William L. Stuart

The Gemstone Chronicles Book One: The Carnelian (Kindle Edition)
The Gemstone Chronicles, Book One is an enjoyable read that works for any age group. A set of grandparents and two teenagers form the family group that gets involved with magic when they least expect it. Beebop, the grandfather, loves rock hunting, something he shares with his grandchildren. They find an odd rock which ends up in the shed, only to reveal an elf that has been trapped inside for 200 years. They agree to help the elf find his way back through a portal to his land. One the way, they encounter the Drow, a group of evil elves. It turns out that there are now light elves and dark elves, and the tensions run high. The elf Council is rife with conflict and betrayal. Some gemstones, via the elf that had been trapped in the rock, have gone missing from a powerful sword, and the family have to restore these to save themselves and the elf. They run into many enemies, especially an evil kelpie that does everything to destroy them, but they find magical powers they never knew they had. A great adventure, and the characters are well drawn.
… (altro)

I'm not sure I understand the purpose of the first paragraph of every chapter having font that is not only bold but larger than the rest. I will say one thing it is unique and I won't likely forget the author's name - so bravo on setting yourself apart from the rest of the pack!

There is a lot going on in this young adult fantasy - even the chapters are longer than I personally am used to. Reader who like to read by chapters should leave themselves an extra bit of time. The story is worth the effort.… (altro)