Transition from Summer to Fall

The poignant odyssey of a tenacious young girl who braves the dangers of the Texas frontier to avenge her mother's death.

Early one morning in the remote hill country of Texas, a panther savagely attacks a family of homesteaders, mauling a young girl named Samantha and killing her mother, whose final act is to save her daughter's life. Samantha... Read more »

Evvie Drake Starts Over

“Evvie Drake is young and newly widowed, but no one knows that on the day her husband died, she had finally worked up the nerve to leave him. Dean Tenney is a major league baseball pitcher who has inexplicably lost the talent that made him a star. When Dean moves to Evvie’s small town to escape the humiliating sports headlines, their friendship proves to be just what both of them need. This is an absolute treasure of a novel — big-hearted, funny, sweet, and utterly satisfying. I cannot wait to sell this charming gem.”

Emilie Sommer, East City Bookshop

Ask Again, Yes

“"Love is only part of the story" is a quote taken from one of the last pages of "Yes, Again Yes." Love may be just a fraction of this fabulous novel but it is also the thread that weaves this heartbreaking tale together. The novel centers around two families who are next-door neighbors. The patriarchs are policemen. The families are not friends due to one of the family member's mental illness. However, there is a deep friendship that develops between the teenage daughter and son. An unthinkable tragedy occurs and one of the families moves away. "Yes, Again Yes" explores life, love, family ties, tragedy, heartbreak, mental illness and the strong power fo love. I enjoyed every moment of this moving novel and highly recommend it. The narration is well-done.”

Melinda, Buttonwood Books and Toys

Nothing to See Here

“Lillian will melt your heart. Well, maybe "melt" is a bit too descriptive for the brilliant but down-on-her-luck protagonist who agrees to care for twins Roland and Bessie, who, through no fault of their own, sometimes spontaneously combust. Kevin Wilson (The Family Fang) has a talent for weird but wonderful plots, and in his telling the trio -- committed to looking "normal" for the sake of the twins' US Senator father -- are sweet and smart. You'll be hoping for a happy ending, and wondering how Wilson can make it happen. Reader Marin Ireland reads all the characters with a perfect Tennessee inflection.”

Cheryl, Market Block Books

Big Lies in a Small Town

“Big Lies in a Small Town offers an intriguing mystery that caused me to stay up way past my bedtime on several occasions. The author perfectly weaves the 1940 and the 1918 storylines throughout alternating chapters, captivating the reader with main characters Anna and Morgan, as well as a host of fascinating supporting players. The ending offers a surprise twist that catches the reader unaware. A must-read for mystery lovers as well as those who appreciate art.”

Gayle Lovvorn, Noteworthy Bookstore

A Long Petal of the Sea

“Isabel Allende’s latest novel couldn’t come at a better time for American readers heading into an election season. With immigration and desperate people seeking asylum as its central narrative thread, the novel reminds us of the uncanny resiliency of the human spirit and the power of love — both of others and of country — to restore and heal. From his awe-inspiring feat in the novel’s opening pages to his persistence in the face of a lifetime of adversity, cardiologist Victor Dalmau will live long and well in readers’ minds.”

Kelly Barth, Raven Book Store

The Roxy Letters

“Move over Bridget Jones, Roxy is here to stay! Thank goddess! I loved every sentence of The Roxy Letters; I found myself laughing out loud at some of her wacky antics. I also loved the quirky cast of characters that danced across the pages, and I think Roxy is the perfect antihero for the new millennium. I can’t wait to see where Mary Pauline Lowry’s career is headed!”

Kathleen Caldwell, A Great Good Place for Books

Simon the Fiddler

“Texas is not a typical setting for a novel staged at the end of the Civil War and the chaotic months immediately after. A skinny fiddle player and an indentured servant are not the typical romantic western protagonists. But the story of these two, along with a host of lovable and despicable support characters, vivid descriptions of the country and culture of Texas in the mid-1860s make Simon the Fiddler a winner. Add in the masterful voice of narrator Grover Gardner and this is an unforgettable audiobook experience.”

Becky, Rediscovered Books

Intimations

“Listened to the audiobook of Intimations a full year after COVID-19 began, on the eve of George Floyd's murderer being found responsible, and it is just as powerful now as it would have been at the beginning of the pandemic. Stunning and worth listening to several times.”

Nicole, Oblong Books

This Tender Land

“The work of a master storyteller about the making of a young storyteller, This Tender Land is a coming-of-age novel for the ages. It begins in an isolated Dickensian boarding school in Minnesota during the early years of the Depression, then morphs into the story of four runaways in a canoe à la Huckleberry Finn. On the run from their school headmistress and the law, they encounter other wanderers and escapees from life as they canoe towards St. Louis to find their only known relative and a possible home. Odie, his brother Albert, their schoolmate Mose, and newly orphaned Emmy are unforgettable characters in an unforgiving era. Epic, thrilling, and beautifully written, this is storytelling at its very best.”

Renee Barker, The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn

Shit, Actually

“I've read a few things by Lindy West, but they were all pretty serious subjects. This audiobook, narrated by West, had my cracking up at my desk. Of course it's perfect for movies you've already seen — I'll admit to liking Love Actually, but her scathing review was still enjoyable. Even movies I have never seen before and barely know the premise, her rundown lets me picture it in my mind with ease, yet still want to rush home and watch it. This is a great pandemic listen. ”

Amber, Quail Ridge Books