Today's Featured Books

The Lost Boys meets Stephen King's Joyland. Set in 1986 in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, this novel follows a boy who falls for a girl who turns out to be more than he bargained for. Perfect for fans of Grady Hendrix and coming-of-age horror. "A family of vampires terrorizes a seaside town in Rolfe's lurid tale of adolescent romance and murder." ~Publishers Weekly. 4.4 stars, 100+ ratings. From $0.99 - SHOP NOW / 

Just as Paula learns she’s won the Nobel Prize for her groundbreaking work in molecular biology, her love interest dumps her via text—and moments later, she dies in a tragic accident. But her lifelong friend Alex, a genius in spacetime tunneling technology, refuses to let fate have the last word. Together, these two brilliant scientists embark on a daring journey through time and space, only to find themselves stranded on a distant world where survival—and their undeniable chemistry—become the ultimate challenge. From $4.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Seattle attorney Camille Delaney is struggling to keep her solo practice afloat while raising three daughters when Helene Anderson walks into her office, desperate for justice after her baby dies during a C-section. Jessica takes on the case against a renowned doctor and her influential father, and soon uncovers alarming evidence—unstable behavior, breaches of care, and a dark family past tied to a psychiatric facility. As the trial looms, Jessica must navigate a flawed legal system and uncover the truth before justice slips away. 4.7 stars, 91 ratings. From $1.99 SHOP NOW / 

A raw, humorous account of modern womanhood, the cost of chasing perfection, and the journey to self-discovery. Christine Amoroso thought she had the perfect life: a sandy-haired surfer, a baby at seventeen, and dreams of having it all—even if in the "wrong" order. But it all unraveled. Hard work and "doing the right thing" hadn’t brought happiness or lasting love. Searching for a fresh start, she turned inward, realizing her worth couldn’t depend on accomplishments or others. 4.8 stars, 80 ratings. From $0.99 - SHOP NOW / 

Feeling overwhelmed by chaos, stress, and fear? This spiritual and inspirational guide reveals the secrets to self-mastery, emotional intelligence, and inner strength. Designed for those seeking stability and transformation, it offers deep yet accessible insights to help you break free from the rat race and navigate life’s challenges with clarity and control. 4.7 stars, 48 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

We all experience struggles and challenges in life. As we grow and learn, we adapt to the environment we are placed in and make choices based on those circumstances. Embracing life’s journey with the guidance of Jesus is a way forward, but trusting God’s plan for our lives seems to be more difficult than it should be. The logical question is, "Why?" From $9.99 - SHOP NOW / 

Congratulations to award-winning author Julie Ryan McGue on the release of Twice the Family, the much-anticipated prequel to McGue’s debut memoir, Twice a Daughter.

"Through the lens of her personal history, McGue explores human nature, family, and connection." ~Kirkus Reviews

Twice the Family: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Sisterhood

In this coming-of-age memoir set in Chicago’s western suburbs between the 1960s and ’80s, adopted twins Julie and Jenny provide their parents with an instant family. Their sisterly bond holds tight as the two strive for identity, individuality, and belonging. But as their parents continue adding children to the family, some painful and tragic experiences test family values, parental relationships, and sibling bonds.

Faced with these hurdles, Julie questions everything—who she is, how she fits in, her adoption circumstances, her faith, and her idea of family. But the life her parents have constructed is not one she wants for herself—and as she matures, she recognizes how the experiences that formed her have provided her a road map for the person and mother she wants to be.

Praise for Twice the Family
"A memoir about faith, family, and doing right by others." ~Foreword Reviews

"A heartfelt exploration of connection, community, and the unbreakable bond between sisters." ~Simone Knego, author of The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You

"Intimate coming-of-age memoir about fragility and preciousness of life." ~Rikki West, Rootlines

Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging

Julie is adopted. She is also a twin. Because their adoption was closed, she and her sister lack both a health history and their adoption papers—which becomes an issue for Julie when, at forty-eight years old, she finds herself facing several serious health issues.

To launch the probe into her closed adoption, Julie first needs the support of her sister. The twins talk things over, and make a pact: Julie will approach their adoptive parents for the adoption paperwork and investigate search options, and the sisters will split the costs involved in locating their birth relatives. But their adoptive parents aren’t happy that their daughters want to locate their birth parents—and that is only the first of many obstacles Julie will come up against as she digs into her background.

Julie’s search for her birth relatives spans eight years and involves a search agency, a private investigator, a confidential intermediary, a judge, an adoption agency, a social worker, and a genealogist. By journey’s end, what began as a simple desire for a family medical history has evolved into a complicated quest—one that unearths secrets, lies, and family members that are literally right next door.

Praise for Twice a Daughter
"An engaging, endearing chronicle of a woman’s quest to find her origins." ~Kirkus Reviews

"A compelling, poignant memoir about the search for truth and belonging." ~Readers' Favorite

Awards:

• National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist in Parenting & Family
• International Book Awards Winner in Parenting & Family
• International Book Awards Finalist in Best New Nonfiction, Nonfiction: Narrative, and Women’s Issues / Women’s Studies
• Independent Press Awards Distinguished Favorite in Parenting & Family
• CIBA Nellie Bly Book Awards Finalist
• NYC Big Book Awards Winner in Personal Growth
• NYC Big Book Awards Distinguished Favorite in Parenting & Family
• Living Now Awards Gold Winner in Memoir—Female

Belonging Matters: Conversations on Adoption, Family, and Kinship

Belonging Matters supports the adoption community while creating a conversation with those not directly touched by adoption. The collection explores the pursuit of identity and the boundaries of family and kinship. It challenges the reader to embrace all of who we come to be, and to discern with whom and where we belong. Because belonging defines the human experience, and it is what nourishes our spirit, fuels us with purpose, and compels us to soar beyond the limitations of our lived experience.

Praise for Belonging Matters
"Rich with compassion and wisdom." ~Midwest Book Review

"A narrative where the pursuit of identity intersects with human connection." ~American Writing Awards Book Reviews

Awards:

• Literary Titan Book Award Winner
• Finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards
• Firebird Book Award Winner
• Finalist in the Annual National Indie Excellence Awards for Book Cover Design and in the Personal Growth category
• Finalist in the International Book Awards in Parenting & Family category
• Nonfiction Winner, Honorable Mention in New York Book Festival

• Get a free download of Empathy: The Ripple Effect by signing up for Julie's free bimonthly newsletters. (See the pop-up sign-up form on her website.).
• Connect with her via podcasts and in-person events. (See the list of dates and events under "Follow Me" on her home page—including an appearance at Anderson's Bookstore in Downers Grove on February 18 for our friends in the Chicago area!)
• Finally, be sure to follow Julie online:

          

Free online: Veteran Poets & Storytellers. Military veterans Ralph S. Carlson, Ken Klemm, Benjamin Fortier, and Kyrie Ravencry will present their original poetry and creative nonfiction via Zoom. In addition to sharing their experiences in the military and coming home, they will take questions from the audience afterwards. Saturday, February 8, 5:00 - 6:30 PM PST. 

“No soldier ever really survives a war.” ~Audie Murphy

When bad things happen, we search for answers. Imagine meeting the person who holds them, sitting on a park bench. The Bench pulls you in from the first page, weaving the lives of five strangers through trauma and a mysterious figure. Inspired by the emotional depth of The Shack and the philosophical insights of The Alchemist, Dr. Flood's thought-provoking story offers comfort and healing for the soul. 4.8 stars, 131 ratings. From $4.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

In a future world ruled by an AI that ranks citizens by their societal value, the privileged elite of the Premier Society reign—until their world begins to fracture. As Dr. Callan Valor pushes surgical innovation, fighter Tobias Kane risks everything for glory, and global icon Ava Grace faces the fragility of fame, they, along with a visionary scientist, a covert operative, and a genius geneticist, must confront the hidden costs of their success. A gripping tale of ambition, power, and the human cost of a world where survival is a privilege, not a right. From $3.00. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Seattle attorney Camille Delaney is struggling to keep her new solo practice afloat while raising three daughters when Helene Anderson walks into her office, desperate for justice after her baby dies during an emergency C-section. Taking on the case against renowned doctor Jessica Kensington and her influential father, Camille uncovers unstable behavior, breaches of care, and a dark family past tied to a psychiatric facility. As the trial looms, she must navigate a flawed legal system and uncover the truth before justice slips away. 4.7 stars, 91 ratings. From $1.99 SHOP NOW / 

Marine Corps Captain Sarah Miller thought her future was on Earth’s war-torn streets, but when her father, Fleet Admiral Douglas Miller, is forced to step down, she’s reluctantly assigned to the prestigious Crown Space Station. Joined by her twin brother, Max, a brilliant but reckless engineer, she battles PTSD, family expectations, and the weight of a role she never wanted. Amidst interstellar politics and rising threats, Sarah finds an unexpected spark with Lieutenant Commander Annie Jones—but can love survive in the unforgiving depths of space? From $4.99 - SHOP NOW / 

Navigating the Dementia Journey. In the United States, more than 5.8 million people are living with Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia. Each of these individuals has a story. Each has caregivers who have stories of their own. And everyone involved has questions. This book provides answers, as well as strategies for your future. Stories from the lives of others let us know that our experiences are not unique. 4.7 stars, 29 ratings. From $4.99 - SHOP NOW / 

Before the accident, I was just a carefree backpacker weaving my way across Asia. My luck ran out when I got knocked down crossing the street in Bangkok and broke my leg, leading to two surgeries. This memoir chronicles my time in Thailand, from a broken leg to surgeries to a grueling rehab, and from a walker to crutches to a cane and finally, to running a half marathon. From $2.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

The silicon revolution of the late 20th century marked a turning point in human history, and Kyle experienced it firsthand. In this vibrant graphic novel, he shares his journey from a curious child who loved taking things apart to a young professional in Silicon Valley landing a job at Hewlett-Packard just as the tech world was about to transform. Through his eyes, readers witness the excitement and upheaval of a groundbreaking era in innovation. From $2.99 - SHOP NOW / 

A triple award-winning account of one man’s fight against cancer and his extraordinary survival. At eighteen, John Walker Pattison endured years of failed treatments that ravaged his body and mind. His parents were told he wouldn’t survive, yet nearly fifty years later, he remains one of the UK’s longest-living cancer survivors. Years later, his four-year-old daughter was diagnosed with terminal leukemia. She, too, defied the odds, and later represented Team GB in the World Swimming Championships. Now facing a new cancer diagnosis, Pattison shares his story of hope and resilience. From $4.50 - SHOP NOW / 

Free online: First Friday Book Talk & Reading with author Susan Aizenberg, who will read from her newest poetry collection, A Walk with Frank O'Hara: Poems. Presented by Larksong Writers Place. February 7, 12 pm CT. 

"Poetry is a phantom script telling how rainbows are made and why they go away." ~Carl Sandburg

Psychic dreams and visions, remembering past lives, and becoming an intuitive shamanic healer—this is the story of an ordinary woman's extraordinary spiritual journey. With raw honesty, Chloe shares her story of awakening to her Divine purpose, healing herself, and her journey to heal others, revealing a Divine pathway to a more peaceful, happy, fulfilled, and healthy life. Gold Winner, Living Now Book Award. 4.4 stars, 43 ratings. From $0.99 - SHOP NOW / 

New release! In this dystopian middle-grade science fiction novel, siblings Nick and Lily must navigate a world where Earth's atmosphere is vanishing into space. As oxygen dwindles, Nick discovers hidden tunnels connecting homes, while Lily devises a communication system to keep their community informed. With time running out, they race to expand the tunnels before food and air run out, battling against the odds for survival. From $9.99 - SHOP NOW / 

Daniel and his best friend, Papa, head to Splodge City to take on Wild Will Hickory Dickory Jock and his gang, who are after Papa’s black book of secrets. At the Glue Pot Ranch, Daniel is stuck knee-deep in mud as Weston Wolf closes in. Meanwhile, Two Clouds, a magical Indian chief, whispers a spell—WHOOSH! Lightning strikes, revealing the entrance to Splodge City. With chaos erupting and Papa’s book stolen, Daniel faces Sir Stumpy Slugworm in a final showdown. Their hands twitch—SPLOOSH! Who will be The Fastest Water Pistol in Splodge City? From $4.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

After washing out of the police academy because she can’t fire a gun without closing her eyes, Isabel pivots to crime scene cleaning with her roommate, Kenny. Their first major job: a possible murder-suicide at The Kingdom Hotel and Casino. It happens to be her detective father’s cases, pushing Izzy to investigate on her own. But when she’s kidnapped and locked in a room beneath the casino alongside a beaten, half-dead security guard, she realizes the real threat may be far more dangerous than she ever imagined. 4.3 stars, 37 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

First Love. Second Chances. Fiona Willis seems to have it all: great friends, a sleek Seattle condo, and a dream job as a senior events planner. Yet, she can’t shake thoughts of the man who broke her heart years ago. Cameron Bennet is a single dad juggling parenting, soccer practices, and his role as head construction manager. But no matter how busy life gets, he’s never forgotten the one who got away. When an emergency pulls Fiona back to her hometown, she’s shocked by how much has changed—and how strong her feelings for Cam still are. Determined to avoid old wounds, she tries to keep her distance, but Cam is just as determined to make things right before she leaves again. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

Helene Denny worries about everything—especially leaving home for college—and her fascination with serial killers doesn’t help. When a string of girls goes missing in her town, she’s convinced a serial killer is at work, with the new mayor, Fred Thompkins, as her prime suspect. Dismissed by everyone, Helene turns to the dark web for answers, only to put herself in grave danger. Can she uncover the truth before someone she loves disappears? 4.8 stars, 11 ratings. From $3.99 - SHOP NOW / 

If one person can make a difference, imagine what three can do. In a small Irish village, fate unites three strangers—each carrying a dark secret—as they take a courageous stand that changes their lives forever. Clint, a once-successful man shattered by a fateful choice, Tanya, determined to fulfill her mother’s dying wish despite being broke, and Seamus, an 84-year-old seeking redemption before time runs out, discover the power of love, resilience, and the human spirit. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Free online: What's New in Historical Fiction, a regular panel series featuring historical novelists with new and upcoming titles. Moderated by Colin Mustful, founder of History Through Fiction, this special panel includes Tiffany L. Warren, author of The Unexpected Diva; Elaine Neil Orr, author of Dancing Woman; Julia Bryan Thomas, author of The Kennedy Girl; and Rosa Kwon Easton, author of White Mulberry. Monday, February 3, 7 PM CST. 

"If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree." ~Michael Crichton