Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage

by Elizabeth Gilbert

At the end of her bestselling memoir Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert fell in love with Felipe, a Brazilian-born man of Australian citizenship who'd been living in Indonesia when they met. Resettling in America, the couple swore eternal fidelity to each other, but also swore to never, ever, under any circumstances get legally married. (Both were survivors of previous bad divorces. Enough said.) But providence intervened one day in the form of the United States government: they could either get married, or Felipe would never be allowed to enter the country again. Having been effectively sentenced to wed, Gilbert tackled her fears of marriage by delving into this topic completely, trying with all her might to discover through historical research, interviews, and much personal reflection what this stubbornly enduring old institution actually is.

~Crystal

VB6: Eat Vegan Before 6:00 to Lose Weight and Restore Your Health . . . for Good

by Mark Bittman

Six years ago, an overweight, pre-diabetic Mark Bittman faced a medical directive: adopt a vegan diet or go on medication. His solution was a deal with himself. He would become a “flexitarian.” He adopted a diet heavy in vegetables, fruits, and grains by following a healthy vegan diet (no meat, dairy, or processed foods) all day. After 6:00 p.m. he’d eat however he wanted, though mostly in moderation. Beyond that, his plan involved no gimmicks, scales, calorie counting, or point systems. And there were no so-called forbidden foods—he ate mostly home-cooked meals that were as varied and satisfying as they were delicious, but he dealt with the realities of the office and travel and life on the run as best he could.

~Crystal

An Irish Country Love Story

By Patrick Taylor

Patrick Taylor is one of my favorite authors; I truly enjoy John Keating’s reading of his novels. This many faceted work contains many love stories: Young love of engaged Barry Laverty, Fingal’s partner; the love of an ailing pensioner for his old dog that becomes lost; the love of the community for their long time doctor and his threatened home and more.

If Patrick Taylor is new to you or one of your favorites, I’m certain you will enjoy reading or listening to his latest work An Irish Country Love Story.

~ Beckie

the life she wants

By Robyn Carr

I almost stopped reading this novel. The background of the story focuses on a Ponzi scheme which is something that is so objectionable to me that I soon had had enough. But I am such a fan of Robyn Carr I thought that I would persevere and read to the end and I’m glad I did.

Emma’s dream life is shattered by her husband’s many extremely bad choices. She is left with nothing and goes back to her home town to try to start living a “normal life”. One of her best friends welcomes her with open arms and a place to stay. Her other best friend, from whom she has been estranged for years does not. Life is very hard and but she is determined to be a survivor.

If you like a good story about powerful women that is thought-provoking with a good touch of humor, you will enjoy “the life she wants”.

~ Beckie

Great Reckoning

By Louis Penny

Great Reckoning is one of Penny's best. Armand Gamache has retired and moved to Three Pines with his wife following his near-death injuries. Gamache is offered the position of Commander of the Surete Academy. This position will allow him to finish rooting out corruption in the Surete at the entry level. Unfortunately, things are worse than he expected. Like many of her stories, there are multiple story lines that are woven together for a fascinating conclusion.

~ Rochelle

The Bicycle Spy

By Yona Zeldis McDonough
(Juvenile book)

Marcel loves to ride his bicycle and dreams of someday racing in the Tour de France. He is happy racing his friends or making bread deliveries for his parents’ bakery. His little town in France is feeling the effects of Germany’s occupation. For two years now, since 1940, the race has been cancelled. As Marcel makes his deliveries, he is often stopped by soldiers and questioned about where he is going and why. Then Marcel discovers that this war is much worse than he imagined. His friend’s entire family is in imminent danger as is his whole family. He can help by taking the most risky bicycle ride of his life. If this isn’t successful, life for these two families will change for the worse.

~ Dixie

Indian Summer

DVD

Starring: Alan Arkin, Diane Lane and Bill Paxton. Eight friends reunite at their summer camp after 20 years. They might be 20 years older but they are still full of fun – practical jokes, races, kitchen raids and those romances that started 20 years ago just might start up again. This is a fun movie. Rated PG-13

~ Dixie

Pushing Up Daisies

By: M.C. Beaton

Agatha Raisin is perpetually longing after a man and solving difficult mysteries. Pushing Up Daisies continues with this theme. When Lord Bellington wants to turn a community garden area into housing the gardeners are outraged. You may be able to guess what happens to Lord Bellington but the “who-done-it” is not revealed until the end of the story. There are multiple murders and an attempt that failed; Agatha and her crew find out the perpetrator(s) before the police. M.C. Beaton always gives the reader a great story with plenty of twists and turns, I hope you enjoy Pushing Up Daisies as much as I have.

~Beckie H.

Otherworld Series 11,12 ,13

Waking the Witch (Otherworld #11)
by Kelley Armstrong
At twenty-one, Savannah Levine-orphaned daughter of a notorious dark witch and an equally notorious cutthroat sorcerer-considers herself a full-fledged member of the otherworld. The once rebellious teen has grown into a six-foot-tall, motorcycle-riding jaw-dropper, with an impressive knowledge of and ability to perform spells. The only problem is, she's having a hard time convincing her adoptive parents, Paige and Lucas, to take her seriously as an adult.
Suddenly, Savannah gets the chance she's been waiting for: Recruited by another supernatural detective, she travels to Columbus, Washington, a small, dying town. Two troubled young women have been found in an abandoned warehouse, murdered. Now a third woman's dead, and on closer inspection small details point to darker forces at play. Savannah feels certain she can handle the case, but with signs of supernatural activity appearing at every turn, things quickly become more serious- and far more dangerous-than she realizes.
~Crystal

Spell Bound (Otherworld #12)
by Kelley Armstrong
Savannah Levine is all grown up. As a witch endowed with an array of spells, she is also a force to be reckoned with. As a paranormal investigator she is finally coming into her own. But her last case tore a family apart, and Savannah swore she'd give up her powers to fix the mess she helped create. Someone--or something--must have been listening. Powerless and on the run from witch-hunting assassins, Savannah stumbles upon a gathering storm that threatens the very existence of the Otherworld.
~Crystal

Thirteen (Otherworld #13)
by Kelley Armstrong
War is coming to the Otherworld. A sinister cult known as The Supernatural Liberation Movement is hell-bent on exposing the truth about supernaturals to the rest of the world. Their violent, ruthless plan has put everyone at risk: from werewolves to vampires, from witches to half-demons. On the eve of battle, all the major players must come together in a last, desperate fight for survival - Elena and Clay; Adam and Savannah; Paige and Lucas; Jeremy and Jaime; Hope and Karl, Eve and more...They are fighting for lives.
~Crystal