Category: Book News

It’s the last release week of August 2020. Watch for some fall and Halloween titles to start releasing this week and in the weeks to come. Let’s see what books we are getting this week!

Books for Kids

How Big is Zagnodd? (Board book) – The newest board book from the brilliant mind and pen of Sandra Boynton!
Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice – Picture book biography of Senator and Presidential candidate – and now Vice Presidential candidate – Kamala Harris.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul – Picture book biography of Aretha Franklin. The artwork on that cover is stunning.
Interrupting Cow – First book in a new Early Reader series starring Interrupting Cow.
Little Goddess Girls: Athena and the Island Enchantress – Book 5 in the Little Goddess Girls series. Athena and Hercules encounter Circe on their quest to save a queen.
Tiny Truths: Wonder & Wisdom – A look at Psalms and Proverbs. I love this line of books for little kids. The illustrations are fantastic.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Donut Dreams: A Donut for Your Thoughts – Book 4 in the Donut Dreams series. When Casey gets back from summer camp, everything back home seems different.
Lola Benko, Treasure Hunter – First in a new series. When her archaeologist dad goes missing while on the hunt for a mythical stone that could control the world, Lola goes looking for him.
Marvel Action: Captain Marvel AIM Small – Book 2 in the Captain Marvel series from Marvel Action. As Carol is teaching Nadia Van Dyne to drive (see The Unstoppable Wasp), AIM gets control of some Pym Particles and causes trouble.
Midnight at the Barclay Hotel – JJ convinces his mother to accept the odd invitation for a weekend at the most haunted spot in town. But when the owner is killed and JJ’s mother is blamed, he and his new friends start investigating for themselves.
Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket – Book 5 in the Mr. Lemoncello series by Chris Grabenstein.  The hunt is on for one of 4 tickets that will entitle the winners to compete to  win Mr. Lemoncello’s whole business.
Once Upon a Unicorn – A scientifically-minded unicorn teams up with a flaming horse to save their home from monsters.
The Places We Sleep – This novel in verse takes place in September of 2001 and focuses on a girl who is adjusting to a new home with her military family when the attacks take place on 9/11. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark – A collection of Star Wars stories that take place during the Clone Wars. NOTE: These are not new, original stories but are adaptations of episodes from The Clone Wars show. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Triple Threat (Older Middle Grade) – A football-loving girl who can throw a perfect spiral has to fight for the opportunity to play on the school football team.
The Assignment – When a favorite teacher gives a class assignment to argue the merits of the Nazi’s “Final Solution,” two students refuse to participate which escalates the issue to the whole school and then the community.
The Con Code – Fiona and her dad have been performing difficult heists to track down the clues her mother left behind before she disappeared. But when her dad is captured by the FBI before their final three heists are completed, Fiona pulls together a crew of kids from school to help her. This is at the top of my list for this week. I love heist books!
Darius the Great Deserves Better (LGBTQ+) – Sequel to Darius the Great Is Not Okay. Just when Darius starts to feel like he has a handle on his life and his relationships with his dad, his best friend, and his boyfriend, everything shifts.
Kind of a Big Deal – The latest for teens from Shannon Hale. A highschooler who hit it big – and then lost her career – is finding books to be a great way to escape all the issues in her life. And they are literally an escape – she goes into each book and becomes a character. But each time she uses this power, it becomes harder to get back out of the book to her real life. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Nemesis – Book 3 in the Diabolic series. Emperor Tyrus killed the woman he loved, but some say Nemesis is not truly gone and that she will return to confront her enemy.
Now That I’ve Found You – A young woman trying to restore her Hollywood career thinks she can turn things around by bringing her famous – and reclusive – grandmother back into the spotlight. But when Gigi goes missing, Evie will have to team up with the last person to see her grandmother – a cute musician – to help her.
Twin Daggers – A new story from Blink YA publishing. A pair of twins posing as normal Technocrats are secretly rebels trying to take their city back. Aissa agrees to take on a mission to find the Heartless heir to the Technocrat throne, but her sister Zandra is captured, changing Aissa’s mission completely.
Where Dreams Descend – First in the new Kingdom of Cards series. The magical feats at the Conquering Circus are more than just dazzling – they’re dangerous. And as more magicians go missing, three members of the circus wrestle with their own secrets as they wonder who might be next.

Books for Adults

15 Minutes of Flame (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery series. While investigating an old candle-making shop, Stella finds the body of a long-dead Quaker woman. As she looks for answers as to what might have happened to the woman, another murderer strikes.
Boston Scream Murder (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Deputy Donut Mystery series. When Emily goes to deliver her Boston Scream donuts to the birthday party for an eccentric local man, she finds him dead.
Cat Me If You Can (Hardcover) – Book 13 in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery series. I’ll be reviewing this one soon, and I can’t wait. Charlie and Diesel hit the road with Charlie’s significant other, Helen, as well as the Ducote sisters from the Southern Ladies Mystery series,  for a mystery readers’ gathering in North Carolina.  When an uninvited guest turns up dead, Charlie and his friends start investigating.
Dead End Detective (Trade Paperback) – First in a new series from the folks at Hallmark Publishing, written by prolific mystery author Amanda Flower. When Darby’s business partner is killed and she becomes the prime suspect in the death, Darby will have to trust her partner’s nephew – the man who inherited her half of the business – to help her discover the truth. I can’t wait to read this one! I’ll be reviewing this soon as well.
Digging Up Remains (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 of the Garden Squad Mystery series. The Fall Festival’s 10K fundraiser is only one of the many tasks Lilly is juggling right now. But when an annoying reporter is found dead near the starting line, she’s going to have to add sleuthing to her to do list.
Dough or Die (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Bread Shop Mystery series. As Yeast of Eden is on the brink of Reality TV notoriety, an attempted murder in front of the store means Ivy is sleuthing again.
Eat Drink and Be Wary (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Cook-Off Mystery series. When Sherry’s competition is killed in the cook-off at the Fall Festival, her brother, Pep, who was serving as her sous-chef, is the prime suspect.
Goodnight Moo (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Buttermilk Creek Mystery series. As Brynn plays host to a cheesemaker’s contest, a tractor accident starts to look a lot like murder. When a second death puts her top cheesemaker under suspicion, Brynn starts investigating. I have this series on my wishlist.
Gourd to Death (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Pie Town Mystery series. Val and Charlene are investigating when a pie contest turns deadly. This series sounds so yummy!
Hidden (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Texas Murder Files series. An investigative reporter and a detective team up to track down a murderer that could have ties to a high tech research facility working on something dangerous.
How To Catch a Sinful Marquess (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Disreputable Debutantes series. An orphaned heiress trapped by her position and her guardians volunteers to help her neighbor when a young child is dumped on his doorstep with a note saying she’s his daughter.
Kickbacks, Kayacks, and Kidnapping (e-book) – Book 12 in the Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery series. When an Olympic kayaker dies during a race hosted by Happy Trails Campground, the bad press could undo all the hard work Mae has put into her business. At the time of this writing, this is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Killer Kung Pao (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. Lana is a witness to the car accident and blow up between two local women. But when one of them ends up dead, Lana feels the blame falling on the other woman is a little too easy.
Knit of the Living Dead (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Knit & Nibble Mystery series. A murder during the Halloween Parade pull the Knit and Nibblers into sleuthing again.
The Mother Code (Hardcover) – In a future where a deadly bioweapon threatens human survival, scientists place genetically engineered children into large robots that will gestate, birth and raise the children. But when children like Kai come of age, the robots change as well, making the government consider destroying them. Kai will have to decide if he will allow this destruction to take place or fight for the only parent he has ever known. This sounds fascinating!!
Murder at Kingscote (Hardcover) – Book 8 in the Gilded Newport Mystery series. Emma’s role as the new editor-in-chief for the Newport Messenger puts her in place to witness a drunken accident during the first automobile parade in Newport (1899). Then, at a dinner party, she sees the same drunk driver, but this time he’s nearly killed the family butler. When Emma receives word that the butler in question could have had numerous enemies, she has to wonder if the car accident was a convenient ruse.
Thread and Dead (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Apron Shop Mystery series. During Iris’ visit to a cottage estate to scout vintage fabrics for her shop, she gets drawn into a mystery when the teaching assistant to an environmentalist who is renting the cottage is killed.
Three Treats Too Many (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Sarah Blair Mystery series. Sarah is investigating another murder when a friend is suspected of killing a line cook from a rival restaurant.
To Coach a Killer (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Cat & Gilley Life Coach Mystery series. Cat is sleuthing a client’s “curse” as well as murder when a series of violent deaths strikes the Hamptons.
Wednesday Walks & Wags (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Sunday Potluck Club series. As Bridget juggles her busy schedule and the grief over losing her mother, her new neighbor – and his dogs – might be just the distraction she needs.
Who Wants to Marry a Duke (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Duke Dynasty series. When a female chemist is brought in to determine if Grey’s father was murdered, his half brother, Thorn, can’t stop thinking about how she once blackmailed him – or about the kiss they shared.
You Lucky Dog (Trade Paperback) – When their dog walker mixes up their Basset Hounds, Carly discovers that Max’s dog, Hazel, could be just the thing to help her rescue, Baxter, with his depression. And she certainly doesn’t mind spending more time with Max. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth (Hardcover) – Explores the relationship between the President and Fox News, especially when it comes to lies and disinformation.
The Presidents vs. The Press: The Endless Battles Between the White House and the Media – from the Founding Fathers to Fake News (Hardcover) – A history of the relationship between the Presidents of the United States and the news media.

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Cone Cat – Jeremy the cat becomes Cone Cat when a trip to the vet leave him stuck with a cone around his head. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Spirit: Riding Academy Race – Book 3 in the Spirit Riding Free series. When the kids at the riding academy start bickering, the headmaster sets up a scavenger hunt and puts them in teams to work through their differences.

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

Batgirl: A League of Her Own (1992-1995) (Graphic Novel) – Collects Batgirl comics inspired by Batman: The Animated Series.
The Haunted Mansion: Frights of Fancy – First in a new Haunted Mansion series. A new ghost at the Haunted Mansion has to learn to scare guests and deal with the resident mean girl ghost.
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero (ages 8-10) – A young middle grade story about a boy inspired by his dad’s journals and stories of a superhero.
Mask (The League of Secret Heroes) – Book 2 in the League of Secret Heroes series. An alternate history starring three young girls who find objects that give them the power to take down evil. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Nerviest Girl in the World – When her brothers get jobs doing stunts in silent movies, Pearl stumbles into the chance to be a stunt person, too.
Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid – Middle grade memoir by a girl who started learning about bees to combat her fear of them. She started selling lemonade to give money to bee conservation efforts, and now she sells her lemonade around the country.
All Eyes on Her – When two teens go into the woods for a picnic, but only the girl returns, everyone has a theory about what really happened. And everyone, but Tabby herself, is eager to tell their story.
Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From – Liliana lives a carefully crafted life, negotiating the shift from her inner-city neighborhood to her mostly-white suburban school. But when secrets about her family come out and racial tensions at school escalate, Liliana will have to decide how she will use her voice to take a stand.
Raybearer – A young woman raised to compete to be one of the Council of 11 for the prince is also magically compelled to kill the prince when she gets close enough to him. Is she strong enough to resist the path set before her and choose her own way?
Six Angry Girls – Two teens whose lives aren’t going at all the way they planned team up to start a rival Mock Trial team at school and smash the patriarchy. I’m looking forward to reading this one.

Books for Adults

Booked for Murder (e-book) – Book 1 in the Vigilante Magical Librarians series. After getting hurt in her life as a bodyguard to the rich and dangerous, Janette decides to use her skills to disappear. In her new life, as a librarian, no one wants her magic – just her knowledge. But when someone from her old life is killed on the steps of her library, Janette teams up with her new co-workers to find a killer. I can’t wait to read this one!
Dead Ends Don’t Talk (e-book) – Book 1 in the Small-Town Mystery with Style series. When someone is found dead right after one of Dee’s salon services, everyone thinks her new-fangled products are to blame. But Dee knows it wasn’t her fault, so she’s on the trail of a killer. At the time of this writing, Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read this book for free as part of the program.
Death at High Tide (Hardcover) – First in the new Island Sisters Mystery series. When Evie’s husband dies and it seems she might have inherited an old castle she knows nothing about, her sister Margot insists they go visit the place in the Isles of Scilly. Nothing at the old hotel is as it seems, especially the odd characters working around the property. But when people start dying, and the two foreigners seem like the best suspects, the sisters decide it is time to solve the murders themselves.
Loathe at First Sight (Trade Paperback) – A new adult romance from the author of The Perfect Escape. As a joke, Melody creates an app starring male strippers in a survival game, but it quickly becomes her company’s hottest new project, and she’s running the whole thing. Her new intern, Nolan, the boss’ nephew, turns out to be more useful – and sexy – than she would have guessed, but when everything that can go wrong does right before the app launch, she has to wonder if Nolan can help her salvage her work life and her personal life.
Star Trek Picard: Countdown (Paperback Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel of the events leading up to the Star Trek: Picard series.
War of the Noses (e-book) – Book 3 in the Nora Black Midlife Psychic series about a psychic with scent-induced abilities (which is such a novel idea!). Nora is off to a Spa Convention for her birthday with her best friend and a surprise visit from her fella. But her nemesis, and a murderer, seem determined to ruin Nora’s vacation. I have this series on my wish list. The first two books in the series are free to read for Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.
Who’s That Earl (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Love and Let Spy series. A reclusive author hiding from those who would have her silenced encounters an old flame when he inherits the castle where she is hiding out. I won this one in a Goodreads giveaway; I can’t wait to read it!
Easy Dutch Oven Cooking: Classic and Contemporary Recipes in Five Steps or Less (Paperback) – Includes 100 recipes. At the time of this writing, Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read this book for free as part of the program.
Reaganland: America’s Right Turn 1976-1980 (Hardcover) – From the author of Nixonland and The Invisible Bridge. In 1976, Ronald Reagan ran against Gerald Ford, a sitting president, for the Republican nomination. He lost, and then so did Ford. Blamed for this, Reagan might have drifted off the political scene, but instead he made a comeback thanks to a perfect storm of factors highlighted in this book. Great for history fans!

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Girl Versus Squirrel – When a squirrel chases off the birds and eats the nuts she put out for them, a girl gets creative in her efforts to discourage the squirrel. This looks adorable!
Share Your Rainbow: 18 Artists Draw their Hope for the Future – 18 scenes of hope with hidden rainbows. All of the net proceeds from this book go to help World Central Kitchen.
H is for Honey Bee (August 15) – The latest from my favorite line of alphabet books. Readers can learn about all the ways we need honey bees in our world, and what they can do to help bees.
Splat the Cat and the Cat in the Moon – In this new leveled reader starring Splat the Cat, Splat and his friend Plank use a telescope to find out what the moon is made out of.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

A Place at the Table (Older Middle Grade) – Two sixth graders taking a South Asian cooking class develop a tentative friendship – and plans to create a dish to earn them a spot on a TV show – despite their different backgrounds (Pakistani-American and Jewish). I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Fighting Words (Older Middle Grade) – When the older of two sisters who have been through a considerable amount of trauma tries to commit suicide, the younger sister thinks it might be time to make some noise about what they are going through.
Lois Lane and the Friendship Challenge (Graphic Novel) – Lois is hoping to take her video channel viral this summer and create an amazing #FriendshipChallenge with her best friend. But nothing this summer is going like she planned. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Science Comics: Rocks & Minerals (Graphic Novel) – The latest Science Comics.
What Is the Story of Dracula? – The history of the character Dracula.
All Our Worst Ideas – The story of two very different teens who find each other through their jobs at a local record store.
Chasing Starlight – A society teen moves to Hollywood in 1938 and finds herself caught up in a murder at her grandfather’s mansion.
Cut Off – Four teens sign up for a virtual reality survival show, but find themselves stranded when all the safety measures fail and contact with the outside world goes down.
Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything – Three years after ICE raids led to her mom’s deportation/disappearance, a space ship crashes in front of Sia’s car – and her mom is inside. That was NOT where I thought this story was going to go!
Star Daughter – When her starfire flares, Sheetal, the daughter of a star and a mortal, must go to the celestial court to find her mother, or another full star, to help heal her father. But her trip to the court places her in a competition she will have to win if she ever wants to return to Earth.

Books for Adults

Behind the Frame (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Shepherd Sisters Mystery series after the terrific Out of the Picture (♥♥♥♥½). This time, Savanna is planning an Art in the Park event when someone from her planning committee is murdered. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Booked for Death (Hardcover) – The first book in a new Booklover’s B&B Mystery series from the author of the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. Charlotte has spent the last year learning to run the B&B she inherited from her great-aunt, but none of her preparations have prepared her for a murder on the property – or for being the prime suspect. This sounds terrific!
Cold to the Bone (Hardcover) – Book 1 in the Nicole Cobain Mystery series. Montana sheriff Nicole Cobain has her hands full with the murder of a young girl in her county. She certainly does not need her ex – with criminal connections – in town, much less as a suspect in the death.
Eighty Days to Elsewhere (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Ex Libris Adventure series. ExLibris Expeditions plans trips to recreate literary adventures, and Romy applies for a job there to earn some money to help her uncles protect their bookshop. She’s given an internship assignment – plan a trip to mimic Around the World in 80 Days for a client. And her competition for the task – and the job – is the nephew of the man making trouble for the bookshop.
Key Lime Crime (Hardcover) – Book 10 in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series. Hayley is on the scene to report on a pie contest in Key West during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. With her abrasive mother-in-law in town, she doesn’t need to stumble over a dead body while they are out sight-seeing.
Kiss My Cupcake (Trade Paperback) – When neighboring businesses, a cupcake-and-cocktails shop and a sports bar, open on the same day, hi-jinks ensue as the two business owners try to one up one another to gain customers. This sounds so fun!
Mums and Mayhem (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Magic Garden Mystery series from Amanda Flower. This time Fiona is regretting her agreement to help with a concert when the star is found dead, and his murder seems linked to her father.
No Offense (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Little Bridge Island series by Meg Cabot. The children’s librarian in Little Bridge and the sheriff have a difference of opinion when it comes to whether the person who left a newborn in the library bathroom is a criminal.
Paw and Order (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Dog Club Mystery series. When a billionaire is killed, Lilly ends up fostering his poodle, but when someone tries to steal the dog, Lilly thinks it might have something to do with the murder. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Peachy Scream (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Georgia B&B Mystery series. When Nina hosts a Shakespearean troupe at her B&B she is surprised to find their leader is her nemesis, the man who thinks her home should have been his. But when one of the troupe is murdered, she’ll need the help of her old rival to find the truth. (At the time of this writing, you can get the e-book of the first book, Peach Clobbered, for $2.99.)
Plotted for Murder (e-book) – Book 4 in the St. Marin’s Cozy Mystery series. Harvey is pulled into a new mystery when her old running coach is murdered.
Shadow Commission (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Dark Arts alternate history series. This time, it’s 1963 and the mages are hunting down the ones who orchestrated the Kennedy assassination as well as investigating a series of murders of magicians. I have this series on my wish list.
Star Trek: More Beautiful Than Death (Trade Paperback) – A new novel set in the Kelvin timeline. The Enterprise is hosting Ambassador Sarek of Vulcan on a mission to a planet that appears under attack from demons. And someone in the ambassador’s entourage seems inclined to kill Spock.
To Love a Prince (e-book) – First in the new True Blue Royal series from Rachel Hauck. Daffy grew up around the royal family, but everything changed when she stumbled on a royal secret. Eighteen years later she comes across her former best friend, Prince Augustus. Gus has been dumped by two fiancées, so he’s hiding away from royal life. When he runs into Daffy, she convinces him his country needs him. This is at the top of my list for this week.
Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy (Hardcover) – The authors assert there are four major threats to American democracy: political polarization, racism and nativism, economic inequality, and excessive executive power. These are the factors – alone or in some combination – that have threatened the country in the past. And in the present, we have all four at play at once. This sounds fascinating for both history lovers and those watching the current political landscape.

Happy August! Here are some of the new books releasing this week to kick off the back-to-school-somehow season.

Books for Kids

Quantum Physics for Smart Kids (Board Book) – A young scientist and her cat shrink down to discover the secrets of quantum physics.
The Best Worst Poet Ever – Cat and Pug get into a spat as they each try to have a poem-writing day.
Fussy Flamingo (August 7) – A young flamingo is eager for her pink feathers to come in, but she doesn’t want to eat shrimp.
LEGO A Not-So-Scary Monster – The mini-figure kid from I’m Fun, Too! is back with some LEGO monster friends.
No Fuzzball! – Fuzzball thinks her name is “No Fuzzball,” and when her family goes away for the weekend, she wonders if she should cause less trouble around the house. This looks darling!
Three Squeezes – A picture book about family
Eva in the Spotlight – Book 13 in the popular Owl Diaries series from Scholastic BRANCHES. Eva is disappointed when she isn’t chosen for the lead in the school play.
Grumpy Unicorn Hits the Road (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the Grumpy Unicorn series. When Grumpy Unicorn gets bored, he decides to go on a road trip to find adventure.
Itty Bitty Princess Kitty Star Showers – Book 4 in the series after The Puppy Prince (♥♥♥♥). A star shower is a once-in-a-lifetime event where people can wish on a star, but this time something goes wrong, and the wishes get mixed up.
Layla and the Bots Built for Speed – Book 2 in this new series from Scholastic BRANCHES. Layla and the bots help re-configure a go kart for a girl who uses a wheelchair.
The Snoring Princess – Book 4 in the Once Upon a Fairy Tale series from Scholastic BRANCHES. Kara and Zed have to find a missing princess before the 100 year old curse on her castle resets and starts over.
Sparks!: Double Dog Dare (Graphic Novel) – The sequel to Sparks! (♥♥♥♥½) The two cats who operate the robot superhero Sparks run into unexpected trouble when a look-alike dog starts making a bad name for Sparks.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

13 and 3/4 – Book 4 in the Friendship list series. Two friends create a bucket list for their first summer apart at different camps. This will be the final book in the series.
Avengers Assembly: Orientation – Ms Marvel, Spider-Man (Miles Morales), and Squirrel Girl team up in the first book of this new series from Marvel. Kamala is the new kid at the Avengers Institute and she’s eager to make her place by winning the academic decathlon with her new friends. This one is on my list for this week .
Cleopatra in Space: Queen of the Nile (Graphic Novel) – The 6th and final book in this great graphic novel series. It’s time for Cleo to fulfill her prophecy.
A Dog-Friendly Town – When a jewel-covered dog collar goes missing at his family’s bed and breakfast, Epic is on the case. This is on my list, too.
The Magic in Changing Your Stars – A special pair of tap shoes transports a boy to 1930s Harlem where he has a chance to help his own grandfather who is struggling in similar ways in his own time.
Paola Santiago and the River of Tears – New from Rick Riordan Presents. Ignoring her mother’s legends about a ghost woman prowling around the Gila River, Paola plans to meet friends at the river to do some star gazing, but one of her friends goes missing.
The Revenge of the Werepenguin – Sequel to The Curse of the Werepenguin. Adjusting to life as a werepenguin, Bolt is called on to help a friend defeat another werepenguin who has imprisoned his friend’s father.
Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure – Book 2 in Rowley’s spin off series from The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.
Teen Titans Go! to Camp – The Teen Titans are heading to summer camp. And their competition in the camp games are familiar foes.
That Time I Got Kidnapped (Older Middle Grade) – Sequel to How to Rob a Bank. Jacob has been chosen to be in the next Marvel movie, but on the bus across the country to his big break, he meets Jennifer who is on the run from a guy known as “the Cowboy” and is desperately guarding a mysterious package. This sounds fascinating!
Athletes Who Made a Difference: Colin Kaepernick – One of four books launching this graphic novel biography series this week. Other books focus on Serena Williams, Jesse Owens and Jackie Robinson. These would be great classroom additions.
Who Was Celia Cruz? – The biography of a performer who was also a Cuban exile in America during Fidel Castro’s years in power.
Wonder Woman: The Way of the Amazons – An interactive history of Wonder Woman’s people, the Amazons.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

The Black Kids – As Ashley and her friends enjoy the final weeks of their senior year in the spring of 1992, four police officers are acquitted after beating Rodney King. The city of Los Angeles ignites while Ashely watches the ways it changes her community, her family, and her life as one of the “Black kids.” I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Bookish and the Beast – Book 3 in the Once Upon a Con series after the fantastic Geekerella and The Princess and the Fangirl (♥♥♥♥½). Vance Reigns, Hollywood royalty, is hiding from a tabloid scandal in a small town. Rosie lives in that small town, and when she and Vance cross paths and a rare book is accidentally destroyed, Rosie finds herself having to work off the debt. She also finds out that Vance is a jerk. Beauty and the Beast, anyone? This is at the top of my list for the week.
The Game – Described as a mash-up of Agatha Christie’s The ABC Murders and Riverdale. The seniors at Lincoln High always play assassin. But this year, the deaths are all too real. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Good for Nothings – A ragtag group of prisoners sets off to find missing treasure rumored to grant immortality in order to expunge their leader’s criminal record. There’s definitely a Guardians of the Galaxy feel to this one, so obviously it’s on my list.
How to Live on the Edge – A young woman is living life on the edge in defiance of her family history of early death. She’s not even sure she wants to watch the videos her mother made for her before she died. But when her aunt, who has been a mother figure to her, has to prepare for a mastectomy, it raises questions about what it means to truly live. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
More Than Just a Pretty Face – As Danyal prepares for his school’s Renaissance Man competition, he wants to prove to his crush, and her family, that he is the right guy for her. But the more time he spends with Bisma, who is helping him prepare for the competition, he starts to wonder if love is actually closer than he thinks. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Salvation – The third and final book in the Sanctuary series about super-powered criminal teens who hold hostage a prison guard in training, but then have to partner with her when their space station is attacked by monstrous aliens with their sights set ultimately on Earth. This is definitely a series to read in order.
The Scam List – A new con novel from the author of Don’t Get Caught. A teen and his ex-girlfriend team up to save their parents’ business, one con at a time. I love con stories, so this is on my list.
Set Fire to the Gods – When Ash’s revenge plot pushes the fire and earth gods into a war that can only be resolved through gladiator games, Madoc’s ancient and unusual powers might be just what she needs, but he refuses to put his family in jeopardy by helping her.
Star Wars: Poe Dameron Free Fall – A novel about a young Poe Dameron, telling a story hinted at in The Rise of Skywalker. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
They Wish They Were Us – During Jill’s freshman year, her best friend was killed. The girl’s boyfriend confessed, and the case was closed. Three years later, when Jill is ready for the epic senior year she always dreamed of, she starts getting texts that her friend’s killer was not the boyfriend who confessed.

Books for Adults

Acceptable Risk (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Danger Never Sleeps series after Collateral Damage (which is on my TBR shelves). A military journalist and the Army Ranger who once saved her when she was taken hostage team up to get to the truth after her brother mysterious commits suicide. Yep, I would absolutely read that.
Chaos in Little Leaf Creek (e-book, August 6) – Book 1 in the Little Leaf Creek Mystery series. A grieving widow moves to find a fresh start and instead finds herself a murder suspect. At the time of this writing, this book is part of the Kindle Unlimited program which means subscribers can read it for free.
Deadly Drama (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Britton Bay Mystery series. Molly is on the case again when the community theater director is murdered.
The Eighth Detective (Hardcover) – A math professor who once wrote a book of “perfect” detective stories is stunned to find an editor 30 years later who wants to re-publish his book. But as the editor digs into the stories to prepare them for republication, she notices inconsistencies that might be more than just mistakes. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Falcon Always Wings Twice (Hardcover) – Book 27 in the fabulous Meg Langslow Mystery series. This time, Meg’s grandmother is hosting a Renaissance Faire where Meg’s grandfather ends up a murder suspect when one of the actors – who mistreated a rare falcon her grandfather was protecting – is found dead. Meg Langslow PLUS a Renaissance Faire? Sign. Me. Up. I’ll be reviewing this one soon. There is also a Christmas book scheduled for later this year – The Gift of the Magpie – that is also on my reading list for 2020.
The Friendship List (Hardcover) – Two women who feel they might be “stuck” in life agree to check items off a bucket list that is supposed to help them live their best lives. I have this on my list for this week, too.
The Last Mrs. Summers (Hardcover) – Book 14 in the terrific Royal Spyness Mystery series. I’m way behind on this series, but I used to get these from the library all the time. This time, Georgiana is helping a friend inspect a cottage she inherited when there’s a murder at the estate where they are staying. This sounds like a twisty story!
The Lions of Fifth Avenue (Hardcover) – In 1913, a young wife and mother discovers a “radical” women’s group which leads her to question her life and the ways she assumed she had to fulfill her roles. In 1993, the young wife and mother’s granddaughter is struggling with her own questions as she stumbles across family secrets. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Love Scam (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Danger series after Danger, Sweetheart. A wealthy bachelor wakes up hungover, thousands of miles from home with no memory of how he got there, no wallet, and an empty bank account. What he does have is a stranger claiming to be his long-lost daughter. If only the gorgeous woman who brought this “daughter” his way would help him figure out what is going on. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Mockingbird’s Song (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Amish Greenhouse Mystery series. A grieving widow and her grieving mother struggle to recover from their tragic losses while their family greenhouse is under attack.
Murder in the East End (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Below Stairs Mystery series which kicks off with Below Stairs (♥♥♥♥). Kat, a young cook, is sleuthing again when she learns that children from the local foundling hospital are disappearing and one of the nurses there has been murdered,
Penned In (e-book) – Book 5 in the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. A team-building lock-in at a spooky old penitentiary turns into a real-life murder mystery for Angie and her friends.
Space Between Worlds (Hardcover) – It is possible to travel to a parallel universe as long as you don’t already exist in the place where you travel. A young woman whose other selves have a habit of dying young becomes the perfect multiverse traveler. But when another of her doubles dies on her world, this Cara is pulled into a plot that could put the entire multiverse in danger. This one is on my list for this week, too.
Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop (Trade Paperback) – A young woman who has the power to see the future in tea leaves jumps at the chance to flee from her gifts and find a change of scenery, but her move to Paris only takes her deeper into her gifts. This sounds fascinating.
The Vinyl Detective: Low Action (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Vinyl Detective series. The Vinyl Detective is back, trying to figure out who wants the guitar player from a punk band dead. The suspect list is long and includes every person from the band’s past, except the bass player. Because she is already dead. I haven’t read any of these, but this one sounds spectacular!
You Had Me at Hola (Trade Paperback) – The new stars of a bilingual romantic comedy bring plenty of baggage to their onscreen – and off-screen – relationship. This sounds interesting, too.
Slow Cooker Soups: A Cookbook of Comforting Recipes You Can Prep and Forget (Paperback) – Just in time for fall soup season. “Prep and forget” are some of my favorite words when it comes to cooking. At the time of this writing, this book is part of the Kindle Unlimited program which means subscribers can read it for free.
What’s Your Enneatype? An Essential Guide to the Enneagram: Understanding the Nine Personality Types for Personal Growth and Strengthened Relationships (Paperback) – I loved this new Enneagram resource! You can see my full review here.