Tag: January New Releases

Lots of great-sounding new books out this week – let’s take a look!

Books for Kids

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I Am John Lewis – The latest in the Ordinary People Change the World series.
To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights – Examines the impact of the character of Uhura – and the actress who originally played her – on the world.
Nat the Cat Takes a Nap – First in a new leveled reader series from the author of the Enginerds and the Hunger Heroes. As Nat the Cat tries to nap, the narrator is keeping him awake.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Figure It Out Henri Weldon – Henrietta is excited about getting to move to a mainstream school, but the changes start causing problems at home. This one looks fantastic!
The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing – A girl who never seems to run out of questions gets some new ones when her grandfather moves in with them, still grieving the loss of his wife.
Lost Legends of Nothing (Graphic Novel) – Book two in this series. Nathan and his friends continue to work to save Nothing. I have book 1 on my wish list!
Star Trek Prodigy: A Dangerous Trade – An original story from the new Star Trek Prodigy series.
As You Walk on By – Theo hides in a bedroom when his promposal goes awry, but one by one he’s joined by other classmates also avoiding things outside the bedroom. This is on my list for this month!
Seven Percent of Ro Devereux – Ro’s remarkable app has gotten the attention of financial backers, but to show them her app is flawless she has to fake date her ex best friend.

Books for Adults

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Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone (Hardcover) – The title of this alone would get me to pick this up! I can’t wait to read this family reunion mystery.
Murder at the Bookstore (e-book, January 19) – A mystery writer with writer’s block finds herself the suspect when a bookstore owner dies and she is named the heir. I have already pre-ordered this one!
The Reunion (Trade Paperback) – Former teen stars reunite at a cast reunion where they discover they still have chemistry together. This looks great!
Sweeter Than Chocolate (Trade Paperback) – A reporter and a baker team up to track the stories of customers who found love through the bakery’s special Cupid Chocolates.
Parenting: Getting It Right (Hardcover Nonfiction) – A parenting resource from pastor Andy Stanley and his wife.

Here are some of the new books releasing this week that I have my eye on!

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Superteacher Project – Two students suspect something about their new homeroom teacher isn’t quite right.
What Happened to Rachel Riley? – A new girl starts a podcast to document her search into what happened to take Rachel Riley from the top of the social food chain to the very bottom at their middle school. I am fascinated by this one!
What Is the Story of Nancy Drew?
Friday I’m in Love – Mahalia starts planning a coming out party, but in her effort to have everything she wants – including the party, and a girlfriend – things start to get out of hand.
The Wicked Ones – First in a new line from Disney that explores some of the classic villains. In this case, readers get an inside look at Cinderella’s step-sisters.

Books for Adults

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Spare (Harcover) – A memoir.

Happy 2023! It’s a new year full of new reading opportunities – here are some of the new books releasing this week!

 

Books for Kids

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Peekaboo Rex! (Board Book) – A T-Rex plays peekaboo.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Captain America: The Ghost Army (Graphic Novel) – Captain America and Bucky face a mysterious challenge – war dead are coming back to life.
The Librarian of Auschwitz (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of the original book.
Return to Atlantis – Book 2 in the Atlantis series by Kate O’Hearn. Riley is back home, ready to move on from her adventures, but the Atlanteans in the basement aren’t coping well so far from Atlantis.
The Unforgettable Logan Foster and the Shadow of Doubt – Book 2 in the Logan Foster series. When superheroes start going missing, Logan and his friends start investigating, wondering if the answers they are looking for might also lead to information about Logan’s birth parents. I really enjoyed the first book in the series – I think this will be a great sequel.
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute – A new YA novel by romance author Talia Hibbert. Two ex best friends end up in a survivalist contest together where the togetherness might help heal old wounds – and spark something new.
They’re Watching You – A girl discovers a secret society at her school when her best friend goes missing. As long as she keeps winning their challenges, they will give her a clue as to what happened to her missing friend.
The Wrong Kind of Weird – Cameron’s summer fling with a person his social group despises has become a complicated secret for his senior year. But when a new girl catches his attention – and she’s someone he wouldn’t have to hide – it causes him to take a closer look at his choices.

 

Books for Adults

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Back in a Spell (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Witches of Thistle Grove series. A first date turns complicated when the couple discovers history between their two families. But when one starts to unexpectedly develop magic – while the other’s magic mysteriously starts surging – they will have to work together despite the history to get things sorted out. I have book one on my TBR. I’m eager to check out this series.
Loathe to Love You (Trade Paperback) – Three STEM-adjacent novellas from the author of The Love Hypothesis. (All three novellas have been released previously.)

Here are the books releasing during the final week of January that are on my radar – it’s a much smaller list than I expected. But take a look!

Exchange Students – The Teen Titans Go! team meets up with the DC Super Hero Girls when the Titans pose as exchange students at Metropolis where all of the heroes have secret identities. This sounds so fun – I can’t wait to read it!
Her Hidden Genius (Hardcover) – A female scientist cracks the mysteries of DNA, but her male colleagues will try to grab the credit. This sounds fascinating!
Light Years from Home (Hardcover) – On a family camping trip, Evie  and Kass’s father and brother disappeared. Later, their father is found, and he has stories of alien abduction. Their brother, on the other hand, seems truly gone. The sisters’ relationship fractures. And when their brother Jakob returns with stories of an invading alien armada, their broken relationship might be the easiest thing to fix. Yes please!!
Up to No Gouda (Mass Market Paperback) – Usually I would have a large number of cozies on my list this week, but this – the launch for a new Grilled Cheese Mystery series – was the only one I was really eager to read. A widow lives her dream by opening her grilled cheese restaurant, but the town bully has just bought up her building and wants her out. When he’s found dead, one of her employees is the prime suspect, so the widow starts sleuthing. I love reading the first mystery in a new series, so this one is absolutely on my list for this week. From the author of Escape Claws.

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

The Who Was? Trivia Book – Trivia fans will love this new resource from the folks who publish the Who Was series of nonfiction books for middle grade readers.
Bound by Firelight – Sequel to Cast in Firelight from the Wickery series. Adraa and Jatin are back to deal with the fall out from book one where Adraa is imprisoned and Jatin has to find a way to break her out and prove her innocence so they can find the ones scheming against their kingdoms. I can’t wait to spend time in this world again! I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Chosen Twelve (Trade Paperback) – Comedy and lifestyle writer James Breakwell releases his first fiction novel this week, a science fiction story that has been called “Hunger Games meets the Hitchhiker’s Guide.” There are 12 seats left on a colony ship, and those twelve are the last to join a colony to repopulate the species. But there are 22 candidates for those 12 seats. I’ve enjoyed Breakwell’s social media for so long, I am curious to see if his humor translates to this fictional story.
To Disguise the Truth (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency series by Jen Turano. Eunice turns down Arthur’s request for help out of fear the case would expose her true identity. But the case she takes on instead leads her to more risks, not only to her secrets, but also to those she cares about most. I loved book 1 in this series, and have book 2 on my TBR. I’m looking forward to catching up on this series so I can pick this one up, too.
Fight: How Gen Z Is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America (Hardcover) – Gen Z is defined as those born between 1996 and  roughly 2012 (dates vary based on sources). This book looks at how the cultural shifts of the last 20ish years have impacted those who are becoming adults in the age of Trump and Covid and such – and how they are using the hallmarks of their childhood to push them toward activism and change. I love books on generational identities and impacts, so this one is on my radar for this week.

This new Book News format is still feeling weird to me. I’m used to long scrolls through cover after cover after cover. At the same time as I am missing the old way, though, I love looking at these books because they are the ones I am most eager to see and read and hold. So, here are the books catching my attention this week.

 

Books for Kids

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When the Schools Shut Down: A Young Girl’s Story of Virginia’s “Lost Generation” and the Brown v Board of Education of Topeka Decision – An autobiographical picture book from someone who lived during the five year school shutdown of Farmville, Virginia. This is a story I don’t know, and I am eager to get the full scoop here.
Rocket Finds an Egg – A new leveled reader starring Rocket. I will read anything with this dog in it – I love Rocket’s books!

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Who Was the Girl Warrior of France? – One of four graphic novels from the folks at Who Was releasing this week. This is the one, though, I am most eager to pick up. The illustrations look fantastic!
House of El: The Enemy Delusion – Book 2 in the House of El series from the folks at DC Entertainment. I really enjoyed the first book in this Superman-adjacent series, so I jumped at the chance to read a review copy of book two. My review of this one will post soon.
The Storyteller – A young woman longing to live life on her own terms discovers the journals of her late aunt who might have been the missing princess Anastasia. This sounds like it’s going to be a great exploration of identity for both the main character and the aunt, and I love books that look at questions of identity.

 

Books for Adults

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The Amber Crown (Trade Paperback) – Three outcasts are the only ones who can help a kingdom overrun by a usurper king – but only by following orders from the dead king’s ghost. Oh yeah, I am going to be checking this one out! I already have it on pre-order.
Crimes and Covers (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Magical Bookshop Mystery series. Violet’s wedding reception is disrupted by a dead body. And Violet recognizes the woman as someone who tried to sell her a rare copy of Walden. Thankfully she has her magical bookstore to help her as she tries to solve the crime. This is such a fun series; I’m excited to read a new story set in this world.
The Family You Make (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Sunrise Cove series. A guy who thinks he’s about to die in a snowstorm tells his parents he’s met “the One” and uses the stranger he’s with for his description. But when the two survive the storm, his family is eager to meet the woman he told them about. While she agrees to pretend for one family dinner, she starts to wonder if maybe this could become the life she’s always wanted. Yes, please!
Tailing Trouble (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Furry Friends Mystery series. When the poodle she is boarding discovers a dead body, Ally and her grandfather get drawn into a mystery. This sounds so fun! I have book one on my review list (I am SO behind), and I would love to get caught up on both of these soon!

In honor of a new year, and fresh starts, I am taking a new approach to Book News.

I don’t have the same amount of research and writing time as I did when I worked from home, freelancing. So for 2022, Book News will focus on the books I am MOST excited about releasing in a particular week. So you will see fewer titles from week to week. And some of your series favorites might be missing. But what you will see are the books on my wish lists and in my shopping carts and on my TBR piles. Nothing posted out of a sense of obligation, but only the books I am talking about, looking for, and reading this week.

So, here are those books that are releasing tomorrow, January 4th, 2022.

Books for Kids

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Hawkeye – This Little Golden Book from Marvel showcases Hawkeye, a perfect choice after the Disney+ program this past Christmas season.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Hide and Geek – A famous toymaker left one final puzzle to solve after her death, and a group of friends are determined to solve it before the toymaker’s factory closes and their families move away. I adore stories like this. This is on my review list.
Operation Sisterhood – A blended family living in one brownstone in New York can feel overwhelming at times. But the four new sisters might just find something to love about their new circumstances.
The Unforgettable Logan Foster – Just as Logan starts to wonder if he will ever find foster parents who “get” him. And when he does finally get some who could be a good fit, he discovers they are secret superheroes being hunted by villains and the fate of the world hanging in the balance. A foster care story with superheroes? Sounds like my favorite parts of Shazam, and I am here for this one! This is also on my review list.
How to Fight Racism (Young Reader’s Edition) – A young reader’s edition of the book How to Fight Racism by Jemar Tisby.
Serendipity – Ten common romance tropes are flipped into new configurations in this short story collection.
Spin Me Right Round – Luis is sent back in time to his parents’ days in high school by a hit to the head. And he sees it as his chance to save a closeted boy whose 1985 experiences mean that today Luis can’t go to prom with his boyfriend. But Luis is quickly in over his head as he learns things about his parents as teenagers while also encountering the homophobia in this conservative high school.
When You Get the Chance – When Millie starts wondering if her dreams to be a Broadway star and find people who get her for who she is will ever come true, she decides to go looking for her mom. This sounds so fun! And there is no way I am passing up a new book by Emma Lord! This is also on my review list.

 

Books for Adults

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Be More Loki: Alternative Thinking from the God of Mischief (Hardcover gift book) – A little gift book of images and advice from Loki of Asgard. Absolutely going to be picking this one up!
Rise: An Authentic Lenten Devotional (Paperback) – A devotional for Lent from John Pavlovitz.

 

Here are the new releases for the final week of January 2021.

Books for Kids

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What’s the Matter, Marlo? – A picture book about best friends and big feelings.
Pizza and Taco: Best Party Ever! – Book 2 in this “young graphic novel” series (early reader/early chapter book). When Pizza and Taco feel bored, they decide to throw a party.
It’s Her Story: Marie Curie – A kids graphic novel biography of Marie Curie. (I’ve seen mixed reports on the age group for this. The description says 6-9 but in other places it is listed for middle grade readers.)
The Story of John Lewis – A kids biography of John Lewis.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Starfell: Willow Moss and the Forgotten Tale – Book 2 in the Starfell series after Willow Moss and the Lost Day (♥♥♥♥). After recovering the lost day and setting things right, no one remembers the near- disaster Willow averted. But when one of her friends sends word for help, Willow assembles her crew once again, this time to face the Queen of the Undead. I loved book one in this magical series.
Star Wars The Clone Wars: Battle Tales – Stories from the Clone Wars era.
Star Wars Adventures: Rise of the Wookiees (Graphic Novel) – Comics collection (Issues 27-32).
Glory Girl: Daring to Believe in Your Passion & God’s Purpose – From the author of You Are the Girl for the Job comes this journaling guide for preteen girls about discerning your purpose.
NIV Verse Mapping Bible for Girls – Includes 350 partially-completed maps showing the first three steps done as well as 70 blank maps for readers to use. I love this idea – and the Bible looks beautiful inside. This would be so cool to do with a small group of students.
City of Villains – Book one in a new series about Disney villains in a Gotham-like city. This re-imagined origin story for villains like Maleficent, Ursula, and Captain Hook sounds fascinating. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Girls I’ve Been (LGBTQ+) – The daughter of a con artist and her friends get caught up in a bank robbery. I have this on my list – I want to see how Nora’s life of cons helps her out in a robbery.
Time Travel for Love and Profit – After a crummy freshman year, Nephele creates a time travel app to go back and give it another try. And it works – except she is the only one looping. She’s about to start her 10th freshman year, complete with a teacher who was once in her original 9th grade class. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Wings of Ebony – When Rue’s mother is killed, she is taken away from her sister by the father she never knew only to discover she is a half-god. Desperate to reconnect with her sister on the anniversary of their mother’s death, Rue leaves her magical new home to return to Houston, only to find it sinking into evil and her sister falling in with the forces that destroyed their mother. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

Books for Adults – Fiction

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Capturing the Earl (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Wallflowers of West Lane. Mercy is determined to protect her friend from another disastrous match, but she doesn’t count on finding the Earl so irresistible herself. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Coffee House Clairvoyant: Emeralds in the Espresso AND Faberge in the Frappuccino AND Opals in the Oolong (e-book) – Three books in this new paranormal cozy series release this week. A woman who can read the history of an object by touch keeps finding items that are tied to murders in her caffeinated beverages. I’m looking forward to giving this series a try.
Claw & Disorder (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Cat Groomer Mystery series. When an elderly hoarder dies and suspicion falls on her husband and their cats, Cassie is there to help track down a killer.
Crime of the Ancient Marinara (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Tuscan Cooking School Mystery series. Chef Orlandini is set to reveal his secret marinara recipe to a group of American foodies, including a possible private investigator sent by Nell’s father, when one of the guests falls dead.
Death by Intermission (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Abby McCree Mystery series. Abby’s mother’s boyfriend is accused of murder at the final Movies in the Park night of the summer.
Egg Shooters (Hardcover) – Book 9 in the Cackleberry Club series. Suzanne stops a gunman at the emergency room by beaning him with a thermos, but he gets away. The Cackleberry Club are concerned he’ll be back, so they start sleuthing.
The Ex Talk (Trade Paperback) – From YA mainstay Rachel Lynn Solomon comes this adult romcom debut. Public radio host rivals have to pretend to be exes in order to keep their jobs. But as the public gets more invested in their new show based on this fake failed relationship, the two hosts start to fall for one another. I have this one on my list.
Falcon & Winter Soldier (Graphic Novel) – Comics collection (Issues 1-5). Sam and Bucky are reunited when someone tries to kill Bucky and the two former Captain Americas are drawn into the hunt for the newest head of Hydra.
Fruit Basket Upset (e-book, January 31) – Book 6 in the Taylor Quinn Quilt Shop Mystery series. A murder at her family’s strawberry farm pushes Taylor to do what she can to keep a family scandal a secret. Except her efforts undermine her alibi for the murder.
Hopeless RomeAntic (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the When in Rome series. Sixteen years ago, Leo gave up his dream and stuck around to work the family business and be a father figure for his niece. But just when things look like he could reconnect with that dream, he meets a woman who runs a concierge service in town as she also cares for her autistic brother. And he finds her captivating. I have book one from this series on my TBR shelves.
Ink and Shadows (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society. When a Halloween window display at Miracle Books causes a stir, Nora and the Society try to calm things, but in the local uproar, someone is killed. While the death is ruled an accident, some clues lead Nora to believe otherwise. I have the first three books of this series waiting on my digital TBR shelves.
Irish Parade Murder (Hardcover) – Book 27 in the Lucy Stone Mystery series. Lucy’s reporting rival leaves her wondering if her job is in jeopardy – until he is suspected of murder.
Maryann’s Hope (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Amish Charm Bakery series. An Amish widow’s chance at love is shaken when her fiancé has to leave town to care for his family’s business and she discovers he’s been harboring secrets.
Murder at Mabel’s Motel (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Granny Reid Mystery series (Murder in Her Stocking – ♥♥♥♥), a spinoff of the Savannah Reid Mystery series. This series is set 30 years before the original series, when Savannah is a teen. When a gang leader is found dead, most assume it is from an accidental overdose, but Stella knows something more is going on.
A Pairing to Die For (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Colorado Wine Mystery series. In the chaos following the arrival of his estranged family,  Reid is accused of murdering his sous chef. Parker is determined to clear her new boyfriend’s name.
The Preacher’s Son (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 1 in the new Infamous Amish series. When Isaiah’s father is imprisoned for fraud, it costs him everything, not the least of which is his reputation. At his new job, he’s falling for a woman who has lost everything thanks to his father’s crimes. How could she ever take a chance on Isaiah after all she’s lost? I’m intrigued by this new series.
Prodigal Son (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz. Retired secret government assassin Evan Smoak is contacted by a woman claiming to be his biological mother. And she needs his help. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
A Sinister Service (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the A Lady and Lady’s Maid Mystery series. When Phoebe and her siblings travel to Staffordshire to commission a set of china, one of the two rival designers is found dead, and his design book is missing. Eva goes undercover to talk with the women who work there (and who are only allowed to paint, never design) while Phoebe and her younger brother investigate the case.
A Tourist’s Guide to Murder (Trade Paperback) – Book 6 in the Mystery Bookshop series. Sam and the Shady Acres ladies are on a London tour of sites related to famous mystery writers when people start dying.
Undercover Kitty (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 8 in the Second Chance Cat Mystery series. Charlotte’s Angels, a group of elderly sleuths operating a detective agency out of Sarah’s store, are hired to find out who is sabotaging cat shows around the state. They have Elvis entered in the next show “undercover,” so when a volunteer is murdered, Sarah starts sleuthing.
We Could Be Heroes (Hardcover) – Zoe and Jamie meet in a memory-loss support group with no memory of their past lives. Zoe uses her powers of speed and strength to deliver fast food. Jamie uses his ability to read and erase memories to hold up banks. Their friendship could be the key to discovering their past, but before they can dig too far into that, they discover a much larger threat. I can not WAIT to read this!

 

Books for Adults – Nonfiction

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Ida B the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells (Hardcover) – Born into slavery. Journalist. Suffragist. Activist. Co-Founder of the NAACP. This biography is written by the great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells. This is on my list for this week.
NIV Verse Mapping Bible (Leather) – Just like the girls’ Bible described earlier. Includes 350 partially completed maps and 70 blank ones. From pictures, the Bible looks gorgeous!
Now that Faith Has Come (Paperback) – This six-week study of Galatians is the latest from Beth Moore, written with her daughter, Melissa Moore. I tweeted with Melissa, and she said you do not have to have the videos to complete the study. Personally, I do better with just the book and my Bible, but there are options for different sorts of learners. They also have a PODCAST option if that is more your speed!
Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner’s Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause (Hardcover) – The author, who grew up with the narrative of Lee as the “greatest man who ever lived” and Confederates as “underdogs who lost the war with honor,” shares the evolution of his thinking over time. Part memoir, part history lesson.
Verse Mapping Bible Study Journal (Hardcover) I am SUPER intrigued by this. I haven’t seen any sample pages yet, but I am assuming they will look like the blank maps in the Verse Mapping Bible. I am waiting to see some interior pictures, though, before I order one.

 

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Ambitious Girl – After hearing a strong woman on TV called “too ambitious,” a girl decides to investigate the challenges women face.
Eyes that Kiss in the Corners – A young Asian girl notices her eyes look different from the eyes of many of her peers, but their shape connects her to generations of her family. She recognizes the beauty in her features. This looks lovely.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

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The Comeback – A figure skater faces competition on the ice and racism at school. Will she buckle under the stress or is she primed for a comeback?
Magic’s Most Wanted – Mason’s dad was recently sent to jail, his grades are plummeting, and he’s been taken into custody by officers of “Magix,” whatever that is. Thankfully, he’s got some people – and a talking rabbit – on his side.
The Million Dollar Race – Grant is close to setting the world record for the 100-meter for his age group, so when a sneaker company launches a contest to find the world’s fastest kid, he’s all in. But when he discovers his non-conforming parents never got him a birth certificate, his chances of competing start to dwindle.
Timelines from Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies – A survey of Black history including political figures, sports figures, writers, etc. This would be an excellent classroom resource.
Who Is Kamala Harris? – Part of the Who HQ NOW series of middle grade biographies highlighting figures who are prominent in the news.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

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Bookish Boyfriends: Get a Clue (LGBTQ+) – Book 4 in the spectacular Bookish Boyfriends series. Ms. Gregoire has assigned Sherlock Holmes, and a mystery has arisen at Hero High. And Huck and Win team up to solve it. I have already pre-ordered this one. I can’t wait!
Cast in Firelight – Book 1 in the Wickery series, and one of my favorite books from 2019. (I read my review copy in November before realizing the release date had been pushed back.) Two magical heirs, betrothed since childhood, team up under false identities to address a challenge to their kingdoms. This was fantastic – I can’t wait to read it again! My review will post soon.
This Will Be Funny Someday – A girl unused to having and using her own voice stumbles into stand up comedy and loves it. But her new friends on the open mic scene think she’s a college student like them – because that is the lie she told them. I love a story about kids and teens finding and using their voices. I will be checking this one out.
Wench – When Tanya’s guardian dies, she’s at risk of losing the tavern and home where she’s grown up. So she goes on a quest to petition the queen to let her keep the property in her name. This has been on my wishlist for months!
Winterkeep – Book 4 in the Graceling Realm series. As Queen, Bitterblue sent envoys to the neighboring Winterkeep, but when they drown under mysterious circumstances, she heads off herself with two friends. But on the journey, tragedy strikes again. This is a series I have been waiting to read for ages.

Books for Adults

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The Broken Spine (Hardcover) – Book 1 in the Beloved Bookroom Mystery series. When her beloved library is turned into a bookless “technology center,” Tru and her friends rescue some of the books and set them up in a secret book room in the library basement. But when the town manager who pushed for the change is found dead, Tru is the prime suspect. And the *secret* book room is her alibi. This sounds excellent!
A Deadly Discovery (e-book) – Book 4 in the Allie Cobb Mystery series. Allie investigates the murder of a young woman who disappeared 20 years ago, and whose body was recently discovered.
Enjoy the View (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the delightful Moose Springs, Alaska series (The Tourist Attraction – ♥♥♥♥♥). Former Hollywood darling River Lane is in Moose Springs to film a documentary. Strong and silent Easton Lockett is leading her crew up and down Mount Veil. While he’d like to do so without any emotional entanglements with River, she’s a hard woman to resist. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Firefly: New Sheriff in the Verse Vol 2 (Graphic Novel) – Sheriff Mal has been ordered to arrest the crew of Serenity.
Her Turn: A Bookish Romantic Comedy (e-book, January 21) – Addie Snyder became her brother Owen’s guardian after their mother died. When her new book becomes an overnight sensation, she needs her publicist to help her protect Owen who has Down syndrome from the hype, especially as her publicity obligations grow. But when their absent father shows up, threatening to take guardianship of Owen, and other relatives come out of the woodwork to take advantage of her success, she is going to need all the help she can get. This sounds fun!
A Perfect Amish Romance (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Berlin Bookmobile series. The bookmobile librarian partners Aaron, a man secretly pursuing his GED, with Kayla, a young woman hiding from the pain in her life in romance novels, to help him study for the GED test. This looks sweet.
Scripted to Slay (e-book) – Book 6 in St. Marin’s Cozy Mystery series. Harvey looks into the death of the new bartender in the neighborhood.
Shipped (Trade Paperback) – Work rivals competing for the same promotion meet in person for the first time on a cruise that is part of their promotion competition. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Black Panther Party (Graphic Novel) – A history of the Black Panther Party founded in 1966.
Dear White Peacemakers (Hardcover) – A guide for White Christians – based on the Sermon on the Mount – to grow as racial justice activists.
In Search of Wisdom (Hardcover) – An exploration of Proverbs from Joyce Meyer.
Revelation: Extravagant Hope (Trade Paperback) – Part of the Beautiful Word Bible Study series. This volume is written by Margaret Feinberg. A six-session study of Revelation. Video study available separately.

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Mia Mayhem and the Super Switcheroo – Book 10 in the Mia Mayhem series. When Mia wakes up with no powers one day, her best friend Eddie has them instead.
Stella Diaz Dreams Big – Book 3 in the Stella Diaz series. Stella is fully in the groove of 4th grade, including extracurriculars. But when school gets harder, she starts to feel like she is juggling too much.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

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Alone (Older Middle Grade) – Novel in verse about a girl who finds herself alone in a town that has been mysteriously evacuated and abandoned. Sounds like a fascinating read for those who love survival stories.
Animal Rescue Agency: Little Claws – Book 1 in the Animal Rescue Agency series. An animal odd couple run the Animal Rescue Agency whose latest quest is to rescue a polar bear cub.
Clues to the Universe – An #Own Voices story. Two kids who are science partners bond over missing their fathers and try to help one another with the things that are most important to them.
Halfway to Harmony – The latest from Barbara O’Connor. As Walter grieves the loss of his brother who went into the military and never came home, a summer of adventures with his new neighbor and an eccentric man in town help him start to figure out who he is without the brother who was so important to him.
Many Points of Me – When Georgia finds one of her father’s last sketches, it looks like he was working on a fourth asterism based on her. Her quest to prove her theory takes her all over her neighborhood and to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood – A middle grade memoir from the author of Hatchet.
What Is Nintendo? – The latest from the folks at Who Was?

Books for Teens/Young Adults

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Angel of Greenwood – Historical YA novel exploring the story of Black Wall Street. Two Black teens with different ideas of how Black Americans should respond to the racism of 1921 experience the mob riots in Oklahoma City on May 31st. This is on my list for this week.
Concrete Rose – A prequel to Thomas’ The Hate U Give.  Maverick Carter decides to give up dealing and go straight once he has a child who is depending on him. But his family ties and family name make it hard to leave that life behind.
Every Single Lie – A teen who is already the target of rumors and speculation finds herself in the middle of a firestorm when she finds the body of a newborn baby in her school’s locker room. Everyone is saying the baby is hers, and it becomes all too clear that a lot of people are holding secrets at her school.
The Meet Cute Project – When Mia has to find a date to her bridezilla sister’s wedding, her friends think it would be brilliant to use their favorite movie meet-cutes to help, even though Mia hates those movies. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
You Have a Match – The latest from the author of the delightful Tweet Cute. Abby signs up for a DNA service to help a friend, never expecting to find out she has a secret older sister. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

Books for Adults

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Artistic License to Kill (Trade Paperback, January 15) – First in a new Fine Art Mystery series. Amanda is trying to create a new life for herself post-divorce, and getting a spot at the Roadrunner Gallery could be an integral part of that. But her joy at being accepted is short-lived when she later finds the director dead and all of the Gallery members become murder suspects.
Birds of Prey: Hero Hunters (Graphic Novel) – A reprint of Gail Simone’s beloved line. Collects issues 96-103.
A Curious Incident (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series (Book 1 is Elementary She Read – ♥♥♥♥). Gemma is approached by her 10-year-old neighbor who wants to hire her as a consulting detective, first to find the girl’s missing cat, which she does, and then to clear her mother of murder charges. I enjoyed the first couple books in this series, and this new story sounds fantastic!
Ever After Always (e-book) – Book 3 in the Berman Brothers series. A couple struggling in their marriage and in their lives are thrown together on an island getaway to celebrate her parents’ marriage.
The Forever Girl (Trade Paperback) – Book 6 in the Wildstone series. A group of friends, torn apart by tragedy as teens, is brought together again for a wedding.
The Frozen Crown (Hardcover) – Book 1 in the Warrior Witch Duology. A naive woman becomes heir to the Frozen Crown because of her devotion to her people, but she is in no way prepared to defend her land from invading hordes or to navigate the political intrigue of the neighboring kingdom where she goes for help. And she must keep the secret of her magic at any cost. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Hope, Faith and a Corpse (Hardcover) – The first book in the Faith Chapel Mystery series from Laura Jensen Walker. Hope Taylor arrives in Apple Springs a widow, and the first female pastor for Faith Chapel Episcopal Church – and quickly finds herself under suspicion of murder. I am so looking forward to reading this one! I’ll be reviewing it soon.
The Last Exit (Hardcover) – First in the new Jen Lu Mystery series. A police detective in the Elder Abuse unit in a not-too distant future gets pulled into a bizarre investigation involving the highly sought after longevity drug – and a street version with dangerous side effects. I am fascinated by the sci-fi pieces of this thriller. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Lost Manuscript (Hardcover) – A woman on vacation finds an abandoned manuscript in the bedside table of her hotel room. She falls in love with the story and reaches out to the author whose address is scribbled on a page in the middle of the document. When she hears back, he confesses that he only wrote the first portion and then lost track of it 30 years ago. The woman is determined to find out who wrote the rest of the story.  This plot is fascinating to me.
The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry (Trade Paperback) – A young con-woman with some magical ability secures a job protecting a “Lady of some importance” before her wedding, but the job turns unexpectedly deadly – and undead. I’m not big on the “undead” part, but everything else in the description of this sounds fantastic. It’s on my list to check out, as is the author’s debut novel, Unnatural Magic.