6 minute read

Hot summer reads!

Enter the Matrix

Best Case Scenario, begins the journey of a Millennial woman struggling with the enigma of her authentic identity, personal & professional, in our age of runaway change and shifting paradigms. This series follows Nyra’s growth from young woman with more questions than answers, to a more mature woman of purpose & promise.

mystery & Thriller

A Burning in the Darkness by A P McGrath

A richly character-driven crime drama and poignant love story about a devoted man who must confront the painful legacy of his war torn childhood when he is wrongfully accused of murder. Michael Kieh’s struggle to prove his innocence leads him on a charged journey that pitches the pursuit of justice and the search for love against the instinct for revenge.

The Grievance Collectors: Dead Day by Karla Hull

Bridget O’Leary’s job at Harrison University is a diversion from dark internal conversations reeling out of control as she copes with the loss of her baby and murder of her husband. A series of sadistic murders transforms her University into a house of horrors and Bridget must confront personal demons in her frantic search for a psychotic killer.

The Kurdish Connection by Randall Krzak

In their daily struggle for survival, Iraqi Kurdish scavengers uncover a cache of chemical weapons. They offer the weapons to Kurdish rebels in Turkey and Syria to assist in their quest to free an imprisoned leader and create a unified homeland. After receiving a tip from an unlikely source, Bedlam Alpha is called to arms! Will the team recover the weapons before it’s too late?

Unconventional Summer Reads

When looking for books this summer, it’s tempting to cling to the typical recipe of nostalgia, romance, and adventure. And though the classic tropes can certainly fill a hot afternoon with joy and intrigue, they can’t satisfy every summer reader’s cravings. Here are some other genres – and some of our favorite new books in them – to explore this season.

Far-Off Places

Summer vacations aside, there is always value in stepping into another location and immersing yourself in another culture – even if you don’t leave your couch to do it.

• Cross borders and see if reconciliation is possible in Separation by Susan E Jones

• Journey into the unknown with Desert Skies, Rebel Souls by M.P. Tonnesen

Short Stories & Quick Reads

Sometimes we don’t have an afternoon to spare on several hundred pages, but we still want stories with emotional gravity and undeniable intrigue.

• Flip through time, war, and family in The Day the Gun Went Off & Other Stories by Olabisi Gwamna

• See how a small town reacts to mystery and change with Saving Worms After the Rain: A Central Pennsylvania Novel of History and Mystery by Paul Nelson

Humor

No summer is complete without laughter (we’re talking knee-slapping, tear-jerking laughter).

• Follow Daisy – and her cat – through a series of blind dates in Single and Looking: Daisy by Belinda Austin

• Get a sharp, satirical look at the chaos of modern life with The Cretin Gene by Brendan Ball

reader’s corner

Get Motivated

In the summer heat, it can be easy to succumb to seasonal laziness and spend all your spare time taking naps. Look into self-help books to make sure you stay focused.

• Figure out what it takes to have a successful career with Your Dreams, Your Team, Yourself by Andrew Cramp, Nate Horgan, and Reuben King