Books Publishing this Week
The afternoon light spills through the window, golden and warm, filling the room with a quiet, gentle glow. There’s something softer about an April afternoon—the way the sun lingers a little longer, stretching across the floorboards, the way the breeze carries the scent of damp earth and the faintest hint of blooming flowers. Outside, the world is stirring, but inside, everything is still, wrapped in the kind of peace that makes you want to sink into a story and stay there for hours.
You settle into your favorite spot, a quiet corner by the window, where you can hear the faint rustling of newly budding trees outside. The air still holds traces of the morning chill, but the warmth of the sun filtering through the glass is enough to make you pull your feet up beneath you, finding the perfect spot to settle in. You pull a soft knit blanket over your legs—not because it’s cold, but because it’s comforting, a familiar weight as you sink into the afternoon.
A book waits for you on the table beside you, its cover smooth beneath your fingertips as you reach for it. There’s something special about starting a book in the afternoon, when time seems to slow just enough, when the world feels as though it’s paused between the rush of morning and the quiet descent of evening. The hours ahead are yours, and so is the story waiting behind the cover.
With a slow breath, you open to the first page. The words greet you with the promise of something new, something undiscovered. The characters begin to take shape, the setting unfolding around you, as if the world of the book is rising to meet you at just the right time. The sunlight shifts as you read, shadows moving across the pages, golden hour approaching. The book feels like an escape, but also like an invitation—to slow down, to savor, to let yourself get lost for a while.
Every so often, you glance up, letting your eyes drift to the window. Outside, the trees sway, tiny green buds catching the light, the earliest signs of spring emerging. The street is quiet, save for the occasional passing car or the laughter of children playing somewhere in the distance. It feels like the kind of afternoon meant for lingering, for indulging in a story without the press of responsibility or the pull of the outside world.
You sip at your drink, letting its warmth spread through you, then turn back to the pages. The words flow easily now, the story wrapping around you, pulling you deeper into its world. There’s something perfect about this moment—the golden light, the hush of the afternoon, the way time stretches just enough for you to lose yourself in a book.
Eventually, the light outside begins to shift, the afternoon slipping gently into evening. You realize you’ve been reading for longer than you meant to, but you don’t mind. The book has settled into your hands as if it belongs there, and for now, that’s all that matters.
You turn another page, unwilling to leave just yet. Outside, the world keeps moving, but here, in this quiet corner of an April afternoon, you have all the time you need.
I want to note that I do not get paid to do these posts, I just love authors and the book industry. However, they do take time and energy to create. If you want to donate a few dollars to my coffee fund, which keeps this blog going, you can do so here: https://venmo.com/AshleyHasty or here: http://paypal.me/hastybooklist.
Books Publishing This Week: April 6 - 12
Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Author Interview with Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Nikki Berry hasn’t seen her grandmother in years, due to a mysterious estrangement inherited from her mother. So when the elder calls out of the blue with an urgent request for Nikki to visit her in the hills of western North Carolina, Nikki hesitates only for a moment. After years of silence in her family, she’s determined to learn the truth while she still can.
But instead of answers about the recent past, Mother Rita tells Nikki an incredible story of a kingdom on this very mountain, and of her great-great-great grandmother, Luella, who would become its queen.
It sounds like the makings of a fairy tale—royalty among a community of freed people. But the more Nikki learns about the Kingdom of the Happy Land, and the lives of those who dwelled in the ruins she discovers in the woods, the more she realizes how much of her identity and her family’s secrets are wrapped up in these hills. Because this land is their legacy, and it will be up to her to protect it before it, like so much else, is stolen away.
Inspired by true events, Happy Land is a transporting multi-generational novel about the stories that shape us and the dazzling courage it takes to dream.
The Wind Weaver by Julie Johnson
Magic and adventure swirl through this spellbinding romantasy where a young woman reignites the embers of an ancient prophecy, unleashing a storm that could save her realm or doom them all.
Fear of maegic plagues war-torn Anwyvn. Halflings like Rhya Fleetwood are killed on sight. But Rhya’s execution is interrupted by an unexpected savior—one far more terrifying than her would-be killers: the mysterious and mercenary Commander Scythe. In the clutches of this new enemy, Rhya finds herself fighting for her life in the barren reaches of the Northlands. Yet the farther she gets from home, the more she learns that nothing is as it seems—not her fearsome captor, not the blight that ravages her dying realm, not even herself.
For Rhya is no ordinary halfling. The strange birthmark on her chest and the wind she instinctively calls forth means she is a Remnant, one of four souls scattered across Anwyvn, fated to restore the balance of maegic…or die trying.
But mastering the power inside her is only the beginning. Desire for the Commander—a man she can never trust, a man with plans of his own—burns just as fiercely as the tempests beating against her rib cage for release. Rhya must choose: smother the flames…or let them consume her.
The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester
Author Interview with Natasha Lester
In this stunning work of historical fiction, the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Orphan brings to life the true story of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, who led one of the largest and most effective resistance networks in France during World War II.
Morocco, 1928. Marie-Madeleine Méric is not the kind of woman who stays quietly at her husband’s side. Polyglot, pianist, and pilot, she is a woman of many skills, with unconventional interests—like driving in car rallies—that earn her a daredevil reputation. But dabbling in intelligence work to assist her military officer husband and the French government helps her recognize who she is at heart: an adventurer.
Paris, 1936. As Europe teeters on the brink of war, Marie-Madeleine is living in France, her marriage now in shambles, when a chance encounter with an enigmatic spy turns her life upside down. He recruits her to help build a resistance network, and she conceals her identity—and gender—as she navigates a perilous double life.
Eventually, she steps into the role of leader of what is now known as Alliance, despite the naysayers who doubt in a woman’s ability to do so. Capture and death are only a heartbeat away for both Marie-Madeleine and the agents under her care. At the helm of Alliance, she achieves seemingly impossible feats of espionage that help turn the tide of the war. But the most impossible, and dangerous, feat of them all? Falling in love.
New York Times bestselling author Natasha Lester beautifully brings Marie-Madeleine Méric Fourcade’s story to life in this powerful, heartbreaking tale of resilience that reminds us what it means to cherish those we love and fight for them with every breath.
The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed
A society matchmaker realizes she’s in danger when her clients’ weddings are sabotaged in increasingly disturbing ways—an utterly original mystery from New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed.
Business has never been better for Nura Khan, a third-generation matchmaker in Atlanta. Her exclusive clientele benefits from her impeccable track record. And while a single thirty-one-year-old matchmaker would normally raise some perfectly threaded eyebrows in the community, Nura’s childhood best friend, Azar, is willing to double as her pretend fiancé at her clients’ weddings—even though Nura's feelings for him might not be so pretend.
But all that glitters isn’t gold. While it’s not uncommon to get occasional hate mail from rejected prospective clients, Nura is blindsided when a couple’s carefully constructed wedding implodes, the first in a cascading chain of suspicious and increasingly terrifying events. Someone is taking things too far, and with Azar and her matchmaking team by her side, Nura embarks on a dangerous cat-and-mouse game that threatens not only her safety but everything she’s worked so hard to build.
Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory
Avery Jensen is almost thirty, fresh off a breakup, and she’s tired of always being so uptight and well-behaved. She wants to get a hobby, date around (especially women), flirt with everyone she sees, wear something not from the business casual section of her closet—all the fun stuff normal people do in their twenties. One problem: Avery doesn't know where to start. She doesn't have a lot of dating experience, with men or women, and despite being self-assured at work, she doesn't have a lot of confidence when it comes to romance.
Enter Taylor Cameron, Napa Valley's biggest flirt and champion heartbreaker. Taylor just broke up with her most recent girlfriend, and her best friend bet her that she can't make it until Labor Day without sleeping with someone. (Two whole months? Without sex? Taylor?!?!) So, she offers to give Avery flirting lessons. It should keep her busy and stop her from texting people she shouldn't. And it might take her mind off how inadequate she feels compared to her friends, who all seem much more settled and adult than Taylor.
At first, Avery is stiff and nervous, but Taylor is patient and encouraging, and soon, Avery looks forward to their weekly lessons. With Taylor’s help, Avery finally has the life she always wanted. The only issue is: now she wants Taylor. Their attraction becomes impossible to ignore, despite them both insisting to themselves and everyone else that it isn't serious. When Taylor is forced to confront her feelings for Avery, she doesn't know what to do—and most importantly, if she's already ruined the best thing she's ever had.
The California Dreamers by Amy Mason Doan
Malibu Rising meets The Great Alone: A group of siblings captured in an iconic beach nostalgia photo reunite as adults on a sunny California island to celebrate their late father, only to be forced to face the fallout of their unconventional upbringing—and a secret that has been simmering for decades...
ONE GOLDEN FAMILY. ONE ENDLESS SUMMER OF SECRETS. AND AN IMAGE THAT CAPTIVATED GENERATIONS.
It’s 1980s California, and everyone’s dreaming of the endless summer: sun-drenched beaches, infinite waves, and most of all, beautiful, beautiful freedom. For the Merrick siblings, this idyllic vision is their reality, as they travel up and down the coast with their parents in a van year-round, surfing and swimming their days away. But when a photographer secretly snaps a stunning photo of the family with their boards in the sand, and the image ripples across the country, the only life they’ve ever known is put at risk.
Decades after, the now-distant siblings gather on a gorgeous, wild island to honor their late father. But their reunion is complicated when a journalist, eager for the truth behind the iconic photo, discovers their identity and tracks them down. As the siblings reckon with the possibility that more of their lives could be shared, a revelation about their past forces them to confront long-held heartaches. Together, they’ll have to decide whether to let the same tensions rip them apart again—or if telling their story on their own terms might just be the way to recapture the family magic.
Save the Date by Allison Raskin
From trusted relationship expert, mental health advocate, and New York Times bestselling author Allison Raskin comes her breakout rom com, loosely based on her own experience with a broken engagement. Fans of Abby Jimenez, Rachel Lynn Solomon, and Emily Henry will love Allison's smart, funny, and original twist on the marriage of convenience trope.
When couples’ therapist Emma Moskowitz is unceremoniously dumped by her fiancé six months before their wedding, she thinks her career is over: her thriving practise, status as a trusted online creator, even her book deal all hinge on the fact that Emma is an expert when it comes to relationships and mental health. So she comes up with a plan to find a new husband by the wedding day—both to keep her reputation intact and to ensure she doesn’t lose the money she’s already spent on the big day. She starts by reconnecting with some (toxic) exes before matching with podcast host Will on a dating app. When Will confesses he doesn't want to get married, Emma is forced to move on--but not before Will offers to chronicle Emma’s journey on his podcast. It’s excellent content and they had a great connection regardless, so Emma's happy to share her story through multiple mediums.
Sonner than she thinks, Emma's set up with Matt, a kind, recently divorced man who thinks Emma's marriage journey is admirable. Emma and Matt connect easily too, proving her theory that Mr. Right isn't always found in the stereotypical idea of butterflies in your stomach and fireworks at every kiss. Hers and Matt's relationship is simple and comfortable--and more importantly, he actually wants to be married.
As Emma pushes ahead with her plans, she questions if she and Matt are as good a match as they think. He references his ex-wife a lot. And he doesn't seem to understand Emma's sense of humor, or why she likes talking so much. But the wedding is around the corner, and so many people are counting on Emma to see her plan through--her editor, her followers...even Will.
The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner
One of the most anticipated books of the year, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner, a glimmering novel set in the world of pop music about sisters, motherhood, young love, and the dreams we chase.
Sisters Cassie and Zoe Grossberg were born just a year apart but could not have been more different. Zoe, blessed with charm and beauty, yearned for fame from the moment she could sing into a hairbrush. Cassie was a musical prodigy who never felt at home in her own skin and preferred the safety of the shadows.
On the brink of adulthood in the early 2000s, destiny intervened, catapulting the sisters into the spotlight as the pop sensation the Griffin Sisters, hitting all the touchstones of early aughts fame—SNL, MTV, Rolling Stone magazine—along the way.
But after a whirlwind year in the public eye, the band abruptly broke up.
Two decades later, Zoe’s a housewife; Cassie’s off the grid. The sisters aren’t speaking, and the real reason for the Griffin Sisters’ breakup is still a mystery. Zoe’s teenage daughter, Cherry, who’s determined to be a star in spite of Zoe’s warnings, is on a quest to learn the truth about what happened to the band all those years ago.
As secrets emerge, all three women must face the consequences of their choices: the ones they made and the ones the music industry made for them. Can they forgive each other—and themselves? And will the Griffin Sisters ever make music again?
Magda Revealed by Ursula Werner
Jesus Christ—Yeshua, to his friends—is not happy. Two thousand years after his death, he sees Earth heading toward oblivion. Ever eager to save humanity, he asks Mary Magdalene (Magda) for help. Still pissed that she’s been called a whore for almost two millennia, Magda resists—but ultimately, out of love for Yeshua, agrees.
Magda’s evocative story revisits Yeshua’s life as a man of flesh and blood, one wholly devoted to spreading his message of radical equality. Magda recounts her travels with Yeshua and his followers around Galilee, where they are menaced at every turn by Roman rulers. She weaves tales of miracles and murder, jealousy and acceptance, misogyny and female empowerment. She uncovers her relationship with Yeshua, clarifying centuries of speculation about whether or not they were in love. And, painfully, she reveals the truth about who orchestrated his death.
Magda’s life with Yeshua teaches her that she has more strength than she ever imagined, and she begins to tap into a spiritual power uniquely her own—the power to connect people. Magda’s true role in the history of humanity, it turns out, is just beginning to unfold.
The Margaret Code by Richard Hooton
In this bittersweet, hilarious, and suspenseful crime debut, a grandmother with a failing memory teams up with her grandson to solve the mysterious murder of her friend and neighbor.
Nothing Left to Lose, or, How NOT to Start a Commune by Jeff Richards
In pursuit of a meaningful life, Jeff Richards and his friend Rick Sager decide to start a commune out in the Rocky Mountains. It doesn't go as planned. Instead of the self-sufficient ranch they envision, they can only afford a crumbling crash pad in Denver; half their friends who agreed to join them (including most of the women) decide to move to Boulder instead; romantic entanglements between group members cause disarray; drug-addicted drifters steal their record collections; and though Rick and Jeff fall in love with every hippie chick that crosses their paths, they rarely fall in love back. Through it all, they learn you don't always accomplish what you set out to do, but you can still take pride in the attempt.
Some Like It Scot by Pepper Basham
She lives her life on the fly. His heart is double-knotted to home. Can two different souls create a life together?
Popular travel writer and podcaster Katie Campbell roams the world collecting other people's stories. She's built a career as "Miss Adventure," known for saying yes to anything new--country, food, or experience--and predictably finding those adventures taking a downward turn into misadventures.
Offered the chance to explore her ancestral roots through a three-week Edwardian experience, Katie finds herself immersed in the beauty and eccentricity of Scotland. In her period attire, with traditional foods and activities, the opportunities for misadventures are endless, especially with the presence of a maniacal macaw, a jealous co-worker, and an all-too-surly Scotsman.
Reclusive and protective Graeme MacKerrow doesn't venture far from his island home. A stoic Scotsman, Graeme's comfort zone has always been family, and after his sister's death, he's even more determined to save the MacKerrow ancestral home and keep those he loves close. The sudden intrusion of a six-foot-one American lass, famous for her traveling misfortunes, was far from his plan.
As this world of folklore, community, and woodworkers-in-kilts tempts Katie to discover her own story, could this one grand series of misadventures lead her directly to where she belongs? And would a settled-in-Scot ever risk loosening his grip on what's familiar to allow a wanderlust writer a home in his heart? How could their very different worlds share the same page of life's story when "home" is in two very different places? But maybe home--and the future--isn't quite what either one imagined it would be. Maybe home is less about a place . . . and more about a person.
The Geographer's Map to Romance by India Holton
Geography professors in a failed marriage of convenience inconveniently reconnect for an emergency mission in this swoony historical-fantasy rom-com.
Professor Elodie Tarrant is an expert in magic disasters. Nothing fazes her—except her own personal disaster, that is: Professor Gabriel Tarrant, the grumpy, unfriendly man she married for convenience one year ago, whom she hates but at the same time secretly loves.
Gabriel is also an expert in magic disasters. And nothing fazes him either—except the walking, talking tornado that is his wife. They’ve been estranged since their wedding day, but that hasn’t stopped him from secretly loving her, and yet hating her, too.
When magic erupts in a small Welsh village, threatening catastrophe for the rest of England, Elodie and Gabriel are accidentally both assigned to the case. With the fate of the country in their hands, they must come together as a team in the face of perilous conditions like whirlwinds, explosions, and only one bed. But this is easier said than done. After all, there's no navigational guide for the geography of the heart.
Three Cousins by Jessica Levine
It’s 1976, the second wave of feminism is in full swing, and three cousins share an apartment at Yale. Two are seniors; the third is starting graduate school. Each is seeking her own path in both love and work—but all three women, not quite knowing how to use the new freedoms available to them, alternate between supporting and undermining each other in their efforts.
Julia, the most conventional of the three, wants the security of her monogamous relationship but is attracted to men. Anna plans on traveling the world to escape her boyfriend and alcoholic mother. Robin, who is bisexual, has various partners as she dreams of open relationships. All fall under the spell of a charismatic musician, Michael, who is too wounded to be available. By the end of a year of experiments and necessary mistakes, the cousins will make crucial decisions that will determine the course of the rest of their lives.
This prequel to Levine's first two critically acclaimed novels, The Geometry of Love and Nothing Forgotten, dramatizes the struggles that women have faced and continue to face while entering adulthood in a world not quite ready to accept them as equals.
The Price of Freedom by Michael C. Bland
“The Price of Freedom” is the adrenaline-fueled final installment in the bestselling “Price of” series from award-winning author Michael C. Bland.
It’s 2047. The rebellion has been crushed. The Agency is reestablishing control. Rebel leader Dray Quintero languishes in his cell, struggling against his captors' manipulations. His daughter Raven's cries torment him at night. He has doomed them both.
When given an unexpected chance to escape prison, they break out--but they're not safe. No one is. The Agency is still in power. And they're tightening their grip. As dangers mount, Dray is haunted by an impossible dilemma: flee and survive, or gamble his last chance for freedom by taking a stand against impossible odds.
He tried running. He tried fighting. This time, he must try something radically different. Something no one will see coming.
