You’ve heard it before, but let me scream it again: “So many books … so little time!” And I’m yelling not just about any old books but about great reads that will appeal to story lovers everywhere.
First off, the always brilliant Emily Henry delivers a wonderfully captivating and engrossing tale in her new novel, GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL LIFE. Her previous romantic titles served as descriptors for her various enamored couples, but the “life” embedded in this title refers not to Alice or Hayden—two journalists competing to author a biography—but to an aging former celebrity who’s been missing from public view for decades. Margaret Ives’s story, as she meters it out in imprecise drips and drabs, does, indeed, describe a “big” life, but just how “beautiful” it was puzzles Alice and Hayden as they simultaneously struggle to decipher the disingenuous octogenarian’s stories and manage the growing passion they feel for each other. I’ve enjoyed many of Ms. Henry’s books, but I truly loved this newest offering, as much a fine and rewarding mystery as a satisfying romance.
Kennedy Ryan has a new book out, and I was lucky to get an early copy of the astounding CAN’T GET ENOUGH. As they often do, Ms. Ryan’s main characters stand out as hard working, well-educated, successful members of society who just happen to be hot as … well, you know. CAN’T GET ENOUGH is the third book in the “Skyland” series, but it works fine as a stand-alone since Hendrix and Maverick have no trouble making their life stories and their challenges immediately relatable. Hendrix juggles running a high-octane public relations business while caring for her recently widowed mother as Alzheimers takes hold. Maverick’s wide-ranging business responsibilities take all his energy. Now that his daughter from a long-finished relationship is a graduating from high school, maintaining distance from marriage and child-hungry women is a top priority. Ms. Ryan never shies away from serious social issues, but her ability to tell a passionate love story is top-notch.
Prolific indie writer Kate Regnery’s exquisite new romance, SWAN SONG, is a lovely heart-breaking and ultimately heart-mending story of a young man born into luxury but raised in squalor. Vaugn has no memory of his earliest years before foster care, and when he first meets and falls in love with ballerina Sasha, his low-paying job and meager prospects make him feel unworthy. But it turns out this “ugly duckling” was kidnapped from his millionaire family as a four-year-old, and when he’s at last reunited with them, his life—and for a short time, his very nature—are turned upside down. Replete with cultural references and balletic grace, SWAN SONG will leave you believing in the power of love to conquer all.
Bombarded with fabulous new titles, I’m nonetheless continually caught gasping, “How did I miss this one?” Fresh Fiction’s Video Book Club recently featured beloved author Marie Force. Asked which of her own many, many books she recommended, Ms. Force mentioned IN THE AIR TONIGHT. I took far too long to take the hint, but when I finally started IN THE AIR TONIGHT this past month, I found myself whole-heartedly agreeing with her recommendation. Yes, there’s a deeply satisfying romance, but this is one of those books that makes you ask, “Would I have done any better?” Seventeen-year-old Blaise witnesses a rape, but pressure from her close-knit community forces her to stay silent. Years of guilt prevent her from ever truly outrunning the horror, however, so she finally returns to her hometown to prevent the perpetrator from winning a congressional seat. The author skillfully presents all the main characters’ points of view, and her nuanced story-telling leaves one feeling that a rift in at least one small part of the universe can mend with time and grace.
Lastly, another Fresh Fiction Video guest’s newest book caught my attention, and I devoured Sandra Brown’s BLOOD MOON in record time. The book came out the week of 2025’s spring blood moon, but the riveting story of a serial killer, a journalist trying to unravel the knotted strands of a bungled investigation, and a police officer bitter over his supervisor’s obstinance will keep you turning pages no matter the phase of the moon. As in all Ms. Brown’s books, the gripping mystery takes center stage, but here, as always, the author includes a terrific romance that restores our faith in the triumph of love.
I’m off to read more good books, but check out my SECOND STANZA if you, too, love a great mystery and an even greater love story.
How can someone who's dead save your life during a night of terror?
Jackie’s heart broke when her beloved college boyfriend died in an off-campus gas explosion—a pointless, horrible death. Nine years later and thousands of miles away, her own life is saved when a random stranger calls her name and covers her body with his during a mass shooting. She wakes in a hospital only to learn that the stranger is among the dead.
But was he a stranger? For those terrifying seconds, Jackie was sure he was her beloved Leo. Needing to hide such crazy ideas from friends and family, Jackie begins a search for the only man she has ever loved—now seemingly twice dead.
Thriller | Suspense [Author Self-Published, On Sale: October 4, 2022, Paperback / e-Book , ISBN: 9781735102474 / eISBN: 9781735102481]
Meg's friends during her high school years all expected her romance novels to hit the shelves decades ago, but she foolishly allowed "serious pursuits" to get in her way. Now that her beloved children can feed, clothe, and most importantly, support themselves, she's free to turn her attention to her first passion - putting words to paper that capture your attention and make your heart sing in quiet joy. Her stories tell most frequently of second chances--in life, love, and sometimes even at rediscovering a soul-mate from a previous life.
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