A CLOSER LOOK AT MAY’S
HIVE
By D.L. Orton
What if saving the future meant rewriting the past?
THE BOOK
In a dying world controlled by microdrones, humanity’s last hope lies within the Eden-17 biodome. Isabelle Sanborn, running out of time, has one last desperate plan: send Diego Nadales, the love of her life, 35 years into the past. His mission is to change history and save their world from collapse.
Arriving in a vibrant yet fragile world, Diego must confront his past self and a younger, ambitious Isabelle and navigate a web of delicate relationships without unraveling time itself.
Hive is a pulse-pounding sci-fi adventure filled with action, romance and sacrifice. Award-winning author D.L. Orton delivers a captivating story of love that defies time and a future worth fighting for. Fans of The Time Traveler’s Wife and Dark Matter won’t be able to put it down.
THE AUTHOR
D.L. Orton, a bestselling author, lives in the Colorado foothills with her husband, three sons, a golden retriever, two Siberian cats and a long-lived Triops. She is working on the Between Two Evils series and plans a future tropical getaway (with a Starbucks).
When not writing, playing tennis or helping with algebra, she’s building a time machine to tackle laundry.
A graduate of Stanford’s Writers Workshop and former editor of Top of the Western Staircase, D.L. Orton’s short stories have been featured in several online literary magazines. Her debut novel, Crossing in Time, has won multiple awards, including an Indie Book Award, a Publishers Weekly Starred Review, and recognition as a Great Indie Star by BookLife’s Prize in Fiction.
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PAIN IS A PORTAL TO BEAUTY
By Alexis Leigh
Can pain unlock a life of beauty?
THE BOOK
In the summer of 2020, a mysterious voice in the woods shatters a seemingly perfect life. Despite an Ivy League education, a successful career, a loving family, and an enviable balance, the truth emerges: years of unacknowledged pain and profound sadness have been buried beneath the surface. As everything begins to fall away — her career, relationships, and identity — what remains is a vast emptiness that, over time, becomes the catalyst for transformation. Confronting her darkest fears, she uncovers hidden gifts within herself: a passion for writing, burlesque dancing, and a voice she never knew she had. This journey through grief and rebirth reveals a powerful truth: to embrace beauty, we must first embrace the pain that leads us there. A gripping, inspiring story of awakening to the life we’re meant to live, even when it seems impossible.
THE AUTHOR
Alexis Leigh is an investment banker-turned-seeker from Texas. She brings her warm Texan storytelling to her debut memoir, Pain Is a Portal to Beauty, masterfully moving between the depths of her pain, mind-blowing revelations and a lighthearted playfulness that keeps the reader coming back for more. Not one to follow the beaten path, Alexis has relentlessly questioned what she learned from others against her own experience, bringing a fresh take to many topics, from internal family systems to romantic love.
When not writing at her local coffee shop, Alexis can be found meditating under the stars on Maui or finding adventure with her partner and their three boys. Alexis lives in Oregon.
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To come
SOMETHING I KEEP UPSTAIRS
By J.D. Barker
The house was never empty…
THE BOOK
Seventeen-year-old Billy Hasler is ready for one last carefree summer in the quiet coastal town of New Castle, New Hampshire. But when his best friend, David Spivey, inherits a house on a secluded island, their plans for freedom turn into something far more sinister.
The house isn’t empty. It never was.
As they unravel its dark history, they awaken an ancient force that has shaped the island’s fate for generations. What begins as adventure spirals into horror, testing their sanity — and their friendship.
Something I Keep Upstairs is a chilling tale of sacrifice, secrets and the unseen horrors that refuse to stay buried. Prepare to leave the lights on.
THE AUTHOR
J.D. Barker is a New York Times and international bestselling American author whose work has been broadly described as suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction and the supernatural.
THE BUSYBODY BOOK CLUB
By Freya Sampson
They can’t agree on a book, but if they don’t solve this murder, their club might be next.
THE BOOK
New to a sleepy Cornish seaside village, Nova Davies hoped her book club would bring people together. Instead, it’s a disaster. The five members argue constantly, and when money is stolen during a meeting, the beloved community center is suddenly at risk.
Things get worse when member Michael vanishes and a dead body turns up at his house. The police suspect him, but the book club has other ideas. With an Agatha Christie fan, a hopeless romantic and a sci-fi-obsessed teen leading the charge, they’re determined to uncover the truth.
Murder, secrets, and chaos abound — but nothing will stop them from solving the case.
THE AUTHOR
Freya Sampson is the USA Today bestselling author of The Last Chance Library and The Lost Ticket. She studied history at Cambridge University and worked in television as an executive producer, making documentaries on everything from the British royal family to neighbors from hell. She lives in London with her husband, children and cats.
KNOW YOUR SOUL: JOURNEYING WITH THE ENNEAGRAM
By Joseph Benton Howell
A transformative journey where ancient wisdom heals the soul.
THE BOOK
After the devastating loss of his son, psychologist and spiritual teacher Joseph Howell searched for meaning in his grief. What he found was life-changing — the Enneagram of Soul. Beyond personality types, it revealed nine soul types, each with profound healing qualities. This discovery reconnected him to his deepest self, offering solace when nothing else could.
But his journey wasn’t over. When he and his wife, Lark, lost their only other child, the Enneagram of Soul became their anchor, guiding them through the unthinkable. In this powerful book, Howell weaves Enneagram wisdom with raw personal experience, revealing how the ego can serve the soul. For anyone seeking purpose or healing, this book offers a transformative path forward.
THE AUTHOR
Dr. Joseph Benton Howell, Ph.D., is the founder of the Institute of Conscious Being and a renowned Enneagram teacher. With a background in clinical psychology and spiritual development, he has practiced for over 40 years and taught across the country. Dr. Howell is also the author of Becoming Conscious: The Enneagram’s Forgotten Passageway. He has presented on topics including spiritual growth, dream work and Enneagram teachings. Along with his wife, Lark Dill Howell, he shares his deep expertise in consciousness and healing through workshops and seminars.
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To learn more about Joseph Benton Howell, visit www.instituteforconsciousbeing.org