Children's Book Review: Maddie - A Little Ghost with a Secret by Cindy J. Vanous

Maddie A Little Ghost with a Secret by Cindy J Vanous
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A sweet ghost with a sweet secret.

Maddie – A Little Ghost with a Secret is a cute children's Halloween-themed picture book by Cindy J. Vanous, perfect for even the youngest among us. Maddie is the ghost of a little girl who, along with her mother, father, and many others of her kind, inhabits the small, abandoned community of Terlingua, Texas. With its cheerfully optimistic, engaging main character and positive messaging, the story is simple, fun, and entertaining: one that will be requested on repeat for bedtime reading.

I enjoyed how Maddie introduces her town, offering a simple explanation for why its former residents had moved away. While Maddie cavorts with her ghostly playmates, delighting in Halloween activities, readers are left to guess about her past and the era in which she may have lived. However, the look of the clothing worn by the main characters, especially Maddie's mother with her stylish pillbox hat and short skirt, seems to indicate the 1960s, perhaps. On the other hand, both Maddie and her father's attire harken back to an earlier time, at least pre-WWII, when the Terlingua mines were still in operation. There are many details in Steven Stewart's colorful illustrations to examine and ponder. However, because of the artwork's style, it was sometimes difficult to discern what some of the illustrations depicted on my tablet, so maybe a physical copy would offer more clarity.

While Maddie's vibe is joyful, she is concerned about how she fits in with the rest of the ghosts in her community; all seem to have a special gift or talent, while she has yet to discover hers, or if she even has one. But it doesn't take long before she realizes that she does something that no other ghost does; she bakes and decorates tasty and adorable cupcakes that she secretly leaves around town for the people living there to enjoy. Her skill may not be like anyone else's, but it is uniquely hers, and with it she makes others happy. Younger listeners will easily relate to Maddie's worries and, with prompting, can begin to consider their own special skills or talents as they are read this sweet story.

I recommend MADDIE – A LITTLE GHOST WITH A SECRET to young readers and for reading aloud at home, school, or in after-school programs.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Literary Life Book Campaigns.

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Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: The Misremembered Lighthouse (Hayley Hunter Mystery, #2) by p.m. terrell

 

THE MISREMEMBERED LIGHTHOUSE

by

p.m. terrell

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by

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Mystery
Publisher: Drake Valley Press
Publication Date: September 1, 2025
Page count: 305 pages

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SYNOPSIS:

While researching her next book, historian and author Hayley Hunter rents a lighthouse in Southeastern North Carolina. The modern lighthouse and vacation home replaced an original wood structure that only functioned during the Revolutionary War. The old lighthouse may be long gone, but the lightkeeper’s ghost remains.

Hayley becomes increasingly obsessed with finding why the spirit of Jonathan Corbyn lingers between realms. Joined by her lover Shay MacGregor, her search will take her into a world of spies, double agents, and espionage at the dawn of American democracy.

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ENJOY AN EXCERPT:

I bolted upright and tapped on the latest alert. I found myself staring at the lantern room. The security camera encompassed nearly the entire circular room, save for the wall behind it. My eyes skimmed the walls, alighting briefly on each window. The moon was high and full, and for a moment, I thought the camera might have picked up the glow or perhaps even something flying against the window. But as I continued to stare into my phone, I spotted something moving along the top steps as if ascending.

 

I quietly tossed the covers off me and glided into my slippers as I grabbed my robe. I cautiously strode to the spiral stairs to peer upward into the stairwell. It was not as dark as I had expected, but a muted light from the moon struggled to illuminate it. I glanced downward to discover it was darker beneath me. Turning my attention again to the stairs leading upward, I remembered the curvature in the design prevented me from seeing to the top. How, then, my mind argued, could the moonlight find its way down?

 

I stepped onto the staircase. My right hand clenched the phone, while my eyes continually moved from the image on my screen to the steps above me. My naked eyes could see nothing out of the ordinary. The steps appeared just as they had a few hours earlier. But my phone displayed a shadow moving upward.

 

As I reached the uppermost stairs, I realized the image picked up by the security camera was not a human, but rather a human form. It was opaque, but I detected the outline of a man’s broad shoulders, his torso, arms, and legs. His legs were misshapen, as though he were wearing breeches that ballooned slightly from him. There was something else that extended beyond his body, like a waistcoat. I could see the outline of his head, but it was shadowy, with facial details absorbed into the darkness.

 

I froze on the step. I could see the image clearly on my phone’s security app. But when I used my naked eyes without the benefit of the phone, I could see nothing at all in the spot where it should have appeared. Shakily, I climbed to the next step and then the next.

 

The figure moved just beyond me as if to entice me to follow him. As my head topped the floor, it turned to me, as if he was looking straight at me, though I could see nothing but darkness where his face should have been.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

My full name is Patricia McClelland Terrell, and I have been writing under the pen name p.m.terrell ever since a publisher presented me with my first fiction book cover. The graphic designer had also entered my name in lower-case letters; my editor hated it, and I loved it. It’s been p.m.terrell ever since.

I began writing when I was nine years old, inspired by a schoolteacher and elementary school principal. Scott-Foresman published my first book, a computer instructional for universities, in 1984. Scott-Foresman, Dow-Jones (Richard D. Irwin branch), Palari Publishing, Paralee Press, and Drake Valley Press have published 26 books to date.

Before embarking on a full-time writing career, I founded McClelland Enterprises, Inc. in the Washington, D.C. area in 1984, specializing in computer instruction for employees in the workplace. I opened another business, Continental Software Development Corporation, in 1994, which focused on custom application development, programming, website design and development, and computer crime.

I was honored to be the first female president of the Chesterfield County/Colonial Heights Crime Solvers. I also served as the treasurer for the Virginia Crime Stoppers Association. Since moving to North Carolina, I served on the Robeson County Friends of the Library and Robeson County Arts Council.

I launched The Book ‘Em Foundation with Waynesboro, Virginia Police Officer Mark Kearney, and assisted in Virginia, New Hampshire, and South Carolina events before establishing the annual Book ‘Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair, chairing it for several years before turning it over to Robeson Community College in Lumberton, NC.

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REVIEW:

5 stars!

Spooky, intense paranormal mystery! 

The Misremembered Lighthouse may be the second riveting Hayley Hunter Mystery by author p.m. terrell, but readers new to the series can easily dive right in and enjoy a great story. In this book, renowned historical fiction author Hayley Hunter returns to the U.S. after a year’s sojourn in Ireland, where she went to research her Irish roots for a book but stayed to pursue a new love and a slower, more rural lifestyle. Due to visa restrictions, she must leave Ireland for 1 year. She rents a secluded, long-decommissioned lighthouse near Raleigh, North Carolina, where she plans to research her Revolutionary War-era ancestors and their involvement during the conflict for her next novel. She soon discovers she may not be alone on the remote property as she glimpses ghostly, disappearing figures and the original lighthouse lamp that lights with a will of its own.
 
Hayley is a gutsy gal, sticking around when she feels the ice-cold presence of spirits, hears disembodied voices, and inexplicably moved objects, as well as things that go bump in the night. She initially clings to logical explanations and excuses for what she sees, but when Shay MacGregor, her love from Ireland, arrives for an extended visit and corroborates her experiences, it becomes all too real.
 
The book is two stories in one, as Hayley uncovers the journal of the original lighthouse keeper, Jonathan Corbyn. Jon is a tragic figure, coming from Scotland to the British colony of North Carolina after participating in the Battle of Culloden, only to end up on the losing side and deemed a traitor. He builds the lighthouse himself with the goal of a quiet, solitary, and peaceful future, but is caught between family and friends and the oath of royalty he swore to the Crown when he was granted his property in the new territory.
 
The story is well-paced, with the ghostly activity beginning immediately. Hayley’s initial encounters are a little disconcerting but still deliciously creepy, and immediately evoked The Ghost and Mrs. Muir vibes. However, as the action progresses, the situation becomes more tragic and dangerous, and, while there is a romance, it is between the main character and her very much alive love interest. Unfortunately, the lighthouse keeper is not alone, and he has a story he’s determined for Hayley to uncover. I enjoyed the dual-timeline structure, with Hayley’s story unfolding in the present and Jon’s in early 1776, presented as journal entries. Hayley and Shay’s relationship is loving and strong, and it is a wonderful storyline that continues through the series. This book was a definite page-turner for me.
 
I recommend THE MISREMEMBERED LIGHTHOUSE to readers of paranormal suspense.

GUEST POST:

Please welcome p.m. terrell, the author of today's featured book, to the blog to discuss why her book is a "must-read."

p.m. terrell: The Misremembered Lighthouse is like a cozy, early summer vacation at the beach. Historian and author Hayley Hunter has rented the isolated lighthouse to complete her research, and from the first chapter, you can envision arriving at a peaceful and serene rental where no one can bother you. You can sit in the lantern room atop the lighthouse and watch spectacular sunrises and sunsets, or awaken in the round bedroom to windows that surround you.
 
If you enjoy a good mystery while you’re lounging along the coast, you’ll find yourself pulled into Hayley’s mystery concerning the original lighthouse keeper and his role in the Revolutionary War. And maybe you’ll want to discover the reason that the keeper, Jonathan Corbyn, still haunts the lighthouse, turning on the lantern in the middle of the night, opening and closing windows, and moving objects.
 
Perhaps you enjoy books that educate within the threads of a mystery. When Hayley finds Jonathan’s journal, she discovers the pivotal role that the lighthouse played during the American Revolutionary War. Her discovery takes her to immigrant Scots converging at Cross Creek for a march to the sea to engage the patriots, and British ships moving up the channels from the ocean to catch the patriots between them. You might find the Battle of Moore’s Creek near the Widow Moore’s house particularly engrossing.
 
And as the days get shorter and the nights get longer, you might want to curl up in the downstairs living room surrounded by windows all around, a cozy cup of tea and a treat beside you. There’s just one thing: to have the place all to yourself, you’ll need to help Jonathan on his way to the other side.

 

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p.m. terrell will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

Book Review: Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library (Mrs. Christie, #1) by Amanda Chapman

Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fun and unique new cozy mystery featuring the “Queen of Crime” returning from the beyond to solve a murder.

Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman is the first book in a fun and unique new cozy murder mystery series featuring the “Queen of Crime” herself, apparently on something of a holiday from the Pearly Gates. As Mrs. Christie, book restoration specialist Tory Van Dyne, and Tory’s cousin and Broadway ingenue Nicola search for answers, Mrs. Christie’s formidable powers of observation and reasoning pave the way to the final resolution.

The book unfolds in the first-person perspective of Tory Van Dyne, and her narrative is both spirited and liberally laced with humor and numerous references to Agatha Christie and other mystery authors. For me, it was the perfect blending of character quotes from the many Christie novels and Tory’s thought-filled identification that I most enjoyed and had me mentally making a list of Christie titles to revisit in the future. I loved the New York City / Greenwich Village setting and the thought of a recreated Christie library in a private home and look forward to more stories there in the future.

I recommend MRS. CHRISTIE AT THE MYSTERY GUILD LIBRARY to cozy mystery fans, especially those with a soft spot for the work of the “Queen of Crime” herself.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

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Book Review: Wheeler-Dealer (The Ghost and Camper Kooky Mystery, #1) by Rita Moreau

Wheeler-Dealer by Rita Moreau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fun, quirky, cozy mystery series debut.

Wheeler-Dealer is the first book in author Rita Moreau’s fun and quirky cozy The Ghost and Camper Kooky Mystery series. With its retirement-age protagonists, memorable secondary characters, and road trip storyline, I was primed for a good story before I even finished the first chapter! When 60-ish Mabel Gold’s husband leaves her for a younger woman, she decides to buy an RV and head west with a friend and her husband. But when a member of their traveling group is murdered, Mabel and the flamboyant ghost who came with her used camper investigate, hoping to win points with St. Peter so the ghost can finally enter the gates of heaven.

Mabel Gold is the plucky divorcee who tells the story and is able to see and communicate with Irma, the Airstream-tied spirit of a Las Vegas madam. I enjoyed their extensive backstories, which really allowed me to gain a complete picture of these two sassy characters (and many of the others, too) and form a strong connection to both. The murder plot unfolds at a deliberate pace, but the meticulous preparation lays a solid foundation for what is to come and for the series going forward. As the reason for Irma to move along from purgatory is the completion of good deeds, she assists Mabel and Lili in getting to the bottom of what’s going on. There’s never a dull moment with Irma around, and Mabel had me laughing a number of times as well. However, the story could benefit from some cleanup of repetitive mentions of characters’ concerns or explanations. Still, I definitely look forward to getting into the next book in the series.

I recommend WHEELER-DEALER to cozy mystery fans who enjoy more mature main characters and a bit of the woo-woo and ghosts in their stories.

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Children's Book Review: Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel

Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A suspenseful and exciting middle-grade novel of ghosts, friendship, and family

SYNOPSIS from Goodreads:

One teen's summer job scaring tourists with ghost stories takes a terrifying turn when he accidentally summons the spirit of a dead girl—and she has demands. . . .

Rebecca Strand was just sixteen when she and her father fell to their deaths from the top of the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse in 1839. Just how they fell—or were they pushed?—remains a mystery. And their ghosts haunt the lighthouse to this day. . . .

Gabe tells this story every day when he gives the ghost tour on Toronto Island. He tries to make it scary enough to satisfy the tourists, but he doesn’t actually believe in ghosts—until he finds himself face to face with Rebecca Strand.

The true story of her death is far more terrifying than any ghost tale Gabe has told. Rebecca reveals that her father was a member of the Order, a secret society devoted to protecting the world from “the wakeful and wicked dead”—malevolent spirits like Viker, the ghost responsible for their deaths. But the Order has disappeared, and Viker’s ghost is growing ever stronger.

Now Gabe and his friends must find a way to stop Viker before they all become lost souls. . . .

Ghostlight is a suspenseful and exciting middle-grade novel about ghosts, friendship, and family. In addition to the fictional tale, the book includes some serious and highly discussable topics such as divorce, the death of a parent, immigrant experiences, and what happens after you die. This is definitely one I would have been glad to share with my boys when they were that age for the excellent story, superior storytelling, and the diverse conversations it most likely would have prompted.

The ghostly aspects of the story are unique. I enjoyed the author’s vision of how ghosts exist, hidden on the edge of regular daily life. The descriptions of the evil Viker were scary, and I could clearly visualize his appearance and the changes he underwent. His consuming the other spirits and the images of the ghosts crossing the water to get to land both gave me the willies. And I worried from the start about Rebecca draining the energy from Gabe; it seemed so realistic.

The setting was fresh (Toronto), and I enjoyed the quest the four friends conducted to find the answer to Rebecca’s terrible problem (trying to avoid spoilers there.) The kids, including Rebecca, were well-drawn, each different from the others, but a well-matched, balanced group with interesting backstories. I liked that Callie was continuously researching for clues, and Yuri was steadfast in his focus on improvising the best way to combat the evil ghosts. These kids were serious about what they were doing yet still displayed their fun, young, and modern side. (Even Rebecca is intrigued and learns to use some modern conveniences.) They were or became friends, and some of their dialogue had me laughing out loud.

"Steaming pile of yak dung! Who says such a thing?”

“Me, from now on!”

With its unique setting, characters, and ghostly afterlife to its suspenseful and exciting plot, I recommend GHOSTLIGHT to middle-grade readers who like stories that involve puzzling out a mystery or a search, ghosts, or a setting during a summer job at an amusement facility or waterside in Toronto.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through NetGalley and TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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Book Review: A Room for Murder (Charlie Kingsley, #5) by Michele Pariza Wacek

A Room for Murder by Michele Pariza Wacek
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ghostly drama is going down at the Redemption Inn!

A Room for Murder is a novella in the Charlie Kingsley series by author Michele Pariza Wacek, and reading it is an excellent way to become acquainted with the main character and town of Redemption, Wisconsin, and enjoy an intriguing ghost story. Charlie Kingsley is drawn into a ghostly drama by Nancy, her friend and the owner of the historic and haunted Redemption Inn, where she meets the Redemption’s handsome, aggravating, and recently hired police officer.

Charlie is a friendly and helpful woman who operates a small home business crafting specialty herbal tea blends. She first learns of the Redemption Inn’s ghost, Darla, from a pair of tourists she encounters at Quoth the Raven, the local new and used bookstore. Intrigued, she heads to the Inn to ask the owner, her friend Nancy, about the ghost but inadvertently stumbles into a scene of turmoil with a guest loudly complaining that Darla tried to kill her husband.

The town of Redemption has a peculiar reputation and odd history, so everyone is quite willing to accept the presence of a ghost as fact. But as these types of things go, something just doesn’t feel right, and before you know it, one of the guests falls victim to the supposedly deadly specter.

The author’s writing style is easy to read, and I was soon invested in the outcome of the story. The characters were engaging and easy to get to know, and the plot was compelling. Readers new to the series should have no trouble getting comfortable with the current tale without having read the earlier novels.

I recommend A ROOM FOR MURDER to cozy mystery readers and fans of the previous books in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

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Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Izzy Hoffman is Not a Witch by Alyssa Alessi

 

Izzy Hoffman is Not a Witch

by

Alyssa Alessi

Middle-grade horror
Publisher: Cinnabar Moth Publishing LLC
Publication Date: September 5, 2023
Hardcover age count: 150 pages

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SYNOPSIS:

Twelve-year-old Izzy has been haunted by the shadow of her ten-times-great grandmother for as long as she can remember. This is no ordinary ancestral ghost: This great granny was the first woman to be hung for witchcraft in Izzy’s small New England town.

Every October first, tourists flood the streets of Marblehead. Unfortunately, this year so do a mysterious man and a possessed town psychic. When the man shows up at Izzy’s family-run bookstore, making odd demands and threatening her mom, she must find the connection between this creep and her ghostly visions.

Trying to make sense of this chaos, Izzy roams into secret rooms, holds seances at the local tarot parlor, and digs through the old family cookbooks that sit on her shelves. When she discovers that she may be a part of a once-in-a-century ritual, Izzy must decide whether it’s going to take baking magic or blood magic to protect herself and her parents from the return of the witch hunt.

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READ AN EXCERPT:

Every morning I wake from the same dream. Honestly, it’s more like a nightmare. I walk up to a ridiculously large brass-framed mirror, its dirty gold trim holding golden vines wrapped around its curves. Faces belonging to chubby baby angels are carved in its crevices. I’m hesitant to look at first, but then I jump in front of it like I know what’s coming and want to get it over with. I do know what’s coming. My reflection is the same every time. A woman with long straggly black hair and a gaunt face stares back at me. She has no eyes, yet she looks straight into my soul. Her head moves from side to side. My chest aches with each crook of her neck. She wants to pull me in, I know she does. Her bony fingers scratch at the sides of the glass. I open my mouth to scream, but the shriek comes from her unhinged jaw instead of mine. I always wake in a puddle of sweat, then get up to brush my teeth. This has been on repeat for five years, until today. Today is my twelfth birthday and as a gift, this woman smiled and punched through the glass.

REVIEW:

5 stars!

A quick and exciting witchy read for upper-elementary and middle-grade readers, perfect for the fall season.

Izzy Hoffman Is Not a Witch by author Alyssa Alessi is the perfect fall tale for advanced elementary and middle-grade readers who enjoy stories of witches, magic, and family. With a brave 12-year-old protagonist and her loyal best friend in the spotlight, the story weaves an exciting tale that includes some early history of women folk healers persecuted as witches by the fearful, jealous, and greedy, with a hidden world where magic really exists.

 

In this fictional tale, Izzy Hoffman is the bright and brave heroine of the book, whose early ancestor, Alice Young, was the first person executed for witchcraft in the 13 American colonies: an actual person. Alice's spirit is a restless one and has infiltrated Izzy's dreams and terrified the child for years. But on Izzy's 12^th birthday, the recurring nightmare gets even more frightening, with Alice seeming determined to take Izzy with her into her world. After much agonizing consideration, Izzy shares her problem with her mother, and together, they decide to get to the bottom of the endless nocturnal visitations. Assisting is the elderly but feisty tarot reader, Miss Clara, and Izzy's best friend, Nat, who models what a true friend is all about.

 

At school, Izzy has experienced finger-pointing and been the subject of a rumor that she's a witch, and Nat has always had her back. But in a town that celebrates Halloween and witches year-round, this didn't have quite the stigma it might have had elsewhere or in an earlier era. Izzy has a handle on weathering that storm and isn't timid about speaking up for herself. Still, over the course of the story, Izzy gains and nurtures her confidence and grows to accept her true self.

 

The action begins quickly when a rude stranger knocks Izzy down but hurries away without apologizing or checking to see if she is injured. Later, when the stranger menaces her mother at their bookstore, readers will realize that great-grandma Alice times ten may not be the real villain in the piece. The story's pace builds quickly from this point and never lets up. Its shorter length and nicely spaced chapter breaks make this book middle-grade-friendly and a great choice for reading aloud.

 

I recommend IZZY HOFFMAN IS NOT A WITCH for advanced elementary and middle-grade readers and as a possible choice for reading aloud in school, during after-school programs, and at home.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alyssa Alessi is a writer of middle grade, young adult and short stories all inspired by the unsettling macabre aesthetic of New England. As a child she was on a constant hunt for ghosts, vampires, and her own powers as a witch. When she couldn’t find them, she settled for writing them into existence. You can find her hiking any trail in the Northeast said to be haunted, roaming old cemeteries with a camera in hand, or thrift shopping anywhere antiques are sold. She resides in Boston, MA with her husband, three children and their mini dachshund.

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Alyssa Alessi will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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