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!

 

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!

 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Junkyard

Survival stories are always popular with middle-grade readers, which is why The Junkyard by Bryan Reilly caught my eye. This new middle-grade novel follows Maytag, a pit bull who lives with a group of stray dogs. Adventure awaits, along with a troublemaking Rottweiler and a vengeful wolf. As a dog lover, I can’t help but root for Maytag. I hope she finds her happy ending!

 

Learn More About the Book:

 

The Junkyard

Written by Bryan Reilly

Illustrated by Rich Denver

Ages: 8-12 | 192 Pages

Publisher: Bryan Reilly (2026) | ISBN-13: 979-8903103942

Publisher’s Book Summary: "Ninja is a pit bull who would rather die than hurt another dog. When she purposefully loses in the fighting ring of a cruel junkyard owner, Mr. Fergusen, she is punished and left for dead at the edge of a nearby forest. A tribe of stray junkyard dogs finds her and gives her a new name, Maytag. They nurse her back to health and welcome her into their secret home inside the northern junkyard’s mountains of wrecked cars, appliances, tires, and trains. For the first time, Maytag feels love and is incredibly relieved to be free of Mr. Fergusen’s fighting ring. But her relief is short-lived. Saab, the aggressive Rottweiler of the southern junkyard, plans to conquer the north with the help of a vengeful forest wolf. If the junkyard becomes a warzone, Mr. Fergusen will surely take the strays to the put-down place. When Saab’s plan is set in motion, Maytag must decide if her new friends are worth fighting for."

 

You can purchase your own copy of The Junkyard at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Bookshop. To learn more about Bryan Reilly, visit his website and connect with him on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. 

The Giveaway:

 

I've partnered with Bryan Reilly to host an exciting giveaway for The Junkyard. Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win one of three signed paperback copies of The Junkyard. One lucky grand prize winner will receive the ultimate book-lover’s bundle: a signed paperback copy of The Junkyard plus a $50 Amazon gift card and a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card. Good luck!

 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Mystery of the Missing Falls

It can be challenging to find Christian fiction for middle grade readers, especially stories that draw them in without feeling overly preachy. That’s why I’m excited to share a new novel that fits the bill: The Mystery of the Missing Falls by Jen Weaver and Gayle Veitenheimer. 

This book combines Christian themes with an engaging mystery that middle-grade readers are sure to enjoy. Fall is the perfect season to curl up with a detective story that will keep you flipping the pages. I also appreciate how the novel highlights the importance of prayer and features diverse representation. And did I mention there’s an adorable chocolate Lab?

 

Learn More About the Novel:

 

 

The Mystery of the Missing Falls: The Kingswell Kid Detectives Book 1

Jen Weaver and Gayle Veitenheimer

Kregel Publications (2026)

ISBN: 978-0825452864

Ages 8–12 (192 pages)

Series: The Kingswell Kid Detectives — Book 1

Synopsis: "Luka and Ember are ready to put their new detective agency on the map, and the town’s oldest unsolved mystery might be just the case to do it. When cousins Jake and Callie — who are at odds with each other — join the investigation, the young detectives set out to uncover the truth behind the missing falls, help mend an age-old family feud, and discover an unexpected tool along the way: prayer.

Blending high-stakes sleuthing and page-turning adventure with the questions kids really ask about God, The Mystery of the Missing Falls invites young readers to discover that prayer is more than talking to God — it’s part of an ongoing relationship with a God who speaks, listens, and meets them in everyday life."

 

You can purchase your own copy of The Mystery of the Missing Falls at Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. To learn more about Jen Weaver and Gayle Veitenheimer visit Jen's website, Gayle's, or the learn more about the series.  

 

The Giveaway: 

 

Calling all junior detectives! I've partnered with Jen Weaver and Gayle Veitenheimer for a great giveaway to celebrate the publication of The Mystery of the Missing Falls. Follow along on this virtual book tour and enter to win one of five copies of The Mystery of the Missing Falls by Jen Weaver and Gayle Veitenheimer. The giveaway is open till September 27th 2026. Good luck!

  

Mini Reviews: Middle Grade Reads

 

My first love will always be compelling middle grade novels. I enjoy coming-of-age stories as well as engaging mysteries and fantasies. Today, I’m sharing two wonderful new additions to the middle grade bookshelf.

 

The Traitor Moth by Katharine Orton

Pages: 304

Genre: Middle Grade 

Pub. Date: April 7, 2026

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Catclaw dreams that one day he will have the gift of prophecy, just like his Dreamkin ancestors.

But many moons ago, the Dreamkins were exiled from the other noble moth clans for a crime too awful to even speak of, and their gift of prophecy was lost. No Dreamkin has seen the future in generations. So when Catclaw receives a vision telling him that all the moth clans are in terrible danger, he’s branded a liar and exiled.

Catclaw knows it’s the right thing to protect his fellow moths, even if his own clan doesn’t believe him, so he sets out alone on the long and treacherous journey back to Queen Adeia’s Kingdom to warn them.

But there is more to the moth clans’ history than Catclaw ever knew, and the closer he gets to the kingdom, the more the danger grows.

 

In this fantasy world, there are five moth clans, with one of them, the Dreamkins, banished. This particular clan has been linked to prophecies, and Catclaw, a moth and an outsider, has always hoped that his clan would be accepted once again and the prophecies would return. He has grown up with Master Saturna, who shares his wisdom and the history of their world. But things aren't going well for the moths. Bluetails, or murderous wasps, have been tormenting the moths, and Catclaw finally has a vision. It's not good, and it deals with the Bluetails. He wants to warn the Queen and his fellow moths, but who will believe him? Catclaw's heroic journey is detailed in The Traitor Moth, and it's quite an adventure--perfect for readers of the Warriors series.
 
The Traitor Moth presents a fun and unique concept. I love stories that personify animals and bring them to life, making readers truly care about them. This novel accomplishes just that. Catclaw is such an underdog; how could anyone not root for him? His adventures are bound to keep young readers on the edge of their seats.  The Traitor Moth is the beginning of a promising new series.
 

 

Sneaks by Amy Tern

Page: 240

Genre: Middle Grade

Pub. Date: July 7, 2026 

Publisher: Candlewick

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Valory has developed an unfortunate reputation as a thief—primarily because she steals things—though she has resolved to change her ways.

Rook is a total asparagus-eater (a.k.a. a good kid), but he likes to spy on his neighbors. Nobody’s perfect, right?

The twelve-year-olds form an unlikely alliance when they encounter suspicious behavior in an “empty” apartment across the alley from Rook’s house. While agoraphobia keeps home-schooled Rook trapped on his property, confident and street-smart Valory can roam the scene undetected. Their opposite personalities might, in fact, be key to their success.

But their amateur detective mission morphs into something more sinister when they realize the apartment next door could be connected to a recent kidnapping. When the sleuths realize they’re also being watched, the pressure is on to unmask the villain… before she snatches them, too.

 

Valory lives in an apartment in Boston with her single mother, who cleans homes. She is struggling with some decisions she made in the past and has a compulsion to steal things. On one of her mother's jobs, she befriends Rook, who is the opposite of her. Rook has grown up in the lap of luxury, is an accomplished pianist, homeschooled, but has his own set of issues. For starters, he has agoraphobia and has a mother who is a helicopter parent; she doesn't let him out of her sight. He also has to live up to his parents' expectations regarding his music and piano competitions; this all causes him to suffer from anxiety. When Rook and Valory are hanging out, they notice the apartment building that Rook can see from his balcony. While out there, they notice a child that they think is being held against their will in the apartment, Faden House, which is across the way. In the news, there has been a missing kid spotlighted; could this be that kid? Their adventure ensues and an unlikely friendship is formed as well, in Sneaks, a debut novel by Amy Tern.
 
The chapters in Sneaks alternate between two characters, Rook and Valory. Each of them is grappling with personal challenges, but their shared interest in a missing child brings them together. Tern skillfully navigates Rook's anxiety and Valory's struggles with stealing, as well as her mother's new dating life, addressing these difficult issues with empathy. Sneaks reminded me of a middle-grade version of Only Murders in the Building. Fans of mysteries will appreciate this book and Sneaks would make a fantastic addition to a middle school library.

 

 

Are you a fan of middle grade novels? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom

You all know by now that middle grade fiction is one of my favorite genres. There’s just something about a good coming-of-age story that tugs at my heartstrings—and if it includes a dog, I’m sold.

That’s exactly the case with the new novel I’m featuring today, Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom by Claudia Mills. The story follows Calliope, a “difficult” student who joins a philosophy club in hopes of finding answers for how to handle her even more “difficult” dog. This heartfelt novel by acclaimed children’s author Claudia Mills has already received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection. It’s one you won’t want to miss!

 

About the Novel:

 

Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom

Written by Claudia Mills

Ages: 9+ | 272 Pages

Publisher: Holiday House (2026) | ISBN-13: 978-0-8234-6050-2

Publisher’s Book Summary: “Difficult” student Callie joins a philosophy club seeking the wisdom she needs to keep her beloved but equally difficult dog in this hilarious, heartfelt middle-grade novel for underdogs and dog-lovers alike!

Once Callie (Calliope Callisto Clark) starts saying something, it’s hard for her to stop. The opinion gets bigger and bigger, her voice gets louder and louder—and she gets in more and more trouble. She’s in trouble with her teacher, who likes order and not Callie. She’s in bigger trouble with her Grampy, who blames Callie and her dog (a.k.a. Best Ever Friend) Archie for his ever-rising blood pressure. Then there’s the biggest trouble of all… just one more strike, and Callie could lose her beloved Archie forever.

When she turns to Greek philosophy for answers on how to solve her problems, she only gets more questions: What is justice? What is fairness? And as her problems get bigger, so do her questions: Is it Callie’s fault when Grampy has a stroke?

Told in Callie’s endearing, energetic voice, Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom is sure to speak to any student who’s ever been called “disruptive.” Acclaimed children’s book author and retired philosophy professor Claudia Mills delivers a heartfelt middle-grade novel for misunderstood readers who feel like they’re living their own Greek tragedies. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection."

Readers can purchase their own copy of Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom at Barnes & Noble, Bookshop and Amazon. To learn more about Claudia Mills, visit her website and connect with her at Instagram, Facebook, and Blue Sky.  

 

The Giveaway: 

I've partnered with Claudia Mills to host a giveaway for Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom. Enter for the chance to win one of 10 signed hardcover copies of Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom. One grand-prize winner will receive two additional signed books by Claudia Mills, plus an unforgettable one-hour Zoom visit with the author!  

Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom: Book Giveaway  

 

Good luck,

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Lionborn

Middle grade fantasy is one of my favorite genres; who doesn’t love a story filled with adventure, magical realms, loyal friendships, and a tween who must rise to a daunting challenge? I’m always on the hunt for new, captivating novels that fit the bill for middle school readers. Today, I’m excited to share a new middle grade adventure, Lionborn by Sharique Zea, a perfect pick for readers who love fast-paced, action-packed stories.

 

Learn More About the Book:

 

Lionborn

Written by Sharique Zea

Ages 10+ | 228 Pages

Publisher: Sharique Zea (2025) | ISBN: 978-1-0682018-2-0

Publisher’s Book Summary: "A Boy with Hidden Power. An Evil Sorcerer. Three Daring Trials to Test His Courage.

Fionn Hurley feels different. Worried his nightmares might be real, the twelve-year-old has visions of strange creatures and wakes up covered in mysterious marks that heal in a flash. But when a lion cub appears beside his reflection, the curious boy travels to a mystical land… and discovers he’s a Lionborn with powerful magic.

Fionn is shocked to hear an evil sorcerer wants him to bring back a dark overlord. But after finding a clue to defeating the wicked enchanter, the brave young hero discovers three perilous trials stand between him and victory.

With everyone out to get him, can Fionn embrace his abilities and save the people he loves?

If you like friendships full of courage, jaw-dropping surprises, and worlds bursting with magic, then step into Lionborn and let the adventure roar!"

Readers can purchase a copy of Lionborn here and learn more about Sharique Zea by visiting his website. 

 

The Giveaway:

 

I have partnered with Sharique Zea to host a giveaway to celebrate the publication of Lionborn. Enter for a chance to win one of 10 signed paperback copies of Lionborn by Sharique Zea. A grand prize winner will also receive a signed copy plus a $50 Amazon gift card to explore even more magical reads. Good luck! 

Lionborn: Book Giveaway