Tuesday, January 7, 2025

iTunes Store: Top 25 Books in Fiction & Literature 2025-01-08

Danielle Steel - Never Say Never artwork Never Say Never
A Novel
Danielle Steel
Genre: Fiction & Literature
Price: $16.99
Publish Date: January 07, 2025
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Seller: Penguin Random House Canada

#1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel’s deeply moving novel is the story of a woman who finds her life turned upside down while living temporarily in the French countryside. Oona Kelly Webster has much to be grateful for. A striking woman with red hair and green eyes, she has a loving family and a job she adores, editing a prestigious line of books. To celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, she and her husband, Charles, have planned a visit to France. But then Charles drops a bombshell. He has been living a lie—hiding an affair for a year—and he is leaving Oona for a younger male lover. Although devastated, Oona decides to travel to France without Charles. She arrives in a charming village an hour outside of Paris, and settles into the house she has rented, called La Belle Florence—named after the king’s mistress for whom it was built. But just as she’s catching her breath, she’s dealt another blow: Her company’s merger will eliminate her job.  In the space of a few months, everything she nurtured for decades has slipped through her fingers. The only silver lining is that she can remain in France, where the simple life in beautiful surroundings slowly begins to heal her, as does the little white dog she rescues, and her friendly neighbor hailing from Trinidad, who delights her with his openness and warmth.  Though she does not recognize him at first, she soon realizes her neighbor is a well-known actor. As their feelings for each other begin to deepen, Oona wrestles with the risks of opening her heart again—especially to a younger, very famous man. Never Say Never is an inspiring novel about a woman who finds a second chance at happiness and love, all because she understands the importance of being brave enough to stay open to change.



J. Robert Kennedy - The Manila Deception artwork The Manila Deception
A James Acton Thriller
J. Robert Kennedy
Genre: Action & Adventure
Price: $0.99
Publish Date: November 23, 2019
Publisher: J. Robert Kennedy
Seller: UnderMill Press

*** FROM USA TODAY & MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR J. ROBERT KENNEDY *** AN ENTIRE VILLAGE WAS MASSACRED TO KEEP THEIR SECRET.  AND THAT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING. Near the end of World War II, a massive amount of looted gold and other priceless items was transported by the Japanese from Singapore to the Philippines and into the hands of General Tomoyuki Yamashita, the Military Governor.  It was never seen again. And today, a young man runs into trouble with the Yakuza, a ruthless Japanese crime syndicate, and turns to his great-grandfather for help. Too poor to save him, he gives him the only thing of value he has. The truth of what happened during the Japanese retreat in the face of General MacArthur’s onslaught. But what the elderly man doesn’t know is there was one other person who knew the secret as well, the horrifying truth revealed on his deathbed to an archaeologist who has been seeking the lost treasure  ever since. A friend of Archaeology Professor James Acton. And thanks to recently declassified satellite imagery, Acton might have found the final clue that leads them to the missing treasure. Mayhem ensues. Award winning and USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy once again mixes history with today’s headlines in The Manila Deception , an action-packed international thriller sure to leave you burning through the pages late into the night. If you enjoy fast-paced adventures in the style of Dan Brown , Clive Cussler , and James Rollins , then you’ll love this thrilling tale of archaeological intrigue. Get your copy of The Manila Deception today, and discover the horrifying price paid to hide the missing Japanese gold, and the terrors yet to be unleashed as the innocent and the corrupt collide… About the James Acton Thrillers: ★★★★★ "James Acton: A little bit of Jack Bauer and Indiana Jones!" Though this book is part of the James Acton Thrillers series, it is written as a standalone novel and can be enjoyed without having read any of the previous installments. ★★★★★ “Non-stop action that is impossible to put down.” The James Acton Thrillers series and its spin-offs, the Special Agent Dylan Kane Thrillers and the Delta Force Unleashed Thrillers , have sold over one million copies. If you love non-stop action and intrigue with a healthy dose of humor, try James Acton today! ★★★★★ “A great blend of history and current headlines.” About J. Robert Kennedy: With over one million books sold, award winning and USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy has been ranked by Amazon as the #1 Bestselling Action Adventure novelist based upon combined sales. He is a full-time writer and the author of over forty international bestsellers including the smash hit James Acton Thrillers. He’s married, has an adult daughter, and is likely hard at work on his next book.



Heather Morris - The Tattooist of Auschwitz artwork The Tattooist of Auschwitz
A Novel
Heather Morris
Genre: Historical Fiction
Price: $13.99
Publish Date: September 04, 2018
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Seller: Harper Collins Canada Limited

 #1 New York Times Bestseller and #1 International Bestseller • Now a Peacock Original Series starring Harvey Keitel and Melanie Lynskey This beautiful, illuminating tale of hope and courage is based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov—an unforgettable love story in the midst of atrocity. “The Tattooist of Auschwitz is an extraordinary document, a story about the extremes of human behavior existing side by side: calculated brutality alongside impulsive and selfless acts of love. I find it hard to imagine anyone who would not be drawn in, confronted and moved. I would recommend it unreservedly to anyone, whether they’d read a hundred Holocaust stories or none.”—Graeme Simsion, internationally-bestselling author of The Rosie Project In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners. Imprisoned for over two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism—but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive. One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her. A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov's experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.



Emily Giffin - Something Blue artwork Something Blue
A Novel
Emily Giffin
Genre: Fiction & Literature
Price: $1.99
Publish Date: April 01, 2010
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group
Seller: Macmillan

From the New York Times bestselling author of Something Borrowed comes a novel that shows how someone with a ‘perfect life' can lose it all—and then find everything. Darcy Rhone thought she had it all figured out: the more beautiful the girl, the more charmed her life. Never mind substance. Never mind playing by the rules. Never mind karma. But Darcy's neat, perfect world turns upside down when her best friend, Rachel, the plain-Jane "good girl," steals her fiancé, while Darcy finds herself completely alone for the first time in her life…with a baby on the way. Darcy tries to recover, fleeing to her childhood friend living in London and resorting to her tried-and-true methods for getting what she wants. But as she attempts to recreate her glamorous life on a new continent, Darcy finds that her rules no longer apply. It is only then that Darcy can begin her journey toward self-awareness, forgiveness, and motherhood. Emily Giffin's Something Blue is a novel about one woman's surprising discoveries about the true meaning of friendship, love, and happily-ever-after. It's a novel for anyone who has ever, even secretly, wondered if the last thing you want is really the one thing you need.



Valerie Keogh - The Wives artwork The Wives
A BRAND NEW deliciously shocking thriller from Valerie Keogh for 2025
Valerie Keogh
Genre: Family Fiction & Literature
Price: $0.99
Publish Date: November 06, 2024
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Seller: Boldwood Books Ltd

A brand new story from Number One bestselling author Valerie Keogh. An explosive NEW thriller that will leave you shocked! Meet The Wives... Lies, secrets, deadly decisions… When Natasha meets Daniel, she knows her life is made. Rich, handsome and charming, Daniel will make the perfect husband. Even if she won’t make the perfect wife… She is thrilled when Daniel suggests an all-expenses paid cruise for Natasha, her friends, Barbara, Tracy Ann and Michelle, and their husbands. What better way to show everyone that Natasha has finally made it? But as the ship sets sail, she learns that far from being the perfect husband, Daniel has terrible secrets that are about to be revealed. And each of the wives has their own reasons for wanting him dead. This trip might cost more than any of them ever imagined… A gripping new story from the psych thriller queen that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Perfect for fans of Frieda McFadden, J.A. Baker and Sue Watson. Readers LOVE Valerie Keogh! ‘Keogh is the queen of compelling narratives and twisty plots’ Jenny O'Brien 'A wonderful book, I can’t rate this one highly enough. If only there were ten stars, it’s that good. Valerie Keogh is a master story-teller, and this is a masterful performance.' Bestselling author Anita Waller 'Keogh is no. 1 for a reason, and this is another perfect slice of domestic noir. A definite 5 stars.' Bestselling author, Keri Beevis 'I was blown away with this book!' ★★★★★ Reader Review 'I didn't see the twist coming at all!' ★★★★★ Reader Review 'A rollercoaster of a story!' ★★★★★ Reader Review



Kristin Hannah - The Women artwork The Women
A Novel
Kristin Hannah
Genre: Fiction & Literature
Price: $16.99
Publish Date: February 06, 2024
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group
Seller: Macmillan

A #1 bestseller on The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times! From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah's T he Women —at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided. Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost. But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam. The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.



Kate Quinn - The Rose Code artwork The Rose Code
A Novel
Kate Quinn
Genre: Historical Fiction
Price: $11.99
Publish Date: March 09, 2021
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Seller: Harper Collins Canada Limited

Don’t miss the thrilling new novel from Kate Quinn, The Briar Club, coming July 9th! “The reigning queen of historical fiction” -- Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue   The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Huntress and The Alice Network returns with another heart-stopping World War II story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over. 1940. As England prepares to fight the Nazis, three very different women answer the call to mysterious country estate Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes. Vivacious debutante Osla is the girl who has everything—beauty, wealth, and the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her roses—but she burns to prove herself as more than a society girl, and puts her fluent German to use as a translator of decoded enemy secrets. Imperious self-made Mab, product of east-end London poverty, works the legendary codebreaking machines as she conceals old wounds and looks for a socially advantageous husband. Both Osla and Mab are quick to see the potential in local village spinster Beth, whose shyness conceals a brilliant facility with puzzles, and soon Beth spreads her wings as one of the Park’s few female cryptanalysts. But war, loss, and the impossible pressure of secrecy will tear the three apart. 1947. As the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip whips post-war Britain into a fever, three friends-turned-enemies are reunited by a mysterious encrypted letter--the key to which lies buried in the long-ago betrayal that destroyed their friendship and left one of them confined to an asylum. A mysterious traitor has emerged from the shadows of their Bletchley Park past, and now Osla, Mab, and Beth must resurrect their old alliance and crack one last code together. But each petal they remove from the rose code brings danger--and their true enemy--closer...



Liane Moriarty - Here One Moment artwork Here One Moment
A Novel
Liane Moriarty
Genre: Fiction & Literature
Price: $17.99
Publish Date: September 10, 2024
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Seller: Penguin Random House Canada

If you knew your future, would you try to fight fate? Aside from a delay, there will be no problems. The flight will be smooth, it will land safely. Everyone who gets on the plane will get off. But almost all of them will be forever changed.   Because on this ordinary, short, domestic flight, something extraordinary happens. People learn how and when they are going to die. For some, their death is far in the future—age 103!—and they laugh. But for six passengers, their predicted deaths are not far away at all.   How do they know this? There were ostensibly more interesting people on the flight (the bride and groom, the jittery, possibly famous woman, the giant Hemsworth-esque guy who looks like an off-duty superhero, the frazzled, gorgeous flight attendant) but none would become as famous as “The Death Lady.”   Not a single passenger or crew member will later recall noticing her board the plane. She wasn’t exceptionally old or young, rude or polite. She wasn’t drunk or nervous or pregnant. Her appearance and demeanor were unremarkable. But what she did on that flight was truly remarkable.   A few months later, one passenger dies exactly as she predicted. Then two more passengers die, again, as she said they would. Soon no one is thinking this is simply an entertaining story at a cocktail party.   If you were told you only had a certain amount of time left to live, would you do things differently? Would you try to dodge your destiny?   Liane Moriarty’s  Here One Moment  is a brilliantly constructed tale that looks at free will and destiny, grief and love, and the endless struggle to maintain certainty and control in an uncertain world. A modern-day Jane Austen who humorously skewers social mores while spinning a web of mystery, Moriarty asks profound questions in her newest I-can’t-wait-to-find-out-what-happens novel.



Anne Tyler - A Spool of Blue Thread artwork A Spool of Blue Thread
Anne Tyler
Genre: Literary Fiction
Price: $1.99
Publish Date: February 10, 2015
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Seller: Penguin Random House Canada

From the beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning author a brilliantly observed, joyful and wrenching, funny and true new novel that reveals, as only she can, the very nature of a family's life.      "It was a beautiful, breezy, yellow-and-green afternoon." This is the way Abby Whitshank always begins the story of how she fell in love with Red that day in July 1959. The whole family--their two daughters and two sons, their grandchildren, even their faithful old dog--is on the porch, listening contentedly as Abby tells the tale they have heard so many times before. And yet this gathering is different too: Abby and Red are growing older, and decisions must be made about how best to look after them, and the fate of the house so lovingly built by Red's father. Brimming with the luminous insight, humor, and compassion that are Anne Tyler's hallmarks, this capacious novel takes us across three generations of the Whitshanks, their shared stories and long-held secrets, all the unguarded and richly lived moments that combine to define who and what they are as a family.



Kate Fagan - The Three Lives of Cate Kay artwork The Three Lives of Cate Kay
Reese's Book Club: A Novel
Kate Fagan
Genre: Fiction & Literature
Price: $14.99
Publish Date: January 07, 2025
Publisher: Atria Books
Seller: Simon & Schuster Canada

REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK! “This story swept me away with its big dreams, love, and unexpected twists.” —Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club January ’25 Pick) The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets First Lie Wins in this electric, voice-driven debut novel about an elusive bestselling author who decides to finally confess her true identity after years of hiding from her past. Cate Kay knows how to craft a story. As the creator of a bestselling book trilogy that struck box office gold as a film series, she’s one of the most successful authors of her generation. The thing is, Cate Kay doesn’t really exist. She’s never attended author events or granted any interviews. Her real identity had been a closely guarded secret, until now. As a young adult, she and her best friend Amanda dreamed of escaping their difficult homes and moving to California to become movie stars. But the day before their grand adventure, a tragedy shattered their dreams and Cate has been on the run ever since, taking on different names and charting a new future. But after a shocking revelation, Cate understands that returning home is the only way she’ll be a whole person again.



Ariel Lawhon - The Frozen River: A GMA Book Club Pick artwork The Frozen River: A GMA Book Club Pick
A GMA Book Club Pick
Ariel Lawhon
Genre: Historical Fiction
Price: $16.99
Publish Date: December 05, 2023
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Seller: Penguin Random House Canada

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GMA BOOK CLUB PICK • AN NPR BOOK OF THE YEAR • From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history. "Fans of Outlander ’s Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon’s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent. . . impressive." —The Washington Post "Once again, Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine." —People Magazine Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own. Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie. Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.



Howard Norman - The Bird Artist artwork The Bird Artist
A Novel
Howard Norman
Genre: Literary Fiction
Price: $1.99
Publish Date: April 01, 2007
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Seller: OpenRoad Integrated Media, LLC

Howard Norman's The Bird Artist , the first book of his Canadian trilogy, begins in 1911. Its narrator, Fabian Vas is a bird artist: He draws and paints the birds of Witless Bay, his remote Newfoundland coastal village home. In the first paragraph of his tale Fabian reveals that he has murdered the village lighthouse keeper, Botho August. Later, he confesses who and what drove him to his crime--a measured, profoundly engrossing story of passion, betrayal, guilt, and redemption between men and women. The Bird Artist is a 1994 National Book Award Finalist for Fiction.



Barbara Kingsolver - Unsheltered artwork Unsheltered
A Novel
Barbara Kingsolver
Genre: Literary Fiction
Price: $1.99
Publish Date: October 16, 2018
Publisher: Harper
Seller: Harper Collins Canada Limited

New York Times Bestseller • Named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, O: The Oprah Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek “Kingsolver brilliantly captures both the price of profound change and how it can pave the way not only for future generations, but also for a radiant, unexpected expansion of the heart.” — O: The Oprah Magazine The acclaimed author of The Poisonwood Bible and The Bean Trees, and recipient of numerous literary awards—including the National Humanities Medal, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguish Contribution to American Letters—returns with a story about two families, in two centuries, navigating what seems to be the end of the world as they know it. With history as their tantalizing canvas, these characters paint a startlingly relevant portrait of life in precarious times when the foundations of the past have failed to prepare us for the future. How could two hardworking people do everything right in life, a woman asks, and end up destitute? Willa Knox and her husband followed all the rules as responsible parents and professionals, and have nothing to show for it but debts and an inherited brick house that is falling apart. The magazine where Willa worked has folded; the college where her husband had tenure has closed. Their dubious shelter is also the only option for a disabled father-in-law and an exasperating, free-spirited daughter. When the family’s one success story, an Ivy-educated son, is uprooted by tragedy he seems likely to join them, with dark complications of his own. In another time, a troubled husband and public servant asks, How can a man tell the truth, and be reviled for it? A science teacher with a passion for honest investigation, Thatcher Greenwood finds himself under siege: his employer forbids him to speak of the exciting work just published by Charles Darwin. His young bride and social-climbing mother-in-law bristle at the risk of scandal, and dismiss his worries that their elegant house is unsound. In a village ostensibly founded as a benevolent Utopia, Thatcher wants only to honor his duties, but his friendships with a woman scientist and a renegade newspaper editor threaten to draw him into a vendetta with the town’s powerful men. A timely and "utterly captivating" novel (San Francisco Chronicle), Unsheltered interweaves past and present to explore the human capacity for resiliency and compassion in times of great upheaval.



Percival Everett - James artwork James
A Novel
Percival Everett
Genre: Historical Fiction
Price: $16.99
Publish Date: March 19, 2024
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Seller: Penguin Random House Canada

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER • ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'S 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE • KIRKUS PRIZE WINNER • A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view In development as a feature film to be produced by Steven Spielberg •  A Best Book of the Year: The New York Times Book Review, LA Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Economist, TIME, and more. "Genius" —The Atlantic • "A masterpiece that will help redefine one of the classics of American literature, while also being a major achievement on its own." —Chicago Tribune • "A provocative, enlightening literary work of art." —The Boston Globe • "Everett’s most thrilling novel, but also his most soulful." —The New York Times When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father, recently returned to town. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and too-often-unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond. While many narrative set pieces of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn remain in place (floods and storms, stumbling across both unexpected death and unexpected treasure in the myriad stopping points along the river’s banks, encountering the scam artists posing as the Duke and Dauphin…), Jim’s agency, intelligence and compassion are shown in a radically new light. Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a “literary icon” ( Oprah Daily ), and one of the most decorated writers of our lifetime, James is destined to be a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature.



Donna Jones Alward - When the World Fell Silent artwork When the World Fell Silent
Donna Jones Alward
Genre: Historical Fiction
Price: $3.99
Publish Date: July 19, 2024
Publisher: One More Chapter
Seller: Harper Collins Canada Limited

A story of loss, hope and redemption against impossible odds… 'Extremely compelling…The reader is completely drawn into the story' Historical Novel Society The Globe & Mail Bestseller! 'Alward tells this story of the wounded survivors and the people who cared for them with affecting grace' Toronto Star 1917. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Nora Crowell wants more than her sister’s life as a wife and mother. As WWI rages across the Atlantic, she becomes a lieutenant in the Canadian Army Nursing Corps. But trouble is looming and it won’t be long before the truth comes to light. Having lost her beloved husband in the trenches and with no-one else to turn to, Charlotte Campbell now lives with his haughty relations who treat her like the help. It is baby Aileen, the joy and light of her life, who spurs her to dream of a better life. When tragedy strikes in Halifax Harbour, nothing for these two women will ever be the same again. Their paths will cross in the most unexpected way, trailing both heartbreak and joy its wake… Praise for Donna Jones Alward: 'A beautiful, meticulously researched story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page' USA Today bestseller, Genevieve Graham ‘A triumphant, unforgettable tale of sacrifice, hope, and second chances … with a twist that will have readers holding their breath' Renee Ryan, author of The Secret Society of Salzburg ‘Readers of historical fiction, don’t miss this one!’ USA Today bestseller, Andie Newton 'A winning and memorable tale that boasts a perfectly-judged grasp of historical detail, wonderfully nuanced characters, and a narrative arc that never falters' USA Today bestseller, Jennifer Robson 'A fascinating, heartbreaking, and heartwarming story’ USA Today bestseller, Glynis Peters 'A rare novel that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Prepare to fall in love' Soraya M. Lane, bestselling author 'Meticulously researched and full of atmospheric period details that will take your breath away' Julianne MacLean, bestselling author 'Alward handles the aftermath of a Canadian tragedy with sensitivity, skill, brilliant writing’ Lecia Cornwall, author of That Summer in Berlin About the author Since 2006, New York Times bestseller Donna Jones Alward has enchanted readers with stories of happy endings and homecomings that have won several awards and been translated into over a dozen languages. She’s worked as an administrative assistant, teaching assistant, in retail and as a stay-at-home-mom, but always knew her degree in English Literature would pay off, as she is now happy to be a full-time writer. Her new historical fiction tales blend her love of history with characters who step beyond their biggest fears to claim the lives they desire. Donna currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, with her husband and two cats. You can often find her near the water, either kayaking on the lake or walking the sandy beaches to refill her creative well. Find out more at www.donnajonesalward.com



Liz Moore - The God of the Woods artwork The God of the Woods
A Novel
Liz Moore
Genre: Family Fiction & Literature
Price: $16.99
Publish Date: July 02, 2024
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Seller: Penguin Random House Canada

ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES’S NOTABLE BOOKS OF 2024 A NEW YORK TIMES BEST THRILLER OF 2024 A NEW YORK TIMES BEST CRIME NOVEL OF 2024 PEOPLE MAGAZINE'S #1 BOOK OF THE YEAR A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY TOP 10 PICK OF 2024 ONE OF NPR’S “BOOKS WE LOVE” 2024 ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE’S “100 MUST-READ BOOKS OF 2024” NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY: REAL SIMPLE ● OPRAH DAILY ● NEWSWEEK ● VULTURE “Extraordinary . . . Reminds me of Donna Tartt’s 1992 debut, The Secret History . . . I was so thoroughly submerged in a rich fictional world, that for hours I barely came up for air.” — Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air , NPR “This expertly paced thriller ...has the kineticism of a well-crafted miniseries.” — The New Yorker When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found. As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.



Fiona Davis - The Stolen Queen artwork The Stolen Queen
Fiona Davis
Genre: Historical Fiction
Price: $16.99
Publish Date: January 07, 2025
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Seller: Penguin Random House Canada

From New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis, an utterly addictive new novel that will transport you from New York City’s most glamorous party to the labyrinth streets of Cairo and back.   Egypt, 1936: When anthropology student Charlotte Cross is offered a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, she leaps at the opportunity. That is until an unbearable tragedy strikes. New York City, 1978: Nineteen-year-old Annie Jenkins is thrilled when she lands an opportunity to work for former Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who’s in the midst of organizing the famous Met Gala, hosted at the museum and known across the city as the “party of the year.”   Meanwhile, Charlotte is now leading a quiet life as the associate curator of the Met’s celebrated Department of Egyptian Art. She’s consumed by her research on Hathorkare—a rare female pharaoh dismissed by most other Egyptologists as unimportant. The night of the gala: One of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts goes missing, and there are signs Hathorkare’s legendary curse might be reawakening. Annie and Charlotte team up to search for the missing antiquity, and a desperate hunch leads the unlikely duo to one place Charlotte swore she’d never return: Egypt. But if they have any hope of finding the artifact, Charlotte will need to confront the demons of her past—which may mean leading them both directly into danger.



Alison Espach - The Wedding People artwork The Wedding People
A Novel
Alison Espach
Genre: Fiction & Literature
Price: $16.99
Publish Date: July 30, 2024
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Seller: Macmillan

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A Today Show #ReadwithJenna Book Club Pick A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew. It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She’s immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other. In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.



Taylor Jenkins Reid - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo artwork The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
A Novel
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Fiction & Literature
Price: $14.99
Publish Date: June 13, 2017
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Seller: Simon & Schuster Canada

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “If you ’ re looking for a book to take on holiday this summer, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has got all the glitz and glamour to make it a perfect beach read.” — Bustle From the New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & the Six —an entrancing and “wildly addictive journey of a reclusive Hollywood starlet” ( PopSugar ) as she reflects on her relentless rise to the top and the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine. Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career. Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways. “Heartbreaking, yet beautiful” (Jamie Blynn, Us Weekly ), The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is “Tinseltown drama at its finest” ( Redbook ): a mesmerizing journey through the splendor of old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means—and what it costs—to face the truth.



Freida McFadden - La femme de ménage artwork La femme de ménage
Freida McFadden
Genre: Fiction & Literature
Price: $15.99
Publish Date: January 04, 2023
Publisher: City Edition
Seller: Hachette Livre

Chaque jour, Millie fait le ménage dans la belle maison des Winchester, une riche famille new-yorkaise. Elle récupère aussi leur fille à l'école et prépare les repas avant d'aller se coucher dans sa chambre, au grenier. Pour la jeune femme, ce nouveau travail est une chance inespérée. L'occasion de repartir de zéro. Mais, sous des dehors respectables, sa patronne se montre de plus en plus instable et toxique. Et puis il y a aussi cette rumeur dérangeante qui court dans le quartier : madame Winchester aurait tenté de noyer sa fille il y a quelques années. Heureusement, le gentil et séduisant monsieur Winchester est là pour rendre la situation supportable. Mais le danger se tapit parfois sous des apparences trompeuses. Et lorsque Millie découvre que la porte de sa chambre mansardée ne ferme que de l'extérieur, il est peut-être déjà trop tard...



Maia Caron - The Last Secret artwork The Last Secret
A Novel
Maia Caron
Genre: Historical Fiction
Price: $2.99
Publish Date: September 24, 2024
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Seller: Penguin Random House Canada

•INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER• A sweeping, dazzling dual-timeline novel centering on two unforgettable women—and their inextricable link to each other decades apart. Ukraine, 1944 As the world around her is ripped apart by war and infiltrated by Nazi soldiers, Savka Ivanets works as a medic for the Ukrainian resistance, stitching wounds by day, stealing supplies by night, and dodging firefights between the SS and Soviet partisans. When her husband, Marko, a reluctant member of the Waffen-SS, forces her to deliver a coded message to an underground bunker, she’s terrified. But when her mission doesn’t go as planned, and her son, Taras, is kidnapped by the KGB, Savka fears she’ll never see him again. Salt Spring Island, 1972 For Jeanie Esterhazy, the world, with its whispers and curious eyes, is too much to bear. Ever since the horrific accident that left her badly scarred, Jeanie, unable to remember anything about that awful day, has pulled away from society, utterly isolated. Then a mysterious stranger appears at her house, and Jeanie suddenly begins having flashbacks about the night of her wedding—flashbacks that hold answers to the questions she’s had for years; flashbacks that make her realize the world around her is not as it seems.   Weaving together Savka and Jeanie's stories with artful precision, The Last Secret is at once luminous and transporting, a brilliant and impossible-to-forget story of love, hope, and the breathtaking resilience of women.



Danielle Steel - Trial by Fire artwork Trial by Fire
A Novel
Danielle Steel
Genre: Fiction & Literature
Price: $16.99
Publish Date: November 19, 2024
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Seller: Penguin Random House Canada

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this inspiring novel from bestselling author Danielle Steel, the life of a Parisian woman changes in a heartbeat when she’s trapped by wildfires in Napa Valley. Born to a French mother and American father, graceful Dahlia de Beaumont has been sole owner and CEO of the venerable family perfume business based in Paris since her early twenties, following the death of her parents. For twenty-five years, after losing her young skier husband in an avalanche, her life has centered on running Lambert Perfumes and being a devoted single mother to her four now-adult children: indecisive Charles, volatile Alexa, kind-hearted business visionary Delphine, and dreamy artist Emma. Now fifty-six, she has an “arrangement” with a married French man but has been questioning that relationship. Dahlia comes to San Francisco on a routine business trip to check on her stores in the States. But shortly after her arrival, brush fires ignite in Napa Valley. Watching the sweeping devastation on the news, Dahlia is moved to help. But doing so will bring unforeseen consequences that endanger not only her life, but her entire future. Forced to remain in San Francisco in the aftermath, she will make unexpected connections while also fighting to protect all she has worked for. What Dahlia learns will provide a new perspective of her life, forever changing what really matters to her and what comes next for her journey. With this uplifting novel, Danielle Steel beautifully dramatizes how life’s unforeseen challenges can sow the seeds for growth and a fresh chance at love—if one is willing to take the risk.



Hanya Yanagihara - A Little Life artwork A Little Life
A Novel
Hanya Yanagihara
Genre: Literary Fiction
Price: $14.99
Publish Date: March 10, 2015
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Seller: Penguin Random House Canada

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A stunning “portrait of the enduring grace of friendship” ( NPR ) about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. A masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century. NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • MAN BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST • WINNER OF THE KIRKUS PRIZE A Little Life follows four college classmates—broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition—as they move to New York in search of fame and fortune. While their relationships, which are tinged by addiction, success, and pride, deepen over the decades, the men are held together by their devotion to the brilliant, enigmatic Jude, a man scarred by an unspeakable childhood trauma. A hymn to brotherly bonds and a masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century, Hanya Yanagihara’s stunning novel is about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. Look for Hanya Yanagihara’s latest bestselling novel, To Paradise.



Jerry B. Jenkins - I, Saul artwork I, Saul
Jerry B. Jenkins
Genre: Religious Fiction
Price: $0.99
Publish Date: August 27, 2013
Publisher: Worthy
Seller: OpenRoad Integrated Media, LLC

“[T]his suspenseful tale” weaving the apostle’s life with a modern mystery “proves the storytelling mastery of Jenkins. . . . entertaining and . . . uplifting” ( Publishers Weekly ). A MURDERER who would change the WORLD From multi-million copy bestselling novelist Jerry Jenkins comes a compelling international thriller that conveys you from present-day Texas to a dank Roman dungeon in A.D. 67, then down the dusty roads of ancient Israel, Asia, and back to Rome. A young seminary professor, Augustine Knox, is drawn into a deadly race to save priceless parchments from antiquities thieves and discovers a two-thousand-year old connection with another who faced death for the sake of the truth. I, Saul consists of two riveting adventures in one, transporting you between the stories of Augustine Knox and Saul of Tarsus. Filled with political intrigue, romance, and rich historical detail, I, Saul is a thrilling tale of loyal friendships tested by life-or-death quests, set two millennia apart, told by a master storyteller. “Only Jerry can transport readers from modern-day Texas to the early days of Christianity, breathing new life into familiar biblical characters.” Todd Starnes, Fox News “An inspirational, insightful, page-turning thriller! –Anne Graham Lotz, author of Wounded by God's People “In I, Saul , we see the biblical outline faithfully followed with detail that grips the heart afresh about what a life totally dedicated to Jesus Christ looks like.” –Jack Graham, pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church, Dallas “ I, Saul  has everything a great thriller needs: page-turning action, intrigue and mounting suspense, plot twists that really work and, above all, characters worth caring about.” –Liz Curtis Higgs, New York Times– bestselling author of Mine is the Night



Crystal Hana Kim - If You Leave Me artwork If You Leave Me
A Novel
Crystal Hana Kim
Genre: Literary Fiction
Price: $1.99
Publish Date: August 07, 2018
Publisher: HarperCollins
Seller: OpenRoad Integrated Media, LLC

“An immersive, heartbreaking story about war, passion, and the road not taken.” — People "One of the most beautiful and moving love stories you’ll read this year." — Nylon Magazine NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • The New York Post • Vulture • Real Simple • Bustle • Nylon • Thrillist • Mental Floss • Self magazine • Booklist • Refinery 29 An emotionally riveting debut novel about war, family, and forbidden love—the unforgettable saga of two ill-fated lovers in Korea and the heartbreaking choices they’re forced to make in the years surrounding the civil war that still haunts us today. When the communist-backed army from the north invades her home, sixteen-year-old Haemi Lee, along with her widowed mother and ailing brother, is forced to flee to a refugee camp along the coast. For a few hours each night, she escapes her family’s makeshift home and tragic circumstances with her childhood friend, Kyunghwan. Focused on finishing school, Kyunghwan doesn’t realize his older and wealthier cousin, Jisoo, has his sights set on the beautiful and spirited Haemi—and is determined to marry her before joining the fight. But as Haemi becomes a wife, then a mother, her decision to forsake the boy she always loved for the security of her family sets off a dramatic saga that will have profound effects for generations to come. Richly told and deeply moving, If You Leave Me is a stunning portrait of war and refugee life, a passionate and timeless romance, and a heartrending exploration of one woman’s longing for autonomy in a rapidly changing world.