August 3, 2022 - BCPL Salty Seas Reads

Looking for a read that will take you sailing across the seven seas? Or maybe you just enjoy nautical fiction?

Look no further than these titles available from Brooke County Libraries! All of the following fiction novels are available as ebook copies or at one of our locations.

Sea Change by Karen White

For as long as she can remember, Ava Whalen has struggled with a sense of not belonging, and now, at thirty-four, she still feels stymied by her family. Then she meets child psychologist Matthew Frazier, and thinks her days of loneliness are behind her. After a whirlwind romance, they impulsively elope, and Ava moves to Matthew’s ancestral home on St. Simons Island off the coast of Georgia. But after the initial excitement, Ava is surprised to discover that true happiness continues to elude her. There is much she doesn’t know about Matthew, including the mysterious circumstances surrounding his first wife’s death.

A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende

In the late 1930s, civil war grips Spain. When General Franco and his Fascists succeed in overthrowing the government, hundreds of thousands are forced to flee in a treacherous journey over the mountains to the French border. Among them is Roser, a pregnant young widow, who finds her life intertwined with that of Victor Dalmau, an army doctor and the brother of her deceased love. In order to survive, the two must unite in a marriage neither of them desires.

Captive of My Desires by Johanna Lindsey

Gabrielle Brooks sets sail from England to a Caribbean island in search of her estranged father and encounters a life-altering surprise -- her father is a pirate! After spending three wonderful years hunting treasure with him, Gabrielle is dismayed when he decides she must return to London to find a proper husband. His old friend James Malory will sponsor her in polite society. Gabrielle is escorted to balls and parties by James's wife, Georgina, and her brother, Drew Anderson, a dashing American sea captain and fun-loving rogue. When Drew embroils Gabrielle in a scandal the night before he's to sail home, the pirate's daughter vows revenge by commandeering Drew's ship and taking him prisoner. But as passion runs high on their sea voyage, it becomes difficult to tell who is truly the captor and who is the captive. 

Pirate by Clive Cussler & Robin Burcell

An 800-year-old treasure... an ancient cypher wheel... a brutal murder... and a man who will stop at nothing to claim what he considers rightfully his. Husband-and-wife treasure-hunting team Sam and Remi Fargo have gone on impossible missions before and faced many perils, but never have they faced an adversary as determined as the one before them now. The battle will take them halfway around the world, and at its end will be either one of the most glorious finds in history — or certain death.

Gift from the Sea by Anna Schmidt

A steadfast faith kept nurse Maggie Hunter going through the darkest days of the Great War. But her fiance's death overseas shattered her trust in God and her heart. Now an injured man has washed up on the shores of her Nantucket home, and to save him, Maggie must put more than her skill and dedication on the line....Wartime tragedy cost Stefan Witte everything--and converted him to the cause of peace. But to deliver vital information to American authorities, he must fight Maggie's stubborn refusal to believe or forgive. Soon he will risk his life to win her trust--and their heaven-sent future together.

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

Jamaica in 1665 is a rough outpost of the English crown, a minor colony holding out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Port Royal, Jamaica′s capital, a cut-throat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses, is devoid of London′s luxuries; life here can end swiftly with dysentery or a dagger in your back. But for Captain Charles Hunter it is a life that can also lead to riches, if he abides by the island′s code. In the name of His Majesty King Charles II of England, gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking. And law in the New World is made by those who take it into their hands.

A Sunless Sea by Anne Perry

Monk's old superior Runcorn was first on the scene for Lambourn, and now suspects government suppression. Lambourn's beautiful wife wife Dinah, lies about her whereabouts, denies accusations, but Monk must arrest her despite his belief in her innocence. While public, press, government, and biased judge push for quick hanging before Xmas, Monk, his spirited wife Hester, and their brilliant barrister friend Oliver Rathbone, search for answers. From dank waterfront alleys to London’s fabulously wealthy West End, the three trail an ice-blooded murderer toward the unbelievable, possibly unproveable truth—and ultimately engage their adversaries in an electric courtroom duel.

Sail by James Patterson & Howard Roughan

Since the death of her husband, Anne Dunne and her three children have struggled in every way. In a last ditch effort to save the family, Anne plans an elaborate sailing vacation to bring everyone together once again. But only an hour out of port, everything is going wrong. The teenage daughter, Carrie, is planning to drown herself. The teenage son, Mark, is high on drugs and ten-year-old Ernie is nearly catatonic. This is the worst vacation ever. Anne manages to pull things together bit by bit, but just as they begin feeling like a family again, something catastrophic happens. Survival may be the least of their concerns.

The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners by Luanne Rice

A legendary island steeped in the mystery and wisdom of centuries…  A runaway heiress learning to trust life, and love…  A mother and daughter, separated for years, searching for a way to face the future together…

Sailing to Capri by Elizabeth Adler

When English tycoon Sir Robert Waldo Hardwick dies mysteriously in a car accident, he leaves behind a note naming six people he suspects might have wanted him dead. Daisy Kean, and P.I. Harry Montana team up to take the suspects--and also six 'red herrings'--on a fabulous Mediterranean cruise, all expenses paid by the late Sir Robert.  As they call at Monte Carlo, St. Tropez and Sorrento, the mystery deepens.  And the unexpected twists are just the beginning. 

A Burial at Sea by Charles Finch

1873 is a perilous time in the relationship between France and England. When a string of English spies is found dead on French soil, the threat of all-out war prompts government officials to ask Charles Lenox to visit the newly-dug Suez Canal on a secret mission. Once he is on board the Lucy, however, Lenox finds himself using not his new skills of diplomacy but his old ones: the ship's second lieutenant is found dead on the voyage's first night, his body cruelly abused. The ship's captain begs the temporarily retired detective to join in the hunt for a criminal. Lenox finds the trail, but in the claustrophobic atmosphere on board, where nobody can come or go and everyone is a suspect, he has to race against the next crime—and also hope he won't be the victim.

Two if by Sea by Jacquelyn Mitchard

Just hours after his wife and her entire family perish in the Christmas Eve tsunami in Brisbane, American expat and former police officer Frank Mercy goes out to join his volunteer rescue unit and pulls a little boy from a submerged car, saving the child’s life with only seconds to spare. In that moment, Frank’s own life is transformed. Not quite knowing why, Frank sidesteps the law, when, instead of turning Ian over to the Red Cross, he takes the boy home to the Midwestern farm where he grew up. Not long into their journey, Frank begins to believe that Ian has an extraordinary, impossible telepathic gift; but his only wish is to protect the deeply frightened child. 

Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea by Nancy Atherton

Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity novels have enchanted thousands of readers, and this new addition to the series is likely to broaden the spell. A series of death threats sends Lori Shepard to a remote island off the Scottish coast and to a fabulous castle restored by an eccentric friend of her husband's. But she finds herself drawn into an elaborate whodunit that may involve smuggling- or worse. Why has a human skull washed up on the beach? Is a desolate island really the best place to hide from a murderer? As Lori draws once more on Aunt Dimity's supernatural aid, Atherton whips equal measures of whimsy and suspense into an irresistible confection.

Set Sail for Murder by Carolyn Hart

When retired newspaper reporter Henrietta O’Dwyer Collins, Henrie O to her friends, receives a call for help, she discovers that love once kindled never burns to ashes. Although she refused Jimmy Lennox’s marriage proposal, there is still a special place for him in her heart. She wished him well when he found happiness with Sophia Montgomery, world-famous documentary filmmaker and stepmother to the now grown heirs of a great fortune. Sophia is at odds with the heirs, and Jimmy fears for her safety. He asks Henrie O to come along with the family on a Baltic cruise. Henrie O can’t turn down her old friend, though old passions are stirred when he calls.

Pirate by Ted Bell

Aboard a ship in the south of France, an American spy faces certain torture and death for the vital, explosive intelligence he possesses. In Paris, a ruthless and powerful descendant of Napoleon has forged an unholy alliance with China for its growing nuclear arsenal, poised to send America and the world to the brink of a gut-wrenching showdown. Now, in a maelstrom of razor's-edge danger, Alex Hawke must enter the nightmare visions of madmen to defuse an axis of evil no historian could have predicted -- and no living soul would survive.

Did we leave out any of your favorite sea-worthy tales? Let us know! We'd love to hear from you in the comments sections on our pages or in person.

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

 

June 17, 2022 - Summer Library Displays

Hello, book lovers! This month, we're sharing some of our favorite in-house Summer Book displays. We hope you enjoy the post and want to try some ideas in your own school, library, or home collection.

We like to mix it up from the traditional summer titles. Everyone gets the travel bug one way or another when the weather's warm and sunny. So, we like to entice our patrons to get all the fun of leaving town without having to leave their couch!

The Destination Reads are all over the globe and really so are the Beach Reads! But, the Beach Reads are more title specific in pulling books, and the former is a hodgepodge.

Of course we have our traditional summer displays as well! Nothing gets our readers in the mood to grab a book more than seeing the Summer vibes on the cover or in the book blurb.

We try to always grab a couple summery authors or series as well. Susan Mallery's Fools Gold small town romances have all the sweet romantic atmosphere of a summer night under the stars.

Red Hot Reads is a popular title-driven display as well! We have a few summer themes they just really catch the eye and fit with all the activities and holidays of the summer.

With Memorial Day and the 4th of July, we often find a few great American Heroes stories (fiction and non-fiction) to share too. Great for an action-packed read on a rainy afternoon.

We hope you've enjoyed our display ideas and will share yours with us as well! We love to hear from our fellow readers in the comments, in person, or on our social media pages.

 

June 2, 2022 - Destination Reads

In the mood to take a trip but not able to travel? Check out one of our Brooke County Libraries favorite Destination Reads!

All titles are available at one of our locations or on our ebook site!

The Jungle by Clive Cussler

Jungles come in many forms. There are the steamy rain forests of the Burmese highlands. There are the lies and betrayals of the world of covert operations. And there are the dark and twisted thoughts of a man bent on near-global domination. To pull off their latest mission, Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon must survive them all.

Sailing to Capri by Elizabeth Adler

When English tycoon Sir Robert Waldo Hardwick dies mysteriously in a car accident, he leaves behind a note naming six people he suspects might have wanted him dead. Daisy Kean, and P.I. Harry Montana team up to take the suspects--and also six 'red herrings'--on a fabulous Mediterranean cruise, all expenses paid by the late Sir Robert.  As they call at Monte Carlo, St. Tropez and Sorrento, the mystery deepens.  And the unexpected twists are just the beginning. 

Mr. Monk Goes to Germany by Lee Goldberg

Based on the hit BBC2 television series, this novel sees obsessive compulsive detective Adrian Monk follow his therapist to Europe, where he finds more than he bargained for.

Murder on the Riviera by Mary-Jane Deeb

While delighting in the sun-drenched beaches and delectable cuisine of the French Riviera, Marie-Christine DeMedici, a twenty-something millionairess, finds herself embroiled in a baffling murder mystery. With the help of her sharp-witted Grandmere, and a shrewd religious sister visiting from the United States, Marie-Christine manages to survive a number of attempts on her life. Only with cunning, persistence, and a keen understanding of human nature can this trio of women outwit a deceptive and dangerous killer lurking in their very midst.

Cuba Straits by Randy Wayne White

Doc Ford’s old friend, General Juan Garcia, has gone into the lucrative business of smuggling Cuban baseball players into the U.S. He is also feasting on profits made by buying historical treasures for pennies on the dollar. He prefers what dealers call HPC items—high-profile collectibles—but when he manages to obtain a collection of letters written by Fidel Castro between 1960–62 to a secret girlfriend, it’s not a matter of money anymore. Garcia has stumbled way out of his depth.

Midnight in Europe by Alan Furst

Cristián Ferrar, a brilliant and handsome Spanish émigré, is a lawyer in the Paris office of a prestigious international law firm. Ferrar is approached by the embassy of the Spanish Republic and asked to help a clandestine agency trying desperately to supply weapons to the Republic’s beleaguered army—an effort that puts his life at risk in the battle against fascism.

Chronicle of a Last Summer by Yasmine El Rashidi

Cairo, 1984. A blisteringly hot summer. A young girl in a sprawling family house. Her days pass quietly: listening to a mother’s phone conversations, looking at the Nile from a bedroom window, watching the three state-sanctioned TV stations with the volume off, daydreaming about other lives. Underlying this claustrophobic routine is mystery and loss. Relatives mutter darkly about the newly-appointed President Mubarak. Everyone talks with melancholy about the past. People disappear overnight. Her own father has left, too—why, or to where, no one will say. 

The Last Night in London by Karen White

London, 1939. Beautiful and ambitious Eva Harlow and her American best friend, Precious Dubose, are trying to make their way as fashion models. When Eva falls in love with Graham St. John, an aristocrat and Royal Air Force pilot, she can’t believe her luck – she’s getting everything she ever wanted. Then the Blitz devastates her world, and Eva finds herself slipping into a web of intrigue, spies and secrets. As Eva struggles to protect everything she holds dear, all it takes is one unwary moment to change their lives forever.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Private: India by James Patterson

In Mumbai, seemingly unconnected people are dying, strangled in a chilling ritual and with strange objects carefully arranged with the corpses. For Santosh Wagh, head of Private India, the Mumbai branch of the world's finest investigation agency, it's a race against time to stop the killer striking again. In a city of over thirteen million, he'd have his work cut out at the best of times, but this case has him battling Mumbai's biggest gang lord and a godman who isn't all he seems.

The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen

Caroline Grant is struggling to accept the end of her marriage when she receives an unexpected bequest. Her beloved great-aunt Lettie leaves her a sketchbook, three keys, and a final whisper…Venice. Caroline’s quest: to scatter Juliet “Lettie” Browning’s ashes in the city she loved and to unlock the mysteries stored away for more than sixty years.

The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd

Brilliantly weaving impeccable historical research with stirring storytelling, Edward Rutherfurd explores our shared Celtic roots in a magnificent epic of Ireland spanning eleven centuries. While vividly conveying the passions and struggles that shaped particularly the character of Dublin, Rutherfurd portrays the major events in Irish history.

The Greek Villa by Judith Gould

When Tracey Sullivan's father dies, she is compelled to investigate the whereabouts of the mother who abandoned her years before. Soon she becomes embroiled in the dark and deadly secrets of an aging actress who won't let go of her past-or the handsome young agent in her clutches.

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

Birdie Cousins has thrown herself into the details of her daughter Chess's lavish wedding, from the floating dance floor in her Connecticut back yard to the color of the cocktail napkins. Like any mother of a bride-to-be, she is weathering the storms of excitement and chaos, tears and joy. But Birdie, a woman who prides herself on preparing for every possibility, could never have predicted the late-night phone call from Chess, abruptly announcing that she's cancelled her engagement.

Did we leave out any of favorite Destination Reads? Let us know! We'd love to hear from you in the comments section, in person, or on our social media pages!

 

May 4, 2022 - Sweet Stories

In the mood for a sweet story? We've got some titles here to satisfy your sweet tooth!

These are some of our favorite fiction books and authors. All titles available at Brooke County Libraries or on our Ebook site WV Reads.

Sweet Laurel Falls by RaeAnne Thayne

Spring should bring renewal, but Maura McKnight–Parker cannot escape the past. Still reeling from the loss of one daughter, the former free spirit is thrown for a loop by the return of her older daughter, Sage, and the reappearance of her first love, Sage's father.

Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan

Cambridge student Serena Frome's beauty and intelligence make her the ideal recruit for MI5. The year is 1972. The Cold War is far from over. England's legendary intelligence agency is determined to manipulate the cultural conversation by funding writers whose politics align with those of the government. The operation is code named "Sweet Tooth."

Sweet Santuary by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Kim Vogel Sawyer effortlessly blends romance, faith and intrigue. Set in World War II New York, Sweet Sanctuary introduces Lydia Eldridge, her young son Nicky, and Dr. Micah Hatcher, a man from Lydia's past.

Sweet Talk by Julie Garwood

When his carefully planned FBI sting is foiled by IRS attorney Olivia MacKenzie's efforts to untangle an elaborate Ponzi scheme, agent Grayson Kincaid becomes the woman's protector against dangerous and corrupt adversaries.

Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinsky

Can the bonds of friendship weather a betrayal? Charlotte and Nicole were once best friends, spending long, idyllic summers together in Nicole's family home on the island of Quinnipeague, but they have since grown apart.

Sweet Thunder by Ivan Doig

A beloved character brings the power of the press to 1920s Butte, Montana, in this latest from the best storyteller of the WestIn the winter of 1920, a quirky bequest draws Morrie Morgan back to Butte, Montana, from a year-long honeymoon with his bride, Grace.

 Sweet Tomorrows by Debbie Macomber

Nine months ago, Mark Taylor abruptly left Cedar Cove on a perilous mission to right a wrong from his past. Though Mark finally confessed his love for her, innkeeper Jo Marie Rose is unsure if he’s ever coming back. The Rose Harbor Inn barely seems the same without Mark, but Jo Marie can’t bear to lose herself in grief once more. Determined to move forward, she begins dating again, and finds companionship when she takes on a boarder who is starting a new chapter herself.

Sweet Mercy by Ann Tatlock

When Eve Marryat’s father is laid off from the Ford Motor Company in 1931, he is forced to support his family by leaving St. Paul, Minnesota, and moving back to his Ohio roots. Eve’s uncle Cyrus has invited the family to live and work at his Marryat Island Ballroom and Lodge. St. Paul seemed like a haven for gangsters, and Eve had grown fearful of living there. At seventeen, she considers her family to be “good people.” They aren’t lawbreakers and criminals like so many people in her old neighborhood. Thrilled to be moving to a “safe haven,” Eve is blissfully unaware that her uncle’s lodge is a transfer station for illegal liquor smuggled from Canada. 

Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson

Goldy Schulz is thrilled to be catering a holiday breakfast feast for the staff of the Aspen Meadow Library. But little does she know that on the menu, alongside the Great Expectations Grapefruit, Chuzzlewit Cheese Pie, and Bleak House Bars, is a large helping of murder.

Sweet Vengeance by Fern Michaels

Tessa Jamison couldn't have imagined anything worse than losing her beloved twin girls and husband--until she was convicted of their murder. For ten years, she has counted off the days in Florida's Correctional Center for Women, fully expecting to die behind bars. Fighting to prove her innocence holds little appeal now that her family's gone. But on one extraordinary day, her lawyers announce that Tessa's conviction has been overturned due to a technicality, and she's released on bail to await a new trial.

Sweet Rain by Nora Roberts

Second Nature-Lee Radcliffe got the scoops that no one else did, the interviews nobody could score. Like bestselling horror writer and notorious recluse. Hunter Brown. But she never expected that when she met the rugged, intense author, she'd be the one getting all the hard questions and revealing more of herself than she'd ever dared. Or that he would show her a different way to live, and ultimately, to love. Lessons Learned- Carlo Franconi embodied everything that Juliet Trent avoided in a client; he was arrogant, seductive, passionate and entirely too charming. But Juliet prided herself on being the consummate professional. Surely she could resist the famous chef, even if they were going to be spending every waking minute together. Even if Carlo was looking at her like a fine dish he just couldn't wait to taste.

Ain't She Sweet? by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

In high school Sugar Carey had reigned supreme. She alone had decided what or who was cool. Her spiral perm had been the perm against which all others were measured, and her opinion on which boys were acceptable to date the only one that counted. A beautiful, blonde - if not always benevolent - dictator, she had a reputation for being the wild child in her home town, the girl most likely to set the world on fire, and leave a trail of destruction in her wake. When she left home she swore she'd never return. Only now, fifteen years and several husbands later, she's run out of money, luck and options...

Sweet Tea at Sunrise by Sherryl Woods

Any problem can be solved with sweet tea, sunshine and good friends. After her disastrous marriage ended in divorce, Sarah Price has come home to Serenity, South Carolina, for a fresh start. With support from her two best friends--the newest generation of the Sweet Magnolias--the emotionally wounded single mom knows she can face any crisis.

Did we leave out any of your favorite sweet books? Feel free to let us know! We love to hear from you in comments sections, in person, or on our social media pages!