Author: Pearson, Mary (Mary E.)
Call #: YA FIC Pearson, M 200.1 2014
Summary: A princess must find her place in a reborn world.
She flees on her wedding day.
She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.
She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.
She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.
The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.
Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This fantasy features a strong-willed princess who escapes an unwanted arranged marriage. I love the supporting cast of characters and the main character's fiery determination. This is the first book in the series, and I can't wait to see what happens next. (Melissa, South Branch)
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Author: Cline, Ernest
Call #: SF Cline, E 2011
Summary: In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: If you love historic video games and 80s movies this is the book for you. I actually lost count of all the cultural references. I loved it. This is a great science fiction book, and one that is extremely difficult to put down. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves video games and movies. This book will intrigue and inspire your inner geek! (Melissa, South Branch)
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Author: Dailey, Janet
Call #: ROM Dailey, J 500.2 2014
Summary: He’s everything she doesn’t need.
The quiet horse whisperer whose touch still ignites her dreams—and is everything wealthy Lauren Prescott is not. She can think of a million reasons why she should never ever fall into Sky Fletcher's sure embrace again. Until she clashes head-on with the dangerous complications of her privileged life and needs his protection like air to breathe . . .
She's more than he can resist.
The heiress Sky can't get out of his heart, no matter how much he tries. And being the secret third Tyler son doesn't change a thing. All he wants from his two brothers is help uncovering a dangerous conspiracy threatening his land, their ranch, and the spirited beauty he never should have touched. . . --summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This is the first book I've read by Janet Dailey in several years. At first I was very disappointed in her writing style; it was very simplistic. Toward the end of the book, the writing improved dramatically, so I was pleased with the enjoyment of the book overall. (Heather, Administration Department)
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Author: Evanovich, Janet
Call #: FIC Evanovich, J 400.3 2015
Summary: Lizzy and Diesel return once again in an all-new adventure in the #1 New York Times bestselling series from Janet Evanovich and her co-author, Phoef Sutton!
Murdered and mummified more than ninety years ago, bootlegger Collier “Peg Leg” Dazzle once found and re-hid a famous pirate’s treasure somewhere along the coast of New England. A vast collection of gold and silver coins and precious gems, the bounty also contains the Stone of Avarice — the very item reluctant treasure seeker, Lizzy Tucker, and her partner, Diesel, have been enlisted to find. While Lizzy would just like to live a quiet, semi-normal life, Diesel is all about the hunt. And this hunt is going to require a genuine treasure map and a ship worthy of sailing the seven seas . . . or at least getting them from Salem Harbor to Maine.
Greed is eternal and insatiable, and Lizzy and Diesel aren’t the only ones searching for the lost pirate’s chest. There are people who have dedicated their entire lives to finding it, and are willing to commit murder or make a deal with the devil, just to hold the fortune in their hands. One of those people may even be Wulf, Diesel’s deceptively charming and enigmatic cousin. Wulf desires the Stone of Avarice. He also desires Lizzy. It’s hard to say how far he’s willing to go to gain either one.
It’s a swashbuckling adventure full of raiders, monkeys, minions, and mayhem. Lizzy and Diesel are going to have to do everything they can to keep their heads above water and hope they are living a charmed life.--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: The authors seem to have hit their stride in writing this series. The characters were engaging and the plot more exciting. I really enjoyed this one. (Heather, Administration Department)
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Author: Carr, Robyn
Call #: ROM Carr, R 300.8 2015
Summary: After losing her child, Ginger Dysart was lost in grief. But since moving to Thunder Point, a small town on the Oregon coast, and with the help of her cousin Ray Anne, Ginger is finally moving forward. Her job at the flower shop is peaceful and fulfilling, and she's excited to start her first big assignment, assisting with the Lacoumette wedding.
In spite of her lasting heartache, Ginger finds herself swept up in the pleasure of the occasion. But the beauty of the Lacoumette farm and the joy of the gregarious family are ruined by an unfortunate encounter with the bride's brother, Matt. Struggling with painful memories of his own recent divorce, Matt makes a drunken spectacle of himself and Ginger when he tries to make a pass at her, forcing Ginger to flee the scene in embarrassment.
But when Matt shows up at the flower shop determined to make amends, what started out as a humiliating first meeting blossoms into something much deeper than either of them expected. Discovering they have a lot in common, they form a solid friendship, though everyone around them worries that Ginger will end up with a broken heart yet again. But if Ginger has the courage to embrace the future, and if Matt can finally learn to let go of the past, there may still be hope for a happy ending.--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This series by Robyn Carr tends to display deeper life issues than typical romance novels. In this particular title, the protagonist is working hard to recover her life after a divorce and the loss of her baby from SIDS. The character development was very realistic and the eventual romance was believable and entertaining. (Heather, Administration Department)
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Author: Mallery, Susan
Call #: ROM Mallery, S 500.17 2015
Summary: After Phoebe Kitzke's kind heart gets her suspended from her job in LA, she swears off doing favors—until her best friend begs for help on the family ranch in Fool's Gold. Unfortunately, sexy cowboy Zane Nicholson isn't exactly thrilled by the city girl's arrival.
Thanks to his brother's latest scheme, Zane has been roped into taking tourists on a cattle drive. What Phoebe knows about ranching wouldn't fill his hat, but her laughter is so captivating that even his animals fall for her. One slip of his legendary control leads to a passionate kiss, but she's exactly the kind of woman a single-minded loner needs to avoid.
In his arms, Phoebe discovers she's a country girl at heart. Yet no matter how much the small town feels like home, she can't stay unless Zane loves her, too…but is this cowboy interested in forever?--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: The premise for the Fool's Gold series by Susan Mallery is a little hard to believe (only attractive, talented inhabitants, perfect town run by an all-seeing mayor), The romance is fun and the on again, off again, romance cycle works. A fun, but not overwhelmingly great read. (Heather, Administration Department)
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Author: Quinn, Spencer
Call #: MYS Quinn, S 100.8 2015
Summary: When a mysterious case of illegal cactus smuggling comes to their attention, Chet and his human P.I. companion, Bernie Little, find themselves in a prickly situation in this eighth book in the New York Times bestselling mystery series.
In the latest entry in the immensely popular Chet and Bernie mystery series, Private Investigator Bernie Little and his canine companion Chet return home to encounter some alarming developments. First off, Bernie's wall safe normally hidden behind the waterfall picture in the office is gone, and with it Bernie's grandfather's watch, their most valuable possession. And next door, old Mr. Parsons is under investigation for being in possession of a saguaro cactus illegally transplanted from the desert. Bernie and Chet go deep into the desert to investigate. Is it possible that such a lovely old couple have a terrible secret in their past?
Chet and Bernie discover bad things going on in the wilderness, far worse that cactus smuggling, and all connected to a strange but innocent-seeming desert festival called Arrow Bright. They unearth leads that take them back to a long-ago kidnapping that may not have been a kidnapping and threaten a ruthless and charismatic criminal with a cult following, a criminal who sees at once what Chet and Bernie mean to each other and knows how to exploit it.
Every bit as insightful (Booklist), humorous (Library Journal), and deliciously addictive (Publishers Weekly, starred review) as Quinn's previous books, Scents and Sensibility is a drool-worthy mystery that will have readers everywhere begging for more.--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: I absolutely love the Chet and Bernie mystery series by Spencer Quinn. The books are written from the perspective of Chet (the private investigator's dog) and are full of wit, great characters, and action.) This title is one of my favorites from the series. Chet has some new things to say and his building relationship with his look- and act-alike puppy son (though he doesn't really catch the connection) is very entertaining. I can't wait for the next one! (Heather, Administration)
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Author: Fleming, Candace
Call #: YA 947.083 Fleming, 2014
Summary: From the acclaimed author of Amelia Lost and The Lincolns comes a heartrending narrative nonfiction page-turner--and a perfect resource for meeting Common Core standards. When Russia's last tsar, Nicholas II, inherited the throne in 1894, he was unprepared to do so. With their four daughters (including Anastasia) and only son, a hemophiliac, Nicholas and his reclusive wife, Alexandra, buried their heads in the sand, living a life of opulence as World War I raged outside their door and political unrest grew into the Russian Revolution. Deftly maneuvering between the lives of the Romanovs and the plight of Russia's peasants and urban workers--and their eventual uprising--Fleming offers up a fascinating portrait, complete with inserts featuring period photographs and compelling primary-source material that brings it all to life.
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: Interesting look at the downfall of the Last Czar and his family. I liked that the author tries to be unbiased in her story, yet shows that clearly the Romanov Dynasty was flawed from the beginning. But she especially seemed sympathetic to them at the end of the story. Overall, a simple look at a tragic time in history, and well worth reading. (Doug, Administration Department)
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Author: Martin, George R. R
Call #: 813.6 Martin, 2014
Summary: This is the comprehensive guide to all things Game of Thrones and beyond. From the prehistory to the coming of the First Men, through the reign of the Targaryen kings and Robert's Rebellion, this guide--co-written by George R.R. Martin and the immensely knowledgeable founders and keepers of the www.westeros.org site--will tell series readers old and new all they might want to know about the history and culture of Westeros and the lands beyond the Narrow Sea--a tapestry of all new history that George has invented solely for this volume.-- Provided by publisher
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This book is visually pleasing, and explains the world of Game Of Thrones. If you are a Game of Thrones fan, this is for you! (Stephanie, Adult and Teen Department)
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Author: Loborik, Jason
Call #: 791.4572 Loborik, 2014
Summary: The successful guide to the Doctor's world – now updated and expanded for 2014 and the new Doctor. This lavishly illustrated guide to the Doctor's world is now expanded to include all the action from the new series with Peter Capaldi as the new Doctor. With 32 new pages of material, including new companions, aliens and adventures across time and space, Doctor Who: The Visual Dictionary offers details to pore over and enjoy as well as behind-the-scenes information on this hit TV series.--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This is for any Doctor Who fan! It is pleasing to the eye, and takes you through all the Doctors, their companions, enemies, etc. (Stephanie, Adult and Teen Department)
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Author: O'Reilly, Bill
Call #: YA 943.086, O'Reilly, 2015
Summary: By early 1945, the destruction of the German Nazi State seems certain. The Allied forces, led by American generals George S. Patton and Dwight D. Eisenhower, are gaining control of Europe, leaving German leaders scrambling. Facing defeat, Adolf Hitler flees to a secret bunker with his new wife, Eva Braun, and his beloved dog, Blondi. It is there that all three would meet their end, thus ending the Third Reich and one of the darkest chapters of history.
Hitler's Last Days is a gripping account of the death of one of the most reviled villains of the 20th century—a man whose regime of murder and terror haunts the world even today. Adapted from Bill O’Reilly’s historical thriller Killing Patton, this book will have young readers—and grown-ups too—hooked on history.--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: Interesting, full of facts and well written. Bill O'Reilly gets in to the private matters of the characters. He describes the brutality of the war itself and covers the lives of George Patten, Eisenhower, Roosevelt, the Russian Army, Eva Browne and Hitler's relationship, and their joint suicide. (Rhonda, Outreach Department)
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Author: Patterson, James
Call #: FIC Patterson, J 100.14 2015
Summary: Detective Lindsay Boxer and her three best friends are back and recovering from the events that pushed them all to the edge.
After her near-death experience, Yuki is seeing her life from a new perspective and is considering a change in her law career. San Francisco Chronicle reporter Cindy has healed from her gunshot wound and has published a book on the infamous serial killers she helped to bring down. Lindsay is just happy that the gang are all still in one piece.
But a new terror is sweeping the streets of San Francisco. A gang dressed as cops are ransacking the city, and leaving a string of dead bodies in their wake. Lindsay is on the case to track them down and needs to discover whether these killers could actually be police officers. Maybe even cops she already knows...--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: James Patterson continues his story of the Ladies Murder Club in a quick and easy read. The main characters, Joe and Lindsay, are raising a baby girl, Joe is staying home with Julie and Lindsay is on the streets fighting crime as a detective. She has her friends that share a common kinship. The characters intertwine and make for a good read. As always, Patterson and his short chapters make it easy to stop and start. (Rhonda, Outreach Department)
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Author: Pearson, Mary (Mary E.)
Call #: YA FIC Pearson, M 200.2 2015
Summary: Intrigue abounds in this hotly anticipated sequel to The Kiss of Deception!
Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar's interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.
Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to Lia, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be barbarians. Now that she lives amongst them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country... and her own destiny.--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: I was pretty excited for this book to come out, especially considering where the first one left off at. This book was fast paced, and full of twists and turns {some that I saw coming and some that I didn't.} It did however leave off on another cliffhanger ending, and there's no set release date for the third book. (Kaitlynne, South Branch)
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Author: Kenneally, Miranda
Call #: YA FIC Kenneally, M 100.6 2015
Summary: Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol. But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo?--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: I thought this book was pretty cool. I really liked the fact that Jesse and Maya were extremely different. Maya is a punk-rock girl who sings 80s music and Jesse is a Country star, and I think that's what made their relationship so entertaining. I do wish that the ending had been a little different. I didn't like how the Wannabe Rocker competition was so hyped throughout the book and then at end it kind of just fizzled out... it was very anticlimactic. (Kaitlynne, South Branch)
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Author: Belle, Josie
Call #: MYS Belle, J 100.4 2014
Summary: Between spending Valentine’s Day with her sweetheart, Sam, and shopping upcoming Presidents’ Day sales with the Good Buy Girls, everything is coming up roses and bargains for Maggie Gerber. But when the mother of Maggie’s nemesis comes to town, things stop looking so rosy. Summer’s mom is hoping to set her spoiled daughter up with Sam, and she’ll do whatever it takes to make the match happen.
When Maggie heads to her romantic rival’s house to put a stop to the scheming, she discovers Summer standing over a dead body—holding a weapon. As much as Maggie would love to see Summer get her just desserts, she can’t shake the feeling that the meddling menace is, in fact, innocent. Now Maggie and the Good Buy Girls will have to sort through racks of suspects to find a killer—or Summer will wind up getting a truly raw deal…
INCLUDES THRIFTY RECIPES!--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This is the 4th book in the Good Buy Girls mystery series. I enjoyed this book as I have the others. It's a quick mystery read and although there is murder it's not too gory. There is one final book for this series coming out in September that will wrap up this fun series. (Mattie, South Branch)
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Author: McCullough, David G.
Call #: BIO Wright, 2015
Summary: Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize David McCullough tells the dramatic story-behind-the-story about the courageous brothers who taught the world how to fly: Wilbur and Orville Wright.
On a winter day in 1903, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, two unknown brothers from Ohio changed history. But it would take the world some time to believe what had happened: the age of flight had begun, with the first heavier-than-air, powered machine carrying a pilot.
Who were these men and how was it that they achieved what they did?
David McCullough, two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize, tells the surprising, profoundly American story of Wilbur and Orville Wright.
Far more than a couple of unschooled Dayton bicycle mechanics who happened to hit on success, they were men of exceptional courage and determination, and of far-ranging intellectual interests and ceaseless curiosity, much of which they attributed to their upbringing. The house they lived in had no electricity or indoor plumbing, but there were books aplenty, supplied mainly by their preacher father, and they never stopped reading.
When they worked together, no problem seemed to be insurmountable. Wilbur was unquestionably a genius. Orville had such mechanical ingenuity as few had ever seen. That they had no more than a public high school education, little money and no contacts in high places, never stopped them in their mission to take to the air. Nothing did, not even the self-evident reality that every time they took off in one of their contrivances, they risked being killed.
In this thrilling book, master historian David McCullough draws on the immense riches of the Wright Papers, including private diaries, notebooks, scrapbooks, and more than a thousand letters from private family correspondence to tell the human side of the Wright Brothers' story, including the little-known contributions of their sister, Katharine, without whom things might well have gone differently for them.--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This was an interesting history of the Wright Brother's determination to successfully achieve powered flight. The family history was fascinating, and I loved how the family worked together and supported each other--especially the sister Katharine. The book also describes the many attempts the Wright Brothers made to perfect the art of flying. The audiobook is read by the author, and is a bit slow, but the information provided is a wonderfully detailed account of the Wright Brothers and family. (Melissa, South Branch)
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Author: Hannah, Sophie
Call #: MYS Christie, A 120 2014
Summary: Hercule Poirot's quiet supper in a London coffeehouse is interrupted when a young woman confides to him that she is about to be murdered. She is terrified – but begs Poirot not to find and punish her killer. Once she is dead, she insists, justice will have been done.
Later that night, Poirot learns that three guests at a fashionable London Hotel have been murdered, and a cufflink has been placed in each one’s mouth. Could there be a connection with the frightened woman? While Poirot struggles to put together the bizarre pieces of the puzzle, the murderer prepares another hotel bedroom for a fourth victim...--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: Author Sophie Hannah undertook a daunting task in continuing the Hercule Poirot mystery series. In my opinion, the plot line seems forced and the characters lack depth and interest. Although Hannah is a talented and proven writer, true fans of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot will find this book coming up short. (Marie, Adult and Teen Department)
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Author: Howard, Josh
Call #: YA GN Howard, J 2009
Summary: "When seventeen year old Nara Kilday is murdered at the hands of an unknown assailant, the quiet suburb of Darlington Hills is turned upside down. As Nara's best friend Hazy grapples with the mystery of her friend's untimely demise, shocking secrets are uncovered that reveal a darker side to Nara that she never knew. Meanwhile, a hidden evil has emerged, raising an army of the undead bent on reshaping the world in its own image. Among the undead is Nara herself, whose miraculous return may signal the impending march towards Armageddon!" -- p. [4] of cover
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: The first book in this Ultimate Edition really grabbed me. I loved the art and there was a rhythm to the story. And best of all, it had the same feel to it as Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But then towards the end, it lost it's focus. The main character just disappears from the story, we evidently jumped in time, and the rhythm was suddenly way off. In the end, it was still a fun, entertaining story but I hate reading a series when I suddenly realize the author has to plan or outline, and is just making it up as he goes along.
Interestingly, on Good Reads a female reader really hated it for it's portrayal of women. I didn't really pay attention to that when reading it, but looking back I can see that some people could be turned off by the risque art, which does go out of it's way to show a lot of short skirts and panties. (Doug, Administration Department)
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Author: Wansink, Brian
Call #: 616.8526 Wansink, 2006
Summary: This book will literally change the way you think about your next meal. Food psychologist Brian Wansink revolutionizes our awareness of how much, what, and why we’re eating—often without realizing it. His findings will astound you.
• Can the size of your plate really influence your appetite?
• Why do you eat more when you dine with friends?
• What “hidden persuaders” are used by restaurants and supermarkets to get us to overeat?
• How does music or the color of the room influence how much—and how fast—we eat?
• How can we “mindlessly” lose—instead of gain—up to twenty pounds in the coming year?
Starting today, you can make more mindful, enjoyable, and healthy choices at the dinner table, in the supermarket, at the office—wherever you satisfy your appetite.--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This book discusses studies of why and how people eat the foods and the quantities of food that they do. I'm very aware of how our health is dependent on what we consume so the tips included were very helpful. The studies with toddlers were especially interesting. (Medora, Adult and Teen Department)
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Author: Silver, Eve
Call #: YA FIC Silver, E 100.3 2015
Summary: A thrilling action/suspense novel for fans of The Fifth Wave about contemporary teens pulled in and out of an alternate reality where battling aliens is more than a game—it's life and death.
Miki’s life is falling apart around her. Her dad and best friend are lying in the hospital. The Game is glitching, making missions more frequent and more deadly. And someone close to her is waiting for the right moment to betray her.
Miki feels like she’s hanging on by a thread and the only thing keeping her tethered is Jackson’s hand in hers. Yet telling him how much she needs him, how much she loves him, feels like the biggest challenge of all. And if Miki really wants the missions to end for everyone, she’ll have to let go and be ready to fight when the walls between the Game and reality come crashing down. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned, it’s that she’s got a whole lot left to lose.
Crash is the pulse-pounding conclusion to the Game trilogy fans won’t want to miss.--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This is the last book in the Game series, and it was full of twists and turns. Some I liked, and some kind of broke my heart. I liked seeing how things wrapped up, and how Miki and Jackson made it through their last mission. (Kaitlynne, South Branch)
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Author: Zucker, Judi
Call #: 641.56318 Zucker, 2015
Summary: For too many people, the term allergy free cooking conjures images of bland and boring mealsdishes that seem to be missing something. But the fact is that meals can be made flavorful, appealing, satisfying, and healthful, and still eliminate common allergenic foods. Now, best-selling authors Judi and Shari Zucker have created a cookbook that will guide you in doing just that. The Ultimate Allergy-Free Cookbook is an exciting collection of over 150 delectable dishes that contain absolutely no eggs, cows milk, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, or shellfish, the eight foods most likely to cause allergic reactions. The book first looks at the overall problem of allergieswhat they are, how they can be identified, and what problems they can cause. It offers valuable information on the dangers of cross-contamination of allergens in packaged foods, and helps you understand food labels. Youll even learn how to stock a safe allergen-free kitchen. What follows are six chapters of taste-tempting recipes, including starters and appetizers, soups, salads and dressings, main dishes, desserts and snacks, and drinkable delights. Each recipe is designed to be clear and easy to use, and many include options that help you change up dishes to fit your familys preferences. Special emphasis has been placed on using wholesome and fresh products that are rich in nutrients and fiber, and low in calories. Throughout, clever time-saving tips help you fit healthy cooking into your life, no matter how hectic it may be.
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This book has been very helpful for me, as I have quite a few food allergies. Usually in food allergies books it will say if you are allergic to "a", then you can substitute with "b". In a lot of cases I am allergic to both, so that doesn't work. This book has all kinds of alternatives to those have a lot of allergies, where you can enjoy food again! (Stephanie, Adult and Teen Department)
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Author: Roach, Mary
Call #: 611 Roach, 2003
Summary: Stiff is an oddly compelling, often hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem. For two thousand years, cadavers—some willingly, some unwittingly—have been involved in science's boldest strides and weirdest undertakings. In this fascinating account, Mary Roach visits the good deeds of cadavers over the centuries and tells the engrossing story of our bodies when we are no longer with them.--summary from Goodreads.com
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: After reading Mary Roach's book Gulp recently, I couldn't resist finding out what she had to say about the topic of cadavers. She is thorough in her research, and still manages to add humor to her science. This is book about the science, and who would have thought she could have made it this interesting. I learned a lot, made a few decisions about what I want to happen to my body when I die, and came away better informed. This book isn't for everyone, and if you are squeamish you might want to read something else. Roach approaches the topic with respect, but isn't afraid to ask the taboo questions or make uncomfortable observations--you know the kind we are all thinking, but are too afraid to voice ourselves. A fascinating book--can't wait to read another by this author. (Melissa, South Branch)
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Author: Steel, Danielle
Call #: FIC Steel, D 2014
Summary: Nicolas von Bingen and Alex von Hemmerle, titled members of the German aristocracy, have been best friends since childhood. Both widowers, they are raising their children - Nick's two lively boys and Alex's adored teenage daughter - in peace and luxury on the vast Bavarian estates that have belonged to their families for generations. While Nick indulges in more glamorous pursuits, Alex devotes himself to breeding the renowned white Lipizzaner horses that enthrall audiences throughout Europe with their ability to dance and spin on command, majestic creatures whose bloodlines are rare and priceless. But it is Nicolas's bloodline that changes everything, when his father receives a warning from a high-ranking contact inside the Wehrmacht. A secret from the past has left the family vulnerable to the rising tide of Nazism: Nick's mother, whom he never knew, was of Jewish descent. Suddenly Nicolas must flee Germany, wrenching his sons away from the only home they have known, sailing across the Atlantic for a new life in America. Their survival will depend on a precious gift from Alex, their only stake for the future: eight purebred horses, two of them stunning Lipizzaners. In Florida, where Nicolas joins the Ringling Brothers Circus, he becomes Nick Bing, with Alex's prize white stallion -- now named Pegasus -- the centerpiece of the show. A multigenerational narrative inspired by the best-selling author's own family history traces the efforts of an aristocratic German family to find refuge for themselves and their magnificent horses in post-World War II America
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: Listening to the Playaway and it's very good. It feels like a historical novel, set in the beginning of WWII, and is inspired by the authors own family history. Fleeing persecution, Nicolas and his two young sons go to America. With a gift of horses from his best friend Alex, they join the Ringling Bros. circus and start a new life. Of course there is a little romance built into the story too! (Susan, South Branch)
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Author: Fowler, Therese
Call #: FIC Fowler, T 2013
Summary: A tale inspired by the marriage of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald follows their union in defiance of her father's opposition and her abandonment of the provincial finery of her upbringing in favor of a scandalous flapper identity that gains her entry into the literary party scenes of New York, Paris and the French Riviera
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: A book in the same genre as The Paris Wife. This book is historical fiction about Zelda Fitzgerald. This book is written as if Zelda wrote it herself. You are immersed in the lives of the wild and fun Zelda Fitzgerald and her dashing husband, writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. It lets you take a peek into their lives, as if you are there. If you know anything about the Fitzgeralds, I highly recommend this. If you don't, it's still a good read. (Stephanie, Adult and Teen Department)
Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up
Author: Lee, Harper
Call #: FIC Lee, H 2015
Summary: From Harper Lee comes a landmark new novel set two decades after her beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, To Kill a Mockingbird.
Maycomb, Alabama. Twenty-six-year-old Jean Louise Finch--"Scout"--returns home from New York City to visit her aging father, Atticus. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were transforming the South, Jean Louise's homecoming turns bittersweet when she learns disturbing truths about her close-knit family, the town and the people dearest to her. Memories from her childhood flood back, and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt. Featuring many of the iconic characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman perfectly captures a young woman, and a world, in a painful yet necessary transition out of the illusions of the past--a journey that can be guided only by one's conscience.
Written in the mid-1950s, Go Set a Watchman imparts a fuller, richer understanding and appreciation of Harper Lee. Here is an unforgettable novel of wisdom, humanity, passion, humor and effortless precision--a profoundly affecting work of art that is both wonderfully evocative of another era and relevant to our own times. It not only confirms the enduring brilliance of To Kill a Mockingbird, but also serves as its essential companion, adding depth, context and new meaning to an American classic.-Summary from Goodreads
Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: I enjoyed the words of Harper Lee and her style. I, too, was disappointed with the character of Atticus in this book. Maybe she made him a more tolerant man in "To Kill a Mockingbird" because she too was not totally happy with him as was Scout. (DeEtta, Russiaville Branch)
Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down:Thumbs Up
