Past Lives, Buried Secrets, and Misfit Artists...

Let's start with a "sexy past life romance" that's "like Carrie Bradshaw meets Cleopatra." Sarah Fuller seems to have it all, but on her 40th birthday, she feels like she's having a nervous breakdown. She's a perfect misfit in her own life—her husband and friends think she's crazy, but she feels an undeniable connection to a handsome stranger she's sure she knew in ancient Egypt. Their bond is the "found partnership" that gives her the strength to rebel against her old life. It's a fantastic hook, and the best part? Book 2, Whispers In The Forest, is also out, making this a perfect series to binge.

Next, a powerful and "emotionally harrowing" novel that earned a starred review from Kirkus. In 1843, Monette, the daughter of a planter, is sold into slavery alongside a boy named Cyrus. Stripped of her identity, she becomes the ultimate outcast. The story is a brutal and moving look at the denial of freedom, but at its core is the "found partnership" between Monette and Cyrus—a bond of love forged in shared trauma that "transcends all that threatens to tear it apart." This is a stunning, high-caliber book for readers who love deep historical fiction.

Finally, a gritty and lyrical contemporary novel about two deeply broken misfits. Skade is a troubled photojournalist haunted by trauma, and Kit is an "achingly lonely" and gifted puppeteer. The blurb says it all: "We are all drowning, and we are all rescuers." This is the story of their "parallel journey toward healing together." It's a profound "found partnership" where two artists find solace and redemption in each other. Praised by Kirkus and multiple authors for its "searing and lyrical prose," this is a perfect, sophisticated read.

Three powerful stories about finding that one person who sees you and helps you heal. This is a very special, literary-focused issue, and I hope you found a story to get lost in.

Happy reading, and I'll see you back at the Hearth next Friday.

All the best,

C.J.