A YA Just In Time for Halloween

I just finished a fun YA read by Laura A. H. Elliott called "13 On Halloween".  It is the first novel in Laura's new Teen Halloween Series.  Judging by the first book, it will be a series to follow.

The story revolves around Roxie who has entered middle school and is hoping to catapult herself into the popular crowd at school with a party for her thirteenth birthday, which falls on Halloween.  A party her parents don't know she is having and wouldn't permit if they knew.  She invites all of the popular kids that she admires and is thrilled when they all show up.

They give Roxie a unique gift which is literally out of this world.  Laura has crafted an alternate reality which is both believable and spooky at the same time. Ultimately, the gift will teach her that you should be careful what you wish for and that 'popularity' is not all it's cracked up to be.

Roxie is a great character with a language all her own and with problems most of us can relate to. Her experiences teach her lessons that we all need to remember.

A Taste of Terror

If you like being scared and you like short stories, you need to read Jeff Bennington's "Murdoch's Eyes"!  It starts with a date that turned bad for Gina.  She hadn't known the good looking man with the brilliant green eyes would end up being so freaky.  She flees the party but somehow Murdoch is in her mind and controlling her. Things rapidly go from bad to worse and she ends up in his lair where she encounters his very deformed brother.  What is she there for?  What will happen next?

I never spoil a story so you will need to read it to find out.  It's well worth it.  There's a bit of everything - creepiness, deformities, paranormal powers, strong minded heroine.  You won't be disappointed.