Zombie Zoo by Melanie Abed #giveaway #spotlight #zombies

Adventures in Tub (Felix & Ninja, Book 1)

Upper Middle Grade

Date Published: 09-15-2026

Publisher: Oculus Print

Two orphan loners. One supernatural plague. When wood-eating zombies threaten their island, mismatched investigators Felix and Ninja must combine science and instinct to save Spinachi-before they're next.

ZOMBIE ZOO is Book 1 in a five-book middle grade adventure series for readers ages 8-13, blending paranormal mystery, zombies, unlikely friendship, and STEAM-powered problem-solving.

When 13-year-old aspiring naturalist Felix Fizzystyxx discovers that orphans at Wayward Amok Orphanage are transforming into wood-eating zombies, his quiet tree-fort observations are no longer enough. Someone has deliberately unleashed a strange plague on Tub's island town of Spinachi-and they're still out there.

To find a cure, Felix must team up with Ninja, a shadow-dwelling orphan who trusts her instincts and never backs down. Intense and razor-sharp, she notices what others overlook and lives up to her name as the island's most mysterious sleuth. With their eccentric mentor Doc Brunne compromised and the town's water supply contaminated by a glowing bioluminescent substance, the two mismatched investigators must combine scientific observation with sharp intuition to stop the outbreak before their island home is devoured.

Set on the fictional island of Tub, this fast-paced, humorous adventure naturally weaves in STEAM concepts-biology, chemistry, bioluminescence, water systems, pattern recognition, and the scientific method-within an age-appropriate supernatural mystery. Themes include unlikely friendship, identity, trust across differences, courage, and finding your voice when adults won't listen.

Featuring diverse protagonists, quirky humor, spooky-but-fun scares, and strong female and male leads. ZOMBIE ZOO is ideal for reluctant readers and fans of Max Brallier's The Last Kids on Earth, B.B. Alston's Amari and the Night Brothers, and Goosebumps. Comprehensive educator resources-including discussion guides, vocabulary lists, STEAM extension activities, and printable maps-support classroom use, library programming, book clubs, and make this title ideal for cross-curricular lessons bridging ELA, STEAM, and SEL.

About the Author

Melanie Abed is a behavioral expert turned story weaver. She believes dragons are real but hiding, and finds thunderstorms equally delightful and terrifying. A tea-loving bookworm, she champions young minds and writes to help kids discover their superpowers are real.

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Chow Chow: The Little Lion Puppy by Daniela Hristova #spotlight #childrensbooks

Children's Book

Date Published: September 14, 2026

Meet Dea — the little Chow Chow puppy with a BIG heart!

With her beautiful deep-blue fur, bright eyes, and sweet fluffy face, Dea is impossible to forget. But this curious little puppy has one special talent: finding trouble wherever she goes!

Luckily, Dea has Rocky by her side. Together, they discover that being brave doesn't mean never feeling scared. Sometimes, true courage means slowing down, being careful, and listening to those who love you.

But Dea's adventures are only beginning...

Beyond the garden are new friends, mysterious places, and unexpected surprises. And somewhere out there, a mysterious fox is watching.

Who is she? What does she want? And where will Dea's curiosity take her next?

Dea will be back... so hold on tight! Her next adventure could be even more exciting!

About the Author

 

 Daniela Hristova arrived in the UK with an English vocabulary consisting of little more than "teabag" and a background as a multi-media journalist, actress, and singer who had spent years working in television, radio, newspaper, and stage in her home country. With a diverse professional journey that later ranged from wielding a mop to building a career in leadership and court security, she has navigated life's twists with a steady faith, a sharp eye, and a wonderfully dry sense of humor. Channeling her unique experiences and cultural blunders into the written word, she has penned a witty tribute to the resilience it takes to start over. When she isn't writing or tackling new adventures, she enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, Dea. Fluent in Faux Pas is her debut memoir.

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The Desert Awakening by Gitanjali Bhagia #Giveaway #spotlight

Synopsis:

In a semi-abandoned haveli deep in Rajasthan, a woman on a social work project finds herself

drawn into an enigmatic bond with a man — and into the secrets the ancient walls have kept

for generations, discovering her own identity along the way. 

About the book:

In a semi-abandoned haveli deep in Rajasthan, the desert wind still carries whispers of the

family that once lived within its crumbling walls.

When Soma travels from her life in Mumbai back to the land of her ancestors, she isn’t looking

for love — she’s looking for herself. But the haveli has other plans. Drawn into an enigmatic

bond with a man as guarded as the house itself, she finds that every question she asks about

him leads back to a secret the ancient walls have kept for generations. As the line between

attraction and danger blurs, and the past refuses to stay buried, Soma must decide how far

she’s willing to go — through Mumbai’s crowded streets and Rajasthan’s sun-baked silence —

to uncover a truth that could unravel everything she thought she knew about her family, and

herself.

For readers of The Henna Artist and The Palace of Illusions, THE DESERT AWAKENING is a slow-

burn thriller-mystery-romance about identity, inheritance, and the secrets that outlive the

people who kept them — written by a debut author whose own grandmother’s stories from

Rajasthan inspired the novel.

Amazon: https://link.amazon/B0ejmsmaX

Goodreads:GOodreads

About the Author

Gitanjali Bhagia is a first-generation Indian American. She is not just a dedicated

ophthalmologist practicing in Northern Virginia but a storyteller woven from the threads of her

own diverse heritage. She finds inspiration in the rich tapestry of her ancestry, especially in the

legacy of her beloved grandmother, Vimla Bhagia, whose tales from her family's home in

Rajasthan, India, ignited her imagination from a young age.

Born in Pennsylvania and raised in North Carolina, Gitan's cultural roots became the fertile

soil from which her passion for writing blossomed. Her frequent visits to Rajasthan not only

connected her to her familial history but also stirred a deep appreciation for the mystique and

allure of the Indian subcontinent.

With her enchantment of the tales whispered by the sands of Rajasthan, Gitanjali weaves

narratives that transport readers to captivating worlds. Her writing carries the essence of her

cross-cultural experiences, inviting readers to explore the intricate nuances of identity,

heritage, and the human connection.

Giveaway

$20 Amazon or Paypal

Direct link:

https://gleam.io/WhSX8/the-desert-awakening

Safe Room by Sarah A Denzil #spotlight

 

Thriller

Date Published: 09-10-2026

When I was fifteen years old, I made a mistake. I trusted the warm smile of a stranger called Peter Harlow, and accepted a ride home in his car.

It would be the last moment of my life I’d ever feel safe again.

The trauma of what happened that night will never leave me—and it was only the beginning. For the last nineteen years, I’ve been trapped in a nightmare of blocked numbers, violated restraining orders, and the compulsion to scan every face in every crowd, waiting for the day when his will be among them.

But I've also spent the time preparing. My home has become a fortress, with reinforced doors, perimeter cameras, and a safe room in the cellar. I've even taught my seven-year-old daughter how to call for help. When I finally have to face Peter Harlow again, I’ll be ready.

Or so I thought.

Because on the night of a furious snowstorm, a terrified stranger arrives at my gate. Emily is barefoot, bruised, and desperate for help—claiming her husband just tried to kill her.

To let her in from the storm would mean breaking every rule I've made to protect myself and my daughter—but could I live with myself if I didn’t?

But what follows is everything I've lived in fear of for all these years. First, the lights go out. Then, the internet dies. Next, the phone line goes dead—and finally, I find myself trapped inside my own safe room, watching through a camera feed as the man who stole my life for two decades walks the halls of my home, playing happy families with my little girl.

I built this fortress to keep him out. Now, it’s the only thing keeping me from protecting my child.

 

The Safe Room is a heart-stopping psychological thriller by bestselling author Sarah A. Denzil, the "mistress of twists." Essential reading for fans of Alice Feeney, Freida McFadden, and Caroline Kepnes.

 

About the Author

Sarah A. Denzil is a million copy bestselling author of psychological suspense novels. Her books include number one bestseller Silent Child, which was a Goodreads Choice semi-finalist in 2017. Her books have been published in several different languages and have appeared on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list.

Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her husband and cats, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather. She loves to write moody, psychological fiction with plenty of twists and turns.

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Mental Health and Me by Salvador Maldonado & Andy Glynne #review #teens #mentalhealth #guides

About the book:

Mental Health and Me brings together seven stories of teenage struggles, from body image issues to drug abuse, as experienced by real-life teenagers. First produced as animated documentaries by the BBC, each story has unique honesty and is brought to life with sophisticated, but accessible artwork.

My review:

This book is written as a graphic novel which makes it interesting to begin with. Targeted toward teenagers and those with mental health issues, the book follows along with seven teens who have very differing issues. The topics are: anorexia, self-harm, addiction, bullying, depression, and anxiety.

I found these stories to be interesting, and hopeful and the way they were presented to be quite more entertaining than a general blah kind of book on mental health. As a side note: I do want to note that the topic of bullying is not a mental health issue on its own but leads to such issues. In any case it is never okay but putting it in a "mental health book" I am not sure it actual fit. 

However, as a guide in how to recover and move forward after recovery, this book is not so helpful and fell short. Generally, at the end of each story, the "advice" was to see a therapist. Although good advice, some issues take much more therapies. What is truly missed in the book is that all people are not the same and it takes great effort to want to seek recovery more or less remain on a long journey that may take years.

Overall, I can only give this book 3 stars as I did like the way it was presented but fell short in other ways.

Disclosure: I obtained this book from a local library. The views discussed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors, Network

Where to find the authors:

Amazon