The Wicked Girls by Alex Marwood FIC Mar

In 1986, two young girls meet for the first time.  By the end of the day the lives of Jade and Bel will forever be changed and a child will be dead.  Throughout the book we get peeks into what happened that day.  Most of the book takes place in 2011.  Amber Gordon works at Funnland amusement park.  She works at night as a cleaner, although she also supervises some of her co-workers.  Her time at home is spent with her long-term partner Vic, and with Mary Kate and Ashley - her adorable Yorkies.  (No there isn't a picture in the book, but I just
know they are adorable!)  Not surprisingly the Yorkies treat her better than Vic does!  Still she can't believe a guy as good-looking as Vic has stayed with her so long.

Kirsty Lindsay lives in a modest, but nice home with her husband, Jim, and their two kids.  Things are a bit tense because Jim has been unemployed for a while now and the job search isn't going well.  So Kirsty has a lot of pressure on her as the only bread-winner at the moment.  She works as a free-lance journalist, so her income isn't always steady.  In Whitmouth a young woman is murdered and her body is found by Amber.  Kirsty goes to Whitmouth to cover the developing story and of course she wants to talk to Amber......but maybe she won't want to when she actually sees Amber!   An enjoyable mystery - not 'cozy' but not graphic.  

His Majesty's Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal MYS Mac

This book is the third in a series.  I didn't know that!  So don't worry if you haven't read the first two because this one is enjoyable all by itself.  The "Hope" in the title is a double entendre.  Besides the obvious it also refers to the name of our heroine - Maggie Hope.  Apparently in the first two books she worked really hard and now she is a member of the Special Operations Executive. This group was sent to Europe to help the British in the war effort.  (WWII).  When Maggie is tapped to go to Berlin it is much more than checking for her passport.  It includes such things as packing her cyanide pill and changing the fillings in her teeth which could give her away as British.  This book has it all - history, romance, suspense, characters to love and of course the Nazis to hate.  I enjoyed the historical notes that MacNeal added at the end to explain the reality of what was in the book.  It is a very readable and entertaining book.  You can check it out as a book or an audio book from us or as an ebook or downloadable book from WILBOR. 

There's More To Life Than This by Theresa Caputo 133.9 Cap

I know that there are many people to whom this book won't appeal.  If it does appeal to you, you will love it.  As a big fan of  Long Island Medium I could actually hear Theresa's voice saying the written words as I read them - she has a very memorable voice!  I also went to see her in person (well, from very, very high up in the auditorium!) last year.  Even though I didn't receive any messages that evening, it was still amazing to watch others receive theirs.  In her book she talks about growing up and all of the anxiety and fear she lived with because she didn't understand what was happening.  When she was able to accept her gift her world changed.  And through her the lives of many people changed as well.  You will read about some of the readings that she has done for clients.  I recognized several of them from the TV show.  What I personally found the most fascinating was the information she shares (via Spirit) about dying, Heaven and Angels.  I found it to be an interesting and comforting book - but maybe that is just me.

Stella Bain by Anita Shreve FIC Shr

Shreve is one of my favorite authors because her books are all so different from one another.  In Stella Bain we are transported to Europe during WWI.  A woman wakes up in a field hospital.  She is wearing a British nurse's aide uniform.  So she assumes she must be British but she can't remember anything.  Those around her quickly assess that with her accent she has to be an American!  As she recovers from her wound she struggles to remember something about herself.  She comes up with the name Stella Bain although she knows that isn't her name.  Her skills in the field do come to her and she is able to carry on with helping the Doctors with the wounded and driving ambulances.  When she hears someone talking about The Admiralty (it's a building in London) she somehow knows that it is important for her to go there.

She makes her way to London but by the time she arrives she is quite ill.  Fortunately a  woman is looking out her window and sees Stella trying to hold herself up.  Lily Bridge, wife of a surgeon, is a compassionate woman who insists on taking Stella into her home for some food, warmth and a bed.  She stays with the couple and Dr. Bridge becomes quite interested in helping Stella regain her memories

I enjoyed the story and the time-frame of the book. 

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion FIC Sim

This is a great read!  The main character is a loveable man named Don Tillman who has Asperger's Syndrome.  This had not stopped him from a successful academic career as a professor of genetics. Every minute of his life is scheduled so as not to waste time.  Socially he has not been as successful.  His friends consist of a colleague, Gene, and his wife, Claudia, a clinical psychologist, and an elderly neighbor.  Don is 39 years old and he thinks he should find a wife.  Although Gene and Claudia have encouraged him and given him tips, he has been a failure so far.  But wait!  Don is a scientist.  The way to find the right mate is to approach it like any other scientific problem.  He begins by making up the questionnaire.  An example of a question is:
Do you eat kidneys?  The correct answer is occasionally.   This question is to discover if the person has any food issues.  After a bad experience he does not want any more strict vegetarians - or smokers- or drinkers - or, heaven forbid, people that do not arrive somewhere on time!!!!

Through the intervention of Gene, Don meets Rosie who does not come close to acing the 16 page questionnaire.  Don, however, has something Rosie could use.  The ability to help her find out who her biological father is.  So the Wife Project is put on hold as he begins the Father project.  And Rosie manages to turn Don's life and schedule upside down.  You will love Don and Rosie.  A very entertaining book.

Longbourn by Jo Baker (FIC Bak)

Told against the backdrop of the happenings in Pride and Prejudice  this is the story of Sarah, an orphaned housemaid in the Bennet household.  She spends her days washing, scrubbing the laundry, and looking after the five young ladies of the household.

Her story entwines with the one we know - Jane and Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and Lydia and the scoundrel Mr. Wickham.  In this telling, however, it is the servants who take center stage.  Mr. and Mrs. Hill, the housekeeper, and Polly, another orphaned housemaid, form the nucleus of this story along with Sarah.  Against the lives of those lovely and privileged young women, Sarah's life is harsh and offers little room for fun and enjoyment.

Until, that is, James Smith arrives to become the new footman for the household. His arrival opens up long-kept mysteries and wounds and awakens Sarah to what else the future might hold for her.

As I read this book I found myself constantly measuring the life of Sarah against the story I knew - the story told by Jane Austen and popular in movies for years.  If life was regimented for the middle and upper classes, it was even more so for the working class.  Sarah was a valued employee yet her feelings and needs were rarely taken into account.  On the few occasions when she does assert herself her actions are met with astonishment and disbelief from her "betters."

As the story progresses Sarah comes to terms with what life has to offer...and takes steps to find the happiness she knows she deserves.

An intriguing look behind-the-scenes and one I enjoyed a great deal.  I was anxious for the book to end so that I would know the outcome but sorry when the last page arrived.

the first phone call from heaven by Mitch Albom FIC Alb

If you are a fan of Mitch Albom's books (The Five People You Meet in Heaven,  Tuesdays with Morrie and others) I think you will enjoy his latest.  Well, the title gives away the gist of the book!  The story takes place in a small town, Coldwater, Michigan.  Like all towns, big or small, there are people who are hurting or emotionally wounded because they have lost a loved one.  And one day a phone rings and a woman named Tess answers and hears the voice of her mother - who has been dead for four years.  Later the police chief receives a call from his son who was killed in the war two years ago.  Seven people are chosen to receive these special calls.  All of these people kept the news to themselves for a while.  When the word does get out Coldwater becomes an overnight media circus as everyone flocks to hear about the calls from heaven.  Is there really a miracle happening here?  Sully Harding has returned to Coldwater after serving time in prison.  He doesn't believe.  His little son, however, does and he wants to talk to his mommy in Heaven.  So Sully sets out to disprove the miracles.  Albom did such a good job of drawing me into the story that I was regretting the times that I ignored the phone calls that came up as Unavailable - maybe, just maybe I should have answered. 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak TEEN Zus

Death tells the story of Liesel Meminger who, at nine, is taken by her mother to live with foster parents in a small town just outside Munich.  The time is 1939 and Germany is in the grip of the Fuhrer.

Despite the hardships of living in a time of war, Liesel comes to love her foster parents - kind, soft-spoken Hans who sits with her and reads with her every evening after her nightmares wake her and Rosa whose brashness covers her soft heart.  Her best friend is Rudy, the boy next door, who has two wishes - for Liesel to kiss him and to run as fast as Jesse Owens.

The war and the Third Reich intrude ever more into the daily lives of Liesel and her family and friends.  Rationing, Hitler Youth and reduced income are hard but the hardest part happens when Max, a young Jew shows up on their doorstep.  He is the son of the man who saved Hans' life during World War I and spends the next two years living in their basement.

What saves Liesel is her discovered love of words and reading.  She is "The Book Thief" of the title and it is this love of reading that helps her survive the horrors of war.  And with Death as the narrator, you know there will be horrors.

I put off reading this novel for years.  Death as the narrator?  A teen novel with adult appeal?  World War II?  It had many strikes against it in my eyes and not much going for it.  When I saw previews for the movie, however, I decided that maybe I should rethink my opinion.

I'm glad I did.

Who better than Death to narrate a novel set in wartime?  Who else could explain the horrors of war?  And this novel, while long at 500+ pages, is a quick read - the advantage of a teen novel.  While the setting may be World War II Germany the actual theme is about books and reading and the power of words to both save and hurt.  What book lover could resist that?

I've read the book, now I look forward to seeing the movie.

Sworn Sword by James Aitcheson FIC Ait

Three years after the Battle of Hastings (where William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy defeated Harold Godwineson, English King, for control of England), the Normans are defeated in a rout by the rebel English at Durham.  Killed there is Robert de Commines, the sword lord of Tancred a Dinant.  Bereft at the loss of his lord and father-figure, Tancred flees to York.  While recovering from a battle wound he attracts the attention of the Earl of York.  When the rebels threaten York, the Earl asks Tancred to escort his wife and daughter to the safety of London - and from there his priest on a further mission to Wilton to deliver a message.  Even as Tancred and his fellow knights flee the city with their charges in tow, York is under siege and the fate of the Earl is unknown.

In the days and weeks that follow Tancred becomes increasingly suspicious of the reasons for his journey beyond London.  Whom can he trust?  What is the real reason behind his trip?  And, most of all, will he and his fellow knights be able to complete their charge and make it back to London in time to join King William and his troops as they begin their relief of York to rescue the Earl?

This is an action-packed novel filled with details of life in 1069.  Battles are realistically described - and there are many battles!  Tancred, while an experienced knight, isn't necessarily a good leader but his growth is apparent throughout the novel.  Women, though few in what is essentially a war novel, are present and their role seems accurate to the times - relegated to the background but necessary.  Even the English people are seen as what they were - a conquered people living in fear and distrust of their conquerors.

I have only a few complaints:

1.      Harold Godwineson (whom my family claims, without proof, as a distant relative) is always referred to as a "usurper and betrayer".

2.      In order to be historically accurate, the author uses old English names for current cities.  Eoferwic, for example, instead of York.  Frequent references to the index in the front were necessary.

3.      The author is only 28-years-old.

This is the first of a trilogy and I look forward to reading the sequels - and many other books by this author.

The Little Way of Ruthie Leming by Rod Dreher 070.92 Dre

 

The title continues as such: "A Southern Girl, a Small Town and the Secret of a Good Life".  On the surface this appeared to be the story of a young woman who loses her battle with cancer but who fights it all the way to the end with the support of her hometown.  And this is true.  But it is so much more than that.  Dreher could not wait to escape St. Francisville, Louisiana when he was a young man.  A town with a population of around 1700 certainly wasn't for him.  He went off to bigger and better things.  Eventually he marries and has children.  He would go home for visits but that was always enough.  On the other hand his sister, Ruthie, loved her hometown.  She married her childhood sweetheart, they had three daughters and she taught school.  Her life was rather perfect until she fell ill.  Throughout the book there are many visits to the past which explain (or try to) the relationship between Dreher and his sister.  Families always have a lot of complexities but most of us decide to ignore them after we have left home - it is just easier that way.  In the end Dreher and his wife decide to move back to this little town and finish raising their three children in the place from which Dreher always want to escape.  It is interesting how he came to that decision.  (You may want some Kleenex close during parts of this book -  one reviewer referred to it as "Steel Magnolias" for a new generation!)

The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth L. Silver FIC Sil

I listened to the audiobook of the novel and I really enjoyed it - it was not your typical story.  Noa P. Singleton  has been tried and found guilty of the murder of another young woman.  During her trial she never tried to help her lawyer to defend her, nor did she take the stand in her own defense.  Found guilty, she has spent ten years waiting to be executed.  Noa still does nothing to help herself.  Then suddenly there appears someone who is interested in stopping Noa's life from being taken.  That isn't very unusual, it happens all the time in death cases.  As it turns out the lawyer, Marlene Dixon, is the mother of Noa's victim.  All of a sudden she doesn't want the death penalty to be carried out.  She is a well-known lawyer and she plans to do anything necessary to get the Governor to commute the sentence.  In return she wants the story of why her daughter died.  What led up to this senseless killing?  Noa hasn't told anyone the story.  Does Marlene deserve to find out the truth?  An intriguing story that had me guessing until the end what was going to happen.   

how to be a good wife by emma chapman FIC Cha

Another fascinating book, in my humble opinion!  The main character is Marta.  She has been married to Hector for a long time.  She doesn't even have much memory of what her life was like before she was with him.  The one thing she clearly remembers is the wedding and the book her mother-in-law gave her.  Being a good wife isn't always easy but Marta tries her best.  Her son, Kylan, has been her reason for living - but now he is off living his own life.  When Hector tells Marta that Kylan is coming home for the weekend her heart soars.....and then crashes when she finds out he is bringing his girlfriend home.  Marta is not in good shape to be welcoming a guest to her home.  Her dream had been for Kylan to come back home and take care of her.  With that plan in mind she had stopped swallowing the pills Hector insisted she take. We follow Marta as she goes through the frightening world of mental illness with her husband and son trying to help her .....or are they????  This is Ms. Chapman's first novel and I look forward to more. 

Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld FIC Sit

     

This was a very entertaining novel because it was a bit different.  Sisterland refers to the sign found in the bedroom of twins Kate and Vi when they were growing up.  They were both born with some psychic abilities which allows them to sense future events.  Sometimes that is good and sometimes not.  Vi loved the gift but Kate tried desperately to leave it behind when she went off to college.  Eventually the two sisters end up back in Saint Louis where they grew up.  Vi is working as a psychic and lives a life quite different from that of her twin.  Kate is married with two children.  She also spends a lot of time checking on her widowed father.  One night there is a small earthquake tremor.  It shook Kate up (pun intended).  Vi's reaction was a bit different.  She had one of her premonitions - this time it is of a big earthquake, a really big one.  She goes on TV to warn people and gives them a date for the event.  Kate's life will never be the same.  A great novel with interesting characters and some thought provoking moments.  There were interesting relationships -  between the sisters, between the sisters and their father and between Kate and her husband.

It is available here in the library, as an e-book or an audiobook. 

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan J Rio

Rick Riordan does it again with the fourth book in his Heroes of Olympus series. The earth goddess Gaea is stirring and releasing giants and monsters back into the world through the Doors of Death. The only way she can be stopped is by sealing the Doors of Death from both sides. The end of Book Three saw Percy and Annabeth plummeting into the underworld to make their way to that side of the doors, while the rest of the demigods on this quest make their way to Greece to find the location of the mortal side of the doors.

The story is fast-paced, the descriptions vivid, and the intensity of the plot is lightened by injections of humor in just the right places. Some of that humor is provided by the characters; some of it is just Riordan's excellent writing.

If you haven't read any of the books in this series, well, why not? Start with The Son of Neptune and work your way through. Because you will be captivated and won't want to quit reading, you will finish the first four well ahead of the scheduled October 2014 release of Book 5, The Blood of Olympus.

The Tilted World FIC Fra

The year was 1927, and it rained so much the Mississippi River flooded, the levees broke and whole towns washed away.  This little-remembered piece of American history is the backdrop to Tom Franklin & Beth Ann Fennelly’s novel “The Tilted World”.  

Prohibition is in full swing and so is the bootlegging business.  Dixie Clay is the best moonshiner in the county but despite the cash rolling in, life is not good for Dixie.  Her infant son has died, and she suspects her husband of killing two men (revenue agents sent to enforce prohibition).

Then one day she finds a stranger on her porch offering her an orphaned infant.  She takes it.

Undercover revenue agents Ted Ingersoll and Ham Johnson have been sent to Hobnob to find the missing agents and to discover the identity of the local bootlegger.  En route to Hobnob, they come upon an abandoned baby, the sole survivor of a deadly robbery gone wrong.  Ted, who himself was once a lonely orphan, can’t bring himself to leave the baby at an orphanage.  Instead, he asks around for someone who might want a baby and is directed to Dixie.

Unbeknownst to Ted, the woman he gives the baby is the bootlegger he's been searching for and her husband the man he's been sent to catch.   Dixie takes the baby without realizing that it's an undercover revenue agent standing on her porch - just a short distance from her hidden moonshine still.

Thus begins a love story between the revenue agent and the bootlegger.  Throw in a deranged flapper, a ruthless husband, a troubled uncle, saboteurs, murder, moonshine, and a rising Mississippi that threatens to wash everything away, and you have a fantastic story.

I have loved Tom Franklin’s books ever since reading "Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter" and this newest novel, which he wrote with his wife, vies for a spot on my all-time favorites list.    

Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's history-making race around the world by Matthew Goodman 910.4 Goo

I always like non-fiction books, especially when I can learn about periods of history in which I am interested.  To tell the truth I had never heard of this race - just the one in the book written by Jules Verne.  This is the story of Nellie Bly (the name was made up when she was trying to get a job in journalism) who, in 1889, left NYC going east on a ship in order to set a record for the fastest trip around the world.  She actually was racing, so she thought, against Verne's fictional character who did it in 80 days.  In reality The Cosmopolitan magazine talked one of their journalist into trying to beat Bly and sent her off on a train going west, several hours after Bly had left - and Bly would be half-way around the world when she found out about her 'rival', Elizabeth Bisland.  At the beginning of the book I was very impressed by Bly.  She did some incredible undercover work to write her take on some of the social injustices of the times.  When she went to the editor of The World (Joseph Pulitzer's newspaper) to suggest she try going around the world in fewer than 80 days, she was turned down.  (They had thought about such a trip but certainly NOT for a woman.)  A year later they decided to do it.  A very interesting look at the times and mores of the late 19th century.  As the book continued I lost some of my admiration for Bly.  I am, however, in absolute awe of her for one reason - she wore the dress in this picture for the entire time!!!!!! 

The Last Telegram by Liz Trenow by FIC Tre

When the book begins, Lily Verner is trying to get through the funeral of her husband.  They had been married a long, long time and she knows it won't be easy to face life without him.  Her family is very supportive and Emily, her oldest granddaughter at 17, is particularly attentive.  Over a cup of tea Emily tells her grandma of her plans to go to India with a college group to help an orphanage.  They are also raising money - by doing a sponsored parachute jump.  That takes Lily back many decades to her family's company that made the silk parachutes for the war.  So begins the story of Lily's early life - her best friend, her brother, the silk factory, her first love and the decision she made one day that changed her life forever.  Guilt has been a part of her life ever since the war.  It will be up to Emily to help Lily face the truth.  Added bonus - you will learn something about silk!

The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran LP Mor

  
This was an easy read that kept my interest high.  It is based on a real-life legal case, but I don't know how closely the story follows the truth.  Henry Oades is a good husband and father working as an accountant in England.  To his wife's dismay he takes a job in New Zealand.  Ever dutiful, Margaret tries to accept the posting as cheerfully as she can, knowing that it is only for a few years.  Then Henry gets a promotion and the post is extended.  Tragedy strikes when the Maori kidnap Margaret and the kids.  Search parties look for the family but they are presumed to be dead.  Not accepting that, Henry continues to search until he is injured.  After a memorial service for his family Henry decides to leave New Zealand.  He can't face Margaret's family back in England so he heads to California.  There he meets Nancy whose husband dies in a fire shortly before she is to give birth.  They marry and are very happy.  Then one day Margaret and her kids show up at the door.  This takes place in the late 1800's and bigamy (as the locals see it) is not popular!  An interesting book. 

Bellfield Hall, or the Observations of Miss Dido Kent by Anna Dean FIC Dea

Described as "Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen," this mystery is set in early 19th-century England.  Because I love all things Christie, and Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books, I was eager to see if the description held true.  It did; this first book in a series is certainly reminiscent of both authors.

A young woman, Catherine, calls on her spinster (though not "aged") aunt, Miss Dido Kent, to help solve the mystery of her fiancee's disappearance and cryptic message breaking their engagement.  The two are staying at the manor house of Catherine's future father-in-law on an extended visit as per the time period, and while they are there, another mystery crops up with the murder of an unknown woman on the grounds.   Miss Kent wonders if the two things are linked, and sets out to solve both mysteries. With the typical cast of characters -- any reader of Christie or Austen will certainly recognize the stereotypes -- the story moves along well as Miss Kent scrutinizes the other houseguests and family members for any sign of their involvement in either case.  A segue here and there into romance (or lack thereof), and Miss Kent's clever letters to her sister, add some humor to the story.

While I found the mystery a bit obvious here and there, the author manages a Christie-esque twist to keep the reader on her toes. I found this a fun little read, and have put the remaining books in the series on my to-read list.

The Gravity of Birds by Tracy Guzeman FIC Guz

      

This was a very good first novel.   It is the story of two sisters, Natalie and Alice.  As teenagers they met Thomas during a family summer vacation.  He was staying at his parents' cottage next door.  Thomas was 28 and struggling to begin his life as a painter.  Although the sisters had been close, things began to change that summer.  Alice spent her time with her books and watching birds.  When Thomas told her to drop in any time she took him at his word and became a regular visitor.  The story jumps to many decades later.  Thomas did become wildly successful but at what price.  He hides out from the world living in a dark and dingy place.  He calls his friend, Dennis Finch, who is an art history professor but also the man who has written about and documented all of Thomas' works.  Finch is shocked when Thomas tells him he has a painting that no one has seen.  He wants Finch and Stephen Jameson to authenticate the painting and then sell it.  Upon inspection of the painting they discover that it is actually  just part of a triptych.  To find the remaining parts they must find Natalie and Alice.  A very entertaining book!

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics by Daniel James Brown 797.12 Bro

This was a great book!!!!   I listened to the audio version which was very well done.  It really contains something for everyone!  Sports, a bit of romance, war, adversity - well just everything really.  For sure it contains the agony of defeat and the joy of winning.  This is what I love about non-fiction.  It really happened and it is every bit as entertaining as a novel.  A large part of the book centers around Joe Rantz.  (he is the man the author met shortly before Joe died).  Joe has a childhood that is very sad.  When his dad remarries after the death of his mother Joe finds himself at odds with Tula, the truly wicked stepmother.  It is the Depression and she is only worried about her own children - and so Joe is put out on his own.  His father did nothing to stop that.  So Joe knows he is going to have to work hard for any success.  He begins rowing for the University of Washington.  Normally the boys work their way up to the senior boat.  But the year that Joe was a freshman there was a dynamite group of freshmen who began a journey that would eventually take them to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.  The book is filled with great stories that will keep your interest from beginning to end.  After I finished listening to the book I went to Google and was able to find clips of the actual event! 

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann J McM

Imagine a world where everything is gray and bleak... the entire world as you know it is surrounded by walls and above you is a barbed wire fence.  Now with how amazing that sounds imagine that you are a 13 year old kid who was caught drawing in the dirt with a stick or humming a song or telling a story to your friends.  What do you think would happen to you?  Why you are classified as Unwanteds and then sent to the Death Farmer to be eliminated of course!

Once the gate is closed behind you and you are inside the Death Farm and you are NOT eliminated... what crazy thoughts are going through your mind?  Being told that you can do whatever you want sounds like a scheme to get you to do something bad again right? WRONG!

Mr. Today is the "Death Farmer" also known as the mage of a magical land called Artime.  He has teachers (human and creatures) to teach the children how to be creative!  How to sing, dance, act, draw, paint and create.  Each child is assigned to a specific teacher that specializes in what that child is most creative in and help them thrive in creating.

Now imagine after learning that singing and drawing are good things that you can also learn how to do magic!  Now you are told that since the land you live in is a secret, you need to be trained and prepared to fight in case the secret land you live in is ever discovered.  This story was an amazing beginning to a series I'm excited to continue reading!