It's an erotic thriller and a page-turner you won't want to put down this summer! Jessica Knoll is out with her latest "Helpless" and it's definitely a departure for her. As a reader, Jessica loves the dark romance trend and pulled elements from that genre for her new book. Jessica chats with our host Whitney Clark about the books that have inspired her and the warnings she had to give her friends and family regarding the steamy scenes.

We're in the middle of the summer. It's hot. So why not cool down with a good book? On this episode we're joined by Barbara Hagen of ThriftBooks to talk about the most popular summer reads so far. Our host Whitney Clark also asks about how the online bookseller gets used books (some for just a few dollars!), how it helps local libraries, and which titles made its list of the top 250 books of all time!

If you want a good cry, Sarah Damoff knows how to make readers tear up! Damoff joins us to chat about her sophomore novel "The Burning Side." In the new book, she explores topics you'll relate to including marriage struggles, raising kids, and how families face challenges with Alzheimer's. The book is set in Texas. Sarah chats with our host Whitney Clark about why she sets books in her home state, how her career as a social worker has impacted her storytelling, and what it's like to meet weepy readers.