Tag: September New Releases

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Moo, Baa, Fa La La La La! (Board Book) – A Christmas board book – complete with “Deck the halls with cows and holly.”
I’m a Unicorn – A one-horned calf thinks they are a unicorn. This is too adorable not to pick up and read! This is from the author of the absolutely delightful Off-Limits; I’m a huge fan!
The Hunger Heroes: Snack Cabinet Sabotage – Book 2 in the Hunger Heroes series by one of my favorite social media follows, Jarrett Lerner, following the exceptional Missed Meal Mayhem. (I bought the first book for a young family member last year, and it was a HUGE hit! I pre-ordered this one weeks ago to check in out for a possible follow up purchase.) The Hunger Heroes come to the rescue of a babysitter on the verge of “hangry.”

Books for Teens/Young Adults

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Your New Playlist – Author and speaker Jon Acuff teamed up with his teen daughters to produce a young person’s edition of his book Soundtracks. Both books talk about mindsets and habitual thoughts that lead to behavior – and how to build more positive and productive mindsets. I have Soundtracks on my TBR, but I’d love to pick this one up, too.

Books for Adults

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A Death in Door County (Hardcover) – First in a new Monster Hunter Mystery series. A Wisconsin bookstore owner and cryptozoologist (person who studies creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster) is called upon to help Door County police investigate mysterious deaths near Lake Michigan.
The Make-Up Test (Trade Paperback) – Exes end up in the same PhD program in literature, and competing for the same spot on a research team. Couldn’t hit the pre-order button fast enough on this one!
Murder Out of Character (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Peach Coast Library Mystery series. Marvey comes across a mysterious list of four names – one is that of a person who has already died under mysterious circumstances – including one of her new friends. I have book one on my TBR; I need to catch up!
Star Trek Picard: Second Self (Hardcover) – Raffi receives a message from a Romulan spy in need of help and Elnor accompanies her on the mission. This takes place between the events of season 1 and 2 of Star Trek Picard.
Typecast (Trade Paperback) – Just as Callie is feeling settled in her life she discovers her ex has used their real-life break up as fodder for his new screenplay. Her feelings about it leave her wondering if she has truly moved on or not.
15 New Testament Words of Life (Trade Paperback) – Explore the 15 “most important” words in the New Testament as the author seeks to make them fresh again and remind Christians of our charge from Christ. I met the author of this book, Dr. Nijay Gupta, last year at an event where I work, and I thoroughly enjoyed his presentations.

 

It’s the final week of September. Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Woodland Dance! (Board Book) – A new release from Sandra Boynton.
Rubylicious – Pinkalicious and her brother have the chance to make a once-in-a-lifetime wish.
A True Wonder: The Comic Book Hero Who Changed Everything – The picture book story of the creation of Wonder Woman
Red Titan and the Runaway Robot (Graphic Novel Early Reader) – Based on a character from YouTube. Ryan and his friends must save the city from an out-of-control dancing robot.
Owl Diaries: Eva’s New Pet – Book 15 in the delightful Owl Diaries series. Eva and Lucy volunteer to pet-sit for all of their friends to help Eva choose a new pet.
Waffles and Pancake: Planet Try-Yum (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series from the author of CatStronauts. Waffles and Pancake get separated from Dad-Cat at the science museum.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teen/Young Adults

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Barb, the Last Berzerker (Graphic Novel) – Barb and her Yeti best friend try to free the rest of the Berzerker warriors from a villain.
Black Panther: Spellbound – T’Challa and his friends team up during his visit to the American south when a man named “Bob” is not who he appears to be.
The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities – A collection of mythical short stories – starring characters from the Rick Riordan Presents series along with a new one from Rick Riordan himself. Since I haven’t read any of the RRP books, this sounds like a fantastic way to test out those books and see which ones I might want to try.
A Tale of Sorcery – Book 3 in Chris Colfer’s new Tale of Magic series. Brystal is running out of time on her one-year deal with Death. And the fairies and witches are working together to face a rising evil.
Unicorn Playlist (Comics Collection) – Book 14 in the Phoebe and her Unicorn series.
Violets Are Blue – The latest book from Barbara Dee (Maybe He Just Likes You, Everything I Know About You – ♥♥♥♥½). As Violet and her mom try to make a fresh start in a new town, it becomes obvious to Violet that her mom isn’t doing well. I have this on my review list.
Own Your Period – A guide to periods.
Once Upon a Broken Heart – Book 1 in a new series. Evangeline promises 3 kisses to the mysterious Prince of Hearts in exchange for his help when she learns her love will marry another.
Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven (Graphic Novel) – Book 3 in the Teen Titans graphic novel series that started with the fantastic Teen Titans: Raven and continued with Teen Titans: Beast Boy, and now brings the two characters together. I have this on my review list.
Grace Upon Grace Journaling Devotional: Trusting God No Matter What – Includes 100 devotionals with a devotional thought and journaling questions with space to write in answers and prayers.

 

Books for Adults

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Ambush or Adore (e-book, October 1) – Book 3 in the Delightfully Deadly series by Gail Carriger. A brilliant and successful intelligence officer must go into hiding with the only person who has ever made her feel safe despite his training as an Evil Genius. Yes, please!
Amish Candy Shop Holidays (e-book) – Collects previously released novellas “Criminally Cocoa,” “Botched Butterscotch,” and “Candy Cane Crime.”
Chapter and Curse (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Cambridge Bookshop series. Molly, a librarian, and her mother, Nina, travel to Cambridge to help run the family bookshop. But their efforts to save the shop may be in vain when someone kills a guest at a store poetry reading.
The Corpse in the Gazebo (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Food Blogger Mystery series. When one of Hope’s neighbors is killed after threatening to run Hope out of town, she’s the prime suspect. And not even her police chief-boyfriend seems to be able to help clear her name.
Death at Holly Lodge (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Daisy Thorne Mystery series. Renovations at the historic Holly Lodge unearth the remains of a man in a Santa Suit, stuffed in the chimney.
Deliciously FoxTrot (Comics Collection) – The 43rd collection of Fox Trot comics!
Eight Perfect Hours (Trade Paperback) – Two stranded strangers spend 8 perfect hours together, then expect to never see each other again. But fate has different plans.
The Ex Hex (Trade Paperback) – When a young witch puts a drunken curse on her ex, she doesn’t think it will do much more than give him a few bad hair days. But instead, it makes trouble for their whole community. This is on my wish list for this week.
The Glitter End (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Stationery Shop Mystery series. Delta’s efforts to bring shoppers into the store backfires thanks to a murder.
Here Comes the Fudge (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 9 in the Candy-Coated Mystery series. Allie is investigating when Jenn’s fiancé is arrested for murder.
It Started with a Dog (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Lucky Dog series after You Lucky Dog. A couple hit it off until they realize they are coffee shop rivals. And only one shop is likely to survive.
A Little Christmas Spirit (Trade Paperback) – A Scrooge-ish neighbor, haunted by the spirit of his beloved wife telling him it is time to move on, tries to be a little nicer to the single mother who moved in next door.
Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide (Trade Paperback) – A fall sequel to one of my favorite Christmas books of 2020, Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings. As Christmastown celebrates its first Halloween, a murderer strikes. This is on my review list!
Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bakeoff (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series. A murder at the Christmas Cookie Bakeoff leaves Lindsey the top suspect.
A Perfect Bind (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Beloved Bookroom Mystery series. While Tru is still stuck working in the book-less town library/”Technology Center,” a vandal is breaking into the secret bookroom she and her friends created.
Star Trek: Coda: Moments Asunder (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Star Trek Trilogy that brings together fan favorites Jean-Luc Picard, Benjamin Sisko, Ezri Dax, and William Riker to deal with the unraveling of time itself, the Temporal Apocalypse.
William Shakespeare’s Avengers (Hardcover) – All 4 Avengers films, told as Shakespearean plays.
Wreathing Havoc (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Garden Squad Mystery series. The Garden Squad are hunting for a murderer when a Hollywood star in town for a memorial is killed.
The Enneagram Guide to Waking Up (Trade Paperback, October 1) – A fantastic new Enneagram resource from the author of The Complete Enneagram (♥♥♥♥) and The 9 Types of Leadership. I’ll be reviewing this one this week.
If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk: Finding a Faith that Makes Us Better Humans (Trade Paperback) – New from John Pavlovitz. How can we embody a KINDER spirituality? This is on my wish list for this week, too.

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

Books for Kids

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Change Sings – A picture book from Amanda Gorman about the change that is possible when we work together.
Uni the Unicorn in the Real World – When Uni visits her best friend in the real world, they discover no one else can see Uni.
With Great Power: The Marvelous Stan Lee – A picture book biography of Stan Lee
Hound Heroes: The Rise of Evil Weevil – Book 2 in the Hound Heroes graphic novel series. Pets all over the city are being hypnotized – but by whom and for what purpose?
I Am a Good Friend! – Book 4 in the Princess Truly series from Scholastic ACORN. This book contains a collection of stories about friendship and a sleepover.
Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the Magic Tree House series gets the graphic novel treatment!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Absolutely Nat (Graphic Novel) – Book 3 in the Nat Enough graphic novel series after the delightful Nat Enough and Forget Me Nat. Nat discovers summer camp is nothing like she imagined. But could it be exactly what she needs?
The Insiders (LGBTQ+) – At Hector’s old school, being gay wasn’t a big deal, but at his new school it leaves him feeling like an outsider. But then one of his trips to hide out in the janitor’s closet opens up a room that shouldn’t exist where Hector can connect with new friends in far flung places.
Lost Legends: The Rise of Flynn Rider – First in the new Lost Legends series from Disney about some of our favorite heroes, but who they were as kids. Eugene and his best friend, longing for adventures like those they read about in the Flynn Rider books, connect with a circus group that promises one thing while delivering something else.
Maya and the Return of the Godlings – Book 2 in the Maya and the Rising Dark series. Maya and her friends discover that when they rescued her father, they left something very important behind.
Ms. Marvel Stretched Thin (Graphic Novel) – An original graphic novel starring Ms. Marvel. Kamala is feeling spread thin as she tries to be a hero on top of her other responsibilities to her school work, her family, and her friends.
Room to Dream – Book 3 in the Front Desk series. A trip to China with her family gives Mia an opportunity to take in the changes there as well as to think about the changes in her own world back home.
Set Me Free – The eagerly anticipated sequel to Show Me a Sign. Mary is summoned to Boston to help a young deaf girl begin to communicate. But as Mary discovers how desperately the girl needs to be able to tell her story, she also wonders if the job is just too much for her.
Sunny Makes a Splash (Graphic Novel) – Book 4 in the Sunny series (Sunny Side Up – ♥♥♥♥♥). While Sunny’s mom would be happy to have her babysitting all summer, Sunny is thriving with a job at the pool.
The Vanderbeekers Make a Wish – Book 5 in the wildly popular Vanderbeekers series. The Vanderbeeker kids get to know their grandparents in a new way.
What Is Black Lives Matter? – The latest WhoHQ Now book takes a look at the Black Lives Matter movement.
As If On Cue – Rivals are forced to work together to write and direct a school musical after their prank war goes too far.
Maybe We’re Electric – Two teens reinvent themselves with one another as they spend a snowstorm in a tiny Thomas Edison museum.
The Other Merlin (LGBTQ+) – Emry Merlin comes to Camelot disguised as her brother as girls aren’t allowed to do magic. I’m intrigued by the description of this one!

 

Books for Adults

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An Impossible Promise (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Providence Falls series. The angels have made it clear – Liam has to set the timestream right by pushing the woman he loves towards another man. But as Liam and Cora, police officers in this time, work a murder case, their attraction only grows stronger.
Mistle Text: ‘Twas the Text Before Christmas (e-book, September 25) – Book 5 in the Accidentally in Love series. A young woman doing a variety of jobs to make ends meet for herself and the niece she is raising agrees to be a holiday shopper for a Scrooge. There’s a Hallmark vibe here, but I am here for it – I’ve already bought most of the books in this series!
Under the Whispering Door (Hardcover) – Something new from the best-selling author of The House in the Cerulean Sea. Wallace has 7 days to finish crossing over, which he supposes means he is really dead. So he’s determined to use those 7 days to live the best life he can.
When Sparks Fly (Trade Paperback) – Two roommates are thrown into a different sort of relationship when she is injured in a car accident and he becomes her caretaker out of guilt.
Crazy Faith: It’s Only Crazy Until It Happens (Hardcover) – Learn to live with crazy faith. This sounds fantastic!
My Reading Life (Book/Reading Journal – Hardcover) – A reading tracker from author Anne Bogel.
Star Trek Villains (Paperback) – A look at the villains of Star Trek.

 

 

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Bear Is a Bear – A love letter to special childhood friends. This one is on my wish list for this week.
Saturday at the Food Pantry – Molly and her mom visit the food pantry where Molly sees a school friend who seems embarrassed to be there. But everyone needs help sometimes. This is waiting in a shopping cart, too.
Pete the Cat: Making New Friends – A new Early Reader starring Pete the Cat.
The Golden Dreidel – A chapter book about Chanukah and a magical dreidel.
Judy Moody in a Monday Mood – Book 16 in the Judy Moody series. This time, Judy fights the Monday blahs by trying to celebrate a holiday every day of the week.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Last Kids on Earth and the Doomsday Race – Book 7 in the Last Kids on Earth series, also on Netflix. While Jack and his friends are moving towards their own personal “boss battle,” they are sidetracked by a visit to Mallusk City where Jack faces down some old foes and his leadership skills are tested.
Once Upon a Tide – A new middle grade novel by one of my favorite YA authors, Stephanie Kate Strohm. While Princess Lana is representing her underwater kingdom in a Royal Festival, nothing goes right, from her mother’s new boyfriend to the mistrust of the other attendees and the news of a disaster in Lana’s kingdom. This is on my list for this week too! Sounds like my sort of middle grade fantasy novel!
The Raven Heir – A sorceress and her triplet daughters are in hiding from a decades long war. But when they are captured it is revealed that one of the triplets is the new ruler, an heir to the throne. But their mother has never revealed which of the girls is the oldest. Yes, please! *add to cart*
Recipe for Disaster – A girl lobbying her parents for a Bat Mitzvah learns what it truly means to be Jewish. This sounds amazing, too!
A Soft Place to Land – From the author of the fantastic From the Desk of Zoe Washington. The one bright spot in Joy’s family moving to the tiny apartment is finding the hideaway only the building’s kids know about. But when the kid exchanging secret notes with Joy stops writing, she wonders if her pen-friend is in trouble. My wish list for this week is quickly exceeding my book budget! Thank heaven for libraries!
Thor and Loki Double Trouble (Graphic Novel) – A comics collection starring Thor and Loki. This sounds fun!
What About Will (Older Middle Grade) – Trace’s family hasn’t been the same since his brother Will’s “incident” – a football hit that resulted in a brain injury. Out of love for Will, Trace starts covering for his brother whose anger and depression are escalating, leaving Trace to wonder if keeping his brother’s secrets is really the best for everyone.
Roar Like a Lion: 90 Devotionals of Courageous Faith – A devotional for kids about courage.
A Dark and Starless Forest – Derry and her siblings have been raised by Frank who took them in when their families abandoned them. And he says they are better off away from a society that wouldn’t understand or appreciate their magic. But when Derry’s siblings start to disappear, and the dark forest near their home starts calling to her, and she begins to see Frank’s true colors, Derry will have to consider surrendering to the darkness inside her in order to save her family.
Defy the Night – The latest series launch from the amazing Brigid Kemmerer. A girl trying to protect her community and the people she loves from a rampaging illness the kingdom’s leaders seem content to ignore sneaks into the castle looking for answers and finds more than she bargained for. I have this one on my review list.
It All Comes Back to You – Kiran and Deen dated once in secret, but now that their siblings are dating each other, they are face to face once again. But Deen and his brother seem to be hiding something. And Kiran is determined to expose them and protect her sister. This is also on my review list.
Kneel – A teen puts his scholarship chances and his future at risk to protest after his friend is unfairly arrested and kicked off the football team.
Allies: Real Talk about Showing Up, Screwing Up, and Trying Again – 17 YA authors talk about being an ally.

 

Books for Adults

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Burden of Poof (e-book) – First in a new Bonnie & Clyde e-book series from Julie Anne Lindsey. Bonnie and her cat, Clyde, have moved back to her home town where Bonnie opens up a second chance dress shop. But when there’s a dead body in the middle of a donation for her shop, Bonnie becomes a murder suspect. This sounds fun!
Deadly Summer Nights (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Catskills Summer Resort Mystery series set in the 1950s. When a man is found dead at the resort her mother is managing, Elizabeth starts investigating because the local police chief seems to settle too quickly on his theories about the crime.
Death of a Red-Hot Rancher (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Love Is Murder mystery series. A romance bookshop owner investigates a murder when her aunt becomes the prime suspect.
Farewell Blues (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Lady Adelaide Mystery series. Addie’s ready to be rid of murders – and Detective Hunter – once and for all, but then her mother is accused of killing her secret lover.
The Love Hypothesis (Trade Paperback) – A biologist creates a fake relationship around the tyrant of the university lab, and he surprisingly agrees to go along with it. Yeah, this is totally on my list for this week.
Right Behind Her (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Bree Taggart series. Sheriff Bree Taggart is dragged into reliving the worst moment in her life – her parents’ murder suicide – when human remains are found on her family’s land and her late father is a murder suspect. This sounds twisty and fascinating!
Growing with the Enneagram: Guiding All Types in Spiritual Growth (Trade Paperback) – From the author of the type-specific Growing As… Enneagram devotional series. A 60-day devotional series for those who might not know their own type and therefore not be able to engage with one of the other books in the series yet. Written to be used in a small group setting.

 

Happy September! Fall is on its way, and I am ready. Here are some of the new books releasing this week that you can enjoy with that pumpkin spice latte!

Books for Kids

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12 Days of Princess – A Disney Princess take on the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Dragons Are the Worst! – From the author of Unicorns Are the Worst! A little goblin describes why dragons shouldn’t be feared because goblins are more fearsome.
Norman Didn’t Do It (Yes, He Did) – From the author of the fantastic Mother Bruce books comes a tale of a porcupine and his best friend, a tree.
Pete the Cat’s Groovy Imagination – See how Pete uses his imagination to save a rainy day.
Stick and Stone: Best Friends Forever! – Stick and Stone are back for a new adventure when Stick goes looking for his family tree.
Thanks for Nothing! – A Thanksgiving story for Bruce and his friends.
Who Would Win? Extreme Animal Rumble – A collection of 5 previous books.
Bunbun & Bonbon: Captain Bun & Super Bonbon (Graphic Novel) – Book 3 in the graphic novel series about two unusual friends.
DJ Funkyfoot: Give Cheese a Chance – Book 2 in the series. DJ finally gets the chance at his dream of being a butler.
Diary of a Pug: Scaredy-Pug – Bub and Duchess are convinced they have seen a ghost.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Aggie Morton Mystery Queen: The Dead Man in the Garden (Older Middle Grade) – Book 3 in the Aggie Morton Mystery series. This time, Aggie and Hector investigate deaths at a spa Aggie’s mother is visiting.
I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900 – Book 21 in this series.
Julie and the Phantoms: We Got the Music – A notebook/scrapbook with input from Julie, Flynn, Carlos, and the guys in the band from Julie and the Phantoms.
Pahua and the Soul Stealer – First in a new series from Rick Riordan Presents starring a Hmong girl who can see spirits.
Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero – In the midst of 20th anniversary remembrances of 9/11, a boy in a Muslim community watches as his neighborhood becomes the target of people’s long-held anger.
Battle of the Bands – A collection of YA stories centered around a Battle of the Bands.
Dark and Shallow Lies – A girl living in a town that considers itself the Psychic Capital of the World looks for answers to the disappearance of her best friend.
The Hawthorne Legacy – Book 2 in the Inheritance Games series by the always fabulous Jennifer Lynn Barnes. This is at the top of my list for this week!
The Jasmine Project – When Jasmine catches her boyfriend cheating, her family conspires to introduce her to other eligible men who might treat her as she deserves. This sounds a bit like 10 Blind Dates, and I am intrigued by this one.
Never Saw You Coming – As two teens begin to fall in love, each is dealing with questions of faith and forgiveness. This is high on my list for this week, too, as well as on my review list.
The Pick-Up – A chance meeting in a ride share to a music festival becomes a chance at something special. This sounds fun! It’s also on my review list.
We Can Be Heroes – Two girls grieving the loss of their friend after a school shooting look for ways to ensure she’s not forgotten.
What Once Was Mine – Book 12 in the Twisted Tales series, this one focused on the Rapunzel/Tangled story. When the queen is saved by the Moondrop flower instead of the Sundrop, it leaves her daughter, Rapunzel, with silver hair and dangerous powers. This is on my review list.
Whistle (Graphic Novel) – Desperate to save her sick mother, Willow agrees to work for an old friend of her mother’s, E. Nigma, which puts her on the radar of one of Gotham’s most dangerous villains. When Willow and her beloved stray, Lebowitz, are attacked, something mysterious happens to connect them. I’ll be reviewing this one later this year.

 

Books for Adults

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The All-Consuming World (Hardcover) – A team of criminals dig to uncover what went wrong on their last mission while a group of AI conspire to ensure that humanity will never be in control again. I am curious about this one!
The Autobiography of Mr. Spock (Hardcover) – This often-delayed addition to the Star Trek autobiography collection is finally here – or coming soon, depending on what source you go to. Regardless, it looks like the book is finally going to be released to the world. I imagine the ways Star Trek Discovery chose to use the character is why this was pulled off of publishing lists a couple years ago. I have this one on my wish list.
Booked for Kidnapping (e-book) – Book 2 in the Vigilante Magical Librarians series. Janette and her friends are racing to prevent another assassination. I’m intrigued by this one. I didn’t expect the political spin to this series. I have book one on my e-reader.
The Charm Offensive (Trade paperback, LGBTQ+) – A successful producer of a TV dating show encounters a challenge with the latest star who doesn’t believe in love and is only on the show to rescue his tarnished image.
Hooked on a Feline (Hardcover) – Book 13 in the Magical Cats Mystery series. Kathleen and Marcus start investigating a murdered musician who was using the library to research his family history.
The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina (Hardcover) – Four family members travel to Ecuador looking for answers to their family’s powers and the “inheritance” each received from Orquidea. This sounds fascinating!
Matched and Married (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 of the Amish Mail-Order Bride series. A couple thrown together when neither is looking for love finds their future in jeopardy when she decides to go home and dutifully marry the man chosen for her by her mother.
Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes (Trade Paperback) – From the author of the terribly fun Playbook series. Best friends reeling from the hands life has dealt them decide to become roommates and face the future together. This is on my list for this week because I have enjoyed the author so much in the past.
Murder by the Bookend (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Antique Bookshop Mystery series. Jenna starts investigating when a local librarian is murdered with a set of glass bookends.
Portrait of a Scotsman (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the League of Extraordinary Women series. A suffragist finds herself wed to a Scot who sees her as a means to an end.
Writing a Wrong (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Writer for Hire Mystery series. Veronica is a writer for hire, recently contracted to write love letters. But when her client is murdered and she discovers he was lying about his identity, Veronica is drawn into the case.
The Enneagram at Work: Unlocking the Power of Type to Lead and Succeed (Trade Paperback) – A new Enneagram resource focused on using type in the work environment.

 

This is the final release week for September. And there are a TON of cozy mysteries and Christmas books to add to your list. Take a look at some of the new books out this week!

Books for Kids

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The Alphabet’s Alphabet – A twisted take on the traditional alphabet book. Illustrated by Dan Santat.
Hello, Arnie! – A new book starring Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller.
Ming’s Christmas Wishes – In 1930s California, Ming is not included in things like some of her classmates. So her father takes her on an adventure to get in touch with her heritage.
Mistletoe – A new Christmas book from the author of the fabulous Duck & Goose and How Rocket Learned to Read. Mistletoe wants her friend Norwell to enjoy the snowy beauty of winter, but Norwell doesn’t like the cold. This looks sweet!
The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary – A kid-friendly version of The Office where Michael wants to be the best line leader.
Oscar the Hungry Unicorn Eats Christmas – In his hunger, Oscar manages to eat the Christmas tree, the stockings, and then the magic reindeer food that makes Santa’s reindeer fly.
Unicorns Are the Worst – A little goblin grumbles that everyone loves unicorns, but all they ever do is frolic, while goblins do good, orderly, important things. This looks adorable!
Pete the Cat: Super Pete – When trouble appears, Super Pete is ready.
InvestiGators Take the Plunge (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the InvestiGators series. Mango and Brash go undercover as sewer workers to solve a new mystery.
Jr. Monster Scouts: Monster of Disguise – Book 4 in the Junior Monster Scouts series. Baron Von Grump is causing trouble at the carnival.
Lily to the Rescue: The Not-So Stinky Skunk AND Dog Dog Goose – Books 3 and 4 in the Lily to the Rescue series. First, Lily gets sprayed by a skunk with no stink, which means the skunk can’t defend itself. Then some orphaned geese think Lily is their mother. But how can a dog teach geese how to fly?

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Campaign – An art-loving girl convinces her babysitter to run for mayor when the election’s front runner plans to cut art funding for schools. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Endangereds – First in a new series about some superpowered animals working to fight extinction around the world.
The Explorers Code – The latest mystery from Allison K. Hymas. Three kids will try to solve the mysteries of an old manor tied to a famous female explorer.  This sounds amazing!
Pepper’s Rules for Secret Sleuthing (LGBTQ+) – When her last case costs her the chance at a relationship with a girl she likes, Pepper decides to stop sleuthing. But when her great-aunt dies under mysterious circumstances, Pepper can’t help investigating.
Saucy – The only girl in a set of quadruplets feels like, unlike her brothers, there’s nothing special about her. But when she finds a sick piglet, she knows rescuing it can be her special thing. But when Saucy gets well and starts to outgrow the family’s home, some decisions will have to be made.
The Willoughbys Return – The next generation of Willoughbys star in this sequel. Just as Richie, a lonely only child, has a chance to make friends, it becomes illegal to sell sweets, putting his family’s candy business in jeopardy. But that’s nothing compared to what will happen when Richie’s awful grandparents, presumed frozen to death 30 years ago, thaw out and plot their grand return.
Leaders & Dreamers prints – Art collection tied to the books by Vashti Harrison.
Crownchasers – When Alyssa’s dying uncle – the emperor – announces a Crownchase to determine the next ruler of her people, she must consider the life she has been trying to flee for years. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Dear Justyce – A follow up to Dear Martin (♥♥♥♥) from the author of Shuri. Quan sits in a juvenile detention facility and writes letters to Justyce who is away at Yale. Through his letters readers will discover his story.
Disclose – Book 2 in the Verify series by Joelle Charbonneau. A dystopian series about a young woman whose search for answers after her mother’s death lead her to secrets some would kill to keep quiet. I have this series on my wish list.
The Glass Queen – Book 2 in the Forest of Good and Evil series. A fragile princess stars in this Cinderella retelling that sees her fighting for her destiny and her crown.I have this series on my wish list, too.
A Neon Darkness – Book 2 in the Bright Sessions series about a group of powered people and the therapist, Dr. Bright, who works with them. The premise of this – What if the X Men decided to go to therapy instead of become superheroes? – is fascinating to me. This is also on my (neverending) list.
Shine – Get a glimpse inside the world of KPop with this novel about a girl who has sold out to her producers for her chance at stardom yet starts to question what she has given up when she begins to fall in love.
Skyhunter – The latest from Marie Lu. The Federation’s mutant beasts have overcome every  nation in the world except for Mara. Talin is one of the warriors who fights to maintain Mara’s freedom. But when a boy is brought into the capital, she’s not sure if he is there to help them, or to destroy them.
Thoughts & Prayers: A Novel in Three Parts – Three students connected by the minutes they hid together under a staircase while fellow students and a teacher were killed are now, a year later, living very different lives from what they had before and from one another in the aftermath of tragedy.

Books for Adults – Christmas

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Amish Christmas Twins (Trade Paperback) – Three Amish Christmas tales, one about kids in foster care, one about a grieving widow, and another about two sets of twins. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Candy Slain Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 8 in the Country Store Mystery series. Robbie is dealing with a  decades-old mystery and a stranger in town.
Christmas Carol Murder (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the A Dickens of a Crime series where Charles Dickens is a journalist and a sleuth. While out caroling, Dickens and his fiancée see a man thrown from a window to his death. Readers familiar with the Dickens novel A Christmas Carol will see connections to this case. I haven’t read any of these, but this is a fun premise!
Christmas Cupcake Murder (Hardcover) – Book 26 in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series. In the midst of her holiday preparations, Hannah is helping out with the mystery of a man found near death and with no memory of his identity.
Christmas Ever After (Trade Paperback) – A romance writer is asked how she can write about love if she hasn’t yet found “the one.” When she mentions past love that helps her write, three of her exs hear the interview and think he is the one she must be talking about. All three show up at an event to convince her to give their love another chance. This sounds like the best sort of Hallmark Christmas movie, and I am here for it!
Dying in a Winter Wonderland (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. When a bride Merry agreed to help with wedding decorations moves up her wedding date, everyone is bending to her demands. But there’s not going to be a wedding after all when the groom is found murdered.
Gingerdead Man (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series. This year’s grumpy Santa is poisoned by a gingerbread cookie.
Holding Out for Christmas (Mass Market Paperback) – A kindergarten teacher with big Nashville dreams resists the charms of the rugged rancher back home who wants her to stick around. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Hollyberry Homicide (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Berry Basket Mystery series. Marlee agrees to help out in the town production of A Christmas Carol when an elderly participant dies. But the production is full of dangers and accidents, as well as a dead body.
Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. When a reception hall owner is murdered at a local winter event, Lucy has no shortage of suspects.
Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings (Trade Paperback) – As the new Mrs. Claus, April is trying to adjust to her new home at the North Pole with her grieving in-laws as her husband adjusts to being the new Santa after his older brother died. But when an angry elf hisses accusations of murder at Santa, and then is later killed, April is on the hunt for the truth. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Salem B&B Mystery series. When a friend and recent lottery winner is killed while Charlene and her parents are in his restaurant for a fundraiser, she teams up with the ghost at her B&B to puzzle out the case. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Snowball’s Christmas (Trade Paperback) – Lukas is certain that selling the B&B is the right thing to do so his aunt can retire. Emily, the B&B’s cook, is devastated by Lukas’ plans. But Snowball the kitten is sure that Lukas and Emily belong together, right there at Weber Haus, forever. This looks darling.
Varnished Without a Trace (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Tallie Graver Mystery series. Instead of a quiet Christmas alone with her boyfriend, Max, Tallie finds herself playing referee between her mother and grandmother at Christmas bingo. Even worse, her hateful Aunt Ronda is there, too. When  Tallie finds Ronda’s body, her beloved – and now missing – Uncle Hoagie is the prime suspect. Tallie is certain her uncle did not do this, so she is tracking down a killer again.

Books for Adults – The Rest

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The Constant Rabbit (Hardcover) – The latest from Jasper Fforde, author of the Thursday Next series. In England, in 2022, there are 1.2 million human-sized, walking, talking rabbits. When a rabbit family moves into a human neighborhood and most of the humans leave, one father and daughter decide to stay. They quickly discover that you can be friends to rabbits or to humans, but not likely to both.
The Corpse Who Knew Too Much (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Food Blogger Mystery series. Hope is teaching her first blogging class at the local library and getting into podcasts like the true crime one her friend Devon is doing. Devon is back in town looking into the unsolved disappearance of her own mother, and she asks Hope to help.
Death on the Green (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Dublin Driver Mystery series. Megan has moved to Ireland and become a limo driver. When she’s driving a golf champ around, she’s invited to play a round, but then they find a dead body floating in the water hazard. And Megan’s client has a motive for the murder.
For Letter or Worse (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Stationery Shop Mystery series. Delta is hosting a card-making event at a friend’s event when someone is murdered.
Haunted Homicide (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Haunted Mansion Mystery series. In Avery’s first week as the manager of the Portage Path Women’s Club, she stumbles across the body of a difficult board member as well as the resident ghost who’s been in the building for 100 years.
The Midnight Library (Hardcover) – The Midnight Library holds all of the versions of your story. One is the life you are living right now, but others look at what would have happened if you had made different choices along the way. One woman visits the library as she considers changing her current life for a new one.
Misleading a Duke (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Wallflowers of West Lane series. Lady Faith calls upon her friends to investigate her fiancé who happens to be a spy. When he discovers her investigation, and her mistrust, he wonders if he can actually marry her. I already have the first book in this series. I am eager to read it!
Murder at the PTA (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Maya and Sandra Mystery series. When someone starts a gossip site focused on the local high school and targets Sandra, the PTA president, she teams up with Maya, another parent who is also a PI. When they go to confront the person behind the site, they find a dead body and a confession. But Maya feels like it was all too easily wrapped up, so the two continue their investigation.
Once Dishonored (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 of the Rogues Redeemed series. A daring divorcee catches the eye of a naval officer who has lost his honor. When they team up to find evidence to restore her name and retrieve her son, they also find love. If only they can survive long enough to enjoy it.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian: The Art and Imagery Volume 1 (Hardcover) – A collection of artwork from the early parts of season 1.
Sweet Revenge (September 30 e-book) – Book 7 of the Dewberry Farm Mystery series. A new honey-themed mystery.
Tail for Two (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Fur Haven Dog Park series after Cold Nose, Warm Heart. Lance Donovan is ready to work with his brother Caleb on a new condo project. And he’s certain the right decorator for the job is his ex, Carrie. But before he really knows what happened, Lance is dog sitting for both Carrie and his brother – and watching the son he never knew he had while his ex gets back into the dating scene. I enjoyed the first book and am looking forward to the rest of this series!
Veiled in Death (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Wedding Planner Mystery series. The story starts with an antique piece of lace with possible ties to a decades-old hit and run – and maybe to Betsy Ross. But it ends in murder by musket at the town’s Revolutionary War re-enactment.
Winner Cake All (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Chef-to-Go Mystery series by Denise Swanson. Dani is hired to cater a swanky engagement party which could really help her add some wealthy clients to her business. But when the bride-to-be is killed and Dani’s maybe-boyfriend is the prime suspect, she’s digging into another murder.
A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal (Hardcover) – The latest from author Sarah Bessey is a collection of meditations from writers such as Nadia Bolz-Weber, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Amena Brown.
True Comfort: More Than 100 Cozy Recipes Free of Gluten and Refined Sugar (Hardcover) – Gluten-free recipes for cozy meals.
When Women Pray: 10 Women of the Bible Who Changed the World Through Prayer (Hardcover) – From Bishop T. D. Jakes.

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Escape Goat – When things go wrong around the farm, everyone assumes the goat is at fault. This looks adorable!
For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World – A boy asks his father questions about protests and shootings and vigils as he processes life as a Black boy.
Perfect Pigeons – While a group of pigeons celebrates their uniformity, one pigeon stands out from the crowd. The cover art on this is delightful! Makes me want to pick this one up.
She Persisted in Sports – Book 3 in the She Persisted series focuses on some of the women who excel in sports.
Biggie-Biggie-BIGGIE! – The third Elephant and Piggie collection. Includes the books There Is a Bird on Your Head! (one of my favorites), Are You Ready to Play Outside?, Elephants Cannot Dance!, Should I Share My Ice Cream?, and I Will Take a Nap!
Brina the Cat: City Cat (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the Brina the Cat series. After her freedom in the countryside, Brina has to adjust to being an indoor cat again.
Geeger the Robot Goes to School – Book 1 in a new series from Jarrett Lerner. Geeger is going to school for the first time – a human school. There are going to be lots of challenges for this very literally-minded robot. (Think Amelia Bedelia with a robot.)

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

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Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen: Peril at Owl Park (Older Middle Grade) – Book 2 in the Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen series. Aggie and Hector are spending Christmas with Aggie’s sister, the new Lady Greyson of Owl Park. But when there is a dead body under the tree instead of presents, Aggie and Hector will be sleuthing again.
Going Rogue at Hebrew School (Older Middle Grade) – A boy who is tired of going to Hebrew school thinks the new rabbi might just be a Jedi Master!
The Map of Stories – Book 3 in the Pages & Co series. Tilly is headed to the Library of Congress to find a mysterious group of bookwanderers.
Maya and the Rising Dark – Maya is a godling, and daughter of the guardian of the veil between our world and a dark world of monsters. But when Maya’s father goes missing, the veil becomes weak and monsters start invading as a dark force seeks to conquer the human world.
The Afterlife of the Party – When a teen is bitten by the lead singer of a band playing a party she was dragged to, she finds herself changing into something else as she chases after the singer who took her best friend. (TW: Sexual assault)
A Curse of Gold – Book 2 in the Touch of Gold series by Blink YA. (I have book one on my TBR shelves; I met the author at our local book store!) King Midas’ cursed daughter is a target when her people turn against her out of fear of her magic. Then the god Dionysus issues a challenge for someone to kill her and destroy her kingdom.
Early Departures – A new technology gives Jamal a second chance to work things out with his best friend, Q, who died. But he can’t tell Q that he has already died, or that in a few weeks he will die again, permanently. Wild!
Far from Normal – Maddie finally has a chance to stand out in the crowd of “normal” when she secures an internship with a sports marketing firm. But when she is tasked with helping a soccer player with a bad image, she is tempted to fall for him which she knows can only lead to disaster.
The Left-Handed Booksellers of London – The latest YA book from Garth Nix focuses on a girl with a quest to find her missing father. This quest puts her in contact with Merlin, one of the Left-Handed Booksellers of London (they have magic), and his sister, Vivien, one of the Right-Handed Booksellers of London (they are the intellectuals), whose own quest crosses paths with hers. This sounds amazing!
Miss Meteor – Two girls try to pull off the biggest pageant upset their town has ever seen.
The Silvered Serpents – Book 2 in the Gilded Wolves series. A treasure-hunter and his friends, haunted by what their last mission cost them, journey to find an artifact that can give someone the powers of God.
Smash It! – A girl determined to make the most of her junior year of high school decides to take bold risks to pursue what – and whom – she wants.

Books for Adults

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The Body From the Past (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Jazzi Zanders mystery series. When Jazzi walks through what will be her next home renovation project, she discovers a shrine to the teen who lived there when she was killed at her own graduation party. A friend’s brother-in-law was suspected but never convicted. He asks Jazzi to investigate and clear his name once and for all.
The Coast to Coast Murders (Hardcover) – An LA Detective and an FBI agent team up to investigate a series of murders that may be tied to a family where the parents, both psychologists, raised their adopted children in an experimental environment. This sounds too weird not to read.
The Doors of Eden (Trade Paperback) – Cracks between our world and parallel Earths are appearing – and widening – revealing extraordinary creatures.
Hench (Hardcover) – A bright administrative assistant who is injured by a “hero” uses her research skills to discern – and reveal – that the difference between heroes and villains is sometimes nothing more than positive press. And she has the skills, and the drive, to help control those perceptions for whoever wants to hire her. This sounds fantastic! Definitely on my list for this week.
Home for the Holidays (Trade Paperback) – Aunt Sassy invites the three Buchanan sisters home to Juniper Inn for the holidays one last time just when each is dealing with major life change. This one is on my list, too.
Man’s Best Friend (September 25 e-book) – Book 6 in the Dogmother’s series. Twenty years after the tragedy that drove them apart, Evie returns to Bitter Bark and encounters Declan again. I have this series on my list.
Well Played (Trade Paperback) – Sequel to the delightful Well Met (♥♥♥♥♥). After watching her friends fall in love at the Faire, Stacey decides it’s time to find her own true love. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
FRIENDS Official Cookbook (Hardcover) – 100 recipes inspired by the TV show.
Love Is the Way: Holding onto Hope in Troubling Times (Hardcover) – From the Bishop who performed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. Discover ways to live out of love which in turn can address the troubling issues of our day – poverty, racism, etc.
The Peanuts Book (Hardcover) – A celebration of Peanuts.
Three Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers’ Dynasty (Hardcover) – Covers Lakers History from 1996 through 2004.
A Weary World: Reflections for a Blue Christmas (Trade Paperback) – Celebrating the Advent season while also acknowledging life’s struggles and losses. Practices and prayers for 28 days of observation.
We’re Better Than This: My Fight for the Future of Our Democracy (Hardcover) – A new book from the late-Congressman Elijah Cummings that is part memoir and part call-to-action.

It may be the middle of September, but you’ll notice Christmas books are starting to sneak into publication already. Let’s take a look at some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids – Board Books and Picture Books

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Rocket’s Christmas Surprise (Board Book) – Rocket and his friends wait up for Santa to give him gifts, including a story that Rocket wrote. As always, the illustrations in this one shine! I can’t wait to read the whole story.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Pop-Up Book) – A new pop-up edition of the classic Charlie Brown Christmas.
The Eight Knights of Hanukkah – The knights are called in to stop a dragon named Dreadful from ruining the last night of Hanukkah.
I Love You More Than Christmas – Little Bear tries to share what he loves more than Christmas, but his declaration is interrupted time and time again. This looks sweet.
Imogene Comes Back! – A sequel to the delightful Imogene’s Antlers, 35 years in the making. Every day Imogene wakes up to a new surprise. This is on my wishlist for this week.
Margaret’s Unicorn – Margaret finds a lost baby unicorn. This looks so sweet!
Peppermint Post – The North Pole Postmaster finds a lost Christmas letter after Santa has already left to deliver his gifts on Christmas Eve.
Princesses vs. Dinosaurs – A group of princesses and a group of dinosaurs argue over whose book it is. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Twelve Unicorns of Christmas – A girl and her unicorn celebrate the season. This looks darling.
What If You Had an Animal Tongue? – A continuation of the series about animal features.

Books for Kids – Early Chapter Books

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Bumble and Bee: Let’s BEE Thankful – Book 3 in the Bumble & Bee series from Scholastic ACORN. Froggy is ready to settle in for the winter, but Bumble and Bee want one more fall adventure.
Creature Campers: The Wall of Doom – Book 3 in the Creature Campers series. The campers take on a ropes course.
Kung Pow Chicken: Jurassic Peck – Six years ago I discovered this delightful series from Scholastic BRANCHES. Finally, they are releasing a fifth book in the series. I am so excited to see more adventures for Kung Pow Chicken! This time, the heroes go back in time.
Mia Mayhem and the Super Family Field Day – Book 9 in the Mia Mayhem series. Mia and her family participate in Family Field Day.
The Puppy Place: Fluffy & Freckles – Book 58 in the Puppy Place series. Charles finds a lost puppy while on vacation. He and his dad decide to foster the pup, who becomes friends with an undersized newborn lamb.
Snazzy Cat Capers: Meow or Never – Book 3 in this fun mystery/heist series for kids. (You can read my review of book one here.) Ophelia’s cousin tries to beat her in a heist competition, but she thinks the painting he brings is a fake.
Spy Penguins: Golden Egg – Book 3 in the Spy Penguins series. Two penguins who want to join the Frosty Bureau of Investigation take on a new case tracking down an escaped criminal. At the same time, they have to babysit.

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

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The Derby Daredevils: Shelly Struggles to Shine – Book 2 in the Derby Daredevils series. Shelly looks for a way to shine when her team competes in their first tournament.
Fly on the Wall – Henry is desperate to escape his overprotective family for awhile, especially because he is keeping a big secret. But when his trip to Singapore to visit his father is canceled, he decides to go on his own.
Magic Misfits: Fourth Suit – The fourth and final book in the Magic Misfits series by Neil Patrick Harris. (The Magic Misfits: ♥♥♥♥) The tension builds towards a final confrontation with their longtime enemy.
My Life in the Fish Tank – The latest book from Barbara Dee, author of Maybe He Just Likes You and Everything I Know About You (♥♥♥♥½). When her older brother is diagnosed with a mental illness, Zinny feels the need to keep it secret, even from her best friends and the support group at school.
Rescue Dogs: Jet – Book 3 in the Rescue Dogs series. An abandoned dog struggles to adjust to the leash in his training as a search and rescue dog.
Tamora Carter Goblin Queen (e-book) – A girl who discovers two goblins who have passed through a portal to our world wonders if they know anything about her missing friend.
Three Keys – Sequel to the award-winning novel The Front Desk. Mia thought things had turned around for her and her family. But her new teacher doesn’t think Mia’s writing is very good, the motel is struggling, and a new immigration law will threaten everything if it passes.
The True Definition of Neva Beane – Neva negotiates her questions about growing up and about the changes in her family and the world around them through words and their meanings.
Turning Point – Two friends spending a summer apart negotiate new experiences – a new romance for one and a prestigious dance program with unforseen racial tensions for the other – with distance between them.
The Vanderbeekers: Lost and Found – Book 4 in this popular middle grade series. This time, the kids are caring for a person making a home in their community garden’s shed.
Even If We Break (LGBTQ+) – From the author of This Is Where It Ends (♥♥♥♥) and The Oracle Code. Five friends head to a cabin for a last round of their murder mystery game, but this time the game has become all too real. YA thriller fans should check this one out.
Grown – From the author of Allegedly and Monday’s Not Coming (♥♥♥♥½). Enchanted had dreams of stardom, and R&B star, Korey Fields had the power to make her dreams come true. But behind closed doors, Korey was not who his fans thought he was. Now he’s dead, there’s blood on Enchanted’s hands, and she has no memory of what happened.
Legendborn – Expected to be one of the hottest books of the fall season. When Bree moves to a residential program for bright high schoolers, the last thing she expects to encounter are demons and mages. But when a mage calling himself a “Merlin” tries to erase Bree’s memory of what she saw, he unlocks not only her own magic, but her memories of her mother’s death – and the Merlin who was at the hospital. I already have this on hold from the library.
#NoEscape – Book 3 in the #MurderTrending series, which is actually a prequel to the other two books. Twenty years before the first book, #MurderTrending,  Persey joins an escape room competition where the competition doesn’t just lose. They die.
Surrender Your Sons (LGBTQ+) – A teen who “comes out” to his mother is sent away to a conversion camp. But nothing at the camp is what it seems. Connor is determined to not only rescue the other kids there, but to expose the camp for what it really is.

Books for Adults

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Chance of a Lifetime (Hardcover) – A couple fell in love in 1844 and accidentally changed the future. Now, he has an assignment to meet her again today and push her towards the man she should have married originally. I’m curious about this one. It seems to be a quirky mix of reincarnation and angels and a second chance at love.
Love Is a Battlefield (e-book) – First in the Seven Brides for Seven Mothers series. Former college roommates scheme to get their adult children to meet on a fishing trip to Oregon. This sounds like a hoot.
Mayhem in Montana (September 20, e-book) – Book 4 in the Accidentally Undercover series. Dora and Evie stay at a ranch to help a friend investigate a murder.
One Winter’s Night (September 16, e-book) – Book 2 in the Kelsey Anderson series. When Kelsey’s friend, Mirren moves to town, at first everything is great. She’s thrilled to have a friend in town, especially when her boyfriend, Jonathan, is in America. But when Mirren uncovers some secrets about Jonathan and his family while working for the local paper, will she pick her career over her friends?
See Her Die (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Bree Taggert series. A homeless teen says her friend was shot, but when Sheriff Bree Taggert arrives at the shuttered campground, there’s no sign of a shooter or a victim. The K-9 unit she calls in finds a body – but not the one they were looking for. This sounds twisty! This book – and the rest in the series – are available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Son of a Stitch (e-book) – Book 5 in the Knitorius Murder Mystery series. Megan thought the latest dead body was an accident, but now that she has acquired a stalker, she has to wonder if the two are connected. This book – and the rest in the series – are available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars (Hardcover) –  A new story from the author of Eragon about an alien relic and a deadly secret.
60-Day Enneagram Devotional: Peacemaker AND Helper AND Individualist (Hardcover) – Three Enneagram devotionals release this week. I’m eager to see these in person and see how deep they go.
Dirty Lazy Keto Dirt Cheap Cookbook (Paperback) – 100 Keto recipes, designed to be easy and inexpensive.
The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation: How Knowing Ourselves Can Make Us More Like Jesus (Trade Paperback) – A new Enneagram resource with an emphasis on spiritual growth and development. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Everything Is Spiritual: Who We Are and What We’re Doing Here (Hardcover) – A new book from Rob Bell.
Football’s Fearless Activists: How Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid, Kenny Stills, and Fellow Athletes Stood Up to the NFL and President Trump (Hardcover) – Includes interviews and history behind the protests against racial inequality in the NFL.
The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to be You (Trade Paperback) – Understanding and celebrating introversion.
Skinnytaste Meal Prep: Healthy Make-Ahead Meals and Freezer Recipes to Simplify Your Life (Hardcover) – I am all for recipes that simplify my life!
You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracles of God’s Presence and Power (Hardcover) – The latest from Max Lucado.

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

Books for Kids

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Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away – Best friends are challenged when one of the families is moving away. This looks sweet.
Fairy Science: Solid, Liquid, Gassy – Book 2 in the Fairy Science series from Ashley Spires.
Snow Day for Groot – Rocket and Groot have a day off to hang out with Spider-Man in New York. I was sold when I saw Shuri tucked into an illustration of the characters at the NYPL. I love clever storytelling and illustrations!
Speak Up Molly Lou Melon – Sweet little Molly Lou Melon stands up for her friends.
God Speaks in Whispers – A new picture book about hearing God from Mark Batterson.
Happy Narwhalidays – Book 5 in the Narwhal and Jelly series. Narwhal is excited about the holiday arrival of the Merry Mermicorn while Jelly is trying to figure out the best gift to give Narwhal. This is a cute series.
Stink and the Hairy Scary Spider – Book 12 in the Stink series. Judy and her friend Webster try to help Stink with his spider phobia.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Alex Rider: Ark Angel (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of the 6th Alex Rider novel.
The Canyon’s Edge – The latest from the author of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. When a girl and her father are exploring a canyon in Arizona, a flash flood sweeps him and their supplies away, leaving Nora on her own in the desert.
Izzy Newton and the SMART Squad: Absolute Hero – First in the new SMART Squad series. Izzy Newton, Allie Einstein, and Charlie Darwin are the SMART Squad, and they use science to solve problems at their school, like when the air conditioning goes on the fritz, creating a chilly situation. This looks cute!
Kudo Kids: Mystery of the Masked Medalist – First in the new Kudo Kids series, set at the Tokyo Olympics. A mysterious Olympic medalist has created a scavenger hunt game for Olympics fans to play while they are in Tokyo. But when someone sabotages the game, Andy and Mika start looking for the troublemaker.
Lost Wonderland Diaries – First in a new series. Lewis Carroll created four diaries of his actual journeys into Wonderland, but the journals have been lost. Two kids find the diaries and are pulled through a portal into Wonderland, but it is a Wonderland that has changed in dark ways.
Revver the Speedway Squirrel – First in a new illustrated series. A squirrel who lives above a race track longs to be a race car driver.
Stick Dog Meets His Match – Book 10 in the Stick Dog series by Tom Watson. This time, Stick Dog is trying to rescue Karen and track down a meat truck to feed his friends.
Unwanted Quests: Dragon Slayers – Book 6 in the Unwanted Quests series. The twins have been captured by a dragon woman who traps them between four vicious dragons, hoping to coerce them to fight on her side.
Loved and Cherished: 100 Devotions for Girls – Devotions to address the questions girls may have about identity and self-image.
Where Is Chichen Itza? – Readers can learn about the center of Mayan culture.
The Bookweaver’s Daughter – An OwnVoices YA fantasy centered around Indian culture. Reya can trace her family back through generations of Bookweavers, those who guarded Kasmiri culture. Reya’s father, who can use this Bookweaver magic, has been taken by those who would like to see magic stamped out. Reya and a friend flee with only one book to help her discover her magic and save her father and her people.
Charming as a Verb – A teen working a dog-walking scheme can’t charm the classmate who discovers his less-than-honest system. So he agrees to help her change her image at school in exchange for her not ratting him out.
Currents (The Ables) – Book 3 in the Ables series, set four years after the events in book 2, Strings. Now in college, the heroes are fighting an energy-hoarding villain while Philip struggles with the loss of his sight again.
Devastation Class – A new book from the folks at Blink YA publishing. Triumphant after a 9 year war with the Kastazi, Earth sends the California out for a science expedition. But the crew stumbles on a new advancing force of Kastazi. Two cadets who think they have the best plan for the ship’s survival activate experimental technology that takes them not to a safe region of space but to an alternate reality. Sounds awesome!
Nobody Knows But You – A new thriller about a summer at camp that ends in murder.
The Other Side of the Sky – His home is in the sky, powered by technology. Her’s is on the Surface. Despite their feelings for one another, a prophecy makes it clear what could happen if they act on their emotions.
Sources Say – Angeline and Leo, exes who are both running for class president, up their games when someone posts doctored photos of scantily clad girls from their school. Angeline’s sister, Cat, is content to report on the election – and the photos – for the school paper. But when someone anonymously starts reporting “fake news,” Cat is ready to throw down for journalistic integrity.
These Vengeful Hearts – Ember has seen the damage a secret society, the Red Court, and their leader, the Queen of Hearts, have done to her school, so she decides to tear them apart from within.

Books for Adults

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Checked Out for Murder (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Haunted Library Mystery series. Carrie, the librarian, and Evelyn, the library ghost, team up again when a woman shows up claiming to be a psychic, but she somehow never perceives the danger she is in from a killer.
Cottage on Gooseberry Bay: Halloween Moon (e-book) – First in a new series. Ainsley is in Gooseberry Bay looking for answers after losing the man who raised her about his death and about the family she once belonged to. This sounds fascinating. This is free for Kindle Unlimited Subscribers to read at the time of this writing.
A Deception at Thornecrest (Hardcover) – Book 7 in the Amory Ames Mystery series. While Milo is in London on business, Amory is at home at Thornecrest getting things ready for the arrival of their baby. Then a stranger arrives claiming she is also Milo’s wife. I haven’t read any of these before, but I will absolutely be picking this up to check out that plot twist!
For Whom the Book Tolls (Hardcover) – First in the new Antique Bookshop Mystery series. Jenna accepts her uncle’s invitation to come for a visit so she can flee some trouble at home. But trouble finds her anyway when she finds her uncle’s body and she’s accused of the crime. I’m looking forward to this one!
In Case You Missed It (Trade Paperback) – After 3 years away, Ros comes home to find everything has changed, just when she wants to pick things up where she left off.
Little Bookshop of Murder (Hardcover) – First in the new Beach Reads Mystery series. I posted a full review of this one last week. You can read it here.
Murder at Hotel 1911 (Hardcover) – First in the new Ivy Nichols Mystery series. Ivy works behind the check in desk at the Hotel 1911, so she gets to meet all the guests. Unfortunately that includes the unpleasant ones like the wealthy Ms. Swain. When Ms. Swain later dies from eating something she was allergic to, the hotel chef is implicated. But Ivy is sure her friend is innocent.
Murder Most Sweet (Hardcover) – First in the new Bookish Baker Mystery series. A local baker and mystery writer becomes the suspect in a real-life murder case when the fiancée of a touring author is found dead. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
One By One (Hardcover) – A trendy startup decides to hold a team building retreat in a rustic ski chalet in the French Alps. But one team member doesn’t make it back to the chalet before an avalanche. And the surviving group members may be in an equal amount of danger as tempers flare and they are cut off from outside help.
Portrait of Loyalty (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Codebreakers series. One of Russia’s top cryptographers offers his services to the Brits and meets a photographer who is also working for British Intelligence. As feelings grow between them, though, can they get through the roadblocks caused by his past?
Prime Deceptions (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Chilling Effect series. Captain Eva Innocente agrees to help her sister by tracking down a missing scientist. She’s not sure she can trust her sister, but the payday is worth the risk. But her hunt takes her back to the scene of her greatest failure. Can Eva pull off this latest quest cleanly, or is she doomed to repeat the past?
Two Reasons to Run (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Pelican Harbor series by Colleen Coble. Police Chief Jane Hardy is still dealing with the fall out over her father’s lie and a convoluted history that involves a cult and her mother, not to mention her newly-returned ex with her presumed-dead teen son. But those things will have to go to the back burner when an environmental terrorist strikes and Jane’s son’s life is on the line.
A Literary Holiday Cookbook: Festive Meals for the Snow Queen, Gandalf, Sherlock, Scrooge, and Booklovers Everywhere (Hardcover)
The Liturgy of Politics (Trade Paperback) – Includes 17 full four-course holiday meals from 25 classic stories including Little Women and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor (Trade Paperback) – Looks at how the Church’s practices and habits shape its politics and suggests course corrections to get us back to Jesus. I have this one on my list.
Pass It On: Work Hard, Serve Others, … Repeat (Hardcover) – From Houston Texans’ QB Deshaun Watson. Watson shares the story of his family receiving a house from Falcon’s RB Warrick Dunn’s charity when Watson was a kid and the impact it made on him. Includes 7 core values that Watson uses to anchor his life including generosity, service, and empathy
Peace: Hope and Healing for the Anxious Momma’s Heart (Trade Paperback) – Wrestling with anxiety and fear in a world that tells women they just need to “have more faith.”
The Post-Quarantine Church: Six Urgent Challenges and Opportunities That Will Determine the Future of Your Congregation (Hardcover) – Suggestions based on the research of Church Answers to lead a post-Covid congregation.
Proof of Corruption: Bribery, Impeachment, and Pandemic in the Age of Trump (Hardcover) – The third book in the author’s Proof series after Proof of Collusion and Proof of Conspiracy. Focuses on the years from 2015 to early 2020 with examples of corruption from the president and his advisors.