Cover Reveal: A Strange & Terrible Wonder by Nichole Louise

BOOK DETAILS:

A Strange & Terrible Wonder

by Nichole Louise

Publication date: August 18, 2026

Genres: Adult, Historical

Synopsis:

Eleanor Dare, daughter of Roanoke’s Governor John White, has no choice but to accompany her overly ambitious husband Ananias and her idealist, yet inexperienced father to England’s new colony. Manteo of Croatoan wants nothing more than to cast off his association with the English and return home. Haunted by memories of an unexplainable event, he sets out to find the truth about what was brought to Roanoke by the English two years before as a weapon against the Spanish.

Based on real people who vanished from history, Eleanor and Manteo form a taboo friendship as they work against unseen forces to end the violent and otherworldly attacks upon the settlement. In the midst of this survival scenario, both Eleanor and Manteo—once powerless and marginalized in England, emerge as unlikely leaders of the ravaged colony.

Blending 16th century science, occult, and the impacts of early colonialism, A Strange and Terrible Wonder reimagines what became of the Lost Colony.

AUTHOR BIO:

Nichole Louise is a speculative historical fiction writer and book reviewer (NicholeLouise.com). Raven Rock (2023), a prequel to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, was recognized by Writer’s Digest, the Historical Fiction Company, and the CIBAs. Her articles and book reviews have appeared in the Journal of the American Revolution. Her second title, A Strange and Terrible Wonder (2026) is a historical folk horror tale exploring the Lost Colony of Roanoke. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, gaming, and volunteering at Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society.

Author links:

https://nicholelouise.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7262199.Nichole_Louise

https://www.instagram.com/nichole__louise/

Review: To The Last Gram by Shreya Davies

Goodreads Blurb

Through her school days, where she must negotiate a precarious balancing act between her culture and fitting in, to her teenage years where appetites must be managed to keep up appearances, to her early adulthood where responsibilities feel overwhelming, Divya journeys from feelings of emptiness to finally finding fulfilment within.

To the Last Gram is an honest and hopeful story of feeling at odds with and finding a home in one’s community, family, and body, and of the yet-unfurling journey to embrace the fullness of life.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

It is a powerful comic that details the struggles of having an eating disorder. We are surrounded by society’s ideals that having the perfect, skinny body is a sexy feature, and it will make you successful and accepted. As someone who wanted to be a model and wasn’t able to achieve that because I wasn’t skinny or tall enough to be considered a model. I still remember when someone in the modeling industry said I looked fat in my comp card pictures and that I was perfect for photoshopping with all my acne. Mind you, at the time, I was about a size 4. We are surrounded by false ideologies and bullying people to look a particular way in order for them to be accepted. The fashion, music, and movie industries are notorious for idealizing skinny models and actors.

Divya’s journey throughout this comic shows all the personal struggles she was facing to get skinny, and even when she was super skinny, she still viewed her body the same. It was an emotional rollercoaster that made me sad that I couldn’t help her see the negative impact the excessive exercising and lack of eating were having on her body. This book shared the good and the bad without shying away from the truth. This is a great book for teenagers to read, whether they have an eating disorder or not. Being able to see the signs can help someone in need who is silently struggling.

Review: The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits

Goodreads Blurb

What’s left when your kids grow up and leave home?

When Tom Layward’s wife had an affair he resolved to leave her as soon as his youngest daughter turned eighteen. Twelve years later, while driving her to Pittsburgh to start university, he remembers his pact, and keeps driving West.

He is also on the run from his own health issues, and the fact that he’s been put on leave at work after students complained about the politics of his law class – something he hasn’t yet told his wife.

So, after dropping Miriam off, he keeps driving, with the vague plan of visiting various people from his past – an old college friend, his ex-girlfriend, his brother, his son – on route, maybe, to his father’s grave in California.

An unforgettable road trip novel, The Rest of Our Lives beautifully explores the nuance and complications of a long term marriage.

My Review: Rated 2 out of 5 stars

This was the worst book chosen by the Barnes & Noble book club. This book was boring, and the ending was terrible. Since I always love finishing a book after I begin reading it, I had to painfully read this boring book about a man having a midlife crisis, and maybe even death is knocking on his door. I didn’t care for any of the characters, and the storyline didn’t do anything to keep my interest throughout the book. I dragged myself to read the book to get an ending with no answers.

Review: Valley of the Moms by Hannah Selinger

Goodreads Blurb

Hamilton, Massachusetts is one of those suburban towns that appears untouched by the outside world where stay-at-home moms wear 2ct diamond studs to the playground, where a million-dollar property is “affordable,” and where the Parent Teacher Organization is a hotbed of controversy. Sure, some people struggle to make ends meet, but residents would say discussing such ugly matters is impolite. Hamilton has been like this forever, and everyone likes it that way. almost everyone.

It’s not that Anna Plummer doesn’t like Hamilton, but she never thought she’d be married with two young kids, comfortable, complacent…and growing more bored by the minute. So, when she realizes her second grader won’t be able to attend the “Ziti with Your Sweetie” school dance because she didn’t pay for a “Premium” membership, she snaps. She sends an email to the terrifying president of the PTO—and all hell breaks loose.

One year later, Anna is found dead in the frozen Ipswich River. Left to pick up the pieces, her husband, Denny, is shaken to his core. He’s no expert, but he’s seen enough Dateline to know that the police think he’s the main suspect. If they aren’t going to get justice for Anna, he will. Told through the alternating perspectives of Anna and Denny exactly one year apart, and with a shocking concluding twist, Valley of the Moms is a gripping look at the underpinnings of grief, the social structures of wealth, and the secrets people keep—even among friends and loved ones.

My Review: Rated 3 out of 5 stars

It is a story of a community of rich moms with power and backstabbing besties. Unfortunately, the hype for this book fell short of being a fantastic read. When the elite have the power to murder and get away with it, you know you don’t stand a chance. Status and power are everything for the PTO moms in Hamilton. Poor Ana thought she could make the PTO a fair and equal place for everyone, but her resilience backfired. Be wary of who you make friends with and who shows their true colors from the very moment you meet them. I was shocked and disappointed with the ladies who were closest to Anna, who cheered her on, dragging her to her own grave. Her husband Denny was as useless to the very end. He chose to keep the secrets at bay in order not to push the buttons of the PTO moms, as Anna had done. The story was slow with a lot of back and forth, which made the book drag on. I was hoping for an unforgettable thriller, but its shortcomings fell short from the beginning of the story.

Goodreads Author Biography

Hannah Selinger is a James Beard Award-nominated lifestyle writer and mother of two based in Boxford, MA. Her print and digital work has appeared in the New YorkTimes Magazine, the Boston Globe, the Washington Post, Eater, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and elsewhere. Her 2021 Bon Appétit essay, “In My Childhood Kitchen, I Learned Both Fear and Love,” is anthologized in the 2022 Best American Food Writing collection, published by HarperCollins and edited by Sohla El-Waylly.

Review: Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer

Goodreads Blurb

For over eighty years, Joy Bridport has played by the rules: she’s been a devoted wife and mother, contributing to the community in her small Hudson Valley town. But her quiet existence is jolted when she learns that her best friend, Hazel, only has months left to live. Hazel has always been the more adventurous one of their duo, and she seems at peace with all that she’s squeezed out of her long life. Yet Joy realizes she can’t say the same.

Determined to live boldly and make the most of the time that she and Hazel have left together, Joy steps outside of her comfort zone—and into a bit of trouble. But as her foray into rule-breaking escalates into committing petty crime, Joy must consider what kind of legacy she wants to leave behind, and whether there’s a way for her to embrace the liberation that “Bad Joy” offers without losing all that she holds dear.

Is it ever too late to become who we’re meant to be? With laugh-out-loud hijnks and emotional heft, Good Joy, Bad Joy is a heartwarming and wise celebration of the choices we make, the friendships we cherish, and the lengths we go for love.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

It’s a heartfelt story of what it’s like to have an everlasting friendship. Someone who is there for you through thick and thin. It brings comfort when you have a bestie who will support you in your happiest or saddest moments. Not everyone gets the chance to find a friend like Joy and Hazel’s friendship. It took me years to finally find a friend who truly cares and understands me. We might live in different states, but our bond makes it feel like she lives next door. This story is about the strong bond of friendship and what happens when you find out your bestie has a terminal illness, and how you are willing to break a few rules, if that means your friend gets to have another laugh and enjoy a little gossip.

A quote that resonated with me was: “Everyone blooms in their own time, even if it takes eighty-nine years. Sometimes, we need a few false starts before we come into our element, but it’s never too late.”

As someone who abides by the rules and has many fears about life, I connected with Joy. I felt her loneliness and lack of belonging. It takes courage and confidence to stand up and feel empowered. When Joy broke a few rules, she felt invisible but exhilarated. I also felt her exhilaration. If you are invisible already, then causing a little havoc might not be so bad. This was a heartbreaking story of second chances and a friendship that lasted decades through many ups and downs.

Author Goodreads Biography

Mikki Brammer is an Australian journalist and author who hails from Tasmania. She is now based in Brooklyn, New York (by way of France and Spain) where she writes about design, architecture and art for publications such as Architectural Digest, Dwell and ELLE Decor. ‘The Collected Regrets of Clover,’ her bestselling debut novel, was named a Best Book of Summer 2023 by the New York Times Book Review and a Best Book of 2023 by NPR, and is being published in 27 languages. Her second novel, ‘Good Joy, Bad Joy,’ was published in May 2026 and was the Barnes and Noble Book Club pick. .

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: You Had Me at Meow by Gracie James

BOOK DETAILS:

You Had Me at Meow

by Gracie James

Publication date: July 7, 2026

Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance

Synopsis:

Some girls get fairy godmothers. Abby Thompson gets a talking cat with a British accent and absolutely zero chill.

After her latest blind date—arranged by her loving (but relentless) mother—ends in a concussion, a wine-soaked dress, and enough humiliation to power Manhattan, Abby decides she’s done with dating. Forever.

Too bad her cat, Mr. Whiskers, has other ideas. And he’s suddenly sharing them. Out loud.

“Honestly, Abby, your taste in men is almost as concerning as your taste in sweaters.”

His mission? Fix her train-wreck love life and help her land her dream job. His qualifications? None. He’s a cat. His methods? Questionable at best.

But somewhere between the disastrous first dates, ruthless office politics, and the unexpectedly charming veterinarian who might actually be worth shaving her legs for, Abby starts to wonder…

Is Mr. Whiskers a miracle? Or a catastrophe with whiskers?

Either way, her opinionated feline isn’t backing down. And if Abby wants her dream life, she might have to trust the one life coach she never asked for. Her cat.

You Had Me at Meow is a sweet, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy about finding your voice, risking your heart, and one very determined cat who refuses to let his human settle for anything less than purr-fection.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/252472218-you-had-me-at-meow

Pre-order: https://amzn.to/4dSEYye

AUTHOR BIO:

Gracie James lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their sweet rescue cat, Pinky, and absolutely loves the rain. When she’s not writing swoony, laugh-out-loud rom-coms sprinkled with a touch of magic, she’s usually hiking up a mountain or eating chocolate like it’s a personality trait. Her creative peak occurs somewhere between “I should go to bed” and “well, it’s basically morning now,” and she considers sunrise more of a suggestion than a deadline.

Author links:

https://authorgraciejames.com/

https://www.instagram.com/authorgraciejames

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/70418272.Gracie_James

Giveaway: https://gleam.io/I7M40/you-had-me-at-meow-reveal

Cover Reveal: Mack’s Horribly Hellacious Ghost Town by AJ Sherwood

BOOK DETAILS:

Mack’s Horribly Hellacious Ghost Town

by AJ Sherwood

(Mack’s Marvelous Manifestations, #5)

Publication date: June 12, 2026

Genres: Adult, LGBTQ+, Romance

Synopsis:

Apprentices, and two ghost towns, and almost-demons oh…no.

Mack doesn’t mind the apprentice part of this job; in fact, finding Gwyn is delightful, though he hates she grew up in such a haunted town with parents who don’t believe she’s a Medium.

Mack really hates the old mining ghost town is locked down with weird energy and none of the ghosts can see them, which makes passing them difficult.

Mack especially hates that in Black Rock there’s an almost-demon ghost inciting other ghosts to cause a mob, how is that allowed to be a thing?!

Who you gonna call for help when you’re the experts? Mack wants to know for a friend. (Him. He’s the friend.)

Tags:
Mack has found hell on earth, this was not on his bucket list, Accidental apprentice acquisition, Lachlan is back!, ghost gangs, chaos magician, Seiji is a new bonk bro, wedding, almost demons lurking, too much water and limestone for a medium’s peace of mind, uncharted haunted mines make Lachlan’s day, Eli is her usual scary self, Mack goes Wild West, Brandon can see ghosts here, that’s not a good thing, Brandon gets to have an apprentice too and can’t be happier, ghost pranks, Mack has picked too many battles, he’s putting some back, Ghost-hunting squad–assemble!

Tropes: MM Romance, Multicultural Romance, Ghost Town, Ghost Medium, Age Gap, Apprentices, Wedding, HEA

This is the fifth and final book in the series following a plot crossover with the Jon’s Mysteries Series. While it would be best to read the books listed in the below order, you can read Mack’s Horribly Hellacious Ghost Town without having read “Book 4” with minimal confusion. To read in series order, Book 1 – Brandon’s Very Merry Haunted Christmas, Book 2 – Mack’s Perfectly Ghastly Homecoming, Book 3 – Mack’s Rousing Ghoulish Highland Adventure, Book 4 – Jon & Mack’s Terrifying Tree Troubles, and Book 5 – This title.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250855316-mack-s-horribly-hellacious-ghost-town

Pre-order: https://amzn.to/4nyPDTg

AUTHOR BIO:

AJ Sherwood believes in happily ever afters, magic, dragons, good men, and dark chocolate. She often dreams at night of delectable men doing sexy things with each other. In between writing multiple books (often at the same time) she pets her cats, plays with her dogs, and attempts insane things like aerial yoga.

She currently resides in Michigan with aforementioned dogs and cats. Being in snow country gives her the excuse to stay inside and watch bl dramas, which suit her perfectly.

Author links:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18541140.A_J_Sherwood

https://www.ajsherwood.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/580361995783229/

https://www.instagram.com/sherwoodwrites/

@ajsherwood_author

https://www.facebook.com/ajsherwoodwrites/

Vanessa Hua will be on Book Tour for Her New Book Coyoteland

Come meet Vanessa Hua on her book tour for her new book release, Coyoteland.

You can preorder tickets for all venues via this link https://www.vanessahua.com/events?utm_campaign=FIB%20-%20Flatiron%20First%20Edition%20Emails&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8kkXTEQFdhxVes5PesMcGUDcjyiKgep-FBDc3qHYvyJGjtjE20JUOlvDf6jwvMouhNmIe0ayF9gQ-rAaCeUEpONVCCNQ&_hsmi=418978559&utm_content=418978559&utm_source=hs_email

Book Event With R.L. Stine

I had another opportunity to meet the iconic R.L. Stine. He always knows how to keep us laughing. Thanks, Paramus Barnes & Noble, for hosting Mr. Stine.

Goodreads Blurb

Twelve-year-old Joe Ferber, his sister Sadie, and their parents have just moved into a house that has all the hallmarks of a horror movie—tombstones in the basement, a creepy doll lying around, strange noises in the wall, and so on. As Joe tries to fall asleep on the first night, his nightlight begins to flash and change colors, and the creepy doll appears in his bed … and then twelve-year-old Shawn Hannigan wakes up from a dream.

Shawn and his little sister, Addie, are seemingly living in the same house with their mother. But when they arrive at their new school for the first day, the teachers are all wearing animal masks, and the principal’s office is pitch black and full of noises. At the end of the day, a stranger claiming to be Shawn’s mom picks him up and tells him he doesn’t have a sister …

As more and more strange things happen to each of them, Shawn and Joe have to figure out what is real, and what is a nightmare …

Cover Reveal: Burning For You by Kasie Haley

BOOK DETAILS:

Burning For You

by Kasie Haley

Publication date: July 24, 2026

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Lainey Wells hasn’t returned home to Tennessee in ten years. When her Grandpa passes away, she’s the only one left to help take care of her Grandma and keep her safe. Returning to a town where everyone hates her and calls her a murderer is her worst nightmare, and she doesn’t plan to stay. Not unless someone from her past can convince her.

Casey Richards isn’t afraid of anything. He’s not afraid of fighting in wars overseas, and certainly not running into burning buildings. Firefighting is his biggest passion in life, except for one other thing. Lainey Wells, the girl he has loved since they were kids. Ten years have passed since they’ve seen each other and when she suddenly returns, it’s his chance to convince her to stay.

Happiness has not come easily for either of them. Will he ever be able to make her stop blaming herself for what happened in their past? Lainey knows that staying could be dangerous, but Casey is ready to go to war for her.

Will they get their second chance, or will they burn out?

AUTHOR BIO:

Hi! I’m Kasie. I’m 28 and from Saint Louis, Missouri. My home is full of lots of laughter with 5 kiddos, 2 dogs and 2 cats. Plus some animals with scales. I love writing to release stress and have fun! I hope you love my books!

Author links:

https://www.instagram.com/kasiehaley.author/

https://amzn.to/4wfz42u

https://www.facebook.com/kasiehaleybooks