J.A. Konrath
FREE
Technothrillers
⚠️ WELCOME TO SAFE HAVEN, POPULATION 907…
Nestled in the woods of Wisconsin, Safe Haven is miles from everything. With one road in and out, this is a town so peaceful it has never needed a full-time police force. Until now…
A helicopter has crashed on the outskirts of town and something terrible has been unleashed. A classified secret weapon programmed to kill anything that stands in its way. Now it’s headed for the nearest lights to do what it does best. Isolate. Terrorize. Annihilate.
Soon all phone lines are dead and the road is blocked. Safe Haven’s only chance for survival rests on the shoulders of an aging county sheriff. And as the body count rises, the sheriff realizes something even more terrifying—maybe death hasn’t come to his little town by accident…
WELCOME TO SAFE HAVEN, POPULATION 906… 892… 755…
J.A. Konrath delivers relentless techno-thriller horror that reads like Michael Crichton meets Stephen King. The isolated-town-under-siege setup will appeal to fans of Dean Koontz’s Phantoms or Blake Crouch’s Wayward Pines, with the added twist of a military weapon gone wrong.
Why this works: The decreasing population count is a brilliant touch that creates escalating dread with every chapter. Konrath doesn’t waste time on setup—the helicopter crashes and the terror begins immediately. The “maybe this wasn’t an accident” revelation adds a conspiracy layer that elevates this beyond simple survival horror.
Cynthia Eden
FREE
Romantic Suspense
🎄 A holiday romance with a dash of romantic suspense and a former military hero who is so not feeling the festive spirit…
Bah humbug. Bounty hunter Jake Hale hates Christmas. He doesn’t do twinkling lights, festive packages, and you definitely won’t ever catch him singing Christmas carols. What he will do? Track down the worst of the scum out there. The former special ops soldier makes merry by tossing the naughty into prison cells and getting a grand pay day. Ho, ho, ho.
Then a ghost from Christmas past walks through his door.
True Blakely is always at the top of the nice list. Beautiful, sweet, with an innocence that—yep, he might have been tempted to destroy once or twice—she’s there to hire him. There have been a string of dangerous accidents in her life, and True fears that someone is trying to kill her. Not at all the sort of case that Jake would usually take—he hunts down the criminals after they jump bail, not before they’ve even been arrested. But one look into True’s bedroom eyes, and he can’t refuse. Maybe he still is a bit too tempted by the girl who got away…and surely one nice act won’t kill him? For her, he can play the hero.
Cynthia Eden is a master of romantic suspense who knows how to balance genuine danger with emotional connection. Fans of Laura Griffin or Rebecca Zanetti will recognize the protective ex-military hero and the escalating threats that force the couple together while old feelings resurface.
This hits the spot if: You love grumpy-sunshine pairings where the hardened hero meets the one person who makes him want to be better. The “girl who got away” element suggests unfinished business and unresolved attraction, and True’s name combined with Jake’s cynicism sets up delicious contrast. Eden promises both danger and holiday warmth.
Max Walker
FREE
LGBTQ+ Mystery
📚 A trip to the grocery store changed my life. That’s where I bumped into my ‘straight’ co-worker and good friend, Jake Perez.
Noah Barnes: I decided to invite him to my book club night, not realizing the chain of events that invite would kick off. Immediately our chemistry became too explosive to contain, making our friendship and work relationship complicated. That same night, a bloody package addressed to me lands on my doorstep. Falling for Jake was never in the plans—then again neither was being targeted by a dangerous stalker. This was going to be interesting.
Jake Perez: We were supposed to stay just friends—but how was that going to happen when all I wanted to do was kiss the guy? Joining his book club sounded like a perfect way to spend more time with him. I wasn’t counting on liking him more and more with every passing second. Then came the targeted threats, throwing a wrench in our budding ‘friendship’. One thing was certain, though. Well, maybe two. I was going to help Noah figure out who was behind making his life a living hell and I was going to do it while staying as just friends. Friends who liked to hold hands and kiss and… Yeah. This was going to be harder than I thought.
Max Walker writes M/M romance with mystery elements and genuine suspense. Readers who enjoyed Riley Hart’s Lawless or N.R. Walker’s Red Dirt Heart series will appreciate the friends-to-lovers progression combined with the stalker threat that forces both men to confront their feelings faster than either planned.
What makes this fun: The dual POV lets us see both Noah and Jake struggling with the same attraction they’re both trying to pretend isn’t happening. The book club setting adds a cozy, community element, while the bloody package ensures things don’t stay cozy for long. “Friends who liked to hold hands and kiss” is the kind of denial that makes for excellent romantic tension.
NEW RELEASES
Authors: Geoffrey C. Ward, Ken Burns
NEW RELEASE
U.S. Revolution & Founding History
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the award-winning historian and filmmakers of The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, The Roosevelts, and others: a richly illustrated, human-centered history of America’s founding struggle—expanding on the landmark, six-part PBS series to be aired in November 2025
“From a small spark kindled in America, a flame has arisen not to be extinguished.” —Thomas Paine
In defeating the British Empire and giving birth to a new nation, the American Revolution turned the world upside down. Thirteen colonies on the Atlantic coast rose in rebellion, won their independence, and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired independence movements and democratic reforms around the globe.
The American Revolution was at once a war for independence, a civil war, and a world war, fought by neighbors on American farms and between global powers an ocean or more away. In this sumptuous volume, historian Geoffrey C. Ward ably steers us through the international forces at play, telling the story not from the top down but from the bottom up—and through the eyes of not only our “Founding Fathers” but also those of ordinary soldiers, as well as underrepresented populations such as women, African Americans, Native Americans, and American Loyalists, asking who exactly was entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
What you’re getting: 🎬 Ward and Burns bring their documentary storytelling mastery (The Civil War, Baseball) to America’s founding struggle, expanding their November 2025 PBS series into a richly illustrated volume. 👥 This isn’t the usual top-down Founding Fathers narrative—Ward tells the story through ordinary soldiers, women, African Americans, Native Americans, and Loyalists, asking who was actually entitled to those famous rights. 🌍 By framing the Revolution as simultaneously a war for independence, a civil war, and a world war, this captures the full complexity of a conflict that reshaped not just America but inspired democratic movements globally.
Author: Walter Isaacson
NEW RELEASE
Biography
America’s bestselling biographer reveals the origins of the most revolutionary sentence in the Declaration of Independence, the one that defines who we are as Americans—and explains how it should shape our politics today.
“Isaacson uses a jeweler’s loupe to scan what gives his snappy little book its engaging title….Isaacson skillfully teases fresh pith and resonance out of those familiar words.” —The Wall Street Journal
“A short, smart analysis of perhaps the most famous passage in American history reveals its potency and unfulfilled promise.” —Kirkus Reviews
To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, Walter Isaacson takes readers on a fascinating deep dive into the creation of one of history’s most powerful sentences: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, this line lays the foundation for the American Dream and defines the common ground we share as a nation.
Isaacson unpacks its genius, word by word, illuminating the then-radical concepts behind it. Readers will gain a fresh appreciation for how it was drafted to inspire unity, equality, and the enduring promise of America. With clarity and insight, he reveals not just the power of these words but describes how, in these polarized times, we can use them to restore an appreciation for our common values.
Why this matters: 🔍 Isaacson (bestselling biographer of Einstein, Jobs, Franklin) uses a “jeweler’s loupe” approach to examine one sentence word by word, revealing the revolutionary thinking behind familiar phrases. ✍️ The Jefferson-Franklin-Adams collaboration gets unpacked to show how the sentence was crafted and edited to inspire unity and equality—concepts that were genuinely radical for their time. 🇺🇸 Timed for America’s 250th anniversary, this isn’t just historical analysis but a timely argument for how these words can restore common ground in polarized times, making the past directly relevant to our present.
Authors: Natalie Alleyn, Angelique Armae, Shannon Gilmore, Samantha Holt, Caroline Lee, Amanda Mariel, Rebecca Paula, Anna St.Claire, Andrea K. Stein, Sandra Sookoo, Ari Thatcher, Aubrey Wynne
NEW RELEASE
Regency Historical Romance
Step back in time where passion sparks under the mistletoe and reputations are on the line. This boxset includes twelve steamy romances filled with irresistible heroes, daring heroines, and holiday nights too hot to forget—and bonus scenes too!
Perfect for readers who like their historical romance with a touch of scandal—and plenty of heat.
The Duke’s Bartered Mistress by Caroline Lee
When Lady Georgia offers herself to the scarred and vengeful Lord “Demon” Hayle to repay her father’s debt, their fiery bargain of passion and revenge soon transforms into something deeper—just as unexpected duty and looming secrets threaten to tear them apart.
In Pursuit of a Christmas Bride by Rebecca Paula
A stolen kiss at a masquerade reunites lawyer Henry Davies and actress Matilda Brennan at a Christmas house party, where rekindled desire and dangerous secrets test whether their love can triumph over the truth.
Until Spring by Shannon Gilmore
When Remington Hawke’s search for lodging leads to Lovie Wright, their unexpected connection and one daring kiss ignite a passion that could change both their futures forever.
Here’s the appeal: 🎁 Twelve authors deliver a massive holiday romance collection where Regency-era passion meets Christmas scandal, giving readers variety and volume in one package. 🔥 The “steamy” and “too hot to forget” promises signal these aren’t sweet Regency romances—expect scarred vengeful lords, bartered mistresses, masquerade kisses, and bonus scenes that push boundaries. ❄️ From vengeful bargains to dangerous secrets to unexpected connections, each story offers complete resolution while the holiday setting adds festive atmosphere to the scandal and seduction.