Sunday, May 31, 2026

The Empty Side of Our Bed by Bill Beckett


The Empty Side of Our Bed is a heartfelt exploration of life after loss—a raw and honest account of the profound journey through grief, from the painful “firsts” to the quiet moments of survival. In this follow-up to Love, Family, Cancer, Bill Beckett opens up about the emotional aftermath of losing a spouse, capturing the loneliness, the sorrow, and the strength required to face each new day.

This book is for anyone who has experienced the devastating loss of a loved one and is searching for understanding, healing, and hope. With unwavering transparency, Bill shares the painful process of adjusting to a life without their partner, the heart-wrenching “firsts” that follow, the bad days that seem to never end, the duality of memories and the quiet victories of rebuilding a new life after the old one is gone.

The Empty Side of Our Bed doesn’t shy away from the dark days but also offers a message of hope: that even in the midst of unimaginable loss, it’s possible to find new strength and create a life that honors the past while embracing the future. 

Pick up your copy here...




 Bill Beckett is a former IT and digital forensics professional who turned to writing after the loss of his wife, Bonnie, in 2020. He is the author of Love, Family, Cancer, a heartfelt account of their journey through illness. His current project, The Empty Side of Our Bed, is a deeply personal memoir about grief, healing, and rediscovering identity.

A self-described "logical deep thinker" and Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), Bill writes with raw honesty, offering a unique perspective to fellow widowers and anyone navigating profound loss. His insights have been featured on the Open to Hope, Solo Dad, and HSP podcasts, and his work on the "firsts" of grief will be featured in the April 2026 issue of the publication Journeys. Bill is a father, grandfather, and storyteller who believes in the quiet power of words to help us carry on.

Friday, May 29, 2026

The Ledger by Steven Manchester


 Set in a medium-security penitentiary in the mid-1990s, The Ledger is a faith-based story that pulls back the curtain on prison life, allowing the reader a safe peek behind the wall.


Although told from three alternating perspectives—officer, inmate, and sergeant—many of the same questions are asked: Can light be found in the deepest darkness? What about forgiveness, redemption, and grace? And if the code is clear, “loyalty above all things except honor,” when should an officer cross the blue line to police one of his own?

The Ledger is the long-awaited companion novel to The Menu.

Pick up your copy here...

New England's Storyteller Steven Manchester is the author of the soul-awakening novel, The Menu, as well as the '80s nostalgia-series, Bread Bags & Bullies; Lawn Darts & Lemonade; Yearbooks & Yo-Yos. His other works include #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin' Chair, Pressed Pennies and Gooseberry Island; the national bestsellers, Ashes, The Changing Season and Three Shoeboxes; the multi-award winning novels, Dad and Goodnight Brian; and the heartwarming Christmas movie, The Thursday Night Club (NYIFA & LAFA winner). He is the co-author of You Will Be Peter, as well as Officer Erik & the Very Special Dad (written with TV icon, Erik Estrada). His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show and CBS's The Early Show; in Billboard and People Magazines. Three of Steven's short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He is a multi-produced playwright and winner of several book festivals, Including Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Amsterdam, New England, and London (from 2017-2026). When not spending time with his family., this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing.

Thursday, May 28, 2026

Devoted Keeper by Sienna Judd


 I'm currently reading Devoted Keeper by Sienna Judd!

Releases June 4, 2026

Growing up the daughter of a motorcycle club president, I know what men like Rio Mendez are — powerful, dangerous, convinced the world exists for their benefit. So when I walked into his office with blackmail in my bag and two missing women on my conscience, I expected a fight. I expected to hate him.

I was right about both.

Rio reluctantly agrees to help me find the women my father's world swallowed whole — but getting close to the answers means getting close to each other.

His family thinks we're together. A cover story. Fake smiles. Sitting on his lap. It would be simple if he weren't so infuriatingly hard to hate with his hands all over me and his eyes saying things the arrangement never agreed to.

I came here to use him. I didn't plan on him making me want things I'd convinced myself didn't exist.

I sure as hell didn't plan on discovering who Rio really is.

Or that he'd turn out to be my mirror.

I shouldn't trust him. I've never trusted anyone.

But somewhere between the lies we told his family and the truths he pulled out of me, the idea of losing him becomes unbearable.

And as we close in on the missing women, Rio is in trouble, too.

And there's no way of saving both.
Pick up your copy here...

Sienna Judd is a small town, contemporary romance author who lives for all the spice and book boyfriends who are book husband material.

Sienna is an American girl married to her Prince Charming. She lives with her husband, three children, pony, dogs, guineas pigs and countless other animals on a small farm England. She thinks kitchens are for dancing, is everybody's hype girl and might be known for talking too loudly. Like every respectable woman she also loves drinking champagne and eating half of every chocolate in a truffles box.

Her spirit animal is a butterfly.

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Missed Connections by Aimie K. Runyan


 What if you had the chance to revisit every choice that mattered?

Sabrina Sorensen is 37, single, and just lost a fabulous job as manager of a posh Parisian restaurant. She heads home to California for her younger sister’s engagement party, and it's an open door for her mother and siblings to chide Sabrina for her inability to commit to any of her previous jobs and relationships. What they don't know is that Sabrina, for fifteen long years, has been building her résumé in hopes of becoming an inspector for the famed MICHELIN guides—a path that has required keeping her ambitions hidden, even from her family. And, with the job loss, all she’s worked for is in jeopardy. After her mother's final clumsy attempt to fix her up with the charming "boy next door," Sabrina leaves the party and retreats to the Burbank Airport.

The problem? She has nowhere to go.

She arrives at the airport, resolved to put the family conflict behind her and focus on her work, but now her mother's critical voice fills her with doubts. Has she been wasting her life? Faced with the enormity of her next decision, Sabrina breaks down at the ticket counter. The ticket agent pulls her aside and offers her the life-altering opportunity to revisit some of her key life choices, both personal and professional. Sabrina suddenly is given the rare chance to answer the burning question: has she been foolish to sacrifice so much for her dream of becoming a Michelin inspector? And will a spark with an aspiring Danish chef change her priorities altogether?

Pick up your copy here...


Aimie K. Runyan writes to celebrate history’s unsung heroines and the spirit of strong women of any era. She has been honored as a Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice selection, as a five-time finalist for the Colorado Book Awards, and as a nominee for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer of the Year. Both of her 2024 titles have been long listed for the Reading the West Award in Fiction. Aimie is active as an educator and speaker in the writing community and beyond, and is an adjunct professor for the Drexel University MFA in Creative Writing Program. She is a proud member of the Tall Poppy Writers. She lives in Colorado with her amazing husband, two (usually) adorable children, two (always) adorable kitties, and a dragon.

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Bad Boy Era by Amy Daws


 Rule #1 on the Everly Fletcher Matchmaking Manifesto…Never fall for your best friend’s grumpy brother.


Everly is the matchmaking mastermind of her family, but her own love life is a bit of a flop.

Back from four years in Dublin, she’s ready for a quiet summer on Fletcher Mountain helping launch her aunt’s animal rescue center—until Conri “Wolf” Reilly shows up.

Wolf is her college roommate’s infuriating twin brother. He’s brooding, Irish, and college rugby’s resident bad boy with thighs that could crack a watermelon.

His red card reputation has trashed his rugby prospects…until a training camp in Denver comes calling. As a favor, Everly reluctantly gets Wolf a place to stay if he volunteers at the rescue center.

Now Everly finds herself working and living next door to the Irish tattooed grump who treats her like a nuisance—but looks at her like he could press her up against a hay bale until they forget their own names.

Wolf swore he came to America to fix his image, not fall for his sister’s best friend, but the more time he spends with Everly, the harder it is to keep his distance.

Perhaps Everly’s in her bad boy era…or maybe Fletcher Mountain might has its own matchmaking plans.

Perfect for fans of:
  • Grumpy x Sunshine
  • Small Town Romance
  • Irish Rugby Players
  • Overprotective family

Pick up your copy here...


Number 1 Amazon and USA Today bestselling author Amy Daws writes spicy love stories that take place in America, as well as across the pond. She's been known to pen her steamy novels in a tire shop waiting room and that experience inspired her rom-com Wait With Me that was turned into a feature film on Passionflix. When Amy is not writing, she’s likely making charcuterie boards from her home in South Dakota where she lives with her daughter and husband.

Follow Amy on all social media channels under the handle amydawsauthor

Love on the Shelf by Sheila Roberts


 The battle lines are drawn—between a romance-loving bookseller and the shock jock determined to tear happily-ever-afters apart.

Alice Willoughby and her mom run HEA Books, a cozy shop devoted to love stories and the people who crave them. Alice is great at matching customers with their perfect happily-ever-after…she just can’t seem to find her own.
Enter Parker Black, a disillusioned radio host who’s reinvented himself as a romance-bashing shock jock. Bitter from his breakup with a romance author who turned love into a four-letter word, Parker takes aim at the entire genre—and his on-air rants start stirring up trouble for Alice’s loyal customers and their partners. He’s arrogant, aggravating, and absolutely not book-boyfriend material.
Parker’s crusade leads to spirited debates and bookstore protests, but when unexpected sparks fly between the two of them Alice begins to wonder if her favorite trope—enemies to lovers—might actually be playing out in real life. Parker may claim romance is a lie…but is he protesting a little too much?
With sharp wit and plenty of charm,
USA Today bestselling author Sheila Roberts delivers a modern battle of the sexes where the biggest question is simple:
Are romance novels ruining love—or rewriting it? 

Pick up your copy today...


With more than fifty books to her name, Sheila Roberts is a frequent USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller - and a fan favorite. Her Christmas perennial "On Strike for Christmas" was made into a movie for the Lifetime Channel and her novel "The Nine Lives of Christmas" was made into a movie for Hallmark. Hallmark also made a sequel, titled "The Nine Kittens of Christmas." Her most recent novel to hit the small screen was "Christmas on Candy Cane Lane," which aired on the Great American Family Channel in 2022. Before settling into her writing career, Sheila owned a singing telegram company and played in band. When she's not traveling, she splits her time between the Pacific Northwest and Southern California.

Friday, May 22, 2026

The Big Day by Lisa Cheek


 

For years, Lisa Cheek believed commitment wasn’t in her genes. Her dating patterns were clear—date a lot and widely, but never settle down. When anyone wanted to marry her, she backed away. So even she is surprised when, at forty-nine, she finally says “yes” to a proposal and commits fully to her boyfriend, Big Johnson. But when she finds out on their wedding day, after the vows, that they aren’t actually married, she hesitates. Should she take this as a sign to run while she still can?

In
The Big Day,Lisa Cheek invites us to witness her wedding day, with all its hilarity, chaos, and unexpected turns. Throughout, she reviews both her past relationships and the marriages of her family and friends, analyzing the choices of others and reliving the biggest ups and downs of her own love life. Ultimately, she must decide once and for all whether she’s just not marriage material—or if she’s finally found a love worth staying for. 

Pick up your copy here...                                                                                                                                  The Big Day: Saying "I Do" Only to Discover I Didn't – Another Mostly True Memoir: Cheek, Lisa: 9798896363064: Amazon.com: Books


Lisa Cheek is an author and former film and television editor known for her humorous, candid

writing about relationships and identity. Her debut memoir, Sit, Cinderella, Sit, was a People

Magazine pick, an Amazon bestseller, and a Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist, and

was named one of Zibby Media’s Most Anticipated Books of 2025. Her latest

memoir, The Big Day, is a funny, unflinching look at love, marriage, and the

complicated question of whether to stay or walk away. You can find her

musings at One Minute Thoughts From A Pink Head on Substack. She lives in

Los Angeles with two dogs, two cats, and her husband, Big Johnson, where

she has several scripts in various stages of development while working on her

next memoir.

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Spies, Lies & Alibis by Natalie Walters


 Cybil Langford has spent years hiding behind her polished, professional facade as the executive assistant to a powerful real estate mogul, where she's perfectly positioned to collect intel on her boss's criminal network. But when her mission leads her into the path of Lorenzo Ramirez--a ruthless crime boss with deadly plans--she'll need every ounce of cunning and charm to stay one step ahead.

Then he walks back into her life.

Ben Bradley is deep undercover for the FBI, living under an alias, as a financial advisor with a reputation for helping the wealthy and corrupt launder their money. His target? Lorenzo Ramirez, a dangerous crime boss with his hands in everything from smuggling to murder. But when a familiar face from his past suddenly reappears, things get . . . complicated.

The last time Cybil saw Ben, he was an annoying prankster--and her first crush. The last time Ben saw Cybil, she stole a piece of his heart. Neither expected to run into each other at a high-stakes fundraising gala where crime, corruption, and undercover agendas collide.

Forced to work dangerously close, neither knows the other's true agenda. Cybil sees the boy who once broke her heart, now a man whose motives are deeply suspect. Ben sees the woman he never got over but can't determine if she's an innocent caught in the crossfire or a willing accomplice. As they navigate a world of spies, lies, and fragile alibis, they must dismantle the walls around their hearts.

The intel is classified. The trust is fragile. And their covers are one lie away from blowing wide open. 
Pick up your copy here...

Natalie Walters is a best selling author who loves writing romantic suspense with dynamic plots, memorable characters, humor, heart, and adventure.

As an Army wife, she fills her stories with the right balance of romantic and suspenseful tension to get the heart-racing and a cast of witty characters--all of which, may or may not be inspired by true people and/or events.

When she's not writing, she's dreaming of her next vacation, spending time with her family, or chasing after her sock-eating Goldendoodle, Scout. Annnd binging CourtTv.


Monday, May 18, 2026

A Sprinkle of Sweet Serendipity by Rachel Linden


 Paris trained chocolatier and single mother Emmie Wynne gave up her own dreams six years ago when she returned to her Pacific Northwest coastal tourist town to run her family's struggling candy store. Now on her thirty-fourth birthday, Emmie has only one wish, to be granted the vision that every Wynne woman is given once in her lifetime—a shimmering glimpse of her true destiny. This year, when she blows out her candles, it finally comes true.


Her vision is more delectable than she could’ve imagined—her very own artisanal chocolate shop filled with decadent truffles and caramels, and her celebrity crush, Henry Summers, down on one knee. And when Henry suddenly arrives in town for the summer, offering Emmie the opportunity of a lifetime, the future in her vision suddenly seems possible.

But a rekindled connection with Jakob, her former high school best friend turned hunky, brooding tattooed baker, forces Emmie to grapple with the bittersweet realization that her destiny may not be what her heart truly longs for. As the culmination of her vision draws nearer, can Emmie find the courage to create a happiness of her own making? 

Pick up your copy here...


Rachel Mae Linden (who also writes as Rachel Linden) is a novelist and international aid worker whose adventures in over fifty countries around the world provide excellent grist for her writing. She is the author of Recipe for a Charmed Life, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, and several other novels. Currently Rachel lives with her family on a sweet little island near Seattle, WA where she enjoys creating stories about hope, courage and connection with a hint of romance and a touch of whimsy.

Friday, May 15, 2026

The Artful Anna Harris by Tracy Maton


 If the talented Mr. Ripley were a young woman today, she might be Anna Harris: charming, changeable, and perhaps not at all what she seems to be.


"You are quite the chameleon, aren't you? You could wear anything, do anything, and yet you choose plain, plain, plain. Or is it all a front for a secret life?"

Anna Harris grew up in a rough part of London, and learned young that she could become whoever she needs to be, moulding herself to get what she needs and wants. Somehow that has led her to a quaint, sleepy English village, swallowed into the lives of her boyfriend and his close and loving family. She's not unhappy, but there are quiet pressures and illicit temptations even in this storybook life.

When the vivacious Sofia Carstairs moves to the village, Anna is reminded of the freedom she once had. She used to be carefree and rebellious. But is she willing to throw away her future for some fun? Anna's not a bad person, she doesn't want to hurt anyone. But perhaps leading two lives is the path to fulfillment. What would happen if she just tried it out... 

Pick up your copy here...





TRACY MATON has had a varied career as a copywriter, a marketer, a quality improvement ambassador in the UK's National Health Service, and a children's entertainer. When she's not writing, she can be found swimming in her local lake. Tracy was born in Montreal and now lives in Bristol, England, with her husband and three occasionally present children. The Artful Anna Harris is her debut novel.

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Miss Beth Bettencourt by Eve Marie Everson


 Will an unlikely romance tear down Beth’s walls of indifference?


It's 1962 in Bynum, Georgia, and Beth Bettencourt's world is turned upside down when she wakes to a man snoring in the guest bedroom.

She's home alone; her parents are traveling abroad, grieving her twin sister's unexpected death. Instead of accompanying them, Beth stayed in Bynum to tend to her kindergarten and closely guard her own heart.

A beautiful and beloved member of the community, Beth is an unusual specimen for her time as she nears thirty and remains unmarried. She holds deep-seated unforgiveness toward her twin, Elise, who ran off with Beth's beau. To make matters worse, Elise took their grandmother's ring, which had been promised to Beth.

But now a stranger enters her home and her world. David Patrick Martin seems ready to break down her walls of indifference and find the core of Miss Beth Bettencourt. But can he be trusted with Beth's past, her present, and more importantly, her future? 

Pick up your copy here...


Eva Marie Everson is a multi-award-winning author and speaker from Sylvania, Georgia. She is CEO of Word Weavers International and the director of Florida Christian Writers Conference. She coaches new authors through her company, Pen in Hand. Eva Marie and her husband make their home in central Florida

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Where We Belong by Kim Vogel Sawyer


 Thank you Waterbrook for my review copy of Where We Belong by Kim Vogel Sawyer.

Release April 21, 2026

The life of Hester Haak, a widow with no children of her own, takes an unexpected turn when she opens her Kansas home to children from the bustling streets of New York City. The orphan asylum has entrusted her with two sisters and a young boy, and Hester is determined to provide a safe and loving environment for them. Despite the looming uncertainty of their stay, she rises to the challenge, embracing the opportunity to make a difference in their lives.

Meanwhile, Callum Holbrook is grappling with the loss of his wife and the despair that followed. Unable to provide for his family, he made the heart-wrenching decision to place his daughters in an orphanage, promising it was only temporary. Now, with a stable job and a renewed sense of purpose, Callum is horrified to learn that his daughters have been sent halfway across the country. Fueled by determination and love, he embarks on the difficult journey to bring them back.

Through their struggles and triumphs, Hester and Callum discover that family and love can be found in the most surprising places—and that the journey home is paved with hope.

Pick up your copy here...


Award-winning, bestselling author Kim Vogel Sawyer is a wife, mother, gramma, chocolate-lover, cat-petter, and--most importantly--a daughter of the King! With more than 1.5 million books in print in seven different languages, Kim enjoys a full-time writing and speaking ministry. Her "gentle stories of hope" are loved by readers and reviewers alike. Kim and her retired military husband, Don, reside on the plains of Kansas, the setting for many of her novels.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

My Someone By Yuko Torii


 Thank you Penguin for my review copy of My Someone by Yuko Torii.


A heartwarming picture book about a stray dog’s journey to finding his forever home.

A little stray dog wanders the streets alone, afraid of everything he comes across—loud city noises, getting caught in the cold rain, and bigger dogs that fight for scraps. He doesn’t like it!

And he especially doesn’t like it when he gets caught by animal rescue and is forced to be cleaned and scrubbed. But everything changes when a family chooses him to take home, helping him slowly discover all the things he does like—playing fetch, eating delicious food, and being loved forever.

Pick up your copy here...

No Author headshot

Yuko Torii was born in a small town near Kobe, Japan. As a child, she always dreamed of traveling and discovering a new place to call home. Her dreams became a reality when she moved to Los Angeles and received a BFA in fine arts from the Otis College of Art and Design. She then worked at Louis Vuitton as a top hand-painter and a designer of trunks, including the “Malle Mars” (Mars Trunk) now displayed in the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. She also worked as a master embosser for Anya Hindmarch of London. After living in New York for many years, participating in the city’s active arts scenes, she and her husband made the move to Mexico, where she is enjoying the nation’s ancient and contemporary cultural riches, as well as the warmth of its people. Yuko is a self-proclaimed “Queen of Kittyrature,” a storyteller whose trademark characters are feline protagonists (largely inspired by her three cats, Mitternacht, Mondschein, and Parsifal), but she loves dogs just as much!

Monday, May 11, 2026

Thank you Harper Muse and Uplitreads for my Classics


 Thank you Harper Muse and @Uplitreads for my review copies of The Harper Curated Classics.

Aesop's Fables, My Favorite Fairy Tales, Grimm's Fairy Tales, and Classic Princess Fairy Tales.

All four books are hard back with gorgeous, sprayed edges. The illustrations in each book are unique, and these would be perfect on your coffee table or on your bookshelf. They make the perfect gift as well. 

Friday, May 8, 2026

Moonlight Murder by Uzma Jalaluddin

 


When Kausar Khan moved back to Toronto to be closer to her family, she didn't expect to have another murder investigation on her hands so soon—or really ever. But when a young man named Qasim is found dead in their Golden Crescent neighborhood, and when she learns he was close to her granddaughter, Maleeha, what’s a grandmother to do but try and solve the case?

And it’s not just her heartbroken granddaughter spurring Kausar to find answers; it’s also how the circumstances of Qasim’s death remind her of her own teenage son, Ali, and his mysterious death nearly twenty years before. Kausar knows firsthand what a difference closure can make to a grieving parent—and the more she seeks to find that for Qasim's parents, the more she begins to realize that perhaps it's time she finds closure for herself as well.

As Kausar digs into both Qasim’s and Ali’s cases and her “aunty” skills continue to bring more information to light, she can’t help but wonder if the similarities between the two cases are more than just mere coincidence. But how could two deaths, twenty years apart, possibly be related?

Detective Aunty is determined to find out. 
Pick up your copy here...


Uzma Jalaluddin is the author of six novels, including YOURS FOR THE SEASON (2025), a multifaith holiday romcom, DETECTIVE AUNTY (2025), featuring Kausar Khan, a South Asian Miss Marple, MUCH ADO ABOUT NADA (2023), a second-chance romance inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and THREE HOLIDAYS AND A WEDDING (2023), a holiday romcom co-written with Marissa Stapley. Her debut novel, AYESHA AT LAST (2019), was a Goodreads Choice Award Finalist, Cosmopolitan UK Book of the Year and Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of 2019. Her second novel, HANA KHAN CARRIES ON (2021) was an instant Canadian bestseller, and named a 2021 Best Romance Novel by the Washington Post. It is currently in development for film by Mindy Kaling. Uzma is a former contributor to The Toronto Star, and has written for The Atlantic. She lives outside Toronto, Canada, with her husband and two sons.

Thursday, May 7, 2026

The Wish by Heather Morris


 Jesse is fifteen. She loves her friends, her little brother and her parents, even when they’re arguing, which feels constant these days. But most of all, she loves playing video games. Even from her hospital bed.

Alex is twenty-nine. He doesn't love a lot of things and isn’t really sure he knows how to. A virtual reality games designer, his work desk is empty except for his computer, much like his life sometimes feels.

Then Jesse makes a wish. A simple one: a video experience made of her life, something to be there, just in case she isn’t.

One loving teenager.

One lonely adult.

Which one will get the happy ending? 

Pick up your copy here...


Heather Morris is a native of New Zealand, now resident in Australia. For several years, while working in a large public hospital in Melbourne, she studied and wrote screenplays, one of which was optioned by an Academy Award-winning screenwriter in the US. In 2003, Heather was introduced to an elderly gentleman who ‘might just have a story worth telling’. The day she met Lale Sokolov changed both their lives. Their friendship grew and Lale embarked on a journey of self-scrutiny, entrusting the innermost details of his life during the Holocaust to her. Heather originally wrote Lale’s story as a screenplay – which ranked high in international competitions – before reshaping it into her debut novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz.