1st Place in the Next Best Read for Children's Fiction
Editorial Review
Jalina Jons and the Owenroake Treasure Hunters is a standout children’s adventure that earns its First Place win in Next Best Read’s Writing Contest with confidence and heart. M. K. McDaniel delivers a story that blends imagination, courage, and emotional depth in a way that feels both classic and refreshingly original. From the very first chapters, young readers are invited into a richly built world where mystery and wonder unfold naturally, never talking down to its audience.
What truly sets this book apart is its balance. The story offers high-stakes adventure and intrigue while remaining grounded in themes of resilience, loyalty, and personal growth. The characters are vividly drawn and relatable, making it easy for readers to connect with their fears, hopes, and determination. The pacing keeps curiosity alive, encouraging readers to turn pages eagerly, while the sense of discovery is handled with clarity and confidence.
McDaniel’s storytelling shows a clear respect for young readers’ intelligence, trusting them with complex emotions and meaningful challenges without overwhelming them. The result is a book that entertains, inspires, and lingers in the imagination long after the final page. This is the kind of children’s novel that invites rereading, sparks conversation, and leaves readers excited for what comes next.
Get Ready for the Jalina Jons Adventure Series!!
Available on Amazon now!
JALINA JONS AND THE OWENROAKE TREASURE HUNTERS
Second Edition ~ BOOK 1
A dark forest, magical kingdoms, and an unforgettable new beginning in a place never imagined add up to a page-turning adventure in this captivating children's adventure book.
Jalina (Nina) Jons is about to have the worst day of her life. She's never lived a day away from her home or questioned her survival until she and her brother Jake are told that their treasure hunting, wealthy parents are dead. When Nina and Jake are whisked off to a notorious workhouse orphanage named Owenroake, Nina plots to escape. Little does she know her life is about to change forever because Owenroake is no ordinary orphanage. Nina and Jake discover a wonderful new magical home called Fort Fernbottom, where they experience thrilling adventures. Then Nina's team participates in a treasure hunting competition against other teams, but the hunt spirals into chaos. Stranded, lost, and hungry, the team faces overwhelming, life-threatening odds. With her newfound super powers, will Nina be able to get her team to safety?
On Amazon at: https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0FZP6D2HH
EBOOK UNIVERSAL LINK AVAILABLE NOW: https://books2read.com/u/mVzXyP
JALINA JONS AND THE RESCUE TEAM
BOOK 2
The adventure continues with fairies, scary creatures, an evil villain, and a ghostly pirate named Captain Black Sam...equaling another page-turning adventure!
Jalina (Nina) Jons and her brother Jake return for their second year at Fort Fernbottom, where life among the enchanted treehouses is anything but ordinary. Between spellbinding classes and mastering their powers, the siblings are thriving...until a familiar enemy from the past unexpectedly arrives in the magical Area. Determined not to let old wounds derail her progress, Nina braces herself for the challenge. But the peace doesn’t last. When a sinister villain breaches the Fort’s defenses, children begin to vanish without a trace. With danger closing in, Nina forms a Rescue Team and sets out on a perilous mission that could unravel everything. As the stakes rise and the mystery deepens, only courage, magic, and unity can save the orphans and Fort Fernbottom from disaster. Will Nina and the Rescue Team be able to save the orphans in time?
Available for purchase:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0G3HYL1J2
Other locations:
https://books2read.com/u/3nrQge
JALINA JONS AND THE MAGIC GOBLET OF GYANTOR
BOOK 3 - NOW ON PRE-ORDER!
The third year at Fort Fernbottom finds the magic school in dire circumstances with goblins, ghouls, fairies, and tons of magical glitter dust invading the Area. It's time for another epic adventure with fantastic treehouses, superhero powers, ancient secrets and magic artifacts intertwining to make an unforgettable fantasy world at the Fort Fernbottom School of Magic!
Danger has never been greater for Jalina (Nina) Jons, her brother Jake, and The Rescue Team. Sinister creatures, summoned by the wicked Zortimer, have broken through the Boundary and infiltrated the school. With Fort Fernbottom's fate hanging by a thread, the team learns they must find the legendary Magic Goblet of Gyantor - an ancient relic with the power to restore the protective spells shielding the school from evil. But no one knows where it is. The mission grows even more dangerous when they realize they must survive three impossible trials to claim the goblet. Will they unlock its immense power before it's too late?
On Pre-Order at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FJFZKVD6
JALINA JONS AND THE BOOK OF ANCIENT MAGIC
BOOK 4 - NOW ON PRE-ORDER!
The enchantment carries on into the fourth year at Fort Fernbottom, where magical relics, a sinister Ice Sorceress, Cyberwolf Wraiths, and an irresistible game captivates all at the Fort Fernbottom School of Magic…
The fourth year at Fort Fernbottom begins on a celebratory note, marked by a delicious Welcome Back Fall Feast that fills the school with joy and excitement. Another magical year, with no sign of trouble on the horizon, begins. But the atmosphere shifts when a new boy arrives at the Fort, bringing with him a collection of intriguing gifts and, most notably, an eerie puzzle. The puzzle quickly becomes the center of attention as it transforms into a captivating game that every student is eager to play. However, Jalina (Nina) Jons and her brother Jake soon grow suspicious of the puzzle’s unusual allure. The students cannot resist the urge to assemble its pieces.
Further investigation reveals the puzzle is enchanted. Realizing the danger, they must prevent the last piece from being placed. But their worst fears come true as the school transforms into a frozen wasteland, signaling the sinister magic at work. In a desperate bid to stop the enchantment, Nina and the Rescue Team race against time to unlock the Library of Ancient Magical Artifacts. They search frantically through the Book of Ancient Magic, hoping to prevent the insertion of the last puzzle piece and stop this evil power from being unleashed.
ON PRE-ORDER AT AMAZON:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0GBZ9PTVR
Discover the Journey
Join us as we unveil a world sure to thrill in the Jalina Jons Adventure Series! A collection of children's heroic action books that will take you on a journey like no other, filled with excitement, exploration, and magical kingdoms. This captivating family friendly series will feature 8+ books including a prequel taking the reader into the events that created the magical world Jalina Jons has found herself in. For readers 9 years to 112 years!
No spice, no vulgarity ever.
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Explore the magic: A glimpse into the adventure
About the Author
- M. K. McDaniel resides in a small rural town in the mountains of Nevada with her husband, a Corgi, a tabby cat, and a Border Collie. Her writing career began early, daydreaming stories as a child. In second grade, after mastering the art of print, she started bringing those stories to life on paper. Her portfolio includes published college papers, stories, poems, and in 2011, she released a middle-grade fantasy adventure titled "Nina Beana and the Owenroake Treasure Hunters." Now, the Second Edition of her first book is set to release as Jalina Jons and the Owenroake Treasure Hunters, continuing into the Jalina Jons Adventure Series with eight exciting books coming in 2026-2027. Her passion for writing has flourished throughout her life and will thrive in the Jalina Jons Adventure Series.
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Welcome! Sign up for the monthly newsletter for book release news and be entered to win a paperback copy of Book 1 in the Jalina Jons Adventure Series! 5 lucky winners will each receive one copy (address required). Sign-up to win by January 30, 2026. PLUS receive the first four chapters of Jalina Jons and the Rescue Team Book 2 in the Jalina Jons Adventure Series for FREE!