October 31, 2020 - Staff Reviews

Penthouse Prince

By Kendall Ryan

Release Date: September 1, 2020

Ebook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/5187108

3.5 Stars - I read this quick romance in one sitting. I actually wished it hadn't gone by so fast. Ryan traded in her city settings for a small town and the change of scenery brought a breathe of fresh air. Also a pleasant surprise was that the prince was not a playboy but a sweet single dad reconnecting with an old flame.

For being a relatively short read, there was a lot jammed in here. Lexington brings Ryan's trademark humor and heart to his point of view. Our hero who's just an average guy trying to build a new life for himself and is devoted to his daughter and mother. Eventually he works Corrigan (if anything one of my complaints were the names) into that circle too. Corrigan's for her part is desperately trying to resist Lex because he's already broken her heart once. I found that I couldn't blame her. Also her brother stands as sort of a wedge between these two.

This was filled with lots of favorite plotlines like Lex is best friends with Dak (Yes, Dak) who is Cori's older brother. When things went down between them before Lex left for college, they had never told her brother what was up. And then Grier is Lex's totally adorable two-year-old. Every other scene with her in it was heart melting. Ryan's grown a lot in her writing I think since her earlier books. The characters are more grown up and feel just as realistic. And not all her heroes are just looking for a good time. But it was nice to read about a dad who has put off his social life to focus on his girl. And Ryan's also not afraid to try new stuff, some series have worked better for me than others. But this standalone was great, left me wishing the page count was just a little higher. I thought we could have gotten more out of this little family, probably as evidenced by the long-ish epilouge.

(NS)

October 27, 2020 - Staff Reviews

Raintree: Haunted

By Linda Winstead Jones

Release Date: June 1, 2007

Ebook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/132256

4 stars! - I enjoyed this exciting supernatural mystery more than I expected. At the heart of the story is a good murder tale. The blurb sort of ruined some of the suspense and surprises itself, but Jones uses a compelling hero who is surprisingly human to keep a reader engrossed to the end. 

Paranormal romance is not my favorite genre but when Halloween and Fall start to come around I usually pick up a couple supernatural stories. Gideon, our hero here, has gifts that make him powerful yet humbled. And he feels compelled to use what he can to keep killers off the street. Hope, however, doesn't come off as the lesser half of the couple. She's smart, motivated, and can defend herself. I loved how she proved to be open-minded and yet stubborn enough to stick with being Gideon's partner. She doesn't quite take it all on faith but it doesn't take her long to come around and support him.

I can't give away a lot of the actual romance and the way they fell in love because the more that's given away, the less fun all the surprises are. But the adorable "ghost" Emma was a favorite. I thought the set up with Hope's gypsy-like family in comparison to Gideon's gifted one was such a cute idea. Hope's discomfort at being the practical cop surrounded by her free thinking Mom and sister. I actually think it would set up a great series itself. But the last third or so of the book has so many twists and surprises that I can't say the ending wasn't satisfying. It does feel a bit rushed but given the page count constraints, I can give it a pass. And even if the very last pages were an obvious set up to the final book in the series. I started with Linda Howard's (a frequent partner of Linda Jones) first entry in this series. But Haunted could be read on its own. Not much is given away in the story and the world building and family rivalry details are here as a recap. 

(NS)

October 26, 2020 - New Arrivals

 October 26, 2020

Adult Fiction

Chaos by Iris Johansen.

When CIA agent Alisa Flynn flaunts the rules by breaking into a mansion in the middle of the night, she skillfully circumvents alarms and outwits guards only to find herself standing in billionaire Gabe Korgan's study . . . busted by Korgan himself. This could cost her her job unless, in a split second, she can turn the tables and try to convince him to join her on the most important mission of her life. In a ripped-from-the-headlines plot, schoolgirls in Africa have been kidnapped, and Alisa knows that Korgan has the courage, financial means, and high-tech weaponry to help rescue them. With so many innocent lives hanging in the balance, what she doesn't reveal is that one of those schoolgirls is like a little sister to her. But when the truth gets out, the stakes grow even higher. Calling in additional assistance from renowned horse whisperer Margaret Douglas, Alisa and Gabe lay their plans, only to see them descend into chaos as the line between right and wrong wavers before them like a mirage. Every path is strewn with pitfalls, each likely to get them -- or the hostages -- killed. But with the help of a brave team and a horse with the heart of a warrior, they might just get out of this alive.

 

Dark Song by Christine Feehan.

"Stolen from her home at a young age and tormented for centuries, Elisabeta Trigovise is scared to show herself to anyone. Even though she has been rescued and is now safe within the Carpathian compound, she has lived in fear for so long she has no idea how to survive without it. She wants to answer the siren call of her lifemate but the very thought terrifies her. Before he found Elisabeta, Ferro Arany was an ancient warrior without emotion. Now that his senses have come alive, he knows it will take more than kind words and soft touches to convince the fractured woman that they are partners, not master and prisoner. For now, he will give her his strength until she finds hers, allowing the steady rhythm of his heart to soothe Elisabeta's fragile soul. But even as she learns to stand on her own, the vampire who kept her captive is desperate to claim her again, threatening the song Elisabeta and Ferro are writing together." -- Amazon.com.

 

Tranquility Falls by Davis Bunn.

Six years ago, Daniel was a Los Angeles financial analyst who was too handsome for his own good. Too smart for his anchor job on the nightly news. And too enamored with the heady addictions of the high life. That man died in a tragic accident with his fiancée. With grief and guilt battling for control, Daniel moved to the quiet California seaside town of Miramar Bay with his best friend--a rescue Labradoodle who still sees him through rough times. Daniel's a different man now. Clean, sober, and taking things one day at a time with no commitments to anyone except himself. And just as his solitude begins to chafe, two souls in need of fresh starts unexpectedly enter Daniel's life . . . Daniel's self-centered sister has dissolved several longtime relationships. Theirs included. The latest? Her restless teenage daughter, Nicole, whom she's dropped off in Miramar Bay without a backward glance. For Nicole, who's never felt at home in the world, it only confirms the disconnect she's always had with her mother. Now, left with an uncle she barely knows, Nicole is more adrift than ever. Yet to Daniel's surprise, playing surrogate father is forging a bond that he needs, too. More difficult for Daniel is the possibility of romance with lovely and fragile Jennifer Hanley. Struggling with a trauma of her own, the single mother is as cautious about love as Daniel is--no matter how healing it could be. But for Daniel, Stella, and Nicole there's still hope for a tomorrow they can call their own. All they have do is to learn to trust in each other, and in themselves.

 

Adult Non-Fiction

Raised Hunting by David Holder, Karin Holder, & Larry Dugger.

In bow hunting, being at full draw is the height of adventure, the moment when you're poised to take your best shot. Hunting enthusiasts and popular Outdoor Channel personalities David and Karin Holder believe you can live the same way you hunt--at full draw, excited and ready for whatever God has in store for you. Each chapter is designed to help you take aim spiritually, physically, mentally, and on the hunt. You will go behind the scenes of David and Karin's television show, Raised Hunting, join them in their thrilling outdoor journeys, and learn how to prepare and cook healthy wild game with easy-to-follow recipes. This book will help you become a better hunter. But more important, it will help you become a better parent, spouse, friend, and child of God, which is what living at full draw truly means. Discover that real fulfillment is a successful life, not a successful hunt. However, when you can find a way bring those two things together, now you've really got something to smile about.

 

Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump, Ph.D.

In this revelatory, authoritative portrait of Donald J. Trump and the toxic family that made him, Mary L. Trump, a trained clinical psychologist and Donald's only niece, shines a bright light on the dark history of their family in order to explain how her uncle became the man who now threatens the world's health, economic security, and social fabric. Mary Trump spent much of her childhood in her grandparents' large, imposing house in the heart of Queens, New York, where Donald and his four siblings grew up. She describes a nightmare of traumas, destructive relationships, and a tragic combination of neglect and abuse. She explains how specific events and general family patterns created the damaged man who currently occupies the Oval Office, including the strange and harmful relationship between Fred Trump and his two oldest sons, Fred Jr. and Donald. A firsthand witness to countless holiday meals and interactions, Mary brings an incisive wit and unexpected humor to sometimes grim, often confounding family events. She recounts in unsparing detail everything from her uncle Donald's place in the family spotlight and Ivana's penchant for regifting to her grandmother's frequent injuries and illnesses and the appalling way Donald, Fred Trump's favorite son, dismissed and derided him when he began to succumb to Alzheimer's. Numerous pundits, armchair psychologists, and journalists have sought to parse Donald J. Trump's lethal flaws. Mary L. Trump has the education, insight, and intimate familiarity needed to reveal what makes Donald, and the rest of her clan, tick. She alone can recount this fascinating, unnerving saga, not just because of her insider's perspective but also because she is the only Trump willing to tell the truth about one of the world's most powerful and dysfunctional families.

 

Easy/Juvenile/Young Adult/Graphic Novel

Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang. YA GN
When Dr. Lee moves his family to Metropolis, his son Tommy adjusts to the new neighborhood while daugher Roberta feels out of place, so when the evil Klan of the Fiery Cross begins a string of terrorist attacks on the city, Superman fights them, and Roberta and Superman soon learn to embrace their own unique features that set them apart.

 

Primer by Jennifer Muro & Thomas Krajewski. C GN

"While living with her latest set of foster parents, Ashley Rayburn mistakenly applies some found body paints which give her a wide range of special powers, but soon the military discovers what happened to their secret weapon and this puts Ashley and her newfound family and friends in danger."-- Provided by publisher.

Brooke County Public Libraries    Wellsburg (304) 737-1551    Follansbee (304) 527-0860

October 22, 2020 - A Book & A Recipe

Brooke County Libraries – A Book & A Recipe

 

October Theme – The Great Gatsby

 

Nearly 100 years after the Roaring Twenties, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic is still stunning readers with his memorable characters and sparkling narrative.

 

Fans of the novel will likely recognize these dishes, at least enough to get them in the mood to watch an adaptation on DVD tonight! Eh hem. We mean read the book. We invite the rest of you to dig up a copy of the novel one evening and find out where we got our inspiration.

 

 

Okay! Let’s have some fun…

Recipe #1 Pastry Pigs aka Pigs in a Blanket

 

 

All Courtesy of PopSugar website…

 

Ingredients

1 package crescent roll dough
4 chicken apple sausages, or another flavor of your choice
Yellow mustard, for dipping

Directions

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Carefully unravel crescent dough and divide it into four rectangular pieces. Wrap each sausage around one piece of dough, pinching edges of dough to seal it tightly around sausage. 

Use a serrated knife to cut dough-wrapped sausages into 6 equal pieces. There should be 24 pieces altogether.

Bake for 12-14 minutes or until dough is golden brown and sausage is heated through. Serve hot with mustard for dipping.

 

 

https://www.popsugar.com/food/Chicks-Blanket-10781280

 

Who knew living large l ike Jay Gatsby himself could be so simple?

  

Recipe #2 (Cold) Fried Chicken

 

 

Courtesy of InLiterature website

 

Ingredients

2 pieces of chicken breast

~1 cup bread crumbs

1 egg

1 cup frying oil

Instructions

Wash the chicken breasts and slice into finger sized pieces.

In one bowl beat the egg. In another, place the bread crumbs.

Roll the chicken pieces in the egg to cover, then drop them into the bread crumbs and roll around until coated. Set aside.

Heat up a frying pan with the oil. When a small bit of chicken is dropped in and begins to sizzle, it is hot enough to cook with.

Place a few chicken pieces at a time into the frying pan and cook for ~3-4 minutes either side until golden to medium brown.

Remove onto a plate and continue cooking the rest of the chicken pieces.

 

https://www.inliterature.net/food-in-literature/2013/04/the-great-gatsby-fried-chicken.html

 

Now, if that’s too much work for an evening, there’s always a quick stop at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

 

Recipe #3 Lemon Cakes

 

 

Courtesy of the Little Library Café website

 

Makes 12 little cakes, or 1 loaf cake

Ingredients
240g butter
200g caster sugar + an extra 2tbsp for sprinkling
Zest and juice of 1 juicy lemon
3 eggs
300g plain flour
2.5tsp baking powder

Equipment
12-hole muffin tin
Bowl
Electric hand whisk
Spatula
Spoon
Cooling rack

1. Preheat the oven to 170C. Grease the muffin tray.

2. Cream the butter and sugar until smooth then mix in the lemon zest. Add the eggs, one at a time, adding a tablespoon full of the flour if the mixture separates. When the eggs are well incorporated, add the lemon juice and finally fold in the flour.

3. Divide the batter between the 12 muffin cups; each should be around 2/3 full.

4. Bake for 20-25mins (or around an hour for a loaf cake) until the sugar is cracked on top and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool the cakes in the tin for 10 minutes until turning out onto the wire rack.

 

http://thelittlelibrarycafe.com/blog/2014/05/02/lemon-cakes-the-great-gatsby

 

 

 If you try any of these, let us know in our comments section or on one of our social media pages!

 

October 21, 2020 - Staff Reviews

The Best Man Plan

By Jaci Burton

Release Date: June 2, 2020

Ebook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/4948133

3 Stars - This slow burning friends to lovers romance isn't as cowboy as the cover suggested. And our heroine Erin is looking for a fling after her ruined wedding but that's not quite what she finds. A promising start to a series that featured so many friends and family members, it's hard to tell where it will go next.

Our hero Jason is the kind of man everyone wants to have around. He's supportive, fun, and of course, great with animals. He's gentle when needed but can get rough when the situation calls for it. Erin, on the other hand, I think is not portrayed in the best light. She could have used more positive attributes outside of her awesome family members and a type A personality. Burton has a great way of even with using third person point of view, I still get a strong guy voice verses girl voice, if you will. 

So, I related to Erin's need for organization and planning. And I get the title is The Best Man Plan. But the way she set her sights on Jason in the beginning rubbed me the wrong way. Using her self-proclaimed best friend since childhood solely for sex couldn't possibly have seemed like THAT good of an idea. And for Jason's part I was wanting to smack him and say "just be honest!" or "tell her how you feel!". I'm not the biggest fan of miscommunication stalling a romance out so I just wanted these two come together and talk. There was a like to like here though, particularly for fans of Lori Foster or Kristen Proby. This really was the light romance type complete with wine and puppies, just maybe a little steamier than usual. I'd say the weaknesses for me were Erin's rough edges and a slight lack of originality. I'm not sure this one sold me on grabbing the next one as soon as it hits bookshelves.

(NS)

October 19, 2020 - New Arrivals

 October 19, 2020

Adult Fiction

Broken Glass by V.C. Andrews.

Haylee and Kaylee Fitzgerald are twin sisters who have been forced to be identical in every way by their domineering mother. She insists they wear the same clothes, eat the same food, get the same grades, and have all the same friends. But both are growing weary of her obsession with their similarities, so when they finally attend high school, they find little ways to highlight their independence. The transition isn't as easy as expected, however, and soon both sisters are thrust into a world that their mother never prepared them for—a world with far more dangerous consequences than just upsetting Mother.

 

A Question of Betrayal by Anne Perry.

Britain's secret intelligence service, MI6, has lost contact with its informant in northern Italy, just as important information about the future plans of Austria and Nazi Germany is coming to light. And young Elena Standish, to her surprise, is the only person who can recognize MI6's man--because he is her former lover. Aiden Strother betrayed her six years before, throwing shame on her entire family. Now, with so much to prove, Elena heads to Trieste to track down Aiden and find out what happened to his handler, who has mysteriously cut off contact with Britain. As Elena gets word of a secret group working to put Austria in the hands of Germany, her older sister, Margot, is in Berlin to watch a childhood friend get married--to a member of the Gestapo. Margot and Elena's grandfather, the former head of MI6, is none too happy about the sisters' travels at this tumultuous time, especially when a violent event at home reminds him that even Britain is growing dangerous. As his own investigation collides with his granddaughter's, what's at stake on the continent becomes increasingly frightening--and personal.

 

Shadows in Death by J.D. Robb.

While Eve examines a fresh body in Washington Square Park, her husband, Roarke, spots a man among the onlookers he's known since his younger days on the streets of Dublin. A man who claims to be his half-brother. A man who kills for a living--and who burns with hatred for him. Eve is quick to suspect that the victim's spouse--resentful over his wife's affair and poised to inherit her fortune--would have happily paid an assassin to do his dirty work. Roarke is just as quick to warn her that if Lorcan Cobbe is the hitman, she needs to be careful. Law enforcement agencies worldwide have pursued this cold-hearted killer for years, to no avail. And his lazy smirk when he looked Roarke's way indicates that he will target anyone who matters to Roarke...and is confident he'll get away with it. Eve is desperate to protect Roarke. Roarke is desperate to protect Eve. And together, they're determined to find Cobbe before he finds them--even if it takes them across the Atlantic, far outside Eve's usual jurisdiction...

 

Adult Non-Fiction

The Walking Dead: The Official Cookbook and Survival Guide by Lauren Wilson.

The Walking Dead: The Official Cookbook and Survival Guide details the skills and recipes you need to survive (while avoiding being eaten) during a walker apocalypse. Inspired by the hit AMC television series, the book features recipes for meals featured on the show, plus food and drinks inspired by key characters and locations, along with expert information on foraging, hunting wild game, and outdoor cooking. Featuring familiar treats like Carl's pudding, Carol Peletier's baked goods, and Hershel's spaghetti, this is the ultimate gift for fans and walker-wary survivalists alike.

 

Stand All the Way Up by Sophie Hudson.

"Whenever you face the hard stuff--the pieces and parts of life that keep you up at night, relentlessly reminding you that the "simple and easy" path is somehow a turn you've missed along the way --is your first instinct to try to make it all simply go away? You might wonder if it's possible to just ignore it, or, better yet, to burn it all down. During a particularly difficult stretch in her own life, Sophie learned that the Lord, through His Word and His people, has already provided all that we need to get up, straighten up, and stand all the way up. This book is a collection of stories full of humor, sass, and spiritual insight, revealing our God who teaches you to stand up for yourself, stand up for the people you love, stand up for the people who can't, and stand up for the Kingdom."--Amazon.com

 

Easy/Juvenile/Young Adult/Graphic Novel

Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer. YA

"The story of Bella and Edward from "Twilight" told from Edward's point of view takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward's past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger?"-- Provided by publisher.

 

Voting: A Kid’s Guide by Nel Yomtov. CNF
"The votes are in! What is voting all about? Readers find out why voting is important and how it plays a part in our elections."-- Provided by publisher.

Brooke County Public Libraries    Wellsburg (304) 737-1551    Follansbee (304) 527-0860

October 17, 2020 - Staff Reviews

Capitol Conspiracy

By William Bernhardt

Release Date: January 15, 2008

Audiobook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/146469

4 Stars! - A surprisingly timely political thriller despite its age that asks the characters and the reader some hard questions. Despite a fair amount of violence and political intrigue, the story also has a lot of personal drama and touches of humor. Then we get some mystery and murder thrown in about 1/3 of the way and it was quite the ride.

This will be an interesting novel no matter what political leanings the reader has. I was fascinated at this fictional study of how people view government and individual right during the times of crisis. And how emotional decisions should not override logic. Senator Ben Kincaid and his wife Christina are likable characters, maybe Chrissy a little more than Ben. She gets better scenes I think. While this series started as a set of courtroom thrillers back when Ben was a struggling attorney, they transitioned into politics. I admit, I was hoping for a little more traditional lawyering and I found Ben's viewpoint a bit difficult to believe at times, given his actual chosen profession. I'm sure long time fans of the series may feel the same.

This one is not for the squeamish. There's terror attacks, torture, and scenes of violence against women. Quite a bit of sex too. Some of both gets to be a bit much. It's not a Sunday drive type of audiobook. Stephen Hoye made an excellent narrator and I would not hesitate to grab another audiobook read by him. I've not read a lot of the Ben Kincaid series which is most of Bernhardt's repertoire. But his writing style flows so well for me that I'm considering taking in more of his work as well. He uses dialouge and a fair amount of description to keep things moving at a great pace. This book was clearly created with the idea to present two sides of a greater legal argument. I think no matter which side a reader finds themselves taking, it's a compelling case on both ends.

(NS)

October 16, 2020 - BCPL Resume Tips

BCPL Resume Tips

 

Tip #1 – Resumes should be a single full page.

 

Keep your resume one page but fill the whole page, no matter how detailed. For those with a long work history, it’s okay to chose only the most recent and/or most relevant jobs. Gaps in job history will often not keep employers from calling back but will simply generate questions regarding it in your interview. If you have a short work history, use formatting to help you fill more space such as spacing or bullets. Volunteer history and community projects are also nice fillers.

 

  

 

October 13, 2020 - Staff Reviews

Hidden

By Laura Griffin

Release Date: August 25th 2020

Ebook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/5137096

3 Stars - A quick moving and standard murder mystery that might be best described as a police procedural. Our hero Jacob takes us through his chilling case of a college town murder, slightly complicated by the twin investigation of tenacious and naturally beautiful reporter Bailey. 

Jacob's a classic detective trying to focus on his latest grisly case and balance a lukewarm love life. He's an everyday man fighting his attraction for Bailey as their careers have that frustraring proverbial line drawn between them. Bailey for her own part seems to want to resist as well, mostly on her side because she's been burned. She's definitely the more memorable personality of the two with her rowing hobby, Boba Fett, and jalapeno pizzas. Her struggle as a reporter to establish her career in modern times came off heartfelt and realistic.

This book was is a struggle to describe because it was neither dark nor light, simple nor complex, and with a medium amount of violence and heat. Hidden is the first in a new series by Griffin that felt somehow simultaneously like a first book and also a follow up. I got the feeling I should have known the stories of side characters like Jacob's partner and Bailey's sister and her husband. But at the same time, I didn't feel lost or like I was missing something. I'm not overly familiar with her work. I still feel like her books aren't quite sure if they want to be more suspense or more romance. If looking for one solidly in either category, I'd put this one in suspense. The mystery ended up being rather intriguing though fairly straightforward. And Jacob wanting to keep Bailey safe seems sort of like a plot after thought.

(NS)

October 12, 2020 - New Arrivals

 October 12, 2020

Adult Fiction

Zombie, Indiana by Scott Kenemore.

Zombie, Indiana explores the impact of an invading zombie horde on a trio of Hoosier protagonists . . . each of whom have some dark secrets to keep. When the governor's daughter mysteriously disappears on a field trip, IMPD Special Sergeant James Nolan, scholarship student Kesha Washington, and Governor Hank Burleson must all come together not only to find the governor's daughter, but also to undertake a quest to redeem the very soul of the state itself . . . all while under constant attack from the living dead.

 

Wild Iris Ridge by RaeAnne Thayne.

Lucy Drake and Brendan Caine have only one thing in common...And it's likely to tear them apart. Because it was Brendan's late wife, Jessie--and Lucy's best friend--who'd brought them together in the first place. And since Jessie's passing, Brendan's been distracted by his two little ones...and the memory of an explosive kiss with Lucy years before his marriage. Still, he'll steer clear of her. She's always been trouble with a capital T. Lucy couldn't wait to shed her small-town roots for the big city. But now that she's back in Hope's Crossing to take care of the Queen Anne home her late aunt has left her, she figures seeing Brendan Caine again is no big deal. After all, she'd managed to resist the handsome fire chief once before, but clearly the embers of their attraction are still smoldering....

 

Hard Edge by Pamela Clare.

Gabriela Marquez came to her parents' homeland of Venezuela to help its people. Working undercover for the CIA as Sister María, a Franciscan nun, she spends long days at the mission, giving food to the poor, helping the sick-and keeping a close watch on local drug trafficking. When a violent raid makes her a hostage together with two American journalists, she finds herself the prisoner of the very cartel she's been spying on. Fortunately for the journalists-but not so luckily for her captors-Sister María is not what she seems to be. Hiding behind her nun's habit, Gabriela puts her training to use to ensure the hostages' survival. Dylan Cruz spent the better part of a decade with Seal Team Six, ridding the world of scum. Now an operative with Cobra International Security, he's sent to Venezuela with a small team to gather intel for a hostage rescue. Against all expectations, he gets valuable information from one of the hostages-a beautiful young nun. Sister María of the Gorgeous Brown Eyes puts R-rated thoughts in his mind, thoughts he has no business thinking. Then again, he always figured he'd end up in hell. When the rescue fails, Dylan finds himself trapped in hostile territory with lovely Sister María. Together, they go underground to reach the Colombian border, but Sister María is full of secrets-and enticing surprises. Beneath that shapeless, gray habit is a woman whose abilities-and passions-are a match for Dylan's. As the desire between them ignites, what should have been a straightforward mission of evade-and-escape turns into a fight for survival against a murderous cartel boss who wants them both dead.

 

Adult Non-Fiction

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel.

Feast on all of the delicious dishes found in Skyrim, Morrowind, and all of Tamriel in this beautifully crafted cookbook based on the award-winning Elder Scrolls game series. Immerse yourself in the diverse cuisines of the Nords, Bosmer, Khajit, and beyond with these recipes inspired by food found in the Old Kingdom, across Tamriel, and more. With over sixty delicious recipes for fan-favorite recipes including Apple Cabbage Stew, Sunlight Soufflé, Sweetrolls, and more, The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook will delight every hungry Dragonborn.

 

The Moonlight Mill Murders of Steubenville, Ohio by Susan M. Guy.

Prohibition ended on December 5, 1933, and Steubenville hoped that its reputation as "Little Chicago" would end with it. That hope was short-lived when, eight weeks later, the Phantom Killer made his midnight debut. Under the glow of a full moon, in the mill yards of Steubenville's Wheeling Steel Plant, the killer ambushed a rail worker, shooting him five times. The Steubenville Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and Wheeling Steel Mill Police joined forces in the New Year to find the Phantom before he took another victim. The strongest of millworkers on the midnight shift began to arm themselves, wondering who would be next. As the investigation wore on, Steubenville was once again thrust into the national spotlight as the Phantom's reign of terror continued. Local historian Susan M. Guy delves into one of the city's most infamous crimes. – Amazon.com.

 

Easy/Juvenile/Young Adult/Graphic Novel

Sunny the Bunny Goes to Camp by Jace Higgins & Paige Bekish. E

Sunny the Bunny is finding it hard to say goodbye to home before she leaves for sleepaway camp--after all, Mom and Dad won't even be there. Trying new things can sometimes be scary, and Sunny is worried that she won't make any friends this summer and she'll be lonely so far away from her family. Boy is she wrong!

 

Max Einstein Saves the Future by James Patterson & Chris Grabenstein. J

Max is back with a thrilling new adventure that involves time travel, creepy bad guys, killer drones, and a shocking mystery about her past that she will stop at nothing to solve! Under constant danger of being kidnapped by the shadowy Corporation, Max is on the run from New York to London and beyond. But soon the call comes for the Change Maker kids' next mission: make sure no kid ever goes hungry again! If anyone can tackle a problem this big, Max and her genius friends can. But mysterious clues about her past keep distracting Max's focus. She always wanted to know who her parents were and why they abandoned her as a baby. If she manages to build a time machine, she could find them and get all the answers! What's more important - her past, or the future of the Change Makers?

Brooke County Public Libraries    Wellsburg (304) 737-1551    Follansbee (304) 527-0860

October 9, 2020 - Book Club Preview

Brooke County Libraries Book Club – October 2020

 

Our selection is The Coast of Chicago by Stuart Dybek. We will be holding our virtual discussion Thursday October 29^th.

 

 

The stolid landscape of Chicago suddenly turns dreamlike and otherworldly in Stuart Dybek's classic story collection. A child's collection of bottle caps becomes the tombstones of a graveyard. A lowly rightfielder's inexplicable death turns him into a martyr to baseball. Strains of Chopin floating down the tenement airshaft are transformed into a mysterious anthem of loss. Combining homely detail and heartbreakingly familiar voices with grand leaps of imagination, The Coast of Chicago is a masterpiece from one of America's most highly regarded writers.

  

About the author Stuart Dybek - 
Stuart Dybek has published three short story collections: Childhood and Other Neighborhoods, The Coast of Chicago, and I Sailed With Magellan; and two volumes of poetry: Brass Knuckles and Streets in Their Own Ink. He has been anthologized frequently and regularly appears in magazines such as the New Yorker, the Atlantic, Harper’s Magazine and the Paris Review.

He has received numerous awards, including: a 1998 Lannan Award; the 1995 PEN/Bernard Malamud Prize "for distinctive achievement in the short story"; an Academy Institute Award in Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1994; a Guggenheim Fellowship; two fellowships from the NEA; a residency at the Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center; and a Whiting Writers Award. He has also received four O. Henry Prizes, including an O. Henry first prize for his story, "Hot Ice." Dybek's story, "Blight," was awarded the Nelson Algren Prize and his collection, Childhood and Other Neighborhoods, which was nominated for the National Book Critics' Circle Award, received the 1981 Prize for Fiction from the Society of Midland Authors and the Cliff Dwellers Award from the Friends of Literature.

Dybek grew up on Chicago’s South Side in a Polish-American neighborhood called Pilsen or Little Village, which is also the main setting for his fiction. He received an M.A. in Literature from Loyola University in Chicago and an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa. He teaches at Western Michigan University when he is not in Chicago.

 

 

October 6, 2020 - Staff Reviews

 Wylde

By Sawyer Bennett

Release Date: August 4, 2020

Ebook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/4905391

3.5 Stars - One of the best entries in Bennett's series about this Arizona hockey team. This one is a minimalist sports romance, perfect easy and light read for a free evening with a charming hero and a quirky heroine. While the story isn't wild as it suggests, how much I enjoyed it sort of snuck up on me.

I had admittedly lost my love for this series after Dominick and Tacker, neither of which sucked me in. Wylde was a breath of fresh air, less broody and more fun. His unabashed ardor for the quiet and careful Clarke was a treat. Clarke's a proud but reserved bookworm who put up just a fair amount of resistance to him, given her previous heartaches. The story isn't particularly exciting and relatively simplistic in plot, but the more I read, the more I was flipping pages and enjoyed it.

Fans of Toni Aleo and Kendall Ryan's latest series will find much to like here. Wylde definitely claims to have a wild past, but Clarke's backstory is actually the more interesting. Their meet-cute didn't exactly draw me in, and I had to get a few chapter behind me before I was really sold. I'll confess there are not a lot of unique or memorable plot points to throw out here as to what kept me intrigued. But even with the lack of action or dynamic scenes, I was entertained and rooting for these two. As for this entry in the series, we do see not one but two couples weddings here so if that's spoiler-y for you, start at the beginning. Fans though will be happy to see that most of the team now is overtaken in happily ever afters. Wylde and Clarke's took maybe a bit of extra push and pull before they got there but it was worth it in the end.

 

(NS)

October 5, 2020 - New Arrivals

 October 5, 2020

Adult Fiction

The Cliff House by RaeAnne Thayne.
"After the death of their mother, sisters Daisy and Beatriz Davenport found a home with their aunt Stella in the beautiful and welcoming town of Cape Sanctuary. They never knew all the dreams that Stella sacrificed to ensure they had everything they'd ever need. Now, with Daisy and Bea grown, it's time for Stella to reveal the secret she's been keeping from them--a secret that will change their family forever. Bea thought she'd sown all her wild oats when she got pregnant far too young. The marriage that followed was rocky and not destined to last, but it gave Bea her wonderful, mature, now eleven-year-old daughter, Marisol. But just as she's beginning to pursue a new love with an old friend, Bea's ex-husband resurfaces and turns their lives completely upside down. Then there's Daisy--sensible, rational, financially prudent Daisy. She's never taken a risk in her life--until she meets a man who makes her question everything she thought she knew about life, love and the power of taking chances. In this heartwarming story, Stella, Bea and Daisy will discover that the path to true happiness is filled with twists and turns, but love always leads them back home"-- Dust jacket.

 

Honor Bound by B.J. Daniels.

Ainsley Hamilton has always been the responsible one in the family. As the oldest daughter of presidential candidate Buckmaster Hamilton, she's also a potential target. For months she's sensed someone following her. When an expedition to scout locations for a commercial takes a terrifying turn, she's rescued by a natural-born cowboy who tempts the good girl to finally let loose. Sawyer Nash knows just how reckless it is to fall for someone he's gone undercover to protect. Yet masquerading as an extra on set, he starts to see beneath Ainsley's controlled facade. And with the election--and a killer--drawing closer, Sawyer stands to lose not just his job and his life but the woman for whom he'd gladly risk both.

 

The Little Teashop on Main by Jodi Thomas.
"Redheaded, curly-haired Zoe is openhearted, kind and free-spirited, and dreams of becoming a famous actor in New York City. Shy Emily struggles with mental health but has the heart and soul of a writer. And Shannon - tall, athletic, strong - has a deep sense of loyalty that will serve her well when she heads off to military college. As Zoe, Emily and Shannon grow into women - forging careers, following dreams and finding love - they'll learn that life doesn't always unfold the way they want it to, but through it all, the one constant is each other, and their regular tea parties. And when the unthinkable happens, the girls must come together to face the greatest test of all." -- Publisher description.

 

Adult Non-Fiction

Return from Siberia by John Shallman.

In the midst of running a long-shot political campaign, Democratic political consultant John Simon discovers a 100-year-old manuscript written by his grandfather Joseph--a brilliant young revolutionary whose exile to Siberia by the last czar of Russia is just the beginning of an extraordinary tale of survival, romance, and revolution. Return from Siberia chronicles not only the Simon family's relationship to each other and the past, but also the remarkable story of a young man who sacrificed everything for his political ideals. As Joseph's manuscript is translated, chapter-by-chapter, the Simon family is pulled deep into their ancestor's story-- in particular, the bitter rivalry between two brothers, whose competing visions of the American Dream are played out on the campaign trail and in their lives. Return from Siberia is a timely appraisal of modern politics and society juxtaposed with an inside look into the machinations of a young political mind 100 years ago.

 

Killing Crazy Horse by Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard.
"The bloody Battle of Tippecanoe was only the beginning. It's 1811 and President James Madison has ordered the destruction of Shawnee warrior chief Tecumseh's alliance of tribes in the Great Lakes region. But while General William Henry Harrison would win this fight, the armed conflict between Native Americans and the newly formed United States would rage on for decades. Bestselling authors Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard venture through the fraught history of our country's founding on already occupied lands, from General Andrew Jackson's brutal battles with the Creek Nation to President James Monroe's epic "sea to shining sea" policy, to President Martin Van Buren's cruel enforcement of a "treaty" that forced the Cherokee Nation out of their homelands along what would be called the Trail of Tears. O'Reilly and Dugard take readers behind the legends to reveal never-before-told historical moments in the fascinating creation story of America. This fast-paced, wild ride through the American frontier will shock readers and impart unexpected lessons that reverberate to this day"-- Provided by publisher.

 

Easy/Juvenile/Young Adult/Graphic Novel

Department of Mind-Blowing Theories by Tom Gauld. GN

A collection of one hundred and fifty comic strips topical and funny enough to engage any layperson with a rudimentary recall of their old science classes as well as those who consider themselves boffins of the contemporary physical and natural world.

 

Mary and the Trail of Tears by Andrea L. Rogers. J

Twelve-year-old Mary and her Cherokee family are forced out of their home in Georgia by U.S. soldiers in May 1838. From the beginning of the forced move, Mary and her family are separated from her father. Facing horrors such as internment, violence, disease, and harsh weather, Mary perseveres and helps keep her family and friends together until they can reach the new Cherokee nation in Indian Territory. Featuring nonfiction support material, a glossary, and reader response questions, this Girls Survive story explores the tragedy of forced removals following the Indian Removal Act of 1830.

Brooke County Public Libraries    Wellsburg (304) 737-1551    Follansbee (304) 527-0860

October 2, 2020 - Afraid of the "Dark"

Brooke County Libraries October 2020 Theme

Afraid of the Dark?

 

Check out these “dark” novels available at Brooke County Libraries. All titles are available at either Wellsburg or Follansbee locations or WV Reads Ebooks.

Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly

From the blurb - Along the way, the two detectives forge a fragile trust, but this new partnership is put to the test when the case takes an unexpected and dangerous turn. Dark Sacred Night for the first time brings together these two powerhouse detectives in a riveting story that unfolds with furious momentum. 

Dark Watch by Clive Cussler & Jack Du Brul

From the blurb - Cabrillo and his motley crew aboard the clandestine spy ship Oregon have made a very comfortable and very dangerous living working for high-powered Western interests. But their newest clients have come from the Far East to ask for Cabrillo's special brand of assistance.

Dark Tribute by Iris Johansen

From the blurb -  Cara will have to use every instinct she has to stay one step ahead, or else she’ll pay the deadly tribute of her family’s dark past.

The Dark Side by Danielle Steel

From the blurb - When Zoe falls in love and has her own child, she is determined to be a perfect mother as well. But before long, old scars long dormant begin to pull Zoe to the edge of an abyss too terrifying to contemplate. 

Dark Harbor by David Hosp

From the blurb - Rising from his disadvantaged youth, lawyer Scott Finn works for the defense of a high-profile client after the murder of a former flame, a case involving his own credibility and a determined police lieutenant.

Dark Eye by William Bernhardt

From the blurb - White-knuckling her way to the center of the case, she becomes the key player in a desperate hunt for a killer who believes he has found divine inspiration in the works of Edgar Allan Poe. But even with the assistance of Darcy’s astonishing skills, Pulaski is in even more danger than she knows.

Afraid of the Dark by James Grippando

From the blurb - Sergeant Vince Paulo held his best friend's daughter, McKenna, bleeding in his arms as she uttered the name of her murderer and ex-boyfriend, Jamal. That was minutes before a blast made everything go black for Vince—forever

Darkness, Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane

From the blurb - Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro’s latest client is a prominent Boston psychiatrist, running scared from a vengeful Irish mob. The private investigators know about cold-blooded retribution. Born and bred on the mean streets of blue-collar Dorchester, they’ve seen the darkness that lives in the hearts of the unfortunate.

Dark Rites by Heather Graham

From the blurb - The search for Alex will take them deep into the wilderness of Massachusetts on the trail of a serial killer, and it will take everything they have to survive the ancient evil that awakens and threatens not just the man they’re striving to save but their very souls.

Darkest Fear by Harlan Coben

From the blurb - A surprise visit from an ex-girlfriend is unsettling enough. But Emily Downing’s news brings Myron to his knees. Her son Jeremy is dying and needs a bone marrow transplant from a donor who has vanished without a trace.

Dark Song by Christine Feehan

From the blurb - Stolen from her home at a young age and tormented for centuries, Elisabeta Trigovise is scared to show herself to anyone. Even though she has been rescued and is now safe within the Carpathian compound, she has lived in fear for so long she has no idea how to survive without it. 

Whiskers in the Dark by Rita Mae Brown

From the blurb - Death stalks the Blue Ridge Mountains as a centuries-old mystery resurfaces and murder mars the lead-up to an annual beagle competition, in a thrilling new tale from Rita Mae Brown and her feline co-author Sneaky Pie Brown.