Ricky narrates, her observations powered with a lively humor, and Captain Rich is a great foil, with their ongoing love-hate relationship a highlight. The plot takes some time to really get moving, and then has so many twists (including a surprising personal connection) that readers will have to work some to keep up, but the snappy dialog, larger-than-life cast, and fascinating milieu keep the pages turning. “Give me warm, gin-clear water and colorful reefs,” Ricky declares, and her love for the sea sets her and the series apart, with this entry finding time for her thoughts on orca, threats to coral, and our changing oceans.
Also enlivening the book are some terrific diving scenes. Grogan delivers almost poetic descriptions of sea life and does a great job with the beauty of southeast Asia: a delta alive with tributaries and side-channels "was like a massive, shimmering fractal." Readers interested in diving technology will find much detail here, though Ricky & co. also find themselves in a number of action scenes, some of them on a Clive Cussler level of inventiveness. Through it all, Ricky shows a remarkable talent for both cool fatalism and self-preservation—she finds “a certain satisfaction” in kicking one adversary in the head—leaving readers to eagerly await what she'll get into next.
Takeaway: This scuba thriller series dives into danger with an agreeably light touch.
Great for fans of: Micki Browning’s Beached, Andrew Mayne’s The Girl Beneath the Sea.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B+
Cox does a stellar job at penning intriguing characters that readers will connect to. Tanner leaps off the page,a doting father and a proud pet owner with a job that brings excitement at every turn. That pet is a highlight—a blind bobcat named Ray (as in Charles)— as is Tanner’s unique beat, which gives Cox the chance to plot out a thriller that mixes a smart procedural with The Crocodile Hunter. The hero’s personal life is engaging, too, with him balancing wildlife trafficking busts gone wrong with trying to get to his daughter’s gymnastics meet.
While it’s best to start with book one in the series for full clarity on Tanner's backstory, new readers will be able to dive right into the “slimy, green-black muck” of this entry’s gator-holes. Full of witty banter, the wildest of wildlife, and action-packed encounters, Cold-Blooded Trade is a polished, sharply written thriller that never stops until its satisfying conclusion. Animal lovers especially will find themselves invested in Tanner's investigation and turning the pages to find out how it all ends.
Takeaway: This standout procedural sends a wildlife agent into the Mississippi muck.
Great for fans of: C.J. Box, Pamela Beason’s Endangered.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Despite the guide’s brevity, readers will find it overflowing with useful information and exercises. Sexton urges transparency, using her own experience of sexual abuse as inspiration for readers to explore the traumas impacting their ability to lead a meaningful life, and she is careful to allow readers the space to individualize biblical concepts for their own needs. Those struggling with depression—including suicidal thoughts or self-harming behaviors—will find Sexton’s welcoming attitude refreshing, and her acknowledgement that “life is hard, it is messy, and it hurts, but it is worth living” is comforting. She’s frank about the lies we often tell ourselves, such as “things will never be better” or “judging others is harmless,” and above all, she emphasizes the need for personal grace and empathy—alongside a solid sense of God’s love as unconditional and restorative.
Sexton’s journal prompts and guided learning questions—all accompanied by corresponding biblical verses and themes—will spark deep thought for readers, and there’s ample space to jot down notes and reflections. Backmatter is both practical and informative: Sexton lists potential alternatives to self-harm, several national resources (the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, among others), and recommendations for further study on setting healthy boundaries. This is a well-rounded, practical devotional that takes on critical issues in an inviting way.
Takeaway: This Christian devotional offers meaningful inspiration for real-life problems.
Great for fans of: Tanya Rad and Raquelle Stevens’s The Sunshine Mind, Priscilla Shirer’s Awaken.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
The mystery’s standard fare here, but that doesn’t take away from the fun of unraveling Adeline’s past, particularly when Charlotte stumbles onto a cryptic poem and video log of her aunt’s seeming confession. While she’s deciphering her aunt’s clues, Charlotte gets caught up with local cop Derek—but just as things start to heat up between the two, Charlotte gets an ominous warning that there’s more to Derek than meets the eye. That suggestion sets up the novel for an unconventional twist in the end (some readers may be discomfited by revelations that keep it all in the family), but Orr keeps readers spinning with some considerable things-are-not-as-they-seem unveilings throughout.
The She Shed’s draw is undoubtedly Orr’s quirky characters. Adeline’s closest friends—“old-school Grateful Dead hippie” Randall, gal pal Millie, and the enigmatic, angry Betty—add plenty of fuel to the small-town fire, as does the questionable mayor, who’s formed his own vigilante squad to “protect women” but seems desperate to cover up the town’s slaveholding secrets at the same time. Readers will appreciate Orr’s tidy wrap-up of the murders, and most of the characters earn the happy ending they deserve; the town, however, turns out to be “full of skeletons—literally.” Backmatter includes entertaining recipes from one of the story’s main players.
Takeaway: A small-town mystery full of quirky characters and plenty of plot twists.
Great for fans of: Tracy Rees’s Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church, Sheila Connolly’s Many a Twist.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
Despite that classic romance setup, A Third Option is poised between the romance and general fiction genres, as it focuses heavily on being a woman in a high-powered and traditional world. Much of the story is centered around the slightly anxious comedy of the pair getting to know each other and dealing with their exes. This is handled with an empathetic sense of comedy, even when questions of paternity get heated, as when Tom levels a sexist slur at Amy in Bryant Park.
Soon Amy’s learning to make it work with Reggie despite their differences—she reads the Times, he reads the Post—and even feels a pang of jealousy toward Isabella. Reggie has his own reasons for proposing the marriage plan to Amy, and both characters’ perspectives drive the tale, which develops into a legal battle over parental rights to Amy’s fetus, a case that this often sprightly novel presents with welcome seriousness. True to its title, A Third Option is about making bold new choices from apparently limited alternatives, and the story, as it builds to a satisfying ending, continually finds ways to do just that. Lovers of grown-up love stories about characters who break the mold will find much to enjoy.
Takeaway: A grown-up marriage-of-convenience story that surprises.
Great for fans of: Lauren Asher’s Terms and Conditions, Suzanne Wright’s The Favor.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B

Trouble with Truffles showcases an unorthodox method of getting siblings to bond and get along, but does so with heart and humor the whole way, from Hammy going “hog wild” while refusing to share, to much boisterous oinking, to the smears on the pigs’ faces after digging into their truffle feast. For those unfamiliar with truffles or pigs’ connection to them, Richey uses the plot to introduce the connection, while those already familiar with pigs’ affinity for these prized fungi will likely already be laughing. Richey notes the visual similarities between chocolate truffles and mushroom truffles on a “Did you know?” page, writing that she thinks “the truffles Hammy’s mom loves…are really chocolate truffles and not the mushroom kind.” Further information about pigs and truffles can be found there, too, as well as a map of some locations where truffles can be found globally.
Readers will notice subtle nods to Sherlock Holmes in the illustrations, furthering the visual humor. Well-suited to self-deprecating or at least good-humored parents and the kids that love them, as well as folks looking to learn more about pigs or getting siblings to share, Trouble with Truffles has plenty to offer and is sure to elicit more than a few giggles.
Takeaway: Mom is forced to follow her own advice in this playful tale of pigs learning to share.
Great for fans of: Rachel Bright’s The Squirrels Who Squabbled, Jory John’s Something’s Wrong.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
That captures the tone of the adventure that follows. As the group flees through the desert toward Cairo, Shokeir pits them against a host of dangers: terrorists, attack drones, giant robotic spider creatures, and more, in action-heavy encounters. They escape largely through Slate’s lightning-blasting heroics, though not without sustaining casualties, and make their way to Cairo, where they learn that a criminal organization known as Cloak, possibly run by other superpowered beings, may be plotting a massive terrorist attack.
The constantly escalating action and stakes are the main draw of this story, though those stakes are undercut by a tendency to gloss over potentially resonant emotional beats—like the deaths of various members of the party—with one-liners. But readers who relish inventive, playful action and worldbuilding (a trip to a movie theater showing a jingoistic action fantasy memorably sells this future) and also relentless Deadpool-esque quipping will enjoy the ride.
Takeaway: This SF adventure mixes relentless quips with over-the-top action.
Great for fans of: Darius Brasher’s Seraph Rising, Jeremy Eaton’s Preparing for the Future.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Readers will recognize plenty of warning signs about Rafe’s potential deeper motives, of course, as does Ana’s reporter roommate and only friend, Kara. Kara doesn’t trust Rafe but when called away on an assignment must ask him to watch over Ana, who has a history of self-harm. Kaufer drops hints about what might really be going on, but she immerses readers in uncertainty as Rafe and Ana explore a chaste but romantic intimacy. Perhaps to preserve the mystery, Kaufer writes from a brisk but distant third-person perspective, offering little interiority, so readers rarely are privy to what these characters are thinking.
That makes for fast reading, sometimes too fast, as confrontations with the cops, that mugger, and others pass too quickly to build tension. Eventually, Kaufer reveals the answers. It would be churlish to spell them out here, but readers should remember that, yes, this is a fantasy, with magic, questions of royal lineage, high stakes palace intrigue, a jeerable villain, and a dash of tragedy as the Maristellar Kingdom faces tumult and the story builds to a resonant cliffhanger. The choice to delay the introduction of these elements throws the book’s genre balance toward romance, but readers who love the blend will find much here that intrigues and engages.
Takeaway: A woman’s surprise romance with the man who saves her blooms into epic fantasy.
Great for fans of: Elsie Winters’s Leviathan’s Song, Sarah Zettel’s A Sorcerer’s Treason.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
The novel’s first half is squarely a romance, showing how the leads came together: when Alex phones Charles after their first meeting, a mixup has him expecting a business contact on the line, so he answers “Hello you nasty, SOB”! This upbeat courtship is offset by a cast of eclectic, well-rounded characters—Papagni has done a great job of building a robust world and ecosystem around her leads that supports them and lends their lives credibility. Deeper in, though, the plot thickens and the mystery and suspense elements become prominent, involving the SEC, a stalker, a break-in, and a murder. Meanwhile, Charles faces temptation—and this hard declaration from Alex: “I need to know if you have broken the law and what other shoe is going to drop.”
Readers, too, will be anticipating the drop of those shoes, and some of the plot twists strain credulity. But overall, there’s a lot to enjoy in this novel full of conversations, friendships, and a mystery, all of which are dealt with an airy touch, imbuing the material with an inviting lightness despite some darker themes. Lovers of romance and family dramas will enjoy this book which is both endearing and easy to read.
Takeaway: An endearing, fast paced romance with a Boston businessman turns suspenseful.
Great for fans of: Linda Howard’s Mr. Perfect, Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Forever, Interrupted.
Production grades
Cover: C
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A-
Darcy Lane’s emotionally charged story pulses with themes of loss, redemption, and growth. While taking on weighty themes, Graham draws intriguing parallels between Elise's life and her mother's, from their strong resemblance to their decisions to trust the wrong people, creating suspense as the story progresses. The characters are both complex and relatable, their motivations, as in life, sometimes enigmatic. The prose, though, is pared down and brick-blunt: ”Stood at his bedroom window was Emmett. The two of them held stare for a moment.” Those sturdy sentences, though, can be at tense odds with the view of the world through Elise's eyes, as readers will at times wonder whether what she perceives is what’s truly happening. Graham also allows himself to change perspective within a chapter or even paragraph, which demands readers stay alert to keep up.
Those who do will find themselves rooting for the protagonist to break a generational cycle of mistakes and overcome the tragic setbacks of her childhood. The plot moves at a steady pace toward a conclusion that, in hindsight, feels inevitable and will please fans of humane, realistic fiction in which characters face traumatic pasts.
Takeaway: A moving novella of a young woman facing the lingering effects of childhood trauma.
Great for fans of: Amber McBride’s Me: Moth, Kathleen Glasgow’s Girl in Pieces.
Production grades
Cover: C
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
Demonstrating the kind of confident organizational clarity he urges readers to master, Read arranges the material into three sections— how to persuade, how to deliver your presentation, and how the masters persuade. He packs each with encouraging advice covering a host of topics (how to present without notes; what persuasive speakers need to understand about the brain; visual guides related to PowerPoint best practices) plus abundant sources, quotations, links to talks to study, and fresh, fascinating case studies from attorneys in the courtroom that illustrate the implementation of his methodology.
As the subtitle suggests, Read blends his own hard-won, up-to-date insights with tried-and-true techniques, from the Rule of Three to the “memory palace,” and he explores tools used by great orators throughout. His clear, engaging prose style and emphasis on the pragmatic makes this guide accessible to readers new to the art but also a resource for seasoned speakers, who will likely find illumination in advice on video meetings or his reconsideration of the importance of listening. Chapter-summarizing road maps and checklists and a thorough index and table of contents increase the book’s utility.
Takeaway: A courtroom persuasion expert’s illuminating guide to persuasive public speaking.
Great for fans of: Carmine Gallo’s Talk Like TED: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds, Mike Acker’s Speak With No Fear.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Stewart floats through outer space in a space suit, facing scary and dangerous figures who want him to fail and give up on himself. Zellgert introduces evils like “Iniquitous” and “Dr. Despondency,” who assail Stewart with the kind of thoughts that come with depression, like “nobody likes you” and “you don’t deserve to live.” Yet these negative figures are regularly scared away by those like The Four Artists, who show Stewart light and color and where to go to escape the darkness. Equally important, Stewart meets friends in space who make him feel less alone, and need his help fighting too.
Although abstract in presentation, Zellgert never pushes the symbolic nature of the story to the point where it’s confusing to follow. Readers who can relate to the challenges Stewart faces will find wisdom and encouragement in this treatment of the hurdles created by depression, anxiety, and loneliness, especially as Zellgert shows how those hurdles can be overcome—and, crucially, that sometimes Stewart has to try more than once. When he falls off the path of light, he gets the help he needs to find his way back. Both science fiction and full of heart, this will be a relatable journey many will find inspiring.
Takeaway: A relatable, even inspiring science fiction depiction of depression and loneliness.
Great for fans of: Emma Newman’s Planetfall, Victor LaValle’s The Devil in Silver.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
As with the Huntsman in Snow White, themes of jealousy and love drive the plot: the Huntsman, stalking unsuspecting women; Max, willing to do whatever it takes to find his missing wife; Jolene, frantic for her ideal family life; Darby, hunting the Huntsman; and Linc, living on a farm that Sanders makes richly creepy, seeming to confess to crimes of his own. Sanders teases out the mysteries with an emphasis on suspense rather than serial-killer gore. Max’s narration is compelling, and the compassion he feels for his accidental friends proves affecting, but readers will likely have a sense of what shoe’s going to drop quite a while before it finally does. The final act, though, is gripping, and the novel is powered by fleet, sharp-edged scenes, memorable dialogue, and pared-down prose tinged with dark poetry.
The complexity of Max and Linc’s relationship elevates the mystery into something like a duel or even a suspenseful courtship, as Sanders challenges and rewards readers’ expectations—and empathy. The element of found family is unsettling, as is the detachment with which Linc prepares a rabbit stew—“Skinned, Fluffy has disappeared. It’s just meat”—and discusses coyotes’ zeal for blood. Such scenes pulse with nervy power.
Takeaway: The tense story of a desperate infiltration into the farm, life, and mind of a potential serial killer.
Great for fans of: Alaina Urquhart’s The Butcher and the Wren, Devashish Sardana’s The Girl in the Glass Case.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Adhering to her mantra, “The better a soldier I become, the easier the missions will be, and the quicker I’ll be able to return home,” Fayola is an imposing figure in her human form and nearly indestructible in her bird form, with huge wings, a beak that can penetrate elephant hide, and the ability to generate golden lightning. At the start Jones focuses on developing the strong female characters and the intricate world building, though the plot accelerates when The Wake’s leaders, intrigued by Fayola’s empathy and negotiating skills, choose not to court martial her. Instead, she’s assigned to the new Criminal Exploitation Unit to save children in trouble. These include Jwahir, who sends word that her adoptive bear shifter father is abusing her.
Jones masterfully constructs an original world of extraordinary shapeshifters, a militaristic society, a rich political environment, and a mission to combat human trafficking. With a nod to the tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jones sets a diverse cast in an immersive, compelling world in a story that evokes loyalty and the desire to do good. Readers will find this a winner.
Takeaway: Science fiction fans will embrace the strong female lead and unique shapeshifters in this adventure with a heart.
Great for fans of: Eowyn Ivey’s The Snow Child, Robert McCammon’s The Wolf’s Hour.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Bullying surfaces in many interactions between characters, a theme that does not discriminate on age, relation, or circumstance. Confrontations at school with peers occur frequently, while at home he faces all-too-common altercations instigated by his uncle. But vital moments of tender honesty between Billy Ray and his steadfast supporter Aunt Becky give depth to their family’s complex relationships. With direct prose and clear love for his characters, Cawthon blends sometimes painful realism with an abiding belief in resilience and the selflessness of the best of humanity.
Cawthon throws many obstacles at his protagonist, some devastating and violent. But through it all the theme of “how to keep faith in the face of fear” powers the story. The author’s also attentive to problems that can seem minor by comparison, such as Billy Ray’s embarrassment for being “some sort of freak” for having an old flip phone—later, it’s with the greatest elation that he receives a laptop as a Christmas gift. Such sweet moments bring solace. Readers who relish stories of good people finding their path, with prayer and lots of heart, will want to walk this street.
Takeaway: The ultimately heartening story of an impoverished Savannah coming of age.
Great for fans of: Rose Betit’s Sparrows, V. L. Brunskill’s Waving Backwards.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
There’s an inspired tension between the limerick form, so rigid and predictable, and the searching, consciousness-expanding material. Voorhees acknowledges this with an imprecation, in introductory material, to “learn the difference between container and content.” Since the time of Edward Lear, limericks have encouraged readers to enter a spirit of anticipatory play, their minds reaching ahead to what the final rhyme might be. By contrast Voorhees tends to place less emphasis on the last word—the container—and more on the ideas—content—throughout, inviting readers to search for deeper meaning rather than a punchline.
Tasteful sketches accompany verses about what “bozos” we can be and the effort it takes to “attain the goal/ Becoming human, free and whole.” To fit the rhyme and meter Voorhees isn’t afraid to bend language and grammar, though it seems churlish to complain when the limericks encourage a state of contemplative reverie—and when it’s the content that counts. A concluding essay, “Seeking Truth in Dangerous Times,” is illuminating, especially when Voorhees, a mathematician, contemplates the mathematics of infinity, through the lens of Omar Khayyam.
Takeaway: Inspiring limericks that follow and encourage a spiritual awakening.
Great for fans of: The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse, Omar Khayyam.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
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