Books Publishing This Week
It’s the beginning of a new year, and the world feels fresh, like a page yet to be written on. The air outside is brisk, carrying the sharp clarity of winter, and the light seems different—cleaner, more determined. It’s the kind of day that invites quiet reflection and hopeful beginnings. You’ve been saving this book, waiting for just the right moment, and now it feels like the perfect time to start something new.
You choose your favorite corner, a cozy spot that feels like your own personal retreat. Maybe it’s by the window, where you can see the pale winter sun casting long shadows, or maybe it’s near a glowing lamp that offers a gentle warmth. You bring a soft blanket with you, its weight both grounding and comforting. Wrapping it around yourself, you settle in, ready to let this new story unfold.
The book rests in your hands, its cover pristine, its pages still carrying the faint scent of ink and paper. As you run your fingers along the spine, you feel a small thrill of anticipation. There’s something special about starting a book at the very start of a new year. It feels symbolic, a quiet promise to yourself to embrace stories, growth, and whatever lies ahead.
The first words pull you in, their rhythm syncing with the fresh energy of the day. You take your time, savoring each sentence, letting the narrative ease you into its world. Outside, the season’s stillness seems to echo the pace of your reading, the quiet punctuated only by the occasional creak of branches or the faint hum of the heater.
The new year stretches out before you, vast and full of possibilities. With each turn of the page, you feel as if you’re setting an intention—not with a resolution, but with a choice to immerse yourself in something meaningful. This book is more than just a story; it’s a step into something unknown, a reminder of how powerful beginnings can be.
You glance up now and then, taking in the view beyond the window. Perhaps there’s a light dusting of snow, its purity matching the mood of the day, or maybe the bare trees stand stark against the sky, a quiet reminder of winter’s beauty. Either way, the world outside feels like a fitting backdrop for the story you’re diving into, its calm reflecting the focus you’re bringing to these pages.
Time seems to move differently as you read. The minutes stretch and fold, the newness of the year blending seamlessly with the timelessness of the story. You pause occasionally, not out of distraction but out of a desire to absorb the words fully, to let them settle into the rhythm of your thoughts.
This book, you realize, will carry you through these early days of the year, anchoring you as you navigate the transition from holiday revelry to the quieter routines of January. It feels like a companion, its story running parallel to your own, each page a small step forward into the unknown.
As the light outside begins to fade, you feel a sense of contentment. The day has passed quietly, marked not by grand resolutions or bustling activity, but by the simple act of starting something new. You close the book for now, resting your hand on its cover, and let yourself sit for a moment in the calm.
The new year is still just beginning, and so is this story. Both stretch before you, filled with possibility, waiting to unfold in their own time. Wrapped in your blanket, you feel ready—not for perfection, but for discovery, for all the unexpected twists and turns that come with stepping into something new.
You place the book beside you, already eager to return to it. For now, though, you savor this moment, this quiet beginning, knowing that both the story and the year will unfold one page at a time, and you’re ready to embrace them both.
Books Publishing This Week: January 5 - 11
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.
Lamentations by George Franklin
The brilliant, darkly beautiful poems collected in LAMENTATIONS are a posthumous selection of early and late works by a poet too little known during his lifetime. Like Plath’s ARIEL, it takes us deep into the inner world of a writer who, though battered by periodic depressions, displayed thrilling mastery as an artist. Through a chorus of voices—a gentle gay Orpheus recalling his blissful life and its nightmarish end; a college boy visiting friends by the sea; Lot fleeing from his burning city; an elderly man on a road trip to nowhere—Franklin guides us across a landscape of loss lit by flashes of ecstasy. The result is a book that feels at once agonizing and affirmative, revelatory and terrifyingly familiar.
The Shadow of Death by RAQUEL
At a young age life was not easy. For most kids childhood is pretty typical. a home, a bed, school,there are toys and at times, books on the shelf, and the faint scent of home-cooked meals wafting through the air.
My dad, a hardworking man, often took business trips overseas. I remember standing at the window, watching him leave with his suitcase, feeling a mix of pride and longing. It felt normal, even if there were moments of absence. But then everything changed. The fighting between my parents began, escalating from raised voices to heated arguments that filled the house with tension.They separated. Then came the storm. I tried to shield myself from it, retreating into my room or finding solace outside, but the chaos seeped into every corner of my life. The physical abuse followed.
Then sexual abuse—a violation that left scars deeper than I could articulate.
Yet, amid this turmoil, my dad was still there for me, a comforting presence in a world that felt increasingly chaotic. He offered guidance, love, and moments of laughter that I clung to desperately.
Then, the unthinkable happened. A series of events unfolded that brought my world crashing down around me, leaving me feeling lost and shattered. Everything I had known and relied upon seemed to disappear in an instant, and I was left grappling with a profound sense of emptiness.
But through all of this, I have come to realize that I am not merely a product of my past. I am more than the events that have shaped me. I am resilient, I am strong, and I am determined to carve out my own narrative. This is not just a story of survival; it is a testament to my journey of healing and self-discovery. I am me, and this is my story—one of hope, strength, and the unyielding pursuit of a brighter future.
Walking Out Your Greatness Series of Knocking Down Walls In Heels
I learned to shrink-to-fit in life in my 20's.
I had a passion and a talent for life and career, and I was kicking ass. Thing was, since I was surrounded by #trolls and haters who wanted what I had and who I was.
I started believing what others thought. Looking back, I wish I could have just said to myself, I am awesome and shrugged it off and dismiss it, but I’d wanted to be liked.
What we pretend to be, we have a way of becoming. By acting uncertain, insecure and self-doubting I became exactly those things, and I carried them into adulthood until my ah hah moment.
Don't just gravitate to the celebrated lie of the princess culture, the so-called eligible bachelors, who are revered and tough-minded and work all the time and may or may not be capable of empathy, who offer a lifestyle, but not necessarily a real relationship.
I hope that, through my experience, you can feed your Glambition and decide to love your life, love yourself and empower your dreams to become a reality. xoxo-Dee
There is more to life ladies and if you have GLAMBITION, so go for it!
Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura
Her mission: find the Lost City of the Moon in the Amazon rainforest. His mission: protect the holy temple… and his heart.
While her mentor may be the world’s most badass archaeologist, the only thing bad about Dr. Miriam Jacobs are her corny jokes. But when Miri is charged with leading an unmapped expedition through the Amazon for the fabled Lost City of the Moon, she finally has her chance to prove to her colleagues that she’s capable—and hopefully prove it to herself, too.
Journalist Rafael Monfils has joined the archaeological team to chronicle their search for the lost city. Or at least, that’s what they think he’s doing. Rafa’s real goal? Make sure the team does not reach the Cidade da Lua, stopping the desecration of the holy city and protecting his mother’s legacy. All he needs to do is keep them on the wrong path.
If only the endearingly quirky Dr. Jacobs wasn’t so damn tenacious—each of Rafa’s tricks and purposeful wrong turns only seem to fuel her determination. Even worse, he’s charmed by her goofy attempts to channel Lara Croft as they traverse the dangerous Brazilian rainforest. But they’re not the only crew hunting for the lost city, and soon the untamed jungle—and their untamed hearts—might be the least of their worries...
For One Night Only by Jessica James
After her recurring role in tabloid headlines, Valerie Quinn’s musical TV show is on the network chopping block. Desperate for good press, she hastily reassembles her wildly beloved pop punk band, Glitter Bats. A reunion concert could be the former lead vocalist’s ticket to a media makeover, especially if it renews public speculation around her iconic situationship with bassist Caleb Sloane.
The only problem? They haven’t spoken in six years.
Caleb had the makings of a rock god, but fallout from the messy Glitter Bats breakup left him broke, anxious, and resentful of the industry. But when Valerie shows up at Caleb’s doorstep with that devastating smile and a plea for help, he reluctantly agrees to put on one last show.
So what if the fandom assumes the two of them are back together too? They’ll play along. You know...for the press.
Making music together not only revives the harmony between them, but also the discord that led to the band’s downfall. With their futures—and the Glitter Bats—in the balance, can they survive a romantic reprise?
The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang
19th Century China. Tightly bound feet, or "golden lilies," are the mark of an honorable woman. When Little Flower is sold as a maidservant to Linjing, a daughter of the prominent Fong family, she clings to the hope that her golden lilies will someday lead her out of a life of slavery.
Not only does Little Flower have bound feet—uncommon for a muizai—but she is gifted at embroidery, a skill associated with women of fortune. Resentful of her talents, Linjing does everything in her power to prevent Little Flower from escaping. But when scandal strikes the Fongs, both women are cast out to the Celibate Sisterhood, where Little Flower’s talents catch the eye of a nobleman, threatening not only her improved status, but her life—the Sisterhood punishes disobedience with death. And if Linjing finds out, will she sabotage Little Flower to reclaim her power, or will she protect her?
Richly atmospheric and profoundly moving, The Lotus Shoes is an empowering tale of two women from opposite sides of society, and their extraordinary journey of sisterhood, betrayal, love and triumph.
Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
Two feuding second-grade teachers (and neighbors) find themselves teaming up in this new rivals-to-lovers romance set in Rome, Kentucky—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Rule Book and Practice Makes Perfect.
“Sarah Adams writes books with heart and soul. They speak to the people finding their way and being unapologetically themselves in the process. I love her style.”—Hannah Grace, author of Icebreaker
Emily Walker hates having her carefully crafted world disrupted by anyone, most of all her legendary nemesis, Jack Bennett. He’s the opposite of the wonderful heroes she dreams up in her double life as a romance writer, which is why Emily was perfectly happy when Jack left Rome, Kentucky, mid-school year with his fiancée. The last thing Emily saw coming was Jack’s return at the start of the summer after calling off the wedding and ending his relationship, but he’s here to stay—as her colleague and her neighbor.
Jack is glad to be back, eager to renovate his house and work on the next mystery novel under his bestselling pen name. But when he realizes he’s now neighbors with the one woman who has always pushed his buttons, he discovers something he’s even more excited about—thwarting Emily and her petty plans to sabotage his return.
With their chemistry-fueled animosity at an all-time high, Emily accidentally sends an email to their school’s principal that could reveal her secret literary side hustle. She needs to steal back her manuscript, and Jack—she hates to admit—is just the man to help her. Surprisingly, he agrees. Will their unlikely alliance put an end to their rivalry? Or could it lead to a steamy plot twist they never saw coming?
Mother of Rome by Lauren J. A. Bear
A powerful and fierce reimagining of the earliest Roman legend: the twins, Romulus and Remus, mythical founders of history’s greatest empire, and the woman whose sacrifice made it all possible.
The names Romulus and Remus may be immortalized in map and stone and chronicle, but their mother exists only as a preface to her sons’ journey, the princess turned oath-breaking priestess, condemned to death alongside her children.
But she did not die; she survived. And so does her story.
Beautiful, royal, rich: Rhea has it all—until her father loses his kingdom in a treacherous coup, and she is sent to the order of the Vestal Virgins to ensure she will never produce an heir.
Except when mortals scheme, gods laugh.
Rhea becomes pregnant, and human society turns against her. Abandoned, ostracized, and facing the gravest punishment, Rhea forges a dangerous deal with the divine, one that will forever change the trajectory of her life…and her beloved land.
To save her sons and reclaim their birthright, Rhea must summon nature’s mightiest force – a mother’s love – and fight.
All roads may lead to Rome, but they began with Rhea Silvia.
The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany L. Warren
Before the Civil War, Black opera singer Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield reigned supreme on Northern stages—even performing at Buckingham Palace. Novelist Tiffany L Warren brings this remarkable but forgotten diva’s remarkable story to life for modern readers.
Born into slavery on a Mississippi plantation, Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield has been raised in the safety of Philadelphia’s Quaker community by a wealthy adoptive mother. Sheltered and educated, Eliza’s happy childhood always included music lessons to nurture her unique gift: a glorious three octave singing voice that leaves listeners in awe. But on the eve of her twenty-fourth birthday, young Eliza’s world is thrown into a tailspin when her mother dies.
Eliza’s inheritance is contested by her mother’s white cousins, leaving her few options. She can marry her longtime beau, Lucien, though she has no desire to be a wife and mother. Or she can work as a tutor for rich families. Her mother’s dying wish was for Eliza to pursue her talent and become a professional singer, but that grand vision now seems out of reach.
When a chance performance on a steamboat to Buffalo, New York, leads to a surprising opportunity, fearless Eliza seizes her moment. Within a year she is touring America, singing to packed houses, and igniting controversy wherever she goes. In a country captivated by “the Swedish Nightingale” Jenny Lind, Eliza is billed by tour promoters as “the Black Swan.” An unlikely diva, Eliza is tall, dark-skinned, and robust of figure compared to the petite European prima donna, but even the harshest critics can’t deny Eliza’s extraordinary gift. Menaced by racist crowds, threatened by slave-catchers who kidnap free Black people, Eliza lives a public life full of risk, but one which also holds the promise of great riches, and the freedoms those buy.
From the churches of Philadelphia to Queen Victoria’s salon in Buckingham Palace, Eliza Greenfield will blaze her own path—with a voice that no listener will ever forget.
The Day After the Party by Nicole Trope
From the author of The Family Across the Street and The Truth About the Accident comes another brilliantly addictive read about dark secrets our loved ones keep from us which is perfect for fans of The Housemaid and Verity.
The perfect birthday or the perfect nightmare?
Katelyn smiles at her husband and friends, gathered to celebrate her thirty-sixth birthday in their beautiful home decorated with fairy lights. But the next day Katelyn wakes up shaken and terrified in a hospital bed…
She doesn’t remember the sweet taste of birthday cake icing, or how angry her best friend was at midnight, or the terrible things her husband said. She doesn’t remember the party at all.
When she asks her husband what happened the night of the party he says ‘nothing’. But her blood runs cold at the way his voice lifts slightly. The way it always does when he is lying.
Did someone at the party harm her?
What is her husband hiding?
Or did Katelyn herself do something terrible?
Only one thing is certain. Nobody can be trusted. And if Katelyn’s memories of the party do come back, it will tear them all apart…
Shattering Dawn by Jayne Ann Krentz
Author Interview with Jayne Ann Krentz
An unsettling investigation teaches two deeply suspicious people how to trust in the next thrilling novel of the Lost Night Files trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz.
Amelia Rivers, a member of the Lost Night Files podcast team, hires private investigator Gideon Sweetwater to catch the stalker who has been watching her. Amelia suspects the stalker may be connected to the shadowy organization responsible for the night that she and her two friends lost to amnesia—a night that upended their lives and left them with paranormal talents.
Gideon suspects that Amelia is either paranoid or an outright con artist, but he can’t resist the chemistry between them. He takes the case despite his skepticism. For her part, Amelia has second thoughts about the wisdom of employing the mysterious Mr. Sweetwater. She is wary of the powerful attraction between them, and deeply uneasy about the nightmarish paintings on the walls of his home. She senses they were inspired by his own dreamscapes.
Amelia knows she doesn’t have time to find another investigator, and Gideon is forced to reckon with the truth when he disrupts what was intended to be Amelia’s kidnapping. Now the pair is on the run, with no choice but to return to the haunting ruins of the old hotel where Amelia’s lost night occurred. They are desperate to stop a killer and the people who are conducting illegal experiments with a dangerous drug that is designed to enhance psychic abilities. If they are to survive, they will have to trust each other and the passion that bonds them.
An Honored Vow by Melissa Blair
This thrilling romantasy about king’s Blade, Keera, and her epic quest to avenge her lover, save her people, and bring down a tyrant king is the final installment of Melissa Blair’s highly acclaimed series. The Halfling Saga showcases BIPOC and queer representation, love, passion, betrayal, magic, and great battles of the sword and the soul.
The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard
This thrilling romantasy about king’s Blade, Keera, and her epic quest to avenge her lover, save her people, and bring down a tyrant king is the final installment of Melissa Blair’s highly acclaimed series. The Halfling Saga showcases BIPOC and queer representation, love, passion, betrayal, magic, and great battles of the sword and the soul.
Boudicca by P.C. Cast
In Roman-occupied Britain, the Iceni tribe crowns an extraordinary new queen. Tall and flame-haired, Boudicca is devoted to Andraste, the Iceni’s patron goddess, known for her raven familiar, her fierceness and her swirling blue tattoos. Boudicca and her two young daughters will carry the tribe forward in dangerous times.
Roman tax collector Catus Decianus, expecting weakness in a female ruler, launches a devastating attack on the tribe’s stronghold. Boudicca and her family barely survive—but they refuse to bend the knee. She calls a war council, bringing together her most trustworthy allies, including her childhood friend Rhan, now a powerful Druid seer, and the horse master Maldwyn, whose devotion to Boudicca runs deeper than a warrior to a queen.
Surprising the Romans, Boudicca’s armies sack the wealthy cities of Camulodunum, Londinium and Veralamium. As the snow falls, the Celts retreat to a hidden valley to plot their assault on the remaining Roman legions, determined to force the invaders from Britan.
But in the jagged ice of winter the Druid Rhan foresees a tragic end to Boudicca’s rebellion. Although the defeat of the Iceni is spelled out in signs sent by the gods, Rhan swears she will alter the future and save her queen. Now the battle-hardened Boudicca must put her trust in the powers of the otherworld to save her from both the traitors in her midst and from Rome’s mighty legions.
The Capital of Dreams by Heather O'Neill
From the hugely acclaimed author beloved by literary lights, including Emily St. John Mandel, Kelly Link, and Mona Awad, a dark dystopian fairytale about an idyllic country ravaged by war—and a girl torn between safety and loyalty.
Togetha by Keith F. Miller, Jr.
Perfect for fans of Angie Thomas and Jason Reynolds, this highly anticipated sequel to Lambda Literary Award finalist Pritty finds Jay and Leroy togetha again as they fight to save not only their home but themselves from the powerful Bainbridge family’s treacherous endgame to retake Savannah for themselves, no matter the cost.
After finally reuniting, Jay and Leroy have never been in more danger. Caught in the crosshairs of the affluent Bainbridge family, who they’ve learned is determined to reshape Savannah in their own image, the duo has only just survived a series of near-death experiences before reaching the safety of the Black Diamonds. But the BDs’ ability to protect the Black neighborhoods of their city is slipping….
Missing the key piece of evidence that could have broken the Bainbridges’ hold over Savannah, everyone is scrambling for options. But when one of their own is kidnapped, Jay and Leroy realize they can’t rely on anyone but themselves to save them. Recruiting old friends, former enemies, and their most risky ally, Jay’s once-upon-a-time crush, Will, they set out to do the impossible: find the evidence they lost in order to finally expose the Bainbridges’ corruption to the world, by any means necessary.
But even as their plans bring them closer to revealing the Bainbridges’ treacherous endgame, Jay and Leroy’s own secrets from each other threaten to pull their love apart, just as old feelings between Jay and Will begin to blossom again. And as the battle for a brighter future boils over into the streets, to save their homes—and everyone they love—Jay, Leroy, and Will must decide: When the cost of justice might be each of their happiness, will they be able to make the sacrifice togetha?
A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson
In an alternate London in 1923, one girl accidentally breaks the tenuous truce between dragons and humans in this sweeping debut and epic retelling of Bletchley Park steeped in language, class, and forbidden romance. Perfect for teen fans of Fourth Wing and Babel.
Dragons soar through the skies and protests erupt on the streets, but Vivien Featherswallow isn’t worried. She’s going to follow the rules, get a summer internship studying dragon languages, be smart, be sweet, and make sure her little sister never, ever has to risk growing up Third Class. She just has to free one dragon.
By midnight, Viv has started a civil war.
With her parents and cousin arrested and her sister missing, Viv is brought to Bletchley Park as a codebreaker—if she succeeds, she and her family can all go home again. If she doesn’t, they’ll all die.
As Viv begins to discover the secrets of a hidden dragon language, she realizes that the fragile peace treaty that holds human and dragon societies together is corrupt, and the dangerous work Viv is doing could be the thread that unravels it.
The Serpent Under: Treachery, Twists and Terror in Baker Street by Bonnie Macbird
Echoing Lady Macbeth’s advice, “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t,” the villains in this tale enact treachery, murder and deceit as they cut a bloody swath through London and Windsor. But are they a match for Sherlock Holmes and John Watson?
The two friends are called upon to solve the murder of a beautiful courtier at Windsor Castle, the drowning of a boy in the Serpentine in Hyde Park, and, with the help of young Heffie O’Malley, to assist a crusading women’s rights activist who suspects that there is a traitor in her organisation.
Holmes and Watson race from the Royal Palace to the London Zoo, barely escape a riot at a Dockland cannery, and travel from an arts and crafts atelier to a Japanese festival, a gypsy encampment and more — yet perhaps the gravest danger they face is in the place they most feel safe, 221B Baker Street.
The clock is ticking as the murders continue.
Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer by Quartez Harris, illustrated by Gordon C James
Discover the story of young James Baldwin in this ode to the legendary writer and the power of the written word—with exquisite prose from acclaimed poet Quartez Harris, and breathtaking illustrations from New York Times bestselling creator and Caldecott Honoree Gordon C. James.
The first time Jimmy read a book the words clung to him like glitter…
Before James Baldwin was a celebrated novelist, essayist, playwright, poet, and activist, he was a boy who fell in love with stories. Words opened up new worlds for young Jimmy, who read and wrote at every opportunity. He ultimately realized his dreams of becoming an author and giving voice to his community, and in doing so he showed the world the fullness of Black American life.
This picture book biography of an American icon is a poetic introduction to James Baldwin and celebration of the power of language. Additional biographical information and personal notes from the author and illustrator round out this stunning celebration of Baldwin’s life and work.
The Map of Bones by Kate Mosse
A sweeping story of love, adventure and adversity, The Map of Bones by Kate Mosse is an epic tale of courageous women battling to survive in a hostile land.
Olifantshoek, Southern Africa, 1688. When the violent Cape wind blows from the south-east, they say the voices of the unquiet dead can be heard whispering through the deserted valley. Suzanne Joubert, a Huguenot refugee from war-torn France, arrives in search of her cousin ― the notorious she-captain and pirate commander Louise Reydon-Joubert ― who landed at the Cape of Good Hope more than sixty years before, then disappeared without a trace . . .
Franschhoek, Southern Africa, 1862. Nearly one hundred and eighty years after Suzanne’s perilous journey, another intrepid and courageous woman of the Joubert family ― Isabelle Lepard ― has journeyed to the small frontier town once known as Oliftantshoek in search of her long-lost relations. Intent on putting the women of her family back into the history books, she quickly discovers that the crimes and tragedies still shadow the present. And now, Isabelle faces a race against time if she is to discover the truth, and escape with her life . . .
Painstakingly researched and beautifully told, The Map of Bones is the fourth – and final – novel of The Joubert Family Chronicles, following the bestselling The Burning Chambers, The City of Tears and The Ghost Ship.
