American heroes and villains occupy the focus for week’s Newsmax Rising Bestsellers. The first tells the stories of nine heroic first responders, and the second describes the intense campaign of lawfare waged to keep a former president from reentering the White House. A third describes America’s greatness and how we can maintain it, and the final selection reveals an unholy alliance between the woke mob and religious fundamentalists. But there also is a celebrated novelist’s latest work.
“Never Flinch,” by Stephen King (Scribner)
Numerous publications, from The New York Times on the left to the New York Post on the right, called this the Most Anticipated Book of 2025, and for good reason: it’s the latest work from master storyteller Stephen King, and he brings back Holly Rachel Gibney, one if his most beloved characters. Buckeye City Police Detective Izzy Jaynes isn’t sure what to make of a letter sent to the department threatening to “kill 13 innocents and one guilty,” so she enlists her friend Holly to help. What results is a “thrilling, wildly fun, and outrageously engrossing” new novel from King’s imagination, according to the publisher. “I loved this story as I love all Stephen King stories. I was hooked from the first page. You could feel the tension building and the pieces on the board moving,” wrote Trisha in her GoodReads review. “So many great twists and interesting characters.” [Fiction]
“Behind the Badge,” by Johnny Joey Jones (Harper Influence)
Marine veteran Johnny Jones follows his “Unbroken Bonds of Battle” with this No. 1 New York Times bestseller, dedicated to America’s first responders — those who run toward the danger when everyone else runs away. Jones tells the stories of nine heroes, including:
- A game warden whose “miracle K-9” helped him save 22 lives in search and rescue missions;
- A firefighter who chose the job over a lucrative family career;
- A police officer who died placing his squad car between civilians and a drunk driver going the wrong way on the highway — and his sister, who responded by becoming a deputy.
All nine have two things in common: they don’t consider themselves heroes, and they’re all personal friends of Jones, who lost both his legs in combat. “Johnny Joey Jones is a friend and an advocate for the military and first responders,” wrote Jeff Walker, for charleston.com. “His latest book ‘Behind The Badge’ takes a deep dive into the personal lives of those dedicated to serve local and state communities they live in. If you want to know more about what they subject themselves to, read ‘Behind The Badge’. It’s an eye opener.” [Nonfiction]
“Lawless Lawfare: Tipping the Scales of Justice to Get Trump and Destroy MAGA,” by Alex Swoyer (Bombardier Books)
This is Washington Times legal affairs reporter Alex Swoyer’s play-by-play analysis of the Democrats’ scorched-earth strategy to get Donald Trump, along with his allies and the MAGA movement, by weaponizing the judicial system. As a result, Democrats turned the federal judiciary into a political battleground to keep him out of the White House — preferably by putting him behind bars. Swoyer, who is also a lawyer, poured through thousands of pages of court transcripts to describe how each case against Trump had no option but to fail in the end for one simple reason: they were all based on politics rather than the law. “Alex Swoyer did her homework! She breaks down the legal deep dive into plain English,” wrote Nancy G. for Amazon. “The Democrats have brought their state sponsored criminal behavior to a whole new level! Thank you, Alex, for pointing out their lawfare in an easy to read manner!” [Nonfiction]
“What’s Right with America: …And How We Can Keep It That Way!” by Hon. Paul Johnson & Larry Aldrich (Post Hill Press)
In “What’s Right with America” authors Paul Johnson and Lary Aldrich submit that despite the protests and demonstrations that seem to dominate the evening news, not only is America the best, most moral superpower in the world, but that our best days are yet to come. They use inspiring stories and thought-provoking analysis to reveal how America has the capacity to not merely exist, but to thrive through good times and bad. Much of that ability is rooted in the vision of America’s founders — a vision of freedom, respect for the law, and individual responsibility. They also provide a roadmap for us to build on that vision. The book “is an inspiring reminder of the values that have made the U.S. a beacon of hope and opportunity,” Denise Griffitts wrote for Amazon. “It celebrates our national character — freedom, innovation, and perseverance — while offering thoughtful insight on how to protect and preserve these ideals. A powerful, timely read for anyone who still believes in the promise of America.” [Nonfiction]
“Woke Army: The Red-Green Alliance That Is Destroying America’s Freedom,”
by Asra Q. Nomani (Bombardier Books)
The author, a former Wall Street Journal reporter, reveals in “Woke Army” a faceless cabal of keyboard warriors furiously working to undermine America’s most fundamental freedoms — especially religious freedom. While uncovering the identities of these radicals, she finds something even more sinister — they’ve aligned themselves with Muslim fundamentalists calling for jihad against the West. “‘Woke Army’ is a rare book: it is fearless, informative, and engaging. This book is essential reading for anyone concerned with the future of democratic and religious freedoms, wrote Leslie Eastman for Legal Insurrection. “It provides a comprehensive overview of the network of Islamist and left-wing actors who have allied to destructively reshape American discourse and policy through media influence, online propaganda, and the strategic weaponization of victimhood.” [Nonfiction]
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