The Strange Message in the Parchment by Carolyn Keene, 180 pages

A sheep farmer receives a mysterious telephone call shortly after he buys a series of pictures painted on parchment. "Decipher the message in the parchment and right a great wrong," the voice says. Puzzled, the owner asks Nancy to help.

With Junie, his daughter, Nancy tracks down a kidnapper and a group of extortionists. Clues weave in and out of several puzzles, two of which are linked with Italy. Is there a connection between the message in the parchment and a boy artist on another farm? And who is responsible for the atmosphere of fear in the neighborhood?

After several harrowing experiences, Nancy begins to tighten the net around a ruthless villain and calls on the assistance of her friends Ned, Burt, Dave, Bess and George to bring his nefarious schemes to a dead end.

B & V Friends Comics Annual Digest #253, 256 pages

 STORYBOOK MONTH gains momentum! In "The Princesses and the Pea-brain," the girls are put to the test to see who will be a suitable wife for Prince Archie. But when their mattresses are out to the pea test, it’s anybody's guess who will be lucky (or unlucky) enough to win over the prince!

Betty and Veronica Digest #177, 96 pages

 Bright and brassy, bold and beautiful, blonde and brunette - teen dream queens Betty and Veronica romp through this collection of new stories and classic tales that includes puzzles, games, and pin-ups!

B & V Friends Fall Annual Digest, 196 pages

 IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL for our DOUBLE DIGESTS! In the BRAND NEW story "Don't TEST My Patience," Veronica gets the highest score on the student aptitude test -- but has there been some tampering with the results?

Playing With Fire by Dana Stabenow, 253 pages

 KATE SHUGAK is a native Aleut working as a private investigator in Alaska. She's 5 foot 1 inch tall, carries a scar that runs from ear to ear across her throat and owns half-wolf, half-husky dog named Mutt. Resourceful, strong-willed, defiant, Kate is tougher than your average heroine – and she needs to be to survive the worst the Alaskan wilds can throw at her.

PLAY WITH FIRE.
A ten-year-old boy 'hires' Kate to find his missing father and when Kate stumbles across a body in the woods she fears she may have found him. Finding out what happened will lead Kate to a right-wing religious sect, a conspiracy of silence and a smouldering evil.

Barbarian's Mate by Ruby Dixon, 250 pages

 'Resonance' is supposed to be a dream - that's when your soulmate is chosen for you. And everyone on the ice planet has hooked up with a big, hunky soulmate of their own... except me. So do I want a mate? Heck yeah. More than anything, all I've ever wanted is to be loved by someone.

Except that the soulmate chosen for me? My least favorite person on the darn ice planet. Haeden's the most cranky, disapproving, unpleasant, overbearing male alien... so why is it that my body sings when he gets close? Why is he working so hard to prove to me that he's not as awful as I think he is?

I hate him... don't I?

Funny Fairy Tales: All 16 Fairy Tales by Reut Barak, 209 pages

 Once upon a time, Cinderella was allergic to dust, Red Riding Hood experimented a little too much, and Snow White discovered that dwarfs aren’t always what they seem.

Unexpected twists, awkward romances, and magical mishaps unfold in these short stories, where familiar fairy tales take a sharp left turn.

A little absurd, a little charming, and full of surprises for readers who like their classics reimagined.

The stories:

Thumbelina

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Rapunzel

Red Riding Hood

Aladdin

Frog Prince

Cinderella

Hansel & Gretel

Alice in Wonderland

Beauty and the Beast

Sleeping Beauty

Rumpelstiltskin

Goldilocks

Jack and the Beanstalk

The Princess and the Pea

The Little Mermaid

Prose and Cons by Steffanie Holmes, 290 pages

 Morrie’s been arrested on suspicion of murder. Mina knows the Napoleon of Crime is innocent, but how can she prove her favorite con-artist is being stitched-up?

Being the spider in the center of a vast criminal web has left Morrie in hot water. His list of enemies is long… too long for Mina and her men to unravel. Mina doesn’t have a clue to stand on when a shadow from Morrie’s past shows up and threatens to destroy everything she’s fought for.

If Morrie’s ex solves the murder before them it could mean the end of Nevermore Bookshop. But is Mina ready to pit her sleuthing skills against literature’s foremost consulting detective?

Add a rambunctious puppy, a meddling mother, a cockroach cookery lesson, and their ultimate enemy closing in, and Mina’s on her toughest case yet. There’s only way to get the answers they need, but are Heathcliff and Quoth prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to save their friend?

America's Geekheart by Pippa Grant, 364 pages

 Remember that time you accidentally sexted your in-laws?

Yeah. I just did that. Except worse. Now my million social media followers are reading and sharing the rude, smartass message I meant to send privately to my little sister...and I’m officially public enemy number one.

I’m Beck Ryder. Former boy bander. Underwear model. Fashion mogul. And I just buried my entire leg in my mouth—not just my foot—modern internet style, and publicly insulted my sister’s neighbor.

Sarah Dempsey.

Also known as the woman of my dreams, who loves geeky TV shows, baseball, and giraffes, who’s just as turned on by food as I am, and who has a huge secret that I didn’t see coming.

Now it's time to grovel and apologize publicly on social media and hope that those same followers who helped start the raging shitstorm will help calm the waters.

Because Sarah doesn’t want the spotlight. For very good reasons that I can’t tell you right now and trying to convince her to be my fake girlfriend to fix this mess and make me look like less of a jackass is worse than taking a kick to the nuts by Jackie Chan.

And I thought modeling underwear made me feel naked.

Trying to start a relationship in the era of the twitterazzi isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.

Fifty Animals That Changed the Course of History by Eric Chaline, 224 pages

 Fifty Animals that Changed the Course of History is a beautifully presented guide to the animals that have had the greatest impact on human civilization. Entries are organized by scientific name, except for Homo sapiens, which is featured last.

The 50 animals include the horse, dog, rat, whale, reindeer, beaver, flea, leech, dodo, falcon, oyster and shark. These creatures, great and small, have played central roles in the evolution of humankind, but they have remained at the periphery of our understanding of history. Whether it is an advancement in scientific knowledge, a trade war, disease and death, battles won and lost, or encounters with explorers in unknown lands, these animals have changed the course of history.

More than 150 elegant drawings, photographs and paintings, as well as excerpts from literature, highlight the concise text. Each animal is judged by its influence in four categories:

Edible -- animals that have shaped agriculture, such as the cow
Medical -- animals that are "disease vectors," spreading bacteria and viruses, from malaria to plague
Commercial -- animals used for trade or in manufacturing
Practical -- animals used for transportation or clothing.

The animals described in Fifty Animals that Changed the Course of History are familiar, but their roles in human history are easily overlooked. This attractive reference gives us a fresh perspective on our place in the animal kingdom.

The Sky Phantom by Carolyn Keene, 180 pages

 Nancy goes to the Excello Flying School in the Midwest to take lessons, while her friends Bess and George perfect their horseback riding. At once the young sleuth is confronted with the mystery of a hijacked plane and a missing pilot. Then the rancher's prize pony, Major, is stolen. Nancy becomes a detective in a plane and on horseback to track down the elusive sky phantom and the horse thief. A lucky find - a medal with a message to be deciphered on it - furnishes a worthwhile clue. Romance is added to mystery when Bess becomes interested in a handsome cowboy. Readers will spur Nancy on as she investigates a strange magnetic cloud, hunts for the horse thief, and finally arrives at a surprising solution.

The Best of Archie Comics Starring Betty & Veronica, 416 pages

 In the tradition of the smash hit Best of Archie Comics series comes another great full-color $9.99 volume jam-packed with over 400 pages of the funniest and most iconic stories of the past 70 years featuring Archie's girl friends Betty and Veronica, hand-selected by Archie creators, editors, fans and historians from 200,000 pages of material. A must-have edition for anyone who has ever enjoyed the Betty and Veronica comics as well as a great introduction to the history of Archie and the girls!

Archie Comics Digest #4: Spring Break, 96 pages

 

The World's Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne, 291 pages

 Josh Hanagarne couldn't be invisible if he tried. Although he wouldn't officially be diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome until his freshman year of high school, Josh was six years old and onstage in a school Thanksgiving play when he first began exhibiting symptoms. By the time he was twenty, the young Mormon had reached his towering adult height of 6'7" when — while serving on a mission for the Church of Latter Day Saints — his Tourette's tics escalated to nightmarish levels.

Determined to conquer his affliction, Josh underwent everything from quack remedies to lethargy-inducing drug regimes to Botox injections that paralyzed his vocal cords and left him voiceless for three years. Undeterred, Josh persevered to marry and earn a degree in Library Science. At last, an eccentric, autistic strongman — and former Air Force Tech Sergeant and guard at an Iraqi prison — taught Josh how to "throttle" his tics into submission through strength-training.

Today, Josh is a librarian in the main branch of Salt Lake City's public library and founder of a popular blog about books and weight lifting—and the proud father of four-year-old Max, who has already started to show his own symptoms of Tourette's.

The World's Strongest Librarian illuminates the mysteries of this little-understood disorder, as well as the very different worlds of strongman training and modern libraries. With humor and candor, this unlikely hero traces his journey to overcome his disability — and navigate his wavering Mormon faith — to find love and create a life worth living.

Spy x Family, Volume 13 by Tatsuya Endo, 200 pages

 Master spy Twilight is unparalleled when it comes to going undercover on dangerous missions for the betterment of the world. But when he receives the ultimate assignment—to get married and have a kid—he may finally be in over his head!

Twilight is on the ropes after his battle with an Ostanian spy! Can Nightfall save Twilight from disaster? Will WISE manage to recover their stolen secrets? And what will become of Loid and Yor’s marital crisis? Meanwhile, Anya’s friendship scheme gets thrown off by an unexpected gift from Damian!

Spy x Family, Volume 12 by Tatsuya Endo, 208 pages

 Master spy Twilight is unparalleled when it comes to going undercover on dangerous missions for the betterment of the world. But when he receives the ultimate assignment—to get married and have a kid—he may finally be in over his head!

Anya’s friendship scheme seems to be taking a turn for the better in the aftermath of the failed hijacking. Meanwhile, Operation Strix and Loid’s true identity are in danger—a mole has been uncovered and has gone underground. Will Loid and his allies be able to catch this double agent before all is lost?

The Black Hand by Will Thomas, 289 pages

 When an Italian assassin's body is found floating in a barrel in Victorian London's East End, enquiry agent Cyrus Barker and his assistant Thomas Llewelyn are called in to investigate. Soon corpses begin to appear all over London, each accompanied by a Mafia Black Hand note. As Barker and Llewelyn dig deeper, they become entangled in the vendettas of rival Italian syndicates -- and it is no longer clear who is a friend or foe.

Mrss. Pollifax Unveiled, 216 pages

 After facing down hijackers on a flight to the Middle East and saving the lives of the passengers on board, a young American woman steps off the plane in Damascus in a blaze of celebrity and disappears. The CIA believes Amanda Pym was kidnapped, possibly murdered.

Masquerading as Amanda Pym’s worried aunt, Mrs. Pollifax begins her determined search, slipping through Damascus’s crooked streets and crowded souks . . . and trekking deep into the desert. Yet she is shadowed by deadly enemies, whose sinister agenda threatens not only Mrs. P. but the fragile stability of the entire Middle East. Only a miracle—or a brilliant counterplot—can forestall a disaster that will send shock waves around the world.

Life with Archie by Archie Comics, 224 pages

 LIFE WITH ARCHIE VOL. 1 is the first of a chronological collection of titles featuring the classic series. This is presented in the new higher-end format of Archie Comics Presents, which offers 200+ pages at a value while taking a design cue from successful all-ages graphic novels.

The original Life with Archie series was home to the wildest alternate reality takes on the Riverdale gang. From spies to superheroes, this comic showcased stories readers never dreamed of! Relive those far-out tales in the first volume of this collection.

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen, 347 pages

 Former spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong. These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of blowback from the events that forced her early retirement.

But when a body turns up in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends—all retirees from the CIA—to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This “Martini Club” of former spies may be retired, but they still have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only to spice up their rather sedate new lives.

Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. More accustomed to dealing with rowdy tourists than homicide, Jo is puzzled by Maggie’s reluctance to share information—and by her odd circle of friends, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn.

As Jo’s investigation collides with the Martini Club’s maneuvers, Maggie’s hunt for answers will force her to revisit a clandestine career that spanned the globe, from Bangkok to Istanbul, from London to Malta. The ghosts of her past have returned, but with the help of her friends—and the reluctant Jo Thibodeau—Maggie might just be able to save the life she’s built.

The Best of Archie Comics Starring Betty & Veronica, Book Two, 416 pages

 The celebration of over 75 years of Archie Comics fun continues in this full-color collection, featuring over 400 pages of classic and modern Betty and Veronica stories!

The gals are back and better than ever on this second volume of THE BEST OF ARCHIE COMICS STARRING BETTY AND VERONICA!

This compilation features some of the most entertaining and well-loved Betty and Veronica stories from the past seven decades, starting in the '40s and continuing to present day. Also included in this volume are exclusive anecdotes and personal statements from comic writers, artists and editors about the impact of the two BFFs on their lives and work. This is a must-have edition for anyone who has enjoyed the Betty and Veronica comics as well as a great introduction to the history of the iconic duo!

Drive-Thru Dreams: A Journey Through the Heart of America's Fast-Food Kingdom by Adam Chandler, 276 pages

 Most any honest person can own up to harboring at least one fast-food guilty pleasure. In Drive-Thru Dreams, Adam Chandler explores the inseparable link between fast food and American life for the past century. The dark underbelly of the industry’s largest players has long been scrutinized and gutted, characterized as impersonal, greedy, corporate, and worse. But, in unexpected ways, fast food is also deeply personal and emblematic of a larger than life image of America.

With wit and nuance, Chandler reveals the complexities of this industry through heartfelt anecdotes and fascinating trivia as well as interviews with fans, executives, and workers. He traces the industry from its roots in Wichita, where White Castle became the first fast food chain in 1921 and successfully branded the hamburger as the official all-American meal, to a teenager's 2017 plea for a year’s supply of Wendy’s chicken nuggets, which united the internet to generate the most viral tweet of all time.

Drive-Thru Dreams by Adam Chandler tells an intimate and contemporary story of America—its humble beginning, its innovations and failures, its international charisma, and its regional identities—through its beloved roadside fare.

Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann, 384 pages

 This refreshed deluxe paperback features a foreword by internationally bestselling author A. J. Finn, discussion questions, and bonus materials.

Something is not right with George the shepherd. His sheep have gathered around him outside the cozy Irish village of Glennkill to assess the situation. George has cared for the sheep, reading them books every night, and now he lies pinned to the ground with a spade. His flock, far savvier about the workings of the human mind than your average sheep, sets out to find George’s killer, led by Miss Maple, the smartest sheep in Glennkill (and possibly the world).

Her team of investigators includes Othello, who was rescued from the Dublin Zoo; Mopple the Whale, who is always hungry and remembers everything; and Zora, an existential ewe—just to name a few. Together, the sheep discuss the crime late into the night, and their speculations vary wildly. Determined to unravel the mystery, they embark on furtive missions into the village, where they encounter a hoof-full of two-legged suspects. There’s Ham, the terrifying butcher who smells of death; Rebecca, the secretive village newcomer; and Father Will, a sinister priest the sheep call God.

With wit and heart, this clever international bestseller is a mystery to chew on—and savor.

Number One is Walking: My Life in Movies and Other Diversions by Steve Martin & Harry Bliss, 256 pages

 Number One Is Walking is Steve Martin’s cinematic legacy―an illustrated memoir of his legendary acting career, with stories from his most popular films and artwork by New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss.

Steve Martin has never written about his career in the movies before. In Number One Is Walking, he shares anecdotes from the sets of his beloved films―Father of the Bride, Roxanne, The Jerk, Three Amigos, and many more―bringing readers directly into his world. He shares charming tales of antics, moments of inspiration, and exploits with the likes of Paul McCartney, Diane Keaton, Harrison Ford, and Chevy Chase. Martin details his forty years in the movie biz, as well as his stand-up comedy, banjo playing, writing, and cartooning, all with his unparalleled wit.

With gorgeously illustrated cartoons and single-panel “diversions” in Steve and Harry’s signature style, Number One Is Walking is full of the everyday moments that make up a movie star’s life, capturing Steve Martin’s singular humor and acclaimed career in film. The perfect gift from the team who brought you the #1 New York Times bestseller A Wealth of Pigeons.

The Heretic Royal by G.A. Aiken, 338 pages

 Ainsley Farmerson has always planned to break free of the family business—and the family drama. But what was once farming, smithworking, and bickering over the dinner table has turned into open warfare between sisters. Sides have been taken, lives are on the line, and Ainsley has no doubt which sister must be queen. She’ll do whatever is necessary to take down the soulless Beatrix. Even if that means joining forces with angry battle nuns, irritating monks, and overbearing centaurs.

Gruffyn of the Torn Moon Clan has no time for human beings. And yet . . . there is something about the uncontrollable princess that he can’t ignore. Maybe it’s the way her eldest sisters underestimate her. Or her bravery facing down dragons and mad queens from distant lands. Whatever the reason, Gruff is willing to fight by this human’s side. Not only for the entertainment value, but because she’s right. Beatrix must never be queen. So whatever he has to do, whoever he has to destroy, Gruff will battle beside Ainsley. Fast. Hard. And with absolutely no mercy . . .

World of Archie Jumbo Comics #138, 225 pages

 BRAND NEW STORY! A big budget movie about The Shield is being filmed in Riverdale, and Archie and all his friends can’t wait to see it! But how does Joe Higgins, the man behind the Shield mask, feel about all this fanfare?

World of Archie Jumbo Comics #91, 225 pages

 BRAND NEW “Rainy Day Beach Blues!” It has been raining for two weeks straight, and Betty is upset that she hasn’t been able to go to the beach. Archie gets a great idea – he would create an indoor fake beach for her to enjoy during the rainy day! Will this be a fun day away from the sun, or will Archie end up all wet?

Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing by Nicholas Meyer, 264 pages

 London, 189–: In the dead of winter, the great city is brought to a standstill by a series of blizzards and Sherlock Holmes is bored to distraction. It would take a miracle to bring a case to the detective’s door. . .

What arrives is not a landlady who complains to Holmes that her artist tenant is behind on his rent. Not exactly the miracle for which Holmes was hoping. But, next thing you know, there are several corpses and Sherlock Holmes and his amanuensis, Dr. Watson, find themselves drawn into one of the most bizarre cases of the great detective’s career. And into the cutthroat big business of Art, where chicanery, mendacity (and cut throats), proliferate.

What makes a work of art valuable? Worth killing for? Dying for? Is it the painter, his mistress, his dealer, or his blackmailer?

The cast of characters is large. But are they perpetrators, accomplices, or victims? And just who is Juliet Packwood, with whom Watson has become infatuated?

Oh, and there’s one other Is this a genuine Holmes case or a clever forgery? Is this the real thing?

If you can’t tell the difference, what is the difference?

Beard in Mind by Penny Reid, 468 pages

 All is fair in love and auto maintenance.

Beau Winston is the nicest, most accommodating guy in the world. Usually.

Handsome as the devil and twice as charismatic, Beau lives a charmed life as everyone’s favorite Winston Brother. But since his twin decided to leave town, and his other brother hired a stunning human-porcupine hybrid as a replacement mechanic for their auto shop, Beau Winston’s charmed life has gone to hell in a handbasket.

Shelly Sullivan is not nice and is never accommodating. Ever.
She mumbles to herself, but won’t respond when asked a question. She glares at everyone, especially babies. She won’t shake hands with or touch another person, but has no problems cuddling with a dog. And her damn parrot speaks only in curse words. Beau wants her gone. He wants her out of his auto shop, out of Tennessee, and out of his life.

The only problem is, learning why this porcupine wears her coat of spikes opens a Pandora’s box of complexity—exquisite, tempting, heartbreaking complexity—and Beau Winston soon discovers being nice and accommodating might mean losing what matters most.

World of Archie Jumbo Comics #87, 225 pages

 BRAND NEW LEAD “Food for Thought” – Betty and Veronica are fed up with Archie’s noncommittal ways, so Archie decides to embrace the single life. To do it successfully he turns to the master—Jughead Jones.

Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist by Dorothy Gilman, 215 pages

 Working with her retired CIA friend John Farrell, Mrs. Pollifax must smuggle a manuscript out of Jordan, a document that encodes the shocking truth of Saddam Hussein's reign.

Hardly are the two airborne when the coils of Middle Eastern intrigue begin to unwind. Mrs. Pollifax's seatmate is not the affable Arab businessman he pretends to be. It is not imagination that persuades Mrs. P. that wherever they go, she and Farrell are followed. To elude their pursuers in such a politically volatile country isn't easy. In fact, it can be downright deadly...

World of Archie Jumbo Comics #86, 225 pages

 BRAND NEW LEAD “Clean Start” Archie has to cancel a date with Veronica because he has chores that must be done. Veronica shows up at Archie’s house, angry, but finds that sharing the work with Archie can actually be pretty romantic!

Highland Hideaway by Lily Gold, 554 pages

 One bubbly city girl lost in the Highlands.

Three grumpy Scots determined to keep her there.

Yesterday, I was a fashion influencer on a trip to a luxurious Scottish spa. Today, I’m the internet's favourite trainwreck. All it took was one embarrassing viral video to end my career and leave me stranded in the Highlands.

I find shelter on Lochview Sheep Farm. It’s certainly not a luxury vacation spot… unless you count the three huge Scots running the place.

There’s Cameron, the grumpy shepherd who calls me ‘princess’ when my heels get stuck in the mud… before carrying me inside.

Fraser, the flirty rancher with the auburn hair, who promises to wear his kilt just for me.

And Alec, the commanding farm manager, who seems to hate me… until a sudden storm sends his protective streak into overdrive.

They all assume I’m just a clueless city girl. But when they find out what I’m hiding from, they swear to take care of me. Soon, I’m being kissed in freezing Scottish lochs, cuddled in front of the roaring fireplace, and being spoiled like the princess they once accused me of being.

And the best part?

My three handsome Highlanders are used to sharing everything…
And now they want to share me.

Highland Hideaway is a blistering standalone romance featuring three swoony heroes, grumpy-sunshine banter, and tons of found-family warmth. Cosy up and get ready for your next sweet-but-sizzling comfort read!