Tag: May New releases

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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It Is (Not) Perfect – Two friends try to make their sandcastle perfect. At the time of this writing, this is available to read for free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Memoirs of a Tortoise (May 15) – Book 5 in this series. Oliver and his human Ike are both 80 years old and have a lot of similar interests. But when Ike stops visiting the garden, Oliver wonders why. One of the subjects of this book is death and dying, so this sounds like a more serious entry into this fun series.
Teddy Spaghetti – A boy who loves spaghetti gets teased at school.
If You Love Robots, You Could Be… (Early Reader) – The latest in a line of leveled readers about career options based on childhood interests.
Iggy Peck and the Mysterious Mansion – Book 3 in the Questioneers chapter book series. Iggy Peck, Architect, and his friends the Questioneers, hunt for missing treasure in an old mansion. You can read about some of the picture books that launched this series here.
The Infamous Ratsos Camp Out – Book 4 in the Infamous Ratsos series. This time the boys are going camping. But their special guide tells them that good scouts never ask for help, which causes a lot of trouble.
The Unbelievable Oliver and the Sawed-in-Half Dads (LGBTQ+) – Book 2 in the Unbelievable Oliver series. This time, Oliver has been hired to do magic at a wedding. He decides to use the grooms as his helpers in the sawed-in-half trick.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Bella’s Story – Looks like this is book 8 in the Dog’s Purpose Puppy Tales series (Ellie’s Story: ♥♥♥♥♥). When Bella has to go to a foster home, she is determined to get back to her boy, Lucas.
Dragon Ops – From the author of the Camelot Code series comes this new book about a video game theme park, and three kids lucky enough to beta test it. But once there they get trapped inside by a rogue artificial intelligence dragon.
Elsa’s Hero Journal – The flip side of this is Anna’s Hero Journal. It’s one volume, but two pieces that start at the covers and meet in the middle. This guided journal includes writing prompts and gorgeous Frozen 2 artwork.
By the Book – A teen tries to use 19th century literature to create a Scoundrel Survival Guide to warn her friends off of guys who are bad news. I have this on hold already at the library. I can’t wait to read this one!
Dear Universe – A teen navigating her senior year and her father’s terminal illness encounters an unusual hospital volunteer who helps her walk the line between her two lives.
House of Dragons – “Three Dark Crowns meets The Breakfast Club with dragons.” I don’t know that I need to hear much more than that to put this one on my list!
The Princess Trials (e-book – May 14) – A desperate teen signs on for the Princess Trials, a contest to find a wife for the future king, in order to get into the castle and search for weaknesses to help the rebellion. This sounds like The Selection (♥♥♥♥♥), and I am here for it. At the time of this writing, this is available for Kindle Unlimited subscribers to read for free.
Say Yes Summer – A girl with lofty goals has spent her high school career saying no to everything but studying. And now that she has graduated, she is ready for a summer of “YES.” I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Superman Smashes the Klan – The latest graphic novel from DC Entertainment focuses on Superman in 1946 where he shows up to help a Chinese family who is being targeted by the Klan. I will be reviewing this one soon as well.

Books for Adults

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A Study in Murder (e-book/Hardcover) – First in the Victorian Book Club Mystery series. This will be releasing electronically this week, but the hardcover won’t release until June 9. 1890, England. When a mystery author gets news that her fiance is up to something illegal, she dumps him. When he winds up dead in her library a couple days later, she is the prime suspect. I can’t wait to read this one!
Aleph Extraction (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Galactic Cold War series after The Bayern Agenda. Misfit spies on a space heist? Yes, please. I have this series on my list.
The Bright Side of Going Dark (Trade Paperback) – One of the most popular influencers on social media chucks it all – literally, she chucks her phone off a cliff – to live life off the grid for awhile. Another young woman hacks the influencer’s idle accounts and pretends to be her in an effort to connect with her sister who is a fan and is struggling. This is currently available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers. I’m eager to read this one!
A Deadly Inside Scoop (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Ice Cream Parlor Mystery series. A woman trying to relaunch her family’s ice cream shop with a new image gets more than she bargained for with an unexpected snow storm and a dead body.
Love in Deed (e-book) – Book 6 in the Green Valley Library series. A recluse and a nomad find an unexpected life alongside one another – and the possibility of love. I am so intrigued by these books from Smartypants Romance because of their great covers. I have several on my reading list.
Of Literature and Lattes (Trade Paperback) – A woman reluctantly returns to her hometown after a series of problems and meets a man who is looking for help to save his business. The sparks between them won’t mean anything, though, if they keep running into roadblocks.
Read or Alive (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Bookmobile Mystery series (not to be confused with the Bookmobile CAT mystery series by Laurie Cass – Book 1 is Lending a Paw – ♥♥♥♥ ). When a book scout comes to town for the Antiquarian Book Society fair and swindles locals out of rare and valuable tomes, it’s really no surprise he ends up dead. (This is a mystery after all!) But the surprise is that Cleo’s cousin Dot AND Cleo’s beau, Henry, are suspects.
A Spell for Trouble (e-book/Hardcover) – First in the new Enchanted Bay Mystery series. This is another book where the e-book will release this week, but the physical book won’t be out until June. A woman ignores her father’s warnings, forbidding her from contacting her extended family, and returns to Bellamy Bay, NC. What she finds is the family apothecary shop, rumors that her family are descended from MERMAIDS, and murder. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
To Kill a Mocking Girl (e-book/Hardcover) – The series debut for the Bookbinding Mystery series. This is yet another book (all from the same publisher) that will release electronically this week, but in print on June 9. A woman back in her home town at her family’s bookshop is suspected of murdering her high school nemesis – the woman engaged to her ex. So she teams up with her older brother’s detective friend and her cousin-turned-nun to find the truth. Frankly, it’s the ensemble that makes this one sound so amazing. I am eager to read this one.
The Trouble with Hating You (Trade Paperback) – A successful biochemical engineer has had enough of her family’s fix-ups. The latest, a lawyer, actually shows up at her work a week after the disastrous fix-up dinner, as he’s been hired to come in and help save her company. She realizes she might have been hasty to dismiss him early on, but both of them may have too much baggage to make a relationship work. I am eager to read this, too!
100 Days to Brave Guided Journal (Hardcover) – The latest accessory to Annie F. Downs’ popular devotional 100 Days to Brave. This guided journal walks users through excerpts, writing prompts and Bible verses. It can be used on its own or alongside the devotional.
For All Who Hunger: Searching for Communion in a Shattered World (Hardcover) – A memoir from the founding pastor of St. Lydia’s Dinner Church in Brooklyn, New York. The founding of this church sounds fascinating, and then add in the stories of how they interacted with their community in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and this will be one not to miss. (LGBTQ+)
This Too Shall Last: Finding Grace When Suffering Lingers (Trade Paperback) – If God loves us, why does he allow us to hurt? This memoir/spiritual growth resource looks at suffering in the middle. What can be learned in this space, especially if it is a suffering that isn’t going to go away? I loved this description: “An antidote to our cultural idolatry of effort and ease.” This will be a timely resource!

Happy May! Yes, there have been a lot of release dates postponed because of the pandemic, but you can’t tell it by this great slate of books we have to look forward to. Here are some of the new books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

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Pterapunzel (Board Book) – Book 3 in the Once Before Time board book series of fractured fairy tales starring dinosaurs. You can read my review of Sleeping Bronty here. A dinosaur with a beautiful singing voice is captured by a witch and imprisoned in a tall tower. This looks adorable!
I Really Want the Cake – A girl and her pup struggle against temptation when there’s cake!
Llama Unleashes the Alpacalypse – Sequel to Llama Destroys the World (♥♥♥). Llama clones his friend Alpaca to help him clean up his baking mess leading to the “alpacalypse.”
The One and Only Dylan St. Claire – A boy who loves the spotlight is cast as a squirrel in the school play about outer space – instead of the starring role he was hoping for.
Welcome to the Party – A new picture book by Gabrielle Union inspired by the anticipation of the birth of her daughter.
Clever Hans – The true story of a clever horse that changed the course of science! I am so excited to read this!
Cutiecorns: Heart of Gold – The first of two books launching this series this week. It’s time for the Cutiecorns to learn to use their magic when Sparkle’s locket is stolen.
Frog and Dog: Frog Meets Dog AND Goat in a Boat (ACORN) – There are three short, rhyming friendship stories in each of these books launching the Frog and Dog series from Scholastic Acorn.
Hotdog! AND Hotdog!: Party Time – These two books launch the Hotdog! series. Hotdog and his friends help a baby bird find its mother in book one, and in book two the friends are planning a surprise party.
Itty Bitty Princess Kitty: The Puppy Prince – Book 3 in the Itty Bitty Princess Kitty series about a princess kitty and her unicorn best friend. These look DARLING!! This time, a royal family of dogs comes to visit, and Itty has trouble connecting with the prince.
Jewel Kingdom: The Ruby Princess Runs Away – The first of FOUR books launching the Jewel Kingdom series release this week! Four girls about to become princesses must face personal challenges in their kingdom(s). These look so fun! The covers for all four are gorgeous! The other titles are: The Sapphire Princess Meets a Monster, The Emerald Princess Plays a Trick, and The Diamond Princess Saves the Day.
Layla and the Bots: Happy Paws (BRANCHES) – Book 1 in the new Layla and the Bots series from Scholastic Branches that combines a rock band with cool inventions. In this book, Layla tries to help a failing amusement park by turning it into a park for dogs. This also looks adorable!
Jesus, Who Are You? – An inductive Bible study for kids on the names of Jesus from Kay Arthur and other authors. This sounds really cool!

Books for Older Kids/Teens

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Becoming Brianna – Book 4 in the Emmie & Friends line of graphic novels after Invisible Emmie, Positively Izzy, and Just Jaime (♥♥♥♥). This book focuses on Bri’s preparations for her Bat Mitzvah, especially considering she does not enjoy being in the spotlight. I’ve already requested this one from the library.
Camp Jupiter Classified (Trials of Apollo) – The journal of Claudia, a probatio at Camp Jupiter might lead readers to discover who is really responsible for all the problems that have cropped up recently at the camp. Fans of Rick Riordan’s series should check this one out.
Cursed (Older Middle Grade) – The sixth and final book in the Fairy Tale Reform School series which started with Flunked (♥♥♥♥). Gilly is pitted against her own sister as she battles Rumpelstiltskin and his Stiltskin Squad when they try to curse Enchantasia out of existence.
Donut Dreams: Family Recipe – Book 3 in the Donut Dreams series focuses on an adopted girl wrestling with a family tree assignment for school.
Jacky Ha-Ha (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of the Chris Grabenstein/James Patterson novel.
Katie Cupcakes and Wedding Bells – Book 33 in the Cupcake Diaries series. Katie is excited about her mom’s upcoming wedding until she finds out it means they are going to have to move.
Keep It Together, Keiko Carter – At the start of middle school, Keiko finds herself caught between her feuding best friends as the pressure builds to have boyfriends before Fall Ball.
Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy from 15 Muslim Voices – A collection of short stories about the celebration of Eid, the festival at the end of Ramadan.
The One and Only Bob – The long-awaited sequel of The One and Only Ivan. Ivan, Ruby, and Bob set off on an adventure as they search for Bob’s sister as a hurricane approaches.
One Last Shot – In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with a book by John David Anderson. I’ve already pre-ordered this one, I am so confident it will be amazing. A non-sporty kid discovers he loves mini-golf, but his dad’s sports obsession threatens to ruin the game for him.
Real Pigeons Eat Danger – Book 2 in the Real Pigeons series starring crime fighting feathered friends. I have book 1 on hold at the library. This series looks hysterical!
Sal & Gabi Fix the Universe – Book 2 in the Sal and Gabi series from Rick Riordan’s imprint for mythological stories. This time, there is a rogue Gabi duplicate on the loose that threatens the world as we know it.
Shuri – My favorite character from the Black Panther movie now gets her own book (in addition to the comics and graphic novels where you can already find her). From the author of Dear Martin (♥♥♥♥). In a story that seems to be launching a series, Shuri leaves Wakanda to find out what is causing the Heart-Shaped Herb to die. This is at the top of my list for this week.
Sprinkle Sundays: A Sprinkle of Friendship – Book 10 in the Sprinkle Sundays series. Allie and Sierra are trying to do the jobs of three people at the ice cream shop when Tamiko goes on vacation during the busy summer season.
Swimming with Dolphins – A girl’s worries about her family’s move and how she’ll adjust to new spaces with her wheelchair are compounded when her dream of swimming with a dolphin doesn’t go like she thought it would.
Throwback: The Chaos Loop – Book 2 in the Throwback series from the author of the Seven Wonders books and the Max Tilt series. In the first book, Corey discovered he has the power to go back in time and change history, but now he’s becoming addicted to the rush of fixing past problems. And a trip back to WWII Germany could ask more of him than he is able to give.
Turtle Boy (Older Middle Grade) – Will, a struggling middle schooler who prefers a quiet life by himself, gets to know RJ, a boy in the hospital with an incurable disease, as part of his Bar Mitzvah preparations. But when RJ’s health starts to decline, Will decides he needs to tackle the items on RJ’s bucket list for him. This will be powerful.
We Dream of Space – Three siblings in 7th grade (a pair of twins and an older sibling taking a second run at it) dig into a class assignment in anticipation of the Challenger launch (1986). This sounds lovely. I am fascinated by the full description of the three kids, the ways they are each struggling, and I’m eager to see how the class assignment impacts each of them.
Show Me History: Benjamin Franklin, Inventor of the Nation! (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel biography of Benjamin Franklin.
What Is Lego? AND Where Is the Congo?

Books for Teens/Young Adults

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Aurora Burning – Sequel to the terrific Aurora Rising.  Squad 312 is still on the run as Aurora tries to get a handle on her powers. And a message from the past – the black box on the Hadfield – could be just what they need to figure out how to save the galaxy. I already have this on hold at the library.
The Betrothed – Kiera Cass, author of the fantastic Selection series, is back with a new story about a would-be queen. Hollis has grown up at the palace, so of course she is thrilled to hear the King has his eye on her. But a commoner with a mysterious gift shows Hollis that her heart may actually want something besides the future she was raised to pursue.
Clap When You Land – A novel in verse about two girls – one in the Dominican Republic and the other in New York – who learn about one another when their father is killed in a plane crash.
The Declaration, the Sword and the Spy – Book 6 in the Epic Order of the Seven series. The Epic Order of the Seven animals try to help the Founding Fathers through the treacherous twists of the American Revolution.
Forged in Fire and Stars – Ara was always told her destiny was to become the Loresmith, the blacksmith who armed the kingdom for war. But after the kingdom was overthrown years back, she thought that destiny was gone. Until the lost prince and princess come looking for Ara to help them retake their kingdom and defeat their foes.
Four Days of You and Me – Every year their class takes an all-day class trip. And every year the trip draws Lulu and Alex together again. Looks like this will explore the class trip from all four years of high school with these two teens.
Fractured Tide – A new novel from Blink YA publishing. A scuba diving teen is marooned on an island after her boat is attacked by a mysterious creature and some of her tourist passengers are killed. Reuniting with some survivors on the island is not the relief she first thinks it is. Described as a mix of suspense and horror.
Hunting November – Sequel to the stunning Killing November. November has survived her training at the espionage boarding school where her father sent her, but now she has to use those skills – and the ones he gave her growing up – to find her father before someone kills him. I adored the first book and will be reading this one as soon as I get my hands on it.
The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly – A teen waitressing at a medieval-themed restaurant longs for the chance to be a knight instead of a wench. The pay is better – and her family needs it – and the job is more fun. But when she fills in for her brother as a knight, wins, and then is revealed to be a girl, she decides there’s no way she is going back to waiting tables without a fight. I have this on hold at the library, too.
War and Speech – When her dad goes to prison, Sydney loses a lot. But she gains a new school that is ruled by the blistering speech team of all things. But Sydney’s new group of misfit friends realizes she could actually get onto the speech team and help them take it down from the inside. But what will Sydney choose to do when she realizes she actually has a chance to win the national competition and get some of her life back instead of toppling the power structure? I’ll be reviewing this one soon!

Books for Adults

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The Farm Stand (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Amish Marketplace series. An Amish woman running her own produce stand at the market starts to fall for the Mennonite chef working next door. But she’s already in a relationship.
Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish (Trade Paperback) – From the author of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck and Wooing Cadie McCaffrey. The top two chefs on the Culinary Channel have to work together as he is trying to repair his reputation, and she has all the sweet and respectable qualities he needs to find if he wants to keep his career.
Hello Summer (Hardcover) – A journalist stuck back at home working on the gossip column in the family newspaper stumbles into the story of a lifetime.
The Imperfects (Hardcover) – The three Miller siblings launch an investigation into their family history when their grandmother dies and they discover a  famous, long-missing diamond among her belongings.
Mousse and Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 1 in the Alaskan Diner Mystery series. A chef returns to her Alaskan home to take over the family diner, but soon finds herself wrapped up in a murder investigation when her head cook is killed.
A Murderous Misconception (e-book May 8) – Book 7 in the Victoria Square Mystery series. When Kate hears her boyfriend Andy’s assistant manager is pregnant with his child, she is floored. When the woman is later killed (and determined to NOT be pregnant), Kate and Andy both become murder suspects.
My Brother’s Keeper (e-book May 8) – Book 4 in the Reverend Margot Quade Cozy Mystery series. When Margot tries to get away for a restorative vacation, the Lord has other plans. She finds plenty of people at the B&B in need of pastoral care and counsel. When one of those people ends up dead, she feels compelled to investigate. I love the idea of a Christian Cozy mystery! Book 1, Into the Lion’s Den, is free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.
Network Effect (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Murderbot Diaries series, the first full-length, standalone novel in the series. I am fascinated by this Artificial Intelligence story. I have book 1 on my list at the library.
The Resolutions (Hardcover) – The Brennan siblings are close to achieving everything they ever dreamed. But when roadblocks threaten to undo everything, they return home to each other for the holidays, and then head to West Africa to try to save everything they have worked for.
Storing up Trouble (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the American Heiresses series. An independent young woman encounters a scientist on the train to Chicago when someone tries to steal the man’s research. When they bump into each other again, it becomes clear that the thieves have not given up their plans to steal the research, and both the scientist and the young woman may get caught in the middle. This series looks delightful! I can’t wait to read these.
The Tourist Attraction (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Moose Springs, Alaska series. A grumpy local with no patience for tourists may have to change his tune when he gets to know the  young woman who frequents his diner and blushes every time he catches her eye. I have had this on hold at the library for ages!
Upsy Daisy (e-book) – Book 1 in the Higher Learning series. Two young people at college believe this time in their lives is crucial to achieving the future they dream of, but they could quickly become a distraction for one another.
Grace for the Moment Family Devotional (Hardcover) – 100 devotions for families from Max Lucado.
The Lincoln Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill America’s Sixteenth President – and Why It Failed (Hardcover) – The latest from Brad Meltzer looks into a little-known failed assassination attempt against President Lincoln.
The Myth of the American Dream: Reflections on Affluence, Autonomy, Safety, and Power (Hardcover) – A collection of essays around these four American values and how they line up to Jesus’ commands for his followers.

Happy Memorial Day! Here are some of the books releasing this week – perfect for kicking off your summer reading.

Books for Kids

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Jasper & Ollie – A thoughtful sloth and an impatient fox have their differences on display in this book that shows what happens when the friends decide to head to the pool.
Oi Duck-Billed Platypus! – Several years ago I read Frog on a Log? (also called, Oi, Frog!) and loved it. The series continues here where Frog is trying to figure out where Platypus should sit. What rhymes with platypus? I cannot wait to read this!!
Up to Something – Dad invites Billy into his workshop, but will only let him watch. Billy gathers Dad’s scraps and builds a creation of his own.
What Kind of Car Does a T-Rex Drive? – A car salesman is desperate to sell some cars – to anyone! Then the dinosaurs show up. This looks fun!
When Pencil Met Eraser – Based on the true story of how pencils got erasers
The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The True Story of Alan Bean – The fourth astronaut to walk on the moon also painted what he saw there. Includes back matter with photos of the Apollo 12 mission and of Alan Bean’s paintings.
Kitten Kingdom: Tabby’s First Quest AND Tabby and the Pup Prince – A new transitional chapter book series kicks off with these two titles. Princess Tabby and her brothers accidentally give away an important scroll when they are tricked by an evil king. They have to keep their mission to save the day a secret from their parents. In the second book, the evil king is at it again and Tabby teams  up with a puppy prince to try and save the day. I thought the first book was cute.
Robo-Rabbit Boy, Go! – Book 7 in this Branches series about Super Rabbit Boy.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Batting Order – Two baseball players with different skills team up to improve their skills to help the team, but how can Matt really help Ben if Ben won’t listen to anything Matt has to say?
The Book Case – After getting expelled, Daphne is off to a girls’ boarding school where she meets a crime-solving genius in need of an assistant. This looks great. I love middle grade mysteries.
The Girls of Firefly Cabin – A group of girls who meet on the first day of summer camp hope to immortalize their summer by becoming the “face” of the camp in the promotional materials.
Other Words for Home – Novel in verse about a girl who must leave Syria for her own safety and finds “home” in the United States.
Rocky Road Ahead – Sprinkle Sundays, book 7. A middle grade story of ice cream and friendship and crushes.
Secrets of a Fangirl – A girl trying to keep her “geek life” separate from her popular “jock life” has a chance to win a contest to go to the movie premier for her fandom. But she will have to go up against older competitors who question her fan cred, and she risks showing her peers this geeky side of herself. This is on my wish list for this week!
She’s the Liar – Sisters at a boarding school have each crafted new personalities for themselves. But their personal plans run up against the agenda of the other sister and a power play ensues. This sounds great!
Solving for M – A fifth grader struggling at the start of middle school uses her math journal (art in math?!) to help her sort out the trouble she’s having both at school and at home. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.
Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go on a Class Trip – Book 3 in the fun and silly Two Dogs in a Trench Coat series. This time, the dogs join the kids on a trip to the history museum.
Science Comics: Cars – Engines that Move You – Graphic novel exploration of cars and engines.
Fake It Till You Break It – Mia and Jake have known each other their whole lives. Even though their moms (who are best friends) think they would make the perfect couple, the two teens can’t stand each other. They agree to fake date so they can have a spectacular break up and get their moms to let them move on to other dating options.
The Kingdom – One of the “princesses” at a fantasy amusement park is accused of murdering a park employee.  This looks amazing. I already have this on hold from the library.
Limited Wish – Book 2 in the Impossible Times series. After a time-travel adventure in book one, cancer survivor and reluctant prodigy Nick realizes there are creases in the fabric of time. I have book 1 on my reading list because this series sounds perfect for me!
Not Your Backup (June 1) – Book 3 in the Sidekick Squad. Emma is the only non-superpowered member of team of resistance fighters moving against the Heroes League of Heroes. I have book 1 on my list.
The Voice in My Head – When one twin develops a terminal illness and wants to die on her own terms, her sister starts hearing a voice in her head claiming to be God and telling her to take her sister to a rock formation in Arizona where she can be healed. I am requesting this one, too!
The Wise and the Wicked – In a family with only the barest hint of magic left, the women come of age and see a vision of who they will be when they die. When Ruby’s great-aunt dies and her vision did NOT come true, Ruby and her cousin start digging into their family history to see if they too can chart their own destiny.

Books for Adults

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The Amish Cookie Club (Mass Market Paperback) – From the author of the amazing Amish Fairy Tale series. First in a new series about a group of cookie-baking friends and the struggles their families experience in the course of day to day Amish life. This first book focuses on a young woman whose strong personality keeps her from keeping a job and finding a husband.
Crèpe Expectations (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Pancake House mystery series is focused on a cold case and an amateur chef competition.
A Daughter’s Truth (Trade Paperback) – A young Amish woman who feels the weight of her mother’s grief receives a gift that raises questions and sets her off to the non-Amish world to find answers. I already have this on hold at the library. I enjoyed Laura’ Bradford’s last Amish standalone, Portrait of a Sister.
The Flatshare (Hardcover) – A man who works nights and a woman who works days share a flat even though they have never met. A series a notes left for one another leads them to friendship, and maybe to something more. I already have this on hold at the library, too. What a clever premise!
Hitches, Hideouts & Homicide (ebook) – Book 7 in the Camper and Criminals Mystery series focused on a power outage, a treasure map and a dead body. I have the first book for this series in my reading pile.
Just One of the Groomsmen (Mass Market Paperback) – Addison is going to be one of the “groomsmen” when one of her best guy friends gets married. Seeing Addison again leaves Tucker feeling like they should give love a try, but if it doesn’t work, he knows it will destroy their friend group permanently. I’m looking forward to trying this one!
Murder, She Uncovered (ebook) – Book 2 in the Murder She Reported series about a young photographer in 1938 working for the Daily Trumpet and covering the aftermath of a hurricane. I don’t often read historical mysteries, but the covers for these are so gorgeous, I’m tempted to give this series a try!
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series. When a restaurant critic dies after eating food from the Tea Garden, Daisy and Aunt Iris must track down a killer to protect their business.
Passion on Park Avenue (Trade Paperback) – The first book in the Central Park Pact series. A young woman who is the new CEO of a jewelry empire still feels like she has to prove herself to the Upper East Side elite – including the son of the family her mother worked for as a housekeeper. I am SO excited about this series! Sounds so fun. Book 2 is out this fall, and I have both on my wish list.
Rebel (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the Women Who Dare series. This takes place in the aftermath of the Civil War when a young Black woman sets up a new school and thugs destroy the school and target her.
Sconed to Death (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Cat Latimer series about a cozy mystery writer’s retreat, a local baker stirring up trouble, and a dead celebrity chef. I am way behind on this series, but I intend to get caught up soon.
Seeing Red (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the terrific Red Herring Mystery series. Alex is still working her freelance career while enjoying her relationship with B&B owner, Ian. But when Ian’s father disappears and Alex finds a body in the B&B, she starts to wonder if she really knows Ian at all. This is a must read for me. I loved the first book in the series.
Smitten by the Brit (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Sometimes in Love series. An English professor in the aftermath of a broken engagement heads to England for the summer and finds a sexy distraction. I have this on hold from the library, too.
Something Borrowed, Something Mewed (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series. This time it is murder at the dress-fitting when a wedding planner is found dead and Daphne has to figure out if one of her sister’s future in-laws is a killer. I loved the first book in this series. I’d like to get caught up on this one soon.
Star Trek TNG: The Missions Continue (Hardcover Graphic Novel) – Graphic novel collection of The Space Between, Intelligence Gathering, Last Generation, Ghosts and Hive.
Star Trek TOS: The Captain’s Oath (Trade Paperback) – The story of James T. Kirk before his service on the Enterprise.
Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come: One Introvert’s Year of Saying Yes (Trade Paperback) – A shy introvert commits to living one year like an outgoing extrovert. I adore books like this where someone digs into a differently lifestyle for a year – A Year of Biblical Womanhood, The Year of Living Biblically, My Life as an Experiment, 7, The Year of Less, etc.
Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide (Hardcover) – From the folks behind the podcast My Favorite Murder comes this book with personal stories from the authors’ lives in relation to their mission to encourage self-advocacy. I have this on my list, too.
Taste of Home Handmade Food Gifts (Paperback Cookbook) – Recipes and ideas for edible gifts. I love the idea of food gifts and jars of ingredients that people can use to bake something delicious!

I’m looking forward to checking out these new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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I Am Kind AND I Am Unstoppable (Board Books) – A new format for the Ordinary People Change the World series.
How to Take Care of Your Dinosaur – Pet care goes to a whole new level. This looks delightful!
Never Trumpet with a Crumpet – What happens when zoo animals are invited to join the Queen for tea? The illustrations for this one are fantastic!
Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records – The history of women athletes and the road to Title IX.
Now What?: A Math Tale – A puppy wants to build a bed out of blocks. While he doesn’t have enough rectangles, he does have several triangles.
When Sue Found Sue: Sue Hendrickson Discovers Her T. Rex – Chronicles the discovery of Sue the T.Rex in South Dakota.
The Dragon’s Tale – Book 6 in the Princess Pulverizer transitional chapter book series. On their Quest for Kindness, Dribble the dragon has a chance to open his own restaurant, but trouble develops when someone is jealous of Dribble and Princess Pulverizer’s arrival.
Mia Mayhem vs the Super Bully – Book 3 in the Mia Mayhem series. Sometimes even superheroes have to deal with bullies.
The Unbelievable Oliver and the Four Jokers – Oliver, an amateur magician, discovers a super smart rabbit in an old magicians hat. At their first gig, Oliver is accused of stealing and he has to find the real culprit. I’m excited by the idea of a new mystery series for the chapter book crowd.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Freedom Fire – Book 2 in the Dactyl Hill Squad series that is an alternate history with dinosaurs. This book focuses on the Civil War.
Jada Sly, Artist and Spy – An illustrated spy book about a girl searching for her mother and tracking her adventures in her art journal. The cover for this is outstanding (except in this picture, Jada doesn’t look Black – maybe the colors in person are better), and I love kid-spy stories.
Odd Gods – Described as Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets Percy Jackson. Oddonis is the brother of Adonis, but this son of Zeus doesn’t think he has any powers. This is a pun-filled story, based on the full description, that sounds like a TON of fun (although reading it aloud would be tricky with the Oddonis/Adonis homophones).
Planet Earth Is Blue – An autistic and nonverbal girl waits at her new foster home for her missing big sister to arrive so they can watch the Challenger launch together. This one is going to be amazing.
Pugs in a Blanket – A girl and a new friend wrangle the pug pups that were left on her family’s doorstep while trying to puzzle out who left them.
The Queen’s Secret – Book 2 in the Rose Legacy series about a girl who discovers her uncle secretly breeds horses, animals that have been outlawed. Anthena now knows the truth about horses, and she has discovered a way to talk with them. But other forces want to use this gift for evil. And others want to blame the horses for a mysterious plague. Horse fans should NOT miss this series!
Theodore Boone: The Accomplice – Book 7 in the Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer series from legal thriller author John Grisham. This time, Theodore is on the case when a school friend is arrested for a crime he didn’t commit.
On a Scale of One to Ten – The story of a teen admitted to a psychiatric ward who refuses to talk about what happened to her friend.
Road Tripped – His dad committed suicide. His mom is not coping well. And his girlfriend abandoned him at the worst possible time. Maybe a road trip and a change of scenery will help Stiggy get a handle on his life again.
Stepsister – Isabelle is the step-sister who cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella’s glass slipper (Disney kind of left that detail out of the movie). When the prince turns her away in shame, Isabelle will have to find her own path. This sounds fascinating!
Testimony from Your Perfect Girl – When her father is accused of scamming hundreds of people, Annie and her brother are sent to live with extended family until the trial is over. Annie discovers how nice it is to have a fresh start in a new place. But family secrets have followed her, and she will have to decide how she’s going to face them.
There’s Something About Sweetie – A companion novel set in the world of When Dimple Met Rishi. This book stars Rishi’s brother, Ashish, whose parents feel they can do a better job of finding him a girlfriend than he is doing on his own. While Sweetie’s parents feel her weight is a strike against her in finding a match, Sweetie is determined to show the world who she is.
The Things She’s Seen – A dead girl and her father, a detective who can still see and hear her, take on a mysterious case with a suspicious fire, a dead body and an unreliable witness.
We Hunt the Flame – In a land on the brink of war, a young woman hides her identity and works in secret to feed her people while the son of the sultan seeks to kill anyone who would defy his father. Neither is able to shake off expectations and be who he/she is. When both search out an ancient artifact that could change their world, they have no idea of the danger the artifact poses for all of them. This has been getting ceaseless buzz for months now. I have requested it from the library to see if it lives up to the positive press.
The Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets – A book for teens marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York, an event credited with launching the LGBTQ movement. This is a piece of history that is completely new to me, but something we should be hearing a lot about this summer as the anniversary draws closer (June 28).

 

Books for Adults

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My Ex-Best Friend’s Wedding (Trade Paperback) – When a successful author returns home for her wedding, her mother knows the secret she is keeping could help her daughter and her ex-best friend reconcile. This sounds fantastic!
No Saving Throw (Trade Paperback) – First in a new cozy series built around a tabletop gaming theme! This is at the TOP of my wish list for this week. The library already has this one on hold for me.
The Unhoneymooners (Trade Paperback) – When the rest of the wedding – bride, groom, attendants and guests – get food poisoning, the bride’s sister and her nemesis, the best man, agree to take the honeymoon trip, which the bride won, together so it doesn’t go to waste. Yep, I have this one waiting at the library, too!
Discovering Joy in Philippians: A Creative Devotional Study Experience (Paperback Workbook) – Sequel to Discovering Hope in the Psalms. The format for book one was 8 weeks with devotions for five days each week. Includes instructions for use in group settings or individually. Includes a reading, pieces to color, questions to answer and background material. While there might be some changes or improvements from the first book to the second, I expect this will follow a similar pattern.
Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons from Over the Rainbow (Hardcover gift book) – Wisdom and insights from the movie, The Wizard of Oz.
Forever and Ever, Amen: A Memoir of Music, Faith, and Braving the Storms of Life (Hardcover) – For memoir and/or Randy Travis fans.
Genuine Pizza: Better Pizza at Home (Hardcover) – How to make better pizza at home. Includes information on tools to use, lots of pictures, and recipes.
Life to the Extreme: How a Chaotic Kid Became America’s Favorite Carpenter (Hardcover) – Memoir from the host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Ty Pennington
Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football (Hardcover) –  A memoir on life, math and football from former Ravens Offensive Lineman John Urschel. My favorite part of the description of this book is when it outlines how he worked on his PhD at MIT WHILE playing for the NFL.
Perfect Pan Pizza: Square Pies to Make at Home, From Roman, Sicilian, and Detroit to Grandma Pies and Focaccia (Hardcover) – I’ve only seen a few pictures from this book, but they look amazing!
We Will Feast: Rethinking Dinner, Worship, and the Community of God (Trade Paperback) – A book about Christians following in Jesus’ footsteps by gathering around the table with diverse people.
Why We Love Star Wars: The Great Moments that Built a Galaxy Far, Far Away (Trade Paperback) – Commentary on the film franchise.

Happy May! Spring is in the air, Mother’s Day is right around the corner. There’s plenty of reason to celebrate with a new book. Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids

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The Story of Rap AND The Story of Rock (Board Books) – Darling board books celebrating the history of Rap and Rock.
Cowhide-and-Seek – When the farmer starts counting his cows, Bessie thinks it’s the beginning of a game of hide and seek. This looks adorable!
Forky in Craft Buddy Day – Some of the characters from Toy Story 4 appear in this story from the author of The Day the Crayons Quit.
The Karate Kid (Classic Illustrated Storybook)
Lambslide – When a girl says she’s running for class president and her family says she’ll win in a “landslide,” the lambs outside hear “Lambslide” and start searching for this special slide made just for them. Sounds hilarious!
Llama Destroys the World – A llama who loves cake accidentally kicks off the destruction of the world. Yep, I have to check this one out!
The Sad Little Fact – A fact who can’t tell a lie is locked up  until a group of fact finders help free the facts and save the day.
David Bowie – Picture book biography
The Eternal Soldier: The True Story of How a Dog Became a Civil War Hero – The true story of a dog at the Battle of Gettysburg.
The Moon’s First Friends: How the Moon Met the Astronauts from Apollo 11 – A celebration of the Apollo 11 flight.
Teddy: The Remarkable Tale of a President, a Cartoonist, a Toymaker and a Bear – A blend of fact and fiction about the first teddy bear and its ties to President Roosevelt.
Harold & Hog Pretend for Real! – Dan Santat authors this new book about a pair of friends who pretend they are Piggie and Gerald.
Splat the Cat and the Lemonade Stand – Splat needs to earn money to go to the water park.
A Is for Elizabeth AND Big Mouth Elizabeth – A new transitional chapter book series that is a spin off from the Justin Case series. This looks darling!
Dead Sea Squirrels: Squirreled Away AND Boy Meets Squirrels – A new transitional chapter book series from one of the creators of Veggie Tales, Mike Nawrocki. The series focuses on a boy who finds two 2,000-year-old squirrels preserved at an archaeological dig site. When the squirrels are revived, they share stories and lessons they learned from Jesus. I am eager to try one of these out.
Lost at Sea – Book 7 in the Puppy Pirates series.
Polly Diamond and the Super Stunning Spectacular School Fair – Book 2 in the Polly Diamond series about a girl with a magic book that creates whatever she writes.
Tales from Vader’s Castle – Kids graphic novel collection of stories that sound like Scooby-Doo adventures set in the Star Wars universe.
My Weird Reading Tips – Dan Gutman’s nonfiction series turns to reading tips including information on context clues and main ideas.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Doughnut King – Sequel to The Doughnut Fix. Tris has launched his donut business, but it’s so popular he can’t keep up with demand. A reality TV cooking show could be his chance to get the money for a machine that will speed up the production process. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow – it was excellent!
Emily Out of Focus – Two girls meet when their families travel to China to adopt. One of the girls was adopted from China, and she is determined to find her birth mother while she is there. I’ve requested this one from the library!
Endling: The First – Book 2 in Katharine Applegate’s Endling series about near-extinction, finding family, and a potential war. The first book has received rave reviews.
Fenway and Hattie in the Wild – Book 4 in the Fenway and Hattie series. Fenway notices some new things about his girl, Hattie, when the family goes on a camping trip. The description makes this sound like Fenway tells the story, and I love books where the pets tell stories from their perspectives.
Finding Orion – The latest from John David Anderson. When a boy’s quirky grandfather dies, his family heads out for the funeral, but nothing goes like they expect. I’m eager to read this one.
Jaclyn Hyde – A Dr. Jekyll/Mr Hyde story starring an eager-to-please girl who thinks the secret to life is to be as perfect as possible. This sounds amazing, too.
Just Jaime – Book 3 in the Emmie & Friends graphic novel series. In this book, two friends at the end of 7th grade struggle to figure out where they fit in their friend group.
Mr. Bambuckle Rule the School AND Class 12B Fights Back – A new series about an unusual teacher, the kids who love him, and the principal who wants him gone.
Mr. Lemoncello’s All-Star Breakout Game – Kyle Keeley is back in this 4th Lemoncello book. This time, Mr. Lemoncello is launching a TV network where kids can compete in live action Lemoncello games. I have requested this one from the library, too.
Once Upon a Twist: The Kitty Mermaid – The latest from Ever After High.
Order of the Majestic – In this new fantasy book, a boy is sucked into an old theater where he finds out that magic is real, but it is dying out. The boy has a chance to make a difference, but his efforts put him in the middle of an ancient battle.
Shouting at the Rain – Two friends explore their home area around Cape Cod while also wrestling with family and friend issues. This one is already getting some positive buzz.
Soldier Dogs: Victory at Normandy – Book 4 in the Soldier Dogs series.
The Startup Squad – First in a new series about a group of girls competing in a lemonade stand competition.
Toby’s Story – Book 5 in the Dog’s Purpose Puppy Tales series. A beagle puppy finds his purpose as a comfort animal. This sounds sweet.
Toy Story 4 Junior Novel – Junior Novel for the upcoming movie
Up for Air – A swimming star starts to wonder who she is without her sport when a prank goes wrong and she loses her opportunity to swim for the high school team.
What Is NASA? AND What Was the Vietnam War?
Bible Infographics for Kids Volume 2: Light and Dark, Heroes and Villains, and Mind-Blowing Bible Facts – Infographics are illustrations of facts and figures. I adore them! I’m interested in checking out this book of infographics based on the Bible. A fantastic format for visual learners.
Again But Better – A college student who has done all the academic things right, but who has no social life to speak of decides to take a semester in London and find all the college experiences she’s been missing.
All Our Broken Pieces – A girl with compulsions hopes that this time things in her life will be different, better while the boy next store sees her as a muse for his songwriting.
Aurora Rising – A rising star risks his future as the lead of an elite squad in order to save the sole survivor on a space ship that disappeared 200 years ago. This one choice will set their universe on an unexpected course. This is a terrifically fun space romp! I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Broken Throne – Includes 5 novellas (three new, two previously released) set in the world of the Red Queen series.
The Goodbye Summer – A girl who is counting down the days to her 17th birthday so she can run away with her older boyfriend, makes a new friend over the summer and starts to question her plans to leave town.
Hope and Other Punchlines – A girl forever remembered as “Baby Hope” after a photo of her from 9/11 went viral and a boy whose life was also fundamentally changed on that day meet while working a day camp. Together they encounter difficult questions about the impact of that day and that photo. SOOO excited to read this one!
Last Things – A teen with world-class talent considers where to take his musical gifts after high school while an odd girl seems to always be in the background – lurking or protecting? This sounds spooky and amazing!
The Lovely and the Lost – A girl and her adoptive family train search and rescue dogs. They are called in to find a missing girl on a mountain, but the search digs up the past for the girl, her adoptive brother and their mom. This was AMAZING! I’ll be reviewing it later this week.
Romanov – The story of Anastasia Romanov with a magical and romantic twist. This sound fantastic!
The Rule of Many – Book 2 in the Rule of One series. A pair of twins, living in a dystopian America with a one-child rule gear up for a showdown with the government that would see them dead.
Somewhere Only We Know – The biggest K-Pop star is about to debut on The Tonight Show, but for now she is just desperate for a hamburger, even if she has to sneak out of her hotel to get one. A tabloid reporter is trying to sneak into a hotel for a story when a familiar girl walks by in her slippers, determined to track down a burger. This sounds delightful! I can’t wait to see what happens with these two!
This Is Not a Love Scene – A film student with muscular dystrophy thinks there’s no room in her life for romance, but the hot older guy starring in her senior project might just change her mind.
Tinfoil Crowns – A teen looking to make it big in the world of online videos hits a roadblock when her mom – who tried to kill her when she was three – is released from prison.  When her mom moves back in with the family, the teen’s online fans can tell something is up and dig up her tragic past. This is a fascinating story idea – I can’t wait to read this one!
With the Fire on High – A teen mother with a talent in the kitchen wonders if her dream of being a chef is even possible. Look at that cover! Wow. How can you NOT pick this one up to check it out?

 

Books for Adults

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The Big Kahuna (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the Fox and O”Hare series. An FBI agent and a con man team up to track down a missing Silicon Valley billionaire.
The Bride Test (Trade Paperback) – From the author of The Kiss Quotient. A Vietnamese man on the autism spectrum isn’t sure that there is room in his life for romance, so his mother takes the situation into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him a bride. This looks great. The internet has been buzzing about this one for ages.
A Deadly Feast (Hardcover) – Book 9 in the Key West Food Critic mystery series. Hayley is days away from Thanksgiving and her post-holiday wedding when she gets a call from a friend whose business is in danger because a customer dropped dead on the seafood tasting tour.
Dying for Devil’s Food (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 11 in the Cupcake Bakery mystery series. It’s murder at the high school reunion – one of my FAVORITE sorts of mysteries. I’m going to have to get caught up on this series soon so I can check this book out.
For a Good Paws (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Barkery & Biscuits mystery series. The man who was in prison for 10 years for killing the local mayor stirs up trouble when he returns to Knobcone Heights and the mayor’s widowed husband is found dead. Interesting premise on this one!
Middlegame (Hardcover) – Twins, one with a gift for language, the other with a gift for numbers, are being manipulated and used by their creator in a quest for power. This standalone fantasy sounds amazing!
Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors (Trade Paperback) – How can a prominent neurosurgeon be the “black sheep” of her family? This is the story of the Raje family, an Indian American family that lives by strong rules and high expectations, and the daughter who is trying to redeem herself in their eyes. This sounds fascinating!
Read on Arrival (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Bookmobile Mystery series. Just as Cleo is getting ready to unveil the renovated library to the community, her plans are put in jeopardy by members of her board and the murder of her library nemesis, a woman with a 40-year-old overdue library book. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Scent of Murder (Hardcover) – A woman who trains cadaver dogs discovers a body in an abandoned building. I’ll be reviewing this one soon, too.
Shuri: The Search for Black Panther (Paperback Graphic Novel) – A comics collection telling the story of Shuri, princess of Wakanda. When her brother T’Challa is lost on a mission in space, everyone looks to Shuri to step forward, but she knows she is happier in her lab than on the throne. I can not WAIT to read this. And I’ve looked at the next book, out in October, and it looks spectacular!
The Art of Toy Story 4 (Hardcover Coffee Table Book) – Art for the new movie
Every Tool’s a Hammer: Life Is What You Make It (Hardcover) – From one of the stars of Mythbusters comes this book about creativity and problem solving.
It’s the Manager (Hardcover) – The latest from Gallup about leadership, business, and personnel management.
Let Love Have the Last Word (Hardcover) – A memoir from actor, musician and activist, Common
Millenneagram: The Enneagram Guide for Discovering Your Truest, Baddest Self (Hardcover) – A modern, sometimes irreverent, spin on the classic 9 types. I have this at the top of my list for this week.
My Life in Lists: An Illustrated Journal to Record Your Loves, Goals and Dreams (Paperback Journal) – Over 100 pages of guided journal entries/lists. This is on my personal list, too.
Rise of the Servant Kings: What the Bible Says about Being a Man (Hardcover) – Written on the premise that masculinity is found through surrender to God. Part of the Promise Keepers movement.
The Way We Eat Now: How the Food Revolution Has Transformed Our Lives, Our Bodies, and Our World (Hardcover) – How the world has changed regarding food/eating over the last two generations.

Happy Memorial Day! As you rest with your family and remember those who fought for our freedom, take a look at some of the books releasing this week. ‘Tis the season for kicking off some summer reading!

Books for Kids

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Spy Dad (June 1) – A girl longs for her spy dad to take a real vacation. This looks like a fun read!
Z Goes First – Fed up with being at the end of the alphabet, Z and Y try to move to the front. I love alphabet books that flip the usual narrative on its head. Sign me up for this one!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Annie’s Life in Lists – A girl who loves making lists tries to find her way in a new town and new school. This is my favorite sort of middle grade story. This is on my list for this week.
Confusion Is Nothing New – From the author of I Kill the Mockingbird (an all time favorite for me), Paul Acampora, comes this story of a girl who learns the mother she never knew has died. This is top of my list just because of who wrote it, but I am eager to dig into the story, too.
Float – From the author of Edge of Extinction (an area author for my local readers) comes a new book about a group of boys at a summer camp for kids with special abilities. I am so excited about this one. I am hoping my local bookstore will have her in for a signing this summer!
From You to Me – A teen find’s her dead sister’s bucket list and hopes that completing the list might help her with her grief. Yep, I will totally be reading this one.
Front Desk – A girl holding a lot of secrets, including the dream of being a writer, hopes to make it through the year keeping the biggest secrets from the owner of the motel where her family lives and works. There’s an immigration angle to this story that intrigues me. Early reviews have been very positive.
Grump: The (Fairly) True Story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves – The fourth book in the Fairly True series. I adored book one, Rump. Fractured Fairy Tale loves like me should check this one out.
Most Valuable Players – Book 4 in the Rip and Red series. I reviewed book 2 in the series here. I love this series about friendship and basketball. The teacher in the book is extraordinary, and I love the autism angle in the stories as well. This is a must read for me since I have enjoyed the rest of the series.
Postcards from Venice – The latest book from the Mix line tells the story of a girl who gets to spend the summer in Italy and blog about the city of Venice. I love the whole idea of this book – the setting, the writing, all of it.
The Sphinx’s Secret – Book 2 in the Supernormal Sleuthing Service by the spectacular Gwenda Bond. This is about a kid living in a hotel for supernatural creatures. Look at that cover! This book just begs to be pulled from the shelf and read! I have to get book one asap.
Two Dogs in a Trench Coat – When two dogs notice their owner coming home from school smelling of anxiety, they have to find a way to sneak into school and check on their boy. Oh my goodness, I am so excited to read this book!
All the Little Lights – Two kids, separated by circumstances, reconnect as teens, but there is too much history between them to go back to the way they were. When one of them is suspected of causing a local tragedy, can their fragile relationship survive? Interesting premise. I’m curious to see what pulled these two apart and what threatens to pull them apart again.
Cross Fire – Book 2 in the Exo series about a future Earth that is a colony for an alien race. I have wanted to read book one since it first released.
The Disappearance of Sloan Sullivan – A thriller based around the Witness Protection Program. Sounds fascinating and mysterious.
Holly Jolly Summer – Daughter of the mayor of Christmas, Kentucky is having a summer that makes her Scroogey until she finds herself in the middle of a project to repackage the town’s failing amusement park. This sounds like the perfect Christmas in July read for summer. This is on my list!
Legendary – Book 2 in the Caraval series about a mysterious game with high stakes. I would have to read the first book to ever have a hope of understanding this second one, but for fans of book one, this will be big.
Listen to Your Heart – A reluctant girl finds herself hosting an advice podcast, but her personal feelings for one of her callers starts to impact her advice. This sounds like another perfect read for summer.

Books for Adults

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Bear Witness to Murder – Book 2 in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series. Yes, that’s really its name. A murder at the “Oktobear” Fest could ruin both the annual event and the woman who manages the Silver Bear Shop and Factory. If for no other reason than the title of this series, I must check out book one. (Trade paperback*)
Confessions of a Red Herring – First in a new series (Mass Market paperback*). As the new employee at the PR firm, a former journalist is the top suspect when the CEO is killed. She’ll have to use her journalism skills to find the real killer. I’m very excited to read this one. I’ll be reviewing it later this summer.
Crime & Punctuation – First in a new Deadly Edits mystery series (Hardcover*) about a freelance editor whose latest author turns up dead after writing a gripping “ripped from the headlines” mystery from the little town where she lives. I am so excited about this one, too! This is another book I’ll be reviewing later this summer.
The Diva Cooks Up a Storm – First in a new Domestic Diva series (Hardcover*). An event planner finally gets the chance to join her fellow foodies at an event where she isn’t in charge, but a murder ruins the event. I can’t pass up the first book in a new series, but since this is releasing in hardcover, it’s going on my library list.
Ella – Second in this series of classic fairy tales retold as Amish romances. I adored the first book in the series, Belle, and I’ll be reviewing that one and this one later this week.
Grounds for Remorse – Book 2 in the Tallie Graver Mystery series (Mass Market*). A woman who tried everything to leave the family funeral business behind her stumbles across a body in her new line of work in book one. In this book, her best friend is the top suspect in a murder. I read another funeral home family business mystery earlier this year, but I haven’t tried this one. I am adding book one to my list.
Murder with Cinnamon Scones – Book 2 in the Daisy’s Tea Garden mystery series (Mass Market*) centered around a tea shop/catering business. This series looks cute. I’ve read some of the author’s other books and enjoyed them.
Star Trek Prometheus: The Root of All Rage – The Federation flagship races to stop a war brewing between a group of fanatics and the Klingon Empire. I love a good Klingon story, so this has to go on my list.
Shelter in Place – A thriller centered around a mass shooting at a local mall. I don’t read a lot of Nora Roberts, but the description of this one – the impact of the event on different folks who were part of it, the mysterious co-conspirator – makes it a must read for me. (Hardcover*)
Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot – First in a new series (Trade Paperback) about a pediatrician, which is unusual for cozy mysteries. In this book, the doctor agrees to watch the kids of an old friend for the weekend, but the woman is murdered. Sounds like a fascinating mystery.
Living with the Monks: What Turning Off My Phone Taught Me About Happiness, Gratitude and Focus – An entrepreneur, entertainer and best-selling author who only moves at full speed takes a self-imposed time out at a monastery. I enjoy memoirs like this where the author tries something out of their comfort zone and tells readers about the experience. I have this one on my list along with his first book, Living with a SEAL.

 

*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 a small week for book releases, but a great week for books if you are excited about the new Star Wars movie, Solo, releasing this Friday. Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids

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Super Saurus and the Egg – Arnold, the superhero dinosaur, is ready for anything when his parents bring home an egg. Sounds like a cute get-ready-to-be-a-big-brother story.
Solo: Meet the Crew – This Early Reader tells kids all about the characters in the new Star Wars movie.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Star Wars: The Mighty Chewbacca and the Forest of Fear – This comes from the author of the fantastic Origami Yoda series, Tom Angleberger. Chewy, a bounty hunter, and a spy droid are on the run through a forest that emits a mist that makes everyone experience their fears. Sounds like an adventurous story!
Star Wars: Solo: The Official Guide – The visual guide to the new movie
Where Is the Bermuda Triangle?
Where Is Walt Disney World?
The Academy – Teen fashion blogger gets sent to military school. This looks terrific!
Aftermath – The sibling of a school shooter and her former best friend who lost a brother in the event try to find their way through the aftermath of the tragedy. The full description of this has a terrific mysterious tone to it. This will be a must read for me.
Furyborn – First in a new trilogy. A prophesied queen and a bounty hunter, born centuries apart, hold keys to the future of an empire. Look at that cover! It’s gorgeous! I have been waiting for this book since the first moment I saw that cover. This is at the top of my list for the week.
Star Wars: Most Wanted – A prequel adventure for the main characters of Solo.
The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik – After a boy is hypnotized, he notices things he never saw before and there are changes in the people around him. The full description of this is bizarre and mysterious. I’d read this one just to figure out what is going on in the summary.

Hope you and your family had a peaceful weekend. If you celebrated Mother’s Day, I hope it was a sweet occasion for you and your family. Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Rock ‘N’ Roll Soul – A girl tries to find her own voice for the school talent show.
How to Spot a Sasquatch – A graphic novel for kids about a boy at camp, searching for Big Foot and the Sasquatch who ignores the rules to save the boy when he is in danger. This sounds awesome!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Nicola Berry and the Petrifying Problem with Princess Petronella – Book 1 in a new series (there are three books out today) about a girl chosen as an ambassador from Earth to go to an alien planet and teach their princess to not use the Earth as her personal garbage dump.
Airports, Exes, and Other Things I’m Over – When her ex cheats on her during their Florida vacation, a girl can’t get back to New York fast enough. But things seem to be conspiring against her, leaving her stuck with her ex. The title of this alone ensured that I put this on my list for the week. Sounds like a great story!
All of This Is True – Four teens befriend their favorite YA author only to find their personal secrets in her next book. Yes, please!
Onyx and Ivory – A disgraced girl with secret magic and the king’s son who condemned her father to death must face a dire threat together. Yep, I’ll be reading this one, too!
War Storm – The fourth and final book in the Red Queen series. I read the first book, and it was spectacular.
How I Resist: Activism and Hope for a New Generation – A collection of essays and thoughts about taking a stand.

Books for Adults

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The 49th Mystic – First in a new series – Beyond the Circle – by Ted Dekker about a blind girl on a quest and a secret world only she can access. I am curious to check this one out.
A Girl Stands at the Door: The Generation of Young Women Who Desegregated America’s Schools – Yes! This is on my list.
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness – I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.

Did you know that books make excellent Mother’s Day gifts? Maybe there will be something that you see in the list today that would make someone on your gift giving list happy this Sunday (and if not in this week’s list, maybe something from earlier this year!).

Books for Kids

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Mustache Baby Meets His Match (BdBk) – This is a board book version of the second Mustache Baby picture book. I ADORE the two picture books in this series, but I bet they are even more fun to read in board book form where your kiddos (or grandkiddos) can carry them around with them. If you aren’t familiar with this series, I highly recommend you check them out!
Today I’ll Be a Unicorn (BdBk) – The stars of the graphic novel series Phoebe and her Unicorn get their own board book about the joys of being a unicorn. Fun introduction to the characters for the youngest readers.
The Detective Dog – The Detective Dog loves to hear children read, but when all the books go missing, she is on the case. This looks delightful. I can’t wait to read this one!
MVP: Most Valuable Puppy – An adorable puppy book by ESPN personality Mike Greenberg and his wife Stacy. All proceeds go to help fight pediatric cancer! A great book for a great cause.
Splat and the New Baby – Splat the Cat is so excited to be a big brother, but when his mom brings home a baby crocodile, Splat gets a different experience than he was expecting. I have loved Splat the Cat from his very first book. The illustrations are fantastic! Looking forward to reading this one.
Square – Second in the Shape Trilogy by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen. Looking forward to seeing this as well!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Al Capone Throws Me a Curve – Book 4 in the Tales from Alcatraz series about a boy who lives on the island in the 1930s
Amal Unbound – A girl who longs to be a teacher someday winds up in indentured servitude to a corrupt man in her village.
Captain Superlative – A girl notices one of her classmates is dressing up as a superhero and trying to help others at their middle school. I have read over 120 books so far this year, and right now, this is my favorite. It will be a couple weeks until I can get to the review (May 22), but I hope you will check this book out. It’s amazing!
The Inventors at No. 8 – Three kids and an orangutan head off for adventure in a flying machine one of them built.
The Key to Every Thing – When a girl returns home from summer camp, she discovers her favorite neighbor is gone.
Scout: National Hero – A search and rescue dog joins the national guard.
Super Dorks – Book 3 in the Pack of Dorks series about a girl trying to find her moment to be a hero.
Whatshisface – A boy whose family seems to move all the time gets a phone to keep in touch with his old friends – but his new phone might be haunted. I am a huge Gordon Korman fan! Love his work.
Blink and You Die – Book 6 in the Ruby Redfort mystery series by Lauren Child, the author of Clarice Bean and the Charlie and Lola series. Looks like this will be the last book in the series. I read the first one and enjoyed it. I’d love to catch up on this one.
Crimson Ash (May 10) – A girl is kidnapped, her memories are erased, and she is turned into a soldier. When her sister eventually finds her and her memory is restored, can she live with the things she has done?
My Name is Victoria – When a young woman becomes the companion to Princess Victoria, will she follow her father’s rules for the princess, or choose her friendship with the princess instead.
Boying Up – Mayim Bialik writes to teen boys to talk about the changes happening to them physically, mentally and emotionally as they grow up.

Books for Adults

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Better Off Read – First in a new series (hardcover) about an aging librarian trying to save her library who stumbles across a murder. I’ll be looking for this one at my local library!
Flowers and Foul Play –  First in a new series (hardcover) about a young woman who inherits a cottage in Scotland with a magical garden. I’ll be reviewing this one on Wednesday!
Pick and Chews – Book 4 in the Barkery and Biscuits series about the owner of a dog bakery. Sounds like a fun series.
I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing: Star Wars and the Triumph of Geek Culture – I adore books like this that look at popular culture and the fandoms people love. This is definitely on my list for this week.

I think we have finally shaken off the last snowflakes and spring is finally here. Let’s celebrate with some new books! Here are some of the books releasing this week that I have on my watch list:

Books for Kids

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Albie Newton – A young inventor struggles to make friends at preschool. This looks adorable!
Donuts: The Hole Story – An ode to donuts with puns galore
Pete the Kitty and the Groovy Playdate – Before he was Pete the Cat, he was Pete the Kitty. First book in this new line focuses on sharing.
Snail Mail – Celebrates the days of handwritten letters and cross-country treks to deliver them.
This Is a Taco – A funny little story starring a squirrel named Taco who loves to eat, what else? Tacos!
The Wolf Who Didn’t Like to Read – A wolf who would rather eat books than read them has to help a librarian find 10 missing books.
Pete the Cat’s Groovy Bake Sale – An early reader starring Pete the Cat
Ada Lace, Take Me To Your Leader – Book 3 in a series about a STEM-loving girl and a possible alien invasion
Gordon: Bark to the Future (A P.U.R.S.T. Adventure) – Gordon, the dog from the fantastic Binky the Space Cat graphic novel series, gets to save the day. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Alcatraz Escape – Book 3 in the Book Scavenger series about an escape room challenge on Alcatraz Island. I have book 1 on my TBR list.
Bad Mermaids Make Waves – First in a new series about a trio of mermaids who have to battle some bad mermaids to save their queen.
Bob – Five years ago, Livy promised a little creature that she would help him find out where he came from. Now that she is back, it’s time to follow through. The latest from Wendy Mass (The Candymakers) and Rebecca Stead (When You Reach Me), this one will be huge!
Brooklyn House Magician’s Manual – A companion to the Red Pyramid series by Rick Riordan (Egyptian mythology)
The Burning Maze – The third book in the Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan starring the god Apollo who has been turned into a human teenager by Zeus and sent to Camp Half-Blood.
Curse of the Ancients – Book 2 in the Supergirl series based on the TV show on the CW network. The books contain original adventures for the cast of the TV show.
Endling: The Last – The latest from Katherine Applegate about the last of a mythical doglike species who goes in search of others of her kind who may be hidden. This quest story is sure to be a hit.
The Fantastic Library Rescue and Other Major Plot Twists – Book 2 in the Ruby Starr series about a girl who loves to read, is nervous about a poetry assignment, has a book club called the Unicorns, and who is determined to save her school library. You know I will be reading this one!
Freya and the Magic Jewel – The Goddess Girls now have a Norse series called Thunder Girls about prophecy and Ragnarok. Terrific timing for this series with Riordan’s Norse series wrapping up and all the Thor appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Lost in the Jungle – Book 3 in the Jack and the Geniuses series. This time the kids are headed to the Amazon to find a missing scientist. If you are looking for a solid science-based series for kids, check this one out!
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl – When a lightning strike gives a girl genius level math skills, her grandmother challenges her to complete one year of middle school and a series of tasks before she can leave for college. This is one of the books at the top of my list for this week.
Out of Left Field – Even though she is the best pitcher in the neighborhood, a girl in 1957 is denied the opportunity to play Little League because she is a girl. This sounds fantastic! Looking forward to reading this one.
Positively Izzy – A companion book to Invisible Emmie. This graphic novel focuses on two girls, one a dreamer and the other a “brain,” whose worlds collide at the school talent show. I’m looking forward to this one!
The Rose Legacy – In a world where horses have been killed off for carrying a deadly plague, a girl finds a secret farm of them and discovers she has an affinity for understanding their thoughts and feelings. When I was teaching, I could have started a book club with the number of kids who would have clamored for this title. Sure to be a hit.
Shining Night – Lena in the Spotlight book 3, from FaithGirlz. The latest story in the faith-based series focuses on Lena’s attempt to help a friend by putting on a huge fundraising event and the things she learns about herself and about God along the way.
The Stolen Summers – First in the new Time Tracers series about a boy who has to stop rogue time travelers who have stolen his summer vacation.
Allied – Book 3 in the Ruined series about sisters pitted against one another in a battle to save their kingdom. I have book one on my TBR for April, but I don’t think I am going to get to it before tomorrow.
Bookish Boyfriends: A Date with Darcy – A girl who believes boys are just better in books gets that theory tested in ways she never imagined. I’ll be reviewing this later this week – it’s fantastic!
Everywhere You Want to Be – Loosely based on the tale of Red Riding Hood, a girl heads off to a summer dance program, promising her mother she will give up dance when college starts in the fall. But her summer in New York opens up new opportunities – and new threats – to her dreams of dancing.
If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say – A careless online comment blows up in a teen’s face and takes her future with it. Sounds like a timely story!
The Lies They Tell – The daughter of a man suspected of starting a fire that killed 4 out of 5 members of a family gets drawn into a group of teen boys which includes the last surviving member of that family. Getting close to them might just get her close to the truth of what really happened. Yes, please!
Phoenix Resurrection: The Return of Jean Grey – Graphic Novel collecting the first 5 comics in this line. My only contact with the Jean Grey character is through the XMen movies, but I have always been curious about the Phoenix aspect of her character. I’d love to check this book out.
Royals – When her perfect older sister falls in love with the Crown Prince of Scotland, Daisy must give up her quiet life and go learn how to fit in with the royals. But the Crown Prince’s younger brother is ALWAYS looking for trouble, and he might just take Daisy along for the fun. This sounds like the fabulous Prince in Disguise without the reality TV angle. I’m looking forward to reading this one!
Star Wars Lost Stars Vol 1 (Manga) – The story of two friends who find themselves on opposite sides of the Empire/Rebellion battle in Star Wars now appears in a manga format. I enjoyed the novel, and I’m curious to see what they do with the story in this format.

Books for Adults

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Cisco Ramon’s Journal – The Flash’s Cisco Ramon comes to the book store/library with this journal based on the fictional character in the CW’s series about DC’s main speedster.
Down the Aisle with Murder – Book 5 in the Otter Lake mystery series. In this book, the protagonist is trying to solve the murder of a maid-of-honor. I have not read anything in this series before, but I have book one on my library list.
Dressed for Death in Burgundy – Book 2 in the French Village Mystery series about an American transplant trying to be accepted in her French home who stumbles across a murder. I have book one on my TBR shelves.
Falling for You – Book 2 in the Bradford sisters series. In this book, a young woman is forced back into relationship with the NFL quarterback who once broke her heart. I’ll be reviewing this one this week, too.
Hey Ladies: The Story of 8 Best Friends, 1 year, and Way, Way Too Many Emails – A fictional tale of friendship told through emails and direct messages and texts and such. Sounds like a perfect summer read!
Lethal Literature – Book 4 in the Book Barn mystery series. This time Charli’s dad is keeping secrets and one of those secrets turns up dead.
The Otter of Death – Book 5 in the Gunn Zoo series. This time, an otter is seen holding a cell phone which is tied to a murder. This is a series that has been on my reading wishlist since it first started. I might just have to jump into the middle with this book though. Sounds great.
The Theory of Happily Ever After – After being dumped by her fiancé and sliding into a funk, Maggie’s friends book her to speak about happiness on a cruise. When a fellow passenger asserts that smart women can never be happy, Maggie decides to set aside her recent disappointments and prove him wrong. This is a must-read for me – sounds terrific!
Amateur Hour: Motherhood in Essays and Swear Words – This sounds funny and apropos.
Fabulous Figures – An art and drawing book focusing on drawing people. When I get in creative moods, books like this call to me.