My LINKcat AccountA trifecta of prognosticating animals (Booky, Phil, and Jimmy) declared on February 2nd, that there would be an early spring. The weather during the last part of January and so far this month and even into the 10-day forecast seems to be bearing their prognostications out. The days are noticeably longer – we are gaining a little over a minute everyday at sunset and making very slow progress on the sunrise end of things. But still. Progress is progress. While the snow cover has mostly left except where there huge piles (mountains some would say), that green grass showing through heartens the winter-weary soul. One almost expects the birds to begin returning. I haven’t spotted any returning birds yet. Only the usual suspects are hanging out on my porch, but the squirrel activity has certainly ramped up. And the very best news for library users is that the book drought we had been experiencing seems to have lessened. The UPS guy has been like a rainmaker this past week. Bringing little showers of books into the library on an almost daily basis. This week we have a full baker’s dozen of book titles for you to peruse. Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction
“A Murder in Hollywood: The Untold Story of Tinseltown’s Most Shocking Crime” by Casey Sherman. Recounts how a famous Hollywood starlet from the 1940s and 1950s became involved with an abusive West Coast mob boss and explores the explosive trial that resulted from his murder at the hands of the actress' daughter.
“National Geographic Bucket List Family Travel: Share the World With Your Kids on 50 Adventures of a Lifetime” by Jessica Gee. From the mega-popular Bucket List Family, who have visited more than 90 countries around the world, this ultimate – and beautifully illustrated – expert’s guide provides all the know-how to fulfill your own family’s bucket list and create new and lasting memories for years to come.
“Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Joust One More Page Before Lights Out” by Shannon Reed. A humorous and incisive exploration of the joys of reading from a teacher, bibliophile and Thurber Prize finalist.
New Fiction
“All My Secrets” by Lynn Austin. When her husband's unexpected death bestows his fortune on a male heir, Sylvia tries to marry her daughter off to a wealthy husband to maintain their lifestyle, but is stopped by her mother-in-law who wants more for her granddaughter.
“The Blueprint” by Rae Giana Rashad. A harrowing novel is set in an alternate United States—a world of injustice and bondage in which a young black woman becomes the concubine of a powerful white government official and must face the dangerous consequences.
“Redwood Court” by Delana Dameron. Mika Tabor, the baby of the family, learns important lessons from the people who raise her: her hardworking parents, her older sister, her retired grandparents and the community on Redwood Court, who are committed to fostering joy and love in an America so insistent on seeing Black people stumble and fall.
“A Sign of Her Own” by Sarah Marsh. Inspired by a true story, describes the life of Ellen Lark, a deaf woman who became a favorite student of Alexander Graham Bell while he raced against Western Union to cast a human voice over wires.
“Death of a Spy, No.36 (Hamish Macbeth Mystery)” by M.C. Beaton with R.W. Green. Scottish Highland village Sergeant Hamish Macbeth introduces as his new assistant officer, James Bland, an American who is secretly investigating a Russian spy ring, in the latest addition to the long-running series following “Death of a Traitor”.
“The Kamogawa Food Detectives, No. 1 (The Kamogawa Food Detectives)” by Hisashi Kashiwai. Down a quiet Kyoto backstreet, “food detectives” Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare, the proprietors of the Kamogawa Diner, through ingenious investigations, recreate dishes from a person’s treasured memories, which hold the keys to their forgotten past and future happiness.
“A Pie to Die For, No. 1 (Lucky Pie Mysteries)” by Gretchen Rue. Este March, owner of the Lucky Pie Diner in Northern Michigan, where certain customers are granted their greatest wishes upon eating her family's magical pies, investigates after an unpopular new produce vendor is found murdered on his boat.
“Bride” by Ali Hazelwood. Misery Lark, daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest must leave her life of anonymity among the humans and uphold a historic alliance with the Weres by marrying their Alpha, Lowe Moreland.
“Simply the Best (Chicago Stars)” by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. When Brett, the hottest sports agent in the business, and Rory, the sister of his superstar client, meet and have a disastrous one-night stand, resulting in murder, they find things getting messy, dangerous, heartbreaking and sexy as they struggle with themselves, each other and love.
“Crosshairs, No. 16 (Michael Bennett Thriller)” by James Patterson & James O. Born. NYC detective Michael Bennett teams up with a former Army Ranger and sniper whose long, unexplained absences from duty causes suspicions during the investigation of a serial killer, in the 16th novel of the series following “Obsessed”.