May 31, 2022 - Staff Reviews

Rock Courtship

By Nalini Singh

Release Date: September 30, 2014

Ebook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/wvreads-wvlc/content/media/1954331

3 Stars - A short and sweet short novel that can be read outside the Singh rock star series. Thea and David have quite the sparks and a pretty adorable way of communicating that takes center stage. Thea has some emotional hang ups to work through but David's not about to let her get away.

Singh's rock star series is one of the better ones in my opinion. Her characters are very heartfelt and unique, perhaps something that carries over from her more long running fantasy series. She has a nice touch with emotion even without a lot of dramatic moments and discoveries. David is a nearly perfect hero. Raised by patient and proud parents, her tries to reflect their teachings in all that he does. But he's also a bad boy drummer who knows what he wants. Thea is much less easily devoted and indecisive. She tries a little too hard to protect her tender heart from David's advances.

These two were already friends and tied together at the start of the story. But their relationship hasn't really begun and takes awhile to get started. It was impressive how much dialouge, plot, and more Singh was able to infuse in this short story. And there's a lot of steamy scenes too. We get to meet both David and Thea's parents and explore some of their youthful choices that led them to their present. And Thea's relationship with he ex sort of looms over them in a way I didn't carry for, personally. But it did add an element of angst and give Thea a hang up that keeps them from being instantly perfect together. David's so bright and loving though that he manages to break her shell. They have some help from friends though too, namely David's band. Those characters make up the other characters in the series. Overall, this was a fun little read with just enough backstory and drama to keep things interesting. Worth a quick read for fans of the series or general romance lovers.

(NS)

May 30, 2022 - New Arrivals

Adult Fiction

High Stakes by Danielle Steele.

Jane Addison is an ambitious young woman with big dreams of owning her own company someday. At twenty-eight, she arrives in New York to start a job at Fletcher and Benson, a prestigious talent agency. Eager to impress her new colleagues, Jane jumps right in as an assistant to Hailey West, one of the agents in the literary department. Hailey is dedicated to the authors she represents, but her home life is chaotic and challenging. After her husband's tragic and untimely death, she was left widowed with three children to raise on her own. Then there's Francine Rivers, the stern and accomplished head of the literary department. Also a single mom after her husband's affair with the nanny, she has overcome the resulting financial hardships, but only with unbearable sacrifice. Compared to Hailey and Francine, drama agent Allie Moore's life seems much more carefree and uncomplicated. She relishes her success and loves working with the talented actors they represent--until a passionate relationship with one of her rising star clients threatens to derail her career. Merriwether Jones is the CFO for the agency. She appears to have it all--beauty, success, and a perfect marriage until her husband's jealousy over her career threatens to blow everything up. Even though she's a newcomer, Jane quickly realizes that there are damaging secrets hidden behind the doors of Fletcher and Benson.  As one of the youngest employees, she has the least power, but is also the least willing to accept things as they have been for years. When she puts everything on the line to right these wrongs, the consequences will leave no one unscathed.

 

The Lightning Rod by Brad Meltzer.

What's the one secret no one knows about you? Archie Mint has a secret. He's led a charmed life--he's got a beautiful wife, two impressive kids, and a successful military career. But when he's killed while trying to stop a robbery in his own home, his family is shattered--and then shocked when the other shoe drops. Mint's been hiding criminal secrets none of them could have imagined.

While working on Mint's body before his funeral, mortician "Zig" Zigarowski discovers something he was never meant to see. That telling detail leads him to Mint's former top secret military unit and his connection to artist Nola Brown. Two years ago, Nola saved Zig's life--so he knows better than most that she's as volatile and dangerous as a bolt of lightning. Following Nola's trail, he uncovers one of the U.S. government's most intensely guarded secrets--an undisclosed military facility that dates back to the Cold War and holds the key to something far more sinister: a hidden group willing to compromise the very safety and security of America itself. Trouble always finds her...She's the lightning rod.

 

Afraid by Lisa Jackson, Alexandra Ivy, & Lisa Childs.

"LUCY: Lucy Champagne was sent to St. Cecilia's after her movie-star mother was brutally attacked by her sleazy boyfriend, Ray Watkins. Lucy's damning testimony landed Ray a twenty-five-year sentence. But now, Ray is free. And he's going to find Lucy and make her pay, no matter how far and how fast she runs . . . RAYNE: Rayne Taylor found unexpected happiness at St. Cecilia's, until her roommate, Natalie, committed suicide. Only when Rayne finds a box of mementoes from that time does she realize how wrong she may have been about Natalie's death - and how far someone will go to keep the truth hidden . . . ERIN: Erin MacDonald remembers little about the long-ago night she and her sister, Anna Beth, were kidnapped. While Erin was found safe, Anna Beth vanished forever. Now Erin has reluctantly come back to the family estate, where Detective Rafe Montego hopes to finally crack the case. But as flashes of Erin's memory reemerge, she learns how deep the danger goes."-- Provided by publisher.

 

Adult Non-Fiction

Vice President Kamala Harris by Malaika Adero.

"When Kamala Harris became vice president of the United States, she made history as the first woman, first Black person, first South Asian American, and first Caribbean American to hold the office. This stunning book covers Harris's life from her childhood in Berkeley to her Howard College years, charting the many firsts she has carried with her throughout her legal and senatorial careers. It also explores Harris's presidential campaign, her family (her husband, Doug Emhoff, is the first Second Gentleman and the first Jewish vice presidential spouse), the inauguration and her first months in the White House, and includes sidebars giving historical context to Black and female representation in government." -- Provided by publisher.

 

Secrets in the Mist by Jane Kraina.

Secrets in the Mist is the true story of Brown's Island a small island in the Ohio River between the states of Ohio and West Virginia. On December 15, 1972, a horrific explosion shook the construction site of a state-of-the-art coking facility being built for Weirton Steel. Residents on both sides of the river felt the reverberations. The ensuing fire and destruction took the lives of nineteen men. After talking to over a hundred people, Jane Kraina and Mary Zwierzchowski, found intriguing accounts from a variety of workers on the island that fateful misty day, and heroes who gave their own lives while helping to retrieve their fellow laborers. Over half of the workers were young, leaving small children behind. The industrial plant on the island was just one example of the island's mirror of American times. That year 1 million workers joined the Electrical Union. The area within 20 miles of the island held ancient artifacts, some over 16,000 years old. Carnegie Mellon Institute of Technology carbon dated artifacts from a hearth on island at 1200 A.D. The authors trace the history of the island in the 1800s and 1900s. Through diaries and books about the agricultural development of the island, they bring the island to life as it transforms from a slave owning area to independent farmers. As America entered the industrial era, entrepreneurs saw the island's possibilities. After the growth of Weirton Steel due to massive production related to WWII, the company purchased the island with the ideas of storage, dredging and expansion of its coke production. The cause of the accident drew much speculation and theories are offered, including the most likely scenario. This book commemorates the nineteen men who lost their lives 50 years ago.

 

Easy/Juvenile/Young Adult/Graphic Novel

Cinder & Glass by Melissa de la Cruz.  YA

Cendrillon de Louvois has more grace, beauty, and charm than anyone else in France. While she was once the darling child of the king's favorite adviser, her father's death has turned her into the servant of her stepmother and cruel stepsisters--and at her own chateau, too! Cendrillon--now called Cinder--manages to evade her stepmother and attend the ball, where she catches the eye of the handsome Prince Louis and his younger brother Auguste. Even though Cendrillon has an immediate aversion to Louis, and a connection with Auguste, the only way to escape her stepmother is to compete with the other women at court for the Prince's hand. Soon, as Cendrillon glows closer to Auguste and dislikes the prince more and more, she will have to decide if she can bear losing the boy she loves in order to leave a life she hates.

 

Amazona by Canizales.  YA GN

Andrea, a young Indigenous Colombian woman, has returned to the land she calls home. Only nineteen years old, she comes to mourn her lost child, carrying a box in her arms. And she comes with another mission. Andrea has hidden a camera upon herself. If she can capture evidence of the illegal mining that displaced her family, it will mark the first step toward reclaiming their land.

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

May 27, 2022 - BCPL Young Adult Author of the Month

Welcome back, readers! We're excited to share our May 2022 Young Adult Author of the Month. This month we are featuring author Sarah Dessen. She's charmed young readers with her romance stories and coming of age dramas for years now.

Sarah Dessen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen novels for teens, including The Truth About Forever, Just Listen and This Lullaby. Her work has been published in over thirty countries and sold millions of copies worldwide. She is the recipient of the 2017 Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association for outstanding contribution to young adult literature. 

She lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Born in Illinois, Dessen graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Her first book, That Summer, was published in 1996. She has since published more than a dozen other novels and novellas. In 2017, Dessen won the Margaret Edwards Award for some of her work. In 2019, Dessen was involved in a public controversy after she criticized a student who had opposed a book of hers in a university reading program. Two of her books were adapted into the 2003 film How to Deal.

In 2017, Dessen was interviewed by Anna Gragert. During the interview, Gragert asked Dessen about the style she uses in some of her books, otherwise known as "effortless perfection". Dessen describes this term as the young girls in her books being able to have friends, look good, be a good student and have your life together and make it look easy. 

At the start of the book, the reader is supposed to relate with the main characters and throughout their changes in the book, the reader should see that it is okay to not have everything together and not be perfect. Gragert asked Dessen about her anxiety coping mechanisms because writing tends to cause an author to be anxious. Dessen said that she likes to exercise and read in her free time because all writers are going to be anxious, it's part of the process, but it also opens their mind more because they see the world differently than readers.

Want to check out some of Sarah's work or make a recommendation to a young reader? Check out our selection on her stories on our ebook site WV Reads!

Did Dessen's novels touch your life or maybe one of your friends couldn't put her books down? We'd love to hear from you in our comment sections, in person, or on our social media pages.

As always, images and info are courtesy of Google, Wikipedia, WV Reads, author webpages, and more.

 

May 25, 2022 - Staff Reviews

 

The Thin Man

By Dashiell Hammett

Release Date: December 1933

Audiobook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/wvreads-wvlc/content/media/114791

3 Stars - This fun and fast little classic mystery probably has something for everyone. Hammett's snappy dialouge makes up a slightly meandering mystery plot. Nick and Nora's characters are also nearly every bit as likable as in the movie series though the book is a bit darker. All the side characters are crazy and quirky leading to a wild whodunit.

Hammett's quick-paced and quick-witted style makes it easy to see why he's still read today and why Hollywood was eager to scoop up his stories. The twisty and turny but at time repetitive plot left a bit to be desired though for me. Nick's lovable rogue attitude covers his clearly sharp intellect, and he's quite a cad. Nora's around to keep him in line though, mostly, when she's not the one encouraging antics. Dorothy and Mimi the hapless femme fatales got just a little tiresome with all the fluttering and crying, etc.

I think the narrator might have had more to do with Dorothy and Mimi prickling my nerves. But overall Dufris did an excellent performance that was engaging and easy to follow. It was difficult to keep up with what Nick discovered and click the pieces together for yourself. But that's nothing new with these old-fashioned detective stories. This at times felt more like a play than a short novel turned movie. We don't get much out of the setting location wise here though the time period is obvious. We seemed to keep returning to same people and places once too often. Sometimes I had no idea where Hammett's side stories were going. Such as the slightly shocking cannabalism antecdote. And the big climatic ending and reveal felt a bit abrupt. Regardless, this was and fun and easy listen . It's perfect for Golden Age Hollywood fans looking to mix up the classics.

(NS)

May 24, 2022 - A Book & A Recipe

In the mood to add a new dish to your personal menu? Maybe you're looking for a story to read with a foodie vibe? You've come to the right place!

We at Brooke County Libraries are excited to share our May 2022 Dinner and a Recipe idea. This month we're featuring Ten-Minute Crisp Chopped Salad from Sweeter with You by Susan Mallery. That story and this recipe can be found in the Fool's Gold Cookbook. Mallery's quirky and fun small town romance series is a hit with our readers.

Let's get started!

Ingredients:

1 medium cucumber (peeled, halved, and seeded is best).

1 1/2 cups halved cherry or pear tomatoes (about 1/4 pint).

Salt and black pepper.

3 tbsps of extra virgin olive oil.

2 tbsps of white-wine vinegar.

1 small clove garlic, minced.

1 can or 14 oz of chickpeas, drained and rinsed.

1 cup mushrooms, sliced.

1/4 cup of fresh flat-leaf parsley, tarragon, or dill, chopped.

3 cups of iceberg or romaine lettuce, chopped.

1 cup of feta cheese (about 4 oz), crumbled.

Directions:

Set a colander in the sink.

Add cukes, tomatoes, and 1 tsp of salt, toss to coat.

Let stand 10 minutes.

In a large serving bowl, whisk oil, vinegar, and garlic until combined.

Add chickpeas, mushrooms, parsley, and toss to coat.

Add cucumber mix and toss again.

Just before serving, toss in lettuce and cheese.

Season to taste with salt and black pepper.

Tip! Salting and then draining the cukes, tomatoes before tossing them releases their liquid to avoid making the salad soggy.

Be sure to let us know if you try out this recipe! We love to hear from our readers in the comments section, in person, or on our social media pages.

Intrigued by the story? Check out one of our ebook copies either as the novella or part of the cookbook...

Sweeter with You Ebook:

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/wvreads-wvlc/content/media/2580168

Fool's Gold Cookbook:

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/wvreads-wvlc/content/media/1277930

Until next time, book and food lovers!

 Images and info are courtesy of Google, WV Reads, etc.

May 23, 2022 - New Arrivals

Adult Fiction

Phantom Game by Christine Feehan.

Jonas "Smoke" Harper has watched his brothers find their perfect mates, never imagining he'd actually meet someone who complements every part of him--even the monster that lurks within. But his instant connection with Camellia goes far beyond wanting the intelligent, beautiful, and lethal woman in his bed. They are two parts of a whole, linked to each other and to a larger network that exists everywhere around them. Camellia has lived on her own for a long time, relying on her unique psychic abilities to keep her safe. She knows that Jonas was literally made for her, and that makes their addictive connection more dangerous than a thousand enhanced super soldiers. Once the larger threat looming over them is dealt with she's going to get far away as fast as she can. Life has taught her that the only one she can truly trust is herself. Jonas can sense Camellia is going to run--and the hunter inside doesn't want to let go. Not when he knows how good they'll be together. So he'll just have to use all of his considerable skills to convince her to stay....

 

A Family Affair by Robyn Carr.

Anna McNichol knows how to take charge. Raised by a single mother, she's worked to ensure her three children have every advantage she didn't. And while her marriage has its problems, she values commitment and believes in "till death do us part." Now an empty nester, she's at the peak of her career and ready to seize the opportunity to focus on her future. But life can change in an instant, and when her husband dies suddenly, Anna's carefully constructed world falls apart. The mysterious young woman at the memorial service confirms her husband had been keeping secrets, and Anna is determined to get to the truth. For once, she doesn't have the answers. Her kids are struggling with their grief, her mother's health is in decline and Anna needs closure. Faced with one challenge after another, she finds support from an unexpected source. And as she puts her life back together, Anna realizes the McNichols may not be perfect but they'll always be family, and family is forever.

 

A Relative Murder by Jude Deveraux.

Bestselling novelist Sara Medlar is skilled at sharing stories about other people, but she hoped the truth about her own family would never surface. Her home in Lachlan, Florida, is her refuge and she loves having her niece Kate and dear friend Jack Wyatt together under her roof. The Medlar Three, as they are known around town, have sworn off getting involved in any more murder investigations. When the sheriff unexpectedly leaves on vacation, Jack is surprised to find himself appointed as deputy. So when Kate stumbles upon a dead body while visiting a friend, the Medlar Three are back in the sleuthing game. Kate also has a charming new real estate client with a mysterious past. He seems to be followed by trouble and that makes Sara and Jack uneasy. It doesn't take long to discover that the murder and the new man in town are somehow related--the question is how. When the stranger's true identity is revealed, Sara realizes her carefully crafted story is about to unravel and she fears she'll lose Kate and Jack forever. But she desperately hopes that love and honesty will win out over years of lies and deceit. And besides, family is family--even if you sometimes want to kill them.

 

Adult Non-Fiction

What Are the Odds? by Mike Lindell.

"What Are the Odds? From Crack Addict to CEO, is a memoir written by Mike Lindell describing his entrepreneurial journey and how he overcame addiction to build one of America's most successful brands. Woven throughout the book are themes of a "what are the odds" outlook, as well as hope, and an unwavering spirit to never give up."-- Amazon.

 

Overdue by Amanda Oliver.

Who are libraries for, how have they evolved, and why do they fill so many roles in our society today? Based on firsthand experiences from six years of professional work as a librarian in high-poverty neighborhoods of Washington, DC, as well as interviews and research, Overdue begins with Oliver's first day at an "unusual" branch: Northwest One. Using her experience at this branch allows Oliver to highlight the national problems that have existed in libraries since they were founded: racism, segregation, and class inequalities. These age-old problems have evolved into police violence, the opioid epidemic, rampant houselessness, and lack of mental health care nationwide--all of which come to a head in public library spaces. Can public librarians continue to play the many roles they are tasked with? Can American society sustain one of its most noble institutions?

 

Easy/Juvenile/Young Adult/Graphic Novel

A Horse Named Jack by Linda Vander Heyden.  E

Jack is a rather silly horse. And when bored, he takes it upon himself to unlatch his stall and go for an adventure through the farm before escaping into the neighbor's garden for a snack. This rhyming story counts up to ten as Jack makes his way across the farm and then back down as he races home with the neighbor hot on his heels.

 

¡¡Manu!! by Kelly Fernández.  J GN

"Set at a magical school for girls, a funny and heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel adventure about friendship, defying expectations, and finding your place. Manu is always getting into trouble. The headmistress at school believes Manu has the potential to help people with her magic, but Manu would rather have fun than fit in. The other students claim she's secretly a demon and that she was raised by wolves. Manu doesn't care what people say about her ... until an argument with her best friend Josefina ends with Manu getting cursed so she can't control her magic. Manu is determined to break the curse and prove she's the best witchling at school. But great power comes at a cost, and it may be a price Manu isn't able to pay!" -- Provided by publisher.

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

May 19, 2022 - Staff Reviews

Game On

By Janet Evanovich

Release Date: November 2, 2021

Audiobook Available from WV Reads

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/wvreads-wvlc/content/media/6056188

4 Stars! - I personally think Evanovich finally got her groove back with this Plum novel. Stephanie's chasing fugitives again and not zombies, zoo animals, or treasure hunters. And it was refreshing. All the favorite characters come back of course, but the pacing and the plot was a huge improvement. Try it as a throwback read or newcomer to the series.

I've had low expectations for this series for quite awhile but the last few entries started to renew my hope. Finally, Stephanie is back to her old self, and therefore, so are her quirky friends and family. It's like the stars were back in alignment (though Lula would disagreed with me). Stephanie's day starts with a donut at the office. She and Lula catch a few goofy and/or misguided criminals. She's gotta try to one up Diesel this time, and they have a pretty great and sick main villian to chase. This wasn't perfect Plum craziness but it was so close to the classic days.

Somewhere after/around Smokin' 17, most of the Plum fans got a bit fed up. Stephanie was spinning her wheels (when they weren't getting blown up) and instead of giving her just a bit of growing pains, we got this weird dissatisfied Stephanie. She made worse decisions than usual, let the spotlight shine more on Lula and Grandma Mazur, and just generally whined and moaned about the same old problems. But I'm glad I stuck with her. Things picked up around 26 and Fortune & Glory showed signs of promise. We still get all the inside jokes here, they just aren't blown out of proportion. Stephanie actually has a chance to have a beer with Morelli at the end of the day a few times. I think Ranger fans will be a touch disappointed because it takes him awhile to work into the plot, but I don't think any die-hard readers can deny there was finally real progress here. We never needed the series to up the craziness or get a complete revamp. We just needed to return to what made it great in the first place and a few plausible reasons to keep it going.

(NS)

May 18, 2022 - Staff Picks

Thanks for checking in to our latest edition of Brooke County Libraries' Staff Picks!

In Staff Picks, one or more of our staff members recommends titles available from our libraries - fiction or non-fiction, young or adult reads, and everything in between. We can't wait to share you...

Here's a glimpse of the titles chosen this Spring by our crew!

Bunny's Book Club - Written by Annie Silvestro. 

"I loved sharing in Bunny's adventure. Discovering a love of reading at any age is so exciting!" - Staff quote.

From the blurb - Bunny as he takes a a top-secret trip to the library in a story that celebrates the love of reading! Bunny loves to sit outside the library with the kids and listen to summer story time. But when the weather gets cold and everyone moves inside, his daily dose of joy is gone. Desperate, Bunny refuses to miss out on any more reading time and devises a plan to sneak into the library at night . . . through the library’s book drop! What follows is an adorable caper that brings an inquisitive, fuzzy bunny and his woodland pals up close and personal with the books they have grown to love. 

Harry the Happy Mouse by N.G.K -

From the blurb - Harry The Happy Mouse is a cheerful, traditional story about a Mouse called Harry who lives in the colorful English countryside. Harry helps a Frog, but asks the Frog to repay the kindness to someone else. We follow the good deed as it moves through other characters, who each selflessly help someone else, making themselves feel happy in the process! We learn that a little bit of happiness can go a long way! 

Puddin' by Julie Murphy -

"Bazillion Stars! I absolutely love this YA series. The order is Dumplin', Puddin', and Pumpkin. I read them out of order but for some strange reason, they are perfect together and standalone. This book takes you through the typical High School drama, teen angst, first loves, acceptance of yourself, etc. The one-liners are funny, and if you listen via Audiobook like I did to this one - you will be driving in your car laughing." - Staff Quote

From the blurb - Millie Michalchuk has gone to fat camp every year since she was a little girl. Not this year. This year she has new plans to chase her secret dream of being a newscaster—and to kiss the boy she's crushing on. Callie Reyes is the pretty girl who is next in line for dance team captain and has the popular boyfriend. But when it comes to other girls, she's more frenemy than friend. When circumstances bring the girls together over the course of a semester, they surprise everyone (especially themselves) by realizing that they might have more in common than they ever imagined.

Want to see if the audiobook is for you? Check it out on below! 

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/3377162

From the blurb - A stunning novel about love, work, and marriage that asks how far one family and one community will go to protect their future. Colleen and Rich Gundersen are raising their young son, Chub, on the rugged California coast. It's 1977, and life in this Pacific Northwest logging town isn't what it used to be. For generations, the community has lived and breathed timber; now that way of life is threatened.

Interested in Damnation Spring? Check out our ebook copy!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/5807930

That's all for now, folks! Let us know in the comments below, in person, or on one of our social media pages if we're picked any of your favorites or if you have favorites to share with us. We love to hear from our readers.

As always, images and info are courtesy of WV Reads, Google, Goodreads, Author Webpages.

May 17, 2022 - Staff Reviews

 

Burning Desire

By Marie Harte

Release Date: August 24, 2021

Ebook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/5820213

2 Stars - This super slow burn romance series is perfect for fans of Kate Meader and Jaci Burton. Harte has a great touch with dialouge and quirky couples. But this story lacked drama. So if you're looking for romantic comedy with just a little punch and some boss's daughter vibes for a long weekend, this might be for you more than me.

First off, this is a long romance at almost 350 pages. There's not nearly enough plot to fill that so it's a lot of bantery dialouge. It's good banter but I need more. Harte's first book in the trilogy lacked sparks for me too so I went into this with low expectations. Nothing about these stories are setting me up in flames though, in good or bad ways. Here we have plucky photographer Bree, daughter of one of the fire department higher ups. Tex is a former marine and dedicated firefighter who has the hots for her. These two have all the fun push-pull dynamics of a thrown together couple. But somehow, neither of them really clicked with me, and I wasn't feeling the sparks between the two of them early on.

Bree is on an interesting career path that has her colliding with Tex, whom she has tried to avoid. Tex is very much a serial dater and this is no secret to anyone. Honestly, I'd rather read about a player or a hermit than a serial dater. Between that and his instance he got to know Bree and they bonded on a dating app, it just went beyond me. I guess I'm too much of an old soul that way. These two are sweet and considerate all the while they are dancing their little dance away and around each other. Once they finally get together, Harte has no issues with turning up the steam levels. She made a few mistakes though I think, small and large. Small was making references about Bree liking Guinevere when she is a character from King Arthur tales not Robin Hood as told. Other small errors appear. And bigger ones like chosing to start off the first ten percent of the story with flashbacks. This isn't up to her McCauley brothers series standards but it's a pleasant enough read to pass the time.

(NS)

May 16, 2022 - New Arrivals

Adult Fiction

A Safe House by Stuart Woods.

Stone Barrington is looking forward to some quiet time in New York City, until he is asked to transport precious, top-secret cargo across the Atlantic. Taking on the challenge, Stone flies off unaware of what--or who--he is bringing with him. But his plans to lie low are quickly spoiled when a dangerous dispatcher tracks down Stone and his tantalizing mystery guest, intent on payback--and silencing anyone who poses a threat. From the English countryside to the balmy beaches of Key West, Stone is on an international mission to hide and protect those closest to him.

 

The Darkest Place by Phillip Margolin.

Robin Lockwood is an increasingly prominent defense attorney in the Portland community. A Yale graduate and former MMA fighter, she's becoming known for her string of innovative and successful defense strategies. As a favor to a judge, Robin takes on the pro bono defense of a reprehensible defendant charged with even more reprehensible crimes. But what she doesn't know -- what she can't know -- is how this one decision, this one case, will wreak complete devastation on her life and plans.

 

A Sunlit Weapon by Jacqueline Winspear.

October 1942. Jo Hardy, a 22-year-old ferry pilot, is delivering a Supermarine Spitfire--the fastest fighter aircraft in the world--to Biggin Hill Aerodrome, when she realizes someone is shooting at her aircraft from the ground. Returning to the location on foot, she finds an American serviceman in a barn, bound and gagged. She rescues the man, who is handed over to the American military police; it quickly emerges that he is considered a suspect in the disappearance of a fellow soldier who is missing. Tragedy strikes two days later, when another ferry pilot crashes in the same area where Jo's plane was attacked. At the suggestion of one of her colleagues, Jo seeks the help of psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs.  Meanwhile, Maisie's husband, a high-ranking political attaché based at the American embassy, is in the thick of ensuring security is tight for the first lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt, during her visit to the Britain. There's already evidence that German agents have been circling: the wife of a president represents a high value target. Mrs. Roosevelt is clearly in danger, and there may well be a direct connection to the death of the woman ferry pilot and the recent activities of two American servicemen. To guarantee the safety of the First Lady--and of the soldier being held in police custody--Maisie must uncover that connection. At the same time, she faces difficulties of an entirely different nature with her young daughter, Anna, who is experiencing wartime struggles of her own.

 

Adult Non-Fiction

The Storyteller by Dave Grohl.

So, I've written a book. Having entertained the idea for years, and even offered a few questionable opportunities ("It's a piece of cake! Just do 4 hours of interviews, find someone else to write it, put your face on the cover, and voila!") I have decided to write these stories just as I have always done, in my own hand. The joy that I have felt from chronicling these tales is not unlike listening back to a song that I've recorded and can't wait to share with the world, or reading a primitive journal entry from a stained notebook, or even hearing my voice bounce between the Kiss posters on my wall as a child. This certainly doesn't mean that I'm quitting my day job, but it does give me a place to shed a little light on what it's like to be a kid from Springfield, Virginia, walking through life while living out the crazy dreams I had as young musician. From hitting the road with Scream at 18 years old, to my time in Nirvana and the Foo Fighters, jamming with Iggy Pop or playing at the Academy Awards or dancing with AC/DC and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, drumming for Tom Petty or meeting Sir Paul McCartney at Royal Albert Hall, bedtime stories with Joan Jett or a chance meeting with Little Richard, to flying halfway around the world for one epic night with my daughters...the list goes on. I look forward to focusing the lens through which I see these memories a little sharper for you with much excitement.

 

The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones.

"The animating idea of The 1619 Project is that our national narrative is more accurately told if we begin not on July 4, 1776, but in late August of 1619, when a ship arrived in Jamestown bearing a cargo of twenty to thirty enslaved people from Africa. Their arrival inaugurated a barbaric and unprecedented system of chattel slavery that would last for the next 250 years. This is sometimes referred to as the country's original sin, but it is more than that: It is the country's very origin. The 1619 Project tells this new origin story, placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the center of the story we tell ourselves about who we are as a country. Orchestrated by the editors of The New York Times Magazine, led by MacArthur "genius" and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, this collection of essays and historical vignettes includes some of the most outstanding journalists, thinkers, and scholars of American history and culture. Together, their work shows how the tendrils of 1619--of slavery and resistance to slavery--reach into every part of our contemporary culture, from voting, housing and healthcare, to the way we sing and dance, the way we tell stories, and the way we worship. Interstitial works of flash fiction and poetry bring the history to life through the imaginative interpretations of some of our greatest writers. The 1619 Project ultimately sends a very strong message: We must have a clear vision of this history if we are to understand our present dilemmas. Only by reckoning with this difficult history and trying as hard as we can to understand its powerful influence on our present, can we prepare ourselves for a more just future."-- Provided by publisher.

 

Easy/Juvenile/Young Adult/Graphic Novel

Omens Bite by P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast.  YA

Twin sisters, Mercy and Hunter are witches, direct descendants of the Goode family, the founders of their town. After the murder of their mother at the hands of a foul demon, they have become the protectors of the Gates to different underworlds--ancient portals between their world and realms where mythology rules and the darkest of creatures exist. Grief has taken a terrible toll on the twins. Rather than bringing them together, their sadness has torn them apart, driving Mercy to attempt to save the crumbling Gates without her twin and Hunter into the arms of a dangerous goddess. While Mercy looks for aid from Khenti, Guardian of the Egyptian Underworld, Hunter begins to realize the goddess she's allied with is more monster than deity. She needs her sister's help, but Mercy is beyond her reach on an adventure that could cost them everything, including their world.

 

Ice Clash by Emma Carlson Berne.  J

Lou and her brother Otto have played on the same hockey team since they were young. Coach Lopez has always recognized Lou as one of the best players on the team, even though she's the only girl. But Coach has been deployed with his Army Reserves unit. Coach Hoctor is taking over for the next few months . . . and gives his son Lou's starting spot. Can Lou and her teammates convince their new coach of her talent? And can Lou prove that she earned her spot on the team?

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

May 13, 2022 - BCPL Resume Tips

Welcome back, resume warriors! Thanks for checking in for the May 2022 resume tip from Brooke County Libraries.

Resume Tip #19:

Don't leave out your personality!

So, this one is a little vague. Let's explain a bit better. While your resume should absolutely not read like your dating profile, it should reflect you. (No mentions of enjoying long walks and fresh flowers here, please.) In small ways, you can show a little of your personality in your resume profile.

Including sections such as skills, volunteer history, and objectives/goals can show a lot about you as a person while still being relevant to your job experiences. Showcasing your skills such as computer programs, craftsmanship, and certifications will show not just your levels of dedication but hints at your personal interests. 

Again, don't say you enjoy playing video games in your spare time. But if you've got experience with programs designing them, it may be an asset depending on the job position that you are applying for on that particular day. You should tailor your one-page resume to the job you're applying for on the daily as much as possible. Maybe you have experience with woodworking because you took a hobby class and you build furniture in your spare time. That could be a great way to set yourself apart from other construction job candidates.

Another small way to show yourself off is in the format of your resume. There are many templates available now that allow you pick fonts and colors that tip your prospective employer off to your personality. Remember the scene in Legally Blonde where she wrote her paper in pink scented pen? That's a bit much. But it did make Elle Woods memorable to her professor. 

So, while making your font pink curly swiggles will not get you a job position, feel free to select some professional but unique trim, borders, or fonts on your resume to give a hint to a potential boss of your personal style. You might bring a real flair to your next team!

That's all for now, folks! Remember to check your local library during your job search. They can be an excellent resource for job seekers.

May 11, 2022 - Book Club Preview

Welcome back, readers! We're excited today to show off our May Book Club selection. This month we're reading Emily's Ghost by Denise Giardina. This is a particular treat for us as she's a WV native author.

About the book-

A lustrous, beautifully written reimagining of the Brontë family―and of Emily Brontë’s passionate engagement with life. Enigmatic, intelligent, and fiercely independent, Emily Brontë refuses to bow to the conventions of her day: she is distrustful of marriage, prefers freedom above all else, and walks alone at night on the moors above the isolated rural village of Haworth. But Emily’s life, along with the rest of the Brontë family, is turned upside down with the arrival of an idealistic clergyman named William Weightman. Weightman champions poor mill workers’ rights, mingles with radical labor agitators, and captivates Haworth―and the Brontës especially―with his energy and charm. An improbable friendship between Weightman and Emily develops into a fiery but unconsummated love affair―and when tragedy strikes, the relationship continues, like the love story at the heart of Wuthering Heights, beyond the grave.Denise Giardina, whose fiction has been described as “brilliant. . . heart-wrenching, tough and tender”, writes a stirring story about faith, passion, longing, and romantic solitude.

This month's discussion will be held on Thursday, May 26th at 5 pm. We'll be holding it at Brooke County Library in Wellsburg as well as online virtually! Please call us for more info.

About the author-

Denise Giardina is an American novelist. Her book Storming Heaven was a Discovery Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club and received the 1987 W. D. Weatherford Award for the best published work about the Appalachian South. The Unquiet Earth received an American Book Award and the Lillian Smith Book Award for fiction. Her 1998 novel Saints and Villains was awarded the Boston Book Review fiction prize and was semifinalist for the International Dublin Literary Award. Giardina is an ordained Episcopal Church deacon, a community activist, and a former candidate for governor of West Virginia.

We did a full WV author profile on her on the blog a few months ago as well! Check it out.

Intrigued by the book and the author? Check out our Ebook copy on WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/2313133

 

As always, all images and info are courtesy of our OPAC system, Google, Wikipedia, WV Reads, and author webpages.

May 10, 2022 - Staff Reviews

Enemy at the Gates

By Kyle Mills/Vince Flynn

Release Date: September 14, 2021

Audiobook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/6046063

3.5 Stars - Another fast paced thriller that showcases Mills' deft touch with Flynn's characters. Mitch Rapp's contracted to help rescue one of the world's most essential biologists out of the African plains and jungle. He's trying to step away from the dangerous life the CIA offers again but baby steps...

A few things kept this from being an exceptional story. But overall, it was entertaining from the first page to the last. Mills can write in almost seemless transition from Flynn's style. Mitch Rapp's not exactly retired from CIA missions but he's getting dragged into the fray this time from a few different people. He can't trust anyone of course from his new rich benefactor to the new president of the United States. But we do get to enjoy the further adventures of Irene Kennedy, Scott Coleman, and Claudia and Anna as well.

A couple ideas in this were pure testosterone that had me rolling my eyes. Such as an explosive planted on the bad guy's groin. Inventive but slightly ridiculous. And there's a few violent details that will have squeamish readers flipping pages. But hey, it's probably all pretty memorable. Rapp's rescue of a team of scientists in Uganda is central to the story. I sort of found myself rooting for David Chisom, a leader in the world of vaccine research, has an interesting background, for lack of a better word, and his team of researchers.  But there's a lot more happening outside of that mission. Back in the US, Irene Kennedy and Marcus Dumont are tracking a compromise at the CIA, that might be a powerful hacker or might be a mole. I would have liked to feel this all weaved together with a bit stronger ties actually. And I think Mills left a lot on the table. There were a lot of different ways I saw the story could go, and it seems like he kinda just played it safe and kept it simple. Nothing wrong with that, I just think I personally wanted a little more. Mills is writing/walking a fine line between real life economic and political meltdowns and fictional ones. It's quite the ride.

(NS)