Rosepoint Publishing #BookHaul – Fresh from the Publishers – #ReviewRequests

Rosepoint Publishing Book Haul

I love it when I get publisher’s requests to read their digital galley’s and ARCs, and usually download, read, and review the books, particularly if they fit my favorite genres.

This past week, however, I got three within a day or two of each other and was so excited by the invitations, I thought I’d have to let my readers in on each of these exciting new books, now available through NetGalley, to be released next year.

After reading the blurb of the first one, I promptly downloaded it for the CE as it appeared to be something he’d love. Keep an eye out for his thoughts and mine for the remaining two to follow soon.

Worse Than a Lie by Ben Crump (will be a CE review)

Release Date: February 17, 2026

Genre: Political Thrillers, Science Fiction Crime & Mystery

Publisher: Bantam – Dan Denning, Senior Marketing Manager, Ballantine Bantam Dell, Penguin Random House, NY

Hollis Montrose, a Black ex-police officer, is the latest victim of a brutal attack but survives. When the Chicago police department spins the narrative in its favor, it’s up to attorney Beau Lee Cooper to keep Hollis from a wrongful prison sentence.

♥♥♥♥♥

June Baby by Shannon Garvey

Release Date: May 19, 2026

Genre: Women’s Friendship Fiction, Coming of Age Fiction, Mothers & Children Fiction

Publisher: Random House Marketing – Madison Dettlinger

Having been shipped off as a teenager to Block Island after the loss of her mother by her father, Ruth now at twenty-seven is faced with a new revelation of the women who raised her. “Both a heartfelt coming-of-age story and a tender exploration of love and grief…”

♥♥♥♥♥

Killing Me Softly by Sandie Jones

Release Date: March 31, 2026

Genre: Domestic Thrillers, Murder Thrillers, Psychological Thrillers

Publisher: Minotaur Books – Angelica Pietrakowski – St Martin’s Press

“What do you do when love turns deadly?”

Charlie and Freya are supposed to be the picture-perfect couple but a tragedy of monumental proportions will change that. Can they survive this “wickedly twisty tale of obsession…”?

♥♥♥♥♥

These are all new authors for me, so I’m excited to discover their writing styles and talents and should be no problem to have them read and reviewed within the next couple months, the first by the end of December.

Of course, these are all currently listed in Goodreads. I hope you see one here that piques your interest!

Thank you so much to each of the above publishers for the opportunity to read their promotions. As always, our reviews will be our own honest opinions.

Child reading a book with hot cocoa nearby — Thanks to Freepik.com for the graphic

Judge and Jury by Stephen Penner #BookReview #LegalThrillers #TuesdayBookBlog

in Murder Thrillers

Book 7 A Rain City Legal

Book Blurb:

Seattle attorney Dan Raine is hired by an old friend, Judge Michael Hawkins, to help with a delicate family matter. Hawkins’s son has been romancing Lydia Szabo, the daughter of a local crime lord, and now owes her brother a large sum of money.

The Szabo family is using this debt to blackmail the judge into a favorable verdict on an upcoming case. Raine’s job is to scare them off by digging up some serious dirt on their criminal empire. But before he can do it, Lydia is murdered and Judge Hawkins is found standing over her body, a smoking gun in his hand.

Despite overwhelming evidence, Raine believes Hawkins’s claim that he is innocent and throws himself into finding the real killer. His investigation leads him deep into the Szabos’ organization, where human trafficking, corrupt cops, and deadly secrets lurk around every corner.

But the closer he gets to the truth, the more dangerous the game becomes. And when the real killer is finally revealed, Raine discovers that the deadliest betrayals are the ones you don’t see coming.

My Review:

Not our first experience with this author and, of course, we enjoy the Seattle location of the novel. My motobuddy always called it the “great Northwet” and heaven knows the protagonist as well as the series is named well with an average annual rainfall in the area of 37-39 inches per year.

In this installment, attorney Dan Raine has been retained by an old friend, a judge, who appears to have a sticky wicket with the apparent death of his son’s girlfriend in his upstairs study. Unfortunately, his son’s girlfriend is part of a large local crime family thought to run a number of deadly secrets.

An experienced attorney himself, the author knows his way around the legal system and courtroom procedure, and his main character reflects that expertise. In his years of practice, the MC has also accumulated a number of valuable contacts, a few of whom are happy to return a favor when requested. He is also friends with a bail bondsman with deep pockets and a clever way of negotiation.

The courtroom drama puts you square in the jury box, the legalese explained, and the maneuvering suspenseful. Raine comes off as an intelligent and competent attorney as well as investigator. His moral compass both in and out of the courtroom is held in high regard.

I thought we had a solid verdict and conclusion when the author threw a gotcha at the end I didn’t see coming and almost had to chuckle.

Okay, that was a good one. If you’re a fan of legal thrillers, this one is for you. The CE read two of the installments in this series, the last one being Body of Evidence and loved it. Even if you aren’t, there are always enlightening moments and the plot and pace are programmed to keep your interest in moving pages. It can be read as a standalone.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Legal Thrillers, Murder, Murder Thrillers
Publisher: Inkubator Books
ISBN: 978-1837566495
ASIN: B0FYHGK6TV
Print Length: 246 pages
Publication Date: November 16, 2025 – Just Released!
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK

The Author: Stephen Penner is an author, artist, and attorney from Seattle, Washington. He has written more than 30 novels and specializes in courtroom thrillers known for their unexpected twists and candid portrayal of the justice system. He draws on his extensive experience as a criminal trial attorney to infuse his writing with realism and insight.

Stephen is the bestselling author of several top-rated legal thriller series. The RAIN CITY LEGAL THRILLERS deliver the adventures of Seattle attorney Daniel Raine and his unlikely partner Rebecca Sommers. The DAVID BRUNELLE LEGAL THRILLERS feature Seattle homicide D.A. David Brunelle and a recurring cast of cops, defense attorneys, and forensic experts. And the TALON WINTER LEGAL THRILLERS showcase tough-as-nails Tacoma criminal defense attorney Talon Winter and her closest allies. Stephen is also the author of the MAGGIE DEVEREAUX PARANORMAL MYSTERIES, recounting the exploits of an American graduate student in the magical Highlands of Scotland, and several other stand-alone works.

In his spare time, Stephen enjoys painting, drawing, and spending time with his family.

#TuesdayBookBlog