Books We Can’t Wait to Share!
"I am a lover of summer through and through…but there is something about the approach of autumn that has me wishing for pumpkins, hoodies, apples…and cozy reads with a touch of magic. Nothing Less Than Magic is all that rolled up together and so much more. Our heroine is a motivational speaker specializing in marriage whose own relationship has crumbled. Just when she thinks her ex-husband is going to ask to come back, he instead tells her that he’s getting remarried. In a cloud of anger and grief, she storms out of the restaurant where they’re having dinner in San Francisco…only to be unceremoniously hit by a cable car. Now at her lowest point, she retreats to their Sierra Mountain cabin to heal physically and mentally as she decides where life goes from here. The small town of Ghost, California is nearby…and absolutely brimming with Halloween festivities. The locals welcome her with open arms…and one holds the promise of something more. When her ex comes back into the picture, she will need to decide whether to look forward, turn back…or forge a whole new path. Stacy Finz is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen novels and her writing never fails to deliver. She hits all the emotions with her stories of family, love, and the stunning backdrops of California from the Bay Area to the Sierra. So, grab your pumpkin spice, curl up under a soft blanket, light a candle…and make sure to keep the tissues close by as you take this journey of self-discovery, sisters, and love…with a twist ending you won’t see coming!"
—Alexandra Nicolajsen, Director of Digital Sales & Marketing
Review by Michaela Hamilton: Executive Editor
Imagine a bleak and isolated mountain region with a history of criminal activity and an almost impassable landscape. Now imagine a couple and their young daughter, missing for four years before their remains were found there by hunters in November, 2013. Are you hooked yet? This chilling true-crime tale may give you goosebumps, but you’ll be turning pages eagerly to find out what happened to Bobby, Sherilynn, and Madyson Jamison in the remote hills near Eufala, Oklahoma. Did the vulnerable family fall prey to drug smugglers? Were they seeking a secluded place to live off the grid? Why did they leave behind their phones, wallets, beloved dog, and $30,000 in cash? Investigative journalist Jake Anderson, author of the acclaimed Gone at Midnight: The Mysterious Death of Elissa Lam, probes these questions and more in his gripping attempt to solve a cold-case mystery that continues to perplex and fascinate the public.
"A Daughter of Fair Verona answers the question of what would have happened if Romeo and Juliet had not, in fact, died…but instead had a family and thrived. Their eldest daughter, Rosaline—considered a spinster by the standards of the time, even though she’s still in her teens—is a non-conformist from the start. And it turns out her headstrong ways end up attracting more attention than she intended—both from potential suitors and from those with much darker intentions. When she ends up engaged to a notoriously brutal man known for murdering his wives, she is horrified…but when he ends up dead, it turns out her problems are just beginning. She is a suspect and is quickly embroiled in a web of deceit and betrayal…all while being coaxed into new marriage proposals. The twists keep coming even up to the very last page, which will leave you wondering just when the author will deliver that next book so we can find out how it all turns out…and whether more murder is afoot. Christina Dodd is a New York Times bestselling author with millions of copies in print…but this is unlike anything she’s done before, and it’s not to be missed!"
—Alexandra Nicolajsen, Director of Digital Sales & Marketing
"Shanora Williams is one of my favorite authors of psychological suspense. She is a master of creating compulsive page turners, so it will come as no surprise that I read her new book The Bitter Truth in one day. Shanora constructs intricately twisted plots or writes a propulsive narrative, creating a book you simply cannot put down. In her latest thriller, a rising political star is running for governor, but strange events keep hinting that his past is coming back to haunt him—and it is definitely filled with some dark secrets. Meanwhile, his wife—who is successful in her own right—is beginning to see that both her husband and her marriage might not be as picture perfect as she thought it was. When she learns the shocking truth, she will have to make a choice that will have the potential to destroy everything she has spent a lifetime building. Shanora Williams is a master of modern suspense with tightly plotted stories full of expertly teased reveals and twists that will make your jaw drop. If you haven’t already picked up one of her books, The Bitter Truth is the perfect time to find out what the buzz is all about."
—Alexandra Nicolajsen, Director of Digital Sales & Marketing
Review by Michaela Hamilton: Executive Editor
Hello, thriller fans! You’ll be happy to know that John Gilstrap has just launched his 16th entry in the Jonathan Grave series. Fast pace, powerful action, and compelling characters are the signature elements of all Gilstrap thrillers, and this one’s no exception. After an accidental fentanyl overdose claims a young person under Jonathan’s care, he decides it’s time for a war on drugs that really looks like a war on drugs. Assembling his team of special operators, he vows that no target is too big – not even the President of the United States. The fallout from his all-out initiative paves the way for a new series! Don’t miss the sample excerpt at the end – it’s sure to leave you wanting more.
Review by Stephanie Hinamon: Digital Sales & Marketing Assistant
Bonnie Jenkins carries her deceased husband’s ashes in a cherry wood box. Yes, you read that right. She carries them around with her so she can talk his ear off. Well, his metaphorical ear now. She told him she would if he up and died on her … so here we are. And we are only on the first page which means this book was calling my name. Struck with inspiration, Bonnie tells her daughter and granddaughter that they will be traveling to Peru to trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – I am out of breath just thinking about it. But as we know it is the journey not the destination. All three women need to repair their mutual relationships before they can move on in their lives, and Bonnie is convinced this trip can do that. They encounter handsome men, beautiful scenery, ex-boyfriends, and lots of wine. Along the way, Bonnie tells the history of each of her marriages in a dual storyline which is where our book title comes into play. I truly laughed and cried with each of the characters. And my husband has been warned that I will channel my inner Bonnie, so he better buckle up in the afterlife.
Review by Stephanie Hinamon: Digital Sales & Marketing Assistant
A true cozy connoisseur will tell you the three requirements for a good cozy are: good food, an adorable animal sidekick, and the death of the town bully/bad guy. And this Midwest girl will tell you the quintessential small town seals the deal. Valerie Burns has added a POC main character and social media drama to create a strong new series in the cozy mystery genre. Maddy is baking her way into the hearts of the New Bison community and has already solved the murders of the town’s past two mayors. In this third installment, her past blows into town in the form of her former fiancé and his girlfriend, Maddy’s former best friend. After several run-ins, all of which end up on social media, the former BFF/fiancé stealer is found dead in Maddy’s bakery. The Baker Street Irregulars are back on the case to keep Maddy out of the slammer. Valerie continues to grow her characters, giving them depth, and adding the underlying mystery surrounding Maddy’s aunt’s death provides continuity to the series. Utilizing hashtags throughout the story keeps it true to Maddy’s personality. Be sure to add the Baker Street Mystery series to your cozy mystery rotation. #staffpick #kensingtoncozy
Review by Stephanie Hinamon: Digital Sales & Marketing Assistant
Memory loss is the classic mystery trope with a main character that may or may not be remembering things as they happened. In Echoes of Memory, Quinn is the victim of a terrible attack that has left her without the ability to retain memories. With a short window of retention, Quinn jots everything that happens to her in a notebook she always keeps with her. So, when she witnesses a murder in the alley behind where she works, she rushes to jot down everything she can before she loses the memories. When no one believes her because there is no body or crime scene, Detective Nura Reyes catches the case and works with Quinn to solve the mystery. I appreciate the diligence and mindfulness that author Sara Driscoll gave to traumatic brain injury and the recovery process. When the storyline could have been on repeat, she was able to move the plot forward and build on the progress of the case. I also really liked Detective Reyes … she is a strong lead, smart, and observant. Although this is a standalone novel, I would love to see her again.
Review by Michaela Hamilton: Executive Editor
If you’re a cozy mystery fan, you’re probably familiar with Lynn Cahoon, who has delighted her fans with irresistible series including the Tourist Trap Mysteries, the Kitchen Witch Mysteries, and others. Now comes a new entry in her Survivors’ Book Club series, set in the artistic town of Sedona, Arizona, and featuring Rarity Cole, owner of the bookstore/coffee shop, The Next Chapter. In Reading Between the Lies, an egotistical gallery owner is found dead with an arrow in his back. Rarity and her friends must uncover a killer who seems to have taken the idea of pointed criticism much too literally! If you like mysteries set in small towns featuring amateur sleuths and quirky characters, this one’s for you.
"Becoming Ted is an uplifting story of all the ways change—particularly when it’s unexpected—can impact someone’s life. I loved Matt Cain’s debut novel, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, so I was excited to dive into another story from him that I was sure would be packed with just as much emotion, humor, and touching storylines. Becoming Ted was already getting raves from readers overseas, so I was sure this book would again deliver. The story begins with the breakup of a marriage that seemed rock solid to our hero, Ted…even though he comes to learn that to his best friend, the marriage appeared to be anything but a healthy relationship. Ted has been stifled his whole life—by familial responsibilities and then by the man he loves…but it was never fully apparent to him until he’s left alone with his thoughts and all the dreams he never realized. With the support of friends old and new, Ted sets out to reach for his dreams—and just maybe fall in love again along the way. Matt Cain delivers a wonderful story that explores all the ways that we can find and love ourselves…if we’re brave enough to truly shed our fears and try."
—Alexandra Nicolajsen, Director of Digital Sales & Marketing
Review by Ann Pryor: Senior Communications Manager
The shocking, violent death of a high-end escort would lead to the unraveling of New York City’s corrupt political machine known as Tammany Hall.
As I was reading New York Newsday’s Pulitzer Prize-winning crime reporter Anthony M. DeStefano’s new book, BROADWAY BUTTERFLY: The Lady Gangster of Jazz Age New York, I was struck by how fresh he made this century-old case, and the disturbing idea that little has changed in New York City. That the combination of power, sex, politics, and money is an age-old, potent, dangerous concoction. Or that people who become backed into unfortunate circumstances, will do whatever they can to survive.
This gripping political and legal true crime thriller examines the sensational murder case that happened at a time when the glamourous Jazz Age was giving way to a dark undercurrent in the decade of Prohibition.
It started with the brutal murder of a savvy, sharp call girl, Vivian Gordon, who parlayed her little black book of high-profile names – including politicos and gangsters - into a lucrative blackmailing scheme. Dumped in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, her disturbing murder would reveal a bigger, more complex shakedown racket: New York City’s magistrate court system, where court officials and cops would force hundreds of women to make payoffs to have their cases dropped or forgotten.
Gordon was a well-to-do, classy, educated lady who was unfairly victimized by the cops, separated from her family, and unjustly incarcerated for years. She would learn the ropes of blackmail from behind bars. Her death would reveal a complex racket of framing innocent women on prostitution charges. The book builds masterfully from the circumstances of the case to the public’s frantic plea to fix the widespread corruption in New York City’s judicial system. The case and its sordid, criminal revelations would lead to the downfall of wisecracking, flashy, devil-may-care Mayor Jimmy Walker in a mere 18 months.
DeStefano is a master of sourcing and synthesizing research, and he’s crafted a narrative that left me breathlessly turning the pages, horrified, angry, cheering, and dismayed. If you’ve ever binge-watched historical documentaries and true crime series on NetFlix, make this your next read!
Review by Michaela Hamilton: Executive Editor
Here’s good news for true-crime fans, especially those (like me) who are fascinated by serial killers. BLOOD TRAIL, first published in mass-market paperback in 2005, is again available in print format – this time in a handsome trade paperback edition with a revealing new update by retired homicide detective Rick Reed. The book relates the crimes and punishment of Joseph Weldon Brown, who confessed to more than a dozen murders across seven states. While in prison for killing his girlfriend, he strangled his cellmate to death. Rick Reed takes readers inside the search for the elusive killer and the hours he spent questioning him. This book portrays the dramatic story of a homicide investigation with powerful authenticity.
"Earls Trip is a fun, emotional love story set in Regency England that explores friendship, family, and delivers a swoon worthy second chance friends-to-lovers romance. As an avid Bridgerton fan and a lover of all things Mary Jo Putney and Sabrina Jeffries, I couldn’t wait to dive into this book…particularly with its adorable, springy cover and fantastic reviews. When Julia Quin says it’s “One of the best historical romances I’ve read in years,” I am ready for an unputdownable read! The book opens with three best friends getting ready for their annual trip to the countryside where they will be removed from all the stress-inducing things that come with daily life—family problems, political problems, and of course the London marriage mart—dreaded by confirmed bachelors everywhere. Things quickly go sideways when a messenger arrives with an urgent request that our hero rescue a childhood friend who has eloped with her sister’s fiancé. One thing leads to another, and the ladies end up tagging along on the guys’ trip…and of course, hilarity and love ensue. Jenny Holiday gives some background on our other two heroes…setting readers up with what I’m sure will be love stories of their own. This historical romance is pure reading pleasure…and the perfect book to get you through these last few weeks of waiting for more Bridgerton antics!"
—Alexandra Nicolajsen, Director of Digital Sales & Marketing
"If the Tide Turns is a beautifully written and researched historical novel set during a time in history when there was little justice for women and people faced choices that most of us would find unthinkable today. As an avid reader of historical fiction, I was excited to pick up this book because the setting is a bit different than what we usually see in the genre—and I’ve always been fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials, which form part of the backdrop of this book, as it takes place in their wake. In addition, Rachael Rueckert has centered the book around the actual historical figure of the pirate Samuel Bellamy, which I always find adds additional intrigue to a story. The book follows the star-crossed love story of Maria Brown and Samuel, and the choices they must make as horrible obstacles prevent them from being together. This book was an emotional page-turner—a love story, an adventure novel, and unflinching historical fiction all rolled into one. What Maria must overcome is both enraging and unimaginable, and Samuel’s turn to piracy in order to better his financial situation unfolds with questions of honor and redemption at its heart. This is a haunting story with themes of class and women’s rights—two key elements that resonate strongly in our current time. This book is not to be missed—and I’m eagerly awaiting the author’s next riveting story."
—Alexandra Nicolajsen, Director of Digital Sales & Marketing
"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.
"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
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.
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.
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.