Do You Believe in Magic? (Green Bird Publishing 2025) by Jim Melvin is a highly imaginative fantasy novel starring three thirteen year olds who find themselves transformed from middle school outsiders into leaders with special powers when they travel through a portal into a parallel world. Billed as “Book One of the Dark Circle Trilogy,” Do You Believe in Magic? will appeal not only to teens, but to readers who enjoy fantasy fiction in the vein of J.K. Rowling and Brandon Sanderson. Melvin immerses readers in the world of Pacchann where the bullies of middle school are replaced by a variety of monsters. Breath-taking adventures await this trio of likeable teens. Buckle up for an entertaining rollercoaster ride when you pick up this engaging novel that won fourteen awards, including double finalist in the 21st annual Best Book Awards.
Jim Melvin is the author of nine award-winning novels, three novelettes, and thousands of magazine and news articles. He now lives in a valley surrounded by mountains in the Southern Appalachians. He was previously an award-winning journalist at several large newspapers and a communications director at Clemson University.
Dangerous Latitudes (Stoney Creek Publishing 2025) by Jack Woodville London is entertaining not only because of the raucous adventures its young protagonist Alexandre LaBranche encounters while mapping the Texas/Mexico boundaries, but also for Alexandre’s transformation from a bumbling, naive surveyor into a confident spy. Caught between two armies vying for the same territory, Alexandre is manipulated by each leader he encounters. Everything that can go wrong for Alexandre does—until, after many trials, his fortunes reverse. Famous historical figures appear throughout the story, including Texas presidents Mirabeau Lamar and Sam Houston and Mexico’s president, Santa Anna. Dangerous Latitudes is historical fiction at its best, blending larger-than-life characters with action/adventure.
Jack Woodville London is the author of four novels, including French Letters: Children of a Good War, winner of the 2018 Gold Medal for Book of the Year in war and military fiction. He also wrote A Novel Approach, a non-fiction book on the craft of writing, is co-author of Texas Pattern Jury Charges, and author of more than thirty articles on history, literature, travel, law and art. Jack studied at the Academy of Fiction, St. Céré, France and at Oxford University. His writing career began as managing editor of the University of Texas International Law Journal. Director of Writing Education for Military Writers Society of America, he lives in Austin, Texas. ?
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