Two-Time Award Winner (pre-published)
-Cascade Contest
-Blue Seal Awards

Two-Time Finalist (published)
-Selfie Book Awards
-The Wishing Shelf Awards

A cryptic puzzle. A family secret. A deadly betrayal. 

When her dad dies during a business trip to Romania, Kat Barrett blames herself for their failed relationship. She's racked with guilt, haunted by strange dreams about the crash that killed him, and she’d do anything to have him back. 

Then a package arrives. It’s from her dad and contains a list of clues — one of his classic scavenger hunts. Desperate for answers, she follows the clues to Bucharest and meets Maksim, a local with a dark past who offers to help. Kat doesn't trust him, but when she hits a dead end, she’s left with no other choice. 

As they work together, decoding the clues and trying (unsuccessfully) not to fall for each other, the scavenger hunt reveals a deadly secret the dreams have been pointing to, something Maksim’s old crime ring has been hiding all along, and Kat has walked into their trap. 

Can she beat them to the final clue — and solve it — before she suffers the same fate as her dad?

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Awaken the Dawn is YA suspense with a supernatural twist and a gripping mystery in the form of a scavenger hunt. Readers who've enjoyed it have also enjoyed...

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Reviews of ATD ★★★★★

"Popa masterfully orchestrates a labyrinthine plot brimming with unexpected twists, pulse-pounding suspense, and heart-stopping revelations. From the atmospheric streets of Bucharest to the shadowy corridors of hidden conspiracies, Awaken The Dawn immerses readers in a world of danger, intrigue, and high-stakes adventure." - NetGalley Reviewer

"This is a gripping mystery that I enjoyed trying to piece together. The descriptions are vivid and made me feel like I was part of the story. The story pulled me in immediately. I look forward to reading the next installment of this captivating series." - BookSirens Reviewer

"There was a lot to like about this one; really interesting setting (Romania), the use of both Romanian and Romani words (with translations), the images of the color maps, pictures and clues from the treasure hunt (great idea that worked really well)." - BookSirens Reviewer

"The story is action packed involving dead ends, jeopardy, trying to keep one step ahead of the bad guys and I loved the twists in the tale. The descriptions of Brasov and the forests and mountains of Romania are so beautiful that readers of this book would surely be inspired to visit." - Librarian and NetGalley Reviewer

"I was biting my nails [the] majority of the time or trying to figure out what was gonna happen next. Great foreshadowing and EXTREMELY engaging. I will definitely be on the hunt for book 2." - Goodreads Reviewer

"A puzzle, a secret and a betrayal? Yes please! . . . . I was quickly transported to Kat’s world and was able to follow along with her feelings and conclusions. Between the scavenger hunt and trying to piece together Kat’s Dads past, [I] was hooked right to the very end." - NetGalley Reviewer

Sample artwork from the Limited Edition

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As they work together, journeying into Transylvania and solving the remaining clues, the scavenger hunt reveals a deadly secret the dreams have been pointing to, a secret Maksim’s old crime ring has been hiding all along, and Kat has walked right into their trap. Now she must beat them to the final clue (and solve it) or else suffer the same tragic fate as her dad.

Then a package arrives from Romania. It’s from her dad, sent before he died, and contains a list of clues—one of his classic scavenger hunts. Desperate to know why he sent it, she follows the clues to Bucharest. There she encounters Maksim, a reformed criminal with the right skillset for decoding this puzzle. Kat doesn’t trust him, but when she hits a series of dead ends, she’s left with no other choice.