Author Events

Author Events

Phillip Margolin Lunch

Phillip MargolinPhillip Margolin, the bestselling writer of thrillers, returns to sign The Perfect Alibi, the sequel to The Third Victim. We'll be serving a light luncheon in the store, in case you're swinging by on your lunch break.

Food and a place in the signing line will be included in the purchase of The Perfect Alibi.

The Perfect Alibi: A Novel (Robin Lockwood #2) By Phillip Margolin Cover Image
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ISBN: 9781250117526
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Minotaur Books - March 5th, 2019

A young woman accuses a prominent local college athlete of rape. Convicted with the help of undisputable DNA evidence, the athlete swears his innocence and threatens both his lawyer and his accuser as he's sent to prison. Not long after, there's another rape—starting at the same bar—and the DNA test shows that the same person committed both rapes. Which is seemingly impossible since the man convicted of the first rape was in prison at the time of the second one. Now the convicted athlete—with a new lawyer—is granted a new trial and bail. Shortly thereafter, his original lawyer disappears and his law partner is murdered.

Robin Lockwood is a young lawyer with a prestigious small law firm and a former MMA fighter who helped pay for Yale Law School with her bouts. She is representing the victim of the first rape for her civil lawsuit against her rapist, who is now convinced the rapist is stalking her and trying to intimidate her. At the same time, another client is up on a murder charge—one that should be dismissed as self-defense—but the D.A. trying the case is determined to bring it to trial. Now she has to mastermind two impossible cases, trying to find the hidden truth that links the two of them.

Phillip Margolin, the master of the legal thriller, returns in one of his twistiest, most compelling crime novels yet.


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The Third Victim: A Novel (Robin Lockwood #1) By Phillip Margolin Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9781250118868
Availability: In Stock at Our Warehouse - Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: St. Martin's Paperbacks - October 30th, 2018

A woman stumbles onto a dark road in rural Oregon—tortured, battered, and bound. She tells a horrific story about being kidnapped, then tortured, until she finally managed to escape. She was the lucky one—two other women, with similar burns and bruises, were found dead.

The surviving victim identifies the house where she was held captive and the owner, Alex Mason—a prominent local attorney—is arrested. Although he loudly insists upon his innocence, his wife’s statements about his sexual sadism and the physical evidence found at the scene, his summer home, is damning.

Regina Barrister is a legendary criminal defense attorney, known as “The Sorceress” for her courtroom victories. But she’s got a secret, one that threatens her skill, her reputation, and, most of all, her clients. She’s agreed to take on the seemingly impossible task of defending Alex Mason.

Robin Lockwood, a young lawyer and former MMA fighter, has just left a clerkship at the Oregon Supreme Court to work for Regina Barrister. The Alex Mason trial is her first big one, a likely death penalty case, and she’s second chair to Regina. Increasingly, she’s worried her boss’s behavior and the details in the case against their client don’t quite add up.

 

"Margolin continues his return to the exceptional form of his early novels with this gripping, tightly plotted, and smoothly written legal thriller... A winner from a veteran genre author." —Booklist on The Third Victim

"Margolin knows how to pack in the thrills!" —Tess Gerritsen

"It takes a really crafty storyteller to put people on the edge of their seats and keep them there. Phillip Margolin does just that." —Chicago Tribune

"In the hands of Phillip Margolin, nothing is ever simple and no one is really safe. He is the master of suspense mystery." —Associated Press


With surprising twist after twist until the shocking ending, The Third Victim is New York Times bestselling Phillip Margolin at his very best.


New Year - New YA Pizza Party

New YA Authors

Start off the new year with some sensational Young Adult reads!  KBB hosts a pizza party with beloved favorites, Sophie Jordan, CC hunter, and Mary Lindsey, and welcomes our new favorite Cheyanne Young, as they sign their latest releases.  Don't miss the giveaways!

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The Me I Meant to Be By Sophie Jordan Cover Image
$21.05
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ISBN: 9781328977069
Published: Clarion Books - January 1st, 2019

Girl Code: Never date a friend’s ex.

Willa Evans has no intention of breaking the code. So what if she’s always secretly loved her next-door neighbor Zach? As her best friend’s boyfriend, he was always off-limits and it needs to stay that way, even though they just broke up. Even though every time she turns around he’s there, tempting her…

No keeping secrets from your bestie.

Flor Hidalgo has a lot on her plate: her breakup with Zach, her dad’s new dating life, and her struggling grades. So why can’t she stop thinking about her hot, know-it-all tutor? At least she’s got Willa, her constant in the chaos.

Breaking the code breaks friendships.

Two friends find themselves tempted by love that defies the rules in this steamy romance perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Simone Elkeles.


The Mortician's Daughter: Two Feet Under By C. C. Hunter Cover Image
$16.99
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ISBN: 9781635764901
Published: Everafter Romance - December 11th, 2018

Learning her ghost boyfriend isn't really dead sends Riley Smith reeling, but dead or alive she could use his support when helping the spirit of a convicted criminal leads her to being kidnapped by a street gang.

Riley has accepted that her special gift is to help dead people with their unfinished business. But she never thought she’d be tasked with helping the spirit of a convicted criminal who died in prison. He may lead her on the scariest mission yet, but helping him could mean saving the life of a child. The convict’s daughter needs a liver transplant and the one person who could still be a match is his brother…who also happens to be a gang leader.

Hayden’s not happy that Riley’s discovered who he is and is seeing him sick and unconscious in his hospital bed. This feels like as good a time as ever to cross over and put all of them out of their misery….but Riley is in danger. She’s visiting some of the most dangerous spots and confronting some of the creepiest low-lifes in town. For her, he’ll need to regain his strength and fight to keep her safe.

But dealing with other people’s problems still can’t keep Riley from her own. Her dad’s drinking has gotten worse. And she’ll soon learn it’s because he’s been keeping a huge, horrible secret that will change everything she believes about her family and her mother’s death.


Haven By Mary Lindsey Cover Image
$17.99
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ISBN: 9781633758834
Published: Entangled: Teen - November 7th, 2017

We all hold a beast inside. The only difference is what form it takes.

Rain Ryland has lived on the streets his entire life, bouncing from one homeless shelter to another, so when his mother dies and a court orders him to move to a tiny town in the Texas Hill Country to live with an aunt he’s never met, he knows his life is about to change—he just has no idea how much.

Seventeen-year-old Friederike Burkhart has a legacy to protect. She also has a pack of wolf shifters to lead, a coven of spell weavers to guard, a murder to solve, and a boatload of homework on top of it all. The last thing she needs is a nosy human in the mix. But when another dead body turns up, Freddy realizes she can trust no one and is in over her head. Maybe the hot human boy could be the key to finding the killer.

As Freddy and Rain team up to solve the murders and stop more deaths before her pack is exposed, they find themselves the next targets. Can they uncover the killer before losing their lives…or their hearts?


The Last Wish of Sasha Cade By Cheyanne Young Cover Image
$10.99
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ISBN: 9781525301407
Published: Kids Can Press - October 2nd, 2018

How far would you go for your best friend?

 

The day Raquel has been dreading for months has finally arrived. Sasha, her best friend in the whole world, has died of cancer. Overwhelmed and brokenhearted, Raquel can't even imagine life without her.

And then a letter from Sasha arrives. Has she somehow found a way to communicate from beyond the grave?

In fact, Sasha spent her final weeks planning an elaborate scavenger hunt for the friend she would have to leave behind. When Raquel follows the instructions to return to Sasha's grave, a mysterious stranger with striking eyes is waiting for her. There's a secret attached to this boy that only Sasha --- and now Raquel --- knows.

This boy, Elijah, might be just who Raquel needs to help her move on from her terrible loss. But can Raquel remain true to herself while also honoring her friend's final wish?


Author Signing: J.E. Martin

J.E. MartinCo-author and editor J.E. Martin signs God's hand on My Shoulder, the biography of Joe Carl Martin, Jr.

God's Hand On My Shoulder: From WWII Bomber Pilot to Building Churches in Mexico By J. E. Martin, J. E. Martin (Editor), Jr. Joe Carl Martin Cover Image
$16.99
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ISBN: 9780999359501
Published: J.E. Martin - April 1st, 2018

GOD'S HAND ON MY SHOULDER is the true story of Joe Carl Martin, Jr., an ordinary man of extraordinary faith. His story is one of quiet courage and great humility, from the Great Depression through World War II to building churches in Mexico.

 

After joining the United States Army Air Corps during his second year of college, Martin went through basic training followed by flight school to learn how to fly a B-17 bomber in World War II. After earning his wings as a 2nd Lt., he was promoted to the rank of 1st Lt. and Airplane Commander and was assigned to the 349th Bomb Squadron of the 100th Bomb Group at Thorpe Abbotts Air Base in England.

 

One of the home-bound veterans of the air war said that the 100th was a hard luck outfit. It was known as the "Bloody 100th" because the Luftwaffe had a vendetta against the group, repeatedly singling it out for attack. For 1st Lt. Joe Carl Martin, Jr., and his crew, that attack would occur on 7 April 1945.

 

"When I was in flight school, our theory of flight instructors explained the rule in physics that governs why an airplane must have a tail to fly. I didn't question their wisdom then. But less than a year later, on 7 April 1945, God made an exception to the rule for nine very lucky airmen." Lt. Col. Henry Cervantes, USAF (Ret., Strategic Air Command) (former copilot of the B-17 E-Z Goin' piloted by 1st Lt. Joe Carl Martin, Jr., on their 25th mission after they were rammed by a German Me-109 during WWII)


Author Signing: Theresa Fallwell

Theresa FallwellLocal author and retired teacher Theresa Fallwell signs her collection of historical short stories, Life's Lessons and a Butter Churn.

Life's Lessons and a Butter Churn: Memories from Another Time, Another Place By Theresa Fallwell Cover Image
$14.99
ISBN: 9781722113155
Availability: In Stock at Our Warehouse - Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
(This book cannot be returned.)
Published: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform - July 24th, 2018

Have you ever wondered, how did we get here? What was life like for the people that came before us? Do you wish you had taken more time to talk to the people who lived it? Maybe you have and long to know more. Like a conversation on the front porch or over the kitchen table with grandma, this collection of short stories by Theresa Fallwell will leave you yearning for more; and wanting to revisit a time when people were more connected to each other and the world around them. Life was by no means easier or simpler then-it was just different. You will laugh, and you will cry. And you will be transported to another time, another place.


Author Outreach

 

Melineh Petrosian PatatanianJoin local author Melineh Petrosian Patatanian at Serene Beans as she signs her memoir, Cry for Rain, a harrowing, poignant memoir of the author's childhood and coming of age as a Christian in Tehran, set against the backdrop of revolution and the rise of Khomeini.

Cry for Rain By Melineh Petrosian Cover Image
$15.99
ISBN: 9781632134929
Availability: In Stock at Our Warehouse - Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Untreed Reads Publishing - July 24th, 2018

Ariana's bitter childhood battles with the outside world and her narcissistic mother threaten to consume her soul.

 

As a Christian minority growing up in Tehran, Iran, Ariana faces harsh physical and emotional abuse from her mother and witnesses the same pain inflicted on her siblings. Her daily awakenings leave her unguarded against her mother's wrath. Despite this, Ariana's only true safe haven comes fleetingly in the presence of her loving papa, Jacob. However, he is often away for weeks on end as a truck driver, leaving her constantly yearning for his return.

"You know your mother loves you very much. If she punishes you, it's not because she's mean. It's not her fault. She is a nervous woman who cannot control her anger."

 

As she grows up, her search for hope is what she holds onto as she struggles to not only survive her mother's tirades but the loss of friends and family in terror attacks and political involvement during the revolution, the drastic regime change to an Islamic government, and a city embattled with Iraq.


Author Signing: Mike Lupica

Mike LupicaBestselling author Mike Lupica signs his latest Sweet Spot (Ages 10-14) sports novel, No Slam Dunk.

STUFF YOU NEED TO KNOW:

No Slam Dunk By Mike Lupica Cover Image
$17.99
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ISBN: 9780525514855
Published: Viking Books for Young Readers - November 6th, 2018

A fast-paced, heartfelt story for basketball fans that proves being a good teammate remains the most important quality in basketball—and in life, from New York Times bestselling author Mike Lupica.

Wes’ father always told him that there was only one ball in basketball. That you had to know when to take it yourself and when to give it up, that finding the right balance was key. So at every practice and game, Wes tries his best to be a good basketball player and, above all, a good teammate.

As the season kicks off, Wes finds that not everyone on his team has the same idea. All-star player and the Hawks’ point guard, Danilo “Dinero” Rey seems determined to hold the spotlight and the ball, even if it means costing his team the game. If Wes is to lead the Hawks to the playoffs, he’ll need to find new ways to dish out an assist—even if it means his most important one comes off the court.

In No Slam Dunk, #1 New York Times bestseller Mike Lupica demonstrates once again that there is no children’s sports novelist today who can match his ability to weave a story of vivid sports action and heartfelt emotion. A touching story about teamwork and family, of selfishness and generosity, No Slam Dunk shows that even in the face of adversity, giving your best is the surest way to victory.
 


Author Signing and Donation Drive with Ann Braden

Ann BradenAuthor Ann Braden signs her middle grade novel about living in poverty, The Benefits of Being an Octopus. School Library Journal says, "This heartbreaking, beautifully written book about finding one's voice will offer some readers a relatable reflection and others a window that can help build empathy and understanding."

The Benefits of Being an Octopus By Ann Braden Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9781510737488
Availability: In Stock at Our Warehouse - Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Sky Pony - September 4th, 2018

Some people can do their homework. Some people get to have crushes on boys. Some people have other things they've got to do.

 

Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer.

 

At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them.

 

Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses.

 

Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?

 

This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.

 

"This is a compassionate look at poverty, hard choices, and defending one's right to be treated humanely. A very fine first novel, written with a deft hand.” — Karen Hesse, Newbery award winning author of Out of the Dust

 

"This engrossing debut novel...takes the reader on her journey from the dire side of the class divide to a life of cautious hope as she learns the world is big enough for choices, actions, and results." -- Booklist

"The Benefits of Being an Octopus is a beautiful, layered look at the courage it takes to stand up to and stand up for the people you love--including yourself. Braden's story captivated me and carried me along, leaving me changed for the better. -- Elaine Vickers, author of Like Magic and Paper Chains

"With grace and heart and words masterfully woven, The Benefits of Being an Octopus captures the quiet and loud masks of domestic violence. Braden navigates the complexities of choice and power and the meaning of courage. And how sometimes together, we can find our voice and our strength." -- Elly Swartz, author of Finding Perfect and Smart Cookie

"This wise book knows we can't always keep the people we love safe. But it also knows that courage and compassion can sometimes turn lives around. You will care so fiercely about Zoey -- the octopus-loving, truth-telling young heroine that you'll want to wrap all eight of your own arms around her." -- Anne Nesbet, author of California Book Award winner, Cloud, and Wallfish

"You are seen. You are heard. You are loved." In a perfect world, every child would know these three absolutes. Ann Braden shares this message with her readers in a funny, poignant story about Zoey, her siblings, their mother, and one very special teacher. An octopus might be the most clever creature, but it can't hold a candle (or eight) to Braden's masterfully constructed prose." –– K. A. Holt, author of House Arrest


YA Signing: Lucia DiStefano and Mike Mullin

DiStefano and Mullin

YA authors Lucia DiStefano and Mike Mullin sign their latest releases. Lucia DiStefano signs her debut mystery, Borrowed. Mike Mullin signs his fourth YA novel, Surface Tension, a thriller.

 

Borrowed By Lucia DiStefano Cover Image
$16.38
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ISBN: 9781732414105
Published: Elephant Rock Books - November 1st, 2018

A triumph of authenticity, grace, and nail-biting suspense, Lucia DiStefano's ingenious debut is an unflinching, genre-bending literary thriller of love, mystery, and survival.
 

As seventeen-year-old Linnea celebrates the first anniversary of her heart transplant, she can't escape the feeling that the wires have been crossed. After a series of unsettling dreams, inked messages mysteriously appear on her body, and she starts to wonder if this new heart belongs to her at all.
 

Across town, Maxine braces for a heartbreaking anniversary: her sister Harper's death. Between raising her brothers and parenting her grief-stricken mother, Max is unable to ignore her guilty crush on Harper's old flame or shake her lingering suspicion that her sister's drowning wasn't really an accident. With Harper as the sole connection, Linnea and Maxine are soon brought together in fantastic and terrifying ways.

 

Borrowed is unlike anything I’ve seen in recent YA literature—it’s a compelling, unpredictable thriller with a unique premise and delicious prose. DiStefano will be one to watch.” —Jennie Kendrick, Blogger, Forever Young Adult
 
Borrowed successfully generates real suspense through a plot that is one part cozy mystery and one part violent psychological thriller. A literate, well-told, and original YA novel.” —Mark Pumphrey, Director of Libraries, El Paso, Texas
 
“Lyrical prose, full-bodied characters, and a riveting plot with shocking twists and turns that kept me guessing until the startling conclusion. I couldn’t put it down!” —Kristin Bartley Lenz, The Art of Holding on and Letting Go
 
“DiStefano’s mastery is in the unpredictable twists, the tense build-ups, and the satisfying reveals. This breakout debut is a rare gem of a genre-bender.” —Katya de Becerra, What the Woods Keep
 


Surface Tension By Mike Mullin Cover Image
$17.99
Email or call for price.
ISBN: 9781939100160
Published: Tanglewood - May 8th, 2018

After witnessing an act of domestic terrorism while training on his bike, Jake is found near death, with a serious head injury and unable to remember the plane crash or the aftermath that landed him in the hospital.

 

A terrorist leader’s teenage daughter, Betsy, is sent to kill Jake and eliminate him as a possible witness. When Jake’s mother blames his head injury for his tales of attempted murder, he has to rely on his girlfriend, Laurissa, to help him escape the killers and the law enforcement agents convinced that Jake himself had a role in the crash.

 

Mike Mullin, author of the Ashfall series, delivers a gripping story with memorable characters and all-too-real scenarios.

 

VOYA: “[A] fast-paced thriller….There is something of Hitchcock in the narrative, with a blend between The Man Who Knew Too Much, North by Northwest, and Rear Window, and the story…is gripping and frightening.”

 

Publisher’s Weekly: “In this timely contemporary thriller…Mullin tells much of the story from the viewpoint of Betsy, the teenage daughter of the terrorist’s leader….contributing an additional layer of narrative tension. Mullin’s premise is riveting…[A] strong action story.”

 

School Library Journal: “With a gripping contemporary story line….Short chapters increase the tension and readers’ interest in solving the mystery of Jake’s connection. A vivid thriller that entertains and excites.”

 

Booklist: “Mullin (best known for his Ashfall series) succeeds in creating an engaging and suspenseful novel that will hook readers almost immediately. This heart-pounding, high-stakes thriller engages with race relations in an all-too-relevant exploration of terrorism, xenophobia, and corruption at the highest levels.”

 

Kirkus: “Entertaining as a popcorn action flick”


Author Signing: Shelley Shepard Gray

Shelley Shepard Gray

Shelley Shepard Gray discusses and signs Take a Chance, the first book in her new clean romance series, Bridgeport Social Club; which focuses on friendship, family, and faith, and features strong characters.

Take a Chance By Shelley Shepard Gray Cover Image
$15.99
Email or call for price.
ISBN: 9781538440872
Published: Blackstone Publishing - September 18th, 2018

Kurt Holland wants the best for his younger brother, which is why he moves Sam to Bridgeport, Ohio. It's a bigger town with a well-known high school. Just the place to give his little brother more opportunities-maybe even a scholarship to college. Kurt hopes his gamble pays off, since Sam's future isn't the only thing riding on it. Kurt's put most of his savings into a new landscaping business there, too. But when Sam gets in trouble for fighting at school, Kurt isn't so sure it was the right decision … until he meets Sam's English teacher.

Emily Springer is passionate about helping all of her students succeed, but there's something about Sam Holland that makes her want to go the extra mile. When he's caught in a fight at school, she goes to bat in his defense, and during a conference with the principal she meets Sam's rugged older brother-and guardian. Emily has a strict no-dating policy when it comes to her students' parents, but Kurt isn't technically Sam's parent. It's OK to bend the rules a little bit, right?

In an effort to make some friends and find a place in the Bridgeport community, Kurt starts up a weekly poker game in his garage. It's not long before everyone wants in, and they all soon discover that these Friday night poker gatherings are about more than just the game.

Shelley Shepard Gray's new Bridgeport Social Club series is about men who need a place to call home, a community in need of hope, and a group of women who are special enough to help both things happen. This first installment is genuine and heartfelt. It's filled with hope, warmth, and the belief that love and acceptance can overcome any tough situation.


Author Signing: Grace Draven

Grace Draven

 

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Phoenix Unbound (The Fallen Empire #1) By Grace Draven Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9780451489753
Availability: Backordered - Availablilty Will be Delayed
Published: Ace - September 25th, 2018

A woman with power over fire and illusion and an enslaved son of a chieftain battle a corrupt empire in this powerful and deeply emotional romantic fantasy from the USA Today bestselling author of Radiance.

Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire’s capital—her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village’s tithe has been the same woman. Gilene’s sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses.

But this year is different.

Azarion, the Empire’s most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion—and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery. Unknown to Gilene, he also wants to reclaim the birthright of his clan.

To protect her family and village, she will abandon everything to return to the Empire—and burn once more.

 

“Fierce and captivating, PHOENIX UNBOUND is the story of a gladiator and a fire witch fighting for their freedom against an empire that wants them enslaved. With impossible odds, breathtaking battles, terrifying magic, and an unlikely love, this book is a must read. Grace Draven is a master of romantic heroic fantasy.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews


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