Friday, May 23, 2025

Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter GIVEAWAY!

 

Lifelong best friends say 'I do' to a marriage of convenience, trading vows for a financial safety net and benefits. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Katherine Center.

Evie Bloom pays attention to the details. Her very job depends on it―as an aspiring Foley artist, she’s responsible for every crisp footstep, smacking kiss, and distinct sound in film and television. So when she’s selected for a fellowship opportunity that would make all her career dreams come true, she’s quick to spot the catch: there are no health benefits, and for someone with a chronic illness, that’s a non-starter.

Theo Cohen is an elementary school teacher who can't afford to live on his own in LA, and is facing eviction after his roommates couple up and move out of their rent-controlled apartment. But there is one loophole in his lease: each tenant must meet an income threshold, unless the tenants are married.

For Theo, the answer is obvious. Marry Evie, his best friend since forever. It’s not as if they don’t spend all their free time together anyways. Not only will Theo be able to keep his apartment, but Evie can be added to his insurance plan so she can accept her dream fellowship. It’s such a logical, practical solution. Never mind that Evie doesn’t really want to be married―not to Theo, not to anyone―ever. Or the small, complicating fact that Theo has always been a little bit in love with Evie.

But it doesn’t have to be a big deal. Marriage. It will just give them space to breathe, and much-needed relief from the daily financial stress. It won’t change anything.

It’s . . . going to change everything.

Pick up your copy here...


Marisa Kanter is the author of modern love stories for both teens and adults. Born and raised in the suburbs of Boston, her obsession with books led her to New York City, where she worked in publishing for a number of years. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, where she writes by day and crochets her wardrobe by night.

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Heart Aweigh by Shannon Dunlap GIVEAWAY!


 Cheeky septuagenarian matchmakers, the "Shippers" are on a mission to secure a dreamy Mr. Right for Abby O'Brien, a sunny, optimistic childcare worker for Monarch Cruises. She loves her job looking after the children of vacationing parents, but harbors one unfulfilled desire: to be a wife and a mother.

With his shy five-year-old daughter in tow, divorced elitist lawyer Spencer Randolph Masterson has anything but romance in mind. His goal on the MS Buckingham is to persuade his mother, Daisy, to leave her ridiculous cruise ship lifestyle and return to New Orleans. But Daisy isn't interested in life on land. Besides, she and her matchmaking posse have a marriage to arrange.

When a secret from Daisy's past surfaces and threats of blackmail start flying, the Shippers must protect their own while attempting to convince Spencer's scarred heart to weigh anchor and boldly set sail for a future with Abby.
Pick up your copy here...                                                                                                                                     Hearts Aweigh: A Novel: Dunlap, Shannon Sue: 9780825448706: Amazon.com: Books

Shannon Sue Dunlap lives in hot and humid Houston, Texas where she writes stories with a dose of laughter and a spoonful of love. Shannon loves traveling, chocolate, Jane Austen, and Jesus. She's a big fan of happy endings and believes the heavenly Father has tailor-made one for each of us. You can find out more at www.shannonsuedunlap.com.

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

The Conductor by Eva Shaw GIVEAWAY!

 

Strikes, blackmail, and murder plague Beatrix amid growing unrest following the supremacist ideologies of World War II.

Beatrix Patterson has faced monsters before, but in a world teetering on the edge of social change, she comes up against her most complicated case yet. In one chaotic morning, her friend has been arrested following a fight during a strike at the railroad, the railroad owner was found murdered, and another close friend admits to being blackmailed.

Amid growing tensions between the Union Pacific Railroad and workers' strikes, Beatrix must go undercover before more people are killed or injured. But as she dives into this investigation, she finds one consistent group at the center.

In order to bring down the racial supremacist group digging its claws into Santa Barbara, California, she must put her intense loathing aside to stop the threat before it can reach Thomas, their baby girl Birdy, and the life they're building. With secrets everywhere she turns, Beatrix must keep her cards close to her chest if she hopes to escape this case unscathed.

Pick up your copy here...


Fun facts...or personal quirkiness???

• Eva admits to being a “terrier person,” and previously adopted senior Welsh terriers. The latest family member is two-year-old Coco Rose and admits, “Coco is a dream now, but she was the most challenging puppy I’ve ever met.”

• Eva supports Days for Girls International and 50 percent of the profits from “The Seer” goes straight to helping girls throughout the world have menstrual dignity. Why? Proper menstrual health management is a universal human right, a critical component of gender equity and vital to women and girls reaching their full potential. Please visit daysforgirls.org.

• One of the world’s pickiest eaters, Eva loves delicious food. Being choosy, she says, “Means I learned to cook well because I like to eat well.”

• Eva has traveled to more than 35 foreign countries and 48 states. She smiles just thinking of packing a bag, standing in line for TSA or pulling out her passport.

• An avid gardener, she obsessed with growing flowers and in the spring her garden explodes in a kaleidoscope of colors.

• Little-known fact: Eva plays the banjolele. “Not well, mind you, but I love it. I’ve even started playing in my church’s ukulele/banjolele band.

My Thoughts... Murder, mystery, blackmail, that's all you had to say, and I was on this book. Shaw has written a good mystery series. Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jessica Guerrieri Giveaway


 Leah O'Connor is torn between her current existence and the allure of a phantom life that can no longer be hers.

Swept off her feet by the gentle charm of Lucas O'Connor, Leah's unexpected pregnancy changes the course of her carefree and nomadic existence. Over a decade and three children later, Leah is unraveling. She resents the world in which her artistic aspirations have been sidelined by the overwhelming demands of motherhood, and the ever-present rift between herself and her mother-in-law, Christine, is best dulled by increasingly fuller glasses of wine.

Christine represents a model of selfless motherhood that Leah can neither achieve nor accept. To heighten the strain, Lucas's business venture, a trendy restaurant that honors his mother, has taken all his attention, which places the domestic demands squarely on Leah's shoulders. Seeking an ally in her sweet sister-in-law Amy, Leah shares a secret that, if made known to the wider family, could disrupt the curated ecosystems that keep the O'Connors connected.

As Leah dances with the devil while descending further into darkness, her behavior becomes more erratic and further alienates her from both Lucas and the wider family. Leah's drinking threatens the welfare of her family, prompting Amy to turn to Christine for support. A duel for loyalty ensues. When the inevitable waves come crashing down, it's the O'Connor women who give Leah a lifeline: the truth of what they've all endured. But Leah alone must uncover the villain of her own story, learn how to ask for help, and decide if the family she has rejected will be her salvation or ultimate undoing.

Pick up your copy here...


Jessica Guerrieri (grr-AIR-ee) is a writer and novelist who lives in Northern California with her husband and three daughters. With a background in special education, Jessica left the field to pursue a career in writing and raise her children. With over a decade of sobriety, she is a fierce advocate for addiction recovery.

My Thoughts...
Motherhood, loss, addiction this debut had it all and all the feels to go with it. I can't wait to see what Guerrieri writes next. Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Monday, May 19, 2025

The Anxiety Algorithm by James and Ronnie Kent GIVEAWAY!


 Imagine a Life Where Anxiety and Stress No Longer Control You


Experiencing a recurring pattern of anxious thoughts or becoming gripped by worry over a sudden difficult situation can feel overwhelming. But you don’t have to stay under the control of your anxiety. You can create a specific 
plan to relieve your anxiety and stress—one that is just right for you. It’s what father-and-son authors Ronnie Kent (a medical doctor and behavioral specialist) and James Kent (a therapist) call The Anxiety Algorithm. It is based on Philippians 4:8 in the Bible and is supported by other passages of Scripture and trusted counseling techniques.

An 
algorithm is “a step by step procedure for solving a problem or accomplishing some end.” Once you understand the foundational principles of The Anxiety Algorithm, you can tailor it to fit your special needs and your particular worry triggers. This book will help you to:

• Use simple exercises to immediately begin to alleviate anxiety
• Discover the “Two Steps Back” method to reorient your focus
• Reshape the way you see and interact with the world
• Make constructive thoughts your go-to way of thinking
• Invite the God of peace into your life

The Anxiety Algorithm provides a clear, effective plan you can turn to whenever you need a mindset of peace or as you seek to address long-standing anxiety and worry. Even in the midst of life’s hurts, setbacks, and challenges, you can experience true fulfillment and joy. 

Pick up your copy here...

No author photos

James Kent, PsyD, has over ten years of clinical experience. He is Executive Vice President of Faith and Wellness with the Moore-West Center for Applied Theology. James has worked in healthcare as a psychotherapist and with patients to treat a variety of mental illnesses. He has experience in treating individuals, couples, and families, and as a consultant. He has a special interest in working with faith-based organizations and communities to further equip the church to help individuals and families with mental health challenges and well being. James and his wife, Jessica, have four children and live in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Ronnie Kent, M.D., recently retired after a forty-one-year practice as a board-certified pediatrician and behavioral health specialist in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He spent twenty-five years focused on treating children and adolescents with problems at school and related disorders, primarily ADHD, learning disabilities, behavioral issues, anxiety, and depression. He currently leads the ministry Faith & Wellness. Ronnie is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and the UM School of Medicine, has been teaching Bible classes in churches for decades, and is the father of three and grandfather of ten. He and his wife, Anne, have been married for forty-five years. 

Thursday, May 15, 2025

The Summer of Staring Over by Savannah Carlisle GIVEAWAY!

 


When Callie Jackson left her island hometown years ago with big dreams, she knew precisely the star she wanted to be, and she achieved it. At least for a little while.

Jesse Thomas had always planned to move to Nashville with Callie, but he was supposed to get there before her, knocking out his first year at Vanderbilt while she finished high school.

Neither of them imagined she'd get discovered so early or that family turmoil would put Jesse's family on the brink of financial collapse. He needed to be on Big Dune Island, and she needed to leave. So, Callie did the only thing she could think of that would make him stay: she cut all ties.

Then, all her dreams came crashing down. As she sorts through the wreckage of her career, her Uncle Lonnie forces her to return to Big Dune Island to clean out the family home he's recently sold. And she knows she'll have to face Jesse.

A touching beach read getaway that will have you wishing for long strolls along the waterfront town of Big Dune Island. If you're searching for a beachy, feel-good, small-town romance, look no further!

Pick up your copy here...


Savannah Carlisle writes heartwarming romance novels with idyllic beach settings. Her stories transport readers to fun and quirky small towns where friends feel like family. So, if you’re ready for a mental vacation, you’ve come to the right place!⁠

Savannah jokes that she's living her own Hallmark movie because she's a former big city corporate attorney who now lives in the small beach town of Fernandina Beach writing romance novels.

When she isn't busy at her laptop writing her next book, Savannah enjoys putting her feet in the sand with a good book in hand. She lives on Amelia Island in Florida with her husband, German Shepherd, and three cats.
I love my trip to small town Big Dune Island. Carlisle has given us a sweet romance, and I again have devoured this fun summer beach read. I can't wait to go back to Big Dune Island again soon. I recommend this one.
The perfect characters very well developed, and the setting could not be more perfect.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Nellie's Big Splash by Cori Doerrfeld


 When Nellie the sea turtle hatched, she was on a beach surrounded by lots of her brothers and sisters. Soon all the other turtles joyfully ran into the ocean and swam away, but Nellie? She was too scared. The ocean was loud, it was deep, and it was unknown. She stayed on the safe, dry sand instead.


But when night starts to fall and it gets too dark and cold for a tiny little sea turtle on land, Nellie realizes that if she looked past the scary crashing waves, there's actually a whole world out there, just waiting for her to jump in.

Pick up your copy here...


Cori received a B.A. in studio art from St. Olaf College, as well as her Post Baccalaureate in illustration from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. To date, she has illustrated numerous titles including several self-authored titles. Cori lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is married to comic book artist Tyler Page. Together they have two storytellers in the making-their daughter, Charli and their son, Leo. Cori is currently represented by Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency. www.prospectagency.com Discover more of Cori's work at her own site. www.coridoerrfeld.com

The Backwater by Vikki Wakefield GIVEAWAY!

 

The Kelly family has always been trouble

When a fire in a remote trailer park community kills nine people, including 17-year-old Sabine Kelly's mother and sister, Sabine confesses to the murders. Shortly after, she escapes custody, flees her broken hometown, and disappears into the thick forest and winding backwaters of her childhood refuge, the river. 

Recently let go from marriage, motherhood and her career, journalist Rachel Weidermann has long suspected Sabine made her way back to the river—and now, twelve years after the "Trailer Park Murders," she has the time and the tenacity to corner a fugitive and land the story of the year, hoping the success would allow her to stitch back together the ragged edges of her life. But Rachel's ambition lights the fuse leading to a brutal chain of events, and the web Sabine weaves will force Rachel to question everything she believes.

As forceful and unrelenting as the river that drives its story, The Backwater is a stunning, suspenseful novel about class, corruption, truth, and justice by a powerful new voice in crime fiction.

Pick up your copy here...


Vikki Wakefield writes fiction for young adults and adults. Her books explore family, class and relationships in a contemporary setting. Her novels All I Ever WantedFriday BrownInbetween Days and Ballad for a Mad Girl have been shortlisted for numerous awards. This Is How We Change the Ending won Book of the Year: Older Readers, Children’s Book Council Awards, 2020. After You Were Gone, a psychological thriller, is her first novel for adults. 

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans GIVEAWAY!


 

Can a family's dark history repeat itself?

Estella Ecker has returned to Rockfall House, the last place on earth she wants to be. Years after she ran away from her overbearing father, she has been forced back home to walk in his footsteps, teaching at the college he dominated and living in the fabulous home where he entertained artists and scholars for decades―and perhaps she owns it now, because her mercurial mother has disappeared. At the center of everything―the whispers, the rumors, the secrets―is her father's library of rare books, which she had been forbidden to touch while he was alive to stop her.

Everyone in town is watching Estella, with her dead father's name on their lips, and no one seems to care about her missing mother. Who were her parents, really, and is the answer hidden somewhere in the depths of Rockfall House? And who will Estella be, if she gathers enough courage to find that answer? What she will discover is that no one can escape the secrets hidden in this dark library.

Suspenseful and unsettling but ultimately triumphant, The Dark Library by acclaimed author Mary Anna Evans is a compelling tale of mystery, family secrets, and the quest for truth.

Pick up your copy here...



I'm the author of the upcoming historical suspense novel THE PHYSICISTS' DAUGHTER and the award-winning Faye Longchamp archaeological mysteries. My thriller, WOUNDED EARTH, is available in print, ebook, and audiobook editions.

I'm a university professor of writing, and I'm also a chemical engineer by training and license, with a degree in engineering physics thrown in for spice. This background came in handy while writing THE PHYSICISTS' DAUGHTER, which features Justine Byrne, who works at a Rosie-the-Riveter-type job during World War II. I like to describe Justine like this: "The Nazis are no match for the physicists' daughter." As for the protagonist of my archaeological mysteries, I'd say, "Faye Longchamp digs up trouble." If you like strong, smart, independent female protagonists, I think you might like Justine and Faye.

My other fiction includes several short stories, available separately as ebooks, and as a collection in both ebook and print form, called JEWEL BOX: SHORT WORKS BY MARY ANNA EVANS. YOUR NOVEL, DAY BY DAY: A FICTION WRITER'S COMPANION is available for novelists in both ebook and print form.

I am a co-editor with Dr. JC Bernthal of an upcoming book on the bestselling novelist of all time, the BLOOMSBURY HANDBOOK TO AGATHA CHRISTIE. It is very much a labor of love to the Queen of Mystery.

I enjoy reading, writing, teaching, gardening, spending time with my family, cooking, and playing my 7-and-a-half-foot-long monster of a grand piano. For more information on my work, visit www.maryannaevans.com.

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell GIVEAWAY!


 She’s your best friend. She knows all your secrets. That’s why she’s so dangerous.

It starts with a simple favor—an ordinary kindness mothers do for one another. When her best friend, Emily, asks Stephanie to pick up her son Nicky after school, she happily says yes. Nicky and her son, Miles, are classmates and best friends, and the five-year-olds love being together—just like she and Emily. A widow and stay-at-home mommy blogger living in woodsy suburban Connecticut, Stephanie was lonely until she met Emily, a sophisticated PR executive whose job in Manhattan demands so much of her time.

But Emily doesn’t come back. She doesn’t answer calls or return texts. Stephanie knows something is terribly wrong—Emily would never leave Nicky, no matter what the police say. Terrified, she reaches out to her blog readers for help. She also reaches out to Emily’s husband, the handsome, reticent Sean, offering emotional support. It’s the least she can do for her best friend. Then, she and Sean receive shocking news. Emily is dead. The nightmare of her disappearance is over.

Or is it? Because soon, Stephanie will begin to see that nothing—not friendship, love, or even an ordinary favor—is as simple as it seems.

Bell masterfully ratchets up the tension in a taut, unsettling, and completely absorbing story that holds you in its grip until the final page.

Pick up your copy here...


Darcey Bell was born in 1981 and raised on a dairy farm in western Iowa. She is a preschool teacher in Chicago. A Simple Favor is her first novel.

Read this book before you watch the movie. You can thank me later.

Monday, May 12, 2025

You Can Never Die by Harry Bliss GIVEAWAY!


 New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss loved his sweet dog Penny, a joyful part of his life for seventeen years. Every day that he cared for his beloved pet, Harry joked with her, talked to her, and drew the adorable creature―Penny’s presence is unmistakably, hilariously incorporated into Harry’s iconic cartoons. In one, he gazes up at the night sky, remarking on the vastness of outer space, while she digs into the ground, unbothered, fuzzy tail wagging in the air.


Harry grew up in a family of artists, a rowdy and turbulent bunch, and attended art school in Philadelphia. A therapist once suggested that perhaps when he looked at Penny, he saw himself as an innocent child. As Harry grieves Penny’s loss, he reflects on his parents in their later years, his love for his wife and home, and the colorful artists, friends, and mentors who have shaped him.

With humor and gut-wrenching honesty, You Can Never Die is an intimate portrayal of a man making sense of the beautiful and painful world around him. This singular memoir integrates sharply crafted, witty stories with hundreds of gorgeous cartoons and never-seen-before sketches from Bliss’s career.

Pick up your copy here...

No author headshot

Harry Bliss is an internationally syndicated cartoonist and cover artist for the New Yorker magazine. His self titled Cartoon 'Bliss' appears in newspapers throughout the United States, Japan and Canada. Bliss has illustrated over 25 books for children and is currently collaborating with entertainer Steve Martin on books of cartoons. Harry Bliss is the founder of the CCS Cornish Residency Fellowship for graphic novelists, located in Cornish New Hampshire.

www.harrybliss.com

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry Giveaway!


 The gods sent monsters to the five kingdoms to remind mortals they must kneel.


I’ve spent my life kneeling―to their will and to my father's. As a princess, my only duty is to wear the crown and obey the king.

I was never meant to rule. Never meant to fight. And I was never supposed to be the daughter who sealed an ancient treaty with her own blood.

But that changed the fateful day I stepped into my father’s throne room. The day a legendary monster hunter sailed to our shores. The day a prince ruined my life.

Now I’m crossing treacherous lands beside a warrior who despises me as much as I despise him―bound to a future I didn’t choose and a husband I barely know.

Everyone wants me to be something I’m not―a queen, a spy, a sacrifice.

But what if I refused the role chosen for me? What if I made my own rules? What if there’s power in being underestimated?

And what if―for the first time―I reached for it?

Pick up your copy here...


Devney is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author. Born and raised in Montana, she loves writing books set in her treasured home state. After working in the technology industry for nearly a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to enjoy a slower pace at home with her family. Writing one book, let alone many, was not something she ever expected to do. But now that she’s discovered her true passion for writing romance, she has no plans to ever stop.

I don't normally read this genre but after reading Shield of Sparrows I will be reading it at least by this author. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it; I could not put it down. I can't wait for the next book to come!
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Animals of the National Parks

 

America's national parks are some of the most magical places in the world, and home to a diverse array of creatures, both well known and more unusual. From American Bison (which are also the largest mammals in the parks) to flying squirrels (which can glide the length of a football field) to Xeme (which take two full years to grow their adult feathers), this picture book takes children on an enchanting alphabetical adventure through the natural world.

The book features fascinating facts about each animal, including information on where they can be found. A passport page to record visits and an illustrated map of all the national parks will encourage children and their families to make the most of every trip. With beautifully evocative art that's nostalgic yet contemporary, this is a special gift for outdoor and national park lovers of all ages.

Pick up your copy here...


Fifty-Nine Parks is a beloved and renowned art collective that believes public lands and the art of printmaking are worth preserving. They are known for their original poster art, which celebrates America’s national parks and features the work of prominent artists from all around the world. Fifty-Nine Parks donates proceeds of its poster sales to the National Park Service and the series is archived by the Library of Congress. This book was created in collaboration with Fifty-Nine Parks and New York Times bestselling illustrator Kim Smith.

Sometimes You Stay by Liz Johnson Giveaway!


 He was never going to leave the island, and she wasn't going to stay. But if she walked away, she would always wonder . . .

For digital content creator Cretia Martin, home is wherever her carry-on suitcase lands. And it's constantly landing in new places as she travels the world. She's never been interested in settling in one spot--after all, houses are just places that collect junk and tie you down. But when she literally bumps into local dog breeder Finn Chaffey on Prince Edward Island and all the tools of her trade end up in the harbor, she can't exactly leave until she gets things sorted out.

Finn is horrified by the part he played in the accident and offers to help, arranging for Cretia to stay with a friend at the beautiful Red Door Inn. The longer Cretia is forced to remain in one place, the more she discovers what she's been missing with life on the road--and the more she wants to see Finn and his business succeed. But helping him means staying put, the one thing she always swore she wouldn't do, and risking the only thing she's never put on the line--her heart. 

Pick up your copy here...


By day Liz Johnson works in marketing. She finds time to write late at night and is a Christy Award finalist and a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. Liz makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona where she enjoys theater, exploring local history, and doting on her nieces and nephews. She loves stories of true love with happy endings. Find out more about Liz at www.LizJohnsonBooks.com.

I was looking for a fun light read, and I found it. I have enjoyed the Read Door Inn series this one might be my favorite. I love the traveling influencer; I want to travel and tell people about all the places.
The whole don't be like your mom made this a fun read.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Capture the Moment by Suzanne Woods Fisher GIVEAWAY!


 She's ready for adventure--isn't she?


Kate Cunningham is facing the opportunity of a lifetime. As a zoo photographer, she's spent years photographing animals in carefully controlled environments, but now National Geographic has dangled an irresistible prize: If Kate can snag a unique photo of a legendary bear in Grand Teton National Park, they just might publish it. It's the kind of challenge Kate has been waiting for, and she's eager to prove herself in the wild. 

With more enthusiasm than experience, Kate soon realizes that capturing an image of this bear isn't as simple as she hoped. Fortunately, she crosses paths with Grant Cooper, a seasonal park ranger who knows the terrain--and the bears--better than anyone. His tracking skills could be exactly what Kate needs to succeed, and it doesn't hurt that he's easy on the eyes. But they're not the only ones with an interest in the park's most famous bear. And his motives are far from innocent.

Pick up your copy here...


Suzanne Woods Fisher loves stories worth telling about people worth remembering. With over a million copies of her book sold worldwide, this bestselling, award-winning author of more than 30 books is always on the lookout for the unsung hero with an untold story.

Readers are invited to stop by Suzanne's website at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

What a sweet romance with a little mystery this one was. Not Fisher normal story or setting. It makes me want to go to a national park now. It was so much fun to read.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.