Tag: January New Releases

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.

Happy 2021! I hope these first few days of the new year are treating you well. Here are some of the books launching this new year of reading:

Books for Kids – Picture Books

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Blanket: Journey to Extreme Coziness – Discover the power of the blanket!
Loki – A Little Golden Book starring Loki
Spring Stinks – Bruce is not impressed with the smells of spring.
Stella’s Stellar Hair – When Stella’s hair isn’t quite right for her big day, she travels the solar system to visit her aunties for some help. A celebration of hairstyles of the African diaspora.
Star Wars The High Republic: The Great Jedi Rescue – The Jedi of the High Republic are on a rescue mission. Set 200 years before The Phantom Menace.
The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall’s Life, Leadership, and Legacy – Picture book biography.
Prince (Little People, Big Dreams) – Picture book biography
What If You Could Spy Like a Narwhal!? – Part of the What If You Had series, this one focused on animal superpowers.

Books for Kids: Early Readers and Transitional Chapter Books

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Libby Loves Science: Mix and Measure – Libby is hosting a party and accidentally leaves out an important ingredient for her cupcakes. She and her friends use science to solve the problem.
The Adventures of Allie and Amy: Stars of the Show – Book 3 in the series. Allie and Amy are supposed to perform together for a fundraiser, but Allie gets sick, leaving Amy to wonder if she will have to perform alone.
BunBun & BonBon: Hoppy Go Lucky (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the series. BunBun and BonBon have an epic adventure.
Geeger the Robot: Lost and Found – Book 2 in the series. When the class pet goes missing, Tillie helps Geeger prove he didn’t eat it.
Little Goddess Girls: Persephone and the Evil King – Book 6 in the series. Hephaestus has turned Athena and her dog into treasures and hidden them away. The girls only have 7 guesses to find their friends.
Pixie Tricks: The Greedy Gremlin – Book 2 in the series. A fairy traps Violet’s cousin in a video game.
Society of Substitutes: The Great Escape – First in a new series. When Milton finds out his classroom’s pet ferret is plotting for world domination, he’s grateful to know the Society of Substitutes – including his mom – is there to help. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Star Wars Galactic Storybook – Six illustrated stories.
She Persisted: Harriet Tubman – First in a new line of chapter book biographies of women. Part of Chelsea Clinton’s She Persisted line.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

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The Lion of Mars – The latest from Jennifer L. Holm (Babymouse, Squish, and Sunny graphic novel series, The Fourteenth Goldfish – ♥♥♥♥♥). All the adults in Bell’s colony on Mars fall ill with a virus, leaving Bell and the rest of the kids to uncover the truth and save their families. This is going to be fantastic! I can’t wait to read it.
Meow or Never – Part of the WISH line from Scholastic. When Avery gets talked into singing in the school musical and her stage fright threatens to get the best of her, a stray cat tucked away backstage could be the help she needs – as long as no one finds it.
The Sea in Winter – Maisie struggles with her anxieties and dark mood when an injury keeps her from ballet training and auditions.
Star Wars The High Republic: A Test of Courage – One of three new books out today launching the new Star Wars High Republic line of stories that take place 200 years before The Phantom Menace. When the cruiser they are in is bombed, a new Jedi Knight, the young inventor she is supervising, a Padawan, and an ambassador’s son escape in a shuttle, but they have few supplies, and communications are down. I’ll be talking more about this one soon.
Star Wars The Mandalorian Junior Novel – A junior novel of season one of The Mandalorian.
Unplugged – The son of a tech billionaire dropped off at a device-free camp for the summer notices the adults acting strangely. But his reputation as a spoiled troublemaker makes it hard for him to get any of the other kids to take him seriously. In my opinion, you can never go wrong with a book from Gordon Korman!
The World Between Blinks – Two cousins following their late grandmother’s map find themselves in a magical world where lost things – and people – wind up, and where someone wants to keep them from getting back home.
Baseball’s Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues (Older Middle Grade) – The story of the first and only woman inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Fascinating!!
History Smashers: Pearl Harbor – Explore little-known truths behind the attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath.
Race Against Time: The Untold Story of Scipio Jones and the Battle to Save Twelve Innocent Men  (Older Middle Grade) – A self-taught attorney who had been born enslaved steps up to defend twelve sharecroppers wrongfully sentenced to death. Sounds like an excellent addition to history collections.
Trailblazers: Lin-Manuel Miranda: Raising Theater to New Heights – A biography of the creator of Hamilton.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

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The Awakening of Malcolm X – An historical novel about Malcolm X’s adolescence in jail written by his daughter in cooperation with Tiffany D. Jackson (Monday’s Not Coming – ♥♥♥♥½)
Court of Swans – Book 1 in a new Christian historical fiction series for teens and young adults. When her father, an earl, dies, Delia watches his wife accuse her seven brothers of treason and murder just as Richard II is executing anyone who could be a threat to the throne. Delia is their only hope, and a captain of the guard who finds the situation fishy agrees to help her.
Happily Ever Afters – A young writer who has rarely seen herself in a romance novel writes the characters she longs for into her own stories. But when she is accepted into a prestigious creative writing program, Tessa’s words dry up. Her best friend is convinced that the solution is Tessa finding a real life romance of her own.
House of El: The Shadow Threat (Graphic Novel) – First in a new graphic novel series about Superman’s home planet of Krypton. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
Influence – From the author of Pretty Little Liars. Four young women enjoying their moments in the spotlight have no idea they are on the verge of watching everything fall apart.
Monsters Among Us – After one semester of college, Catherine is dealing with the fleeting memories of a night she’s not sure she wants to remember. Days later someone close to her is killed. Then a stranger shows up with clues to the night Catherine can’t quite remember – and to the murder. But what is his angle, and is he actually trying to help?
One of the Good Ones – When Happi’s sister, Kezi, is killed after a social justice rally, she becomes another icon in the fight against police brutality. But Happi and her other sister, Genny, want to remember the real Kezi, not the idealized version in the news. So they set off on a road trip to honor her in their own way.
The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss – By senior year, Evie has worked on her anxiety enough that she might just be ready to enter the national math and physics competition AND to flirt back with the new boy at school. She has no idea her best friend Caleb is in love with her, and he is devastated watching her meet cute with the new guy, so he uses an online forum to get her attention without revealing his identity. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Roman and Jewel – Roman and Jewel is the new hip-hop take on Romeo and Juliet, and Jerzie is desperate to play the lead. She will have to settle for being Cinny’s understudy. And falling in love with the male lead is definitely a no-no. Especially when Cinny has decided she wants him too.
Jesus for You: The Ultimate Answer to Your Deepest Needs (Teen Bible Study) – A Bible study over 8 sessions based on the author’s new book releasing next week.

Books for Adults – Fiction

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Active Defense (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Danger Never Sleeps series. A former field surgeon is on the run from a dangerous stalker while a security expert has been tailing her for weeks, watching her back.
Blood Heir (Trade Paperback, January 8) – First in the Kate Daniels World series, a spinoff of the Kate Daniels series. A woman with a new name, new face, and new magic returns to an Atlanta drifting towards apocalypse in order to save her adoptive mother, Kate Daniels.
City of Schemes (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Counterfeit Lady series. Elizabeth and Gideon’s wedding is in jeopardy from Elizabeth’s past, but she’s also trying to help a wealthy friend who may be the target of a con.
A Double Dose of Love (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Amish Mail-Order Bride series. Impulsive Darla travels to Birch Creek in search of a husband while her responsible twin, Amanda, promises to bring her back home. Darla meets reckless Zeke, and his twin, Zeb, teams up with Amanda to protect their siblings from one another. This sounds convoluted but fun!
Joint Custody (Trade Paperback) – A dog in the midst of a custody battle ups the ante to get his owners to see they still belong together. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Killer Comfort Food (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. Angie is investigating the case of a missing woman with ties to the soybean processing plant that is trying to edge her out of her Nona’s farm.
Say I Do (Trade Paperback) – A collection of wedding stories from Rachel Hauck, Becky Wade, and Kate Ganshert. All three stories have previously been published in other collections, so be sure to check the titles carefully.
Star Trek Picard: The Dark Veil (Hardcover) – Following the novel The Last Best Hope comes this new Picard-era story starring Will and Deanna Riker and the crew of the Titan. This is at the top of my wish list for the month!
Star Wars The High Republic: Light of the Jedi (Hardcover) – The first adult novel of the High Republic era of Star Wars (taking place 200 years before The Phantom Menace). In the golden age of the Republic, the Jedi are called in to deal with a hyperspace disaster which signals something sinister in the works.

Books for Adults – Nonfiction

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100 Days of Prayer (Devotional Journal) – A devotional with dot grid space on the facing page for journaling or art. Part of the series by Shanna Noel.
Book of Genesis Study Guide AND Book of Romans Study Guide (The Passion Translation – Trade Paperback) – Two new studies related to the Passion translation of the Bible.
Depression, Anxiety and Other Things We Don’t Want to Talk About (Trade Paperback) – A Christian exploration of mental health and mental illness.
Elijah: Faith and Fire (Paperback Study Guide) – A new Bible study from Priscilla Shirer.
Fighting Forward: Your Nitty-Gritty Guide to Beating the Lies that Hold You Back (Trade Paperback) – Essay collection of Christian thinking on stress management, empowerment, and pushing through hard times.
Healthy Keto Air Fryer Cookbook: 100 Delicious Low-Carb and Fat-Burning Recipes (Paperback) – Keto-friendly recipes for your air fryer.
How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice (Hardcover) – The latest from Jemar Tisby, the author of The Color of Compromise. Move beyond conversations about racism and into action against it. There is also a study guide that will be available in April.
Sacred Tears: Simple Reminders that God Sees You and Loves You (Hardcover) – Essay collection with art, photography, prayers, and scripture for weary souls.

It’s the last week of January – how did we get here so quickly?! Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

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Hard Work, But It’s Worth It: The Life of Jimmy Carter – Picture book biography of the 39th President.
Ready to Fly: How Sylvia Townsend Became the Bookmobile Ballerina – The true story of Sylvia Townsend who fell in love with the ballet when she saw Swan Lake on TV. There weren’t dance schools that would take her in the 1950s, but a local librarian on the bookmobile helped her find books where she could teach herself the basics. This sounds amazing!
Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit – The story of how Beatrix Potter used the money from her writing to protect the countryside that inspired her books.
Minnie Tales – Five Level 1 stories starring Minnie Mouse.
Sea Sheep – Pre-Level 1 reader about some silly swimming sheep.
The Amazing Adventures of Batman: The Terrible Twos! (February 1) – Batman and his cousin Batwoman team up against Two-Face.
DC Super Hero Adventures: Batman and the Ultimate Riddle, Justice League and the False Destiny,  Superman and the Apokolips Attack, AND Wonder Woman and the Pandora Plot (February 1) – Various DC Comics hero stories in early chapter book format.
Zach & Zoe Mysteries: The Hall of Fame Heist – Book 7 in the Zach and Zoe Mystery series. Something goes missing from the Baseball Hall of Fame while the kids are there for a field trip.
You Can Do It Yasmin! – Four stories starring Yasmin.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Confessions of a Dork Lord – The son of the Dark Lord is stuck in remedial classes in Middle Ages School where the bullies call him “dork lord.”
Slamdown Town – The two sons of a wrestling legend long to follow in their mother’s footsteps. But the younger son is built more like his dad, and his dreams of winning wrestling glory for his mom’s sake seem out of reach. But when his big brother forces him to chew the gum of an old wrestler, Ollie discovers it will transform him into a brawny wrestler. This sound so fun!
Starfell: Willow Moss and the Lost Day – While Willow’s magic has always seemed small and insignificant in her family, she’s the one the most feared witch in Starfell seeks out. Willow finds lost things – and last Tuesday is missing. This sounds amazing!
The Story Seeker: A New York Public Library Book – Book 2 in the Story Collector series. A twelve-year-old girl who lives in the New York Public Library and dreams of being a reporter wants to enter a writing contest. But a case of writer’s block and several distracting issues at the library threaten to derail her.
That’s What Friends Do – A friend dynamic changes dramatically when a comfortable pair pick up a third. While the new kid’s behavior towards Samantha makes her uncomfortable, David only sees it as confident flirting which makes him want to make his own move since he has developed feelings for Sammie. Soon things go wrong, and the kids are left trying to figure out where to go from here. There’s an emphasis here on consent and boundaries that make me wonder if this is something along the lines of Maybe He Just Likes You. Important conversations for kids these days!
When You Trap a Tiger – When a Korean girl’s grandmother falls sick, a magical tiger approaches her with a deal – return what her grandmother took from the tiger in exchange for her grandmother’s health. But deals with tigers are rarely what they seem to be on the surface.
Blood Countess – YA horror story about a girl who starts out as a maid, but is elevated to a paid position for the Blood Countess. While she falls under the Countess’s influence, she doesn’t notice that she has become a prisoner. When people start to die, she has to wonder if she might be next.
A Castle in the Clouds – A hotel intern finds herself in the middle of a mystery when the aging hotel where she works plays host to a New Year’s Eve ball.
Don’t Read the Comments – Two teens meet through the game Reclaiming the Sun. Divya is a rising star who goes by the name D1V. She uses her sponsorships to pay for everyday living expenses for her and her mom. Aaron is already writing games for a local developer even though his mom would rather he become a doctor like her. When trolls start to invade Reclaiming the Sun, and then take their trouble to the real world, doxxing and threatening gamers, Divya decides she is not going down without a fight.
Hostile Territory – Four teen campers are stranded in the Alaskan wilderness when an earth quake destroys their base camp. As they take inventory of their supplies and options, there are signs that this natural disaster has maybe launched a political one. The America they are trying to return to may not be the same one they left.
How to Build a Heart – After years of frequent moves and losses, Izzy’s family has a real chance to find some permanence. They have qualified for a Habitat for Humanity home in their new community. While Izzy has kept her scholarship status a secret from the kids at school and her boyfriend, those secrets are about to come out and unravel everything that was finally coming together for her family.
Almost American Girl (Graphic Novel Memoir) – A Korean girl finds herself in a life she never expected when a vacation to Alabama becomes a permanent move as her mother gets married. Struggling in a foreign culture where she doesn’t know her new “family” or the language, a comics drawing class could be the one thing that redeems all the struggles she has been facing.

Books for Adults

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Book of Candlelight (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society mystery series. When a local Cherokee artisan is found dead, Nora and the sheriff don’t think it was accidental. So the Secret, Book, and Scone Society start investigating.
Buried to the Brim (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in Jenn McKinlay’s Hat Shop Mystery series. When murder strikes at the annual dog show, Scarlett and Vivian go “undercover” to investigate and protect a friend who is the prime suspect. I have been itching to start this series for awhile now!
Claw Enforcement (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Second Chance Cat Mystery series. Sarah and her friends are investigating again when someone dies at an event to celebrate a redevelopment project at the harbor.
Death Comes to the Nursery (Hardcover) – Book 7 in the Kurland St Mary Mystery series. Lucy is looking to expand her nursery staff when she discovers she is pregnant again. She agrees to hire her current nurse’s cousin, Polly. But Polly’s presence provokes a slew of trouble, including her eventual death. Lucy and Robert suspect foul play.
Field Guide to Homicide (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Cat Latimer Mystery series. On a writer’s retreat hike, Cat’s retreat group stumbles across a body. Her boyfriend Seth recognizes the man, but he thought the man had already died.
A Girls’ Guide to the Outback (Trade Paperback) – A struggling youth pastor leaves ministry and returns home to Australia to help his sister with her dairy farm. When his ministry nemesis tries to coax him back, he makes her a deal – she comes out to Australia to apply her start-up expertise to the farm and he will reconsider his future with the church.
Headliners (Mass Market Paperback) – Two rival TV hosts are thrown together to lead a failing morning show. As if their interpersonal issues weren’t problematic enough, someone is trying to sabotage the show.
Highfire (Hardcover) – Vern, the last dragon alive, is hiding out in the swamps of Louisiana, drowning his sorrows in vodka. A kid called Squib sees a crooked cop kill his boss. He’s about to be eliminated himself when Vern rescues him. So the two strike a deal – Vern protects Squib from the guy who wants to kill him and Squib will be his runner and interface with the human world. But the cop is determined to silence Squib permanently. This sounds AMAZING!
Journaled to Death (Hardcover) – First in a new series. A woman and her teenage daughter who create journaling content on their social media channels hear a noise in the house and find their renter dead. Now they are the prime suspects for his murder.
Lipstick and Lies (e-book) – Book 2 in the Murder in Style series. When her neighbor – an attractive firefighter – is found standing over the dead body of his ex, Jenna can’t help but start investigating when it seems obvious he’s been set up. At the time of this writing, this is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Marriage, Merlot & Murder (e-book) – Book 4 in the Wine and Dine Mysteries series. Emmy is thrilled to be hosting the first wedding at her family’s vineyard. But when the groom is killed moments before the ceremony, all of her perfect plans disappear as her business becomes a crime scene. This series sounds terrific!
Marriage on Madison Avenue (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the fantastic Central Park Pact series. Audrey and Clarke have been best friends since childhood. And best friends will generally do anything for one another – even agree to a fake engagement to keep Clarke’s matchmaking mother off his back. But their fake relationship starts to heat up in very real ways as the fake wedding date approaches. I have been waiting for this book for months! It’s the top book for my wish list this month.
Mortal Music (Trade Paperback) – Book 7 in the Silver Rush Mysteries series. Inez agrees to be an accompanist for opera diva Theia Drake as a way to help out her struggling music store, but it quickly becomes apparent that someone wants Theia dead.
Parable of the Sower Graphic Novel Adaptation (Hardcover) – Octavia Butler’s famous Parable of the Sower is now in graphic novel format.
Playing the Devil (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Bridge to Death Mystery series. Investigative reporter and bridge player Wendy Winchester is investigating a murder once again when the husband of one of her new bridge club members is found dead.
The Romeo Effect (e-book) – Cupids, book 3. (This sounds like the movie Hitch.) Seth Harding engineers meet-cutes for a living, helping people find love. But when a failed match brings out some sparks between Seth and the matchee, can they find true love when he specializes in fake starts?
Shall We Dance (Trade Paperback) – A cop loses a bet with his buddies and has to take dance lessons. Then he meets the beautiful studio owner who just discovered she has two sisters and invited them into her home and into her life. Could two people with plenty of life changes and obstacles to overcome find love?
Statue of Limitations (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new series by Kate Collins – the Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series. A woman moves home after her divorce to raise her son and help her family out at their garden center. But there’s a dispute over a valuable statue her grandfather picked up at an estate sale – and a powerful family connected to the statue wants to bulldoze the whole area around the garden center to build condos. I love that Kate Collins has a new series launching, and that it is launching in mass market paperback format. This will be a definite purchase for me.
Then, Now, Always (Mass Market Paperback) – When her teenage daughter Samantha runs into legal trouble for something she didn’t do, Maya can’t think of anyone else to go to but her ex, Samantha’s father. Only, he doesn’t know he has a daughter. I will be picking this one up too! I love stories like this.
View to a Kilt (Hardcover) – Book 13 in the Liss MacCrimmon Mystery series. As the snow thaws, Liss’ husband finds a body on their property. Not only has the man been murdered, but he turns out to be Liss’ uncle – a man everyone thought died in Vietnam.
A Century of Votes for Women: American Elections Since Suffrage (Paperback – January 30) – A look at women voters in American politics over the last 100 years.
From Lost to Found: Giving Up What You Think You Want for What Will Set You Free (Trade Paperback) – The author shares her personal journey while also helping readers identify what they fear losing and how to find the freedom God wants to provide for them.
Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts (Hardcover) – The latest book from IF: Gathering founder Jennie Allen is an exploration and solution for toxic thinking. There will be a Bible study of Philippians to go with this which releases this spring. I am so excited to attend her tour for this book later this year. It’s going to be amazing.
Harry Potter Knitting Magic (Hardcover) – Includes official patterns for 25 items including house scarves and Mrs. Weasley’s Christmas sweaters.
Me and White Supremacy (Hardcover) – A 28-day workbook for self-examination to discover and root out white supremacy. I will be reviewing this later this week – I got to read an early copy – and I’ll be spending February (Black History month) doing the daily reading and writing work.
The Smoke Shop’s Backyard BBQ: Eat, Drink and Party like a Pitmaster (Hardcover) – January isn’t a great time to talk about grilling, at least not in the parts of the world experiencing winter, but the recipes in here sound amazing, and I’m sure there are suggestions and dishes you can enjoy year round.

Today in America we are honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr for his work in the area of Civil Rights. We still have so far to go, but I am grateful for the ground gained in the last 60 years.

Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids

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Grow, Candace, Grow – A second picture book from Hallmark movie star Candace Cameron Bure, this one about a little girl who wants a garden to grow faster.
Lawrence, the Bunny Who Wanted to Be Naked – Lawrence’s mother always dresses him in interesting clothes, but he would rather run naked like other bunnies.
Swim Swim Sink – What are ducklings to do when the last one in the line sinks when she should swim? I can’t wait to see this one in person.
Althea Gibson: The Story of Tennis’ Fleet-of-Foot Girl – Picture Book biography
Earth Hour: A Lights-Out Event for Our Planet – Describes a world-wide event where everyone turns off non-essential electricity for one hour.
Bug Dipping, Bug Sipping – Explore the world of bugs.
The Adventures of Allie and Amy: The Best Friend Plan – First in a new series. The girls make plans together for their summer before finding out one of them is going to be going away to camp.
Little Goddess Girls: Aphrodite and the Gold Apple – Book 3 in the series. Aphrodite hopes Zeus will give her the gift of likability so she can be a better friend, but at the same time she finds a magical gold apple and keeps it a secret from the other girls.
Mack Rhino, Private Eye: The Big Race Lace Case – Mack is about to investigate his 100th case!
Pet Rescue Adventures: The Loneliest Kitten AND The Puppy Who Couldn’t Sleep – New additions to the Pet Rescue Adventures series.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Catherine’s War – Inspired by a true story. A girl records her life with a camera while everything changes – her name, her home, her future – because of the Nazi occupation of France.
Green Lantern: Legacy – A new DC graphic novel. When a teen inherits his grandmother’s jade ring he discovers the Green Lantern Corps.
The Mystwick School of Musicraft – When a girl bombs her audition to get in to a music school that teaches magic, they offer her a second chance, but only on a trial basis. She is determined to stay, even if it means pretending to be someone she isn’t. But it might just be that as herself she is exactly what the school needs.
The Runaway Princess (Graphic Novel) – A bored princess leaves her home in search of adventure.
Sunnyside Plaza – A woman with developmental disabilities living in a group home/community center decides to help investigate some suspicious deaths at the home. This is an unusual premise for a middle grade story. I’m curious about this one!
The Hand on the Wall – The third and final book in the Truly Devious series. Stevie has solved the mystery of Truly Devious, but three people are already dead. Missing and dead folks, both in the past and the present, mean there are plenty of questions and puzzles for Stevie to investigate. But when a massive storm approaches and the Academy is evacuated, Stevie stays behind to confront a murderer and settle things once and for all.
Layoverland – After the worst day ever, where she betrayed her beloved little sister, Beatrice wakes up in purgatory after a fatal accident. In order to get to heaven she will have to help 5,000 other people figure out what is keeping them from moving into eternity. This is so quirky I have to check it out!
Not So Pure and Simple – A teen who spots his first opportunity to connect with his longtime crush inadvertently signs on to a purity pledge at their church. His friend thinks he’s crazy, but he’s determined to make his move and somehow get the girl.
Rogue Princess – “A gender-swapped sci-fi retelling of Cinderella.” Yes, please! A princess determined to find love steals a spaceship to flee an arranged marriage and discovers a handsome stowaway inside.
Spell Hacker – While this was supposed to be their last magic heist, Diz and her friends discover not only a new strain of magic more powerful than anyone has ever seen but also a conspiracy about what led their world into the situation they are in. This sounds fascinating! (LGBTQ+)
Tweet Cute – Daughter of the family that runs a huge fast food chain – Big League Burger – manages their immensely popular Twitter account. The son of the family that runs the local deli feels like Big League Burger has stolen a family recipe used in their store. When he takes to Twitter to get justice, his Twitter feud goes viral. The teens have no idea, though, who they are battling on Twitter or that they are also communicating on an anonymous chat app – and falling for each other. I can not WAIT to read this one!
Wardens of Eternity – The last descendant of Egyptian royalty must learn to harness her magic, leverage her relationship with the Egyptian gods, and fight Hitler’s Nazis who want her power for themselves. Amazing!
What I Carry – A girl about to age out of foster care has learned to keep her distance from anything she might not be able to take with her due to the transitory nature of her life – that especially includes people. But in her last year before “freedom” she meets some people who could change her thinking about relationships and keeping to herself. I  asked the library for this one weeks ago!

Books for Adults

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Careless Whiskers (Hardcover) – Book 12 in the Cat in the Stacks mystery series. Diesel and Charlie are sleuthing again when Charlie’s daughter is the prime suspect in a murder.
A Case for the Winemaker (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Ainsley McGregor series. Ainsley has put everything into her new business venture, an artisan market. Everything is going well – until she finds the dead body. Her best friend is a suspect and her brother the sheriff doesn’t want her help. But Ainsley is determined to find out who done it.
Entitled to Kill (e-book) – Book 2 of the St Marin’s Cozy Mystery series. A bookstore owner stumbles across a body at the local farm-to-table shop.
Loki: The God Who Fell to Earth (Graphic Novel) – A comics collection starring a resurrected Loki, sent to Midgard to be “Earth’s Mightiest Hero.” When he seeks out Tony Stark for some advice, he finds that Tony hasn’t forgotten all the problems Loki caused in the past. This sounds fun!
The Protective One (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Walnut Creek series. A young Mennonite woman breaks off her engagement, riling her family. But her decision means she is open to true love and a purpose she might not have found otherwise. This sounds fantastic!
A Queen in Hiding (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Nine Realms series, with new books releasing monthly. An orphaned princess in exile must learn to master her magic, inspire an army of rebels, and wrest her throne back from the corrupt aristocracy that stole it from her.
Fight of the Century: Writers Reflect on 100 Years of Landmark ACLU Cases (Hardcover) – Original pieces inspired by ACLU cases.
Jesus, Friend of My Soul: Reflections for the Lenten Journey (Trade Paperback) – A book of reflections/meditations for Lent.
Jesus: The God Who Knows Your Name (Hardcover) – The latest from Max Lucado focuses on the life of Jesus, his interactions with others, and the rhythm of his earthly life.