If you love Fresh Fiction’s reading challenges—but don’t love juggling spreadsheets, apps, tabs, and reminders—this planner is for you. The Fresh Fiction 2026 Reading Challenges Planner was created for readers who want everything in one place, without having to log in, scroll, or search for the right file. It’s simple, portable, and designed to be used wherever you read—on the couch, at the library, in a bookstore, or while planning your next TBR. No spreadsheets. No apps. No hassle. Instead of tracking your reading across multiple ...

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear friend and MWA Grand Master Peter Lovesey. Peter passed away peacefully at his home in Shrewsbury, England, on April 10, 2025, after a courageous battle against pancreatic cancer. He was with Jax, his wife of 65 years. He was 88 years old. Peter Lovesey was born in 1936 in Middlesex, England, and counted as his earliest memory the 1944 Blitz bombing that destroyed his family’s house. In 1955, he entered Reading University, pursuing a degree in visual arts, but in December of...

Fresh Fiction: Welcome, B.F. Peterson! We’re excited to chat with you about your latest book. Let’s start with the basics—what’s the title of your newest release? B.F. Peterson: Thanks for having me! My latest release is THE LAND BEYOND THE WASTE. FF: That sounds intriguing! Can you give us the elevator pitch for the book? BFP: Absolutely. The story follows Rydara, the mixed-race bastard daughter of a tribal king, who discovers that the queen of a neighboring country is sacrificing tribespeople in dark magic rituals. Her father refuses ...

Tomorrow is the first day of October.  Scary shows are on TV.  Pumpkins are popping up on doorsteps.  And it’s definitely the season for some paranormal reads. In my case, I’m all about the paranormal suspense stories (those with a bit of romance thrown in for fun!). Ah, paranormal suspense. Stories full of vampires and werewolves…and murder and mystery.  Mix all of those elements together, and I am absolutely delighted.  It’s like creating a wonderful treat full of my favorite things. Who writes paranormal (romantic) suspense?  S...

One of the chief joys of historical fiction is learning about significant events or the lives of unusual people one has previously known little or nothing about.  This month’s selection of stories, all set in World War II, offers an array of such revelations. For lovers of reading, what could be more entrancing than a story about the healing power of books during war?  THE UNDERGROUND LIBRARY by Jennifer Ryan explores that facet in her novel that features the real-life underground library at Bethnal Green in London.  Juliet Lansdown leaves...

I love reading during the long, lazy days of summer. Give me steamy romances. Heart-pounding suspenses. Let me read a sexy romance like THE POWERBROKER by Anna Hackett or let me get chills from a thriller like HOME IS WHERE THE BODIES are by Jeneva Rose.  So many books. Just not enough summertime. Because, alas, summer reading season is almost at an end.  But not to worry. The beach reads will just be replaced by books for the spooky season. (Bring on the paranormal romances!) And, then, it will be time for the holiday romances. (I absolutely...

The sultry heat of August brings to mind tropic breezes and the allure of far-off places. One such place for me has always been India, a vast, multicultural land of mystery and ancient traditions.  In honor of that fascination, this month’s selections offer a kaleidoscope of views of the country from several different eras. Moving chronologically, we begin with BENEATH A MARBLE SKY by John Shors.  The author illuminates the story behind one of the world’s great cultural treasures, the Taj Mahal.  Princess Jahanara, daughter of Emperor Sh...

Every month that passes seems crazier than the month before, so once again I am thankful to writers—romance writers in particular—who give us a safe place to relax and luxuriate in the certainty that at least in the pages of a book there really can be a happily ever after. I must start my paeon to writers, however, with a shoutout to the phenomenally talented T.J. Newman. Her new book, WORST CASE SCENARIO, came out this month, and it is most definitely not a romance. Is there love involved? Oh, most definitely, beautifully, and poignantly. ...

Some people indulge in marathon sessions of their favorite show on Netflix. Like many other readers, I tend to rereads my favorite authors in the same fashion. I also love doing it with an author that’s new to me. In both instances the series tend to span back a few years. It’s a rare occurrence that the series is only one and a half years old. By August 29th you’ll have 6 books to devour—heaven. Pure heaven. That’s what I found when I stumbled across Sue Minix’s The Bookstore Mystery series. You don’t have to read all of them in ...

For the “I Hate Summer and Miss Winter” vibe:   HEART THROB: Hearts of Metal series Winter tour, lots of snow and ice, tour bus breaks down and hero and heroine must huddle for warmth. HEART THROB by Brooklyn Ann Hearts of Metal #7 Bassist Brand and filmmaker Lexi have both suffered traumatic pasts, but together, they can heal and have a happy future. THE GRUMPY BASSIST Brand Kife, bassist for heavy metal band, Viciöus, is known in the metal world as “the man who never smiles.” He has even less reason to smile when he learns tha...