As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
From Book 1: After her painful and heartbreaking divorce, Bonnie Mayberry thought her life was over. The numbness, the disbelief in what had happened and the fear of what would come next ensured that her every thought was tinged with doubt. 💔 Hoping for a fresh start, she’s packed up, said her goodbyes and moved to the small town of Snow Ridge, New Hampshire.
Settling down in an old, renovated farmhouse 🏡, she plans to focus on the simple things in life. And, in time, she is determined to get back to some semblance of normalcy. But, apparently, that is not going to happen any time soon…
The young girl at the local bookstore Bonnie frequents has been murdered. 📚 She was one of the few with whom Bonnie has become friendly during her short time in town. And whether it’s her mysterious past, her reserved nature or simply the relative ease in pinning the blame on the outsider, the police have Bonnie at the top of their list of suspects.
Now, if she wishes to avoid a prison sentence for a crime she didn’t commit, it appears as if Bonnie is going to have to prove her own innocence. In doing so, she’ll uncover a crooked politician, unveil a hidden monster and unearth a web of secrets & lies that certain residents of the town have spent their lives concealing. And, with a little luck, she may just survive long enough to clear her good name. ✨
What caught my attention: Emma Lee has built a devoted following in the cozy mystery community with her Snow Ridge series, which Goodreads readers have rated at nearly 4 stars across over 1,600 ratings. Published through McGovern Books, this complete five-book box set delivers exactly what cozy mystery fans crave: a relatable protagonist starting fresh, a small-town setting full of secrets, and twists that keep you guessing. Perfect for readers who enjoy the quirky small-town atmospheres of Carolyn Haines or Jenn McKinlay, this series blends Christian themes with page-turning mysteries—readers describe it as “one of the most complicated cosy mysteries” they’ve encountered, with plots that tackle everything from corrupt politicians to missing persons cases. If you love amateur sleuths who find themselves reluctantly drawn into murder investigations, and you appreciate clean reads with heart and humor, this is your next binge-worthy series.
From Book 1: When a bizarre string of unusual corpses washes up on the beaches of San Diego during Halloween week 🎃, Detective Lindsey Brant requires more than her usual set of skills to solve the mystery.
Joining forces with horror writer James Archer ✍️, the two will have to survive a scourge of undead, international killers, unscrupulous reporters, and rogue spies if they’re to unravel the long-buried mystery of a deadly virus that could bring humanity to its knees. 🧟
But their greatest threat to the case may just be surviving each other. See if the two will succeed in saving the world in this irreverent new series from JT Sawyer that blends horror, sci-fi, and mystery into a snarky, saltwater thriller. 🌊
Why you’ll love this: JT Sawyer is the pen name for Tony Nester, who spent over 30 years teaching survival courses to military special operations, US Marshals, and federal agencies—and even trained celebrities like Josh Brolin and consulted on the film Into the Wild. That real-world expertise shines through in his fiction. Readers consistently praise the “snarky dialogue” and the fresh twist on zombie fiction—this isn’t your standard zombie apocalypse story, but rather a witty pre-apocalyptic crime thriller featuring the government agency ZEST (Zombie Eradication & Studies Team). Perfect for fans who want their zombie action mixed with humor, romance, and genuine mystery plotting. If you loved the snappy banter of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files or the irreverent humor of Christopher Moore’s horror comedies, Sawyer’s Brant & Archer duo will have you reading all three books in one sitting.
A young man’s anger and gun 🔫
An old man’s secrets and magic 🪄
A moment that binds them forever
Teer was forced into exile in the Spehari’s Eastern Territories after they betrayed his father’s memory, leaving him and his mother destitute. He has grown up on the ranch of his mother’s new husband, nursing the skills of a cowboy and the anger of a betrayed child. 🤠
When one of the demigod-like Spehari walks into his bar, Teer gives in to a pointless moment of anger—opening fire on one of the rulers of the Unity!
Sentenced to hang for his crime, Teer’s life hangs by the slimmest of threads: the mercy and secrets of the very immortal he tried to kill…
Here’s the deal: Glynn Stewart is a prolific bestselling author with over 80 books to his name, best known for his acclaimed Starship’s Mage series that brilliantly fuses science fiction with fantasy. With Wardtown, Stewart brings that same genre-blending mastery to create a fantasy western—think magical frontier towns protected by wardstones, demigod rulers, and cowboys with six-shooters facing down immortal beings. Readers describe it as a “refreshing departure” and a “wonderfully unique world,” with one reviewer calling it perfectly suited to fans of Ranger’s Apprentice but for adults. The short novel (perfect for a quick read) launches a complete series exploring what happens when a young ranch hand becomes bonded to a powerful mage with secrets. If you enjoyed Brandon Sanderson’s Wax and Wayne series or Django Wexler’s The Shadow Campaigns, you’ll find Stewart’s blend of western grit and high fantasy magic absolutely captivating.
Thirty-eight-year-old Rebecca Barlow drops her four-year-old son off at parents’ house, promising to return by five. ⏰
Five comes and goes.
Then six.
Then seven. 😰
Worried, Rebecca’s parents try calling. She doesn’t answer, and her friends haven’t heard from her either. It seems no one has. As concern mounts, Rebecca’s father drives to the lake house where she’s been staying. Her car is spotted in the driveway, and inside, her purse is found on the kitchen table.
Rebecca is nowhere in sight…
The following morning brings a grisly discovery when Rebecca’s body is found floating in the lake. 😱
Was her death an unfortunate accident, or is something far more sinister at play, something that will shake her family to their very core?
What makes this special: Cheryl Bradshaw is a New York Times and 11-time USA Today bestselling author who’s also a Shamus Award finalist for best private eye novel. This prequel introduces readers to Sloane Monroe, one of contemporary mystery fiction’s most beloved private investigators, showing her very first murder case. Reviewers rave that “the prequel hooked me on Sloane Monroe” and praise Bradshaw’s ability to write fast-paced mysteries that “grab you from the first page.” With a complete eight-book series ready to binge after this introduction, readers who enjoy strong female PIs like Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone or Sara Paretsky’s V.I. Warshawski will find a new favorite in Sloane Monroe. The pacing is “quick and doesn’t miss a single beat,” making this the perfect gateway into a series that’s become a reader favorite for its combination of compelling mysteries and genuine character depth.
In life, the choices we make define who we become. But what happens when those choices threaten to unravel everything we hold dear? 💔
Jessica Parker is haunted by her past, still reeling from the death of her father and the heartbreak of a failed first love. Despite her best efforts to move forward, she can’t forget the boy who stole her heart all those years ago. 💕
As she builds a successful career in the music industry and starts a family, her life seems perfect. But when a devastating loss shakes her to the core, Jessica’s carefully crafted world begins to crumble. And when a long-hidden secret comes to light, she finds herself facing a modern-day moral dilemma that threatens all she’s built.
With her marriage on the line and her world turned upside down, Jessica must confront the pain of her past and reconcile old feelings if she hopes to salvage her future. ✨
Bottom line: Rochelle B. Weinstein is a USA Today bestselling author whose emotional storytelling has earned endorsements from NY Times bestselling author James Grippando, who called this “honest, powerful writing at its best.” A former music industry executive herself, Weinstein brings authentic insider details to Jessica’s world. Kirkus Reviews praised the novel’s “real tension” and noted that “Weinstein renders Jessica’s feelings with enough complexity that her ultimate decision carries emotional weight.” This is perfect for readers who loved Jodi Picoult’s exploration of moral dilemmas or Kristin Hannah’s emotionally charged family sagas. With themes exploring first loves, second chances, grief, motherhood, and the roads not taken, this novel asks the universal question: what if? Weinstein has since published multiple bestsellers including This Is Not How It Ends and When We Let Go, but this debut remains a powerful entry point into her work for anyone who’s ever wondered about the choices that shape our lives.
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Area 51 and Green Beret series. ⏱️
31 Oct 1517: Luther nails 95 Theses to the door of the Cathedral in Wittenberg, forever changing the world. Or does he? 📜
31 Oct 1984: Indira Gandhi is assassinated. But what if she isn’t?
31 Oct 1692: The Salem Witch Trials are coming to an end, but what if there is one more, very important, victim? 🔥
31 Oct 1941: Six weeks before Pearl Harbor, the first American warship is sunk by a German U-Boat. But what if the Reuben James is carrying a very special cargo? 🚢
31 Oct 1828: The last year of Shaka Zulu’s reign. But what if the mad king of the Zulus must fight one last great battle to save all mankind? ⚔️
Zero Day, Zero Year: A wrinkle in the mission as a team member must prevent a Zero Day exploit that could destroy our modern world. 💻
The Shadow’s plan is to disrupt our timeline, creating a time tsunami and wiping our present out. It is up to the Time Patrol to make sure that doesn’t happen!
Reviews for Bob Mayer’s science fiction:
“Quantum Leap on steroids!” Book List. 🚀
Terry Brooks: “Spell-binding! Will keep you on the edge of your seat. Call it techno-thriller, call it science fiction, call it just terrific story-telling.”
Kirkus: “A crackling science thriller in the vein of Crichton that mixes action with science fiction.”
Here’s why this matters: Bob Mayer is a New York Times bestselling author, West Point graduate, and former Green Beret who has sold over 5 million books across his career. His Area 51 series hit #1 on multiple bestseller lists, and his military expertise brings authenticity to everything he writes. The Time Patrol series (with 9+ books) has been compared to “Quantum Leap on steroids” for good reason—each book sends agents back to pivotal moments in history where one change could destroy our present. Mayer weaves real historical events with “what if” scenarios that make you question how fragile our timeline really is. Perfect for fans of James Rollins’ Sigma Force series, Michael Crichton’s techno-thrillers, or Stephen King’s 11/22/63. Readers love the “little history lessons” embedded in each mission and praise Mayer for making them “think” while delivering page-turning action. If you enjoy military precision mixed with mind-bending time travel paradoxes, this series will become your new obsession.
The Spy (The Jed Walker Series Book 1)
Jed Walker is the man you want watching your back. 💪
A sinister group—code-named Zodiac—has launched a series of devastating global attacks. Twelve targets across the world, twelve code-named missions. 🎯 Operating distinct sleeper cells, they are the ultimate terrorist organization, watching and waiting for a precise moment to activate the next group. It’s a frightening and deadly efficient way to stay one step ahead… and cause the most chaos. 💥
For ex–CIA operative Jed Walker, chaos is his profession. Burned by his former agency, he is determined to clear his name. Stopping Zodiac is the only way. ⏰ Desperate to catch the killers and find the mastermind, he can’t afford to lose the next lead—but that means that sometimes the terrorists have to win.
Ultimately, it all comes down to Walker: he’s the only one who can break the chain and put the group to sleep… permanently. And he’s got exactly eighty-one hours until deadline. ⌛
Why this one stands out: James Phelan is an Australian bestselling and award-winning author who’s sold over 5 million books worldwide and earned the ultimate endorsement from Lee Child himself: “Jed Walker is right there in Reacher’s rear-view mirror.” With a PhD in literature and over 30 published novels, Phelan brings serious craft to his high-octane thrillers. The Sydney Morning Herald called his writing “swift, gritty prose, never wasting a word” with “vivid and suspenseful” action sequences. The Spy launched a series that’s been compared favorably to Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, and Len Deighton—but with a distinctly modern, post-bin Laden edge. New York Times bestselling authors Steve Berry and Jeffery Deaver both praised Phelan’s work, with Deaver noting he “produced a big, juicy, rollicking tale in the spirit of Robert Ludlum.” Perfect for readers who crave relentless pacing, realistic military and intelligence jargon, and a protagonist who’s as tough as Jack Reacher but with his own distinct edge. The ticking-clock structure and globe-spanning conspiracy make this impossible to put down—eighty-one hours has never felt so urgent.
Expose the Lies. Understand the Truths. And Make Your Marriage Better than Ever! 💑
Lies about marriage are rampant in our culture—and in our churches. But the corresponding truths can strengthen your marriage and even save it from collapse. 9 Lies That Will Destroy Your Marriage identifies the lies, explains how they can disintegrate your marriage, and reveals truths that can rescue it and help it to become the marriage of your dreams. 💍
Greg Smalley, a general marriage expert, and Robert Paul, the therapeutic director of Hope Restored, a renowned crisis marriage program created for Focus on the Family, combine to offer an unusual and powerful combination of perspectives that can restore hope and healing in any marriage, including yours. ✨
What Are the 9 Lies about Marriage?
Love Lie #1: And They Lived Happily Ever After
Love Lie #2: 1 + 1 = 1
Love Lie #3: All You Need Is Love
Love Lie #4: I Must Sacrifice Who I Am for the Sake of My Marriage
Love Lie #5: You Must Meet Each Other’s Needs
Love Lie #6: Our Differences Are Irreconcilable
Love Lie #7: I’m Gonna Make You Love Me
Love Lie #8: “Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy!”
Love Lie #9: You Win Some, You Lose Some
Do any of these lies resonate with you? Read 9 Lies That Will Destroy Your Marriage and start exposing the lies and living the truth. Includes several self-tests to help you and your spouse assess the extent to which your marriage has been affected by each of the nine lies. 📝
What makes this special: Robert Paul is the co-founder of Focus on the Family’s Hope Restored program, which has served over 9,000 couples from all 50 states and over 30 countries in its 20+ year history. As a licensed professional counselor specializing in “resuscitating nearly dead marriages,” Paul brings frontline experience from working with couples in crisis. Co-author Dr. Greg Smalley serves as vice president of marriage at Focus on the Family and holds a doctorate in psychology. Together, they offer something rare: practical wisdom from both preventing marriage problems and rescuing marriages on the brink. Readers consistently report that this book transformed their relationships, with one couple reporting going from a “4 out of 10” to a “10 out of 10” marriage after reading the book and attending the intensive. The book includes helpful visual models like the “Care Cycle,” “Heart Talk,” and “Reactive Cycle” that make complex relationship dynamics easy to understand and apply. Perfect for couples at any stage—whether you’re struggling, stable, or thriving—who want to identify and eliminate the cultural lies that silently undermine even Christian marriages.
A man’s dying wish sends a Greek tycoon down the aisle with a woman full of secrets in this classic contemporary romance by a USA Today–bestselling author. 💒
Nothing could have prepared Rosie for Greek tycoon Constantine Voulos. He asked Rosie to marry him—well, he insisted: “You will go through a ceremony of marriage,” he said, “and in return you will receive a big fat check and a divorce as soon as I can arrange it.” 💰
Rosie agreed to the clandestine wedding because of her late father’s wishes, but was anguished that Constantine had got her all wrong. The longer she spent with him, the more she knew she just couldn’t be his temporary wife. There was only one thing for it—her secret would have to be told! 💕
Here’s why this matters: Lynne Graham is a USA Today bestselling romance powerhouse who has published well over 200 books for Harlequin/Mills & Boon and sold over 35 million copies worldwide. She’s a cornerstone of the Harlequin Presents line, known for her Greek tycoons, marriage-of-convenience plots, and passionate love stories set in exotic locations. The Secret Wife is vintage Graham—featuring her signature commanding alpha hero, a heroine with hidden depths, and the delicious tension of a fake marriage that becomes all too real. Perfect for readers who love Sheikh romances, Greek billionaire heroes, or marriage-of-convenience tropes where initial arrangements dissolve into genuine passion. If you enjoy authors like Maisey Yates, Caitlin Crews, or Michelle Smart, Graham’s extensive backlist offers hundreds of similar reads. This classic tale delivers everything Harlequin Presents promises: glamour, wealth, exotic settings, and passion that knows no bounds. At this price, it’s the perfect introduction to one of category romance’s most prolific and beloved authors.
“A fascinating collection that profiles more than 400 inspiring Catholic women.” —Library Journal 📚
Most books about the saints are thin on women, especially contemporary women. Even Fr. Alban Butler’s popular Lives of the Saints lists far more men than women. No book about the saints could ignore such beloved early martyrs as Agnes of Rome and Lucy of Syracuse, but this new book will introduce you to many new women who have been canonized or beatified in recent decades. ✝️
Among them are martyrs and mystics, rebellious daughters, loving wives and mothers, reformed prostitutes, restless visionaries, and humble recluses. Of the hundreds of women mentioned, 159 have been canonized or beatified since 1979. Approximately 100 of them lived in the twentieth century. 🕊️
This book is also unique in that it uses the saint’s own words wherever possible, taking advantage of newly discovered archives, memoirs, and other primary sources. It includes resources such as internet shrines and other websites, as well as little-known information on the canonization process. ⭐
“A beautiful and concise guide to the luminous women who inspire us to deeper faith.” —Edward L. Beck, author of God Underneath: Spiritual Memoirs of a Catholic Priest
The appeal: Sarah Gallick has created something genuinely needed in Catholic publishing: a comprehensive reference that centers women’s voices in the story of sainthood. With over 400 profiles, this book is both a spiritual resource and a historical document, showing how women have lived holy lives across every century and culture. What sets this apart is Gallick’s commitment to using primary sources—the saints’ own words from letters, diaries, and writings—rather than secondhand accounts. This approach brings these holy women to life in an immediate, personal way. The inclusion of 159 saints canonized or beatified since 1979 means you’ll discover modern women whose struggles and triumphs mirror our own, from St. Teresa of Calcutta to lesser-known martyrs and mystics. Library Journal praised it as “fascinating,” and Fr. Edward Beck called it “beautiful and concise.” Perfect for Catholics seeking role models, students of Church history, or anyone interested in women’s spiritual lives across the ages. The book also demystifies the canonization process and provides online resources for further exploration. At this price, it’s an invaluable addition to any Catholic library.
In this whimsical romance for fans of Ashley Poston and Erin Sterling, a woman confronts her past and her unresolved feelings for the boy next door as they work together to reverse a wish gone awry. ✨
On the eve of Genie’s thirtieth birthday, her grandmother gives her an unexpected gift: a wish at midnight. Genie, forever the family skeptic, laughs it off and, after an evening fending off invasive questions about her nonexistent love life, returns home to her empty house and her golden retriever, Rory. 🎂
Who needs a boyfriend when she has a loyal friend like Rory? As she hugs him and gets ready for bed, she wishes to herself that he were human… at least then their conversations wouldn’t be so one-sided. 🌙
She really should’ve listened to her grandmother.
To her surprise, Rory is now a human with big Golden Retriever Energy—like a goofy, adoring Hemsworth. But he doesn’t like being a human. He doesn’t like wearing clothes or human manners, and he most definitely can’t manage a human job. 👔
Genie needs to turn him back before it’s too late and enlists her oldest friend and boy next door, Miles, to help. Their quest brings them closer than they’ve ever been—and maybe, just maybe, her messed up wish is the key to granting her heart’s desire after all… 💕
Bottom line: Stella Hayward delivers pure romantic comedy gold with this high-concept premise that’s equal parts hilarious and heartwarming. Endorsed by bestselling author Jenny Colgan as “incredibly funny and utterly adorable,” The Good Boy takes the magic realism of body-swap comedies and adds a uniquely charming twist: a golden retriever turned into a hunky but bewildered human. Perfect for fans of Ashley Poston’s quirky rom-coms or Erin Sterling’s witchy romances, this book balances laugh-out-loud moments (watching Rory-the-human struggle with clothes and jobs) with genuine emotion as Genie reconnects with her childhood friend Miles. The dog-to-human transformation is a clever vehicle for exploring what Genie really wants from life and love. Readers praise it as the perfect fall or Halloween read—it has just enough magic and whimsy without being heavy or dark. If you loved The Proposal, You’ve Got Mail, or any rom-com where the heroine realizes what she needs was right there all along, this charming debut will have you grinning from ear to ear. Plus, golden retriever energy in human form? That’s irresistible.
… See the rest of today ‘s Book Picks here on page 2Page 2