#BookReview: Ship of Spells by @hleightondickson

Synopsis:
A war-scarred mage. A sentient ship. A secret that could drown empires. 

When Ensign Bluemage Honor Renn is rescued from the wreckage of her first naval post, she expects death or disgrace. Instead, she wakes aboard the Touchstone, a mythic vessel whispered of in dockside ballads and royal war rooms alike. With a crew of misfits. A mysterious, elven captain. And a mission tied to the Dreadwall, the crumbling barrier that has kept the Overland and Nethersea from open war for a hundred years.

But the tragedy that sank her last ship didn’t just take lives―it left something behind.

Now Renn carries a secret everyone wants. A magik that’s chimeric, arcane...and slowly killing her. But the captain’s mission may be her only chance to survive, even if he still doesn’t trust her.

Caught between privateers, princes, and spies, Renn knows each choice could sink her future―or set the sea on fire.

Ship of Spells is perfect for readers who crave the raw grit of Arya Stark, the world-building of Samantha Shannon, and the slow-burn tension of enemies who should never trust or want each other.

#ReleaseBlitz: Who's Saving You by @carolinajax_author #IndiePenPR

Nik Papas is the newest WR for the South Carolina Warriors. Dubbed “Saint Nik” for his squeaky clean persona, he’s polished and perfect and always has the right answer. But underneath all that ‘Saint’ is a secret that could destroy it all.

Noelle Moreno is a reporter for The Falls Press, always determined to get the story that isn’t being told. Fierce and quick-witted, she's got a taste for sweets and an aversion to football players.

In the sports world, where division sells and secrets can ruin careers, sometimes your only hope is an enemy turned lover, or a dangerous man who’s too irresistible. And when that happens, you have to ask …

Who’s Saving You

#BookBlitz: Alan Hovhaness by #HinakoFujharaHovhnass @RABTBookTours #Giveaway

Unveiling One of the Great Composers of the 20th Century

Biography

Date Published: October 28, 2025           

Publisher: Peanut Butter Publishing

In the year 2000, after Alan’s death, Hinako Fujihara-Hovhaness started writing poems, which was the only way she could cope with her great loss. They were written with her limited English, yet they were spontaneous and poignant, straight from her heart. After she had written hundreds of poems, it was not enough. Hinako started writing stories from my memories about Alan, events she had experienced with him.

To Hinako, “Alan was a master of counterpoint and an intellectual, yet he had many different sides to his personality, from being a polite, distinguished gentleman to a wild savage, idealistic, and old-fashioned man to sexy womanizer. He understood human nature and emotion, and I think that is why his music touches people’s hearts and is loved by them, even though his music is built on an intellectual foundation”.

#BookBlitz: The Philosopher’s Guide to Life, Suffering and Kidney Stones (But Mostly Kidney Stones) by @kidneystonesocrates @RABTBookTours

 

Nonfiction / Health

Date Published: June 5, 2025

 

 Let’s face it—life throws rocks at all of us. Sometimes metaphorical, sometimes literal, and occasionally they hit you directly in the kidneys.

 

Welcome to the survival guide you didn’t know you needed—for pain, philosophy, and the Dirty Rotten Bastards known as kidney stones.

 

Written by Dr. Carmin Kalorin, a board-certified Urologist and Navy Veteran with a sharp sense of humor and a well-loved copy of Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations, this book is equal parts medical manual, philosophical deep-dive, and brutally honest pep talk. From ancient Greek tragedy to Zen detachment, from Schopenhauer’s existential gloom to modern pain meds that actually work, Dr. Kalorin arms you with science, insight, and just the right amount of sarcasm to help you endure the worst pain imaginable—and maybe even grow from it.

 

Inside, you’ll discover:

●  Why kidney stones hurt so damn much (hint: it’s not just the jagged edges)

●  How to suffer like a philosopher—or just survive like a human

●  What Stoics, Buddhists, and Navy SEALs can teach us about pain

●  How to stop these unholy invaders from ever coming back

 

Whether you’re mid-attack, recovering, or just preparing for the day your body decides to throw a mutiny, The Philosopher’s Guide to Life, Suffering, and Kidney Stones offers clarity, catharsis, and some much-needed laughs—because if suffering is inevitable, we might as well face it with wisdom and a plan.

 

Grab some water (seriously, hydrate), settle in (writhing optional), and turn the page. You’re not alone!

#BookBlitz: That Boy by @briarblackbooks @XpressoTours #Giveaway Prize: a PR box

That Boy
Briar Black
(The Cheshire Set, #3)
Publication date: November 6th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance, Suspense

Building an impossible tea farm in the Cheshire countryside was Sofia’s second chance. A way to prove herself. A fresh start. She knew it would be graft. She anticipated a degree of isolation. But with Christmas imminent and the farm failing, her thoughts have grown darker. She’s searching for something — an ineffable force to make this year the magical wonderland she always craves and never finds.

Yet with the farm failing there’s no time to fix her ailing social life. Sofia resigns herself to another lonely holiday.

Enter Matt.

Delaware Grange’s twenty-one-year-old assistant gamekeeper. Nice enough, a bit dopey.

As she hunkers down for winter, Sofia thinks she’s prepared for everything. Nothing could prepare her for Matt. For the abrupt awareness of him. For the way he’s far more capable than he seems. Thoughtful. Considerate. Quietly intelligent.

Way sexier than he appears.

Suddenly impossible to ignore.

But Matt isn’t what he seems. A darkness runs beneath Delaware Grange — insidious, creeping, buried deep.

Sofia was little more than a challenge, a box for Matt to check, an assignment to complete. Until he fell.

Hard.

Now all he sees is her. All he wants is her. And all he knows is she has no idea who he truly is. While Sofia fights her feelings in the face of forbidden fruit, and Matt wrestles with the reality of his true purpose on the estate, the pair fall into an intoxicating, passionate, volatile romance.

As winter deepens and Christmas closes in, two lonely souls struggle to find peace in each other, and trust becomes the most dangerous choice on the estate.

Falling for Matt threatens everything Sofia has worked so hard to build. Falling for Sofia might just be the making of Matt.

That Boy is a high-heat, secret-identity romance where desire, deception, and devotion collide in a snowy small-town Christmas.

While not required, it is highly suggested to read Nightshade before That Boy.

Author’s Note: Each novel in The Cheshire Set can be read as a standalone, but the following order avoids spoiling the reading experience of earlier books.

Recommended Reading Order for The Cheshire Set:

Bane
Nightshade
That Boy

Eve Was Framed, a prequel novella to Bane, isn’t strictly part of The Cheshire Set but is available for free download on the author’s website.

#BookTour: Lost by @LM_Preston @RABTBookTours

The Mistfits Series, Book 1

Fantasy

Date Published: October 1, 2025

Publisher: Phenomenal One Press

Penelope Pawn had an addiction. She liked candy, sword-fighting shadows, and boys. Still, something was seriously wrong and she couldn’t put her finger on it. Being homeless wasn’t as bad for her as it was for most. She had a way of collecting kids that turned into family, like brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, every time another kid agreed to come with her to the hiding place she’d created, a rush of power would surge through her like she’d consumed a drug, sealed a deal, or done something wrong. There was one guy, though, who wouldn’t come. When Terek showed up at her doorstep, a place well hidden from most others, and demanded she heed his warning, it was the first time she feared an enemy's strength. Was he a challenge that could become her savior, revealing the truth of her past to her? Could this boy show her how to repair the fiber of the world she’d unknowingly ripped apart, causing a catastrophic end to the home she’d built for herself and the lost ones?

#BookReview: Variation by @RebeccaYarros

Synopsis:
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fourth Wing comes a new contemporary romance about the summer a celebrated dancer returns home and unearths years of family secrets with the Coast Guard rescue swimmer she never forgot.

Elite ballerina Allie Rousseau is no stranger to pressure. With her mother’s eyes always watching, perfection was expected, no matter the cost. But when an injury jeopardizes all she’s sacrificed for, Allie returns to her summer home to heal and recover. But the memories she’s tried to forget rush in and threaten to take her under.

As a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Hudson Ellis knows that hesitation can mean the difference between life and death. He’s always prided himself on being in the right place at the right time, especially when it came to Allie Rousseau…until the night he left for basic. After the biggest regret of his life, the secrets he keeps mean he can never be with the one woman he wants more than his next breath.

When Hudson’s niece shows up on Allie’s doorstep, desperate to find her birth mother, Allie finds herself in an unimaginable position. Allie and Hudson’s past and present might be endlessly complicated. The thread that tied them to each other all those years ago may have unraveled, but the truth could pull them back together, or drive them apart forever.

#BookReview: The Tale of Kore (The Fruit of Life and Death, #1) by Amanda L. Rautio

Synopsis:
In the heart of academia, Corey, an ambitious master’s student, yearns for a life beyond the confines of dusty books and lectures. After making a fateful wish, Corey becomes a key player in a cosmic drama that unfolds following a re-enactment of an Ancient Greek mystery cult dedicated to Demeter and Persephone. 

Whisked away to the shadowy depths of the Underworld, Corey discovers a world teetering on the brink of chaos. Dark forces stir, with ancient gods either missing or perishing. To restore balance, Corey must brave the labyrinthine passages of the Underworld, confront mythical beasts, and uncover long-buried truths to revive the goddesses of justice, memory, and spring—before true darkness takes hold.

#Teaser: Shadows Over Cozumel (Echoes of Fortune) by #DavidRLeng @RABTBookTours

Mystery, Thriller

Date Published: November 11, 2025

 

What would you risk to uncover a secret buried for over 150 years?

From bestselling and multi–award-winning author David R. Leng comes the next pulse-pounding installment in the Echoes of Fortune series.

His debut, Echoes of Fortune: The Search for Braddock’s Lost Gold, captivated readers and earned a 4.5-star rating on Goodreads. Now the adventure continues with a brand-new novella that plunges deeper into history’s deadliest secrets.

When historian Jack Sullivan, Smithsonian curator Emma Wilson, and fellow former Navy SEAL Steve Johnson set out for a Thanksgiving dive off Cozumel, they expect nothing more than warm waters and forgotten wrecks. Instead, they uncover a Confederate ghost ship that vanished in 1865—along with a sealed brass tube containing secrets powerful enough to change history.

But they’re not alone. Shadowy mercenaries and a black-hulled yacht stalk their every move, determined to silence them before the truth surfaces. From dazzling reefs to the back alleys of Veracruz, Jack and his team are forced into a deadly game where history isn’t past—it’s a weapon.

Some secrets don’t want to be found. And some will kill to stay buried.

Perfect for fans of Steve Berry, Clive Cussler, Dan Brown, and James Rollins, Shadows Over Cozumel delivers nonstop action, historical intrigue, and a mystery that spans centuries.

#BookReview: Beautiful Broken Love by Shanora Williams @reallyshanora

Synopsis:
From New York Times bestselling author Shanora Williams comes an emotional page-turner about two people still reeling from tragedy who look to each other for the strength to move forward.

It’s been months since her dreams of forever were brutally shattered. Seven long months since her husband and soulmate, Lew, died in her arms, leaving her to carry on. Alone. And Davina Klein-Roberts still isn’t sure how to move forward.

To escape her anguish, Davina throws everything into work, pushing Golden Oil Co., her self-built skincare line, to become a viral success. Now she’s poised to clinch a major endorsement deal too. But it’s bittersweet without Lew by her side.

A meeting with Deke Bishop, the hot NBA star she’s courting for her brand, leaves Davina flustered. With his dimpled smile and warm handshake, Deke’s a natural pitchman. And he’s clearly interested—not only in her lotions.

Davina soon discovers that Deke’s more than just another player and carries his own pain. But as her feelings for him grow, so does her guilt. Will the pain of a future already lost keep her from embracing hope for a new one?

#ReleaseBlitz: The Well-Tempered Violinist by @btcarlton_writer @RABTBookTours #Giveaway

Book 1 of The Gift

 

Historical Fiction

Date to be Published: November 5, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

Marthe Adler dreams of making history as a great violinist. But in 1905 Germany, tradition and deep-seated prejudice against women musicians stand in her way. To make matters worse, her beloved father’s sudden death shatters her family’s comfortable life, pushing them to the edge of poverty.

But the violin Marthe’s father left her is a constant reminder of the profound bond between them, and it gives her the strength to begin healing. When the Köln Conservatory offers her an unexpected scholarship, she seizes her chance to reach for excellence.

Under the rigorous tutelage of Professorin Wolff, and subjected to predatory harassment by a fellow student determined to destroy both her self-worth and her chances of success, Marthe quickly learns she will need more than motivation and talent to rise to the top.

Filled with heart, wit, and music, The Well-Tempered Violinist is an enduring coming-of-age tale about an artist striving for greatness against enormous odds.

#BookReview: Carnal Urges (Queens and Monsters, #2) by @jtgeissingerauthor

Synopsis:
Carnal (adjective):
1) Relating to the pleasures of the body
2) Given to sensual indulgence
3) The man who kidnapped me

The devil has blue eyes, an Irish accent, and a hatred for me that runs deep.

He blames me for starting a war. Consorting with his enemies. Getting his men killed. Though I’m innocent on all charges, he wants his pound of flesh. With an eye on revenge, he makes me his captive.

But as we’ll both soon discover, there are more powerful urges than that for revenge.

When the devil meets his match but she’s his sworn enemy, that’s when the real war begins.

#BookBlitz: The Bridge by @shannahatfield @XpressoTours #Giveaway Prize: $25 Amazon gift card

The Bridge
Shanna Hatfield
Publication date: October 7th 2025
Genres: Adult, Holiday, Women’s Fiction

One Bridge. Five Strangers. A Christmas Eve That Changes Everything.

On a bridge suspended above the Willamette River, five lives collide for a journey through hope and hardship in a suspenseful, heartwarming tale of courage, connection, and the magic of second chances.

Sergeant Archer Raines has worked every holiday all year for one reason: to finally spend Christmas with his wife. But when a desperate man threatens to jump from Portland’s St. Johns Bridge, Archer’s expert negotiation skills are required to defuse the situation.

Rosalee, a high-powered accountant and mom-to-be, only meant to swing by home for a forgotten phone and client file. Then her car is caught in the chaos on the bridge, she unexpectedly goes into labor, and her carefully planned world begins to unravel amidst the unfolding drama.

Exhausted nurse Nova just wants to make it home for Christmas after too many night shifts. When the pileup halts traffic and Rosalee’s baby is on the way, Nova puts her own plans on hold to help a stranger in need.

Carter, the owner of a busy tow truck business, regrets taking the call to clear the multi-car collision off the bridge. He’d intended to spend the day tackling last-minute holiday errands. Instead, he’s praying the lunatic pointing a gun at him doesn’t pull the trigger.

Fresh out of college and anxious to kick-start his career, Ian’s running late when his car won’t start the morning of his big interview. His rideshare driver turns out to be a captivating girl with a penchant for aggressive driving that narrowly saves them from being part of the wreck on the bridge, sending Ian on an unexpected path of his own.

The Bridge is the perfect uplifting holiday read and a story of how one frozen moment can thaw even the loneliest of hearts.

#BookTour: Full Phoenix Rising by #DuncanRobinson @RABTBookTours

 

Real Time Grace at the Speed of Jesus

Religion / Nonfiction / Christian Living / Spiritual Growth / Humor

Date Published: August 5, 2025

Publisher: Lucid Books Publishing

 

 What do a Russian in gold hot-pants, a cow-pat fight, and real-time grace have in common? They all show up in this wildly funny, deeply heartfelt exploration of what it means to live out faith in the mess of real life.

Full Phoenix Rising is not your typical Christian inspiration book. It’s part memoir, part stand-up comedy, and part soul-reflection, told by a black-sheep pastor with a knack for getting into trouble—and finding Jesus there. Duncan invites readers into his most awkward moments, spiritual insights, and hilarious disasters to remind us that God’s grace isn’t reserved for the polished and perfect—it’s for the ones still wiping off the cow poo and reaching for hope.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite fit in at church, questioned your worth, or just needed permission to laugh at how weird this whole faith thing can be, this book is for you. Come for the cow-pats, stay for the grace.

#Teaser: Rattler by @annekane @RABTBookTours @changelingpress

(Riptide MC)

 

Motorcycle Club Romance, Age Gap, Suspense

Date Published: November 7, 2025

 

Lily ran from a nightmare straight to Rattler's arms. He’s all leather, muscle and lethal promise. Dare she hope for an HEA?

 

Lily -- Abusing me was bad enough, but when my a**hole of a boyfriend threatened to shoot a tiny kitten, I brained him with a pot of spaghetti sauce and ran -- straight into the arms of the tattooed VP of the Riptide MC. He’s everything my ex isn’t, and that gives me hope. He promises to keep Scrapper and I safe, but my ex isn’t the forgiving kind. He said he would kill me if I left him and I know he’s going to come looking for revenge.

Rattler -- She might be younger than me in years, but there’s a world of experience looking out of those gorgeous eyes, and it isn’t the good kind. When she pulled a gun on me, I knew she was my kind of woman. She’s on the run from an a**hole who used her as a punching bag. He might have the local law enforcement in his pocket, but me and my brothers in Riptide have military experience, and sometimes vigilante justice is necessary.

 

Trigger Warning: This is an MC action thriller romance. It contains violence, abuse, coarse language, vigilante justice, and adult situations. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Enjoy!

#ReleaseBlitz: Pintsized Pioneers at Play by @barisopress @RABTBookTours #Giveaway

Homemade Frontier Fun and Danger written by Preston Lewis and Harriet Kocher Lewis

Young Adult Nonfiction

Date Published: 11-04-2025

Publisher: Bariso Press

Pintsized Pioneers at Play: Homemade Frontier Fun and Danger explores the forgotten world of how kids lived, laughed—and sometimes limped—through their childhood years in the Old West.

While their parents settled the land, these pintsized pioneers explored it, creating their own adventures with homemade toys, daring games, wild animal encounters, and risky escapades. This engaging sequel to the award-winning Pintsized Pioneers: Taming the Frontier, One Chore at a Time shines a spotlight on the joys and perils of play in a land still being tamed.

From exploring the prairie and wrangling critters to celebrating frontier holidays and watching traveling circuses, this book reveals how children carved out fun and entertainment in a rough-and-tumble world. Learn how railroads and mail-order catalogs brought new toys, how schools and churches doubled as social hubs, and how a simple game could end in laughter—or injury.

Written for young adults but fascinating for readers of all ages, Pintsized Pioneers at Play is packed with history, heart, and a hint of danger. Written at a tenth-grade reading level perfect for curious minds, Pintsized Pioneers at Play includes a glossary of related terms.

Perfect for fans of Western history, educators, homeschoolers, and lovers of untold American stories!

#BookTour: To Love a Grimm by @christinalfarley @rrbooktours

Welcome to the tour for upcoming release To Love a Grimm by Christina Farley, available November 11th!

To Love a Grimm (Fairy Tale Hearts Book 1)

Expected Release Date: November 11, 2025

Genre: Adult Romantasy/ Standalone

🥀 Fated mates
⚔️ Forbidden romance
🥀 Broody hunter
⚔️ Hidden magical powers
🥀 Castle ruins kiss
⚔️ Stays true to the Grimms’ Cinderella
🥀 Happily ever after
⚔️ Slow-burn romance
🥀 Dual POV
⚔️ Secret identity
🥀 Based on the lives of the Grimm Brothers

A forbidden fantasy romance wrapped in curses, courtly glamour, and dangerous fairy-tale magic, where only love can rewrite the story.

The prince of my heart, the hunter of my soul.

When Jacob Grimm’s beloved brother, Wilhelm, falls gravely ill, Jacob will do anything to save him—even strike a blood bargain with a cunning Enchantress. In exchange, the brothers become her Hunters, cursed to serve her dark will. Their task sends them on a quest to a kingdom where villagers whisper of men turning to wolves, nixies lurking in ponds, and the young disappearing into the Black Forest, trailing after the tune of a piper.

But upon arrival, Jacob realizes there are evil forces at work, more powerful than the brothers have encountered. Seeking help, Jacob joins an alliance with a nobleman’s daughter, the smart and beautiful Ella von Maier. Yet, she too holds dark secrets, and she’ll do anything to keep them hidden.

Swept into a world of court glamor and alluring magic, Jacob and Ella’s lives are inextricably intertwined as they work to save the kingdom and break his curse. But as truths begin to unfold, Ella wonders if she can trust this handsome stranger, or if he’s, in fact, her enemy.

As friendship blooms into love, their cursed fates force them to make impossible choices where fairy tales and love come at a treacherous cost.

To Love a Grimm is a standalone, Cinderella romantasy. If you crave forbidden swoony romance, star-crossed lovers, protective heroes with hidden scars, and a heroine who must choose between duty and her heart, you’ll be enchanted by this thrilling tale that ends in a happily ever after.

Perfect for fans of Stephanie Garber, Elise Kova, Sylvia Mercedes, and Brigid Kemmerer.

#ReleaseBlitz for Forced Proximity by @lanilynnvale @GiveMeBooksPR

Title: Forced Proximity

Series: Content Advisory #7

Author: Lani Lynn Vale

Genre: Mafia Romance

Tropes: Forced Proximity, Other Woman Drama

Reverse Grumpy/Sunshine

Release Date: November 4, 2025

BLURB

Finnian “Apollo” Reins met Dru Noel Rossi at his lowest.

She was a bright ray of sunshine in his darkest, cloudiest night.

He had no clue that he needed her. He was just struggling to keep his head above water, going from day to day, waiting for it to be his time to go.

But then she catches his eye in the swankiest restaurant in Washington DC. She’s wearing all black and sticks out like a sore thumb among the elitists’ otherwise dressiest affairs. She may have been severely underdressed, but that didn’t stop Finnian from following her every move and becoming obsessed.

So of course, when she leaves, he follows her. And wouldn’t you know it, she goes right back to his hometown.

But that’s not the first coincidence between the otherwise complete opposites. It’s just a long line of chance encounters that force them together, time and time again, and show them what they’re missing.

She’s the sweetest thing he’s ever met, and understandably, is hesitant to get anywhere near a Truth Teller like him.

The Truth Tellers MC got their hard, terrifying reputations for a reason.

But Finnian wears her down with his charm, while showing her what it’s like to be with someone that won’t hesitate to take out the entire world as long as it makes her smile.

He has to have her in his life, and he’ll do just about anything to make that happen. A little light stalking, financial blackmail and forced proximity never hurt anybody.

#ReleaseBoost for Kiss My Axe by @mayarcherauthor @GiveMeBooksPR

Title: Kiss My Axe

Series: Axford Brothers #1

Author: May Archer

Genre: Gay Romance

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Grumpy/Sarcastic Sunshine

Opposites Attract, Fish Out of Water, Small Town

Release Date: October 28, 2025

BLURB

Living in a treehouse? Unavoidable.

Falling for the grumpy lumberjack hottie next door? Unthinkable.

After a viral PR disaster torpedoes my marketing career, I flee Manhattan. The only place left to land? A fairy-tale treehouse in a pickle-obsessed Vermont town, left to me by an uncle I barely knew.

Yes, I said pickles.

No, I’m not okay.

But I’m only here temporarily. Just long enough to regroup, let the notoriety die down, and figure out my next steps in peace.

Unfortunately, my new neighbor has other ideas.

Beckett “the Axe” Axford–cranky local heartthrob and unapologetic tree-murderer–claims Uncle Jim made him promises about the forest around the treehouse, and he’s none too pleased when I won’t take his word for it.

Unfortunately for him, I’m done playing by other people’s rules. I’m not backing down just because some sexy–I mean grumpy–lumberjack says so, and I can handle whatever he dishes out.

Tree climbing? No problem.

Pickle festival popularity contest? Sign me up.

Kissing my unexpectedly-tender, flannel-clad nemesis in the woods after dark? I can take it, bro. And take it. And t– Ahem. You get the picture.

I’m tired of losing, so I’m not giving up my inheritance or my heart without a fight.

And if Beckett thinks differently, he can kiss my axe.

#CoverReveal: Jingled by Evan J. Corbin @XpressoTours

Jingled
Evan J. Corbin
Publication date: November 7th 2025
Genres: LGBTQ+, Satire, Speculative Fiction

Matt Daughtry has always felt like he and his parents live in separate worlds—his shaped by the urbane, Northeastern liberal elite, theirs by Southern conservatism, homespun “common sense,” and talk show-fueled conspiracies. His homosexuality remains an open secret, something they sidestep rather than confront, much less accept. When he and his sister return for Christmas, the wrong sibling brings home a boyfriend for the first time.

What starts as a tense but routine holiday gathering takes a surreal turn the next morning. Flights are canceled, pilots and flight attendants mysteriously take time off, and by the following day, an estimated seventy-eight million Americans fail to return to work. Their explanation? They just want to spend more time with their families. Christmas can be every day when you’re with family.

His parents—and millions of Americans—are suffering from a bizarre condition, trapped in an endless holiday loop, determined to celebrate Christmas every day. They make choices that go against their self-interests. Blissfully unbothered by their accumulating debts, economic collapse, or even basic responsibilities, they live in a festive delusion seemingly fueled by an addictive algorithm used by an evangelical shopping app called MerryNet.

At first, Matt sees no reason to get involved. He’s never been able to reach his parents before—why would this be any different? But as the syndrome spreads, paralyzing the country, he stumbles upon evidence linking the outbreak to corporate actors intent on silencing their perceived right-wing enemies. Faced with a choice between complicity and action, Matt realizes that exposing the truth may come at the cost of his career, safety, and sanity. But the country may slide further into a dystopian nightmare if he doesn’t act.

With the help of his boyfriend and sister, Matt must not only uncover the syndrome’s cause and cure but also confront the deeper divisions tearing his family—and the nation—apart.