Other books we enjoyed this year (some of which are only available through interlibrary loan):
Love Is by Diane Adams; You're Strong, Smart, and You Got This: Drawings, Affirmations and Comfort to Help with Anxiety and Depression by Kate Allan; Sister Joan Mystery series by Veronica Black; In a Gilded Cage by Rhys Bowen; Tell Me, Pretty Maiden by Rhys Bowen; Christmas at Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop: a novel by Jenny Colgan; Atomic Habits by James Clear; The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede; Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia; The Lost City of Z: a Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann; Looking for Alaska by John Green; 7 Days of Simplicity: a Season of Living Lightly by Jen Hatmaker; Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life by James Kwik; We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom; America's Holy Ground: 61 Faithful Reflections on Our National Parks by Brad Lyons; Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire; Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...and Maybe the World by William H. McRaven; The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy; GMorning, GNight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin-Manuel Miranda; In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning, and Joy by John O'Leary; Yours Cheerfully: a novel by A.J. Pearce; Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens; Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton; Artemis by Andy Weir; Trying by Kobi Yamada; The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon. Have a Happy New Year, and we'll be back with new staff book reviews on January 5, 2021!
Experiencing another's past could end her future . . . Kiera is a memory surgeon. With her gift of removing and holding other’s traumatic memories, she’s helped dozens of women but hasn’t helped herself. Now Dean, a Chicago homicide detective, is asking for even more: for her to look into the memories of a coma victim to help him catch a serial killer. Clues and romance unfurl, but as Dean and Kiera get closer to each other, the killer gets closer to Kiera. The Color of Trauma is a thought-provoking paranormal romantic suspense novel. If you like unconventional heroines, dark themes, and psychological dramas, then you’ll love Hollie Smurthwaite’s suspenseful story. Read a review by Gennifer King:
Ho-ho-hold on to your teddy bear! The Goodnight Train follows Santa’s sleigh on a magical ride through a winter wonderland in this Christmas sequel to The Goodnight Train and The Goodnight Train Rolls On!. Fa La La! Fa La La! Chooo! Chooo! Next stop, the North Pole! It’s Christmas Eve, and the Goodnight Train is on a roll, racing mischievous Santa through a winter wonderland. Hear the jingle bells, taste some candy canes, and spy a flying hoof or two on a merry ride to Dreamland—with one magical detour—in this Christmas companion to The Goodnight Train and The Goodnight Train Rolls On! Ho-ho-hold on tight for this unforgettable holiday ride! Read a review by Gennifer King:
December 15, 2021 | 'Dewey's Christmas at the Library' by Vicki Myron [Picture Book Review]12/15/2021
The holiday season is in full swing in Spencer -- the lights are twinkling, the wreaths are hung, and Christmas bells are ringing. Inside the library, Dewey longs to be part of the holiday fun and after a series of silly misadventures, Dewey finds a way to add his own special touch to his beloved Christmas tree -- and the results are Dew-rific! A wonderful way to celebrate the season with everyone's favorite library cat. Read a review by Gennifer King:
Love is in the air in Briar Creek as library director Lindsey Norris and boat captain Mike (Sully) Sullivan are finally tying the knot. The entire town is excited for the happy day, and Lindsey and Sully's plan for a small wedding evaporates as more and more people insist upon attending the event of the year. When Lindsey and her crafternoon pals head out to Bell Island to see if it can accommodate the ever-expanding guest list, they are horrified to discover a body washed up on the rocky shore. Even worse, Lindsey recognizes the man as the justice of the peace who was supposed to officiate her wedding ceremony. When it becomes clear he was murdered, Lindsey can't help but wonder if it had to do with the wedding. Now she has to book it to solve the mystery before it ends her happily ever after before it's even begun.... Read a review by Gennifer King
Raised by an impoverished widow who earned room and board as a Bible teacher in 1950s Atlanta, Philip Yancey and his brother, Marshall, found ways to venture out beyond the confines of their eight-foot-wide trailer. But when Yancey was in college, he uncovered a shocking secret about his father's death--a secret that began to illuminate the motivations that drove his mother to extreme, often hostile religious convictions and a belief that her sons had been ordained for a divine cause. Searching for answers, Yancey dives into his family origins, taking us on an evocative journey from the backwoods of the Bible Belt to the bustling streets of Philadelphia; from trailer parks to church sanctuaries; from family oddballs to fire-and-brimstone preachers and childhood awakenings through nature, music, and literature. In time, the weight of religious and family pressure sent both sons on opposite paths--one toward healing from the impact of what he calls a "toxic faith," the other into a self-destructive spiral. Where the Light Fell is a gripping family narrative set against a turbulent time in post-World War II America, shaped by the collision of Southern fundamentalism with the mounting pressures of the civil rights movement and Sixties-era forces of social change. In piecing together his fragmented personal history and his search for redemption, Yancey gives testament to the enduring power of our hunger for truth and the possibility of faith rooted in grace instead of fear. Read a review by Ann Reeves:
When Lana Lewis' best -- and most difficult -- employee abruptly quits and goes to work for the competition just days before the Sunshine State Barista Championship, her café's chances of winning the contest are creamed. In front of a gossipy crowd in the small Florida town of Devil's Beach, Lana's normally calm demeanor heats to a boil when she runs into the arrogant java slinger. Of course, Fabrizio "Fab" Bellucci has a slick explanation for jumping ship. But when he's found dead the next morning under a palm tree in the alley behind Lana's café, she becomes the prime suspect. Even the island's handsome police chief isn't quite certain of her innocence. But Lana isn't the only one in town who was angry with Fabrizio. Jilted lovers, a shrimp boat captain, and a surfer with ties to the mob are all suspects as trouble brews on the beach. With her stoned, hippie dad, a Shih Tzu named Stanley, and a new, curious barista sporting a punk rock aesthetic at her side, Lana's prepared to turn up the heat to catch the real killer. After all, she is a former award-winning reporter. As scandal hangs over her beachside café, can Lana clear her name and win the championship -- or will she come to a bitter end? Read a review by Gennifer King:
Chris Nikic, the first person with Down syndrome to ever complete an IRONMAN triathlon, inspires others to achieve their goals by getting better 1% at a time. If you have read only one article about Chris Nikic, you were likely hooked and wanted to read more. This inspiring young man, who in November 2020 became the first person with Down syndrome to complete an IRONMAN (and verified by Guinness World Records), has become famous. All across the globe, people followed his pursuit and cheered him on, but in this book Chris and his father, Nik, will give the how-to behind his success - getting better 1% at a time - which is something everyone can do in any area of their lives. “My mission is to honor God by being the best me I can be so I can be an example to others,” states Chris. “I want to change the perceptions and raise expectations for others like me so we can reach our God-given potential.” In '1% BETTER', Chris and Nik share the motivating principles that can be applied by anyone trying to realize a dream and reach their full potential - whether they are young or old, in shape or out of shape, and even if living with a disability. Read a review by Ann Reeves:
In this Christmas mystery, lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, are on the beat after a body turns up in the snow and a journalist is the prime suspect. Christmas has come early to the town of Paterson, New Jersey, in the form of a snowstorm that dumps two feet of snow on the ground. Lawyer Andy Carpenter likes snow – white Christmas and all that – but it can cause problems for the walks he takes his dogs on every day. When Andy’s golden retriever, Tara, goes to play in the snow and instead discovers a body, Andy ends up on the phone with the local newspaper editor. The murder victim is Mayor Alex Oliva, who had an infamous relationship with the newspaper. Last year a young reporter published an expose, and Oliva had him fired for libel. Now, the young reporter – and prime suspect – is in need of a lawyer. Andy agrees to take the case, though it’s not looking good this holiday season. The evidence is piling up faster than the snow in Best in Snow, the next Christmas mystery in the bestselling Andy Carpenter series from David Rosenfelt. Read a review by Ann Reeves:
|
AuthorsEPLD staff. Archives
September 2024
Categories |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RSS Feed