Need to laugh out loud? To feel inspired? To feel seen? To feel encouraged to pursue your heart's most ambitious desires despite overwhelming odds against succeeding?   Read Zarna Garg's memoir, which offers an intimate, compelling coming of age, immigrant's journey, family saga, and keen observations about humans and life as experienced by a hilarious, intrepid individual.  [front cover of "Zarna Garg, This American Woman: A One-In-A-Billion Memoir" showing the Statue of Liberty holding the author in her arms with the New York City skyline in the lower half of the background]  This American Woman: A One-In-A-Billion Memoir by Zarna Garg  non-fiction memoir  Ballantine Books, April 2025  Universal themes of family love and family conflict, support and abandonment, grieving as a years' long process with lulls, parenting and being parented (or not), finding your people in friendship, romance, community presented and dissected with the author's sharp wit ...

Halloween is over but in these three compelling reads each featured character is haunted by their pasts.  [3 books arranged showing their front covers, from left to right: King of Ashes, Revolve, Good Spirits]  King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby  contemporary mystery suspense thriller with romantic elements  Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar, June 2025  Some legacies are deadly and finding answers to questions that have lingered for years makes it almost impossible for Roman and his sister Neveah to save themselves, their surviving family members and the business they've sacrificed to build. Threats abound in this turbulent, layered, genre mashup that mesmerizes with shock and awe as it entertains and illuminates.  This author offers characters and dilemmas with gorgeous language and brutal reality that deliver on all the book world hype. So good.  Revolve (Off the Ice #3) by Bal Khabra  contemporary new adult romance  Berkeley, October 2025...

An extra hour gives 60 more minutes of reading! (Not working on my 2 different WIPs. Not housekeeping. Not the last mow of the season. Not anything practical. Sometimes making the practical choice is over-rated.:-)  [front cover of trade paperback book "Nikki Payne, The Princess and the P.I." showing a curvaceous Black woman leaning against the front of a desk with a Black man standing behind the desk]  The Princess and the P.I. (Bennetts #3) by Nikki Payne  contemporary fiction w/suspense & romance  Berkeley, September 2025  Fiona and Maurice are determined to right some grievous wrongs and their plans go sideways when she's accused of murder. They make what each hopes will turn out to be a mutually beneficial deal. Grief, religious zealotry used to justify misogyny and oppression, complicated family dynamics and more make their quest to hold the guilty accountable a treacherous endeavor. Snappy dialogue, DMV-area Easter eggs, and lots of drama add humor an...

The countdown to Halloween adds incentive to reading scary tales, even for me as a scaredy cat.  [a bookstack of 6 books, from top to bottom: The Covenant of Blood, Blood Ties, Uncharmed, Never Been Witched, Love's a Witch, Joy Goddess]  The Covenant of Blood by J.S. Living, author & publisher  supernatural fantasy with romantic elements   2022  Liz, daughter of Vlad the Impaler and The Blood Countess, has questions. About her mother, her origins, her purpose. More than one faction wants to stop her from finding those answers. Secrets, betrayals, adventures, bloody mayhem, and more ensue across a saga offered in three intricately woven parts.  Blood Ties: A Collection of Three Covenant of Blood Stories by J.S. Living, author & publisher  supernatural fantasy with romantic elements  2024  Readers have some questions. This concise collection offers answers and deeper context for characters' motivations along with gorgeous artwork. Plus,...

Reading, writing, and eating my feelings are my default coping strategies and so far this month I've been averaging 1k+ words per day on a WIP fun idea that's been percolating in my thoughts for almost a year!  My first drafts are always handwritten, which helps me sketch out my thoughts without getting distracted by the allure of a tech device screen.      [a zippered fabric notebook case with a plastic clipboard inside showing above the top with the edge of one sheet of paper clamped under its clip; a mechanical pencil and a large rubber eraser atop a package of 150 sheets of college ruled notebook paper all slanted across the right edge of the notebook case; and all those items sitting atop a lap desk]  An inspiring read + BAC (Book Acquisition Compulsion) Issues [hardcover copy of Uncommon Favor... by Dawn Staley propped in front of a stack of 13 books with a trade paperback copy of To Kill a Badger spine-out to the right of it]  Uncommon Favor: Basketb...

Recording insightful virtual panel chats with a variety of successful authors and publishing services professionals as a continuation of the 6th and final The Write Women Book Fest along with mini-sodes of author interviews for The B!tchy Quill podcast inspired me to start writing every day again, which resulted in thousands of mostly usable output on two different WIPs!  https://www.thewritewomenbookfest.org/2025-program.html#/   It also reminded me to read J.S. Living's work.  [The Covenant of Blood and Blood Ties arranged face up next to Realm of Thieves and The Younger Man stacked]  My BAC (Book Acquisition Compulsion) Issues continue as seen below, where my goal was to dash into the library to pick up the one book that was on hold for me, and ended up being lured toward the "new books" shelves and found irresistible titles, as usual. That was at one branch, then the same mission at the neighboring county's branch yielded a similar outcome.   [photo collage:...

Still reading my feelings with two mysteries that include romance (of course), a romance set in the world of auto racing, and a non-fiction workout book to revamp my fitness routine since I'm also eating my feelings, and not with kale.  [4 books arranged front covers up, from left to right: How to Have a Killer Time in D.C., A Waltz on the Wild Side, Not So Fast, 7-Minute Body Plan]  A Waltz on the Wild Side (Wild Wynchesters #6) by Erica Ridley  historical romance  Forever, August 2025  Abuse of power, voting rights, artistic gatekeeping, and more themes that apply to today's real-life struggles are woven into this entertaining historical romp of a rescue turned mutual courtship. Riffs on how families and communities are chosen and created add poignant notes throughout Viv and Jacob's adventure. Absurdist mayhem involving assorted animals and dangerous, often rebellious activities add fun along with substantial social commentary.  How to Have a Killer Time...

These days it's not an issue of IF a secret gets revealed, but when, how and by whom.   [a bookstack of 9 books from top to bottom: It All Falls Down, Summer's Echo, Only Lovers in the Building, Alice Chen's Reality Check, Ready to Score, Eliza and the Duke, Broken Harbor, The Story That Wouldn't Die, Framed in Death]  It All Falls Down (Trust #3) by Daines L. Reed  contemporary fiction  Juliene Dune is at a crossroads. Every aspect of her life and nearly all of her relationships are forcing her to make hard choices. How will she decide who to keep and who to cut loose? Compelling narrative momentum and complicated characters in messy entanglements make her journey an irresistible read.  Summer's Echo by Robbi Renee  contemporary romance  What happens when unspoken truths fester for years? Summer and Echo discover difficult answers while working to heal and thrive. First love, heartache, and lessons learned the hard way on the path to reconciliati...

Reading is my happy headspace. The more stressful life is, the more solace books offer.  [ 2 trade paperback books face-up - Love on the Rebound and Beautiful Broken Love next to 3 trade paperback books standing spines outward from left to right - Lavender's Blue, Rest in Pink, One in Vermillion]  Love on the Rebound by Aries Skye  contemporary romance  Black Odessey Media, 2024  Angela Richards is recovering from more than one kind of heartbreak and masking her private hurts with public bravado. Kinston Jordan isn't fooled even as he deals with the aftermath of his own romantic disappointments.  The name glossary, acknowledgements, and teaser for Love on Board also entertain and entice.  Beautiful Broken Love by Shanora Williams  contemporary romance  Montlake, 2024  Nearly paralyzed with grief, Davina Klein-Roberts is struggling to move forward. Entrepreneurial success leads her to crossing paths with Deke Bishop who's dealing with his...

Laugh or cry; do or die. [ front cover of a hardcover copy of "That's How They Get You..." ] That's How They Get You: An Unruly Anthology of Black American Humor edited by Damon Young  nonfiction & some fiction  Pantheon Books, June 2025  This scintillating mix of personal essays, short stories, stream of consciousness musings, text threads and more all portray and dissect examples of the sharp observations and fundamental truths of the broad array of Black humor from slapstick absurdities to poignant angst. Make sure to read and savor every word.  Current & previous BAC Issues (Book Acquisition Compulsion) courtesy of the public library, as usual   [ a bookstack of 10 books: bottom showing only the bottom page edges; top 3 with spines outward-from top to bottom; Lavender's Blue, Rest in Pink, One in Vermilion ]  During these very challenging times please make extra effort to prioritize taking care of yourself and make time for enjoying some simple ...

Echoes of past trauma haunt these complicated, intrepid characters who sail the high seas while also navigating assorted forms of treachery. Poignant emotion combined with humor and daring exploits make Sorinda's story a compelling read that entertains in multiple ways.  [cover art for a hardcover edition of Vengeance of the Pirate Queen by Tricia Levenseller: three-quarter profile image of a young Black woman with long braids while holding an unsheathed dagger]  Vengeance of the Pirate Queen (Daughter of the Pirate King #3) by Tricia Levenseller  YA fantasy with romantic elements Macmillan, 2023  It's rare for me to read YA fiction because it tripwires visceral memories of my own angsty young adult years, and while my gratitude toward all the merciful deities is immense in appreciation for my survival and eventual flourishing, revisiting that angst in any way doesn't appeal.    With that in mind, Sorinda's story satisfied in every way: character developmen...

Three outstanding reads by authors who've crafted irresistible tales that defy the confines of the narrow expectations of a single genre.  [three books arranged face up, from left to right: Chocolate Chip City, He's To Die For, The Baby Dragon Cafe]  Chocolate Chip City by Be Steadwell  contemporary speculative fiction with romance  Bywater Books, June 2025  In this lyrical, lush composition three sisters, Jasmine, Ella and Layla, embody riffs on power: of the individual, family, community, culture; attraction, repulsion, collaboration. It's anchored in harsh realities while using magical realism and sharp humor to explore the often awkward and discouraging search for purpose, acceptance, and love in the context of life and the socio-economic pyramid scheme of capitalism.  Its recurring variations on themes of erasure and reclaiming legacies echo a present-day continuum of The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope and an emotional texture reminiscent of Like ...

  Laughs, gore and drama galore!  [3 trade paperback books from left to right: One Death at a Time, He Falls First, Zom RomCom]  One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman  contemporary mystery  Berkley, April 2025  Sobriety challenges, meetings, an uneasy alliance, a road trip, an assortment of unusual and unlikely allies, betrayals, lots of laugh and profound sentiment make Julia and Natasha's journey an enjoyable ride even as it addresses ageism sexism with organic candor.  He Falls First by Jill Shalvis  contemporary romance  Sourcebooks Casablanca, August 2025  This love story focuses on the joy of support offered by biological and found family even as it references the evolution of recovery from past experiences of domestic violence.  Zom RomCom by Olivia Dade  contemporary speculative adventure romance  Berkley Romance, August 2025  A laugh-aloud spoof of manmade horrors with its own unique quirkiness that delivers so ...

More satisfying romances from an array of talented authors who love love to help offset the real-life ethical and moral horrors shared in a riveting memoir. [3 trade paperback books arranged face-up atop a closed piano, from left to right: Pugs & Kisses, When Javi Dumped Mari, All's Fair in Love and Pickleball]  Pugs & Kisses by Farrah Rochon  contemporary adult romance  Hachette Book Group, July 2025   Evie's juggling a lot personally and professionally. Can the man who ghosted her years ago earn her forgiveness and regain her trust enough to work with her to achieve her personal and professional goals? Revealing those answers offers readers a charming tale of wooing.  When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa  contemporary adult romance  G.P. Putnam's Sons, June 2025  In the decade since they became college besties, Mari and Javi have decisions to make. WIll they jeopardize the shaky stability of the status quo or risk their hearts and the futur...