Tag: September New Releases

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Bear Is a Bear – A love letter to special childhood friends. This one is on my wish list for this week.
Saturday at the Food Pantry – Molly and her mom visit the food pantry where Molly sees a school friend who seems embarrassed to be there. But everyone needs help sometimes. This is waiting in a shopping cart, too.
Pete the Cat: Making New Friends – A new Early Reader starring Pete the Cat.
The Golden Dreidel – A chapter book about Chanukah and a magical dreidel.
Judy Moody in a Monday Mood – Book 16 in the Judy Moody series. This time, Judy fights the Monday blahs by trying to celebrate a holiday every day of the week.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Last Kids on Earth and the Doomsday Race – Book 7 in the Last Kids on Earth series, also on Netflix. While Jack and his friends are moving towards their own personal “boss battle,” they are sidetracked by a visit to Mallusk City where Jack faces down some old foes and his leadership skills are tested.
Once Upon a Tide – A new middle grade novel by one of my favorite YA authors, Stephanie Kate Strohm. While Princess Lana is representing her underwater kingdom in a Royal Festival, nothing goes right, from her mother’s new boyfriend to the mistrust of the other attendees and the news of a disaster in Lana’s kingdom. This is on my list for this week too! Sounds like my sort of middle grade fantasy novel!
The Raven Heir – A sorceress and her triplet daughters are in hiding from a decades long war. But when they are captured it is revealed that one of the triplets is the new ruler, an heir to the throne. But their mother has never revealed which of the girls is the oldest. Yes, please! *add to cart*
Recipe for Disaster – A girl lobbying her parents for a Bat Mitzvah learns what it truly means to be Jewish. This sounds amazing, too!
A Soft Place to Land – From the author of the fantastic From the Desk of Zoe Washington. The one bright spot in Joy’s family moving to the tiny apartment is finding the hideaway only the building’s kids know about. But when the kid exchanging secret notes with Joy stops writing, she wonders if her pen-friend is in trouble. My wish list for this week is quickly exceeding my book budget! Thank heaven for libraries!
Thor and Loki Double Trouble (Graphic Novel) – A comics collection starring Thor and Loki. This sounds fun!
What About Will (Older Middle Grade) – Trace’s family hasn’t been the same since his brother Will’s “incident” – a football hit that resulted in a brain injury. Out of love for Will, Trace starts covering for his brother whose anger and depression are escalating, leaving Trace to wonder if keeping his brother’s secrets is really the best for everyone.
Roar Like a Lion: 90 Devotionals of Courageous Faith – A devotional for kids about courage.
A Dark and Starless Forest – Derry and her siblings have been raised by Frank who took them in when their families abandoned them. And he says they are better off away from a society that wouldn’t understand or appreciate their magic. But when Derry’s siblings start to disappear, and the dark forest near their home starts calling to her, and she begins to see Frank’s true colors, Derry will have to consider surrendering to the darkness inside her in order to save her family.
Defy the Night – The latest series launch from the amazing Brigid Kemmerer. A girl trying to protect her community and the people she loves from a rampaging illness the kingdom’s leaders seem content to ignore sneaks into the castle looking for answers and finds more than she bargained for. I have this one on my review list.
It All Comes Back to You – Kiran and Deen dated once in secret, but now that their siblings are dating each other, they are face to face once again. But Deen and his brother seem to be hiding something. And Kiran is determined to expose them and protect her sister. This is also on my review list.
Kneel – A teen puts his scholarship chances and his future at risk to protest after his friend is unfairly arrested and kicked off the football team.
Allies: Real Talk about Showing Up, Screwing Up, and Trying Again – 17 YA authors talk about being an ally.

 

Books for Adults

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Burden of Poof (e-book) – First in a new Bonnie & Clyde e-book series from Julie Anne Lindsey. Bonnie and her cat, Clyde, have moved back to her home town where Bonnie opens up a second chance dress shop. But when there’s a dead body in the middle of a donation for her shop, Bonnie becomes a murder suspect. This sounds fun!
Deadly Summer Nights (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Catskills Summer Resort Mystery series set in the 1950s. When a man is found dead at the resort her mother is managing, Elizabeth starts investigating because the local police chief seems to settle too quickly on his theories about the crime.
Death of a Red-Hot Rancher (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Love Is Murder mystery series. A romance bookshop owner investigates a murder when her aunt becomes the prime suspect.
Farewell Blues (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Lady Adelaide Mystery series. Addie’s ready to be rid of murders – and Detective Hunter – once and for all, but then her mother is accused of killing her secret lover.
The Love Hypothesis (Trade Paperback) – A biologist creates a fake relationship around the tyrant of the university lab, and he surprisingly agrees to go along with it. Yeah, this is totally on my list for this week.
Right Behind Her (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Bree Taggart series. Sheriff Bree Taggart is dragged into reliving the worst moment in her life – her parents’ murder suicide – when human remains are found on her family’s land and her late father is a murder suspect. This sounds twisty and fascinating!
Growing with the Enneagram: Guiding All Types in Spiritual Growth (Trade Paperback) – From the author of the type-specific Growing As… Enneagram devotional series. A 60-day devotional series for those who might not know their own type and therefore not be able to engage with one of the other books in the series yet. Written to be used in a small group setting.

 

Happy September! Fall is on its way, and I am ready. Here are some of the new books releasing this week that you can enjoy with that pumpkin spice latte!

Books for Kids

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12 Days of Princess – A Disney Princess take on the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Dragons Are the Worst! – From the author of Unicorns Are the Worst! A little goblin describes why dragons shouldn’t be feared because goblins are more fearsome.
Norman Didn’t Do It (Yes, He Did) – From the author of the fantastic Mother Bruce books comes a tale of a porcupine and his best friend, a tree.
Pete the Cat’s Groovy Imagination – See how Pete uses his imagination to save a rainy day.
Stick and Stone: Best Friends Forever! – Stick and Stone are back for a new adventure when Stick goes looking for his family tree.
Thanks for Nothing! – A Thanksgiving story for Bruce and his friends.
Who Would Win? Extreme Animal Rumble – A collection of 5 previous books.
Bunbun & Bonbon: Captain Bun & Super Bonbon (Graphic Novel) – Book 3 in the graphic novel series about two unusual friends.
DJ Funkyfoot: Give Cheese a Chance – Book 2 in the series. DJ finally gets the chance at his dream of being a butler.
Diary of a Pug: Scaredy-Pug – Bub and Duchess are convinced they have seen a ghost.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Aggie Morton Mystery Queen: The Dead Man in the Garden (Older Middle Grade) – Book 3 in the Aggie Morton Mystery series. This time, Aggie and Hector investigate deaths at a spa Aggie’s mother is visiting.
I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900 – Book 21 in this series.
Julie and the Phantoms: We Got the Music – A notebook/scrapbook with input from Julie, Flynn, Carlos, and the guys in the band from Julie and the Phantoms.
Pahua and the Soul Stealer – First in a new series from Rick Riordan Presents starring a Hmong girl who can see spirits.
Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero – In the midst of 20th anniversary remembrances of 9/11, a boy in a Muslim community watches as his neighborhood becomes the target of people’s long-held anger.
Battle of the Bands – A collection of YA stories centered around a Battle of the Bands.
Dark and Shallow Lies – A girl living in a town that considers itself the Psychic Capital of the World looks for answers to the disappearance of her best friend.
The Hawthorne Legacy – Book 2 in the Inheritance Games series by the always fabulous Jennifer Lynn Barnes. This is at the top of my list for this week!
The Jasmine Project – When Jasmine catches her boyfriend cheating, her family conspires to introduce her to other eligible men who might treat her as she deserves. This sounds a bit like 10 Blind Dates, and I am intrigued by this one.
Never Saw You Coming – As two teens begin to fall in love, each is dealing with questions of faith and forgiveness. This is high on my list for this week, too, as well as on my review list.
The Pick-Up – A chance meeting in a ride share to a music festival becomes a chance at something special. This sounds fun! It’s also on my review list.
We Can Be Heroes – Two girls grieving the loss of their friend after a school shooting look for ways to ensure she’s not forgotten.
What Once Was Mine – Book 12 in the Twisted Tales series, this one focused on the Rapunzel/Tangled story. When the queen is saved by the Moondrop flower instead of the Sundrop, it leaves her daughter, Rapunzel, with silver hair and dangerous powers. This is on my review list.
Whistle (Graphic Novel) – Desperate to save her sick mother, Willow agrees to work for an old friend of her mother’s, E. Nigma, which puts her on the radar of one of Gotham’s most dangerous villains. When Willow and her beloved stray, Lebowitz, are attacked, something mysterious happens to connect them. I’ll be reviewing this one later this year.

 

Books for Adults

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The All-Consuming World (Hardcover) – A team of criminals dig to uncover what went wrong on their last mission while a group of AI conspire to ensure that humanity will never be in control again. I am curious about this one!
The Autobiography of Mr. Spock (Hardcover) – This often-delayed addition to the Star Trek autobiography collection is finally here – or coming soon, depending on what source you go to. Regardless, it looks like the book is finally going to be released to the world. I imagine the ways Star Trek Discovery chose to use the character is why this was pulled off of publishing lists a couple years ago. I have this one on my wish list.
Booked for Kidnapping (e-book) – Book 2 in the Vigilante Magical Librarians series. Janette and her friends are racing to prevent another assassination. I’m intrigued by this one. I didn’t expect the political spin to this series. I have book one on my e-reader.
The Charm Offensive (Trade paperback, LGBTQ+) – A successful producer of a TV dating show encounters a challenge with the latest star who doesn’t believe in love and is only on the show to rescue his tarnished image.
Hooked on a Feline (Hardcover) – Book 13 in the Magical Cats Mystery series. Kathleen and Marcus start investigating a murdered musician who was using the library to research his family history.
The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina (Hardcover) – Four family members travel to Ecuador looking for answers to their family’s powers and the “inheritance” each received from Orquidea. This sounds fascinating!
Matched and Married (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 of the Amish Mail-Order Bride series. A couple thrown together when neither is looking for love finds their future in jeopardy when she decides to go home and dutifully marry the man chosen for her by her mother.
Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes (Trade Paperback) – From the author of the terribly fun Playbook series. Best friends reeling from the hands life has dealt them decide to become roommates and face the future together. This is on my list for this week because I have enjoyed the author so much in the past.
Murder by the Bookend (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Antique Bookshop Mystery series. Jenna starts investigating when a local librarian is murdered with a set of glass bookends.
Portrait of a Scotsman (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the League of Extraordinary Women series. A suffragist finds herself wed to a Scot who sees her as a means to an end.
Writing a Wrong (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Writer for Hire Mystery series. Veronica is a writer for hire, recently contracted to write love letters. But when her client is murdered and she discovers he was lying about his identity, Veronica is drawn into the case.
The Enneagram at Work: Unlocking the Power of Type to Lead and Succeed (Trade Paperback) – A new Enneagram resource focused on using type in the work environment.

 

This is the final release week for September. And there are a TON of cozy mysteries and Christmas books to add to your list. Take a look at some of the new books out this week!

Books for Kids

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The Alphabet’s Alphabet – A twisted take on the traditional alphabet book. Illustrated by Dan Santat.
Hello, Arnie! – A new book starring Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller.
Ming’s Christmas Wishes – In 1930s California, Ming is not included in things like some of her classmates. So her father takes her on an adventure to get in touch with her heritage.
Mistletoe – A new Christmas book from the author of the fabulous Duck & Goose and How Rocket Learned to Read. Mistletoe wants her friend Norwell to enjoy the snowy beauty of winter, but Norwell doesn’t like the cold. This looks sweet!
The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary – A kid-friendly version of The Office where Michael wants to be the best line leader.
Oscar the Hungry Unicorn Eats Christmas – In his hunger, Oscar manages to eat the Christmas tree, the stockings, and then the magic reindeer food that makes Santa’s reindeer fly.
Unicorns Are the Worst – A little goblin grumbles that everyone loves unicorns, but all they ever do is frolic, while goblins do good, orderly, important things. This looks adorable!
Pete the Cat: Super Pete – When trouble appears, Super Pete is ready.
InvestiGators Take the Plunge (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the InvestiGators series. Mango and Brash go undercover as sewer workers to solve a new mystery.
Jr. Monster Scouts: Monster of Disguise – Book 4 in the Junior Monster Scouts series. Baron Von Grump is causing trouble at the carnival.
Lily to the Rescue: The Not-So Stinky Skunk AND Dog Dog Goose – Books 3 and 4 in the Lily to the Rescue series. First, Lily gets sprayed by a skunk with no stink, which means the skunk can’t defend itself. Then some orphaned geese think Lily is their mother. But how can a dog teach geese how to fly?

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Campaign – An art-loving girl convinces her babysitter to run for mayor when the election’s front runner plans to cut art funding for schools. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Endangereds – First in a new series about some superpowered animals working to fight extinction around the world.
The Explorers Code – The latest mystery from Allison K. Hymas. Three kids will try to solve the mysteries of an old manor tied to a famous female explorer.  This sounds amazing!
Pepper’s Rules for Secret Sleuthing (LGBTQ+) – When her last case costs her the chance at a relationship with a girl she likes, Pepper decides to stop sleuthing. But when her great-aunt dies under mysterious circumstances, Pepper can’t help investigating.
Saucy – The only girl in a set of quadruplets feels like, unlike her brothers, there’s nothing special about her. But when she finds a sick piglet, she knows rescuing it can be her special thing. But when Saucy gets well and starts to outgrow the family’s home, some decisions will have to be made.
The Willoughbys Return – The next generation of Willoughbys star in this sequel. Just as Richie, a lonely only child, has a chance to make friends, it becomes illegal to sell sweets, putting his family’s candy business in jeopardy. But that’s nothing compared to what will happen when Richie’s awful grandparents, presumed frozen to death 30 years ago, thaw out and plot their grand return.
Leaders & Dreamers prints – Art collection tied to the books by Vashti Harrison.
Crownchasers – When Alyssa’s dying uncle – the emperor – announces a Crownchase to determine the next ruler of her people, she must consider the life she has been trying to flee for years. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Dear Justyce – A follow up to Dear Martin (♥♥♥♥) from the author of Shuri. Quan sits in a juvenile detention facility and writes letters to Justyce who is away at Yale. Through his letters readers will discover his story.
Disclose – Book 2 in the Verify series by Joelle Charbonneau. A dystopian series about a young woman whose search for answers after her mother’s death lead her to secrets some would kill to keep quiet. I have this series on my wish list.
The Glass Queen – Book 2 in the Forest of Good and Evil series. A fragile princess stars in this Cinderella retelling that sees her fighting for her destiny and her crown.I have this series on my wish list, too.
A Neon Darkness – Book 2 in the Bright Sessions series about a group of powered people and the therapist, Dr. Bright, who works with them. The premise of this – What if the X Men decided to go to therapy instead of become superheroes? – is fascinating to me. This is also on my (neverending) list.
Shine – Get a glimpse inside the world of KPop with this novel about a girl who has sold out to her producers for her chance at stardom yet starts to question what she has given up when she begins to fall in love.
Skyhunter – The latest from Marie Lu. The Federation’s mutant beasts have overcome every  nation in the world except for Mara. Talin is one of the warriors who fights to maintain Mara’s freedom. But when a boy is brought into the capital, she’s not sure if he is there to help them, or to destroy them.
Thoughts & Prayers: A Novel in Three Parts – Three students connected by the minutes they hid together under a staircase while fellow students and a teacher were killed are now, a year later, living very different lives from what they had before and from one another in the aftermath of tragedy.

Books for Adults – Christmas

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Amish Christmas Twins (Trade Paperback) – Three Amish Christmas tales, one about kids in foster care, one about a grieving widow, and another about two sets of twins. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Candy Slain Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 8 in the Country Store Mystery series. Robbie is dealing with a  decades-old mystery and a stranger in town.
Christmas Carol Murder (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the A Dickens of a Crime series where Charles Dickens is a journalist and a sleuth. While out caroling, Dickens and his fiancée see a man thrown from a window to his death. Readers familiar with the Dickens novel A Christmas Carol will see connections to this case. I haven’t read any of these, but this is a fun premise!
Christmas Cupcake Murder (Hardcover) – Book 26 in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series. In the midst of her holiday preparations, Hannah is helping out with the mystery of a man found near death and with no memory of his identity.
Christmas Ever After (Trade Paperback) – A romance writer is asked how she can write about love if she hasn’t yet found “the one.” When she mentions past love that helps her write, three of her exs hear the interview and think he is the one she must be talking about. All three show up at an event to convince her to give their love another chance. This sounds like the best sort of Hallmark Christmas movie, and I am here for it!
Dying in a Winter Wonderland (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. When a bride Merry agreed to help with wedding decorations moves up her wedding date, everyone is bending to her demands. But there’s not going to be a wedding after all when the groom is found murdered.
Gingerdead Man (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series. This year’s grumpy Santa is poisoned by a gingerbread cookie.
Holding Out for Christmas (Mass Market Paperback) – A kindergarten teacher with big Nashville dreams resists the charms of the rugged rancher back home who wants her to stick around. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Hollyberry Homicide (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Berry Basket Mystery series. Marlee agrees to help out in the town production of A Christmas Carol when an elderly participant dies. But the production is full of dangers and accidents, as well as a dead body.
Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. When a reception hall owner is murdered at a local winter event, Lucy has no shortage of suspects.
Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings (Trade Paperback) – As the new Mrs. Claus, April is trying to adjust to her new home at the North Pole with her grieving in-laws as her husband adjusts to being the new Santa after his older brother died. But when an angry elf hisses accusations of murder at Santa, and then is later killed, April is on the hunt for the truth. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Salem B&B Mystery series. When a friend and recent lottery winner is killed while Charlene and her parents are in his restaurant for a fundraiser, she teams up with the ghost at her B&B to puzzle out the case. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Snowball’s Christmas (Trade Paperback) – Lukas is certain that selling the B&B is the right thing to do so his aunt can retire. Emily, the B&B’s cook, is devastated by Lukas’ plans. But Snowball the kitten is sure that Lukas and Emily belong together, right there at Weber Haus, forever. This looks darling.
Varnished Without a Trace (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Tallie Graver Mystery series. Instead of a quiet Christmas alone with her boyfriend, Max, Tallie finds herself playing referee between her mother and grandmother at Christmas bingo. Even worse, her hateful Aunt Ronda is there, too. When  Tallie finds Ronda’s body, her beloved – and now missing – Uncle Hoagie is the prime suspect. Tallie is certain her uncle did not do this, so she is tracking down a killer again.

Books for Adults – The Rest

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The Constant Rabbit (Hardcover) – The latest from Jasper Fforde, author of the Thursday Next series. In England, in 2022, there are 1.2 million human-sized, walking, talking rabbits. When a rabbit family moves into a human neighborhood and most of the humans leave, one father and daughter decide to stay. They quickly discover that you can be friends to rabbits or to humans, but not likely to both.
The Corpse Who Knew Too Much (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Food Blogger Mystery series. Hope is teaching her first blogging class at the local library and getting into podcasts like the true crime one her friend Devon is doing. Devon is back in town looking into the unsolved disappearance of her own mother, and she asks Hope to help.
Death on the Green (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Dublin Driver Mystery series. Megan has moved to Ireland and become a limo driver. When she’s driving a golf champ around, she’s invited to play a round, but then they find a dead body floating in the water hazard. And Megan’s client has a motive for the murder.
For Letter or Worse (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Stationery Shop Mystery series. Delta is hosting a card-making event at a friend’s event when someone is murdered.
Haunted Homicide (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Haunted Mansion Mystery series. In Avery’s first week as the manager of the Portage Path Women’s Club, she stumbles across the body of a difficult board member as well as the resident ghost who’s been in the building for 100 years.
The Midnight Library (Hardcover) – The Midnight Library holds all of the versions of your story. One is the life you are living right now, but others look at what would have happened if you had made different choices along the way. One woman visits the library as she considers changing her current life for a new one.
Misleading a Duke (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Wallflowers of West Lane series. Lady Faith calls upon her friends to investigate her fiancé who happens to be a spy. When he discovers her investigation, and her mistrust, he wonders if he can actually marry her. I already have the first book in this series. I am eager to read it!
Murder at the PTA (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Maya and Sandra Mystery series. When someone starts a gossip site focused on the local high school and targets Sandra, the PTA president, she teams up with Maya, another parent who is also a PI. When they go to confront the person behind the site, they find a dead body and a confession. But Maya feels like it was all too easily wrapped up, so the two continue their investigation.
Once Dishonored (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 of the Rogues Redeemed series. A daring divorcee catches the eye of a naval officer who has lost his honor. When they team up to find evidence to restore her name and retrieve her son, they also find love. If only they can survive long enough to enjoy it.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian: The Art and Imagery Volume 1 (Hardcover) – A collection of artwork from the early parts of season 1.
Sweet Revenge (September 30 e-book) – Book 7 of the Dewberry Farm Mystery series. A new honey-themed mystery.
Tail for Two (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Fur Haven Dog Park series after Cold Nose, Warm Heart. Lance Donovan is ready to work with his brother Caleb on a new condo project. And he’s certain the right decorator for the job is his ex, Carrie. But before he really knows what happened, Lance is dog sitting for both Carrie and his brother – and watching the son he never knew he had while his ex gets back into the dating scene. I enjoyed the first book and am looking forward to the rest of this series!
Veiled in Death (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Wedding Planner Mystery series. The story starts with an antique piece of lace with possible ties to a decades-old hit and run – and maybe to Betsy Ross. But it ends in murder by musket at the town’s Revolutionary War re-enactment.
Winner Cake All (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Chef-to-Go Mystery series by Denise Swanson. Dani is hired to cater a swanky engagement party which could really help her add some wealthy clients to her business. But when the bride-to-be is killed and Dani’s maybe-boyfriend is the prime suspect, she’s digging into another murder.
A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal (Hardcover) – The latest from author Sarah Bessey is a collection of meditations from writers such as Nadia Bolz-Weber, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Amena Brown.
True Comfort: More Than 100 Cozy Recipes Free of Gluten and Refined Sugar (Hardcover) – Gluten-free recipes for cozy meals.
When Women Pray: 10 Women of the Bible Who Changed the World Through Prayer (Hardcover) – From Bishop T. D. Jakes.

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Escape Goat – When things go wrong around the farm, everyone assumes the goat is at fault. This looks adorable!
For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World – A boy asks his father questions about protests and shootings and vigils as he processes life as a Black boy.
Perfect Pigeons – While a group of pigeons celebrates their uniformity, one pigeon stands out from the crowd. The cover art on this is delightful! Makes me want to pick this one up.
She Persisted in Sports – Book 3 in the She Persisted series focuses on some of the women who excel in sports.
Biggie-Biggie-BIGGIE! – The third Elephant and Piggie collection. Includes the books There Is a Bird on Your Head! (one of my favorites), Are You Ready to Play Outside?, Elephants Cannot Dance!, Should I Share My Ice Cream?, and I Will Take a Nap!
Brina the Cat: City Cat (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the Brina the Cat series. After her freedom in the countryside, Brina has to adjust to being an indoor cat again.
Geeger the Robot Goes to School – Book 1 in a new series from Jarrett Lerner. Geeger is going to school for the first time – a human school. There are going to be lots of challenges for this very literally-minded robot. (Think Amelia Bedelia with a robot.)

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

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Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen: Peril at Owl Park (Older Middle Grade) – Book 2 in the Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen series. Aggie and Hector are spending Christmas with Aggie’s sister, the new Lady Greyson of Owl Park. But when there is a dead body under the tree instead of presents, Aggie and Hector will be sleuthing again.
Going Rogue at Hebrew School (Older Middle Grade) – A boy who is tired of going to Hebrew school thinks the new rabbi might just be a Jedi Master!
The Map of Stories – Book 3 in the Pages & Co series. Tilly is headed to the Library of Congress to find a mysterious group of bookwanderers.
Maya and the Rising Dark – Maya is a godling, and daughter of the guardian of the veil between our world and a dark world of monsters. But when Maya’s father goes missing, the veil becomes weak and monsters start invading as a dark force seeks to conquer the human world.
The Afterlife of the Party – When a teen is bitten by the lead singer of a band playing a party she was dragged to, she finds herself changing into something else as she chases after the singer who took her best friend. (TW: Sexual assault)
A Curse of Gold – Book 2 in the Touch of Gold series by Blink YA. (I have book one on my TBR shelves; I met the author at our local book store!) King Midas’ cursed daughter is a target when her people turn against her out of fear of her magic. Then the god Dionysus issues a challenge for someone to kill her and destroy her kingdom.
Early Departures – A new technology gives Jamal a second chance to work things out with his best friend, Q, who died. But he can’t tell Q that he has already died, or that in a few weeks he will die again, permanently. Wild!
Far from Normal – Maddie finally has a chance to stand out in the crowd of “normal” when she secures an internship with a sports marketing firm. But when she is tasked with helping a soccer player with a bad image, she is tempted to fall for him which she knows can only lead to disaster.
The Left-Handed Booksellers of London – The latest YA book from Garth Nix focuses on a girl with a quest to find her missing father. This quest puts her in contact with Merlin, one of the Left-Handed Booksellers of London (they have magic), and his sister, Vivien, one of the Right-Handed Booksellers of London (they are the intellectuals), whose own quest crosses paths with hers. This sounds amazing!
Miss Meteor – Two girls try to pull off the biggest pageant upset their town has ever seen.
The Silvered Serpents – Book 2 in the Gilded Wolves series. A treasure-hunter and his friends, haunted by what their last mission cost them, journey to find an artifact that can give someone the powers of God.
Smash It! – A girl determined to make the most of her junior year of high school decides to take bold risks to pursue what – and whom – she wants.

Books for Adults

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The Body From the Past (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Jazzi Zanders mystery series. When Jazzi walks through what will be her next home renovation project, she discovers a shrine to the teen who lived there when she was killed at her own graduation party. A friend’s brother-in-law was suspected but never convicted. He asks Jazzi to investigate and clear his name once and for all.
The Coast to Coast Murders (Hardcover) – An LA Detective and an FBI agent team up to investigate a series of murders that may be tied to a family where the parents, both psychologists, raised their adopted children in an experimental environment. This sounds too weird not to read.
The Doors of Eden (Trade Paperback) – Cracks between our world and parallel Earths are appearing – and widening – revealing extraordinary creatures.
Hench (Hardcover) – A bright administrative assistant who is injured by a “hero” uses her research skills to discern – and reveal – that the difference between heroes and villains is sometimes nothing more than positive press. And she has the skills, and the drive, to help control those perceptions for whoever wants to hire her. This sounds fantastic! Definitely on my list for this week.
Home for the Holidays (Trade Paperback) – Aunt Sassy invites the three Buchanan sisters home to Juniper Inn for the holidays one last time just when each is dealing with major life change. This one is on my list, too.
Man’s Best Friend (September 25 e-book) – Book 6 in the Dogmother’s series. Twenty years after the tragedy that drove them apart, Evie returns to Bitter Bark and encounters Declan again. I have this series on my list.
Well Played (Trade Paperback) – Sequel to the delightful Well Met (♥♥♥♥♥). After watching her friends fall in love at the Faire, Stacey decides it’s time to find her own true love. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
FRIENDS Official Cookbook (Hardcover) – 100 recipes inspired by the TV show.
Love Is the Way: Holding onto Hope in Troubling Times (Hardcover) – From the Bishop who performed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. Discover ways to live out of love which in turn can address the troubling issues of our day – poverty, racism, etc.
The Peanuts Book (Hardcover) – A celebration of Peanuts.
Three Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers’ Dynasty (Hardcover) – Covers Lakers History from 1996 through 2004.
A Weary World: Reflections for a Blue Christmas (Trade Paperback) – Celebrating the Advent season while also acknowledging life’s struggles and losses. Practices and prayers for 28 days of observation.
We’re Better Than This: My Fight for the Future of Our Democracy (Hardcover) – A new book from the late-Congressman Elijah Cummings that is part memoir and part call-to-action.

It may be the middle of September, but you’ll notice Christmas books are starting to sneak into publication already. Let’s take a look at some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids – Board Books and Picture Books

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Rocket’s Christmas Surprise (Board Book) – Rocket and his friends wait up for Santa to give him gifts, including a story that Rocket wrote. As always, the illustrations in this one shine! I can’t wait to read the whole story.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Pop-Up Book) – A new pop-up edition of the classic Charlie Brown Christmas.
The Eight Knights of Hanukkah – The knights are called in to stop a dragon named Dreadful from ruining the last night of Hanukkah.
I Love You More Than Christmas – Little Bear tries to share what he loves more than Christmas, but his declaration is interrupted time and time again. This looks sweet.
Imogene Comes Back! – A sequel to the delightful Imogene’s Antlers, 35 years in the making. Every day Imogene wakes up to a new surprise. This is on my wishlist for this week.
Margaret’s Unicorn – Margaret finds a lost baby unicorn. This looks so sweet!
Peppermint Post – The North Pole Postmaster finds a lost Christmas letter after Santa has already left to deliver his gifts on Christmas Eve.
Princesses vs. Dinosaurs – A group of princesses and a group of dinosaurs argue over whose book it is. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Twelve Unicorns of Christmas – A girl and her unicorn celebrate the season. This looks darling.
What If You Had an Animal Tongue? – A continuation of the series about animal features.

Books for Kids – Early Chapter Books

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Bumble and Bee: Let’s BEE Thankful – Book 3 in the Bumble & Bee series from Scholastic ACORN. Froggy is ready to settle in for the winter, but Bumble and Bee want one more fall adventure.
Creature Campers: The Wall of Doom – Book 3 in the Creature Campers series. The campers take on a ropes course.
Kung Pow Chicken: Jurassic Peck – Six years ago I discovered this delightful series from Scholastic BRANCHES. Finally, they are releasing a fifth book in the series. I am so excited to see more adventures for Kung Pow Chicken! This time, the heroes go back in time.
Mia Mayhem and the Super Family Field Day – Book 9 in the Mia Mayhem series. Mia and her family participate in Family Field Day.
The Puppy Place: Fluffy & Freckles – Book 58 in the Puppy Place series. Charles finds a lost puppy while on vacation. He and his dad decide to foster the pup, who becomes friends with an undersized newborn lamb.
Snazzy Cat Capers: Meow or Never – Book 3 in this fun mystery/heist series for kids. (You can read my review of book one here.) Ophelia’s cousin tries to beat her in a heist competition, but she thinks the painting he brings is a fake.
Spy Penguins: Golden Egg – Book 3 in the Spy Penguins series. Two penguins who want to join the Frosty Bureau of Investigation take on a new case tracking down an escaped criminal. At the same time, they have to babysit.

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

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The Derby Daredevils: Shelly Struggles to Shine – Book 2 in the Derby Daredevils series. Shelly looks for a way to shine when her team competes in their first tournament.
Fly on the Wall – Henry is desperate to escape his overprotective family for awhile, especially because he is keeping a big secret. But when his trip to Singapore to visit his father is canceled, he decides to go on his own.
Magic Misfits: Fourth Suit – The fourth and final book in the Magic Misfits series by Neil Patrick Harris. (The Magic Misfits: ♥♥♥♥) The tension builds towards a final confrontation with their longtime enemy.
My Life in the Fish Tank – The latest book from Barbara Dee, author of Maybe He Just Likes You and Everything I Know About You (♥♥♥♥½). When her older brother is diagnosed with a mental illness, Zinny feels the need to keep it secret, even from her best friends and the support group at school.
Rescue Dogs: Jet – Book 3 in the Rescue Dogs series. An abandoned dog struggles to adjust to the leash in his training as a search and rescue dog.
Tamora Carter Goblin Queen (e-book) – A girl who discovers two goblins who have passed through a portal to our world wonders if they know anything about her missing friend.
Three Keys – Sequel to the award-winning novel The Front Desk. Mia thought things had turned around for her and her family. But her new teacher doesn’t think Mia’s writing is very good, the motel is struggling, and a new immigration law will threaten everything if it passes.
The True Definition of Neva Beane – Neva negotiates her questions about growing up and about the changes in her family and the world around them through words and their meanings.
Turning Point – Two friends spending a summer apart negotiate new experiences – a new romance for one and a prestigious dance program with unforseen racial tensions for the other – with distance between them.
The Vanderbeekers: Lost and Found – Book 4 in this popular middle grade series. This time, the kids are caring for a person making a home in their community garden’s shed.
Even If We Break (LGBTQ+) – From the author of This Is Where It Ends (♥♥♥♥) and The Oracle Code. Five friends head to a cabin for a last round of their murder mystery game, but this time the game has become all too real. YA thriller fans should check this one out.
Grown – From the author of Allegedly and Monday’s Not Coming (♥♥♥♥½). Enchanted had dreams of stardom, and R&B star, Korey Fields had the power to make her dreams come true. But behind closed doors, Korey was not who his fans thought he was. Now he’s dead, there’s blood on Enchanted’s hands, and she has no memory of what happened.
Legendborn – Expected to be one of the hottest books of the fall season. When Bree moves to a residential program for bright high schoolers, the last thing she expects to encounter are demons and mages. But when a mage calling himself a “Merlin” tries to erase Bree’s memory of what she saw, he unlocks not only her own magic, but her memories of her mother’s death – and the Merlin who was at the hospital. I already have this on hold from the library.
#NoEscape – Book 3 in the #MurderTrending series, which is actually a prequel to the other two books. Twenty years before the first book, #MurderTrending,  Persey joins an escape room competition where the competition doesn’t just lose. They die.
Surrender Your Sons (LGBTQ+) – A teen who “comes out” to his mother is sent away to a conversion camp. But nothing at the camp is what it seems. Connor is determined to not only rescue the other kids there, but to expose the camp for what it really is.

Books for Adults

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Chance of a Lifetime (Hardcover) – A couple fell in love in 1844 and accidentally changed the future. Now, he has an assignment to meet her again today and push her towards the man she should have married originally. I’m curious about this one. It seems to be a quirky mix of reincarnation and angels and a second chance at love.
Love Is a Battlefield (e-book) – First in the Seven Brides for Seven Mothers series. Former college roommates scheme to get their adult children to meet on a fishing trip to Oregon. This sounds like a hoot.
Mayhem in Montana (September 20, e-book) – Book 4 in the Accidentally Undercover series. Dora and Evie stay at a ranch to help a friend investigate a murder.
One Winter’s Night (September 16, e-book) – Book 2 in the Kelsey Anderson series. When Kelsey’s friend, Mirren moves to town, at first everything is great. She’s thrilled to have a friend in town, especially when her boyfriend, Jonathan, is in America. But when Mirren uncovers some secrets about Jonathan and his family while working for the local paper, will she pick her career over her friends?
See Her Die (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Bree Taggert series. A homeless teen says her friend was shot, but when Sheriff Bree Taggert arrives at the shuttered campground, there’s no sign of a shooter or a victim. The K-9 unit she calls in finds a body – but not the one they were looking for. This sounds twisty! This book – and the rest in the series – are available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Son of a Stitch (e-book) – Book 5 in the Knitorius Murder Mystery series. Megan thought the latest dead body was an accident, but now that she has acquired a stalker, she has to wonder if the two are connected. This book – and the rest in the series – are available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars (Hardcover) –  A new story from the author of Eragon about an alien relic and a deadly secret.
60-Day Enneagram Devotional: Peacemaker AND Helper AND Individualist (Hardcover) – Three Enneagram devotionals release this week. I’m eager to see these in person and see how deep they go.
Dirty Lazy Keto Dirt Cheap Cookbook (Paperback) – 100 Keto recipes, designed to be easy and inexpensive.
The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation: How Knowing Ourselves Can Make Us More Like Jesus (Trade Paperback) – A new Enneagram resource with an emphasis on spiritual growth and development. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Everything Is Spiritual: Who We Are and What We’re Doing Here (Hardcover) – A new book from Rob Bell.
Football’s Fearless Activists: How Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid, Kenny Stills, and Fellow Athletes Stood Up to the NFL and President Trump (Hardcover) – Includes interviews and history behind the protests against racial inequality in the NFL.
The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to be You (Trade Paperback) – Understanding and celebrating introversion.
Skinnytaste Meal Prep: Healthy Make-Ahead Meals and Freezer Recipes to Simplify Your Life (Hardcover) – I am all for recipes that simplify my life!
You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracles of God’s Presence and Power (Hardcover) – The latest from Max Lucado.

Let’s take a look at some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away – Best friends are challenged when one of the families is moving away. This looks sweet.
Fairy Science: Solid, Liquid, Gassy – Book 2 in the Fairy Science series from Ashley Spires.
Snow Day for Groot – Rocket and Groot have a day off to hang out with Spider-Man in New York. I was sold when I saw Shuri tucked into an illustration of the characters at the NYPL. I love clever storytelling and illustrations!
Speak Up Molly Lou Melon – Sweet little Molly Lou Melon stands up for her friends.
God Speaks in Whispers – A new picture book about hearing God from Mark Batterson.
Happy Narwhalidays – Book 5 in the Narwhal and Jelly series. Narwhal is excited about the holiday arrival of the Merry Mermicorn while Jelly is trying to figure out the best gift to give Narwhal. This is a cute series.
Stink and the Hairy Scary Spider – Book 12 in the Stink series. Judy and her friend Webster try to help Stink with his spider phobia.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Alex Rider: Ark Angel (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of the 6th Alex Rider novel.
The Canyon’s Edge – The latest from the author of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. When a girl and her father are exploring a canyon in Arizona, a flash flood sweeps him and their supplies away, leaving Nora on her own in the desert.
Izzy Newton and the SMART Squad: Absolute Hero – First in the new SMART Squad series. Izzy Newton, Allie Einstein, and Charlie Darwin are the SMART Squad, and they use science to solve problems at their school, like when the air conditioning goes on the fritz, creating a chilly situation. This looks cute!
Kudo Kids: Mystery of the Masked Medalist – First in the new Kudo Kids series, set at the Tokyo Olympics. A mysterious Olympic medalist has created a scavenger hunt game for Olympics fans to play while they are in Tokyo. But when someone sabotages the game, Andy and Mika start looking for the troublemaker.
Lost Wonderland Diaries – First in a new series. Lewis Carroll created four diaries of his actual journeys into Wonderland, but the journals have been lost. Two kids find the diaries and are pulled through a portal into Wonderland, but it is a Wonderland that has changed in dark ways.
Revver the Speedway Squirrel – First in a new illustrated series. A squirrel who lives above a race track longs to be a race car driver.
Stick Dog Meets His Match – Book 10 in the Stick Dog series by Tom Watson. This time, Stick Dog is trying to rescue Karen and track down a meat truck to feed his friends.
Unwanted Quests: Dragon Slayers – Book 6 in the Unwanted Quests series. The twins have been captured by a dragon woman who traps them between four vicious dragons, hoping to coerce them to fight on her side.
Loved and Cherished: 100 Devotions for Girls – Devotions to address the questions girls may have about identity and self-image.
Where Is Chichen Itza? – Readers can learn about the center of Mayan culture.
The Bookweaver’s Daughter – An OwnVoices YA fantasy centered around Indian culture. Reya can trace her family back through generations of Bookweavers, those who guarded Kasmiri culture. Reya’s father, who can use this Bookweaver magic, has been taken by those who would like to see magic stamped out. Reya and a friend flee with only one book to help her discover her magic and save her father and her people.
Charming as a Verb – A teen working a dog-walking scheme can’t charm the classmate who discovers his less-than-honest system. So he agrees to help her change her image at school in exchange for her not ratting him out.
Currents (The Ables) – Book 3 in the Ables series, set four years after the events in book 2, Strings. Now in college, the heroes are fighting an energy-hoarding villain while Philip struggles with the loss of his sight again.
Devastation Class – A new book from the folks at Blink YA publishing. Triumphant after a 9 year war with the Kastazi, Earth sends the California out for a science expedition. But the crew stumbles on a new advancing force of Kastazi. Two cadets who think they have the best plan for the ship’s survival activate experimental technology that takes them not to a safe region of space but to an alternate reality. Sounds awesome!
Nobody Knows But You – A new thriller about a summer at camp that ends in murder.
The Other Side of the Sky – His home is in the sky, powered by technology. Her’s is on the Surface. Despite their feelings for one another, a prophecy makes it clear what could happen if they act on their emotions.
Sources Say – Angeline and Leo, exes who are both running for class president, up their games when someone posts doctored photos of scantily clad girls from their school. Angeline’s sister, Cat, is content to report on the election – and the photos – for the school paper. But when someone anonymously starts reporting “fake news,” Cat is ready to throw down for journalistic integrity.
These Vengeful Hearts – Ember has seen the damage a secret society, the Red Court, and their leader, the Queen of Hearts, have done to her school, so she decides to tear them apart from within.

Books for Adults

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Checked Out for Murder (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Haunted Library Mystery series. Carrie, the librarian, and Evelyn, the library ghost, team up again when a woman shows up claiming to be a psychic, but she somehow never perceives the danger she is in from a killer.
Cottage on Gooseberry Bay: Halloween Moon (e-book) – First in a new series. Ainsley is in Gooseberry Bay looking for answers after losing the man who raised her about his death and about the family she once belonged to. This sounds fascinating. This is free for Kindle Unlimited Subscribers to read at the time of this writing.
A Deception at Thornecrest (Hardcover) – Book 7 in the Amory Ames Mystery series. While Milo is in London on business, Amory is at home at Thornecrest getting things ready for the arrival of their baby. Then a stranger arrives claiming she is also Milo’s wife. I haven’t read any of these before, but I will absolutely be picking this up to check out that plot twist!
For Whom the Book Tolls (Hardcover) – First in the new Antique Bookshop Mystery series. Jenna accepts her uncle’s invitation to come for a visit so she can flee some trouble at home. But trouble finds her anyway when she finds her uncle’s body and she’s accused of the crime. I’m looking forward to this one!
In Case You Missed It (Trade Paperback) – After 3 years away, Ros comes home to find everything has changed, just when she wants to pick things up where she left off.
Little Bookshop of Murder (Hardcover) – First in the new Beach Reads Mystery series. I posted a full review of this one last week. You can read it here.
Murder at Hotel 1911 (Hardcover) – First in the new Ivy Nichols Mystery series. Ivy works behind the check in desk at the Hotel 1911, so she gets to meet all the guests. Unfortunately that includes the unpleasant ones like the wealthy Ms. Swain. When Ms. Swain later dies from eating something she was allergic to, the hotel chef is implicated. But Ivy is sure her friend is innocent.
Murder Most Sweet (Hardcover) – First in the new Bookish Baker Mystery series. A local baker and mystery writer becomes the suspect in a real-life murder case when the fiancée of a touring author is found dead. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
One By One (Hardcover) – A trendy startup decides to hold a team building retreat in a rustic ski chalet in the French Alps. But one team member doesn’t make it back to the chalet before an avalanche. And the surviving group members may be in an equal amount of danger as tempers flare and they are cut off from outside help.
Portrait of Loyalty (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Codebreakers series. One of Russia’s top cryptographers offers his services to the Brits and meets a photographer who is also working for British Intelligence. As feelings grow between them, though, can they get through the roadblocks caused by his past?
Prime Deceptions (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Chilling Effect series. Captain Eva Innocente agrees to help her sister by tracking down a missing scientist. She’s not sure she can trust her sister, but the payday is worth the risk. But her hunt takes her back to the scene of her greatest failure. Can Eva pull off this latest quest cleanly, or is she doomed to repeat the past?
Two Reasons to Run (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Pelican Harbor series by Colleen Coble. Police Chief Jane Hardy is still dealing with the fall out over her father’s lie and a convoluted history that involves a cult and her mother, not to mention her newly-returned ex with her presumed-dead teen son. But those things will have to go to the back burner when an environmental terrorist strikes and Jane’s son’s life is on the line.
A Literary Holiday Cookbook: Festive Meals for the Snow Queen, Gandalf, Sherlock, Scrooge, and Booklovers Everywhere (Hardcover)
The Liturgy of Politics (Trade Paperback) – Includes 17 full four-course holiday meals from 25 classic stories including Little Women and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor (Trade Paperback) – Looks at how the Church’s practices and habits shape its politics and suggests course corrections to get us back to Jesus. I have this one on my list.
Pass It On: Work Hard, Serve Others, … Repeat (Hardcover) – From Houston Texans’ QB Deshaun Watson. Watson shares the story of his family receiving a house from Falcon’s RB Warrick Dunn’s charity when Watson was a kid and the impact it made on him. Includes 7 core values that Watson uses to anchor his life including generosity, service, and empathy
Peace: Hope and Healing for the Anxious Momma’s Heart (Trade Paperback) – Wrestling with anxiety and fear in a world that tells women they just need to “have more faith.”
The Post-Quarantine Church: Six Urgent Challenges and Opportunities That Will Determine the Future of Your Congregation (Hardcover) – Suggestions based on the research of Church Answers to lead a post-Covid congregation.
Proof of Corruption: Bribery, Impeachment, and Pandemic in the Age of Trump (Hardcover) – The third book in the author’s Proof series after Proof of Collusion and Proof of Conspiracy. Focuses on the years from 2015 to early 2020 with examples of corruption from the president and his advisors.

Tomorrow is the first release day in September 2020. Let’s see what books we have to look forward to this week! There are TONS of choices.

Books for Kids – Picture Books

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Catkwondo – Kitten wants to break a board, but she has to be patient in her training.
Every Night Is Pizza Night – Pipo thinks pizza is the best food, but her tastes are expanded when she cooks with her friends.
I Am Every Good Thing – A Black boy celebrates all the great things he is.
Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog – The third book in this excellent series sees Madeline and Star volunteering at an assisted living facility as Star trains to be a therapy dog. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man – A Little Golden Book about Miles Morales.
Rocket Says Clean Up! – When Rocket visits her grandparents, she is shocked at the volume of trash at the beach. And when she finds a turtle trapped in a net, she decides something must be done.
Pete the Cat: Crayons Rock! – When Pete shows his latest artwork to his friends, they don’t react like he expected.
Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie – A Thanksgiving celebration can be tricky for particular eaters like Peyton. I so get Peyton!
Short & Sweet – Book 4 in the Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast series. When Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast become worried that they are going stale, Professor Biscotti tries to help but ends up turning them into toddlers.
Sweet Child O’Mine – A picture book based on the lyrics of the Guns N’ Roses classic.
Wonder Woman: Christmas Comes to Paradise Island – Wonder Woman celebrates Christmas.

Books for Kids – Early Readers and Early Chapter Books

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Ty’s Travels: All Aboard! AND Zip, Zoom! – The first two books in a new Early Reader series.
BunBun & BonBon: Fancy Friends (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series. A lonely bunny becomes friends with a fancy piece of candy. This I have to see for myself!
The Critter Club: Amy the Puppy Whisperer – Book 21 in the Critter Club series. A girl with a talent for training puppies does such a good job she soon as more customers than she has time or energy for.
Dog Man: Grime and Punishment (Graphic Novel) – Book 9 in this uber-popular graphic novel series.
Fairylight Friends: A Magic Spark – First in a new series from Scholastic ACORN. Three fairy friends discover their special powers.
Fox Tails: The Great Bunk Bed Battle – First in a new series from Scholastic ACORN. Fox siblings try to get ready for bed.
I Survived the California Wildfires 2018 – Book 20 in the I Survived series focuses on the California Wildfires of 2018.
Mac B, Kid Spy: The Sound of Danger – Book 5 in the Mac B, Kid Spy series. This time Mac is searching for a stolen violin.
Owly: Just a Little Blue (Graphic Novel) – Owly and Wormy try to help a family of bluebirds living in a damaged tree.
Pawtriot Dogs: Save the Sanctuary AND Everything’s Bigger in Texas – The first two books in this new series about a team of dogs who take on various missions. These two books look at a case to save an animal shelter and a case of kidnapped puppies.
Squidding Around: Fish Feud! (Graphic Novel) – The first book in this new series. Squizzard and Toothy are best friends, but Squizzard’s bossiness when they play games pushes Toothy too far. This looks adorable!

Books for Older Kids/Teens

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Alpaca My Bags – Part of the WISH line of middle grade novels. When an anxious girl moves from homeschooling to a public school, she finds comfort working with alpacas. But when a prank goes wrong and puts the alpacas in danger, she will step up to save the place that has been a sanctuary for her. This looks great!
Arcade and the Dazzling Truth Detector – The fourth and final book in the Coin Slot Chronicles series from Christian publisher Zonderkidz and former NFL running back Rashad Jennings. Arcade and Zoe travel through time to the top and bottom of the world.
Battle for the Crystal Castle – Book 13 in the Kingdom of Fantasy series.
Before and Ever After (Older Middle Grade) – The latest from National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson looks at ZJ, the son of a former pro football player, and what happens to his family when his dad starts experiencing personality and memory issues because of head injuries during his career.
The Candy Mafia – The story of a private detective in a world where sweets are forbidden who stumbles onto a shady underworld of sweet smugglers. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
DC Super Hero Girls Midterms (Graphic Novel) – The latest Super Hero Girls graphic novel focuses on Bumblebee, Lois Lane, and Harley Quinn when midterms will determine who is the best in their Metropolis High class. You can read my review of other books in the DC at Metropolis High here as well as reviews of the Super Hero High series here.
Forget Me Nat (Graphic Novel) – Sequel to the delightful Nat Enough. Nat’s crush tells her he just wants to be friends, and the rejection throws Nat into self-doubt. I am looking forward to this one.
The Gerbil Ate My Homework – Book 23 in this comics collection starring Big Nate.
Jayla Jumps In – Jayla tries Double Dutch as a way to stand out in her family.
The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the Worst Olympic Athlete – Book 5 in the Long-Lost Secret Diary series. A boy living in Greece gets to help an Olympic athlete, but when his athlete falls sick, Alexander has to find out why. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Max Einstein: Save the Future (Older Middle Grade) – Max is still on the run from The Corporation when she and her friends receive their next challenge – eliminate childhood hunger.
Millionaires for the Month – The latest from author Stacy McAnulty. When two boys find a wallet and one “borrows” $20 because the owner is a famous billionaire who can afford it, she challenges them to spend over $5 million to learn the value of money. There’s a Brewster’s Millions feel to this, and I am 100% here for it. I am so excited to read this! I will be reviewing this one soon.
Name Tags and Other Sixth-Grade Disasters – When Lizbeth switches to a new school mid-year and gets stuck with the “weirdos,” she finds herself becoming friends with them as they prepare to participate in the required school talent show. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Pumpkin Spice Up Your Life – Another WISH book releases this week. Nadine and Daniel have been best friends for most of their lives, but just as Nadine realizes her feelings for Daniel are a little more than just friendship, he falls for the new girl at school.
Real Pigeons Nest Hard – Book 3 in this silly and fun graphic novel series. This time, the pigeons put their detective skills to work looking for a missing family while dodging a vulture. I got a kick out of the first book in this series.
Tune It Out (Older Middle Grade) – From the author of Roll With It. A girl with a sensory processing disorder adjusts to a lot of change when child services places her with her aunt and uncle. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Virtual Unicorn Experience (Graphic Novel) – Book 12 in the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series, a hilarious comics collection starring Phoebe and her best friend Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. I adore this series. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Who HQ Now: Who Is Greta Thunberg? AND Who Was Kobe Bryant? – A new line from the folks at Who HQ which will focus on “trending topics.” The first two books in the line focus on environmentalist Greta Thunberg and the late Kobe Bryant.

 

Books for Teens/Young Adults

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As the Shadow Rises – Book 2 in the Age of Darkness series. Forces of light and darkness collide as prophecies comes to pass and the end of the world approaches. I have both books on my library list.
Cemetery Boys (LGBTQ+) – A trans boy determined to prove himself to his family conjures a ghost with unfinished business. At first, he can’t get the ghost to leave; after awhile, he’s not sure he wants him to leave after all.
Fable – Book 1 in a proposed duology.  Grieving her mother and abandoned by her father, Fable enlists the help of a trader who isn’t who he seems to help her get back to her father and the life she lost when he left her four years ago.
Flyy Girls: Lux AND Micah – The first two books in this new series about four Harlem highschoolers. The Flyy girls are a trio of girls who seem to have it all together – just the sorts of girls Lux  should hang out with to help her stay out of trouble. Then Micah’s world is upended when her perfect older brother dies.
Greythorne – Book 2 in the Bloodleaf Trilogy. A princess on the run because of her magical abilities flees to her friend’s family mansion. But it holds secrets that might mean she isn’t as safe there as she hoped. This series sounds great! I have both books in this series on my library list.
The Inheritance Games – First in a new series by the fabulous Jennifer Lynn Barnes! When Avery inherits a mansion and fortune from a man she never met, there are plenty of puzzles to solve as she moves into his old home – with the four grandsons he disinherited when he left all his money to her. I have had this pre-ordered for weeks. This is my top pick for the week.
The Insomniacs – A competitive diver with insomnia after a fall spends her waking nights with her neighbor/crush, trying to put her memory of that day back together.
Love & Other Detours – Book 3 in the Love & series. Lina is desperate to leave Italy and time with the father she never knew until she receives a journal her mother kept when she was alive. Through the journal, Lina sees Italy in a new way – and discovers a secret that will change everything.
Majesty – Book 2 in the American Royals alternate history series about an America ruled by royalty instead of democracy. As Princess Beatrice prepares to become the country’s first Queen, her siblings and their friends wrestle with their own secrets and choices.
Punching the Air – A novel in verse about a teen convicted of a crime he didn’t commit who finds refuge in words.
Queen of Volts – The third and final book of the Shadow Game series. Enne and Levi are forced into a dangerous final game where they will have to decide if they are partners or rivals.
Recommended for You – The employee who sells the most books at Once Upon will receive a holiday bonus. And Shoshanna needs that money. But new hire, Jake, who doesn’t even read, is starting to outsell her. So Shoshanna is just going to have to take him down. I will be reviewing this one soon – I can’t wait to read it!
Sanctuary – A near-future dystopian story where everyone is chipped and tracked, which makes it extra hard to survive as an undocumented immigrant. When Vali’s mother’s status is discovered, Vali has to get herself and her brother to the sanctuary state of California before it’s too late.
Save Steve – Billed as “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels meets The Fault in Our Stars.” Steve is a jerk – a cancer patient, boyfriend of the most perfect girl, Kaia, and a jerk. But when Kaia asks Cam to help her pull off a fundraiser for Steve’s experimental treatment, he agrees, hoping it will show Kaia that he is really the guy for her, not Steve. But Steve sees through Cam’s plan and is determined to make Cam’s life miserable. This is already on my library list.
The Somebody People – Sequel to The Nobody People. Fahima’s old friend has been manipulating those who gained superpowers after the Pulse and building an army to fight anyone who would oppose him. This leaves Fahima to rely on unproven allies to help her fight for everyone’s freedom.
Teen Titans: Beast Boy (Graphic Novel) – A sequel of sorts to Teen Titans: Raven, although she doesn’t make an appearance in this book. This is Gar Logan’s origin story. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
Unbirthday – Book 10 in the Twisted Tale series of fractured fairy tales. The characters Alice met in Wonderland are appearing in photographs she takes around town. I’m not a Wonderland fan, but the premise of this one sounds fascinating.
We Are Not Free – The story of a group of 14 Japanese-American teens who are sent to internment camps during World War II.
Better Than Life – Teen Girls’ Bible Study Book: How to Study the Bible and Like It – A nine-session study of Psalm 63. (Videos included in leader’s guide.)
The Extraordinary Life of Malala Yousafzai AND Michelle Obama – Leveled readers for English Language Learners.

Books for Adults

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Avengers Extinction Key (Trade Paperback) – A prequel to the Marvel’s Avengers game. An ancient group of heroes once assembled to fight the Zodiac, a group of foes who used a Key to channel their powers. When the Key was lost, the Zodiac went into hiding. Now they are returning, and the Avengers are answering the call to fight once again. But if they are to have any hope of winning, they will need to find the Key.
A Case of Cat and Mouse (Hardcover) – Book 12 in the Magical Cats series. Kathleen is using her skills as a librarian to advise a reality baking show that is filming in town. When one of the judges is killed, Kathleen and her very special cats, Hercules and Owen, are on the case.
The Christmas Swap (Trade Paperback) – Since Emma has no chance of getting her dream White Christmas in Arizona, she signs up for a house swap in Colorado. When Tyler catches a glimpse of her, he decides not to leave after all. Tyler hopes to keep his identity as a famous musician and songwriter a secret, but Emma’s friend finds out and decides she wants him for herself. I could see this as a Hallmark movie, easily!
Gored of the Rings (e-book) – Book 1 in the Matchmaker Marriage Mysteries series, a spin off from the Matchmaker Mysteries by Elise Sax. Gladie is married now, and after three years of wedded bliss, there have been no dead bodies or murders to solve. Frankly, Gladie is a little bored. Her Grandma Zelda has decided to expand their matchmaking business into wedding planning and put Gladie in charge. When a member of the wedding party is killed during the festivities Gladie planned, she’s on the case. I have picked up a prequel for the original series – Road to Matchmaker – to try it out.
Off With Their Heads (e-book) – Book 1 in the Wonderland Library Mystery series. (This is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.) Wonderland, Alabama embraces their ties to the classic stories with an annual Tumbledown Festival. But when a guest is killed at the festival, and her mentor bizarrely confesses, librarian Emerson Bloom starts investigating.
One for the Books (Hardcover) – Book 11 in the Library Lovers Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay. As Lindsey and her friends scout out a location for her upcoming wedding, they stumble across a body – the justice of the peace who was supposed to perform her wedding. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
A Rogue of Ones Own (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the League of Extraordinary Women series. Lucie and her suffragettes have enough money to take over a publishing house to advance their agenda, but the last obstacle, Lord Ballentine, sets an outrageous condition – a night in her bed.
Seven Ways to Kill a King (e-book) – A princess is out to kill the seven murderous kings who destroyed her life. I’ve pre-ordered this one.
Star Wars: Thrawn: Chaos Rising (Harcover) – Book 1 in the Ascendancy Trilogy which will explore Thrawn’s origins and the home of the Chiss Ascendancy.  I haven’t read any of the Thrawn books so far (my husband has enjoyed them), but this one sounds amazing!
The Way Out (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Forbidden Minds series. Natural pregnancy has been deemed an unnecessary risk when artificial means have been developed. But a reporter investigating the new technology and subsequent laws discovers that some natural-born children have developed supernatural powers. She teams up with a former Marine whose son has some of those powers, and both women become targets for those who want them silenced. This sounds fascinating.
When No One Is Watching (Trade Paperback) – A thriller from the author of the Reluctant Royals series. As Sydney’s neighborhood starts changing, she notices her long-time neighbors disappearing. Sydney turns her frustration into something fruitful by digging into the history of the neighborhood with one of the new residents. But what they discover is truly disturbing.
Yours to Keep (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Man of the Year series by the author of the Central Park Pact series. A sidelined shortstop heads home to recover and to attend his high school reunion. But things don’t go the way he expects them to.  This sounds fun. (This is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.)
28-Day Prayer Journey: A Daily Guide to Conversations with God (Trade Paperback) – The latest from Christian writer Chrystal Evans Hurst. Includes three daily prompts, space for writing, as well as prayer and praise prompts.
Do It Afraid: Embracing Courage in the Face of Fear (Hardcover) – The latest from Joyce Meyer. Recognize, confront and conquer fear.
Is God Speaking To Me?: How to Discern His Voice and Direction (Booklet) – A 64 page booklet from author Lysa TerKeurst about learning to recognize God’s voice.
Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio (Hardcover Graphic Novel – September 4) – A 50th Anniversary look at the Kent State shooting when National Guardsmen shot and killed four unarmed students, and wounded several others, protesting the Vietnam War.
The Primal Gourmet Cookbook: Whole 30 Endorsed: It’s Not a Diet If It’s Delicious (Hardcover) – 100+ gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free recipes.
Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation As an Exercise in Hope (Trade Paperback) – The author, a New Testament scholar, posits that reading Scripture from the perspective of Black church tradition helps address the issues of our times. He also explores how the Bible speaks to topics often ignored by white interpreters such as ethnicity, policing, slavery, and political protest. This is also at the top of my list for this week.
Seeking the Lord: A 30 Day Start to Your Journey  (Trade Paperback) – A 30 day devotional exploring the lives of 22 people from the Bible who sought and found God. (This is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.)    
Star Trek: Quibbles with Tribbles (Puzzle book) – A puzzle book for Trek fans.
Who Will Be a Witness?: Igniting Activism for God’s Justice, Love and Deliverance (Trade Paperback) – A call to action for the Church to respond to the need for justice in our times. This is on my September list, too.

Either I am just getting better at my book research, or September 2019 has just been a HUGE month for publishing. The list of great books out this month has been overwhelming. And we have a lot more out this week.

(Note there are SEVEN books out this week categorized for “older middle grade readers.” Sometimes this means kids 10-12, or 12-14, or 10-14, so basically in the upper elementary/middle school age range.)

Books for Kids

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Eee-Moo! – A platypus egg hatches on a farm and the platypus says “Eee-Moo” and the animals think he is an emu and therefore should travel to Australia where he “came from.”
Explorers – A wordless picture book about a family’s trip to the museum.
Pigeon Math – The storyteller struggles to share a tale of pigeons as they keep flying off and changing the number of birds in the scene. This looks darling.
Reading Beauty – From the author of Interstellar Cinderella comes this book-related take on Sleeping Beauty. A princess who is cursed to fall into a death-like sleep if she ever gets a papercut hunts for the fairy who cursed her so she can bring books back to her kingdom. This is on my list for this week!
This Book Just Stole My Cat! – Ben’s cat disappears into the gutter of the book. I get such a kick out of this series.
The President Sang Amazing Grace – The true story of President Obama singing Amazing Grace at the site of a church shooting during his eulogy.
Pete the Kitty Goes to the Doctor – A leveled reader about going to the doctor.
If You Love Fashion, You Could Be…. – A new leveled reader in this line of nonfiction books that explore career choices.
Dragon Trouble – Book 5 in the Dragonling series that has new cover art.
Mia Mayhem Stops Time – Book 5 in the fun Mia Mayhem superhero chapter book series.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Bookwanderers – A girl living with her grandparents finds out she can travel into stories when her favorite book characters start showing up at her grandparents’ bookstore. This sounds fun!
Explorer Academy: Double Helix – Book 3 in the Explorer Academy series. A boy trying to find his missing mother hears his father has disappeared, too, and his guardian leaves in search of him while the boy and his friends continue their quest.
Remarkables – A new story from Margaret Peterson Haddix. A girl in a new town discovers a mysterious group of teens called the Remarkables who can disappear and reappear like magic.
The Stolen Show – Book 18 in the Nancy Drew Diaries series. Nancy and her friends track an international jewel thief at a dog show.
Two Cats to the Rescue – Book 5 in the Stick Cat series. Stick Cat and Edith are on a rescue mission to find Millie who has wandered off.
What Was the Berlin Wall?
Amy’s Diary: The World Is Upside Down (Older Middle Grade) – Book 2 in the Amy’s Diary series for older middle grade readers. Amy heads to her grandparents’ farm as a distraction from her recent break up and other events at home.
Anya and the Dragon (Older Middle Grade) – A girl promises to help trap a dragon in an effort to help her family with money problems. But when she gets to know the dragon in question, she starts to think she should save it instead.
The Crossover (Graphic Novel – Older Middle Grade) – A graphic novel adaptation of Kwame Alexander’s amazing book, The Crossover.
Emmy in the Key of Code (Older Middle Grade) – A friendship story with a coding and music angle. A musician discovers coding – and a new friend – at her new school, but a series of disappointments leaves her feeling like her new life isn’t so great after all.
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages (Older Middle Grade) – The long-awaited fourth book in the Mysterious Benedict Society series. A new society member and a new threat send the kids onto a new case.
The Tyrant’s Tomb (Older Middle Grade) – Book 4 in the Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan. The god Apollo has been turned into a teenager and sent on a quest that should restore his godly powers. In this book, Apollo heads to Camp Jupiter and connects with some friends from the Heroes of Olympus series. I started this series, but didn’t stick with it, but the connection to Heroes is a FUN twist.
Born to Fly: The First Women’s Air Race Across America (Older Middle Grade) – A middle grade history of the 1929 Air Derby, the first women’s air race across America.
A Dream So Dark – Book 2 in the Nightmare-Verse series after A Blade So Black where Alice confronts a new villain in Wonderland.
The Infinite Noise – A teen running back develops a supernatural gift of extreme empathy. He’s an Atypical. And when his empathic gifts draw him toward another student at his school, his therapist encourages him to befriend the other teen. Based on the Bright Sessions science fiction podcast about a group of therapy patients. I had never heard of this podcast, but now I am thinking about trying it.
Six Goodbyes We Never Said – Two teens connect over their grief as well as their struggles with mental illness (depression, anxiety, OCD, etc.).
Slay – A Black teen video game developer sees her creation at the center of a media firestorm when a game-based conflict spills over into the real world. What was once a haven for Black gamers becomes the focal point of conflict over “anti-white discrimination.” This sounds fascinating.
Strings – Book 2 in the Ables series. Three years after their last major battle, the Ables, a group of disabled kids with superpowers, find new challenges in a world hostile to those with special abilities. I’ve heard great things about the first book in this series.
Verify – The latest from Joelle Charbonneau, author of The Testing and other YA novels. In this dystopian story, in a world of unprecedented peace and complete honesty, the death of a teen’s mother launches her into a search for truth that will show her secrets her government doesn’t want anyone to find. This is on my list for this week.
Who Put This Song On? – A depressed teen feels like the whole world is shouting the rules that everyone needs to follow while she is wondering if it is time to decide for herself how she wants to live.

Books for Adults

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The Amish Christmas Cookie Club (Mass Market Paperback) – Sequel to the delightful Amish Cookie Club (♥♥♥♥½ – review to come later this year) by Sarah Price. Edna Esh and her friends use their cookie baking Fridays to talk about their families – and maybe do some more matchmaking!
Carpet Diem (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Tallie Graver Mystery series. When Tallie is up for a big , new cleaning contract against her fancy rival, she has to wonder how the woman can do the work she says she does and still maintain that manicure. When she finds her rival dead in a rolled up carpet, Tallie will be sleuthing again.
Christmas Cocoa Murder (Hardcover) – Three holiday themed mysteries – a dead Santa in a hot cocoa-filled dunk tank, a Chocolate lab at the scene of a murder, and death at a Christmas-themed escape game. These sound fun!
Christmas Cow Bells (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new series. A woman starts her life over just in time for the holidays with a big move and a shift to a new job as an organic micro-dairy farmer and cheese-maker. But a murder in the neighborhood has a way of throwing off her holiday groove. This sounds fun!
Coming Home for Christmas (Trade Paperback) – When a man finds his long-lost wife seven years after she disappeared, he needs her to come home to prove he didn’t murder her. But neither of them are sure the kids – or the town – are ready to accept her. I’ll be reviewing this one next week.
Cup of Holiday Fear (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 10 in the Bakeshop Mystery series. When Jules invites the Torte crew to a local Dickens Feast to celebrate the holidays, she has no idea murder is on the menu. I never miss a book in this series.
The Empty Birdcage (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Mycroft and Sherlock series by NBA All-Star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This time the brothers are looking into a murder of someone in the Queen’s extended family while Mycroft is also looking into a kidnapping.
Fudge Bites (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Candy-Coated Mystery series where a zombie festival for Halloween is used as a cover for murder.
Have Yourself a Beary Little Murder (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery Series. The sisters are sleuthing once again when the mayor is killed and stuffed into his Santa Bear suit for the village parade.
A Killer Carol (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in Laura Bradford‘s Amish Mystery series. Claire is asked to help a young Amish couple convince the police that they aren’t responsible for the deaths of the older Amish couple they had been visiting just before they died. As Claire looks into things, she’s not even convinced herself that they aren’t guilty. I have several of the books in this series on my TBR shelves.
Last Pen Standing (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new series. Delta quits her job and invests her early-inheritance into a stationery store in Montana. But there’s a murder at the site of their first event, and Delta’s new business partner is suspected of involvement in the crime. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Lavender and Mistletoe (e-book, Novella) – A brilliant woman decides researching love is the perfect holiday challenge for her to take up since everything else in her life is clicking along. But the subject she chooses might be the perfect match for her if she can let love take its course instead of trying to approach it like science. This sounds cute.
Mischief in New Orleans (e-book) – Book 2 in the Accidentally Undercover Mystery series (after Peril in Pensacola). Evie and Dora are looking for evidence for another case when they stumble onto a murder. I haven’t read either of these books yet, but this series sounds fun!
Murder in the Balcony (Trade Paperback) – Sequel to the fantastic Murder at the Palace.  Nora is drawn into another murder investigation as she juggles The Palace and her personal life. I’ve already requested this from the library.
Murder in the Corn Maze (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Granny Reid Mystery series by G. A. McKevett. This series takes place when Savannah, star of McKevett’s long running series, was a kid. A skull found in the middle of the local corn maze might be connected to the mystery of what happened to Granny’s mother. I enjoyed the first book, although I did think that readers who are not already familiar with the characters will have trouble getting into this series.
Murder in the First Edition (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series. A bookstore owner discovers her donation of a rare copy of A Christmas Carol has been stolen when she also discovers the dead body of the woman running the charity auction.
No Judgments (Hardcover) – When a hurricane severs power and access to a Florida island, a young woman teams up with her boss’s sexy nephew to rescue as many of the pets on the island whose humans can’t get home as she can.
Puppy Christmas (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Forever Home series. Lila knows that donating a service puppy and its training is a great business move, but she’s not prepared for the impact Ford Ford and his daughter Emily will have on her life when they receive the donated pup. I’ll be reviewing this next week. (This was so good, I grabbed the first book off my TBR shelves and read it right away – delightful!)
Tide and Punishment (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Seaside Café Mystery series. Everly would rather be enjoying the first Christmas in her iced tea shop, but instead she has to be sure her Aunt Fran isn’t accused of murder when her rival for the office of mayor is found dead.
Two Bites Too Many (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Sarah Blair Mystery series. When her sister’s business plans get shot down, it’s Sarah’s mother who is suspected of killing the chair of the city council that nixed the plan.
An Unforgettable Christmas (Trade Paperback) – A Christmas story from Hallmark Publishing. When her workaholic boss ends up with amnesia, a widowed mom steps in to care for him. Both of them get a fresh look at his life thanks to the amnesia. I’ll be reviewing this one in a few weeks.
Beautiful Boards: 50 Amazing Snack Boards for Any Occasion (Hardcover) – A how-to book to build your own snack boards for celebrations and every day use. The pictures for this are gorgeous.
Christ in Crisis: Why We Need to Reclaim Jesus (Hardcover) – The latest from Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners. His premise is that Christians have become disconnected from Jesus. Wallis explores 8 questions Jesus either asks or is asked in Scripture and uses those to ask readers if they are aligned with the priorities of Christ. This is on my wish list for this week.
Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love (Hardcover) – A memoir from Jonathan Van Ness from the Netflix hit, Queer Eye. I’ve already requested this one from the library.
How Not to Get Eaten by Ewoks (Hardcover Gift Book) – A humorous guide to surviving the Star Wars universe.
The Unqualified Hostess: I Do It My Way So You Can Too! (Hardcover) – From my fave, Whoopi Goldberg, who asserts that readers have everything they need right now to set a great table for entertaining and hospitality. I can absolutely hear her voice as I read the full description of this book. I can’t wait to read the whole thing (although right now it is PRICEY at $35 for 128 pages).
You Are the Girl for the Job: Daring to Believe the God Who Calls You (Trade Paperback) – From the title alone, I would be buying this book. Embrace the idea that God has prepared you for this moment in your life – and prepared this moment for you. A workbook for the video series for this releases October 1, and a DVD/Study Guide set releases October 15.

Here are some of the books coming out this week!

Books for Kids

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Dear Mr. President – A boy who has to share his room hears that the president wants to build a border wall. And that seems like a good solution to the boy’s problems, too.
Don’t Call Me Bear – Koala is sick of being called a bear, and he’s ready to let everybody know!
Five Minutes (That’s a Lot of Time) (No It’s Not) (Yes It Is) – It’s all about perspective in this new picture book about a kid and “five minutes.” The sample pictures I’ve seen are outstanding! Can’t wait to read this one .
The Squirrels Who Squabbled – Two squirrels fight over the last pinecone of the season.
Born to Draw Comics: The Story of Charles Schulz and the Creation of Peanuts – A picture book biography of the creator of Charlie Brown and Snoopy.
An Elephant and Piggie Biggie-Biggie – The second collection of Elephant and Piggie books.
My Tooth Is LOST! – The third Monkey & Cake book. Monkey has lost his tooth, and he’s afraid the Tooth Fairy won’t come.
Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures – Heroes & Villains – Leveled reader about the heroes and villains of Star Wars.
Snazzy Cat Capers: The Fast and the Furriest – Book 2 in the fun Snazzy Cat Capers series. The Furry Feline Burglary Institute (FFBI) sends Ophelia in after thieves steal an artifact from a vault. But the Central Canine Intelligence Agency (CCIA) is on the case, too.  I got a kick out of the first book in this series.
Spy Penguins: The Spy Who Loved Ice Cream – Book 2 in the Spy Penguins series. Jackson and Quigley didn’t get to join the Frosty Bureau of Investigation (FBI), but they are still on the hunt for adventure. And adventure finds them when they have to prove their favorite uncle isn’t a master thief. This series sounds fun.
Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures – Illustrated chapter book of Star Wars mini adventures.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Guts – The highly anticipated next book from Raina Telgemeier. Another autobiographical tale of young Raina, who this time is having a lot of tummy trouble which coincides with stress at school.
It’s Me, Two – Book 2 in the Catwad series with funny stories about two cats.
Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus – Sequel to Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus about a girl born without arms. In the sequel, Aven moves on to high school.
Paws vs. Claws – Book 2 in the Queenie and Arthur mystery series. Arthur the dog is worried about his humans and the stresses that are piling up for their family while Queenie is distressed that the neighbor’s cow has gone missing which means she is not getting her morning cream.
Top Secret Smackdown – Book 3 in the Mac B., Kid Spy series. This time, ravens have been stolen from the Tower of London, and Mac is off to Iceland to solve the case.
The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue – Book 3 in the Vanderbeeker’s series. The Vanderbeeker kids are on spring break and having  a grand old time of it until city officials show up at their mother’s bakery. I have heard rave reviews about this series. Book 1 is on my TBR shelves.
Mammal Takeover: Journey through the Cenozoic Era – Book 3 in the Earth Before Us series focuses on the mammals that thrived after the destruction of the dinosaurs.
Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation (Older Middle Grade) – First in a new series from the author of Spy School, The Last Musketeer, and the FunJungle series. The CIA drags a young genius into the hunt for a secret Einstein equation that could save – or destroy – the world. This looks SO fun! For readers 10 and up.
The Humiliations of Pipi McGee (Older Middle Grade) – Pipi has decided this is the year she is going to right all the wrongs and humiliations of her past before she goes to high school next year. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow. For readers 10 and up.
It’s a Whole Spiel – A collection of stories about Jewish teens.
Shatter City – Book 2 in the Impostors series from Scott Westerfeld (Uglies). Frey has taken her twin sister’s place as she tries to find her missing sister and take revenge on those who created her.
Suggested Reading – When the principal at her school bans a bunch of classic stories, Clara decides to strike back. I already have this one on hold at the library.
The Survival List – When her sister commits suicide, a young woman digs into the puzzle she left behind to find out why.

Books for Adults

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A Gingerbread Romance (Trade Paperback) – Based on a Hallmark movie from 2018. An architect teams up with a baker in a life-sized gingerbread house competition.
A Golden Grave (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Rose Gallagher mystery series about a maid-turned Pinkerton detective dealing with paranormal activity. And this time Rose’s job is to protect Teddy Roosevelt who is running for mayor of New York City.
Love on Lexington Avenue (Trade Paperback) – Book two in the Central Park Pact series. Claire is still reeling from the death of her husband, even though he was a philandering jerk. Her solution is to remodel their brownstone so it feels like a fresh start. The famous contractor her friend recommends might be more trouble than the job is worth. I am ADORING this series! I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
A Trick of Light (Hardcover) – A gifted hacker and social media darling runs into a vlogger who has cyberkinetic powers after a lightning strike. And together they decide to right the wrongs in the world. This one is on my list for this week.
Bread for the Resistance: Forty Devotions for Justice People (Trade Paperback) – A devotional for those standing up to injustice in the world, a necessary but exhausting work.
Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood (Hardcover) – A gift-sized book of lessons from Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Generation Friends: An Inside Look at the Show that Defined a Television Era (Hardcover) – A behind-the-scenes look at the TV show Friends.
How to Be a Family: The Year I Dragged My Kids Around the World to Find a New Way to Be Together (Hardcover) – Memoir from a writer about the year he traveled with his family to get out of their rut and see how families around the world live together.
Raising Worry-Free Girls: Helping Your Daughter Feel Braver, Stronger, and Smarter in an Anxious World (Trade Paperback) – Helping your girls deal with worry and anxiety from a Christian perspective.
Teaching When the World Is on Fire (Hardcover) – Advice for K-12 teachers wanting to engage students with today’s real-world issues.

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Big Bird (Board Book) – A board book celebrating a Sesame Street favorite.
Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck (Board Book) – Board book celebrating Cookie and his foodie truck.
I Am Brave (Board Book) AND  I Am Caring (Board Book) – Board book versions of Meltzer’s Ordinary People Change the World series of picture book biographies.
Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border – A family travels to the border of California and Mexico to celebrate Christmas with their Abuela.
Fairy Science – The latest picture book from the delightful Ashley Spires. Esther the fairy believes in science instead of magic which is handy. When a tree in the forest stops growing, Esther uses her science skills to look for the cause. I cannot wait to read this one!!
I Am Marie Curie AND I Am Walt Disney – The latest picture book biographies in the excellent Ordinary People Change the World series.
Musical Mac – A shy millipede wants to compete in a talent show, but he’s too shy to compete by himself. When he tries to join a band there’s no group that will take him. The sample pages I have seen look delightful! I can’t wait to read this one, too!
A Mustache Baby Christmas – Mustache Baby becomes Elf Baby at Christmas time, and he’s eager to help his friend Javier whose beard turned white so he can be Santa Baby. But when Elf Baby finishes helping with all the new toys, he decides to keep them for himself. This is another one I will be looking for this week!
You’re In Good Paws – His distracted parents accidentally take Leo to the animal hospital to have his tonsils removed. This looks fantastic!
Didi Dodo Future Spy: Robo-Dodo Rumble – Book 2 in the series. Koko’s cookie shop is in trouble when a Robo-Dodo starts selling cookies for only a penny.
Judy Moody, Book Quiz Whiz – Book 15 in the Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald. This time Judy, Stink and their friends are competing in a quiz tournament about books. This was delightful! I’ll be posting a full review tomorrow.
Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue AND Kitty and the Tiger Treasure – The first two books in a new early chapter book series about a superhero cat.
The World Series Kids – Part of the Ballpark Mysteries series.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Astronuts – First in a new series. Four hybrid animals created to find planets suitable for life after the Earth is destroyed check out the Plant Planet. Addresses some environmental issues in a fun, space-related story. I can’t wait to read this one!
Kid Normal and the Rogue Heroes – Sequel to Kid Normal. Kid Normal and his friends meet up with the world’s worst supervillain.
Max Eintsein: Rebels with a Cause – Book 2 in the Max Einstein series, the latest from the team up of James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein. Max and her genius friends are off to tackle a water crisis while dodging kidnappers.
Magic Misfits: The Minor Third – Book 3 in the Magic Misfits series by Neil Patrick Harris. I enjoyed the first book and felt it had a Lemoncello-esque feel to it. In this book, Theo the violinist is the central character, and the kids are up against a suspicious ventriloquist.
Stargazing – A middle grade graphic novel. Two kids become friends and one confesses to the other that she sometimes has other-worldly visions. But those visions have an earthly cause and soon the girl is in the hospital. How does a kid be a best friend to someone fighting for her life in a hospital? This one is going to be amazing.
The Art of Harry Potter Mini Book of Magical Places – Small gift book with art from the Harry Potter films.
Broken Strings (Older Middle Grade) – When a middle schooler gets cast in Fiddler on the Roof, she thinks her Jewish grandfather might have things in his attic the school production can use. But she discovers an old violin with broken strings and some secrets of her grandfather’s past that he wants to keep to himself. This is one of the best books I have read all year! I will be posting a full review of this tomorrow. The intended audience for this is older middle grade readers – kids 10 and up.
Cracking the Bell – A teen who finds order and structure on the football field after a family tragedy wonders if the costs of football are worth it after he suffers a concussion. This is a timely story for teens. I have this on my library list.
Frankly in Love – When a Korean teen falls in love with a white girl, going against his family’s expectations, he turns to a Korean friend for a fake dating scheme to keep their parents off their backs. But things don’t go the way they planned.
The Liar’s Daughter – A teen raised in a cult is reunited with her biological mother when the government raids the cult. But she is determined to get back to her Family no matter what.
Lost and Found – A teen with a “micropower” of finding lost things thinks his power is a waste because it only makes people think he is a thief. But a police detective thinks his power could be a gift for the case of a missing girl.
The Magnolia Sword – A story of Mulan.
A Match Made in Mehendi – A teen in a long line of Indian matchmakers accidentally sets up her cousin and everyone thinks she has the family “gift.”  But when she starts making matches at school via an app, she turns the social hierarchy upside down and people are NOT happy.
Rebel Girls – A punk rock teen at a conservative Catholic school puts her girl-power vibe to work when her older sister is accused of having an abortion, an act that could get her expelled from school.
Tiger Queen – A princess who must fight in the arena to keep her kingdom must flee to the desert when she faces a fight she cannot win.  I am intrigued by this one.
A Treason of Thorns – After seven years of exile after her father’s treason, Violet returns home to the magic of Burleigh, but the magic has become wild and tormented in her family’s absence.
When She Reigns – Fallen Isles, book 3. After the events of the first two books, everything in the Fallen Isles is being destroyed. But if Mira can find the bones of the very first dragon, she might be able to save the dragons and the people she loves.

Books for Adults

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Captivating in Love (Trade Paperback) – Maverick Billionaires, book 6. When Rosie and Gideon agree to watch a friend’s son while that friend is on their honeymoon, they have no idea what sort of matchmaking trouble the boy and Rosie’s son can cause together. But when Rosie and her son are in danger, Gideon will put everything on the line to protect them.
Don’t You Forget About Me (Trade Paperback) – When a woman loses her job and finds out her boyfriend is cheating all in the same day, it sends her life spinning. To get some control back, she takes the first job she finds, as a bartender at a new pub. She has no idea it’s owned by “the one who got away.” And he doesn’t remember her at all. I have this on hold from the library.
The Girl with the Pearl Pin (Trade Paperback) – First in the Society of Single Ladies series about a crime-solving group made up of single lords and and overlooked ladies. In this book, it’s a case of a fake engagement to protect a young woman accused of a crime until the Society can ferret out the truth.
The Institute (Hardcover) – New from Stephen King. Kids with special gifts are kidnapped and taken to the Institute while their parents are murdered. The kids are manipulated into using their gifts by unscrupulous staff . Those who don’t cooperate are brutally punished. No one escapes the Institute. This sounds so interesting, but I’ve never met a creepy King story that couldn’t give me nightmares, so I will probably skip this one. I just need someone to tell me what happens so my curiosity is satisfied.
The Nobodies (Hardcover) – A thirty-something journalist who has been unemployed for almost a year takes the only job she can find – a junior copywriter at a new tech start up. But something about the company seems fishy. So she teams up with some of the other outcasts at her job to see if they can get to the truth. I’ll be reviewing this later this week.
One Christmas Star (e-book, September 12) – A woman with no musical talent in charge of a school Christmas program teams up with a washed out superstar to work on the program. This looks fun! I’m ready to start digging into Christmas books in preparation for the season.
Strands of Truth (Trade Paperback) – A woman who grew up in foster care discovers a half-sister with a similar story – dead mother, mysterious and unknown father. When the man who took Harper in as a teen is attacked, she and his son team up to find out what secrets are threatening everything they care about.
Survival Can Be Deadly: A Discount Detective Mystery (Trade Paperback) – First in the Cameron Chandler Mystery series. A single mom and new widow takes a job at a detective agency. When she picks up the runaway girl case her missing predecessor was on, she ends up at a survivalist camp armed with only a Swiss Army knife. This sounds fun and quirky.
The Testaments (Hardcover) – The highly anticipated sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale. This picks up the story 15 years later.
The Vanished Bride (Hardcover) – First in the new Brontë Sisters Mystery series. The Brontë sisters of Yorkshire in 1845 are drawn into the mystery of a missing mother and gruesome crime scene. This sounds terrific! I have this on my library list.
Where the Light Enters (Hardcover) – Two women doctors in the late 1800s are called in to consult on a missing person’s case and a murder.
The Wonder of Now (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Sanctuary Sound series. A breast cancer survivor is writing a memoir and reliving every trial when she’d rather be moving on from it all. She’s hoping her European book tour will give her a chance to consider other writing projects and think about her future, but her PR agent is determined to keep her on track and focused on her current project. Currently available for free through Kindle Unlimited.
Antoni in the Kitchen (Hardcover) – One of the Queer Eye guys from Netflix, Antoni Porowski is the food and wine guru for the show. This book is designed to help anyone become more confident in the kitchen.
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 (Hardcover) – A unique look at the events of September 11, 2001 from those who experienced it directly.
A Republic if You Can Keep It (Hardcover) – Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch shares his journey to the Court and his views on his role in regard to the Constitution.
Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know (Hardcover) – The latest from Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell uses real-world examples to talk about how our systems for evaluating the safety and integrity of people we don’t know are flawed.
The Truth about College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together (Trade Paperback) – An “easy-to-follow” go-to guide for families gearing up for the college admissions process.
Why Meadow Died: The People and Policies that Created the Parkland Shooter and Endanger America’s Students (Hardcover) – A Parkland father teams up with an educational expert to investigate what allowed Parkland to happen and how to keep it from happening again. This seems to be less about gun control and more about school policies and procedures. I am curious about this one.
Yale Needs Women: How the First Group of Girls Rewrote the Rules of an Ivy League Giant (Hardcover) – This explores what it was like for the first groups of women to attend Yale University in the early 1970s.
Your Battles Belong to the Lord (Hardcover) AND Study Guide (Paperback) – The latest from Joyce Meyer. Recognize your true enemy and learn to overcome him by recognizing what tasks are yours to do and what belongs to the Lord.