Swashbuckling & Secrets

Humans are complicated and the characters in this week's reads embody that truth in every way.

[12 books, from left to right: 3 upright books - First Sign of Danger, It Seemed Like a Good Idea, Heir of Whitestone; 2 books with front covers facing forward atop a bookstack - Fire Sword & Sea, Leave Your Mess at Home; a bookstack of 7 books, from top to bottom - Summer Official, Witch Queen Rising, Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt, Mistakes Were Made, then 3 books with only the outer page edges showing]

Fire Sword & Sea by Vanessa Riley

historical fiction

William Morrow, January 2026

This compelling saga reveals layers of identity for Black and Brown women as they improvise strategies to assert their freedom and amass wealth. A cast of characters led by real-life Jacquotte Delahaye and others who are amalgamations of people from the late 17th into the early 18th centuries, make this adventure vibrate with emotional intimacy and personal stakes in a saturation of exquisite historical detail. It's romantic and tragic and awesome in its complexity. Make sure to read the Author's Note, Acknowledgements, and Bibliography, which offers irresistible temptations for TBR list expansion.

Leave Your Mess at Home by Tolani Akinola

contemporary fiction

Pamela Dorman Books, April 2026

Family or self? Who comes first?

Four siblings struggle toward their answers in this poignant, funny family drama about recognition and acceptance, about making peace with what can't be changed and being brave enough to pursue what can.

To offset the emotional complexity and heaviness of the preceding books, the following three offered more whimsical vibes: First Sign of Danger (Haven's Rock #4) by Kelley Armstrong, contemporary suspense, Minotaur, February 2026; It Seemed Like a Good Idea (Darling Springs #1) by Lauren Blakely, contemporary romance, Cosmo Reads, March 2026; Heir of Whitestone by Catherine Coulter, historical romance, A John Scognamiglio Book, February 2026.

And of course my trip to the library to return items led me to the irresistible "new arrivals" display and to my borrowing more books despite the constant demands of family responsibilities and multiple writing and other deadlines. Very privileged to have such challenges.

Always wishing you good health, peace of mind, safety, joy & some pleasure every day

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