New Books on the Newest Software and Internet Trends

We have added six new books from the For Dummies series to our collection thanks to a grant from the International Paper Foundation : Computers for Seniors, eBay, PC, Power Point 2016, Word 2016, and YouTube Channels.

As with all of the For Dummies series, the books lead the users step by step from the most basic interactions to the more advanced.  There are also videos and more step by step examples available by visiting Dummies.com.

New Cozy Mysteries You May Enjoy...

     I've read two new cozy mysteries in the past couple of weeks. Each one is part of an on-going series, but I think that both can be read out-of-order and the reader will be able to follow along with what is going on in the story.

 

   First, we have Books of a Feather: a Bibliophile Mystery by Kate Carlisle. This is the first book I've read from this series, but I did enjoy it and I've thought about going back and reading some of the other titles. Our protagonist, Brooklyn is a bookbinder by trade. She and her hunky and all-too-perfect security specialist fiance have just returned to their recently renovated San Francisco loft. When Brooklyn's friend and director of the Covington Library, Ian, invites her to a gala celebrating an exhibit of a copy of Birds of North America by John James Audubon, she has no idea the world of problems that are about to fall in her lap. The president of the local chapter of the National Birdwatcher's Society, Jared Mulrooney, approaches Brooklyn with a problem. It seems that Jared has spilled wine on a beautiful book of bird illustrations thought to also be an Audubon title. He wants her to clean it up and restore it the best she can before anyone at the birdwatcher's society can find out. Unfortunately, Jared turns up dead in a back room of the Covington shortly after handing Brooklyn the book. It's Brooklyn who finds the body. There is also the matter of the thief who keeps steeling rare and expensive books from her best friend's bookshop and the divorce proceedings in which Brooklyn must give expert testimony on an old book owned by a feuding couple. To top it all off, a homeless man thought to be her parents' friend gets murdered in Brooklyn's loft while the couple is out getting breakfast. What is a bibliophile to do? How about try to stay alive!

     The second book I've read lately is Survivors Will Be Shot Again: a Sheriff Dan Rhodes mystery by Bill Crider. I've read several books in this series and I've enjoyed each one. Crider populates this small Texas town with a number of characters that could be your own friends and neighbors. The book begins with Sheriff Rhodes contemplating whether or not to buy a Dr. Pepper on his afternoon off. He has boycotted the company ever since they decided to discontinue his beloved Dublin Dr. Pepper made with "real sugar." Just as he has decided not to break his boycott, a masked gunman enters the convenience store and demands money from the clerk. Rhodes has his Kal-Tec in his ankle holster, but opts to toss a loaf of bread at the would-be robber; distracting the man long enough to get him to the ground. So much for a break from police work! He then gets a call from the ornery dispatcher telling him that a local man has found a body in his barn. Rhodes goes out to investigate and thinks the man's death may be linked to a series of thefts in that part of Blacklin County. During the course of his investigations, Rhodes also finds several patches of marijuana, an alligator,another body, an alligator snapping turtle, and the usual line-up of suspicious characters. If her can just keep local professor Seepy Benton and Jennifer Loam, journalist and founder of the local news blog, out of the way long enough for him to do some proper investigation. I did happen to figure out who done it a little faster than usual, but, if you enjoy cozies, this is a definite must read series.

For Animal Lovers

Whether you prefer dogs or cats, we have you covered in the New Adult Nonfiction.

Dog Gone by Pauls Toutonghi is the story of the Marshall family and, in particular, Fielding Marshall and his beloved pet, a six year old Golden Retriever mix named Gonker.  When he bolts away from his owner while hiking on the Appalachian Trial, the Marshall family is under a time limit.  Gonker has Addison's Disease and must be found within 23 days to get his monthly injection of the medicine that keeps him alive.

The story follows the Marshalls and their other dog, Uli, as they pull together not only themselves, but also their community, to bring Gonker home.

The other book is The True Tales of Baker and Taylor by Jan Louch with Lisa Rogak.

In 1982, the brand-new Douglas County library in Nebraska had a problem:  mice.  The new building was built on an alfalfa field and where there's alfalfa, there's an abundance of mice.  Because mice have an unfortunate love  for the taste of bookbinding glue, the librarians had to take steps to protect the new library's books. This included a pair of Scottish Fold cats brought in as mousers - and named after the library wholesaler, Baker & Taylor.

Neither the humans nor the cats had any idea where the need for mouse control would take them. This photogenic pair of cats first gained notice on a poster advertising their library before reaching a world-wide audience on the posters and ads of the same company for which they were named.

Musical Biographies and Memoirs

     “Waylon: Tales of My Outlaw Dad” is a biography of the late Waylon Jennings written by his son, Terry Jennings, with David Thomas. Terry was born when Waylon was only nineteen years old, so he was coming of age when his father’s career began its meteoric rise with hits like “I’ve Always Been Crazy” and “Good Hearted Woman”—one of Waylon’s most popular duets with Willie Nelson. Terry dropped out of high school to join his father on the road and the two became more like brothers than father and son. As a result, Terry spent formative years with legends like Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, and Jessi Colter—Waylon’s fourth and final wife. There was also a lot of hard partying, women, and drugs. Even as his father’s success grew with his critical acclaim, bestselling albums, sold-out tours, and even TV stardom with The Dukes of Hazzard, Waylon suffered from a myriad of demons. He went through three divorces, crippling debt, and bouts of depression that Terry believes traces back to the premature death of Buddy Holly. (Waylon was supposed to be on that doomed flight.) Terry debunks myths and shares never-before-told stories of his father with the great love and honesty.

     “Un-Ashamed” is an autobiography of rap artist Lecrae with Johnathan Merritt. This two–time Grammy winning artist has been through his share of adversity. He suffered through childhood abuse, drugs and alcoholism with a stint in rehab, an abortion, and an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Somewhere along the way, however, Lecrae found an unshakeable faith in Jesus and began turning to God for affirmation. He learned the lesson, “if you live for people’s acceptance, you’ll die from their rejection.” Now, he ignores the haters and makes peace with his craft. Lecrae holds nothing back as he reveals the most intimate details of his life as well as sharing handwritten journal entries and models how to be a Christian in a secular world.

     “Porcelain: A Memoir” is by DJ and musician Moby. There are many reasons why Moby should not have been as hugely popular in the unchecked, drug fueled, hedonism of the pumping underground dance clubs of NYC in the late 1980s and 1990s. First, he was a poor skinny white kid from Connecticut, but he was also a devout Christian, a vegan, and a teetotaler. He learned what it meant to be spat upon and to live on almost nothing. With the rise of AIDS and crack, it was a tough time for an artist to live on almost nothing in New York City, but it was also the time of a defiantly festive underworld culture. Moby managed to make his way, but he prepared to put his career behind him and poured all of his emotion into what he thought would be his swan song. Instead, it was the beginning of a surprisingly new phase in his life: the multimillion-selling album Play. This sincere portrait of a man with a passion for making music that steadied him in rough seas will inspire anyone pursuing a dream.

     “Kill ‘Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul” is a biography written by James McBride. For the author, this book is about more than James Brown. It is a metaphor for American life: the tension between North and South, black and white, rich and poor. McBride’s travels take him to the country town where Brown’s family and thousands of others were displaced by America’s largest nuclear power bomb-making facility; a South Carolina field where a long-forgotten cousin recounts, in the dead of night, a richer history of Brown’s sharecropping childhood—which had always been shrouded in mystery. He also seeks out the American expat in England who co-created the James Brown sound, visits the trusted manager who was Brown’s right hand for forty-one years, and relates the visit of Michael Jackson to the Augusta, Georgia funeral home where he sat all night with his musical godfather. Finally, McBride discusses the monster legal battles fought over Brown’s estate which prevented money from reaching the poor schoolchildren in Georgia and South Carolina, cost the estate millions in legal fees, and left James Brown’s body to lie in a gilded coffin in his daughter’s yard in South Carolina for more than eight years.

Back To School Time - Don't Forget Our Links For Homework Help!

School is back in session!

Don't forget there is plenty of help for homework woes available online to our patrons regardless of the level of class :

• MAGNOLIA - A database of scholarly journals, newspaper archives and literary critiques.

• World Book Online - The online version of the popular encyclopedia and more.

• LearningExpress Library - Offers test prep for high school, college, and adult education.  It alos offers tutorials for some of the popular software.

• Gale Cengage - A large variety of online reference books including the Contemporary Black Biography series.  Features include allowing users to sign in with their Google account to save articles and citations to Drive, print and email (with any email account), The site also features highlighting, note-taking and audio content.

• Salem Press Online - Online reference books, specifically for high school age and up.  Users are able to set up a free account to save search information, citations, and articles.  The site also features the ability to print and email articles and citations.

For the reference services listed above, pick up the Digital References handout available at the Reference Desk for the websites, login names and passwords to use to access them.

Also, don't forget to visit our Kids Page on the library website for links to Homework Help, the AR Bookfinder, BJ Pinchback's Homework Helper, Khan Academy and World Book for Kids.

Have a great school year!

The Strong Female Lead

     This week's novels are new paperback fiction that feature strong female characters who are struggling to overcome adversity. Enjoy!

      “The Witches of Cambridge” is a novel by Menna Van Praag. Amandine Bisset has always had the ability to read the emotions of those around her. The only people she can share her secret with are the other professors—all witches—of the Cambridge University Society of Literature and Witchcraft. Amandine cherishes the meetings with her dear friends, but lately, she senses that the ties that bind them starting to unravel. If only she had her student Noa’s power to actually read people’s thoughts she is sure she could help the others heal the rifts forming in their friendships. Noa, however, is sure that her gift is a curse and jumps at the chance to be “cured” when a seductive con artist comes to town. Then, there is mathematics professor Kat and her baker sister Cosima. Kat is stewing in her unrequited love, but she refuses to cast any spells to help the process along. Cosima, on the other hand, is all too happy to sprinkle her pastries with sugar and enchantment, but when she casts a spell on Kat’s crush, she creates a dangerous love triangle.

     “No Ordinary Life” is a novel by Suzanne Redfearn. Faye Martin’s husband abandoned her and their three children and now she is struggling to make ends meet. When her four-year-old daughter is discovered through a YouTube video and offered a starring role on a television series, it seems that Faye’s prayers have been answered. The reality of this new life hits her hard and Faye realizes that fame and fortune come with a price. In this world everyone is an actor, every move is watched by millions, and knowing who to trust is absolutely impossible. Faye finds herself completely alone in her struggle to protect this precious and fragile time in her children’s lives.

     “The Restaurant Critic’s Wife” is a novel by Elizabeth LaBan. Lila Soto has a work-obsessed husband, two kids, and a master’s degree that is going to waste. She is also quite perplexed as to how she ended up in this situation. They have recently moved to Philadelphia where Lila’s husband, Sam, is taking his job of restaurant critic much too seriously. In order to protect his professional credibility, Sam is determined to remain anonymous and goes out of his way to make sure none of his family have any contact with anyone from the foodie culture. Lila craves adult conversation and some relief from her homemaker role. She can feel her patience wearing thin and she begins to question the major decisions of the past several years—her decision to get pregnant again, giving up her career, her marriage to Sam, breaking up with her ex-boyfriend. As Sam becomes more and more obsessed with his anonymity, Lila begins to wonder if her own identity has completely disappeared and she’s not sure what to do to get it back.

New Books About Being Online for the Children's Department

As part of our grant from the International Paper Foundation, we have added three new books to our Nonfiction collection in the Children's Department that deal with online safety.

In Smart Online Communication by Mary Lindeen, kids will learn about digital footprints, how what you post online is beyond your control once it is posted and how to avoid some common mistakes many people make with their online privacy.  It also discusses things like cyberbullying, phishing, spam and hacking.

Smartphone Safety by Eric Minton covers several important topics such as the importance of guarding your phone's password, when to make use of the GPS (and when to turn it off), using caution when posting pictures or videos and even what to do if you lose your phone.

Finally,  Tips for Good Social Networking by Ruth Bennett talks about what social networking is, why and how you might want to use it, how to build your network and how to maintain it.

Check out these and other books to safely get the most out of your online devices.

The Suspense is Killing Me!

     The titles for this week are new paperback fiction. Each one is contains a story full of mystery and suspense. They are perfect for reading while relaxing on the beach!

     “The Secrets of Lizzie Borden” is a novel by Brandy Purdy. This fictionalized account of the life of Lizzie Borden draws on the real events surrounding the murder of her father and step-mother. Lizzie and her sister Emma should have been fortunate young women. Their father was wealthy and could have easily afforded to give his daughters every modern convenience along with fashionable clothes, travel and a cultured life. However, the Fall River, Massachusetts businessman was haunted by his own childhood poverty and forced his daughters to live frugally, denying them modern conveniences like indoor plumbing and electric lighting. Suitors, too, were discouraged because Mr. Borden viewed all gentleman callers as fortune hunters. Lizzie is lonely and extremely unhappy, but she suppresses her frustrations while dreaming of the freedom and wealth she will have upon her father’s death. On a hot day in August 1892, Lizzie’s long simmering anger explodes.

     “Mermaid Moon” is a Sunset Cove Novel by Colleen Coble. Mallory Davis has stayed away from her home for the last fifteen years out of shame and confusion. When her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she has no choice but to return to Mermaid Point. Mallory comes to believe that her father was murdered and those suspicions are confirmed when Kevin O’Connor, game warden in Downeast Maine, comes to the same conclusion. Kevin is apprehensive about helping Mallory in her search for the truth; after all, she broke his heart and left without a word all those years ago. Mallory and her beloved daughter Haylie begin receiving death threats as they untangle the web surrounding the murder. Mallory must stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together. And maybe, just maybe, she can find herself again.

   “Angels Burning” is a psychological thriller by Tawni O’Dell. Dove Carnahan has lived all of her fifty years in same Pennsylvanian countryside. She is a trailblazer who, as the current police chief, is faced with investigating the most brutal crime in her career. A girl’s body has been found in a fiery sinkhole in an abandoned coal town. She is identified as a daughter of the Truly family—notorious antagonistic rednecks and petty criminals.  Chief Carnahan’s troubles are compounded when the man who was convicted of killing her mother years earlier is released from prison. He still proclaims his innocence and his accusations will force the Chief to examine the parallels between her own family’s trauma and that of the Trulys.

Want Some More Summer Reading? These Have Been Our Most Popular Titles So Far This Year.

Looking for something new or different to read?  Check over our list of popular titles to see if any catch your interest.

Adult Fiction

1. Depraved Heard
2. Best Friends Forever
3. Off the Grid : a Joe Pickett novel
4. Scandalous Behavior : a Stone Barrington novel
5. Tricky Twenty-two
6. The Crossing
7. NYPD Red 4
8. Rogue Lawyer
9. Somebody Has to Pay
10. The Bitter Season

Adult Nonfiction

1. Destiny : Step into your Purpose
2. Dinner Solved!
3. Andy and Don
4. King John
5. Vicksburg 1863
6. Chainsaws & Casseroles
7. Devotion : an Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice
8. The Gluten-free Slow Cooker
9. Leonard : My Fifty Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man
10. Maggie Smith : a Biography

Young Adult

1. Twilight
2. Cinder
3. Illusion
4. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
5. Scarlet
6. Divergent
7. Insurgent
8. Matched
9. New Moon
10. The Sleeper and the Spindle

Rustle Up Some Westerns, Partner!

     This week I have decided to feature three of our new western novels from the Large Print collection.

   Shawn O’Brien, Town Tamer is a western novel by William W. Johnstone with J. A. Johnstone. Not content to settle down on the family ranch in the New Mexico territory; Shawn O’Brien has a great deal of the wanderer in him. He also has a lightning-fast draw, eagle eyes, and a heightened sense of justice. Shawn has been making a reputation for himself all over the West by taking the most dangerous and lawless towns and making them safe for the good, honest citizens to live in peace. When Shawn is stranded in Holy Rood, Utah after a stagecoach accident, he doesn’t take long to realize he’s landed in one of the most vicious towns in the territory. He’s not worried though; after all, Shawn O’Brien is the town tamer.

   The Devil’s Posse is a novel by Charles G. West. Logan and Billy Cross have worked the same cattle drive since they were teenagers and have gained a reputation as being the most dependable of workers. Unfortunately, their boss has decided to retire and the brothers are soon to be out of a job. So the boys aren’t left twisting in the wind, the boss man sends them up to Fort Pierre in the Dakota Territory so they can join a horse drive to Sturgis. On their way to meet their prospective boss, Billy smiles at the wrong woman and draws the ire of Quincy Morgan and his gang of desperados.

     Shotgun Charlie is a Ralph Compton Novel by Matthew P. Mayo. Charlie Chilton is a young and naïve drifter who happens to be big for his age. Charlie is taken in by the leader of a band of small-time crooks who sees something of himself in the kindly, restless youth. When shady character Grady Haskell joins the gang and convinces them to pursue the biggest score of their lives, Charlie fails to thwart the heist and it turns bloody. Unfortunately, Charlie is the only gang member to be caught alive and he is sentenced to hang to the crime. Determined to prove his innocence, Charlie must escape, track down Haskell and the gang, and bring them to justice before he loses his own life.