Blending a woman’s exciting journey across Europe and the unlikely, endearing romance between the novel’s main characters, Sundin underscores Cilla’s bravery and Lachlan’s devotion to the Allied cause. Cilla’s vivacity and humor enliven the story, and her compassion and willingness to put her life at risk for others’ sake are inspiring. Sundin also explores Lachlan’s background and chronicles his growth. Through his and Cilla’s experiences, themes of faith, forgiveness and strength in unity are examined. , which received a 2022 Christy Award, and the Sunrise at Normandy series. In , she weaves ..read more

—Meagan Vanderhill, Brand & Production Designer , my favorite romance novel of all time, does just that, with McNaught employing a bevy of tropes at once: Fake relationship, check. Forced proximity, check. Arranged marriage, check. Hidden identity, check. This book’s many twists and turns make it a delightful read. Whitney Stone was sent to live with her aunt and uncle in Paris after being deemed an unruly child. When she returns home to Regency-era England after a triumphant launch in Paris society, she unknowingly catches the eye of the arrogant and mysterious Duke of Claymore, Clayton ..read more

A small, family-owned winery in Georgia is the stage for by Laura Piper Lee. Lonely and stressed, the titular character and narrator participates in a blindfolded but otherwise little-left-to-the-imagination threesome with two other women. The unexpected and explosive passion turns to near-panic when Zoe discovers she’s just had an incredibly hot hookup with her ex-BFF’s big sister and her own teenage crush, Laine Woods. The awkwardness only escalates when she finds out that Laine has been hired as the vintner at Zoe’s floundering vineyard. Cue scenes of struggling to keep things professional ..read more

by Rubén Degollado chronicles the lives of members of a close-knit Mexican American clan in McAllen, Texas. The novel follows the family across three generations as they contend with a curse they believe has caused the physical decline of Papa Tavo, the head of the family, and the marriage woes of Gonzalo, the eldest son. Narrated by different members of the Izquierdo clan, the novel examines family ties and traditions as well as life on the Texas-Mexico border. Degollado creates a rich chorus of voices in this moving, compassionate novel. Intricate and enthralling, Megha Majumdar’s , Tommy Or ..read more

The Love Prescription: Seven Days to More Intimacy, Connection, and Joy , John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman present an easy-to-follow plan for couples who are looking to deepen and enrich their partnerships. Noted relationship experts, Gottman and Gottman draw upon their extensive research on the subjects of love and marriage in this companionable volume. With an emphasis on communication and openness, their blueprint for renewed intimacy includes concrete steps (designate a date night; demonstrate affection) designed to bring couples closer together in a week’s time. Themes of honesty a ..read more

Forensic psychologist Alex Delaware and LAPD detective Milo Sturgis return for their 40th (!!!) adventure together in Jonathan Kellerman’s latest mystery, . The murder victim is a wannabe actor, funding the waiting period until her big break by serving as one of a bevy of glamorous attendees at various Tinseltown events. Her suspected killer is also a wannabe actor and occasional stuntman. But by the time suspicion falls on him, he has become a murder victim himself. They will not be the last victims, and as it will turn out, they are not the first either: Bullets from the rifle used to kill t ..read more

is sure to delight—and disquiet—readers. Ominous, imaginative and intriguing, Nethercott’s stories probe the tension between the wild and the tame as they exist in our daily lives. In “Homebody,” a young woman undergoes a strange physical transformation after moving into a new house with her partner. “Sundown at the Eternal Staircase” chronicles the goings-on at an eerie tourist attraction. Thanks to Nethercott’s remarkable narrative skills, the impossible becomes plausible. Inspired by folklore and fairy tales, she reinvigorates the short story form. Louise Kennedy explores the lives of conte ..read more

It’s no secret among BookPage mystery and suspense readers that I am a devotee of Nordic noir, as I often wax poetic about the subgenre. But who would have thought that a superb Nordic noir novel would emanate from the pen (or more likely, keyboard) of an American writer? Melissa Larsen’s is that book. On the 40th anniversary of a double murder that rocked Iceland, Agnes, the American granddaughter of the presumed—but not convicted—killer, goes to the small town of Bifröst to participate in a podcast about the homicide. She has always believed her grandfather to be innocent, but she is in the ..read more

Zuri Day takes readers on an entertaining, emotional roller-coaster ride in . Genesis Washington is surprised when she inherits her great-uncle’s Tennessee farm, but surprise turns to chagrin when she learns her next-door neighbor is her one-time hookup, former pro football player Jaxson King. Though their night together stirred up trouble in her family that Genesis doesn’t want to repeat, she can’t avoid the sexy Jaxson, who steps in to help her again and again. Despite the fire between them, which singes the sheets in love scenes hotter than Jaxson’s chili, trust between the pair is hard-won ..read more

Inside the worlds of Denis Johnson’s fiction, the mundane evokes great sadness, terror or joy. Simple acts are magnified in subtle yet staggering ways. Along with his straightforward, limpid prose, this aspect of his writing makes the National Book Award-winner ( ) exceptionally suited for the novella format, as proven by , which tells the story of Robert Grainier, an itinerant laborer in the American West during the turn of the 20th century. Johnson gracefully doles out disjointed portions of Grainier’s life as it unfolds in an era suffused with ordinary tragedy. All around Grainier, people d ..read more