BOOK NEWS: November 23, 2021

The week of Thanksgiving is rarely a big release week in the world of books. Enjoy this handful of new titles for the week.

 

Books for Kids


Hornswoggled! – A group of animals find themselves hornswoggled (tricked) when someone takes some of their most precious things and replaces them with something silly. This looks adorable!

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Huda F Are You? (Graphic Novel for Teens and Young Adults) – A Muslim girl searches for her identity when she moves to a new town. I am always intrigued by an identity story!

 

Books for Adults


The Becoming (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Dragon Heart Legacy series. Breen returns to Talamh with Marco who is trying to come to grips with the magical world while Breen’s grandfather is scheming to destroy Talamh. I have the first book on my wishlist, and just picked it up in e-book format for a great price.
The Bone Shard Emperor (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Drowning Empire series. As Lin assumes the throne, a faction of rebels prepares to strike while a legendary group of magicians returns, claiming they come in peace, but they leave Lin wondering if she can trust them. I have the first book from this on my wishlist, too.
Fated Blades (e-book novella) – Warriors from rival families must work together in secret to discover who betrayed their families and threatens their survival. I’ve already pre-ordered this one. It sounds perfect for me.
The Gospel for Loyalists – I am still waiting for Tyler to get to my number, but in the meantime I will tell you I enjoyed the layout and approach in his book for 3s, The Gospel for Achievers which I reviewed last year. While I wait (mostly patiently), I am happy to share the series with my Enneagram friends of other numbers.

 

 

BOOK NEWS: November 16, 2021

It’s hard to believe we are only a couple weeks from Thanksgiving and the all-out push toward Christmas. Sit back for a few minutes and scroll through this week’s list of new releases. As always, keep in mind that release dates are changing thanks to the ongoing supply chain issues.

Books for Kids


Zoey and Sassafras: Wishypoofs and Hiccups – Book 9 in this darling series. The magical animals in the forest are being changed, and Zoey and Sassafras must find out why. I love this series that uses science to solve fun, magical problems. This is right up my alley.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


The Crown Heist (Older Middle Grade) – Book 3 in the Lost Art Mysteries series. Art helps his friend Camille when her estranged father goes missing right before she is supposed to meet up with him.
Graceling (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of Graceling by Kristin Cashore about a young woman serving as her uncle’s enforcer who agrees to help a foreign prince looking for his missing grandfather. I have wanted to read this book for years! Maybe I’ll have to pick up the graphic novel instead.
The Nobleman’s Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks – The third and final book in the Montague Siblings series. Adrian goes in search of the older siblings he never knew he had. I have this whole series on my wish list.
Sword of Desire – Book 2 in the Reigning Kingdoms duology, a spin-off from the Knights of the Realm series, which I loved. Harley has been kidnapped and is working to get free while Ackley is torn between his quest and going to rescue her.

 

Books for Adults


An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire (Trade Paperback) – Sequel to A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (♥♥♥♥). A couple with a rocky history team up when her friend is kidnapped. This is on my list for this week.
Beating the Wrap (e-book) – Book 3 in the Bonnie & Clyde Mystery series. A heated exchange with a neighbor over her cat leaves Bonnie in the hot seat when that neighbor is later found dead.
Doggone Deadly (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Catskills Pet Rescue Mystery series after the DELIGHTFUL Furbidden Fatality. Kari is helping out at a dog show when her best friend is accused of murder. This is at the top of my list for this week!
The Hookup Dilemma (Trade Paperback) – A fantastic one-night-stand becomes a complication when Rashida and Elliott end up on opposite sides of an issue.
Mercy (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Atlee Pine series. Atlee may be on the final leg of her journey toward finding the sister who was kidnapped as a child as well as answers to all of the questions Atlee has dealt with all these years.
Peppermint Bark (e-book) – Book 9 in the Dogmothers series. A widow co-fosters a dog with the guy who stood her up for prom all those years ago.
Rare Danger (e-book, novella) – An air force veteran and a private librarian team up when a book dealer goes missing and his partner is murdered.
Sense of Danger (e-book) – A stand alone urban fantasy from the author of the OUTSTANDING Crown of Shards series about the team up of a spy and an assassin who needs her special talents.
The Singles Table (Trade Paperback)- Book 3 in the Marriage Game series. A lawyer and a security specialist make the best of being stuck together during the wedding season when she promises to help him find love if he introduces her to some of his famous clientele. This is on my review list.
Get Untamed the Journal – A guided journal based on the author’s book Untamed.
The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Love, Talk, Work, Drink, and Eat…. Everything With Ranch (Hardcover) – From one of my favorite internet personalities, Charlie Berens. I can’t wait to see this one in person.

 

BOOK NEWS: November 2, 2021

Happy November! With the holidays right around the corner, now is a great time to start thinking about books your friends and family will love. Remember, supply chain issues are a thing right now. This might mean that a book’s release date gets moved around; it can also mean that shipping will take longer. Stay aware. If I can note a delay on something I thought was releasing during a certain week in November, I will.

I’ll be releasing my 2021 Holiday Hint List sooner than usual this year to give you some ideas and a few extra weeks to get your orders shipped. Stay tuned! (You can go here to see some of the previous Holiday Hint Lists.)

Books for Kids


Aaron Slater Illustrator – An artist discovers his struggles with reading are due to dyslexia. But he wonders if he can still be the storyteller he longs to be. Yes, please! I can’t wait to read about the newest member of the Questioneers!
Life Is Better with Friends – This picture book focuses on key moments in the series.
Our Table – As a family grows apart, their gathering space – a table – grows smaller. I don’t know that you can EVER go wrong with a Peter H. Reynolds book! I can’t wait to see this one in person.
Parker Shines On – A sequel to Parker Looks Up. This time Parker learns to be a good friend in her dance class. This looks lovely. I adored the first book, so this one is on my list, too.
Redlocks and the Three Bears – Instead of Goldilocks, the Three Bears meet Little Red Riding Hood – and the Wolf is not far behind. Fractured and mixed up fairy tales are one of my all time favorite things, so this is a must-read for me this week.
The Smart Cookie – A cookie doesn’t feel so smart compared to some of the other confections at the bakery.
What If You Had Animal Scales? – The latest in this fun line of books about animal facts.
The Bad Guys in They’re Bee-hind You! – Book 14 in the Bad Guys series of early chapter books.
Dragon Masters: Howl of the Wind Dragon – Book 20 in the Dragon Masters series.
I Survived True Stories: Courageous Creatures – A new collection of true survival stories. These books are fantastic!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


D&D Dungeon Academy: No Humans Allowed – First in a new middle grade series based on Dungeons and Dragons. A human girl, disguised as a minotaur so she can go to Dungeon Academy without scaring the other creatures there, heads off on a quest to find out more about a human adventurer named Allidora Steelstrike. This sounds SO FUN!
Eddie Whatever (Older Middle Grade) – Eddie gets stuck volunteering at a retirement home for his bar mitzvah service project. The residents may call him “Eddie Whatever,” but he discovers there is more to like – and secrets to uncover – there than he expected.  This sounds fun!
Tangled Up in Luck – Enemies become friends as two girls search for a town’s missing treasure. This looks awesome. I have this on my review list.
Blame It on the Mistletoe – A social media darling and a girl wanting to flee a holiday embarrassment switch homes for the holidays. Love the premise of this one, so I’ll have to check this out.
Gilded – A Rumpelstiltskin retelling from the author of The Lunar Chronicles.
Skin of the Sea – First in a new series. A mermaid saves a boy tossed into the sea instead of collecting his soul like she’s supposed to, bringing the wrath of the gods upon her.
Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed – A collection of Latinx short stories.

Books for Adults


All Her Little Secrets (Hardcover) – A lawyer with secrets is promoted after her boss – and lover – is murdered. But she can’t shake the feeling that something with her promotion or at the company is off. This sounds twisty!
The Donut Trap (Trade Paperback – Now releasing November 9th) – Without a job or a relationship keeping her away, Jasmine finds herself working at her parents’ donut shop and feeling trapped. But the relationship that could change everything for her isn’t falling into place like she expected. This looks fun. It’s on my review list.
The Fastest Way to Fall (Trade Paperback) – She’s supposed to be writing a feature about a new fitness app that includes a coaching component. He’s the CEO who isn’t supposed to be coaching, but it’s the only way he’s found to feel happy. But when their coaching relationships teeters on becoming something more, they both realize they could lose everything if they let themselves fall in love.
Game On (Hardcover) – Book 28 in the Stephanie Plum series. In Stephanie’s hunt for a ruthless hacker, she finds herself working with Diesel again, but she can’t be sure if he’s her partner or her competition.
How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days (Trade Paperback) – Rumors abound that Keanu Reeves is about to get married, so Lu and her best friend Truman hit the road so Lu can find Keanu and convince him she’s the one he should marry. Yep, I will have to read this one.
I Hate You More (Trade Paperback) – From the author of the DELIGHTFUL Forever Home series.  A former beauty contestant determined to help a lazy Golden Retriever make a good showing at the local dog show runs afoul of the veterinarian judge who thinks she is in over her head.
Killer Research (Hardcover) – Book 12 in the Library Lovers series from Jenn McKinlay. Curmudgeon librarian Ms. Cole is running for mayor. But a dead body in the trunk of her car might sink her campaign – and get her thrown in jail. Lindsey and Sully and the rest of the crew are determined to prove her innocence. I adore this series. This is a must-read book for me this week.
Lore Olympus (Graphic Novel) – A new take on the story of Persephone.
A Marvelous Light (Hardcover – LGBTQ+) – First in a new series. Robin has been named the liaison to a magical society he never new existed in secret around the British Isles. But between the prickly counterpart he has to work with in the society, and the fact that his predecessor went missing, Robin finds himself smack in the middle of mysteries and secrets people have died to keep hidden. I am intrigued by this one!
Miss Moriarty, I Presume (Trade Paperback) – Book 6 in the Lady Sherlock series. Moriarty seeks out Charlotte’s help when he fears tragedy has befallen his daughter.
Witches, Spiders, and Schemes (e-book, November 5) – Book 4 in the Destiny Falls series. Cracks are starting to show in the enchantments around Destiny Falls – and two dead bodies are found in the bay. Hayden and her friends will need to dig deep to solve the mystery and restore Destiny Falls. I loved book one, but I haven’t been able to carve out time to get caught up with the series. Hopefully that will happen soon.
The Journey Toward Wholeness (Hardcover) – The latest from the “godmother of the Enneagram,” Suzanne Stabile. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Prayers from the Throne Room (Leather) – A prayer book and devotional based on The Passion Translation. Includes a year’s worth of prayers and meditations.
Wholehearted Faith (Hardcover) – Rachel Held Evans’ last book, a collection of essays, finished by Jeff Chu.

BOOK NEWS: November 24, 2020

Happy Thanksgiving Week! I know this year has been super weird, but I hope you are able to find some time to reflect on things to be grateful for this year. Here are some of the new books releasing this week:

Books for Kids


It’s Her Story: Rosa Parks (Graphic Novel) – A picture book biography of Rosa Parks
The Library Bus – Based on the author’s experiences of growing up in Afghanistan where his sister was not allowed to learn to read. A girl assists her mother on the library bus while thinking of the future when she will learn to read and write.
Roller Bears – A rhyming book about bears on roller skates.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Blades of Freedom (Graphic Novel) – Book 10 in the stellar Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales nonfiction graphic novel series. This one focuses on the Haitian Revolution and Napoleon. This is a piece of history about which I know nothing. I’m eager to read this one.
Defending the Galaxy – Book 3 in the Sentinels of the Galaxy series. No one believes Ara’s discovery. In fact, her parents think it’s a delusion brought on by stress. And their disbelief is getting in the way of Ara doing her job to protect the Milky Way from being overrun. I picked up the first book in this series to give it a try. It sounds awesome!
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories – An illustrated addition to the Folk of Air trilogy with an emphasis on Cardan, including stories from before The Cruel Prince.

Books for Adults


The Awakening (Hardcover) – First in the new Dragon Heart Legacy series from the prolific Nora Roberts. When a young woman discovers a secret bank account in her name worth over 4 million dollars, she has no idea the secrets that will be unlocked when she uses some of the money to travel to Ireland, including a portal to a land of magical creatures. This is at the top of my wishlist for the week!
Eggnog, Extortion, and Evergreens (e-book, November 28) – Book 14 in the Camper and Criminals Mystery series. After recovering from a coma due to an accident, Mae has flashes of memory that she can’t quite sort out but that seem to point to a murder. This sounds fascinating and different. At the time of this writing, Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read this one for free.
Fa la la la Llama (e-book) – Book 4 in the Friendship Harbor Mystery series. Sophie’s business is struggling, and she has high hopes that the extra holiday activities will help her bottom line. But when a guest is murdered, Sophie is sleuthing again.
Fishing for Trouble (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Alaskan Diner Mystery series. When an employee from the local fish processing plant dies in the diner, Charlie and her friends start looking for clues.
Game of Cones (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Lickety Splits Mystery series. Kate and Jake are trapped in an isolated hotel with a group of quirky strangers – and a dead body. I love stories like this!
How to Frame a Fashionista (e-book) – Book 3 in the Resale Boutique Mystery series. Kelly’s ex-boss is the prime suspect in the death of her ex’s new wife. Kelly knows the woman is awful, but she is no killer.
A Lady Compromised (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the excellent Rosalind Thorne Mystery series after A Useful Woman (♥♥♥♥♥), A Purely Private Matter (♥♥♥♥♥), and also And Dangerous to Know (♥♥♥♥).  This time, Rosalind is helping her friend prepare for her wedding when she is asked to look into a suicide that might have been murder. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Lois Lane: Enemy of the People (Graphic Novel) – Lois leaves a White House press briefing with information that might threaten Superman’s life. Collects issues 1-12 of this comic series. This sounds terrific.
A Murder Between the Pages (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Main Street Book Club Mystery series after Can’t Judge a Book by Its Murder. The book club folks are certain that their new club selection was inspired by a 50-year-old cold case, and they want to solve it, especially when another murder takes place in the same spot. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Notorious (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Rebels of the Ton series. When Drusilla is rescued from scandal by her best friend’s brother, a rake who makes her heart race, she wishes his proposal was because he had feelings for her rather than out of obligation. But their relationship is at risk from a threat neither could predict. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Open for Murder (e-book) – First in the new Happy Camper Mystery series. Former journalist Zo Jones is running a South Dakota tourist gift shop, and looking forward to the return of her childhood best friend, Beth. But when the re-opening of Beth’s hotel comes complete with a dead body and a murder accusation, Zo starts investigating to clear her friend’s name. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Princess Knight (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Scarred Earth Saga and sequel to the AMAZING The Blacksmith Queen, one of my favorite books of 2019 (♥♥♥♥♥). I have been waiting for this book since the moment I finished the first one! When her sister Keeley became the Blacksmith Queen, Gemma left the War Monks to fight beside her sister. But when someone starts wiping out religious sects, she returns to the War Monks to convince them to accept Keeley’s offer of sanctuary. But the War Monks have changed in the two years since Gemma left. I will be reviewing this one soon!
Ready Player Two (Hardcover) – Sequel to the wildly popular Ready Player One. Days after the ending of Ready Player One, Wade discovers a new riddle and quest from the late James Halliday specifically for his heir – something that will change the OASIS in unfathomable ways. And a dangerous new rival will kill millions to secure the secret for himself.
To Kill a Queen (Trade Paperback) – When Raine’s older sister disappeared, Raine became the heir to the throne of Altria. When her father announces her betrothal, Raine sneaks out of the castle to find out what she can about her husband to be. On her mission, she gets word of a prophecy regarding the murder of the last heir to the throne. But could that prophecy be about her, or about her sister? This sounds fascinating!
Marvel: The First 80 Years (Hardcover) – An encyclopedia of Marvel.
Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops (Hardcover) – A memoir of sorts from a bookseller in Scotland about the sorts of folks he encounters in his shop.
Star Trek Voyager: A Celebration (Hardcover) – An encyclopedic look behind the scenes of the 7 seasons of Star Trek Voyager.

BOOK NEWS: November 17, 2020

Let’s take a look at some of the new books out this week!

Books for Kids


Llama Llama Loose Tooth Drama – When Llama Llama loses his first tooth, he actually *loses* the tooth.
Miss Mingo and the 100th Day of School – A celebration of the 100th Day of School.
When I’m Bigger, Mama Bear – Bella is in a big hurry to be a big bear and do big bear things.
Max & Mo’s 100th Day of School – Max and Mo celebrate the 100th Day of School, too.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens


Fantastic Tales of Nothing (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series about a boy named Nathan who thinks he is ordinary. But when Nathan discovers he has magic, it sets him on a journey to confront evil and prevent a war. This sounds fun!
Keeper of the Lost Cities Unlocked – Book 8.5 in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series. This is a special addition to the series. Addresses the cliffhanger at the end of book 8, but is told in a new way (dual perspective) and includes series details – with illustrations – never revealed before.
Super Sidekicks No Adults Allowed (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series about Junior Justice who is sick of being a sidekick, always left with the yucky jobs of being a hero. Junior thinks the sidekicks should band together to launch their own super team. This looks so fun!
Wizards of Once: Never and Forever – The fourth and final book in the Wizards of Once series.
Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Stars Who Made America Amazing – An anthology of Asian American achievements. Includes information on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Bruce Lee, and Chrissy Teigen.

Books for Teens/Young Adults


Dog Girl – Can an anxious teen overcome her social anxiety enough to take advantage of the unexpected spotlight to save the dog rescue that means everything to her and her  father?
Malcolm and Me – An historical coming-of-age story of a young woman confronting racism, faith questions, and family secrets.
Rebel Sisters – Book 2 in the War Girls series. Five years after the war ended, Ify is a high-ranking medical officer living in the Space Colonies. Back in devastated Nigeria, a team is trying to preserve the memory of those who died while the government wants to eliminate any evidence of the war. When a mysterious illness starts targeting the children in the Colonies, Ify will have to head back to Earth to find answers.
Rise of Knight and Sword (e-book) – Working at the city library, Guinevere encounters a map rumored to hold the location of Excalibur. Any number of would-be king-killers would love to get their hands on the map. So Guinevere decides to use the map to find Excalibur herself and rid the kingdom of those who would try to rule for their own gain. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Super Fake Love Song – To impress a girl, Sunny says he is the front man for a rock band. Soon, he’s gone all in on the lie, recruiting his friends to play along as if they are members of the band. But the lies start to get away from him.

Books for Adults – Fiction


Batman: Three Jokers (Hardcover Graphic Novel) – When Batman discovers that there are actually THREE Jokers, he teams up with Barbara Gordon and Jason Todd in order to defeat them once and for all.
Cottage of Gooseberry Bay: Gooseberry Christmas (e-book) – Book 3 in the Cottage on Gooseberry Bay series. Ainsley continues her quest to find answers about her past in Gooseberry Bay. At the time of this writing this is available to read for free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Daughter of the Serpentine (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Dragoneer Academy series, a sequel to Novice Dragoneer. As Ileth dodges attacks from an unknown enemy within the Academy, the Vale Republic faces a dangerous group of pirates who would take their citizens as hostages or slaves.
Daylight (Hardcover) – Book 3 in David Baldacci’s Atlee Pine series. (Long Road to Mercy – ♥♥♥½) Atlee runs into  Baldacci’s John Puller as she continues to search for answers about what happened to her sister Mercy.
Dead Broke (e-book) – Book 2 in the Agatha’s Amish B&B series. When one of Agatha’s neighbors is killed and a guest goes missing, she starts digging into the missing man’s past.
Feliz Naughty Dog (e-book, November 20) – Book 7 in the Dogmothers series. When Pru’s friends abandon her to team up with their boyfriends to perform Random Acts of Kindness, the Dogmothers recruit the broody new boy at school to be her partner. And his mischievous greyhound, Tor, causes mayhem everywhere they go. This sounds FANTASTIC!
Flipside (Trade Paperback) – A young man having a “quarter-life crisis” decides he might be better off letting a flip of the coin determine his future life choices.
Murder in the Snow (e-book, November 19) – Book 4 in the Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series.  Lady Eleanor is ready to enjoy her first English country Christmas when she is framed for a recent death. At the time of this writing this is available to read for free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Piece of My Heart (Hardcover) – Book 7 in the Under Suspicion series from Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke. Just days before their wedding, television producer Laurie Moran and her fiancé, Alex, are on the hunt for Alex’s missing nephew.
The Silver Shooter (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 the Rose Gallagher Mystery series. Rose is a Pinkerton agent with a talent for the otherworldly, and Teddy Roosevelt wants her help near his ranch in the Badlands. This series sounds so fun!
The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany (Trade Paperback)- Two cousins and their great-aunt travel to Tuscany with hopes of finding love and breaking the  Second-Daughter curse in their family. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
To Steal a Heart (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency series by the delightful Jen Turano. Gabriella, a former street thief, and her childhood friend, Nicholas, reunite as they try to clear the name of an innocent woman accused of theft. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Tome to Tomb (e-book) – Book 5 in the St Marin’s Cozy Mystery series. Harvey is looking forward to the holiday season until a man dies in the lap of her store Santa.

Books for Adults – Nonfiction


Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics (Hardcover) – A memoir specifically tied to Dolly’s musical and songwriting career.
Forgiving What You Can’t Forget: Discover How to Move On. Make Peace with Painful Memories, and Create a Life that’s Beautiful Again (Hardcover) – From Lysa TerKeurst. A faith-based look at forgiveness.
Frontier Follies: Adventures in Marriage and Motherhood in the Middle of Nowhere (Hardcover) – A memoir from Ree Drummond.
No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality (Hardcover) – A memoir from Michael J. Fox.
A Promised Land (Hardcover) – The first of President Barack Obama’s presidential memoirs.
The Voyages of Star Trek: A Mirror on American Society through Time (Hardcover) – Looks at the evolution of Star Trek over the years, especially as it has reflected and spoken to issues of the day.

BOOK NEWS: November 10, 2020

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids – Board Books and Picture Books


And the People Stayed Home – A poem about the pandemic and quarantine, set in a picture book.
The Grinny Granny Donkey – Another sequel to The Wonky Donkey, this time starring Dinky Donkey’s grandmother.
Pig the Slob – Book 7 in the Pig the Pug series. What will it take to get Pig the couch potato off the couch?
The Efficient, Inventive (Often Annoying) Melvil Dewey – A picture book biography of the man who created a universal organization system for libraries.
Swish: The Slam-Dunking, Alley-Ooping, High-Flying Harlem Globetrotters – A picture book biography.

Books for Kids – Early Readers and Chapter Books


Clark the Shark Gets a Pet – Clark learns there’s more to keeping a pet than he thought in this new leveled reader.
Kit and Kaboodle Blast off to Space AND Explore the City – Two early readers from the folks at Highlights magazine starring Kit and Kaboodle, cat and mouse friends, who go to space camp and explore the city. Includes hidden picture puzzles in each book. These are books 3 and 4 in this series.
Nick and Nack Put on a Puppet Show AND See the Stars – Two early readers from the folks at Highlights magazine starring Nick and Nack, a boy and his robot friend, who build a puppet show and stage and build a telescope. Includes hidden picture puzzles in each book. These are books 3 and 4 in this series.
Rocket Loves Hide-and-Seek! – When Rocket keeps getting found first in his hide-and-seek games with his friends, Bella and Owl come up with a way to make the game fun again. Rocket is one of my favorite book characters!
The Bad Guys in The One?! – Book 12 in the terrific Bad Guys series about a group of “bad guys” determined to be heroes.
Fox Tails The Biggest Roller Coaster – Book 2 in the Fox Tails series from Scholastic ACORN. Fritz, Franny, and their dog, Fred, spend the day at the amusement park.
Miki – Book 59 in the Puppy Place series. When Charles finds out their new foster, Miki, has been taught to “dance,” the kids put on a performance guaranteed to get Miki adopted.
Ra the Mighty: The Crocodile Caper – Book 3 in the fun Ra the Mighty, Cat Detective mystery series. This time, Ra, the Pharaoh’s cat, and his friend Khepri the dung beetle are on the case of a missing child when Pharaoh’s son goes missing. I get such a kick out of this series!

Books for Older Kids/Teens


 

7 Good Reason Not to Grow Up (Graphic Novel) – Kirby is the star of the snarky “7 Good Reasons Not to Grow Up” videos, but he’s not who his friends think he is. When his secrets are exposed, he and his friends may have to grow up faster than they wanted.
Don’t Judge Me – The latest from Lisa Schroeder (My Secret Guide to Paris-♥♥♥♥♥ , Frosting and Friendship-♥♥♥♥). When Hazel discovers her best friend’s brother has made a list rating the girls in their middle school on their looks, she knows she needs to take a stand.
Friend Me – When Roisin is overwhelmed by bullying at school, she makes an online friend named Haley who makes life bearable. But when Roisin’s bully suffers an accident and Roisin gets nervous her messages with Haley could be misunderstood, she reaches out to Haley, but she has disappeared. The stakes in this thriller seem a little higher than usual for a middle grade story, so I’m curious to check this one out.
Teen Titans Go! Roll With It – A new graphic novel starring the Teen Titans. When the Titans play their favorite roll playing game, Basements and Basilisks, Robin gets competitive and things quickly get out of hand. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
2021 Game On! – Scholastic’s annual video game guide.
Show Me History: Muhammad Ali AND Jesus (Graphic Novels) – Graphic novel biographies of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, and Jesus.
This Is Your Time – An autobiographical story by Ruby Bridges, written as a letter to the reader about civil rights activism.

Books for Teens/Young Adults


The Camelot Betrayal – Book 2 in the Camelot Rising trilogy, following The Guinevere Deception. Guinevere is still questioning and searching for self and her role in the future of Camelot when the sister of the real Guinevere arrives.
Chasing Lucky – The latest romance from Jenn Bennett. When Josie returns to her home town after years away, she reconnects with her childhood best friend who is now the resident bad boy, Lucky. When Josie makes some epically bad decisions, Lucky takes the blame for her, but she has no idea why he would do that when he said he wanted nothing to do with her. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow – Lila’s parents send her to spend the summer with family friends in England to help her mental health, and a local tea shop clerk with troubles of his own agrees to be her personal tour guide.
How to Pack for the End of the World – When Amina connects with a group of preppers at her new school, she starts to wonder if it makes sense to work so hard to prepare for a hypothetical future of disaster when it could cost her everything she wants in the present.
Lies Like Poison – Poppy, Lily, and Belladonna discover their friend, Raven, is being abused by his stepmother, and they concoct a plan to poison the woman with leaves of their namesake flowers in her tea. But someone backs out, and the three drift apart, their plan forgotten. When Raven’s stepmother is found dead three years later, by belladonna, Belladonna is arrested. She reaches out to her old friends to help her clear her name. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Love & Olives – Book 3 in the Love & series. When Liv’s estranged father invites her to Greece where he’ll be filming a documentary on his theories about Atlantis, she jumps at the chance to travel as well as to reconcile with her father.
Rebel Rose – Book 1 in the Queen’s Council series. Belle has broken the Enchantress’s curse, turning the Beast back into Prince Adam. Belle is torn between her humble beginnings and her future royalty while the rebellions in Paris creep ever closer. When she discovers a dark magic, she has to question if she is truly prepared for the life ahead of her.
Refuge (e-book) – Book 1 in the Tradepoint Saga. A translator and diplomat for an exchange group from the planet Venna carries a new weight of responsibility when she discovers their homeworld has been destroyed. Their exchange group are the only Vennans left in the universe. At the time of this writing, this is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Rent a Boyfriend – Rent for Your ‘Rents provides fake boyfriends to appease even the most conservative Asian parents. Exactly what Chloe needs to convince her parents to turn down a proposal they feel is “perfect” and she finds dreadful. This is at the top of my list this week – sounds delightful! I love a good fake-relationship story.
Teen Killers Club – Convicted of her best friend’s brutal murder, Signal opts to join a group of secret teen assassins training at an abandoned camp. Since she is completely innocent of the crime, she doesn’t exactly fit in with her new teammates. Signal joined up so she could find out who framed her. But she didn’t bargain on becoming friends with the ragtag group of future assassins. Or on the man in the woods determined to eliminate every last one of them. This is also on my list for this week!
Those Who Prey – A college student still looking for the belonging and community she’s supposed to find on campus gets drawn in by The Kingdom, an exclusive campus group that provides everything she’s been looking for. But when she heads to Italy on a group trip, Emily discovers the dark side of The Kingdom when she and her peers are stripped of their passports and denied contact with their families. And then one of the group members dies.
Whispering Hearts – Book 3 in the House of Secrets series by V. C. Andrews. A young woman, disowned and alone in New York hoping to make it big, struggles to find her way to stardom. When she is offered an opportunity to “help” an odd couple who are not able to have children, Emma will take the money. But what troubles will she encounter in exchange?
The Anne of Green Gables Devotional: A Chapter-by Chapter Companion for Kindred Spirits – 40-day devotional including art work, questions for discussion groups, passages from the novel, and life application.

Books for Adults – Fiction


Amish Christmas Miracles Collection (e-book) – A collection of 14 holiday stories.
Danger of Sleighed Plot (e-book, November 13) – Book 2 in the Plum Fields Mystery series described as Little Women meets Murder, She Wrote. At the time of this writing, this is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Dead Sea Conspiracy (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Dead Sea Chronicles series by Jerry Jenkins. An archaeologist is searching for something to bring together the world’s three major religions while an enemy stalks closer.
Fowl Play (e-book) – First in the Friendsgiving Cozy Mystery series. When the restaurant they used to frequent on Thanksgiving (with something of a “found family”) closes, Lynn and Chad decide to host the group at their home. But this year the group is fracturing into cliques and some uninvited guests descend. This includes characters from the author’s various series, together for the first time in this stand alone mystery.
A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Lady’s Guide romance series, not to be confused with the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. Detective Eversham is annoyed that Lady Katherine gets involved in not one, but TWO, of his murder cases. But he can’t deny her insight and wisdom when it comes to solving crimes. Working together seems the best course of action, but a killer will put their lives – and their potential romance – in danger.
Miles Morales: Wings of Fury (Trade Paperback) – The official prequel for the new Miles Morales Spider-Man game. Miles teams up with Peter Parker to deal with Vulture and his new sidekick, Starling, just as Miles is wondering what it means to be a hero when the world wants to assume the worst about you.
Mimi Lee Reads Between the Lines (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Sassy Cat Mystery series. Pet groomer Mimi Lee finds herself sleuthing when a local teacher is killed and Mimi’s sister was the last to see the woman alive. This series, which includes a talking cat, sounds like a lot of fun!
Star Trek The Original Series: Contest of Principles (Trade Paperback) – A new Star Trek TOS story set during the original five-year mission. While Kirk is required to oversee the first free elections on Vok after years of military rule, Bones goes missing during a mission on a nearby planet. Spock and Christine Chapel lead a team to investigate the doctor’s disappearance.
Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back From a Certain Point of View (Hardcover) – A collection of Star Wars stories with ties to The Empire Strikes Back which celebrates it’s 40th Anniversary this year. All proceeds of this book will be donated to First Book which provides books to children in need.
A Sugar Plum Christmas (e-book, November 14) – A woman scouting out a mountain town for a potential reality TV show meets a local who doesn’t want the town exploited – and sparks fly between them.
The Truth About Dukes (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Rogues to Riches series. If Robert’s enemies ever find out he spent time in an asylum, they will try to send him back there so they can take over his lands and fortune. He is in need of a wife of suitable reputation and breeding to protect his future. And while Lady Constance seems like the right choice – on the outside – he has no idea of her true thoughts and feelings which she keeps under wraps.
What the Lady’s Maid Knew (e-book) – First in a new series. A magical maid uses her magic in the expected ways, including keeping her employer’s rebellious daughter on the path toward arranged marriage. But a rebellion is rising and they desire Eliza’s magic above all else. This sounds fascinating!! At the time of this writing, this is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Without a Brew (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Sloane Krause Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. Sloan and her boss are second guessing their plans to be innkeepers when a local who was spending the night to stay out of a storm turns up missing.

Books for Adults – Nonfiction


The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time: Decoding History’s Unsolved Mysteries (Trade Paperback) – A new nonfiction collection from Brad Meltzer.
The FRIENDS Official Cookbook Set – Cookbook and apron set.
One Life (Hardcover) – Memoir from US Soccer gold medalist and World Cup Champion Megan Rapinoe.
Star Trek The Wisdom of Picard (Hardcover) – A collection of wisdom from the seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Star Trek movies, and the new Star Trek Picard series. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Talking Back to Purity Culture: Rediscovering Faithful Christian Sexuality (Trade Paperback) – Looks at the teachings and messages of purity culture through a lens of scripture, especially in light of the fall out for those raised to follow the purity culture rules.

BOOK NEWS: November 3, 2020

Happy Election Week to my American readers! Hope you are able to get out to vote this week if you haven’t already. When you are done, or while you stand in line, take a look at some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids


The Couch Potato – Book 4 in the Bad Seed series. When the power goes out, Couch Potato has to leave his sunken cushion and venture out into the fresh air and sunshine.
Find Fergus – The story of Fergus who is very bad at hide and seek.
Fox Versus Winter – A leveled reader about a fox who does NOT like winter.
Roaring Mad Riley – An anger management book for kids.
Disney Princess Baking – Recipes inspired by Disney characters.

Books for Older Kids/Teens


Disney/Pixar Finding Nemo/Finding Dory: The Story of the Movies in Comics – A graphic novel retelling of the movies.
Dog Diaries: Curse of the Mystery Mutt – Junior and his dog friends wonder if there is evil about when their toys go missing right when a mysterious creature, the Howly Wiener, usually comes around and fills the streets with monsters.
The Mouse Watch – Bernie the mouse joins the Mouse Watch to fight evil, but she’s not sure she can trust her new partner. Then they are thrown into the middle of an emergency before they’ve been completely trained. This was so fun! I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes – Part of the Ghost Writer series. An adaptation of the Holmes mysteries along with games and puzzles.
Serena Says – Serena is working on becoming comfortable speaking on her vlog while also wrestling with friendship issues at school. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Stick With Me – When Izzy’s family rents out part of their house over winter break, she meets Wren, a figure skater who isn’t happy to be in a new place and forced to attend theater camp while her sister tries a new medical treatment for her epilepsy. When Izzy and Wren both are targeted by mean girls at camp, they will have to decide if it will draw them together or if they’ll let middle school drama keep them from ever becoming friends.
Homecoming Tales – True stories of senior dogs and their forever homes.
Kwame Alexander’s Free Write Poetry Notebook – Part of the Ghost Writer series. A notebook of exercises to help young writers.
Star War The Mandalorian Season 2 Poster Book – A poster collection.

Books for Teens/Young Adults


All I Want for Christmas – All Bailey wants for Christmas is someone to kiss under the mistletoe. She’s certain her dream guy is less like player Jacob Marley and more like the British stranger, Charlie.
Crown of Danger (e-book) – Book 2 in the Hidden Mage series. Verene is back and trying to learn to use her strange ability, but Darius has reverted to the cold, distanced prince he was when they first met. And she has to figure out a way to convince him that there’s still danger lurking, and that he has put his trust in the wrong person. At the time of this writing, this book and the first book in the series, Crown of Secrets, are available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited Subscribers.
Frozen II: Dangerous Secrets: The Story of Iduna and Agnarr – The story of Elsa and Anna’s parents. Iduna is keeping secret the fact that she is Northuldran as she grows ever closer to Agnarr who is wrestling with all he lost in the Enchanted Forest and the pressures of becoming Arendelle’s next king. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily – Book 3 in the Dash and Lily series after Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares(♥♥♥♥) and The Twelves Days of Dash & Lily (♥♥♥♥).  This time when Dash says he can’t get home for Christmas, Lily decides to go to see him in London. But being in the same town doesn’t mean they can’t feel farther apart than ever.
Victor and Nora (Graphic Novel) – Victor Fries and Nora meet at the cemetery. He’s painfully shy and wrapped up in his cryogenics research. She is dealing with a diagnosis that will eventually destroy her. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

Books for Adults – Fiction


The Alpha Enigma (Hardcover) – Book 1 in the Team Psi series. The head of a military psychiatric unit and his new patient are attacked by assassins and they barely survive. The patient, “Patient Alpha,” speaks in an unknown language and doodles figures no one understands. At the same time, an archaeologist discovers an 18th dynasty tomb in Egypt full of things that shouldn’t exist. This one is definitely on my list for this week!
Brothers in Arms (e-book, November 6) – The 6th, and final, book in the Reverend Margot Quade Cozy Mystery series. On the day of the Veteran’s Day parade, Margot reunites with an old army buddy who then goes missing. A ransom note leads her to dig into her military past in a race against time. This series sounds great!
Burden of Proof (Trade Paperback) – Ever since his brother’s murder on the courthouse steps in Jacksonville, Florida, Ethan has berated himself for not saving his brother’s life. When his brother’s widow comes to him for help, with information that they were in a situation with global implications, he feels this might be his chance to redeem himself.
The Escape (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in a new US Marshals series from Revell publishing. Two Marshals transporting two prisoners wake up in their downed plane to two dead pilots and one dead prisoner, while the other is a fugitive on the run.
Firefly:Generations (Hardcover) – The fourth original tie-in novel. When Mal wins an old map in a card game, River is able to read the mysterious symbols. It leads them to a generations ship – one of the ones that would have transported people from the old Earth to the universe. But the closer they get, the more upset River becomes, sensing something dangerous, and angry, on board.
Fortune and Glory (Hardcover) – Book 27 in the Stephanie Plum series. As Stephanie and her grandmother search for treasure, they encounter some foes from the past as well as a formidable new enemy who’s going to give Stephanie a run for her money.
The Gentleman and the Thief (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Proper Romance series. Two people down on their luck. He secretly writes penny dreadful novels to keep afloat when his family coffers are empty. She teaches music by day, but is a thief by night, looking to reclaim the things once stolen from her family. Together they team up to solve a series of robberies around London. This sounds fun!
How to Turn a Frog into a Prince (e-book) – Book 5 in the Happy Ever Regency series. After losing her entire family, Charlaine leaves Jamaica for England where she is side-eyed by the ton, but welcomed by Lord Markham and his family. While in London she meets a broken man in need of a friend, so ignoring social protocols, Charlaine reaches out to him. At the time of this writing, this book is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited Subscribers.
A Picture of Love (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Amish Inn series. Naomi cooks at the Peony Inn where she is loved by the owners as she recovers from her fiancé’s betrayal. Amos and his mother stay at the inn for a wedding, although Amos wants nothing to do with with weddings as he is still grieving the loss of his fiancée. Amos and Naomi bond over their grief and a love of painting.
Spellbreaker (Trade Paperback, November 1) – Book 1 in the Spellbreaker series. There are two kinds of wizards in the world – those who can pay to use spells, and those born with the gift to break them. Elsie uses the latter in an effort to help the common man, not unlike the story of Robin Hood. But she is unlicensed, which makes her magic use a crime. When an elite wizard catches her, he agrees to keep her secret if she helps him clean up some of spells around his estate. But as her fondness for the man grows, so do her concerns about the murders of wizards around the city. Yes, this is one I will be reading! At the time of this writing, this is available to read for free as part of the Amazon First Reads program. Book 2 releases in the spring.

Books for Adults – Nonfiction


The 40-Day Social Media Fast: Exchange Your Online Distractions for Real-Life Devotion (Trade Paperback) – Guidelines for a “screen sabbatical.” This could be a timely release for the post-election and holiday season!
Celebrate with Bread Baking: Essential Recipes for Special Occasions (Paperback) – Bread recipes from around the world. At the time of this writing, this book is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited Subscribers.
The Complete One Pot: 400 Meals for Your Skillet, Sheet Pan, Instant Pot, Dutch Oven and More (Paperback) – I love the idea of one-pot cooking. It sounds so simple and easy! Includes recipes that can be made in 45 minutes or less as well as ones scaled down for smaller families.
Truthfilled (Paperback) – A Bible study of the book of Colossians.

BOOK NEWS: November 26, 2019

Check back later today for the 2019 Holiday Hint list!! Now, on to some of the new books releasing this week.

Books for Kids


 

The ABCs of Metallica – Alphabet picture book
Spies in Disguise: Gadgets, Gizmos and Gear – Paperback picture book with stickers from the new movie Spies in Disguise.
You Loves Ewe! – Homonyms abound in this new picture book from Cece Bell (El Deafo).
Spies in Disguise: Lance Saves the World – Pigeon Lance shows off his new perspective.
Spies in Disguise: Meet the Spies – Meet the characters from the new movie.
Mia Mayhem Vs. the Mighty Robot – Book 6 in the Mia Mayhem series. A helpful cleaning robot goes rogue when Mia accidentally makes it grow three times its normal size.
The Princess in Black and the Bathtime Battle – Book 7 in this fantastic series. Princess heroes and their sidekicks help the Princess in Black and Goat Avenger with a stinky monster problem.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Ali Cross (Older Middle Grade 10-14) – A spin off of Patterson’s Alex Cross series, this one starring Alex’s son who wants to follow in his father’s detective footsteps. Ali is hunting for his missing best friend while his father is on trial for a crime he didn’t commit.
Spies in Disguise: The Junior Novel – Junior Novel of the new movie.
Incredible LEGO Creations From Space with Bricks You Already Have – A Lego idea book for using all the random bricks you might have. I always dreamed of organizing ours so something like this would work. It would be difficult to sort through huge tubs of bricks to find just the right size, but if you have a politely-sized collection, or you did a better job of organizing than I did, this could be a fun resource for you.
Starsight – Sequel to Skyward. Spensa is still shaken from the things she learned about her father, but she suspects there’s still more to the story. And she’s determined to find the truth.

 

Books for Adults


A Very Scalzi Christmas (Hardcover – November 30) – A collection of short stories and poems from science fiction author Jon Scalzi. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Abraham (Mass Market Paperback) – Sequel to Andrew (♥♥♥♥♥), and book 2 in the Petersheim Brothers series by Jennifer Beckstrand. The younger Petersheim brothers are matchmaking again, hoping to get their older brothers out of the house so they can move out of the basement. While Abraham has his eye on a young woman in their community, he is far too shy to approach the talkative young woman on his own. I’ll be reviewing this one soon, too.
An Ale of Two Cities (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Literary Pub Mystery series about a murder at an ice-carving competition. I have book one on my watch list at the library. Sounds like a great series!
Bookmarked for Murder (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Mystery Bookshop series. This one focuses on a death on a chartered bus trip. Sounds original!
Cobblered to Death (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new series about a baker from a show called Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter (even though she’s really a pediatrician’s daughter) competing on a reality show.
The Dog Who Knew Too Much (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Paws & Claws Mystery series. America’s “favorite dog” is in town, and the scamp stumbles across a dead body.  Sounds like a cute series.
Invitation Only Murder (Hardcover) – Book 26 in the Lucy Stone Mystery series. Part time reporter Lucy Stone is drawn into investigating a suspicious death while visiting an eccentric billionaire on his island which has been stripped of modern technology.
Lady Takes the Case (Trade Paperback) – First in a new historical mystery series where someone is murdered at a house party. This sounds great!
Murder at Icicle Lodge (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Ferrara Family Mystery series. Alberta and friends are off for vacation at the new Icicle Lodge where they discover a murdered celebrity. I need to catch up on this series, too.
Murder with Cherry Tarts (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series. One of Daisy’s employees has been trying to help a down-on-his-luck single dad who ends up suspected of murder.
A Murderous Tangle (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Seaside Knitters Society series. A visiting environmental activist is accused of murder.
My Fake Rake (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new series. A science-minded wallflower convinces a colleague to let her turn him into a fake rake to help her catch the eye of a naturalist. Yep, I’m going to need this one. Sounds fantastic!
Paw of the Jungle (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 8 in the Paw Enforcement series. A police officer and her K-9 partner are enjoying a day off at the zoo when some rare animals start to go missing. This sounds fun!
Publishable By Death (e-book) – First in a new series. The new bookstore owner is surprised to find a dead reporter in her storage room on opening day. I’ve already pre-ordered this one!
Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Heroes (Paperback Graphic Novel) – A Star Wars comics collection.
Thread and Buried (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 9 in the Mainely Needlepoint Mystery series. A movie director is found dead after harassing his female lead, and the story which inspired the movie he was making is leading to murderous revelations.
Under Occupation (Hardcover) – In Paris in 1942, a man being chased by the Gestapo passes a document to a novelist right before he dies. The novelist realizes he needs to get the document to the Allied forces.
Crazy Busy Keto (Paperback Cookbook) – Full of recipes and meal suggestions for the “crazy busy” moments in your life.
The Sacred Enneagram Workbook: Mapping Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth (Paperback Workbook) – Tools and practices to help you explore the Enneagram with the book The Sacred Enneagram (♥♥♥♥).
Stan Lee’s Master Class: Lessons in Drawing, World-Building, Storytelling, Manga, and Digital Comics from the Legendary Co-Creator of Spider-Man, the Avengers, and the Incredible Hulk (Paperback) – Lessons from Stan Lee on visual storytelling in comics.

BOOK NEWS: November 19, 2019

Be sure to come back next week and pick up my annual Holiday Hint List for the readers of all ages in your life! You can find previous years’ lists here.  Let’s take a look at some of the new books out this week.

Books for Kids


Finding Narnia: The Story of C. S. Lewis and His Brother Warnie – Picture book biography of Jack (C. S. Lewis) and Warnie Lewis and the childhood story that inspired the Chronicles of Narnia.
Greta and the Giants – A symbolic story inspired by teen environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
World Cup Women: Megan, Alex, and the Team USA Soccer Champs – Highlights the story of the 2019 Women’s World Cup soccer team.
Frankie Sparks and the Big Sled Challenge – Book 3 in the awesome Frankie Sparks, Third-Grade Inventor series. Frankie gets to use her skills in a sled designing competition.
Winner Takes All – Book 2 in the DC Super Hero Girls chapter book series. Wonder Women is disguised as Diana Prince when she goes to school in Metropolis. I’m still trying to track down book one in this series so I can check it out. It’s on my list.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Disney Frozen: The Hero Within (Graphic Novel) – Olaf makes a friend at the orphanage who is dealing with bullies. I’m eager to see this one in person.
Frozen II: The Deluxe Junior Novel (November 22) – Novelization of the new movie.
Power of a Princess – Book 2 in the More Than a Princess series. I will be reviewing this one tomorrow, and you can read my review of book one here.
A Talent for Trouble (Older Middle Grade – 10-12) – An off-the-grid adventure turns into a survival story when three kids take on the wild, some storms, and international jewel thieves.
Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History – The next volume from Vashti Harrison looks STELLAR. Includes John Lewis, Prince and Gordon Parks.
Make Your Mark: A Journal for Capturing Big Dreams – A guided journal that includes brief biographies of influential women.
Science Comics: Skyscrapers: The Heights of Engineering – The next addition to the Science Comics series.
We Are Makers: Real Women and Girls Shaping Our World – The MAKERS documentaries are now in book form.
The Wonder of Christmas: 25 Days of Advent Journaling for Girls – A Christmas devotional with writing and drawing space.
Blood Heir – First in a new series. The crown princess hides a terrifying power. When she is framed for her father’s murder, she must flee the safety of her home and trust a crime lord to help her find the truth. Sounds amazing! I’ve got this on hold at the library.
Crying Laughing – A high school student looks for distraction and laughs in the improv troupe when her father is diagnosed with ALS. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Star Wars: Force Collector – A teen boy with visions leaves his home to find out everything he can about the Jedi to see if that information will help him make sense of this power he has. This sounds fantastic!

 

Books for Adults


Firefly: The Sting (Paperback Graphic Novel) – An original graphic novel. The women of Serenity plan a heist.
A Minute to Midnight (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Atlee Pine series. Atlee, an FBI agent, returns to her home town to investigate the 30-year-old cold case of the kidnapping of her twin sister.  The only part I really liked from the first book was when Atlee and her assistant took an unsanctioned road trip. As the two women are teaming up again, I might have to give this one a try.
The Princess Plan (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 1 in a new series. When the secretary of a visiting prince is murdered, the prince and a gossip columnist who had a scoop about the event team up to investigate. I’ll be reviewing this one in December.
Advent: The Story of Christmas (Hardcover Gift Book) – Thirty-one retold Advent stories make up this holiday devotional.
The Art of Frozen II (Hardcover) – Art for the new movie.
Becoming: A Guided Journal for Finding Your Voice (Hardcover) – A guided journal for finding your voice based on the former-First Lady’s book Becoming.
The Countdown to a Cozy Christmas Cookbook: An Unofficial Cookbook for Fans of Hallmark Movies (e-book) – 100 recipes inspired by Hallmark Christmas movies.
Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame – The Art of the Movie (Hardcover)
The Plant Paradox Family Cookbook: 80 One-Pot Recipes to Nourish Your Family Using Your Instant Pot, Slow Cooker or Sheet Pan (Hardcover) – The Plant Paradox promotes a lectin-free diet. In the fifth book from the cardiologist who wrote about the paradox, families can find recipes everyone can enjoy.

BOOK NEWS: November 12, 2019

I’m posting a few minutes later today since it is Veterans Day, and there’s usually a moment of silence at 11 am to honor those who have served in our nation’s military. Thank you, veterans, for your service!

Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids


Caveboy Crush – A caveboy gets a crush on a cavegirl. This looks darling.
The Perfect Seat – Parent and child look for the perfect seat so they can start story time.
Pluto Gets the Call – Pluto gets the call that he’s not a planet anymore, so he treks to Earth to find out why. This is illustrated by the fabulous Laurie Keller (Scrambled States of America, Arnie the Doughnut), and I cannot wait to get this one!
Sisters First – A picture book from the Bush daughters about sisterhood.
The Truth About Hawks – Illustrated non-fiction book about hawks. The sample pages I have seen are gorgeous!
Rebel Girls Chapter Books – Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code AND Madam C. J. Walker Builds a Business – Early chapter book biographies.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Sherlock Academy: Moriarty’s Final Threat – Book 4 in the Sherlock Academy series. A group of kids work to take down Moriarty’s Underground Society. At the time of this writing, this is available for free through the Kindle Unlimited program for those who subscribe to the service.
Star Wars: Secrets of the Jedi – Picture book for middle grade readers about the Jedi.
All-American Muslim Girl – A Muslim girl has kept her faith a secret from her boyfriend because his dad is a conservative “shock-jock” on the radio. But when Islamophobia starts to grow in her community, she starts to dig into her faith and practice it in earnest. This has been getting rave reviews, so I requested it from the library.
Crown of Oblivion – In a world where those without magic are considered inferior to those who have it, an indentured servant decides to compete for her freedom in a Hunger Games/Amazing Race style competition where her memory is wiped before she competes. This sounds amazing. I have requested this one, too.
Otherlife – Book 3 in the Otherlife series from Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother, The Muppets) and Kirsten Miller. In a virtual world, players can enjoy anything and everything they can think of because there are no rules. But some teens have discovered the truths about Otherworld, and they are determined to take it, and The Company which built it, down.

 

Books for Adults


The Body on the Train (Hardcover) – Book 11 in the Kate Shackleton Mystery series. When a dead man is found on a train, Scotland Yard calls in Kate Shackleton to help them solve the mystery.
Cupid Claus (November 13, e-book) – Mrs. Claus is working to marry off her only son while he has no interest in finding love. He just wants to focus on taking over the family business. This sounds light and fun.
The Family Journal (Trade Paperback) – A single mom moves her family back into her rural childhood home in an effort to disconnect from the barrage of technology and reconnect with one another. While she is there trying to ignore the handsome renter in the house, she discovers a family journal cataloging five generations of her ancestors. At the time of this writing, this is available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Memories and Murder (Trade Paperback) – Book 10 in the Tourist Trap Mystery series which focuses on a case of possible elder abuse and a con artist who might have his eye on Jill’s aunt.
Not the Girl You Marry (Trade Paperback) – A journalist and an event planner endure a fake relationship for the sake of their careers, but after a little while, it’s not feeling very fake anymore. I have this on hold from the library already. I love fake-relationship stories.
Twisted Twenty-Six (Hardcover) – The latest from Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. Stephanie’s grandmother decides to get married again, but her new mob-boss husband drops dead right after the wedding. His business partners think the new widow is holding out on what’s owed to them.
Nothing Wasted: God Uses the Stuff You Wouldn’t (Trade Paperback) – A personal story of how God can use our past to redeem our future. This sounds powerful! There is a study guide to go with this  as well as a DVD.
Relentless: The Unshakeable Presence of a God Who Never Leaves (Trade Paperback) – Focuses on 12 Bible stories that illustrate how God is always with us.
When Less Becomes More: Making Space for Slow, Simple, and Good (Hardcover) – Good things come when we say yes to the right things.