New Beginnings & Second Chances

These books deal with trauma, its aftermath, healing, and renewal.

[front cover art for BAD SEED: The Midnight Cries of an Island Girl, A Novel by Cherry Dawn Fagbemi; a night scene with a starry sky above a home with its exterior and interior lights shining on the first floor]

BAD SEED: The Midnight Cries of an Island Girl by Cherry Dawn Fagbemi

contemporary fiction

November 2024

"Montego Bay was where I should have died in the summer of 1985."

And with that first sentence, Vivienne Pearson's harrowing saga of being haunted by the resurgence of disturbing memories of past events relevant to her present life and choices starts a compelling tale of heavy themes and dangerous circumstances. It's a potent blend of mystery, thriller, family conflict, social commentary, and romance.

Vivienne confronts her confusion, devastating heartache, alienation and more as she navigates a series of traumas in order to heal and to reclaim herself and her life.

content note: includes detailed flashback of the assault of a child and on-page details of the assault of an adult

[front cover of Just Playing House by Farah Heron; a woman lying on her back on a sofa while a man sits on the sofa and lets her use his thigh a pillow as they look into each other's face; they're surrounded by house plants]

Just Playing House by Farah Heron

contemporary romance

Forever, July 2024

What happens when the prom date who ghosted you years ago ends up being a big shot actor who can make or break your path to achieving your professional goals?

Marley Kamal finds out when Nik Sharma crashes back into her life. Their love story has so many relatable layers that spin this celebrity romance into a heartfelt tale of enduring friendship, hindsight, and actions that reveal fundamental truths about real love whether offered by family by blood or by choice. It's also funny and poignant. Don't miss the insightful remarks included in the author's acknowledgements.

What had happened was... I went to the library to borrow the two books that were on hold for me and the other three books made me borrow them too (by tempting me from their perch on the new arrivals shelf placed right in front of the entryway).

["Let it snow" gift bag arranged under 5 trade paperback books: You Belong With Me, How to Help a Hungry Werewolf, Puck & Prejudice, Like Cats & Dogs, The Finders Keepers Library]

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Hot Love in the Kitchen & Travelling Through Time

Redemption of the Heart by Moni Boyce contemporary romance Love Snacks Publishing 8 January 2019 Despite addressing heavy themes of domestic violence, incarceration, and grief, Redemption of the Heart is a charming and sweet spicy read in the tradition of a 21st-century interracial homage to Janet Dailey’s monthly romance era. Gemma’s open-hearted ingénue contrasts starkly with Alex’s jaded workaholic. They struggle with a variety of challenges, but ethnicity isn’t one of them—a spin that feels particularly modern. Once readers commit to their suspension of disbelief regarding the cascading impact of lacks in due diligence by several characters, it’s easy to settle in to enjoy this love story. The recent public debate about the pros and cons of Gillette’s “We believe the best man can be” campaign ties in with the contradictory messages in the story threads about toxic masculinity. There’s a scene in which Alex apologizes to someone who was openly bragging among cowork...

Authors Books Librarians Editors Agents Publishers... #USBookShow 2023

4 days of all hits no misses of keynotes, interviews, panels, book recs, advice... Highlights: Day 1 Monday 5/22 an insightful and terrifying and motivational discussion of book banning as an attack on liberty with advice on combating it via local focus and the fact that 30,000 school board seats in the U.S. are opening up this fall effective OverDrive/Libby strategies executed by savvy librarians Day 2 Tuesday 5/23 memorable quote from Chuck D's lunch keynote conversation with Kelefa Sannen: "People listen with their eyes." Plus his STEWdio boxed set and naphic grovel play on words with graphic novel and so much more. public relations, marketing, how not to get cancelled, redemption Day 3 Wednesday 5/24 book recs!!! Gloria Edim's (Well-Read Black Girl) conversation with Kim Coleman Foote about her fall release novel Coleman Hill from SJP Lit, including Sarah Jessica Parker Wade Hudson, Just Us Books co-found...

123123! Goodbye 2023! Hello 2024!

A Marquis to Protect the Governess by Parker J. Cole historical romance fiction Harlequin Historical, December 26, 2023 Sometimes scrolling through new releases available on Libby (even though there's a stack of physical books within arm's reach), leads to unexpected reading pleasure. That's what happened with me upon starting this gem of a tale. Like opening my first books by Ms. Bev(erly Jenkins), Gay G. Gunn, Vanessa Riley, Alyssa Cole, and Lisa Rayne, Isadora and Andre's rocky love story hooked me from the first page. Using a seamless integration of historical context, character evolution, and high stakes combined with emotional nuances, this author has crafted an engaging tale that organically includes people and places too often erased from historical romance fiction. Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray & Sylvie Stewart, authors & publisher contemporary romance fiction October 2023 Who knew that normalizing op...

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