Princess Ever After (Royal Wedding #2)

by Rachel Hauck

Tanner Burkhardt, Minister of Culture for the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg, must convince the strong-willed Southerner, Miss Regina Beswick, that she is his country’s long-lost princess. Failure could destroy his reputation and change his nation forever. As Regina and Tanner face the challenges before them, neither are prepared for love to invade their hearts and change everything they believe about themselves. However, when a royal opponent nearly destroys Regina’s future, she must lean into God and trust He has sovereignly brought her to her true and final destiny.

~Crystal

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

By Seth Grahame-Smith

It is known as 'the strange plague,’  All over England, the dead are rising again, and now even the daughters of Britain's best families must devote their lives to mastering the deadly arts. Elizabeth Bennet is a fearsome warrior whose ability with a sword is matched only by her quick wit and even sharper tongue. But she faces her most formidable foe yet in the haughty, conceited, and somehow strangely attractive Mr. Darcy. As the two lovers meet in the ballroom and on the battlefield, they'll soon learn that nothing - not even bands of ninjas, hordes of flesh-eating zombies, or disapproving aunts - can stop true love.

~Crystal

The Cast-Iron Skillet Cookbook

By Dominique DeVito

Growing up, cast-iron skillets were the only skillets we had. I have those same skillets that I haven’t used in ages. When I saw this book I decided it was time to get them out. I scrubbed them and re-seasoned them according to the directions in the front of the book. The recipes are wonderful and you even get a little bit of extra iron from the skillet. Mom always made a pineapple upside-down cake in her #10 and there was nothing better. Why don’t you check out this book and dust off the old pans and get cooking?

~ Dixie

Lost Stars

by Claudia Gray

 

Obviously a Star Wars novel, this story takes place simultaneously with Episodes IV, V, & VI. It follows the lives of two children who grow into adults serving the Empire, and the difficult and very different choices they both make. This was intended as a young adult novel, but I think it has been the most enjoyable story for me to read of all the newer ones that have come out since The Force Awakens hit theaters. It's an easy read, not at all the science fiction type writing but more of a story of relationships and coming of age.

~Becky

IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS CHAOS - A For Better or For Worse 2nd Treasury

By Lynn Johnston

John and Elly Patterson and family could very well be North America’s favorite funny-page family. The Pattersons share their everyday joys and sorrows, frustrations and successes while they raise their young family. Elly struggles with writing a column for the local paper and keeping up with the kids. John is full of surprises and stories from his dental practice. A wonderful portrayal of family life in the early 80’s. The book includes photos, newspaper clippings and commentary on the real stories behind the strips.

~ Dixie

Little Heathens Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression

By Mildred Armstrong Kalish

Little Heathens is a memoir of growing up on an Iowa farm during the Depression. It is a marvelous encounter with an iconic way of life. Mildred Kalish shares practical accounts of how things were done on the farm: making head cheese (scrub the pig’s head with a brush until pink and clean), setting a good fire, how they did laundry, and much more. Included are recipes and home remedies. She describes the hard work and the fun in equal measure. A very good book.

~ Dixie

Thin Ice

By Irene Hannon

Thin Ice is the second in the Men of Valor series. Thin Ice introduces us to Special Agent Lance McGregor, a former Delta Force officer, who carries deep guilt from his last mission. He is now working for the FBI. Enter Christy Reed, former Olympic ice skating star now a skating teacher. Christy is struggling with grief over the loss of her parents in an accident and her sister in a house fire.

Christy felt she was handling the tragedies fairly well until she receives a letter from beyond the grave: a letter from Ginny that seems to indicate she is still alive but in the hands of a kidnapper. Despite warnings to the contrary, Christy turns to the FBI for assistance. Special Agent McGregor lands the case as his first with the Bureau.

Lance begins to work the case and comes up with more questions than answers. Ginny seemed to have no enemies. Christy’s parent’s auto accident was strange. Who is the real target?

~ Dixie

Bloodline

by Claudia Gray

For Star Wars fans who want more, this will help fill a void. This is the story of Leia, decades after Return of the Jedi but just before she forms the Resistance we see in The Force Awakens. Even though it is focused mostly on politics in the Senate, the book is not boring or dry. We get insight into Leia's feelings and plans, and a significant amount of excitement. We even find out what Han Solo has been doing all these years. New characters are introduced that we can hope will someday be in the next movies since the writer of Episode VIII had some input on the novel. Easy read, and not too heavy on the sci-fi.

~Becky

The 5 Levels of Leadership: Proven Steps to Maximize Your Potential

by John C. Maxwell

Through humor, in-depth insight, and examples, internationally recognized leadership expert John C. Maxwell describes each of these stages of leadership. He shows you how to master each level and rise up to the next to become a more influential, respected, and successful leader.

~Crystal

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

by Ransom Riggs

A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar.

~Crystal

Once Upon a Prince (Royal Wedding #1)

by Rachel Hauck

Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess---just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn't going according to plan.
The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simon's Island is the queen of his heart. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna's aid under the fabled Lover's Oak, he is blindsided by love.

~Crystal

Together At the Table

By Hilary Manton Lodge

Julliette D’Alesi is the third generation of a French-Italian restauranteur family in the Pacific Northwest. Following the discovery of an antique photo in her grandmother’s possessions that looks remarkably like her brother, but that is obviously not related to the grandfather she knew, Julliette continues her search for the truth behind her family secrets begun in previous books, A Table by the Window, and, Reservations for Two.

Ms. Lodge tantalized me with the tastes and imagery of the Pacific Northwest, as well as recipes and intrigue as her heroine searches for meaning in her own life, and finds the roots that link her to her past.

This is the most recent book in a trilogy set in the present day Pacific Northwest, and World War II France.


~ Sally

Happy People Read and Drink Coffee

By Agnes Martin-Lugand

Set in Paris and Ireland, this is the story of a woman facing tragic loss, and her journey back to life. Diane is part owner of a Paris Literary Shop by the name of ‘Happy People Read and Drink Coffee’. I admit that I picked this book up because of the title and the cover! Diane’s life takes a tragic turn that leads her to leave her charming life in Paris and find peace and solace in a tiny, isolated Irish village.

This is a beautiful story of hope and fulfillment that I read in one sitting. It was originally self-published and became a best seller in France. It is being made into a movie here in the U.S.


~ Sally

The Murder of Mary Russell

By Laurie R. King

King returns us to the world of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. This time the focus is on Mrs. Hudson. You will enjoy this book even if you have not read the previous books in this series.

Mrs. Hudson's son appears from the unknown and triggers a traumatic series of events. King reveals the motherly housekeeper's background and how it contributed to the current situation. These revelations show a totally different side of this much loved character. A wonderful twist that was so unexpected!

~ Rochelle

The Queen of the Tearling

By Erika Johansen
Audiobook CD format
Read by Katherine Kellgren

Do you enjoy historical fiction set in medieval times? Or futuristic dystopian stories? You can experience both of these worlds within The Queen of the Tearling. This book was recommended to me by a patron and I really enjoyed the interaction between the characters and the imagery of the country-side during their quest. It intrigued me as certain clues were revealed about the history of The Crossing that divided the world.

This is the first book in the Trilogy by this first-time author. I have the second book on hold!

~ Paula