ADULT FICTION
“Fallen Angel” by Daniel Silva – “Art restorer and spy Gabriel Allon is glad to be back in Rome, cleaning up a Caravaggio. Then he gets a call from erstwhile friend Monsignor Luigi Donati, the pope’s private secretary, who’s found the body of a beautiful woman lying shattered beneath the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. No, Allon does not see this as a suicide. Digging deeper, he uncovers a ring of antiquities smugglers with revenge on their minds. And that’s just the beginning” — Library Journal
“Fifty Shades Darker” by E. L. James – “Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey move into a deeper, more committed relationship, impacting her fledgling publishing career and placing them both in physical and emotional danger. Following the wildly popular Fifty Shades of Grey (2011), Ana and Christian reconcile after their breakup. … Fifty Shades Darker continues the saga of Ana and Christian, the zeitgeist erotic romance that’s hit a chord with women everywhere, with the same universally appealing themes and the same writing weaknesses. A fun summer read–not the best thing you’ve ever read, not the worst, but not to be taken too seriously.” — KIRKUS MEDIA
“Fifty Shades Freed” by E. L. James – “Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own identity. And Christian must overcome his compulsion to control as he wrestles with the demons of a tormented past.
Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to make Ana’s deepest fears turn to reality.” — back cover
“A Gentleman Undone” by Cecilia Grant
“HHhH” by Laurent Binet – ” Seemingly effortless blend of historical truth, personal memory, and remarkable imagination, HHhH….is a work at once thrilling and intellectually engrossing, a fast-paced novel of the Second World War that is also a profound meditation on the nature of writing and the debt we owe to history.” — inside front cover
“The Paris Wife” by Paula McLaine- “A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, The Paris Wife captures a remarkable period of time and a love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadly.” — inside front cover
“Sandcastle Girls” by Chris Bohjalian – “This spellbinding tale travels between Aleppo, Syria, in 1915 and Bronxville, New York, in 2012–a sweeping historical live story steeped in the author’s Armenian heritage, making it his most personal novel to date.” — inside front cover
“The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” by Rachel Joyce – “Spontaneity has never been Harold Fry’s strong suit, especially once he retired. Just ask his long-suffering wife, Maureen. So imagine her surprise when Harold abruptly decides to walk 500 miles to the north of England in a naive attempt to save a dying woman, a colleague he once knew briefly but to whom he hadn’t spoken in 20 years…. Accomplished BBC playwright Joyce’s debut novel is a gentle and genteel charmer, brimming with British quirkiness yet quietly haunting in its poignant and wise examination of love and devotion. Sure to become a book-club favorite.”—Carol Haggas, Booklist
“The Watch” by Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharyna – “We watch as the resistance of an isolated American garrison in Afghanistan is ground down, not by force of arms but by the will of a single unarmed woman, holding inflexibly to an idea of what is just and right.” — J.M. Coetzee, Nobel Prize Recipient for Literature.
“Where We Belong” by Emily Griffin – “Giffin again uses her great wit and gift of storytelling to weave a tale that’s nuanced, empathetic, and, at times, heartbreaking. Matters of the heart are always complicated, and Giffin deftly shows you why.” — Associated Press
MYSTERY
“Back Fire” by Catherine Coulter – “Bestseller Coulter’s overwrought 16th thriller featuring husband-and-wife FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock (after 2011s Split Second) pits the couple against a ruthless killer with an agenda that starts with the nonfatal shooting of Judge Ramsey Hunt outside his waterfront San Francisco house….Coulter mixes romance, strong family ties, narrow misses, and narrower escapes as well as some twists that strain credulity to the breaking point. Series fans will applaud the strong female leads and the nifty teamwork of Savich and Sherlock.”–Publisher’s Weekly
“The Body in the Boudoir” by Katherine Hall Page – The award-winning Page adds a creative twist to her long-running Faith Fairchild series by having the narrative travel back in time to when Faith met her husband. …This fun yet intelligent and layered look at the story behind a favorite series will be devoured by fans and attract new readers” — Amy Alessio, American Library Association
“Broken Harbor” by Tana French – “Broken Harbour is a complex, well crafted psychological thriller as well as an exemplary dissection of the plight of the disappointed and desperate human wreckage washed up in post-Celtic Tiger Ireland. As always, French’s carefully wrought prose is a delight … A hugely impressive and intelligent book, with writing to savour. It confirms French as the First Lady of Irish Crime.” — Irish Independent.
” Creole Belle” by James Lee Burke – “Creole Belle is a resurrection story for the ages, with James Lee Burke at the peak of his masterful career and Dave Robicheaux facing his most intense and personal battle yet, against the known and unknown forces that corrupt and destroy even the best of men.
“Dorchester Terrace” by Anne Perry – “An intricate plot about a murder at the palace [with] an irresistibly appealing Upstairs, Downstairs perspective . . . a fine introduction to Perry’s alluring world of Victorian crime and intrigue.”—The New York Times Book Review
“Garments of Shadows” by Laurie R. King – “Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, comprise one of today’s most acclaimed adventure series. Now, in their newest and most thrilling adventure, the couple is separated by a shocking circumstance in a perilous part of the world, each racing against time to prevent an explosive catastrophe that could clothe them both in shrouds.” — inside front cover
“The Fallen Angel” by Daniel Silva – “Daniel Silva’s The Fallen Angel soars with authenticity….The Fallen Angel delivers the goods….Riveting espionage adventures that have timely, real-world relevance.” — Dallas-Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“I, Michael Bennett” by James Patterson – “Detective Michael Bennett arrests an infamous Mexican crime lord in a deadly chase that leaves Bennett’s lifelong friend Hughie McDonough dead. From jail, the prisoner vows to rain epic violence down upon New York City-and to get revenge on Michael Bennett.
To escape the chaos, Bennett takes his ten kids and their beautiful nanny, Mary Catherine, on a much-needed vacation to his family’s cabin near Newburgh, New York. But instead of the calm and happy town he remembers from growing up, they step into a nightmare worse than they could have ever imagined. Newburgh is an inferno of warring gangs, and there’s little the police-or Bennett-can do to keep the children safe.
As violence overwhelms the state, Bennett is torn between protecting his hometown and saving New York City. A partner in his investigations, federal prosecutor Tara McLellan, brings him new weapons for the battle-and an attraction that endangers his relationship with Mary Catherine. A no-holds-barred, pedal-to-the-floor, action-packed novel, I, Michael Bennett is James Patterson at his most personal and most thrilling best.” — Amazon.com
“The Strange Fate of Kitty Eastman” by Elizabeth Speller – “This whopping whodunit, which also manages to create a poignant portrait of soldiers’ lives in the aftermath of World War I, presents a devastated, grayed-down England suffering under the profound loss that overwhelms survivors.” — Boston Globe
“Robert B. Parker’s Lullaby” by Ace Atkins – “Is there a more promising opening in contemporary crime fiction than Boston PI Spenser opening his office door to a new client? Instantly we get Spenser’s clear-eyed view of the client, what his or her dress and stature have to say, and the rat-a-tat of Spenser’s wise guy answers to the client’s queries…A series of unflagging excellence.”– Booklist
“The Return of Captain John Emmett” by Elizabeth Speller – A complex and gripping novel of post-World War I England still devastated by violence and loss, Elizabeth Speller’s The Return of Captain John Emmett re-creates a bygone era of great innocence and incomprehensible depravity through richly imagined narrative and characters.” — Kathleen Kent, author of The Heretic’s Daughter and The Wolves of Andover
“Three-Day Town” by Margaret Maron – “Bestseller Maron’s charming 17th Deborah Knott mystery … takes the North Carolina judge and her husband of one year, Dwight Bryant, to New York City for a belated honeymoon. They bear an unusual gift, a small bronze sculpture, for photojournalist Anne Lattimore Harald from Anne’s dying mother, wealthy Jane Lattimore, who’s a distant cousin of Deborah’s. Deborah arranges to meet Anne’s daughter, NYPD Lt. Sigrid Harald, who will pick up the gift, at a large party next door to the Manhattan apartment that an absent friend is letting the couple use. When Sigrid and Deborah return to the borrowed apartment, the sculpture is missing from the kitchen counter; worse, the dead body of the building’s super is lying on the balcony. Could someone from the party be responsible for the theft and the murder? Deborah, with her inveterate curiosity, assists Sigrid, last seen in her own series in 1995’s Fugitive Colors, in the official investigation. This is a strong addition to a series that’s won Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards.” — Publisher’s Weekly
“Wicked Business” by Janet Evanovich – “Her novels, hailed by GQ as “among the great joys of contemporary crime fiction,” deliver rollicking adventure with crackling wit and hilarious mayhem. And, now, one of the hottest writers today returns with dynamic duo Lizzy and Diesel to prove that when hunting down bad guys, the real fun is in the chase.
When Harvard University English professor and dyed-in-the-wool romantic Gilbert Reedy is mysteriously murdered and thrown off his fourth-floor balcony, Lizzy and Diesel take up his twenty-year quest for the Luxuria Stone, an ancient relic believed by some to be infused with the power of lust. Following clues contained in a cryptic nineteenth-century book of sonnets, Lizzy and Diesel tear through Boston catacombs, government buildings, and multimillion-dollar residences, leaving a trail of robbed graves, public disturbances, and spontaneous seduction.
Janet Evanovich does it again and gives us another exciting un-put-down-able read that is striking a chord with readers everywhere!” — Amazon.com
ADULT NON-FICTION
“Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World has Never Seen” by Christopher McDougall – “One of the most entertaining running books ever…A wonderful, rollicking tale…McDougall does a masterful job as a suspense writer, slowly, slowly, slowly building history, anthropology, personalities, and running science until the tension is almost exquisite…Once you’ve gotten into it, you can’t put it down until you find out how it ends. And who wins.” — Amby Burfoot, Runnersworld.com
“Breakout Nations” by Ruchir Sharma – “Ruchir Sharma has written a fascinating and important book — nothing less than a new guide to the global economy. In lucid prose he overturns conventional wisdom, highlights new trends, and discovers new sources of growth. Breakout Nations is the most interesting book on the new economic landscape that I have read in years.” — Farreed Zakaria, author of The Post-American World
“Confront and Conceal: Obama’s Secret Wars and Surprising Use of American Power” by David E. Sanger – “A revealing and news-breaking account of Obama’s aggressive use of innovative weapons and new tools of American power to manage a rapidly shifting world of global threats and challenges.” — inside front cover
“Losing It: in which an Aging Professor Laments his Shrinking Brain..” by William Ian Miller – “Miller takes target at the inevitable aging process, and finds much more humor than might be expected . . . His leisurely pace and straight talk brings topics that are not always openly discussed into the realm of everyday conversation . . . Readers may turn to the book for contemplation or a much-needed laugh as they themselves continue the unavoidable journey.”—Publishers Weekly
“Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion” by Elizabeth L. Cline – “Yet just as many readers would be fascinated (in the worst way) by the industry itself and the waste that our clothing habits engender. Journalist Cline chronicles the excesses from every angle… She probes previously under reported segments of fashion, … Most important is her discovery and adoption of ethical fashion, in which quality pieces triumph through the patronage of local designers, by a return to sewing and hand-embellished garments, and by the decidedly unfashionable notion of wearing clothes unique enough to not care about trendiness.” — AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2012.
“Red Ink: Inside the High-Stakes Politics of the Federal Budget” by David Wessel – “I wish every voter would read this book. It spells out in a clear, nonpartisan way the realities of the deficit, how we got here, and the hard choices that lie ahead. The message is painful, but the book is not–it is engaging, thoughtful, and a pleasure to read.” — Christina D. Romer, professor, University of California, Berkeley; former chair, Council of Economic Advisers
“Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President” by Candice Millard – “James A. Garfield was one of the most extraordinary men ever elected president: born into poverty, he rose to become a scholar, a war hero, and a renowned reformist congressman. Then, after four months in office, he was shot in the back by a deranged office seeker. But the shot didn’t kill him. The ensuing drama is a powerful story of a nation in turmoil as the wounded president became the object of a behind-the-scenes struggle for power — over his administration, over the nation’s future, and, hauntingly, over his medical care.” — back cover
BIOGRAPHY
“Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President” by Candace Millard – “The extraordinary New York Times-bestselling account of James Garfield’s rise from poverty to the American presidency, and the dramatic history of his assassination and legacy, from bestselling author of The River of Doubt, Candice Millard.” — Amazon.com
“Paris: A Love Story” by Kati Marton – “Katie Marton has written movingly about her love, loss, and the healing power of an elegant city. She takes readers on a journey, as she writes, to find a place where there is joy in remembered joy.” — Diane Sawyer
DVD’s
Adult
“Hatfields & Mccoys”
“Hot Coffee”
“Kinyarwanda”
“Limitless”
“Wallace Stegner: A Biographical Film Portrait”
“We Need to Talk About Kevin”
Juvenile
“The Hunger Games”
MUSIC
” Adele: Live at the Royal Albert Hall”
JUVENILE FICTION
“Animal Family” by Randall Jarrell – “This is the story of how, one by one, a man found himself a family. Almost nowhere in fiction is there a stranger, dearer, or funnier family–and the life that the members of The Animal Family live together, there in the wilderness beside the sea, is as extraordinary and as enchanting as the family itself.” — inside front cover
“A Dog’s Way Home” by Robbie Pyron – “It takes a special kind of storyteller to speak from a dog’s point of view with authenticity, as well as from a child’s true voice. Beautifully written, this is an important story that speaks to the special kinship between child and dog. I simply LOVE this book!” — Patricia MacLachlan, Newbery Medal-winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall
“R My Name is Rachel” by Patricia Reilly Giff – “In this heartfelt novel, beloved author Patricia Reilly Giff brings the endearing Rachel, her family, and their days during the Great Depression to vivid life for today’s readers.” — inside front cover
“The Silver Bowl” by Diane Stanley – “A versatile and inventive raconteur, Stanley (Bella at Midnight) nimbly weaves intrigue and fantasy into this richly layered story set in medieval times. Sent to work as a scullery maid at the castle, high-spirited Molly bids farewell to her mother, who tells Molly that she has inherited her ability to see visions predicting the future. She also gives her daughter a necklace that Molly’s silversmith grandfather had ‘put some good magic into,’ which she predicts Molly might need. Polishing an intricately patterned silver hand basin belonging to the king, Molly hears a voice urging her to ‘Listen!’ and she sees in the bowl scenes from the past, including one depicting the bowl’s creation by her grandfather, who was forced to bestow on it curses that have plagued the royal family. With crisp pacing and enticing end-of-chapter teasers, Stanley gradually reveals the intriguing story of the curse, which Molly must break in order to save a kind prince who’s the sole surviving direct heir to the throne. That task and the Molly’s rescue of the prince are relayed with suspense and some unanticipated plot spirals.”– PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2011.
“Storm Warning” by Linda Sue Park -“In Nest, Amy and Dan learn some unpleasant truths about their family’s lineage while trying to evade the Holts in South Africa (among other places). Code finds the sibs dramatically separated in China. Warning takes them to the Caribbean–and a showdown with the man in black. The series continues to spit out compulsively readable, if slight, tales of adventure.” — THE HORN BOOK, c2010.
“Storm Runners” by Roland Smith – “Chase Masters and his father roam the country tracking hurricanes, tornadoes, and other severe weather; they’re also trying to fill the void left by the death of Chase’s mother and sister. They end up in Florida, separated and fighting for their own lives during a hurricane. The story’s nonstop action and break-neck pacing keep pages turning; a cliffhanger ending promises another installment.” — THE HORN BOOK
JUVENILE NON-FICTION
“Heart and Soul” by Kadir Nelson – “Kadir Nelson, one of this generation’s most accomplished, award-winning artists, has created an epic yet intimate introduction to the history of America and African Americans, from colonial days through the civil rights movement. Written in the voice of an “Everywoman,” an unnamed narrator whose forebears came to this country on slave ships and who lived to cast her vote for the first African American president, heart and soul touches on some of the great transformative events and small victories of that history. This inspiring book demonstrates that in gaining their freedom and equal rights, African Americans helped our country achieve its promise of liberty and justice—the true heart and soul of our nation” — inside front cover
“The Real Benedict Arnold” by Jim Murphy – “Using Arnold’s surviving military journals and political documents, Murphy carefully contrasts popular myth with historical fact; one of the greatest strengths of the book is that Murphy never goes beyond his documentation to speculate. As far as possible, he meticulously traces Arnold’s life, revealing a complex man who was actually as much admired as he was loathed. … Especially fascinating is the description of a civil and military leadership–incompetent, ambitious, and greedy–that consistently undervalued and undermined Arnold. The chapters dealing with Arnold’s treason are taut and suspenseful, and reveal much about how he is regarded today. Perhaps we can never know the real Arnold, but this splendid biography brings us close.” — AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2007.
“Step Gently Out” by Helen Frost- “Captivating photography gives readers a closeup view of the world of insects, as described by a gently contemplative poem. Lieder captures the small miracles of a bumblebee in mid-flight, a spider dangling from a dewy branch, and a firefly’s flash, while Frost urges readers to be mindful of events that seem insignificant: “A spider spins a silken thread/ to step across the air./ A praying mantis looks at you–/ do you know she’s there?” Working in concert, the words and images achieve a Zenlike calm that also hints at the complicated web of life unfolding all around. Endnotes discuss the 11 featured insects in greater detail.+ — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“When Dinos Dawned, Mammals Got Munched and & Peterosaurs Took Flight” by Hannah Bonner – “this book discusses all the exciting developments of the Triassic Age, from the recovery of the planet from the most deadly mass extinction ever, to the first appearance of the dinosaurs. We also get to meet the first mammals, the first pterosaurs (flying reptiles), the first frogs, a host of predatory marine reptiles, early turtles, and the first coral reefs. With the books’ signature blend of humor and clearly presented information, cartoon illustrations help keep the fact-filled material extra fun.” — Amazon.com
BOARD BOOKS
“Let’s Have a Tea Party” by Ilanit Oliver
“Spot Goes to the Library” by Eric Hill
PICTURE BOOKS
“Andy and the Lion” by James Daugherty
“Arthur’s Back to School Day” By Lillian Hoban
“Bear Feels Scared” by Karma Wilson
“Big Fat Hen” by Keith Baker
“Bumble-Ardy” by Maurice Sendak
“A Bus Called Heaven” by Bob Graham
“Dragons Love Tacos” by Adam Rubin
“The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” by William Joyce
“Here Comes Gosling!” by Sandy Asher
“Hide and Seek” by Il Sung Nan
“Machines Go To Work in the City” by William Low
“The Money We’ll Save” by Brock Cole
“Penney and Her Song” by Kevin Henkes
“Rocket Writes a Story” by Tad Hills
“Squid and Octopus: Friends for Always” by Tao Nyeu
“Tyler Makes Pancakes!” by Tyler Florence
YOUNG ADULT
“Suite Scarlett” by Maureen Johnson- “Gr. 7-12. The Hopewell Hotel, 75 years ago a stylish Upper East Side haunt, has fallen on hard times. Its proprietors, the Martin family, have let the last remaining employee go, and now it’s up to the four children, Spencer, Lola, Scarlett, and Marlene, to keep things afloat. Enter one Mrs. Amy Amberson, a flamboyant, mysterious guest, back in New York after a long absence, with some clandestine motives. Mrs. Amberson is to occupy the Empire Suite, just today entrusted to Scarlett as a ‘present’ on her fifteenth birthday (a family tradition), for the entire summer, and keeping her happy will test Scarlett’s ingenious mettle. What follows is some utterly winning, madcap Manhattan farce, crafted with a winking, urbane narrative and tight, wry dialogue. Beneath the silvered surface, Johnson delivers a complex sibling relationship. Like the Hilary McKay’s Casson quartet, first introduced in Saffy’s Angel (2002), these siblings are bound by tender, poignant connections, all the more real for the absurdity of their circumstances. We can only hope that they, too, return for more intrepid adventures.” — AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION