'Matchup' is the literary equivalent to walking into a Ben & Jerry’s and sampling almost every flavor before deciding which one to load up your waffle cone up with. The thrill of meeting your favorite, well-known characters in unique circumstances is also akin to discovering something interesting and new about a long-time friend.

With honesty, grace and self-deprecating humor Jennifer Grant tackles the confusion and uncertainty that so many struggle with, middle-aged or otherwise.

'The Bone Collection' contains four snappy Tempe Brennan novellas that don’t stop firing for a moment’s pause. While highly entertaining as usual, these stories also amount to a rousing call for science advocacy at a time when we truly need it.

'Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis' warns us of the dangers of elevating struggle into a sacrament and worshiping it. It is a powerful and thought-provoking entry in the Vampire Chronicles and we recommend it unreservedly.

Luke Rhinehart, author of the cult classic 'The Dice Man,' depicts an invasion of hairy balls from outer space who want to save humanity from themselves. While this is a frequently visited theme, it is Rhinehart's trademark humor and social and political incisiveness that make 'Invasion' stand out among other alien invasion stories.

Stephen King's 'End of Watch' is the final installment in his Bill Hodges trilogy and is a high-speed, thrilling and bumpy ride.

The movie adaptation of Anne Rice's 'Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt' covers all the major theological events in the book and is filled with competent acting and directing. But it lacks the sumptuous sensory experience that Rice's beautiful prose brings to the book. Still, the movie touches upon many points both humanistic and religious and would make a good film for families to see together.

'The One' is a wonderfully imagined YA series that is every bit as engrossing as 'The Hunger Games' or 'Divergent' series. But it has an edge of sophistication over other series in its sci-fi conception and elements of conflict, and it explores more complex issues of power than the average series. This is highly recommended reading for adult and young adult readers alike.

Irvine Welsh is deeply immersed in the seamy sides of life, but the tone of 'A Decent Ride' is never dark or brooding. It does not shy away from ugliness, but Welsh serves it up with irreverent humor and panache.

An ideal heroine, compelling stand-alone stories and enticing familial connection to pop culture icon Temperance Brennan (of the 'Bones' books and TV show) make 'Trace Evidence' a superb entry point into the 'Virals' series of books.

Beautifully written, meticulously researched and infused with palpable passion, 'The Young Messiah' is very highly recommended not just for Christian readers but anyone who can appreciate intelligent and historically rich spiritual literature.

Despite a stylistic tendency to interrupt the characters’ dialogue and conversations midstream with descriptions and observations, 'The Girls She Left Behind' is an engrossing and rapid read.

With lively illustrations by Edward Koren, 'Do I Have to Say Hello?' is a fun and lighthearted way to teach kids (and, as the title states, their grownups) the importance of manners.

Love them or hate them, 'tis the season for holiday songs. Of the ones on endless rotation on radio stations, here are some of our picks and pans.

Book 3 of the Cormoran Strike mystery novels is where this series truly starts getting good - really good. May J.K. Rowling's 'Career of Evil' flourish!