My daughters and I loved fantasy stories when they were tweens and teens! Today, I have a young adult fantasy novel to share! Learn about Lost, the first book in The Mistfits series and author LM Preston! 

The Mistfits Series, Book 1

Date Published: October 1, 2025

Publisher: Phenomenal One Press

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About the Author

L.M. Preston, a native of Washington, DC. An avid reader, she loved to create poetry and short-stories as a young girl. She is an author, an engineer, a professor, a mother and a wife. Her passion for writing and helping others to see their potential through her stories and encouragement has been her life’s greatest adventures.She loves to write while on the porch watching her kids play or when she is traveling, which is another passion that encouraged her writing.

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There’s something magical about rediscovering a familiar story from a new angle — especially when it shines a light on someone who’s always lingered at the edge of history’s frame. Carrie Ingalls – The Forgotten Sister invites readers to step beyond the pages of Little House on the Prairie and see the frontier through the eyes of a quieter pioneer: one whose courage was often overshadowed, but never absent. Clarissa Willis brings empathy and insight to a young woman who found her own voice in the windswept heart of the American West — not as a character in someone else’s story, but as the author of her own.

Take a few minutes to learn about the book and author--and order the book today!

Non-fiction Chapter Book Juvenile Fiction

Date Published: 10-30-2025

Publisher: Solander Press

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While her sister Laura chronicles their life on the frontier, Carrie Ingalls forges her own path. This is the story of the “forgotten” sister, a frail child who grows into a resilient woman of the American West. From the hardships of pioneer life, Carrie emerges as an independent journalist, newspaper editor, and landowner, quietly shaping the futures of fellow homesteaders and proving that strength comes in many forms.

Chapter Six A Single Bag of Wheat

On October 15, 1880, a fierce blizzard struck the Dakota Territory. It soon became clear that the Ingalls family could not survive the coming winter in a one-room shanty.

First, Charles took his haystacks to town in the wagon. Then he returned to the shanty, and he and Caroline packed the wagon with their few pieces of furniture, bedding, and clothes. They returned to town and moved back into the rooms above the small store Charles had built. The good news was that Laura and Carrie could go to school.

A lot had changed over the summer while they lived in the shanty. The school had been completed and opened on November 1, 1880. Laura and Carrie were two of the first fifteen students to attend De Smet School. When another blizzard hit during a school day, Laura and Carrie struggled to find their way back to where they lived.

Settlers depended on the train for their supplies. Not only did they get food delivered daily by train, but they also received mail and, most importantly, coal for fuel. Charles and the other men from town often shoveled snow from the tracks so the train could reach the station.

As the blizzards continued into January 1881, the railroad made a decision that significantly affected Carrie and her family. They would not deliver more supplies until spring and would cease operations for the winter.

The school was shut down because there wasn’t enough coal to keep the children warm, and soon food became scarce in the town. Food prices rose sharply, with flour costing $50 a pound, and the last few pounds of sugar selling for $1 a pound. Without coal, the Ingalls burned hay twisted into bundles. As their kerosene ran low, they burned the oil lamps less and less at night. But a good deed by Charles may have saved the family.

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 Award-winning author Clarissa Willis writes children's books. She has authored four picture books and one chapter book. Bloomers on Pike’s Peak, the story of Julia Archibald Holmes, received a Will Rogers Medallion Award and was a finalist for the Women Writing the West 2025 WILLA Literary Award in Children's Picture Books. Her book Fast as the Wind: The Story of Johnny Fry Pony Express Rider won a Will Rogers Medallion in 2023. The Three Little Pigs and the Not So Big Bad Wolf, released in early 2025. It tells a familiar story with a new twist. She believes childhood is a journey and strives to make it joyful through her books and public speaking.

Clarissa loves traveling and has a special connection to the American West. She finds inspiration in the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona, and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In fact, her next book, Not from Around Here, is set in Sedona and chronicles an unusual friendship between a young cowboy and his friend from far away.

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Before video games and smartphones, adventure was homemade — and sometimes a little hazardous. Pintsized Pioneers at Play: Homemade Frontier Fun and Danger by Preston Lewis and Harriet Kocher Lewis invites readers to step back into the dusty boots of frontier childhood, where imagination ruled and every day promised discovery — or danger! Learn about the book and the authors & be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.

Homemade Frontier Fun and Danger written by Preston Lewis and Harriet Kocher Lewis

Date Published: 11-04-2025

Publisher: Bariso Press

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While their parents settled the land, these pintsized pioneers explored it, creating their own adventures with homemade toys, daring games, wild animal encounters, and risky escapades. This engaging sequel to the award-winning Pintsized Pioneers: Taming the Frontier, One Chore at a Time shines a spotlight on the joys and perils of play in a land still being tamed. 

From exploring the prairie and wrangling critters to celebrating frontier holidays and watching traveling circuses, this book reveals how children carved out fun and entertainment in a rough-and-tumble world. Learn how railroads and mail-order catalogs brought new toys, how schools and churches doubled as social hubs, and how a simple game could end in laughter—or injury. 

Written for young adults but fascinating for readers of all ages, Pintsized Pioneers at Play is packed with history, heart, and a hint of danger. Written at a tenth-grade reading level perfect for curious minds, Pintsized Pioneers at Play includes a glossary of related terms. 

Perfect for fans of Western history, educators, homeschoolers, and lovers of untold American stories!

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About the Authors

 Preston Lewis is the award-winning author of more than sixty western, historical, juvenile, and nonfiction works. In 2021 he was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters for his literary achievements. The Will Rogers Medallion Awards named him the 2025 recipient of the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the literature of the American West.

Western Writers of America (WWA) has honored Lewis with three Spur Awards, one for best article, a second for best western novel and a third one for YA nonfiction in 2025. He has received eleven Will Rogers Medallion Awards (seven gold, two silver and two bronze) for written western humor, short stories, YA nonfiction, short nonfiction, and traditional Western novel. 

Harriet Kocher Lewis is a retired physical therapist and PT educator. As an assistant clinical professor of physical therapy at Angelo State University, she taught documentation and scientific writing among other topics as the department’s coordinator of clinical education. 

After retirement she became the publisher of Bariso Press and in that capacity an award-winning author and editor. Books she has edited have earned a Spur Award, Will Rogers Gold and Bronze Medallions for YA nonfiction and western humor, a Literary Global Book Award for cookbooks, and an Independent Author Award for western nonfiction. Other books she has edited have been finalists for Spur Awards in juvenile nonfiction and for Independent Author Awards for both memoirs and humor. 

Kocher Lewis is co-author with her husband of the Spur Award-winning Pintsized Pioneers: Taming the Frontier, One Chore at a Time and three books on artificial Intelligence, all published by Bariso Press. They live in San Angelo, Texas.

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I've said many times that I have always loved mysteries. Growing up, I read every mystery novel in our small town library! This morning, I have a cozy mystery geared toward young adults! Learn about Lucky Secrets from the Mauzzy & Me Mystery series by B.T. Polcari. 

Young Adult Cozy Mystery

Date Published: 6/23/25

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

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With no good options, Sara enters the contest and finds herself at a fabulous mansion up against eight formidable opponents, each with a dark secret and all racing to solve seven levels of riddles and puzzles.

After a contestant’s body is discovered, Sara contemplates dropping out when another package arrives, its chilling contents making clear she’s at the center of a dangerous game with deadly consequences if she quits. But what it doesn’t say is—what happens if she wins?

 B.T. Polcari is a graduate of Rutgers College of Rutgers University, an award-winning mystery author, and a proud father of two wonderful children. He’s a champion of rescue pups (Mauzzy is a rescue), craves watching football and basketball, and, of course, loves reading mysteries. Among his favorite authors are Richard Osman, D.P. Lyle, Frederick Forsyth, and Michael Connelly. He is also an unapologetic fantasy football addict. He lives with his wife in scenic Chattanooga, Tennessee.

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Looking for a young adult fantasy adventure for your reading list? Today, I have Madagascar Maruaders: In Pursuit of Precious Plunder by author B.K. Boshell! Learn about the book and author and buy it today on Amazon!

Young Adult Fantasy Adventure

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In the heart of Madagascar’s wild forests, danger lurks—and survival depends on courage, loyalty, and the strength of brotherhood.

When a ruthless gang of fossae ambushes a sifaka family home, two friends witness their families being taken hostage. Slick and Isaiah—spared from the tragedy—rally themselves and unexpected allies, vowing to embark on a daring rescue mission.

Their journey is treacherous, filled with shifting shadows, fierce enemies, and heartbreaking choices. But in the face of overwhelming odds, these young heroes discover that true strength lies in camaraderie, resilience, and daring to hope when all seems lost.

Madagascar Marauders: In Pursuit of Precious Plunder is a thrilling young adult fantasy adventure packed with action, suspense, humor, and heart. Dive into a world where danger and wonder collide, where adolescent bravery meets gritty survival, and where the wild and mysterious island of Madagascar springs vividly to life.

Perfect for fans of animal fantasy, high-stakes adventure, and unforgettable friendships.

 Adventure. Brotherhood. Survival. The fight for family begins now.

For readers ages 13+ who love:

• Action-packed animal adventures
•  Heartfelt themes of loyalty and courage
•  Gritty yet heartwarming coming-of-age journeys
•  A deep dive into Madagascar’s fascinating wildlife

About the Author

I am B.K. Boshell, I research and sponge off my parents because $14 is still the minimum in Florida. I am currently a sophomore in high school, play varsity basketball, and enjoy spending time in nature. Writing is a passion of mine.

 My journey began at the age of nine with a summer experiment into writing that evolved into a passion, which I pursued increasingly as the years progressed. My writing process revolves around noise-cancelling headphones, owl hours, a lot of paper, and a ballpoint pen. I draw my inspiration from the myriad places of research I have found myself in over the years. Creating characters and giving them life is incredibly fulfilling as you channel personal experience, the experience of others, and stories of old into forming something that you hope is compelling.

 Truthfully, I want people to enjoy the book for what it is, but also learn of the arcane and intriguing world that is Madagascar. Whether it be the elephant birds that weighed up to one ton, or the merciless feline-esque fossae, I want people to be thrilled about the bizarre and intriguing facts the island has to offer.

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Today, I have a new release, young adult fantasy novel to share! Check out Fate of the Storm, from the Demon Storm series by Valerie Storm, learn about the author & enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.

Demon Storm, Book Eight

Young Adult Fantasy

Date Published: 05-13-2025

Publisher: Shadow Spark Publishing

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The shadows have retreated with Raven's downfall, but darkness still curls at the edges of the world. For a moment, though, Kari and Ari have a moment of peace. There is a glimmer of light that threatens to wash away the darkness as they finally bind their fates together in a formal ceremony.

But Raven hasn't given up, and there's an older, crueler foe who hasn't forgotten Kari - the Lord of Demons, the very one who crafted the Catalyst which Raven sought to control, still trapped in an ancient Tree.

Kari's moment of joy comes to a halt as the world shakes and Taris is ripped apart.

Velthas has risen.

  About the Author

Valerie Storm was raised in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up, she fell in love with everything fantasy. When she wasn’t playing video games, she was writing. By age ten, she began to write her own stories as a way to escape reality. When these stories became a full-length series, she considered the path to sharing with other children & children-at/heart looking for a place to call home.

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Today, I have a recently released young adult dystopian novel in our book spotlight spot! Check out Shadowed Skies, learn about author Haley Cavanagh, and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post. 

YA Dystopian Fantasy Romance

Date Published: 03-25-2025

Publisher: John Hunt Publishing

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In the shadowed aftermath of global destruction, humanity’s hope takes flight on the wings of the Evol-humans. River Shaw, secluded in his high-altitude sanctuary, seeks solace after a life scarred by loss. His quiet existence is disrupted when Delene Fairborne, fleeing captivity and a dark past, crashes into his world. Together, they find strength in their unique abilities, resisting the sinister forces that hunt them for a cure only their blood can provide. 

 As love blossoms amidst the chaos, they face a ruthless scientist hell-bent on harnessing their power. Shadowed Skies is a tale of survival, sacrifice, and soaring hope, where two souls, bound by destiny, fight for a world on the brink. Dive into a world where love flies against insurmountable odds.

About the Author

Haley Cavanagh is a military veteran, wife, and mother. She is a multiple award-winning and best-selling author and the two-time recipient of the League of Utah Writers Silver Quill Award in 2020 and 2024. Haley is an alumna of Columbia College, a musical theater nut, and she loves to dive into any book that crosses her path. Haley resides with her family in the United States and enjoys spending time with her husband and children when she’s not writing. She loves to hear from her readers and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.

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