Happy #BookBirthday! 31 Oct 24

Happy Thursday! This week there is ONE book on our lists publishing!

Getting Away with Murder by Kathyrn Foxfield

Cabin in the Woods meets Squid Game - a girl playing a game with a supercomputer unwittingly traps her sister in a deadly escape room. When Saffron is forced to do work experience at a tech company, she gets into an argument with her supervisor over which high school stereotype would survive the longest in a horror film: the sports star? The queen bee? The swot? The drama girl? The class clown? The rebel? Unbeknown to them, the AI robot she is working on at the time decides to determine the answer by testing it out for real. It designs an algorithm to search social media and school records to find the best examples of each stereotype from the neighbouring towns, and the invitations go out - six people, including Saffron's perfectionist sister Georgia, will be trapped in a series of deadly escape rooms and only one will survive the night...

At the End of the World by Nadia Mikail

With the world about to end, Aisha and her family undertake a road trip to find her estranged sister in this blazingly original and wonderfully affecting young adult debut.

When the world is ending, what matters most to you?

Seventeen-year-old Aisha hasn't seen her sister June for two years. She has no idea where she is, but that hasn't stopped her from thinking about her every day and hoping she's okay.

But now that a calamity is about to end the world in nine months' time, she and her mother decide that it's time to track her down and mend the hurts of the past. They don't have any time to spare—if they don't resolve their issues now, they never will.

Along with Aisha's boyfriend Walter and his parents (and a stray cat named Fleabag), the group embarks on a roadtrip through Malaysia in a wildly decorated campervan to put the past to rest, to come to terms with the present, and to hope for the future, even with the world about to end.

Silver by Olivia Levez

THEIR LOVE WILL SET THE STARS ALIGHT . . .

Silver has been trained since birth for her mission: collect data on the humans to test if Earth is viable for her home ship, Charybdis, to colonise. The only rules are that she must feed back the data she collects to the ship, and at all times follow the Mantra: To touch is agony. To feel is pain.

So when Silver inhabits the body of a young woman and infiltrates the house she is staying in, she must learn to pass as a human without revealing her true identity. But she isn't prepared for how the humans will get under her skin. And she definitely isn't prepared for Finch, the boy she starts to fall for. Especially when he touches her - and it doesn't hurt.

It is not how Charybdis said it would be.

Have they been lying all along?

Conflicted by the war between her growing feelings for Finch and her allegiance to her ship, Silver must decide who to stand by and who to betray.

#Twas the Match Before Christmas by Julianne McKeigue

’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Croke Park

It was quiet and peaceful; the great pitch was dark ...

But not for long!

As the clock strikes midnight, there's a magical surprise: Santa, his elves and reindeer arrive for a night of mischief, mayhem and football.

I See the Moon by Sarah Webb and Paul Delaney

Oranges and lemons, dancing sausages, little kittens, ducks and turtles; golden slumbers, lullabies and Irish eyes –

they’re all here, and plenty more.

A wonderful collection of nursery rhymes to treasure, songs and poems to share, gathered by Sarah Webb and with joyful illustrations by Paul Delaney that jump off every page.

Enjoy childhood favourites like ‘Old Mother Hubbard’ and ‘Sing a Song of Sixpence’, classic ditties like ‘When Irish Eyes Are Smiling’ and ‘Skip to My Lou’, and funny rhymes like ‘I Made You Look’ and ‘Hot Dog’ that will cheer up any bedtime, as well as magical verses for children written by Spike Milligan and Gordon Snell and a beautiful lullaby by singer-songwriter Lisa O’Neill.

Happy #BookBirthday! 24 Oct 24

Happy Thursday! This week there are SIX books on our lists publishing!

A Backstage Betrayal by Michael Ball

THE THEATRE MAY SEEM GLAMOROUS, BUT SECRETS WAIT BEHIND THE CURTAIN

1926. Running a theatre may appear to be all about the showbiz, but times are hard at The Empire. Following a turbulent period Jack Treadwell, erstwhile proprietor, his mother Lillian, and his playwright wife Grace, know they need to get things back on track - and how better than with the annual pantomime, a new venture, and an all-singing all-dancing talent contest, showcasing the best performers around.

But could Lillian's new admirer, Grand Duke Nikolai Kuznetsov, be bringing disaster in his wake? Will The Empire be caught up in the scandal surrounding West End star, Stella Stanmore? And what are their enemies in Highbridge planning?

While Jack and Grace fight to ensure the show does go on, a royal visitor raises the stakes and a young widow, Sally Blow, dares to dream that the talent contest might be her big break.

As the talent contest draws closer, tragedy strikes. Amid the glitz and glamour there are strange goings on and a plot afoot. Is everything Jack and Grace have worked so hard for about to come crashing down? And could this be curtains for The Empire?

Musical theatre legend Michael Ball brings his trademark warmth, wit and glamour to this sparkling new Empire Theatre novel.

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. She only tells "small" fortunes: whether it will hail next week; which boy the barmaid will kiss; when the cow will calve. She knows from bitter experience that big fortunes come with big consequences…

Even if it’s a lonely life, it’s better than the one she left behind. But a small fortune unexpectedly becomes something more when a (semi) reformed thief and an ex-mercenary recruit her into their desperate search for a lost child. Soon, they’re joined by a baker with a knead for adventure, and—of course—a slightly magical cat.

Tao sets down a new path with companions as big-hearted as her fortunes are small. But as she lowers her walls, the shadows of her past are closing in—and she’ll have to decide whether to risk everything to preserve the family she never thought she could have.

Sex Lives of Superheroes by Diana McCallum

Is sex with The Hulk technically a threesome? Does The Flash do everything faster? Has Wonder Woman really never faked an orgasm? 

Explore these questions and more with this collection of speculative, comedic essays on how superpowers might affect the sex lives of famous superheroes. Based on genuine scientific research and both Marvel and DC comic book and movie canon (and more!), Sex Lives of Superheroes is a refreshingly frank and fun deep dive into the pros, cons, and plot twists of superpowered sex.

Drawing from biology, physics, psychology, and more to play out (wild, fictional) scenarios about superheroes' sex lives, this in-depth analysis will definitively answer your burning questions, How does sex ed from the 1930s and 1940s stack up to today’s (and what does that mean for Captain America’s love life)? Can Spider-Man do whatever a spider can . . . in bed? Do factors like radiation, psychological stress, and tight spandex affect Batman’s sperm count? Does Green Lantern prove that sex is better in space? Would Wolverine’s healing factor make his sperm immortal? What would sex be like with Daredevil’s enhanced senses? Why did Dr. Strange's girlfriend cheat on him with Benjamin Franklin? Wait, Superman made a porno?! With interludes detailing some of the strangest sexcapades in superhero history, and the closest sexual equivalents we have in the real world, Sex Lives of Superheroes is a testament that sometimes life is even stranger than fiction (though not by much—comics are weird!). Stimulating in more ways than one, this provocative supplement to your favorite heroes’ lore is a hilarious and thought-provoking glimpse under the covers revealing everything you ever wanted to know about the Sex Lives of Superheroes.

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Get caught up in the puzzles, games, danger, romance, and riches of this lush new chapter in the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games saga.

Seven tickets. An island of dreams. The chance of a lifetime.

Welcome to the Grandest Game, an annual competition run by billionaire Avery Grambs and the four infamous Hawthorne brothers, whose family fortune she inherited. Designed to give anyone a shot at fame and fortune, this year’s game requires one of seven golden tickets to enter. With millions on the line, those seven players will do whatever it takes to win.

Some of the players are in it for the money. Some for power. Some for reasons all their own. Every single one of them has secrets. Amidst it all is Grayson Hawthorne, tasked with a vital role in this year’s game. But as tensions rise and the mind-bending challenges push the players to their limits—physically, mentally, and emotionally—it soon becomes clear that not everyone is playing by the rules.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes delivers a brand-new series in the world of The Inheritance Games, where fan-favorite and new characters collide in a game you’ll never forget.

Do you have what it takes to play?

Just Until by Joseph Moldover

Hannah must choose the impossible—put her nephews into foster care so she can stay true to her dream, or take them on and lose everything she’s worked so hard to achieve.

17-year-old Hannah Lynn has just one goal: to get out of Evans Beach, Maine. It’s where she lost her mother to cancer. Where her estranged sister, Pauline, fell apart before moving out. Where her father, Larry, holds court as a local legend who once played twelve games for the Red Sox. Hannah has never fit in, but that doesn’t matter now that she is finally on the cusp of escape. All she needs is a little help from her chemistry tutor, Richard, a fellow junior who she finds equal parts compelling and infuriating.

Then, one winter night, Hannah’s life is turned upside down. Pauline’s two sons are taken by the state, leaving Hannah and Larry the only people standing between the boys and the child welfare system. Her father promises that it will only be for a little while, just until Pauline gets back on her feet, but Hannah knows nothing is that simple when it comes to her troubled older sister.

Happy #BookBirthday! 17 Oct 24

Happy Thursday! This week there are FOUR books on our lists publishing!

2025 Children's Almanac

The perfect gift for children to enjoy the whole year round! Celebrate festivals, world holidays and other special events all year round with this fun-packed Children's Almanac.

Every month find out what's happening in nature, astronomy, sports, science, the world and more.

Inside you’ll find:

• A calendar of events and special days for every month
• What to spot in nature and simple things to grow through the seasons
• Things to look for in the night sky
• Amazing environmental stories from around the world
• Upcoming sporting events with facts, stats and useful info
• Exciting new technology and incredible inventions
• History and traditions of religious festivals and special days from around the world

With things to do, recipes, crafts and puzzles, it’s the ideal gift to last the whole year!

This Will Be Fun by E B Asher

The Princess Bride meets People We Meet on Vacation in this cozy quest romantasy about a group of friends who once defended their magical land together but haven’t spoken since, reuniting to attend a royal wedding, and ending up on a new adventure to save the realm—and hopefully themselves.

Ten years ago, they saved the realm. It ruined their lives.

Everyone in Mythria knows the story of how best friends Beatrice and Elowen, handsome ex-bandit Clare, and valiant leader Galwell the Great defended the land from darkness. It’s a tale beloved by all—except the former heroes. They haven’t spoken in a decade, devastated by what their quest cost them.

But when they receive an invitation to the queen of Mythria’s wedding, it’s a summons they can’t refuse . . . and a reunion for the ages, with Clare secretly not over his long-ago fling with Beatrice, Beatrice fighting the guilt she feels over how everything ended, Elowen unprepared for the return of her former flame (the cunning Vandra), and all of them lost without Galwell’s presence. And if reuniting with old friends and lovers wasn’t perilous enough, dark forces from their past have returned, plotting a domination that only Mythria’s one-time defenders can stop. Maybe.

Dusting off old weapons and old instincts, they face undead nemeses, crystal caves, enchanted swords, coffee shops, games of magical Truth or Dare, and, hardest of all, their past—rife with wounds never healed and romances never forgotten.

This time around, will their story end in happily ever after?

Blog Tour: The Bitter End by Alexa Donne

When a winter storm traps eight teens in a remote ski cabin, they find themselves stranded with a killer—who may be one of their own. From the acclaimed author of The Ivies and Pretty Dead Queens comes a YA thriller that will make your blood run cold.

The trip of a lifetime might be the death of them all.

The students of LA’s elite Warner Prep can’t wait for their Senior Excursion—five days of Instagrammable adventure in one of the world’s most exclusive locations. This is not your average field trip.

Which is why eight students can’t believe their bad luck when they end up on a digital detox in an isolated Colorado ski chalet. Their epic trip is panning out to be an epic bore . . . until their classmates start dropping in a series of disturbing deaths. The message is clear: this trip is no accident.

And when a blizzard strikes, secrets are revealed, betrayals are exposed, and survival is at stake in a race to the bitter end.

Norse Myths

A brilliant collection of stories based on the heroes and villains of Norse Mythology, hand-picked and collected together in this gorgeous gift treasury.

Delve into the world of gods, giants and monsters, as you sit atop Air Throne and survey the kingdom of Asgard. With magnificent colour and line-work illustrations from artists such as Charles Brock, Arthur Rackham and Helen Stratton, and a foreword from award-winning author Michael Morpurgo, this special book is a timeless gift to treasure for fans of Norse Mythology, new and old.

Inspired by over 175 years of publishing history it also contains an illustrated account of the authors and artists behind Macmillan's original story collections, first published in the 1800s and early 1900s. A sumptuous 320 page gift hardback, complete with a foiled cut-through cover, foiled edges and a ribbon marker, The Macmillan Collection of Norse Myths is a book to share and treasure.

The companion book to The Macmillan Fairy Tales Collection and The Macmillan Collection of Greek Myths.

Christmas is All Around by Martha Waters

A former child star learns that holiday magic can come from a change in perspective in this charming and hilarious holiday rom-com.

Charlotte hates the holidays. As a former child actress, she starred in a modern classic of a holiday movie, and its fans won’t let her move on. When a piece revealing that her reluctance nixed plans for a reboot, she flees to London to spend the five-week countdown to the holidays with her sister.

But the ghosts of Christmas past follow her there when she ends up at Eden Priory, a filming location for the movie she has never visited. There, after being recognized by a fan while viewing the extraordinary holiday decorations, she’s accidently left behind, forcing her to accept a ride back to London by Graham, the son of the owners. Their family business—and the funds to keep their historic house running—relies on holiday cheer, and Graham knows a visit from a holiday star would bring in more visitors.

Now an illustrator, Charlotte accepts a commission illustrating iconic holiday movie scenes in London and its environs. Graham offers to help escort her, as long as she’ll commit to an art workshop at Eden Priory. But as Charlotte’s chaotic family holiday goes awry, she begins spending more time scouting locations with Graham. Charlotte may not love Christmas, but is it so bad if you’re also falling in love?

Happy #BookBirthday! 10th October 2024

Happy Thursday! This week there are SIX books on our lists publishing - not bad for Super Thursday!

A Map for Falasteen by Maysa Odeh and Aliaa Betawi

Can a place exist if it's not on a map?

At school, Falasteen and her classmates are tasked with finding their families' home countries on a map, but no matter how hard she looks, Falasteen can't find Palestine. She turns to her family for answers and each of their stories helps her understand her people's history and her own place in the world.

Run by Blake Crouch

5 Days Ago a rash of bizarre murders swept the country. Senseless. Brutal. Seemingly unconnected. . .

A cop walked into a nursing home and unloaded his weapons on elderly and staff alike. A mass of school shootings. Prison riots of unprecedented brutality. Mind-boggling acts of violence in every state.

4 Days Ago the murders increased ten-fold. . .

3 Days Ago the President addressed the nation and begged for calm and peace. . .

2 Days Ago the killers began to mobilize. . .

Yesterday all the power went out. . .

Tonight they're reading the names of those to be killed on the Emergency Broadcast System. You are listening over the battery-powered radio on your kitchen table, and they've just read yours. Your name is Jack Colclough. You have a wife, a daughter, and a young son. You live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. People are coming to your house to kill you and your family. You don't know why, but you don't have time to think about that any more. You only have time to R - U - N!

The Salmon of Knowledge by Eithne Massey and Ellen Kane

Long ago in Ireland, there lived a boy called Fionn, who wanted to know everything.

Fionn goes to live with the wisest man in Ireland, hoping to find answers to his many questions. But Finnegas has a secret. He knows how to get all the knowledge in the world, and it starts with a silver salmon swimming in the River Boyne…

Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz

In the early 2000s, after years of hard work and determination to breakthrough as an actor, Bethany Joy Lenz was finally cast as one of the leads on the hit drama One Tree Hill. Her career was about to take off, but her personal life was slowly beginning to unravel. What none of the show’s millions of fans knew, hidden even from her costars, was her secret double life in a cult.

An only child who often had to fend for herself and always wanted a place to belong, Lenz found the safe haven she’d been searching for in a Bible study group with other Hollywood creatives. However, the group soon morphed into something more sinister—a slowly woven web of manipulation, abuse, and fear under the guise of a church covenant called The Big House Family. Piece by piece, Lenz began to give away her autonomy, ultimately relocating to the Family’s Pacific Northwest compound, overseen by a domineering minister who would convince Lenz to marry one of his sons and steadily drained millions of her TV income without her knowledge. Family “minders” assigned to her on set, “Maoist struggle session”–inspired meetings in the basement of a filthy house, and regular counseling with “Leadership” were just part of the tactics used to keep her loyal.

Only when she became a mother did Lenz find the courage to leave and spare her child from a similar fate. After nearly a decade (and with the unlikely help of a One Tree Hill superfan), she finally managed to escape the family’s grip and begin to heal from the deep trauma that forever altered her relationship with God and her understanding of faith. Written with powerful honesty and dark humor, Dinner for Vampires is an inspiring story about the importance of identity and understanding what you believe.

Bye Forever, I Guess by Jodi Meadows

Thirteen-year-old Ingrid’s been living a double life. At school, she’s the Girl With Dead Parents, her popular friend Rachel’s charity case. Online, things are different: she crushes it in her favorite MMORPG, geeks out in her favorite fantasy fandom, and runs a popular social media account. If only real life were that easy.

But when Ingrid finally stands up to Rachel and “starts drama,” it suddenly feels like she has no life at all . . . and nowhere to sit at lunch.

Until she gets a supersweet wrong-number text from a mystery boy at her school, and everything starts to go right. Spending time together playing Ancient Tomes Online as “Stitches” and “Traveler” makes her feel like she’s really connecting with someone. But when she begins to suspect that Traveler may be a popular classmate who is WAY above her in the cool-kid food chain—and whose original text was actually intended for Rachel—she faces a difficult choice. Can they be friends IRL? She wants to open up, but getting close to people has hurt her before.

Is making real friends only fantasy after all?

Bye Forever, I Guess is the fresh, funny, and deeply sweet middle-grade debut of New York Times bestselling author Jodi Meadows (MY LADY JANE). Speaking to the messiness of middle-school friendships (and first loves), this is a warm, witty, enormously entertaining book—and a love letter to geek culture, gaming, and the healing power of fantasy.

Happy #BookBirthday! 3 Oct 24

Happy Thursday! This week there are FIVE books on our lists publishing!

Blitz: Journey to 2125 by Gary F. Bengier

In an era where technology rapidly transforms our world, one family’s journey through the next century reveals the profound impacts of these changes. Gary Bengier's latest novel, “Journey to 2125,” offers a compelling mix of family saga, political drama, and hard-science speculation.

“Journey to 2125: One Century, One Family, Rising to Challenges” unfolds in the year 2125 when a long-separated grandson arrives seeking answers. Max MacGyver recounts their family’s tumultuous century, revealing a narrative rich with adventure, rivalry, loss, and survival. Set over a single day, the novel explores why the boy’s parents moved to a secluded Commune and the family secrets his grandfather discloses. From a young boy fleeing war in Asia to a young couple battling for privacy amid rapid technological and political changes, this story is a hard-science exploration of how humanity might navigate the challenges and opportunities of the next hundred years. Through personal stories and global issues, Bengier examines the intersection of technology, politics, and human resilience.


Author Bio: Gary F. Bengier is a writer, philosopher, and technologist with a deep interest in how technology and human experience intersect. After a notable career in Silicon Valley, including his role as eBay’s Chief Financial Officer, Bengier pursued his passion for astrophysics and philosophy. His previous work, “Unfettered Journey,” earned acclaim for its philosophical depth and realistic world-building. He lives in San Francisco with his wife and two children, dividing his time between writing, beekeeping, and tending to his Napa vineyard.


Journey to 2125: One Century, One Family, Rising to Challenges by Gary F. Bengier releases Fall 2024 and is available for Pre-Order on Amazon. You can also follow Gary on Facebook @garybengierauthor, Good Reads @Gary_F_Bengier and Twitter (X): @GaryFBengier or by visiting his website: https://garyfbengier.com/

LINKS

Amazon Pre-Order Page: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DF9HCNQF

FB https://www.facebook.com/garybengierauthor

Good Reads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20400105.Gary_F_Bengier

Twitter (X): https://x.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2FGaryFBengier

Website: https://garyfbengier.com/

Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman by Alex Atkinson

Indigo and Rusty might live in a funeral parlour, but they don't believe in ghosts. That is, until Indigo drops an old urn, accidentally releasing the Cinderman: a terrifying ash monster, who will smother their town in ashes and turn everyone into zombies, unless they can stop him by sunset.

Using their newly awakened Spooksmith skills, Indigo and Rusty set out to enlist the help of other ghosts. But can the Blasted Banshee and Chuckles the Phantom Toddler really help them find the Cinderman's true name and put him in his grave for good before Ashmageddon strikes?

Graphic Novel Builder by Edward Ross

A comic book…about making comic books!

The perfect gift for budding artists and aspiring storytellers. Written and illustrated by comic artist Edward Ross with an introduction by Alice Oseman, creator of the best-selling Heartstopper series.

“The book you’re about to read is something I would have read and reread obsessively as a young artist” – Alice Oseman

Meet the Graphic Novel Builders, a group of big-dreaming teens who set out to write, design and draw their own comic books. There’s Ash the Publisher, Jay the Writer, Finn the Designer, Rayah the Artist, Sam the Colourist…and Peanut the Pup! Together, you’ll explore all the building blocks of the complete creative process:

Discover different types of comics

Plot and script your story

Create characters and build worlds

Level-up your drawing skills

Share your graphic novel with the world!

The Judgment of Yoyo Gold by Isaac Blum

Yoyo Gold has always played the role of the perfect Jewish daughter. She keeps kosher, looks after her siblings, and volunteers at the local food bank. She respects the decisions of her rabbi father and encourages her friends to observe the rules of their Orthodox faith. But when she sees her best friend cast out of the community over a seemingly innocent transgression, Yoyo’s eyes are opened to the truth of her neighbors’ hypocrisies for the first time. And what she sees leaves her shocked and unmoored.

As Yoyo’s frustration builds, so does the pressure to speak out, even if she can only do so anonymously on TikTok, an app that’s always been forbidden to her. But when one of her videos goes viral—and her decisions wind up impacting not only her own life but also her relationship with the boy she’s falling for—Yoyo’s world is thrown into chaos. She is forced to choose which path to take, for her community, for her family, and most importantly, for herself.

Award-winning author Isaac Blum returns with a new novel that asks what it really means to be part of a community—and what it means to break free.