Moonstone, Book 1, The Unbidden Magic Series by Marilee Brothers

Publisher:  Bell Bridge Books/Belle Books
Pages:  236

(Released:  August 1, 2008)

From the Cover:

"Hey, look, I never asked Kizzy to give me the moonstone necklace, all right? And I thought she was just kidding when she said I was meant to fulfill some old prophecy because I had the mark of a Star Seeker in my hand.

I had enough problems already. Mom. School. Junior Rodriquez. Like I really needed a whacked-out guardian angel named Trilby floating in my yard. Like I really wanted to be reading dudes' gnarly thoughts and moving stuff just by looking at it.

And please, moi, Allie Emerson? Solving mysteries and fighting creepy Trimarks. No way. Well, okay. Way."

Alfrieda Carlotta Emerson... yeah, that's her name alright.  Allie's grandfather named her after his mother, the cost of payment for the hospital bills.  Not that Faye, Allie's mom, and Grandpa Claude get along, it's probably the last time they spoke to each other.

Allie's had it kind of rough.  Most people live in a house or even apartment, not Faye and Allie.  They live in a travel trailer next to Blaster the bull's pasture, right on the edge Uncle Sid's property.  Faye is constantly sick, and Allie has to be more grown up than Faye to keep their family together.

When bad boy Junior Rodriquez notices her at school, her life gets when more complicated, only she soon discovers that Junior may not be as bad as he seems to be.  Curiouser.  When Kizzy decides she's the rightful owner of the moonstone, her life becomes even more bizarre.

Moonstone by Marilee Brothers is a sweet story of what happens to a girl who becomes the holder of a magical necklace bearing the rare Moonstone.  There's budding romance, which Allie has seen little of, when you can drive your home and have to empty the sewage tanks, boyfriends are hard to find.  Faye and Allie live just above poverty, Allie's life is hard, with little hope.  But, it rarely gives Allie pause, because life can only get better.  When she comes into possession of the Moonstone, her life takes on a whole new aspect, widening her horizons, bringing magic into her life, and unknown possibilities.  She just doesn't know if all of this is a blessing or a curse in disguise.

Moonstone is a sweet YA story that draws the reader in with the plight of Allie's life.  Allie could be mad at the world, her lot in life is harsh, but she finds ways to look beyond it, most of the time.  She cares for her mother, hoping one day Faye will be able to see beyond their current lives as well.  It's not sunshine and roses,  and there's plenty of embarrassing moments for Allie.  But, into her life come romance and magic, the romance she can almost handle, the magic she wonders about.  She becomes the Star Seeker, but there's someone else who wants the Moonstone, the Trimarks, and they're ready to do just about anything to snatch it away.  There love, action and adventure, magic, mayhem, and bad guys all it this one story.  I recommend this book to YA lovers, young romance lovers, and paranatural story lovers.  I very much enjoyed this quick little read.

I received this ebook for review from the publisher, Bell Bridge Books.  All opinions expressed are my own.