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Hidden in Roll
Josephine Baker's life takes an unimaginable turn after finding out the family secret; that she has magical powers. This new found knowledge leads to a series of exciting and daring events that will alter her life as she knows it. School, boys and drama quickly become entangled in the world of magic. As she starts to get a handle on her new life, a witch hunter shows up in her small town of Roll. Now that he has found Josephine, he is determined to be the one who eliminates her from the face of the earth... just like he already did to her mother!
300 pages, Paperback
Published September 14, 2020
3 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 17, 2021
A sweet and clean fantasy read for a younger audience. Jo Barker never knew her mother and her father has kept the secret that Jo is descended from a long line of witches. But when mysterious things begin to happen around Jo then the truth is out, and Jo discovers she is a powerful healer and spellcaster.
The beginning of the book is a little sluggish and it is nicely written with a relaxed pace, this will be a hit with ages of 13+ and is exciting enough to keep them involved but is clean enough that parents can relax. There is an interesting juxtaposition between Jo’s everyday teenage life – complete with all the angst and issues that age group suffer from – and her witchy heritage.
But it’s not all fluff and sweetness. Hidden deals with prejudice, xenophobia, and hatred towards that which is unfamiliar and strange, along with violence and fear when Jo finds her life threatened by a witch hunter who is determined to make her pay for the crime of being a witch.
I believe this is the first book of a series and it will be interesting to see where the story goes from here.
The beginning of the book is a little sluggish and it is nicely written with a relaxed pace, this will be a hit with ages of 13+ and is exciting enough to keep them involved but is clean enough that parents can relax. There is an interesting juxtaposition between Jo’s everyday teenage life – complete with all the angst and issues that age group suffer from – and her witchy heritage.
But it’s not all fluff and sweetness. Hidden deals with prejudice, xenophobia, and hatred towards that which is unfamiliar and strange, along with violence and fear when Jo finds her life threatened by a witch hunter who is determined to make her pay for the crime of being a witch.
I believe this is the first book of a series and it will be interesting to see where the story goes from here.
October 17, 2020
Josephine "Jo" Baker is an ordinary Arizona teen. She loves horses, and is shy around her crush. But one day, she learns the family secret. She is a witch. So was her late mother, who was killed by an aggressive witch hunter. Even as she cultivates her magical powers, a threat looms from witch hunters.
Above all, this book has strong, compelling characters, Jo above all, who is easy to relate to. We experience her discovery of her powers, in parallel with her blooming romance. The fantasy element is a lot of fun. It's handled in just the right way, with her powers introduced gradually, and in time, I found myself believing in magic. The villain also is truly threatening, as well as repulsive, and inspires real anger once he is active. The climax is truly suspenseful.
One fault though is that it takes a little too long to reach this point. The middle of the book moves slowly, with a few chapters where very little happens. And while the dialogue is consistently believable, at points it's a little too realistic, including some uninteresting conversation filler.
Still, these are forgivable flaws. I enjoyed meeting Jo and being there on her magical journey of discovery. I'm pleased that it is only the beginning.
Above all, this book has strong, compelling characters, Jo above all, who is easy to relate to. We experience her discovery of her powers, in parallel with her blooming romance. The fantasy element is a lot of fun. It's handled in just the right way, with her powers introduced gradually, and in time, I found myself believing in magic. The villain also is truly threatening, as well as repulsive, and inspires real anger once he is active. The climax is truly suspenseful.
One fault though is that it takes a little too long to reach this point. The middle of the book moves slowly, with a few chapters where very little happens. And while the dialogue is consistently believable, at points it's a little too realistic, including some uninteresting conversation filler.
Still, these are forgivable flaws. I enjoyed meeting Jo and being there on her magical journey of discovery. I'm pleased that it is only the beginning.
September 18, 2020
This is a great book for teenagers and adults alike. I really enjoyed learning all about magic right alongside the main character, Jo, as she discovers she is a witch. At its core, this is a paranormal romance. It’s about young love and learning to handle each other’s differences, while still figuring out who you are as a person.
If you are a fan of the paranormal and the heart-felt blossoming effects of first love (or puppy love, as the author often calls it!) this book will be perfect for you! It is a sweet debut novel from a lovely talented author, and I cannot wait to read book two
If you are a fan of the paranormal and the heart-felt blossoming effects of first love (or puppy love, as the author often calls it!) this book will be perfect for you! It is a sweet debut novel from a lovely talented author, and I cannot wait to read book two
May 5, 2021
Jo is a likable character and the plot is one that is great for YA readers. What high schooler doesn't wish they woke up to discover they had magic powers? It's something they can connect with and dream about. The story starts off slow, an introduction into her life, but picks up pace later. It would have worked better to plunge into the story right when she discovers her powers and the bad guy shows up but that is just my own personal preference. Her life in danger from the same man who killed her mother. Witches and witch hunters it reminded me a lot of Charmed and Buffy. This is one that will be enjoyed by many.
October 15, 2020
Really enjoyed the main character’s strong voice throughout this book. Loved shadowing her in her journey of self discovery of what her magical powers were capable of and how they made her a better person. Teen love, action, suspense and some revenge thrown in for good measure, makes this a great book to read. Can’t wait for the next book to come out.
March 17, 2021
I just want to say right off the bat that I love the tone of this book. It drew me in right away.
Jo lives in a small town called Roll where seemingly nothing happens, but changes are happening within Jo, abnormal changes. On the plus side, she's hitting it off with her crush, Logan. During a visit to her aunt's, Jo finds a secret book with what appear to be magic spells. That coupled with a secret letter she finds and Jo's world is turned upside down! I devoured this book and recommend it to YA magic lovers!
Jo lives in a small town called Roll where seemingly nothing happens, but changes are happening within Jo, abnormal changes. On the plus side, she's hitting it off with her crush, Logan. During a visit to her aunt's, Jo finds a secret book with what appear to be magic spells. That coupled with a secret letter she finds and Jo's world is turned upside down! I devoured this book and recommend it to YA magic lovers!
September 5, 2021
Hidden in Roll tells the story of Josephine Barker, a farm girl living in Roll with her Dad and her brother, as she discovers that she is so much more than 'just' a farm girl. We walk with Jo as she falls in love, finds out that she's a witch, discovers the truth about her mothers death, and is then hunted by pure evil.
It's the perfect book for middle graders, and for adults who want to reminisce about their school days. The author does a wonderful job of immersing the reader in Jo's world. My only gripe (and it's a minor one) is that Hidden in Roll is told in first person but the author rarely uses contractions. No teenage girl says 'I will' or 'I will not' all the time. They say 'I'll' or 'I won't'. For me it would add a degree of authenticity to the narration if the story was edited so that the language used was more consistent with the language of a teenage girl.
That aside, I absolutely loved the story. Jo is an adorable character, I fell in love with her while reading the book, and Logan had me swooning! If only I'd met a boy like Logan when I was only 15! Although if I had, maybe I wouldn't have done as well as I did at school. The story is fast paced and had me hooked from the very beginning. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next, and in fact, I loved it so much that I have already started book 2.
It's the perfect book for middle graders, and for adults who want to reminisce about their school days. The author does a wonderful job of immersing the reader in Jo's world. My only gripe (and it's a minor one) is that Hidden in Roll is told in first person but the author rarely uses contractions. No teenage girl says 'I will' or 'I will not' all the time. They say 'I'll' or 'I won't'. For me it would add a degree of authenticity to the narration if the story was edited so that the language used was more consistent with the language of a teenage girl.
That aside, I absolutely loved the story. Jo is an adorable character, I fell in love with her while reading the book, and Logan had me swooning! If only I'd met a boy like Logan when I was only 15! Although if I had, maybe I wouldn't have done as well as I did at school. The story is fast paced and had me hooked from the very beginning. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next, and in fact, I loved it so much that I have already started book 2.
January 25, 2021
A magical adventure! Jo is a relatable character who find out she is a witch! All the characters are great. This is a fun story about Jo learning and growing as a teen and into her powers. And there's horses! What more do you need?
November 9, 2020
In this book we meet Josephine Baker, a sixteen year old girl who, at the beginning of the book, hasn’t yet discovered her secret.
Josephine, or Jo as she prefers to be called, is your typical sixteen year old trying to figure out life and survive high school. She and her brother live with their father in Roll, AZ which is not far from Yuma.
On a visit to her aunt in Prescott, Jo decides to enter a room previously kept locked. This visit causes her to start to question things she thought she knew about herself.
When she returns home she starts to do some digging and what she finds is a surprise she wasn’t quite expecting. Her father reveals to her that her mother was a witch and Jo has inherited that gift. She also finds out what happened to her mother in more detail than she knew previously and what truly brought her family to live in Roll.
With the help of her Aunt Suzie, her best friend Mary, and her boyfriend Logan, Jo starts to lean more about what being a witch will mean for her. Enter the hunters, whose mission is to rid the world of witches, and things really get interesting.
I really enjoyed being able to see the changes Jo went through as a character. She gained more confidence in herself and her abilities. She was able to use her knowledge and gift for good in many ways, and it will be interesting to see where the next story in the series leads Jo. I can remember feeling awkward and unsure of myself in high school, as I believe most of us can. Her transformation throughout the story is something that I believe will be good for any age group, teen and adult, to read.
I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Josephine, or Jo as she prefers to be called, is your typical sixteen year old trying to figure out life and survive high school. She and her brother live with their father in Roll, AZ which is not far from Yuma.
On a visit to her aunt in Prescott, Jo decides to enter a room previously kept locked. This visit causes her to start to question things she thought she knew about herself.
When she returns home she starts to do some digging and what she finds is a surprise she wasn’t quite expecting. Her father reveals to her that her mother was a witch and Jo has inherited that gift. She also finds out what happened to her mother in more detail than she knew previously and what truly brought her family to live in Roll.
With the help of her Aunt Suzie, her best friend Mary, and her boyfriend Logan, Jo starts to lean more about what being a witch will mean for her. Enter the hunters, whose mission is to rid the world of witches, and things really get interesting.
I really enjoyed being able to see the changes Jo went through as a character. She gained more confidence in herself and her abilities. She was able to use her knowledge and gift for good in many ways, and it will be interesting to see where the next story in the series leads Jo. I can remember feeling awkward and unsure of myself in high school, as I believe most of us can. Her transformation throughout the story is something that I believe will be good for any age group, teen and adult, to read.
I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
August 5, 2024
Hidden in Roll is the first book in the Hidden in Roll series. It centres around a teenage girl called Jo, her family and budding love life, as well as school, an upcoming prom, and... magic.
Part of a long line of witches, Jo develops powers as she nears her 16th birthday. Her magic enables her to do great things - even heal - but it also brings great danger her way, as it attracts witch hunters.
And the story unfolds, as Jo has to defend herself against not only snarky cheerleaders, but evil men trying to kill her due to her powers alone.
Written in a fun and quirky way, Hidden in Roll really brings Jo to life with her fun inner monologues and self-narration. She is a cute character and takes on her new challenges with bravery. Her love interest, Logan, must be the sweetest guy in history. He is literally the perfect boyfriend. Perhaps, a little too perfect, but then again - this is a YA and very much teenage friendly story, so one is expected to suspend disbelief somewhat.
The story itself is never boring. Be it fun conversations between Jo and her bestie, some cute romantic scene with Logan, or a fight against evil - there is always something going on! It is entertaining from cover to cover, and will definitely appeal to any younger audience of YA lovers out there!
Part of a long line of witches, Jo develops powers as she nears her 16th birthday. Her magic enables her to do great things - even heal - but it also brings great danger her way, as it attracts witch hunters.
And the story unfolds, as Jo has to defend herself against not only snarky cheerleaders, but evil men trying to kill her due to her powers alone.
Written in a fun and quirky way, Hidden in Roll really brings Jo to life with her fun inner monologues and self-narration. She is a cute character and takes on her new challenges with bravery. Her love interest, Logan, must be the sweetest guy in history. He is literally the perfect boyfriend. Perhaps, a little too perfect, but then again - this is a YA and very much teenage friendly story, so one is expected to suspend disbelief somewhat.
The story itself is never boring. Be it fun conversations between Jo and her bestie, some cute romantic scene with Logan, or a fight against evil - there is always something going on! It is entertaining from cover to cover, and will definitely appeal to any younger audience of YA lovers out there!
June 4, 2021
Jo is the most brilliant teenage witch! This book is such a refreshing read. A simple yet beautifully crafted story written by a brilliant new author.
Jo is a 16-year-old living with her family in Roll, Arizona. In the opening chapter, I was pleasantly surprised how Jo introduces the reader to her cozy little world. She loves chemistry & riding her horse, misses her mom, prepares for her bestie's birthday party & has a secret crush on her brother's friend. Such a refreshing setting! Then, boom! Jo comes to know that she has inherited her mother's witch blood & powers. Throughout the book, she just reminded me of two of my favourite characters - Sabrina and Buffy. Probably, Jo is my number 1 favourite now. I loved reading how Jo progresses from a simple, chemistry-loving high-schooler into a powerful, young witch.
Her love interest Logan is also a superb character. Their relationship is vital to Jo's growth & happiness. But Jo is fantastic in her own right. Even without Logan, she's a force to reckon with. However, when they are together he can help her unleash her full potential.
I also loved all the other characters that make up Jo's universe - Her family, friends & her dog & horses. Plus, the dreamy descriptions of Arizona landscape! All of it pulled me into the story. Looking forward to reading the next 2 books!!
Move over Stephenie Meyer. Here comes Stephanie Whitfield!!
Jo is a 16-year-old living with her family in Roll, Arizona. In the opening chapter, I was pleasantly surprised how Jo introduces the reader to her cozy little world. She loves chemistry & riding her horse, misses her mom, prepares for her bestie's birthday party & has a secret crush on her brother's friend. Such a refreshing setting! Then, boom! Jo comes to know that she has inherited her mother's witch blood & powers. Throughout the book, she just reminded me of two of my favourite characters - Sabrina and Buffy. Probably, Jo is my number 1 favourite now. I loved reading how Jo progresses from a simple, chemistry-loving high-schooler into a powerful, young witch.
Her love interest Logan is also a superb character. Their relationship is vital to Jo's growth & happiness. But Jo is fantastic in her own right. Even without Logan, she's a force to reckon with. However, when they are together he can help her unleash her full potential.
I also loved all the other characters that make up Jo's universe - Her family, friends & her dog & horses. Plus, the dreamy descriptions of Arizona landscape! All of it pulled me into the story. Looking forward to reading the next 2 books!!
Move over Stephenie Meyer. Here comes Stephanie Whitfield!!
October 6, 2020
Ok.
This book is the essence of nostalgia.
It took me back to my high school days, the times my mundane life had me daydreaming about magic, mystery and danger. Of hot boys and secret destinies type stuff.
Stephanie managed to somehow peer into those daydreams and bring them to life – only better.
She captured, in my opinion, the teenage angst and frame of mind perfectly. The plot was fascinating, moving at a pace that felt just right, and the entire story was a minefield of twists and turns.
The MC, Jo, had an entire world dropped on top of her – and I have to say, she handled the changes pretty well (considering)
The interactions between characters was often on point, funny and engaging, and I loved the way the relationships built up and grew throughout.
I honestly had no idea where the story was geared up to take me, I just held on and went along for the ride!
This book is the essence of nostalgia.
It took me back to my high school days, the times my mundane life had me daydreaming about magic, mystery and danger. Of hot boys and secret destinies type stuff.
Stephanie managed to somehow peer into those daydreams and bring them to life – only better.
She captured, in my opinion, the teenage angst and frame of mind perfectly. The plot was fascinating, moving at a pace that felt just right, and the entire story was a minefield of twists and turns.
The MC, Jo, had an entire world dropped on top of her – and I have to say, she handled the changes pretty well (considering)
The interactions between characters was often on point, funny and engaging, and I loved the way the relationships built up and grew throughout.
I honestly had no idea where the story was geared up to take me, I just held on and went along for the ride!
November 22, 2020
I’ll start by stating that this book captures the age of the characters beautifully and took me right back to high school. I recommend this to anyone in that age group. It’s truly a perfect YA perspective. That is saying a lot because I didn’t even feel that with the Twilight Series!
All that being said, being somewhat *cough, cough* older, I enjoyed the story as well. If there any fans of the TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, out there, you’ll love this one.
The Goods about the book
- Character perspective and immersion
- A super sweet relationship developing. And it's a healthy one...
- The banter and flirting between Jo and Logan. Adorable.
- The plot is rock solid and an interesting arc with fantastic action at the end
What I hated
^Yes, I said that
It's the only thing, so don't shoot me. And it's a spoiler. But it's not overly critical to if you'll like the story or not. But I have to say...
And you're going to have to check out my full blog to see my one and only complaint. I even hid it there.
Here's the link: https://susanstradiotto.com/2020/11/2...
The Bottom Line
There is so much to enjoy about Hidden in Roll, and I look forward to Stephanie's next in line (Coming December 14!). I rated this one at 5* for the audience it's intended to reach. If you're a little older or prefer fantasy geared for adult audiences, read it with that in mind. As an adult, I give it 4/5* still, so definitely worth the read.
All that being said, being somewhat *cough, cough* older, I enjoyed the story as well. If there any fans of the TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, out there, you’ll love this one.
The Goods about the book
- Character perspective and immersion
- A super sweet relationship developing. And it's a healthy one...
- The banter and flirting between Jo and Logan. Adorable.
- The plot is rock solid and an interesting arc with fantastic action at the end
What I hated
^Yes, I said that
It's the only thing, so don't shoot me. And it's a spoiler. But it's not overly critical to if you'll like the story or not. But I have to say...
And you're going to have to check out my full blog to see my one and only complaint. I even hid it there.
Here's the link: https://susanstradiotto.com/2020/11/2...
The Bottom Line
There is so much to enjoy about Hidden in Roll, and I look forward to Stephanie's next in line (Coming December 14!). I rated this one at 5* for the audience it's intended to reach. If you're a little older or prefer fantasy geared for adult audiences, read it with that in mind. As an adult, I give it 4/5* still, so definitely worth the read.
Read
June 8, 2021An exciting read for all ages
Enjoyed the book from start to finish. An enjoyable and easy read for all ages. Will definitely be reading the rest of series to see how Jo and Logan grow together. Loved remembering the feelings of torture and excitement in young love. Excited to see where the series will lead us next.
Enjoyed the book from start to finish. An enjoyable and easy read for all ages. Will definitely be reading the rest of series to see how Jo and Logan grow together. Loved remembering the feelings of torture and excitement in young love. Excited to see where the series will lead us next.
December 21, 2020
This books was good for the most part. It was a little hard to read in the beginning, I had trouble getting used to the writing style. About a quarter of the way in I started to enjoy it much more. The story was interesting and I liked the magic, horses, and romance.
August 10, 2021
This is such a unique book! Love how the author takes you along bringing witches into the 21st century. The fear behind her trusting Logan is real! The whole book gave me chills.
Definitely put this on your list is you like mystery and witches! I would call this Magical realism for sure.
Definitely put this on your list is you like mystery and witches! I would call this Magical realism for sure.
February 11, 2021
Nice story
This was an entertaining read, brought my teenage hormones back to mind a few times! Good pacing, action and descriptions that will keep the reader engaged.
This was an entertaining read, brought my teenage hormones back to mind a few times! Good pacing, action and descriptions that will keep the reader engaged.
September 18, 2021
Cute fun clean
Fun story, clean romance that you can let your teenage daughter read. Made me think of my own ogling days of Jr high and high school.
Fun story, clean romance that you can let your teenage daughter read. Made me think of my own ogling days of Jr high and high school.
October 27, 2021
This isn’t my usual genre, as it’s a YA book about being a teenager and all the awkwardness one feels surrounding boys and Prom and dealing with parents and siblings. I can’t identify with that at all so why did I read it? I was curious. The title is odd, and it has some mystical witchy goings-ons I was intrigued by.
So here we have Jo, shy, awkward unless she’s on a horse, breathlessly in love with a boy who feels the same way. Prom is coming up, and Jo is gradually realising she has some strange healing powers. This leads to some conflict with her boyfriend’s brother, who is a witch hunter, and a lot of angsty scenes with her widowed father.
It was a lovely story, written in the style of a gawky teenager finding her feet. I really did feel for Jo and all the challenges she faces. It was a sweet, lovely mystical romance with a hint of danger looming in the distance.
I thought the editing and dialogue could have been tighter. There seemed to be a few too many pointless exchanges which slowed the story down and made it seem a lot longer than the 240 pages it actually was. That was a shame, as this is a good-hearted, YA story of a girl growing into womanhood in a small town, who has to accept she is different from others and how she deals with that.
Finally, her boyfriend is dreamy and I adored him. He was a great example of non-toxic masculinity, and their tender scenes were beautifully realised. Although I wasn’t compelled to continue the series, I can imagine why other readers would. Roll is anything but a nowhere town, filled with really great characters. And the book covers are divine!
So here we have Jo, shy, awkward unless she’s on a horse, breathlessly in love with a boy who feels the same way. Prom is coming up, and Jo is gradually realising she has some strange healing powers. This leads to some conflict with her boyfriend’s brother, who is a witch hunter, and a lot of angsty scenes with her widowed father.
It was a lovely story, written in the style of a gawky teenager finding her feet. I really did feel for Jo and all the challenges she faces. It was a sweet, lovely mystical romance with a hint of danger looming in the distance.
I thought the editing and dialogue could have been tighter. There seemed to be a few too many pointless exchanges which slowed the story down and made it seem a lot longer than the 240 pages it actually was. That was a shame, as this is a good-hearted, YA story of a girl growing into womanhood in a small town, who has to accept she is different from others and how she deals with that.
Finally, her boyfriend is dreamy and I adored him. He was a great example of non-toxic masculinity, and their tender scenes were beautifully realised. Although I wasn’t compelled to continue the series, I can imagine why other readers would. Roll is anything but a nowhere town, filled with really great characters. And the book covers are divine!
December 31, 2020
Cute story with suspense and drama!
I was fortunate enough to be one of the ARC readers and was asked to share my opinion and review. Normally I am not a big fan of paranormal stories and try to avoid it, but I thought I would give it a shot and was pleasantly surprised. The author did a great job making the characters likable and easy to relate too, and if I wasn’t old enough already to be the main characters mom, I may or may not be swooning over the handsome teenage boy. ;) It has a little bit of everything including romance, dark secrets, suspense and drama and is a wonderful story, perfectly suited for teenagers. I love good clean books and this one definitely falls into that category.
I was fortunate enough to be one of the ARC readers and was asked to share my opinion and review. Normally I am not a big fan of paranormal stories and try to avoid it, but I thought I would give it a shot and was pleasantly surprised. The author did a great job making the characters likable and easy to relate too, and if I wasn’t old enough already to be the main characters mom, I may or may not be swooning over the handsome teenage boy. ;) It has a little bit of everything including romance, dark secrets, suspense and drama and is a wonderful story, perfectly suited for teenagers. I love good clean books and this one definitely falls into that category.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews