New Releases by Darby Karchut

"A superb cast highlights this quiet, insightful tale of interspecies friendship." —Kirkus Reviews 13-year-old Reece Harding has both hands full dealing with one headstrong mare who's all go and no whoa. When a wildfire threatens their corner of Colorado, it's going to take all of Reece's mad horse skills and some Appaloosa luck to save the day and prove to herself-and her family-she can handle Kip, the horse who carries the stars on her rump and a fire in her heart.

For four hundred years, generations of the Family Del Toro and their battle-savvy warhorses have secretly guarded their corner of rural Colorado from all things monster. Now, thanks to a really bad move on twelve-year-old Matt Del Toro’s part, the family can add vengeful witch to their list of Creatures That Want to Kill Us. When an opportunity arises for Matt to retrace his father’s long-ago journey through the mountains along the legendary route known as The Hunter’s Way, he is the first to saddle up. After all, there’s nothing like an adventure in the wilderness to take his mind off his wicked witchy problems. That’s when the wild in wilderness comes out swinging. With every mile, Matt and his family battle unexpected rock slides, impossible ascents, death-by-lightning storms, and worst of all: a clan of human-hating mountain gnomes known as tommyknockers. With the knockers determined to make the Del Toros food for worms—literally—the journey becomes a race from danger into more danger. Aided by the war stallion Rigo, Matt must use all his training, resources, and a twist o’ Irish luck to save himself and his family.

A quirky collection of common and not-so-common cowboy words and sayings. From prairie tenors to trotter boxes to grub slingers, the West is filled with strange and sometimes baffling words and expressions.

2021 High Plains Book Award winner - Children's Literature2021 Will Rogers Medallion Award finalist - Juvenile Literature A boy and horse could outrun all the sadness of this flat world. If the boy believed, and the horse was swift. The sorrel knew he was fast enough to help the boy. He just needed open grassland and a light hand on the reins. He'd show Ol' Mr. Grief his heels. Why, he'd run so fast that the wind would peel that sorrow right off the boy. Like a snake shedding its skin. Leaving it caught in the grass and drying up in the sun. Dust to dust. All the horse needed was a chance. Alex Nash dreams of being a soccer star. Or a graphic artist. Maybe both. But being a cowboy? Nope and no way. Not if it means being anything like his seldom seen father. Then, out of nowhere, tragedy shatters Alex's world, and when he thinks life couldn't sucker-punch him again, it does. He's forced to live with Roberto Nash, a man he barely knows. Or wants to know. Until Alex finds out his dad has bought him a peace offering of a sort, one with a red coat, lightning speed, and a fighting spirit. A spitfire of a horse that just might heal Alex's heart and reunite father and son.

Never trust a witch. For four hundred years, generations of the Family Del Toro and their battle-savvy warhorses have secretly guarded their corner of Colorado from all things creepy. But when a menacing woman with some wicked witch powers shows up at the Del Toro ranch and demands the return of the Red Casket, twelve year old Matt Del Toro must team up with his best friend Perry—along with the warhorses Rigo and Isabel—to out-wit, out-ride, and out-fight one Viking-size sorceress.

Twelve year old Matt Del Toro is the greenest greenhorn in his family's centuries-old business: riding down and destroying wolf-like monsters, known as skinners. Now, with those creatures multiplying, both in number and ferocity, Matt must saddle up and match his father's skills at monster whacking. Odds of doing that? Yeah, about a trillion to one. Because Matt's father is the legendary Javier Del Toro--hunter, scholar, and a true caballero: a gentleman of the horse. Luckily, Matt has twelve hundred pounds of backup in his best friend--El Cid, an Andalusian war stallion with the ability of human speech, more fighting savvy than a medieval knight, and a heart as big and steadfast as the Rocky Mountains. Serious horse power. Those skinners don't stand a chance.

No way, blue jay, and never again. That's the vow Linney Van Horn has made regarding single dads and their adorable children. After all, that's why she's tucked tail and hauled herself and her beloved Arabian horse clear across the country from New Jersey to the small town of Venture, Colorado. To mend her bruised heart--and ego--and start over. However, the good Lord has a different "do-over" in mind for Linney. She finds herself living next door to Stonewall "Stone" Wheeler, the frustratingly stubborn, but oh, so ruggedly handsome farrier, and his seven-year-old son, Beau. A widower, Stone has buried himself in his work to avoid the grief of losing his wife. Determined to grow his horse-shoeing business and raise his child, falling in love is the last thing on his mind. Until an equally stubborn--but pretty as a daisy--teacher moves into the cottage besides his, and charms both him and his son. Divine intervention. Yup, it's a beautiful thing. It's going to take one adorable little boy, a pair of spirited horses, and a near-fatal accident to convince Linney and Stone a second chance at a grace-filled forever is theirs for the asking.

Finn MacCullen must overcome a series of nearly impossible feats to prove himself as Gideon's apprentice, and he teams up with a sorceress and a teenage angel to keep his place at his master's side.

"At the annual Festival of the Hunt, thirteen-year-old apprentice goblin hunter, Finn MacCullen and his master, Gideon Lir, join other Tuatha De Danaan to honor their people's heritage. But Finn soon realizes that there are some who denounce his right to attend due to his half-human bloodline"--Page [4] of cover.

2014 - RE-RELEASE All you need is one person who believes in you. Armed with the power to control the ancient elements of Earth and Fire, sixteen-year-old Griffin is determined to complete his apprenticeship and rise to the rank of Terrae Angeli. But first, he must overcome a brutal past if he is to survive in this world. Will the perseverance of his kindly Mentor and the love of a mortal girl give Griffin the courage he needs to face the monster still haunting him?

"If the thought of clipping coupons and budgeting is a complete turnoff, then this book is for you. If personal finance intimidates you, or the responsibility of managing your own moneyis a scary thought, then this book is for you. Essential money guidebook offers an alternative approach to personal finance that respects your lifestyle choices, regardless of what those may be. You can improve your finances starting from where you are without sacrificing the things that make your life fulfilling. Effective personal finance is about making the right decisions at the right time -- it's not about workiing harder."-- Back cover.

A thirteen-year-old boy and a mythical knight fight a sorceress and goblins in modern-day suburbia while discovering the truth of an ancient Celtic weapon of magic.

A thirteen-year-old apprentice and his master are descended from a magical warrior race in Ireland. They must try to locate the Spear of Tuatha De Danaan, the only weapon that can destroy their goblin-like enemies, the Amadan. But young Finn MacCullen must also keep his identity a secret from his new friends, Rafe and Savannah, who come from South Africa. The twins' history may hold a key to Finn's survival.

"Learn the most essential money skills before you: Hand over your credit card ; take out a student loan ; sign up for a cell phone contract ; apply for a car loan ; start a job ; buy one more thing online. Practical, no-nonsense ways to manage your money so you waste less and have more. this book offers real-life skills you can use right away, not fake promises to make you rich or to find "easy money". Learn how to avoid the money minefields waiting for you at every turn. Don't waste another dime on fees, sneaky retailer pricing games, and online come-ons. Master the most essential money skills--not therory-- and apply them right away. Use your new, money skills to get the things you want: Computer ; Car ; College education."--back cover

Banished from the Terrae Angeli and forced to become mortal, ex-teen angel Griffin enrolls in high school, where he encounters a malicious math teacher. Meanwhile, his mentor, Basil, has taken on a new apprentice named Sergei, whose surreptitious attacks on Griffin make his home life miserable. But Griffin knows one thing: the only way to escape the trap he has fallen into is to fight "a Cold War with Fire."

Griffen must be prepared to fight when an ancient racial hatred is released that threatens the very existence of the Terrae Angeli.