A small-town romance with a few twists... No Place Like Home by Betsy St. Amant (Review) #newbooks #bookx #NoPlaceLikeHome #MagnoliaBay #BetsyStAmant #christfic #romancebooks @justreadtours

No Place Like Home

(Magnolia Bay #2)

By Betsy St. Amant

Contemporary Christian Fiction, Romance

Paperback & eBook, 364 Pages

May 20, 2025 by Sunrise Publishing

Summary

The girl he always loved ran away to join…the circus. But will a homecoming give him a second chance at giving her a reason to stay in this unrequited love romance?

Magnolia Bay’s development director, Cade Landry, would do anything for his town—and his family. So when the mayor—who also happens to be his father—decides to retire, he talks Cade into running for his seat. But Cade is already up to his dimpled cheeks in the town’s post-hurricane revitalization fundraiser—Magnolia Days, featuring a flashy Cajun Circus. If Cade can’t put the bay back on the map as a tourist town, he’ll let the whole community down…and worse yet, his father.

Rosalyn Dupree is a famous aerialist with a secret—actually, quite a few of them. Much to Cade’s relief, she agrees to return to Magnolia Bay for the first time in years as a headliner for the Cajun Circus. But neither her charming former school rival Cade nor her parents know she’s broke, in debt, and nursing a back injury…among other things. She’d love to move back to the bay for good, but the beloved sport that used to let her fly has become her cage.

Despite her best efforts at resisting, sparks fly between Cade and Rosalyn as they work together on the circus fundraiser. But when everyone’s secrets are revealed and worlds collide, will Rosalyn find forgiveness and restoration in a town being rebuilt? Or will there never be anywhere to truly call home?

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My Review

NO PLACE LIKE HOME is a story about old high school rivals who end up working together to support their town and find that their friendship has a few more sparks than they remember. There are a few interesting pieces that make this story more than your usual small-town romance along with a few twists and turns. The community of people and the characters themselves are sure to charm readers from beginning to end! Definitely worth picking up if you're a Christian romance or sweet romance fan!

I could tell from the first few pages that I was going to like this one. The characters are both perfectly imperfect, making them easy to like and relate to. They both have their own challenges, Rosalyn's a bit more extreme than Cade's, but all are real and heavy. They're both trying to handle things on their own and appear more capable and perfect than they really feel. I liked how easily Rosalyn and Cade fall into their friendship. They knew each other for a long time before this story starts and there's a natural feel to their relationship from the start. I also love how they tease each other and the banter. There's a group of friends and townspeople who also add so much fun and personality to this story. The faith element is woven through really well with a few sweet and poignant experiences. Add in some big, high pressure moments, a bit of danger, all the aerial stuff and a chemistry-filled romance, and you have a compelling and entertaining story. 

There were very few things not to like about this story. A few reactions and dialogue that didn't feel quite right to me. Like, Cade being so easily shaken and uncertain in some places and reacting poorly in others. There were also a few things that are overexplained to a crowd that weren't realistic. I could see why things were written as they were, but they felt inconsistent with the characters. Having said all that, there were very few instances of these and I still thoroughly enjoyed this one!

In the end, was it what I wished for? This story was full of small-town charm, great characters, unexpected and unique plot elements, naturally woven elements of faith, and sweet, swoon-worthy romance. An enjoyable story worth adding to your to-read list. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through JustRead Publicity Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Have you read the first book in this series or other books from this author?

Can't Wait for... Last Night Was Fun by Holly Michelle (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks #LastNightWasFun #HollyMichelle #NetGalley #romancebooks #romcom #beachread @AvonBooksUK @HarperVoyagerUS

Can't-Wait Wednesday  is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

I realized this past weekend that my CWW post for last week never posted. I so apologize if you came here and then weren't able to link up!

I feel like the title of this book is a bit misleading as it's the text sent to a wrong number that starts this romance off. What grabbed me was the spin-off of You've Got Mail, which has been a go-to romance of mine for forever. I also like close proximity romances and this one sounds like it has a bit of that too although not to the full extent. It sounds like the perfect beach read so I'm excited to relax to some straight-up fun romance! It's my pick this week...

Last Night Was Fun

By Holly Michelle

Contemporary Romance, Romcom, Women's Fiction

Audiobook, Paperback & eBook, 368 Pages

June 10, 2025 by Avon

Summary

You’ve Got Mail meets The Hating Game! Vying for a promotion against a bitter rival as the only female data analyst for a professional baseball team, Emmy finds solace in the text-flirting relationship that started as a wrong number exchange—unaware that the man she’s texting is the one she’s fighting for the promotion.

Emmy Jameson lives by three no dating, no sharing personal news at work, and baseball above everything. As the only female data analyst for a professional baseball team, Emmy is constantly trying to prove herself.

Especially when she’s put up for a senior analyst position against her arrogant, infuriating coworker Gabe Olson. Sure, he’s gorgeous and smart and he was a baseball star in college who knows the sport inside and out, but so does Emmy. She is not going to lose to him again. There will be no distractions this summer. Not even her sister’s pending destination wedding in Mexico for which she needs to find a plus one.

But then she receives a text from an unknown number with a simple “Last night was fun.” When she strikes up a conversation with the mystery texter, they realize that he was given a fake phone number after a bad date that just so happened to be Emmy’s. Despite her rules, Emmy can’t deny the instant connection she feels and soon finds herself falling for the stranger on the other side of the screen…and inviting him to her sister’s wedding.

Emmy’s world turns upside down when her mystery man turns out to be none other than Gabe Olson. They are left having to travel to the wedding together while trying to sort out which version of their relationship is their in-person rivalry or the deep connection they found in their messages.

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Will you be reading this one?

A mix of The Titanic and Alien... Titan of the Stars by E.K. Johnston (Review) #newbooks #bookx #yalit #yabooks #scifi #TitanoftheStars #EKJohnson #TBRBeyondTours

Welcome to my tour stop! Check out this new YA sci-fi and my review below...

Titan of the Stars

By E.K. Johnston

Young Adult Sci-Fi Horror

Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 304 Pages

May 27, 2025 by Tundra Books

Summary

Alien meets The Titanic in this tense YA science fiction horror series by #1 New York Times bestselling author E.K. Johnston.

Celeste knows every inch of this ship. She's proud of her work as apprentice engineer. And as the maiden voyage of the Titan launches, she's optimistic for the promises of this new journey from Earth to Mars — this new life.

Dominic arrives at his suite where his valet is busy unpacking his things. His chest is tight, already feeling anxious inside his dad's precious new ship. Once it launches, he's trapped, inside the ship and inside the life his father has chosen for him — a life that will leave his dreams of art school behind.

Discovered under melted ice caps, ancient aliens have been brought onto the Titan as well, and stored in display cases for the entertainment of the passengers . . . until an act of sabotage releases them into the ship, with zero discrimination for class, decks or human life . . .

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My Review

TITAN OF STARS is a steadily paced sci-fi thriller with a constant undertone of danger that majorly ramps up towards the end. The first half of the book introduces readers to the characters so that they're invested in what will occur in the second half, and fully immerses them in this futuristic world with its politics and different classes of people. The story unfolds as they travel in a spaceship to Mars from Earth. The characters are likable and all complex with their own challenges and personalities. This is the book for readers who like alien stories but not full throttle horror. There are plenty of chills but ones this reader could handle. 

Read this book if you like:
- Intriguing sci-fi stories set in space
- Likable, diverse characters
- Books with aliens (the scary kind)
- Well-plotted and engrossing storylines
- Stories where romance isn't the main focus
- An ending that makes you want to read the next book

The characters in this one were all so varied. Three of the main ones were about the same age, but they all had different backgrounds, situations they're dealing with and personalities. They were all fairly well drawn, but also flawed, making it easy for readers to relate to them all in some way. And they're definitely likable. I wasn't sure exactly how invested I should be with each of them, but I hoped the author wouldn't kill them all off before the end of the book. I won't spoil it for anyone though. You'll have to read it yourself and find out who lives.

The setting was fascinating to me. There's been this rift in the earth that created a huge catastrophe and there's some unique political and power roles for the characters on this ship. There was all this maneuvering and power plays and then you add to that dead aliens in cases for observation. Aliens that were fairly well described and who may not actually be as dead as believed. The author did a great job in making me think and have questions along the way. You also can totally feel the tension building and then some additional freak-out moments with the characters. I felt like the plot was developed well. It felt realistically portrayed and logical for things to happen as they did. And. The. Ending. Yep, I'll leave it there.

I didn't have many complaints with this book. The only major one would be not always being able to tell the difference between POVs, so I would have liked the characters actual voices to be more easily differentiated so I wasn't always trying to figure out who was speaking in the first couple of paragraphs. My other complaint is that I could have done without some of the crass references and language.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This was an enjoyable book that starts of slow and steadily increases the tension until things escalate. Likable characters, an interesting setting, and a bit of chills kept me engrossed. I'm beyond curious to find out what will happen in book two!

Content: Some crass verbiage and swearing (including a handful of f-words), references to a gay relationship, violence (some of it a bit gory and disgusting).
Source: I received a complimentary copy through TBR and Beyond Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

E.K. Johnston had several jobs and one vocation before she became a published writer. If she’s learned anything, it’s that things turn out weird sometimes, and there’s not a lot you can do about it. Well, that and how to muscle through awkward fanfic because it’s about a pairing she likes.

Her books range from contemporary fantasy to fairy-tale reimaginings, from hopeful sci-fi to quiet epics, and from small town Ontario to a galaxy far, far away. She has no plans to rein anything in.

You can follow Kate online (@ekjohnston) to learn more about her Dragon Age decisions than you really need to know, or on Tumblr (ekjohnston) and Instagram (ek_johnston) if you’re just here for pretty pictures.

E.K. Johnston is represented by Adams Literary

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Have you read any books with a spin-off of The Titanic or Alien?

Can't Wait for... A First Time for Everything by K. L. Walther (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks #AFirstTimefor Everything #KLWalther #yalit #yabooks

Can't-Wait Wednesday  is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

Sorry this is up late! Memorial Day kind of threw me and then I had a nonstop day today.

So at first I wasn't sure about this one... the cover grabbed my attention, but then I read the synopsis and I was sold. The print copy will have special sprayed edges, which I also love. It's my pick this week...

A First Time for Everything

By K. L. Walther

YA Contemporary Romance

Audiobook, Paperback & eBook, 416 Pages

June 3, 2025 by Sourcebooks Fire

Summary

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer of Broken Rules comes a fun new coming-of-age romance full of dating disasters, powerful firsts, and the importance of family.

Madeline has always been extremely close to her family, so she is shocked when her older brother gets engaged without including them (or even giving them a heads up!). Mads has never been the biggest fan of his fiancée, Katie, so in order to remain one happy family, she is determined to bond with Katie before the big day, which includes reluctantly agreeing to be a bridesmaid.

During a late-night bridesmaids-only game of "Truth or Dare" Mads is cornered into revealing she has never been kissed or even been on a date, which spurs the other girls to unite on a quest to find Mads the perfect plus-one for the wedding. Next thing she knows she's navigating a series of disastrous dates that include some major misunderstandings and mishaps.

All of a sudden Mads finds her heart tugged in different directions: to Connor, the boy next door who knows her best. To Marco, the former classmate who knows how to push all her buttons. And to some of the new suitors who surprisingly aren't all bad.

As the wedding draws nearer, Mads has to figure out who she wants most as a dance partner, while also making sure her brother isn't making the biggest mistake of his life.

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Will you be reading this one?

An entertaining young YA fantasy... Shadowless by Alison Robinson (Review) #newbooks #bookx #yabooks #yalit #fantasy #Shadowless #AlisonRobinson @justreadtours

Shadowless

(Shadowless #1)

By Alison Robinson

Young Adult Fantasy

Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 302 Pages

February 20, 2025 by Village Editorial

Summary

In a kingdom where souls are bound to magical animals called Shadows, Rowena’s Shadow is a ghost—silent, powerless, and a death sentence if anyone finds out.

The citizens of Wyre share a soul with their Shadow, a supernatural animal companion that gives them the ability to perform magic. But Rowena was born with a ghost for a Shadow, incapable of magic and marking her as a dangerous anomaly. Her superstitious neighbors would say she must be reported to the king (and executed for good measure!). And they would if they knew she existed—but they don’t.

Hidden from the world with only her father and ghost for company, Rowena’s made the best of her secret life. She fills her days tinkering, inventing, and longing for the magic everyone else has.

When Penalynn Graft, a disgraced Scholastic who refuses to use her own Shadow’s magic, is banished to Rowena’s city, rumors swirl about her rebellion.

Both Rowena and Penalynn are one hidden, one exiled. Both are cut off from one by birth, the other by choice.

Together, they could unearth the truth about the bond linking humans to Shadows, which, until now, has been lost under a veil of ancient mythology.

But in a world where souls are split in two, the truth might shatter everything.

With the stakes of The Golden Compass, the thrilling action of The Wingfeather Saga, and the heart and spiritual depth of the Chronicles of Narnia, Shadowless is a gripping fantasy tale that will captivate fans of epic adventures and magical worlds.

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My Review

SHADOWLESS pulls the reader into a fantasy world where everyone has magic except for the heroine of the story. It's set in a small town with traditional and superstitious villagers, with both blood and found family and a plot with a few twists and turns. It's an entertaining start to this series and one YA fantasy readers should enjoy.

The start of this book was slow for me. It also felt like a middle grade to young YA book. That lasted for about the first third of the book. After that, things definitely picked up and I found that I couldn't put this one down until the very end. I liked the characters and especially liked the dynamic between Rowena and Penalynn, Rowena and Titus, and Penalynn and Bran. There were a lot of different ways things could have gone and relationships to explore. I appreciated that there weren't any love triangles or insta-love, but instead there are relationships that grow over years and through familiarity and shared experiences. The fantasy parts and the world I thought were well developed and intriguing, especially with the concept of everyone having magic and then one girl being born without it. I'm curious to see what will develop in the next book.

There were some places where more development was needed. There were also some parts where things didn't make sense. These are my only complaints though.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This was definitely worth the read! Both entertaining and intriguing with likable characters. Recommended to YA fantasy readers!

Content: Some innuendo and suggestive parts, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through JustRead Publicity Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

What's the last fantasy book you read? Have you read anything like this before?

Can't Wait for... Wes and Addie Had Their Chance by Bethany Turner (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks #WesandAddieHadTheirChance #BethanyTurner #romancebooks #cleanreads @TNZFiction

Can't-Wait Wednesday  is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

I've enjoyed every one of this author's books and am excited for this second-chance romance! It's my pick this week...

Wes and Addie Had Their Chance

By Bethany Turner

Contemporary Romance, Romcom, Clean & Wholesome

Audiobook, Paperback & eBook, 320 Pages

July 15, 2025 by Thomas Nelson

Summary

Wes left Addie at the altar two decades ago . . . and that was supposed to be the end of the story.

When her life crashes and burns in a flurry of secrets and redacted information, Addie Atwater-Elwyn hightails it home to the tiny mountain town of Adelaide Springs, Colorado--back to living with her dad, back to working a low-paying job, back to a life of disappointments. Growing up, nobody expected their local girl to become a high-ranking CIA analyst, married to a gorgeous CIA operative. But that was Addie's life until she lost . . . well, everything.

Now she's trying to pick up the pieces of her broken life with a little help from old friends. But there's one old friend she knows her life is better without--Wesley Hobbes, her childhood sweetheart who left her standing at the altar when they were eighteen years old. Truth be told, Addie would be perfectly content never seeing Wes's stupid face ever again--which makes it very inconvenient that he's now a beloved senator and presidential frontrunner, his face everywhere she looks. But that has nothing to do with Addie personally. He might make history, but in her book, he is history.

So, when the unwelcome Wes appears back in their hometown, no one rolls out the red carpet--not Addie and not an entire town that was forced to pick sides (and unanimously chose Addie) decades ago. Senator Hobbes certainly won't win the popular vote in Adelaide Springs.

Wes, meanwhile, is sitting on a few secrets of his own, including the political scoop of the decade: he'd seriously rather gouge his eyes out than spend another minute in politics, much less ever go anywhere near the White House. Addie knows there has to be more to the story, and her curiosity is clouding her judgment. You can take the girl out of the CIA, but it's not so easy to shake the CIA out of the girl. Of course, it's not just curiosity (and the acknowledgement that his face isn't so stupid after all) that's been reawakened inside her. But after more than two decades, it's too late. Wes and Addie already had their chance. Right?

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Will you be reading this one?

Happy release day... Kaua'i Storm by Tori Eldridge (Spotlight) #newbooks #bookx #mystery #suspense #KauaiStorm #RangerMakalaniPahukulaMystery #ToriEldridge

Kaua'i Storm

(Ranger Makalani Pahukula Mystery #1)

By Tori Eldridge

Contemporary Mystery, Suspense

Paperback & eBook, 447 Pages

May 20, 2024 by Thomas & Mercer

Summary

Returning to Kaua‘i, park ranger Makalani finds her family divided and their way of life at risk in this rich and emotional adventure by the bestselling author of the Lily Wong series.

After ten years as a national park ranger in Oregon, Makalani Pahukula is back on Kaua‘i for her grandmother’s birthday. Having been gone for so long, Makalani finds the disconnect with her people and her struggles have never been more profound. Neither has her need to reacquaint herself with everything she left behind. When she reaches the homestead, she finds a bickering family and the disconcerting news that her cousins―a failed college football player and a rebellious teenage girl―have gone missing.

Makalani hopes they just ran off, too careless to realize the worry they’ve caused. But when hunters find a dead body in the Keālia Forest Reserve, Makalani fears something ominous is at play, and the search for her cousins grows more desperate. Although her help may not be welcomed by family and locals, Makalani is determined to solve a mystery that poses a greater risk than anyone imagines.

The investigation will open her heart, reawaken her love for the land she calls home, and strengthen her bond with her family. Because no matter how long she’s been away, for Makalani, Hawai‘i is in her blood.

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About the Author

Tori Eldridge is the bestselling author of the Lily Wong mystery thrillers as well as a two-time Anthony Award nominee, Lefty and Macavity Awards finalist, and winner of the 2021 Crimson Scribe Award for Best Book of the Year. She penned the standalone Dance Among the Flames and will launch her new Ranger Makalani Pahukula mystery series with Kaua‘i Storm on May 20, 2025. In addition to novels, Tori's short stories have been featured in numerous literary, crime fiction, and horror anthologies. Born and raised in Honolulu—of Hawaiian, Chinese, and Norwegian descent—she lived in New York and Los Angeles before settling in Portland, Oregon, where her grandchildren live. Before writing, Tori performed on Broadway, television, and film; and holds a 5th degree black belt in To-Shin Do ninja martial arts.

Find the author here.

Have you read any of her other books? Does this sound like a book you'd enjoy? Do you have a favorite mystery book?

Read an excerpt from this new YA... Just Another Meet Cute by Jenn P. Nguyen (Excerpt & #Giveaway) #newbooks #bookx #yalit #yabooks #JustAnotherMeetCute #JennPNguyen @xpressotours

Read an excerpt from this contemporary YA romance and enter the giveaway below...

Just Another Meet Cute

By Jenn P. Nguyen

YA Contemporary Romance, Romcom

Audiobook, Paperback & eBook, 331 Pages

May 20, 2025 by Scholastic Press 

Summary

Boy saves girl stuck on a disastrous hike. What could go wrong? So. Much.

Just Another Meet Cute is the joyful and funny story about what happens when you realize you’re dating the wrong twin.

When seventeen-year-old Nina Riley gets saved by a super cute Knight-in-Faded-Khakis just as she lands in an embarrassingly ‘ahem’ sticky situation during the most disastrous hike known to man, she wasn’t exactly looking for a meet cute. She really just needed some peace and quiet from her complicated family. Unfortunately, he disappears before she can properly thank him or get his number. All she has is his name (Ian Nguyen) and a navy jacket with a dog keychain, a gym card, and laundromat receipt. But a meet cute is a meet cute. And armed with years of watching Veronica Mars and a techy cousin, it should be simple enough for Nina to find the boy of her dreams, right? But when she finally tracks him down, he’s different than she thought ―right down to his name. Ryan is just as cute as she remembers, but the chemistry isn’t there like it was before. After a few dates, she meets Ryan’s family: his sweet grandma, his enthusiastic sisters, and his twin brother ―​​​​​​​―Ian.

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Excerpt

“Are you sure we’ve never met before? Because you look very familiar.”

“No, I don’t think so.” His eyes flickered down to my empty coffee cup still on the seat between us. “Nina. That’s a pretty name. Now I’m sure I would have remembered you.”

Except he didn’t.

Narrowing my eyes, I searched his face for something—anything—but he continued to give me a small polite smile.

Then two things hit me at once.

First, maybe he didn’t recognize me because of my makeup. I mean, I was wearing more than I usually did. A lot more. I barely recognized myself when I looked in the mirror this morning. Plus, on my hike, I wore those huge sunglasses that covered half my face. And my hair was in a ponytail.

Second, if he didn’t remember me . . . then maybe this was my chance to make another first impression. A better one. Like WAY better. It wouldn’t even be hard. I was already off to a pretty good start. This was practically the definition of a rom-com meet cute, one that would make it into the theaters.

I mean, sure, I planned the whole thing, but a meet cute was still a meet cute, right? And it’s not like I planned the crazy car. That was a happy coincidence.

“So . . .”

I straightened on the bench. “Yes?”

Kicking his left foot at the sidewalk, Ryan jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. “I was thinking, after we talk to the police do you—do you want to get some ice cream with me? I know this place nearby that makes awesome homemade waffle cones. It’s the least I could do, since you saved my life.”

For a split second, as he gazed down at me with such an earnest expression on his face, a pang of guilt seeped into my gut. He was such a nice guy, both now and on the hike. He probably wouldn’t mind if I told him the truth. After all, the more I lied to him now, the worse it was going to get.

But when I opened my mouth, nothing came out.

The thing is, it wasn’t every day that I got a chance to rewrite history. Instead of being the weird girl he met on the hike who got injured and wet her pants, I could be the cool girl from the coffee shop. The one who knew about Spider-Man comics and liked mystery novels. The one who went around saving people and probably had her entire life planned out. And definitely didn’t have any family issues. The girl I always wished I could be, at least for a little bit.

And this was something I was definitely going to take advantage of.

Plus, technically, I wasn’t doing anything wrong. Not really. I was just tweaking our meet cute story a teensy bit. If he didn’t remember me, then it wasn’t really my fault.

I gave him a bright smile. “Make it a double scoop and you’ve got yourself a date.”

About the Author

Jenn Nguyen fell in love with books in third grade and spent the rest of her school years reading through lunchtime and giving up recess to organize the school library. She has a degree in business administration from the University of New Orleans and still lives in the city with her husband. Jenn spends her days reading, dreaming up YA romances, and binge watching Korean dramas all in the name of ‘research’.

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Can't Wait for... The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks #thecollectorofburnedbooks #roseannamwhite #histfic #christfic #wwiibooks @tnzfiction

Can't-Wait Wednesday  is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

The premise for this book from a well-liked author sounds like this will be a very endearing read with lots of complexities and characters with depth. Plus, there's saving books and a library... it's got me right there. It's my pick this week...

The Collector of Burned Books

By Roseanna M. White

Christian Historical Fiction, WWII, Clean & Wholesome Romance

Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 368 Pages

July 15, 2025 by Tyndale Fiction

Summary

In this gripping World War II historical about the power of words, two people form an unlikely friendship amid the Nazi occupation in Paris and fight to preserve the truth that enemies of freedom long to destroy.

Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list . . . and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.

For the last six years, Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home.

Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party―he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over, and maybe find a lost piece of his heart.

- Stand-alone historical fiction from a bestselling, Christy Award-winning author
- A thought-provoking novel perfect for book clubs
- Includes discussion questions

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A hidden society within our own... The Art of Exile by Andrea Max (Spotlight) #newbooks #bookx #yabooks #yalit #theartofexile #andreamax @tbrbeyondtours

Welcome to my tour stop for this new YA fantasy! Read on below...

The Art of Exile

By Andrea Max

Young Adult Fantasy

Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 448 Pages

May 13, 2025 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Summary

Legendborn meets The Da Vinci Code in this captivating light academia contemporary fantasy following a teen who infiltrates a secret school for the descendants of exiled Renaissance masters to steal their long-lost arts and sciences.

Unlike the high-achieving members of her family’s secret society, Ada Castle has mastered nothing but the art of falling for the wrong guys. But now she finally has the chance to prove her worth: she just needs to gain access to a hidden school that her family has been trying to locate for generations. Granted, she accidentally goes on a date with the recruiter first, then is temporarily abducted, but Ada manages to secure herself an invitation to the Genesis Institute, where descendants of exiled Renaissance masters practice long-lost arts and sciences.

The school is a utopia of sustainable technology, medical advancements, and myths come to life, yet they are unjustly hoarding their resources. Ada goes undercover to steal their innovations for the rest of the world, but Genesis nurtures her creativity and challenges her views, and she can’t help but fall for the school…and maybe also for her frustratingly off-limits recruiter-turned-mentor.

Ada’s tangle of lies starts to unravel when one of her new friends goes missing. To rescue her, Ada is forced to work with a dangerous (and dangerously hot) classmate whose suspicions threaten her cover. And when the information she’s shared with her family puts her missing friend and all of Genesis in peril, she’ll have to choose whom to betray: the family she loves or the school that has helped her find herself.

Content Warning: someone is drugged

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About the Author

Andrea has an MSW from New York University and is a high school English teacher. She lives with her husband and son in New Jersey where she starts a lot of art she’ll never finish.

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Tour Schedule

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Did you ever read Legendborn or The Da Vinci Code? I have the first on my list and I've watched the movie of the second.

A middle-grade twist on Grimm's Fairytales... The Grim Adventure by Fern Forgettable as told by Piper CJ (Spotlight) #newbooks #bookx #middlegrade #fantasy #fairytale #FernsSchoolforWaywardFae #FernForgettable #PiperCJ @tbrbeyondtours

Welcome to my tour stop where I'm featuring this fantastic middle grade twist on some Grimm's Fairytales! Read on below...

The Grim Adventure

(Fern's School for Wayward Fae #2)

By Fern Forgettable as told by Piper CJ

Middle Grade Fantasy

Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 288 Pages

May 6, 2025 by Random House Books for Young Readers

Summary

Return to Fern’s School for Wayward Fae—where students are part human and part magical. In book 2 of this peculiar series, one demifae girl discovers that Death itself has Fern’s students in sight . . . and the fate of the whole school is looking grim.

A girl who’s trapped in another realm. Her school, full of the peculiarly magical. And a hunt for Death itself. . . .

The month leading up to one’s thirteenth birthday can be exciting, but rarely does that thrill come in the form of a perilous chase. Nearly thirteen-year-old Rosemary Thorpe is on the run from a wicked statue come-to-life as she fights to discover what’s happening with the fae courts. She can see the future . . . and right now, it’s looking grim.

Out of nowhere, legions of mushrooms threaten to overwhelm Fern’s School for Wayward Fae. Someone tries to drown all the plants in the greenhouse. And as Rosemary searches for answers, it becomes clearer that something sinister is after the students and their curious gifts . . . and it’s closer than she might think.

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Other Books in the Series

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About the Author

Author, folklorist, french fry enthusiast, and wannabe international woman of mystery. Let’s see, what do people like to learn in this sort of portal? Where I grew up? North Dakota. My age? Thirty or forty probably. A fun fact about me? I used to do speed runs of Ocarina of Time. What kind of music I listen to? Here’s my unhinged spotify, have at it. What was I doing before I was a full time author? Photography and teaching in Vietnam and stuff. Where did the “chaos goblin” fan club get its name? The offspring of Mr. (David Bowie) & Mrs. (Me) Jareth the Goblin King. Where I got my M.A. in folklore? Newfoundland. My dogs’ names? Arrow and Applesauce. My hobbies? Being an RPG Gamer (Mass Effect is the way to my heart), a hockey fan, and a hobby linguist.

When I’m not knocking it out of the park with award-winning “About the Author” bios, I’m binging cartoons (I’ve seen every episode of Hazbin Hotel, Lower Decks, Helluva Boss, and Rick and Morty a normal, sane amount), making tiktoks about cryptids and fae, rewatching Labyrinth, or disappointing my parents.

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Tour Schedule

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Would you or someone you know enjoy these books? Are you a Grimm's Fairytales fan?

A delightful romance... Signed, Sealed, and Smitten by Melanie Jacobson (Review) #newbooks #bookx #SignedSealedandSmitten #MelanieJacobson #OnlyMagicintheBuilding #romancebooks #cleanreads

Signed, Sealed, and Smitten

(Only Magic in the Building #8)

By Melanie Jacobson

Contemporary Romance, Clean & Wholesome

Audiobook, Paperback & eBook, 328 Pages

April 11, 2025

Summary

The last thing she needs is another off-limits work romance. He’s fine playing the friendly flirt . . . until he falls for real.

Embarrassing breakups at work cost you promotions. Phoebe learned that the hard way. So when a patron’s will names her as the director of a new museum in Serendipity Springs, she jumps at the chance to prove her professionalism.

Her new plan: focus on work. Ignore distractions. Definitely ignore men. Easy peasy.

But then the mailbox in Phoebe’s quirky apartment building starts delivering a series of old love letters written between strangers…sixty years ago.

She can’t afford the distraction, but she also can’t ignore the letters, so she enlists the help of Jay, the flirty heir to her benefactor’s fortune, to help her solve the mystery of who they belong to.

Jay is exactly the history pro she needs, but he’s also the kind of handsome charmer Phoebe always falls for, and since he’s on the museum board, she’s not about to risk her recovering reputation. Despite their sizzling chemistry, she quickly sends Jay to the friend zone.

Until the mysterious letters from the past lead them to surprising discoveries in the present, and serendipity steps in with an irresistible nudge and a memorable, magical kiss.

Signed, Sealed, and Smitten is a standalone book in the Only Magic in the Building series. These closed door, whimsical romance books are all set in the same historic building, which has a habit of playing matchmaker with its residents. There are light magical elements, but no spells, shifters, or dark magic of any kind.

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My Review

SIGNED, SEALED, AND SMITTEN is a perfect title for this story where two characters investigate old letters that magically appear in a mailbox and fall in love as they do. The characters were well drawn with their own quirks and complexities, which made them easy to like and connect with. The story was entertaining with an adorable meet-cute, plenty of humor and heart, and a sweet romance. An ideal book for sweet romance readers!

Read this if you like:
✨Adorable meet-cutes
✨Strong women who can take charge but also have fun
✨Charming men who have hidden depths
✨Mysterious letters that lead to a secondary story
✨Magical buildings who push people together
✨Small-town charm
✨A bit of redemption and second chances

I enjoyed this story so much! The heroine (Phoebe) tries to appear perfectly professional and well put together as a new museum director with some face to save after her last job. In their first meeting, the hero (Jay) who is on the museum board, finds her in a completely relaxed moment having fun which immediately piques his interest. She in turn comes to misconceptions about him. And their back and forth banter and teasing interspersed between business and serious moments begins. Letters show up and they both work on researching them, bringing them together outside of museum business. They’re basically each other’s ideal partner, which neither of them planned on, but they’re a bit hopeless to avoid what is inevitable, especially with the Serendipity working its magic.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This book was a delight to read! Loveable characters, plenty of banter, great chemistry, and a fun small-town setting with a bit of magic brought this story to life. Highly recommended to sweet romance fans!

Content: Clean
Source: Borrowed through Kindle Unlimited and also purchased a paperback. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Have you read any of the books in this series yet? Have you read this one or other books by the author?

Can't Wait for... Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks #everythingscominguprosie #courtneywalsh #romancebooks #womensfiction #cleanreads @TNZFiction

Can't-Wait Wednesday  is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

Courtney Walsh has been a favorite for a long time. Her characters are unique and endearing with stories that always pull on the heart, entertain, and bring smiles. Her upcoming release (just over a month to go!) is my pick this week...

Everything's Coming Up Rosie

By Courtney Walsh

Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Clean & Wholesome

Audiobook, Paperback & eBook,  Pages

June 10, 2025 by Thomas Nelson

Summary

Sometimes what you think you want and what you actually want turn out to be different things . . .

Rosie Waterman has one dream: to become a working actor. But lately, that hasn't been working out. When she loses her apartment and her job on the same day, she does what she always does--puts herself out there, ready to find the next big thing. But a trip home makes her realize that while she's been struggling to make this dream come true, all her friends have become real adults with careers and weddings and babies on the way. Rosie's been at this for years, and she has nothing to show for it. But how does she simply let go of her dream?

When she's offered a job as the director of a regional theatre's production of Cinderella, she jumps at the chance--even though she's only directed in college and the job is in Door County, Wisconsin, and not in New York. She has no other offers, and at least she'll be getting paid to do something theatrical. But when she arrives, she quickly realizes that the "regional theatre" is actually in a retirement community, and the "actors" are actually senior citizens with no acting experience whatsoever.

Working on the show presents new challenges, forcing Rosie to learn how to step up and be the leader this fledgling theatre troupe needs. The more time she spends with her new cast, the more she begins to rethink what it means to dream big, especially when that big dream hasn't turned out to be at all what she thought it would be. It's not at all what she expected, but could it be exactly what she needs?

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Will you be reading this one?

An immersive YA fantasy... Illuminary by Chawna Schroeder (Review & #Giveaway) #newbooks #bookx #yalit #yabooks #fantasy #illuminary #chawnaschroeder #thesceptreandthestylus #christfic @celebrate_lit

Welcome to my tour stop! Check out this new YA fantasy and my review below...

Illuminary

(The Sceptre & the Stylus #1)

By Chawna Schroeder

Christian YA Fantasy inspired by A Little Princess

Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 368 Pages

April 8, 2025 by Enclave Escape

Summary

Glimpse the past, illuminate the future.

Yosarai Patican dreams of becoming an illuminator in a country that values art above all else. A lofty goal that finally seems within reach when she earns a position at the prestigious Academy of the Seven

Arts. Although Yosarai loathes to leave behind her quiet country life, she travels to the capital, determined to live up to her mother’s fame asone of Indel’s greatest artists.

Prince Xander never planned to become king. Indeed, he never wanted to become king. But when his father dies suddenly, he is thrust into the middle of coronation preparations—and assassination attempts. With everyone around him in increasing danger, Xander decides to hide in neighboring Indel until the time for him to be crowned king arrives.

Posing as an inventor struggling with aesthetics, Xander enlists Yosarai’s aid as part of his cover, but soon he suspects she knows more than she should. But when danger threatens and secrets are exposed, entering a competition reputed as cutthroat may be the only way for them to protect everything they hold dear.

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My Review

ILLUMINARY is a completely immersive experience into this fantasy world that feels somewhat Persian. The characters are interesting and relatable while the plot grows and develops as the characters do as they face new places and challenges. A story weaved with magic, family, privilege, loss, faith and love.

Opening this book felt like diving into a whole different world. At least for Yosarai's world. It was lush and fragrant. Almost like a textile experience. Her relationships were also full of depth and complexity. Xander's world was a bit more one dimensional as there were only glimpses of it before he traveled to Yosarai's Indel (Yosarai's kingdom). What his storyline had that Yosarai's didn't (at least at first) was consistent danger hunting him. I liked how the author wove their stories together and how everything unfolded. The writing also felt very lush and full which I also really liked as well as this unique twist on a classic. The story is very faith-filled with a god representative of Christianity and its a central part of this story. My hope is that it doesn't take over the series but continues to be woven through in a natural way.

There were a lot of poems, journal entries and such in the story. Those didn't really work for me for how much they were included and how long they were, but some may enjoy this aspect.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This was an enjoyable story and a series worth following. Recommended to Christian fantasy fans and also some YA fantasy fans.

Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Chawna Schroeder loves exploring the wonder of God through the intersection of imagination and faith. When she isn’t reading or writing, she may be found practicing piano, reading biblical Greek or Hebrew, preparing for the Bible study she teaches, or working onone of her handwork projects while enjoying a movie.

Tour Schedule

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 29

Artistic Nobody, April 30 (Author Interview)

CeCe Reads and Sings, April 30

The Lofty Pages, May 1

Wishful Endings, May 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 3 (Spotlight)

Simple Harvest Reads, May 3 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 4

Guild Master, May 5 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, May 6

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 7

Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 8

Inklings and Notions, May 9

Fiction Book Lover, May 10 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, May 11

Labor Not in Vain, May 12

Tour-Wide Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chawna is giving away the grand prize of a 2.5” x 9.5” poster of Psalm 46:5 and 10-11 illuminated by artist and calligrapher Timothy Botts, a signed copy of the book, a $25 Amazon gift card, a glass stylus, and 5 bookish stickers!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

ENTER HERE

Have you read any other stories like this one? Do you have any favorite "illuminated" or illustrated books? I have a collection of illustrated classics by N.C. Wyeth along with the illustrated Harry Potter books that I love.