Diamond Reviews
With the Diamond Review Collection, we introduce you to must-read titles from every genre. These books are the best of the best, volumes we recommend without reservation, which are guaranteed to enlighten, educate, and inspire you. We hope you enjoy them as much as we have!
Happy reading!
Jathan & Heather
My Glory Was I Had Such Friends: A Memoir by Amy Silverstein
“Brutally honest, heartfelt, and filled with gratitude, Silverstein’s memoir is a love letter to the power of friendship.” —Jathan & Heather
She received her first heart transplant at 24. When she needed a second transplant 26 years later, Amy Silverstein almost gave up on life. In My Glory Was I Had Such Friends, she celebrates the amazing women who dropped everything to show up when she needed them most.
The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash
“Wiley Cash’s new novel, The Last Ballad, … is one of the most enthralling, authentic, and relevant novels we have read in some time.” —Jathan & Heather
Ella May is a single mother who works nights 72 hours per week in a textile mill for a measly nine dollars per week in order to keep food on the table. But even she has her limits. Then one day in 1929, she decides to throw caution to the wind, take a stand for equality, and ultimately change the course of history. The Last Ballad is a beautiful novelization of an inspiring true story.
The Trick by Emanuel Bergman
“With The Trick, [Emanuel] Bergmann succeeds in making us look at the world through new eyes while deconstructing our fears and resurrecting our faith.” —Jathan & Heather
Ten-year-old Max Cohn is desperate to keep his parents from getting a divorce. So when he stumbles across an old record featuring the Great Zabbatini’s best magic tricks, one of which is a love spell, he searches out the elderly magician with the hope he can help save his family. The Trick is a heartwarming story of dashed dreams, second chances, and the unlikeliest of friendships.
The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan
“With The Keeper of Lost Things, [Ruth] Hogan has given the best kind of literary gift: one that…teaches us the beauty and importance of being kinder and gentler with one another every day of our lives.” —Jathan & Heather
Aging author Anthony Peardew has turned his attention from writing to his collection of “lost things,” the most important of which are the people he strives to help while he still has time. This amazing debut novel will entertain, uplift, and inspire you to live your best life.
What Blooms from Dust by James Markert
“Uplifting and insightful… What Blooms from Dust is a volume to be treasured and shared, one which steals our hearts and reminds us why we fell in love with great fiction in the first place.” —Jathan & Heather
After a narrow escape from Death Row, Jeremiah Goodbye heads home to Nowhere, Oklahoma in the midst of the 1930s Dust Bowl. When he crosses paths with a simple boy named Peter Cotton, they become unwitting heroes to a town fated soon to become little more than a memory.
November Road by Lou Berney
“Riveting, suspenseful, and emotionally compelling… November Road is a genre defying literary crime novel that never fails to entertain.” —Jathan & Heather
After Frank Guidry is unwittingly embroiled in the JFK assassination, he must run for his life as a dangerous mob boss tries to tie up any loose ends. When Frank encounters an unsuspecting housewife and her two young daughters stranded at the side of the road, he sees them as the perfect cover. What he doesn’t count on is falling in love with them.
Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
“Where the Forest Meets the Stars…enchants with its innocence and buoyant spirit, yet simultaneously elevates with its subtle power and imaginative examination of the world we inhabit.” —Jathan & Heather
When scientist Jo Teale meets a young girl who claims to be from another planet, she just wants to send the child home. But when they team up with a neighboring recluse, suddenly their lives are forever changed as the secrets of the past creep in to haunt them and they learn new ways to see the world.
Claiming My Place by Planaria Price and Helen Reichmann West
“Fueled by an indomitable spirit and unfathomable courage, Claiming My Place is the tale of a young woman who is at her core a survivor.” —Jathan & Heather
Born a Jew in Catholic Poland, a young woman at the epicenter of the Nazi genocide must gamble her life to survive the atrocities occurring all around her. But will she be able to keep her closely guarded secret long enough to escape certain death? Find out in this fascinating biography!
Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel by James Markert
“Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel is the kind of novel few authors can write, one that… enchants, captivates, and inspires us to never lose faith in what truly matters.” —Jathan & Heather
When a famed artist stricken with dementia, a shell-shocked soldier and a wife at the end of her rope are lured back to an abandoned hotel, will it be able to repair the lives time sought to destroy? Fueled by hope and heart, this story reminds us of the redemptive power of love.
When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal
“When We Believed in Mermaids is…nuanced and insightful, heartbreaking and life affirming…a story worthy to move to the top of your nightstand’s to-be-read pile.” —Jathan & Heather
When an ER doctor sees the sister she’s thought to be dead for 15 years in a news story being broadcast from the other side of the world, she travels to New Zealand in a desperate need to find her. But will her search unearth a scandal best left buried? This is an unforgettable story about sisters, secrets, and second chances.
You and Me and Us by Alison Hammer
“From page one, [this] is… one of those stories that plucks at our heartstrings, luring us deeper and deeper into the plot with all the hypnotizing power of a siren song.” —Jathan & Heather
When a doting father and partner receives a terminal diagnosis, it pulls the rug out from under everyone’s feet and leaves his loved ones feeling broken and shattered. Will his loved ones be able to pick up the pieces of their lives and reconnect before it is too late? This is a heartrending story about mothers and daughters, and the men who love them.
World Wild Vet by Dr. Evan Antin
“With World Wild Vet, Evan reveals that he is a fantastic and very capable writer, one who leaves us smiling and eager to plan adventures of our own.” —Jathan & Heather
Veterinarian and social media sensation, Dr. Evan Antin, delivers a book that is equal parts travelogue and memoir, delivered with huge dollops of enthusiasm, humor, and heart. Here, he dishes on some of his most memorable animal encounters, how he forged his career, and why we should respect, care for, and protect our planet and all the creatures who call this big rock home.
Rhapsody by Mitchell James Kaplan
“Mitchell James Kaplan pulls back the curtain on the famed pianist’s fabled career in the forthcoming novel, Rhapsody, a book that is both vividly written and utterly compelling.” —Jathan & Heather
Every great artist is much more than just his talent. That was particularly true of George Gershwin, one of the world’s most enduring composers. Now, with Rhapsody, we take a look behind the music and the fame, to discover his decade-long love affair with the indomitable woman who held his heart in the palm of her hand.
You Belong Here Now by Dianna Rostad
“This story has everything, including suspense, tenderness, and a family with a heart so big it can move mountains.” —Jathan & Heather
The rancher’s daughter trying to prove her mettle. The Cheyenne ranch hand trying to forget his past and build his future. Three orphans determined to find a family of their own. Will their dreams come true under the vast Montana sky? Or will the cruel hand of fate pluck their last hope for happiness out of their grasp? Find out in Dianna Rostad’s dazzling debut novel.
Eva and Eve by Julie Metz
“This book will warrant a place on your keeper shelf as both a stunning tribute to a beloved parent and a testament to the unbreakable courage of the human spirit.” —Jathan & Heather
Julie Metz opens the door to a world on fire, shining a light on the situations people faced as the Nazis infested their homeland. It demonstrates how one man validated and normalized hatred throughout the continent, and the fact that even in our own recent history, we are still facing so many of the same issues in today’s political climate.
Her Secret War by Pam Lecky
“Lecky deftly creates nerve-jangling suspense with the subtle touch of a master. The result is a book that will keep you up far past your bedtime turning pages, eager to see if Sarah will survive her secret mission undetected.” —Jathan & Heather
Pam Lecky hurtles us back in time to 1941 Ireland, where the Germans decimate a young woman’s life. Now it is up to her to flee the country she loves and seek refuge in Britain. But to prove her loyalty to the Queen, she must become a spy and flush out an enemy sympathizer. Failure is not an option!
Fauci: Expect the Unexpected: Ten Lessons on Truth, Service, and the Way Forward by National Geographic
“Reading this book makes us look not only at our own attitudes toward COVID, but at our attitudes toward our fellow man. Through his fine example, [Fauci] raises the bar for the rest of us, encouraging us to step up and help our neighbors the best way we can.” —Jathan & Heather
Based on National Geographic’s documentary, Fauci, this book is filled with anecdotes about Dr. Anthony Fauci’s home life and career, and reveals his most defining moments, including his battles to find treatments for HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and COVID-19. Persistent, smart, tender, funny, and shrewd, Fauci reminds us that we can all be effective leaders, even in the face of adversity.
Blame by Jeff Abbott
“Blame has everything we love in suspense fiction. It’s smart and relevant, with well-crafted characters we believe in and empathize with. Most of all, this book provides addictive, twisty fun with a puzzle readers will find themselves wracking their brains to try and solve.” —Jathan & Heather
Two teens caught in a devastating car wreck. One dies. The other’s memory is stolen. What caused the accident? No one knows for sure. And now everyone is pointing fingers at the survivor. But is she really responsible or is she a victim herself? Find out in Jeff Abbott’s psychological thriller, Blame.
Never Give Up by Bear Grylls
“Reading Never Give Up is an adventure unto itself. Here Grylls elaborates on episodes of his show we remember watching to tell us the stories that didn’t make it to air. This is a book that urges us to live boldly, follow our dreams, and explore our planet with hearts and minds that are truly wide open.” —Jathan & Heather
In Never Give Up, the sequel to Bear Grylls’ first autobiography, the British adventurer proves he still has plenty of stories to tell about life on television, his exploits in the great outdoors, and the people who have taken the journey alongside him.
Without a Trace by Danielle Steel
“Without a Trace is the perfect read to begin a new year. Fast paced, engrossing, suspenseful, and uplifting, it may even inspire you to choose happiness and make some much-needed changes in your own life.” —Jathan & Heather
In Without a Trace, a successful businessman is suddenly faced with the ultimate choice: walk out on a life he loathes—including his job, wealth, and family—or start over again with a clean slate and choose a simpler, happier life. While it may sound like an easy choice, it is far more complicated than it seems. Steel navigates his dilemma with empathy, optimism, and grace.
It’s One of Us by J.T. Ellison
“Rife with tension and palpable suspense…It’s One of Us is a tale that takes readers on a thought-provoking and insightful journey through a marriage and examines how disappointments and trials test even seemingly rock-solid relationships.” —Jathan & Heather
A couple struggling to have a child of their own get embroiled in a murder mystery chock full of carefully guarded secrets, startling revelations, and shocking twists that would have made Daphne du Maurier envious. This story is at once a thriller and a cautionary tale that will have marriage mates everywhere wondering just how well they know the person they are closest to in the world.
The Long March Home by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee
“In this modern masterpiece, Brotherton and Lee deliver a transformative tale readers won’t soon forget. Epic in scope and impeccably researched, The Long March Home is packed with nerve-jangling suspense and fraught with visceral, gut-wrenching emotion. As such, we are confident it will leave an indelible mark on readers hearts.” —Jathan & Heather
From a young age, four friends growing up in the American South find joy and solace in their fierce devotion to one another. But as they enter adulthood, war tests the strength of their bond. When three of them are assigned to the Thirty-First Infantry in Manila, Philippines, will they survive the ravages they endure on foreign soil? And just what will be waiting for them at home if they manage to return? One of the most powerful books we’ve read in years, The Long March Home celebrates the power of the human spirit.
Jathan & Heather 