Tag: July New Releases

Happy July! Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids – Board Books and Picture Books

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My Little Super Hero Word Book (Board Book) – This darling board book introduces little “readers” to DC heroes and words that describe them like smart, strong and fast.
Beware the Flerken! – This hilarious new picture book stars Goose the Flerken from Captain Marvel. I can not wait to read the whole thing – the sample pages I have seen are fantastic!
Finding François: A Story of the Healing Power of Friendship – Alice, a piglet, in need of a friend, puts a message in a bottle which finds François, a dog. Over time, the friends correspond through bottle messages, but after a big life change, Alice can’t bring herself to send François another message. I want to see this in person to read about what happens to Alice.
I Got the School Spirit – From the author of I Got the Rhythm and I Got the Christmas Spirit comes a book about a girl who is ready to start a new school year.
Princess Power – On the first day at a new school, a girl thinks, “What would a princess do?”
Star Trek Alphabet Book – The latest Star Trek book from Little Golden Books.
Superhero vs. School – A young superhero tackles the fears that come with the first day of school.
We Will Rock Our Classmates – A sequel to the outstanding We Don’t Eat Our Classmates (♥♥♥♥♥). This time, Penelope the dinosaur is participating in the school talent show. This is at the top of my wish list for this week.
Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist – The story of Mary Anning’s dinosaur find. This looks amazing!
How to Write a Story – The sequel to How to Read a Story by super-author Kate Messner. Covers the steps for writing a story, from coming up with an idea to creating conflict for your character. A terrific addition to elementary classrooms and writing spaces.
If You Want a Friend in Washington: Wacky, Wild & Wonderful Presidential Pets – Picture book exploring the pets who have resided in the White House.

Books for Kids – Early Readers and Early Chapter Books

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Batman: Harley at Bat! – A new Early Reader starring Harley Quinn. Includes stickers.
Wonder Woman: Three Big Bullies! – Wonder Woman goes up against Giganta and other big villains in this new Early Reader with stickers.
WW84: Destined for Greatness – A new Early Reader tied to the new Wonder Woman movie coming out… eventually. Includes pictures from the movie. Young Diana competes for the first time in the Amazon Games.
13th Street: Battle of the Bad Breath Bats AND The Fire- Breathing Ferret Fiasco AND Clash of the Cackling Cougars – The first three books in a new Early Chapter Book series about three cousins who find a street populated by dangerous beasts.
Baby-Sitters Little Sister: Karen’s Roller Skates (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in this graphic novel spin-off series. Karen is excited to use her new skates, but she falls and breaks her wrist.
The Bad Guys: Dawn of the Underlord – Book 11 in the Bad Guys series – The guys are about to celebrate a recent victory when they make a discovery.
The Binder of Doom: Hydrant-Hydra – Binder of Doom, book 4. The kids think they are teaming up against a hot monster, but it’s a water monster instead.
Diary of a Pug: Paws for a Cause – Diary of a Pug, book 3, from Scholastic BRANCHES.  Bub and his human hold a fundraiser to buy toys for the animal shelter – a pet wash!
Dragon’s Halloween – Dragon is getting ready for Halloween in this new book from Scholastic ACORN.
Magic Tree House: Late Lunch with Llamas – Book 34 in the newly-renumbered Magic Tree House series. Jack and Annie climb Machu Picchu to rescue a stolen baby llama.
Magic Tree House Fact Tracker: Llamas and the Andes – The nonfiction companion book to Late Lunch with Llamas.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

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After the Worst Thing Happens – When Army’s dog dies, she knows it’s an accident, but she also knows it was her fault. She takes her grief and turns it into action by watching out for a new kid in the neighborhood.
Dress Coded (Older Middle Grade) – An eighth grader starts a podcast to protest an unfair dress code at her school that targets girls for things that are outside their control. This is also at the top of my wish list for this week.
Elements of Genius: Nikki Tesla and the Traitors of the Lost Spark – Book 3 in the Elements of Genius series. I got such a kick out of the first book! In this book, Genius Academy is under attack, and Nikki and her friends need to clear their names in order to get their school back when they take the blame for an international incident. I am a book behind, but I’m looking forward to getting caught up on Nikki’s adventures.
Seekers of the Wild Realm – First of two books about two kids who secretly care for a baby dragon while an enemy stirs up trouble for their village.
Upside Down Magic: Hide and Seek – Book 7 in the Upside Down Magic series. This time, Nory and her friends have to leave their magic school because of flooding and go instead to her dad’s magic school – the one she wasn’t good enough to attend. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Black Heroes: A Black History Book for Kids: 51 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day USA – This is a gorgeous book of biographies of Black figures in history including Egyptian pharaohs and African tribal leaders as well as modern scientists and athletes. The layout is an illustrated picture on the left and the biography on the right. The sample pages are beautiful. At the time of this writing, this book is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers. This one is on my list for this week, too.
History Smashers: The Mayflower AND Women’s Right to Vote – Even more books by Kate Messner are on our list this week! The History Smashers series kicks off this week with two books about the Mayflower and Women’s Suffrage. There will be a third book out this fall on Pearl Harbor.
I Am Not a Label: 34 Artists, Thinkers, Athletes and Activists with Disabilities from Past and Present – Another biography collection, although I haven’t yet seen any pages to tell you how the book is laid out. I love the idea of this. This would be a great addition to classroom libraries looking to add diversity to the shelves as well as to conversations about history and historical figures.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

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Accidental – A teen discovers her role in the death of her mother, something she had always been told was a car accident.
Cinderella Is Dead (LGBTQ+) – Two hundred years after Cinderella had her magical night at the ball, the kingdom’s young women must appear at a similar event where they are ogled and selected by the men of the kingdom. The girls who go unchosen are never seen again. One young woman flees from the ball and meets the last descendant of Cinderella’s family, and together they hatch a plot to bring down the king once and for all. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Daphne and Velma: The Dark Deception – Book 2 in the Daphne and Velma series based on characters from Scooby-Doo. This time the girls are looking into what happened to the original settlers of Crystal Cove.
Faith Taking Flight – From the author of Dumplin‘. An origin story of Faith Herbert/Zephyr, a character from Valiant Entertainment comics.
Girl, Serpent, Thorn – A princess cursed to be poisonous to touch looks for answers from a demon in the palace dungeon and for love from a young man who isn’t afraid of her.
Love, Jacaranda – A foster kid with a mother in jail gets the chance at a new life when a video of her singing goes viral.
Not Another Love Song – A high school senior enters a songwriting contest for her idol, but when a new guy shows up at school, she might have to choose between her musical dreams and a chance at love.
A Peculiar Peril – First in a new series. A teen who inherits a mansion discovers a path to an alternate Earth called Aurora.  As the teen discovers his place in a society tasked with keeping Earth and Aurora separate, evil comes for him and his friends.
The Princess Will Save You – When the stable-boy she loves is kidnapped to force her into a political marriage, a princess fights back. This is on my list for this week.
The Voting Booth – When a teen passionate about voting and civil engagement sees another teen turned away at the polls, she drops everything to help him get his vote counted.
Into the Streets: A Young Person’s Visual History of Protest in the United States – A survey of historical protests in the life of the United States.

Books for Adults

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The Backpacking Bride (July 10 – e-book) – Book 3 in the Backpacking Housewife series. When her fiancé dies during the final moments of their wedding ceremony, Maya’s life is upended. She responds by setting off on the honeymoon he planned for them. I have this on my list for this week, too.
Boyfriend Material (Trade Paperback – LGBTQ+) – Two young men in need of dates – one who actually needs a whole new reputation – agree to pretend to date to deal with their individual issues. But spending all that time together in a fake relationship has a way of starting to feel real after awhile.
Christmas in Bayberry (Trade Paperback) – From Hallmark Publishing. A guy sent to check out a small candle company in his home town for his job runs into his old crush, whose family runs the struggling candle company.
Haunted Heroine (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Heroine Complex series. Evie and Aveda go undercover to investigate a series of “hauntings” at a local women’s college. It gives Evie, who has mixed feelings about her pregnancy, a chance to see what her life might have been like if she had stayed in grad school instead of becoming a demon-fighting superhero.
The Heir Affair (Hardcover) – Sequel to The Royal We. Bex and Prince Nicholas are in self-imposed exile after their disastrous wedding ceremony. Everyone is furious with them and the paparazzi can’t wait to see what disaster happens next. A crisis calls the new couple back home where they must deal with not only the new issues, but also with the fall out they left behind the first time.
Muzzled (Hardcover) – Book 21 in the terrific Andy Carpenter series. Andy receives a call for help from a friend who is contacted by a dead man looking for his dog. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
Not Like the Movies (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Waiting for Tom Hanks series. (Waiting for Tom Hanks: ♥♥♥♥) Annie used her best friend Chloe and Chloe’s boss, Nick, as inspiration for her movie which is about to release. But Chloe isn’t certain her real life will have a happy ending like the one in the movie. You can read my full review here.
Of Mutts and Men (Hardcover) – Book 10 in the Chet & Bernie Mystery series. Chet and Bernie find a potential new client dead before they can find out why the man wanted to meet. Even though they aren’t being paid, they start to investigate the murder.
One to Watch (Trade Paperback) – A plus-size fashion blogger gets a call to star in the next season of her favorite reality dating show. She agrees with the stipulation that she will not be falling in love. She is doing this to advance her career and show that you don’t have to be a size 0 to find love on television. But the swoony suitors and the emotional highs and lows of the show could push her to give love a chance. This is on my list, too.
You Again (Hardcover) – A married woman with a career and kids is haunted by sightings of her younger self which leaves her questioning her choices as her life barrels towards a crossroads.
The Book of Isaiah 12- Week Study Guide (Trade Paperback) – Part of the Passionate Life Bible Study series. Discover God’s love through the book of Isaiah. I haven’t yet seen how this is structured, but looking at the structure of the study of the book of John shows thought questions even for the introductory material like authorship and themes. The study of John looks very thorough. I have this one on my list for the future.
Say It Louder!: Black Voters, White Narratives, and Saving Our Democracy (Hardcover) – Look at the impact of Black voters on the 2018 midterm elections as well as historical moments of Black impact as well as efforts to shut down Black voters.

Around here, our public schools are back into the swing of things, which seems so hard to believe. Maybe you need a new book to sooth the back-to-school-blues! Or maybe you are a work/stay-at-home parent who is celebrating – you need a new book too!

Books for Kids

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Tallulah the Tooth Fairy CEO – Tallulah knows everything the manual says about being an amazing tooth fairy. But what happens when something comes up that is NOT in the manual?
Bruce Lee – Picture book biography.
Game for Life: John Madden AND Michael Strahan AND Troy Aikman – New Early Reader biographies of big names in the NFL.
Bee the Change – Book 3 in the Big Idea Gang series of early chapter books. This time the kids are trying to show their peers how important bees are to the environment.
Dodging Dinosaurs – Book 4 in the BRANCHES Time Jumpers series. This time the kids jump back to the prehistoric era with the help of a dinosaur egg.
Let’s Play, Crabby! – Book 2 in the Crabby series from ACORN, an early chapter book series from Scholastic. I adored the first book, so I am eager to check this one out and read how Plankton tries to get Crabby to play a game.
Sadiq and the Desert Star (August 1) – First in a new transitional chapter book series. In this book, Sadiq looks for other kids who might like space as much as he does and want to help him start a space club. This looks great! The book includes information about Somalia and Somali terms used in the story. The first four books in the series all release this week.
Snow Place Like Home – Diary of an Ice Princess, book 1. An ice princess longs to go to non-magical school with her best friend.
Tabby and the Catfish – Book 3 in the Kitten Kingdom series for kids venturing into chapter books. Tabby and her brothers have to find the stolen Torch of Peace if the kingdom is going to be able to enjoy the Peace Parade.
Trip to the Pumpkin Farm – Book 11 in the always delightful Owl Diaries series from Scholastic and BRANCHES. Eva and her friends get to solve a mystery at the pumpkin patch.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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For Black Girls Like Me – This is a middle grade novel about a black girl adopted by a white family who wonders what it would feel like to grow up in a family with people who looked like her. I love books that deal with identity – it’s such a big part of growing up.
The Hero Next Door – A collection of short stories about acts of bravery. This could be an awesome classroom read aloud.
Miraculous – A boy who records examples of the miraculous has his faith shaken when his eight-day-old sister dies. This is on my list for this week.
Not If I Can Help It – A girl with strong opinions discovers her strongest one is that she is NOT a fan of her father dating her best friend’s mother.
The Poison Jungle – Book 13 in the Wings of Fire series. This book will dig into the lost tribe of the LeafWings. I can’t wait to see what happens next with this series. I pre-ordered this one months ago.
Return to the Isle of the Lost (Graphic Novel) – The graphic novel version of the second book in the Descendants series.
Shake It Off – A Chicago girl finds herself on a family farm for the summer and everyone seems to think she is a snobby city girl. But when the farm is in trouble, maybe some of her city ideas can make a difference.
Awesome Space Tech: 40 Amazing Infographics for Kids (August 1) – Information about cool space-related technology presented in a graphic format. The sample pages I have seen are gorgeous. This would be a hit in a school or classroom library – or for something to read and look at on a long car ride.
The Merciful Crow – A prince on the run fakes his death and convinces one of the undertaker caste to protect him in exchange for his protection of her people when he is crowned king. I’ve seen this one on a lot of teen fantasy lists for this summer.
Skyjacked – Four teens in a private plane are on their way to New York after a camping trip. But there’s a replacement pilot, one of the kids gets mysteriously sick, and they realize they are heading in the opposite direction from New York. This sounds fantastic! It’s on my list for this week
Truly Madly Royally – A young woman in a prestigious program plans to ignore her pampered peers and focus on her program. But the one guy she clicks with turns out to be an actual prince, who brings more distractions with him than she ever imagined. This looks adorable!
The Year They Fell – Five kids who have grown up together but are virtual strangers are pulled into one another’s orbit when their parents are all killed in the same plane crash. In a lot of ways, they only have each other which means their pasts and their secrets will be drawn out. But they will also have each other when questions arise about the mysteries their parents left behind. I already have this one on hold from the library!! Some triggering topics may be addressed in the course of the novel.

 

Books for Adults

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And Then There Were Crumbs (Mass Market Paperback) – First book in the new Cookie House Mystery series. When Kate loses her restaurant and her fiancé in one fell swoop, it’s time to start over somewhere new. That’s how she ends up working at The Cookie House. But a developer is desperate to get his hands on it, and when he is found dead, the shop owner – and Kate’s new boss – is the prime suspect. This is on my list for this week – sounds terrific!
The Book Charmer (Trade Paperback)  – A librarian and book whisperer has the power to place just the right book into a reader’s hands. And the books have told her that a newcomer could be the savior the town has been needing. This is on my list, too.
The Healing Jar (August 1 – Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Prayer Jars series. An Amish schoolteacher who thinks her last chance for love has passed her by discovers a jar buried in her grandmother’s garden. I have the first book in the series on my TBR shelves.
How to Hack a Heartbreak (Trade Paperback) – A helpdesk tech tired of having her skills overlooked creates her own dating app that helps users track online dating abusers and harassers. I have had this on hold from the library for ages. Can’t wait to dig into it this week!
Knot on Her Life (Mass Market Paperback)  – Book 7 in the Quilting Mystery series. Martha gets distracted from the quilt she is making for her new granddaughter because her neighbor has gotten sick. The woman’s foster daughter needs looking after, but Martha may have to dig up clues to the girl’s parents’ murder in order to keep the girl safe. I haven’t read any books in this series before, but that description makes me want to jump right into this one!
Let’s Fake a Deal (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series. Sarah’s business, and her good name, are in jeopardy when a downsizing job unwittingly turns her into a “fence” for stolen merchandise. When her friend becomes a suspect in a local murder, Sarah’s got her hands full!
Love at First Bark (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Rescue Me series. Ben and Mia have known each other for ages as Mia was married to Ben’s best friend. She has no idea that he has secretly loved her all that time. But now that she is a widow with a young son, Ben feels like he can’t share his feelings with her. Their work at the animal shelter draws them closer together, though, when a dozen border collies are abandoned at a local park. I’ve read book 3 in this series and I enjoyed it. I am looking forward to getting into the rest of the series.
Needled to Death (Mass Market Paperback)  – Book 1 in the new Helping Hands mystery series, a spin-off of the nurse-turned-deputy-coroner Mattie Winston series). Mattie’s friend, social worker Hildy Schneider and her therapy dog get drawn into the details of a murder connected to one of her grief group clients. I love trying out new mystery series. I haven’t read any of the Mattie Winston books, but I might try them if I like this one – two series to try from one book!
Penne Dreadful (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 1 in the new Italian Chef Mystery series. When a local chef’s husband’s death is ruled suspicious, she can’t imagine why someone would have wanted him dead. But she starts looking into the local pizza joint where he was last seen alive to see if she can dig up some clues. Another first-in-a-series I’ll have to check out.
Star Trek Discovery: The Enterprise War (Trade Paperback) – Discover the events that kept Captain Pike and the crew of the Enterprise out of the Federation/Klingon War explored during the first season of Star Trek Discovery. I can’t wait to read this!!
What Lola Wants (e-book) – Book 4 in the Lola Cruz Mystery series. Lola goes undercover at a salsa club that is a possible front for prostitution.
A Dream About Lightning Bugs: A Life of Music and Cheap Lessons (Hardcover) – A memoir from musician and song writer Ben Folds.

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Peek-a-Bruce (Board book) – Bruce’s goslings are ready to play. The latest in the Mother Bruce series, which is delightful.
Ginny Goblin Cannot Have a Monster for a Pet – Ginny has a plan to get the perfect pet!
Look! I Wrote a Book! (And You Can Too!) – The narrator is ready to teach readers all about writing books that are interesting, accurate, and appropriate for their audience. The sample pages I have seen are absolutely fantastic! I can’t wait to read the whole thing!
My Big Dumb Invisible Dragon – A story for children’ dealing with loss. When a boy’s mother passes away, a dragon comes along, following him everywhere. As the boy grieves, his relationship with the dragon changes. The sample pages had me in tears. This is going to be a very powerful book for kids – as well as for adults and professionals helping kids with this difficult and heavy topic.
Turtle and Tortoise Are NOT Friends – Sworn enemies learn they have more in common than they expected.
How to Be Cheeri – Book 3 in the Team Taekwondo chapter book series. While Baeoh (Book 2) has trouble being serious and focused, Cheeri is a classic overachiever who often gets so caught up in her work she forgets to have fun. How will these two ever work together?

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Fate of Earth – The final book in the Space Runners series where the Moon Platoon is trying to stop the war between humans and aliens. Sounds like a fun science fiction series for middle grade readers.
Let Me Fix That for You – Gladys is a middle grade fixer, doing favors in exchange for friendship. But when she tries to use her fixing skills on her parents’ marriage, she gets in over her head. Will she be able to call in some of those favors to help her out? I’m looking forward to reading this one.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man – A graphic novel origin story for Miles Morales.
Red Panda & Moon Bear – A new graphic novel starring a pair of sibling heroes. This is on my list for this week; it’s getting a lot of positive buzz online.
Sunny – Book 14 in the Dog Diaries series, this one based on a true story of a dog on the Titanic.
Code Your Own Website AND Coding With Scratch – New coding books from Basher.
Hello, Crochet Friends! – Jonah Larson caught media attention as a “crochet prodigy.” And now he shares his love of crochet with others in this picture book. Part autobiography (including his adoption story), part instruction manual. First in what will become a series about young people making an impact in the world.
The Arrival of Someday – From one of my favorite middle grade authors, Jen Malone, comes this story of a high school senior whose plans for the future are in jeopardy when she discovers she needs a liver transplant.
Soul of Stars – Book 2 in the Heart of Iron series by Ashley Poston. A crew of misfits search for answers in this science fiction adventure series. I have book 1 on my list at the library.
The Undoing of Thistle Tate – Thistle is only 17, and she’s already a best-selling author. Only one other person knows she isn’t actually the author of the wildly popular Lemonade Skies series. Now that the final  book in the series is going to be turned in, Thistle will be able to leave the lying behind, but secrets have a way of coming out. I have had this on hold at the library for months! I can’t wait to read this.

 

Books for Adults

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The Floating Feldmans (Trade Paperback) – 70-year-old Annette Feldman plans a cruise with her whole family to celebrate her birthday. Family quirks and family secrets mean this is not going to be the celebration Annette had in mind.
Decades: Marvel in the 00s: Hitting the Headlines (Paperback Graphic Novel) – Collects some of the iconic Marvel comics of the 00s.
One Good Deed (Hardcover) – First in a new series from Baldacci, this time starring a war veteran in 1949. Aloysius Archer is an ex-con just trying to  get a fresh start on life, but his job as a “debt collector” for a local businessman puts Archer in the middle of a murder investigation. And an ex-con makes an easy suspect.
Star Wars – Thrawn: Treason (Hardcover) – The third in the Thrawn series from Star Wars. Thrawn struggles to secure his place in the Empire when Krennic’s Death Star project derails Thrawn’s TIE defender program.
The Best Veggie Burgers on the Planet (Paperback) – Look at that cover! This is a revised edition of the earlier book with new recipes and healthier options.  Includes gluten-free recipes.
The Jesus Who Surprises: Opening Our Eyes to His Presence in All of Life and Scripture (Trade Paperback) – Book plus Bible study that looks at Jesus through the scriptures of the Old Testament. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month.
The Middle Matters: Why that (Extra) Ordinary Life Really Looks Good on You (Hardcover) – The author of Never Unfriended (terrific!) brings us a new book this month all about midlife. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month, too.

July is half over, and I can already hear the call of school supply lists. Maybe a new book is just what you need to help you savor the final weeks of summer!

Books for Kids

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Bad Kitty Does NOT Like Thanksgiving – No, she doesn’t like it, she LOVES it. And she will do anything to get her paws on some turkey.
A Boy Like You – Boys are encouraged to lean into all the ways they are unique, to embrace their stories and to listen to the stories of others.
Ultrabot’s First Playdate – The professor is planning a playdate for Ultrabot with the girl next door.
A Royal Ride: Catherine the Great’s Great Invention – Catherine the Great of Russia longs to enjoy the fun of winter ice slides year round. The sample pages I have seen of this look outstanding! And I adore the illustrations.
Dinosaurs: By the Numbers – Kicks off a new nonfiction series of Infographic readers by Steve Jenkins
Llamas – Leveled Reader
Mia Mayhem Breaks Down Walls – Book 4 of the Mia Mayhem series. When Mia’s super strength gets away from her, she’ll have to figure out how to make things right again.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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A Pinch of Phoenix – Series finale for the Mystic Cooking Chronicles series. In a war between elves and scientists. a young master chef is caught in the middle.
Survivor Girl – A girl whose father is a reality-tv survival show star finds herself in a real-life quest for survival.
SW Adventures: Flight of the Falcon (graphic novel) – A First Order spy is on the hunt for the Millennium Falcon.
Where Is the Serengeti?
My Ideal Boyfriend Is a Croissant – When a plus-sized teen on a doctor-ordered diet encounters a personal tragedy, losing weight is the last thing on her mind. But her food diary becomes a place to record her thoughts and feelings about what is happening with her family. I have requested this from the library.
The Infographic Guide to American Government – If you are looking for a way to get a better grasp on American Government – no matter what your age – check out this visual guide. Covers the Revolutionary War and the set up of our government as well as the branches of government, elections and voting, and state and local government.
They Called Us Enemy – A new autobiographical graphic novel from George Takei about World War II.

Books for Adults

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Bark of Night (Hardcover) – Book 19 in the terrific Andy Carpenter series. Andy gets pulled into a murder trial when a dog is surrendered to his vet to be euthanized. I’ll be reviewing this next week.
The Body in Griffith Park (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Anna Blanc historical mystery series. An ex-heiress is employed by the L.A.police department to work with delinquent kids and women in jail, but she really wants to find criminals – including the one who murdered the guy she found in the park. This sounds like a fun series! Book 1 is The Secret Life of Anna Blanc.
Desire and the Deep Blue Sea (e-book) – Book 1 in the new Love Unscripted series. A research librarian finds himself in luck when the girl of his dreams needs a stand in boyfriend for an episode of a tv show. I pre-ordered this weeks ago. I adore the fake-relationship trope in romance books.
A Genuine Fix (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Allie Cobb literary agent mystery series. Allie is the prime suspect when the guy who stood her up for prom is killed. I have book one on my wish list.
The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets (Trade Paperback) – Estranged sisters are drawn together when their mother needs help recovering from a stroke. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe (Hardcover) – A women returns to the town her mother fled in order to bury her grandmother. But while she plans to leave as soon as possible, she is drawn to the town. I picked up a free teaser for the book online, but I haven’t gotten to read it yet.
The Pawful Truth (Hardcover) – Book 11 in the delightful Cat in the Stacks mystery series. This time, Charlie is drawn into a mystery surrounding a history class he is auditing at the college. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week, too.
Sophia Princess Among Beasts (Hardcover) – The latest from James Patterson. A beloved princess fights to protect her kingdom from mythical creatures and an invading army. I don’t read much from Patterson, but I might give this one a shot.
The Wedding Party (Trade Paperback) – The latest from romance author Jasmine Guillory, book 3 in the Wedding Date series. Enemies in the wedding party (both best friends of the bride) spend the night together and then can’t stop thinking about one another. They try to keep up their abrasive banter, but they keep sneaking off when the bride isn’t looking. They are certain the relationship will dissolve once the wedding is over – but what if they don’t want it to?
The Church of Us vs. Them: Freedom From a Faith that Feeds on Making Enemies (Hardcover) – I was recently accused of being divisive by posting an article critical to the current presidential administration. Shouldn’t Christians be able to just get along?  I am eager to read this author’s take on the issue of our conflicted culture and the followers of Christ caught in the middle.
Ferocious Warrior: Dismantle Your Enemy and Rise (Hardcover) – Learn to fight through personal battles like grief, depression, and insecurity by thinking like a warrior. I am eager to check this one out, too. That cover is amazing!

 

Hope you are enjoying some sunny summer weather wherever you are! Here are some new books out this week that you might want to make part of your summer fun. (If you love pet stories, don’t miss the picture books this week!)

Books for Kids

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Cookie AND Elmo (Board Books) – Part of the new Sesame Street Friends series of board books.
Baby’s First Jailbreak (July 11) – Sequel to Baby’s First Bank Heist where Baby Frank tries to rob a bank to get money for a pet. Now Baby Frank has a zoo, but Baby Bruce has opened a rival zoo nearby, and all of Bruce’s animals are unhappy. I can only guess what the “jailbreak” is going to be! This sounds fantastic. I’d love to read both of these.
Grover’s Own Alphabet – Grover bends and contorts his body to make every letter of the alphabet.
Little Unicorn Is Angry AND Little Unicorn Is Scared – A picture book series about strong emotions. When the little unicorn has a strong emotion, his mane changes colors. Books explore breathing techniques to help cope with strong feelings.
Mighty Reader and the Big Freeze – Hugo the Beagle puppy transforms into Mighty Reader whenever his friends run into a reading emergency, like when his friend Barkley freezes up before reading out loud. This sounds ADORABLE!
Not Quite Snow White – Tameika was born to be on stage, but when she tries out for the title roll in a Snow White musical, the other kids mutter about how she is not quite right for the role. I am eager to read this one and see how the author deals with this situation.
The Pawed Piper – A little girl longing for a cat of her own like her grandmother’s beloved Hector sets out dishes of milk and balls of yarn to lure in a pet. But she gets a big surprise when Hector and a bunch of other cats show up – and her neighbors post signs for lost felines. This book is at the top of my picture book wish list. Sounds darling!
A Quieter Story – When a girl starts to write a story about her kitten, he wants one with adventure worthy of a TIGER. But the kitten finds there can be too much of a good thing when he jumps into the more adventurous story she writes.
Truman – Truman the tortoise is alarmed when his Sarah leaves on  a big bus for the first time. Oh my goodness, the sample pages for this are so sweet and endearing. This is another must read for me. Cue heart eyes.
Unicorn Is Maybe Not So Great After All – Sequel to Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great. Unicorn is ready to take the school by storm, but a new rubber band trend has already done that, leaving Unicorn feeling not-so-special.
The Invention Hunters Discover How Machines Work AND Discover How Electricity Works – A new series! The Invention Hunters travel the world looking for cool inventions, and with the help of some great kids they discover things about science. These would be cool in classrooms!
Pete the Cat’s Trip to the Supermarket – In this new leveled reader, Pete and his brother help their dad at the grocery store when he loses his shopping list.
Night of Soldiers and Spies – Book 10 in the terrific Ranger in Time series (like Magic Tree House with a dog). This time Ranger is off to the Revolutionary War to help a kid chosen to be a spy for General Washington.
To the Future, Ben Franklin! – Speaking of Magic Tree House, this is the 32nd Magic Tree House story (I think they launched the Merlin Missions into their own line and re-started the counting.). This time, Jack and Annie meet Ben Franklin, and he is very curious about their tree house.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray – The first book in the new Elements of Genius series that has been described as Oceans 11 meets Spy School. When Nikki’s death ray accidentally blows up her bedroom, she is sent to Genius Academy to learn to channel her ideas. But when her death ray is stolen she’ll have to team up with her fellow geniuses to track down the thief. I can not WAIT to read this one!
School-Tripped – Book 3 in the Babymouse Tales from the Locker series. When Babymouse’s middle school art class heads to the museum for a field trip, Babymouse decides to test her freedoms by exploring the city instead.
Titans – First in a new series from the author of the Pegasus series. When Olympus was destroyed, the Olympians resettled on Titus. And so far the Titans and the Olympians are keeping peace with one another. When a Titan named Astraea and her winged horse, Zephyr discover a human on Titus – something that should be impossible -, it seems he is only the beginning of a plot to unsettle the peace and maybe destroy Titus. I haven’t been this interested in a mythology-related story in a long time! This sounds fantastic.
William Wenton and the Lost City – Book 3 in the William Wenton series. William is a puzzle-solving genius, but when his secret skill was discovered, it set off a series of events that have left William unsure who to trust. This next event will send William to the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean.
Wish on All the Stars – Sequel to See You on a Starry Night.  Three girls who are in the Starry Beach Club look for ways to save their beloved bookmobile. Both of these books sound terrific.
From an Idea to Google AND Lego – Books 3 and 4 in this fun nonfiction series for kids.
Cheshire Crossing – Ever wondered what happened to Dorothy, Alice and Wendy when they get back from their respective adventures? This graphic novel tells that story when the three girls meet at Cheshire Crossing, a boarding school for magical multiverse travelers. They use their world-crossing powers to visit other lands – and leave a heap of trouble in their wake.
The Last Word – It’s 1861. When a young woman discovers her favorite author has died before finishing her favorite series, she coerces her father’s young business partner to help her track down the reclusive author’s whereabouts and try to discover how she planned to end the series.  How fun!
Maybe This Time – A young woman who works for the local florist finds herself at every major event in her small home town. The son of the fancy new chef in town finds himself at all those same events. Will he just be an annoyance keeping her from getting her job done so she can move on to the things that matter in her life – or will he become something more? From author Kasie West.
Past Perfect Life – When a small town Wisconsin girl applies for college, her world comes crumbling down as she discovers her name – and her life – aren’t real.
The Shortest Distance Between Love & Hate – A young woman ready to embrace all the new opportunities of college can’t shake her nemesis – the guy who ruined her life in middle school and the hottie she made out with at her first college party. Now every where she looks, Carter is there, and she can’t get rid of him. Is there a do over available for this college thing?
Stealing Home – A young woman ready to take over her family’s minor league baseball team runs into a snag when she sees the team’s finances. If she teams up with the charming Sawyer Campbell will he help her find sponsors and save the team, or will he be a distraction she actually can’t afford. I’ve heard great things about this one!

 

Books for Adults

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The Bookish Life of Nina Hill (Trade Paperback) – A quiet, bookish woman is living her best, quiet life when she discovers her estranged father has died and left her with a slew of family members who live close enough to expect her to visit – and speak to them. And her trivia nemesis seems to want to see her socially – what is he thinking?.  Is it too late to change her name and go into hiding? I have already requested this from the library.
Crashing the A-List (Trade Paperback) – An unemployed book editor is desperate enough to take a temporary gig cleaning out storage units. Among all the creepy and gross things she finds there, she finds the secret past of a famous British actor. While she tries to assure him she has no interest in cashing in on her find, her attempts go awry and leave him certain she wants to blackmail him. I have this on my list, too.
Hope Rides Again (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Obama Biden Mystery series. While I am personally over  Biden in the political sphere, the idea of these books is still a hoot to me. In this one, the politicians-turned-detectives start sleuthing again when Obama’s prized Blackberry gets stolen and their prime suspect winds up dead.
Peach Clobbered (Hardcover) – First in the new Georgia B&B Mystery series. An ice-cream shop mascot dressed in a penguin costume arrives on Nina’s porch saying his great-aunt pledged to leave him the house. Later, a developer is found dead – in the penguin suit. Did the killer get the wrong man? Nina and the mascot, Harry, team up to track down a killer and protect her new B&B – at least until Harry decides if he is going to contest the sale and his great-aunt’s will. Sounds like a fun series kickoff!
The Queen Con (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Golden Arrow Mystery series. In The Frame-Up, comic book writer, MG Martin deals with someone recreating crimes from her favorite comics. She thought all that was behind her, but the Golden Arrow seems to be back and MG has been called back in by the police to help them track down the supposed hero. When a sting goes sideways, MG and her friends are back to sleuthing. I have book one already – I need to get into it so I can pick this one up!
The Queen’s Advantage (e-book) – Book 2 in the Rogue Queen series by the author of one of my favorite books for 2019, Jessie Mihalik. Queen Samara has worked diligently to keep her Rogue Coalition OUT of interstellar war. But the warring factors refuse to trade with any neutral parties and her people are suffering. Samara’s plans to rescue the kidnapped Kos emperor go sideways and the man she tried to save becomes her partner in evading mercenaries.  And that was just in book one! Now, the emperor wants her to meet his advisors – and help him root out the traitors in his midst. I just bought the first book, and I can’t wait to dig into this series!
Risky Biscuits (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Sugar & Spice Mystery series. Two friends launched a community cookbook publishing business, but their latest fundraiser ends with a dead body. This series sounds so fun! I have book one of this on my list.
All My Friends Have Issues (Trade Paperback) – A faith-based book about finding and keeping friends.
Star Trek Illustrated Handbooks (Hardcover) – Star Trek resources on the original Enterprise NCC-1701 and 1701-A and the Enterprise NCC-1701-D from The Next Generation.
Vegan Comfort Cooking – To be honest, I only put this on the list because of the cover. That looks amazing! I would love to try some of these recipes to do more meat-less meals at home.

Happy July! I hope this week finds you enjoying your summer and, if you are in the US, looking forward to celebrating Independence Day. Here are some new books out this week that you might want to make part of your holiday celebration.

Books for Kids

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Battle on the Moon – Captain Marvel teams up with the Avengers in this Little Golden Book.
First Day of Groot – A celebration of learning and firsts with Groot and the Guardians of the Galaxy
I’m Trying to Love Math – An alien helps the reader see that math is all around us. This looks adorable! Perfect for classroom use.
The King of Kindergarten – In this darling story, a boy uses all of the things his parents taught him to have a great first day of Kindergarten.
Little Red Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf – A girl uses what she has learned from her reading to help her on a trip to her grandmother’s house.
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! – Mo Willems’ Pigeon is off to school.
Too Many Tribbles – Little Golden Books takes on the Star Trek tribbles.  This is on my list for this week.
Rocket’s Very Fine Day – Rocket the dog is back in this leveled reader about Rocket and his friend enjoying a lovely day together.
School of Fish – A fish is off to his first day of school in this leveled reader. First in a new series.
Uni’s First Sleepover – Uni the Unicorn’s first leveled reader! Uni struggles at a sleepover for the first time.

Books for Older Kids, Teens, Young Adults

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Awesome Dog 5000 – A trio of video game-loving kids find an adventure in the real world when they discover a robotic dog. First in a new series.
The Echo Park Castaways – A trio of foster kids tries to adjust to a new arrival who throws the whole house into chaos.
Emperor of the Universe – A boy, his gerbil, and a package of ground beef are beamed onto an alien space ship. That description just BEGS for you to pick the book up and check it out!
Tom Swift’s Inventors’ Academy: The Drone Pursuit AND The Sonic Breach – First in a new series about a group of kids at the Swift Academy of Science and Technology. The first book is about the kids investigating the school custodian for being a spy, and the second is about a robotics club and a new phone app that could be helping kids cheat. Both stories sound terrific! An Alex Rider-type story for the younger middle grade crowd.
To the Forgotten Castle – Book 5 in the Finding Tinker Bell series of the Never Girls. The Never Girls and the fairies team up to find Tinker Bell.
Who Is Oprah Winfrey?
The Odd Sisters – Book 6 in the Disney Villains series. In the first five books, the Odd Sisters have meddled in the lives of other villains, but it’s time to find out who they are and what their story is.
Queen of Ruin – Sequel to Grace and Fury. The sisters have changed so much after the events of book one, and now they will team up to ensure that the revolution begun on Mount Ruin can sweep across the entire kingdom and kick off much needed change for everyone. I adored the first book! I can’t wait to read what happens next.
Symptoms of a Heart Break – A 16-year-old doctor arrives for her first day treating pediatric cancer patients and risks her future when she falls in love with a patient. I’m intrigued by this one – the full description talks about how she deals with skeptical adults in her new job and I am curious to read how she handles that.
Teen Titans: Raven – The latest graphic novel for teens from DC focuses on the story of Raven. Raven has lost her foster mother and finds herself in a new home (with her foster mom’s sister and niece), new school and new town. And some weird new abilities are developing, but Raven can’t remember anything from before the accident that killed her foster mother. Is she strong enough to dig into her past for the truth? I’ve always been fascinated by Raven’s character! I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.

Books for Adults

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Booking the Crook (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Bookmobile Cat Mystery series. While the bookmobile program is in danger thanks to a new library board chair, Minnie and her cat Eddie are determined to keep doing their work with a smile. When Minnie finds one of their regulars dead in the snow, she knows they will be sleuthing once again.
The Gifted School (Hardcover)  – When an exclusive school for the gifted opens in their town, a group of friends start showing their competitive and ambitious sides – and it has a huge impact on their kids, their marriages and their friendships.
Heart of Barkness (Hardcover) – Book 9 in the Chet and Bernie Mystery series. Look at that cover!! That cover is the whole reason I bought the first book in the series. I have to read through the first 8 books so I can get to this one! Chet and Bernie head out to a dive bar to hear a famous country singer. The $100 they place in the tip jar is stolen multiple times that night which launches them into the most puzzling case of their partnership.
The Me I Used to Be (Trade Paperback) – Evangeline is wrapping up 4 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit when she gets word that her father has died. The officer who arrested her offers her a deal – help him hunt down the real culprits, and he’ll get her record cleared. Evangeline is not the same woman now that she was before prison. Her family wants nothing to do with her – and they are even more bitter when her dad’s will is read, and she is put in charge of the future of the family ranch. There are a lot of things stacked against her, but Evangeline is determined to get her freedom and reclaim her life after the years that were stolen from her.  I’ll be reviewing this one next week – it was terrific!
Protect the Prince (Trade Paperback) – EEEEK! It’s finally here! This is the sequel to Kill the Queen, my FAVORITE book from 2018. I have had this pre-ordered for ages. I can’t wait to hold this one in my hands and dive in.  Book 2 in the Crown of Shards series. Evie has her hands full with assassins, quarreling nobles who only want her crown, and pursuing an essential alliance with a neighboring kingdom. And she finds herself falling for a guy – and that relationship would be awfully complicated. With dark forces at work, Evie has to wonder if she is even strong enough to be a Winter Queen. Eeek! I can’t wait to read this.
A Thread of Darkness (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Queen Bees Quilt Shop mystery series. When the wife of the local celebrity chef is found murdered, he is the prime suspect. The Crestwood Quilters are on the case to keep him out of jail.
Unsung Heroine (e-book novella) – A new novella addition to the Heroine Complex series (Heroine Complex, Heroine Worship, Heroine’s Journey).  This is Lucy’s story. Lucy is the superhero bodyguard for Evie and Aveda. Lucy has had a crush on the head of the demon unit at the police department, but she’s afraid Rose won’t like the real Lucy. But when Lucy is displaced as the queen of karaoke at her favorite bar, strange and supernatural things seem to be at work. Which means Lucy and Rose are working on the case. Together. I have only read the first book in the original trilogy, but I loved it. I can’t wait to get caught up on these characters.
Wanderers (Hardcover)  – Shana’s little sister is the first person she knows who starts the sleepwalking thing – she can’t be awakened, and she is marching determinedly toward something only she knows. Shana follows along to keep her sister safe. And then they join up with others around the country who are in the same situation. Fear and violence follow as the country wonders about the cause of the epidemic – and where it is all leading. This sounds amazing!
Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the US (Trade Paperback) – A former inmate turned preacher shares this love letter to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America calling Christians to renewal through racial equality and justice.

Believe it or not, we are in back-to-school mode here with area schools starting up in the next week or two. Some kids are back in classes today! It seems too soon! If the calendar says JULY it should still be summer vacation. Fight back with some new “summer reading” books from the ones releasing this week.

Books for Kids

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Awesome! (August 1) – Marvin the moose and Woody the beaver are best friends, but when Marvin does something awesome it drives a wedge between the friends. I’ll be reviewing this one next week.
Hello Fall! – Get excited about fall with this new picture book. Looks adorable! I love fall.
Josephine Baker AND Mother Teresa – New picture books from the Little People Big Dreams series. This series is expanding into games and board books, and I am all over all of it!
The Three Little Superpigs – The Superpigs have defeated the Big Bad Wolf, but he breaks out of prison and sets a trap for them. This is a must-read for me!
Rocket the Brave! – Rocket is having fun chasing a butterfly when the butterfly disappears into the woods. Is Rocket brave enough to follow? I love Rocket from his previous books. This Early Reader looks adorable for kids looking for a new Rocket story.
The Haunted Halls – Book 3 in the Peachy and Keen series where the characters try to figure out if there are real ghosts wandering around their school’s Halloween celebration. This transitional chapter book series looks adorable!
Lullaby Lake – Book 4 in the Last  Firehawk series from Scholastic Branches. This is a fantasy series complete with a quest for the Ember Stone.
Meet Yasmin (August 1) – First in a new series about a little girl with a big imagination. This looks cute.
Super Rabbit Boy Blasts Off – Book 5 in the Press Start science fiction series from Scholastic Branches.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Giganta’s Colossal Double-Cross (August 1) – I love the DC books that come from Capstone – the illustrations are my idea of PERFECT. In this book, Wonder Woman discovers that Giganta may be on her side against Grodd.
The Griffin’s Feather – Dragon Rider book 2. In order to save the race of pegasi, a boy tries find a griffin feather. But griffins are some of the fiercest creatures in the world. This book sounds like something I would love. I will have to add this series to my list.
Making Friends (Graphic Novel) – Middle school raises new challenges for the main character so she creates a perfect best friend using a magical sketchbook.
The Principal Strikes Back – Book 6 in the Jarrett Krosoczka Jedi Academy series (originally written by Jeffrey Brown). Things at the Academy have been weird since last year’s security breech. They now have a droid for a principal and things aren’t as they seem. This is a fantastic series!
The Ultimate Weapon (You Choose Justice League) (August 1) – Another Justice League book from Capstone. This one uses a You Choose format which is so fun for kids!
Greek Mythology (Weird But True Know-It-All) – a nonfiction reference for kids about Greek Mythology
In the French Kitchen with Kids: Easy, Every-day Dishes for the Whole Family to Make and Enjoy – Great for kids who love to cook and teens and adults studying French and looking for some examples of the culture.
The Pacific Islands: A Moana Discovery Book – Kids can join the characters of the movie Moana and explore the Pacific Islands as Disney expands their nonfiction line with tie-ins from favorite movies.
The Cheerleaders – After multiple deaths on the squad, the Sunnybrook High cheer team disbanded. Five years later the town wants to remember the girls, but the sister of the last girl to die isn’t sure revisiting those days is a good idea. I have already requested this one from the library!
The Darkest Legacy – The latest in the Darkest Minds series, from Suzume’s perspective. I’ve only read the first two books (Fantastic!) so I need to get caught up so I can read this one. I’m looking forward to checking out the movie in August with my teen.
Grace and Fury – In a world where women have no rights one sister is selected by the heir to the throne while her sister (who was groomed for that role) is thrown into prison. This sounds twisty and complicated and exactly the sort of story I love. I’ll be reviewing this one in August.
Heart of Thorns – A young woman discovers she possess the very magic she has sworn to eliminate from her world. Yep, this one too.
If Only – A teen finds herself dumped and pregnant, searching for what path she wants to take into her future. Sixteen years later her daughter wonders what happened to the birth mother who placed her for adoption and then disappeared when she was one year old. I have requested this one from the library, too.
The Letting Go – A teen puts up walls to keep others out because anyone who gets close to her is murdered. But death follows her to her boarding school. I SOOOO want to know what happens in this book!
So Glad to Meet You – When two teens commit suicide, their younger siblings are forever linked together by tragedy. When one of the teens finds their siblings’ bucket list, she reconnects with the one person who understands her grief. WOW! What a great week for YA books! I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.

Books for Adults

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Against the Claw – Book 2 in the Lobster Shack Mystery series. In this one, a woman finds a body in the bay when she is helping her family on the lobster boat. (Mass Market Paperback*)
Death Over Easy – Book 5 in the Country Store Mystery series. In this one, a musician in a bluegrass festival is killed.(Mass Market Paperback*)
A Dark and Twisting Path – Book 3 in the Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series, one of my favorite series! I pre-ordered this book months ago. If you love mysteries, check this series out! (Mass Market Paperback*)
A Duke by Default – Book 2 in the Reluctant Royals series. I read book one, A Princess in Theory, on vacation this summer and it was delightful! I’m looking forward to reading this one and getting more of Portia’s story. (Mass Market Paperback*)
Knot My Sister’s Keeper – Book 6 in the Quilting Mystery series. A woman and her newly-discovered half sister team up to find out what happened to their father. (Mass Market Paperback*)
Midnight Snacks Are Murder – Book 2 in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series. I adored book one, Class Reunions Are Murder, so I will absolutely be reading book two! (Mass Market Paperback*)
Murder at Ochre Court – Book 6 in the Gilded Newport Mystery series about a society reporter in 1898. I haven’t read any of these, but I’d like to give the first book a try. (Hardcover*)
Murder on Memory Lake – First in a new series about a woman who inherits a fortune and a secret lake house but finds a dead body when she arrives. I love trying new series, and the cover of this one makes me want to read it on vacation. That looks so restful (well, without the murder part). (Mass Market Paperback*)
Murder, She Reported (ebook) – A socialite tries to break free of expectations by getting a job at a newspaper in 1938 but finds herself in the middle of a scandal. This sounds terrific! (E-book pricing – $5 at the time of this writing)
Poppy Harmon Investigates – First in the Desert Flowers Mystery series. A widowed retiree opens her own private detective business. I am curious about this series, but I tried one of the author’s other books once and did not care for the main character at all. So, I’ll be trying this one from the library to see how this new character and I click. (Hardcover*)
Purrder She Wrote – Book 2 in the Cat Cafe Mystery series. A new cafe where diners can socialize with cats and even adopt one is the scene of drama that may have led to murder. I’d like to try this series out. (Mass Market Paperback*)
S’more Murders – Book 5 in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series. A guest disappears at a murder mystery party on a yacht. I haven’t read any books in this series – yet. (Mass Market Paperback*)
The Biggest Win: Pro Football Players Tackle Faith – Six Christians from the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl team share the stories of their lives and faith. (Trade Paperback*)
The Come Back Effect: How Hospitality Can Compel Your Church’s Guests to Return – For churches, businesses and ministries. This explores the keys to getting first time visitors to return. (Trade Paperback*)
The Family Bible Devotional: Stories from the Bible to Help Kids and Parents Engage and Love Scripture – I’ll be reviewing this one in a few weeks. (Trade Paperback*)

 

*I’ve noticed that publishers have shifted some of their new mystery series to Trade paperback (full size paperback with a sale price around $15 or $16) or hardcover (with a sale price around $25) instead of Mass Market paperback which runs around $8. When I think of it, I’ll try to note the format so readers can plan their book budgets – and trips to the library – accordingly.

It’s another small week for new books. But while we might be low on quantity, we have some great quality! Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Babymouse Miss Communication – Book 2 in the Babymouse Tales from the Locker series about graphic novel star Babymouse in middle school.  This one focuses on Babymouse’s quest to get a cell phone.
The Knight’s Armor – Book 3 in the Ministry of the SUITS series about a covert agency for Strange, Unusual, and Impossible Things and the kids who work for them. This series sounds perfect for me, so I need to get ahold of all three of these books asap.
Pizzasaurus Rex – A bullied genius finds a way to pull Pizzasaurus Rex – a party-dinosaur – into our universe in this new graphic novel for kids. This looks completely over the top and awesome!
The Winner Is – The third and final book in the Next Best Junior Chef series about the last two kids in the competition.
Theodore Roosevelt (Action Presidents) – Book 3 in the Action Presidents series of graphic novels introducing kids to historic individuals in a new format.
The Future Will Be BS Free – A group of teens use a souped up lie-detector to reveal government corruption. The kids are on the run and those in power want the device and won’t hesitate to kill to get it. I will be reviewing this one later this week.

Books for Adults

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Star Wars Thrawn Alliances – Grand Admiral Thrawn teams up with Darth Vader to investigate a disturbance in the Force for the Emperor. But this isn’t the first time these two men have fought side by side. My husband loved the first Thrawn book, and I know this one is on his must-buy list. The story for this one makes me want to go back and read the first one so I can dig into this one, soon.

I find myself missing spring – we never really had one. Right now it is hotter than blazes, and I just want to curl up under a ceiling fan with a book and pray that fall doesn’t skip us too.  If you want that too, here are some books releasing this week to keep you company while you wait out the heat wave.

Books for Kids

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Pass Go and Collect $200: The Real Story of How Monopoly Was Invented – This picture book detailing the history of the popular board game Monopoly looks fantastic!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Electric Boogerloo – Book 2 in the I Am Fartacus series is about a group of misfits trying to track down a missing school mascot. I love both the MAX and MIX series from Aladdin for middle grade readers. They are great stories.
The Game Masters of Garden Place – A group of kids playing an RPG (role playing game, like Dungeons and Dragons) find their characters have come to life. This was SO fun! I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.
Star Wars Adventures Vol 3: Endangered (Graphic Novel) – This story includes a story about Rose Tico from Star Wars The Last Jedi as well as a young Anakin Skywalker and Ezra Bridger from Star Wars Rebels.
My Family Divided: One Girl’s Journey  of Home, Loss and Hope – If you have been tracking the immigration crisis at the border and you have wondered how to talk about it with kids, check out this book. I haven’t read it – or the original book for adults – yet, but this is on my list. This is the true story of the author who was separated from her parents who were undocumented immigrants.
Like Never and Always – After four teens are in a car accident, one wakes up in the body of one of the others, discovering some dark secrets about the girl’s life. This sounds fascinating!

Books for Adults

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Bad Girls (Graphic Novel) – Three women have 12 hours to get out of Cuba with six million dollars in 1958. Sounds like a thrilling edge-of-your-seat story. (Hardcover*)
Heart Land – After trying to make it in the fashion industry in New York, a young woman has to move back home to Iowa until she can scrape enough money together to go back. When she redesigns a vintage dress from a flea market and sells it for $200, she has her ticket back to the Big Apple. But her heart may be getting attached to Iowa. This sounds lovely.  (Trade paperback*)
Kill the Farm Boy: The Tales of Pell – An unlikely farm boy is off to rescue the princess in a Monty Python-esque story. Of course I am reading this one! I’ll be diving into it this week so I can review it next week. Be sure to come back and check out the review. (Hardcover*)
Maze Master – Two students are trying to find their missing brilliant professor who might the be only one who can stop a pandemic level virus. This sounds like the sort of thriller that will be hard to put down once you start reading. (Hardcover*)
Rescued – Book 17 in the fantastic Andy Carpenter series finds Andy and the team trying to defend a guy accused of murder who says it was self-defense. But there’s no sign of another weapon. The whole case may hinge on the smallest of clues. I loved this one and will be reviewing it in August. (Hardcover*)
Am I Enough? Embracing the Truth of Who You Are – A new book for Christian readers about finding your identity in Christ. I love books like this! (Trade paperback*)
Set Phasers to Teach! Star Trek in Research and Teaching (July 21) – This new book looks at the influence of the Star Trek universe on everyday technology and a wide variety of disciplines. I would love to read this one! (Academic Title*)

 

*I’ve noticed that publishers have shifted some of their new mystery series to Trade paperback (full size paperback with a sale price around $15 or $16) or hardcover (with a sale price around $25) instead of Mass Market paperback which runs around $8. When I think of it, I’ll try to note the format so readers can plan their book budgets – and trips to the library – accordingly.

How’s your summer reading going? Frankly, I’ve only finished two of my six summer challenge books, I have a backlog of library books (both physical and electronic), and I bought 8 new books for vacation. There are truly too many books and not enough time! Here are some new books releasing this week that you might want to add to your personal TBR list.

Books for Kids

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A Place for Pluto (July 13) – Pluto is shocked when he is kicked out of the group of recognized planets and goes off to find where he belongs. I love the whole idea of this. Looking forward to this one.
Princess and the Pit Stop – A mashup of fairy tales and auto racing from Tom Angleberger (author of the terrific Origami Yoda series) and Dan Santat. This is a must read for me.
Sterling, Best Dog Ever – A dog looking for a home decides to settle for being the best FORK ever and wanders into a silverware factory. When a family finds the dog in their order, needless to say, they are surprised. This looks adorable!
That Bear Can’t Babysit – Bear isn’t the babysitter the rabbits had in mind to watch their seven little ones, but he is the only one who shows up. Yes, please. I would read any and all of these new picture books out this week!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Basque Dragon – Book 2 in the Unicorn Rescue Society about a secret group of adventurers charged with protecting mythical creatures. There are a few series out now with a similar premise, and they are a lot of fun. I have book one from this series on my summer reading TBR list. Book three releases later this fall.
A Hint of Hydra – Book 2 in the Mystic Cooking Chronicles series about a kid chef specializing in monster cuisine. I have book one in this series on my library wish list. Sounds like fun!
My Year in the Middle – In Lu’s classroom in 1970,  the white kids sit on one side of her classroom and the black kids sit on the other side. Lu bridges the gap in the middle. As her friendships start to change as Lu and her peers get older, she wants to branch out beyond the racial divides of her school. This would be a fascinating story.
I’m Not Missing – A teen who was abandoned by her mother found connection with a friend who didn’t let her lack of a mother define her. But when that friend disappears, the teen is left with a lot of questions. I’m curious about this one.
Notes from My Captivity – A teen who longs to get away to college and become a journalist heads to Siberia to cover a story, but the story is not at all what she expected. This is one of my top choices for this week.
The Supervillain and Me – A teen with a superhero brother and an insiders take on the heroes is rescued by a new supervillain, and he tells her the hero world is not at all what she thinks it is. This is at the top of my list for the week.

Books for Adults

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The Book in Room 316 – Four different individuals pass through Room 316 at the Markham Hotel, each one looking for comfort and answers to the trials of life. This is on my list as well. (Trade Paperback*)
A Brush with Death – First book in the new Susie Mahl Mystery series. Looking forward to checking this one out. (Trade Paperback*)
Clock Dance – An elderly woman receives a call from a stranger and flies across the country to take care of a young woman and her child. This one piques my curiosity. It’s been getting a lot of positive press in pre-release. I hope it lives up to the hype. I have this one on hold already at the library. (Hardcover*)
The Con Artist – An illustrated mystery that takes place at San Diego Comic Con. Yep, sign me up for this one! (Trade Paperback*)
European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman – Book 2 of the Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club series about figures from science fiction and horror classics coming together to solve crimes. This time the daughters of literature’s mad scientists are off to rescue one of their own. This is a fascinating premise! I have book one on my library wish list. (Hardcover*)
Jedi the Last – Star Wars The Last Jedi in Shakespearean form. These are small but amusing books. Great gifts for Star Wars fans or collectors of the other books in the series. (Hardcover – $15ish)
Live and Let Chai – First in the Seaside Café Mystery series about the owner of an iced tea shop and café who is suspected of poisoning a grumpy customer. I love trying new mystery series! (Mass Market Paperback)
Poisoned Pages – Book 12 in the Booktown Mystery series. This time someone dies at Tricia’s home at a party where she prepared all the food. This is a series I have lost track of. I know I started it. I would love to get back to it. (Hardcover*)
Shelved Under Murder – Book 2 in the fabulous Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. I’ll be reviewing this one here Wednesday. (Hardcover*)
A Souffle of Suspicion – Book 2 in the French Bistro Mystery series. This time a festival organizer is found dead in her sister’s kitchen. I’d love to dig into the first book in this series. (Hardcover*)
When We Found Home – A woman discovers siblings she never knew she had when they all move into the family home with their mutual grandfather. I already have this on hold from the library, too. (Hardcover*)
The Fall of Wisconsin: The Conservative Conquest of a Progressive Bastion and the Future of American Politics – The Wisconsin I grew up in and the one I see today in politics don’t have a lot in common. I am interested in reading this to dig into some of that history a little. The author’s bias is evident in the title. I’m curious to see how balanced his research is. (Hardcover*)
Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done – I love everything about this title and premise. I’ll be reviewing this one later this summer. (Trade Paperback*)
Prayers of My Heart: A Personal Prayer Journal – This is a structured journal to track your prayer requests and your prayer life. I would like to see this in person before I decide if it would work for me. (Trade Paperback in pricing although I am not certain about the format*)
What Happens When Women Say Yes to God: Live More Fully, Love More Deeply, Experience God’s Best for You – The latest from Lysa TerKeurst, this is absolutely on my Must Read list. Looking forward to digging into this one, too (Trade Paperback*)

 

 

*I’ve noticed that publishers have shifted some of their new mystery series to Trade paperback (full size paperback with a sale price around $15 or $16) or hardcover (with a sale price around $25) instead of Mass Market paperback which runs around $8. When I think of it, I’ll try to note the format so readers can plan their book budgets – and trips to the library – accordingly.