Apr 21

Apr 21 Books Publishing This Week

The morning in mid-April greets you with a kind of quiet brightness that feels entirely new. The light is no longer tentative—it arrives with confidence, spilling across your room in soft gold, warming the edges of everything it touches. When you open the window, the air that drifts in is cool but gentle, carrying with it the unmistakable scent of spring—fresh grass, damp soil, and something faintly floral just beginning to bloom.

You pause for a moment, taking it in.

The world outside is awake in a way it hasn’t been for months. Birds call from tree branches that are no longer bare, their leaves just beginning to unfurl in tender shades of green. There’s movement everywhere now—branches swaying, sunlight shifting, life returning in small, steady ways. It makes you want to move more slowly, to notice it all.

You make your way to the kitchen, letting the morning unfold without rushing it. Coffee brews or tea steeps, and the familiar scent fills the air, grounding you in the present. You wrap your hands around your mug and feel the warmth settle into your palms, but it’s no longer something you cling to—it’s simply part of the rhythm.

The book you’ve been meaning to start rests nearby. You’ve passed it a few times, thinking you’d get to it later, but now feels right. Mid-April carries a sense of quiet arrival, a feeling that the world has crossed some invisible threshold. It feels like a beginning that doesn’t need to be announced.

You carry your mug and the book to a spot where the light gathers best. Maybe it’s by the window, where you can watch the trees sway, or maybe it’s outside, where the air feels just warm enough to sit comfortably. You settle in, tucking one leg beneath you, letting the moment stretch.

The book feels new in your hands, its pages crisp, its spine still firm. You open it slowly, the faintest crack marking the beginning. The first line greets you gently, without urgency, and you begin to read.

The story unfolds in a way that mirrors the morning—steady, clear, unhurried. You find yourself reading more attentively, noticing the cadence of the sentences, the way the words settle. You take a sip of your drink and glance outside, where a breeze moves through the leaves, creating a soft, shifting pattern of light and shadow.

You turn another page.

The characters begin to take shape, their voices emerging gradually. The setting sharpens in your mind, layered with detail. You feel that quiet pull—the sense that you’ve stepped into something that will stay with you.

A bird lands nearby, close enough that you can hear the flutter of its wings. You pause, watching it for a moment, then return to the page. There’s no need to rush. The morning feels generous, offering you time in a way that feels almost rare.

The light grows warmer as the sun climbs higher, filling the space around you. You shift slightly, adjusting your position, letting the warmth touch your shoulders. It feels like a small reward after the long stretch of colder months.

You read on.

The world outside continues its quiet movement, but it doesn’t pull you away. Instead, it seems to move alongside the story, the two blending into something seamless. You feel present in both—here, in this moment, and there, within the pages.

When you finally pause and close the book—just for now—you mark your place carefully. The morning has fully arrived, the day stretching ahead with soft certainty.

You sit for a moment longer, the book resting in your lap, your mug nearly empty beside you.

Mid-April doesn’t ask for reinvention. It simply offers clarity.

And this morning, with a new story unfolding in your hands, feels like stepping into that clarity—quietly, fully, exactly as you are.

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Books Publishing April 19 - 25

Sweet Queens by Danielle Bero

Sweet Queens is a poetry chapbook that serves as an homage to Astoria, Queens, weaving a tapestry of vibrant memories, personal loss, and cultural resonance. Through powerful verses, it explores the complexities of identity, community, and the raw emotions tied to a city that is both home and battleground. The poems reflect a journey through the multifaceted landscape of Queens, infused with the grit and grace of its streets, as well as the haunting echoes of those who have come and gone. This collection is dedicated to the now-deceased Astoria, striving to capture the essence of a neighborhood that is alive in memory and spirit, even amidst the shadows of gentrification and loss.

Sweet Queens invites readers to traverse the poignant memories and layered narratives that define a life shaped by this borough. Each poem is a pulse—a moment in time filled with vivid imagery and lyrical honesty that draws on the rich tapestry of the borough’s culture, from subway rides to summer nights, and the stories of those who have been touched by its streets. This chapbook is not only a reflection of the author’s personal journey but also a collective narrative that honors the voices of those who share this space.

Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan

An impoverished orphan, a ramshackle estate, and a beguiling Faerie all collide in this enchanted fantasy novel of revenge, ruin, and unlikely love.

Faeries disappeared over one hundred years ago, as suddenly as slipping through a doorway. It was only the very foolish, or the very determined, who held out hope for their return.

In the wake of The Great War, the world is a decidedly unmagical place for Misneach “Mouse” Dunne. She once dreamed of becoming a Faerie anthropologist, but with one telegram, her world shattered. At the Battle of the Somme, her cousin’s body disappeared into the mud, and her brother was left with debilitating shell shock. It was time, she knew, to put aside childish dreams.

When Mouse receives news that her uncle has left her the Faerie-blessed Thistlemarsh Hall, a dilapidated manor in the English countryside, she must leave her brother’s side and return to her childhood home to claim her birthright. But there is a catch in her uncle’s offer: If Mouse does not rehabilitate the crumbling house in one month’s time, she will forfeit her inheritance and any hope of caring for her brother.

It quickly becomes clear it’s impossible to repair the manor in the allotted time, until a mysterious Faerie appears with a proposition. He offers to restore Thistlemarsh...for a price. Mouse knows better than to trust a Faerie—especially one so insufferably handsome and arrogant—but she is out of options. There are dark and magical forces at work in the house, and Mouse must confront the ghosts of her past and the secrets of her heart or lose Thistlemarsh, and herself, in the process.

The Hostess by Courtney Psak

Natalie and her husband decide to escape the city for a much-needed break. After suffering from a terrible accident, Natalie needs some time and space to recover. So when they find a gorgeous rental home on an estate in the Hamptons available at the last minute, it seems too good to be true.

The owner of the estate, Sadie, is beautiful, elegant and wealthy, and Natalie is immediately drawn to her.

But as the women begin to bond, Natalie can't shake the feeling that Sadie is hiding something beneath her polished exterior.

When Natalie discovers that the previous guest disappeared without a trace, dark questions surface: Who exactly is the hostess? What are her secrets? And can Natalie uncover the truth, before it's too late?

The Plunge by Lila Raicek

A searing suspense that follows a grieving young woman as she is pulled into a seductive love triangle. As secrets from her past begin to resurface, she is forced to question who’s lying, who she can trust—and whether, in the end, she can trust herself. Perfect for readers of Emma Cline’s The Guest and Raven Leilani’s Luster.

I had become good at hiding things, and most of all from myself.

In the wake of her fiancé’s shocking death, Liv flees to New York where she seeks refuge in the apartment of an old mentor. Broken and lonely, she ventures to a party one night and sees him: Damon, her magnetic former neighbor. At his side is Isabel, a beguiling older widow whose presence intrigues and unsettles her. Desperate for escape, Liv is drawn into their charged dynamic and becomes entangled in their dazzling lives.

But when an investigative journalist invades their circle, threatening to expose a shattering secret from her past, Liv begins to unravel. She embarks on an all-consuming affair with Damon, complicated by her deepening bond with Isabel. Over the course of one scorching summer – moving from Manhattan to the North Fork to Lake Como – their lives collide in a dangerous game of desire and betrayal that pushes them to an explosive edge.

Searing, taut, and propulsive, The Plunge plumbs the depths of obsession and the ravages of grief. Told with razor-sharp prose and emotional precision, it offers an unflinching examination of the deceptions that undo us, and marks the arrival of a resonant and provocative new voice in fiction.

The Roaring Ridleys by K.M. Colley

In Jazz Age New York, a shocking murder shatters the privileged life of the city’s most elite family in a propulsive mystery-thriller debut from author K.M. Colley that spans from Harlem to Long Island’s Gold Coast and high society’s glittering world of deadly secrets.

In the glittering world of 1920s New York, the seven Ridley heirs seem to have it all: wealth, status, and protection as the city’s most powerful family. But when notorious gossip columnist Dale Caimen is found dead during their family’s renowned summer soiree, their carefully constructed world begins to crack.

Behind the champagne and jazz, each adopted Ridley sibling harbors secrets that could destroy them. There’s Amelia, the responsible eldest trying to hold it all together; Adesua, whose artistic ambitions in the Harlem Renaissance threaten her family’s expectations; and wild child Kavita, whose dangerous nights in speakeasies may have finally caught up with her.

As the murder investigation intensifies, long-buried tensions surface and family loyalties unravel. Someone knows the truth about the Ridleys―and they’re willing to kill to expose it. In a world where appearance is everything and power comes at a deadly price, the siblings must decide what matters more: protecting the family name or each other.

Aphrodite In Pieces by Lauren J. A. Bear

Two hundred years before the common era, Aphrodite surprises an itinerant sculptor with a shocking request: Hear my story, see me for who I truly am, and carve it into stone. Never before has the goddess posed for her likeness, and as the artist works, she shares pieces of herself.

Her greatest triumphs and most grievous mistakes. The truth behind the tales of her beneficence and vengeance. And the one epic romance that slips through her perfect fingers, time and time again.

Part memoir, part fantasy, and all heart, Aphrodite in Pieces begs the eternal, essential questions: what do love and beauty truly mean? And can they last?

Boots Beneath Her Bed by Taylor Esposito

A mysterious horse trainer with a dark past ropes the heart of a guarded ranch foreman in this steamy cowboy romance by debut author Taylor Esposito.

Grace Underwood has been hiding a dark secret about the day her parents died ten years ago. Only her ruthless uncle Bellamy knows the truth, and he’s been using it against her ever since. When his cruelty finally goes too far, she risks everything to walk away, with no plan and nowhere to turn. Then an unexpected opportunity falls into her lap: a job as a horse trainer at Halcyon Ranch, one of the largest ranches in the country. Her new life is more than she ever could have hoped for, and for the first time, she begins to imagine a future of her own making.

But settling in isn’t easy. Crew Caldwell—the owner’s son and Halcyon’s foreman—makes it clear he doesn’t trust outsiders, least of all someone from Bellamy Whitlock’s bloodline. Though Grace’s determination and undeniable gift with horses slowly begin to win over the other ranch hands and even the Caldwells themselves, Crew remains the hardest to reach—the one man she shouldn’t want but can’t seem to ignore.

As the tension between them grows, so does the risk of Grace’s secret unraveling. And with unfinished business between her and Bellamy still looming, she’ll have to decide whether she’s willing to fight for the only place—and the only man—that’s ever felt like home.

A Cute Little Murder by Molly Harper

She used to be the sidekick. Now she might be the only one who can survive.

As teens, Harlow Drake and Lainey Piper built an online fandom solving small-town crimes. Harlow was the star, Lainey the behind-the-scenes genius (and often, Harlow’s scapegoat). Years later, Harlow’s hosting a hit true crime tv show. Lainey? She’s working in forensics. Well, forensic accounting . . . from home. In pajamas. With her cat.

But when Harlow faces significant backlash over fumbling a case, she needs a quick win—like a special investigation into the decades-old disappearance of a starlet from a once-glamorous, now decrepit island hotel. The catch? It’s bankrolled by Deke and Bryce of DBag Games, who are looking to shed their “frat bro” reputations. As long-time fans, they have one requirement for their funding: Lainey has to play the sidekick again.

Lainey is wary, but the offer is a lifeline in a sea of unpaid student loans. After reaching the Crossings Hotel, she realizes she’s not content to be Harlow’s helper anymore. As the cold case heats up, a crew member falls over dead, presenting Harlow and Lainey with a more modern mystery: what secrets does this hotel hide within its walls?

With sabotage, hidden staircases, and a killer in their midst, Lainey steps into the spotlight and takes charge of the investigation. It’s up to her to crack the case—as long as she can stay alive.

Would I Lie to You? by Nicole Blades

Would I Lie to You? is a thrilling spy-next-door story that may have you cheering for all the wrong people, perfect for fans of Finlay Donovan and Killers of a Certain Age.

What if a covert, high-stakes cat burglar is given one last job before she can retire, but the gig is steal the classified code to an innovative genetic editing tool her unaware husband is developing?

Ask anyone about Lucille “Lu” Barlow and they’ll tell you that she’s a loving wife and mom, fire-body Pilates studio owner, and kind neighbor. But none of them know the true Lu. Because Lu is a liar and a thief—albeit reluctantly lately. She’s been part of a dangerous, deeply covert crime syndicate for the last thirty years, with a string of incredible, international heists under her belt and a shoebox full of fake passports, weapons, cash stacks, and skeletons.

But when her unsuspecting husband, Harry, accepts a lucrative job at the nation’s leading biotech company, it means moving the family from her familiar Brooklyn base to the well-heeled New England town of Partridge Hollow. Lu sees it as her shot to finally retire from crime life, something she’s wanted since her son’s birth eight years ago. But Partridge Hollow isn’t what it seems either. Lu quickly discovers that her new Stepford Wives–esque neighbors each have their own secrets hidden inside their mansions, into which she occasionally creeps.

She also uncovers the most scandalous truth of all: that this move for her husband's career was orchestrated by her illicit employer. Worse, she’s tasked with stealing the highly classified code for an innovative gene-editing tool that Harry is developing.

Fans of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, Counterfeit, and Killers of a Certain Age will devour this book!

The Unforgettable Mailman by April Howells

It's never too late for the adventure of a lifetime, even if you can't remember why you started.

The Unforgettable Mailman is a heartwarming story about intergenerational friendship and the power of human connection, perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman.

1966, Chicago. Backlogged with millions of undelivered letters, the post office announces a temporary closure. But eighty-one-year-old Henry Walton can't stand idly by when there’s mail waiting to be delivered. He believes letters are what keep people connected, and he’s not about to let them get lost in the chaos.

Plus, connection keeps the mind sharp—according to a note someone’s pinned up in his kitchen.

While the post office scrambles to get things under control, Henry races against time and forgetfulness. Taking it upon himself to deliver the mail, he discovers hatred and tragedy, triumph and joy in the letters he carries and the people he meets along the way.

Inspired by true events, this delightful story will linger with readers long after they turn the last page—and might just inspire someone to write a letter, the old-fashioned way.

This Song Is About Me by Melissa de la Cruz

A reporter strives to discover the reason behind a superstar’s disappearance in an enthralling novel about the mysteries of love and success by a New York Times bestselling author.

It was a night to remember. Ryan Holding, the most famous pop star in the world, won every music award imaginable at the industry’s highest event. She exited the stage to thunderous applause…then disappeared off the face of the earth.

Six years later, her social media accounts remain untouched. Her band has broken up. Her Malibu estate sits quiet. And billions of obsessed fans still ask: Whatever happened to Ryan Holding?

Amid theories, suspicions, and rumors, reporter Elyse James wants the truth about the girl who poured her heart into every song she wrote. As Elyse searches through the stories of Ryan’s life, from those willing to talk―her best friend, a childhood teacher, and Ryan’s first love among them―a portrait of a flesh-and-blood icon begins to emerge. So do clues to a mystery that has captivated the world.

Did Ryan disappear to find herself? Or did someone deliberately make Ryan disappear? The answers are the stuff of legend.

Witch Queen Rising by Savannah Stephens

A reclusive witch who fled the burden of her bloodline rises to be the greatest among them in this lush and haunting fantasy debut.

For New Orleans witchkin, there is no greater honor than to become the Prime—chosen to rule. But the title is meant to pass between two rival Houses of magic. Not to the wayward daughter of the former Prime who died under mysterious circumstances.

As a girl, Seraphine Barreau was dubbed the Tick Witch for her ability to feed on magic and make it her own. Even among those who alter fate and manipulate reality, she was a powerful outcast feared and misunderstood by her people. Now dragged back to continue the legacy that nearly destroyed her, Phine has her work cut out for her. She must earn the respect of her people, navigate the politics of the paranormal communities residing in her city, and heal a broken heart all the while battling a parasitic curse poisoning witchkin. Between her werewolf ex, power-hungry vampires, and the skeletons in her family’s closet, Phine must learn to make peace with her past to save her—and all of witchkin’s—future.

Ada Holloway's Had Enough by Randi Smith

Ada Holloway just needs to survive her final semester as a high school senior, but nothing's going her way.

Star quarterback Beckett Forsythe relies on Ada to do his homework for him, her rebellious cousin Molly has nowhere else to go but the Holloway's house, and to top it all off, Ada doesn't really know what she wants to do with her life—even though her parents already decided for her.

The one thing she does know is the topic for her senior essay: the life of Freeport's founder, Everett J. Washington. But the Mayor of Freeport has pulled Washington's biography from library shelves among a massive book ban. Ada needs that book, she needs to write her essay, and her best friend David has a perfect idea: a banned book club run by the public library. What could go wrong?

Second Time's A Charm by Taylor Epperson

Returning home after years away, Reece is going to have to avoid her assassin ex-boyfriend as she learns to care for the magical creatures now under her protection.

Three years ago, Reece McCarthen solved her problems the best way she could think of: running as far as possible. Abandoned by her childhood sweetheart, she left her gossiping small town, heartbreak, and emotionally distant father in the past. Now, she’s happy if not just a bit bored running a magical flower shop with her best friend. Until she receives notice that she’s inherited her father’s sanctuary for magical creatures.

Reece heads back to her cozy, magical town of Honey Brooke that unfortunately still hasn’t gotten over that one teeny, tiny fire incident when she was a teenager. What should’ve been a calm, quiet homecoming turns into chaos incarnate when Reece comes face-to-face with the reason she left in the first place: Laken Augustus. Her ex-boyfriend who seems to have grown up to also be a part-time assassin.

It’s one tragedy after another, from dodging fire-spitting chickens and a poisonous porcupine to bolting after a runaway raccoon and realizing Laken is the only person who knows how to run a magical sanctuary. Not only did her father leave her with a whole slew of problems, but poachers are lurking in the shadows. Now Reece finds herself knee-deep in feathers, mud, and an inconceivable amount of debt. To save the sanctuary, she will have to work side-by-side with Laken.

John B. Peoples by Michael Cowan

Divorced and living in a converted garage, John Peoples thinks his difficulties are over when he wins half of a $40 million lottery jackpot. But his boss, Ed White, bought the winning ticket for the two of them, and only Ed's name is on the ticket. When White makes clear his intention to cut John out of the winnings and then disappears with the entire jackpot, John embarks on an effort to find White and right the wrong.

During his quest, John suffers a debilitating spine injury and struggles to heal physically and emotionally. Yet he continues pursuing White from Los Angeles to Paris to Marseille. Along the way, he tries navigating the legal system, meets a woman he believes he can only dream about, and eventually engages the help of organized crime. Ultimately, he is faced with the question of how far he is willing to go to retrieve and protect what is his.

John B. Peoples is more than the study of a character out to correct an injustice. It takes us on a powerful journey while examining loss, personal growth, and the everyday challenges of life in America today.

Don't Stop by Bonnie Friedman

A daring, erotically charged novel about ambition, desire, and the dangerous pursuit of self-knowledge.

Ina is a 41-year-old literary scholar on the cusp of professional success. With a coveted university job, a kind husband, and a book on Eugene O’Neill due in months, her life appears enviably stable. But when an impulsive kiss with a stranger shatters her self-control, Ina finds herself plunged into an erotic and emotional freefall.

She tells herself it’s research—a brief detour before returning to real life. But what begins as a flirtation becomes a reckoning with everything Ina thought she wanted: marriage, intellect, control. As she navigates the ecstatic confusion of newfound desire, she risks upending her work, her relationship, and her understanding of who she is.

Set in Brooklyn and Manhattan at the turn of the millennium, Don’t Stop is a bold, immersive debut that explores what happens when a woman dares to want more—of the world, of her body, of herself. Bonnie Friedman delivers a novel of transgression, transformation, and unapologetic longing.

The Antiquarian's Object of Desire by India Holton

When two history professors and best friends are forced to fake hate to protect their reputations, chaos ensues, in the next rollicking historical-fantasy rom-com from beloved author India Holton.

Magical-antique experts Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling have been best friends forever, although lately each has begun secretly wishing for more than friendship. But when rumors about their relationship spread, they're forced to fake being enemies to protect their reputations and keep their jobs.

The resulting arguments spark havoc across Oxford University, and when they cause an explosion while fighting over a magical antique, it’s the final straw for their exasperated faculty head. He dispatches them to a job in Cumbria where even they can’t get into trouble.…

Which proves just how wrong one man can be. In a stormbound old manor house, Amelia and Caleb face magical mayhem and rampaging ghosts that make the previous havoc look mild in comparison. Most troublesome of all, though, is the secret of how they feel about each other. When it comes to tackling deadly antiques, hiding the truth in their hearts could destroy them for real.

Purple State by Dana Perino

Dorothy “Dot” Clark, a buttoned-up PR professional from New York City feels stuck in her career and her love life. At twenty-five, she expected more from her choices. Seizing a chance to follow her passion, she’s sent to Cedar Falls, Wisconsin, a swing district in a swing state that could decide the next presidential election. Joined by her two best friends, Mary and Harper—both excited to escape the city for reasons of their own—Dot quickly discovers that small-town Midwestern life is far outside her urban comfort zone. Nestled along the banks of the picturesque Cedar Creek, the charming town of Cedar Falls is everything the girls have been missing. The close-knit community takes pride in its cozy cafes, locally brewed beer, family farms, and, of course, the beloved Reader Falls Bookshop. There, Dot meets the mysterious Danny Dawson, a big-hearted, truck-driving guy who follows hockey, not headlines—a man so unlike anyone she’s ever dated that she finds herself falling fast. Mary and Harper, both tired of dating finance bros and influencer wannabes, soon also discover that guys outside New York might just be hotter, smarter, and more grounded than they’d imagined, even if they vote the other way. But with the campaign heating up, how can Dot find time for Danny when she has a job to do, and what’s the point when she’s going back to New York City after the election? Can love really cross party lines, or will Dot filibuster her own feelings? And who says that two people from opposite sides of the aisle can’t eventually walk down one together? Dana Perino makes her fiction debut with this witty and delightful romantic comedy—a small-town romance and touching story of self-discovery that asks if choosing love is the best decision after all.

Flirting with Murder by Amanda Sellet

The Agathas meets Thursday Murder Club in Amanda Sellet’s next YA novel, a cozy mystery with a splash of romance.

Some people visit Florida for theme parks and beaches. High school junior Virginia Tillis is there for murder. Accidents, electrocution, tainted hand lotion: every victim meets a different end at her grandmother Lainey’s rococo pink condo. Such is life (and death) when you roll with a crew of theater retirees who roleplay murder mysteries from the comfort of their own home in a game they fondly call Killing Me Softly.

But this summer, fictional murder has given way to the very real death of the building's beloved owner and his dramatic last testament has the vultures circling, from estranged relatives to sleazy property developers, dead set on getting the most from his will.

Adding to the tension for Virginia is the appearance of Felix, the cute guy she met at the airport who turns out to be the grandson of one of the condo’s residents. With his charm and musical theater chops, he’s the person Virginia most wants to beat at Killing Me Softly. That is, until the day they discover an actual dead body while playing the game, forcing them to work together to figure out whodunit.

In this comedic mystery about finding the Watson to your Holmes, Virginia and Felix must banter their way from rivals to co-detectives in time to save their eccentric grandparents from a shocking disruption to the community they've always loved.

The Architect of Deception by Debbie Baldwin

Razz James should have been the toast of Manhattan society. At twenty-eight, with an Ivy League pedigree, a prominent family name, and inherent charm, he was poised for flight. But six years after his twin brother's death, Razz is trapped in a black hole of grief. His days are a blur of gin, video games, and denial, while his two lifelong best friends, Hatcher Boudreaux, a shining star at an elite hedge fund, and Archie Stonebridge, a cybersecurity expert, quietly brace for the moment Razz doesn’t come back from the brink.

Then Hatcher receives a cryptic invitation…

…an offer to join Scepter & Scythe, an exclusive secret society.

The initiation challenge is a task so daring few would ever attempt it: steal a memento from Apollo Peck, Hatcher’s infamous billionaire boss. Peck’s residence, a fantastical mansion perched atop New York City’s poshest building, is impenetrable. Fearful of losing his job, Hatcher refuses the assignment, but Razz, intrigued and desperate for a distraction, volunteers.

Razz thinks he’s executed the perfect crime…

…then someone turns up dead.

What started as a lark quickly spirals into a far more devious and deadly plot with Razz in the crosshairs. In a world where power buys innocence, and the truth is subjective, Razz must unmask the mastermind before he becomes the next pawn sacrificed on the board.

Our Extraordinary Summer by Lori Wilde

New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde returns to the enchanting Hobby Island with a poignant story about two estranged sisters who come together after the passing of their mother, featuring family, love, and one unforgettable summer— perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery.

Two estranged sisters. One final wish. A summer that could mend everything…or tear open old wounds.

Calista and Athena Dempsey were once inseparable until their father’s ambition drove a wedge between them. When a very public betrayal shattered their bond, Calista walked away from her family, determined to rebuild her life on her own terms. Athena stayed behind, shouldering the weight of expectations and guilt in silence.

Now, with their mother gone, the sisters are summoned to Hobby Island, a secluded retreat where their mother spent her final days, with one final request: come together and make peace. But the past isn’t so easily buried.

Especially when Calista comes face-to-face with Reid Thornton, the man who once held her heart and then upended her life. He says he wants to make things right. But can she believe him? And can she forgive Athena when the scars between them still run deep?

As secrets surface and loyalties are tested, Calista and Athena must make a pivotal choice. Will they honor their mother’s last wish and find their way back to each other, or let their shared past destroy what little remains of their bond?

Paradox by Douglas Preston and Aletheia Preston

The new powerhouse team of Douglas Preston & Aletheia Preston are joining together to "enter the world" of the New York Times bestselling Extinction.

One of the holiest relics in Christendom, inexplicably defaced…

A paranoid old prospector, ritualistically murdered…

A controversial exobiologist, tortured and dismembered…

When a reclusive man is found dead under grisly circumstances in the Colorado wilderness, CBI Agent Frankie Cash and Eagle County Sheriff Jim Colcord, whom we met in the New York Times bestseller, Extinction, team up again on their most enigmatic and dangerous case yet. Their investigation uncovers a trail of bizarre killings, baffling money transfers, and a fanatical secret society.

And all the while, the resurrected Neanderthals, who vanished into the Colorado mountains, seem to be biding their time for something…spectacular.

Parallel Peril by Maria Lynn Barrs

Guilt-ridden TV journalist Vicky Robeson has spent years chasing stories—and the ghost of her sister, who vanished after a childhood tragedy. When a trail of clues leads to a remote colony in the California foothills, Vicky teams up with her former lover—a man she never stopped wanting—to uncover the truth. They discover a once-idyllic commune, now ruled by a violent patriarch, where women are held for dark and nefarious purposes. Their search for answers turns into a desperate fight for survival. Trapped and cut off from the world, Vicky must risk everything to escape, free the women, and face the horrifying possibility that one of them may be the sister she blames herself for losing.

The Octopus by Guojing

Join a little girl as she discovers the hidden world of her new octopus friend in this stunning wordless picture book by critically acclaimed author-illustrator Guojing.

A little girl goes to the beach with her mother, never expecting the day full of magic and wonder that is ahead of her. When she scoops up a tiny octopus in her small, clear container, and they see each other eye to eye, there’s a spark between them! But a little octopus cannot be happy for long in a container. So the girl sets out to discover what the octopus needs. And that’s when something truly magical happens! Soon, the little girl is on an underwater adventure with her new octopus friend, where she discovers the joy and beauty of the octopus’s world and learns how she can help take care of the ocean in her own way.

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