When Mischief Came to Town

By Katrina Nannestad

Children's Book

After her mother passes, Inge Maria moves in with an elderly grandmother she does not know. She enrolls in a new school and meets a variety of people in the new town. Wherever she goes, mischief seems to follow. Inge Maria has a creative sense of humor and offers reasons for the occurring events. Inge Maria helps take care of an injured animal and meets another child who is also orphaned. She is touched when Grandmother shares what little they have with both. She finds acceptance and unconditional love with Grandmother and learns the importance of compassion, friends, and family relationships.

~ Miss Deb

Some Boys

By Patty Blount
YA Book

Grace is raped by the star athlete in school that everyone loves. She is ridiculed and mocked by many as the truth is revealed. Despite many options, Grace faces everyone at school and lives the mantra “what is right is not always popular, what is popular is not always right. She is a survivor.

This book certainly makes one think about how one would respond if your best is accused of rape and how to treat others who have been raped. Readers will find themselves torn between various versions of the event. It is very realistic in dialogue, delivery, and situation and wraps up nicely in the end.

~ Miss Deb

Empire of Storms (#5 Throne of Glass series)

By Sarah J. Maas

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

~Crystal

Mozza at Home: More than 150 Crowd-Pleasing Recipes

By Nancy Silverton

Now, in Mozza at Home, Nancy shares her renewed passion and provides nineteen menus packed with easy-to-follow recipes that can be prepared in advance (with no fancy restaurant equipment needed!) and are perfect for entertaining. Organized by meal, each menu provides a main dish along with a complementary selection of appetizers and side dishes. 

Under Nancy's guidance you can mix and match all the options depending on the size of your gathering. Make a few sides for a small dinner party with friends, or make them all for a delicious family feast! And don’t forget dessert there’s an entire chapter dedicated to end-of-meal treats such as Devil's Food Rings with Spiced White Mountain Frosting and Dario's Olive Oil Cake with Rosemary and Pine Nuts that can be prepared hours before serving so that the host gets to relax during the event too.

~Crystal

Wild Sex: The Science Behind Mating in the Animal Kingdom

By Dr. Carin Bondar

Birds do it, bees do it — every member of the animal kingdom does it, from fruit flies to blue whales. But if you think humans have a tough time dating, try having to do it while being hunted down by predators, against a backdrop of unpredictable and life-threatening conditions. The animal kingdom is a wild place – and it’s got mating habits to match. The sex lives of our animal cousins are fiendishly difficult, infinitely varied, often incredibly violent — and absolutely fascinating.

In Wild Sex, Dr. Carin Bondar takes readers on an enthralling tour of the animal kingdom as she explores the diverse world of sex in the wild. She investigates a wide range of topics, from whether animals experience pleasure from sex to what happens when females hold the reproductive power. Along the way, she encounters razor-sharp penises, murderous carnal cannibals, and spontaneous chemical warfare in an epic battle between the sexes.

~Crystal