Horvath has a gift for writing intense, bloody action scenes without going too over the top. Readers will be instantly hooked into Sledge’s point of view as he bashes heads in and takes out even the most formidable opponents. Danger lurks around every corner, and Sledge never wavers against his enemies, going as far as to leave them tied to trees in the dead of winter with their bare feet in buckets of water. His methods are brutal but effective, making him hard to root for but keeping the story’s knife-edge tension intact as readers wait to see what Sledge has in store for his next adversary. Kiira makes an excellent foil to Sledge, uncovering enough information about his past to make her question his actions in keeping her safe as the tension between them grows.
Horvath writes to Sledge with a matter-of-fact tone, enticing readers to yearn for more information about him while simultaneously scrutinizing his motives. His character is a significant strength, albeit a double-edged sword, and while he struggles in this story, he somehow always concocts ways to continue tormenting his foes. Horvath’s world is intense, and the story’s undercurrents convoluted, but thriller fans who enjoy piecing together intricate character motivations will be entertained.
Takeaway: Bloody, spirited adventure of former lovers and internet assassins.
Comparable Titles: Great for fans of: Matthew F. Jones’s A Single Shot, Ryan Steck’s Fields of Fire..
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Through candid childhood memories and client anecdotes, Boisvert provides insight on the ways that women think about money due to their upbringing, their experience in male-dominated industries, and lack of knowledge in investing, saving, and spending. She has shaped the book with an eye to practicality, reflecting the reader’s journey “from avoidance and overwhelm to feeling confident" about money "at any stage of life," introducing basic concepts and building from there, urging readers to let go of misconceptions, build confidence, and grow “money muscles." Actionable prompts and exercises crafted to reinforce the lessons and "create positive change" appear at the end of each chapter.
Later passages touch on issues other books don’t, such as learning to accept that it is okay to love money. Boisvert sees that as part of women taking back their power, a key step on the journey to financial growth and freedom. With tips on how to invest, open bank accounts, practice building portfolios, and create a realistic budget, Make Money Your Thing is a resource for women wanting to change one's relationship with money and begin to use it to curate the life they want.
Takeaway: Inviting resource guide to empower women to achieve financial freedom.
Comparable Titles: Tiffany Aliche's Get Good With Money, Tori Dunlap's Financial Feminist.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
A contemporary reimagining of Jane Austen's Persuasion, this lovely novel from Woodsey (author of When the Wave Collapses) is rich in romance, fantasy, and a tender yearning to make the best of a do-over. Not that this is easy for Tildy: she soon straddles the line between dreams and reality, the desire to stay in dreams—at the farm, with her Nana and Aidan—versus her real life, plus the tricky question of which exactly is the reality. Meanwhile, in the (apparent) real world, she is being wooed by an unlikely suitor, a man with a family grudge against Tildy's father.
Tildy is a sympathetic heroine, a woman made to feel small by everyone in her present but who enjoys warm and sympathetic friends in her cozy dream life. Readers will feel invested in her story and her happiness. Some supporting characters edge toward the one-dimensional, especially her shallow, insensitive family, presented without much insight into how they got this way. Still, the storytelling satisfies, and readers will be cheering for her to find her happy ending.
Takeaway: A dream experiment gives an unhappy heroine a touching second chance at love.
Comparable Titles: Melissa Pimentel’s The One That Got Away, Debra White Smith’s Possibilities.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Cycling enthusiasts will relish Breedlove’s discourse on their tours, including location choosing to packing supplies to handling the inevitable bumps in the road (trying to manage tent camping on a windy beach and navigating the intimidating “He-Man motorcycle territory” on bicycles are standouts). The couple’s inexperience threatens to overwhelm in many instances: a ranger warns of an impending storm that immediately changes their plans; when following San Joaquin Valley’s Mendota Canal, they’re forced to portage gear over locked gates; and not researching trip elevations ahead of time makes their travels exponentially more difficult.
Despite the learning curve, both Breedlove and her husband find the journey breathtaking, each in their own way, as Jim declares “Actually, cycling has little to do with bicycles for me. It has to do with being on our own, homeless in a strange place, between places, moving forward.” That free spirit drives their adventures, whether they’re hitchhiking in France or visiting the Vartry House, the “Highest Pub in Ireland.” Travel fans may wish for more particulars on the globetrotting portions, as the book is heavily weighted to Breedlove’s stateside tours, but, still, this is a bird’s-eye view of rediscovering the world at a slower pace.
Takeaway: Spouse cyclists rediscover the world together.
Comparable Titles: Kristen Jokinen’s Joy Ride, Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B-
“I won’t let hate rule my life,” Elazar declares, but hatred of course upends everything he loves, as he and his loved ones head east, crossing through vividly evoked Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and elsewhere. The authors touchingly handle themes of loss and belonging as they dramatize, in brisk and poignant scenes, the everyday yet extraordinary experiences of refugee life. Elazar’s son strives to pronounce and remember the names of all the different places where they take refuge, an attempt at trying to create a new home for himself amidst the chaos. Elazar’s daughter, Rivka, meanwhile, eventually declares “I’m not going to bother learning how to pronounce that one,” frustrated to her bones with the constant movement, over rivers and seas, with no clear sense of direction beyond survival.
Despite the complexity of the political instability of the era, The Reluctant Conductor is at heart an elemental story of one family caught up in the larger context of geopolitics and genocide, a humane examination of the cost in individual lives of ancient hatreds.
Takeaway: Touching novel of a Jewish family’s flight across war-torn Europe.
Comparable Titles: Kristin Harmel’s The Forest of Vanishing Stars, Ellen Feldman’s The Living and the Lost.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Meanwhile, the Hawaiian land, and some surprise mentors, are calling to her to do more with her gift, which involves ancestral voices and persuasive pink bubbles, than merely convince people to bend to her whims. Kayne’s love of Hawaiian culture shines strongly throughout the novel, from the proverbs that open each chapter, to the language scattered throughout the text, to her praise of poi and disdain for exportable pineapple. The gentle land-based magic carried by Lokelani and a few others, and the secret project by also magically-gifted activist Princess Kahōkūlani and lawyer Chang to quietly resecure land for locals, all feel supportive of maintaining the traditions of the people tied to the islands.
Kayne takes on the racism and sexism of the period with seriousness, but without weighing down the novel. The romance is less engaging, with the curse keeping the couple from connecting too easily overcome to satisfy. The female friendships are lovely, though, from the warm mentorship between Lokelani and the princess to the delightful use of the “pink bubbles” to convince wedding professionals to heed Lokelani’s friend’s wishes.
Takeaway: Historical romance fans will be swept away by Hawaiian magic and culture.
Comparable Titles: Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells; Kawai Strong Washburn’s Sharks in the Time of Saviors.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Seamlessly blending elements of fabulism and fantasy with a focus on science and mental health, Walters’ story will appeal to readers interested in the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit, as well as our indelible connection to nature. Along the way, Frankie decides to probe into the mysteries of her adoption. Her sensitivity to animals and how they communicate is informed by the dream animals, who provide her with crucial information that helps her set up fruitful experiments of her own, in defiance of her professor. Dream and reality intersect more deeply when Frankie discovers her dream animals are real—and that the beloved wolf she calls Mama is in danger.
Walters surprises as the story’s scope expands beyond saving individual animals to headier consents: Frankie's mission, ultimately, is to help transform other humans. The way Walters depicts Frankie as being confused, prone to bursts of irrational and impulsive behavior, and even moments of cruelty makes her a deeply sympathetic, complex protagonist. The supporting characters are all given their own moments to shine and express their own emotional and spiritual complexity. The peace that Frankie finds is well-earned through the narrative as Walters honors all the ways of seeing the world: with your brain, with your heart, with your senses, and with your soul.
Takeaway: Surprising novel of animal intelligence and connection.
Comparable Titles: Lee Mandelo’s Feed Them Silence, Sheri S. Tepper’s The Family Tree.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
O’Hea emphasizes the human in this heady story, taking time to develop the characters so that readers eventually can contrast them with their doubles, who appear after a hasty decision causes Nolan to fall through the portal and arrive in the Governor’s dystopian Morley. Nolan’s double, Nole, and Harlow’s double, Lolo, are swapped into Nolan’s world, and each learns about the freedoms that society and politicians can both give and easily take away. Nolan, meanwhile, faces the possibility that this is a one-way trip and that he could be trapped forever—but at least in this alternate world his mother is alive.
The chapters shift the first-person points of view of Harlow, Nolan, Topher, Nole, and Lolo, an approach that chops up the progression of the story, diminishing momentum, yet offering depth and insight as the teenagers critique the strange worlds they discover and learn that citizens have the power to create the government they want. Readers will root for the resilient characters who fight for freedom right up to a satisfying conclusion.
Takeaway: A resourceful teen fights for freedom in a parallel world of doppelgangers.
Comparable Titles: Lauren Oliver’s Before I Fall, Gwen Cole’s Cold Summer.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
“I should be able to succeed in the corporate world without having to disguise, hide, or abandon who I am,” Cherek declares. With crisp, sometimes pugnacious prose and a sturdy moral compass, Cherek points out clear wrongs—including “crude jokes, awkward comments, blatant stares at my boobs and legs”—that in individual moments it might feel easy to just let slide. Doing so, she now argues, legitimizes the underlying assumptions of the biased. Instead, Cherek makes the case that thriving in the workplace—and improving society—means being truthful and encouraging women to tell their stories, to dare to quit bad jobs, and to not blame themselves when “the world or the workplace is unfairly stacked against you.”
Tread Loudly offers catharsis and hope as Cherek urges women to be bold—and be themselves. She buttresses her observations with examples from others’ careers and the hard facts of the closing chapter, which notes how women still lag far behind men in business, government and academia. A former attorney, she makes a compelling case for change.
Takeaway: Hard-won insight and guidance for women in male-dominated workplaces.
Comparable Titles: Alicia Menendez’s The Likeability Trap, Elaine Welteroth’s More Than Enough.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Chapman acknowledges his road to success has been bumpy, sharing several stories of times his resolve was tested and detailing how his perseverance paid off—such as his 2016 run-in with a bull on his family’s cattle-breeding farm, an accident that ended in severely dislocated and broken toes, a dislocated shoulder, and a torn bicep. Those injuries required years of surgical procedures and rehabilitation, but Chapman’s commitment to a strict 5am regimen once again netted him “the best chance of success.” Citing how mankind has historically risen with the sun, Chapman references notables who have also used his “5am Advantage,” including Benjamin Franklin and Toni Morrison, as examples of how to organize, plan, and prepare each day with intention, the true purpose of his habit makeover.
To further illustrate his methods, Chapman pairs personal anecdotes with actionable steps, falling back on five goal activators—“discipline, persistence, focus, action, and passion"—that together produce what he terms “the unstoppable, self-sustaining energy… you need to hit your target.” His book is brimming with clear, concise tips and real-life examples on how to achieve success one early morning at a time, offering readers a hard-won path to accomplishing their dreams. In his own words, "Self-improvement is an endurance race, and there is always room to grow.”
Takeaway: Intentional guide to taking advantage of every day.
Comparable Titles: Robin Sharma's The 5AM Club, Dan Luca's The 5 A.M. Revolution.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
The Lost Expedition: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 3
From there, their saga grows exponentially more dangerous—and hefty, as this concluding chapter is long, a novel for lovers of inventive fantasy-adventures to wallow in. With Case’s brother, Fader, who possesses superpowers in his own right, and Adi, the CEO for Will’s empire, the heroes must contend with Will’s growing powers but weakening health, in the midst of epic battles with rune-casting witches, supernatural beings that inhabit others’ bodies, and much more—Smith continually conjures surprises. At the heart of it all are Will and Case’s nagging suspicions that they’re “being moved like pieces on a board.”
The payoff for the group is worth it in the end, as they finally get the answers they’ve been searching for—about Case and Fader’s mother, the Chakana’s riddles, and surprising truths from Will’s own background. The road to those answers is decidedly rocky, bursting with dark magic, beastly protectors, and a slew of extraordinary fantasy characters—including a sinister presence whose roots can be traced back to Incan rule. Smith skillfully probes deeper messages behind all the fun, as the main players face the consequences of humankind’s disregard for the Earth—and each other. The series is best enjoyed when read in order.
Takeaway: Explosive conclusion to this spectacular fantasy joyride.
Comparable Titles: Amélie Wen Zhao’s Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, Laura Sebastian’s Ash Princess.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Victoria’s accuser—Judge Moran, the chief judge of the Federal Court in Illinois—has dredged up the charges from a 17-year-old court case, bringing into focus just how formidable, and powerful, Victoria’s enemies may be. When a potential witness is found murdered in her home, with Victoria and her campaign lawyer's fingerprints on the door, Victoria realizes that whoever is trying to frame her will stop at nothing to end her career—and possibly her life. Fast paced and action packed, this thriller novella spotlights the cutthroat nature of politics and behind-the-scenes, dirty dealing of the American government system.
Dedrick’s sharp-witted and polished protagonist drives the riveting plot, bolstered by the novel’s larger-than-life characters and scenes of political sabotage. As she races against the clock to clear her name, find the real criminal behind the false accusations, and get her campaign back on track, Victoria is all business—and a resilient force to be reckoned with, even in the face of her imminent downfall. While the novel sprints to a conclusion, Dedrick reveals more lies and corruption in a climactic buildup of tension and suspense, making this charged political thriller a force to be reckoned with.
Takeaway: Thrilling novella driven by political scandal and a sharp-witted protagonist.
Comparable Titles: L. D. Beyer's In Sheep's Clothing, James Patterson's Juror No. 3.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Brooklyn Valentine
Even though Bennie’s mother left the family years ago, Sal and Joe have teamed up to give Bennie the best life possible despite the challenging circumstances. Sal’s relationship with Terry blossoms slowly as he opens the door to his world for her, but from their very first meeting the pair draw sparks as they settle into debates, philosophical and otherwise, interspersed with the type of vulnerability that comes from knowing one may never see the other person again. Levine brings the city to life, welcoming readers into a place and time where a neighborhood was a person’s entire world and generations circled around each other, in good times and in bad.
Levine’s fast-paced, sharp dialog and spot-on ambiance slowly tease out the characters’ stories, especially how Terry is pulled into Sal’s daily life, offering her glimpses of the man behind the steering wheel—from the family meal with Sal’s friend, Schmuli, to witnessing his polar plunge on Brighton Beach. Each area of Brooklyn finds a new piece of the man revealed, a fresh insight into his life, especially when it comes to the possibility that he may lose custody of Bennie with his ex-wife back in the picture. Readers will fall in love with this novel and hope for the happily ever after that may—or may not—materialize.
Takeaway: Richly imagined love letter to Brooklyn through the eyes of a vulnerable man.
Comparable Titles: Devney Perry’s The Coppersmith Farmhouse, Sonali Dev’s The Vibrant Years.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
The author skillfully employs the inciting incident to set in motion multiple compelling plots, centering around four distinct characters: Lauren, the brilliant mind behind the AI Merlin; Jack, who can pilot anything; the ruthless undercover Captain Greg Garcia; and Tom Wilks, owner of the ship The Peregrine, which he won through his gambling. Meanwhile, the strikingly menacing antagonist, Imperium Supreme Commander Bob, defies stereotypes by primarily handling HR and PR matters while his subordinates wreak havoc across the universe. The high point of the book occurs, quite literally, when Merlin, Tom, and Greg orchestrate a daring plan to intoxicate an entire prison, aiming to liberate Lauren and Jack. Described in colorful detail, the plan predictably—and entertainingly—derails, and the robots, along with the AI, save the day for a change.
Crane’s writing often evokes a cinematic grandeur with its epic scale, complex character dynamics, and blend of heady what-if? ideas and intense battle sequences. The narrative loses some momentum in the latter half as the focus shifts from the fight against the Imperium to a detailed rescue operation on a nuked planet, and the cosmic empire material, while exciting, at times feels familiar. Still, living up to its title, this series starter features pivotal prison breaks and narrow escapes from imminent death, as the Rim system strives to “break out” of the shackles of the Imperium. This thematic choice sets the stage for a promising next installment.
Takeaway: Promising space opera series starter of rebellion, action, AI, and a cosmic empire.
Comparable Titles: Christopher Ruocchio; Elizabeth Bear’s White Space series.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Caught in the Crosshairs of American Healthcare
Sederer recounts his long fight to prevent change for the worse as “for-profit intermediaries” try to seize greater control from doctors and nurses. Sederer’s experiences, observations, and recommendations amount to a troubling wake-up call. His six-year, boots-on-the-ground odyssey is a sobering journey of how the American healthcare system has declined from a progressive system run by healthcare professionals typically with the best interest of the patient and their families at heart to a near-monopoly of profit-driven corporations that view patients as products that should be managed as efficiently as possible.
At times, the book reads like a thriller with Sederer and his team of underdogs taking on corporate America. Along the way he is not afraid to dispense strong medicine as well as wisdom gained from experience. Sederer illuminates a lot of territory as he navigates the “merciless new era of corporate medicine,” the over-prescription of certain drugs, irresponsible doctors, the loss of family involvement in recovery, and more. Ultimately McLean, like the old-fashioned family doctor, survives the onslaught with its leading position in psychiatric research and treatment intact. Sederer offers here nothing less than a real-life prescription for change that should be urgent reading for healthcare administrators, officials, and providers.
Takeaway: A doctor’s rousing account of saving a patient-focused hospital from profiteers.
Comparable Titles: Brian Alexander’s The Hospital, Ricardo Nuila’s The People’s Hospital.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Each surprising story begins and ends with a quote that elucidates the moral and meaning meant to be taken from the tale. The book’s sweep is suggested by their provenance: many come from philosophers or ancient texts, others from Philip K. Dick. The result is an inspirational odyssey into the meaning of life, death, and more, told through narratives gathered throughout the author's life richly immersed in spiritual text, Rahal's own musings, and “letters from friends.” With lyrical prose, Rahal weaves most entries with a whimsical element of the fantastic and clear moral or philosophical implications, like fables of old. In "A Child's Game," a story crafted to impart the guidance that "prayer is the medium of communication with higher levels of awareness," a young boy lovingly waters his flowers each morning yet unknowingly floods the ant colony nearby.
Exploring perception, mindset, and accepting things that can not be controlled, "The Boxer" centers on two men who have the same nightmare of being forced to fight each other. While one wonders how he wound up in the precarious situation in a state of frozen fright, the other accepts his fate and does his best to win the battle. Rahal explores complex themes with warmth and wit, offering lessons and illumination on topics of enlightenment, self-consciousness, and spiritual well-being.
Takeaway: Surprising, polished spiritual fables illuminating existential questions.
Comparable Titles: Marilyn McFarlane's Sacred Stories, Jay Iyer’s Little Flowers.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
