Book Buzz: 20th Century Family Sagas, Mysterious Thrillers, Short Story Collections, Native American Nonfiction, and Westerns Galore

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For December, we’re looking at a family saga set on the cusp of WWII, a thriller about mysterious disappearances in an Appalachian resort town, a short story collection about veterans, a Western from Geronimo’s perspective, a history centered on Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, and an audiobook about a Chinese woman’s saga in the 19th century American West.

Book Buzz: Mad Scientists, Dystopian YA, Librarian Spies, the Haitian Revolution, Opposites Attract Romances, Pirates, and Horror on the Range

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For October, we’re looking at gothic horror inspired by The Island of Dr. Moreau, science fiction by a local author, historical fiction about WWII and the Haitian Revolution, a cute romance between two very different people, a swashbuckling nonfiction tale about Golden Age piracy, and an audiobook of Dean Koontz’s latest.

Book Buzz: Scottish Fantasy Islands, Commuting, the Weather, Old West Crime, Seafaring Tales, and Housewife Thrillers

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For August, we’re looking at an atmospheric fantasy romance set in Scotland, a celebration of friendship among commuters, a cute romance set at a news station, an engrossing anthology of Westerns with a side of mystery, two fascinating tales of real-life adventure on the high seas, and an audiobook thriller about catty rich housewives.

Book Buzz: Gossip-Fueled Mysteries, Organized Crime Sagas, Unwitting Romances, Rural Medicine, and Literary Science Fiction

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For July, we’re looking at two very different mysteries, a South-Asian-by-way-of-Canada revamp of You’ve Got Mail, nonfiction about Arkansas country doctors, and a companion novel to A Visit to the Goon Squad.

Edna Lewis’s The Taste of Country Cooking (2006)

When I was profiling Southern cookbooks back in March, Vanessa from Food in Books suggested The Taste of Country Cooking. When Vanessa recommends something, I pay attention, so I immediately requested we purchase the book and add it to the collection. In fact, I liked the book so much that I bought a personal copy for myself. Thanks so much to Vanessa for the wonderful suggestion and to Julie for adding Edna Lewis’s book to our holdings!

Book Buzz: Coming-of-Age Tales, Florence, Danish Mysteries, Survival Memoirs, and the Mexican War

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For May, we’re looking at a coming-of-age story set in the 90s, a WWII story with an Italian setting, a new-ish series of Danish procedural mysteries, a Holocaust memoir, and historical fiction about the Mexican War.

Philippe Sands’ The Ratline (2020)

This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time–it’s well-written, insightful, thought-provoking, moving, and disturbing all at once–and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since reading it.

Book Buzz: Cuban Revolutionaries, Irish Family Sagas, Romantic Pen Pals, Teenaged Journalists, and Historic Kidnappings

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For January, we’re looking at biographical fiction set in 19th century Cuba and Gilded Age New York City, a family history trilogy set in Ireland and beyond, a modern romance between pen pals, a YA book about a budding young writer who stumbles across more than she bargained for with her first assignment, and an audiobook that is the first nonfiction from a novelist.

Book Buzz: Historic Scandals, Dancing Visions, Suburban Thrillers, WWII Heroes, and Willie Nelson

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For November, we’re looking at an infamous romance in literary history, a thought-provoking YA romance, an unsettling new thriller, a nonfiction history of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and an audiobook courtesy of the one and only Willie Nelson.

Ben Macintyre’s A Spy Among Friends (2014) and Agent Sonya (2020)

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If you’re a long-time blog reader, you know that I can be pretty enthusiastic for some of my favorite authors. So, brace yourselves, gentle readers. I have a new favorite author I want to talk about. 🙂