Review: Hocus Pocus & The All-New Sequel by A.W. Jantha

Goodreads Blurb

Hocus Pocus is beloved by Halloween enthusiasts all over the world. Diving once more into the world of witches, this electrifying two-part young adult novel, released on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 1993 film, marks a new era of Hocus Pocus. Fans will be spellbound by a fresh retelling of the original film, followed by the all-new sequel that continues the story with the next generation of Salem teens.

Shortly after moving from California to Salem, Massachusetts, Max Dennison finds himself in hot water when he accidentally releases a coven of witches, the Sanderson sisters, from the afterlife. Max, his sister, and his new friends (human and otherwise) must find a way to stop the witches from carrying out their evil plan and remaining on earth to torment Salem for all eternity.

Twenty-five years later, Max and Allison’s seventeen-year-old daughter, Poppy, finds herself face-to-face with the Sanderson sisters in all their sinister glory. When Halloween celebrations don’t quite go as planned, it’s a race against time as Poppy and her friends fight to save her family and all of Salem from the witches’ latest vile scheme.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Let’s Hocus Pocus again!

It was so much fun to experience Hocus Pocus again. It’s truly one of my favorite Halloween movies that brings back wonderful memories. Loved that the first original story started this book off. The new sequel brings back the Dennison family 25 years later. The three main characters are teenagers, one of them being Max Dennison’s daughter Poppy. I loved that they kept the same characters and made all the characters connected with a great story. This time, the three Sanderson sisters are back with a vengeance. This time, hell was in person, and the witches came to take over. The new sequel is modern with LGBT romance. I was laughing my socks off with the ideas of the appliances used by the witches to fly. Overall, the story was well developed and modernized. I think I would have loved to have seen more scenes with the Sanderson sister’s experience in modern technology. I was shocked at the end. I wasn’t expecting that. It is to be continued.

Review: The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

Goodreads Blurb

A story of scorned witches, sinister curses, and resurrection, The Bone Witch is the start of a dark fantasy trilogy.

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother, Fox, from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she’s a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha—one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles…and make a powerful choice.

The Bone Witch Trilogy:

The Bone Witch (Book 1)

The Heart Forger (Book 2)

The Shadowglass (Book 3)

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I loved the beginning of this book and was thrilled to read but wasn’t amazed at how the story formed throughout the book. It had a great plot, and you get to learn the back story of what happened to Tea. It had a magic and creepy monster who needed to be awakened by dark Asha in order to kill the creature before they attacked the human. I felt like it lagged a little. It resembled a little to Memoirs of a Geisha, which made it fun to see Tea transformation to an Asha.

Review: Elizabeth and Zenobia by Jessica Miller

Goodreads Blurb

When Elizabeth and her unusual and fearless friend Zenobia arrive at Witheringe House, peculiar things begin to happen.

Especially in the forbidden East Wing.

The flowers and vines of the wallpaper sometimes seem to be alive.

A mirror has a surface like the water of a pond.

And an old book tells a different story after midnight.

Zenobia is thrilled by the strangeness, but Elizabeth is not so bold…

Until she makes a mysterious and terrifying discovery.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

It was a fun book filled with ghost hunts and family mystery. Elizabeth has a friend that only she can see, and no one else can. She is strong-willed and not scared of anything. She loves it when there is something spooky to unravel and will stop at nothing while Elizabeth is scared of anything supernatural. The author shares some poetry from Edgar Allan Poe since Zenobia is obsessed with his work. I loved that the author added details of plant names and had plotted her book to include scenes in a plant kingdom. Elizabeth has an imagination that will make this adventure unforgettable.

Review: Spell of Summoning by Anna Abner

Goodreads Blurb

Holden Clark walks into Rebecca Powell’s life, a tall, blue-eyed stranger who stirs long forgotten desires. But nothing, including this man, is what it seems. A dark necromancer is targeting Becca for a full-blown demonic possession. She is thrust into a world she never knew existed—a world where dark casters create chaos and necromancers talk to the dead.

Holden has no faith in his power. A necromancer, he communicates with the dead, but he has never embraced his gifts. Now, he has no choice. He must stop the dark caster attacking Rebecca, but accepting this mission means he’ll be delving into dangerous magics he’s never used before.

Under the protection of the damaged and mysterious Holden, Rebecca will question everything …

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A paranormal love story that all readers will love. The chemistry between Holden and Rebecca was extraordinary. They could light a fire just by looking at each other. I loved that Holden seeked to help Rebecca before a demon possessed her. They both worked together and fought evil with power and spells.

Goodreads Author Biography

Anna Abner lived in a haunted house for three years and grew up talking to imaginary friends. Currently, she writes edge-of-your-seat paranormal romances from her desert hideaway in sunny Southern California. Her series include the Red Plague, the Dark Caster, Beasts of Vegas, and Beasts of Mountain Vale. Connect with her online at AnnaAbner.com

Cover Reveal: You Don’t Belong Here by D.M. Siciliano

BOOK DETAILS:

You Don’t Belong Here

by D.M. Siciliano

Publication date: October 13, 2025

Genres: Adult, Horror, Paranormal, Suspense

Synopsis:

A girl who feels invisible finally faces her worst fear on her sixteenth birthday and hastily makes a dark deal.

An old man returns to the same place every year on the anniversary of his wife’s death, to have one last moonlit dance with her.

A woman’s health concerns are ignored, and it leads to global chaos.

A young woman goes home to bury her father and sell his house but finds that the home is no longer hers.

An old man with Alzheimer’s becomes increasingly lost in his own house, which seems to be doing its own forgetting.

Two young girls find a Ouija board, thinking they’re communicating with a deceased relative, but find something much more cunning.

A woman, grieving the loss of her baby, takes a trip to a remote cabin in Tahoe. Her worried sister goes after her and isn’t prepared for what she finds.

A woman’s drive through California’s winding roads leads her to a perilous and sinister discovery lurking in the woods.

A woman takes a job as a nanny for two troublesome kids, only to find that the children aren’t the problem.

AUTHOR BIO:

DM is a lover of all things creative. From the moment she could speak, growing up in Massachusetts, she had a passion for flair and drama, putting on concerts for anyone who was even remotely interested (and even for those who were not). A storyteller by nature, she first pursued her young dream of becoming a singing diva while living in Arizona. She soon found that stage life wasn’t the only form of storytelling she craved, so she dropped the mic and picked up a pencil instead. She still hasn’t given up on her diva-ness, and hopes her pencil stays as sharp as her tongue.

A dark sense of humor and curiosity for haunted houses and things out of the ordinary led her down the path of completing her first novel, Inside. Several other projects are constantly floating around in her head and her laptop daily, and sometimes keeping her up much too late at night. Occasionally, those projects are so dark and twisted, she needs to leave a nightlight on.

She now lives in Northern California with her two fluffy furbabies, Cezare and Michaleto.

Author links:

https://www.dmsiciliano.com/

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/d-m-siciliano

https://www.facebook.com/DMSiciliano/

https://www.instagram.com/dmsiciliano/

Review: House on the Hill and Other Ghostly Tales by JoLynne Valerie

Goodreads Blurb

Madison has been on a roll, lately. She was just named top attorney at her firm; things never looked better for her career. Best yet, Madison rarely thinks about her rocky past anymore. Life is good.

But when her firm’s CEO suddenly dies, Madison receives a surprise. Lars Eichmann has left his star attorney a very special gift. Madison is about to inherit, of all things.. a house.

But she hasn’t inherited just any house… Madison’s new home, high atop a hill, is a beautiful, ornate, Victorian manse. The home is beautiful, but sometimes… strange.

Immediately, odd things begin to happen. Things moving by themselves. Voices in the night. Soon, level headed Madison questions her own sanity.

There’s a ghost in that house on the hill, a ghost with an urgent need to talk. Can Madison suspect her doubt and fear? Will she survive the shock of what is to come? The woods surrounding the property hold a secret… A terrible secret that must come to light.

Just when Madison feels close to her breaking point, one more terrible secret is revealed… One that will change her life forever.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Truly well written book with mystery. I really enjoyed this book and finished it within two days. My mind was raveled with the first story where there were two mysteries, which in reality were connected. I loved that the characters were lawyers, and Madison made it her mission to seek the truth. The other short stories were intense and enjoyable. I highly recommend this book if you love ghost stories and mysteries.

Author Biography

JoLynne Valerie writes Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Romance, Supernatural Thrillers, and Cookbooks. When JoLynne is not writing, she works professionally as a Paranormal Investigator and Angel Whisperer.

Readers and fans call her ParaGoddess, due to Ms. Valerie’s extensive knowledge of the Paranormal and her passionate commitment to live an authentic, spiritual lifestyle.

Raised in a family of Intuitive women, Ms. Valerie grew up speaking the language of Intuition. Currently, the author teaches fast-paced, interactive Intuitive Development workshops online, and live at her book events. JoLynne also works on Missing Persons Cases, when requested.

JoLynne loves to write inspirational posts; these can be found on all her social media sites: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tsu, and her blog.

Ms. Valerie is also a passionate foodie and healthy lifestyle advocate. She recently released her first cookbook, which rapidly became a best-seller.

Review: Dreaming in Moonlight by M. Stratton

Goodreads Blurb

Ghosts are real. They are all around us. Most of the time they are satisfied to watch us go by and not interact. When a couple was cursed to spend three hundred years in death searching for the one living couple that could release their bounds they search for centuries to find a love that will make time stand still. If they fail they will be sent to Hell to live out the rest of eternity.

Demons are real. They are all around us. Their one goal is make our lives a living hell. They will stop at nothing to destroy our minds and bodies. With the curse rapidly approaching its end the deepest darkest demon is summoned to make sure they don’t succeed.

Kate O’Malley fell in love with the old two story farm house in Maine at first sight. She had to live there. Spending all of her savings she was able to buy it and moved right in. The very first night strange things happened. Her dreams aren’t her own. Looking for answers she calls on a friend who puts her in contact with a ghost hunter, Sawyer Hamilton. Neither knew what was in their future, neither knows if they are going to survive it.

Dreaming in Moonlight when your sleep is filled with passion and your nightmares are real.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

What an amazing story. My mind was grasped the moment I opened this book. I love ghost stories, and this was written so smoothly together like the perfect storyteller. I get nightmares all the time, so I know what it feels like after you wake up from a dream and remember every detail. I loved both main characters and loved how the characters remembered each other, which was quite weird and would freak anyone out in those circumstances. It is a very short book but is built with a huge bang. Come and check it out.

Author Biography

M. Stratton is an International Amazon bestselling author in the romantic suspense and mystery suspense categories for her Storm Series and Bender. She lives in Arizona, which is a big change from where she grew up north of Chicago, Illinois. As an only child she learned to tell herself stories to make the long winters go by quicker while dreaming of summer vacations. Now as an adult she still makes up stories to pass the time, but now she writes them down to share with other people.
Stratton is a self-proclaimed dork who loves to make people laugh. Her inner rock star is always on stage performing to a sold out crowd, but she quiet and shy on the outside. She spends her days plotting new ways to surprise her readers.

Review: Bayou Shadow Hunter by Debbie Herbert

Goodreads Blurb

Bent on revenge, Native American Shadow Hunter Tombi Silver could turn to only one woman, the “witch” Annie Matthews, for help. Her ability to hear auras had allowed her to discover Tombi’s friend mystically trapped by forces that could destroy them all. The accompanying message of a traitor in their midst meant Tombi could trust no one. Dare he bring Annie along on his quest to fight shadow spirits? Putting his faith in someone outside his tribe, especially one who pulled at his tightly controlled desires, could prove just as dangerous as his mission…

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Let our shadow hunters guide us to safety from what is evil and let the sun shine bright. I loved how the book took place on the Bayou. Gave it a little creepiness since it’s dark and swampy. I also loved the plot of this story. This was the first book I have read that brought Native American beliefs with a little magic. Made this book very interesting. Annie, who to most is considered a witch with abilities to hear others thinking and sounds from afar, was the savor of Tombi and his shadow hunters. If you love paranormal romance, you won’t want to miss this invigorating story of heart pumping, revenge seeking with a little spice of magic, and Native American beliefs and traditions. The romance between Annie and Tombi will have everyone making them their favorite characters. They both are strong-willed and protective. Loved the little dramas that Annie had with Tallullah, who is Tombi’s twin sister. Made the book very entertaining. Love and family can overcome all that is evil. Cheer’s to the Shadow Hunter’s.

Author Biography

Debbie Herbert, a USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling writer, pens Psychological Suspense, romantic suspense and paranormal romance novels. She’s always been fascinated by magic, romance and Gothic stories.

Married and living in Alabama, she roots for the Crimson Tide football team. When not working on her upcoming books, Debbie enjoys recumbent bicycling and jet skiing with her husband.

2017 RITA® Finalist for Paranormal Romance in the national contest sponsored by the Romance Writers of America® Debbie has a degree in English (Berry College, GA) and a master’s in Library Studies (University of Alabama).

Review: The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner

Goodreads Blurb

A spellbinding tale about two daring women who hunt for truth and justice in the perilous art of conjuring the dead.

1873. At an abandoned château on the outskirts of Paris, a dark séance is about to take place, led by acclaimed spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire. Known worldwide for her talent in conjuring the spirits of murder victims to ascertain the identities of the people who killed them, she is highly sought after by widows and investigators alike.

Lenna Wickes has come to Paris to find answers about her sister’s death, but to do so, she must embrace the unknown and overcome her own logic-driven bias against the occult. When Vaudeline is beckoned to England to solve a high-profile murder, Lenna accompanies her as an understudy. But as the women team up with the powerful men of London’s exclusive Séance Society to solve the mystery, they begin to suspect that they are not merely out to solve a crime, but perhaps entangled in one themselves…

My Review: Rated 3 out of 5 stars

The London Séance Society was composed solely of men who would stop at nothing to exploit poor widows. Many people long to see the supernatural world firsthand and hope for a chance to reconnect with their loved ones. This story invites you to London to experience a séance. Readers will be just as captivated by Vaudeline as Evie and Lenna were. She is the spiritualist who promises an authentic experience of meeting your loved one, free from deceit. Will you take a seat and join the séance?

The story centers around Lenna, who has lost her sister Evie, and her friend Eloise. The author leads readers on a wild goose chase as Lenna searches for the real reasons behind her sister’s and friend’s deaths. What she uncovers is troubling: Evie knew the schemes within their society and was even complicit in them. It turns out that Evie was trying to learn everything she could about the horrific secrets the society was hiding. In a surprising twist, it becomes apparent that Evie was actively participating in the scheme to expose the terrible things the society was doing for profit.

Maintaining a high social status was especially important to Mr. Volckman, the president of the society. This meant he kept a “kill list” of wealthy families to arrange marriages between society members and their widows. Not only did they plot through deceptive séances, but they also resorted to underhanded tactics, taking advantage of women during their mourning. What you experience during a séance might not be real after all. People are vulnerable after the death of a loved one. The book mentioned the steps needed to conduct a séance and we learned what the Victorian’s mourning customs were.

The story started off slowly, which took me a long time to continue going through the story. There were some great twists to the story and provided a good context on conducting a séance for someone who had never been to one.

Author Biography

Sarah Penner is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary and The London Séance Society. Her books have been translated into more than forty languages and her debut, The Lost Apothecary, has sold over one million copies worldwide.

A graduate of the University of Kansas, Sarah spent thirteen years in corporate finance and now writes full-time. In her free time, Sarah enjoys hiking, yoga, and cooking. She also sits on the Board of Directors at her local animal shelter, Friends of Strays. Sarah and her husband, Marc, live in Florida.

Review: The Reaper of St. George Street by Andre R. Frattino

A graphic novel about ghosts and young ghost hunters in St. Augustine, Florida, America’s oldest city. A young man, resistant to any belief in ghosts, arrives in a town permeated with ghost legends and tours exploiting them. He is soon caught up in encounters with the town’s ghostly denizens, including the Reaper, the most hostile and dangerous of them all. The young man and a cohort of other ghost hunters set out to rid the town of the Reaper. First in a paranormal graphic novel series.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

This was an enjoyable book with ghost hunters. I loved that each character were different and fun in their own way, but they made a great team when fighting the paranormal. I enjoyed the illustrations. Andre did a great job in creating the story, illustration, and making the story interesting and mysterious.