Desperate times call for delightfully unorthodox measures. When an exasperated heroine finds herself facing relentless family pressure, upcoming wedding invitations, and an utterly non-existent dating life, an unconventional matchmaking service seems like the perfect, quick-fix solution. But her plan to order a compliant, respectable stand-in groom goes comically awry when the man who shows up on her doorstep is the last person she ever expected to see: her charismatic, swaggering former flame.
He is older, wiser, and still possesses that dangerous, heart-melting bad-boy grin that once turned her world upside down. Thrown into a chaotic whirlwind of fake-dating antics, awkward family dinners, and hilarious romantic posturing, old feelings flare back to life with an intensity neither can ignore. Behind the banter and playful teasing, both are forced to confront the unresolved history that drove them apart, discovering that sometimes the right match was there all along.
A. N. Boyden serves up a fast, snappy, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy novella packed with spicy banter, delightful second-chance yearning, and irresistible chemistry. It is a wonderfully fun, bite-sized romance escape.
Why this delights: A. N. Boyden delivers a quick, witty, and high-heat romantic romp loaded with humorous misunderstandings, bad-boy charm, and electric second-chance sparks. Essential reading for admirers of Christina C. Jones, Nicole Falls, and Alexandria House.
Relocating to the charming English town of Westerham was supposed to be a peaceful fresh start, but discovering you possess latent magical powers—and that the entire town is a hub for the Paranormal Investigation Bureau—has a way of complicating things. Before our newly awakened witch can even figure out how to brew a proper spell or manage her mischievous familiar, a fellow witch vanishes into thin air under deeply alarming circumstances.
Refusing to sit on the sidelines while a friend is in danger, she teams up with a brooding PIB investigator and an eccentric circle of local supernaturals to crack the case. Navigating botched spells, magical mishaps, and a labyrinth of puzzling clues, the investigation uncovers a devious plot that threatens the peaceful coexistence of witches, vampires, and regular mortals alike. With quick wit, stubborn determination, and a bit of beginner’s luck, she races against time to rescue the missing witch.
Dionne Lister delivers a delightful, laugh-out-loud British paranormal cozy mystery filled with charming village ambiance, witty banter, and clever supernatural detective work. It provides an utterly enchanting start to a captivating cozy series.
Why this charms: Dionne Lister weaves a magical, delightfully British cozy mystery bursting with quirky characters, eccentric familiars, and clever whodunit deduction. Mandatory reading for fans of Amanda M. Lee, Annabel Chase, and Leighann Dobbs.
Running a beloved neighborhood cocktail lounge requires mixing great drinks, listening to patrons’ woes, and maintaining a welcoming atmosphere. But when a dead body turns up near the establishment and a close friend becomes the prime murder suspect, the bar’s sharp-tongued owner decides it’s time to stir up some justice. Teaming up with the eccentric regulars of the Last Call Crime Club, she steps out from behind the bar to hunt down a killer.
Armed with cocktail trivia, street smarts, and an unshakeable sense of loyalty, this ragtag crew of amateur sleuths dives into a world of shady business deals, local politics, and hidden criminal ties. Every lead uncovers twice as much trouble, and dodging suspicious cops and dangerous suspects quickly turns into a high-stakes, hilarious adventure. Racing against the clock, they must serve up the truth before the killer closes their tab permanently.
Authors KC Walker and Karen Sue Walker craft a brisk, laugh-out-loud cozy mystery packed with zesty cocktails, quirky character dynamics, and twisty amateur detective fun. It is a wonderfully refreshing mystery read that goes down smooth.
Why this entertains: The Walkers serve up a spirited, comedic whodunit cocktail brimming with snappy dialogue, delightful camaraderie, and clever sleuthing. A complete treat for admirers of Jana DeLeon, Leslie Langtry, and Gemma Halliday.
Revelations
In the plague-shadowed landscape of fourteenth-century England, devout women were expected to remain submissive, silent, and obedient to patriarchal church authority. Yet out of the religious orthodoxy rose Margery Kempe, a spirited Norfolk mother of fourteen who, after suffering terrifying postpartum delusions, experiences divine visions that command her to abandon secular life and embark on a dangerous spiritual pilgrimage across Europe and the Holy Land.
Branded a madwoman by townspeople and threatened with the stake as a Lollard heretic by bishops, Margery finds solace and validation in an extraordinary meeting with the celebrated recluse anchorite, Julian of Norwich. Julian encourages Margery to follow her calling, sparking Margery to dictate what would become the very first autobiography written in the English language. Through perilous overland journeys, holy ecstasies, and fierce church interrogations, Margery claims her divine voice against all odds.
Acclaimed historical novelist Mary Sharratt breathes breathtaking life, feminist vitality, and rich sensory atmosphere into medieval history. Revelations is a sweeping, deeply inspiring celebration of female rebellion, spiritual sisterhood, and literary courage.
Why this captivates: Mary Sharratt delivers an immersive, gorgeously researched historical journey that celebrates medieval female mysticism and unyielding spiritual defiance. Mandatory reading for followers of Hilary Mantel, Tracy Chevalier, and Emma Donoghue.
What gives a poetic voice its unmistakable authority, its startling power to strip away artifice and tell the truth? In this brilliant, illuminating collection of critical prose, Nobel Prize laureate and former U.S. Poet Laureate Louise Glück examines the elusive nature of artistic originality, literary influence, and the unrelenting discipline required to write lasting verse.
Writing with the same crystalline precision, psychological rigor, and austere beauty that define her poetry, Glück meditates on the craft of contemporary and historical masters, from Wallace Stevens and T.S. Eliot to Frank Bidart and contemporary innovators. She interrogates what it means for an American poet to step outside conventional aesthetic models to forge an authentic, uncompromising style. These essays serve not as dry theoretical lectures, but as an intimate window into the mind of a premier artist wrestling with the moral and technical burdens of language.
Incisive, fearless, and deeply illuminating, American Originality is a masterclass in reading and understanding modern poetry. It is essential reading for poets, writers, and serious readers of world literature.
What makes this essential: Louise Glück offers a masterclass in literary craft marked by astonishing intellectual clarity and deep poetic wisdom. An absolute treasure for admirers of Seamus Heaney, Helen Vendler, and W.H. Auden.
Seventh-grade best friends Katie and Melody could not be more different: Katie is a perfectionist overachiever balancing relentless academic pressure and violin recitals, while Melody is a laid-back, creative athlete who wishes her family would pay more attention to her. After a heated argument leads both girls to wish they could live each other’s seemingly flawless lives, a bizarre twist of fate grants their wish—and they wake up having swapped bodies!
What starts out as a thrilling chance to experience life on the other side of the fence quickly spirals into middle-school pandemonium. Navigating unfamiliar family routines, tricky friend cliques, and looming exams from inside another girl’s body turns out to be an exhausting challenge. As comedic mishaps and near-disasters multiply, Katie and Melody discover that the grass is never as green as it looks, learning essential truths about empathy, friendship, and staying true to oneself.
Leslie Margolis delivers a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud body-swap comedy bursting with authentic middle-school voice, relatable adolescent anxieties, and genuine heart. It is a delightful, feel-good read that young readers will devour.
Why this charms: Leslie Margolis weaves a hilarious, heartwarming body-switch adventure packed with witty dialogue, relatable friendship drama, and empowering life lessons. Perfect for fans of Wendy Mass, Meg Cabot, and Rachel Renée Russell.
… See the rest of today ‘s Book Picks here on page 3Page 3