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Forge’s May eBook Deals!

April showers bring May’s flowering of eBook deals! Read below to check out what Forge has blooming on sale during this upcoming month!


The Last Beekeeper by Julie Carrick Dalton

The Last Beekeeper

Julie Carrick Dalton’s The Last Beekeeper is a celebration of found family, an exploration of truth versus power, and the triumph of hope in the face of despair. It is a meditation on forgiveness and redemption and a reminder to cherish the beauty that still exists in this fragile world.

On sale for $2.99!

The Last Dreamwalker by Rita Woods

The Last Dreamwalker

From Hurston/Wright Legacy Award-winning author Rita Woods, The Last Dreamwalker tells the story of two women, separated by nearly two centuries yet inextricably linked by the Gullah-Geechee Islands off the coast of South Carolina—and their connection to a mysterious and extraordinary gift passed from generation to generation.

On sale for $2.99!

Fire With Fire by Candice Fox

Fire with Fire

Candice Fox’s Fire with Fire is a non-stop, gripping thriller from “a bright new star in crime fiction.” (James Patterson)

A pair of desperate parents. A man on the run. A rookie cop.
Four people with everything on the line.
What will be left in the ashes of the next 24 hours?

On sale for $2.99!

A Good Family by Matt Goldman

A Good Family

New York Times bestselling author and Emmy Award-winner Matt Goldman’s A Good Family is a gripping, emotional thrill ride about the secrets hidden underneath a picture-perfect neighborhood.

On sale for $2.99!

Wake of War by Zac Topping

Wake of War

Zac Topping’s breathtaking near-future thriller, Wake of War, is a timely account of the lengths those with power will go to preserve it, and the determination of those they exploit to win back their freedom.

On sale for $2.99!

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Forge Your Own Book Club: The Last Beekeeper by Julie Carrick Dalton

The Last BeekeeperBy Ariana Carpentieri:

Spring has officially sprung, and we have the most perfect and timely book for you to dive into. Nothing screams ‘springtime’ more than a book about bees! Julie Carrick Dalton’s The Last Beekeeper is a celebration of found family, an exploration of truth versus power, and the triumph of hope in the face of despair.

It’s been more than a decade since the world has come undone, and Sasha Severn has returned to her childhood home with one goal in mind—find the mythic research her father, the infamous Last Beekeeper, hid before he was incarcerated. There, Sasha is confronted with a group of squatters who have claimed the quiet, idyllic farm as their own. While she initially feels threatened, the group soon becomes her newfound family, offering what she hasn’t felt since her father was imprisoned: security and hope. Maybe it’s time to forget the family secrets buried on the farm and focus on her future.

But just as she settles into her new life, Sasha witnesses the impossible. She sees a honey bee, presumed extinct. People who claim to see bees are ridiculed and silenced for reasons Sasha doesn’t understand, but she can’t shake the feeling that this impossible bee is connected to her father’s missing research. Fighting to uncover the truth could shatter Sasha’s fragile security and threaten the lives of her newfound family—or it could save them all.

The Last Beekeeper is the an excellent choice for your next book club discussion. Here’s a breakdown on what to watch, what to eat, what to drink, what to listen to, and what to discuss while you read it!


What to Watch:

Vanishing of the Bees - Wikipedia

The Last Beekeeper is is a meditation on forgiveness and redemption and a reminder to cherish the beauty that still exists in this fragile world. A movie I think would be an excellent choice to pair with this book is called Vanishing of the Bees. The movie highlights the challenges bees are facing in this fast-modernizing world. With a special focus on Colony Collapse Disorder, it presents us the economic, political and ecological implications of the worldwide disappearance of the honey bee. This documentary follows organic and commercial beekeepers fighting against big corporations and trying to save their bees.

What to Eat:

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This story is a true and beautiful testament to the importance of bees in our ecosystem. There’s no better treat to pair with this book than making some honey granola yogurt bark! Quick to whip up and easy to munch on, this deliciously healthy snack pays a sweet homage to the wonderful work bees do for us on a daily basis.

What to drink:

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Staying within that same sweet theme, honey is certainly the main ingredient when it comes to what we suggest pairs best with The Last Beekeeper! Perfect for spring and summer, this honey mojito recipe will BEE the star of the show. This drink is pleasing to the pallet and might even give you a little BUZZ! Like soft sunshine, fresh-cut flowers, and all the other good springtime things, drinking a refreshing beverage like this is sure to spruce up your regular reading routine.

What to Listen to:

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The song I think pairs best with this book is a little ditty called Honeybee by The Head and The Heart. Enchanting vocals that are incredibly refreshing, the lyrics tell a story of a crumbling relationship, then as the song progresses the protagonist realizes what they stand to lose. Regarding this song, Charity Rose Thielen (vocalist and guitarist of the band), says: Honeybee really captures the idea of living the end of your life with some regret–realizing you have been living a life complacent with the familiar–maybe even taking the person closest to you for granted and regretting not expressing your love towards them until it’s too late. It’s a concept that connects with all of us. It feels fresh.” And in regards to The Last Beekeeper, Charlotte McConaghy, New York Times bestselling author of Once There Were Wolves, says: “Dalton’s passion and love for the natural world vibrates gloriously off every page. The Last Beekeeper is not only an intriguing mystery but an important reminder of what we stand to lose.” The parallels drawn between both the song and the novel are quite BEEwitching! Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the name of the song is so apropos. With all that being said, we truly feel this catchy tune is an excellent fit to listen to as you read The Last Beekeeper. 

What to Discuss:

Download the The Last Beekeeper Reading Group Guide for insightful questions to get the discussion going!

Click below to order your copy of The Last Beekeeper, available now!

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The Buzz on the 5 Best Beekeeping Farms in the World

The Last BeekeeperJulie Carrick Dalton’s The Last Beekeeper is a celebration of found family, an exploration of truth versus power, and the triumph of hope in the face of despair.

It’s been more than a decade since the world has come undone, and Sasha Severn has returned to her childhood home with one goal in mind—find the mythic research her father, the infamous Last Beekeeper, hid before he was incarcerated.

There, Sasha is confronted with a group of squatters who have claimed the quiet, idyllic farm as a way to escape the horrific conditions of state housing. While she feels threatened by their presence at first, the friends soon become her newfound family, offering what she hasn’t felt since her father was imprisoned: security and hope. Maybe it’s time to forget the family secrets buried on the farm and focus on her future.

But just as she settles into her new life, Sasha witnesses the impossible. She sees a honeybee, presumed extinct. People who claim to see bees are ridiculed and silenced for reasons Sasha doesn’t understand, but she can’t shake the feeling that this impossible bee is connected to her father’s missing research. Fighting to uncover the truth could shatter Sasha’s fragile security and threaten the lives of her new-found family—or it could save them all.

Sasha’s journey is a meditation on forgiveness and redemption and a reminder to cherish the beauty that still exists in this fragile world.

If you’re someone who’s passionate about saving the bees, then check out these wonderful beekeeping farms around the world!


Arataki Honey Ltd – Waiotapu, New Zealand

Arataki Honey-1
Arataki in New Zealand takes the bees and puts them at the core of their existence. This beekeeping farm understands the importance of beekeeping equipment that promotes hive health and is especially critical in controlling border entry of insects and animals that may impact the overall beekeeping process.

Rock Hill Honey Bee Farm – Stafford, VA

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Their farm sits on five acres of land, and their staff takes great pride in caring for the bees, offering advice and assistance, and providing the highest quality products.

The Inzerki Apiary – Agadir, Morocco 

Discover the World's Largest Traditional Bee Yard at Morocco's Inzerki Apiary

The Inzerki Apiary in the Souss-Massa region 82 kilometers north of Agadir is the largest traditional collective apiary, or bee yard, in the world. The population living around the apiary is only in the hundreds, and most of them are beekeepers. With at least 3,700 hives, the Inzerki Apiary welcomes tens of thousands of bees.

Big Island Bees – Captain Cook, HI

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Located on the Big Island of Hawaii, Bee Island Bees invites people to take a box seat on beekeeping at one of the world’s leading honey farms.  You can explore an actual hive and learn where the queen resides, how honey is made, and what makes bees so special and interesting, all from behind a safe, screened area.

Kashmir Apiaries Exports – Doraha, Ludhiana, India

Kashmir Appiaries Exports - Manufacturer from Village Mallipur, Ludhiana, India | About Us
Kashmir Apiaries has 50,000 bee colonies across India. It is considered the largest exporter in the country and supplies to a good number of nations around the globe. Their focus is on getting the right beekeeping equipment and technology to drive error-free processes to deliver the best products from bees and at the same time making sure the bees are thriving.


Click below to pre-order your copy of The Last Beekeeper, coming March 7th, 2023!

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Cover Reveal: The Last Beekeeper by Julie Carrick Dalton

Place holder  of - 48A beautiful novel about found family and hope from Julie Carrick Dalton “Fans of Delia Owens will swoon to find their new favorite author.” (Hank Phillippi Ryan)

It’s been more than a decade since the world has come undone, and Sasha Severn has returned to her childhood home with one goal in mind – find the research her father, the infamous Last Beekeeper, hid before he was incarcerated.

There Sasha is confronted with a group of squatters, who have claimed the quiet, idyllic farm as a way to escape the horrific conditions of state housing. While she feels threatened by their presence at first, the friends soon become her newfound family, offering what she hasn’t felt since her father was imprisoned: security and hope.

But just as she begins to find her footing, Sasha witnesses the impossible. She sees a honeybee, presumed extinct, in the wild. Sasha knows that people who claim to have seen a bee are silenced. Will she fight for the truth she has been searching for her whole life, even if it means risking the lives of those she loves?

The Last Beekeeper is a celebration of found family, an exploration of truth versus power, and the triumph of hope in the face of despair. Sasha’s journey is a meditation on forgiveness and redemption and a reminder to cherish the beauty that exists in this fragile world.

Cover design by Katie Klimowicz

Click below to pre-order your copy of The Last Beekeeper, coming March 14th, 2023!

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What’s New from Forge this Winter

A new year is upon us, which means a slew of new books are arriving on the scene from Forge! We’re so excited to share the lineup of amazing books we have coming your way this winter. If you’re on the hunt for some books to curl up with during these chillier months of the year, take a look at what Forge has in store for you!


Cutthroat Dogs by Loren D. Estleman

Poster Placeholder of - 20“Someone is dead who shouldn’t be, and the wrong man is in prison.”

Nearly twenty years ago, college freshman April Goss was found dead in her bathtub, an apparent suicide, but suspicion soon fell on her boyfriend. Dan Corbeil was convicted of her murder and sent to prison. Case closed.

Or is it?

Available to read now!

A Thousand Steps by T. Jefferson Parker

A Thousand Steps-1Laguna Beach, California, 1968. The Age of Aquarius is in full swing. Timothy Leary is a rock star. LSD is God. Folks from all over are flocking to Laguna, seeking peace, love, and enlightenment.

Matt Anthony is just trying get by.

Matt is sixteen, broke, and never sure where his next meal is coming from. Mom’s a stoner, his deadbeat dad is a no-show, his brother’s fighting in Nam . . . and his big sister Jazz has just gone missing. The cops figure she’s just another runaway hippie chick, enjoying a summer of love, but Matt doesn’t believe it. Not after another missing girl turns up dead on the beach.

All Matt really wants to do is get his driver’s license and ask out the girl he’s been crushing on since fourth grade, yet it’s up to him to find his sister. But in a town where the cops don’t trust the hippies and the hippies don’t trust the cops, uncovering what’s really happened to Jazz is going to force him to grow up fast.

If it’s not already too late.

Available to read now!

Margaret Truman’s Murder at the CDC by Margaret Truman and Jon Land

Margaret Truman's Murder at the CDC2017: A military transport on a secret run to dispose of its deadly contents vanishes without a trace.

The present: A mass shooting on the steps of the Capitol nearly claims the life of Robert Brixton’s grandson.

No stranger to high-stakes investigations, Brixton embarks on a trail to uncover the motive behind the shooting. On the way he finds himself probing the attempted murder of the daughter of his best friend, who works at the Washington offices of the CDC.

The connection between the mass shooting and Alexandra’s poisoning lies in that long-lost military transport that has been recovered by forces determined to change America forever. Those forces are led by radical separatist leader Deacon Frank Wilhyte, whose goal is nothing short of bringing on a second Civil War.

Brixton joins forces with Kelly Lofton, a former Baltimore homicide detective. She has her own reasons for wanting to find the truth behind the shooting on the Capitol steps, and is the only person with the direct knowledge Brixton needs. But chasing the truth places them in the cross-hairs of both Wilhyte’s legions and his Washington enablers.

Coming 2.15.22!

The Chase by Candice Fox

The Chase

“Are you listening, Warden?”

“What do you want?”

“I want you to let them out.”

“Which inmates are we talking about?”

“All of them.”

With that, the largest manhunt in United States history is on. In response to a hostage situation, more than 600 inmates from the Pronghorn Correctional Facility, including everyone on Death Row, are released into the Nevada Desert. Criminals considered the worst of the worst, monsters with dark, violent pasts, are getting farther away by the second.

John Kradle, convicted of murdering his wife and son, is one of the escapees. Now, desperate to discover what really happened that night, Kradle must avoid capture and work quickly to prove his innocence as law enforcement closes in on the fugitives.

Death Row Supervisor, and now fugitive-hunter, Celine Osbourne has focused all of her energy on catching Kradle and bringing him back to Death Row. She has very personal reasons for hating him – and she knows exactly where he’s heading…

Coming 3.8.22!

Assassin’s Edge by Ward Larsen

image alt textA U.S. spy plane crashes off the northern coast of Russia at the same time that a Mossad operative is abducted from a street in Kazakhstan. The two events seem unrelated, but as suspicions rise, the CIA calls in its premier operative, David Slaton.

When wreckage from the aircraft is discovered on a remote Arctic island, Slaton and a team are sent on a clandestine mission to investigate. While they comb a frigid Russian island at the top of the world, disaster strikes yet again: a U.S. Navy destroyer sinks in the Black Sea.

Evidence begins mounting that these disparate events are linked, controlled by an unseen hand. A mysterious source, code name Lazarus, provides tantalizing clues about another impending strike. Yet Lazarus has an agenda that is deeply personal, a thirst for revenge against a handful of clandestine operators. Prime among them: David Slaton.

Coming 4.12.22!

Traitor by David Hagberg

image alt text1When McGarvey’s best friend, Otto, is charged with treason, Mac and his wife, Petey, set out on a desperate odyssey to clear Otto’s name. Crossing oceans and continents, their journey will take them from Japan to the US to Pakistan to Russia. Caught in a Kremlin crossfire between two warring intel agencies, Mac and Petey must fight for their lives every step of the way.

And the stakes could not be higher.

Coming 4.26.22!

And here are some great books coming out in trade paperback!

Waiting for the Night Song by Julie Carrick Dalton

Waiting for the Night Song-1Cadie Kessler has spent decades trying to cover up one truth. One moment. But deep down, didn’t she always know her secret would surface?

An urgent message from her long-estranged best friend Daniela Garcia brings Cadie, now a forestry researcher, back to her childhood home. There, Cadie and Daniela are forced to face a dark secret that ended both their idyllic childhood bond and the magical summer that takes up more space in Cadie’s memory then all her other years combined.

Now grown up, bound by long-held oaths, and faced with truths she does not wish to see, Cadie must decide what she is willing to sacrifice to protect the people and the forest she loves, as drought, foreclosures, and wildfire spark tensions between displaced migrant farm workers and locals.

Waiting for the Night Song is a love song to the natural beauty around us, a call to fight for what we believe in, and a reminder that the truth will always rise.

Available to read now! Reading group guide also available.

My Brilliant Life by Ae-ran Kim; translated by Chi-Young Kim

My Brilliant Life-1Areum lives life to its fullest, vicariously through the stories of his parents, conversations with Little Grandpa Jang—his sixty-year-old neighbor and best friend—and through the books he reads to visit the places he would otherwise never see.

For several months, Areum has been working on a manuscript, piecing together his parents’ often embellished stories about his family and childhood. He hopes to present it on his birthday, as a final gift to his mom and dad; their own falling-in-love story.

Through it all, Areum and his family will have you laughing and crying, for all the right reasons.

Coming 2.1.22! Reading group guide also available.

Her Perfect Life by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Her Perfect Life-1Everyone knows Lily Atwood—and that may be her biggest problem. The beloved television reporter has it all—fame, fortune, Emmys, an adorable seven-year-old daughter, and the hashtag her loving fans created: #PerfectLily. To keep it, all she has to do is protect one life-changing secret.

Her own.

Lily has an anonymous source who feeds her story tips—but suddenly, the source begins telling Lily inside information about her own life. How does he—or she—know the truth?

Lily understands that no one reveals a secret unless they have a reason. Now she’s terrified someone is determined to destroy her world—and with it, everyone and everything she holds dear.

How much will she risk to keep her perfect life?

Coming 3.8.22! Reading group guide also available.

The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber

The Lights of Sugarberry Cove-1Sadie Way Scott has been avoiding her family and hometown of Sugarberry Cove, Alabama, since she nearly drowned in the lake just outside her mother’s B&B. Eight years later, Sadie is the host of a much-loved show about southern cooking and family, but despite her success, she wonders why she was saved. What is she supposed to do?

Sadie’s sister, Leala Clare, is still haunted by the guilt she feels over the night her sister almost died. Now, at a crossroads in her marriage, Leala has everything she ever thought she wanted—so why is she so unhappy?

When their mother suffers a minor heart attack just before Sugarberry Cove’s famous water lantern festival, the two sisters come home to run the inn while she recovers. It’s the last place either of them wants to be, but with a little help from the inn’s quirky guests, the sisters may come to terms with their strained relationships, accept the past, and rediscover a little lake magic.

Coming 3.1.22! Reading group guide also available.

The Widow Queen by Elzbieta Cherezinska

The Widow QueenThe bold one, they call her—too bold for most.

To her father, the great duke of Poland, Swietoslawa and her two sisters represent three chances for an alliance. Three marriages on which to build his empire.

But Swietoslawa refuses to be simply a pawn in her father’s schemes; she seeks a throne of her own, with no husband by her side.

The gods may grant her wish, but crowns sit heavy, and power is a sword that cuts both ways.

Coming 3.15.22! Reading group guide also available.

Comes the War by Ed Ruggero

Comes the War-1April 1944, the fifty-fifth month of the war in Europe. The entire island of Britain fairly buzzes with the coiled energy of a million men poised to leap the Channel to France, the first, riskiest step in the Allies’ long slog to the heart of Germany and the end of the war.

Lieutenant Eddie Harkins is tasked to investigate the murder of Helen Batcheller, an OSS analyst. Harkins is assigned a British driver, Private Pamela Lowell, to aid in his investigation. Lowell is smart, brave and resourceful; like Harkins, she is prone to speak her mind even when it doesn’t help her.

Soon a suspect is arrested and Harkins is ordered to stop digging. Suspicious, he continues his investigation only to find himself trapped in a web of Soviet secrets. As bombs fall, Harkins must solve the murder and reveal the spies before it is too late.

Coming 3.29.22!

A Dog’s Courage by W. Bruce Cameron

A Dog's CourageBella was once a lost dog, but now she lives happily with her people, Lucas and Olivia, only occasionally recalling the hardships in her past. Then a weekend camping trip turns into a harrowing struggle for survival when the Rocky Mountains are engulfed by the biggest wildfire in American history. The raging inferno separates Bella from her people and she is lost once more.

Alone in the wilderness, Bella unexpectedly finds herself responsible for the safety of two defenseless mountain lion cubs. Now she’s torn between two equally urgent goals. More than anything, she wants to find her way home to Lucas and Olivia, but not if it means abandoning her new family to danger. And danger abounds, from predators hunting them to the flames threatening at every turn.

Can Bella ever get back to where she truly belongs?

A Dog’s Courage is more than a fast-paced adventure, more than a devoted dog’s struggle to survive, it’s a story asking that we believe in our dogs as much as they believe in us.

Coming 4.5.22!

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15 Classic Books Featured in Waiting for the Night Song by Julie Carrick Dalton

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By Lizzy Hosty

Waiting for the Night Song by Julie Carrick Dalton is not only the perfect climate thriller revolving around friendships to read with your book club – it’s also a treasure trove of classic literature you can read once you’re done! Dalton’s debut, about both the past and present of Cadie Kessler and how those two are intimately connected when secrets unearth, is ripe with book references from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee to Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren to The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss. Suffice to say, there’s something here for everyone.

Read about the books below, and grab your copy of opens in a new windowWaiting for the Night Song—available now wherever books are sold!


opens in a new windowAre You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

Cadie originally rebelled against the idea of her best friend, Daniella, of giving their potential new friend, Garrett, a copy of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume, because she thought he wouldn’t like it. However, the inclusion of this book by the girls led to an important scene.

opens in a new windowBlueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Another important book is Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey, as Daniella named her daughter Sal after this book from her childhood. Cadie made the connection almost instantly when the two connected after all those years.

opens in a new windowThe Call of the Wild by Jack London

Besides being used as a sort of foreshadowing for a pivotal moment in the book, it’s also worth mentioning that The Call of the Wild by Jack London was made into a movie last year, starring Harrison Ford!

opens in a new windowA Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain

Mentioned more than halfway through the book, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain was in a stack of books that Cadie wanted Garrett to read but he never got around to them.

opens in a new windowThe Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

Daniella suggested The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper for Garrett to read, but the book gained importance as a vessel for Garrett and Cadie to pass secret messages to each other, amongst other books.

opens in a new windowGreat Expectations by Charles Dickens

While Garrett never finished Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, he nevertheless cleverly used the book, and another, to ask Cadie out on a date – though she didn’t understand it at the time.

opens in a new windowThe Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

While Cadie was on the verge of a panic attack, thinking about the possibility of reading The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien and disappearing into another world calmed her down momentarily… before an important scene occurred to disrupt those plans.

opens in a new windowKidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

A metaphor for how Cadie and Daniela viewed Garrett’s current living situation, Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson was also another book they gave him to read. This was also another book that Cadie and Garrett used to communicate secretly.

opens in a new windowThe Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

Yet another book that was used to speak in code, Garrett used The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton to express his attraction for Cadie, telling her that she was prettier than the female love interest of the classic, Cherry Valance.

opens in a new windowPippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

Along with Great Expectations, Garrett used Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren to ask Cadie out on a date, proposing the question of what if Pip, the main character in Great Expectations, and Pippi went on a date.

opens in a new windowRobinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

After Daniella and Cadie first gave a book to Garrett to read, the next book that Cadie thought he would like was Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.

opens in a new windowThe Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

The first book Cadie and Daniella gave Garrett to read, The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss kicked off a long lasting relationship between the three of them (that was, of course, bolstered by the thrilling events that make up this debut).

opens in a new windowTreasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Towards the beginning of the three main characters’ friendship, another book to give to Garrett to follow up The Swiss Family Robinson that was suggested almost simultaneously by Cadie and Daniella was Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

opens in a new windowTuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Besides having been used to propose that Pip and Pippi should go out on a date in a secret message from Garrett to Cadie, the book was also used in a pivotal moment later in the book.

opens in a new windowA Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

The last book to round out our list, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle was both a book Garrett didn’t get around to reading, suggested by Cadie, but because of certain, important events later, he never actually would.

Order a Copy of Waiting for the Night Song — Available Now!

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Forge Your Own Book Club: Waiting for the Night Song by Julie Carrick Dalton

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Julie Carrick Dalton’s opens in a new windowWaiting for the Night Song is an engrossing read that touches on climate change, female friendships, long-buried secrets, immigration… and murder. In other words, it’s any book club’s dream come true. After you finish reading Waiting for the Night Song with your book club, try out these suggestions to keep the discussion going.


What to Drink:

Get a taste of the blueberries Cadie and Daniela pick from their canoe with blueberry punch! It’s a fizzy and refreshing treat. Prefer a cocktail to a mocktail? This drink is a great mixer for vodka or champagne.

Blueberry punch

  • 1 lb. blueberries
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup basil
  • Fizzy lemonade
  1.  Add the blueberries, basil, water and sugar to a medium saucepan and stir. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
  2.  Pour the mixture through a strainer into a pitcher. Chill in the refrigerator until cool – about an hour.
  3.  Top off your pitcher with lemonade. Enjoy!

 

What to eat:

In honor of the Poacher’s Code, we recommend your favorite poached dish. We’ve found scrumptious recipes for poached eggs, poached salmon, and poached pears.

 

What to discuss

Download the Waiting for the Night Song Reading Group Guide for insightful questions to get the discussion going.

Waiting for the Night Song RGG

What to read next

Cadie’s reading list makes Waiting for the Night Song a book-lover’s delight. Revisit or discover for the first time classic reads that she shared with Garrett like Swiss Family Robinson, Tuck Everlasting or Robinson Crusoe.

 

Order a Copy of Waiting for the Night Song — Available Now!

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Start a Discussion With the Waiting for the Night Song Reading Group Guide!

opens in a new windowPoster Placeholder of - 97A startling and timely debut, Julie Carrick Dalton’s  opens in a new windowWaiting for the Night Song is a moving, brilliant novel about friendships forged in childhood magic and ruptured by the high price of secrets that leave you forever changed.

Cadie Kessler has spent decades trying to cover up one truth. One moment. But deep down, didn’t she always know her secret would surface?

An urgent message from her long-estranged best friend Daniela Garcia brings Cadie, now a forestry researcher, back to her childhood home. There, Cadie and Daniela are forced to face a dark secret that ended both their idyllic childhood bond and the magical summer that takes up more space in Cadie’s memory then all her other years combined.

Now grown up, bound by long-held oaths, and faced with truths she does not wish to see, Cadie must decide what she is willing to sacrifice to protect the people and the forest she loves, as drought, foreclosures, and wildfire spark tensions between displaced migrant farm workers and locals.

Waiting for the Night Song is a love song to the natural beauty around us, a call to fight for what we believe in, and a reminder that the truth will always rise. Get your book club discussion started with our reading group guide below!

Waiting for the Night Song RGG

 

Order a Copy of Waiting for the Night Song — Available Now!

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Mysteries & Thrillers We’re Looking Forward to in 2021

When it’s cold outside, is there a better place to be than warm inside and deep in the pages of a thrilling book you can’t put down? From hot debuts to the return of some familiar favorites, Forge has got something for every mystery fan this season.


January 12th

opens in a new windowImage Place holder  of - 59 opens in a new windowWaiting for the Night Song by Julie Carrick Dalton

Julie Carrick Dalton’s searing debut novel is an exploration of female friendships, a love song to the natural world, and a harrowing portrait of what happens when long-buried secrets are unearthed.

 

January 26th

opens in a new windowPoster Placeholder of - 1 opens in a new windowThe Paradise Affair by Bill Pronzini

Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Bill Pronzini’s next Carpenter & Quincannon mystery is here! The Paradise Affair takes a favorite mystery-solving husband and wife team all the way to Honolulu for an unforgettable adventure.

 

February 9th

opens in a new windowPlaceholder of  -17 opens in a new windowComes the War by Ed Ruggero

Ed Ruggero’s blistering follow-up to Blame the Dead follows Lieutenant Eddie Harkins on another murder investigation set against the backdrop of World War 2. This time he’s on the case in Britain and finds himself tied up in a web of Soviet secrets.

 

February 16th

opens in a new windowPlace holder  of - 34 opens in a new windowMargaret Truman’s Murder on the Metro by Jon Land

Jon Land’s first entry in Margaret Truman’s New York Times bestselling Capital Crimes series is a thrill-ride from beginning to end. When Robert Brixton uncovers a terrorist plot with unimaginable consequences, it’s a race against time to save the lives of millions.

 

March 2nd

opens in a new windowImage Placeholder of - 3 opens in a new windowBlood on the Table by Gerry Spence

New York Times bestselling author and trial attorney Gerry Spence’s newest thriller takes us to backcountry Wyoming where an 11-year-old boy takes the witness stand against a vicious prosecutor, corrupt police, and a prejudiced judge to keep his family safe.

 

opens in a new window opens in a new windowThe Eagle & The Viper by Loren D. Estleman

Multiple award-winning novelist Loren Estleman’s newest thriller is set in a world of terrorist training camps, international assassins, civilians in danger… and a threat against Napoleon. It’s Paris in 1800 and Estleman reveals just how close our world came to total war.

 

March 16th

opens in a new window opens in a new windowGathering Dark by Candice Fox

#1 New York Times bestselling author Candice Fox takes you from the gleaming mansions of Beverly Hills to the gritty streets of Compton in her newest standalone thriller. Four “bad girls” – a convicted killer, a gifted thief, a vicious ganglord and a disillusioned cop are a missing girl’s only hope. 

 

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Excerpt: Waiting for the Night Song by Julie Carrick Dalton

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A startling and timely debut, Julie Carrick Dalton’s Waiting for the Night Song is a moving, brilliant novel about friendships forged in childhood magic and ruptured by the high price of secrets that leave you forever changed.

Cadie Kessler has spent decades trying to cover up one truth. One moment. But deep down, didn’t she always know her secret would surface?

An urgent message from her long-estranged best friend Daniela Garcia brings Cadie, now a forestry researcher, back to her childhood home. There, Cadie and Daniela are forced to face a dark secret that ended both their idyllic childhood bond and the magical summer that takes up more space in Cadie’s memory then all her other years combined.

Now grown up, bound by long-held oaths, and faced with truths she does not wish to see, Cadie must decide what she is willing to sacrifice to protect the people and the forest she loves, as drought, foreclosures, and wildfire spark tensions between displaced migrant farm workers and locals.

opens in a new windowWaiting for the Night Song is a love song to the natural beauty around us, a call to fight for what we believe in, and a reminder that the truth will always rise. It will be available on January 12, 2021, please enjoy the following excerpt!


8

PRESENT DAY

Cadie tripped on a rock pushing its way up through the gravel parking lot of the Maple Crest Police Department. The edge of granite rose a few inches above the ground, but Cadie suspected the block extended deep below the surface. Ice heaves had forced it skyward, despite the construction crew’s best efforts to grade the gravel. Next spring it would thrust itself even higher. There was no stopping it. No ignoring it.

Daniela caught Cadie’s elbow to steady her.

“Anything we say in there, we can’t take it back.” Cadie stopped walking as they approached the stairs to the police station. “Maybe we should talk to your dad first.”

“No. We’re doing this. Now.” Daniela drew her shoulders back.

Daniela had shaken the truth, dislodged it so that it no longer settled in place when Cadie stopped moving. It swelled uncomfortably in her chest, barely leaving room for her to breathe.

The thermometer outside the door read eighty-eight degrees. Too hot for 9 a.m. Sweating made people look guilty. Cadie wiped her forehead with her hand and peeled her shirt from the damp skin on her lower back where it had been pressed against the vinyl car seat.

The heavy metal door resisted as Cadie pushed it open to a lobby filled with the smell of fresh paint, printer ink, and coffee. The burst of air-conditioning sharpened the throbbing in her temples.

“We have information about a crime.” Daniela didn’t bother introducing herself to the woman sitting behind the desk wearing bright pink lipstick and a lime cardigan. Cadie paced behind Daniela.

“What kind of crime are we talking about?” the woman said without looking up.

“We’d like to talk to an officer. In private,” Daniela said. The woman wrinkled her brow. She looked offended.

“There’s no one available but the deputy chief. If this is a traffic thing, or missing wallet, you’re better off filling out an incident report and letting us follow up, okay, dear?”

“It’s not an incident. It’s a crime,” Daniela said.

“Okay, okay.” The woman looked at the clock. “But he has to be over at the middle school in less than an hour, so don’t make him late.”

“We’d like to talk to him.” Daniela put a hand on her hip, the way she did when they were kids.

Cadie had to turn around so the receptionist wouldn’t see her  smile.

The woman shook her head as she walked down the hall. “I’ve got a couple of women out here who insist on talking to you about some crime. I tried to get them to fill out a report.”

“What’s the problem?” a man’s voice said.

“They won’t say.” She sighed. “I’ll come interrupt you so you won’t be late.”

Daniela rolled her eyes at Cadie. “Does she think we can’t hear her?”

The sweat on Cadie’s skin grew clammy in the air-conditioning.

The clock above the receptionist’s desk ticked loudly. “Follow me.” The woman gestured to them.

Cadie had spent twenty-seven years pushing the story down, training her  brain not to think about it. She  had bitten the inside  of her cheek, dug her  nails into the palms of her hands so often  her nerves were numb to the distractions. As she walked down the corridor in the police station, the past clawed its way up her throat, demanding to be spoken.

The door to the deputy chief’s office stood open. A tall man dressed in street clothes stood up and extended a hand to Daniela. “Come on in. I’m Deputy Chief Tierney.”

Daniela shook his hand. “I’m Daniela.”

Cadie hung in the doorway. One more step and there would be no going back.

“Can we close the door?” Daniela said.

Daniela looked at Cadie and tilted her head, urging her to come in. The receptionist hovered in the doorway.

“Whatever makes you comfortable,” the officer said.

The receptionist shrugged and closed the door, forcing Cadie inside the room.

“We have information about the remains the fire crews uncovered,” Daniela said before Cadie had a chance to sit down.

Officer Tierney shifted in his squeaky chair. The air conditioner whirred with dogged determination. Dried sweat pulled Cadie’s skin tight.

“It’s probably not what you think.” He picked up a pen and twisted the two ends apart until the spring popped out and bounced to the floor. He leaned over to pick it up.

Daniela motioned for Cadie to sit down next to her. Cadie walked over to the chair, but remained standing. She squeezed her throbbing fingertip, searching for a spike of pain to distract her.

“There’ve been a lot of rumors,” he said, his head still under the desk searching for the spring. “The remains have been out there a long time, decades it looks like, so I’m not sure what information you could have.”

“We lived here then. We remember it,” Daniela said. “And we know—”

The officer bumped his head on the desk.

Daniela prodded at the truth, she tugged on it, but froze. She pinched the bridge of her nose as if her head ached unbearably. Like the splinter in Cadie’s finger, the truth needed to come out, no matter how painful the extraction.

“We were there,” Cadie said. The words tore at her throat, although her voice barely rose above a whisper. “We know what happened, where it happened, and who did it.”

The officer sat upright and looked at Cadie. He leaned forward. Sweat glistened on his upper lip. The air conditioner cycled off, filling the room with a sudden silence, but for the tick, tick, tick of the wall clock.

“You were there.” He spoke so quietly, he could have been talking to himself. “Cadie.”

Copyright © 2021 by Julie Carrick Dalton

 

Pre-order your copy of Waiting for the Night Song—available January 12, 2021

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