From the Team at Fiction Addiction:
-Nancy
-Jill
-Lee
-Grace Anne
-Melissa
-Gretchen (not pictured)

I've been reading a lot of nonfiction recently in my role as a business coach. When I do read fiction, I prefer genre fiction with happy endings!

In The Puppeteer's Daughters, Heather Newton has reimagined King Lear as a modern-day Jim Henson style creative genius. But unlike Lear, Walter Gray has an unacknowledged fourth daughter whose existence adds to the plot twists. Recommended for fans of Jane Smiley.

I love mysteries & thrillers, police procedurals, and psychological mysteries. I also love well written southern fiction set in the early to late 1900's.

The 6:20 Man is being promoted as a new standalone, but I will be very surprised if we don't encounter ex-army ranger and current wall street financial analyst, Travis Devine, in future books. Baldacci skillfully weaves together several story lines in this un-put-downable book of corporate greed, murder, national security, and love. Many twists and turns will have you changing your mind about what is going on, but you will never change your opinion that Travis Devine is a great new hero that you will want to see more of.

Paris has just been arrested for her husband's murder. She should be worried that she will be convicted because, even though she dearly loved Jimmy, and would never have hurt him (or so she says), there is a ton of evidence against her. She is actually more concerned that once her picture is broadcast by the media that she will be recognized by someone from her past and will then be charged with two murders. Her past is told in several story lines and as we learn more about the people from her past and the present we realize that Paris learned as a young child what she needed to do to survive. And, while some of the things she did to survive were pretty bad they weren't nearly as bad as what was done to her. There are good people in this story, though sometimes they are hard to identify. And, justice does prevail though not in a way you could ever imagine.

Dr. Laughton Rees is a widely acclaimed forensics expert who studies old cases and teaches new recruits how to examine a crime scene. She only studies old cases because she suffered a traumatic event as a young teenager because of a case her police officer father was involved with. DCI Tannahill Kahn is investigating a grisly murder of a beautiful young woman in her unusually fortified mansion when he discovers that one of the four objects carefully placed at the crime scene was a copy of Laughton's book. He convinces Laughton that she is part of the story whether she wants to be or not and the sooner they find the killer the sooner she will no longer be of interest to the media and can go back to her quiet life as a single parent and college professor. Laughton reluctantly agrees to consult on the case hoping that she will not have to interact at all with her father, who has been police commissioner for the past 8 years. She has not spoken to him in 20 years, since she was a teenager, and she secretly hopes that by helping with the case she can embarrass him and finally bring down his career. Her insights at the first crime scene and the one that follows are fascinating. If you like crime scene investigations and forensics you will love this book. She and DCI Kahn make a terrific team. Little do they know that they would soon be involved in a murder that had ties to the awful incident in Laughton's past. And, that justice will be served even if it is not the way they or anyone else expected. The ending definitely took me totally by surprise. I hope this is the first in a series as I would love to see Laughton and Tannahill continue their relationship - both personally and professionally.

I thought I was reading a sad story about a young woman who has just found out her identical twin sister was murdered. I thought I was reading about a quirky young woman with some serious issues with OCD who was trying hard to overcome all of her phobias, including getting on a plane for the first time and flying from England to NYC, to support her parents who were visiting her sister at the time of her death. I thought I was reading about a devastated sister who was determined to help the police find out who murdered her other half. And, then I was totally blind sided. The story took a totally different turn and the next thing I knew I was reading a thriller with many more twists and turns to come. There is nothing formulaic about this psychological thriller so if you are looking for something that will knock you for a loop this one is for you.

The Stranger in the Mirror starts out like many psychological thrillers from the past few years but nothing you have read before will prepare you for the twists and turns that you will experience as you finally learn about Addison's past. A young woman, now called Addison Hope, has total amnesia and has for the past 2 years. All she has from her past are some terrifying nightmares where she sees bloody bodies, flashbacks to a child screaming and the horrible scars on her wrists where she obviously tried to kill herself. Just when you think you understand who Addison really is and what happened to her you find out that you really do not know anything at all.

Having read the Cork O'Connor series before reading and loving Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land, I couldn't wait to see the story of the young Cork and what helped him to become the man he has become. As much as I loved the other two coming of age books, I think I liked this one even more as I already knew Cork O'Connor and now, I can begin to understand who he really is and why he acts the way he does. This is a beautiful tribute to Cork's father and a stunning tale of how hard a job Liam O'Connor had being an Irish Catholic sheriff at a time when the town all hated Indians and the Indians didn't trust any white man. I can't wait to re-read Iron Lake with my new knowledge of Cork's childhood as a background.

I love the faster pacing of books written for a younger audience (middle grade and young adult), but will try just about anything fiction, especially if it has some romance. I also have a soft spot for really special picture books.

Don't miss our event with Ashley Poston on July 9th!

Florence grew up with parents who run their small town's only funeral home...and she can see ghosts, just like her dad. She's lived with and learned from death all her life. But that doesn't make it any easier when her own dad dies. Now a successful ghostwriter for a famous romance author, Florence hasn't been home in years because she's not a fan of the town or some of the people in it. She just wants to go back to New York and try to finish her latest book, even though she can't find it in her any more to write a happy ending, and her new editor Ben won't give her a deadline extension. Then Ben's ghost shows up, and they strike up an unconventional friendship while Florence tries to figure out what Ben needs from her and realizes that he might be her hardest goodbye yet. This is SO GOOD, with lots of laughing and crying. Fans of Poston's young adult books will recognize her signature punny humor, and fans of Emily Henry will adore this. (Seconded by Grace Anne!)

Blacksmith Jax and baker Callyn are just trying to make ends meet. So when a lord comes through and pays Jax to hold a message for someone, they do it, even though they're pretty sure it's for the Truthbreakers and may contain treasonous information. And things get even more complicated when king's courier Tycho happens by and sparks fly romantically. If you loved Kemmerer's Cursebreaker series and are eagerly waiting for the sequel to Defy the Night, this will hold you over! A new series starter set in the Cursebreaker world, Forging Silver into Stars has everything I've come to expect from Kemmerer -- action, intrigue, magic, romance.

Every 20 years, the great families of Ilvernath send one of their own to fight to the death for control over the world's last remaining high magick. This generation's tournament is different, though, because of a tell-all book that has exposed the town's bloody secrets. Now the champions have to decide whether they'll play the game the way tradition dictates, or change the rules...and maybe break the curse. If Harry Potter and friends had to compete in the Hunger Games, it would be this. A fun, engaging, entertaining, magical read, and I can't wait for the sequel.

Velasin has never been the golden child, and having to protect the secret of his sexuality doesn't help. So when his father tells him that he's been offered in a political marriage with a girl from the neighboring land, Velasin is shocked but agrees to it because there's nothing for him at home. But then he's outed to his father in a terrible way, and instead of the marriage being called off, the envoy offers a solution: Velasin can marry the girl's brother instead. Velasin and Caethari form a tentative friendship after their meeting is overshadowed by tragedy, but they're forced to trust each other even more when it becomes clear that someone is willing to do anything, even kill, to keep them apart. A swoon-worthy romance set amid court intrigue and mystery, with a twist you won't see coming.

Nick is back, and just as extra as ever! Nick and his friends are now preparing to face off against Simon Burke and his anti-Extraordinary agenda, but there's more going on than they could possibly guess. But not to worry -- the Dad Squad is here to help! I don't remember the last time I laughed so much and so hard while reading a book. If you've read the other books in the Extraordinaries trilogy, you won't want to miss this one. (And if you haven't, what are you waiting for?! Go start with The Extraordinaries so you don't get spoilers.)

Hannah's job as an executive protection agent (aka, a bodyguard) means she spends a lot of time blending into the background. Which is fine, that's how she likes it, and it's what she wants, especially after her mom's death and her boyfriend breaking up with her (the day after the funeral!) have left her feeling adrift. What she absolutely does not want is to pretend to be sexiest-man-alive actor Jack Stapleton's girlfriend. But she's not given a choice, so she does it...and Jack's acting abilities must be pretty great, because even Hannah starts to believe the lie. This is everything I've come to expect from Center, with a good mix of tender and laugh-out-loud moments. Fans of Center's previous books won't be disappointed, and if you like Emily Henry and haven't read Center, you're missing out! (seconded by Linda H., store volunteer, Mary Jane, store volunteer, and Grace Anne J., store employee)

Nick has gone from writing about an Extraordinary boyfriend to actually having one, and is the best thing ever. Except now more Extraordinaries are showing up in Nova City, and of course it's up to Nick and his friends (old and new; just wait until you meet Miss Conduct!) to figure out what's going on and who are good guys and who are bad guys. Not to mention all the family secrets that Nick is uncovering. I love Nick so much, in all his awkward glory, and this book just cements that. If you haven't read The Extraordinaries yet, do that, then run right out and get Flash Fire, because it is just as good.

Best friends Kate and Anderson have had 'communal crushes' almost since they started crushing. The cute boy at summer theater camp is no exception. But when said cute boy/communal crush shows up as a new student at their school and both Kate and Anderson fall even more 'in like' with him, they have to come to terms with their own and each other's real feelings and how it affects their friendship. My favorite Becky Albertalli book since Simon!

Violet Volk was a world-renowned magician -- until she disappeared in the middle of her act 10 years ago. No one knows whether she died or is just missing, voluntarily or otherwise. Now her sister Sasha is still dealing with the fallout and all of the implications Violet's life and disappearance has had on her and her husband and daughter, and it's not made any easier by all of the Violet-obsessed fans making a big deal of the 10-year anniversary, including a podcast exploring the circumstances behind Violet's disappearance, which brings to light new possibilities, both real and supernatural. Montimore has again written a compelling story, made all the more so by the format she uses, alternating between Sasha's story and podcast transcripts, articles, emails, and other media. This story is riveting, and you won't want to stop reading until you know what really happened to Violet Volk.

Dora was cursed by a faerie as a child and so has grown up without the full range of emotions one would expect a young lady to have. As such, she's seen more as a burden to her guardian aunt, though her cousin loves her fiercely. When her cousin's machinations have Dora in London and meeting with the court magician to figure out her condition, Dora ends up finding unexpected friends while also getting entangled in the dangerous land of faerie even more than she already was. A charming story with refreshing and humorous social commentary, if you've ever longed for regency romance but with magic, this one is for you!

I enjoy nonfiction the most: biographies, true crime, sociology, and civil rights narratives to name a few. When I read fiction, I choose historical novels or literary fiction most often.

Eleanor Brown writes beautifully and compassionately about adoption and infertility in her novel Any Other Family. Three couples, who have adopted siblings from the same birth mom and dad, decide to vacation together in Aspen for two weeks. Each couple comes harboring secrets and soon realize that what they have in common might tear them apart. When the birth mom ends up getting pregnant again, each adoptive family must face whether they want to take on the new baby or if they will choose the new adoptive parents. As an adoptive parent myself, I found this novel hard to put down and marveled at Brown's ability to get all the emotions surrounding adoption just right. But the focus on family and what it really means will appeal to all readers of women's fiction.

I enjoy suspense, complex political plots, psychological thrillers, really any good mystery. I also enjoy southern historical novels, especially those set in Appalachia as well as regency romance.

This is a spellbinding book about betrayal, murder and how well some can keep secrets. Abby has an amazing jib that keeps her busy and around people who have taken her in when she felt the most lost. Running an inn near the Appalachian Trail can have any manner of unplanned guest, and if some seem shady who is to judge. Murders seem to happen anywhere these days, so do a few in an area near the trail really mean something is amiss in the town? Abby is about to learn a devastating lesson about how little you can know about those closest to you. Great for thriller and suspense fans.

Linda Castillo books always go to the top of my reading list, and I have yet to regret that choice. This Kate Burkholder book is a departure in the series as the story takes place outside Painters Mill where Kate is a civilian without any of the support that comes with being a member of law enforcement. After a visit from three elders from a settlement she has no history with Kate goes to see if she can help Jonas Bowman, her first love from a very complicated time in her life. Accused of murdering Bishop Ananias Stoltzfus over a decade before Jonas believes, as his faith teaches, that truth will prevail. Kate has to determine if the Jonas she perceived as a teen is the same as the man who exists today. At times very poignant and violent the plot has many different players and challenges that take Kate outside her very broad comfort zone. Determination to perhaps right a wrong she feels responsible for keep her investigating far past what is prudent. A very good installment in this series.

I love to read historical fiction, classic literature, biographies, and young adult. My favorites stories are those that make me think or look at the world with a different perspective.

David Hayward, @NakedPastor , has brought his whit, his artistic skill, and his frankness into Flip It Like This! This book is for anyone who has ever questioned their faith, been undermined by their experiences, or turned away because of who they are. Within these simple pages holds the passion and love of an artist that is screaming out: I See you and I love you.

There are no limits to what I love to read, however I tend to gravitate to mystery/thriller action stories that are fast paced with lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing all the way to the end. There is nothing I love more than an ending that comes completely out of left field that I never saw coming.

This lushly written thriller takes the reader inside Savannah...the good, the bad, and the unseen ugly. George Dawes Green introduces us to an extensive cast of eclectic, eccentric and in some cases downright scary characters that paint a picture of a Savannah that the casual tourist will never see. From the scions of society to the wealth of colorful characters that make up the homeless population, we are introduced to them all after a well known and much loved homeless man is found dead, the apparent victim of an arson fire set by a local slum lord. In a clever plot with a plethora of twists, we soon learn that things aren't always as they seem. This is a compelling and intriguing story that will keep the reader up all night as you untangle the twists and turns to the very end. If you have been intrigued by the culture and history of the deep south, you owe it to yourself to experience this unique look at an all too possible fictional story with a strong dose of history intertwined.

I'm a retired school librarian who loves reading, walking and our rescue Corgi, Heidi. I volunteer for a local nonprofit, PS I Love You, and serve as a board member for Hub City Farmers Market.

Vigil Harbor is the name of a New England coastal village that has provided a safe harbor from the pandemic, terrorist acts and environmental changes that populate the near future. Divorce, however, disrupts this idyllic setting and brings to light a number of secrets. The arrival of two strangers is the catalyst for those secrets to change forever the quiet facade of the village. Julia Glass has crafted a sprawling novel told in alternating voices that reveals a future of constant change and just enough magic to inspire hope.

Agnes and Polly share a decades long friendship even though they each lead very different lives. At the center of the friendship is a love for Fellowship Point, a family camp in Maine. Both women enjoy the escape that the enclave represents and feel a duty to protect both the environment and the secrets that are held there. Love is a constant theme as Polly marries and grows a family and Agnes becomes an author with a will to protect Fellowship Point from development which she can only achieve with Polly's assistance. In addition, a young editor proposes that Agnes write a memoir that brings long buried memories back to the surface. This is a book that examines the strength of friendship and family and the secrets that are kept by both.