Books of the Month November 2020

November is typically the month where friends and family get together to give thanks for the blessings in their lives. Although 2020 has not been a great year due to a myriad of reasons, there were still plenty of things to be thankful about. This includes great books and our readers certainly had an abundance to choose from this month. Here are the books across all genres that our readers chose to keep them entertained during the month of November.

Best Romance

Texas Hearts

by Lisa Mondello

Texas Hearts by Lisa Mondello is a collection of three thrilling romances featuring sexy cowboy heroes. The collection includes Her Heart For The Asking, His Heart For The Trusting, and The More I See. These are not your typical cowboy romance stories either as each book has an interesting and unique premise. This means that they are not just good romances, but also features uplifting stories.

Best Action & Adventure

Civvy to Squaddie

by Deb McEwan

Civvy to Squaddie by Deb McEwan is a coming of age novel and the first book in her Unlikely Soldiers series. The story is set in 1970s Britain where two teenagers from different walks of life cross paths when both of them join the British Army. The author herself had a career of over thirty years in the British Army, which lends her story the authenticity that is lacking in many other books. Civvy to Squaddie is infused with enough love, humor, and tragedy, to keep readers hooked right to the end.

Best Mystery & Thriller

Publishable By Death

by ACF Bookens

Fans of cozy mysteries couldn't get enough of Publishable By Death. This book, by ACF Bookens, is the first novel in her St. Marin's Cozy Mystery Series and is set in a small Southern waterside town. The protagonist, Harvey Beckett, is planning the grand opening of her bookshop, but this is complicated by the death of the community's reporter. To make matters worse, the body was found in her bookshop storeroom, which prompts Harvey to investigate the crime at the risk of becoming a victim herself.

Best Biographies

My Eccentric Family

by Norman L. Cantor

My Eccentric Family is the fascinating biography of Norman L. Canton, whose father was a major Communist Party USA figure in the seventies. When his father is forced to underground Norman is raised by his mother who was a pioneering women's lawyer promoting civil rights and workers' interests. In his biography, Norman gives his own account of what it was like growing up experiencing major 20th-century social movements.

Best Children's Book

Fairy-Tailed Wish

by Megan Pighetti

Fairy-Tailed Wish is an exciting children's book by Megan Pighetti with wonderful illustrations by Tamara Piper. Even readers who might not know what being "fairy-taled" entails will love this exciting story and enjoy the imaginative illustrations. It is the perfect story for children ages 3-8 years old and follows the adventures of three fairies named Suzie, Lily, and Dax as they attempt to grant a birthday wish.

Best Young Adult

The Unsame Ones

by Stephanie Skeem

The Unsame Ones by Stephanie Skeem is set in a world where everybody is the same and the only thing differentiating them is the month that they were born. Their birth month determines their name, look, genetic makeup, job, and even their face, goals, and dreams. The protagonist, January, is a seventeen-year-old secretary facing the same fate as all other Januaries, to die at the age of eighteen from a genetic defect. However, when she crosses paths with an "Unsame One" her life changes forever.

Best Fantasy

Bones of the Witch

by A.L. Knorr

Bones of the Witch by A. L. Knorr is a young adult fae fantasy story and the first in her Earth Magic Rises series. It is set high in the hills of Scotland where an ancient evil has returned. The protagonist, Georjie, is eager to explore the famed fairy realm of the Highlands in search of a mentor to unlock the full force of her fae-given powers. Instead, she finds something a lot more shocking and has to team up with an amateur historian to fight back against the shadowy creature stalking the locals.

Best Historical Fiction

Anointed

by Greg S. Baker

Anointed by Greg S. Baker is the first book in his Davidic Chronicles that mixes historical accuracy with a biblical tale. It follows the life and adventures of David, who everyone knows from his epic battle against Goliath. The author has taken the biblical story and then through meticulous research ensured that his retelling stays true to the culture of the time as well for authenticity. The result is a novel that is not just for bible scholars, but casual readers too.

Best Horror

All Things To Everyone

by Aldred Chase

All Things To Everyone by Aldred Chase is the first novel in the Sinister Sydney series, which is set in modern Sydney. The protagonist is Paul Blake, a fifteen-year-old who is not looking forward to spending quality time with his grandmother. She has never taken an interest in him before, but this time things are different. After he reveals his ability to see the supernatural to her she wants to train him, but there are others who want to assist him with developing his talent too. This means that Paul has some difficult choices to make as he can't be all things to everyone.

Best Literary Fiction

Christmas at Ruby's

by Holly Schindler

With Christmas right around the corner, it's no surprise that Christmas at Ruby's by Holly Schindler was such a hit with readers. It's the first book in The Ruby's Place Christmas Collection, which is set in the tiny fictional town of Sullivan, Missouri. While Ruby's Place, a classy family-friendly nightspot, has been closed for decades, it is still fondly remembered by many. One of these people is Angela, a middle-aged woman who used to spend her Christmases there as a child with her favorite aunt. It is on a snowy holiday evening when Angela is feeling down on her luck that she finds herself back at Ruby's wishing she could spend one last moment with a special loved one.

Best Science Fiction

Forager

by Peter R Stone

Forager is a post-apocalyptic thriller by Peter R Stone featuring the twenty-year-old Ethan Jones. Ethan lives in a society that is trying to keep the human race pure by terminating anyone with nuclear radiation caused mutations. This means that while Ethan has an incredible mutation that helps him with foraging he lives in fear of being discovered. To make matters worse, when Ethan rescues a Japanese girl from the Skel savages that roam the ruins of Melbourne she places both their lives in jeopardy when he brings her home with him.

Best Paranormal

Before Midnight

by Jennifer Blackstream

Before Midnight is the first book in the Blood Prince Series by Jennifer Blackstream. It's a brand new take on Cinderella featuring a werewolf prince and a human maiden. Etienne, the werewolf prince, is turning into a human due to a curse while Loupe, is a maiden turning into a monster due to a wolf bite. The two are brought together by a grand ball where each holds the other's salvation in their hands. A kiss and a bite are all that is needed, but there is also the risk of Loupe's bloodthirsty stepfamily hunting them both down and slaughtering them.

Best Non-Fiction

She Rode a Harley

by Mary Jane Black

She Rode a Harley by Mary Jane Black is a memoir of love, second chances, loss, and motorcycles. It follows Mary Jane, a school teacher, who escapes an abusive marriage and ends up finding love on a blind date. Her new husband, Dwayne, believes that riding a Harley will restore her confidence, and the two become partners both on and off the road. Unfortunately, fifteen years later Dwayne is diagnosed with cancer and Mary Jane must once again learn to live on her own after losing him.