Early ReviewersSuzy Jackson

Brilliant heart surgeon Suzette Kendall is stunned when Hyland, her husband of 15 years, admits his yearning for a child. From the beginning they’d decided that having children was not an option, as Suzette feared passing along the genes that landed her mother in a mental institution. But Hyland proposes a different idea: a baby via surrogate. Suzette agrees, and what follows is a whirlwind of candidate selection, hospital visits, and Suzette’s doubts over her right decision. Beautifully shifting between perspectives, The Nearness of You explores the connections we form, the families we create, and the love we hold dear.

Audiobook is narrated by Suzy Jackson. From #1 bestselling author Dean Koontz—the must-read thriller of the year, for readers of dark psychological suspense and modern classics of mystery and adventure. The girl who said no to death. Bibi Blair is a fierce, funny, dauntless young woman—whose doctor says she has one year to live. She replies, “We’ll see.” Her sudden recovery astonishes medical science. An enigmatic woman convinces Bibi that she escaped death so that she can save someone else. Someone named Ashley Bell. But save her from what, from whom? And who is Ashley Bell? Where is she? Bibi’s obsession with finding Ashley sends her on the run from threats both mystical and worldly, including a rich and charismatic cult leader with terrifying ambitions. Here is an eloquent, riveting, brilliantly paced story with an exhilarating heroine and a twisting, ingenious plot filled with staggering surprises. Ashley Bell is a new milestone in literary suspense from the long-acclaimed master.

Fans of Junie B. Jones and Ivy & Bean are flocking to Abby Hanlon’s Dory Fantasmagory. From outsmarting monsters to escaping from jail, Dory will try anything to have her older brother and sister play with her. But when her siblings really need her help, Dory has a chance to prove once and for all that she’s not a baby! (Fiction/Ages 6 and up) “Charming, funny, true to life.”—Kirkus Reviews Move over, Junie B. Jones and Ivy & Bean! Here comes a lovably energetic little sister with a BIG personality—and an imagination to match! As the youngest in her family, Dory really wants attention, and more than anything she wants her brother and sister to play with her. But she’s too much of a baby for them, so she’s left to her own devices—including her wild imagination and untiring energy. Her siblings may roll their eyes at her childish games, but Dory has lots of things to do: outsmarting the monsters all over the house, escaping from prison (aka time-out), and exacting revenge on her sister’s favorite doll. And when they really need her, daring Dory will prove her bravery, and finally get exactly what she has been looking for.

New York Times bestselling author Jessica Day George pens the Dragon Slippers and Princesses of Westfalin trilogies. Princess Celie has her hands full mapping out rooms that magically appear in Castle Glower. But when her family disappears after the castle is attacked, Celie knows she’s the only one who can save her home. (Fantasy/Ages 8 and up) “May pique castle envy.”—Kirkus Reviews Tuesday at Castle Glower is Princess Celie’s favorite day. That’s when the Castle magically grows a new room, a turet, or sometimes an entire wing. No one knows how or why the Castle does it, and no one except Princess Celie has ever bothered to map out the Castle’s many twists and turns. But when the king and queen disappear and Councilors from neighboring kingdoms arrive to “advise” the three Glower children, even the Castle seems to know that something is wrong … Take the new tower room, which is stocked with mysterious objects and has a knack for appearing just when Celie needs it. Then there is the secret passageway that leads the children to a room the Councilors don’t want them to know about. To find their parents and hold on to their kingdom, Celie and her siblings will need all their ingenuity, Celie’s maps, plus some help from their beloved Castle—before it’s too late. This page-turning adventure marks the launch of a series sure to delight fans of Jessica Day George and win her countless new ones.

Summer days drift by slowly in Meadville, South Carolina—that is, until Sherman the one-legged pigeon flies into town and causes a ruckus. First Stella, who’s been begging for a dog, spots him on top of a garage roof and decides she wants him for a pet. Then there’s Ethel and Amos, an old couple who sees the pigeon in their barn keeping company with a little brown dog that barks all night. The pigeon lands smack in the middle of Mutt Raynard’s head, but he’s the town liar, so no one believes him. And when Stella’s brother Levi and his scabby-kneed, germ-infested friends notice the pigeon, they join the chase, too. Meanwhile, across town, Mr. Mineo has one less homing pigeon than he used to … Barbara O’Connor has delivered another ingeniously crafted story full of Southern charm, kid-sized adventures, and quirky, unforgettable characters. “O’Connor condenses long summer days down into their essence, quiet but humming with an undercurrent of childhood energy.” — Kirkus Reviews