Once Upon a River: A Novel by Diane Setterfield

From the instant #1 New York Times bestselling author of the “eerie and fascinating” (USA TODAY) The Thirteenth Tale comes a “swift and entrancing, profound and beautiful” (Madeline Miller, internationally bestselling author of Circe) novel about how we explain the world to ourselves, ourselves to others, and the meaning of our lives in a universe that remains impenetrably mysterious.

On a dark midwinter’s night in an ancient inn on the river Thames, an extraordinary event takes place. The regulars are telling stories to while away the dark hours, when the door bursts open on a grievously wounded stranger. In his arms is the lifeless body of a small child. Hours later, the girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to life. Is it a miracle? Is it magic? Or can science provide an explanation? These questions have many answers, some of them quite dark indeed.

Those who dwell on the river bank apply all their ingenuity to solving the puzzle of the girl who died and lived again, yet as the days pass the mystery only deepens. The child herself is mute and unable to answer the essential questions: Who is she? Where did she come from? And to whom does she belong? But answers proliferate nonetheless.

Three families are keen to claim her. A wealthy young mother knows the girl is her kidnapped daughter, missing for two years. A farming family reeling from the discovery of their son’s secret liaison stand ready to welcome their granddaughter. The parson’s housekeeper, humble and isolated, sees in the child the image of her younger sister. But the return of a lost child is not without complications and no matter how heartbreaking the past losses, no matter how precious the child herself, this girl cannot be everyone’s. Each family has mysteries of its own, and many secrets must be revealed before the girl’s identity can be known.

Once Upon a River is a glorious tapestry of a book that combines folklore and science, magic and myth. Suspenseful, romantic, and richly atmospheric, this is “a beguiling tale, full of twists and turns like the river at its heart, and just as rich and intriguing” (M.L. Stedman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Light Between Oceans).

The Seven Hungersby Morgan Quaid

“Jaw-Dropping action, a great blend of investigation and horror, I’ve never quite read anything like it!”

Censured Crown sorcerer Ambrose Drake is hired to investigate a bizarre emergence in a city halfway across the world from his native London. Drake soon learns that a being from one of the Seven Hungers beneath our world is attempting to cross over. Flanked by his ex-lover and betrayer, Agent Karen Winter and a young acolyte with a severe lack of magical ability, Drake must plunge once more into the depths to save humanity.

The Seven Hungers is a fast-paced fantasy thriller which blends sorcery, horror elements and the exploration of dark new worlds with intense emotional struggle.

Perfect for fans of Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files, Charles Stross’s Laundry Files, and the Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka.

Zoomers vs Boomers by Sawyer Black

They’re live-streaming for their lives.

When the influencers and live-streamers of Jackson High are selected as the winner of the Operation Gen Z contest, Craig Boucher and his friends can’t believe their luck. Sure, it’s a little awkward that Craig’s ex is on the team – and so is the former best friend who abandoned him for the cool crowd freshman year. But at least Craig’s got his BFF to lean on. And his hundreds of thousands of followers, of course.

The Zoomers think they’ve been chosen to compete in a secret competition to win a million-dollar scholarship. But when they get to the site – the rundown building that used to be the Oakridge Academy, an infamous school shut down after rumors of torture and brainwashing – they discover that they’re pawns in a brutal game of survival.

As they search for a way out of the booby-trapped campus, Craig and his friends are hunted by three fanatical Boomers determined to prove that Generation Z embodies everything that’s wrong with the modern world.

Millions tune in as the live stream goes viral, and the cameras transmit every move to the enemy. As the streamers begin to turn on each other in their attempts to survive, Craig doesn’t know who to trust or how to keep his friends alive.

Can these Zoomers come together to defeat the worst of the Greatest Generation? Or will they die before uncovering the truth behind this vicious contest?

Zoomers vs Boomers is an intense new stand-alone slasher-horror novel by Sawyer Black. Fans of Squid Game and The Hunt will be thrilled to death by Zoomers vs Boomers.

Dirty Deeds 4 by Armand Rosamilia

The Big Easy. The Crescent City. Birthplace of Jazz. Mardi Gras City. NOLA. New Orleans.

Even in a fun place like this I find myself being chased, shot at, coerced and abused by the FBI, organized crime and Reggie Keane, who used to spend his days trying to arrest me.

Did I also mention a serial killer is in the mix as well?

One of these days I’m going to spend time in a city and enjoy the tourist sites.

The fourth book in the crime thriller series from author Armand Rosamilia

Empowered by the Earlby Alexa Aston

First sons inherit all. Third sons are promised to the church. Second sons do their duty and serve in the military—unless fate intervenes and turns their lives upside down.

Welcome to Second Sons of London, a new Regency Historical Romance series by bestselling author Alexa Aston, where seven men who are second sons lay claim to fabulous wealth and lofty titles and fulfill their destinies when they find their soulmates.

A self-assured earl who doesn’t like rules. A poised beauty mature beyond her years. Neither thinks they want or need love . . .

Major Owen Hasbury returns from the Napoleonic Wars as the new Earl of Danbury. He’s ready to enjoy life and make love to as many women as he can before settling down and siring an heir. His attitude irks his two closest friends, men who have come into recent titles and made love matches.

Louisa Goulding has a reputation as a bit of a bluestocking. She has served as her father’s hostess since her mother’s death years ago and has been an active part of the meetings in their home with her father’s War Office colleagues, giving her little time for social events. With the war over, Louisa wants to fully participate in the Season and finally live a life for herself, finding a husband who will give her children.

At the insistence of mutual friends, Louisa and Owen meet. She calls him out as a rake, telling him she won’t waste any time on him. But her beauty and intelligence intrigue Owen. He becomes friends with Louisa, even teaching her how to kiss, finally realizing the perfect woman is right before him.

Can Owen convince Louisa that he has changed—or will he lose her to another lord at the house party they attend together?

Find the answer in bestselling author Alexa Aston’s Empowered by the Earl, the third book in Second Sons of London.

Each book in Second Sons of London is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order.

Second Sons of London
Book 1: Educated by the Earl
Book 2: Debating with the Duke
Book 3: Empowered by the Earl
Book 4: Made for the Marquess
Book 5: Dubious about the Duke
Book 6: Valued by the Viscount
Book 7: Meant for the Marquess

Codename Poltergeistby William Joel

The President of the United States, cabinet members, and the CIA covertly enter into an agreement with the Palestinians to remove certain key Israeli government figures in a plan to enable the United States to claim that they engineered peace in the Middle East and gain the favor of Arabic countries. Sentinel, a group of angelic-type beings who monitor the Earth, are very concerned that the United States could be igniting a major conflict if the Israelis learn of the plan and retaliate. The CIA tried to eliminate their most efficient and deadly agent, James Halyard, Codename Poltergeist, believing Halyard was a possible threat to their plans. They failed, but killed Halyard’s beloved wife, Karen, in the process. Sentinel rescues Halyard, heals him, and gives Halyard the option of becoming an agent for their purposes with highly augmented mental and physical abilities. Halyard truly becomes Poltergeist and is sent to unravel and thwart the conspiracy with the Palestinians.

Kissing The Enemyby Leighann Dobbs

Frederica Vale is about to cause a scandal that will make her a target of the most dangerous spy network in England.

London, 1806. Fredrica “Freddie” Vale would do anything to protect her younger sister. When a dubious benefactor threatens Freddie’s family, he gives the plain girl a mission. To keep her sister safe, Freddie must steal a codebook from enemies of the British crown…

Tristan Graylocke has always benefitted from diminished expectations. As the duke’s younger brother, he can carouse at-will during high-society affairs. It also keeps anyone from suspecting him of espionage as he prepares to pass on the codebook…

When Tristan spots an enemy spy in the crowd, he’s not sure if the innocent girl is bad at her job… or a master of deception. But in this seductive game of cat and mouse, will achieving their mission keep them from falling in love?

Kissing the Enemy is the first book in a series of Regency romance novels with a dash of espionage. If you like simmering mysteries, character chemistry, and pulse-pounding action, then you’ll love this amorous adventure from USA Today bestselling author Leighann Dobbs and co-author Harmony Williams.