Stirling shines in this fantasy-based debut that spans multiple centuries. Simon, the last of the famed Druids, agrees to take on his people’s combined magic and power to be “Guardian of the good in men.” That magic allows him to move through the years, weaving stories for the kind-hearted people he meets—stories that come true, complete with happy endings for their recipients. But Simon is unable to use his powers on his own story, causing him to wander in and out of others’ lives with no lasting attachments—and a future that seems empty.

Simon’s quest is exceptional, though it comes at great cost to himself: he meets three different Katherines, all of whom steal his heart, but he’s been cautioned to avoid intimacy with others. His powers are too great, and his ancestors warned him he could be destroyed if they were exposed. His selflessness is admirable (instead of pursuing the first two Katherines he falls in love with, he spins them stories that see them happily matched with others), but he’s not emotionless. When his faithful manservant Marcus succumbs to the plague in 1665, Simon’s anger and despair lead to actions he later regrets. However, true to his advice to those fortunate recipients of his tales, “faith is always rewarded,” and Simon never gives up hope of his own happy ending.

Stirling’s worldbuilding is first rate, and she imbues her characters with heart and honor, allowing readers the opportunity to build deep emotional bonds with the cast. When Simon’s third Katherine (a descendant of the other two Katherines via her paternal line) hears snippets of his history, she travels to London to research. There, she discovers Marcus’s journal in an antiques store, and her connection to Simon springs to life, yielding an unexpected yet satisfying finale. Readers will fall for this warm story of kindness, self-sacrifice, and second chances.

Takeaway: A multi-layered story of magic, selflessness, and second chances.

Comparable Titles: Jon R. Osborne’s A Reluctant Druid, Paula Brackston’s The Silver Witch.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: NA
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A

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In a relaxed, inviting style, Barkley recounts facing poverty, absentee parenting, and alcoholism as he came of age in small-town North Carolina before eventually embracing and coming to terms with his beloved but domineering, homophobic father. Barkley’s portrait of financial hardship—the family often depended on the graciousness of neighbors, utility bills were often in arrears, and the next meal was never assured—and eventual success is engaging, as is his account of discovering and later kicking alcohol. “I loved the courage that coursed through me as I eased into my first deep beer buzz,” he writes, of his first sip, adding, “Frankly, I’ve chased that feeling the rest of my life."

Barkley paints, in vivid and touching detail, his torment as a repressed gay man at the dawn of the AIDS era, and how, as he grew older, his drinking drove him toward the edge of total ruin. Throughout, uncertainty about who he is and who he should be powers the narrative, with heartbreaking moments like leaving bars with women for whom he felt no attraction just so that people would see he had done so, and feeling “kicked in the stomach” at a 1980 campaign event, at Ronald Reagan’s insistence that a gay “culture and lifestyle is harmful to our people and our country.” Only after losing his house, his friend, and his business in a legal profession where word-of-mouth matters does he begin to seriously consider seeking help for his drinking.

Even as an openly gay man, five years sober and able at last to establish and protect healthy relationships, Barkley still faces a daunting challenge: coming out to his father, “larger than life, formidable, and bulletproof,” who once ran moonshine and had long been Barkley’s favorite drinking buddy. The memoir alternates between the coming-of-age-narrative and Barkley going to see his father in the hospital after a heart attack. Barkley builds to this encounter with grace and power but telling his story in a voice so conversational you can almost hear the accent. This is a gripping, touching read.

Takeaway: Touching story of coming out and finding sobriety after a hard southern childhood.

Comparable Titles: Paul Monette’s Becoming a Man, Kevin Jennings’s Mama's Boy, Preacher’s Son.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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Castleman returns to the harrowing world of Anna and Sara Olson, two sisters from her previous books (Strays and Sara Lost and Found) who are placed in foster care due to their mother’s disappearance and father’s incarceration. Anna, just 12 years old, is tortured by the trauma she experienced at the hands of a prior foster father, who she calls “Terrible Ted,” and now relies on 10-year-old Sara to communicate for her. When the courts decide Anna would best be served by a stint in residential treatment, she’s dropped off at a center without her sister and must learn to survive on her own.

Castleman’s portrayal of Anna’s trauma response is eye-opening—and distressing to read in places. Sentenced to “forty-or-so” days in treatment, Anna can’t quite comprehend why she’s suddenly alone, and her difficulties processing Terrible Ted’s abuse eat at her insides. Her stay is complicated by her habit of biting others “when I can’t get them to leave me alone” and wetting the bed—all normal behaviors, given her trauma history, but her struggles to speak keep that key information locked away. To confuse matters further, the treatment center staff and fellow residents come and go, making it challenging for Anna to form any real attachments.

As Anna fights for healing, she discovers Emily Dickinson’s poems and gains some temporary relief through therapeutic chanting. Her voice is still fettered, and her fear of Terrible Ted’s retaliation should she disclose the truth is palpable, but with the help of a few compassionate staff members, including Bart, who likens Anna to “a tiny flower push[ing] up through the cracks in the sidewalk,” and a therapy horse named Sapphire, Anna slowly finds her voice. Best read as a sequel to Castleman’s previous two books, this gut-wrenching story will leave readers questioning the mental health care and foster system.

Takeaway: A gut-wrenching story of trauma in the foster care system.

Comparable Titles: Holly Goldberg Sloan’s The Elephant in the Room, Tiffany D. Jackson’s Monday’s Not Coming.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: NA
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

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Brown (Sister Jane) spotlights the cruel fate of orphaned children in 1990s post-Soviet St. Petersburg in this heartrending saga, the first of the Lebedev Orphan series. When the Lebedev siblings—Fedya, Elena, and Irina—are left to fend for themselves after their mother's tragic death in St. Petersburg, 12-year-old Fedya shoulders the immense responsibility of providing for his two younger sisters amidst their dismal surroundings and extreme poverty. However, as winter approaches and his efforts are failing, Fedya makes the painful decision to entrust his sisters to the politsiya, hoping they will receive better care from the agency’s social workers. That harrowing choice sets off a chain of events that separate the three siblings and drastically alter their life paths.

Fedya soon finds himself in the company of a gang of petty thieves, struggling to make ends meet, while Elena and Irina are placed in separate orphanages, each facing their own daunting challenges. The echoes of their mother's dying words, "Stay together, Fedya. You must do everything you can to stay together," serve as a constant motivation for Fedya, propelling him to relentlessly search for their mother's brother, Uldis—who Fedya believes is his only hope of helping him reunite with his sisters. Conversely, in the orphanage, nine-year-old Elena is bullied by the other girls and discovers solace in the compassionate social worker Valentina Alexandrovna.

Brown’s personal connection to Russia—her adopted daughter grew up in St. Petersburg—grants her a unique perspective to capture the lives of the Lebedev siblings. What truly distinguishes Brown's narrative is her intricate portrayal of each sibling's voice—Fedya and Elena’s grave undertones are fitting, given their age and circumstances, while Irina, just four years old, is gifted with a more playful approach. Thankfully, the siblings’ journey ends on a hopeful note, and readers will be left wanting to know more of their story.

Takeaway: Heartrending story of orphaned siblings fighting to stay together in post-Soviet Russia.

Comparable Titles: Teri M. Brown’s Sunflowers Beneath the Snow, Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry’s The Orchard.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: NA
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Children in the City of Czars: A Novel

Bay’s debut is a walk through a shadowy garden that is deliberately unkempt and effusively wild. The poet’s choice of works to feature—including visceral depictions of self-harm and even some werewolf erotica—may lack clear cohesion, but Complexion of a Rose offers instead an exciting degree of unpredictability. Structured into four categories associated with different colors of rose, Bay’s collection delves into depression and suicide ideation, spirituality with a focus on the divine feminine and neopaganism, romance, and political commentary on race, capitalism, and gun violence, along with a selection of searingly emotional but somewhat elliptical short stories that feature unnamed characters at moments of intimate urgency and even suspense.

Bay demonstrates a strong hand at quick, epigrammatic description—“A tall slender man with just enough muscle to prove a point”—and at connecting the concrete to the spiritual. In the “Purple Rose” section, which explores connections to something grander, with bold admonitions (“Connect with the blood moon and feel the power between your legs”) and a recurring unnamed figure who appears as “Mother Nature in human form.” Bay writes in “Lanterns and Roses” that “she was the odd form of a new kind of art. Spirituality”. This idea of spirituality as art is rich in theological and philosophical insight and deserves expansion, though the text itself would have benefitted from a more thorough edit.

A final section marks a sharp departure into the material world with potent poems that read as calls to action for equity and inclusion, along with story-poem “After Party,” a rallying cry for Black empowerment that reaches back into America’s past and looks toward the future: “Play our drums, dance barefooted, talk amongst each other and find your peace. One day my people we will be free.” The journey through this collection’s floral landscape is often dark and confusing, but rare moments of joy, wonder, and clear purpose are beautiful as a rose.

Takeaway: Pointedly unpredictable poems on depression, spirituality, and empowerment.

Comparable Titles: Rupi Kaur, Courtney Peppernell.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: B

Click here for more about Complexion of a Rose

Valente's debut, the first installment of The Last of the Valdryz series, introduces readers to the troubled and turbulent Graymere royal family, whose centuries-long reign is facing potential financial ruin and threats of rebellion. Adding to the growing tension, a mysterious outsider wedges himself into the royal fold, sparking dissidence and chaos as dark, buried secrets are unearthed. The Graymeres must fight to keep their family and kingdom together before evil destroys it all, but as their close bonds begin to fracture, their ability to unite against dire stakes shrinks by the minute.

Valente paints colorful characters who will resonate with readers, though the grandiose cast may overwhelm at times. Sixteen-year-old Princess Edlen Graymere feels trapped by her duties and family responsibilities, while her protector, a giant named Rhen, yearns to be seen as an equal, rather than an outsider due to his large size. Darrin Cantlay Is a loyal Eye of the Forest, a member of the ancient guards sworn to protect the realm from raiders; his bravery is put to the test when eerie, otherworldly happenings threaten the kingdom, a portent that change is coming. Meanwhile, there’s rumors of half-mortal descendants of the Valdryz, the mystical gods who created the Wide-World, walking the land.

While the story’s characters face desperate circumstances, Valente sprinkles subtle lessons into their paths, touching on the value of perseverance and foresight, among others. Edlen, especially, is a pleasantly unconventional lead, eager to take up arms in defense of her realm but cautioned by her mentors to appreciate wisdom as much as she embraces “the strength of swords and the victories of heroes that protect our land.” The few magical elements woven into the unfolding drama will lure readers into a fantastical world of giants, knights, and mysterious shadow governments, and those who enjoy large ensemble fantasies will find this a captivating series introduction.

Takeaway: Captivating fantasy novel brimming with magic, mystery, and intrigue.

Comparable Titles: James Islington’s Licanius Trilogy, Mark Lawrence’s Broken Empire Trilogy.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: NA
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The Sins of Kings

Epic-length and packed with invention, laughs, and engaging creatures and characters, this urban fantasy series starter will appeal to readers who relish time spent with shape-changing unicorn detectives and doctors, with dragons who work on game shows, and above all with the amusing everyday drift of life in a place like Cauldron City, Nebraska, where, in the near future, dragons have whipped up a mountain range to protect “the capitol of the strange and stranger in the United States” from storms. Narrator Jace Smithson is an undercover unicorn and a Cauldron City cop just about to make promotion as he deals with his parents’ expectations, a doctor eager to train him in medicine, the challenges of his new position, and getting over the model ex-girlfriend who left him over an incident involving cupcakes.

Jace faces two mysteries in his new position. First, there’s the killer who kidnapped a unicorn—actually Jace’s mother—and, for reasons immediately clear, murdered and stole organs from ten men whom society mostly won’t miss. Second, he is keeping an eye on Alicia, the granddaughter of Grant Grimstone, a mighty black dragon, after the mysterious drugging of Alicia and other Grimstone women. Robbins handles scenes of police chatter and detective work with crisp excitement, but the emphasis here is on the pleasures of hanging out with Jace and company—many pages pass between the rescue of Jace’s mother and the hero truly starting to work the case.

Readers eager to immerse in the fun and funny life of Jace, a book-loving unicorn who occasionally scarfs chicken and cheese so that he can pass a diamond, and the dynastic squabbles of dragons will relish Robbins’ sharp dialogue, mad but arresting details, and overall sense of fantastical extravagance. But the story moves at the pace of life, meaning slowly and without shape, and the ending is more of a trailing off than a resolution, with many mysteries and at least one irresistible big event put off for future books.

Takeaway: Epic-length, highly inventive urban fantasy, focused on a unicorn cop’s drift of life.

Comparable Titles: Vivian Shaw’s Dr. Greta Helsingseries, Rachel Aaron’s Heartstrikers series.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Dead Weight (Magic, Mayhem, and the Law in Precinct #153 Book 1)

This second caper from Henry, following up Lacking Evidence to the Contrary, again blends comedy, suspense, and many unforeseen complications in a globe-crossing, sea-faring story of warlords, desperate escape, and starting a new life, all kicked off by a single $10 American bill. In a market in the nation of Zazaristan, introduced in Henry’s earlier novel, protagonist Jefir Zaqq accepts the cash in exchange for a melon, and soon is fleeing gunmen denouncing him as “infidel lover.” It all gets worse when Jefir accidentally kills a local warlord. Soon, Jefir is seeking asylum for himself and his brother, Rahim. Fleeing to Honolulu, Jefir begins working on a fishing boat under the brash Captain Natasha Hale and her crew. When Jefir discovers a mysterious metallic object in the nets, he’s torn between selling the potentially valuable score to pay off his debts, or telling his captain.

Henry again balances tension with laughs as Jefir adjusts to life on the run as Jeff Zachary, “a moniker so solidly American it was simultaneously a mutton-chopped president and a ten-year-old proto-hipster.” Meanwhile, a mysterious figure escaped from one of the containers, and Natasha, who respects Jeff’s hustle, interrogates the crew of the Monkey Fist to see who’s keeping secrets while out at sea. The characters are distinct and memorable throughout, with Natasha—soon Tasha—a favorite as she takes command of her team and struggles with leadership.

Henry writes with a strong voice, tinged with the comic, and a love for both the odd detail—be ready to learn about fictional junk TV, the superstitions of smugglers, and Jeff’s amusingly nonplussed discovery of Nirvana at karaoke—but not at the cost of narrative momentum. At times, the funny business and in-world curiosities (like the omnipresent tech company Wangle) can cut against the tension, and characters who appear early on are missed during their long absences. But readers who relish both high personal stakes and lighthearted storytelling will find much to enjoy.

Takeaway: Funny, sea-faring thriller caper of a man chased by warlords.

Comparable Titles: Charles Salzberg’s Man on the Run, Jana Deleon.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The Honolulu Situation

This fast-paced standalone prequel to Marshall’s Ember Files fantasy series digs into the backstory of Juniper Berry, also known as Astrid, with compelling elements of mystery and revenge thrillers. After a horrific attack on her family, one that she foresaw in a vision, Juniper is left an orphan at the age of thirteen. With the use of her apprentice level magic and the aid of supernatural mentors and friends, she faces many major life changes as she charts a course toward bringing the killers to account. She becomes a powerful vizard—"a skilled practitioner of disguising"—known as Rye, and as Rye beings to uncover the secrets behind the kill list naming her and many other Spellbinder families, she learns that she must keep her friends at bay and her enemies closer if she hopes to alter the future she's witnessed in a wrenching new vision—one that shows her future son, apparently abandoned, “somber and without smiles.”

Tension builds as Rye is warned not to fall for the marvelously named Nekane Adelgrief, “the embodiment of immorality and wickedness,” but Rye, an engaging protagonist whose zeal for retribution and redemption powers the story, sees him as her only way into The Society of the Blood Wind. Full of love, loss, found family, and hard choices, Vizard plays out like an origin story that keeps the pages turning, even for readers new to the series. Ember Files veterans will appreciate some familiar names and new perspectives, but this entry truly works as a jumping-on point.

Fantastical creatures and vivid villains highlight this emotional tale that balances thrills, twists, and Rye’s gutsy planning with intricate, imaginative worldbuilding and a crush of appealingly eccentric characters. Perfect for fans of inventive, character-driven fantasy, Vizard offers crisp yet evocative prose, brisk and funny dialogue, and a hero readers can't help but root for.

Takeaway: Brisk, exciting fantasy with a strong heroine’s memorable origin story.

Comparable Titles: Kelly Braffet’s The Unwilling, Taran Matharu’s The Novice.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about Vizard

This must-read for dog lovers details the journey Hughes took with a shelter dog named Barbie and her “beautiful” transformation from a frightened and detached animal with behavioral issues to a loving pet and companion. Hughes details how his emotional investment in Barbie proved healing for him as well after the death of his beloved father. Starting from his time as a volunteer at a dog shelter where he meets Barbie for the first time and detailing the ups and downs of bringing her into his life and working to discover the “great dog inside of Barbie just waiting to come out,” Hughes is open and vulnerable about how much he needed Barbie and all the challenges they faced.

Hughes was motivated to adopt Barbie when her behavior deteriorated at the dog shelter. She was not just withdrawn; she shied away from any and all contact, especially from men. This was in stark contrast to most shelter dogs, who are eager for human contact. She was days away from being euthanized when Hughes' friend Jenny, who acts as a sort of Greek chorus in this telling, urges him to adopt. In clear, resonant language, Hughes details everything that he tried with Barbie in order to make her feel comfortable, noting that he made many mistakes along the way.

Some of the difficulties include aggressiveness toward other people, frequent house-training accidents, and Hughes’ own sleep deprivation, before Hughes accepts that he’s out of his depth and turns to trainers to help—and even then learns that not all dog experts are created equal. The result is that after many patient weeks and months, Barbie both bonds with him and is conditioned out of most of her negative behaviors. Hughes has written a touching memoir of the relationship between human and pet that offers an unflinching look at the real doubts that plague adopters of animals. It also offers hope, plus helpful and concrete solutions, for people facing similar challenges.

Takeaway: Touching memoir of adopting, training, and loving a dog with behavioral issues.

Comparable Titles: Amy Sutherland’s Rescuing Penny Jane, Cara Sue Achterberg’s 100 Days and Counting.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The Mutt for Me

“I just told you I’m constantly hungry and you’re my prey of choice,” declares the “ageless” vampire Soran to Jade, the hero of this slow-burn romantic portal fantasy. He adds, exasperated: “And your response is to offer me a taste?” The bickering tension between mortal Jade, a somewhat directionless college student from our world, and the secret-holding Soran, a fierce warrior and blood-sucker with a tender side, powers Cancel’s debut, which finds Jade awakening in the enchanted realm of Layol. A charming cohort of witches and harpers introduce Jade to the realm, eventually choosing to travel with her to the town of Bharath, where a seeker may help her find a gateway back to our world—and possibly aid her in locating and saving several other humans who had gone missing from her small town.

But as they journey across the war-torn land, Jade and Soran fascinate and frustrate each other, so much so that when she at last faces her chance to head home she’s tempted to do something reckless: to stay. Blending intense attraction and deep distaste, Jade and Soran’s combustible dynamic is the draw and focus of this series starter. Readers of romantic fantasy who relish a will-they-or-won’t-they—especially one where the thing they will or won’t do could be either love or kill each other—will relish Cancel’s dialogue dust-ups, moments of surprising intimacy, and eventual literal sparring.

Their arguments have snap and wit, as Soran strives to keep her distant. He hungers for her flesh, as both vampire and man, and also knows secrets about her past that, for complex reasons, he will not spill to her. Descriptive passages and scenes of action tend toward the wordy and even awkward, and the novel’s pacing is slow, with something like half of this long book passing between Jade’s arrival in Layol and the party reaching Bharath, and revelations about a prophecy and Jade’s “gift” are familiar but offer promising ground for future volumes.

Takeaway: Slow-burn portal fantasy romance with killer chemistry.

Comparable Titles: Hollee Mands’s Little Fire, K.A. Tucker’s A Fate of Wrath & Flame.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-

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Danbury’s tense followup to Leaving Phoenix) finds a hard-won peace shattered as Phoenix and Curt Martinsen’s adorable six-year-old daughter Rose Martinsen becomes the quarry of online pedophiles. After a video clip of Rose hits social media and reveals their house number and license plates, a pair of murderous villains snatches her from a grocery-store parking lot, spurring Phoenix, with family in tow, back onto the road to follow clues in a cross-country trek, with the FBI close behind. They converge on a Missouri mansion whose owner offers little girls as sexual party favors at a heinous, annual Christmas event. But will the Martinsens arrive in time to spare Rose from being the pedophiles’ prize?

Danbury takes pains to be sure that readers new to the Phoenix Martinsen series will understand X. Although human trafficking is the theme, and a young girl faces horrific danger throughout, no explicit abuse scenes occur. However, this traumatic topic always warrants a trigger alert. Still, humor abounds with villains’ bumbling capers, Curt’s inner dialogue as he teaches first graders, and even some playful puns: “With apologies to the proverb’s originators, it could be said that Missouri loves company.” This lightness balances Phoenix’s anguish as she searches for her child. Danbury keeps the pages turning and readers on their toes by frequently hopping from one character’s point of view to another, but well-labeled, crisply written chapters clarify where and when the action takes place.

Most villains are recognizable types: An overbearing, repulsive mother browbeats a cunning son while coddling his intellectually challenged brother, and child abusers twirl their metaphorical mustaches as they anticipate debauchery. What stands out, again, is Phoenix, whose undaunted mama-bear heroism and strong Christian faith are so persuasive that readers will expect Rose’s safe recovery. With Phoenix’s husband, father, and a former military chum as back-up, the narrative emphasizes the strength of family. Readers will cheer for this lovable group of rescuers.

Takeaway: A mother hunts for her abducted child in this family-driven page-turner.

Comparable Titles: Patricia Bradley, Jennifer McMahon’s Island of Lost Girls.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about X

Bennett (Expecting to Fly) delivers a resonant 1970s-era romance following studio musician Cassandra Taylor and Jeff Kingston, member of the famous rock band Expedition. In 1976 Los Angeles, Cass is working as a guitarist when she meets Jeff. After their first dinner together leads to a one-night stand, Cass is pleasantly surprised when Jeff breaks up with a model to pursue a relationship with her. While she learns the ropes of being a rock and roller’s girlfriend—including acting as Jeff’s assistant to pick up his dry-cleaning and going to wild parties overflowing with drugs and adoring groupies—Jeff’s drug abuse and anger issues threaten their relationship, putting their future at risk.

Bennett quickly lures readers into the story with the first meeting between Jeff and Cass, whose attraction is palpable from the start, and brings the intensity of rock and roll culture to life through vivid depictions of the personality clashes between musicians, the stress that accompanies recording an album, and the toll that touring takes on band members and their significant others. When Jeff’s drug abuse spirals out of control, Cass ends their relationship, but seven years later bumps into a sober Jeff in a Los Angeles studio—where she must decide whether to walk away or to risk her heart on the one man she could never forget.

Bennett keeps the rock and roll scene front and center, alongside Cass and Jeff’s heated romance, but, ultimately, Cass steals the show with her complexity as a strong female lead, determined to succeed in a male-dominated industry while searching for lasting love with Jeff. Her resolve to achieve success in the music scene and refusal to accept an abusive relationship are admirable, as is Jeff’s pluck when it comes to staying sober in the gritty backstage world of rock and roll. Music lovers will be thrilled.

Takeaway: Magnetic, one-of-a kind romance between a rock and roller and an up-and-coming guitarist.

Comparable Titles: Jade C. Jamison’s Tangled Web, Xio Axelrod’s The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: NA
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Flipping the Record

Quaver’s second volume in the Ordeals of Elly Robin series (after Elly Robin, Wonderchild) captures the mysteries of the early 20th century mining town, Cripple Creek, Colorado, through the eyes of Elly Robin—a 12-year-old piano prodigy who is on the run after her parents’ deaths—and her older friend, Jimmy McGann, who’s vowed to protect her as they try to earn money playing in rough saloons across the South. After gaining considerable acclaim, the two embark on a journey to Cripple Creek, in hopes of tracking down Jimmy’s long-lost sister Liddie, who disappeared in the mining town two years earlier. Once there, they face thrilling mystery and colorful characters who change their lives forever.

It's clear that Quaver’s a pro at spinning elaborate stories with vibrant characters. As Elly and Jimmy settle into Cripple Creek, they move in with a family that has connections to Liddie—and shocking news for Jimmy about his sister’s disappearance. Elly quickly gets a job playing piano at a dance hall, while Jimmy falls for Sara, a local girl forced into prostitution to make ends meet. When Elly meets Lucas, a quiet but talented hand at the town’s machine shop, the two build a connection that opens up new experiences for her. But when Elly and Jimmy find themselves embroiled in the aftermath of a tragedy committed by a mysterious coal miner years earlier, Elly suspects the mystery is more complicated than she originally anticipated—and when their newfound friends seem to be involved, she’s more determined than ever to solve it.

Though this is the second installment, readers new to the series will easily be drawn into the story and feel an immediate connection to Quaver’s characters. The narrative teems with mystery, action, and romance, and the ending leaves space for future exploits with Elly and Jimmy. Readers with a hankering for spirited adventure will be pleased.

Takeaway: Rousing historical fiction featuring mystery, romance, and thrilling adventures.

Comparable Titles: Kathleen Karr’s The Great Turkey Walk, Vera Cleaver and Bill Cleaver’s Where the Lilies Bloom.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: B
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Elly Robin and the Colorado Gold Camp (Ordeals of Elly Robin, volume 2)

“Gender has become a beautiful, complex mosaic” writes Reed (ZagZig Parenting) in this explorative analysis of gender equity from a male perspective. Drawing on interviews with “people who identify as male,” Reed admirably meets her goal to spark conversations on gender equity in the workplace. Her interviews, conducted with male business professionals, expose the hot button topic in a refreshing way, giving voice to the conversations men often avoid due to their fear of being misunderstood or their lack of empathy for the plight of women in the workforce. She highlights the #MeToo movement as a catalyst for gender-related discussions and explores the foundation of the Equal Rights Amendment, in forward-thinking language that will invite readers into the issues.

Men play a central role in changing gender dynamics in the workforce, argues Reed, especially given their overwhelming numbers in the upper echelons of corporate America. Her interviews shed light on just how many of those men support the idea of gender equality but often remain silent when it comes to progressing the cause. “We are more afraid to say anything that might offend people,” one interviewee states. “Way too many topics are completely off-limits now.” Reed explores this "spiral of silence theory" in great detail, giving men a platform to express both their support of and discomfort with the topic of gender equity. She goes beyond general conversations to more specific issues as well, including how race, life events (such as pregnancy), and miscommunication can all have significant impacts on conversations between men and women in the workplace.

"When men don’t speak about gender, we miss… an invitation to engage the very people who are in positions to influence change” Reed writes, and while she makes it clear she understands the reasoning behind their silence, she also urges men to stop “perpetuating the status quo of inequity.” This is a bold, empathetic approach to a complex topic.

Takeaway: Bold, thoughtful perspective on the complexities of gender equity in the workplace.

Comparable Titles: Anneli Blundell’s When Men Lead Women, Joanne Lipman’s That’s What She Said.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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Health coach and entrepreneur Marmet debuts with an intimate memoir detailing her journey to personal and professional fulfillment. She recounts several life-altering moments from childhood through adulthood, including her father’s drug and alcohol addictions, her mother’s battle with breast cancer, an accident that ends in family tragedy, and, most central to her story, her own feelings of inadequacy, which lead to years of sacrificing her true voice to please others. Through hard lessons learned as a young wife, mother, and professional, Marmet ultimately masters how to honor her own needs and ambitions—and discovers an entire world of possibilities in the process.

Readers who have faced self-doubt will recognize themselves in Marmet’s struggles. While relating how her raspy voice during sixth grade choir tryouts led to years of embarrassment, Marmet muses “How do you learn that what you have to say is important, that your stories matter?” That sentiment forms the backbone of the memoir, as she delves into her father’s addiction treatment and eventual sobriety, her own early career strain, and her marriage to Jordan—a decision that requires her to put her plans for a master’s degree on hold and instead move with Jordan to Tel Aviv, Israel, for his medical school studies. In time, Marmet understands the need to pursue her own passions, though she never presents that transformation as easy. When her love of yoga becomes a critical tool for her own peace amidst life’s struggles, she builds on that knowledge to become a certified health coach and co-create a podcast focused on authentic, healthy living.

Though the opportunities afforded Marmet may not be available to everyone, there are moments of loss, tragedy, and heartbreak in these pages that will resonate with any reader—and Marmet’s willingness to be vulnerable is refreshing. The overarching message is crucial: celebrate that inner voice—it deserves to be heard.

Takeaway: Passionate memoir of discovering one’s true voice.

Comparable Titles: Glynnis MacNicol’s No One Tells You This, Amy Turner’s On the Ledge.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: NA
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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