Upcoming Book Event With Author Shelby Van Pelt

I’m so excited that Shelby will be coming to Paramus, Barnes & Noble, in April. This was my favorite book this year. It was released about two years ago, but it’s a must-read.

In Store
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 6:00 PM ET

Shelby Van Pelt discusses and signs REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES

About this Event

Please join us in welcoming author Shelby Van Pelt as she celebrates the release of Remarkably Bright Creatures in paperback!

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in the Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors – until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.

Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

Event Location

Paramus

634 N State Route 17Paramus, NJ 07652
(201) 445-4589

My Review:

This outstanding book brought me so much joy. It’s been a while since I devoured a book in three days, not allowing me to take a break from this heartwarming story. This book gave me all the emotions, with characters who stole my heart. Shelby created characters who made us want to know more about their stories. I learned early on how this story was going to unravel. I was happy with how the story turned out.

The leading character, Marcellus, who happens to be a giant Pacific octopus, makes the story interesting with his countdown to the end of his life. I was sad that, as the reader, you knew his death was imminent, but his smarts and skills will show the powers these beautiful creatures have. It was great learning more about the lifespan and abilities of an octopus.

This story is a rollercoaster of emotions. It follows a son who never knew his father, and his mom abandoned him. He searches for his possible father after locating a picture and a high school class ring. You have a seventy-year-old widow who had lost her husband and her son who died a mysterious death when he was eighteen. This story beautifully weaves together these broken hearts who lost a lot but have so much to give to each other. Marcellus (the octopus) helps the characters figure out the mystery between these two lives, which brings new opportunities and locates what they lost. The characters’ growth and resilience throughout the story will leave you feeling hopeful.

I loved Tova Sullivan’s strength in pushing through the loss of her family and working hard at her age in the aquarium. His mother’s actions scarred Cameron Cassmore. He was a lost character trying to make it through the day in hopes of locating his happiness. I have a fascination for all sea creatures and was so happy I got to spend some quality time with Marcellus, the hero of this story. Marcellus days were outnumbered, but that didn’t stop him from making Tova realize who Cameron was to her. His friendship with Tova meant a lot to him. His memory of Erik, Tova’s son, made him want to bring Tova joy again. This is a magical story that will brighten your life.

Review: Consume: Episode Six by Alana Albertson

Goodreads Blurb

Se7en Deadly SEALs are no longer the brothers I trusted
6ix months since Mia transformed into another woman
5ive minutes since I learned she’d betrayed me.
4our times I’ve seen Joaquín in jail
Thre3 years ago Mia and I conceived a child
2wo days since she agreed to be mine forever.
1ne week since I laid eyes on my son.
Zer0 chance I’ll rest until I find him.
He’s out there and once I locate him, I’ll never let him go. He’s my flesh, my blood, my son. No one will stop me, not even Mia, no matter how she consumes me.
Consume is book 6 in the Se7en Deadly SEALs Serial.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Wow, what a bombshell!! Truly knocked me off my feet to hear the revelation from Joaquin. Mia just got the disgusting surprise of a lifetime. Now the show must go on as planned. Let’s go see what the final episode unravels.

Author Biography

Alana Albertson is a multi-award winning author, current President of Romance Writers of America’s Contemporary Romance Chapter and the former President of both Romance Writers of America’s Young Adult and Chick Lit chapters. Alana Albertson holds a Masters of Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Stanford University. A recovering professional ballroom dancer, Alana currently writes contemporary romance, new adult and young adult fiction. She lives in San Diego, California, with her husband, two young sons, and four dogs. When she’s not spending her time playing with her sons, dancing, or saving dogs from high kill shelters through Pugs N Roses, the rescue she founded, she can be found watching episodes Homeland, Devious Maids, or Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.

Review: Trick or Treat on Scary Street by Lance Bass

Goodreads Blurb

Come one.

Come all.

Come follow thirteen trick-or-treaters down Scary Street. Dare to stop at the vampire’s lair? Tempted to take a bite of the witch’s delight? How about a peek inside a ghostly haunt? Who will make it to the end. . . and what last trick (or treat) awaits?

Celebrate the thrills and chills of the season with this unforgettable trip down Scary Street!

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I enjoyed the illustrations in this book. They provided the spooky vibes for the story. Loved all our spooky favorites like Frankenstein,  Dracula, and the werewolf make an appearance. The text was short with a ryhmic vibe. It was a surprise ending to see that the kid dressed as a werewolf was actually real. I love the ending with a Halloween party with all the characters. Children will enjoy this spooky read.

Author Biography

James Lance Bass, best known as Lance Bass, is an American pop singer, actor, film and television producer, and author. He grew up in Mississippi and rose to fame as the bass singer for the American pop boy band ‘N Sync. ‘N Sync’s success led Bass to work in film and television. He starred in the 2001 film On the Line, which his company, Bacon & Eggs, also produced. Bass later formed a second production company, Lance Bass Productions, as well as a now-defunct music management company, Free Lance Entertainment, a joint venture with Mercury Records.

After completion of ‘N Sync’s Pop Odyssey Tour, Bass moved to Star City, Russia in much publicized pursuit of a seat on a Soyuz space capsule. Bass was certified by both NASA and the Russian Space Program after several months of cosmonaut training, and planned to join the TMA-1 mission to the International Space Station. However, after his financial sponsors backed out, Bass was denied a seat on the mission.

In July 2006, Bass revealed that he is gay in a cover story for People magazine. He was awarded the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award in October 2006, and released an autobiography, Out of Sync, in October 2007, which debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list.

Bass was a contestant on Season 7 of Dancing with the Stars, and was paired with swing dance champ Lacey Schwimmer. He ended up with the third position in the show, following first runner-up Warren Sapp and winner Brooke Burke.

Review: Crave: Episode Five by Alana Albertson

Goodreads Blurb

Se7en Deadly SEALs can’t be trusted
6ix months I cried myself to sleep after my son died
5ive years since my parents died and took their secrets to their graves
4our hours since Grant vanished in a hurry
Thre3 years since my baby was conceived
2wo nights of passion since Grant exposed my lies
1ne minute ago I learned some news that changes my entire life
Zer0 chance this new information is wrong.
My world has been rocked. Everything I have ever believed has changed. Saving my brother is no longer my priority. I must find out what happened to my son. Being reunited with him is the only thing I crave .
Crave is book 5 in the Se7en Deadly SEALs Serial

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Mia’s lies keep on catching up to her. She wants to find answers at all costs, not realizing how she implicates everything. I was hoping the lies would stop, and Grant and Mia would have the relationship they always craved. Happily ever after is so far fetch. Let the secrets unravel the truth and lies.

Author Biography

Alana Albertson is a multi-award winning author, current President of Romance Writers of America’s Contemporary Romance Chapter and the former President of both Romance Writers of America’s Young Adult and Chick Lit chapters. Alana Albertson holds a Masters of Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Stanford University. A recovering professional ballroom dancer, Alana currently writes contemporary romance, new adult and young adult fiction. She lives in San Diego, California, with her husband, two young sons, and four dogs. When she’s not spending her time playing with her sons, dancing, or saving dogs from high kill shelters through Pugs N Roses, the rescue she founded, she can be found watching episodes Homeland, Devious Maids, or Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.

Currently Reading: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

The book club at Rose Memorial Library is reading The Paris Wife for this month. It has been an interesting read.

Goodreads Blurb

Chicago, 1920: Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness—until she meets Ernest Hemingway and her life changes forever. Following a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair set sail for Paris, where they become the golden couple in a lively and volatile group—the fabled “Lost Generation”—that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.

Though deeply in love, the Hemingways are ill prepared for the hard-drinking and fast-living life of Jazz Age Paris, which hardly values traditional notions of family and monogamy. Surrounded by beautiful women and competing egos, Ernest struggles to find the voice that will earn him a place in history, pouring all the richness and intensity of his life with Hadley and their circle of friends into the novel that will become The Sun Also Rises. Hadley, meanwhile, strives to hold on to her sense of self as the demands of life with Ernest grow costly and her roles as wife, friend, and muse become more challenging. Despite their extraordinary bond, they eventually find themselves facing the ultimate crisis of their marriage—a deception that will lead to the unraveling of everything they’ve fought so hard for.

A heartbreaking portrayal of love and torn loyalty, The Paris Wife is all the more poignant because we know that, in the end, Hemingway wrote that he would rather have died than fallen in love with anyone but Hadley.

Author Biography

Paula McLain is the author of the New York Times and internationally bestselling novels, The Paris Wife, Circling the Sun and Love and Ruin. Now she introduces When the Stars Go Dark (April 13, 2021), an atmospheric novel of intertwined destinies and heart-wrenching suspense. She received an MFA in poetry from the University of Michigan in 1996, and is also the author of two collections of poetry, the memoir Like Family: Growing Up in Other People’s Houses, and the debut novel, A Ticket to Ride. Her work has has appeared in The New York Times, Real Simple, Town & Country, The Guardian, Huffington Post, Good Housekeeping, and elsewhere. She lives with her family in Cleveland, Ohio.

Book Event with Authors Lynda Cohen Loigman and Heather Webb

I wore a similar coat and hat like the cover of Christmas with the Queen.

We had a wonderful evening meeting these amazing authors. There are so many more books to add to my TBR list.

Goodreads Blurb

’Tis the season! The Crown meets When Harry Met Sally and Bridget Jones’s Diary, in the latest heartwarming historical novel from Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, bestselling authors of Meet Me in Monaco and Three Words for Goodbye.

December 1952. While the young Queen Elizabeth II finds her feet as the new monarch, she must also find the right words to continue in the tradition of her late father and grandfather’s beloved Christmas Day radio broadcast. But even traditions must move with the times, and the Queen faces a postwar Britain hungry for change.

As preparations begin for the royal Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk, two old friends—Jack Devereux and Olive Carter—find themselves reunited for the festivities. A single mother, typist at the BBC, and aspiring reporter, Olive leaps at the opportunity to cover the holiday celebration, despite self-doubts. When a chance encounter with the Queen presents an exciting opportunity, Olive begins to believe her luck might change.

Jack, a grief-stricken widowed chef originally from New Orleans, accepts a last-minute chance to cook in the royal kitchens at Sandringham. When he bumps into a long-lost friend, an old spark is reignited.

Despite personal and professional heartache, Jack and Olive’s paths continue to cross over the following five Christmas seasons and they find themselves growing ever closer. Yet Olive carries the burden of a heavy secret.

Christmas Day, December 1957. As the nation eagerly awaits the Queen’s first televised Christmas speech, Olive decides to reveal the shocking truth of her secret, which threatens to tear her and Jack apart forever. Unless Christmas has one last gift to deliver…

Goodreads Blurb

It’s never too late for new beginnings.

On the cusp of turning eighty, newly retired pharmacist Augusta Stern is adrift. When she relocates to Rallentando Springs—an active senior community in southern Florida—she unexpectedly crosses paths with Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy from her father’s old pharmacy—and the man who broke her heart sixty years earlier.

As a teenager growing up in 1920’s Brooklyn, Augusta’s role model was her father, Solomon Stern, the trusted owner of the local pharmacy and the neighborhood expert on every ailment. But when Augusta’s mother dies and Great Aunt Esther moves in, Augusta can’t help but be drawn to Esther’s curious methods. As a healer herself, Esther offers Solomon’s customers her own advice—unconventional remedies ranging from homemade chicken soup to a mysterious array of powders and potions.

As Augusta prepares for pharmacy college, she is torn between loyalty to her father and fascination with her great aunt, all while navigating a budding but complicated relationship with Irving. Desperate for clarity, she impulsively uses Esther’s most potent elixir with disastrous consequences. Disillusioned and alone, Augusta vows to reject Esther’s enchantments forever.

Sixty years later, confronted with Irving, Augusta is still haunted by the mistakes of her past. What happened all those years ago and how did her plan go so spectacularly wrong? Did Irving ever truly love her or was he simply playing a part? And can Augusta reclaim the magic of her youth before it’s too late?

Check out this Cyberpunk Book, No Life But Immortality by Liudmila Brus

Book Blurb

After global blackout hits Earth, four Martian astronauts seek to disarm an immortal serial killer who manipulates people and tech to reboot human history.

In a world where humanity grapples with the consequences of technological advancement and moral ambiguity, the convicted criminal Geryon Lindon becomes the first human to have his personality transferred to virtual space. Escaping from the lab, he continues his existence online, takes over his family’s corporation and launches a Solar Path project to speed up space navigation. However, his actual goals are far from noble and will result in a global blackout on Earth. As the tech-dependent Earth society rapidly goes to wreck, Geryon seeks to establish his power globally, using the pervasive cult known as Moon Cross. His influence secretly extends to the young civilization of Mars.

Decades after the Blackout, a small Martian crew led by the pilot Winston Winter lands on the Moon and explores an abandoned industrial facility, attempting to learn more about the missing scout spaceship Fermion and its crew. The astronauts are accompanied by the unruly hacker Violet, who suspects that the lunar base may be linked to his father’s death. Soon it turns out to be Geryon’s lair. Guided by another digital life form that calls itself Wilhelmina, the Martians attempt to neutralize him before he causes more deaths and destruction.

Set against the backdrop of dystopian Earth and thriving Martian settlements, No Life but Immortality weaves a tapestry of intrigue, betrayal, and sacrifice. This novel appeals to fans of thought-provoking science fiction, such as Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robertson and Chimera by Alice Thompson. The primary target audience of this work is adults starting from 25 years old, especially fans of Cyberpunk 2077 and Fallout video games.

I live in Estonian capital Tallinn together with my family and rescue cat. My earlier literary works include the award-winning short story Fury (mystery, 2008) and the novella Three Days with Light Off (erotica, 2012). I am a heavy music fan and a LARP geek. I’ve got extensive experience in journalism, and her professional interests embrace environmental issues and green initiatives worldwide.

Author Biography

Liudmila lives in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, with her small family and her adopted cat. She is currently a video game writer at Ghost Workshop, working on the game Marsbound.

Under the influence of her grandparents, Liudmila fell in love with reading at an early age and developed a passion for writing. She began collaborating with a city newspaper at the age of 15. At 16, she entered the Moscow State Institute of International Relations to study journalism. She also participated in a student exchange program with Sciences Po, one of the leading universities of France.

Her earlier literary works include the short story Fury (mystery, 2008) and the novella Three Days with Light Off (erotica, 2012), both published in St. Petersburg. Liudmila has extensive experience in journalism, with professional interests in environmental issues and green initiatives worldwide. Although climate change is not directly addressed in her novels, it has shaped the world of Geryon’s Code, leading to such dire social and moral consequences that the Martian colonies declared independence, starting a new civilization and aiming to be free from the evils of the past.

She is also a fan of heavy music and a LARP (Live Action Role-Playing) enthusiast. In 2012, she co-founded the “After Us” post-apocalyptic LARP club in Moscow and organized several themed parties and festivals.

Her sci-fi book cycle Geryon’s Code consists of three novels: No Life but Immortality, The Orphaned Earth, and From The Abyss, To The Abyss (currently in progress).

Some illustrations by Lana Cardi and R. Dioneth.

Link to purchase on Amazon:  http://No Life but Immortality: Book 1 of Geryon’s Code Cycle https://a.co/d/35qUFok

Upcoming Book Event: The Witch of NY by Alex Hortis

About this Event

There have been plenty of cases that captured the American media, but if ever there was a first, it was the case of Polly Bodine. This may well be the origin story of the true crime sensation that still has its hold on the media today.

Join us in welcoming author Alex Hortis for a discussion about The Witch of New York from 1PM-2PM and a signing from 2PM-4PM

Special Instructions

Books must have a Barnes and Noble receipt for entry into the event

Sunday, December 08, 2024 1:00 PM ET

Staten Island Mall
2655 Richmond Avenue Suite 1590
Staten Island, NY 10314
(718) 355-6033

This was an informative book event that explained the real events of a murder trial that happened in Staten Island. This murder case shocked everyone when, on Christmas Day, a mother and child were found murdered. The event I attended took place in the court house where the third trial took place in Newburgh, NY. Unfortunately,  the location no longer looks the same as it did, but it was a great experience standing in the same spot the final trial was decided. I’m glad the building still stands today.

Review: When Digz the Dog Met Zurl the Squirrel: A Short Tale About a Short Tail by Chris Pine

Goodreads Blurb

From blockbuster movie-star actor Chris Pine comes his very first children’s book about a delightful duo destined to become a classic.Digz the Dog is certain that he is the king of Ms. Pincher’s garden. There’s just one problem . . . Zurl the Squirrel is positive that she is the queen of Ms. Pincher’s Garden. As a dog and a squirrel, the two are natural enemies.But there’s more to Digz and Zurl than meets the eye. Digz was once a lonely dog left at the pound. And Zurl has her fair share of insecurities too. When the two come face-to-face in a showdown, they realize. . . they might not be so different.Beloved actor Chris Pine has penned a beautiful picture book about love and accepting one another despite our differences. With gorgeous and timeless illustrations from Chuck Groenink, When Digz the Dog Met Zurl the Squirrel is sure to become a classic read for years to come.

My Review: Rated 3 out of 5 stars

A dog named Digz was lonely in a pound and found his forever home with Ms. Pincher. He felt right at home, the king of the house. An adorable squirrel named Zurl, along with other siblings, lives right outside, and she is insecure because she has a shorter tail than her siblings. Even with her insecurities, she feels like the queen of the yard. They both have a territory they protect, so they are not looking to be friends. When Zurl called Digz names, and he came after her, she got scared. Digz remembered the time he was in the pound, lonely and afraid. He felt terrible, and they realized how similar they both were. A king and queen can rule together. It is an adorable book about friendship. I loved the illustrations.

Author Biography

Christopher Whitelaw Pine is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as James T. Kirk in the Star Trek reboot film series (2009–2016) and Steve Trevor in the DC Extended Universe films Wonder Woman (2017) and Wonder Woman 1984.
Pine first rose to prominence for his roles in the romantic comedies The Princess Diaries 2 (2004) and Just My Luck (2006). His roles also include Bo Barrett in Bottle Shock (2008) Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods (2014); Jack Ryan in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014); Bernie Webber in The Finest Hours (2016); and Robert the Bruce in Outlaw King (2018). He has also starred in Unstoppable (2010), Rise of the Guardians (2012), Hell or High Water (2016), Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023), and Wish (2023). Pine made his directorial debut with Poolman (2023).

Review: Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues by Kimberly and James Dean

Goodreads Blurb

Pete the Cat and his friends are having so much fun playing and surfing in the sun, they don’t want the day to end. Pete has an idea–how about a sleepover? Groovy!

As the night gets later, it’s time for bed. This cool cat needs to catch some ZZZs, but Pete’s friends aren’t ready to go to sleep just yet. Then Pete has another idea…but will it work?

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

When sleepovers just need a bedtime story to sleep and relax. Pete had fun at the beach with his friends. He decided to take the fun back home with a sleepover. When it was time to sleep, each of his friends wanted to keep the party alive. Pete is smart and reads his favorite book to his friends. They slept in harmony.