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Alternate Plans by Ainsley Rhodes is now live!
When life reroutes, love offers a second chance…
Caroline thought she had it all figured out—life in Chicago, a steady future, and a marriage that looked perfect from the outside. Until one discovery shatters everything she thought she knew.
With her world unraveling, Caroline retreats to her small hometown in Indiana—the one place she swore she’d never return. But going back means facing more than just whispered questions and familiar streets… it means confronting the version of herself she left behind.
And then there’s him.
Her high school almost-love. The one who never quite faded. The one who makes her wonder if maybe her story didn’t end… it just took a different path.
As old feelings resurface and new truths come to light, Caroline must decide: keep holding onto the life she planned… or risk everything for the one she never saw coming.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon US: https://bit.ly/3SJ8lMF
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3SGvGi5
Meet Ainsley Rhodes
Ainsley Rhodes writes the kind of romance novels she loves to read: small-town settings, relatable characters, witty banter, and much deserved happily-ever-afters.
When she's not dreaming up fictional towns and loveable heroes, she can be found with a coffee in one hand and a good book in the other. All while spending most of her time with her husband, children, and assortment of furry companions in Ohio.
Connect with Ainsley
Goodreads | https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/69363619.Ainsley_Rhodes
Amazon | https://www.amazon.com/author/ainsleyrhodes
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/ainsleyrhodeswrites
The Bookshop Woman by Nanako
Hanada, Cat
Anderson (Translator)
On Sale: September 15, Tiny Reparations Books
Genre: Nonfiction,
Japanese Literature, Memoir
Taken from Goodreads: A love story to climbing all the way down a book's rope, free diving to its bottom, and then resurfacing at its close, ready to breathe a different kind of air.
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
My Best Four Years
Megan Linski
Publication date: September 11th 2026
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Young Adult
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Megan Linski paints a hallmark to grief in this story of a heartbreaking best friend break up that’s emotionally unforgettable.
Aria and Lucky are two best friends who managed to survive high school, though not everyone did. They live in a small town that’s determined to destroy everyone’s dreams, but when they’re together, the two girls soar. The adults in their lives swear there’s no way out of their tiny hometown, but Aria and Lucky promise each other they’re going to run away together, believing the music they make is going to change the world.
Until one of them leaves, and the other stays. Aria finds herself looking back on her past, struggling to find where she belongs in a place that wishes to stomp out her light. Lucky’s rise and fall is brighter than a supernova, dazzling and destroying whatever it touches.
Then the unthinkable happens, and their friendship is left in the remnants of what comes after.
Lucky promised Aria forever. But forever turns out to be far shorter than either of them thought it could be.
An honest, endearing novel, My Best Four Years is a devastating portrayal of the power of unconditional friendship, and the loss that is felt when those we love are left behind.
—
EXCERPT:
“Are you ready for this?” Lucky asked. The rhinestones on her guitar glimmered as she slipped the strap over her shoulder. We were behind a curtain that led to the small stage of a local bar, where a dozen patrons clattered about. We’d been selected as the headlining act for a band that played regularly on Friday nights, and we were so nervous.
Lucky’s face was pale white. I was sure mine looked the same. Our first live show. I couldn’t believe this was happening.
“It’s our time,” I said confidently. “Let’s get out there.”
The curtain was pulled aside, and we strode on stage in unison as the announcer introduced us. I took my stance at the keyboard, took a deep breath, and began to sing.
We started off strong, and got an enthusiastic response from the crowd during the first song. The next song was a little shaky, but the longer we played, the more confident we became, until we’d nearly gone through every song we’d created. The crowd was really getting into the music.
As I played the keyboard, somebody caught my eye from the corner of the bar. The most handsome man I’d ever seen was leaning on the counter. He might’ve been a few years older than I was. I was absolutely captivated by his appearance, so much so that I nearly missed a note on the melody.
When I met his blue eyes, he gave me a smile. I bashfully looked down when we finished the song, and we went to take a bow as we wrapped up the show. The applause in the room was so loud, I could hardly hear myself think. The curtain was drawn, and I felt shaky on my feet as I realized we’d actually done it. We’d pulled off our first performance!
“That was amazing!” Lucky cheered. “I loved every minute! The lights, the stage! It made me feel so alive!”
“It was incredible,” I gushed. “I’m so proud of us, Lucky!”
I gave her a squealing hug. We cheerfully hopped off stage, then headed to the bar to get a drink. People clapped us on the back and congratulated us as we walked through the bar, thanking us for the performance.
While we were sipping on virgin cocktails, Lucky’s phone rang. She picked it up, a huge smile spread across her face. “Hello, Carla! Yeah, we just got done! It was amazing. I wish you were here to see it…”
Her words trailed off. The smile slid off Lucky’s face. After a few moments, she nodded, and hung up the phone with a vacant gaze.
“It’s Carla,” she said. “She’s in the parking lot waiting to pick me up. She says we have to talk.”
Author Bio:
Megan Linski is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author who lives in Michigan. She is the author of more than sixty fantasy and paranormal novels which feature themes of friendship, community, and healthy romantic relationships. She has over fifteen years of experience writing books alongside working as a journalist and editor. She graduated from the University of Iowa, where she studied Creative Writing.
Her passions include ice skating and horseback riding. In her free time she enjoys dancing in the snow and drinking fancy coffee while at her natural habitat, the mall.
Megan advocates for the rights of the disabled, and is an activist for mental health awareness.
Megan co-writes the Hidden Legends Universe with Alicia Rades. She also writes under the pen name of Natalie Erin for the Creatures of the Lands series, co-authored by Krisen Lison.
GIVEAWAY!
My Best Four Years Blitz
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Miss
Cassidy #2
The Enigmatic Madam Ingram by Meihan Boey
Published: September
8, 2026 by Harper Perennial
Genre:
Fantasy, Historical FIction
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
Meet the Author: Meihan
Boey is the author of novels The Formidable Miss Cassidy (co-winner
of the 2021 Epigram Books Fiction Prize and winner of the 2022 Singapore Book
Award for Best Literary Work) and The Enigmatic Madam Ingram (finalist
for the 2023 Epigram Books Fiction Prize), and science fiction novella The
Messiah Virus. She is also the vice president of the Association of Comic
Artists of Singapore and has scripted several comics, including Supacross and The
Once and Marvellous DKD. She is a dedicated comic book and manga fan, an
enthusiastic gamer, a persistent triathlete, and not yet a Super Saiyan, though
she keeps trying.
In
Death #63
Fury in Death by J.D. Robb
Published: September
8, 2026 by St. Martin's Press
Genre: Mystery
Thriller
Taken from Goodreads: In the new crime thriller from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author, Lt. Eve Dallas journeys into the darkness where murder is born…
NYSPD homicide detective Eve Dallas never knows what to expect when she gets
word of a body. It could be an elderly man who made the mistake of climbing a
ladder in slippery footwear. And the next call could be a wealthy biotech
executive beaten to death in his home office—but what was Larry Chu’s mistake?
The victim’s corpse is so mangled and damaged it’s hard to believe a lone,
unarmed assailant could have managed it. The killer was clearly unnaturally
strong—and smart enough to find a way into Chu’s highly secure building. Most
of all, whoever did this was very, very angry.
The excessive violence leads Dallas to conclude that this was a deeply personal
act, born of a rage that she can’t excuse but can understand thanks to her own
traumatic past. And though the motive seems rooted in heated emotion rather
than cold hard cash, she can’t ignore the suspicious bank account in the Cayman
Islands, or the shadowy, profit-hungry company Chu worked for. The mystery only
grows when it turns out Chu isn’t the only victim—and Dallas will need to tear
through one layer of secrecy after another to reveal what lies behind this
explosion of fury...
My Thoughts:
J.D. Robb’s In Death series is one that I have actually read all 63 books. Each book is its own story but the characters
and settings are consistent throughout the entire series. Eve and Roarke along with Peabody and the
rest of the NYPD work to solve a case.
The friendships and relationships are the reason that I continue to read
the series.
When I pick up a J.D. Robb book, I know that I will reconnect
with characters that I like and want to get to know better. I return to NYPD and the amazing cops with
their skills to solve any case that comes their way. I get to see what craziness Mavis is into,
how Peabody’s cohab is coming along, and so much more. I get to see how Eve’s police mind works as
she solves the crime that the book is written around. Roarke works with her but also makes sure
that he takes care of his cop. This series is like coming home for me. I look forward to every addition to this
series.
Thank you St.Martin’s Press for a copy of the book via
NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
The Ballad of the Fugitive William Parker: A True Tale of Love, Murder, Treason, and Ordinary Folks Who Saved America by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz
Published: September
8, 2026 by Simon & Schuster
Genre:
Non-fiction, Biography
Taken from Goodreads: For fans of Master Slave Husband Wife and Django Unchained comes the extraordinary forgotten story of an event known in its day as “the first shots of the Civil War,” from the New York Times bestselling author of Dr. Mütter’s Marvels.
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
Her previous nonfiction book, Dr Mutter’s Marvels: A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine, spent three months on the New York Times best seller list, and screenplays based on the book has won awards at the Philadelphia Film Festival, Hamptons International Film Festival, the Sloan Foundation, and the Black List. Her first nonfiction book, Words In Your Face: A Guided Tour Through Twenty Years of the New York City was named a “Poetry Book of the Year” by The Washington Post.
Cristin’s eight collections of poetry span her entire writing life, beginning with Dear Future Boyfriend, published while she was still an undergrad at New York University; and Hot Teen Sl*t, her memoir-in-verse about her first job out of college: working as an editor for an “adult” website in the early days of the internet. Her next three collections –Working Class Represent; Oh, Terrible Youth; and Everything is Everything – cover her upbringing in Philadelphia as well as the 15 years she spent as a poet and organizer in New York City. The Year of No Mistakes, her memoir-in-verse about the break-up of a long term relationship, was named the Texas Poetry Book of the Year by the Writers League of Texas. Her next two collections, How to Love the Empty Air and Against Vanishing, completed her Texas triology.
Cristin graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied screenwriting and playwriting. She ran the NYC-Urbana Poetry Slam – first out of CBGBs, and later out of the Bowery Poetry Club – while working as a permission’s assistant at the Artists Rights Society in Lower Manhattan. Her poetry and nonfiction work have appeared in Atlantic Monthly, [more], and other publications. Awards including a fellowships and residencies in association with the National Endowment for the Arts, the University of Pennsylvania, Hedgebrook, and the Amy Clampitt House, among others.
Cristin lives in her hometown of Philadelphia with her husband, the novelist Ernest Cline, and their family.
Blade & Arrow Shadow Team
Protected from Torment by Gia Cobie
Published: September
8, 2026
Taken from Amazon: Two wounded hearts. Two people who’d given up on love. And a chance meeting that brought them together.
When we met during a storm, I was struck by her bravery.
Afterwards, when Melissa told me who she was, I could tell
she was expecting me to judge her.
But how could I when I knew all too well the pain she’d gone
through, and how it could make you think of doing things you’d otherwise never
consider?
On top of that, I just liked her. That’s why I gave her my
number. And that’s why, when she calls me from the other side of the country,
hurt and in trouble, I don’t think twice about going to help her.
I wasn’t sure I deserved his help. But I asked for it
anyway.
After a violent attack, I didn’t know where else to turn.
Not to my parents, who’d I’d already put through enough. Not to the so-called
friends who turned their backs on me.
When I called Tyler, I half expected him to refuse me. But
he didn’t. Instead, he dropped everything to come to my side.
I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised that the wounded
warrior I met during a storm would insist on protecting me. Instead, the
surprise was falling in love with him.
Protected from Torment is the story of two
wounded people who gave up on love, only to find it again when they least
expect it. It features a wounded warrior hero and a heroine searching for
redemption, a team of Army veterans, found family, forced proximity, thrilling
twists, and a guaranteed HEA. Can be read as a standalone.
My Thoughts:
Protected from Torment is the first book I have read in this series. I now need to go back and read the rest of
the books in the series. Not because I missed out on anything in this book but
because the characters in this book are ones that I really want to know more
about and reading the past books in this series might give me that.
This book is a story of finding love after giving up.
Showing up for each other when it really counts. Tyler
shows up for Melissa when she calls for help but Melissa also shows up for
Tyler when he does not even know he needs her.
His protectiveness was a lot but she thrived with him so it worked for
them.
Thank you to Gia Cobie, the author, for a copy of the book
via BookFunnel in exchange for my honest review.
Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
Meet the Author (taken from her website):
Gia Cobie is an Amazon best-selling and award-winning author living in upstate
New York with her husband and pets. In her spare time, Gia enjoys reading and
spending time in the Adirondacks, and also has a soft spot for reality romance
shows and buying too many books. Gia loves writing about protective heroes and
strong heroines who always find their much-deserved happy endings.
Mother Daughter Sister Stranger by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Published: September
1, 2026 by Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery
Thriller, Psychological Thriller
Taken from Goodreads: What happens when the past rises from the ashes to destroy you?
My Thoughts: Mother
Daughter Sister Stranger is a phenomenal psychological thriller. The idea that a devoted mother would leave
her daughter with her aunt and just disappear is not new, but the rest of this
story is not one that I have read before.
There are so many twists and turns that I could not even begin to guess
which direction the author was going to take me next. There were times that I thought I knew what
would happen next but rarely was I correct.
I liked that Eliza, the aunt, never gave up on Bea, the
mother. She knew that Piper, the
daughter/niece, needed her mom back and that her mom would never leave
her. Eliza was not Piper’s mom, but
with Bea being gone she stepped into the role and kept Piper safe. Eliza and Piper’s relationship is perfect in
this story. Eliza kept Piper in the know
without giving her too much information causing her to worry more about her
mom.
Hank Phillippi Ryan is a must-read thriller author. I always get excited when she has a book
being released and know that it will be an automatic purchase.
Thank you to the author, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for a
copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
The Last Summerville
Annabelle Lewis
Publication date: September 1st 2026
Genres: Adult, Psychological Thriller, Romance, Suspense, Thriller
Twenty-two-year-old Georgia Parker already carries more regret than most people twice her age. Practically an orphan, she’s reeling from the death of her grandmother, Mimi—the one person who made her feel safe from the chaos of her mother’s world. Alone in Carson City, Nevada, Georgia is determined to start over, to stand on her own. Yet Mimi’s final words echo in her mind: Take risks. Trust people again. Be brave.
Then Heath Summerville steps into her life—charming, magnetic, protective, and so perfectly attuned to her needs it feels like fate. But the closer Georgia gets, the more she feels the pull of something she can’t name—something just beneath the surface of his charm.
Strange silences. Half-truths. High-society circles and an ancestral house that feels more like a trap than a refuge.
Lies are waiting to unravel. And by the time Georgia sees the truth, it might already be too late.
—
CHAPTER 1:
“Get me out of this godforsaken town and back to civilization,” Vicky grumbled.
Georgia, behind the wheel, glanced at her mom, Vicky, who was shakily applying lipstick while looking in a handheld compact mirror. Vicky clicked it shut, then pulled down the passenger visor, only to find the old car devoid of a larger mirror. She swatted it back up, then garbled a sound of exasperation before diving back into her purse in search of something else.
Georgia didn’t see the lure of Las Vegas like her mother did. It was one of many differences between them. “No!” she suddenly exclaimed when Vicky put a cigarette to her lips, intending to light it. “Not in the car.”
“Why are you such an old damn scold, Georgia?” Vicky scowled. “You’re twenty-two years old, for fuck’s sake. Your holier-than-thou bullshit has gotten worse. Every time I see you.”
Vicky shook her head, then turned to stare out the window. Georgia swallowed back the words she wanted to throw in her mom’s face.
Not today. Not after all they’d been through.
They spent the rest of the drive to the Carson City airport in awkward silence. Georgia pulled to the curb at the departures area and then walked to the back of the Ford Bronco to help retrieve the bags. Vicky took them, mumbled goodbye, and walked away without a hug.
“Goodbye, Mom,” Georgia called loudly as she shivered in the cold, standing next to the back of her Mimi’s Bronco. She watched Vicky drag her bag, her head bowed, her eyes already on her phone. She didn’t turn to give Georgia one last look of goodbye, nor acknowledge Georgia’s use of the tender moniker of “mom,” rather than the usual “Vicky.” It hurt. But why Georgia expected Vicky to suddenly become maternal was the bigger question. And neither of them had made falsely loving or empty promises to keep in touch.
Author Bio:
Annabelle Lewis—a pseudonym for the author—lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Regrettably? Perhaps. She still believes she’s a Texan even though the math no longer supports that. Nor her birthplace. Nor her residence. No offense, Minnesota. You’ve got your good points too, but only about six months of the year.
In her youth, Annabelle was a complete failure. Ask anyone who knew her. Any of her teachers and family would tell you this. High school graduation was a sad day for all when Annabelle walked proudly off the high school stage, her thoughts consumed with boys, beer, and after-parties, and later into the arms of her parents. Her father’s laughter and singular remark? “I didn’t think you’d make it. Get a job at the post office, they have a good retirement plan.”
A high bar and words to live by, but Annabelle wanted more. She needed to flunk out of college too. But damn, she sure did have a good time. Trivial arrest records not-withstanding, it was a growth period for our girl. And if you look closely, you’ll see a bit of what was to come when she majored in criminal justice. Her lifelong aspiration was to become a judge. Hmm.
For better or worse, Annabelle didn’t graduate from college but did find gainful employment and a fulfilling career. This path ended when she became a mom. Married to her wonderful George, who to this day can hardly remember an actual proposal, Annabelle finally became a mother. She didn’t have a clue how hard she would need to work to keep those self-imposed requirements of Downey-fresh, iron-pressed sheets, home-baked meals, and mom-of-the-year awards arriving. She composed a small self-affirmation song and made her children sing it to her for money. She was a very good mom.
After clearing the largest hurdles of motherhood and regrettably, begrudgingly, and not-without-tears, launching her children onto the world, she looked around and realized she had a lot to say. Picking up a laptop, she got to work.
Annabelle spends her days continuing to tackle the challenges of motherhood, for both her humans and canines. She also writes. And reads. And cleans. And cooks. And bakes. And cleans again. She also supports her husband, George, in an administrative capacity for their small business. She’s in charge of payroll and cuts George’s checks. This leads to no marital acrimony.
In the beginning, with the blank page staring at her and possibly in a hostile mood after being literally mauled by a dog and by the world in general, she had an idea. What if she could wield a force of good upon unsuspecting evil-doers? What if she had the resources to get the job done without dealing with committee and anyone else’s whiney-ass opinions?
It was gold. It took off. Annabelle sat down and began to write and couldn’t stop. To date, having written over a million words in the Carrows Family Chronicles and her second series on the Boston Clairvoyants, several items have become quite clear. Annabelle had a lot to say. Annabelle really enjoys writing. And although she hates all things technology, she begrudgingly pounds her head on her desk daily as obstacles are thrown in her path. Almost a hero.
Since entering her world of make-believe, she has rebelled against all intrusion of real-world responsibilities. Her house is a mess, but she tries. Her family is fed, but more often than not, on takeout. She vows to shower every day, but no, it’s a vow she’ll never keep. Her friends are neglected, but not in her heart.
Read her mordacious blog! Read her books! Follow her on social platforms! Sign up for her newsletter! These are all good things. What are you waiting for? Jump into bed with Annabelle. She’s having a swell time. You should join her. theannabellelewis.com annabellelewisauthor@gmail.com IG and Twitter: alewisauthor
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The Last Summerville Blitz
The
Bradshaw Brothers #4
Unleashed by Janice
Whiteaker
Published: August
28, 2026
Genre:
Contemporary Romance, Audiobook
Taken from Goodreads: Trevor Bradshaw is the most annoying man I’ve ever met.
He’s arrogant, demanding, and unyielding. Has serious control issues, no sense
of humor, and zero patience.
He also accidentally rocked my world in my best friend’s bathroom.
During her wedding reception.
It’s a mistake I won’t be making again. I have more important things to focus
on than what he hides beneath a bespoke suit and a frown.
Things like caring for my sister. I’m all she has, and I won’t let anything, or
anyone, distract me from giving her the best childhood I can.
One that’s as different from mine as I can make it.
But Trevor doesn’t seem to like knowing I’m on my own. It bothers him in a way
I don’t expect.
No one has ever cared about me or my struggles, so when he starts doing things
that are a little… questionable, I don’t mind it as much as I should.
Apparently stalking is my love language.
But it’s the way he treats my sister that makes it impossible to stand my
ground. The two of them are thick as thieves from day one. BFFs, complete with
matching bracelets and inside jokes.
Now he’s sleeping on my couch and cooking in my kitchen. Mowing my grass and
helping with laundry. Invading my home, my life…
And my bed.
Which might not be such a bad thing since someone else is lurking in the
shadows.
Someone who will do anything to get what they want.
My Thoughts: These
Bradshaw Brothers are something else.
They are alpha males with the deep need to protect what they consider
theirs. Trevor has decided Maren is
his, whether she wants to be or not. Maren comes with a little girl that quickly
has Trevor wrapped around her little fingers.
I love that the characters from the other books in this
series make appearances. It is fun to
catch up with their lives and see that they are still as amazing as they were
when I read their books. The best part
is, if you have not read other books in this series, it is not an issue. Each book is its own complete story.
I listened to this book rather than reading it. The narrators are amazing. I felt Trevor and Maren come alive as I
listened to the dual narrations. I could
have listened to the book in one sitting but life got in the way and I had to
take breaks. I just kept thinking about
the story and wanting to get back to listening.
Thank you Hambright PR for a copy of the book in exchange
for my honest review.
Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon