Fasten your seatbelts, bookworms, and get ready to embark on a literary road trip across the United States! In this post, I’m trading my car for a stack of books as we explore the diverse landscape of American literature, state by state. From the rugged coast of Maine to the sunny shores of California, we’ll discover captivating stories penned by authors who call each state their home. So pack your imagination, grab your reading glasses, and join me on this journey through the pages and places that make up the vibrant tapestry of American storytelling!
Alabama –
The Cardinal Patrons
When contract civilian Thesis creates a breakthrough artificial soldier codenamed Cardinal Patron, he achieves what many thought impossible: true artificial consciousness. But his triumph turns to terror when his creation becomes the target of a power-hungry competitor.
As Thesis and his new girlfriend Rochelle adjust to life with this sentient AI creation, a mysterious vision leads them to discover a hidden cave portal to Chiricahua, an ancient world steeped in deep Native American traditions. There they encounter Quillion Valentine, a ruthless dictator who seeks to control the Cardinal Patron’s unique abilities and upset the delicate balance between the modern and ancient worlds. When Valentine unleashes Q Striker, a rival artificial soldier programmed for destruction, Thesis must join forces with the Chiricahua people to protect not only his breakthrough creation but also the woman he loves and a rich cultural heritage he never knew existed.
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California –
Letters to Zane: A Memoir –
What if the fight for your child’s life was also a fight for your own?
When Raynie Andrewsen found out she was expecting, she never imagined her pregnancy would turn into a battle for survival. In Letters to Zane, she shares an unfiltered, deeply personal account of her journey through Hyperemesis Gravidarum—a relentless, life-threatening pregnancy condition that left her isolated, hospitalized, and fighting for both her life and the life of her unborn son.
Written as a series of letters to her baby, this memoir captures the raw emotions of a mother-to-be navigating fear, loneliness, and unwavering love. From the heartbreak of facing pregnancy alone to the grueling physical toll of her illness, Raynie’s story is both harrowing and hopeful. With the steadfast support of her own mother and an unshakable belief in the power of love, she finds strength in the moments that matter most.
More than just a memoir, Letters to Zane is a tribute to the resilience of motherhood and the unbreakable bond between parent and child. It’s a story of survival, sacrifice, and the kind of love that refuses to let go.
For readers who cherish heartfelt, inspiring memoirs—this book will stay with you long after the final page. If you’ve ever faced an impossible challenge, fought for someone you love, or wondered how far a mother’s love can stretch, Letters to Zane is for you.
Colorado –
The Calling of Caellaias (The Kingdom of Caellaias Book 1)
Anevae
I was always a girl who was dying to find my place in the world. After an opportunity presented itself, I couldn’t pass it up. I packed up my small apartment and moved halfway across the country, away from my parents, with my little sister in tow to a cabin in a remote area of the mountains. While trying to learn about the place I would be calling home, I encountered my new neighbor. She was beautiful, almost dangerously so. But something about her was different. Something I couldn’t quite figure out until it was too late. Will she help me unearth my family’s secrets? Even if it means going back to the place she never wanted to return to?
Maeyve
I just wanted to live in peace. I managed to escape from my past and have many peaceful years. Then, she moved into the house up the way. The first time I laid eyes on her, I knew things would never be the same, but I couldn’t figure out why. Or how. What was so special about this woman? I was like a moth drawn to a flame, and I couldn’t help myself. When things all started to make sense, I couldn’t stop it. I was in too deep and couldn’t force myself to run. I knew I should, but I couldn’t leave her. What’s wrong with me? What has she done?
Connecticut
Autumn in Connecticut: A Statesmen Novella (The Allenville Series)
Autumn
I thought I had more time. I thought I was going to be different than my mother and her mother before her. I did everything right and still all I have is six months left.
After receiving the news that my short life was almost over, I made the decision to stop what I was doing and open up my notebook to the page of things that I wanted to do and see before I closed my eyes forever.
Jax
I stepped up! I signed my name on the dotted line and bravely served my country. I did and saw things that no man ever should. When my time was up and it was time to go home, it hit me. I was not the same bright eyed and bushy tailed boy who left home. All I wanted was some peace and quiet. I found it at Arrington Farms & Orchards with Old Gus and his apple trees.
When these two broken souls cross paths will they be able to let go of the anger that consumes them and let in the love they both thought they would never have?
Delaware
Florida –
Darkness and Dawn
Damica isn’t sure why her mother decided to ship her halfway across the world. She only knows that she is not going to get married when she gets there! The year is 1728 and she can take care of herself!
The ship is crowded, she has to share the space with girls who are wistfully dreaming about thier new lives. The days are full of daydreams of the future, giggles, and cardgames to pass the time. Everything is full of hope, until the first death.
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois –
Stone’s Edge (The Stone Chronicles Book 1)
When justice is on the line… leave no stone unturned.
Private Investigator, Jack Stone, is closing in on his rival when an unexpected twist throws his investigation – and his life – onto a different course. Going head-to-head with a demon from his past in his quest for vengeance puts Jack’s family and friends in the line of fire, and he must use every resource in his arsenal to bring an end to the tyrant threatening his future.
Indiana –
Small Man, Big Murder: In a sleepy Indiana town, truth is stranger than fiction. (Elm Street Stories Book 1)
She left him. The mistress took her place. But neither of them ever really left his grasp…
Kat finally broke free from Chad—the lies, the control, the suffocating marriage. She thought divorce was the end of her nightmare. Then the whispers started.
Now, Chad’s new woman is living the life Kat escaped, but something isn’t right. The same gaslighting. The same manipulation. And the same dark secrets lurking beneath the surface.
When the past refuses to stay buried and danger creeps closer, Kat and the woman who replaced her realize they’re caught in a deadly game. But this time, neither of them plans to play by his rules.
A gripping, unputdownable psychological thriller perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Last Mrs. Parrish.
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky –
Gem of the Andes: Mystery of the Pink Emerald
Gem of the Andes is a story of exotic adventure, with a touch of magic. It begins in quiet old Spurwink Manor in Maryland, with Lila Winters, almost 19, who has resigned herself to a lonely life. She has finally graduated High School and escaped the world of peer pressure and social complications, but has little hope of a happy future while hidden away at the family home. After a shocking experience in dating, she has pulled back from her friends and family. She expects to shun all men for the rest of her life, even though she secretly longs for romance. She reads voraciously to quell her appetite for adventure.
One day she watches from her bedroom window as her cousin Elfie throws something from her own window onto the roof. Consumed with curiosity, Lila retrieves the object, a strange, ancient-looking silver ring, set with a pink stone. But, watching from the shadows, she has seen a stranger, a silver-haired man, following Elfie and then searching her room. Who is he? What is the significance of the ring? She hides the ring. Little does she suspect that this will set her on a path to great adventure, a lost city of the Ancients in the high Andes of Peru, and a forever love.
Who is this mysterious silver-haired man? Amzi Darrow, an investigator from a museum in Peru, is looking for the ring and its lost twin. But should Lila trust him?
The story moves to Cuzco, Peru, where Lila explores the history, archaeology and foods of her newly adopted home, while beginning a family she never thought she’d have. She encounters people of different cultures and learns from them as she immerses herself in the legends and customs of this archaic, otherworldly land. The tombs, mummies and artifacts reveal the ancient lives of the Incas, Quechuas and other Peruvian tribes, giving hints of a dangerous secret no modern civilization should know.
South America is a strange place. They say magical things happen all the time there, and no one thinks it unusual. What is real and what is a vision—and what is the six-winged bird? Prophesied by a shaman over a thousand years before, it is instrumental in the family’s escape from the Sendero Luminoso, Shining Path terrorists.
Meet Cut(e) (The Butcher Series Book 1)
Agnes Crawford, better known by her friends as Aggie, moved to the small town of Hazenberg, Kentucky, with one goal in mind: she wanted everyone to know her name. Hopes of becoming a famous playwright one day, the green writer knew she had to start somewhere and landed herself a job at the local newspaper. The new columnist in town would head up the “Dear Aggie” column among other things. Aggie quickly finds out she’s going to have to be creative to get the townspeople to ask for advice and trust her responses.One early morning, Aggie runs into Hazenberg’s good looking butcher, Drake Corbin. Or, wait. Maybe he runs into her? Bewitched by his good looks, their meet-cute relationship begins and so starts the web of lies spun by this sexy slaughterer. As time goes on, Drake’s darkness cuts Aggie like a knife and she unravels the secrets he’s hiding. Will Aggie get out of this relationship unscathed or will Drake lure her right where he wants?
Louisiana
Maine –
Legacy of the Crown: Book One of the Nexus Chronicles
When magic died a thousand years ago, the nine realms shattered. Now, Aislynn, an immortal elf worn by the weight of existence, seeks to end what remains. But a hidden wizard weaves a prophecy to stop her—one that ensnares an unlikely player.
Wraith, an outcast hunter marked by strange pale eyes, survives by staying in the shadows. Then he crosses paths with Aislynn and discovers a power he shouldn’t have—the ability to see and alter destiny itself.
When the worlds teeter on the edge of ruin, their choices ripple through reality. The path they walk will either save existence or destroy it.
LEGACY OF THE CROWN is an epic fantasy of fate and free will, sacrifice and redemption. Destiny stirs in the wind, but the price of salvation may be more than anyone is willing to pay.
These Dark Ages (The Enlightment Duology Book 1)
HOW LONG WOULD YOU WAIT FOR YOUR FANTASY?
It’s been fifteen years. Almost 5,500 days.
The last time Meg saw him, she was in college, sitting front and center in the auditorium where he taught European History.
But now, at the age of 35, she’s taking a risk – she’s going to London to find him.
Dr. Thomas Grant suspects nothing, having sewn himself into the fabric of London’s top academics. His days consist of research, publishing, lecturing, and presenting – he has no time for any of life’s softer pleasantries, until he sees a ghost from his former life, someone he had forgotten entirely.
How long would you lust after your fantasy?
And what would you do if he said yes?
THESE DARK AGES is an age-gap, professor/former student erotica. Please be aware that the themes in this book are highly sexual in nature and are not suitable for young audiences.
Maryland –
Awesome Adventures With Cadie the Rescue Dog (1)
Follow Cadie as she goes on adventures and meets other dogs, children, dog owners and family all while enjoying many adventures with her family. Since she was rescued, Cadie will now live out her life happy and will explore on her many adventures, which she is sharing with you.
Massachusetts
Michigan –
Dangerous Devotion: The Crimson Brotherhood
Riley Thompson’s biggest problem used to be keeping O’Malley’s bar running while hiding her creative accounting from the IRS. But when four devastatingly attractive—and lethally dangerous—men make her an offer she literally can’t refuse, her life takes a turn straight into “what the hell am I doing?” territory.
Roman, Sebastian, Miles, and Kieran aren’t just the city’s most powerful crime lords—they’re the Crimson Brotherhood, and they’ve decided Riley’s particular talents make her the perfect addition to their organization. Between knife-fighting lessons that definitely aren’t OSHA-approved and trying to keep her growing feelings for more than one of the men under control (Spoiler alert: she fails spectacularly at that last part), Riley discovers her mysterious past might be exactly what painted a target on her back.
Now she’s juggling late-night distractions, crack-of-dawn workouts that feel suspiciously like torture, and a rival crime boss who thinks she’s the key to his empire. As if that wasn’t complicated enough, her heart seems determined to collect dangerous men like some people collect stamps.
When violence erupts and secrets start spilling like cheap beer, Riley must decide if she’s ready to embrace both the darkness and the light buried within her. Because in this game of shadows and steel, love might be the deadliest weapon of all. Sometimes the family you choose comes with throwing knives and questionable morals. And sometimes that is exactly the family you need.
Content Warning: This novel contains mature themes and situations including:
Physical violence and graphic fight scenes
Sexual assault and attempted sexual assault (non-graphic)
Domestic abuse and child abuse (referenced/discussed)
Blood play and knife play during intimate scenes
Outdoor sexual content with primal/feral elements
Blood and injury descriptions
PTSD and trauma responses
Strong sexual content and consensual intimate scenes
Alcohol use and references to alcoholism
Criminal activity and organized crime
Memory loss/amnesia
Profanity and strong language
Minnesota –
My Dark Passenger
Kevin Wolf is driving back to his hometown when he spots a teenage girl hitchhiking on a remote highway. Concerned for her safety, Wolf offers her a ride through the night, but the girl remains enigmatic, refusing to reveal her name, origin, or destination.
Strange occurrences unfold in her presence. She evades Wolf’s attempts to involve the police, and her company disturbs everyone but him. Adults avoid her, children react with fear, and crows shadow her every step. Meanwhile, Wolf is plagued by recurring nightmares of a faceless figure driving his truck.
Their journey leads them unwittingly into a monster’s lair when they arrive at his hometown amidst a Halloween festival. It soon becomes clear that the girl harbors secrets that may endanger them both.My Dark Passenger explores an eerie world where reality blurs with the unseen. A world that is inextricably linked with our own.
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana –
Pursuit of Innocence: An Alpha-Billionaire, Love-Triangle Steamy Romance (The Pursuit Series Book 1)
“I’m done waiting around. You’re mine. No more games or pining over someone else when it’s me you want. You won’t remember his name after I get through with you.”
Lily knows exactly what she wants in life. To graduate, land a high-paying job, and forge her own way. Nothing will distract her. Until the ultimate playboy, billionaire Sebastian Dubree, barges in. Not to be overlooked, Lily’s longtime crush, Jackson, decides she’s worth the fight.
Reluctant to succumb to either, she quickly becomes a challenge to conquer. Lily must decide between the familiarity of her childhood longing or the newly discovered passion ignited by the dominant CEO. But can she surrender without losing herself in the process, or will someone take matters into his own hands?
Boundaries blur between desire and resistance in this gripping coming-of-age romance, leaving readers yearning for more.
Nebraska
Nevada –
THE DEVIL OF LONDON: A PSYCHOLOGICAL GAS LAMP EDWARD HYDE THRILLER
In this gripping Gothic thriller set in Victorian London, we enter a world where darkness lurks beneath the veneer of polite society. The story follows Isabella Blackwood, a woman driven by revenge and ambition, as she becomes entangled with the mysterious and murderous Edward Hyde. Through moonlit streets and fog-shrouded alleys, we witness a deadly game of cat and mouse unfold between these two formidable characters.
Hyde, a sophisticated monster who stalks London’s elite, leaves a trail of mutilated bodies in his wake. His brutality is matched only by his cunning, as he manipulates the threads of power that bind London’s high society. Isabella, far from being a helpless pawn, proves to be a worthy opponent, harboring her own darkness that rivals Hyde’s malevolent nature.
The narrative weaves together multiple perspectives, from undertakers to aristocrats, creating a rich tapestry of Victorian London’s underbelly. As alliances shift and betrayals mount, the story builds toward an inevitable confrontation between Isabella and Hyde, where the true nature of power, revenge, and darkness is revealed.
This tale of psychological suspense and Gothic horror explores the thin line between civilization and savagery, questioning whether one can fight monsters without becoming one. With its atmospheric prose and intricate plot, this novel pulls readers into a world where nothing is quite as it seems, and where the greatest dangers often wear the most charming smiles.
Welcome to a London where gaslight casts long shadows, where blood stains the cobblestones, and where a woman’s revenge might just be more terrifying than the monster she hunts.
New Hampshire
New Jersey –
The Alphabet of Me : Building Confidence One Letter At A Time
Unlock the Power of Positivity with Every Letter of the Alphabet!🌈
The Alphabet of Me is more than just a book—it’s a joyful celebration of everything that makes your child amazing and unique.
From A for Authentic to Z for Zealous, this vibrant and beautifully crafted children’s book introduces young readers to positive, uplifting qualities that inspire confidence, kindness, and self-love. With each turn of the page, your little one will discover new ways to see themselves as brave, creative, fearless, and oh-so-special.
✨ Why parents love this book:
Builds confidence and self-esteem
Teaches essential values alongside the ABCs
Engages kids with playful language and clever alliteration
Perfect for ages 3 to 7
Whether you’re creating bedtime memories or building your child’s library, The Alphabet of Me is a treasure that will empower your child to embrace their strengths and shine bright every single day.
📚 Inspire. Educate. Celebrate. Add this joyful and educational gem to your child’s collection today!
New Mexico
New York –
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – except for Harold Trapp. With sales numbers plummeting, he and his company rush plans to create the perfect Christmas gift: the Hans and Heidi dolls. But with a tight deadline hanging over their heads, stress is a frequent visitor. As are the two cats that mysteriously appear on his doorstep. But there’s something sinister hiding behind their sweet and furry demeanor. And the town of Oakridge comes to know it well.When the Christmas lights shine and the snow falls heavy, something awakens. Something dark and ancient. Cold. And with it, unspeakable terrors are born. From legends of old black trains to holiday satyrs and straw goats of yore, the winter wind lurks in the deepest of shadows. Hungry for flesh. Waiting for the darkness to return.The spirit of the season is far more than Harold Trapp bargained for.
The Adventures of Birdfrog: A Beautifully illustrated book of the in-between world of Birdfrog
Adults and teenagers will enjoy entering the in-between, uniquely detailed world of a comical character named, Birdfrog. He’s neither bird nor frog and tries to find his way through a sometimes upside-down version of life. You’ll find 80 colorful illustrations, each a story unto itself about the heartwarming character. The artist prides himself on minute details he adds to his drawings to pull the viewer into Birdfrog’s weird world. You’ll be entertained each time you re-visit a page. Go on an enthralling visit with Birdfrog, as he voyages back in time to meet famous historical people.
The Perfect Plan: A single parent, best friend’s brother, surrogacy romance
It’s the perfect plan.
Single mom Elise’s best friend’s older brother wants to start a family. Simple, right? One problem. He’s unattached with no prospects making it difficult to turn Damian into Daddy.
For every problem there must be a solution, so he’s taking control of the situation. But the last thing Elise wants for Damian is a stranger carrying his baby. Two words change everything.
“Choose me.”
As his surrogate, the arrangement is mutually beneficial — her money woes disappear and his dream of being a dad is realized.
It would have been the perfect plan … if their hearts weren’t involved.
North Carolina
North Dakota –
Our Greatest Enemy: Five Horror Stories on Fatherhood (The Greatest Enemy Collection Book 1)
A father’s scarred heart cuts deep the roots of the family tree. Included in this collection:
Belt
William’s father is speeding down a gravel road late at night. William can’t remember anything from earlier that day, and he’s worried for his mother…
Wrapped in Silk
Erik finds a spider in his apartment. Everything is fine… until the spider begins consuming everything he loves.
Inside a Concrete Box
At the lake with his son, Arthur finds a mysterious concrete box in the trees. There’s something inside… and it’s coming for them.
The Transfiguration
Sam’s lost everything: his family, his wife, his daughter. As he copes with his new life, he finds himself becoming… something else.
Our Greatest Enemy
As the world around him comes to an end, Adam contemplates space, life, and humanity with his father one last time.
Ohio –
Memoirs From the Frontlines: Four States, Two Years, One Pandemic
2020, the year the world shut down. My husband and I had been living our best lives. John had been a nurse since 2001 and I’d also been a nurse since 2008. We’d been traveling the country as Intensive Care Unit (ICU)/Emergency Room (ER) travel Registered Nurses (RNs) since 2017. We arrived in Southern Georgia for our ninth assignment in the fall of 2019. We had no idea what we had signed up for when we accepted this extension for our placement there—that this small town was about to become a major epicenter for COVID—that we would see more death in those few months than in all our prior years of nursing combined. We had no idea that the world was about to completely shut down because of a virus, or that we were about to become front-line heroes!
We also worked in Tennessee, Washington state, and Las Vegas, Nevada during those years, losing patients to the Coronavirus in all three states. COVID never changed no matter what state we were working in.
While writing this memoir has been very therapeutic, my true intentions are to provide a look at my experience so others can begin their own healing process. I also want others to understand by reading this memoir that it’s ok to make mistakes, and it’s ok to apologize for those mistakes. But most of all, even throughout a pandemic and even through a mental breakdown, it’s ok to lose your “voice,” but it’s not ok to give up finding that voice once again. Dark times are ok for a short time; however, to live in the dark is not living. You need to find your light and adjust to the world that surrounds you, COVID and all!
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania –
The Girl with Chameleon Eyes
It’s an abrupt, uncomfortable incarnation for Summer, the ghostly girl with chameleon eyes. Exotic hues roil in her gaze as she seeks to recall what awful sin in her past has doomed her to roam the earth. And to discover what—or who—will bring her to eternal rest.
Kota, brunt of bad jokes because he’s different, feels an instant connection to Summer. She recoils at the mere sight of him. Yet they are drawn together in a dance of mutual need, choreographed by the ages.
As Summer grows more attached to both her young foster brother and to Kota’s friend, Preston, she struggles against complacency. Until discovering that if she doesn’t expiate the guilt on her soul by her seventeenth birthday, she will roam forever.
For her, it’s hate at first sight. For him, it’s instant attraction. When the pieces of their lives begin to unravel and intertwine, will love be enough to save them both? Or will evil decide their future?
DOUBLE PLAY: A Baseball & Softball Romantic Comedy (Extra Innings Book 1)
LAYTON
Everyone thinks I have it all. The all-American superstar baseball player. The golden boy of Philly. The notorious playboy.
In reality, I’m just a lonely man who knows his career is hanging on by a thread.
Then an opportunity presents itself. My team is sold, and the new owners want to keep me around. The catch? I need to enter into a PR relationship with Arizona Abbott, the rising star of the local softball team. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. As it turns out, she’s my dream come true.
The problem? She’s my best friend’s sister.
ARIZONA
After the toughest year of my life, I move across the country to play professional softball with my closest friends, to be near my brother, and to leave my baggage behind.
Needing to focus on my fresh start, I swear off baseball players.
All of them.
In walks Layton Lancaster, the man whose poster hung above my bed as a teen. I’m asked to pretend to date him to save my team and my league. I can’t fall for a man like him again, so I need to keep him at arm’s length.
The problem? My fantasy man isn’t who I thought he was.
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas –
Eye Scream: In 13 Deliciously Terrifying Flavors
Stories include:
Chocolate – Chocolate can kill a dog. That gave Weston an idea.
Butter Pecan – It’s been a long time since Iris indulged in her favorite flavor.
Pistachio – Mr. Finchner swore he had to eat pistachio ice cream every day…or else.
Cookies ‘n Cream – Claudia accepts a last-minute babysitting job.
Vanilla – Fr. Barnabas is called to an orphanage to discover which child has been possessed.
Rocky Road – Lyle risked visiting that one house on Halloween.
Strawberry – Three close friends go looking for a night of fun.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough – Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Birthday Cake – Tad has a unique way of celebrating his girlfriend’s birthday.
Butterscotch – They were a perfect match in every way.
Neapolitan – Her future depended on which flavor she chose.
Mint Chocolate Chip – All because of a million- dollar life insurance policy.
Coffee – She couldn’t remember why she’d forgotten how much she loved that flavor, until it was almost too late.
The Dyslexic Dragon
Mackenzie is having trouble reading. The letters bounce and the words run off the page. This makes Mackenzie very sad because she loves books. Will her teacher be able to help her read?
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington –
Dark Wilderness
When a terrifying nemesis kills members of their settlement, an aging shapechanger, Josiah Olden, leads a group of humans and shapechangers across an apocalyptic landscape, searching for a new home.
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
And there you have it—a literary road trip across the United States, complete with captivating stories and diverse voices from every state! I hope this journey has inspired you to explore the rich landscape of American literature and discover new authors and books that resonate with you. Remember, this is just a starting point. There are countless other amazing books out there waiting to be discovered, so keep exploring, keep reading, and keep celebrating the power of stories to connect us all. Happy reading!