Emma Miller didn't know that one run in with the school's bad boy, Aiden Black, would make her life go in all different directions. She didn't know that one little accidental bump into him would throw her into a world of drugs, violence and bad guys. Even with all that, she didn't know that one little accidental bump would cause her to fall for this certain bad boy. Join Emma in this exciting twist with love and danger.© All Rights Reserved 2013 (Lisa S.)

"I love you, Ashton" I whispered to his sleeping face, being careful so he doesn't hear. Quickly kissing him on the cheek, I run away knowing that he can't know, and he will never know. I'm in love with my bestfriend. "Diana?" Ashton's voice stops me. Tears threaten to fall down, but I push them away. "Yes?" "Could you please call Mel?" He replies. I nod and walk away.

Ghosts are in the house! With her parents away, seventeen-year-old Alyssa Dempsey is taking care of her two younger brothers for the weekend. On their first morning alone, Alyssa discovers that her baby brother Sean received a magical, glass wand from a pair of ghosts, who he calls the Buddies. Along with their thirteen-year-old brother Bradley, the three Dempsey children begin interacting with a dark and dangerous spirit-world, in which the sinister owner of the wand lives, and from whom it was stolen. "The Essence (A Ghost Story in Three Days) is a fun and quick read that will entertain young adults and their young-at-heart parents. Author Vel Grande brings his characters to life with dialog and humor and paints both dark and light imagery with deft strokes. Krystle Carkeek's plentiful illustrations capture the emotion of the scenes, cementing each character's details in the reader's mind. The Essence is great escapism." -Gary W. Stout, Readers' Favorite (5-Star Selection) "The narration feels authentic, the characters are likable and loathsome in the right doses, and unlike many other modern young adult books, the charming uses of foreshadowing and suspense are reminiscent of traditional ghost stories, not ultra-violent animes or comic books . . . Vel Grande has succeeded in both building a memorable plot with engaging characters and, more importantly, making me want to know what happens next." - Bruce Duboff, Middler Books and More