We hope you enjoy this newsletter sent as a courtesy to adult patrons of a southeast Kansas library using the SEKnFind catalog. This selection of titles are NEW at a SEKnFind library and available for a hold. Need assistance? Your local librarian can show you how!
Happy Reading!
New Fiction
The Children by Melissa Albert
Guinevere Sharpe has two childhoods. In one, she and her brother, Ennis, live in the wooded shadow of their family’s isolated Vermont farmhouse; in the other, the pages of their mother’s world-famous Ninth City books, where their magical adventures have made them household names. In reality, Guinevere’s childhood isn’t the enchanted idyll her mother’s readers imagine. As Edith Sharpe’s books explode into epic popularity, the threats of a rural childhood give way to the escalating perils of fame—until the night it all goes up in flames, leaving Edith’s series unfinished and her children the sole survivors. Now an adult coasting on her mother’s name, Guinevere is mid-promotion for a ghostwritten memoir when her estranged brother announces an upcoming installation titled, simply, Mother. As rumors swirl around a death connected to his last show, unsettling recollections from Guinevere’s childhood begin to surface.
I, Spy by L. M. Kemp
Kendal Carter is out in the cold and she wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s been four years since her daughter Rosie was born and Kendal has kept her miles away from the danger of her former life as a spy. But when their hiding place is discovered, Kendal is forced to turn to old contacts for help. Her longtime friend and ex-handler Rico offers them a safe house in London—with a catch: Kendal must return to work for his espionage agency. Investigating one of the dads at Rosie’s new school who works at a murky tech firm should be easy enough. But it doesn’t take long for Kendal to realize Rico’s got an agenda of his own.
You Can Tell Me by Melinda Leigh
On the three-year anniversary of true crime writer Olivia Cruz’s horrific kidnapping, she’s scheduled to walk her podcaster friend Zoe March through the crime scene, but Zoe fails to show. Zoe’s husband has reported her missing, but the police suspect she simply left him. Olivia thinks otherwise. Retracing her friend’s last steps, she finds Zoe’s phone and a text with one chilling word: Run. Did Zoe vanish to escape a killer, and is Olivia walking into a deadly trap?
The Rainy Day Bookshop by Raeanne Thayne
Sandwiched between caring for her mother and rebuilding the relationship with her estranged daughter, Emma, Rosie Lucas’s life is full. With Emma and her 3-year-old daughter, Olive, back home, Rosie has a partner for The Rainy Day Bookshop, the family business, and a chance to fix the past. As an irresistible flirtation builds between Rosie and reclusive writer Andrew Morgan, secrets from the past begin to surface—and some truths are more shocking than fiction.
Summer’s Never Over by Darby Bozeman
In this addictive dual-timeline debut novel, a woman confronts her past at the remote Southern summer camp where the tragic death of her fellow counselor may not have been an accident after all. Five years ago, Greer left her family’s summer camp in the mountains of Georgia and vowed she’d never return. But then Greer’s mother dies, and she finds herself back at Dread’s Cove. Margo never believed that Steph’s death in that horrific fire was an accident—and she’s on the trail of an explosive secret Steph took to her grave.
The Shippers by Katherine Center
After a lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton vows to solve her intimacy issues once and for all at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship. She ropes in her childhood bestie, Cooper Watts, as her wingman to help her woo an old crush. Shipboard antics abound in this witty, heart-tugging, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance as JoJo and Cooper team up, fake flirt, slow dance, and finally discover truths about each other that will change everything.
The Jellyfish Problem by Tessa Yang
Dr. Jo Ness prefers jellyfish to people. When she receives a call about a giant jellyfish terrorizing a tiny island off the coast of Maine, she drops everything to investigate. But when Jo arrives on Shattering Point, the person who called her is nowhere to be found, and the islanders each have something different to say about the creature they’ve dubbed Clementine—a jellyfish who changes all who see it. At turns an ode to classic sea monster stories and a vibrant tale of human connection.
Kissed by the Gods by Caty Rogan
Leina has spent a lifetime submitting, starving amid wheat fields reserved for the king. When soldiers come for her brother, her divine fury erupts in a bloody massacre. Instead of execution, Ryot, a gods-blessed warrior, delivers her to a military fortress where a gift from a goddess drags Leina into a realm of war. Her survival depends on her ability to ride a winged horse. As Ryot pushes her to master the power she never asked for, a battle rages within her heart—love is a dangerous weakness in a world designed for war.
The Franchise by Thomas Elrod
Game of Thrones meets The Truman Show in this epic tale of a Hollywood-owned fantasy world where nothing is quite as it seems. The classic fantasy world of The Malicarn has been brought to life on the big screen, almost entirely populated by characters in total belief that their sham fantasy lives are real. A fan-favorite actor finds himself doubting the studio’s work—but bringing freedom to a population that already believes itself to be free won’t be as easy as he thinks.
Red Verdict by James Comey
Federal prosecutor Nora Carleton is drawn into international intrigue as she investigates the assassination of a weapons manufacturer in this thriller from the former director of the FBI. A Russian-style hit on an executive at an American drone manufacturer sends a chilling message. Teaming up with Special Agent Benny Dugan, Nora launches a criminal investigation that takes them from New York to Las Vegas—but powerful forces are determined to keep their secrets buried.
Land by Maggie O’Farrell
On a windswept peninsula stretching out into the Atlantic, Tomás and his reluctant son, Liam, are working for the great Ordnance Survey project to map the whole of Ireland in 1865—not long since ravaged by the Great Hunger. Tomás is unexpectedly sent off course by an unsettling encounter, and his life, and the lives of those of his family, will never be the same again. A novel about separation and reunion, tragedy and recovery, colonization and rebellion.
They Came for Blood by M. William Phelps
Tom Callahan was once the government’s deadliest secret—a lethal gun-for-hire. Now an aging cowboy trying to keep his ranch alive, he wants nothing more than peace. But when word reaches him that his wife and son—long believed dead—may still be alive, that peace turns to dust. From railroad corruption to a secret slave trade, every mile drags Callahan deeper into the rot of the nation he once served. A brutal, cinematic Western thriller.
New Audiobooks
Minotaur: A Short Story by Jeffrey Wilson
From New York Times bestselling authors Andrews & Wilson. The Minotaur never died—his death was a myth. Asterion, the beast of legend, still walks among us, luring victims into the ancient labyrinth beneath Crete. But this spring break, the hunter becomes the hunted when Mina, a modern descendant of the labyrinth’s architect, inherits a mysterious medallion and convinces three friends to travel to Crete—unaware they’re walking into Asterion’s trap.
A Murder in Hollywood by Michael Crichton
A Hollywood mystery thriller originally written in 1973 by Crichton but never before published. In the glitz and decadence of 1970s Hollywood, the writer of the next Western blockbuster has just been found dead in his motel bathtub. Publicist Harvey Jason tries to keep the project on track while the brilliant investigator Harlow Perkins begins to unravel the mystery. Will the murderer be found, or will the true identity of the killer turn out to be just another Hollywood illusion?
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
A traditional American woman who sells her pioneer lifestyle to millions of social media followers suddenly awakens cold, filthy, and terrified in the brutal reality of 1855—where she must unravel whether this living nightmare is an elaborate hoax, a twisted reality show, or something far more sinister. A gripping, darkly funny debut that is a gimlet-eyed look at tradition, fame, faith, and the grand performance of womanhood.
New Nonfiction
Roadside Kansas: A Traveler’s Guide to Its Geology and Landmarks (Revised) by Rex C. Buchanan
Almost forty years after its first publication, Roadside Kansas remains the premier guide to the landscapes and landmarks along more than 2,600 miles of Kansas highway. Conveniently organized by highway and milepost markers and filled with over 100 photos, illustrations, and maps, this book is ready for modern-day explorers. Whether you’re planning an adventurous road trip or just need a glovebox guidebook, Roadside Kansas is a must-have for every traveler.
Stronger Than You Think: Building Lifelong Resilience by Sherry Hamby, PhD
Through client stories and her own journey of resilience, Dr. Hamby walks readers step-by-step through evidence-backed tools and strategies for regulating impulses and emotions, modifying your social and physical ecologies to promote greater wellbeing, and infusing your day-to-day with a deeper sense of purpose. Loss, betrayal, and suffering might break us open, but it is never too late to put together the pieces of a good life.
Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men’s Lives by Darby Saxbe
A groundbreaking exploration of the science and significance of fatherhood. Field-leading psychologist Darby Saxbe, PhD, explains how becoming a father changes men, from their bodies and brain architecture to their hormones and sense of purpose. Drawing on over twenty years of research studying fathers and families around the world—from hunter-gatherers in the Congo to contemporary suburban dads.
Dinner with an Astronaut: Serving Space Stories: Past, Present and Future by Leroy Chiao
The inspiring journey of Leroy Chiao, one of the first Asian American astronauts in history. As the first full Chinese heritage professional astronaut, he flew four space missions and served as commander of the International Space Station. Leroy now answers burning questions about the new space race, NASA’s current work, the experience of looking out at Earth from space, and the future of space exploration.
Unlearn Your Pain: The Science of Recovering from Chronic Pain, Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression by Howard Schubiner, MD
For the past twenty years, Dr. Howard Schubiner has conducted clinical trials and authored more than 100 scientific papers to uncover the root cause of chronic illnesses like migraines, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. In Unlearn Your Pain, he shares the program that has proven effective in reversing chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression using the latest research and mind-body practices confirmed by clinical trials.
The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest That Changed America by Eric Moskowitz
From Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Eric Moskowitz: the riveting story of the first true coast-to-coast automobile race in U.S. history in 1909. Three companies showed up at the starting line—Acme, Ford, and Shawmut—to forge a 4,106-mile course of mountain ranges, mud bogs, and harrowing canyon trails. A colorful tale of ambition and subterfuge, and a love letter to America at the turn of the Twentieth Century.
Grill: Easy Grilling, Big Flavor by Jamie Oliver
Recipes that show how exciting, creative, and delicious grilling can be whether you are cooking on a charcoal or gas grill or cooking over the open flames.
The Capitol: The Surprising Biography of an American Building by Brian Jay Jones
An in-depth exploration of the history of the US Capitol building, encompassing architecture, history, politics, popular culture, and race. Spanning three centuries of American history, this sweeping biography covers political intrigue, assassination attempts, thwarted bombings, and ghostly legends—while restoring the narratives of enslaved people who contributed to its construction.
The Messi Effect: How the Global Legend Changed the Future of American Soccer by Paul Tenorio
National soccer writer Paul Tenorio of The Athletic draws on insider access to chronicle the last act of Lionel Messi. The book takes readers inside the locker room as Messi’s arrival turned a last-place team into a global phenomenon, and into the MLS boardroom as owners debated how to leverage his arrival. His pink No. 10 shirt became the world’s best-selling jersey, MLS stadiums sold out city after city, and Inter Miami’s valuation soared past $1 billion.
1,000 Days in America: An Illustrated History of the Moments That Defined a Nation by National Geographic
A 250th anniversary celebration of the U.S. featuring 1,000 singular moments that shaped the American journey from pre-history to present, filled with more than 300 illustrations, sidebars, and timelines. Commentary by bestselling historians including David Rubenstein and Walter Isaacson underscores the profound connections between concurrent events in the nation’s journey.
Even More Reading Suggestions
NextReads Newsletters — Looking for something else to read? Newsletters are divided into genres and topics. Get recommendations tailored to your interests sent directly to your inbox. If your library doesn’t yet own a suggested title, ask about a purchase suggestion or interlibrary loan.
This month’s Fantasy and Science Fiction Sneak Peek features titles including Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker, Seek the Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth, and Hell’s Heart by Alexis Hall.
All titles listed above are new at a SEKnFind library and available to place on hold. Contact your local southeast Kansas library for assistance. Visit sekls.org for more information.