Feb 3

Feb 3 22 Books Publishing This Week

The morning in early February arrives quietly, almost shyly, as if winter itself is pausing to see how you’ll meet the day. The light outside is pale and cool, filtering through the window in soft layers rather than sharp beams. The sky is a washed-out blue-gray, the kind that promises cold but also hints—just faintly—at the lengthening days ahead. You notice it immediately, that subtle shift. The mornings are no longer quite as dark as they were a few weeks ago.

You move through the house slowly, wrapped in a sweater that still smells faintly of clean laundry. The floors are cold beneath your feet, grounding you in the present. You make coffee or tea, letting the ritual unfold without rushing it—the kettle heating, the mug warming your hands, the familiar comfort settling in before the day fully begins. Early February mornings aren’t about momentum. They’re about steadiness.

You choose your spot with care. Maybe it’s the chair by the window, where you can watch the bare branches sway gently in the wind. Maybe it’s the kitchen table, sunlight just beginning to edge across its surface. A blanket is within reach, draped loosely over your lap, more for comfort than necessity. The house is still. No emails yet. No expectations pressing in.

The book waits for you nearby, untouched, patient. You’ve been holding onto it, not consciously, but instinctively—knowing this moment would come. There’s something right about beginning a new book in early February, when the year has shed its novelty and settled into something quieter, more honest. You’re no longer chasing fresh starts. You’re choosing them carefully.

You pick up the book and feel its weight, the smoothness of the cover, the crisp resistance of unopened pages. There’s a calm thrill in that first opening, the gentle crack of the spine, the sense of stepping into something that doesn’t yet ask anything of you. You take a sip of your drink and begin to read.

The first sentences arrive without fanfare. They don’t rush you. They don’t demand urgency. They unfold steadily, mirroring the rhythm of the morning itself. You let your shoulders relax. Your breathing slows. The world narrows pleasantly to words and light and warmth.

Outside, the neighborhood stirs faintly. A car passes. A door closes. Somewhere, a dog barks once and then falls silent. Inside, the heater hums softly, a constant reassurance against the cold. You read on, pausing occasionally to look up at the window, noticing how the light has shifted almost imperceptibly since you began.

Early February has a way of inviting reflection without heaviness. It’s a season of in-betweens—winter still firmly present, but no longer overwhelming. You feel that same balance within yourself as you read. The story begins to take shape, characters emerging slowly, settings revealed with intention. You’re not trying to escape anything. You’re simply allowing yourself to be here.

You pause to take another sip, the warmth grounding you. The mug rests in your hands a moment longer than necessary. You turn another page. The book is opening itself to you, not all at once, but patiently, trusting you to meet it where it is.

Time stretches gently. You don’t check it. There’s no need. The morning feels generous, offering you this quiet pocket before the day gathers speed. You read until the light grows brighter, until the edges of the room feel more defined, until the world outside looks awake.

When you finally close the book—just for now—you slip a bookmark into place with care. You sit back, holding the book in your lap, feeling the quiet satisfaction of having begun something without rushing it. Early February doesn’t ask for bold declarations or dramatic change. It asks for presence, for patience, for small acts of intention.

And this—this morning, this book, this quiet beginning—feels like exactly the right answer.

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Books Publishing February 1 - 7

Blade by Wendy Walker

Author Interview with Wendy Walker

From USA Today bestselling author―and former competitive skater―Wendy Walker comes a chilling psychological thriller set in the cutthroat world of elite figure skating.

Ana Robbins was an Olympic star in the making―until tragedy forced her to leave that world behind. At the age of sixteen, she gave up her dream and never looked back. Fourteen years later, she’s a successful defense attorney, revered for her work with minors. But when her former coach turns up dead, Ana lands right back where it all began, and abruptly ended: The Palace, a world-renowned skating facility nestled high in the mountains of Colorado.

Ana returns to The Palace to defend the young skater accused of the brutal crime―Grace Montgomery. Despite her claims of innocence, all evidence points squarely at Grace’s guilt, and she’s days away from facing charges of first-degree murder.

But Ana’s investigation dredges up childhood memories of her own, triggering the fear that permeates this place where she once lived and trained far from home as an “Orphan.” With a blizzard raging outside, and time running out for Grace, Ana is determined to uncover the truth―even if it means exposing her own secrets that she buried here long ago.

Soft Launch by Sarah Vacchiano

In her captivating debut, author Sarah Vacchiano tells an exciting “coming of adulthood” story about a young woman who takes a bold new path in her early thirties, leaving her old life―and starter marriage―behind.

Following Jimmy Valentine by Jeff Flaster

A cast of West End stars brings Broadway-style music and immersive storytelling to life in “Following Jimmy Valentine,” (Feb. 2, 2026), an original audiobook musical told entirely through story and song.

Performed by stage icons Hadley Fraser, Kerry Ellis, David Hunter, Celinde Schoenmaker and George Blagden, and jazz legend Jacqui Dankworth, author Jeff Flaster’s bold reimagining of O. Henry’s classic short story “A Retrieved Reformation” combines world-class performances with a score that blends classical, jazz and classic rock influences into melodic storytelling that stays with listeners after the final note.

Blending melodic music, noir comedy and a timeless tale of reinvention, “Following Jimmy Valentine” reinvents the musical experience for the 21st century. Never before staged or filmed, it’s an audio-first creation where dialogue and song are fully integrated — a book that sings.

At its heart is the notorious jewel thief Jimmy Valentine (Fraser: “The Phantom of the Opera,” “City of Angels”) — fresh out of prison and swearing he’ll go straight. But his past refuses to let him go. Pursued by disillusioned New Orleans detective Jen Price (Ellis: “Wicked,” “We Will Rock You”) Valentine hides in a small town where he falls in love with Annabel Adams (Schoenmaker: “Les Misérables,” “The Light in the Piazza,” “Guys and Dolls”). For the first time, Valentine dares to believe in a new life. But as the walls close in, the question remains: Can a man truly change, or will fate pull him back into the shadows?

“Following Jimmy Valentine” brings the powerhouse voices of the West End to a format that can be heard anywhere.

The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff

For the first printing only! This hardcover features exclusive painted edges while the special edition supply lasts.

In a world ruled by the tenets of Greek mythology, one girl’s fate is more than it appears in the first book in a new dark academia fantasy middle grade series from #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Crave series Tracy Wolff.

What’s your myth?

Penelope Weaver has spent her whole life preparing to attend Anaximander’s Academy, where students learn how to bring to life the stories of Greek mythology as well as discover the Greek god whose principles they most embody. Penelope knows she’s an Athena—all smart, practical, and rule-following girls who take part in stories that matter are Athenas.

But when Penelope and her twin brother Paris arrive at Anaximander’s, it appears fate has other plans. Penelope isn’t placed with Athena but with students who are anything but practical and who prefer parties to rules. And that’s just the beginning. She’s given the world’s worst muse, her assigned tasks feel impossible, and the magic of Anaximander’s is overwhelming. Not to mention, there are two very different boys making her new life even more confusing.

But as things go from bad to dangerously worse, one thing becomes clear: in a world where everything is fated to happen a certain way, some stories need to be rewritten. As the world around her shifts and cracks, Penelope is asked to forget everything she thought she knew to help create a better story…even if that changes every plan and breaks every rule.

It's Not Her by Mary Kubica

Author Interview with Mary Kubica

Two families vacationing together at a secluded lake resort are at the center of a chilling crime and mysterious disappearance in this twisty, unputdownable thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Local Woman Missing
A chilling crime…
Courtney Gray's tranquil family vacation is shattered when she hears a blood-curdling scream from the lakeside cottage next door. There she finds the lifeless bodies of her brother and sister-in-law. Her teenage niece Reese is nowhere to be found. Her nephew Wyatt lies asleep upstairs, unharmed.
A stunning investigation…
As the police descend on the quiet resort town, disturbing secrets about Courtney’s family begin to emerge. And when she learns of a similar missing girl case in the town from years prior, Courtney spirals into a rabbit hole of suspicion, determined to uncover the truth.
A shocking discovery…
Racing to find Reese before it’s too late, Courtney begins to unravel the bizarre mystery… And everyone around her has something to hide.

Heart's Gambit by J.D. Myall

A thrilling and romantic debut fantasy where competitors from two prominent, time-traveling Black families must fight in a deadly magical duel - and find themselves falling in love.

The Baldwins and the Davenports have been sworn enemies for centuries. Ever since Venus Davenport and Titus Baldwin, two enslaved kids, fell in love, tried to run away, and got caught by their mistress, Sabine, a powerful witch. Desperate for freedom, they struck a bargain, and she gifted their families the ability to exist outside of time, along with magic to survive and thrive.

Those gifts came at a price.

Once a generation, their families must put forth a competitor for a magical duel to the death to feed Sabine's immortality. This time, Emma Baldwin - a wish spinner - and Malcolm Davenport - a maker of illusions - are chosen.

But when they meet to check out the competition, sparks fly. Soon, the two are exchanging letters, having secret meetings, and fighting off their cursed urges to hurt one another, all while trying not to fall in love. And if they are ever going to have a chance to be together, they only have one choice: to put an end to Sabine’s curse, once and for all.

J.D. Myall's Heart's Gambit is an irresistible journey of dazzling magic, unforgettable first love, and daring to dream of something more.

Inharmonious by Tammye Huf

When three young Black men enlist in the US Army hoping to serve their country with honor, their lives are forever changed.

When Pearl Harbor is attacked in 1941, Cora’s brother Benny rushes to enlist against the wishes of Cora and her mother. Able to pass as white due to his pale skin and light eyes, Benny reports for duty only to realize he’s been mistakenly enlisted as a white man in a racially segregated military.

Lee has been friends with Benny ever since he was a troubled teenager, and he’s been sweet on Cora for nearly as long. When Lee enlists without telling Cora, she is heartbroken and feels betrayed by the man she expected to spend the rest of her life with.

Meanwhile, family friend Roscoe, encouraged by Benny, offers to marry Cora in order to ensure that she and her mother—who both remain home—will be provided for should Benny not make it back.

Benny does return, but his new white identity leaves him struggling to find his place in between, in a country that only sees race. As America promises postwar prosperity to white veterans through the GI Bill, Black soldiers are excluded.

While the war may be over, the fight has only just begun for Cora, Lee, Benny, and Roscoe.

Risky Business by Annabelle Slator

In this whip-smart romance, a woman desperate to keep her start-up afloat is forced to pose as her brother’s assistant during a tech competition, hoping a male-led company will be taken more seriously, only to find her secret identity compromised when she has a hot one-night stand with the head of the competition’s assistant.

When tech founder Jess Cole is struggling to gain funding for her company, she begins to wonder if it’s because she’s a woman in the male-dominated tech industry—especially due to a former incident and subsequent NDA that’s been following her for years. In an act of financial desperation, she applies to a competition for start-ups using her twin brother Spencer’s name, pretending to be a man. To her surprise, it works! As though she’s discovered the ultimate industry cheat code, Jess and Spencer are invited into the exclusive world of Tech Rumble, an annual innovation competition hosted on the world’s stage by tech darling Dominic Orsino.

Spencer, an out-of-work actor, must pretend to be the CEO, and Jess must become his loyal “assistant,” Violet. Spencer is thrust into the limelight; charming Dominic and the competition judges but making promises Jess can’t keep—or afford.

“Violet” is introduced to the handsome Oliver, a fellow assistant who shows her how to let her hair down and enjoy life outside the pressures of her job. But she soon discovers falling for Oliver is riskier than any mistake Spencer has made.

During wild nights with Oliver in Rome, secret rendezvous in Paris, and luxurious parties in Vienna, Jess must navigate the competition and try to stay on top of her lies, especially when someone from her past comes sniffing around, putting her ruse at risk.

A nod to the early 2000s Shakespeare adaptations, this twist on The Twelfth Night is a fast-paced steamy ride from start to finish!

Savage Lands by Stacey Marie Brown

From USA Today bestselling author Stacey Marie Brown™ comes a special reissue of the first book in her sexy and engrossing Savage Lands™ series. This beautiful hardcover edition is one of a kind and includes gorgeous sprayed edges.

Almost twenty years after the barrier between Earth and the Otherworld fell in the Fae Wars, Budapest is balancing on the precipice. A battle for dominance is brewing between the elite fae and the privileged humans, and prejudice bubbling over into hate and violence.

Brexley, a nineteen-year-old human, has grown up with privilege, but not without heartbreak. After being orphaned, she was taken in by General Markos to live in a walled city rife with power grabs and ruthless political games. Then, one night, the course of her entire life changes, and Brexley is thrown into the most feared prison in the east. Halálház, the House of Death—where people go in but don’t come out.

Now, she must learn to live with the worst of fae and humans alike. The rule of hierarchy puts humans on the bottom, where the only way to survive each day is to make alliances with the fae.

Here she meets the vicious, sexy legend, Warwick Farkas. A myth among man and fae, he is as brutal, cruel, arrogant, and lethal as the lore says he is, ruling the prison with unchallenged authority. But Brexley can’t deny an intense draw to him, one that might cost her life.

If The Games don’t get her first …

Quiet Spells by Isa Agajanian

More than half a year has passed since the disappearance of Gemma Eakley and Teddy Ingram still has no clue as to whether she is alive, dead or something worse. With Gemma's young daughter left in his care Teddy haunts the rural haven of Townsend like one of its many spirits.

But then Aurelia – his beloved ex-rival – returns with the news that her own mother is dead – and a ghost forms from the pages of her farewell to give the would-be lovers a message: They won’t let me rest.

One coven's efforts to reverse the looming extinction of witches involves resurrecting the dead. Meredith's old coven wants to know what secrets she took with her to the funeral pyre; did she have the key to fixing their botched attempts at necromancy?

From the acclaimed author of Modern Divination comes the dark and magical concluding part of the Spells for Life and Death duology.

Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake

A summer job at a lake-town resort brings together two women with an unlikely connection in this new contemporary romance by USA Today bestselling author Ashley Herring Blake.

April Evans’ life is in shambles. She’s had to close her beloved tattoo shop in Clover Lake and she’s subletting her house just to make rent. And her love life? Nonexistent ever since Elena, her ex-fiancée, left her for a younger woman three years ago. When she is asked to teach a summer art class at a fancy new resort called Cloverwild, April jumps at the opportunity, especially since the job comes with boarding. She’s sure that this is the silver lining she needs . . . until she meets her cabinmate: Daphne Love, the woman who stole her ex-fiancée. And even worse, it’s clear Daphne has no idea who April is.

Daphne Love is cursed in, well, love. She thought she’d found the unconditional love she craved in her girlfriend, Elena, but now she’s sleeping on her friend’s couch, single again, and brokenhearted. An artist with no job, home, or hope, Daphne has hit rock bottom. When her friend hooks her up with a summer gig as an art instructor at a swanky resort in New Hampshire, Daphne feels optimistic for once. If only she had a roommate and coworker who didn’t seem to hate her on sight.

Their already-tense relationship gets even shakier when April and Daphne find themselves locked in a competition for a rare opportunity to showcase their art in a London museum. But slowly, barriers begin to fall, and an inexplicable allure keeps drawing them closer, leaving them to wonder if the perfect picture they’re looking for can only be painted with each other.

Dawn of the North by Demi Winters

A new age begins in the Kingdom of Íseldur in this sizzling third installment of the Viking-inspired Ashen romantasy the series.

The lost Volsik heir has finally returned to the people of Íseldur, and even with the warrior who’s captured her heart standing by her side, Silla’s task is monumental. She must earn the loyalty of the northern jarls to drive Ivar Ironheart from the throne and restore peace in the kingdom. But the secret she vigilantly guards threatens to ruin all her plans: A shard of a god lives in her mind, twisting her thoughts and deeds to His will.

Meanwhile, held captive on the mysterious isle of Zagadka, Saga Volsik fights to return to her sister in Íseldur. But when King Ivar sets his sights on the Zagadkians, she’s forced to make an impossible choice: fight for the man who stole her—and is now hell-bent on marrying her—or let the innocent people of his kingdom die.

As a poisonous mist threatens the realm, the sisters will delve into the unknowns of their magic to battle against evil. Return to the land of ice and fire, where a god awakens, a queen finds her power, and sisters must unite against the darkness threatening their realm.

Songbird of the Sorrows by Braidee Otto

An outcast princess turned spy embarks on a mission to infiltrate a rival kingdom, but the secrets she uncovers force her to decide whether to follow orders or defy them.

Ask no questions. Obey your orders. Respect your masters. But most of all, love no one.

Spy. Thief. Princess. Songbird.

Banished from the Palace of Sorrows as a child, Princess Aella was taken in by the Aviary, a secret intelligence network embedded throughout the Empyrieos that trains orphans as professional spies. Now twenty-three years old, she has finally earned her place as a Songbird on the most elite team of assassins, led by none other than her former flame, Raven. Everything about him calls to her—he’s brave, loyal, and lethal—but their relationship is also the greatest threat to her standing as a Songbird.

Before Aella can untangle her feelings, their team is sent on a dangerous mission to the eastern kingdom. Her role is crucial yet troublesome: Aella must assume her former title of Princess of the Sorrows to compete in a series of bridal trials. But when the trials turn deadly and the mission is threatened, Aella must decide whether to follow orders or defy them.

Songbird of the Sorrows is the first novel in the sweeping, romantic Myths of the Empyrieos series, following Aella through an epic journey of self-discovery, true love, redemption, and ultimately a great war that promises to upend the lives of everyone in the realm.

Restrung: Fatherhood in a Different Key by Matt Fogelson

For nearly fifteen years, Matt Fogelson didn’t recognize how deeply the early death of his workaholic father had affected him. Then he had a son of his own and the floodgates opened, helping him realize that even deeper than the wound left by his father’s death were the wounds inflicted by his absence while alive.

Restrung follows Fogelson from his beginnings as a music-loving kid combing through vinyl in Greenwich Village, through his struggles to overcome his grief during young adulthood, and into becoming a man who is startled by the reemergence of his long-suppressed passion for music after becoming a father. Told with humor, grief, and hope, it’s the story of a passionate music lover’s effort to break free of the real and imagined constraints standing between him and his best life—an effort that ultimately allows Fogelson’s son to know his father in a way Fogelson never knew his.

Funny and deeply honest, Restrung is a balm for every father and son fortunate enough to still have each other in their lives. It will inspire readers to try to cross the emotional gulf that seems almost endemic to the father-son relationship and finally break through to one another.

Few Blue Skies by Carolina Ixta

Paloma Vistamontes is heartbroken. A year ago, her ex-boyfriend, Julio Ramos, broke up with her after his father’s death, a tragedy that drove Paloma and him apart. Ever since then, the mountains have felt flatter, the sky farther away.

Now, her hometown of San Fermín, a place where honest people work on farms and in factories, is in danger. Selva, a massive e-commerce conglomerate, threatens to open one of their warehouses beside her high school.

This isn’t the first time they’ve done this. Since Selva arrived, they’ve opened warehouses everywhere where there used to be green spaces. Because of them, the air pollution is so bad that school is often canceled. Many people, including Paloma’s ever-practical Ma, want to leave.

But Paloma wants nothing more than to stay. Because when the smog clears, there is still hope. That hope drives Paloma to reconnect with Julio to expose and challenge the dangers that Selva introduces to communities like their own. Can they stop Selva from destroying everything they know? Is there still a chance for their budding romance?

This Ain't Our First Rodeo by Liara Tamani

This ain’t Josie’s first rodeo. Her parents own several fancy restaurants in Houston, and they just opened a new one right outside the stadium. Josie is expected to stay inside the restaurant and help, and maybe take over their growing empire one day, but that isn’t what Josie wants. She’d rather be at the rodeo itself than in a high-end restaurant next to it. Or eating funnel cakes and Texas-sized corn dogs at the carnival on the grounds. Or better yet, riding her horse at her grandparents’ ranch, the very place her mom wants to sell.

It ain’t Shawn’s first rodeo either. He’s been riding bulls since his mom died, doing everything he can to live up to his rodeo-champion stepfather’s sky-high expectations. But as Shawn’s stardom rises, so do tensions in their relationship. His stepfather’s drinking and gambling problems sure don’t help.

After one unforgettable night leaves Josie and Shawn wanting nothing but each other, their lives become entwined in increasingly complex ways. Can they save Josie’s family land? Or will Shawn’s stepfather and his shady plan be the ranch’s ruin? Will one wrong move cost them everything? Rodeo after rodeo, year after year, can Josie and Shawn keep their hearts open through the secrets, twists, and turns?

This Ain’t Our First Rodeo is a contemporary western love story full of bulls, brawls, and horses. It’s a tender second chance cowboy romance about family, friendship, mistakes, and the blessings of choosing to love anyway. Black cowboys and cowgirls like Josie and Shawn have long helped shape the American West—a legacy that shines in Liara Tamani’s storytelling. Her writing is quick-witted, swoony, and authentic, with characters who are easy to love and hard to forget.

Cruelty Free by Caroline Glenn

NOTHING FEELS BETTER THAN REVENGE.

Ten years ago, Lila Devlin was an A-list actress with a movie star husband and a beautiful baby girl, Josie. When Josie was kidnapped out of her home and never seen again, Lila’s previously pristine public image twisted into that of an Unfit Mother. Driven mad by the hungry press, incompetent cops, and relentless true crime–obsessed “fans,” she disappeared into anonymity.

Now, Lila Devlin returns to LA with a grand vision for a radical new skincare brand to reinvent herself and honor Josie’s legacy. She's prepared to move into the next chapter of her life with forgiveness in her heart, when an encounter with a parasitic blogger ends with him dead. Lila suddenly discovers forgiveness isn’t nearly as satisfying as a body hitting the floor.

With the help of her devoted publicist Sylvie, Lila begins a relentless, blood-soaked hunt through LA. Giving her skincare the edge it needs, they introduce a secret ingredient—revenge-sourced—from the bodies piling up. But as the company’s success skyrockets and Lila begins unraveling the truth behind her daughter’s kidnapping, her murderous side hustle threatens the life she’s painstakingly rebuilt.

Both a striking portrayal of grief and womanhood, and a twisting, cynical satire on celebrity and toxic beauty standards, Cruelty Free is an ambitious debut from a talented star on the rise.

Books & Bewitchment by Isla Jewell

In this cozy, witchy romcom, a young woman works to turn a run-down small-town video store into the bookshop of her dreams, only to discover a powerful magic that’s been lying dormant—and a forbidden love she can’t resist.

Dutiful and hard-working, Rhea Wolfe lives a simple, if mundane, life with her pet parrot in small-town Alabama. Sure, she may not love her desk job working for an insurance agency. And her on-again-off-again relationship with the local mechanic may not have the fiery passion she’s read about in her favorite books. Still, things are stable, which is more than she can say about the two hopelessly immature younger sisters who rely on her.

But when Rhea’s estranged grandmother dies, leaving her everything—including a magical heritage Rhea never knew she carried—she finds herself in Arcadia Falls, the quaint mountain town her mother made her swear to avoid at all costs. While the defunct video store she’s also inherited needs a serious upgrade, Rhea’s lucky that resident handyman Hunter Blakely is more than happy to help—and more than easy on the eyes. If only he wasn’t the grandson of her grandmother’s sworn enemy in witchcraft.

Yet as Rhea makes plans for the bookstore of her dreams, she learns that her grandmother made a terrible choice, one that could ruin her own chance at happiness. As she gets ever closer to solving the mystery of what exactly is happening, each clue points to Arcadia Falls’s magic hanging in the balance. To keep her new home safe, Rhea must step into her enchanted birthright and harness her newfound powers . . . before it’s too late.

The Lies That Summon the Night by Tessonja Odette

Lies, beauty, and seduction mingle in the first book of an enthralling romantasy series where making art is considered a sin, and the shadows born from it aren't the only danger to the creators—from the bestselling author of Curse of the Wolf King.

From the art of liars, the monsters came . . .

Ever since art gave life to bloodthirsty shadows, creative works have been forbidden and talented creators sacrificed to the Sinless—the immortal royals who feast on human blood in return for their protection.

Inana’s secret storytelling nearly got her killed once, and she’ll be damned if she’s ever caught again. With a bounty on her head, she keeps to the city’s dark underbelly, where she earns a meager living from thrill-seeking patrons desperate to hear her illicit fiction. Until Dominic, a Shadowbane, catches one of her performances.

Dominic is a half-Sinless monster hunter as fearsome as his prey. But to complete his hunt, he needs an artist to summon the shadows . . . he needs Inana. Dominic delivers an ultimatum: Serve him or he’ll claim her bounty. When survival is all Inana has left, the choice is clear—at least until she can betray him and leave him for dead.

As their tense alliance leads them into the heart of danger, dark secrets unravel—about each other, their world, and the threats they face. But the greatest risk of all is the desire growing between them. There’s something more sinful than lust at play, and it could bring the world to its knees.

We Were Never Friends by Kaira Rouda

Author Interview with Kaira Rouda

Sisters? Forever. Friends? NEVER. Who knew a reunion weekend could be so deadly?

Meet the sorority sisters of Theta Gamma Mu:

Roxy Callahan Gentry, the ruthless former sorority president and current hostess who has painstakingly choreographed every detail of this weekend―even matching the cocktails to her couture―to prove that she remains their undisputed queen
Amelia Dell, the widow drenched in old money and alcohol, with her big pot-stirring spoon and uninvited boy-toy in tow
Jamie Vale, the double-legacy pledge, straight-A student with no sparkle, now a top cardiologist with a picture-perfect family―and a well-guarded bad habit
Beth Harrison, the scholarship student who never quite fit in and was only admitted because her best friend Sunny insisted that the two were a package deal
Sunny Spencer, the carefree and beloved friend to all, or so it seemed―until she wasn't
They've been summoned to Roxy's luxurious Palm Springs vacation home to celebrate the engagement of her son to Beth's daughter. But the refurbished 1920s estate is eerily reminiscent of the hotel where tragedy struck during Spring Break twenty-five years ago. Long-simmering tensions and shocking secrets begin bubbling to the surface like bodies―because while the weekend was supposed to be about celebrating the future, it's not so easy to bury the past…

For fans of Shari Lapena, Mary Kubica, and B. A. Paris, We Were Never Friends is an unputdownable, riveting train wreck full of dark humor and bad behavior.

And the Ancestors Sing by Radha Lin Chaddah

Spanning decades of seismic change in post-Cultural Revolution China, And The Ancestors Sing is a sweeping, multigenerational novel of resilience, sacrifice, and the unbreakable pull of home, perfect for fans of Pachinko and The Island of Sea Women.

In 1978, as the Cultural Revolution fades into history, Lei is bartered away into marriage for two cartons of cigarettes and a handful of eggs. She finds herself in the unfamiliar village of her new husband where she is met with indifference. When a disaster upends their world, Lei and her husband are forced to join China’s vast wave of city-bound, rural migrants, leaving behind children whom they may never see again.

Sixteen-year-old LuLu arrives in Shanghai with nothing but ambition. Denied a factory job and determined to keep her family from starving, she turns to sex work, navigating the dangers of the city’s underbelly with sharp wit and a fierce will to survive. When a powerful client offers her a chance at security, LuLu faces an impossible choice: seize a future that could lift her family from poverty, or risk everything for a life on her own terms.

Immersive, evocative, and impeccably detailed, And The Ancestors Sing is a sweeping, multigenerational story of sacrifice, survival, and the unbreakable pull of home.

Superhero Leadership by Peter Cuneo

In only ten years, Marvel Entertainment CEO Peter Cuneo took the company from bankruptcy to a $4.5 billion sale to Disney in 2009 — what he calls going “zero to hero.” It remains the biggest corporate turnaround of the 21st century. He’s now sharing the secrets behind that success in his new book: Superhero Leadership: Ways to Lead with Courage, Strength, and Compassion (Skyhorse, Feb. 3, 2026)

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