Book Awards, Editorial Reviews & More!
Book Awards, Editorial Reviews & More!
Lavender & Gin by Abigail Aaronson conjures a Prohibition-era Detroit steeped in smoke, shadows, and forbidden desire, a setting where power is as intoxicating as the liquor flowing through the speakeasies. For a decade, Kasia has hidden in plain sight, passing as her vanished twin brother to command a gang that moves bootleg whiskey for […]
A warm blend of friendship, education, imagination, and environmental awareness. Some of our warmest school memories come from field trips, and Charli’s Turtle Triumph is a story about a young girl who makes wonderful memories while setting her sights on future success as she enjoys an educational visit to Bristol Aquarium. Charli, Emma, and Molly
A layered, grand, and immersive fantasy read that you’ll find hard to put down. When Blood Burns by Andrew Stevens launches the Cycle of Awakening series with a novel that plunges readers into a dark fantasy world where magic is waning and the uneasy truce between humans and dragons is on the verge of collapse.
This biography has real heart and soul. James Dean: An American Icon by Thomas Brennan offers a compelling exploration of one of Hollywood’s most enduring legends. Born in 1931 in Marion, Indiana, James Byron Dean rose from modest beginnings to become a cultural icon in the 1950s. After studying theater at Santa Monica City College
Rooted in love, connection, and self-care. Resilient Activism: Igniting Wild Hope in Uncertain Times by Laurie Benson offers a vision of engagement that resists despair and cultivates sustainability in both spirit and action. At a moment in history when many feel the weight of injustice yet struggle against exhaustion or anger, Benson reframes activism as
A masterful mix of crime, conspiracy, and intrigue. Savage Malice: A Sheriff Elliot Mystery by Kit Karson pushes Sheriff Peter Elliott into one of the darkest investigations of his career. When Montana rancher Seth Geary finds his hired hand brutally slain among a field of mutilated cattle and realizes his brother Andrew has vanished, the
A seductive tale that lingers long after the last page. LIPS: Kiss The Lips That Lie by Peter Gooch unfolds as an intimate study of passion and duplicity, where family influence collides with individual desire. At its center is Selene Ormond, an alluring English au pair whose polished exterior conceals a past in Britain she cannot quite
Drips with atmosphere, menace, and raw energy. Cryosurge by E. P. Soulless marks a grim and uncompromising addition to modern dark fantasy, where the cold vastness of the cosmos mirrors the cruelty of humankind. The story follows two fractured figures. Idd, once a respected shaman, now lives under the torment of a parasitic curse gnawing
A masterful work of storytelling that brings noir and nuance to the family saga genre. Arkansas Black by Alexander Blevens is a Southern Gothic tale of fractured kinship, rural identity, and generational survival. The story opens in a Northwest Arkansas orchard, with a devastating spring frost that wipes out the Fitch family’s apple crop. This initial
Captures New Orleans in sultry, atmospheric detail. Inherited Death by Jeanne Rietzke plunges into the sweltering unease of New Orleans, where family tensions prove as combustible as the heat. The McNulty clan reunites to lay their formidable matriarch to rest, but grief only stirs long-buried resentments. This is especially true for Melissa Fairmont, the middle
Suspenseful intrigue, witchcraft-tinged atmosphere, and high emotional stakes Moonset on Desert Sands by Sherri L. Dodd continues Arista’s journey with deepened mysticism and mounting peril. Having narrowly escaped a year darkened by a serial killer’s shadow, Arista seeks sanctuary in the mystical serenity of Sedona, Arizona. She spends her time working in a metaphysical shop
A smart balance of suspense, social issues, cultural diversity, and canine companionship. Looking for a fun afternoon at the river with a friend, 12-year-old Mia Mancinelli instead finds an animal in distress. Obviously neglected and certainly unloved, the miserable golden retriever is pregnant, scared, and alone, though not for long. Mia is an animal lover
A fresh, funny, and unexpectedly moving fable. The Extraordinary Life of Riz: A Praying Mantis’ Quest for a Happy Ending by Nida Farid, with illustrations by Sama Izhar, spins a witty and tender tale about defying fate and discovering the power of connection. Riz, a quick-witted young mantis with more attitude than patience, believes he
A richly built world that feels lived-in and layered. Oss’stera: An Epic Fantasy by Ross Hightower and Deb Heim is a sweeping tale of rebellion, art, and survival set in a richly imagined world where creativity itself can spark revolution. Alar, a gifted realm walker, leads the rebel band Oss’stera in their struggle against the
A propulsive narrative filled with action, intrigue, and ethical tension The President’s Assassin by Alex Contorno is a taut, high-stakes political thriller that blends espionage, moral conflict, and breakneck suspense. CIA Deputy Section Chief Roger Commer is thrown into crisis when undercover operative Dean Page uncovers a terrorist plot by the extremist group Nightwatch to
The rare novel that is both heartbreaking and uplifting. Forgiven by Bruce J. Berger is a layered, emotionally resonant novel about family, faith, and the difficult paths to healing. The story follows the Covo family, each member bearing private grief and unresolved conflicts. Nicky is a Holocaust survivor and respected Brooklyn psychiatrist who is rocked
Perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven young adult fiction with an inspirational message at its core. Rapid City Summer by Connie Richardson is a heartfelt coming-of-age novel about change, courage, and self-discovery. The story sees fifteen-year-old Natalie Ryba uprooted from her comfortable life in the Illinois suburbs when her mother takes a new job in South
Fast-paced, sharply humorous prose skewers the hardboiled PI genre. The Vain Curse by Ryan Morgan Miller is an irreverent detective romp that blends mystery, comedy, and the downright bizarre. Private investigator Tracer Spence has been haunted for a year by Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain,” hearing it everywhere he goes. When he’s hired by a man suffering from the
Brimming with warmth, wit, and emotional authenticity. Lunch Tales: Suellen by Lucille Guarino is a heartfelt contemporary romance about second chances, self-discovery, and finding the courage to let love in. Suellen Atkins, the youngest attorney at a major New Jersey law firm, enjoys the privileges of her trust fund but struggles with intimacy, scarred by her
A fierce, funny, and fearless novel. Penny might be withdrawn, but she is not oblivious. She arrives in Ann Arbor hoping for a typical college experience, but is unexpectedly drawn into the glittering orbit of a charismatic but deeply troubled sorority girl with cutting wit and a pharmacy’s worth of pills at her disposal. Stella
A delightful, multicultural celebration of community, kindness, and summer fun. At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride by Freya Novak is a charming, whimsical picture book introducing young readers to Dallas Dingo, the ever-helpful “jack of all trades” at the Ragtag Hotel. On a steaming hot day, Dallas cheerfully operates the hotel’s elevator, ferrying an
A story that balances gripping criminal investigation work with heartfelt empathy. The Nameless Dead by Leta Serafim is the fifth installment in the Inspector Patronas Greek Island mystery series, offering a tense, morally complex investigation set against the turbulent backdrop of a refugee crisis. When Chief Inspector Yiannis Patronas is called to an abandoned refugee
A powerful story about resilience, redemption, and personal reckoning. The bond between mothers and daughters can be fiercely protective. So when Lucy Merrell reads a bad-news text from her mom, Paula, she is devastated. “Greg and I got into a nasty argument last night and he hit me.” Greg is an abusive husband? How could
An original story that is as educational as it is engaging. It is 1968, and the only thing Anna Rossi is sure of is that she doesn’t fit in, not into the American Ideal, not with her romantic partners, not with her multinational heritage, and not even among her peers. So when she gets an
