Sabath’s 40 facts demystify the world of finance, debunk myths (“I don’t have enough money to invest”), and lay out a clear route to understanding one’s own finances and taking the steps not just to invest but to make informed choices. Sabath explains, in crisp and direct prose, basic concepts as long-term investing, while offering action steps, examples, hypotheticals, and more. She demonstrates that one should contribute to qualified retirement plans while building an emergency fund and eliminating debt. Other issues covered include risk, tax minimization, automatic investing, the importance of working with a fiduciary, and the power of compounding.
Sabath’s straight-talking lessons will open new investors’ eyes in this era of self-directed retirement accounts, long life spans, and a questionable Social Security system. For all her helpful specifics (“allocate no more than 10 percent of your portfolio to a single investment when you’re purchasing it”) perhaps Sabath’s greatest lesson is that the secret to investing success is no secret. Systematically saving and sensibly investing while minimizing taxes and expenses will help one live a comfortable life. As Sabath notes, most of us are capable of meeting such challenges. The Wannabe Investor illuminates the path.
Takeaway: Clear-eyed advice for anyone making excuses not to invest.
Comparable Titles: Jean Chatzky and Kathryn Tuggle’s How to Money, John Bogle’s The Little Book of Common Sense Investing.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Red Season
The blend of mystery, history, and something possibly beyond our ken is enticing. Scarlet, a member of the wonderfully named Society for Supernatural and Psychic Research, is quickly bonded to this like-minded group of gentlemen desperate to solve the horrific crimes. Those crimes, tantalizingly, seem to coordinate with sundown and the moon’s patterns each month, prompting Scarlet and his trusted colleague, Django Pierce-Jones, to initiate a perilous investigation that will please lovers of supernatural-adjacent suspense as the heroes find themselves in the crosshairs of evil from both sides of the veil.
Genard’s cast of characters is rich and engaging enough to build a series upon, including the famous (and slightly pompous) artist Ambrose Reed, a widower who has found love again with fiancée Elizabeth Wilson, as well as Elizabeth's elder sister, Catherine, unmarried and independent, strong of mind and opinion. Added to the mix are Mrs. Bain, the mysterious older woman who woos Ambrose away from Elizabeth, and the late Mary Reed, Ambrose's deceased wife. Genard’s protagonist is both kind and rebellious, unable to stop using his powers as long as they bring peace and aid the public, and his humane use of his powers will endear him to readers—while keeping them eager to see his future adventures.
Takeaway: Scotland Yard faces séances, murder, and the possibly supernatural.
Comparable Titles: Michael Ward’s Rags of Time, T. L. Huchu’s The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Biggerstaff’s candid prose is the perfect fit to convey the everyday happenings of military personnel and showcases her experience serving in the Air Force. The characters are uncomplicated and appealing, the loving Gia a perfect fit for Nick, a “marine’s marine,” who manages to be as affectionate as he is hardcore. The possibility of their relationship leading to a court-martial for “fraternizing” is ever looming and complicates the wholesome, sweet flavor of the budding romance, but despite that wrench in the works, the courtship progresses smoothly, with snippets of tension interspersed throughout—including the consequences of an attempted kidnapping and the machinations of a sexual predator.
Those roadblocks introduce welcome conflict into the storyline, and Nick’s struggles with allowing himself the compassion to rebuild his life are palpably wrought. As he continues to rise in the ranks professionally, his feelings for Gia also expand, allowing them the necessary space to create their own happily ever after. Frequent references to the characters in Biggerstaff’s other novels water down the narrative at times, and Biggerstaff’s explanations of military lingo embedded in the storyline can be distracting, but ultimately Gia and Nick deliver a satisfying, feel-good romance.
Takeaway: A breezy military romance between a gunnery sergeant and an emotionally-scarred general.
Comparable Titles: Suzanne Brockmann’s The Admiral’s Bride, Susan Stoker’s Protecting Caroline.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
That arrogance predictably drives a wedge between Larry and the other trees, particularly Pinely Pine, who wants nothing more than to win the supermodel medal at the forest’s upcoming talent show. In between her and that dream stands Larry, of course, with a streak of undefeated wins and a colossal ego, all prompting Pinely to eventually lose heart—and threaten to leave Edenwild forever. Luckily, the trees band together and remind Pinely—and Larry—of God’s unconditional love, cultivating their forgiveness of each other and acceptance of their own special talents.
The story’s ending is both prickly and sweet, as a hurricane rolls in and alters the forest’s landscape forever, but the art of Yana Popova, especially the realistic facial expressions on Edenwild’s evergreen residents, gives the tale a soft, entertaining edge. Biblical concepts spring up throughout, as the trees discuss scripture, pray together, and proclaim they are “planted here to display God’s glory.” For younger readers, Oshaye details fun nature facts, like the almost-200 year life span of juniper trees, and closes with a recipe for toasted nut pancakes and a challenge for readers to create their own “friendship chorus” to share online.
Takeaway: Trees band together to discover God’s love in this charming faith-based tale.
Comparable Titles: J. Alasdair Groves’s Tomas Looks Up & Out, Darby A. Strickland’s Something Scary Happened.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: B+
Editing: B
Marketing copy: B+
My Dark Desire
From there, My Dark Desire revels in anticipation, as the leads dance teasingly toward and away from each other with a wickedly sharp Cinderella edge. Telling himself that his desire to teach a lesson to his little “Octi”—for “Octopus”—is something other than turned-on curiosity, Zach turns up at Farrow’s stepmother’s house with her missing shoe and, at the point of a knife, he strikes a deal with Farrow: she is to be the help.
The trigger warnings, reader, are justified, as the authors wring this scenario for all it’s worth, emphasizing Zach’s arrogance and wealth, Farrow’s feisty wit, and devising an escalating series of wild, delicious erotic confrontations, all while taking seriously the wounded souls of both leads, as well as the ins-and-outs of wills, inheritances, and the shocking schemes and power of the super-rich. The novel is a feast of quips, insights, and steam, as Farrow tries not to surrender to “his husky command”—and then surprises him with acceptance of his true self. Readers who love this breed of tale will be in a hellish heaven for its full, epic length.
Takeaway: Epic dark romance bursting with wit, passion, and soulful leads.
Comparable Titles: Rina Kent’s Monster series, Elizabeth O’Roark’s A Deal with the Devil.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Contemporary readers may find more that surprises in poems on John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt, along with delightful odes to several national parks and natural wonders. McNeilly also features American economic dynamos, like Henry Ford and J.P. Morgan, to showcase the country’s get-the-job done ethos: “Work is the organized way we serve one another, //[...] In every humble endeavor, in each monumental task, // Lies the heart of America, beneath our star-spangled mask.” Though proudly patriotic, McNeilly acknowledges that “America is complex,” noting in the preference the shame of slavery and how resistance has met “each new wave” of the immigrants who “came to this continent in search of a better life and often, by brawn and brain, empowered by common values, created that life for themselves.”
McNeilly’s collection is educational, both in its subjects and its revival of a common-cause esprit de corps that has guttered in an age where digital media incentivizes division. Preceding each poem is a biographical or historical summary of the subject, and pen-and-ink illustrations are interspersed throughout. Along with these elements and the rhymed quatrain structure of his verses, McNeilly’s collection has substantial read-aloud value for children and would make for a fun introduction to American history that embraces the country’s greatness and aspiration for continual improvement.Takeaway: Rousing poems celebrating America’s history, spirit, and potential..
Comparable Titles: Christopher Cole’s Patriotic Poetry, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: B+
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
The Burying Point: A Ray Hanley Crime Thriller
Cavignano ramps up the tension as what starts out as standard police procedural work escalates into grisly murders and portents of unimaginable evil. To save Cassie and as many others as possible, Hanley and Martinez must face their pasts, and Salem’s, and also their own disregard for the supernatural. Deleted security tapes, slaughtered cows, and other missing women stand as smaller puzzles in the quest of a larger goal: bring Cassie home safely before it's too late. Characterization is strong—Martinez fought hard for her spot as a detective, vowing to protect young women in a way she wasn’t when she was young—and the detectives’ journey toward trusting each other offers warmth in the darkness.
Action-packed yet deeply researched, The Burying Point grabs from the first pages with crisp, focused prose and dialogue-driven scenecraft. Subtle clues will pique readers’ interest as they work out the fascinating puzzle along with Hanley and Martinez. Bursts of violence and horror are graphic but effective, and the brisk pacing and short, impactful chapters will inspire late-night readers to ignore the clock and tell themselves they’re just going to read one more. This is a strong choice for fans of police procedural dramas and horror stories alike.
Takeaway: Half crime drama, half occult horror story, this procedural is all memorable.
Comparable Titles: Cynthia Pelayo’s Children of Chicago, Ragnar Jonasson’s The Girl Who Died.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Aurelia wins that chance for love, but in the most unexpected of places, when she opens the door one day to find a gorgeous man named Walter, on bent knee, offering her a heartfelt proposal and engagement ring. The only problem is Aurelia has no clue who he is—but he seems to know her. Even worse, he spins a story about traveling too far back in time, claiming there are now two of him—and both are interested in her. What follows is a slightly madcap adventure featuring time travel, clean romance, and faith, as Champenois playfully toys with the concept of two Walters—one with full knowledge of the past and one who’s happily lost in the joyous voyage of falling in love.
The time travel elements are immersive, if a little confusing, and readers without Aurelia’s religious background may encounter some unfamiliar elements (particularly the significance of being sealed in the temple for marriage or the yearly general conference), but Champenois includes religious notes in the supplementary material for added clarification. Aurelia eventually earns her happy ending, and the novel’s innocence and sense of wonder will appeal to readers who enjoy tender, satisfying love stories.
Takeaway: A faith-based romantic comedy with lively time travel hijinks.
Comparable Titles: Traci Hunter Abramson’s Dancing to Freedom, Nancy Scanlon’s Once Upon a Summer Night.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Viola’s stark honesty is on full display as she recounts the painful side effects of her addiction: sexual assault, homelessness, and strained family relationships are just some of her tragic experiences, but she’s careful to emphasize how the hard work of recovery paid off—despite a failed stint at Hazelden in Minnesota—leading to a successful sobriety journey, with the assistance of local rehab and abundant AA meetings. After earning a bachelor and master’s degrees, Viola established her own thriving consultant business and achieved “a solid, amazing marriage… [with] no games [and] no baggage.” Viola and her husband, Mike, have two daughters who, she writes, are learning “the value of grit and working towards success.”
Viola, now 27 years sober, is an incredible success story for those facing similar struggles. “Nobody tries a little something at a party - a wine cooler or beer or hit of pot or a mushroom or a pill - and is suddenly hit with the reality of what one’s life will look like in 4 years after trying that one harmless little thing” she writes. Her bravery will sow seeds of hope for fellow addicts and those who love them, alongside reassurance of a way forward and a life without substances, fear, or judgment.
Takeaway: Raw memoir of addiction with a healthy dose of hope for recovery.
Comparable Titles: Marya Hornbacher’s Wasted, Koren Zailckas’s Smashed.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
This empowering text lays out a practical, comprehensive process to do just that: give readers the skill and confidence to acknowledge these feelings, better understand themselves, and regulate their actions when these emotions rise up. Noting how these feelings can power negative actions such as alcoholism and domestic violence, Cashman delves deeply into ways to recognize them and to take steps to cope with and potentially heal from the underlying issues that may stir them. His Four-Step Practice is his own reconstruction of the Four Karmas, the transformative Tibetan Buddhist technique that “uncovers the wisdom contained within emotion,” and Cashman persuasively connects ancient wisdom with contemporary life and psychology.
Brilliant Emotions pushes readers to face dark feelings and their causes head on. With clear, concise examples and actionable steps and strategies to explore emotions safely, Cashman provides an organized outline and program to do the work toward emotional intelligence and healthy coping strategies. For the curious or for those already steeped in mindfulness practices and healing therapy, this is a compelling read and powerful resource.
Takeaway: Powerful, practical guide to facing and understanding negative emotions.
Comparable Titles: Anita Phillips's The Garden Within, Allison Choying Zangmo and Anyen Rinpoche’s Stop biting the Tail You’re Chasing.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Rise Above the Story
Kilcoyne developed a fear of abandonment and a deep need to hide her shame, and she made unhealthy relationships and personal choices well into adulthood. When she began the slow path towards healing, an empowering path she lays out here for others, Kilcoyne discovered she needed to face how the personal “story” that she told herself was holding her back. Her vivid, moving account of healing will pull readers in, and survivors of any type of trauma will relate and feel real hope as Kilcoyne demonstrates how a debilitating narrative can be changed with dedicated work, the courage to get to know one’s self in the deepest ways, and a willingness to try multiple approaches.
Kilcoyne leads the way by telling her story—both what she lived and what she felt—with rare candor and insight, while coaching readers through clear, resonant explanations of trauma, brain chemistry, and more. As she introduces a host of steps toward story changing (mindfulness practice, journaling, therapy, mediation, and many more) she notes that everyone’s healing journey will be different. Above all, she asks readers to trust the truths that emerge from this work, arguing “This is the doorway to your new life.” Journal prompts and incisive questions invite reader introspection.
Takeaway: Powerful, inviting guide to resetting one’s narrative of trauma.
Comparable Titles: Lisa Weinert’s Narrative Healing, David Denborough’s Retelling the Stories of Our Lives.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Jensen smartly infuses the characters’ everyday lives with future worldbuilding (computers have not developed much past 2050 due to scarcity of materials) and the implications of magic. As the story tours readers through this promising milieu, Atlanta and Georgia are rendered plausibly uncanny, though one can thankfully still order a half-rack of dry-rubbed ribs. Pacing is uneven as the storytelling alternates between the breezy and the expository, with revelations like a wall around Manhattan delivered in a smoothly offhanded manner, while moments of reminiscence find the leads caught in italicized reveries. The characters seem so inexperienced in relationships that the novel at times has a Young Adult feel, especially in a daring masquerade climax that boasts elements of Regency farce.
There are some strong seeds of creative worldbuilding that can power future series entries, especially the ideas of magical abilities emerging from virus exposure in the womb and an American landscape torn between pockets of high technology and nature’s post-devastation regrowth. The author’s knowledge of ranching comes through well, and journal entries from the pre-COVID-50 era deepen the narrative. A solidly satisfying ending builds to a strong hook for the sequel.
Takeaway: Surprising urban fantasy of feds, vampires, and Atlanta 150 years in the future.
Comparable Titles: Anne Bishop’s Written in Red, T.S. Paul’s Conjuring Quantico.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B
Distraught, Bear goes with Bull to visit a pearl-wearing pig named Piggy Banks, who shares her golden rule: “When you make a dollar, break a dollar—into spending, saving, investing, and giving too.” Piggy Banks explains how savings accounts generate interest, why investing money is important, and even how donating money to charity can bring “peace and clarity.” Following these straightforward guidelines, Bear is finally able to save up the money he needs to make his big purchase. Framing complex ideas in a simple way using fun, rhyming prose will help kids (and adults) understand how to take care of their money in a way that is both pragmatic and ambitious.
Carolina Buzio’s colorful illustrations make the characters appear friendly and approachable, showing Bear wearing striped pants and a tiny bowler hat while Bull has slicked-down hair and green, square-rimmed glasses. The pictures also include helpful diagrams, with one showing interest growing like a tree and another at the end helpfully breaking down a real-world example of the golden rule. In a world where Wall Street can seem like an elite institution that aims to exclude, this user-friendly book offers young people a leg up on their financial future.
Takeaway: Helpful picture book making the basics of handling, saving, and investing money.
Comparable Titles: Jasmine Paul’s A Boy, a Budget, and a Dream, Harriet Ziefert’s You Can’t Buy a Dinosaur with a Dime.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B+
Baker notes that this is her effort at creating the book that she needed herself during one of the most difficult times in her life. Providing actionable advice on ways to cope, maintain, and endure through a life-threatening diagnosis, Baker manages to keep the text upbeat and positive while still shedding light on the hard realities of chemotherapy treatments, struggles with unbearable pain, and the emotional toll of it all, especially grief and loss. Even there, though, Baker finds some hope, pointing out “Changes bring loss, and some of my losses brought gains,” such as strengthened relationships with those who matter most. Baker also addresses the importance of individuals who care for cancer patients, from friends and family to medical professionals, and explores the tricky question of what not to say to cancer patients, from empty platitudes to unwanted advice to quips like “You can get a pink wig now.” (“There really isn’t any upside to losing all your hair,” Baker notes.)
Helpful advice abounds, including tools like the 4-7-8 breathing method, plus guidance on mindfulness tactics and refocusing techniques that readers will find helpful during every stage of grief. Written from hard-won experience and spiced with wit and warmth, If Cancer is a Gift, Can I Return It? is an empowering, illuminating memoir that will resonate with cancer patients, their caregivers, family and friends. This is a frank and honest narrative, blending personal experiences and professional expertise, from a writer who pulls no punches from diagnosis to remission.
Takeaway: Insightful, advice-packed account of a nurse’s cancer diagnosis.
Comparable Titles: Claudean Nia Robinson's I Forgot to Cry, Alison Porter's Stronger than Before.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
This approach, Englert argues, can “transcend traditional networking” and deliver greater, more durable career success. Englert offers clear rationale for why it’s imperative for those on the lower and middle rungs of a company to align their values with those of their supervisor and employer—a true team member, he demonstrates, is one who is willing to take initiative and communicate and even sacrifice for the good of the company. He’s persuasive when arguing that such efforts, when practiced regularly, will elevate one’s own career while helping the team itself. Practical guidance abounds, here, including thorough explication of the various supervisor types one may encounter and how best to work with them.
Spheres of Influence is written in a concise and direct style that will play well with many starting out in their careers. Englert highlights the importance of asking questions, saying ”no” when appropriate, delivering bad news as readily as one might provide favorable information, and the nearly infinite value of being honest and ethical. The clarification he provides when noting the difference between building valuable relationships versus relying on shallow connections is an especially important lesson, one often overlooked in business schools.
Takeaway: Incisive, practical guide to cultivating relationships for business success.
Comparable Titles: Rachel B. Simon’s Relationships at Work, Randy Ross’s Relationomics.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Fanning (author of Ghosted) narrates Kyle’s naïve pursuit of fame and fortune with brisk prose, sharp dialogue, and a strong sense of dark ironies. Misguided Kyle strives to connect with the right people to land a coveted audition and earn an actor’s life of luxury. However his journey takes a sinister turn as he becomes entangled in Dupree and Biedermeier’s web of dominance, manipulation, and murder, with devastating consequences for all involved. The characters are deeply flawed and damaged, each grappling with their own demons and insecurities. Aaron Biedermeier emerges as a monster who wields power without regard for the consequences, while Kyle finds himself drawn to Aaron’s current fiancé, Noah Winters, and into the world of lies and deceit, unable to discern the truth. He struggles to break free of the toxic influence of those around him.
Kyle and his counterparts navigate a landscape fraught with moral ambiguity and ethical compromise. The characters’ illogical choices and repeated gullibility can be painful to read, yet the ways these men are manipulated feels true, underscoring the harsh realities of an industry where appearances often negate integrity. Fanning accomplishes his goal to echo the justice that survivors deserve when abusers walk free and to give voice to the silent and hidden tears.
Takeaway: Brisk, surprising novel of the toll Hollywood demands of ambitious young men.
Comparable Titles: Beth O’Leary; Ella Berman’s The Comeback.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
