LibraryAware November 2025

Recent Releases

Beyond Ivy Walls
by Rachel Fordham

In 1903 Iowa, Sadie West labors in a feather duster factory to send desperately needed money home. Living in an abandoned building, she is discovered by reclusive composer Otis Taylor, the last of his wealthy family, who's finally come home after being exiled by his father due to physical scars. Finding acceptance from Sadie, Otis takes risks that'll change his life. Read-alike: Julie Klassen's The Sisters of Sea View.

Meet Me at the Starlight
by Rachel Hauck

Octogenarian Tuesday Knight owns the beloved Starlight skating rink in Sea Blue Beach, Florida. To save it from demolition, she teams up with her actor grandson Matt and struggling former model Harlow Hayes (who once starred in a romcom with Matt). The trio also help each other in other ways in this dual-timeline novel that flashes back to the 1930s. Read-alike: Toni Shiloh's Love in the Spotlight series.

Second Chance at Sunshine Inn
by Amy Clipston

Inheriting half of a coastal North Carolina Bed & Breakfast, Everleigh Hartnett is surprised that the co-owner is grumpy Cade Witherspoon, who’d worked for her godmother. Now, he wants to run the B&B, she wants to sell it, and they’re going to need to get better acquainted before anything is solved in this sweet romance. For fans of: Denise Hunter’s A Novel Proposal.

A Is for Amish
by Shelley Shepard Gray

In this sweet series starter, four 20-something siblings raised by their divorced father want to try being Amish. It's agreed that two of them -- Martin and Kelsey -- will be the first to live with their Old Order grandparents in small-town Ohio for a year. Can they adjust and maybe find love? Read-alikes: Wanda Brunstetter's Kentucky Brothers novels; Amy Clipston's Amish Legacy series.

Ambush: A Small-Town Romantic Suspense
by Colleen Coble

The first book in the riveting new series from?USA TODAY?bestselling author Colleen Coble, where a young woman will do anything to uncover the truth of her parents' murder--even work alongside the man who once broke her heart.

Focus on: Christmas Stories

The Christmas Promise
by Richard Paul Evans

Dreading her first Christmas since the untimely deaths of her father and estranged twin sister, PICU nurse Richelle Bach finds solace in her work and her writers' group, where she meets widower Justin Ek, a charming man with a secret. This moving holiday read by Richard Paul Evans (The Noel Letters) offers a modern take on the parable of the prodigal son as it introduces a sympathetic heroine finding new love while dealing with grief.

A Christmas Gathering
by Anne Perry

As beautiful as it may be, their friends' country home is not where Lady Vespasia wishes to spend Christmas with her new husband, Victor Narraway. She'd rather pass a relaxing holiday at home with him--especially because Victor, former head of the London Special Branch, seems to be hiding some undercover dealings with the other guests who have gathered in the spacious home. As tensions grow among the couples, the young and beautiful Iris Watson-Watt becomes the center of several men's focus. Unbeknownst to Vespasia, Iris carries a message for Victor that may help unmask a British traitor. As Victor plots his moves, he is reminded of a similar case from twenty years before, when a young Frenchwoman also carried a clandestine message--one that resulted in her murder, still unsolved to this day. Victor has always been tormented by his failure to protect her--and now, with all eyes on Iris, Victor must act fast before history repeats itself. With the joy of Christmas at risk of being forgotten and Vespasia feeling alone on this holiday meant to be shared with loved ones, Victor must ultimately learn to forgive himself--

Under the Texas Mistletoe: A Trio of Christmas Historical Romance Novellas
by Karen Witemeyer

Three Charming and Festive Holiday Novellas Spiced with Humor, Frontier Action, and Sweet RomanceIn this 3-in-1 novella collection, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer presents the new story A Texas Christmas Carol, in which a town's wealthy, Scrooge-like bachelor finds his world invaded by a woman set on earning his donation for helping the local poor, and by the penetrating questions of three mysterious visitors.It also includes, for the first time in print, An Archer Family Christmas. When the Archer clan gathers for the Christmas holiday, an unexpected request for help leaves Cassandra Archer directly in the path of a dangerous outlaw. Desperate to protect the woman he loves, Jim Archer races to the rescue, only to find that Cassie's life is not the only one in peril. It will take a Christmas miracle--and the entire Archer clan--to keep a second Archer Christmas from ending in disaster.In previously published Gift of the Heart, a widow and her young daughter move to Hope Springs for a fresh start. But with no money to secure a home, Ruth must convince a wealthy resort owner to accept her heirloom brooch as collateral. Will the pin that brought love to three generations soften the heart of a wounded recluse and give Ruth a second chance at love as the holidays draw near?Sprinkled throughout the collection, you'll find a hope-filled Christmas devotion, Witemeyer holiday recipes, and fun facts about nineteenth-century Christmas celebrations

An Ivy Hill Christmas
by Julie Klassen

Bachelor Richard Brockwell happily lives in his family's London townhouse in 1822, but needs to attend his mother's Christmas country house party or be cut off financially. With the stray dog he's recently adopted in tow, he goes home and finds himself charmed by houseguest Arabella Awdry, who’s planning to devote her life to charity work in this standalone Tales from Ivy Hill novel. For fans of: Christmas romances with themes of redemption.

The Christmas Catch
by Toni Shiloh

In this appealing second-chance romance, divorced Bebe Gordon isn’t interested in being hurt again and just wants to be a good mom to spunky seven-year-old Hope. But old feelings resurface when her high school boyfriend, injured NFL player Jahleel Walker, returns to their hometown to recover, and the two end up helping plan their church’s Christmas ball. Try this next: Betsy St. Amant's Holly and Nick Hate Christmas.

Contact your librarian for more great books!