Book picks similar to
Westward to Strange by Ray Litt
fantasy
mermaids
first-reads
paranormal
Awaken
Skye Malone - 2014
Neither was ending up the target of killers, or having her body change in unusual ways. She only wanted a vacation, someplace far from her crazy parents and their irrational fear of water. She only wanted to do something normal for once, and maybe get to know her best friend's hot stepbrother a bit better at the same time.But the first day she goes out on the ocean, strange things start to happen. Dangerous things that should be impossible. Things to which 'normal' doesn't even begin to apply. Now madmen are hunting her. A mysterious guy with glowing blue eyes is following her. And her best friend's stepbrother seems to be hiding secrets all his own. It was supposed to be a vacation. It's turning out to be a whole lot more.
The Magical Curiosity Shoppe
Ani Gonzalez - 2018
The Mystery of the Halloween Mask Halloween is usually a blast in Banshee Creek, Virginia, also known as The Most Haunted Town in the USA, but not for Magical Mystery Shoppe owner, Dora Pendragon. The immortal witch is tasked — or, to be more accurate, cursed — with guarding dangerous and mysterious objects in her dimension-hopping store. This is, to put it mildly, not the most fun way for a witch to spend eternity, and when a cursed mask disappears from the shop on Halloween night Dora is caught in a race against time. She has to solve the mystery behind the curse, find the mask, and return it to the shop before its bloody legacy exacts a terrible price. The Mystery of the Christmas Doll Christmas in Banshee Creek usually means cold weather, hot chocolate, and lots of toys. But when a haunted doll with a bloody past arrives in the Magical Curiosity Shoppe, Dora Pendragon suspects that the innocent-looking toy is determined to find a new owner. Will Dora solve the mystery behind the doll before it finds a new victim? The Mystery of the Love Potion It's Valentine's Day in the Most Haunted Town in the USA. February is a slow month for Banshee Creek, but not for Dora Pendragon. The Magical Curiosity Shoppe seems to be searching for a new item, and it's not the only one. A mysterious stranger is also looking for a delicate glass bottle with curious markings and powerful magical contents. Should Dora give up the precious liquid, or should she finally confront the eldritch force that holds her prisoner, once and for all?
Pawn
Ernie Lindsey - 2014
The ABNA contest is operated on Amazon.com only. Visit this entry on Amazon.com to leave customer feedback. To vote for the Grand Prize winner starting July 8, visit www.amazon.com/ABNA. Nobody asks to be chosen. The world ended long before Caroline Mathers was born, but that doesn't mean life stops for the fourteen-year-old army scout for the People's Republic of Virginia. Abandoned by her parents, raised by her grandfather, she slinks through the forests surrounding her decrepit encampment, monitoring the woods for nomadic bands of criminals known as Republicons, all while keeping a watchful eye on her northern enemies from the Democratic Alliance. It's a hard life, but a simple one, at least until the day Caroline hears the sound that everyone dreads: distant drums echoing throughout their quiet valley, pounding to the beat of the war rhythm. With some help from two unlikely allies, Caroline leads her people in a breathtaking retreat, praying they'll find salvation in their capitol city. Along the way, Caroline begins a noticeable transformation; she can run and jump with superhuman strength, she can bend time and catch bullets with her bare hands. Terrified of what's happening to her, seven puzzling words from her grandfather may hold a clue: "She gave you strength for a reason." Will her haunting dreams reveal a look into the mystery of her past? The first book of the Warchild series is a powerful, coming of age, dystopian thriller full of fast-paced action, tragic choices, and the undeniable strength of the human bond.
Order of Seven
Beth Teliho - 2015
Things take a shocking turn when she meets Baron, an intense and alluring energy healer who receives prophetic dreams which all seem connected to her. Devi must rely on an empath, a seer, and Baron to help research her roots to discover who she is and what she is capable of. But when Baron’s visions lead to an ancient legend which may link to her birthright, Devi learns her gift is more imperative than she thought imaginable. Equal parts suspenseful and sexy, philosophical and adventurous, ORDER OF SEVEN delivers a story that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the hands that carry fate.
Teardrop
Lauren Kate - 2013
After her mother was killed in a freak accident, the things she used to love hold no meaning. She wants to escape, but one thing holds her back: Ander, the boy who is everywhere she goes, whose turquoise eyes are like the ocean. And then Eureka uncovers an ancient tale of romance and heartbreak, about a girl who cried an entire continent into the sea. Suddenly her mother's death and Ander's appearance seem connected, and her life takes on dark undercurrents that don't make sense. Can everything you love be washed away?
Trapped in Whittier
M.W. Layne - 2013
Just because you don’t believe in something doesn’t mean it can’t kill you.-----------------------------Trent Walker is a mentalist who makes his living off of people believing in magic and the afterlife, even though he doesn’t believe in anything other than science, logic, and sleight of hand.The two hundred or so residents of the strange town of Whittier, Alaska, are convinced that vengeful spirits and a horrific curse have doomed them to lives of eternal darkness.When Trent finds himself trapped in Whittier, with no way to leave until the next morning, he's forced to reassess his own beliefs and to fight for his life against an unnatural force that his logical mind can’t explain.
Mystical
Valerie Weekly - 2015
But first she has to start college with her best friend Dawn Roberts and her feline familiar Jared. If you think college is stressful, try finding your best friend being seduced—nearly to death—by a venomous fairy. Something is horribly wrong, and Eliza must find out what it is.Knowing who’s who in the Mystical world can be a burden—or save her life…Murderous mermaids, seductive fairies, and manipulative elves are terrifying enough, but pure witches can become corrupt…and they’re the most dangerous creatures of all. Eliza struggles to discover the source of this chaos, but is repeatedly attacked—and saved by a shadowy figure. On a very personal note, Eliza must learn whether corruption is beginning to claim her mother.Her strongest ally might be handsome, enigmatic Donovan—but he is hiding a shocking secret…Donovan wants nothing to do with his old gang—not after the things they’d made him do. But when he meets Eliza, he’s both frustrated by her amateur skills and impressed by her emerging strength, and he feels compelled to help her grow into the assassin she’s meant to be.Every answer has a price, and there are beings born to corrupt the pure.Eliza fights to master her skills before it’s too late, while Donovan must determine whether Eliza can be saved…or if she must die to keep her out of the hands of those who would use her powers to reign over all of Mystical.
Harmonized
Mary Behre - 2015
After nearly dying on assignment, Tidewater police officer Zig Harmon has been awarded the Silver Star and desk duty. But handling every case that walks through the door while his entire department is out hunting a serial killer is nothing compared to dealing with his former flame, Karma De La Cruz.As much as she hates it, Karma knows that her best chance of finding the kidnapped baby haunting her visions is the man she once left behind. Forced to work together, Karma and Zig start to realize that they may have let go of something incredible. But now, time is running out, both for the missing infant and for their chance to start again... Includes an exclusive preview of the latest Tidewater novel, Energized.
First Project
Jennifer Rose McMahon - 2019
Keeping the strange Mystic Academy a secret within her prep school was the second. Competing against the strongest student, Dom, a stunning boy with a dark secret, was the unexpected twist.FIRST PROJECT: Explore Hell's Gates.Brynn must learn how to use her psychic gifts in time to uncover the mystery of a local urban legend. The town woods behind her school is where children become lost with no memory of where they'd gone, and its tales of burned witches smother the town in shame.Can this ancient myth be debunked, while fighting the maddening distraction of Dom, in time for the project deadline? Or will the sinister truth hidden within legend awaken, creating unhinged chaos within the academy?
One-click to start the epic adventure of the Urban Mystic Academy: First Project.
Window
T.M. Franklin - 2013
An old journal. A dusty chest holding more than secrets. Each talisman found in the chest grants the chosen a gift, a unique ability. But with that power comes a burden—the duty of The Order. Something is coming. Something evil. And it's up to The Order to stop it. WINDOW, Now EPISODE 1 of The Talisman ChroniclesChloe Blake has a unique gift, an odd connection to her house that results in glimpses of the past, present, and future via the picture window in her living room. Unfortunately, it’s a gift that sometimes proves to be more of a curse. Especially when she tries to help out Ethan Reynolds, the gorgeous boy who lives across the street – an endeavor that, for some reason, always seems to backfire. Or leave her covered in mud.But the house is convinced Ethan’s life is in danger and Chloe’s the only one who can save him. The problem is, he thinks she’s more than a little crazy.
Graveminder
Melissa Marr - 2011
While growing up, Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual at every funeral: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words, "Sleep well, and stay where I put you."Now Maylene is gone and Bek must return to the hometown—and the man—she abandoned a decade ago, only to discover that Maylene's death was not natural . . . and there was good reason for her odd traditions. In Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected—and beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D. From this dark place the deceased will return if their graves are not properly minded. And only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk.
Drawn
Marie Lamba - 2012
He’s the medieval ghost that conquers her heart. And their time is running out.Michelle De Freccio moves with her dad to England, where she hopes for a more normal life. Instead she discovers a handsome guy appearing in all her sketches. When she actually meets him at the town's castle, she's unmistakably drawn to him. But something is definitely not normal.He wears medieval garb, talks of ancient murders, and tends to disappear with a kiss. Could he be a ghost? Could Michelle be losing her mind? Or has she simply uncovered a love so timeless it's spanned the centuries...
Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch
J.E. Hunter - 2014
When Nessa's dad dies, the last thing she's expecting is to loose everything else too. But when her hair suddenly turns electric red, and her estranged grandma turns up on her doorstep ready to haul her off to an isolated island, that's exactly what happens. In one day, Nessa losses her mother and her friends, and learns that she's a redheaded sea-witch with magical powers. She's one of many Neptunians - magical beings blessed by the sea - which includes selkies, mermaids, and sea nymphs. Nessa doesn't want to live on an island, she doesn't want to be a sea-witch, and she certainly doesn't want to be hunted by humans who harvest Neptunians for their magical powers. But if Nessa wants to live, she'll have to accept her new life and everything that comes with it, including a witty pirate names Caesar, who just might break her heart.
After Obsession
Carrie Jones - 2011
The dream rushes back to me. We were falling, clutching at each other, with twisting darkness all around us... The girl looks up at me and I realize I've stopped walking and am staring at her. I see something in her eyes, something like recognition.AIMEEAnd in that second I know, absolutely know, that something in my life has changed irrevocably. This is the guy from my dreams. Right here. And we are going to have to do something, save something, together. I just don't know what.TOGETHERAlan and Aimee have just met, but already they are bound to each other by something they can't quite name. Something that rattles the windows, haunts the waters... and threatens to tear them apart before they get a chance to find out what their connection means.
Twisted Bloodlines
Linda Jackson - 2012
Friends and homes are traded at a moment’s notice to escape from their worst nightmares. Years pass, and her mother settles down with her new step-father, a kind man who does his best to protect them. Life lulls into a safe pace, and Megan finally feels as though she has control of her future for the first time in her life. But that peace is shattered with the arrival of a new family member, one that bears a striking resemblance to a saviour of her past…Confused by her deep emotional connection to him, things unravel fast. She learns that the people she lives with, even her own family, are not what they seem. Her only friend who helped her piece her life back together changes overnight, and she is left dealing with the fallout on her own…As events unfold, Megan finds herself face to face with the horror that has haunted her since childhood. But will she be able to escape from her twisted bloodline?