Reviews written by Melissa A. Craven

When the great and mighty Apollo is cast from Mt. Olympus by an angry Zeus, he falls to earth and quickly realizes he is nothing more than mortal teen, Lester Popadopoulos––with horrible acne to boot. Stripped of his godly powers and everything that made him Apollo, he must find his...

Bucher’s take on contemporary romance might be a strike of brilliance, but get your box of tissues … you’re going to need them. The fact that The Hereafter is her debut novel and her first time publishing as an indie author is astounding. Clearly, Jessica’s educational background in...

I am now a die-hard Jeff Wheeler fan. I was so excited to find such a great example of a young adult book that will appeal to ALL audiences. The story is told from the perspective of a young boy taken from his home and placed precariously among the dangers...

An enjoyable read and a huge change from the YA norm, 8 Rivers of Shadow will resonate with fans of the series. Picking up a few months after 13 Days of Midnight ended, life seems to have returned to normal for Luke Manchett and his girlfriend, Elza. That is, until...

Finding Fraser is for the reader who can’t live without books or the characters that have profoundly affected them. Hilariously funny and insanely enjoyable, I laughed out loud at every turn of Emma’s “Eat, Pray, Love” journey through Scotland. If you are a fan of Outlander, and you...

A hilarious and sometimes terrifyingly suspenseful adventure young teens and tweens are sure to devour. The story begins with an unexpected prologue set in Nazi Germany to establish the tone and show the reader this is no ordinary kid’s tale. And just as quickly, we’re transported...

A typical fantasy tale turned upside down, taking the reader on an exciting journey through colliding worlds. While somewhat predictable, The Marked Girl definitely puts a fresh and unique spin on a classic plot. In her debut novel, Klingele brings the fantasy world into the real...

The Secret Daughter of the Tsar is a carefully woven tale of three lives, converging in a powerful ending that will leave the reader eager for the sequel. Historical fiction fans and Contemporary romance fans will enjoy the Secret Daughter of the Tsar—a wonderful blend of two...

A wildly unique tale that will surely delight readers with its witty dialogue and unexpected twists and dark turns. A bit of a slow starter, Deathcat Sally doesn’t hit its stride until Zachary the cat enters the picture. Thankfully, it’s not a long wait. From the...

Straitlaced Maxine and the impish Will come together in this nostalgic action adventure that will appeal to parents and children alike. Within the first few pages, I was transported back to my childhood of reading such tales as The Eye of Midnight under a veil of sheets lit...

The premise of The Last Girl is enough to spike the interest of any dystopian fan. A world where the female birthrate inexplicably declines and only a few precious girls remain to save the human race? I was immediately on board and The Last Girl was the first book I...

Nothing is as it seems at St Griswold College for Abandoned Boys… And what an intriguing world this author has built! When I first arrived on the steps of St. Griswold with Xavier, I felt like I’d stumbled onto Platform 9 3/4 again. But in a good way,...

If you love strong female MCs, and cliffhangers that make you want to find out where the author lives, The Institute is for you. I'll say it. Dystopian has been done to death and I was leery of picking up yet another one, but this book captured my...

In Patrick Hodge's second book, Ethan's Secret we get to go back to the world of Joshua's Island for an entirely new story. Within the first few chapters, I really enjoyed the way Kelsey and Ethan's stories began to unfold, but my initial thoughts were, I liked Joshua's Island...

I’m not sure what I expected of Joshua’s Island, but I know I did not anticipate absolutely adoring this book! Nor did I expect it to hit so close to home. I never experienced the kind of bullying Joshua endured, but I can relate to his feelings of extreme isolation...