An Appearance of Impropriety by Jayna Breigh

 As the youngest female judge in LA, Mahalia Jackson has her career goals carefully aligned. But when her mentor tells her she needs to break her shell of professionalism and show a little heart by volunteering for the Junior Jurors program, her plans begin to falter.

Attorney JD Cash heads up the Junior Jurors program, a project born out of his own troubled past. He leverages his position as an attorney to fulfill God's calling on his life, supporting the orphans and widows of society who have lost beloved husbands and fathers to TransNation's eighteen-wheeled time bombs roaming America's freeways.

Mahalia's rule—never date a lawyer—is a straitjacket that tightens when she presides over the case where JD serves as a young widow's attorney. But when an earthquake leaves JD and Mahalia in a vulnerable position, her resolve begins to waver and she finds herself opening up to the sad-eyed lawyer. But online, anonymous colleagues and adversaries attempt to destroy Mahalia’s reputation and career.

A legal drama threaded with romance, An Appearance of Impropriety will show readers that real love is worth the risk.

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An Appearance of Impropriety: A Romantic Legal Drama: Breigh, Jayna: 9780825448874: Amazon.com: Books

Jayna is an award-winning writer of Romantic Legal Dramas - Suspenseful, Twist-Filled Mystery/Thrillers with Romance. She practiced “Big City Law” in Los Angeles for over a decade. Jayna loves funny, inspirational and painfully cute social media. The only real life drama allowed—British period pieces and games of Wordfeud.

A Million Little Miracles by Mark Batterson

In this 40-day guided journal complementing Mark Batterson's A Million Little Miracles, the New York Times bestselling author of Win the Day helps us seek the God who is constantly moving in our midst, revel in his greatness, and catalogue the miracles he works all around us.

Think you've never experienced a miracle? Mark Batterson claims you have never not! Now he empowers readers to cultivate a holy curiosity about themselves and the world they live in.

In this compelling, author-curated journal, readers will spend 40 days seeking God and growing in relationship to him by pausing to observe and remember the many ways God is at work in their lives every day. Through guided Bible readings and thoughtful journal prompts, Batterson invites us to consider the miraculous work of God going on around us. He highlights three aspects of God that we take for granted: God is bigger than we think, closer than we realize, and better than we can imagine.

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 A Million Little Miracles Guided Journal: 40 Reflections to Awaken Wonder: Batterson, Mark: 9780593192894: Amazon.com: Books

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church (NATIONAL.CC) in Washington, D.C. One church with multiple campuses, National owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, the DC Dream Center, and the Capital Turnaround (capitalturnaround.com). Mark holds a doctor of ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five books, including The Circle Maker, Chase the Lion, and Win the Day. He has also authored the children's books The Best Worst Day Ever and God Speaks in Whispers with his daughter, Summer Batterson Dailey. Mark and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Bed Slime Blues by Kris Tarantino

 Bedtime routines get a jolt of silliness and some sweetness as four monster friends try to resist bedtime in this wonderful bedtime tale.

It's time for bed... except monsters DON'T DO bedtime!

Iggy doesn’t want to take a bath. Zee-Zee’s jammies are icky. Fleck whines and stomps when it’s story time. The bedslime blues are impossible to escape—even for the usually cheerful and enthusiastic Snoodle!

With all their stomping and clomping, how on earth will these gruffy, grumpy monsters lie down for a peaceful night of ZZZ’s?

Author Kris Tarantino and New York Times bestselling illustrator Cori Doerrfeld partner once again with this fun and funny bedtime read-aloud for any "little monster" that won't go to sleep!

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Bedslime Blues: Tarantino, Kris, Doerrfeld, Cori: 9780593797754: Amazon.com: Books

Kris Tarantino is a children’s book author whose work is filled with humor, playfulness, and whimsy. Her debut picture book, Be My Valenslime, received critical praise and a starred review. Before becoming an author, Kris worked in marketing for companies that make fun products like toys, books, and balloons.

A Gritty Little Tourist Town by Willa Goodfellow

 Willa and her wife travel to Costa Rica to visit family—but what they discover is far more than they expected . In a sleepy fishing village on the Pacific coast, they meet a vibrant, curious group of expats who have come looking for paradise—or at least cheap beer.

At the Pato Loco, a local bar where stories flow as freely as the drinks, they meet Mama, the blind seventy-two-year-old co-owner of the place; her partner Mary, Willa’s sister, a bartender and installation artist; Richie, the aging hippie whose words are few but weighty; and a whole cast of unforgettable characters who will answer questions like:

• What is it really like to live in another country?
• How important is it to learn the local language?
• How does a tight-knit community face the pressure of development?
• Can you survive dengue—and would you want to?
• Oh, and how do you perform CPR on a fish?

A collection of stories full of humor, heart, and wisdom from unexpected places, A Gritty Little Tourist Town follows Willa as she discovers connection within this community of strangers—one bar tale at a time.

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Amazon.com: A Gritty Little Tourist Town: Bar Tales from Costa Rica eBook : Goodfellow, Willa: Kindle Store

Willa Goodfellow is the author of Prozac Monologues: A Voice from the Edge. Combining comedic monologues written in the throes of hypomania with later edgy commentary and information about the bipolar spectrum, the book describes her being misdiagnosed with major depression and treated with a series of antidepressants that made her progressively more suicidal and led to her early retirement. She turned a corner as she researched her symptoms, discovered her bipolar diagnosis, and put together her own recovery.

After decades in more conventional ministries as an Episcopal priest, this graduate of Reed College and Yale Divinity School has turned her preaching chops toward mental health journalism and advocacy. Goodfellow is an author, blogger, tweeter, and public speaker. Still doing comedy, she is currently working on her next book, Bar Tales of Costa Rica.

Remember To Eat by Meryl Ain

 Following a Jewish family from before World War II to the not-too-distant future, this collection of loosely linked short stories explores the experiences of Marjorie, a baby boomer; her mother, Alice; and the friends and family that make up their community over the decades. As they each pursue higher education and choose career paths, both mother and daughter encounter challenges as they make choices within a changing society—from in-law problems to illness to antisemitism and beyond.

Sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous, Remember to Eat takes on themes including patriarchy, technology, the changing role of women, the challenges of raising children, the COVID-19 pandemic, complex family relationships, and what it means to be a Jew with empathy and insight. Ultimately, the twenty-two stories contained in these pages offer not only an intimate journey into these women’s lives but also an illuminating portrait of the times in which they live.

Pick up your copy here....

Amazon.com: Remember to Eat and Other Stories: 9781684633401: Ain, Meryl: Books

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Meryl Ain is a writer, author, podcaster, and career educator. She is a sought-after speaker and has been interviewed on television, radio, and podcasts. Her newest book, Remember To Eat and Other Stories will be published in January 2026. Her novel, Shadows We Carry, received two awards, including the 2023 Best Book Awards Winner in Historical Fiction. It is the sequel to The Takeaway Men, her award-winning debut novel, which was published in 2020. Her articles and essays have appeared in numerous publications, and she is the author of two nonfiction books. The host of the podcast People of the Book, she is also the founder of the Facebook group Jews Love To Read! The group currently has more than 5,550 members. Meryl holds a BA from Queens College, an MA from Columbia University, and a doctorate in education from Hofstra University. She and her husband, Stewart, a journalist, live on Long Island and spend the winters in Florida. They have three married sons and six grandchildren.

The Great Waking Up by Sarah Shin

 Anastasia loves to dream.

Every morning, she shares the wonderful adventures from her dreams with her mother, Anika. And each night, Anika tells Anastasia about the dreams of their people to inspire new ones.

Her favorite is the dream of the Great Waking Up, the day when there will be no more death! And that dream feels close to coming true as Anastasia watches the Deliverer, Jesus, heal and awaken people from a deep, dark sleep. So when Jesus is crucified, Anastasia is left heartbroken. How can the Great Waking Up happen if He is not here?

But hope is not lost...because Anastasia will soon discover the tomb is empty and that Jesus is risen! The Great Waking Up has begun!

Join Anastasia on a journey of dreams and faith, where hope transcends despair, and the promise of eternal life brings joy to all.

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Amazon.com: The Great Waking Up: The Story of Easter: 9780593580608: Shin, Sarah, Maeng, Shin: Books

Sarah is a theologian, author of books for children and adult readers, wife, and mom. She was the former Associate National Director of Evangelism for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA and now serves as a lecturer at Westminster Theological Centre, UK, teaching practical theology and doctrine. See her videos about Beyond Colorblind on Seminary Now.

Someone to Stay by Michelle Major

 From USA Today bestselling author Michelle Major comes a slow-burn, banter-packed small-town romance about a grumpy NFL single dad, the sassy nanny he never wanted, and the one unforgettable night that leads to the surprise of both their lives.

PIPER:
NFL superstar Felix Barlowe was never supposed to be the one.

He’s my brother-in-law’s brother and my nemesis--until one unforgettable night changed everything. I thought it would get him out of my system, not leave me with a secret.

I’m hiding out in a secluded cabin, pregnant and panicking, when Felix shows up with a two-year-old and no idea how everything is about to change. So I do something reckless and offer to help as his temporary nanny.

It seems like an easy way to buy myself time. But watching him bake sourdough at dawn and read bedtime stories on repeat, not to mention those late-night kisses, I start to fall for him in a way I never saw coming.

Felix Barlowe thinks he’s not built for forever. I think he might be perfect for me.

FELIX:
Piper Hart has hated me from day one. She’s all spark and sass and completely immune to my charm. But now she’s helping with a little girl I never expected to raise, and I can’t seem to get the night she spent in my arms out of my mind.

I’ve failed at love three times--definitely not relationship material. But Piper makes me want to believe again.

And when I discover her secret, I’ll do whatever it takes to prove I’m not a man who leaves. I’m the one who stays.

Someone To Stay is Book 5 in The Skylark Series. A small-town standalone with a guaranteed HEA. If you like grumpy/sunshine, enemies-to-lovers romance with forced proximity, found family, and all the slow-burn heat, this one's for you.

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Amazon.com: Someone To Stay: A Small Town Surprise Pregnancy Sports Romance (The Skylark Series): 9798243754668: Major, Michelle: Books

USA Today and Top 5 Amazon Bestselling author Michelle Major writes swoon-worthy stories full of heart, heat, and guaranteed happily-ever-afters. When she’s not dreaming up romance, you’ll find her hiking the trails (or avoiding housework) in her home state of Colorado.

Connect with her at her website or come say hi on Instagram and Facebook.

My Thoughts...

We finally got Piper and Felix's story. It was so worth the wait. Major has not disappointed with this series at all.  The characters and the storyline were spot on, and I read this book in one sitting. 4 stars and I am shouting about the Skylark series to the whole world.

Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Reign of Terror by Leo Silva

 Reign of Terror by Leo Silva is a gripping true crime memoir that takes readers deep inside the brutal world of Mexico’s Los Zetas cartel. Former DEA Special Agent Silva brings unparalleled insight, recounting his years on the front lines in the relentless fight against one of the world’s most violent criminal organizations. This powerful narrative unveils the hidden realities of the drug war, from the complex relationships between the cartels and law enforcement to the personal sacrifices made by those who risk everything to protect others. With raw detail and authenticity, Silva sheds light on the lives of those entangled in a web of corruption, power, and violence. Reign of Terror is more than a recount of battles won and lost—it’s a story of courage, resilience, and the cost of justice. A must-read for fans of true crime and international intrigue.

Pick up your copy here...

Reign of Terror: Silva, Leo: 9781964406411: Amazon.com: Books

Leo Silva is a retired DEA Special Agent who served more than two decades on the front lines of the U.S. drug war, including ten years as the Resident Agent in Charge in Monterrey, Mexico. His acclaimed memoir Reign of Terror offers an unflinching look at the human cost of the cartel conflict, while his upcoming collection Narco Tales blends true-to-life insight with powerful storytelling inspired by his years in Mexico and South Texas. A captivating speaker and writer, Silva brings authenticity, grit, and heart to every story he tells—revealing the people, places, and moments that shaped a life lived on both sides of the badge.

Recipe for Joy Monica Comas

 Belle Sutton is a little lost these days.

She has a stalled career, a New York apartment she can’t afford, and her sister, Lexie, is more estranged with each passing year. Belle’s one true consolation is her beloved grandmother, who’s powered through her own broken family ties with a tenacious zest for life and a passion for cooking. But when her grandmother suddenly passes away, a grieving Belle feels her only connection to the past is gone forever.

That’s when Belle receives a series of letters, along with a cookbook, photographs of Belle and Lexie when they were young and happy, and her grandmother’s last wish that the sisters mend severed ties before it’s too late. For the love of Gran, a challenge is met that sets Belle and Lexie on a journey of hope, reconciliation, surprising discoveries, and the nourishing power of family, forgiveness, and tradition. All they have to do is follow the directions.

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Amazon.com: Recipe for Joy: A Novel eBook : Comas, Monica: Kindle Store

Monica Comas was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from The Ohio State University and a master’s in journalism from New York University. She’s worked as a newspaper reporter, a journalist covering stocks and the economy, and a financial editor. But fiction has always been her true love. Monica lives in New York with her husband, John, and their tiny shih tzu, Poirot.

The Exception by Vi Keeland

 A new, sexy standalone from #1 New York Times Bestseller, Vi Keeland.

He lives by a set of rules. She might be his one exception.
I just wanted a distraction, something to take the edge off before facing a wedding I was dreading. So on the flight back to New York, I signed up for a dating app. Harmless enough, right?
Wrong.
Turns out, it wasn’t just any app—it catered to people with very specific tastes. By the time I realized it, I was already on my date.
Tall, confident, and sinfully handsome, Jagger Langston seemed like the full package. The chemistry between us was instant—electric enough to burn the whole city down. Though things took a turn when we figured out I’d misunderstood who should join the app. We laughed it off, said goodbye, and went our separate ways.
Or so I thought.
Until I walked into my new internship Monday morning, ready to put the weekend behind me, and there he was—my boss.
Now I’m caught between the rules he lives by—and the temptation to make him break every single one of them.

Pick up your copy here...

The Exception - Kindle edition by Keeland , Vi , Royer-Ocken, Jessica . Contemporary Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-seven languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria, Israel and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films, and two of her books have been optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.

Stop by and meet Vi in her private reader group, Vi's Violets, on Facebook!

My Thoughts... 

I was hooked from the very beginning. This book was the best escape from reality. Hello Jagger! The tension, the laughs. This book hit all the right notes. Romance lovers are in for a fantastic treat with this book. I very rarely give 5 stars out they are saved for the best books, and this one is a 5 star read. 

Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Pendergast by Preston & Child

 It only took six months for the life of Special Agent Dwight Chambers to crumble around him. First, he lost his partner, and then, tragically, his wife. Returning to work at the New Orleans Field Office, Chambers is dismayed to find himself saddled with mentoring a brand new FBI agent—a certain A. X. L. Pendergast. As Chambers tries to pull himself together, his enigmatic and exasperating junior partner pulls an outrageous stunt that gets both of them suspended.

Pendergast welcomes the banishment, because it gives him the opportunity to investigate a peculiar murder in Mississippi that has captured his fancy. Chambers grudgingly goes along. What starts off as a whimsical quest swiftly turns into a terrifying pursuit, as Chambers and Pendergast uncover a string of grisly, ritualistic killings that defy any known serial killer profile.
 

Thanks in large part to Pendergast’s brilliance and unorthodox methods, they solve the case and find the killer… and that is when the true horror begins.

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Pendergast: The Beginning (Agent Pendergast Series): Preston, Douglas, Child, Lincoln: 9781538765746: Amazon.com: Books

Douglas Preston is the author of forty books, both fiction and nonfiction, thirty-two of which have been New York Times bestsellers, with several reaching the number 1 position. He has worked as an editor at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and taught nonfiction writing at Princeton University. His first novel, RELIC, co-authored with Lincoln Child, was made into a movie by Paramount Pictures, which launched the famed Pendergast series of novels. His recent nonfiction book, THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE, is also in production as a major television series from Apple. His latest nonfiction book, THE LOST CITY OF THE MONKEY GOD, tells the true story of the discovery of a prehistoric city in an unexplored valley deep in the Honduran jungle. In addition to books, Preston writes about archaeology and paleontology for the New Yorker, National Geographic, and Smithsonian magazines. He is the recipient of numerous writing awards in the US and Europe, including a shared Edgar Award and an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Pomona College. From 2019 to 2023 he served as president of the Authors Guild, the nation's oldest and largest association of authors and journalists.

Don't let the size of this series scare you. The books can be read as stand alones and this book was by far the best in the whole series, just look at that gorgeous cover.

Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

The Mr. & Mrs. Mistake by Brighton Walsh

 When Willa Jameson stumbled into my bar drunk, heartbroken, and desperate to save her family farm, I offered to marry her. For “convenience.”

Which is hilarious, because nothing about my attraction to this hurricane with hips has ever been convenient.

Now we’re sharing a roof, a bed, and a potential felony thanks to our fake marriage.

It’s supposed to be a favor between not-quite-friends-but-not-quite-enemies. Then our late-night arguments turn into practice make out sessions.

But according to her, that changes absolutely nothing between us.

No matter how many lines we draw, we keep crossing them—in the kitchen, on the porch, in the tiny bed that’s become both heaven and hell.

And the woman who swears she hates me starts looking at me like I might be exactly what she needs.

She calls me her temporary husband. I call her my daily torture, because every day we play house, it feels less like pretending and more like home.

When this ends, I don’t know how I’m going to forget what it felt like to call her mine. So either I walk away with her, or I don’t walk away at all.

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: The Mr & Mrs Mistake (Steele Brothers of Starlight Cove): 9781685180515: Walsh, Brighton: Books

Award-winning USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brighton Walsh spent a decade as a professional photographer before taking her storytelling in a different direction and reconnecting with her first love—writing. She likes her books how she likes her tea—steamy and satisfying—and adores strong-willed heroines and the protective heroes who fall head over heels for them. Brighton lives in the Midwest with her real life hero of a husband, her two kids—both taller than her—and her dog who thinks she’s a queen. Her boy-filled house is the setting for dirty socks galore, frequent dance parties (okay, so it's mostly her, by herself, while her children look on in horror), and more laughter than she thought possible. Connect with her online at brightonwalsh.com/quicklinks.

The banter between these two was the best. Lincoln is my favorite book boyfriend of 2025. The audio book was so good. I highly recommend this one. My favorite book in the series.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

The grumpiest Billionaire by Pippa Grant

 That didn’t turn out the way I planned it.

All I wanted was five minutes with Oliver Cumberland to explain to him that proposing to my sister—again—is a bad idea.

Instead, I’m now trapped in his car, on a cross-country road trip I didn’t anticipate, attempting to talk the grumpy billionaire out of something much, much worse than an arranged marriage for business purposes.

I don’t care if Mr. Square Jaw McMoneyPants wants to give away his entire fortune and disappear to live out his life working the popcorn counter at a movie theater or whatever in Podunk, USA.

But I do care that dozens of non-profits will lose their funding without Oliver in charge of his family’s empire. After all, I work for one.

I have to convince him to go home.

But by the end of the first week of our (mis)adventure, one thing is becoming obvious:

Oliver refusing to return home is the least of my problems.

The fact that I’m starting to fall in love with my sister’s ex is the real issue.

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The Grumpiest Billionaire: A Road Trip Romcom (Small Town Sisterhood Book 2) - Kindle edition by Grant, Pippa. Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Pippa Grant wanted to write books, so she did.

Before she became a USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling romantic comedy author, she was a young military spouse who got into writing as self-therapy. That happened around the time she discovered reading romance novels, and the two eventually merged into a career. Today, she has more than 30 knee-slapping Pippa Grant titles and nine published under the name Jamie Farrell.

When she’s not writing romantic comedies, she’s fumbling through being a mom, wife, and mountain woman, and sometimes tries to find hobbies. Her crowning achievement? Having impeccable timing for telling stories that will make people snort beverages out of their noses. Consider yourself warned.