Lavender: The Midnight Peace Runners Saga #1

by Christina King

A spellbinding blend of supernatural intrigue, coming-of-age romance, and the healing power of music, Lavender is a story about finding your voice in a world that’s lost its rhythm. Lavender Flynn is tired of being the “purple-eyed freak” in her sleepy Colorado town, and the humiliating betrayal by her first-ever boyfriend doesn’t help. All she wants now is to hide out at her family’s ranch, blast her favorite bands on repeat, and forget the outside world exists. But when a haunting melody drifts out of the forest, lying low is no longer on the playlist.

It starts with a song only she can hear and fireflies that flicker in time with the music. Then comes a voice—raw, twangy, and strangely familiar—that pulls Lavender into a dreamlike version of her own world, where everything feels just a little too real to be imagined.

There, she meets a mystical group of musicians who believe Lavender is the missing piece in their mission to heal a broken world through music. She’s not so sure. But ignoring Camp—the lead singer with a voice that ignites her soul and dimples that could end all wars—is proving harder than she’d like to admit.

As her gift begins to surface, the lines between magic, love, and sacrifice start to blur. And when someone she loves is caught in the crossfire, Lavender must stay silent, or risk everything to let the music speak through her.

Genres: Fiction

349 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2025

About the author

Storyteller. Music addict. Hopeless Romantic. Second-hand fashion enthusiast. Eternal optimist. Moderate skier.

As a child, Christina King spent hours in her Victorian bedroom memorizing lyrics from CD album inserts and journaling in her Lisa Frank notebooks. It’s only fitting that her debut novel is a whimsical story weaving together romance and music. Her heart remains in Connecticut, where she grew up, but her soul is alive in the mountains of Colorado, where she currently resides on an off-grid ranch with her husband and three children.

When Christina is not writing in her cozy nook, she hikes the mountains with her family, floats in the nearby hot springs, or dreams up ways to brighten someone’s day.

Reviews

[Beth Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lavender is a beautifully written story filled with vivid scenic descriptions that make every setting feel alive and immersive. The author creates such a calming, atmospheric world that it’s easy to get completely swept up in the pages.

What stood out most was the beautiful message woven throughout the story. It’s heartfelt, emotional, and leaves you thinking long after you finish reading. A truly memorable read!

[Ivy Withers Esterly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had such a timely, and needed message that this world needs a little more peace and love, and it’s up to us to help spread it. I’m not usually a huge fan of YA novels, but this one was just as important for an adult to read.

Lavender is seen as being a “weirdo” in her small Colorado town, due to having bright purple eyes. When a band comes to play at a local music festival, the lead singer can’t help but notice her eyes. With a touch of magical realism that acts as a thread throughout the story, Lavender has to pick her path in life when she hears mysterious music coming from the woods behind her house. Will she join this band on their quest to spread a message of hope and peace to the world? Or will she keep her head down and stay on the path she’s on?

There’s so many important facets in this story from the power of music to the strength of family bonds to determining your own destiny. I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a reminder of hope for the future.

[Erica Sherlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy smokes, this book!! I’m pretty sure the author packed it all in here: brilliant writing, likable characters, creative plot, high emotions, unexpected twists… I absolutely loved this novel! I adored the FMC and her brothers, and was highly invested in them, starting from page 1. This book has beautiful life lessons embedded throughout and as a reader, I could sense the goodness emanating from the author. I can’t wait for the sequel! Highly recommend to anyone ages 12+!
(Note: little language, new age)

[Kaitlyn Marquart · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need a good laugh, read Lavender.
If you need a good cry, read Lavender.
If you want a story that offers hope and connection… yup, you guessed it. Read Lavender.
I loved this story so much! I devoured it in less than 4 days. Every time I picked it up, I got lost in Lavender’s world — her friends, her family, her gift.
A wonderful, heart-warming read that will give you all the feels!!

[Hope Everly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

Lavender by Christina King is a truly endearing and unique story that hooked me right from the start. Written in first person through Lavender’s perspective, it gives you an intimate view into the struggles and emotions of a girl with striking purple eyes who finds herself at a low point in life.

Everything seems to be going wrong for Lavender, and the emotional weight of her challenges feels raw and relatable. Just as she’s trying to hold it all together, strange and unexplainable experiences begin to happen, and new people step into her life, turning her present and future upside down. The way these moments unfold keeps you intrigued, always wanting to know what will happen next.

I loved reading this and honestly struggled to put it down. The mix of vulnerability, mystery, and unexpected twists kept me invested all the way through.

Well done, Christina, this was such a beautiful read, and I will definitely be picking up the next book!

[K.A. Wesorick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Lavender has a message that is so relevant and needed right now. I loved seeing Lavender start to believe in herself and her own intuition. That is such an important life lesson, and the book illustrates this beautifully. I also loved the closeness of her family and relationships with her brothers. This book is a great reminder to find the good in the world, follow your passion and to be the change you want to see in the world. Great read!

[A.M. Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was genuinely one of my favorite reads of the year. It felt so different from anything else I have picked up lately, and in the best way. It starts off a little wacky, which I actually loved because you immediately get a feel for the author’s voice and the tone of the story. Once you settle into it, everything comes together into something really unique and honestly just a really cool story.

The writing style was so refreshing. It felt playful and original without losing emotional depth, which is not easy to pull off. I also loved the concept. It gave me a little bit of That’s So Raven energy for my fellow 90s kids, with those intuitive, almost visionary moments woven in. It added such an interesting layer that kept me hooked the whole time.

The romance was sweet and felt natural, not forced or overdone. And the hints of music throughout were such a nice touch. That was something I have not really seen done this way before, and it added so much to the overall atmosphere of the book.

One thing that really stood out to me on a more personal level was how the story handled grief and family dynamics. When my dad was on life support and we did not know what his outcome would be, my family reacted in ways people might not expect. We found ourselves going out to restaurants, trying to enjoy moments, almost like we did not know what else to do. He ultimately did not make it, and reading similar reactions in this book felt incredibly real and honestly comforting in a way I did not expect. It made those parts of the story hit even harder and feel very authentic.

Overall, this book reminded me why I love reading. It was creative, heartfelt, a little unexpected, and completely memorable. It stood out in a sea of books and is easily a five star read for me. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for something different, emotional, and genuinely enjoyable.

[Lindsey (Bagel) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whimsical. Cozy. Warm. Learning about Lavender and her rag-tag group of “save the world” friends was such a treat! The inclusion of music, mystery, and magical realism made this story so fun! While there were plenty of awww moments, Christina also took us on an emotional RIDE full of depth! Although, I did have some issues with the pacing and BAM IN YOUR FACE plot twists, I had such a good time! This book with a forest ambience video= PEAK experience! Highly recommend to anyone 13+ who needs a read full of family, friendship, and music!

[Joshua Shockley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read! it was a little outside my normal genre, but I found it to be a very cozy and warm story. King did a great job mixing drama, Hallmark-y romance, music, and a touch of magical realism into one story, and I genuinely tore through the back half of the book to see how it'd all turn out. I am very curious about what's next since it's #1 of this saga! Overall enjoyable read that I will definitely keep around for a re-read.

[Lisa Guerrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gentle yet emotional....

This story blends a bit of magical realism thoughtful exploration of identity,belonging and emotional growth. I was caught up in moments that felt so heavy and meaningful. Inviting empathy and understanding, as if I were the one seeing pieces of myself in the journey. This read offers such growth within, vulnerability and acceptance. Such a gentle yet emotional lying powerful read you won't want to put down.

[Lisa Guerrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a gentle yet emotional read….

This story blends a bit of magical realism thoughtful exploration of identity,belonging and emotional growth. I was caught up in moments that felt so heavy and meaningful. Inviting empathy and understanding, as if I were the one seeing pieces of myself in the journey. This read offers such growth within, vulnerability and acceptance. Such a gentle yet emotionally powerful read you won't want to put down!

[Catherine Kart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing story. I’m not someone who reads supernatural books, yet this author had me completely immersed in this world, crying, fully pulled in, and unaware that I lost my entire day. I loved it! Lavender’s character is both insecure and brave, and I truly enjoyed reading her journey.

Highly recommend this book!

[Barbara Morrissey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find it so satisfying to read a book that you don't want to put down. This beautiful story delivers! It offers all the required elements of mystery, fantasy, expectations and passages that bring you both tears and joy.

[Rachael Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved and flew through this book! A truly delightful and magical escape that kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down! Highly recommended!!!

[Yvonne Beaudry · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Lavender" by Christina King is a heartwarming story brimming with hope. I enjoyed the purity of it and found myself interested in the musical component. I would love to hear any of the fictional songs that were included! Also, I appreciated the foreshadowing and the book's dedication. I thought the latter was fitting (given the book's subject matter), and I found it comforting. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a heartwarming and hopeful read that is mostly lighthearted.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The atmosphere of Lavender is haunting and mysterious, with a side of paranormal. Magic weaves its way through the novel like subtle strums of a guitar string.

The author creatively constructs natural but amusing conversations that show details about the heroine and other characters without resorting to laundry lists of their looks or personalities.

Events flow organically as well, making sense while reading as mystical at the same time. Any reader could “believe in the unknown” when it’s served so charmingly.

As a yoga teacher, I love that Lavender’s mom teaches yoga and that there’s a connection to meditation and mindfulness throughout the book. I’m completely here for this story of peace, love, music, and reconnecting offline.

It’s not all light-hearted, but humorous moments break up the serious, sad, or eerie ones.

Lavender is flawed, human, and relatable. She doubts herself and others, she spits her drinks all over herself by accident, and her life isn’t perfect, but she keeps going. She is inspiring in the best ways.

[Terrill Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book. Story follows a 17 year old girl with lavender eyes in a small Colorado town. Definitely recommend it to anyone.

[Stephanie Ritchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t read much YA books, and Lavender by Christina King is making me reevaluate this.
It’s a heartwarming and magical story with plenty of page turning moments. The themes of peace, kindness and making a change is exactly what the world needs right now. I look forward to reading the next book.

[Christina King]

Hi Reader,

Christina King here. Thanks for taking a chance on my indie novel, Lavender! I've been told it evokes "all the feels," and I hope it stirs something in you, too.

If you’re into music, small towns, mountain magic, sibling drama, and a slow-burn romance, this one’s for you. It's a YA novel but has been read and loved by readers of all ages.

I wrote this story while looking out at the San Juan Mountains in Colorado—my backyard and constant muse. Lavender is my small way of spreading hope for a better future. I think we can all agree that we could use some of that optimism right now.

This is book one in an upcoming series. Stay tuned for more!

Hugs,
Christina

[JC Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written and heartfelt story, navigating insecurities, self-doubt, and a young girl's courage to change the world. This story may focus on the music that is calling to Lavendar to create change through the love and the healing powers of melody and lyrics, but there is so much more depth within this story, including the healing power through kindness, family, friends, and believing in yourself. I really enjoyed this wholesome story about learning to trust yourself, accept your strengths, and listen to those signs we all often see, but ignore.

I appreciate Christina King's ability to write the scenes so well, filled with humor, emotion, and purpose. One of my favorite lines that made me laugh is learning about a holiday for dancing like a chicken...May 14th, by the way. And a quote that made me wear a warm smile, "I know I'm part of something bigger. Something that matters. And somehow, all those years of feeling lost brought me right here."

[Delia Riva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding and heartwarming

In Lavender, debut author Christina King crafts a whimsical and rhythm-infused world where music is more than just entertainment—it is a tangible magic capable of healing a broken world. Blending the angst of coming-of-age drama with supernatural intrigue, this novel serves as a promising start to The Midnight Peace Runners Saga.

Lavender is a spellbinding and heartwarming debut that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt that a favorite song understood them better than people could. It is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy clean YA romance, magical realism, and stories about finding your voice.

[J.C. Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut is very well written. It is a heartfelt story that explores self-doubt and a young girl’s quiet courage to make a difference. Music is the force calling Lavender to create change through love and healing power, but the story reaches far deeper. It highlights the strength found in kindness, the support of family and friends, and the importance of believing in yourself. I truly enjoyed this uplifting story about trusting your instincts, embracing your strengths, and paying attention to the signs we so often overlook.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your looking for a feel good read with highstakes this is the bookf or you. You can really feel the emotional depth behind this book. The aurhor did a fantastic job of focusing on real life issues and the inner conflicts most of us go through at somw point in our lives. Whether its self doubt or lack of confidence, grief or just finding our way through with hope as our guide. I thought this book was sweet and I loved the romantic element! Overall good read when your looking for something that will move you.

[Bookishbeach · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟 ONE MILLION STARS. 🌟
Lavender by Christina King isn’t just a book, it’s a living, breathing piece of magic. This story doesn’t simply tell you what it’s like to be seventeen going on eighteen and falling in love for the first time; it takes you there, plants you in the very heart of that raw, electric, beautifully terrifying age, and refuses to let you go.

Every page thrums with the exquisite cocktail of first love: the dizzying passion, the unbearable sweetness, the secret insecurities you try to hide, and the all-consuming ache that feels like it might burn you alive. It’s the kind of writing that makes your heart stutter because you see yourself in it—your teenage self, your wildest dreams, your most fragile fears. The need for belonging, acceptance, and purpose in a world full of pain and grief.

Christina King has woven something lyrical, mysterious, and utterly sumptuous. Her prose is poetry that tastes like honey and salt—sweet and aching all at once. The atmosphere is lush and cinematic; the emotions so tangible they cling to your skin long after you’ve closed the book.

This is a story that will curl itself around your soul, whisper secrets you thought you’d forgotten, and make you remember exactly what it felt like to be on the cusp of adulthood with your heart wide open and your future shimmering in the distance.

📖✨ If books were edible, Lavender would be the most decadent feast you’ve ever had. I’d give it one million stars, but honestly? Even that’s not enough!! I cannot wait for book two!