Anne Allen | Fiction - Paranormal

Anne Allen’s The Ghost of Seagull Cottage is the ninth book in The Guernsey series, and it tells the story of Annabel Easton, a recently widowed artist, and her ten-year-old daughter Emilia, as they relocate from Manchester to Annabel’s native Guernsey in search of a fresh start. They move into Seagull Cottage—a charming seaside home with a storied past and a resident ghost, Captain Daniel Gallienne, the original owner, who died 70 years ago in 1946. Initially unnerved, Annabel finds herself negotiating a truce with the salty but charismatic Daniel, whose presence becomes both a challenge and a source of unexpected companionship as she rebuilds her life, makes new friends, and tentatively be...

Florence Lea Dombey | Suspense & Thrillers

Consummate Confidences by Florence Dombey is the sixth book in The Willow Chronicle and a sweeping saga that examines crime, deception, and secrets in a seemingly idyllic town in 1957. The story follows Brittany Alistair Macey, who returns to her small hometown of Port Townsend after a daring escape to French Polynesia with Willow Benton, Carl Meyers’ daughter. While Bambi tries to rebuild her life with her infant daughter in her father’s vacant house, the town is shaken by the long-overdue return of Willow, who vanished from Honolulu months earlier. Meanwhile, a series of murders of young women in Port Townsend and Seattle threatens to unravel the town’s veneer of tranquility. As Carl Meyer...

John Thorndike | Fiction - Inspirational

The Passionate Sister by John Thorndike is inspired by the story of the author’s mother. It follows Virginia “Ginny” Thorndike, a middle-aged, recently-divorced former anesthesiologist, as she struggles to maintain sobriety after a lifetime of addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs. The novel opens with Ginny leaving rehab and being driven home by her son Rob, who helps her purge the house of every trace of liquor and pills. Ginny’s path to rebuilding her life passes through her complicated relationships: with Rob and his brother Jamie, both adults with unconventional lives—Rob on a commune, Jamie in Key West with his partner Miles. As Ginny attempts to claim a sober existence in her Sa...

Leah Orr | Thriller

Leah Orr’s The Fruitcake is a darkly comic suburban thriller set in the affluent, sun-drenched Laguna Palms neighborhood on Florida’s Hutchinson Island. The novel begins with Holly Kelly’s reluctant participation in a community fruitcake exchange, only to stumble upon a gruesome murder committed by one of the enigmatic Hudson sisters. As Holly’s narrative unspools—from her family’s move to paradise, through the forming of eccentric friendships (especially with Gina, Greta, and Chloe) to the unraveling of suburban secrets—the story alternates with chilling chapters from a captive’s point of view, held prisoner in the infamous Hudson basement. Meanwhile, the tangled histories of the Hudson fam...

Lucas Raney | Children-Educational

I still can’t believe that The Poetry Coaster is written by a ten-year-old, a short yet spectacular lesson in poetry. In a tone that is jovial and light and that doesn’t miss in humor, this young author delivers a lyrical work that instructs and entertains. I have written for many years, and there are poetic forms I never knew existed. Lucas Raney breaks them down with concise definitions and takes readers on a lyrical ride that describes the rollercoaster experience. From loop-de-loops to snack disasters, from the nervousness of standing in line for a rollercoaster ride to the hilarity of moving up and feeling free, he introduces forms like diamante, haiku, two tone, extended metaphor, pers...

B. Truly | Romance - General

In Summer Fated to Be Mine, B. Truly delivers an emotionally charged narrative of love, heartbreak, and second chances. It is the first and engaging entry in The Summer Choice series. The story follows Zakiah Morelli, who, along with his brother, shares a tight-knit bond—until the fateful summer they all fall for the same girl, Iliana Kaplan. Zakiah always believed he and Iliana were destined. Still, when it becomes clear her heart isn’t entirely his, the resulting heartbreak fractures his relationship with both Iliana and his brother Elijah. Two years later, love finds Zakiah again in the form of Glory Glover. Still haunted by his first heartbreak, Zakiah resists, afraid to risk his heart a...

Dorothea Jensen | Poetry - General

Dorothea Jensen’s Liberty-Loving Lafayette is a delightful and accessible introduction to the Marquis de Lafayette, the young French nobleman whose courage and idealism played a crucial role in securing American independence. In rhyming verse, Jensen swiftly summarizes Lafayette’s journey: from his youthful enthusiasm for the American cause, to his pivotal friendship with George Washington, his bravery in battle, his role in securing French support, and his decisive contribution at Yorktown. With lively illustrations and supplemental resources, the book invites young readers—and adults—to discover Lafayette’s remarkable story in an engaging, memorable way. This book provides intriguing detai...

Kirsten Pursell | Romance

In The Scarlet D by Kirsten Pursell, Scarlet embarks on a daring journey of self-reinvention after a thirty-year marriage crumbles. Seeking solace on Sullivan's Island, she joins a divorced women's book club, hoping to connect with like-minded souls. Amidst the stunning backdrop of South Carolina, her dormant desires come to life when she encounters the charming Ben, a younger man who challenges her boundaries. However, the confident Beau, a maturer suitor and a man more suited for her age, offers a glimpse of true connection. As past wounds resurface with the arrival of an old flame, Scarlet must navigate love, judgment, and the possibility of a second chance. The novel opens with Scarlet's...

Arnold V Page | Non-Fiction - Inspirational

Arnold V. Page’s The Date of Christ’s Return is a bold and meticulously researched exploration of biblical prophecy, well-written for the contemporary audience in an age of uncertainty. Page is a seasoned minister with backgrounds in engineering and theology, and he brings an analytical mind to questions that have stirred the hearts and minds of believers and skeptics alike: Can we know when Christ will return? And if so, what does that mean for our lives today? The book is panoramic in its scope, tracing the world’s timeline from creation to what Page argues is an imminent conclusion. His approach is grounded in a literal interpretation of scripture, particularly the seven-thousand-year pla...

Laurel Colless | Children - Adventure

Knights Unite is the fourth book in the Peter Blue Series by Laurel Colless, and it follows Riva du Lac, who is determined to uphold her promise to avoid detentions at Spiral Hall. But a sea cleanup reveals Shem, a mythical fish boy, and a surprise honor from the Spiral Knights forces her to choose between rules and friendship. Meanwhile, Peter Blue has a vision of a water-dwelling monster. Can their unlikely alliance save the knights—and the world? Laurel Colless captures the delicate balance of environmental activism and adolescent adventure through the eyes of Riva, the determined twelve-year-old protagonist. The character development is both nuanced and engaging, particularly in Riva’s j...

Eric Locsh |

Eric Locsh’s Possum Stew (and Other Apocalypse Recipes) is a darkly comic, immersive tale of survival in a post-apocalyptic America. The story follows Scott Bryant, a once-famous chef, as he navigates the ruined outskirts of New York City after a devastating environmental disaster known only as “the Storm.” He has watched the slaughter of his entire team and carries the stigma in the very core of his being. In the aftermath, Scott is captured by violent gangs, loses his sous chef Ted to brutal violence, and scrambles for survival, sustained by culinary memories and dwindling supplies. After a harrowing escape, Scott holes up in an abandoned cabin where his desperation grows to the point of c...

Colin Dodds | Fiction - Literary

The Reign of the Anti-Santas by Colin Dodds is a unique and audacious Christmas tale that takes readers on a rollercoaster ride through a world where the holiday spirit collides head-on with corporate greed, scandal, and societal change. The story is narrated by Elvin, an elf with a front-row seat to the evolution and devolution of Christmas. Elvin's journey begins when he unwittingly accompanies Santa Claus on a Christmas Eve trip, setting the stage for a decades-long adventure filled with intrigue and danger. Dodds creates a narrative that includes Santa's secret affairs, the PR scandal that catapults Rudolph to fame, and the encroachment of humanity on the North Pole. What makes this book...