Books We Can’t Wait to Share!

"Sisters of Fortune plunges readers into the center of one of the most famous tragedies in modern times—the sinking of the Titanic. As an almost life-long student of Titanic history—and its depictions in popular culture—I was so excited to read this book, particularly since it follows the story of real passengers who were on the ship. Anna Lee Huber is already a bestselling author for her historical mysteries, and her Verity Kent series takes place in the years following the sinking—so she was also the perfect author to tell this story. The book follows the three Fortune sisters as they conclude their Grand Tour and board Titanic on their way home to Canada. Each sister is facing her own choices at a time when women were not afforded agency to make many of their own decisions—whether it be to marry—or who to marry, whether they would be able to get a higher education, or not marry at all. There is also a love story unfolding within the book and it truly kept the pages flying by. Even though the ultimate fate of the ship is no surprise, the author managed to still add twists and turns for what was in store for each of the characters right up until the very end. This is a wonderfully researched book and once I boarded the ship with our main characters, I couldn’t put it down. It’s a must-read for anyone intrigued by the Titanic, any readers of Anna Lee Huber’s mysteries, and anyone who loves historical fiction or is looking for the latest story to share with their book club."

—Alexandra Nicolajsen, Director of Digital Sales & Marketing

Review by Ranger: Executive feline assistant to Citadel editor in chief Michaela Hamilton

Most people don’t know that I help Michaela read and edit her manuscripts.  Let me tell you, it’s hard to interrupt my demanding schedule of naps and snacks and knocking over plants. But when it comes to books about cats, I know she really needs my advice.  I’m proud to have provided insights and guidance into the publication of Helen Brown’s books – CLEO, JONAH, and BONO.  Clearly, I made them the hits that they were.  Now comes MICKEY, the true story of the cat who came into Helen’s life when she was twelve and helped her find herself. You could even say Mickey helped raise her.  Hey, maybe we should use that line as the subtitle.  Anyway, if you like cats and books about them, check this out.  It’s catnip for discerning readers like me.

 

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"The Busy Body is a true page-turner and from the outset you are putting faces to the characters while becoming fully immersed in the setting. This is a classic mystery with a modern twist as a seemingly minor character ends up at the center of the story…when she shows up dead and our ghostwriting sleuth—along with a famous female politician—set out to solve her murder while also becoming the prime suspects. Following a bruising election, Dorothy Gibson retreats to her Maine compound to regroup—and begin work on her memoir with the help of a highly regarded ghostwriter with a mysterious background of her own. Almost immediately, we are plunged into the mystery as bodies turn up and our heroines are regularly in the wrong place at the wrong time as they question witnesses, family, and acquaintances. The plot continues to twist and the suspect list grows as we race towards a conclusion you truly will not see coming. The slowly unfolding secrets of our ghostwriter only add to the intrigue…and leave you anxious to know when we’ll solve our next mystery with her. Brimming with humor, surprises, and a quirky cast of characters, this is a book you won’t want to put down…from the first page to the utterly unpredictable ending, which leaves the door open for more mysterious reads to come!"

—Alexandra Nicolajsen, Director of Digital Sales & Marketing

 

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Review by Michaela Hamilton: Executive Editor

I will never get tired of reading about our Greatest Generation, whose courage and sacrifice shaped the world we live in today. That’s why I’m so proud to have been involved in our publication of BOMBING HITLER’S HOMETOWN.  This riveting military history gives an intimate, minute-by-minute account of what it was like for American airmen to take to the skies in their B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bombers to carry out one of the most dangerous and important missions of the final days of WWII in Europe.  The date was April 25, 1945. The target was Linz, Austria, a town Hitler had referred to as his hometown and planned to remake as the shimmering capital of his empire.  In the aftermath of the raid, airplanes were shot down, enemy infrastructures were destroyed, lives were lost on both sides, surprising friendships were formed – and the war in Europe was ended.  Author Mike Croissant, whose uncle was one of those brave flyers, lovingly researched this story through interviews with the airmen and their families, those on the ground and their descendants, and copious research documents.  His book brings history to life with vivid, you-are-there immediacy.

 

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Alexandra Nicolajsen: Director of Digital Sales & Marketing

I will start by saying I absolutely loved this book. It was truly unputdownable and had a bit of everything—mystery, suspense, family drama, the bonds of sisterhood—so it is a book that anyone can enjoy and share. Familia is the story of a missing baby, a family shattered by addiction and loss, and the journey we all take to find our true selves. When a young woman with dreams of being a journalist decides to dig into an unexpected ancestry DNA test, she has no idea her whole life and everything she has ever known about herself and her family is about to change. Traveling to Puerto Rico to meet the woman claiming to be her sister—and claiming that she is the baby that went missing decades earlier—the mystery deepens, but so does her understanding of herself and what she wants out of life. The twists and turns absolutely keep you on the edge of your seat leading up to an ending you will not see coming. The DNA test results revealing whether the two women are really sisters is not the final twist, as the last pages drop one more bombshell on the reader before the story ends. Familia is brilliantly written and will transport you to the lush island of Puerto Rico. Written in alternating chapters as the present day story unfolds and the mystery surrounding the kidnapping is expertly revealed piece by piece, this is a book that will stay with you long after turning the final page.

 

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Jane Nutter: Senior Marketing & Communications Manager

This one is for all the #BookTok and Hockey romance fans! This very spicy “why choose” contemporary is laugh-out-loud hilarious and the sizzling chemistry between Rachel, Jake, Caleb, and Ilmari is off the charts! Watching them find their way to each other is a real treat. Emily Rath’s prose is infectious and instantly grabs your attention. So, stop pucking around and immerse yourself in the world of the Jacksonville Rays. You won’t regret it.

 

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Larissa Ackerman: Sr. Communications Manager

The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan is such a brilliant book, and not just because of the puzzling murder mystery. Reading this literary, Golden Age mystery with a modern twist was a pure delight because Donovan is a wordsmith with clever observations about other people and a snarky sense of humor that can be laugh-out-loud funny, but is never over-the-top or annoying. In that way, the writing is very much like Knives Out—shrewd storytelling, sardonic wit, with an ending that’ll have you truly shocked. Some of my favorite lines: “Rhonda likes to spar—probably because it burns more calories than regular talking,” and “Leila drove a nice yet nondescript sedan: a Honda Accord, or maybe a Toyota Corolla, something like that. I wouldn’t know because I take pride in not caring about cars.” Set in Maine, in the woods outside Portland, our unnamed Ghostwriter/narrator is here to write Senator Dorothy Gibson’s memoir—the presidential candidate who split the vote and loss the election to unlikely—and unlikable—contender. But when Dorothy’s neighbor dies, she starts to become obsessed with the woman’s death and trying to figure out how she could have died—which they are starting to believe is by murder. Instead of working on the memoir, the Ghostwriter gets pulled into this roller-coaster ride with Dorothy, as does the reader—and you’ll have a ton of fun reading it!

 

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Alexandra Nicolajsen: Director of Digital Sales & Marketing

The end of summer can be overwhelming sometimes as the temps get colder and the days get shorter. With back to school, Halloween, and the holidays around the corner, there are more demands on our time than ever. Which is what makes our December book club pick the perfect read to escape from it all with a wide smile and a bright story! Tatum Comes Home stars the pawsome TikTok and Instagram celebrity dog behind @hithisistaum—and the heartwarming and hilarious videos that have captured the attention of millions. Once you fall in love with Tatum, there is no going back…and in this book, every life Tatum touches is forever changed. After getting lost in a storm and ending up far from home, Tatum is picked up by several different people, each searching for some missing piece of their hearts and lives. And Tatum helps not only bring them all together, but also find the elusive things they’ve been looking for. Tatum Comes Home is a clever, sweet, and witty read that will keep you turning pages with a smile on your face…and in your heart. You will not soon forget Tatum, or the lives of the characters he touches.

 

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Review by Kristin McLaughlin: Digital Marketing Manager

Terri Parlato has quickly become one of my favorite mystery and thriller writers. Her first novel, All the Dark Places, had me hooked from the very first page, so I knew when her second novel came out, I’d be all over it. What Waits in the Woods is set in an unassuming Boston suburb as Esmé Foster returns home after years of being away to follow her dreams. An injury ended her ballet career and she’s forced to move back home with family. However, home isn’t quite as she left it. Her father is very sick, her once close-knit group of friends are falling apart, and her brother will barely speak to her. The day she steps foot back in her hometown, one of her best friends is found dead outside her family home. Nobody saw anything…but how true could that be? And who would have murdered an innocent woman? Is it the small-time drug dealer who lives down the way? Or maybe his sister who already has one murder under her belt? Maybe it could be the well-mannered older man who walks his dogs in the woods twice a day…you’ll have to read to find out! Terri creates a world around the reader that is dark, atmospheric, and basically impossible to step away from. I could not recommend her books more!

 

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Review by Michaela Hamilton: Executive Editor

In perhaps the most chilling biography ever written, Susan J. Eischeid presents a darkly fascinating and meticulously researched book about the highest-ranking woman in Hitler’s deadly war machine.  Maria Mandl began life as an unremarkable girl in a picturesque Austrian village.  With few job openings available, she took a job as a prison guard. Step by step she rose in the Nazi system to become head overseer of the women’s concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. She was responsible for thousands of murders and innumerable acts of torture.  Paradoxically, she also founded the Auschwitz women’s orchestra. After WWII she was found guilty of crimes against humanity and executed.  How did this seemingly normal young woman become one of the most heinous killers history has known?  Mistress of Life and Death presents the facts and context in a gripping examinations of good vs evil.

 

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Alexandra Nicolajsen: Director of Digital Sales & Marketing

Mystery isn’t generally my first genre of choice, but I LOVE a thriller. So when I found out Carlene O’Connor was launching a suspense series, I was all in. Throw in an atmospheric Irish setting, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on an early copy. The first book was No Strangers Here and as a fan of Tana French, I absolutely loved it. Yet with Some of Us Are Looking, Carlene managed to raise her game even further. This book is dark and menacing with a twisty, engaging plot that keeps the pages flying by. After the gruesome murder of a young woman living an untethered life traveling with her companions, Detective Cormac O’Brien is embroiled in the investigation—and he has more ties to it than he’d like. Local veterinarian Dimpna Wilde once again finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer as she gets pulled further into the web of suspects until a final, nail-biting conclusion that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Some of Us Are Looking is a phenomenal new thriller perfect for the colder months when we all want nothing more than to curl up under a blanket with a good book. Just make sure you keep all the lights on when you pick up this one…

 

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Review by Barbara Bennett: General Counsel

Branok Tremayne is “gifted” with an enhanced ability to anticipate trouble.  When he was a child, this ability led him to discover his father in flagrante delicto with a housemaid, and for this revelation and the associated embarrassment, his father sent him away to an orphanage.  Bran and an older boy later escape from the orphanage and make their way to London where, while living on the streets, they are rescued by Lord Rhys and Lady Gwen Tremayne, who are also gifted.  The Tremaynes have several biological children, and they have also taken in many gifted children whose families do not understand them or appreciate their gifts.

Now an adult, Bran works for the Home Office, using his gifts to ferret out profiteers and spies and prevent the acts of sabotage and other crimes the various bad guys would perpetrate.  Then he is unexpectedly summoned by his biological family back to Penhaligon because his biological father is very ill.  Since Bran’s two older brothers have died, Bran is the legal heir to the lordship and the Penhaligon estate.  Although he considers the Tremaynes his family, Bran feels the need to make the trip to Penhaligon anyway, as his intuition is telling him that there is big trouble nearby.

When Bran meets Merryn in the woods near the Penhaligon home, she is distraught and confused, and she is obviously fleeing captivity.  It seems that Merryn is gifted too, and her captors planned to use her special talents to help them commit a spectacular robbery.

Together, Bran and Merryn work to foil the nefarious plan, with Bran helping Merryn to recognize and embrace her gifts and use them for good.  Along the way, they fall in love, and Merryn becomes an essential part of Bran’s families, both natural and adoptive.

If you like interesting, unusual love stories with fascinating characters facing and overcoming challenging situations, you will love SILVER LADY!

 

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Review by Michaela Hamilton: Executive Editor

Some killers commit crimes so horrible, we can’t forget them, no matter how hard we may try. Some books expose such killers with chilling narratives that become classics as the passage of time confirms their lasting impact. Such a book is Steve Jackson’s masterful New York Times bestseller Monster, first released in 1998 and now reissued in trade paperback format to commemorate its 25th anniversary.  Often compared to Ted Bundy, Tom Luther was a charismatic psychopath who cut a deadly swath from the Rockies to West Virginia, luring a chain of women into the black hole of his murderous desires. Fortunately, one cop was obsessed with catching this brutal killer--and pinning at least one murder on him. Award-winning author and journalist Steve Jackson reveals the compelling story in shocking, mesmerizing detail.

 

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Alexandra Nicolajsen: Director of Digital Sales & Marketing

I have been reading Kevin O’Brien books for years, and as much as I have loved his contemporary suspense (which has always reminded me of the great Lisa Jackson!), I was very excited to hear he was turning his talents towards writing a historical thriller. He thoroughly researched the history of his hometown of Seattle, and brought the WWII era to life—in the most chilling way—as he crafted The Enemy at Home. The story takes readers back to a time of enforced blackouts, rigid social rules and bigotry, and women entering the workforce in droves for the first time. The book blends twisty, thrilling suspense and historical fiction to create a unique and compelling read perfect for book clubs…or Spooky Season. As a serial killer stalks the women already facing discrimination as they work shoulder-to-shoulder with men at the Boeing factory, more and more suspects emerge, and the heroine can’t separate herself from damning evidence pointing towards those she holds most dear. The Enemy at Home is a riveting read that gives readers a glimpse into the home front during the war…and also ratchets up the creep-factor, creating a read that is both captivating and terrifying.

 

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Review by Michaela Hamilton: Executive Editor

Having launched Gregg Olsen’s stunning fiction career with his first novel, A WICKED SNOW, and having published many of his subsequent thrillers, all of us at Kensington are delighted to bring his bestseller The Last Thing She Ever Did to a wider audience through our Pinnacle mass-market edition. If you’re a fan of Gregg Olsen, you know you can expect sharply drawn characters, nail-biting suspense, and a breathtaking pace.  But I doubt if many readers will anticipate the many twists and turns of this ingenious plot – or its dramatic resolution.  Treat yourself to a visit to a seemingly idyllic community where secrets, lies, and betrayals collide behind closed doors.  I think you will enjoy the ride.

 

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Alexandra Nicolajsen: Director of Digital Sales & Marketing

After watching readers continue to rave about The Spanish Daughter by Lorena Hughes, I knew her latest book The Queen of the Valley was a must-read. The author draws on true history and the stunning vistas of South America to artfully create an incomparable backdrop for this story that is part family saga, part mystery, and all expertly researched historical fiction. This book sweeps readers back to the 1920s and opens with a deadly earthquake in Cali, Colombia—the real event that inspired the story. The book is packed with emotional, mysterious storylines exploring love, family connections, and long-held secrets. Past meets present as the three central characters—a nun, a photographer, and a woman in disguise—search for the missing owner of a hacienda who shares a deep connection to each of them, and the mystery deepens as more of each of their pasts is revealed. The Queen of the Valley is a moving story that is anchored by the expertly crafted imagery creating time and place at the story’s heart. It is the perfect book to curl up with as the weather cools and you are ready to enjoy a cup of steaming coffee and a delicious bar of dark chocolate.

 

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Review by Barbara Bennett: General Counsel

Minerva Spencer’s Regency-set romances often feature unusual characters living in non-traditional circumstances. The heroine of THE DUELING DUCHESS, the second book in the Wicked Women of Whitechapel series, Frenchwoman Cecile Tremblay, came to England as a child, virtually alone in the world.  Her father, a renowned gunsmith, had taught her all about guns, including how to build and assemble them and how to shoot, and she became a markswoman of unparalleled accuracy.  She now owns Farnham’s Fantastical Female Fayre, a circus in which the performers are women, and where Cecile entertains audiences with her marksmanship, including her signature feat: donning a blindfold and shooting the tall hat sitting on the head of her male assistant, releasing a shower of colorful confetti. Guy Darlington, who became a duke, then promptly lost the title to a cousin who arrived from abroad to claim it, is now working in Cecile’s circus, mostly just to be near her.  When he had his title, he needed to marry a very wealthy heiress to rescue his floundering duchy, so instead of marrying Cecile, whom he loved, he became betrothed to another and made Cecile an indecent proposal for which she has never forgiven him.  His standing in society gone, his moneyed fiancée jilted him unceremoniously, and he has vowed to redeem himself in the eyes of the woman he really loves and has always wanted.

But nothing is as it seems, and everyone has secrets, some of which are terribly painful.  Cecile has never shared all the details of her past, but Guy is intent on uncovering what she is hiding and helping her overcome it so they can be together.

A strong heroine, a devoted hero and a group of quirky supporting characters (including a charming street urchin, a female knife thrower and a thieving raven) round out a delightful supporting cast in this deeply touching and thoroughly satisfying historical romance.

 

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Alexandra Nicolajsen: Director of Digital Sales & Marketing

Everyone processes grief in their own way, and it is not something with a timeline or a blueprint—and it is not limited to one person alone, but to everyone that was touched by the life of the person they cared for. Someone Else’s Bucket List sets out to tell the story of one sister’s grief, but the story spreads its wings and in many ways it shadows the frenetic grief process itself, making the reader cry, laugh, and filled with hope and joy chapter by chapter. I could not wait to get my ARC of this book, having heard wonderful things from the moment we received the manuscript—and then seeing the vibrant, beautiful cover that just made me think of escaping with an immersive story. This is a book that explores not only one sister’s anguish after losing her beloved sibling, but also how its tendrils reached out and touched everyone in their family, their friends—and the millions of followers of the influencer sister who passed. The book touches on so many timely topics from losing a loved one in the age of social media to the crippling medical debt so many people in the U.S. face—and the lengths to which someone will go to save their family from the weight of that debt. Someone Else’s Bucket List is at once a deep exploration of finding yourself and your happiness through sorrow and an uplifting love story you can take to the beach while you bury your toes in the sand. Wherever you find yourself reading this summer, make sure this book is nearby—along with a box of tissues as you shed sad…and ultimately happy tears.

 

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Review by Lauren Jernigan: Assistant Director of Social Media

After watching readers continue to rave about The Spanish Daughter by Lorena Hughes, I knew her latest book The Queen of the Valley was a must-read. The author draws on true history and the stunning vistas of South America to artfully create an incomparable backdrop for this story that is part family saga, part mystery, and all expertly researched historical fiction. This book sweeps readers back to the 1920s and opens with a deadly earthquake in Cali, Colombia—the real event that inspired the story. The book is packed with emotional, mysterious storylines exploring love, family connections, and long-held secrets. Past meets present as the three central characters—a nun, a photographer, and a woman in disguise—search for the missing owner of a hacienda who shares a deep connection to each of them, and the mystery deepens as more of each of their pasts is revealed. The Queen of the Valley is a moving story that is anchored by the expertly crafted imagery creating time and place at the story’s heart. It is the perfect book to curl up with as the weather cools and you are ready to enjoy a cup of steaming coffee and a delicious bar of dark chocolate.

 

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Alexandra Nicolajsen: Director of Digital Sales & Marketing

For Her Consideration is the book readers need right now if they’re looking for something fun, transportive, and totally entertaining. That it is an LGBTQ+ story with a plus size heroine is just the icing on top. Author Amy Spalding takes readers inside the chosen family of Nina Rice, an aspiring Los Angeles writer freelancing as the email face of her agent-boss’s celebrity client roster…and still reeling from a traumatizing relationship that ended years prior. When she meets up-and-coming actress Ari Fox, the sparks fly—and Nina’s trauma starts to heal, allowing her not only to begin a new relationship, but also return to the chosen family of friends she had lost touch with after her heartbreak. But when things start getting serious, that past pain and self-doubt starts to re-surface, and Nina might not be as ready to move on as she thought she was. But will Ari give up on their love without a fight? For Her Consideration is a story of all the most important relationships people can have—with significant others, close friends, and family who loves you no matter what. This story is as uplifting as it is binge-worthy—and like taking a trip to LA without ever leaving your most comfy reading spot.

 

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