#MyFirst100Signs #NetGalley

Many adults now communicate with their babies using sign language. The author of this book begins by offering good advice about how and when to do this. I like that she acknowledges that every child is different and will begin to understand and sign in their own time. Her tips for approaching signing feel spot on.

Each one of the words featured in this book is accompanied not only by the sign but also by a cheerful and brightly colored illustration, making it an early picture book that a parent and child can look at together. Note though, that the author finds it helpful to pair signs with actions-for example, sign milk when giving a baby milk.

In addition to illustrating the sign, there is a written description of how to form each word. The words are organized alphabetically.

This book offers a good introduction to signing with a baby. I think that adults will want it in their library.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Pub date: 21 April 2026

Description:

Help your baby “talk” before they can speak—with signs that turn everyday moments into meaningful connection. My First 100 Signs makes early communication easy and joyful with bright visuals and simple signs for everyday needs like “milk,” “more,” and “all done.” Designed for babies 6 months and up, this engaging book helps reduce frustration, boost bonding, and support language development—one sign at a time.

Start communicating with your baby—before they can talk.

My First Tiny Signs is a colorful and engaging introduction to baby sign language, featuring the most 100 most essential signs for everyday routines, needs, and connection. Designed for babies 6 months and up, this visual guide empowers parents, grandparents, and caregivers to help little ones express themselves with confidence—well before their first words.

Each sign is thoughtfully chosen for real-life use, from basics like “milk” and “diaper” to helpful expressions like “all done” and “thank you.” Bright, colorful illustrations and baby-friendly visuals turn each page into a picture-book experience that invites babies to look, learn, and engage.

Whether you’re supporting early language development, easing everyday frustrations, or simply bonding more deeply, My First 100 Signs makes baby sign language joyful, accessible, and part of the rhythm of your day.

#TheBackyardBirdChronicles #NetGalley

Many know Amy Tan because of her novels including the wonderful The Joy Luck Club. Here readers get to spend time with a Tan who wants to feel closer to the natural world. It is an incredible treat!

This title is in the form of a journal. I found it to have many insights and observations. To add to the gorgeousness of this title, the illustrations are by the author herself.

Those who already know Tan’s novels, as well as those who love birds and/or nature, and spending time with a wise woman, need to pick up this title when it is released.

Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor as well as NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 23 April 2024

#TheMurderatWorldsEnd #NetGalley

This book will surely be enjoyed by those who like “locked room” mysteries. The reason for the lock is interesting-it is that the Viscount of this residence wants to seal it off for safety reasons linked to his fears around Halley’s Comet. The comet was a huge event at the time and perhaps not fully understood, especially by the viscount.

Of course, a murder takes place. Two less than traditional amateur detectives are on the case. It is entertaining to watch them solve it.

Happily, it seems that this book is the first in a series. I look forward to what comes next.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Pub date: 06 January 2026

Post first published on 30 January 2026

From Kirkus Reviews:

The odd-couple intergenerational sleuthing duo is a welcome new arrival on the historical-mystery scene, with Stephen’s squeamishness about Miss Decima’s filterless fuming a mainstay of the book’s unremitting humor (Stephen: “I’d never heard language like it…and I’d just spent the last month sharing a bunk with a man called Filthy Mick”). A paragon of the locked-room historical mystery.

Description:

Knives Out meets Downton Abbey! Secrets, murder, and mayhem collide as this unlikely sleuthing duo—an under-butler and a foul-mouthed octogenarian—hunt a killer in a manor sealed against the end of the world, in this locked-room mystery by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ross Montgomery.

Cornwall, 1910. On a remote tidal island, the Viscount of Tithe Hall is absorbed in feverish preparations for the apocalypse that he believes will accompany the passing of Halley’s Comet. The Hall must be sealed from top to bottom—every window, chimney, and keyhole closed off before night falls. But what the pompous, dishonest Viscount has failed to take into account is the danger that lies within… By morning, he will be dead in his sealed study, murdered by his own ancestral crossbow.

All eyes turn to Stephen Pike, Tithe Hall’s newest under-butler. Fresh out of Borstal for a crime he didn’t commit, he is the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time. His unlikely ally? Miss Decima Stockingham, the foul-mouthed, sharp as a tack, eighty-year-old family matriarch. Fearless and unconventional, she relishes chaos and puzzles alike, and a murder is just the thrill she’s been waiting for.

Together, this mismatched duo must navigate secret passages, buried grudges, and rising terror to unmask the killer before it’s too late…

From the Publisher:

#TheBletchleyRiddle #NetGalley

I am quite happy to (very belatedly) bring this book to the attention of middle grade readers as well as adults.

Readers will be delighted to meet Jakob and Lizzie the siblings who have a lot going on in this WWII set novel. I found them both to be engaging narrators.

Among other things, the two are at Bletchley Park which was, of course, a very important place whose employees shortened WWII through their hard work on codes. What will Jakob and Lizzie contribute to the war effort? There will be puzzles to solve. In addition, their mother is missing. Is she dead? Kids will keep reading to find out how the plot of the story works out.

I loved the many extras at the back of the book so be sure to look. There are an historical note, Q and A with the authors, info on codes and more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group-Penguin Young Readers Group for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Pub date: 08 October 2024

Post first published on 29 January 2026

Description:

from the publisher

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A thrilling mystery and collaboration between award-winning and bestselling authors Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin! This historical adventure follows two siblings at Bletchley Park, the home of WWII codebreakers, as they try to unravel a mystery surrounding their mother’s disappearance.

“Break out your Enigma machines! Sepetys and Sheinkin have written a thrilling World War II code-breaking adventure filled with ciphers, secrets, and spies.”—Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee

Remember, you are bound by the Official Secrets Act…

Summer, 1940. Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his quirky younger sister, Lizzie, share a love of riddles and puzzles. And now they’re living inside of one. The quarrelsome siblings find themselves amid one of the greatest secrets of World War II—Britain’s eccentric codebreaking factory at Bletchley Park. As Jakob joins Bletchley’s top minds to crack the Nazi’s Enigma cipher, fourteen-year-old Lizzie embarks on a mission to solve the mysterious disappearance of their mother.

The Battle of Britain rages and Hitler’s invasion creeps closer. And at the same time, baffling messages and codes arrive on their doorstep while a menacing inspector lurks outside the gates of the Bletchley mansion. Are the messages truly for them, or are they a trap? Could the riddles of Enigma and their mother’s disappearance be somehow connected? Jakob and Lizzie must find a way to work together as they race to decipher clues that unravel a shocking puzzle that presents the ultimate challenge: How long must a secret be kept?

From the Publisher:

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Two powerhouse authors collaborate on an enormously entertaining, expertly researched WWII novel with broad appeal…The authors successfully blend genuine suspense, sibling relationship issues, and humorous hijinks to create a tone both heartfelt and playful…Perfect for fans of Alan Gratz, this is an excellent fictional companion to Candace Fleming’s The Enigma Girls (2024)…Both masters of their craft, Sepetys and Sheinkin’s collaboration will draw fiction and nonfiction fans, not to mention a code-breaking coterie.”—STARRED REVIEW, Booklist

“Swift, snappy, and suspenseful storytelling.”—STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly

“An impressive joint effort between Sepetys and Sheinkin . . . With broad appeal to both WWII and mystery enthusiasts, this highly recommended title is a first purchase for all libraries serving tweens and teens.”—STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

“A master class in suspense…With its expert pacing and characterization and its careful delineation of historical and family stories, this is historical fiction at its best.”—STARRED REVIEW, The Horn Book

About the book:

From the publisher

The new cozy crime novel from the bestselling author of The Marlow Murder Club, soon to be a major TV series on PBS Masterpiece

Verity Beresford is worried about her husband. Oliver didn’t come home last night, so of course Verity goes straight to Judith Potts, Marlow’s resident amateur sleuth, for help. Oliver, founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, had rented The Marlow Belle, a private pleasure cruiser, to host an exclusive party for the society, but no one remembers seeing him disembark. And when Oliver’s body washes up on the Thames with two bullet holes in him, it’s time for the Marlow Murder Club to leap into action.

Oliver was, by all accounts, a rather complicated fellow, with a reputation for bullying children during nativity play rehearsals, and he wasn’t short of enemies. Judith, Suzie, and Becks are convinced they’ll find his killer in no time. But things are not as they seem in the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, and this case is not so clear-cut after all. The gang will need to keep their wits about them to solve this case… otherwise a killer will walk free.

My thoughts:

I was absolutely delighted to spend time with the gang in this newest entry in the Marlow series. This, like the others, is a traditional mystery with good characters and an interesting plot. Readers will want to see if they can solve the case before the three amateurs and the police.

Anyone who has read others in the series, or who has seen the television adaptations, will I think be happy to pick this one up. It was enjoyable.

Those who are new to the residents of Marlow may want to read this too. They will then pick up all of the others, I think.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Pub date: 16 September 2025

Others in the series:

Now out: Death Comes to Marlow

Would you join: The Marlow Murder Club

Beware: The Queen of Poisons (Robert Thorogood)

He wrote them:

Robert Thorogood

About the author

I’m the author of THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB books, set in my hometown of Marlow in Buckinghamshire.

The first book in the series has been made into a TV show and can be watched in the UK on the Freeview channel U&Drama and in the USA on PBS/Masterpiece. A second TV series is coming out in 2025 and is based on Death Comes to Marlow, but also includes some brand new murders as well.

Before all of this, I created DEATH IN PARADISE for the BBC and have also written four standalone Richard Poole murder mystery novels. I’m really proud of them, and if you like Death in Paradise, I hope you’ll love the books as well.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/01/26/books/review/oscar-winning-books.html

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/28/books/review/new-mystery-novels.html

#ANovelMurder #NetGalley

I enjoyed the title of this book as it could have more than one meaning. Other things that I liked about A Novel Murder included protagonist Jane, and the ways in which the author (who knows the publishing world) looked at the ins and outs of the industry. Nevin’s portrayal of the book festival also was quite entertaining with many players represented as for example, authors, reviewers, publicists and editors. Note again, the cleverness of naming the festival Killer Lines.

The story is told in a somewhat tongue in cheek manner. Around this there are many suspects and a case to be solved. Readers will root for Jane as this mystery writer solves a real crime.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 17 June 2025

Description:

from the publisher

Welcome to the Killer Lines Crime Fiction Festival, the place for star writers of the genre to meet their adoring fans. But be careful—this year the murders aren’t just on the page.

“Funny, sharply observed and fiendishly clever” —Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things

In the quaint English town of Hoslewit, the biggest names in crime writing have congregated to celebrate all things bookish and murderous. Author Jane Hepburn is determined to make her time at the Killer Lines festival worthwhile. This is her chance to change her fortunes and make her fictional Private Detective Baker a household name. And if she has to resort to sneaking into the book tent after hours to rearrange some books so hers are front and center, so be it. 

But when Jane encounters the dead body of renowned (and reviled) literary agent Carrie Marks, the festival takes on a decidedly different tone. Joined by Carrie’s newest client, debut novelist Natasha Martez, and the agency’s hapless intern, Daniel Thurston, Jane decides to put her fictional sleuthing skills to use in the real world—she’s going to solve the murder. But the list of suspects is long: seemingly everyone at the festival has a motive to kill Carrie, and the more Jane and her new friends investigate, the closer they come to a dangerous truth—one that’s stranger than fiction.

Reviews:

“The pseudonymous Nevin, a former publishing professional, has written a fun, tongue-in-cheek debut that spoofs the publishing industry and social media’s impact (BookTok, anyone?). . . . Jane is a delight. Readers will root for the lonely sleuth as she makes new friends and develops joyful self-confidence. . . . An appealing cozy star is born.” —Kirkus Review

“With its cozy bookish setting and mystery-writer protagonist, this will be a hit with fans of Janice Hallett and Robert Thorogood.” —Library Journal

“E.C. Nevin transports readers to a lethal literary festival in, A Novel Murder. . . . E.C. Nevin is a pseudonym for a former publishing professional who worked with crime novels and thrillers. That knowledge shapes A Novel Murder, where every character is connected to the literary industry in some way. Nevin threads humor throughout the novel, too, creating a winning combination in this debut cozy mystery.” —BookPage

“An entertaining whodunit centered on 40- something mystery author Jane Hepburn. . . . With a well-rounded list of suspects and [a] lovably awed heroine. Cozy fans will hope this is the start of a new series.” —Publishers Weekly

“Terrific fun, a tongue-in-cheek look at the world of writing and book festivals with a delightful mystery.” —The Sun

I have become a fan of Sarah Morgan and am always delighted to have a new novel of hers to read. This time, it is a holiday set story thather readers will enjoy.

Watch how the relationships develop. What will happen to the main characters over this Christmas? Will happiness be found? Relax, enjoy and find out.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Pub date: 07 October 2025

Post first published on 27 January 2026

Description:

from the publisher

This Christmas, the Balfour family will have more secrets to unwrap than presents…

Becky is stranded at the airport, so when she bumps into her brother’s best friend, Will, and he suggests they drive home together, Becky reluctantly agrees. For the first time, Becky is dreading Christmas, and only Will knows why. Can she trust him to keep her secret?

Her twin sister, Rosie, married Declan after a whirlwind romance, and now the cracks are starting to appear. Rosie and Declan have agreed to hide their problems from her family, but Rosie’s insecurities are growing. Will this Christmas bring them closer or drive them apart?

Hayley can’t wait for her first Balfour family Christmas with Jamie. The Balfour Christmas traditions sound wonderful, but she’s worried about her place in this close-knit family. Will there be room for her too? And how will they react to the secret she and Jamie have been keeping?

Despite everyone’s best intentions, all the chaos and confusion could derail their normally happy holidays. Can they tell each other the truth in time to enjoy a perfect family Christmas?

Perfect for fans of:

• The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan
• Strong, hardworking women
• Complex family relationships
• Christmas Hallmark movies
• Rebecca Serle and Meghan Quinn
• 
  
  
  
  

ALSO BY THIS AUTHOR:

The Holiday Cottage

Readers will want to visit: The Book Club Hotel (Sarah Morgan)

Readers will want to make time for: The Summer Swap (Sarah Morgan)

A season of growth: Other People’s Summers by Sarah Morgan

The inviting cover of this book made me want to read it and I am glad that I did. Note that the main characters are all here as are books. What more could a reader hope for?

Most Ardently Yours is a novel that asks for substantial suspension of disbelief. However, readers who are willing to do just that will find much to enjoy in Sampson’s newest novel.

Protagonist Zoe believes very strongly in what romances offer to their readers. Early in the book, she reels off the names of many in this field, some of whom I did not know. (I need to look).

Zoe gets into an argument with bookshop owner Nick whom she faults for not stocking romances but rather what Zoe calls “dick lit.” (Readers will learn more about this) So, while in the store Zoe runs out with a copy of Pride and Prejudice (that she did not pay for) and sets the amazing events in motion.

Imagine, Zoe’s surprise when Fitzwilliam Darcy appears in front of her. How could he possibly have come to life? It will take a bit until Zoe fully understands what happened and the implications.

Sampson has fun with Will’s adjustment to modern life. Readers will watch as he and Zoe get to know one another. What will happen to them? Can a fictional character even have a long term relationship? And, what about grumpy Nick?

Find out as readers get to know Zoe and those around her. Enjoy the time lines.

Think about what it might be like to have a bookshop like Nick’s. Marvel about what books can do for people.

This was a delightful read. Those who enjoy women’s fiction, romance, this author and escapist reads will want to take a look.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Landmark for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 07 July 2026

Post first published on 26 January 2026

Description:

from the publisher

From USA Today Bestselling author Freya Sampson comes a swoon-worthy, laugh-out-loud romance inspired by Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice that begs the question: what if your book boyfriend jumped from the pages of their story and into your life?

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single woman in possession of many romance novels, must be in want of a book boyfriend.” 

Zoe Knight, a struggling romance writer, has sworn off men for good. At least…the ones in real life. Once a believer in a happily ever after, she now curbs her loneliness with the help of the best book boyfriends in literature – and there is no better man than Jane Austen’s Mr. Darcy. So when she stumbles into a classic London bookshop and argues with the annoyingly attractive store owner, Nick, who refuses to sell romance novels, she decides to liberate him of a dusty copy of Pride & Prejudice abandoned on a top shelf.

But this is no ordinary book.

After reading from the pages, Zoe finds herself in a remarkable situation: she has accidentally summoned the Mr. Darcy to the real world. Now, she’s face-to-face with the man she’s loved forever, and he’s everything she dreamed he would be. Handsome? Check. Brooding? Check. Talks like he swallowed a thesaurus? Check and check. But even in all his regency perfection, can he ever be as good as in the novel? And if he’s here, in her London apartment trying to figure out how to work a shower , what will happen to the literary world he came from? With Nick—the last man she could ever be prevailed upon to work with—urging her to send the fictional Darcy back to his own story, Zoe will have to decide what she really wants from a happy ending, before it’s too late.

Other books by the author:

Let’s join: The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson-my stop on the blog tour for this title that is published on 27 May 2025

You will want to meet the Nosy Neighbors!