Blog Tour and Giveaway: Lionborn and the Secret of Dark Rider

 

If you’re a blog reader, you may remember that I featured a new middle-grade fantasy earlier this year called Lionborn. I’m always on the hunt for a good middle-grade fantasy, so I’m happy to share that book two, Lionborn and the Secret of Dark Rider by Sharique Zea, is now available! This exciting series is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and readers who enjoy mysteries, adventure, and magic.

 

 

Learn More About the Book:

 

 

Lionborn and the Secret of Dark Rider

Written by Sharique Zea

Illustrated by Manuel Šumberac

Ages: 10-14 | 238 Pages

Publisher: Silverhush Press (2026) | ISBN-13: 978-1-0669013-5-7

Publisher's Book Summary: "Some enemies seek power. This one seeks Fionn Hurley—but heroes don’t fall, they rise roaring.

Fionn Hurley thought life between London and the magical realm of Arborea couldn’t surprise him anymore. He was wrong. When his bonded shadow-beast whisks him back to Arborea and straight into a burning village, he fears that a banished enemy has returned.

As Fionn and his friends at Arborea’s school of magic wrestle with unpredictable powers, intense magical training, and a baby dragon who depends on him, unsettling clues surface: an aunt who suddenly can’t stand him and visions that suggest his ties to Arborea run deeper than he ever believed.

With enemies closing in, Fionn realizes there’s only one way to track the real threat before it finds him first: earn a coveted place on a magical investigations team.

The thrilling second book in the Lionborn series — a fast-paced middle-grade fantasy adventure packed with magic, courage and friendship, and the next step in Fionn’s journey from uncertainty to confidence.

Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, Skandar, and the Amari series."

 

Readers can buy their own copy of Lionborn and the Secret of Dark Rider at Amazon and learn more about Sharique Zea by visiting his website. 

 

The Giveaway:

 

I've partnered with Sharique Zea to host an exciting giveaway today to celebrate Lionborn and the Secret of Dark Rider. Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win one of 10 signed paperback copies of Lionborn and the Secret of Dark Rider by Sharique Zea. One lucky grand prize winner will also receive a $50 Amazon gift card. To enter, click the above graphic. Good luck!

 

Book Review: What Happens at Nightfall by Lauren Willig

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: October 6, 2026

Publisher: William Morrow

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Band of Sisters, The English Wife,

 The Ashford Affair, The Other Daughter, The Girl from Greenwich Street, and The Passion of the Purple Plumeria

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "In the sprawling, beautifully Gothic expanse of Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery, some secrets refuse to stay buried.

Recently laid off and searching for purpose, Jess reluctantly joins her best friend on a supposedly fun nighttime cemetery tour. Separated from her group by accident, she discovers a group of terrified boys and a strange, ancient key. Both lead to the Green-Wood’s surprisingly handsome resident arborist, Adam Chervinsky.

Recently widowed, Adam has more to protect than the leafy residents of Green-Wood. His children, stricken by grief at the loss of their mother, are acting strangely. Why is his savvy tween daughter so taken with Jess, and why is his quiet son suddenly so popular—and so good at Latin? A haunting is afoot, and Jess seems to have more answers than she’s letting on. Despite the undeniable sparks flying between her and Adam, things are about to get very spooky indeed.

As Jess and Adam delve deeper into the cemetery’s haunted history, they uncover a Gilded Age curse, a ghostly socialite, and a demonic pact that stretches across generations. What lays hidden in the Green-Wood’s splendid Vanderwilt marble mausoleum? The line between the living and the dead blurs, and the shadows of Green-Wood begin to stir with malevolent intent. Jess must confront not only the supernatural forces but a shocking connection to the past if she and Adam truly want to live happily ever after."

 

Jess takes a nighttime cemetery tour in New York City as a fun activity with a friend, and as any good adventure begins, she loses her group. While lost, she runs into some boys acting strangely, who lead her to the cemetery's arborist, Adam. Recently widowed, Adam has to take care of his kids on his own now, but something is amiss at Green-Wood Cemetery. Things are not as they seem in this historic cemetery, which leads to a mystery that Adam and Jess are determined to solve. The mystery dates back to the Gilded Age, and it's up to them to figure out what is going on. Lauren Willig's paranormal romance has all the elements of a wonderful autumnal story: there are ghosts, demons, Gothic vibes, and more in What Happens at Nightfall.

One of the main elements that drew me to What Happens at Nightfall is Willig's ability to paint a historical picture. I have enjoyed her historical novels in the past, and the setting of this one did not disappoint. Green-Wood Cemetery is an real-life historical cemetery in Brooklyn and Willig brought it to life. The descriptions were atmospheric and eerie - a perfect setting for this time of the year. I adored the Gothic vibes and all the historical details throughout.

The paranormal elements in What Happens at Nightfall were also a nice touch. This is a departure from what Willig normally writes, and I enjoyed it. So, if you are looking for a compelling paranormal romance as we close out spooky season, look no further, especially if you appreciate historical details, too. Are you a fan of Lauren Willig? Let me know in the comments below.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Quagmire

Fall is the perfect time for adults and kids alike to curl up with a good mystery. Today I'm sharing a new one for upper elementary and middle-grade readers, Quagmire by Sam Campbell. With its engaging mystery, contemporary setting, and heartwarming story, this book is sure to appeal to fans of realistic fiction and beloved stories like Because of Winn-Dixie. If you enjoy books that combine friendship, family, and a touch of magic and mystery, Quagmire sounds like a wonderful choice for a cozy fall read.

 

Learn More About the Book:

 

 

Quagmire
Written by Sam Campbell
Ages: 8–12 | 179 Pages
Publisher: Independently Published (2026) | ISBN-13: 979-8197255112

Publisher's Book Summary: "Cooper Knox joined the Gator Island Public Library's weekly book club to get his mind off his parents selling his late grandfather's motel—not help solve a missing persons case.

But old Mr. O'Malley has become a dear friend, so when the local news reveals his boat washed ashore unoccupied, Cooper's determined to find his fellow club member. The only clue? A crude map left behind by Mr. O'Malley.

As summer days grow hotter on Gator Island, twelve-year-old Cooper, along with Mr. O'Malley's granddaughter, Penny, navigate the winding canals and marshes in hopes of finding the missing bookworm. But following the map also means plunging into the Dark Swamp, where a legendary monster is said to be lurking….

Can Cooper find Mr. O'Malley AND save Pops' motel before it's too late? "This novel is perfect for third or fourth graders looking for contemporary realism with a dash of mystery and endearingly quirky characters." —Kirkus Reviews"

 

You can purchase your own copy of Quagmire at Bookshop and Amazon. Also, to learn more about Sam Campbell, visit his website and connect with him on Instagram.  

 

 

The Giveaway:

 

I've partnered with Sam Campbell to celebrate the publication of Quagmire by host a fun giveaway. Five lucky winners will each receive a signed paperback copy of Quagmire by Sam Campbell, and one grand prize winner will take home an extra-special Quagmire prize pack featuring a signed paperback, a bookmark, stickers, and a Pink Fountain Motel keychain! Good luck!

 

Mini Reviews: Riley Sager Edition

Every spooky season, I challenge myself to read some extra-suspenseful thrillers or try to get through a few horror novels. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the few I read last year, even though they scared me a bit, so I decided to try Riley Sager this fall. He did not disappoint!

 

The Unknown by Riley Sager

Pages: 368

Genre: Adult Fiction/Horror

Pub. Date: August 4, 2026

Publisher: Dutton

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "In 1926, five women disappeared from a remote island in Vermont. Now, one hundred years later, it’s happening again. Struggling actress Marin Keane is shocked when she lands a role in a major motion picture about the unsolved mystery of New Avalon, an island on sprawling Lake Faraday in Vermont. She’s even more surprised when she learns that the role requires a weeklong research trip to that very spot. Because New Avalon isn’t your ordinary island. A century ago, it was a commune for spiritual mediums—until they all vanished in 1926. The only trace of them was five dresses hanging from the branches of an old oak tree in the middle of the island, one for each missing woman. Some locals say they simply left. Others think they were murdered. But the prevailing opinion, thanks to a diary left behind by one of the vanished, a young woman named Daisy Rue, is that a séance gone wrong conjured something supernatural that took them all one by one. Not long after arriving, Marin and her castmates, including legendary actress Violet Wright and white-hot director Ronan Peters, begin to realize all is not right with New Avalon. They hear strange noises in the night and notice mysterious symbols left behind by the island's previous occupants. And after a sudden health emergency leaves Marin, Ronan, and the other actors stranded on the island, the disappearances begin again. Is it the work of someone trying to derail the movie? Or is the island’s alleged supernatural past catching up with the present? As fear and suspicion mount, Marin turns to Daisy’s diary, hoping it holds the key to figuring out what really happened to the women of New Avalon—and how to keep the island’s terrible history from repeating itself."

 

100 years ago, a group of women went missing from Vermont's isolated island on Lake Faraday. It's still a mystery, but that doesn't stop the movie industry from seeing this as prime entertainment. Marin, a struggling actress, gets the job opportunity of her life when another actress backs out of a movie. She is offered a role in this movie about the women who disappeared, except there is a catch. She has to get acclimated to the time period and the setting, so the producer wants her, along with the other actresses, to live as they did 100 years ago on this island for a week. No cell phones, no electricity, no modern clothing, etc. Despite the warning not to take this job from the actress who previously had her role, Marin goes, albeit hesitantly, because there are so many big names attached to this movie. She couldn't possibly turn it down as this could be her big break! But while there, strange things start happening. Some of the things happening are similar to the crazy events that happened 100 years ago. There are also noises in the night, strange symbols throughout the island, and before they know it, there's a life-threatening accident that takes one of the producers to the mainland, and with her, all their cell phones. So, technically they are stranded. Riley Sager's The Unknown is an atmospheric and eerie read that kept me flipping the pages.

What I liked about The Unknown was how it blended mystery and suspense. I kept wondering what had happened 100 years ago, and combining that mystery with Marin’s questions about what was currently happening on the island made this a real page-turner. There are séances, secrets, a 100-year-old journal, and more. However, at times, I felt there were a few plot holes, and I wished Sager had fleshed out certain aspects more. Nonetheless, I was entertained.

 

 

 

 

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

Genre: Audiobook/Adult Fiction/Horror

Pub. Date: June 30, 2020

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Maggie Holt is used to such questions. Twenty-five years ago, she and her parents, Ewan and Jess, moved into Baneberry Hall, a rambling Victorian estate in the Vermont woods. They spent three weeks there before fleeing in the dead of night, an ordeal Ewan later recounted in a nonfiction book called House of Horrors. His tale of ghostly happenings and encounters with malevolent spirits became a worldwide phenomenon, rivaling The Amityville Horror in popularity—and skepticism. Today, Maggie is a restorer of old homes and too young to remember any of the events mentioned in her father’s book. But she also doesn’t believe a word of it. Ghosts, after all, don’t exist. When Maggie inherits Baneberry Hall after her father’s death, she returns to renovate the place to prepare it for sale. But her homecoming is anything but warm. People from the past, chronicled in House of Horrors, lurk in the shadows. And locals aren’t thrilled that their small town has been made infamous thanks to Maggie’s father. Even more unnerving is Baneberry Hall itself—a place filled with relics from another era that hint at a history of dark deeds. As Maggie experiences strange occurrences straight out of her father’s book, she starts to believe that what he wrote was more fact than fiction."

 

 

25 years ago, Maggie Holt and her family moved into a historic Victorian estate in Vermont named Baneberry Hall. Coming from the city, this was a nice change, and the estate offered so much room. It does have a complicated past, but the Holts have chosen to take a chance on Baneberry Hall and put everything behind them. However, that proves impossible because three weeks later they flee Baneberry and never return. In fact, it was such a horrific experience that Maggie's father. Ewan, writes a memoir entitled House of Horrors after they move out, and it becomes an instant bestseller. That's all Maggie and her family are known for going forward, but Maggie really resents this as she barely remembers all the details in her father's book and questions whether they actually happened. But after he dies, she is shocked to find out that not only did he still own Baneberry Hall, he left it to her in his will. So reluctantly, Maggie agrees to go back to Baneberry to renovate it and sell it. But once she gets there, strange things start happening again, and she starts questioning whether what her father wrote in his memoir might actually be true. Home Before Dark is an edge-of-your-seat audiobook that was well-written, scary, and with some memorable twists. It's perfect spooky season reading!

I decided to listen to Home Before Dark, which actually worked out nicely for me, as I don't think I would have been able to finish it if I were reading it, as there were so many spooky parts! Sager did such a great job developing this story and letting it unfold; I did not see the twists coming at all. Part of the narration jumps back to Ewan's point of view when they first moved to Baneberry, which was a nice touch to fill in some blanks regarding the Holts. Home Before Dark reminded me of a mix between The Amityville Horror and The Haunting of Hill House. This is the ultimate book to read in October, filled with traditional horror and some elements of psychological suspense.

 

 

Are you a fan of Riley Sager? Which of his novels is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below.  

 

 

 

Blog Tour and Giveaway- Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King

I love graphic novels! Not only are they a wonderful way to get reluctant readers excited about books, but they’re also simply fun to read. I’m always on the lookout for my next great graphic-novel read, especially for tweens. That’s why I’m excited to share a new one with you today: Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King by Darin S. Cape. Fans of manga and readers who enjoy a good fantasy adventure will especially appreciate this one.

 

Learn More About the Book:

 

Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King

Created by Darin S. Cape

Illustrated by Zeno Decrux and Hiorsh Gabotto

Ages: 9+ | 160 Pages

Publisher: SHP Comics (2026) | ISBN-13: 979-8992749939

 

Publisher’s Book Summary: "Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King is a fast, funny, manga-inspired graphic novel that blends fantasy adventure with heart, humor, and family appeal. When a cheeky underdog hero is pulled into a world of monsters, doppelgängers, and an army of rats, Zicky must rely on wit, courage, and unlikely friendships to survive. Bursting with kinetic action, playful mischief, and relatable growing pains, Zicky is a perfect gateway to manga for younger readers and a joyful, high-energy adventure for kids, teens, and families alike."

 

Readers can purchase their own copies of Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King at Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and SHP Comics. To learn more about Darin S. Cape, visit his website and connect with him on Instagram.

 

 

Giveaway:

I've partnered with Shawn Hainsworth to host a giveaway to celebrate the publication of Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King. Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win one of 10 signed paperback copies of Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King. One lucky grand prize winner will also receive a Zicky poster and pins. Good luck!