March 14, 2022 - New Arrivals

Adult Fiction

Tom Clancy: Chain of Command by Marc Cameron.

A shadowy billionaire has used his fortune to further his corrupt ambitions, and now he is ready to implement his most ambitious plan yet. There's only one force standing in his way: President Jack Ryan. How do you compel a man like Ryan to bend? The billionaire zeros in on his one Achilles heel: Jack Ryan's family. He has assembled an international team of ruthless mercenaries for one mission: kidnap the First Lady.

 

Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens.

"Lifestyle reporter Laura's business trip to the Channel Islands isn't off to a great start. After an embarrassing encounter with the most attractive man she's ever seen in real life, she arrives at her hotel and realizes she's grabbed the wrong suitcase from the airport. Her only consolation is its irresistible contents, each of which intrigues her more and more. The owner of this suitcase is clearly Laura's dream man. Now, all she has to do is find him. But what are the odds that she'd find The One on the same island where her parents first met and fell in love, especially as she sets out to write an article about their romance? Commissioning surly cab driver Ted to ferry her around seems like her best bet in both tracking down the mystery suitcase owner and retracing her parents' footsteps. But as Laura's mystery man proves difficult to find - and as she uncovers family secrets - she may have to reimagine the life, and love, she always thought she wanted."-- Provided by publisher.

 

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain.

When Kayla Carter's husband dies in an accident while building their dream house, she knows she has to stay strong for their four-year-old daughter. But the trophy home in Shadow Ridge Estates, a new development in sleepy Round Hill, North Carolina, will always hold tragic memories. When she is confronted by an odd, older woman telling her not to move in, she almost agrees. It's clear this woman has some kind of connection to the area... and a connection to Kayla herself. Kayla's elderly new neighbor, Ellie Hockley, is more welcoming, but it's clear she, too, has secrets that stretch back almost fifty years. Is Ellie on a quest to right the wrongs of the past? And does the house at the end of the street hold the key?

 

Adult Non-Fiction

The Birth Certificate by Susan J. Pearson.

For many Americans, the birth certificate is a mundane piece of paper, unearthed from deep storage when applying for a driver's license, verifying information for new employers, or claiming state and federal benefits. Yet as Donald Trump and his fellow "birthers" reminded us when they claimed that Barack Obama wasn't an American citizen, it plays a central role in determining identity and citizenship. In The Birth Certificate: An American History, award-winning historian Susan J. Pearson traces the document's two-hundred-year history to explain when, how, and why birth certificates came to matter so much in the United States.

 

Windows 11 for Dummies by Andy Rathbone.

Windows 11 promises to be the fastest, most secure, and most flexible version of the Microsoft operating system yet. With a promise like that, of course you want to start using it, as quickly as possible! Windows 11 For Dummies gives you that speed, security, and flexibility by getting you up to date with the latest in Windows. Windows expert and bestselling author Andy Rathbone gives you a helping hand by showing you how to get around the newly updated Windows 11 interface, how to use the new Windows tools like Teams and widgets, and how to use Android apps. Your tour of Windows 11 starts with the Start menu and ends with how to troubleshoot when things go wrong. In between you find out how to find files on your hard drive, connect with friends and colleagues on Microsoft Teams, transfer photos from your phone to your hard drive, or switch between your desktop and laptop.

 

Easy/Juvenile/Young Adult/Graphic Novel

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood.  YA

Andromeda is a debtera--an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. She would be hired, that is, if her mentor hadn't thrown her out before she could earn her license. Now her only hope of steady work is to find a Patron--a rich, well-connected individual who will vouch for her abilities. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rochester reaches out to hire her, she takes the job without question. Never mind that he's rude and demanding and eccentric, that the contract comes with a number of outlandish rules... and that almost a dozen debtera had quit before her. If Andromeda wants to earn a living, she has no choice. But she quickly realizes this is a job like no other, with horrifying manifestations at every turn, and that Magnus is hiding far more than she has been trained for. Death is the most likely outcome if she stays, the reason every debtera before her quit. But leaving Magnus to live out his curse alone isn't an option because--heaven help her--she's fallen for him.

 

Billie Eilish by Adrian Besley.  YA NF

With number one albums in multiple countries and five Grammys under her belt, Billie Eilish has become a pop sensation. Billie was a promising young dancer until musical success came literally overnight in 2015. A song she uploaded to SoundCloud received a thousand plays in twenty-four hours. The thirteen-year-old's voice intoxicated listeners and the track went viral. Billie and her brother, Finneas, produced a series of eclectic but equally bewitching tracks, which drew fans from around the world. Follow her journey from singing in her bedroom to performing at huge arenas, and find out what makes Billie Eilish the most extraordinary teenage star in the world.

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

March 10, 2022 - Staff Reviews

The Heathens

By Ace Atkins

Release Date: July 13, 2021

Ebook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/5800521

3.5 Stars - Quinn Colson's back but this time quite a bit has changed in the sheriff's life. Things are a bit more laidback and the series returns to more of its mystery roots. He's on the trail of a couple wayward teenagers accused of murder, and in the meantime he might uncover more than he bargained for in his own county.

Ace Atkins seemed like he was tying up all the lose ends with the last Colson novel but then he hit us with a cliffhanger ending. I assume this is where a few fans decide to tap out on the now long-running series. But Quinn's back to living his life with Maggie, Brandon, the new baby, and happily back as  sheriff. His first case back sort of puts him at odds with Lilly, less so through the first half than you would think. It was kind of a nice change of pace though. The newest dumb criminals are surprisingly sympathetic  while being pathetic all the same. 

There's a lot of Bonnie and Clyde references here to TJ and her boyfriend but they seemed a bit far fetched. Lilly's never been impartial which is a bad quality in law enforcement but it's particularly glaring here with TJ. Atkins has a weird way with his characters where he certainly can be insulting to them, even use some pretty bad stereotypes. But he does it across the board so I guess it's all fair. I wish we'd gotten a better new big bad villian though. We've already been through Stagg, Varterman, and Miss Fanny's antics before. He made it pretty difficult to change that up and be original. Also, his writing style is great with an almost lyrical and usually humorous quality. But this time, it seemed a bit too wordy. That could have been me or it could have been the book. We did get a few side characters moving on with their lives this time so it was cool to have different points of view for a change. And I think it actually let a little more of the spotlight show on Quinn, which was great. So some things are new and some are the same, but it's always a fun ride in this series.

(NS)

March 9, 2022 - Book Club Preview

Thanks for stopping in to check out our March 2022 BCPL Book Club pick! 

This month we're reading and discussing Sisters Frist: Stories from our Wild and Wonderful Life by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush.

The meeting will be held on Thursday March 31, 2022 at 5 pm virtually and in person as space and safety issues allow.

About the book -

Funny and poignant personal stories and reflections from former first daughters. Born into a political dynasty, Jenna and Barbara Bush grew up in the public eye. As small children, they watched their grandfather become president; just twelve years later they stood by their father's side when he took the same oath. They spent their college years being trailed by the Secret Service and chased by the paparazzi, with every teenage mistake making national headlines. 

But the tabloids didn't tell the whole story of these two young women forging their own identities under extraordinary circumstances. In this book they take readers on a revealing, thoughtful, and deeply personal tour behind the scenes of their lives, with never-before-told stories about their family, their adventures, their loves and losses, and the special sisterly bond that fulfills them. 

About the authors -

Jenna Bush Hager is a co-host on NBC’s TODAY Show and an editor-at-large for Southern Living magazine. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope, written after she served as an intern with UNICEF in Latin America. She also co-authored the children’s books Our Great Big Backyard and Read All About It! with her mother. She lives with her husband and two daughters in New York.

Barbara Pierce Bush (born November 25, 1981) is an American activist. She co-founded and is the chair of the board of the nonprofit organization Global Health Corps. Global Health Corps provides opportunities for young professionals from diverse backgrounds to work on the front lines of the fight for global health equity. Unlike most of her relatives (but like her twin sister Jenna), Bush is not a member of the Republican Party. In 2010, Bush and her sister told People that they preferred not to identify with any political party, stating, "We're both very independent thinkers.  On October 7, 2018, she married screenwriter Craig Coyne.

Did you read Sisters First and enjoy it? Please let us know in the comments, on our social media pages, or in person! Also, please call the library if you are interested in joining the book club.

Interested in checking out this title? Check out the copy of our ebook on WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/3148678

All images and info are courtesy of Google, Goodreads, Wikipedia, and author webpages.

 

March 8, 2022 - Staff Reviews

The Soulmate Equation

By Christina Lauren

Release Date: May 18, 2021

Ebook Available from WV Reads

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/5808586

3 Stars - A slightly original romantic comedy featuring the insanity of dating apps and sites. I'm getting tired of all the novel attempts to put a clever twist on cyber dating and create virtual meet cutes. Anyone else? Jess was an adorable mess, and she and Juno made for a cute mom-daughter team. River was a bit of a tough sell at first but he turned out to be the better half of this quirky couple.

For a few weeks, I devoured this writing duo's books. Now that they've jumped on the comedy circut, I've lost a little interest. The earlier novels from these ladies in my opinion were more entertaining. Jess was odd and a bit tempermental, but she was certainly relatable on some levels. At times though, she was cringey. Her sense of humor was strange and she was not pleased when other women didn't pick up on it. River really had to be the savior of this couple and the book itself. And he almost does it. He's smart, cool, and surprisingly patient.

I did a lot speed reading here as the book is an over 300 page rom-com. Yet, I had a hard time understanding why Jess and Fizzy were friends or why she was so broke. Also, I get we're living in the age of of Tinder hook ups and online dating because the majority of conversations happening do not involve actually hearing someone's voice anymore. But it's so unromantic. I find it startling that somehow the latest regency romances manage to feel sexier than the modern ones. I'm not saying a romance has to be burn your hands steam level to be interesting but chemistry certainly helps. For two supposed science nerds, they sure did have to go looking for the spark. Basically, I think the Lauren team is capable of more than a bunch of genetic science mumbo jumbo and a weird enemies-to-lovers tag. There's a decent story buried under all that filler but apparently that enemies to lover angle is all some readers need to be happy. So it's worth a try, especially if you find the concept of being genetically attracted to someone else intriguing. 

(NS)

March 7, 2022 - New Arrivals

Adult Fiction

The Secret of Snow by Viola Shipman.

When Sonny Dunes, a SoCal meteorologist whose job is all sunshine and seventy-two-degree days, is replaced by a virtual meteorologist that will never age, gain weight or renegotiate its contract, the only station willing to give the fifty-year-old another shot is the very place Sonny's been avoiding since the day she left for college -- her northern Michigan hometown.

 

A Man of Honor by Barbara Taylor Bradford.

Opening five years before the start of A Woman of Substance, A Man of Honor begins with 13-year-old Blackie O'Neill facing an uncertain future in rural County Kerry. Orphaned and alone, he has just buried his sister, Bronagh, and must leave his home to set sail for England, in search of a better life with his mother's brother in Leeds. There, he learns his trade as a navvy, amid the grand buildings and engineering triumphs of one of England's most prosperous cities, and starts to dream of greater things... And then, high on the Yorkshire moors, in the mists of a winter morning he meets a kitchen maid called Emma Harte.

 

Criminal Mischief by Stuart Woods.

After a dangerous adventure has him traveling up and down the coast, Stone Barrington is looking forward to some down time at his Manhattan abode. But when an acquaintance alerts him to a hinky plot being hatched across the city, he finds himself eager to pursue justice. After the mastermind behind it all proves more evasive than anyone was expecting, Stone sets out on an international chase to places he's never gone before. With the help of old friends--and alluring new ones--Stone is determined to see the pursuit through to the end, even if it means going up against a foe more unpredictable than he has ever faced...

 

Adult Non-Fiction

Eclectic Rhythms by Geoffrey K. Fleming.

This biographical dictionary on Huntington artists began simply enough, with a fairly basic question: how many artists have worked in Huntington since it was founded? This question, and the subsequent research upon it, led to the creation of this publication, which documents approximately 600 artists of every kind who have lived and worked in Huntington since 1871.

 

The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe.

Millions of words have poured forth about man's trip to the moon, but until now few people have had a sense of the most engrossing side of the adventure; namely, what went on in the minds of the astronauts themselves - in space, on the moon, and even during certain odysseys on earth. It is this, the inner life of the astronauts, that Tom Wolfe describes with his almost uncanny empathetic powers, that made this book a classic.

 

Easy/Juvenile/Young Adult/Graphic Novel

Star Wars: Smuggler’s Run by Greg Rucka.  J

Set between Star Wars: A New Hope and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the story follows everyone's favorite pair of smugglers as they fly the Millennium Falcon on a top-secret mission for the Rebellion. Hidden in the story are also hints and clues about Star Wars: The Force Awakens, making this a must-read for fans old and new!

 

Himawari House by Harmony Becker.  YA GN

"When Nao returns to Tokyo to reconnect with her Japanese heritage, she books a yearlong stay at the Himawari sharehouse. There she meets Hyejung and Tina, two other girls who came to Japan to freely forge their own paths. The trio live together, share meals, and even attend the same Japanese-language school, which results in them becoming fast friends. But will they be able to hold one another up as life tests them with new loves, old heart breaks, and the everyday challenges of being fish out of water?"-- Provided by publisher.

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

March 3, 2022 - Spying a Good Book

Can you spy a good book?

This month - March 2022 - Brooke County Libraries are featuring a list of our favorite spy thrillers! We've got quite the collection of espionage stories and globe-trotting adventures, all available from our libraries either as ebooks or at one of our locations. 

Many of the titles below are part of a series. Be sure to check out the blurbs if you're looking for a new author to read or just remembering old favorites!

After the Darkness by Tilly Bagshawe

 After writing Mistress of the Game, Tilly Bagshawe once again recaptured the late Sidney Sheldon’s way of thriller writing in After the Darkness. The novel echoes the Bernie Madoff scandal in America.

Fade by Kyle Mills

Welcome to the new war on terror. A secret wing of Homeland Security is recruiting agents to work undercover in the Middle East, and the director wants his second-in-command, Matt Egan, to bring aboard an old friend, Salam Al Fayed—better known as Fade. He's perfect: An ex-Navy Seal and the son of immigrants, he speaks flawless Arabic. Trouble is, he's "retired"; he was wounded in the line of duty, and the government refused to pay for the risky surgery that could have helped him. Now he's walking around with a bullet lodged near his spine, and he's not too fond of anyone in the government -- least of all, his ex-best friend Matt Egan, whom he blames for his present condition. Against Egan's wishes, the director tries to "persuade" Fade to join the team. But Fade is prepared to fight back at any cost. The chase is on...

The Wolves by Alex Berenson

John Wells has just barely managed to stop an operation designed to drive the United States and Iran into war, but the instigator himself disappeared behind an impenetrable war of security. Now it s time for him to pay, and Wells has made it his personal mission. There are plenty of crosscurrents at work, though. The White House doesn t want anybody stirring the pot; his old CIA bosses have their own agendas; other countries are starting to sniff around, sensing something unusual. It is when Russia and China enter the mix, however, that the whole affair is set to combust. With alarming speed, Wells is once again on his own. . .

One Minute Out by Mark Greaney

While on a mission to Croatia, Court Gentry uncovers a human trafficking operation. The trail leads from the Balkans all the way back to Hollywood. Court is determined to shut it down, but his CIA handlers have other plans. The criminal ringleader has actionable intelligence about a potentially devastating terrorist attack on the US. The CIA won't move until they have that intel. It's a moral balancing act with Court at the pivot point.

Shadow Woman by Linda Howard

Lizette Henry wakes up one morning and makes a terrifying discovery: She doesn’t recognize the face she sees in the mirror. She remembers what she looks like, but her reflection is someone else’s. To add to the shock, two years seem to have disappeared from her life. Someone has gone to great and inexplicable lengths to keep those missing years hidden forever. But the past always finds a way to return. Strange memories soon begin to surface and, along with them, some unusual skills and talents that Lizette hasn’t a clue about acquiring. Sensing that she’s being monitored, Lizette suddenly knows how to search for bugs in her house and tracking devices in her car. What’s more, she can elude surveillance—like a trained agent.

Black Ice by Brad Thor

Scot Harvath is having his best summer ever. With a cottage on the fjord, a boat, and his beautiful girlfriend Sølvi, he’s got everything he could possibly want. But out of vacation days and long overdue back home, America’s top spy has a decision to make—return, or submit his resignation. When his deadly past comes calling, though, he’ll be left with no choice at all.

Blue Moon by Lee Child

Reacher is on a Greyhound bus, minding his own business, with no particular place to go, and all the time in the world to get there. Then he steps off the bus to help an old man who is obviously just a victim waiting to happen. But you know what they say about good deeds. Now Reacher wants to make it right. An elderly couple have made a few well-meaning mistakes, and now they owe big money to some very bad people. One brazen move leads to another, and suddenly Reacher finds himself a wanted man in the middle of a brutal turf war between rival Ukrainian and Albanian gangs.

Drone Threat by Mike Maden

When President Lane refuses to comply with an outrageous demand, but the first drone attacks, sending a shudder through the U.S. economy. With few options available and even fewer clues, President Lane unleashes Troy Pearce and his Drone Command team to find and stop the untraceable source of the destabilizing attacks. But the terror mastermind proves more elusive and vindictive than any opponent Pearce has faced before . . .

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

Jason Bourne does not know the answer to any of these questions. Suffering from amnesia, he does not even know that he is Jason Bourne. What manner of man is he? What are his secrets? Who has he killed? 

Transfer of Power by Vince Flynn

While the politicians and the military leaders argue over how to negotiate with the terrorists, one man is sent in to break through the barrage of panicked responses and political agendas surrounding the chaotic crisis. Mitch Rapp, the CIA's top counterterrorism operative, makes his way into the White House and soon discovers that the president is not as safe as Washington's power elite had thought. Moving stealthily among the corridors and secret passageways of the White House, stepping terrifyingly close to the enemy, Rapp scrambles to save the hostages before the terrorists can extract the president from the safety of his bunker. In a race against time, Rapp makes a chilling discovery that could rock Washington to its core: someone within his own government is maneuvering in hopes that his rescue attempt will fail. 

The New Girl by Daniel Silva

Gabriel Allon, the legendary chief of Israeli intelligence, has spent most of his life fighting terrorists, including the murderous jihadists financed by Saudi Arabia. Prince Khalid—or KBM, as he is known—has pledged to finally break the bond between the Kingdom and radical Islam. For that reason alone, Gabriel regards him as a valuable if flawed partner. Together they will become unlikely allies in a deadly secret war for control of the Middle East. The life of a child, and the throne of Saudi Arabia, hang in the balance. Both men have made their share of enemies. And both have everything to lose.

The Night Manager by John LeCarre

In the shadowy recesses of Whitehall and Washington an unholy alliance operates between the intelligence community and the secret arms trade. Jonathan Pine is ready to stand up and be counted in the fight against this ultimate heart of darkness. His mission takes him from the cliffs of west Cornwall, via northern Quebec and the Caribbean, to the jungles of post-Noriega Panama. His quarry is the worst man in the world.

Tight Rope by Amanda Quick

Matthias is on the trail of a groundbreaking prototype cipher machine. He suspects that Pickwell stole the device and planned to sell it. But now Pickwell is dead and the machine has vanished. When Matthias’s investigation leads him to Amalie’s front door, the attraction between them is intense, but she knows it is also dangerous. Amalie and Matthias must decide if they can trust each other and the passion that binds them, because time is running out.

Locked On by Tom Clancy and Mark Greaney

Jack Ryan, Sr. has made a momentous choice. He's running for President of the United States again, giving up a peaceful retirement to help his country in its darkest hour. But he doesn't anticipate the treachery of his opponent, who uses trumped-up charges to attack one of Ryan's closest comrades, John Clark. Now Clark is in a race against time and must travel the world, staying one step ahead of his adversaries, including a shadowy organization tasked to bring him in, all while trying to find who is behind this.

Did we leave out any of your favorite spy fiction novels? Please let us know in the comments, on one of our social media pages, or in person! We just love to hear from our fellow readers.

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

 

March 2, 2022 - Staff Reviews

The Introvert's Guide to Speed Dating

By Emma Hart

Release Date: July 7, 2021

Ebook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/5769515

3 Stars - A very fun, modern little romantic comedy that fell just short of my expectations. London's a hard working single mom who prefers to focus on her son Leo, rather than her love life. But soon she's being romanced by his soccer coach. And Oliver proves he's hard to resist. An easy, light read perfect for fans of the genre.

Emma Hart's transitioned well from the more angsty new adult genre to a slightly edgier comtemporary comedy romance style. Her heroines still have a bit of attitude, some struggle getting their lives together. But they're usually mature, independent, and not overly quirky. London's got some rough edges but she's definitely not an immature brat. I'd say she's spunky and sarcastic but guarded after dealing so much with her ex. Oliver's not exactly my favorite type of hero, couldn't quite put my finger on the issue. I guess the whole British accent appeal is lost on me or something. But he is thoughtful, persistent, and sweet, especially with Leo.

The thing about single parent romances is that I prefer the one parent to be out of the picture. Isn't that awful? But I know it is to be the kid bounced around. Plus, it throws in all kinds of petty ex drama that no romance novel really needs. Christopher isn't the jerkiest of exes but his existence alone is annoying. He reminded me of Christopher from the show Gilmore Girls which may have been intentional. Also, Oliver's a great guy and he was obviously a good choice for London. But there's still a certain ick factor when dating a kid's teacher or coach. Plus, there was that whole thing with her job writing about him. Honestly, the book is really short and it kind of started off on the wrong foot with me. Like ten percent of the way through, I was still wondering what exactly London's position at the paper was supposed to be and where Oliver is going to come into the picture. I'm not sure it fully recovered. But, Leo was adorable. London was sassy and the dialouge was solid. Oliver was charming and fairly easy to root for. So this is worth a try if you're in the mood for a fluffy, fun romance.

(NS)