Finding a New Normal Series
by K.D. Hilt

Follow Ryder Clark and his little sister Makayla as they find their new normal after losing their family. How will Ryder be able to cope with raising a three year old and being big brother. How will he do all this while finishing his senior year of High School.

The Ruined Halloween

book 1

One year ago Ryder Clark was a normal high school senior. He was captain of the basketball team and invited to all the parties. On Halloween last year everything changed for him and his little sister Makayla. He took on all the responsibilities of a parent and adult. What happened on that dreadful Halloween night that changed everything for these two? Will they be able to find a new normal?

Remembering to be Thankful

book 2

Ryder Clark is eighteen when his dad, brother and sister are killed, leaving him the sole guardian of his three year old sister. Their world has been flipped upside down in the last month. Ryder is having a hard time finding anything besides his baby sister to be thankful for. Thanksgiving is a time for family and to give thanks, but will he remember to be thankful?

A Homemade Holiday

book 3

Ryder is eighteen and now is trying to care for his three year old sister. Not only does he have the responsibility for being a parent he also has sports, school, and work. Makayla may be three, but she can sure enough see how unhappy her brother is. Ryder doesn’t realize how much she see or hears, but he finds out this holiday season. How will Ryder and Makayla celebrate this Christmas and New Year’s season? Will Ryder be able to give his baby sister a Christmas to remember? Will they be able to get into the holiday spirit? Or will they let their grief hold them back?

Hope for Valentine’s Day

book 4

Ryder and Makayla have been through a lot in the last three and a half months. They’ve started to deal with their own grief, but now they are realizing who else was affected by the deaths of their family. Can Ryder help their friends to cope with the death of his dad, Sydney, and Lucas, or is he still to lost in his own grief.

Now it’s the week of Valentine’s Day, and the week of the two year anniverserary of their mom’s death. They’ve went two years without knowing who hit their mom with the car. What happens when the night of the youth group’s Valentine’s party Ryder and his friend Jason overhears something their not supposed to. Will they be able to have closure for one of the tragic deaths of their family.

***Warning for mentions of child abuse***

Forgiveness for Easter

book 5

Their mother’s killer has been arrested, but they still don’t know who hired him. Can Ryder find it in his heart to forgive the man who killed his mom and that won’t tell who killed the rest of his family?

Jason’s father and father’s girlfriend have been arrested. His little sister and him are living with Ryder. Will he be able to forgive them for the hurt they have caused him and his sister?

Easter is a time for forgiveness, but will these two hurting high schoolers be able to raise their sisters and find the strength to forgive the people that have caused this pain? Will they be able to have a wonderful Easter even after the lies around them start to unravel?

How Far We’ve Come

book 6

May is always a busy time for seniors and their families. Ryder and Makayla’s birthday is also the same week. This means that the James’ family Ryder, Makayla, Sophia, Kristen, and Jason are all going to be busy. They’ve got a four year old’s first birthday without either parent and two of her siblings, same with her now nineteen year old brother. They also have four seniors graduating, two of which the James’ have taken under their wing along with their own daughter.

Everything’s been going fine until their last day of school. What happens when Jason hears the same voice as he did in the basement of the church? What will happen when Ryder is able to find out who’s been hiring the killers? Jason getting beat up by the man should be enough to put the guy away for a little while but will that be enough for now?

One Step Closer to Justice

book 7

Ryder and Jason come home from academy for the weekend of Independence day. They’ll get to be with family, light of fireworks, and even spend an extra day at home. Sounds like an amazing weekend, right? Well it may be if they didn’t have the trial on Monday, and still are not sure what will come of it. With this new evidence the force found against the defendant, hopefully the person hiring the killers can be put away. That’s not all that will happen to them. What they discover when they get back to the academy may shake their world even more. When will they ever catch a break. There will be secrets that come to light, a hopeful stop to these murders, and an ending to this series of short stories that will leave you with some questions.

The Ruined Halloween
4 out of 5
This was a heartbreaking opening to a new series. It’s a quick read (an hour max), but a good introduction to the characters, and you’ll be dying to read the next one after you finish.

Remembering to be Thankful
4 out of 5
Holidays can be so hard after losing people you love, but this book really embodies the Thanksgiving spirit. A great reminder of how you can be thankful even in the face of a lot of loss, this book will have you feeling emotional by the end.

A Homemade Holiday
4 out of 5
I found myself tearing up a few times while reading this. It’s a quick, emotional, sweet read. A great way to embody the Christmas spirit, and remind you what’s most important in life even when facing down some really tough challenges.

Hope for Valentine’s Day
5 out of 5
Another emotional installment in the series, this one touches on some tough topics, but offers a ray of hope amidst the darkness. We get an answer to who’s behind the tragedy that set everything in motion, and I’m looking forward to what’s next in the series.

Forgiveness for Easter
5 out of 5
Forgiveness isn’t always easy, but it’s sometimes needed to move forward. This book covers the topic of forgiveness well, portraying how difficult, yet freeing it can be. Especially when the person you need to forgive took away people you love.

How Far We’ve Come
5 out of 5
I can’t believe we’re on book six already! These are quick reads, but so much has happened over the course of the series. Things have been moving along, and senior year is almost over. There were so many emotions tied up in this book, and a lot of questions raised. Don’t worry, you do get some answers!

One Step Closer to Justice
5 out of 5
You’ll need to start with book one if you want to appreciate the journey each MC has taken, but this was a great way to end the series. There’s finally a chance for closure, but it wouldn’t be a good story without some hiccups. I’m a little sad to leave everyone behind, I’ve gotten to know them so well. I would love to see these collected into one volume someday!

The Ruined Halloween (Book 1)
Amazon | Goodreads

Remembering to be Thankful (Book 2)
Amazon | Goodreads

A Homemade Holiday (Book 3)
Amazon | Goodreads

Hope for Valentine’s Day (Book 4)
Amazon | Goodreads

Forgiveness for Easter (Book 5)
Amazon | Goodreads

How Far We’ve Come (Book 6)
Amazon | Goodreads

One Step Closer to Justice (Book 7)
Amazon | Goodreads

My name is K.D. Hilt, which is a pen name. I was born and raised in Nebraska. I grew up listening to all the stories my older siblings would make up. My love for writing was started by my oldest sister who would write stories and read them to me and my other siblings. I love to spend time with my family. I am pursuing a Criminal Justice Degree, but love learning about most subjects. I especially love history and try to add some little things into my works that has to do with someone or something in history. I was raised in a Christian household. I am the child of a pastor and both my parents taught youth group at our churches when I was growing up.

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