Books Publishing this Week
Books Publishing This Week: September 29 - October 5
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It’s early October, and the chill in the air hints that winter is just around the corner. Today, you’ve decided, is the perfect day to start a new book. The sky outside is a soft gray, clouds hanging low, and there's the faintest drizzle pattering against the windows. It’s the kind of weather that makes you want to stay inside, wrapped up in the warmth of home, and you’ve got just the spot in mind.
You wander into the kitchen, drawn by the rich aroma of fresh coffee brewing. The sound of the coffee maker fills the room, a comforting hum that promises warmth and wakefulness. You pour yourself a mug, watching the steam rise, feeling the heat through the ceramic as you cradle it in your hands. It's the perfect companion for the kind of cozy, quiet morning you’re craving.
With your coffee in hand, you make your way to the living room. The sofa is inviting, piled with soft cushions and a plush, warm blanket draped over the back. You settle in, sinking into the cushions, and pull the blanket over your legs. The warmth envelops you, a soft cocoon that shields you from the chill just beyond the windowpanes. You take a sip of coffee, savoring the rich, smooth flavor, and let out a contented sigh.
Beside you on the table is a book you’ve been meaning to start for days. It’s been sitting there, waiting patiently, the crisp cover catching your eye every time you pass by. Today, finally, you have the time and the perfect setting to dive in. You set your coffee down, relishing the anticipation, and pick up the book. The cover is cool to the touch, the spine still stiff, the pages pristine and uncreased. There’s something special about a new book, something exciting about the promise it holds, the unknown adventure waiting inside.
You open it, and the pages rustle softly. The smell of new paper and ink mingles with the aroma of your coffee, creating a comforting blend of scents. You curl your legs up under the blanket, finding the perfect position, and begin to read. The first words pull you in, and before long, the world outside fades away. The drizzle on the window, the hum of the coffee maker, even the chill in the air—all of it dissolves, replaced by the world unfolding in the pages before you.
You lose track of time, absorbed in the story, the characters becoming as familiar as old friends. The room around you is quiet, save for the occasional rustle of a page turning, the soft clink of your coffee mug as you take a sip. The warmth of the coffee seeps into you, chasing away the lingering chill, making you feel even more snug and content. The blanket is a soft weight against your skin, the cushions beneath you a comforting embrace.
Outside, the drizzle continues, a gentle, steady rhythm that lulls you further into relaxation. You glance up occasionally, seeing the world outside blurred by rain on the glass, but it feels distant, almost unreal compared to the vivid reality of the story you’re reading. The gray skies and wet streets are just a backdrop to the vibrant, unfolding narrative in your hands.
You read on, page after page, the hours slipping by unnoticed. The coffee grows cold, but you don’t mind. You’re too wrapped up in the book, too lost in the story to care about anything else. This is your time, a rare, precious moment of solitude and escape. The world can wait. For now, it’s just you, the sofa, the blanket, the coffee, and the book.
In this cozy corner of your home, you find a sense of peace, a sense of belonging. It’s a simple pleasure, but one that fills you with a deep, quiet joy. Here, in the soft light of an October morning, wrapped in warmth and immersed in a new story, you’re exactly where you want to be. This is the magic of a good book, and you wouldn’t trade it for anything.
And He Shall Appear By Kate van der Borgh
From a mesmerizing new literary voice comes a story of obsessive friendship, chilling powers, and untimely death for readers of dark academia classics like If We Were Villains and The Secret History.
An unnamed narrator arrives at Cambridge University in the early aughts determined to reinvent himself. His northern accent marks him as an outsider, but thanks to his musical gifts, he manages to fall in with his wealthy classmate, Bryn Cavendish.
A charismatic party host and talented magician, Bryn enthralls the narrator. But something seems to happen to those who challenge or simply irk Bryn—and they aren’t ever the same again.
The narrator begins to suspect that Bryn may be concealing terrifying gifts under the guise of magic tricks. As the tension between them grows, a harrowing encounter is followed by Bryn’s death.
Alternating between their time as students and the narrator’s return to Cambridge years later, where he fears the ghosts of his past are waiting for him, And He Shall Appear performs an astounding slight-of-hand that throws every version of the story into question.
This propulsive novel about the dark power of privilege will haunt readers like a familiar piece of music with endless iterations.
Family Pack by Lisa Diane Kastner
In the fierce follow-up to Lisa Kastner's novel "Cure," readers reconnect with Luna Auber after her trip to Sweden revealed her connection to the Viking warrior the Birke, igniting her shapeshifting ability. Set against the backdrop of a fierce conflict between The Lycanthrope Society (TLS), which believe that humans and lycanthropes should exist in harmony, and The Righteous Group (TRG), which believe that lycanthropes are intended to rule over all other species–Luna must summon the courage to fight for what she believes in and battle to prevent the decimation of the world as she knows it.
No One Will Know by Rose Carlyle
A deliciously twisty and suspenseful novel from the #1 internationally bestselling author of The Girl in the Mirror, about a desperate young woman and the manipulative wealthy couple who will stop at nothing to ensure their worst nightmare becomes a dream come true.
Marigold Mind Laundry by Jungeun Yun
Welcome to Marigold Mind Laundry where we wash away the stains from your heart.
In this enchanting tale–a blockbuster bestseller in Korea– the enigmatic owner of a magical laundromat that erases people’s painful memories must learn to find her own peace before she can truly help others.
Born with mysterious powers she does not know how to control, young Jieun accidentally causes her family to vanish. She vows to live a million lives in search of them.
Finally, one night, she brings the Marigold Mind Laundry into existence. Its service: to remove the deepest pain from our hearts. Jieun listens while customers share their unhappy memories. As they speak, she transfers their sadness onto T-shirts as stains. After a spin in the washing machine, the stains become flower petals that soar into the air--and Jieun’s customers find solace.
Five wounded souls come to Jieun for help: a frustrated young filmmaker; a spiraling social media influencer; a mother betrayed by her husband; a woman jilted by her lover; a talented photographer who hides in the saftey of a mundane job. As Jieun listens to each of their stories, she learns that the will to heal is not a rare gift, but a power we all possess--if only we are open to it.
Joyous and inspiring, Marigold Mind Laundry offers wonderment and comfort as it teaches us to tap into the magic that lives within us all.
Clumsy Beauty: Poems for Hearing the 'I Love You' in Everything by J.K. Kennedy
Filled with warmth, wit, and a dash of irreverence, Clumsy Beauty is a celebration of life in all its messiness. This exquisitely illustrated collection of bite-size poems from J. K. Kennedy invites you to hear the "I love you" in every little moment.
An enchantingly illustrated collection of poems designed to inspire and empower, Clumsy Beauty invites you to hear the "I love you" in every little moment.
In an age of constant pressure to meet unattainable standards of beauty and perfection, Clumsy Beauty proclaims the joy of imperfection. Embrace your quirks, your stumbles, and your unique path.
J. K. Kennedy’s poetry reveals vulnerability and showcases her personal voice, yet remains refreshingly resonant. With each turn of the page, you'll find inspiration, solace, and a renewed sense of self-acceptance. Whether you're seeking motivation during challenging times or simply looking for a reminder that you are enough just as you are, Clumsy Beauty is here to lift you up.
The best part about
a mistake is
deciding if it will be
an anchor
or
a sail
BITE-SIZE POEMS: Each of J. K.’s poems is thought-provoking, yet brief enough to quickly read before bed, during breakfast, or on the train. Every delectable morsel will leave you hankering for the next. Savor each bite or devour them all at once.
EMPOWERING: Clumsy Beauty is a celebration of life in all its messiness. J. K. Kennedy illuminates the beauty in mistakes, imperfections, and unfiltered reality.
RESONANT: Themes include navigating uncertainty, embracing your unique self, and living life on your own terms.
THOUGHTFUL GIFT: Beautifully designed and with illustrations throughout, Clumsy Beauty is an inspirational gift for anyone looking for a poetic dose of hope and encouragement.
The Off-Limits Rule by Sarah Adams
From the New York Times bestselling author of Practice Makes Perfect comes an expanded edition of The Off-Limits Rule—a heartwarming romance about new love and fresh beginnings, with a never-before-seen chapter.
Rules are made to be broken—especially for love, right?
Lucy Marshall has hit rock bottom. After failing to succeed as a single mom in Atlanta, she’s back home and moving in with her older brother, Drew. Reconnecting with her support system is the right thing to do, but Lucy can’t help but feel like a failure. Her four-year-old son deserves the world, and all she can give him is a spare bedroom. But Drew is the sweetest uncle, and some quality time might be exactly what they both need to start fresh. That is until she meets Cooper, her brother’s incredibly hot best friend.
When Drew senses something between the two of them, he puts his foot down on any shenanigans. According to him, Cooper is everything Lucy should stay away from: flirtatious, adventurous, and especially noncommittal. But Lucy has been getting the opposite impression so far; Cooper is a genuinely great guy, and she’s starting to catch real feelings.
Her whole life, Lucy has tried to do everything right, and look where that’s gotten her—so what if she were to try something wrong?
The Life and Death of Rose Doucette by Harry Hunsicker
Dallas PI Dylan Fisher thought he was done with his ex-wife—but now he’s solving her murder
Dallas private investigator Dylan Fisher hasn’t seen his ex-wife, Rose, in three years—which is why he’s surprised when she asks him to meet her at a hotel. Rose Doucette is a homicide detective, and she wants Dylan’s help with a murder investigation that she’s been asked to step back from but can’t seem to let go.
They review the details of the case and part ways—but as Rose is leaving the parking lot, Dylan sees a suspicious car begin to follow her. Feeling uneasy, he tails the car and tries to warn Rose, but he’s too late—the driver of the car shoots her, killing her instantly, before speeding away.
The police are determined to pin the murder on Dylan, so he’s left with no choice but to find the killer himself. Teaming up with Rose’s widower, a defense attorney named Tito, the pair dive into Rose’s past to figure out who could’ve wanted to kill the woman they both loved—and what they were trying to hide.
Perfection: 400 Years of Women's Quest for Beauty by Margarette Lincoln
Victorian women ate arsenic to achieve an ideal, pale complexion, while in the 1790s balloon corsets were all the rage, designed to make the wearer appear pregnant. Women of the eighteenth century applied blood from a black cat’s tail to problem skin, while doctors in the 1880s promoted woollen underwear to keep colds at bay. Beautification and the pursuit of health may seem all-consuming today, but their history is long and fantastically varied.
Ranging across the last four hundred years, Margarette Lincoln examines women’s health and beauty in fascinating detail. Through first-hand accounts and reports of physicians, quacks, and advertising, Lincoln captures women’s lived experience of consuming beauty products, and the excitement—and trauma—of adopting the latest fashion trends.
Considering everything from body sculpture, diet, and exercise to skin, teeth, and hair, Perfection is a vibrant account of women’s body-fashioning—and shows how intimately these practices are related to community and identity throughout history.
The Gentlest of Wild Things by Sarah Underwood
On the island of Zakynthos, nothing is more powerful than Desire―love itself, bottled and sold to the highest bidder by Leandros, a power-hungry descendent of the god Eros.
Eirene and her beloved twin sister, Phoebe, have always managed to escape Desire’s thrall. Until Leandros’ wife dies mysteriously and he sets his sights on Phoebe. Determined to keep her sister safe, Eirene strikes a bargain with Leandros: if she can complete the four elaborate tasks he sets her, he will find another bride. But it soon becomes clear that the tasks are part of something bigger; something related to Desire and Lamia, the strange, neglected daughter Leandros keeps locked away.
Lamia knows her father hides her for her own protection, though as she and Eirene grow closer, she finds herself longing for the outside world. But the price of freedom is high, and with something deadly―something hungry―stalking the night, that price must be paid in blood . . .
The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock
Author Interview with Kimberly Brock
Inspired by the little-known history of Cumberland Island, The Fabled Earthis a sweeping story of family lore and the power of finding your own voice as Southern mythology and personal reckoning collide with a changing world.
1932. Cumberland Island off the coast of Southern Georgia is a strange place to encounter the opulence of the Gilded Age, but the last vestiges of the famed philanthropic Carnegie family still take up brief seasonal residence in their grand mansions there. This year's party at Plum Orchard is a lively group: young men from some of America's finest families come to experience the area's hunting beside a local guide; a beautiful debutante expecting to be engaged by the week's end, and a promising female artist who believes she has meaningful ties to her wealthy hosts. But when temptations arise and passions flare, an evening of revelry and storytelling goes horribly awry. Lives are both lost and ruined.
1959. Reclusive painter Cleo Woodbine has lived alone for decades on Kingdom Come, a tiny strip of land once occupied by the servants for the great houses on nearby Cumberland. When she is visited by the man who saved her life nearly thirty years earlier, a tempest is unleashed as the stories of the past gather and begin to regain their strength. Frances Flood is a folklorist come to Cumberland Island seeking the source of a legend - and also information about her mother, who was among the guests at a long-ago hunting party. Audrey Howell, briefly a newlywed and now newly widowed, is running a local inn. When she develops an eerie double exposure photograph, some believe she's raised a ghost--someone who hasn't been seen since that fateful night in 1932.
As a once-in-a-century storm threatens the natural landscape and shifting tides reveal what Cumberland Island has hidden all along, two timelines and the perspectives of three women intersect to illuminate the life-changing power of finding truth in a folktale.
Tasmania by Paolo Giordano
After losing the future he imagined for himself, a writer sets out in search of connection and purpose at a tipping point with climate change and global conflict, in this breathtaking novel from the Strega Prize–winning author of The Solitude of Prime Numbers.
In late 2015, Paolo feels his life coming apart: While his wife, Lorenza, has decided to give up on pregnancy after years of trying, he clings to the dream of becoming a father, not just a father figure to Lorenza’s son. As their marriage strains, Paolo immerses himself in work, traveling to Paris to report on the UN Climate Change Conference in the wake of terrorist attacks that shook the world. His journalism dovetails with a book he hopes to write on the atomic bomb and its survivors, a growing obsession that will take him to cities across Europe and ultimately Japan.
Along the way, Paolo interacts with a vibrant cast of characters, each struggling to find their own Tasmania, a safe haven in which to weather the coming crises—global warming, pandemics, authoritarian governments, and wars. He develops a friendship with a brilliant, opinionated physicist, who followed the scientific path Paolo had abandoned, and who will test Paolo’s loyalty and values.
A stunning return to fiction after How Contagion Works, Paolo Giordano’s semi-autobiographical novel captures the fear, anxiety, wonder, and beauty of this time of uncertainty and upheaval, exploring how we can create and maintain relationships with other people when it feels increasingly difficult to connect.
Good Dogs by Brian Asman
No one ever said being a werewolf was easy. Take Delia, for instance. She’s spent much of her life fighting against her own nature, plagued by nightmares of childhood trauma, and trying to find her place in the world. Many werewolves are just like her: ostracized by their families, forced to live alone and in secret as they await those nights when the Change overtakes them.
Becoming the den mother to an odd bunch of lycanthropes in Southern California isn’t exactly the answer Delia was looking for. But under the strict rules of the house, they are able to manage the Change safely and hunt without endangering their San Diego suburb. And they aren’t lone wolves anymore, they’re a pack—a family.
But when one member’s carelessness leads to the discovery of a severed leg in their backyard, Delia and the rest of her family are forced to confront the cold, hard fact they’ve known all along—they don’t belong here. Their only option is to cover up the kill and head into the wilderness, far from people. There, hopefully, they can live out their lives without posing a threat to anyone else.
At home, they might’ve been apex predators. But in the wilds around Talbot—a town abandoned for a century—Delia and her pack aren’t the only ones with a savage bite …
Showmance by Chad Beguelin
Also included in Books to Read in Celebration of Pride Month
A down-on-his-luck Broadway playwright is marooned in rural Illinois in this sharply funny queer rom-com
Noah Adams’s career as a playwright is circling the drain, thanks to a scorching review of his first Broadway musical. So when a family emergency sends him back to his Podunk hometown of Plainview, Illinois, he figures he’ll hide out for a bit. But to Noah’s horror, his agent has secretly arranged for him to stage an amateur version of the career-ruining musical at the local community theater.
As if trying to work with a bunch of artless amateurs wasn’t enough, Noah runs into Luke, the jerk from his high school years, everywhere he goes. Luke somehow grew up to be beloved by everyone in town…and undeniably gorgeous. As rehearsals begin, Noah is surprised by his cast’s insights, the warmth of the town he’d dismissed, and the reality of what happened with Luke all those years ago. Just how much has Noah misjudged?
Can't Shake the Dust by C.H. Hooks
Buckle Up for a High-Octane Ride through the South's Shadowed Heart
In Can' t Shake the Dust, "Little" Bill Lemon, III, stands at the crossroads of a troubled legacy. From the notorious "Monkey Palace," his grandfather's bar, to the enigmatic history of his father, Wild, to his mother's questionable dog-breeding business, Little takes to the dirt track every Saturday night, racing to outpace the looming shadows of his family's past.
Behind the wheel of a ramshackle DIY car, in a place where scarcity reigns— be it money, jobs, food, or even soap to cleanse the stubborn Georgia red dirt— Little teeters on the edge of self-destruction and redemption. As he navigates life on the fringe of Southern backroads, the weight of his ancestry threatens to pull him under.
While checkered flags may elude him on the track, Little possesses the heart of a true champion. Readers will find themselves on their feet in the stands, rallying for him as he plunges headfirst into a turbulent voyage of self-discovery and survival.
Can't Shake the Dust is an exhilarating tale of resilience, tenacity, and the indomitable spirit of those who dare to race against all odds.
Cocktails from the Crypt: Terrifying Yet Delicious Concoctions Inspired by Your Favorite Horror Films by Jonathan de Haan and Kimberley Elizabeth
Also listed in Best Cocktail Books
Curate the ultimate horror movie night with this collection of chilling cocktails that are sure to sate even the most bloodthirsty killers. Kimmi and Jon have carefully crafted each hair-raising recipe to pair with the most iconic movies the horror genre has to offer.
Sip on slasher film spirits that’ll chase you till sunrise, such as the refreshing Texas Chain Saw Margarita. Transport yourself to the dark, twisted corridors of your worst nightmares with Freddy’s Boilermaker, a fiery reimagining of the classic pub favorite. Or, put your mad bartending skills to the test with a spicy yet smooth Midori concoction that is The Frankenstein Fizz.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of classic frights, love to indulge in the madness of B-movie magic, or delight at the thrills of modern masterpieces, this collection has all the liquid courage you need to brave the terrors that await you.
Will End In Fire by Nicole Bokat
Author Interview with Nicole Bokat
For fans of Kate White suspense novels, Will End in Fire is a heart-racing domestic thriller about an alienated young woman who must find an arsonist before her own life goes up in smoke.
Twenty-seven-year-old climate journalist Ellie Stone has spent her life locked in an unending sibling rivalry with her brother, Josh—star athlete and golden boy–turned–drug addict. One night, after their parents have left her to “babysit” Josh, she and he have a blow-up and she abandons him. Soon after, the house is engulfed in fire—and Josh is burnt beyond recognition. Social media takes this on as a local cause célèbre, blaming Ellie since, years ago, she was involved in a blaze that scarred a teenage girl. Is history repeating itself?
Every Moment Since by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
A small Southern town. An ordinary Saturday night. A little boy disappears without a trace.
Everyone in Wynotte, North Carolina, knows the name Davy Malcor. Knows the video clip of him juggling four balls, "All at the very same time!" Knows the Marty McFly jacket his mother made for his birthday that he wore proudly, and often. But no one knows what happened to him the night he went missing more than twenty years ago.
When the jacket is unexpectedly uncovered, the cold case reopens, and Davy's family is thrust into yet another media storm. But at the heart of the story are four people forever changed by one single night: Thaddeus Malcor, Davy's older brother, created the life of his dreams by writing a bestselling memoir about his family's experience and is enjoying success and notoriety as a result, even if the memoir doesn't quite reveal the whole story. Tabitha Malcor, his mother, is divorced and living alone, advocating for victims' rights and faithfully cataloging her regrets each week, never including her biggest regret of all. Anissa Weaver was just a kid herself when Davy went missing, and her connection to him is one she cannot reveal as she serves as the Malcor family's Public Information Officer. And, long suspected in Davy's disappearance, Gordon Swift has kept his head down and scraped together a decent life. But the new attention to the case makes it impossible to hide from the public, and the past.
With hauntingly vivid prose, Marybeth Mayhew Whalen peels back the curtain on the inner turmoil of those who were left behind in the small Southern community as they pick up the pieces that remain and press forward into the light to find hope and healing.
Bad Reputation by Emma Barry
Author Interview with Emma Barry
In this whip-smart workplace romance from the author of Chick Magnet, a former teen star and an accidental intimacy coordinator have a plan to fix their images―and falling in love would ruin everything.
Cole James’s reputation as Hollywood’s favorite himbo no longer suits him. His fans can’t separate the real man from the character he played on a soapy teen drama decades ago. But that’s going to change with Waverley, the hit streaming historical romance series.
Maggie Niven hates her own notoriety. Fired for directing a divisive play, Maggie takes her fight against censorship public. When Hollywood comes calling, she becomes the new intimacy coordinator for Waverley. But it’s harder than she imagined to focus on the job.
Cole isn’t what she expected―and Maggie is more than he dreamed of. As filming gets underway, the cast’s old traumas lead to real intimacy, and Cole and Maggie struggle with feelings they shouldn’t have. Having an affair on set could destroy his comeback and her new career.
The show must go on. But if Cole and Maggie want a happy ending, they’ll have to start doing things their own way.
The Colony Club by Shelley Noble
From New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble comes a thrilling historical novel about the inception of the Colony Club, the first women’s club of its kind, set against the dazzling backdrop of Gilded Age New York.
When young Gilded Age society matron Daisy Harriman is refused a room at the Waldorf because they don’t cater to unaccompanied females, she takes matters into her own hands. She establishes the Colony Club, the first women’s club in Manhattan, where visiting women can stay overnight and dine with their friends; where they can discuss new ideas, take on social issues, and make their voices heard. She hires the most sought-after architect in New York, Stanford White, to design the clubhouse.
As “the best dressed actress on the Rialto” Elsie de Wolfe has an eye for décor, but her career is stagnating. So when White asks her to design the clubhouse interiors, she jumps at the chance and the opportunity to add a woman’s touch. He promises to send her an assistant, a young woman he’s hired as a draftsman.
Raised in the Lower East Side tenements, Nora Bromely is determined to become an architect in spite of hostility and sabotage from her male colleagues. She is disappointed and angry when White “foists” her off on this new women’s club project.
But when White is murdered and the ensuing Trial of the Century discloses the architect’s scandalous personal life, fearful backers begin to withdraw their support. It’s questionable whether the club will survive long enough to open.
Daisy, Elsie, and Nora have nothing in common but their determination to carry on. But to do so, they must overcome not only society’s mores but their own prejudices about women, wealth, and each other. Together they strive to transform Daisy’s dream of the Colony Club into a reality, a place that will nurture social justice and ensure the work of the women who earned the nickname “Mink Brigade” far into the future.
Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London
Tess Rosenbloom is no stranger to the dark. A grad school dropout and chronic insomniac, she spends her nights managing a chic Brooklyn hotel and her days curled up with her favorite vampire novels, Blood Feud. Tess even dabbles in online conspiracies that Blood Feud is real—it’s fun to hunt for clues! But deep down, Tess doesn’t believe vampires actually exist…
Until one walks through her door.
It turns out Blood Feud is real, and the sexy villain of the novels is trapped. Eager to escape her life, Tess agrees to help rescue him, and soon she’s in a fantasia of lavish palaces and enchanted forests, on a secret island where the sun never shines and she’s surrounded by deadly vampires—and against her better judgment, she’s falling in love with one of them. (And unbeknownst to Tess, her estranged best friend is having a sapphic affair with a beautiful vampire of her own back in New York.)
Visiting the world of your favorite story is any fan’s dream, but will Tess be able to outrun the demons of her past (and vampires of her present) before it becomes a nightmare? In this darkly glamorous rom-com, Tess will find out whether it’s worth risking her neck—and her heart—for a chance to reclaim her future.
Blindspot in America by Elom Akoto
Author Interview with Elom Akoto
Blindspot in America gives a provocative depiction of some of the realities immigrants face in the United States—racism and discrimination—but also their hopes and faith in a country that promises freedom and opportunity to all.
Kamao is the son of a prominent Ghanaian academic and incumbent minister of health and is devoted to all that America symbolizes. After immigrating to the United States in pursuit of higher education and the American Dream, he becomes unwittingly entangled with American politics when he meets Lindsey McAdams, the daughter of an influential, anti-immigration senator. As the couple’s feelings grow, so too does the senator’s animosity toward Kamao. Despite support from fellow immigrants Lazo, Ayefumi, and Dania—who follow American Dreams of their own—Kamao soon finds himself drawn into intrigues hidden from the American public that make him question himself and his adopted country. When Kamao is implicated in a murder, Lindsey’s loyalties are tested, Dania must decide if she is willing to risk her own future and security for the sake of justice, and Kamao discovers how far he’ll go to fulfill his American Dream.
Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi
A kitchen witch with a penchant for baking and a (literally) cursed love life meets someone who’s worth breaking a hex for in this enchanting romance debut written with a heap of spice and an equal measure of heart.
“Pure magic.”—USA Today bestselling author Jenna Levine
As a skilled kitchen witch, Dina Whitlock knows her way around a pastry recipe. In fact, she runs her very own London café, serving magic-infused treats to her loyal customers. She is not as much of an expert on romance, thanks to the hex hanging over her head. It’s hard to fall in love when your partner is cursed with a string of bad luck. But who needs love when your best friend is getting married, right?
Scott Mason has returned from global travels thrilled to embark on his new role as a curator at the British Museum. Having left London two years ago to recover from a devastating breakup, Scott has missed out on a lot. With his best friend’s wedding approaching, and Scott as best man, this is his chance to make up for lost time. Little does he expect to be enchanted by the magical maid of honor.
During a romantic weekend filled with a peculiar hedge maze, palm readings by candlelight, and a midnight Halloween ritual, there’s no denying the chemistry between them. But the hex still holds, and Dina knows that Scott is in danger of more than just bad luck—because she’s falling, hard. Will Dina be able to undo the hex before it’s too late?
Make The Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake
Two exes find themselves stuck at the same house for Christmas in this holiday romance by Ashley Herring Blake, USA Today bestselling author of Iris Kelly Doesn't Date.
It's been five years since Charlotte Donovan was ditched at the altar by her ex-fiancée, and she’s doing more than okay. Sure, her single mother never checks in, but she has her strings ensemble, the Rosalind Quartet, and her life in New York is a dream come true. As the holidays draw near, her ensemble mate Sloane persuades Charlotte and the rest of the quartet to spend Christmas with her family in Colorado—it is much cozier and quieter than Manhattan, and it would guarantee more practice time for the quartet’s upcoming tour. But when Charlotte arrives, she discovers that Sloane’s sister Adele also brought a friend home—and that friend is none other than her ex, Brighton.
All Brighton Fairbrook wanted was to have the holliest, jolliest Christmas—and try to forget that her band kicked her out. But instead, she’s stuck pretending like she and her ex are strangers—which proves to be difficult when Sloane and Adele’s mom signs them all up for a series of Christmas dating events. Charlotte and Brighton are soon entrenched in horseback riding and cookie decorating, but Charlotte still won’t talk to her. Brighton can hardly blame her after what she did.
After a few days, however, things start to slip through. Memories. Music. The way they used to play together—Brighton on guitar, Charlotte on her violin—and it all feels painfully familiar. But it’s all in the past and nothing can melt the ice in their hearts...right?
The Hushed by K.R. Blair
The Hushed is a haunting paranormal thriller—infused with a dangerous, forbidden romance—that introduces a brand-new type of undead …
Eerie Ashwood may look like a regular college student—she has a job at a local diner and attends classes at the community college—but she’s not. She’s a Hushed, a living secret made of flesh and blood, spawned by the death of a human who had something to hide. While the Hushed blend in among humans, they are haunted by an overwhelming urge to spill their secret to those whom it would hurt the most. But once a Hushed tells their secret, they drop dead.
Unlike most Hushed, Eerie and her brother Fabian can’t remember their secrets. All they know is they’re connected to the infamous Ironbark Prison fire, but everything else is a blur of smoke and fear. Everything changes when Eerie meets Logan Winspeare, the hell-raising son of one of the victims of the fire, who is searching for answers about the night his mother died. Eerie knows she should stay far away from both Logan and the mysteries surrounding that night, but she can’t escape her curiosity—or her growing attraction to Logan.
But the harder Eerie falls for Logan, the closer she comes to her secret—and her death. And as she uncovers more about her past, Eerie discovers her secret is tied into something even bigger—a tangled history that leads back thousands of years to the very first of her kind, and a covert organization of ancient Hushed who pledged vengeance on the human world.
Wingborn by Marjorie Liu, Illustrated by Grace Kum
In this spectacular graphic novel sequel, New York Times bestselling author Marjorie Liu returns to the epic setting of Wingbearer, following Zuli and her friends as they continue their quest to save the world’s magic.
After her encounter with the Witch-Queen, Zuli is shaken—but feels more determined than ever to find out what’s happening to the bird spirits. Armed with new information about her identity, she mounts a daring escape from a merchant airship and takes off with Frowly and Orien by her side.
But the more she tries to solve the mysteries swirling around herself, the more she’s drawn to legends about the mythical Siric, who have long since disappeared from the world. Zuli might be prepared to take on new challenges, along with the new allies she meets, but is she prepared to go farther than ever before to confront the universe’s broken magic?
* This is the second book in the #1 IndieBound bestselling Wingbearer saga*
A Wolff in the Family by Francine Falk-Allen
Railroad engineer Frank Wolff and Kansas farmgirl Naomi Sims were happily married in 1908. Naomi was excited to take up her role as wife and mother and make a life with Frank in thriving Ogden, Utah. Despite Frank’s almost-constant absence due to his job riding the rails, their romantic relationship resulted in fourteen children. The young mother’s life was consumed with caring for her brood, who became helpers as soon as they could fold a diaper. Affection and conflict endured side by side in the humble house, but the marriage ultimately faced insurmountable challenges—just before the Depression took hold of the nation.
White by Aviva Rubin
Sarah Cartell grew up in a White supremacist family, controlled by her grandfather whose beliefs and violence mark them all. When an unexpected friendship, and the town librarian, open her mind and expose those beliefs as vile lies, Sarah begins digging up everything she can about the haters her family celebrate ... and her grandmother and aunt who fled long ago.
Sarah infiltrates a Neo-Nazi gang by beginning a tumultuous relationship with a skinhead that excites and confuses her. As Sarah races to stop the tide of hate crimes, her new friends are put in danger and a horrifying family secret begins to emerge. This unraveling lands Sarah in a psychiatric ward, begging the question—can anyone escape the love of a hateful family, unscathed?
