Smokin' Seventeen

Smokin’ Seventeen
by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie’s day starts off on the wrong foot when she runs into Joe Morelli’s Grandmother Bella at the bakery. They had an argument and Bella put the “vordo” curse on Stephanie. Another dilemma for Stephanie is she still cannot decide between Joe Morelli, who is Bella’s grandson, and Ranger. To make matters worse, her mother plays matchmaker and invites Dave Brewer, a former classmate of Stephanie’s, for dinner. Big mistake! He likes to cook and uses this as an excuse to hang out at Stephanie’s apartment, uninvited of course, whenever he wants to use her kitchen or cook for her.

Join Stephanie for a bundle of laughs as she bungles her bounty-hunting pursuits, finds out what the vordo curse is, share her dates with Morelli and Ranger, dodges Dave’s attentions, and tries to avoid being run over by one of Cousin Vinnie’s clients.

- Rose

The Soldier's Wife

The Soldier's Wife
by Margaret Leroy

World War II is fast approaching the beautiful landscapes of Guernsey Island. With her estranged husband off fighting, Vivienne de la Mare must keep her two daughters and senile mother-in-law safe during the German occupation. Amidst shortages, curfews, and the evidence of brutality, she has an affair with a German officer. Not knowing when or if this war will end, Vivienne grapples with how to keep those she loves safe, loving someone who is the enemy, and answering the question of what she will do when her basic humanity is in question.

Margaret Leroy has the ability to transport you not only to this beautiful land but to the era as well. You will find yourself wondering what you would do if faced with Vivienne's challenges.

- Kathy R

The Year of Living like Jesus

The Year of Living like Jesus: My Journey of Discovering What Jesus Would Really Do
by Ed Dobson

Rev. Ed Dobson, pastor emeritus of the Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, always thought about the question of what it would mean to be "just a follower of Jesus". What would it look like? Is it even possible? He decided to answer that question one day after listening to an interview with A.J. Jacobs, an unreligious Jew who tried to live a year biblically and wrote a book about his experience called, The Year of Living Biblically. Inspired by Jacob's book, Dobson embarks on his own journey of living like Jesus, that is, eating like Jesus, talking like Jesus, thinking like Jesus, and hanging out with sinners like Jesus for an entire year. Dobson chronicles his day-to-day experience which is often humorous and thought-provoking; bringing up topics and issues modern day Christians rarely, if ever, stop to consider. Through his journey he learned more about himself than he thought he would and came to a new understanding and appreciation for Jesus of Nazareth.

-Rob