from hands-on agricultural experiences and Tom’s rich knowledge of military and law enforcement, Angela weaves enthralling post-apocalyptic worlds in her acclaimed series, Collapse. This collection spotlights a brave family from a charming Georgia town, who, faced with a crumbling global supply chain, finds salvation in farming just in the nick of time.

Angela’s latest literary undertaking, the riveting Key to Freedom series, escorts readers into a dystopian realm set among the ruins of Atlanta, Georgia. Her storytelling mastery, combined with real-life insights, makes her novels not just compelling reads but immersive experiences. Whether it’s a tale of resilience, romance, or rebellion, Angela’s words resonate with readers, leaving an indelible mark on their hearts.

Author Interview with Angela D Shelton

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Shadow Bringer (Raven Academy Book 1) by Brandi Elledge – Review by Alyssa McLean

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Shadow Bringer: Raven AcademyShadow Bringer: Raven Academy by Brandi Elledge
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The cover art is beautiful and drew me in the second I saw it. The book was even better than the cover!

I was hooked immediately! I did nothing for an entire day while I devoured this. I fell in love with the characters! The friendships are relatable and made me think of my bestfriend. I laughed, blushed and had my jaw drop. This book deserves so much hype!

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Necromancy the Musical by Debbie Hibbert – Review by Jasmin Marie

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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195101391-necromancy-the-musical” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Necromancy the Musical” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1693405812l/195101391._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195101391-necromancy-the-musical”>Necromancy the Musical</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42502779.Debbie_Hibbert”>Debbie Hibbert</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5943524862″>4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This story is a blend of magic, romance, and mystery. Cece, a young necromancer who can talk to the dead, helps her dad solve crimes with her magic. When she goes to drama camp, she meets Zach, a fellow magician and her love interest. But someone is after her for her powers, and she has to find out who before it’s too late.<br />I enjoyed this story for its realistic characters and engaging plot.
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My Murder Year by Kate Larkindale – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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My Murder YearMy Murder Year by Kate Larkindale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My Murder Year is a YA LGBTQ book full of loss, grief, angst, family drama, suspense, intrigue, and ultimately love. The story centers around the character of teenager Stas who has suffered a lot at the tender age of seventeen. When she discovers her mother’s dead body her life goes into a tailspin. Stas’ father becomes the prime suspect and family members that Stas has never met are determined that she comes to live with each of them. A tug-of-war ensues and family drama escalates as the custody battle over young Stas rages on between them. Uncertain who to trust Stas turns to her new friend Zane for support and comfort as she navigates through her grief. She must also try to figure out who really killed her mother. This was a poignant and emotional tale of overcoming loss and the struggles of adolescence that will leave you reaching for the box of kleenex. The characters were relatable and Stas was someone that I immediately felt a connection to. This book took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and my heart broke for Stas. I highly recommend this book.

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Unclutter (Inner Voice Book 1) by Winnie D Pagora – Review by Katie Turner

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Unclutter: A Survivor's Story (Inner Voice, #1)Unclutter: A Survivor’s Story by Winnie D. Pagora
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unclutter: A Survivor’s Story, by Winnie D Pagora, is a story that will make you really be inside all of your emotions. The novel centers around an eighteen year old girl, Tina, who is navigating life as best she can with deep-seated trauma. Many traumatic themes play a role here, but I didn’t feel like it was over-the-top or unbelievable. These subject matters addressed are things that really happen to people and my heart broke so many times. The author writes beautifully, perfect pacing and characters were very well developed. It made it easy to really connect with them. Despite the sad topics, this is an absolutely beautiful story and I am so thankful that I read it. I recommend to anyone. These topics deserve more spotlight.

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Shadow Bringer (Raven Academy Book 1) by Brandi Elledge – Review by April McCoy

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Shadow Bringer: Raven AcademyShadow Bringer: Raven Academy by Brandi Elledge
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book surprised the heck out of me. Wow wow wow. I enjoyed this so much! Such a intrigue filled and creative book. I haven’t read a boom in this trope in so long and it’s because I haven’t found any that held my attention but this book gave as good as it gets. The characters were so well plotted and I loved learning them. Cannot wait to find more from this author because she put me on one heck of a ride with Shadow Bringer.

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Necromancy the Musical by Debbie Hibbert – Review by Jennifer Reimer

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Necromancy the MusicalNecromancy the Musical by Debbie Hibbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was an incredible read that left me wanting more. I really enjoyed it so much that I couldn’t read it fast enough it felt like. The Main character CeCe was unique. Solving Crimes with her father but also has responsibility towards the dead being a Necromancy. This book was super fun to read, and I really hope there is more to come. The twists and turns in this book really had me wanting to know what was going to happen next. The characters were hard not to either cheer for or hate or love. And I really loved the New Orleans feel to this book, I have never been there, and this book made it seem so real. This is a wonderful paranormal mystery with necromancy, crime and investigation, supernatural, suspense, voodoo, drama, twists and turns, humour, and so much more. Highly recommend this book.

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My Murder Year by Kate Larkindale – Review by Candida Hopper

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My Murder YearMy Murder Year by Kate Larkindale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a quick and enjoyable read. It took me a few pages to get into the story but once I did I became invested. Stas is a girl just trying to get through her teenage years like the rest of them until tragedy strikes. Stas’s world turns upside down when she finds her mom murdered. It seems all the adults think they know best. This story has drama, romance, angst, loss, suspense, and great characters. Stas just wants to spend more time with Zane but she doesn’t know what her future is going to look like. Will she find out who killed her mom? Will she be able to stay living with Mama K? These are the answers you will want when reading this story. I recommend this book.

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My Murder Year by Kate Larkindale – Review by Darla Yocom

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My Murder YearMy Murder Year by Kate Larkindale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stas is the main character of this YA mystery. She’s in her late teens and dealing with normal teenage angst with parents who are no longer together and her mom is about to remarry. After her mom is murdered, her father is the prime suspect, suddenly her life is turned upside down. Family members come out of the woodwork. Some have plans that would uproot her life.

The book is a good read with plenty of suspense and emotions that will pull at your heart strings. It pulls you in and keeps you guessing. It is very well written and captivated my attention from the beginning.

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Unclutter (Inner Voice Book 1) by Winnie D Pagora – Review by Christine Baranek

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Unclutter: A Survivor's Story (Inner Voice, #1)Unclutter: A Survivor’s Story by Winnie D. Pagora
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unclutter
By: Winnie D. Pagora

This is a very heavy book that covers many sensitive topics – including sexual abuse and self-harm. However, this is written in such a raw way that it really appeals to all of your emotions as you read. Winnie Pagora does a fantastic tale of taking these hard topics and really give a voice to the victims.
This story tells about the parts of surviving abuse that are not pretty, they are ugly and hard, However, they are the parts that are also beautiful. It shows what the cost of survival is worth. This book gives a very true look at the legal system and what those that are abuse face when it comes to receiving any form of justice. I do wish that the end of this book didn’t seem so abrupt. But I do definitely recommend picking this story up and giving it a read. It sheds a wonderful life on those who have gone through abuse.

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Shadow Bringer (Raven Academy Series) by Brandi Elledge – Review by Crystal Hevener Walker

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WOW!!!! What a storyline this was!!! I was having a hard time putting it down. I want to know more! I enjoyed how each character had a different and unique personality. The drama, suspense, different species and livelihood of each one sheds light on how the beautiful main Character is to go on her journey. Being the first book in the series, you definitely will want to read the next book and find out what happens to the rest of the characters. Where will they end up? Who will be saved? Who will die? This is that type of storyline!

The author makes sure the suspense is worthy for a teenager and or even a younger child to read. There is no cursing or naughty romance in the storyline and it makes for a worthy book for all ages. I personally think it is one of the best books I have read in a long time and honestly it had a great start, then the climax made you want to continue and then once you got to the end you were left hanging. Which means you were waiting for the second book!

Unclutter (Inner Voice Book 1) by Winnie D Pagora – Review by Kerry Carr

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Unclutter: A Survivor's Story (Inner Voice, #1)Unclutter: A Survivor’s Story by Winnie D. Pagora
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a YA story which has been very well thought out and written. The author deals with subjects in this story that are very sensitive and could trigger some people such as sexual abuse, self harm and the after effects of being a victim of abuse. The author takes us on a journey with Tina Lauren as she struggles to find her way in the world while trying to come to terms with the abuse in her past and the mental scars she has been left with. The author does an amazing job of allowing the reader to feel and experiences emotions that Tina feels. One thing I loved about this book was the fact even though the subject was sensitive and could be a hard read, I loved how determined Tina was and how she was determined to not like her abusers or the abuse she suffered control her forever.
As hard as it was for me to read I was unaware of the way abuse could effect people in ways such as not liking to be touched. Tina knows her boundaries and won’t let anyone cross them no matter the repercussions of her actions cause or people’s opinions of her.

She treads a fine line between caring about what people think of her and being true to herself. When your a young woman being normal and fitting in is all you want and when you can’t have that everything becomes a struggle.
This was an inspiring story which I enjoyed very much.

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My Murder Year by Kate Larkindale – Review by Mary Espinoza

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My Murder YearMy Murder Year by Kate Larkindale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Seventeen year old Stas was only supposed to be worried about standing up in her mother’s wedding, not trying to solve a murder and continue to find out how to return to a “normal” life. Stas finds herself in a very unusual situation when she finds her mother in a pool of blood! Now with this unexpected death, she finds all kinds of family members coming out of the woodworks trying to convince her to go and live with them….when all she really wants is to stay with her Mama K and get more acquainted with Zane, the only person she seems to be able to confide in. Who is Stas able to trust, her father…her aunts? All Stas knows is that she wants to be with Zane and stay with Mama K…will Stas be able to get what she wishes or will her world be turned upside down?
This was a good, quick read that has suspense, good dialogue and characters. I did find it took a little bit to get into the book, but since I kept reading on…I was hooked! I think that this is a good read especially for the young adult readers….happy reading!

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Maru Espinoza, October 2023

Necromancy the Musical by Debbie Hibbert – Review by Helen Dawkins

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Necromancy the MusicalNecromancy the Musical by Debbie Hibbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an excellent book for young adults and teens!! I am 27 years old and it was still highly enjoyable for me to read. I was intrigued at the very beginning. The characters are wonderful thought out and the magic elements are well written. You can tell the author did their research about Louisiana before writing, as all of the small details are spot on. There is a wonderful balance between murder, mystery, magic, and humor. The only thing that threw me off, was that the title included “the musical” which I do not understand as it isn’t a musical – but does deal with teens going to a drama camp.

The book starts out with a fun, light, summer camp vibe but then turns into the more dark, sinister, mystery. The story takes place in New Orleans, which adds a bit of mystery all on its own. The two main characters, CeCe and Portia, are very easily relatable, and I loved seeing them together, as well as their relationships with other characters. CeCe is a necromancer, who helps her dad, a police detective, solve murders. When CeCe goes off to camp, a sinister supernatural start to target CeCe making everything dangerous for everyone around her.

This is definitely different and unique than most stories in the same genre. There is a twist at the end that I truly hope leads to a sequel! Definitely recommend this book from young teens to young adults, and even adults who just want something light and super easily to read!

In a nutshell, this book is a wonderful paranormal teen mystery with necromancy, magic, crime investigating, danger, friendships, high school teens, family, and quirky characters.

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Necromancy the Musical by Debbie Hibbert – Review by Tonya Merritt

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Necromancy the MusicalNecromancy the Musical by Debbie Hibbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I did not expect anything this book had to offer and that is everything to me. I absolutely loved the story. It had everything; paranormal, action, romance, and twists and turns.. I absolutely joined Debbie Hibbert’s mailing list on her website. I want all the details to all the books. This story is probably a ya book but I didn’t care. I loved watching Cece navigate her powers, her life, and her new found love.

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My Murder Year by Kate Larkindale – Review by Kerry Baker

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My Murder YearMy Murder Year by Kate Larkindale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a unique an interesting YA mystery story that took my a little by surprise with how much I enjoyed it. I thought the mix of characters in the book was really interesting. They worked so well together and added a lot to the story overall.
The author incorporated so many elements into the story and I enjoyed the journey I was taken on with the characters. There were plenty of twists and turns and yet this didn’t feel like it was the only focus of the story. Everything mixed so well together and I really enjoyed this book.

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