My LINKcat AccountApril showers of the gently type, of the down-pouring type, of the thunder storming type, and even of the hailing type, have pelted the area over the week. We all know what they say about April showers – that they bring May flowers. The April flowers are doing their best to put in an appearance before those flamboyant May flowers flood the senses with color and fragrance. For now the April flowers are tentatively poking their wee heads up and showing off their pretty stalks of purple and pink flowers. Crocus and pasqueflowers have been blooming for the past couple of weeks and have lately been joined by daffodils and some tulips are certainly out there trying. These remarkably hardy early bloomers have recently been joined by the trees which are leafing out rapidly. Their silhouettes are becoming lacier almost by the minute. Maple trees first dropped their blossoms and are not dropping their seeds. May is only a week away which, among other things, means that the serious countdown to the start of the Summer Reading Program can begin. Once the countdown begins, it will be time enough to get back in to your competitive reading mode. Until then there are plenty of new titles, some of which are listed below, to help you stay in shape for when the Summer Reading Program starts.
Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction
“Heartbreaker: A Memoir” by Mike Campbell with Ari Surdoval. The lead guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers shares his tenderhearted rags-to-riches story.
“The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward” by Melinda French Gates. Explores the process of navigating life transitions, combining the author's personal experiences—such as parenthood, loss, and career change—with reflections on embracing uncertainty, letting go of perfectionism, and supporting others, offering readers thoughtful guidance for moving forward during times of change.
“The Fate of the Day: The Fight for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1778” by Rick Atkinson. Chronicles the pivotal middle years of the American Revolution, tracing the Continental Army's fight for survival, George Washington's struggles for resources, Benjamin Franklin's diplomacy in Paris, and British attempts to suppress the rebellion in the face of mounting costs.
New Fiction
“The River Has Roots” by Amal Mohtar. In Thistleford, two sisters, heirs to a mystical stewardship, are torn apart when one falls in love with a denizen of the land of Faerie, leading to an enchanting story of separation, loss, and an enduring love that transcends death.
“When the Moon Hits Your Eye” by John Scalzi. When the Moon inexplicably turns to cheese, humanity grapples with the absurd transformation through the perspectives of astronauts, billionaires, professors, and everyday people, confronting faith, science, and survival over a single surreal.
“Polybius” by Collin Armstrong. A novel based on the terrifying urban legend about a video game created by the government for psychological warfare.
“The Fantasies of Future Things” by Doug Jones. Jacob, a recent Morehouse graduate grappling with his sexuality, and Daniel, an Atlanta native mourning his mother and seeking answers about his father, navigate a fraught relationship as they confront their fears, identities, and the risks of pursuing love and closure.
“The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits” by Jennifer Weiner. Two decades after tragedy ended Cassie and Zoe Grossberg's rise to pop stardom as "The Griffin Sisters," Zoe’s daughter Cherry uncovers hidden truths about the sisters' breakup, compelling the family to face old wounds, buried secrets, and the potential for reconciliation.
“Cat’s People” by Tanya Guerrero. Núria, a Brooklyn barista and proud cat caretaker, discovers secret admirer notes near her favorite stray, sparking unexpected connections with four quirky neighbors as they unite to care for him and find meaning in their unlikely friendships.
“Fortunate Harbor, No.1 (Outer Banks)” by Davis Bunn. Returning to the Outer Banks after years away, a resort manager and a local attorney navigate a land development dispute, a buried treasure hunt and a rekindled romance while confronting their shared past and fight to protect the island's heritage.
“The Amalfi Curse” by Sarah Penner. Nautical archaeologist Haven Ambrose investigates mysterious shipwrecks and a family secret along the Amalfi Coast, uncovering the 19th-century tale of Mari DeLuca, a witch torn between protecting her village and saving her lover, as ancient magic threatens the region’s future.
“Sealed with a Hiss (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries)” by Rita Mae Brown. When a decades-forgotten car bobs to the surface of a creek in Virginia, with a body in the driver’s seat, Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen and her animal companions—felines Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, Tee Tucker the Corgi, and Irish Wolfhound Pirate—team up to solve the mystery.
“Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man), No.2 (Vera Wong)” by Jesse Sutanto. When a young woman searching for a missing friend leads Vera to the mysterious murder of influencer Xander Lin, she delves into his enigmatic life, uncovering secrets and identities to help her future daughter-in-law, Officer Selena Gray, solve the case.