Murder by the Millions - Literary Dining Mysteries #2

 

Murder by the Millions is the second Literary Dining cozy mystery by Daryl Wood Gerber. Released 28th Oct. 2025 by Kensington, it's 320 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher in 3rd quarter 2026. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free, as is the first book in the series.

A nice cozy very bookish mystery series with a returning ensemble cast and some new secondary characters. The story is peppered with lots (and lots) of name-drops of classic golden age to modern mysteries to chase down later. There's a strong foodie element, and MC Allie is a caterer and book lover. The dialogue and content are very clean and there's no graphic violence or sexual content. As a nice bonus (and typical for the genre) there's an important feline character, Allie's kitty Darcy, who's key to unraveling the whole mystery. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 9 hours 18 minutes and is capably read by Sara Van Beckum. She has a well modulated alto voice with a midwest American accent and does a fine job of delineating the characters of a range of ages and both male and female. Sound and production quality is high throughout the read.  

Four stars. It would be a nice choice for public or home library acquisition, or for a light binge/buddy read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

Natural Settings: Creating Botanical Jewelry with Eco-resins

 

Natural Settings is a well written tutorial guide with projects for using natural botanical jewelry by Dr. Sharon Wu. Released 18th Aug 2026 by Bloomsbury on their Herbert Press imprint, it's 176 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents (including supplies and products to do the projects).

This is a very well written and logically arranged tutorial guide featuring lots of intricate and attractive jewelry pieces which featuring resin embedded flowers and botanical elements. The projects are beautifully complex and unbelievably detailed.

The introduction covers tools, setup, materials selection, and safety. The practical tutorial chapters which follow include info on the process of mixing, embedding, forming, finishing, detailing, combining multiple elements, etc. The text is accompanied by plenty of clear, color photos throughout. 

The project tutorial chapters include full projects with instructions. Each tutorial includes an introduction, list of tools and supplies, and step-by-step photo/text directions.

Five stars. Well written and illustrated. Very well photographed throughout. This would make an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, gift-giving, activity groups, maker's groups, and for the home studio library.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

 

Cards on the Table

 

Cards on the Table is a paranormal cozy(ish) mystery by Lana Harper & Jilly Gagnon. Released 1st Sept 2026 by Penguin Random House on their Bantam imprint, it's 400 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

Told in alternating chapters PoV of the two MC who are sisters, the closed suspect pool isolated setting feels like a fitting homage to the golden age classic mystery. Protagonists Cassie and Tori become chief suspects of incompetent local police when a client whose mansion they've moved into suddenly passes away during a séance, and a large fortune goes missing. 

There is a light paranormal aspect, the sisters are descendants of a victim of the Salem witch trials, practicing their divination, card reading, and spellcraft in the modern era. They have a complex relationship with one another, also working through abandonment issues and trying to rely on each other and make a life for themselves. 

The writing is engaging, with well developed believable characters (for the genre). The pacing is slow in the first half of the book, but picks up around halfway. The climax and denouement are satisfying with an extra little "last chapter twist" which was nice. It's not explicitly stated, but there's strong foreshadowing for a continuing series with future adventures for the sisters. 

Three and a half stars. It would be a good choice for public or home library acquisition, or a nice buddy read for fans of the genre.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

  

Poker Wars: Murder, Mayhem, and the Bloody History that Led to the World Series of Poker

 

Poker Wars is an engaging and well written true crime history about organized crime in Texas & Las Vegas and the nascence of the world series of poker, written by Philip Guitar and Jim Martyka. Released 11th Aug 2026 by Crooked Lane, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats.  It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

The first half of the book is a more or less directly factual historical recounting (and some of the mythology) surrounding Benny Binion and his deadly feud with Herbert Noble, and a motley cast of thugs, gamblers, grifters, and con men doing the gambling circuits in Texas and Las Vegas. The second half is a lightly fictionalized account of the origins of the World Series of Poker. 

It's especially interesting for gambling fans, but even for fans of true-crime, there's enough to make an engaging read. The author/publisher have added a disclaimer firmly stating that it's fiction, but there's at least a distinct framework of real history included, and the names used in the book are the actual names of the actual players. 

Four stars. Interesting (and scary in places - those guys weren't nice). 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

Needle Felting the Animals of the National Parks

 

Needle Felting the Animals of the National Parks is a well written guide to needle felting with 15 project tutorials written and curated by Claudia Marie Lenart. Released 28th July 2026 by Fox Chapel on their Landauer imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is such an appealing and accessible technique and tutorial guide with clearly written instructions and colour photographs which illustrate the steps from tool and materials selection through to the finished project. Many of the projects (there are 15 including black bears, seal cubs, bison, and a bunch of others) can be repurposed for other uses or just used as they are. They're surprisingly realistic and will appeal to almost everyone.

The introduction includes a good overview over the basic tools and supplies. The following chapters contain the tutorials. The book includes templates, but no bibliography or resource lists (which can be found with an online search anyhow).

Five stars. This is a useful and beginner accessible guide and would make a great selection for library acquisition, maker's groups, activity groups, and the home library.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Snow Clearing Day - Little Landscapers

 

Snow-Clearing Day is an adorable illustrated picture book for the youngest kids by Breanna Carzoo. Due out 15th Sept. 2026 from Simon & Schuster on their Little Simon imprint, it's 24 pages and will be available as a board book or ebook. 

The art is very cute and appealing, done in a collage style with gesso accents. Three little friends are ready to go to work and clear their neighborhood. The text is written simply with lots of onomatopoetic words and situations which invite readers to improvise their own narration (vroom! whoosh! scrape! etc). 

Five stars. It would be an excellent choice for public, school, or home library, as well as for childminders and classroom (or library) reading circles. There are also gentle unobtrusive little opportunities for counting (1,2,3), and cleaning up after finishing work, and of enjoying a hot cocoa after a job well done.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

The Lone Wolf Cafe - Mainely Magic #1

 

The Lone Wolf Café is a cute F/F sapphic romantasy and the first book in a series by Sydney Wilder. Originally published in 2025, this reformat and re-release is 434 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.  For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is very much a cozy romance with two F/F protagonist misfits and both have secrets to hide and lots of baggage. Sarcastic, found family, female MCs, werewolves and magic, and lots and lots of drama (which could be resolved with 3 minutes of honesty, but they can't risk it all to open up to one another).

The characters manage to be distinct and well delineated and readers won't have trouble keeping them separated. It is quite trope-y, with a "mean girls" subplot, but the magic system and world building are engaging and believable (for the genre). The little elementals/familiars are especially appealing and sweet. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 11 hours 9 minutes and is read by Autumn Wolff. She has an odd unpolished voice and sometimes difficult modulation. The characters aren't especially well delineated and are sometimes difficult to distinguish from one another. The actual sound and production quality were not up to Audible's usual standards for the read. (I received an ALC, so the final cut could be much more polished).

Three and a half stars. It would be a good choice for public or home library acquisition as well as for a buddy read. 

 Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

The Pumpkin Bride

 

The Pumpkin Bride is a warm and cozy romantasy by Fiona Buttercup. Released 1st Sept. 2026 by HarperCollins on their Harlequin/MIRA imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a sweet, funny, cozy, feel good mashup with definite homage vibes to Shrek & Princess Bride. It's not derivative, but it really is a nice escapist read with guaranteed happily ever after (not a spoiler, it's in the blurb). Pies, pumpkin spice, comeuppance for the hiss-worthy bad guy, and love story. Definitely one for the fans of Travis Baldree, Becky Chambers, Julie Leong, and similar. 

Four stars. It's adorable, and safe-for-work/commute reading. It would be a good choice for public or home library acquisition, or a buddy read.  

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.   

Lynx Vol 1

 

Lynx is a beautifully drawn western style manga written by Samuel Sattin and illustrated by tokitokoro. Released 11th Aug 2026 by Viz, it's 224 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The art is reminiscent of DK and Sin City era Miller, full of motion and an almost strobe effect, quite jagged in places. The story, a post apocalyptic "girl and her dog (who's a bio-enhanced cat)" story is similarly disjointed... but also engaging and interesting. The art and story fill one another out to a sufficient degree to make an intriguing whole. There's not much back-story in this (the first) issue, but wrapping anything around the core idea of a queer female detective and her intelligent talking cat investigative partner trying to figure out how murder victims keep showing up dead with angel feathers in their brains in a post-apocalyptic frozen world is worth the price of admission just for the setup. 

Art is 5/5, story is 3/5 (but promising to be more understandable in future issues hopefully). Overall a solid 4/5. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

Mr Scribbley: Camping in the Woods - Mr. Scribbley #3

 

Mr Scribbley: Camping in the Woods is an adorable illustrated adventure for young readers by Y. J. Toner. Released 14th Aug 2026 by Troubadour, it's 22 pages and is available in ebook format. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

The prose is age-accessible and written in a fun free verse which will have the littles chanting along with Mr. Scribbley, making a list of items for their camping trip, finding supplies, and enjoying an adventure in the woods with Sat Nav and Worm. As ever, not everything goes to plan, and Scribbley and pals (Sat Nav is his dog, and Worm, his... worm friend) are soon having adventures and hijinks. 

The art is full of whimsy and details which invite a closer look. Despite being a very *fun* book, there are good takeaways about reading and following instructions, planning carefully and carrying out plans, adjusting expectations when things go awry, as well as the importance of friends and having fun.

The language and spelling are British English. It shouldn't pose any problems in context for readers from the USA, but it is noticeable. 

Four and a half stars. The art and story are delightful.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

Twig's Traveling Tomes

 

Twig's Traveling Tomes is a cute YA romantasy by Gryffin Murphy. Indie published and due out 8th Sept. 2026 from Bindery Books, it's 280 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.  

This is a warm, cozy, cottage-core romantasy full of found family, queer-positive representation, and low stakes adventure. There are side quests galore, a traveling/teleporting bookstore, magical creatures, and a very eclectic ensemble cast. 

Although it's not derivative, there's a sort of dreamlike whimsy a la Howl's Moving Castle, with lots of bizarre magical creatures and adventures, with bonus egregious flirting. Wynne-Jones fans will probably enjoy this one. Spicy scenes (there aren't too many) are fade-to-black. There's lots of stolen kisses and on page flirting. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 12 hours 30 minutes and is capably (if a bit bombastically) read by Imogen Church. She has a light, youthful, professionally trained voice and precise delivery. Many of the characters are completely silly and the reading is full of whimsical character voices and renders them with aplomb, and absolutely does not take herself seriously at all. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Three and a half stars. Recommended for romantasy fans, and low stress adventure romance. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.    

Coop Design By Merriweather

 

Coop Design By Merriweather is a cute artsy book for the very youngest readers (Lexile 500L) by Kelley M. Likes and illustrated by Marta Serraggiotto. Released 1st July 2026, it's 52 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. There are a couple other books in the series (including book 2 in Italian) which are also available with KU. 

This is a nice introduction to different artistic styles when Merriweather and her friend Sammy try to decorate her new coop. What should she choose? How should she choose. It's lighthearted with colorful illustrations throughout. The author has provided links to further educational resources, questions, and lesson plans online. 

Simple, but very cute. 

Four stars. It would be a great choice for public, school, or home library acquisition, or for gifting to a young friend/family member. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.     

'Tis Thee, Not Me: A Modern Medieval Guide to Bad Dates and Worse Decisions

 

'Tis Thee, Not Me is a bitingly sarcastic examination of dating culture with illuminated (medieval) illustrations by Clarice Tudor (*snerk*). Released 5th May 2026 by Penguin Random House on their Ten Speed Press imprint, it's 144 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

It's illustrated in a cartoon medieval illuminated style and endless examples of the awfulness of modern dating culture. Page after page of men who make life as a single person much more appealing. It attempts to be lighthearted and funny, but honestly after 50 pages it's just anxiety inducing and depressing. There are a LOT of fart jokes, in fact a whole subchapter. Apparently the whole book project grew out of an extended fart episode on her web-comics. 

Three and a half stars. The art is awesome. It would be a good choice for public or home library acquisition, as drawing inspiration for SCAdians and calligraphers, or as a great gag gift for a friend suffering the slings and arrows of cruel fate in the dating pool.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

 

 

Low-Maintenance Eco Gardens: A Practical Guide to Creating an Easy & Sustainable Garden that Nourishes You

 

Low-Maintenance Eco Gardens is a well written practical guide to permaculture and self-sufficiency by Fred Meyer & Jen Kardos. Released 16th June 2026 by Fox Chapel, it's 272 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

The book has a logical and accessible format with an understandable progression. The author starts with background, motivation, and inspiration, and moves on to soil, design, seasonal gardening tasks, and companion planting and plant profiles. The book also includes a useful reference appendix, bibliography, and index.

This won't be the *only* book needed to get from dreamer phase to successful productive gardener, but it is a very useful resource and will be a welcome addition to the gardener's library. This would also make a good choice for public or possibly school library acquisition, as well as for community gardens and allotments. The photography throughout is superlative; clear and colorful.

Four and a half stars. The information contained in this volume is slanted toward readers in North America (zone maps and hardiness for example), but there are good takeaways for readers living elsewhere.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Renaissance Dogs: A Litter of Hilarious Pups, Mutts, and Hounds

 

Renaissance Dogs is an eclectic mix of Renaissance (and a bit of Reformation) paintings which include dogs, curated by Taylor Wagmore (*gentle eyeroll*). Released 16th June 2026 by Penguin Random House on their Ten Speed Press imprint, it's 208 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is just for fun. It seems like a pet project of one of the folks at Penguin Random House, and honestly, why not. The humor throughout is punny, and silly, and goofy, and whimsical, and it's accompanied by credited art from the period. It's a niche product, but there are a number of fun (often comical) dogs involved - see the cover art. 

It's not intended to be taken seriously. Here's a small quote from the "about the author": 

Professor Taylor Wagmore, a professor of cynology (the scientific study of dogs) at Great Dane University in Texas, is very much a 'dog person' - and proud. He lives in Houston, often called the 'dog capital of America' due to its high dog-to-human ratio and dog-friendly reputation. He shares his home with two chocolate Labradors, Barry and Carl. Oh, and a wife and two children. 

Three and a half stars. It would be a good choice for public, school, or home library, or possibly as a humorous gift for an art (or dog) enthusiast. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

The Clew Bay Detectives - The Wild Atlantic Murders #1

 

The Clew Bay Detectives is the first Wild Atlantic mystery by Pam Lecky. Independently released 16th June 2026 by Storm, it's 316 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.  For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. 

The author has a solid command of setting, and the wild coastline in Ireland is palpable and as much a driver of the plotline as any of the human characters. There's a brooding tension, and the isolation actually plays a pivotal role in the development of the story. 

The amateur sleuth main character is a well regarded professional landscape gardener who makes a move to the coast after the breakdown of her relationship at home in Dublin. She's intelligent and driven, and stubborn to the point of recklessness. Many of the secondary characters are more sketched in than fully developed, but it's a series opener, so there's room for returning development. There are several adjacent story threads, including one nasty organized crime element which means it's a bit thriller-ish for die-hard cozy fans, and a bit cozy for thriller fanatics. 

Three and a half stars. It would be a good choice for home library, or buddy read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.   

Glow: Natural Body-Care Recipes and Relaxation Exercises to Help You Shine

 

Glow is a fun and well rounded guide to self-care and relaxation aimed at teens by Maya Pagán. Released 1st Sept 2026 by Hachette on their Storey imprint, it's 160 pages and is available in paperback (softbound) and ebook formats. 

There's so much stress and so many demands on everyone, and especially youngsters who are trying to find their way in the world and balance stress, and expectations, and school, friendship drama, and everything else. This book is a fun reset, with lots of interesting and safe recipes, along with tips for mindfulness and self-care. 

It's arranged logically, with chapters arranged thematically: waking up, everyday wellness, face care, hair care, body care, and hands & feet. Chapters include tutorial recipes, exercises and short highlighted text boxes with salient info. It's very well photographed and illustrated throughout, and although the models are all girls, and the vibe is "girlzone" throughout, there are good takeaways for anyone (everyone has skin and needs to slow down and relax). There are a range of skin types and colors represented in the models in the book. 

Recipes are written with a bullet list of ingredients, followed by step-by-step directions. Ingredient measurements are given in imperial (American) units; there's a metric conversion table in the back of the book. Illustrations are bright and punchy throughout. 

Four stars. There are some nice recipes (although coconut oil can block pores and it was one of the ingredients in one of the face cleanser recipes) and there were also some tips about shaving (or not), as well as some menstruation DIY tips. It would be a good choice for public or secondary school library acquisition, home use, or gifting to a young family member. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

Woodworking with Plastics: 26 Simple Projects to Bring Plastics into Your Woodshop

 

Woodworking with Plastics is a well written and accessible tutorial guide with projects by Ralph Bagnall. Released 11th Aug 2026 by Fox Chapel, it's 128 pages and is available in paperback (softbound) and ebook formats. 

This book grew out of a number of classes and seminars the author has done at woodworking fairs and through other venues, and it shows. The book has a logical layout and reads like class materials delivered at a very well organized workshop. He covers safety and PPE in depth, materials, tools and other equipment, and suitability of various types of plastic alone or in combination with other materials (wood). 

The tutorial projects are written with a bullet list of materials, tools, and supplies, and followed by a step-by-step guide to finishing. The book is very well photographed throughout with clear process photos (without hands or tools in the way of the "action"). Safety is emphasized throughout the book. The author presupposes familiarity with, and access to, a number of woodworking and crafting power tools. It would be -possible- for a keen beginner to do these projects, but for actual beginners a mentor (and access to a well equipped woodworking shop) would be necessary. 

Very well photographed throughout, with precisely engineered projects and lots of inspiration. 

Five stars, it would be an excellent choice for public, school, or home library, for shared studio and maker-spaces, or for gift giving.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

Modern Bushcraft

 

Modern Bushcraft is a well organized tutorial guide by Tim MacWelch. Released 30th June 2026 by HarperCollins on their Cider Mill Press imprint, it's 224 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

The book contains a collection of self-sufficiency and survival info, arranged thematically into logical chapters: safety, knives & tools, ropes knots & lashings, building a camp, water, fire building, food in the wild, campfire cooking, and navigation. The author has decades of experience, including teaching these skills, and it shows. He emphasizes safety throughout, and the book is refreshingly free of grandstanding and macho attitudes, and full of useful practical tips on securing a safe camp, providing food and shelter, and also fitting into and protecting nature and wild spaces. 

The book is full of breathtaking color photos, as well as illustrated with simple colored line drawings which support and supplement the text very well. Important concepts are placed in highlighted text boxes throughout. This isn't a book which will lend itself to being read cover to cover, but for short interludes or as a reference, it's useful.

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public, school, or home library acquisition, for activity groups, and possibly for scouting groups/leaders. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Griffin Speaker - Griffin Speaker #1

 

Griffin Speaker is the first book in a middle grade fantasy series by Jan M. Flynn. Released 5th May 2026 by Disney on their Hyperion imprint, it's 384 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in 2nd quarter 2027 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

This is an absolutely not-nuanced lambasting of socially stratified societies, colonialism, and political systems. It's sort of a more kid friendly dystopian novel such as Hunger Games, than any sort of cozy fantasy. The pacing is quite uneven, but the world building is interesting and well thought out. There isn't a lot of nuance to be found in the story, including the secondary characters, and especially the background structure, but at the end of the day, it's a story about an underdog (Rain) with a special gift, who defies odds to save herself and maybe change the world. 

There's not a lot of character development for Rain in this book in the series, but it's the first book, so there's that. 

Three and a half stars. It's somewhat depressing for a middle grade reader. It would probably be a good choice for public or secondary school library acquisition, or home library. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.