Tag: April New Releases

Here are some of the new books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

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Beatrice Bly’s Rules for Spies: The Missing Hamster – Beatrice’s next case is finding the missing class pet.
A Cape! (April 15) – When a boy finds a cape, he knows it must mean he has a super power!
The Rock From the Sky – The latest from the author of the Hat Trilogy. A story of friendship and a rock.
Bear and Friends: A House for Mouse AND Where Is Bear? – Two new Puzzle Readers from Highlights.
Aven Green Sleuthing Machine – A new chapter book from the author of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus starring Aven Green, a girl born without arms. A younger Aven is a sleuth who takes on the case of a missing dog and a teacher’s missing lunch.
The Story of Joe Biden – A chapter book biography.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Camp Average: Away Games (April 15) – The final book in the Camp Average series. Part of the Camp Average crew is at a rival camp this year. While Miles works on getting them all back together, he has to deal with an obnoxious newcomer. I have the first book in the series on my TBR shelves.
The Sun Will Come Out – A shy girl alone at camp decides to avoid the mean girls and the betrayal of “friends” by hanging out at the camp infirmary where she makes an inspiring new friend.
Victories Greater Than Death – Book 1 in the Universal Expansion series. Tina is the hidden clone of a famous alien hero, disguised as an average teen. But when she’s called into service, her mission is far more dangerous than she expected, and she isn’t actually the “savior” she was cloned from. This sounds fun!

Books for Adults

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Hana Khan Carries On (Trade Paperback) – A podcaster who dreams of telling stories on the radio is in danger of being overwhelmed by family issues – a new halal restaurant to rival her mother’s, a mysterious aunt with family secrets – on top of growing feelings for the rival restaurant’s owner. This has been compared to You’ve Got Mail, so it is on my list for this week.
How to Catch a Duke (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Rogues to Riches series. When Abigail desperately needs to disappear, permanently, she asks her ruthless friend, and heir to the Duke of Walden, Lord Stephen Wentworth, to kill her. He makes a counter proposal of a fake engagement to keep her safe from her enemies. I love a good fake relationship story, so I’ll be checking this one out.
Malice (LGBTQ+ – Hardcover) – A Sleeping Beauty retelling where the princess falls in love with the “evil” sorceress.
Second First Impressions (Trade Paperback) – The Parloni Sisters are constantly looking for a hot, young, male assistant to help them with day-to-day tasks. How hard can it be to work for a couple of 90 year old women? But when the slacker son of the new owner shows up to Providence Retirement Villa, the unimpressed manager decides he’s just the sort of guy to be at the sisters’ beck and call. This could be fun!
The Sign of Death (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Victorian Book Club Mystery series. Lord William and Lady Amy are sleuthing again when a dishonest business man is killed and William is a suspect. I have book one, A Study in Murder, on my Kindle TBR.
How to Fight Racism Study Guide (Paperback) – A study guide for the book How to Fight Racism by the author of The Color of Compromise.

Happy April! Hope you had a wonderful Passover or Easter (if you celebrate). Here are some of the books kicking off the new month of reading:

Books for Kids

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The Little Butterfly That Could – A companion picture book to The Very Impatient Caterpillar (♥♥♥♥). A butterfly learns to persevere through migration challenges.
Labstah Gahden – Two rival lobsters team up to protect their ocean homes when pollution impacts their gardens.
Summer Adventure for Groot! – Rocket and Groot work to incorporate as much fun into their summer vacation as possible.
Max Meow Cat Crusader: Donuts and Danger – Book 2 in the Max Meow series. When Max and Mindy’s evil doubles show up, they cause lots of trouble, but the real Max and Mindy take the blame.
The Secret Explorers and the Smoking Volcano – Book 6 in the Secret Explorers series. Readers get to join Cheng, the volcano expert on the team, in this book where the kids go to watch an eruption and end up on a rescue mission.
She Persisted: Virginia Apgar – An early chapter book biography of the woman who developed the Apgar test for newborn babies.
The Story of Jackie Robinson  – An early chapter book biography of Jackie Robinson.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

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Almost There and Almost Not (Older Middle Grade) – California has been dropped off with yet another unsuspecting relative, her great-aunt, Monica, who tries to keep California busy by having her research a somewhat-famous relative. A relative that is now a temperamental ghost.
Aru Shah and the City of Gold – Book 4 in the mythology-based Pandava series. Aru and her sisters are searching for their lost mentors in the City of Gold before war breaks out.
Avengers Assembly: Sinister Substitute – Doreen (Squirrel Girl) and her friends team up when a new group of teachers at their super school – including some that seem like super villains – makes it easy for some troublemakers to create chaos.
Buster – Buster is called into Dog Court for breaking their most sacred rule – showing humans how smart they are, including talking to one. But Buster is a therapy dog, and he’s willing to break the rules to help his boy, Tonio.
Dear DC Super-Villains – A companion to Dear Justice League. Kids ask DC villains questions about their lives.
Fearless – First in a new series. Monica has moved to Broadway for her big break, but the theater where she is understudy is in danger of closing. When problems start plaguing their production, Monica and her new friends start looking for a way to break the theater’s curse. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Great Peach Experiment: When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie – Now that they are millionaires, the Peach family is planning to travel the country in a food truck, selling pies. Except none of them knows how to bake. This is at the top of my wish list for this week!
The Last Kids on Earth: Tales from the Tree House (Graphic Novel) – A short story collection from the  Last Kids on Earth series, in a graphic novel format. Includes 6 short stories from their monster/zombie adventures and a set up for book 7 releasing later this year.
The Messengers – Book 3 in the Greystone Secrets series. The Greystones’ friends in the alternate world send mysterious coins to signal that they need help.
Squad Goals – Magic heads to cheer camp hoping for some help in following in the footsteps of her family members who are legends in sports circles. But when it seems Magic didn’t inherit any of her family’s athletic talent, and a group of mean girls try to bring her down, she’ll need her new crew of misfits to make the most of Planet Pom Poms camp.
Switched – When Parker has to dog sit his sister’s chaotic goldendoodle, Boof, the dog does not exactly fit into the orderly life Parker is trying to arrange for himself. And then, when a game of tug-of-war goes awry, Boof and Parker switch bodies.
Thornwood – Book 1 in the Sisters Ever After series. Everyone knows the story of Sleeping Beauty. Briony has been watching her older sister, Rosalin, wait for the curse to kick in as they are powerless to stop it. But when Briony wakes up, it’s up to her to find out what is really going on and save her family and her kingdom. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Unicorn Famous (Graphic Novel/Comics Collection) – Book 13 in the fabulous Phoebe and her Unicorn series.
Whatever After: Good as Gold – Book 14 in the Whatever After series. Abby and Jonah find themselves in the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
History Smashers: Titanic – Book 4 in the History Smashers series from Kate Messner. Read the fascinating truths about the Titanic!
The Outdoor Scientist: The Wonder of Observing the Natural World – By Dr. Temple Grandin. Includes 40 projects for readers to try to learn about the world around us.
What Is the Story of Alice in Wonderland? – The history of Alice in Wonderland.

 

Books for Teens/Young Adults

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The Cost of Knowing – A teen who has visions of the future sees something about his brother that sends him into a tailspin. I reviewed this last week. It’s one I highly recommend. You can read my review here.
The Flipside of Perfect – AJ is a controlled, high achieving student at a prestigious high school. Della spends her summers in Florida, footloose, fancy free, and wild. In reality, though, AJ and Della are the same girl, and when AJ’s sister crashes her summer in Florida, the dual life she lives gets a lot more complicated. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Go the Distance – A Twisted Tale, the 11th in the series, based on the Disney movie Hercules. By Jen Calonita. Once Hercules recovers his godship, Meg is told she can’t be with him because she is just a mortal. But Hera gives her a chance to become a goddess and get her happily ever after.
Hello Cruel Heart – The story of a teen Cruella de Vil. (There has been some negative buzz around the idea – not necessarily this book – of an origin story to humanize a villain like Cruella, so YMMV on this one.)
House of Hollow – Three sisters who disappeared for a month as children returned with no memory of their time away. And then they started to change. Now, 10 years later, when the youngest is trying to finish high school, one of her older sisters goes missing, leaving bizarre clues behind. The full description of this is SO intriguing! I have this one on hold at the library already.
The Infinity Courts – Nami has finished high school and has her whole future ahead of her, but she is murdered before she can explore any of it. Then she discovers that an Earth AI has taken over the afterlife as a queen, forcing the dead into servitude. This is on my list, too.
Kisses and Croissants – A girl who longs to be a professional ballerina encounters a ruthless rival, a cruel instructor, and love during her summer of study in Paris.
The Murder Game – Luke was only looking for a hook up in the woods that night, not finding a dead body and investigating whether his roommate might be a murderer. Fans of prep school stories might try this one out.
Pride and Premeditation – First in a new Jane Austen Murder Mystery series. Aspiring lawyer Lizzy Bennet goes looking for a murderer in order to prove herself to the doubters like that awful Fitzwilliam Darcy. I’m not an Austen fan, but the murder mystery element grabbed my attention. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Sky Blues (LGBTQ+) – A gay teen decides to go all out for his senior year and plans the perfect promposal for his crush. But when an anonymous hacker exposes the plan, the whole school chips in to expose the perpetrator. I have this one on hold at the library, too.
The Spy Who Raised Me (Graphic Novel) – A teen with gaps in her memory discovers she has been secretly trained to be a spy. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good – A serious girl with a serious boyfriend with serious plans for his life ducks out for a night of nerdy fun at Dragon Con. I am here for any fan convention story, so I will be tracking this one down.
Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask – A young readers edition of a book about Native Americans, including pieces about social activism and racism.

Books for Adults – Fiction

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All that Really Matters (Trade Paperback) – A social media influencer who wants a new gig on a makeover show decides to pad her resumé with some service work with kids aging out of foster care. And the experience changes her perspective. This is on my list for this week, too.
Animal Instinct (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the K-Team series by David Rosenfelt. Corey and the K-Team investigate a murder that ties to a case Corey worked when he was with the police. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Big Little Spies (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Paws & Claws mystery series. Holly is sleuthing when a pet detective is found dead while on the case of a missing pup.
Blackberry Beach (Trade Paperback) – Book 7 in the Hope Harbor series. A grieving coffee shop owner and his secretive new neighbor team up to rehab a home for foster children, and they find love.
Checking Out Crime (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 9 in the delightful Bookmobile Cat Mystery series. Minnie thinks she and Eddie have come across the victim of a hit and run, but when they start investigating, the case just gets more and more complicated.
Deadly Editions (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. Delaney is drawn into a treasure hunt with a grand prize of a first edition of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. But she didn’t count on a string of robberies, a kidnapping, or a murder being connected to the game.
The Duke Undone (Trade Paperback) – A young artist stumbles across an unconscious, naked man in an alley, so she calls for help. But when she can’t get him out of her mind, she paints him in all his glory. Then, when the rent comes due, she sells the painting. When the Duke of Weston gets word about the scandalous painting that could ruin him, he plans to buy it, burn it, and confront the painter. But when he meets Lucy, he is so captivated by her that he agrees to a scheme that could save them both.
The Intimacy Experiment (Trade Paperback) – The founder of a sex-positive start up and one of LA’s hottest bachelors – who happens to also be a rabbi of a struggling synagogue – team up to host a series on modern intimacy. She’s looking for a path to lecturing at the university level. He has three months to bring in enough congregants to save his synagogue. Neither of them expected to find love. This is such a quirky premise, I might have to check this one out!
Laid Out in Lavender (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Garlic Farm Mystery series. An app developer turned farmer, Mabel is renting out the lavender field for weddings when one of the guests at a wedding is killed.
Life’s Too Short (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Friend Zone series after The Friend Zone (♥♥♥♥½) and The Happy Ever After Playlist (♥♥♥♥½). Since her mother and sister never made it to 30, Vanessa is determined to live each day to the fullest. And she has millions of YouTube followers along for the ride. But Vanessa’s life philosophy never accounted for her half sister leaving Vanessa in charge of her baby daughter. I have absolutely adored the other two books in this series. I will definitely be picking those up for a re-read before diving into this one as soon as I can.
One Thing Leads to a Lover (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Love and Let Spy series after Who’s That Earl? which I have on my TBR pile. A widow looking for a little adventure comes into the possession of a mysterious book that puts her, and the spy who was supposed to receive it, in jeopardy. This is on my list, too.
Phantoms & Felonies (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Haunted Mansion Mystery series after Haunted Homicide (♥♥♥♥). Avery hopes to gain some new members for the Women’s Club by playing host to a local theater troupe, but when the lead is found dead, she and the Club’s ghost, Clemmie, are on the hunt for a murderer.
Star Wars: Skywalker, A Family at War (Hardcover) – A biography of the Skywalker family.
To Love and to Loathe (Trade Paperback) – Jeremy and Diana are so constantly at odds, no one is surprised when things escalate to a wager. Jeremy will wed within the year or Diana will owe him 100 pounds. But in private, Jeremy asks for a different sort of arrangement. His last mistress critiqued his skills in the bedroom. If Diana will help him out, he will improve and she can use the gossip to signal she is in the market for a lover. But they don’t count on this arrangement leading to real feelings between them.

 

Books for Adults – Nonfiction

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Book of Hebrews Study (The Passion Translation – Paperback) – A study of the book of Hebrews.
Soundtracks (Hardcover) – The latest book from the fabulous Jon Acuff. Soundtracks are the messages we repeat to ourselves which can either lead to trouble or can be leveraged to help us achieve our goals. I am eager to read this one!
Woman Evolve: Breakup with Your Fears and Revolutionize Your Life (Hardcover) – Become the woman God intended through this look at Eve from the book of Genesis.

It’s the final week of April. Here are some of the new books out this week!

Books for Kids

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Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family – A pair of pet siblings and an “only child” dog become part of a blended family. This looks darling!
Willow the Armadillo – Willow longs to be the hero of a picture book, so she auditions, but can’t find the right fit. This looks great, too!
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I Am Cleopatra – A new early reader based on the Xavier Riddle show.
Ways to Make Sunshine – First in a new “young middle grade”/chapter book series about a girl who knows how to make “sunshine out of setbacks.”

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

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Finn and the Intergalactic Lunchbox (Older Middle Grade) – First in a new series from the author of the Sisters Grimm series and the N.E.R.D.S. series (two series I have loved over the years!).  Finn’s magical lunchbox does amazing things like opens wormholes. The downside is this grabs the attention of a race of bugs intent on destroying Finn because he has a weapon that belongs to them – and they want it back. The ensemble in this book is what grabs my attention. I can’t wait to check this one out!
Great Escapes: Nazi Prison Camp Escape AND Journey to Freedom – The first two books in a new series about history and survival.
How to Disappear Completely – A girl struggling after the loss of her grandmother writes one last thing in their shared notebook – and someone writes her back!
The Popularity Code – A new Aladdin MIX book. When a girl discovers an online SlamBook, she starts leaving nasty comments for the people she thinks have been mean to her online.
Rebel in the Library of Ever – A sequel to The Library of Ever. Lenora joins the resistance to fight against the darkness that has taken over the Library of Ever.
Wild and Chance – A special dog with mysterious skills and tech teams up with a couple kids to solve the mystery of where she came from. This sounds so fun!
Secret Message Origami – A fun activity book might be just what your kids need during these days at home!
Clique Bait – A teen who watched her best friend’s life get destroyed by the in crowd infiltrates the group to take them down one at a time.

 

Books for Adults

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And the Killer Is (Hardcover) – Book 25 in the Savannah Reid mystery series. When a 90-year-old movie star is strangled in her own home, the Moonlight Magnolia gang is on the case.
Being Known (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Haven Makers series. What does it mean to be truly known? A woman grieving the loss of her mother has to decide if she will open up to her friends and let them help her or if she will continue to live a guarded life.
Botched Butterscotch (e-book) – An Amish Candy Shop novella. Bailey’s parents are in town for a rare visit when she starts investigating the theft of funds raised for a local women’s recovery group. I’m looking forward to reading this one!
The Diva Spices It Up (Hardcover) – Book 13 in the Domestic Diva Mystery series. Sophie agrees to ghost-write a cookbook for an aspiring lifestyle influencer, but she didn’t know when she took the job that the person who originally agreed to be the ghost-writer has gone missing. This sounds fascinating!
A Fatal Finale (Hardcover) – First in the new Ella Shane Mysteries series. In 1899, a gifted opera singer starts investigating a suspicious death when a fellow performer drinks poison during a performance and an English duke comes to town insisting someone is getting away with murder.
Head Over Paws (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Rescue Me romance series (Book 3: My Forever Home – ♥♥♥♥). Two shelter volunteers find a love connection when they travel to rescue animals displaced by flooding.
Heiress for Hire (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new series. When a woman catches an intruder in her house, she discovers he’s investigating her because she has inherited a fortune from his uncle, a duke.
Home to Stay (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the A Little Child Shall Lead Them series. A widower meets a feisty newcomer to their community. She and her daughter capture his attention, but he’s not sure he is ready to love again.
How to Catch an Errant Earl (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Disreputable Debutantes series after How to Catch a Wicked Viscount (Rating: ♥♥♥♥). A debutante with a questionable past finds herself in a compromising situation with an exiled duke. He does the right thing and offers to marry her, but he doesn’t want her to get too close and discover the things he has been running from.
ImPerfectly Happy (Trade Paperback) – Four college friends formed a group to celebrate and encourage them in their ambitions. But 10 years later, nothing has gone like they imagined.
Island Affair (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Keys to Love series. When a woman’s unreliable boyfriend is a no-show for her extended family vacation (with her driven siblings and their perfect spouses), she recruits someone to pretend to be her boyfriend for the trip. I love books like this!
Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Haunted Craft Fair Mystery series. Celeste and her chihuahua Van Gogh find a body at a craft fair in North Carolina.
Murder In Galway (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new A Home To Ireland Mystery series. A New Yorker heads to Ireland with her mother’s ashes and instructions to find her uncle. Instead, she finds a dead body and her uncle has gone missing.
Murder in the Storybook Cottage (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Book Retreat Mystery series. There’s a rash of murders with rare and valuable books left with the bodies when a children’s publisher hosts an event at Jane’s resort.
Murder on Pleasant Avenue (Hardcover) – Book 23 in the Gaslight Mystery series. Sarah and Frank are investigating a murder when their dear friend is set up to take the fall for a crime he didn’t commit.
Promise at Pebble Creek (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Hope Chest of Dreams series. A writer who lives for adventure meets a young man fleeing his life in the city. But when he’s suspected of some local crimes, can they stand together to find the truth?
Proof of Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series. A bookshop owner finds an insurance appraiser dead in a locked room while a rare and valuable magazine has gone missing. This sounds great!
Pulp Friction (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Cider Shop Mystery series after Apple Cider Slaying. Winnie is thrilled to be hosting a wedding at the Orchard until her ex starts trouble with the groom. If that wasn’t bad enough, the groom turns up dead and Winnie’s ex is on the run.
Pumpkin Spice Peril (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 12 in the Cupcake Bakery series by one of my favorite authors, Jenn McKinlay. The cupcake crew are enjoying life until one of their favorite customers is poisoned – and the last thing she ate was their pumpkin spice cupcakes.
Starbreaker (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Nightchaser series. Tess and Shade are still trying to evade the Dark Watch, but now they also have a near-impossible prison break to plan. Do they trust each other enough to take on this job?
Suck It Up Buttercup (e-book) – Book 2 in the First Fangs Club series. A middle-aged woman whose husband’s death was supposed to free her from his mob connections and complications is now the vampire governor of New Jersey. But her old life isn’t done with her yet. I have the first book because I couldn’t resist the quirky description of this series. I can’t wait to carve out time to read it.
Sugar and Vice (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Cookie House Mystery series. As if Kate didn’t have enough on her plate with a pirate festival and a new promotion for her shop, now her ex is back, trying to win her back, and a skeleton is causing problems for her best friend’s business. This looks like such a great series!
The Sweeney Sisters (Hardcover) – The three Sweeney sisters are drawn together when their father unexpectedly passes away. But in the midst of dealing with estate details they discover there is a fourth Sweeney sister.  I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Tents, Trails, and Turmoil (e-book) – Book 11 in the Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series. This is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing. This time a dead body is found in Daniel Boone National Park. It seems as though the killer wants to shut down tourism at the park for good.
Delighted: What Teenagers Are Teaching the Church About Joy (Trade Paperback) – A group of youth workers assert that youth ministry could be radically changed if the focus shifted to one grounded in joy rather than fear.
Live Love Now: Relieve the Pressure and Find Real Connection with Our Kids (Hardcover) – Based on the thought that today’s kids need Truth Tellers in their lives rather than Taskmasters, “encouragers, not enforcers.”
Love Without Borders: How Bold Faith Opens the Door to Embracing the Unexpected (Hardcover) – A tale of motherhood, a journey with God, and a large family, grown through a combination of adoption and biological means. From the YouTuber behind This Gathered Nest.

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Baloney and Friends – Launches a new graphic novel series for kids starring a pig named Baloney and his friends (including a rabbit named Krabbit – which makes me laugh every time I think about it!). This is on my must-see-in-person list.
Ronan the Librarian – Ronan the barbarian discovers a new sort of treasure when he discovers a book. Sounds awesome!
Mia Mayhem Gets X-Ray Specs – Book 7 in the Mia Mayhem series where Mia gets new glasses with x-ray vision.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Artie Conan Doyle and the Scarlet Phantom – Book 3 in the Artie Conan Doyle series starring a pre-teen Arthur Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes fame. Artie and his friend are investigating a jewel thief.
At Last, Jedi – Book 9 in the Jedi Academy series. Christina Starspeeder experiences life and training at the advanced Jedi Academy campus.
Bird and Squirrel All or Nothing (Graphic Novel) – Book 6 in this hilarious series. Bird joins a cross-country race to save the family honor when his dad is injured and can’t race.
Foreverland – The story of two runaways hiding out at their favorite amusement park. I have this one on my list.
Kazu Jones and the Comic Book Criminal – Book 2 in the Kazu Jones series. Kazu and her friends are investigating vandalism at local comic book shops.
Pathfinders Society Mystery of the Moon Tower (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series. A group of kids are drawn into a mystery when their summer camp introduces them to an explorer/inventor who used to live in their town.
Rick (LGBTQ+) – A middle school student explores his own identity through the Rainbow Spectrum club at school, even though his conclusions might put him at odds with his friends and his family.
Rival Magic – A wizard’s apprentice discovers a rival when the maid displays magical powers. But when their master is accused of treason, the girls have to team up to discover the truth.
The Wrong Way Summer – When a girl’s dad sells their house and moves them into a converted van, she wonders if it is time to confront the reality of their situation instead of enjoying her dad’s fanciful tales.
Lifting as We Climb (Older Middle Grade) – Middle grade nonfiction for older readers about the role of Black women in the fight for women’s voting rights.
The Declaration, The Sword, and the Spy – Book 6 in the Epic Order of the Seven focuses on the Revolutionary War.
Eat, and Love Yourself (Graphic Novel) – A woman with an eating disorder discovers a chocolate bar that shows her key moments in her life so she can examine them and learn to love herself as she is. I’m looking forward to reading this one.
Kent State – The story of May 4, 1970 at Kent State University when soldiers killed 4 American students protesting the Vietnam War.
Late to the Party (LGBTQ+) – A girl who thinks parties and such are for cool kids – straight kids – crashes one and finds a new friend who agrees to show her around so she can experience all the things she thought were out of reach for her.
An Outcast and an Ally – Book 2 in the A Soldier and A Liar series. Four superpowered teens are accused of treason and are on the run as they try to stop the war between the gifted and the ungifted. I have this duology on my list.
Unscripted – A girl with dreams of improv stardom has to deal with sexism at her camp where she is the only girl on the varsity team.
Verona Comics (LGBTQ+) – Two teens who meet at a comic convention prom wrestle with personal issues and their feuding families (rival comics shop owners) as they grow closer together.

Books for Adults

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Don’t Go Stealing My Heart (Trade Paperback) – A conwoman trying to steal a Van Gogh from a “trust fund brat” discovers he’s not the villain she thought he was, and she starts to fall for him.
Girl Gone Viral (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Modern Love series after The Right Swipe. When someone live-Tweets an innocent interaction at a coffee shop, reclusive investor Katrina King can’t escape the internet buzz. When her bodyguard – and unrequited crush – invites her to his family farm to hide out until the buzz dies down, she tries to push thoughts of romance out of her mind. I’m so excited about reading this!
In Other Words Love (Trade Paperback) – A second-chance romance from Hallmark Publishing. A woman is hired to ghostwrite the autobiography of the man who once broke her heart.
Killer Karma (e-book – April 24) – Book 2 in the Julie Cavallo Investigates mystery series. When Julie’s sous chef is accused of murder, she’s investigating once again. I have the first book on my reading list.
Master Class (Hardcover) – In a world where children are routinely tested and only the best and brightest are educated while the rest are sent to federal boarding schools, a teacher sees the system with new eyes when her own daughter bombs a test and is sent away.  From the author of Vox.
Race the Sands (Trade Paperback) – A new stand alone fantasy from the author of Fire & Heist. A down-on-her-luck trainer teams up with an inexperienced rider and an untested kehok (reincarnated monster) to prepare for a deadly race that could make or break all of them.
Seas the Day (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Seafood Capers Mystery series. A caterer with a reputation for being able to find things is on the case of finding a missing man when there’s a murder.
A Simple Wedding (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Heart’s Landing series from Hallmark Publishing. A young woman shows up in Heart’s Landing to plan a wedding for her cousin who is a famous movie star, but to keep the secret she says she is planning her own wedding. The local baker struggles not to fall for the appealing woman who is already spoken for. I will definitely be checking this one out!
Six Cloves Under (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Garlic Farm Mystery series. An app developer inherits a garlic farm – and a mystery to solve.
Walk the Wire (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the Memory Man series. Amos Decker is called into London, North Dakota to investigate a strange murder.
The Wedding War (Trade Paperback) – A friendship destroyed by a secret twenty years ago gets a second chance when the son of one and the daughter of the other fall in love and get engaged. Now the former friends have to work together to plan a wedding while also dealing with issues in their personal lives.
Bridging Theory and Practice in Children’s Spirituality (Trade Paperback) – Explores theories of faith development for children from a Christian perspective while also discussing practical application.
Choose Joy Women’s Devotional: Finding Joy No Matter What You’re Going Through (Hardcover devotional)
Consider the Lilies: Get Rooted in Your Destiny By Discovering God’s Plan (Hardcover – April 22)
Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire (Hardcover) – The latest from Jen Hatmaker. Let go of the people pleasing and live fierce, free and full of fire! I am so excited to read this one!
I’m Your Huckleberry (Hardcover) – A memoir from Val Kilmer.
The Truth About Us: The Very Good News About How Very Bad We Are (Trade Paperback) – What would happen if we admitted we aren’t as perfect or as righteous as we would like others to believe? Would it allow us to live more free?

Here are some of the books out this week!

Books for Kids

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It’s a Moose – When the new baby a family is expecting turns out to be a moose, they run into some difficulties. This looks ADORABLE!
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I Am Harry Houdini AND I Am Susan B. Anthony – Two new 8×8 picture books (with stickers!) from the Xavier Riddle series on PBS.
I Am Leonardo da Vinci – The latest picture book biography in the FANTASTIC Ordinary People Change the World series.
Rescuing the Declaration of Independence: How We Almost Lost the Words that Built America – The true story of the man who saved the Declaration from destruction during the War of 1812.
Peter & Ernest: Sloths in the Night – Book 3 in the Peter & Ernesto graphic novel series for kids. Even though there are dangers in the dark, Peter and Ernesto form a search party to look for one of their friends who has gone missing.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Anti Hero (Graphic Novel) – A girl who longs to be a superhero switches bodies with another who is super-genius smart and forced to help her villainous grandfather. The two have to live in each other’s lives while they try to find a way to switch back. This is at the top of my list for this week!
Camp Average: Double Foul – Sequel to Camp Average (a book I have had on my wish list for a year now). The kids are back at Camp Average for a new summer of fun while their super-competitive camp director pits the boys against the girls in his neverending schemes to win at anything and everything. I can’t wait to read both of these books.
Finally Something Mysterious – The members of an only-child detective club have a new case when hundreds of rubber ducks end up on a neighbor’s lawn. This is on my list for this week, too.
Marvel Action: Black Panther Rise Together – Collects issues 4-6 is the Marvel Action Black Panther series. There are adventures here for T’Challa, Shuri, and for both together. I can’t wait to read this one, too.
The Prettiest – When a list goes up online, ranking the “prettiest” girls in the 8th grade, three girls band together to stand up for themselves and the other girls in their grade.
When Stars are Scattered (Graphic Novel) – The story of a boy and his non-verbal younger brother growing up in a refugee camp as told to the author by a man who lived it.
Girls Save the World in This One – A “YA horror comedy” set at a zombie convention where three girls are there to enjoy all the fun around their favorite shows until they discover the zombie apocalypse has actually arrived at the con. I’m not much of a horror reader, nor do I usually enjoy zombie stories, but this sounds like a HOOT!
Redemption Prep – YA mystery where the “it” girl at an exclusive and mysterious prep school goes missing in the middle of mass. This is on my wishlist for this week.

Books for Adults

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Big Finish (Hardcover) – An elderly man in assisted living teams up with his roommate’s granddaughter who’s hiding from her abusive boyfriend even though he knows any “trouble” could get him kicked out and sent to the horrible local nursing home. I can not WAIT to read this!!
A Case for the Yarn Maker (e-book – April 16) – Book 2 in the Ainsley McGregor series. When the “Yarn Goddess” comes to town, and an argument breaks out with one of the locals, Ainsley never expected it to end in murder. I have the first book in this series. I’m looking forward to digging into it soon.
Cutie and the Beast (e-book) – A local trainer trying to make ends meet after his wife left rents out his master suite to a new co-worker who is also down on her luck. They have daughters the same age and can really help each other out. But living like a blended family when you actually aren’t one can make for some confusion for everyone. I am intrigued by this one.
The Happy Ever After Playlist (Trade Paperback) – From the author of The Friend Zone (Rating: ♥♥♥♥½). A woman who is struggling in life gets a new infusion of confidence when she takes in a lost dog. But when the owner of the dog – a musician on tour – wants his dog back, she is not giving the animal up without a fight. This sounds great! I have this one on hold at the library.
The Joy of Falling (Trade Paperback) – Over a year after losing their husbands in a scuba accident, two widows embark on a marathon together hoping to get back some of what they have lost. This sounds charming.
Not That Kind of Guy (Trade Paperback) – A state attorney who’s been unlucky in love needs a date for a family wedding. Her intern is only too happy to be that date, because as soon as she is not his boss any more, he plans to make his move. Sounds great!
Star Trek Discovery: Aftermath (Paperback Graphic Novel) – Two stories from the Star Trek Discovery universe, one involving Saru and Tilly and then the primary story which involves Spock and Captain Pike after the Discovery disappears.
Star Trek: The Unsettling Stars (Trade Paperback) – From the Kelvin timeline (the J.J. Abrams movies). Kirk and his inexperienced crew encounter a new race fleeing an unknown enemy. I’m eager to check out this new story.
Ready to Rise: Own Your Voice, Gather Your Community, Step into Your Influence – The latest book from one of my favorite Christian speakers, Jo Saxton, addresses the things that tend to derail women from leading in the ways God has called them. I heard Jo speak during If: Gathering this year, and I was inspired by what she had to say. It sounded a lot like what this book is going to address. Don’t miss this one.

Happy April! Wherever you are checking in from, I hope you are doing well and enjoying some great books. Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

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A Is for Another Rabbit – A rabbit-obsessed narrator annoys an owl by not following the rules of a traditional alphabet book.
A Book for Escargot – A sequel to Escargot. This time Escargot is headed to the library in search of a book about a snail hero.
Cat Ladies – Princess is a cat who knows how to take care of her ladies and keep them out of trouble. But when a stranger arrives, it upsets Princess’ carefully maintained system. I can not WAIT to read this in person!
Do Not EVER Be a Babysitter!  – Uncle Pig endures an Amelia Bedelia sort of adventure when he babysits his nieces and nephews. 
The Elephants’ Guide to Hide-and-Seek – When an elephant struggles in hide-and-seek, he uses a handy resource from the Elephant Hobby and Sport League to help. This looks ADORABLE!
Explosion at the Poem Factory – A former piano teacher takes a job at a poem factory, but one day the machines go berserk.
Follow that Car – Mouse follows Gorilla through a series of interesting settings on a chase.
Star Wars: I Am a Padawan – The latest Little Golden Book is written by Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels, all about her character, Ahsoka as she trains to become a Jedi.
Marie Curie and the Powers of Persistence – First book in the new My Super Science Heroes series. In the book Marie Curie faces an evil nemesis that wants to thwart her growth into a super scientist in the future. It’s a clever idea. I’d like to check this one out in person.
Scoob!: A Dog’s Best Friend – An early reader based on the new Scoob movie.
Bumble and Bee: Let’s Play Make BEE-lieve – Book 2 in the Bumble and Bee series from Scholastic ACORN. Bumble and Bee are ready for a day of adventure on the pond, but their friend Froggy isn’t interested.
Junior Monster Scouts: It’s Raining Bats and Frogs! – Book 3 in the Junior Monster Scouts series. The Baron’s evil plan goes wrong and the rain just won’t stop.

Books for Older Kids and Teens

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Ansley’s Big Bake Off – Book 1 in the new Daniels’ Sisters series from Faithgirlz written by the younger sisters of Alena Pitts (and daughters of the late Wynter Pitts). It looks like this is a spin-off of Alena’s series Lena in the Spotlight. The Daniels’ sisters are trying to find a new normal after the loss of their mother and move to a new city. Ansley dreams of gymnastics success, but she also discovers how much baking means to her. How does she decide which passion to pursue?
Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes – Book 3 in the Pandava series based on Hindu mythology from Rick Riordan’s imprint.
Camping with Unicorns (comics collection) – Book 11 in the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series. This book highlights Phoebe and Marigold’s summer adventures.
Catwad: Me Three (Graphic Novel) – Book 3 in the Catwad series.
Compass of the Stars – Book 2 in the Thea Stilton and the Treasure Seekers series. The Thea Sisters are on the hunt for seven secret treasures.
The Deceivers – Book 2 in the Greystone Secrets series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The Greystone kids and their friend Natalie are trying to rescue their parents and friends from the evil world they discovered in book 1. I have these on my reading list.
Disney Frozen (Graphic Novel retelling) – A graphic novel retelling of the first Frozen movie.
Eye of Zeus – Book one in a new Legends of Olympus series (not connected to Rick Riordan that I can tell). When a statue of Athena comes to life, it tells Phoebe, a girl who has been bounced around in foster care, that she is the daughter of Zeus. I’m looking forward to reading this one!
The Last Kids on Earth: June’s Wild Flight – June gets a solo story in this spin off of the Last Kids on Earth series. This book is set between books 5 and the upcoming 6th book.
Lila and Hadley – Hadley’s life is upside down. Her mom is in jail. Hadley has to move to another state to live with her older sister. And they haven’t spoken in years. In the middle of it all, Hadley meets Lila, an abandoned dog with no interest in anyone or anything – except Hadley. I’m eager to read this one!
The List of Things that Will Not Change – There are plenty of things changing in Bea’s life – like her dad getting married to his boyfriend and her getting a new sister. But she keeps a list of things that will not change – like her parents’ love for her – to help her through the ups and downs.
Nat Enough (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series. Nat has never felt like she is “enough.” And when middle school starts, and she’s not even cool enough for her best friend, she’s not sure where she fits. I can’t wait to read this one!
Poison at the Pump – Book 25 in the Imagination Station series. This time the kids travel back to the cholera epidemic of 1854.
Rewritten (Older Middle Grade) – Book 2 in the Unwritten series. The characters from Gracie’s original fairy tale have had to start over, and some of them aren’t very happy with her about that. But when Gracie finds out she’s still in danger, she ends up in a horror story as she tries to set things right. I am so intrigued by this one!
Scoob Junior Novelization – A junior novel based on the movie.
Thieves of Weirdwood – First in a new illustrated fantasy series about two thieves who stumble across the headquarters of a magical organization.
Timmy Failure: Zero to Hero – A prequel to the series which is also now a movie on Disney+. This is Timmy’s origin story.
Untwisted – The sequel to Twinchantment. While the kingdom adjusts to the return of magic, not everyone is happy about the new unified approach, especially at the school where the princesses attend. I’m looking forward to the next step in this series!
Whatever After: Abby in Oz – A special edition from the Whatever After series where Abby and her friends head to Oz.
Wizard for Hire: Magic Required (Older Middle Grade) – The third and final book in the Wizard for Hire series. Ozzy’s been injected with a mind-control serum, and Rin the “wizard” has gone missing.
What Were the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World?
Who Is Temple Grandin?

 

Books for Teens/Young Adults

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Alex Rider: Nightshade – Book 12 in the Alex Rider series. Now that Scorpia has been destroyed, Alex is hoping to get back to a normal life. But a new criminal organization, Nightshade, is on the rise. Sounds awesome!
Black Widow: Secrets of a Super Spy – Discover the whole story of Black Widow Natasha Romanoff.
The Burning – A teen running from rumors and harassment in a new town with a new name gets drawn into the story of seventeenth century woman accused of witchcraft.
Empire of Dreams – An orphan joins the Royal Guard when her adoption by the empress is thwarted by her enemy. If she can survive the first year – something no woman has ever done – she may have the experience she needs to save the empire. This sounds fascinating!
Goodbye from Nowhere – A teen discovers his mother has been having an affair and his father has known and kept the secret. As Kyle withdraws from his usual activities and friends, his parents urge him to keep the secret until after a large family gathering over the summer. But Kyle sees what the secret is doing to people, and he’s not sure he should keep it after all.
Gotham High (Graphic Novel) – A re-imagined Bruce Wayne gets kicked out of his exclusive prep school for defending another student from bullies and finds himself at the local high school. There he starts hanging out with Selina Kyle and Jack Napier. But the school is rocked by the kidnapping of fellow student Harvey Dent.
Jack Kerouac Is Dead to Me – When her older boyfriend prepares to graduate and hit the open road, 15 year old JL has to decide if she wants to join him, knowing if she does, it will permanently fracture the relationship with her best friend.
Meet Me at Midnight – After a six-year prank war, Asher suggests he and Sidney join forces to prank the woman who kicked their families out of their lake houses because of the pranks.
The Perfect Escape – A teen in need of money is tempted to commit grade fraud when a co-worker approaches him with a more legal plan. The two of them could join up and compete in a survivalist weekend and split the huge cash prize if they win.
Rules for Being a Girl – From the author of Sex and the City. When no one believes her reports of a teacher coming on to her, Marin is not about to back down. She will use every means available to her to take back her power and make things right.
So This Is Love – The latest Twisted Tale is based on the story of Cinderella. What would have happened if Cinderella never tried on the glass slipper?
Sword in the Stars – The sequel to Once & Future (Rating: ♥♥♥♥). Ari and her crew must travel back in time to get the Holy Grail. (LGBTQ+) I’m curious to see what happens next for this quirky cast of characters in this quirky retelling of the King Arthur legends.
We Didn’t Ask for This – In the middle of the annual lock-in, a group of eco-protesters chain themselves to the doors, refusing to let anyone out until their demands are heard.
What I Like About You – Can you have a love triangle with only two people? You can when the person you are online has already engaged in a relationship with the guy you are meeting in real life – and you are NOTHING like your secret online persona. I can’t wait to read this one!
Speak Love: Your Words Can Change the World – A devotional for teens from Annie F. Downs.

 

Books for Adults

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The Body in the Garden (Hardcover) – A young woman who overhears a blackmail attempt that turns into murder starts to investigate when the police are bribed to drop the case.
Chosen Ones (Hardcover) – Years ago, five ordinary teens were prophesied to take out a force of evil. And they did. This is the story of what happened after, when one of the five dies and the others discover the Dark One’s plans were bigger than they ever imagined. This sounds amazing!
Dead on the Vine (Hardcover) – First in a new Finn Family Farm Mystery series. A woman who inherits a produce farm has every intention of selling it. But when she finds a dead body there, the sale is on hold, and she has to work the farm while the police investigate the crime.
Deep Fried Revenge (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. Angie and her crew are competing in the Best Restaurant competition at the Idaho State Fair when one of the competitors is killed.
Dogcather in the Rye (e-book) –  First in the new Bought-the-Farm Mystery series. A woman launching a farm-themed inn runs into trouble when her dog finds a dead body on her property. This looks like a cute series! This book is available for Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.
The Stolen Letter (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. Delaney’s beloved bookstore, the Cracked Spine, is in danger of being closed down and she meets a woman who thinks she might be the reincarnated Mary Queen of Scots.
To Have and to Hoax (Trade Paperback) – One year into their marriage, Lady Violet and Lord James Audley had a fight to end all fights. They have barely spoken to each other in the four years since. But when Lady Violet gets word that James has been hurt in an accident, she rushes to his side only to find him completely fine, and utterly confused as to why she has come all this way. This launches the couple into a game of one-upsmanship as each tries to get the other’s attention. I already have this on hold from the library.
Up Next Murder (e-book – April 9) – The sequel to the delightful Microphones and Murder. In the course of solving their first case, a body was found. Now, for their second podcast season, the step-sisters dig into the case of the young woman found during that investigation. I bought this the MINUTE I saw it announced!
You Deserve Each Other (Trade Paperback) – When a pair of fiancés start to grow tired of their match, they know whoever actually calls off the wedding has to foot the bill for the canceled event. So they launch a series of pranks to get the other one to be the one to cancel. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
All the Glorious Names (Hardcover) – A 40-day devotional about the names of God.
Get Out of Your Head Study in Philippians (Paperback) – The study guide for the Philippians Bible study based on the Jennie Allen book Get Out of Your Head.
Shut Hell Up: When the Enemy Brings Up Your Past, Remind Him of Your Future (Trade Paperback) – Overcome the negative thinking that keeps you feeling inadequate and out of whatever God has called you to do.
When Did We Start Forgetting God?: The Root of the Evangelical Crisis and Hope for the Future (Trade Paperback) – From the former editor-in-chief of Christianity Today.
Your Story Matters: Finding, Writing and Living the Truth of Your Life (Trade Paperback) – A book about writing as a spiritual practice. I have this one on my list for this week.

It’s the last week for an April release day Tuesday. Let’s see what some of the books are that are out this week!

Books for Kids

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How to Care for Your T-Rex – How to babysit a dinosaur. This sounds hilarious!
Most Marshmallows – Most marshmallows do all the things marshmallows do. Some marshmallows were born to stand out!
You’re Missing It! – While a kid enjoys the neighborhood park, he admonishes his dad that he’s missing everything because he is on his phone. Timely!
Handimals: Animals in Art and Nature – This may be the coolest book I have seen in awhile! Filled with animal facts, it’s the pictures of animals painted on human hands that left me with my mouth hanging open. Stunning!
Little People Big Dreams Mahatma Gandhi – Picture book biography
Do You Like My Bike? – It’s no secret around here that I adore the Branches line of transitional chapter books from Scholastic. Now they have a new series for slightly younger readers called ACORN which is also fabulous. I haven’t read this story yet, about a hedgehog and his friend, but I have read a few of the others and loved them.
A Friend For Dragon – Scholastic is reissuing this story from Dav Pilkey (Dogman, Captain Underpants) as part of their Acorn line.
Hello Crabby! – This was my FAVORITE of the new Acorn books I read this spring. It’s SO funny!
Sparkly New Friends – This darling story of a Yeti and a Unicorn is the last of the Acorn books out this week. It’s so cute!
Brute-Cake – Scholastic Branches kicks off a spin off of the Notebook of Doom series, the Binder of Doom. As before, this includes weird monsters and the kids who have sworn to protect their town.
Eye of the Earthquake Dragon – Book 13 in the Dragon Masters series from Branches. None of the other series in this line have gone on this long! (Owl Diaries is closest with 10 books so far, and two more due out this year.) There are two more books out later this year, too. This is a fun dragon series for kids ready to dive into chapter books!
Bentley – Speaking of long-running series, this is book 53 in the Puppy Place series!
Dragons of Krad – Book 4 in the Dragonling series. This is another reissue, but with new cover art. I haven’t checked the latest books, but my thoughts on the first one were that the story was terrific but the interior art could use an update as well as the covers.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Aru Shah and the Song of Death – Book 2 in the Pandava series, part of Rick Riordan’s publishing imprint for mythology stories. I have’t read book one yet, but this series has been a huge hit with readers!
Bigger, Badder, Nerdier – Geeked Out, book 2. A team of geeks have decided to fight back against the cliques and bullies at school in a familiar sounding plot with a dystopian twist. I have GOT to read book one. This sounds like a fantastic and fun series!
A Dog’s Porpoise – A porpoise thrown off course and lost from his pod teams up with a puppy who was rescued after being knocked off a boat and a local girl in this story full of heart. I can’t wait to read this one.
A Kind of Paradise – After a BIG mistake at the end of the school year, a girl has to spend her summer volunteering at the library as punishment. I already have this on hold at the library.
The Library of Ever – An act of protective kindness opens a new world to a girl who ducked into the library to escape the boredom perpetrated on her by a negligent nanny. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.
Spill the Beans – Book 13 in the Whatever After series tackles the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. This is a fun fractured fairy tale series.
Spy School British Invasion – Book 7 in the Spy School series. The Spy School kids are going rogue and joining up with MI6 to try to take down SPYDER.
Share Your Smile: Raina’s Guide to Telling Your Own Story – How to make your own graphic novel from the author of Smile. Includes a sneak peek at her new book, Guts, out this fall.
Where Is Broadway?

 

Books for Adults

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Avengers: Infinity Prose Novel (Hardcover) – This is NOT related to the Avengers Infinity War movie but instead based on a graphic novel line. While the Avengers are away, trying to protect the galaxy, Thanos decides to attack Earth. The Inhumans, Doctor Strange, Black Panther and the X-Men must protect the planet. I adored the prose novel of Planet Hulk, so I’d like to try this story out, too.
Bitter Brew (Hardcover) – Book 24 in the delightful Savannah Reid Mystery series.  This time, Savannah’s medical examiner friend is the one asking for a favor when a choice she made to help a dying friend could be helping someone hide a murder. This sounds fantastic!
Getting Hot with the Scot (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 1 in the new  Sometimes in Love series. Scottish Highlander meets a pop-culture reporter. The second book in the series (Smitten by the Brit, May 28) is the one that is primarily on my radar from this series.
Knit One, Die Two (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Knit and Nibbles series, which I have on my TBR list – look at those adorable cats on the cover!! A newcomer to the community – and to the knitting club – is killed when she threatens to dish dirt on others in the community theater. I need to carve out some cozy mystery time this summer to get started on this series.
Murder in the Reading Room (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Book Retreat Mystery series. Retreat manager Jane leaves Storyton on the hunt for her missing boyfriend. One dead body later, she finds him, but she also finds a ton of trouble which could lead to another victim. This sounds so good. I need to get caught up on this series, too!
A Prince on Paper (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Reluctant Royals series. I adored book one – A Princess in Theory – and I have book two on my TBR shelves (A Duke by Default). In this new book, my favorite trope – fake relationship – is at work when a woman returns home and stumbles into a fake engagement with the bad boy step-prince. There are also two novellas that are part of this series.
Prologue to Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series. Trying to launch a new life in a new town proves difficult when Addie is accused of murder. I’m looking forward to digging into this series, too.
Sweet on You (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Bradford Sisters series after Falling for You. Old friends team up to look into a mysterious death while also trying to deny the feelings between them.
Wed, Read & Dead (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Bookshop Mystery series. Bookstore owner and mystery writer Sam has a new mystery on her hands when the wedding planner working on her mom’s wedding is killed. I have this series on my shelves too.
Jesus, King of Strangers: What the Bible Really Says about Immigration (Trade Paperback, May 1) – Looks at how Christians, people who have been described as “aliens and strangers” should respond to the questions of immigration.
So the Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians in a Challenging World (Trade Paperback, May 1) – Research-based training for those who work with young people and are dismayed to see so many leaving the church.

If you celebrate Easter or Passover, I hope you had a good celebration with family and friends! Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

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How I Learned to Fall Out of Trees – When a friend is getting ready to move away, she promises to teach her buddy how to climb a tree before she goes. This looks darling. I can’t wait to read the whole story!
I Will Be Fierce – A book about courage and kindness.
Flubby Is Not a Good Pet AND Flubby Will Not Play with That – A new series about a disinterested cat and his owner. Those covers are adorable.
Motor Mouse – First in a new series. Includes three stories starring Motor Mouse.
The Great Bake Off – Book 14 in the darling early chapter book series starring Sophie Mouse. In this book, Sophie and her mom have a lot of fun baking, but they make too much and have to find a way to share what they have before it spoils.
Love the Fur You’re In – Life advice from the characters of Sesame Street. A celebration of 50 years of the show.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers – First in a new series. Kazu is on the hunt for a ring of dognappers when their crimes hit close to home.
Marvel Spider-Man Spideyography – Peter Parker’s secret notebook.
Toy Story Toyography – The story of Andy’s toys through the years.
Unicorn Bowling – Book 9 in the fun and fabulous Phoebe and her Unicorn series.
If I’m Being Honest – A new twist on Taming of the Shrew. Cameron is the shrew in question, and when she shows her true colors to her crush, she decides she has to change her ways if she wants to redeem herself in his eyes. As a big Shrew fan, I am eager to read this one.
The Tiger At Midnight – A legendary rebel and a soldier think they are calling the shots in a volatile world, but someone else is pulling the strings. Inspired by Hindu mythology and ancient Indian history.
Secret Soldiers: How the U. S. Twenty-Third Special Troops Fooled the Nazis – The story of actors and set designers and sound engineers who fooled the Nazis. I am fascinated by this whole idea!

Books for Adults

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Decades: Marvel in the 70s (Paperback Graphic Novel) – This is the decade of monsters for Marvel.
Fumbled (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Playbook series. (I really enjoyed book one, Intercepted.) A single mother has carved out a life she loves, but when she crosses paths with the NFL wide receiver she dated in high school the secrets they never shared with each other put a potential rekindling of their relationship at risk. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
New Orleans Rush (Trade Paperback) – An artist follows her boyfriend to New Orleans only to discover his cheating. Now she’s the assistant to a magician, struggling to keep her relationship with him strictly professional.  This looks fun!
Sifting Through Clues (e-book) – Book 8 in the Cookbook Nook series. A book group’s progressive dinner ends in murder.
Star Trek TNG: Terra Incognita (Trade Paperback Graphic Novel) – After a season in the Mirror Universe, the crew of the Enterprise returns without realizing that one of their own has been replaced by his mirror counterpart.
Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool (Hardcover) – From the author of Expecting Better comes this exploration of the data regarding the choices new parents will be making about their children.
Nanaville (Hardcover) – A celebration of grandparenting from Anna Quindlen. I can’t wait to read this one – and I am years away from being a grandparent.
Road to Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame (Hardcover) – A collection of all that has led to this moment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Stressed Years of Their Lives: Helping Your Kid Survive and Thrive During Their College Years (Hardcover) – A focus on the emotional skills adolescents need to successfully launch to college.

As Easter approaches, here are some books you might want to tuck into an Easter basket for yourself or for someone you love!

Books for Kids

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Marvel Alphablock: The Marvel Cinematic Universe from A to Z (Board Book) – Die cut pages make this a beautiful alphabet book!
Bruno the Standing Cat – Bruno is unlike any cat  you have met. He stands on two legs, chews gum and skateboards. I can’t wait to read this one!
Dog vs. Ultra Dog! – Tuffy is afraid he will lose his boy, Tim, to  the hero Ultra Dog when Tim goes to Ultra Land. Yep, this is on my list, too!
Let Me Sleep, Sheep! – When Amos tries to count sheep to help him sleep, he gets a pair that are quite demanding.
Mr. Posey’s New Glasses – An elderly man and his young neighbor try on new glasses and get quite a surprise. I can’t wait to see this one in person!
Watch Out for Wolf! – A new take on the story of the Three Pigs. I am always on the look out for stories like this.
Popcorn Country: The Story of America’s Favorite Snack – A look at the history and science of popcorn. How fun!
Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants – Book 2 in the early chapter book series The Questioneers. This time Ada and her friends are trying to help Rosie’s Uncle Ned whose helium pants have carried him away. Ada is my favorite Questioneer so far (we’ll meet a new Questioneer later this year). I’m excited that she is going to have another story.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Camp Average – The boys in Cabin 10 are content to play the games and never win, but a new camp director focused on winning could ruin all their fun. I am really excited about this one! First in a new series.
The Chupacabras of the Rio Grande – Book 4 in the Unicorn Rescue Society series about a secret group of adventurers who protect the creatures of myth and legend.
The Hamilton-Burr Duel – Book 4 in the Flashback Four series from Dan Gutman about a group of time traveling kids who get photographic and video evidence of historical events.
Lizzie Flying Solo – A girl who lives in transitional housing with her mom finds herself opening up after spending time at a local stables and working with a frightened pony. I think horse fans will want to check this one out.
Project Me 2.0  – The latest from Aladdin MAX. A kid hoping to impress his oldest friend/secret crush accidentally activates a magical internet genie who requires him to complete Seven Steps to a Whole New You. I love this line of books for kids!
Summer of a Thousand Pies – A homeless girl is sent to live with aunt she barely knows and helps in her aunt’s pie shop. When she discovers the pie shop is in danger of closing, she is desperate to save the one safe place she has in her life. This is at the top of my list for this week.
I Am Hermes!: Mischief Making Messenger of the Gods – An illustrated exploration of Hermes from Greek mythology.
What Is the Story of Hello Kitty? AND What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo? – The latest from Who HQ is a line of books exploring the stories of famous characters – where they started and how they got famous. Future books include Wonder Woman, Frankenstein and Doctor Who. I am so excited about this new series!
Wild Weather: Storms, Meteorology, and Climate (Science Comics) – An exploration of weather in graphic novel form.
The Exalted – Book 2 following The Diminished. Two teens, one destined for the throne, fight against those who would usurp the throne. I’ve been wanting to read the first book in this series since it released.
The Hummingbird Dagger – A new mystery from Cindy Anstey! A young woman with no memory joins forces with those who have been caring for her since a near-fatal accident to find out the truth about her identity.
Serious Moonlight – A new romantic mystery from Jenn Bennett! Two teens with a fascination for mysteries stumble across a real-life mystery at the hotel where they work.

Books for Adults

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Avengers Endgame Prelude (Paperback Graphic Novel)  – I’m not sure if this will be a collection of comics about what happened in Infinity War or a collection of things that tell more about what happens right after. This is one we’ll know more about once it actually releases.
Before She Was Found (Hardcover) -When 3 girls at a sleepover decide to sneak out, they have no idea what danger awaits. By the end of the night one of the girls will be found barely clinging to life while the others are no where to be found. I’ve read several 5-star reviews for this thriller. Fans of the genre should be sure to check this one out.
The Better Sister (Hardcover) – A twisted story of a pair of estranged sisters and the murder that draws them together. This one sounds wild!
Redemption – Book 5 in the Amos Decker series. Decker questions his first arrest of a murderer as a rookie 12 years later.
Roar (Hardcover) – A collection of stories of women in a magical world where perception can become reality.
Star Wars Master & Apprentice (Hardcover) – A Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan story that takes place before The Phantom Menace. The story centers on the relationship between the two men, mentor and apprentice, and their different philosophies about the Jedi. This is going to be amazing!
Under the Table (Hardcover) – My Fair Lady with a modern twist. A young woman rebooting her life encounters an awkward and reclusive millionaire who could be quite the catch if she gives him a bit of a make-over. This is on my list for this week, too.

New books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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The Great Indoors – When a human family heads to the woods for vacation, the animals move in for a vacation of their own.
My First Pop-Up Dinosaurs – Fun 3-D dinosaurs!
When a Tiger Comes to Dinner – An interactive read-aloud.
Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid-Body Electric Guitar and Rocked the World – Fascinating picture book biography of Les Paul.
Peter & Ernesto: The Lost Sloths – After losing their best tree in a hurricane, Peter and Ernesto are leading their friends on a quest to find a new home.
Searching for Stinkodon – I love this early reader series starring Stink and Judy Moody! This time Stink is hunting for a sabertooth tooth in the backyard.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid – Greg Heffley’s friend Rowley Jefferson gets his own book this spring where he chronicles the life and times of his “best friend,” Greg.
The Door at the End of the World – The assistant Gatekeeper of the access point to alternate worlds goes on a quest to save her boss and set right the problems caused by sinister forces determined to destroy the fabric of time and space.
Eight Times Up – A group of kids learn about life and their places in the universe through their study of aikido.
The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten – A girl looking forward to art camp finds herself at math camp instead. To prove she can find her place there, she takes on the hardest logic puzzle and solves it in a day. But not everyone is happy with her skill or achievement. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Twinchantment – A set of twin princesses in a land where anything magical – including twins – has been outlawed  have managed to convince everyone that they are one person. But when their mother is magically attacked, the girls will have to shed their secrets and fight for their family and their kingdom. This sounds amazing!
It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime – Noah’s autobiography has been adapted for young readers (ages 10 and up). It’s the story of Noah’s childhood in South Africa as a mixed-race child in a culture where his mere existence was illegal. I’ve heard rave reviews for the original book; I’m excited kids will now have their own version to enjoy.
Descendant of the Crane – Princess Hesina is forced into a role she never wanted when her father is murdered and she becomes Queen. She turns to two unlikely sources to help her find the person who killed her father.
In the Neighborhood of True – Moving to Atlanta in 1958 means Ruth can be Jewish or she can be popular, but she can’t be both. So she chooses to align with the Christian students even though she still goes to synagogue every week. But a hate crime will force her to decide who she wants to be in her new home and where she stands in her community.
This Book Is Not Yet Rated – A quirky group stand together to protect their beloved Green Street Cinema from developers who want to tear it down to build luxury condos.

 

Books for Adults

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An Amish Reunion (Trade Paperback) – A collection of four short stories about love and reconnecting with relationships from the past. All four stories sound great.
Deadly Vows (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Britton Bay Mystery series. This time Molly is drawn into sleuthing when a wedding caterer is killed and the bride-to-be goes missing. I really enjoyed the first book in the series. I’m eager to read this one.
The Eighth Sister (Hardcover) – A former CIA operative desperate for money agrees to go undercover for his old boss to find the person killing off a US spy cell known as the seven sisters. This sounds interesting!
Fame Adjacent (Trade Paperback) – When a former child star finds out she’s been left out of the 25th anniversary celebration of her old show, she decides to crash the party. I’ve already requested this one from the library!
Foul Play on Words (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Mystery Writer’s Mystery series. Author Charlee Russo is headed to a writer’s conference, but her friend and the chair of the conference is having a personal crisis. Her daughter has been kidnapped, and she needs Charlee to help her find her daughter and save the conference. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Star Trek TNG: Available Light (Trade Paperback) – Following the events of Star Trek 31: Control, now that Section 31 has been exposed, everyone with a connection to the rogue group is being rounded up. And Captain Picard is implicated for past choices. But he and the crew of the Enterprise have their hands full with a mysterious craft in a remote and unexplored region of space. Sign me up for this! I’ll have to dig out my old Section 31 books for a refresher.
With a Kiss I Die (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Theater Cop Mystery series. This time Sully and her friends are trying to help out with a production of Romeo and Juliet in Boston when Sully’s history as a copy comes in handy when there is a murder.
A Witch to Remember (Hardcover) – The ninth (and maybe final ) book in the Wishcrafters Mystery series. It’s time for Darcy and Nick’s wedding, but Darcy will have to make time for sleuthing when a dead body is discovered and a psychic goes missing. I’ve enjoyed this paranormal cozy series since the beginning, and I’m eager to read this installment.
They All Fall Down (Hardcover) – Seven strangers on a remote island harbor many secrets in this thriller that sounds like a take on And Then There Were None.
The Pursuit of Grouchiness: Oscar the Grouch’s Guide to Life (Hardcover) – How to be more curmudgeonly!
The Science of Marvel: From Infinity Stones to Iron Man’s Armor, the Real Science of the MCU Revealed! (Trade Paperback) – The technology behind some of Marvel’s comic book wonders.
Wolfpack: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game – From Olympic gold-medalist Abby  Wambach comes this inspirational book based on a commencement speech she gave in 2018. I’m looking forward to reading this one!