Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: Lost. Alone. Only a child. Kira was found in the woods as a little girl, and adopted by a Search and Rescue worker, Cady, who found her. Alongside her foster brother, Jude, she helps train SAR dogs. But her past still sometimes comes back to haunt her. When Cady's estranged father suddenly appears, everything changes. A girl has gone missing, one of multiple Glades National Park visitors to vanish in the past year. Could there be a connection? As the days pass and all the clues seem to show that the girl will never be found, will Kira face her past head-on, and maybe even solve the case, before anyone gets hurt?

Reading Level/Genre: Thriller, mystery, young adult. Ages 15+ for some depictions of trauma and violence.

Profanity: 1/5. A use of the p-word, and "crap" shows up once.

Violence: 4/5. Kira has PTSD, and we see her have flashbacks, which can be a little intense. Talk of kidnapping, weapons, a potential homicide, and abuse. Nothing is overly graphic or gory.

Spice Level: 1/5. A character's parents weren't married when he was born.

Faith Elements: 2/5. Characters appear to be Catholic, as there are several mentions of patron saints, and Kira's brother is named after one. "Praying to God" is mentioned.

Additional Content: Discussion of someone being an alcoholic.

My Take: I love Jennifer Lynn Barnes, so when my friend (Lainey Reeves) and I did a book swap, I was thrilled when this was the one I got! All of the characters had wild backstories, you can tell the author works hard to make her books realistic and action-packed. And Jude-he was such a fun and amusing character, adding the perfect amount of comic relief to the suspense of the story. I could totally see Gabriel becoming a love interest in the future. Speaking of the future, Jennifer Lynn Barnes should make this a series!

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

Series: The Naturals, Book 1.

Book Premise: A teen girl named Cassie, who has a natural gift for reading people, is recruited into an FBI program that uses talented teens to help solve cold cases.

Reading Level/Genre: Mystery, thriller, YA. Best for teens 15 and older due to mildly graphic scenes.

Profanity: 2/5. The worst of the langauge is a rare d-word, but otherwise the language is clean!

Violence: 4/5. It's a murder mystery, so there are tense moments and crime details, but nothing overly graphic.

Spice Level: 2/5. Very clean, just hints of romance and some sweet moments.

Faith Elements: 0/5. No religious themes.

Additional Content: None.

My Take: I absolutely loved The Naturals. It felt so refreshing to read a murder mystery that kept me hooked without being dark, gory, or filled with content I'd rather avoid. The story had just the right amount of suspense, and I loved following Cassie as she learned to use her gift and found her place in the group. The romantic subplot was sweet and clean, which made it even more enjoyable. Overall, it was exactly the kind of book I've been wanting, something thrilling but still appropriate, with characters I genuinely cared about. I flew through it and honestly had such a great time reading it.

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

Series: The Inheritance Games, Book 1.

Book Premise: It's no secret that Avery Grambs has had a hard life. She goes back and forth between sleeping in her car and crashing at her older sister's apartment. She can't wait to graduate and begin her adventures around the world.  All that changes when Tobias Hawthorne, a multi-millionaire, dies and leaves Avery his fortune. Before she can blink, she's sent to live at his sprawling mansion, with Tobias Hawthorne's mysterious family, who seem to hate her. Little does Avery know how dangerous being so wealthy can be. Dangerous people want to kill her, and the closer she gets to solving the Hawthorne mystery, the sooner she may meet an unfortunate demise.

Reading Level/Genre: Mystery, suspense, action/adventure, young adult. Best for ages 16+ due to some mild language and violence.

Profanity: 3/5. Some occasional uses of the h-word, and the d-word. One or two uses of the a-word and a few uses of the p-word. There is one single use of the b-word. However, it is infrequent and can be easy to miss.

Violence: 4/5. There is an assassination attempt and reference to abuse. There is also a murder mystery theme, but nothing is graphic.

Spice Level: 2/5. Some romance, limited just to a kiss and some hugging.

Faith Elements: 1/5. While there isn't any Christianity in the book, there are a few uses of "by God's grace" in Tobias Hawthorne's letters. 

Additional Content: There is some alcohol consumption, and a character is a tad tipsy in one scene. There's also a one-sentence reference to a same-sex couple, but it isn't mentioned after that.

My Take: While there were one or two iffy things to skip, this book was SO good, and I highly recommend it! A great addition to a mystery lover's bookshelf!

Author: Shonna Slayton.

Series: Fairy-Tale Inheritance, Book 1.

Book Premise: In 1945 New York City, Kate is a normal American girl. She helps with the war effort, worries about her father and brother overseas, and auditions for USO roles at the request of her mother. When long-lost relatives from war-torn Poland arrive, Kate's life takes a shocking turn. Her aunt and uncle claim that they are the keepers of a very special dress. Not just any dress-the dress belonging to the real Cinderella! Soon, it will be Kate's turn to take care of the dress, but at a cost. The descendants of the wicked stepsisters are out there, and they'll stop at nothing to take what they think is rightfully theirs.

Reading Level/Genre: Mystery, fantasy, historical, young adult, romance. Best for ages 13+ due to some romantic themes.

Profanity: 0/5. No swearing present.

Violence: 2/5. The book is set during WWII, so there is some discussion of it, though not in detail. There is also a car accident and a fire, but no one is harmed and the author doesn't linger on these scenes for long.

Spice Level: 2/5. A romantic subplot involving Kate and a boy she works with, Johnny. It's limited to a brief kiss, some hand-holding, and flirting.

Faith Elements: 3/5. A few references to Judaism. People pray and God and saints are also mentioned, so it's most likely that the characters are Catholic.

Additional Content: An adult character smokes.

My Take: There are many Cinderella retellings, but this was a unique version! I love WWII books, so this was a treat for me. Fairy tales+romance+history equals a highly recommended read!

Author: Kathryn Reiss.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: Kathryn Reiss's Time Windows is a chilling blend of mystery, time travel, and suspense. The novel follows thirteen-year-old Miranda, who relocates with her family from bustling New York City to a quiet, seemingly ordinary town in Massachusetts. Their new home, however, is anything but ordinary. In the attic, Miranda discovers an antique dollhouse-an exact replica of her own house. What begins as innocent curiosity quickly spirals into a haunting journey as Miranda realizes that the dollhouse holds secrets that connect her to the past, revealing unsettling truths that she wishes she could forget.

Reading Level/Genre: Mystery, ghost stories, middle grade, time travel. Recommended for ages 13+ due to themes of murder and slight child abuse that might upset younger readers.

Profanity: 1/5. Minimal, limited to occasional mild language.

Violence: 2/5. Includes murder and the discovery of a body, though graphic detail is restrained; depictions of child discipline (spanking, confinement) are also present.

Spice Level: 1/5. A light subplot involving Miranda and her neighbor, Dan. Limited to some hugging and hand-holding.

Faith Elements: 0/5. No religious themes, however there are themes of ghosts and trying to communicate with them to solve the mystery.

Additional Content: The novel can be spooky at times, but is made less overwhelming with moments of warmth and humor.

My Take: Time Windows is a gripping, atmospheric read that will appeal to fans of mystery and supernatural suspense. Reiss's ability to weave together eerie settings, historical intrigue, and relatable teenage experiences makes this novel unforgettable. It is a story tha lingers long after the final page-one that I feel should be a movie!