Turn Up the Heat with These Sexy Reads!

Heat of the Moment is the second installment of Lori Handeland's Sisters of the Craft series. "Love is timeless . . .The folks in my hometown of Three Harbors call me Doc Becca aka Rebecca Carstairs. As long as I can remember I have heard the thoughts of animals, but I learned to keep those “conversations” to myself. Crazy is as crazy does, and a veterinarian who thinks she can talk to animals doesn’t last long in small town Wisconsin. A string of missing pets are found mutilated in the abandoned “witch’s house,” which also happens to be the childhood home of the only man I’ve ever loved. Owen McAllister broke my heart when he joined the Marines and left me behind. Now he’s back following an accident that left both Owen and his K-9 counterpart in bomb detection injured. Being over him was easy when he wasn’t everywhere I turned. However, the missing animals are only the beginning. Pentagrams, cults, witches—real ones—show up with disturbing speed. And what about the wolf with the oddly human, florescent green eyes that has been a companion since childhood? When a stranger arrives calling me sister, questions about my past resurface, but before they can be answered, someone tries to kill me. After that, there’s no keeping Owen away. But who wouldn’t want a Marine and his military working dog as bodyguards when it seems like the whole world has gone mad?" (from Amazon.com)

Viking Heat is by Sandra Hill. "Psychologist Joy Nelson thinks things are bad when she finds herself training in the modern-day female Navy SEALs program. But then her life takes a turn for the worse. Somehow she's been thrust back in time to the cold Norselands, being auctioned off as a thrall, or slave-a gift for a Viking warlord, who would be a perfect candidate for Male Chauvinist Viking of the Centuries. Brandr isn't thrilled with the slave his brothers have purchased for him. Holy Thor! The woman wants to teach him anger management skills! And help him find his feminine side, whatever that is. She may be beautiful, but the saucy wench defies him at every turn. So Brandr makes her an offer. She can earn her freedom -- as his bed thrall. But when Joy dares to decline his offer, he must decide what to do with the woman enslaved to him -- and the out-of-control heat between them..." (from Goodreads.com)

Midnight Heat is the third installment of Cat Johnson's Midnight Cowboy series. "He needs to escape...Justin Skaggs is on the road to anywhere—as long as it's far from home—when fate throws a kindred spirit across his path. She needs to get to Oklahoma...Phoenix Montagno can't believe her luck when she runs into the hottie from the bar. He's the key to her getting everything she's always wanted, but she can't tell him that. Luckily he's not interested in learning her story any more than he is in sharing his. Both have secrets they don't want to share...It's the perfect arrangement. No personal details. No talking at all. Just two strangers sharing the cab of a truck heading the direction they both need to go . . . until they decide to share a bed, too." (from Goodreads.com)

The second book of Brenda Jackson's Forged of Steele series is called Night Heat. "Sebastian Steele was the kind of man >women dreamed about. He was drop-dead gorgeous, wickedly charming and fabulously wealthy. So why wouldn't Jocelyn Mason accept his offer to help run her struggling company? It was his reputation. Sebastian was a corporate shark, and Jocelyn knew the big fish didn't swim with the little fish, they swallowed them whole. It had been Sebastian's intention to take over Mason Builders, whether Jocelyn liked it or not. But when he started to work with her, sparks began to fly and they shared a sizzling, unforgettable night of passion. And soon it wasn't clear who was bossing whom…." (from Goodreads.com)

Desert Heat is the second book of the Sinclair Sisters trilogy by Kat Martin. "It takes a certain kind of rough and tumble man to show a Sinclair girl how to ask for everything she wants . . .For Patience Sinclair, leaving the ivy-covered halls of Boston for the wide, open spaces of Texas means a chance to stop looking over her shoulder at every turn. Traveling incognito with the Triple C Rodeo is just what she needs to free her from a past that continues to haunt her. But she can’t avoid the undeniable presence of Dallas Kingman. The champion rider has a way of letting her know he’s watching her every move that makes her feel wild and reckless. As they make their way through the heart of the southwest, a series of mysterious accidents darkens the promise of the unknown into a vortex of fear and obsession, and Patience finds herself closer to danger than she could have ever imagined . . ." (from Amazon.com)

New Romance Titles to Enjoy

The latest from Julie Garwood is called Grace Under Fire. "Grace Isabel MacKenna has a hundred things to do today. Killing someone isn't one of them. It is supposed to be a quick visit to Boston for the Buchanan anniversary party, then on to Scotland to collect an inheritance. She checks into her hotel and then decides to go for a brisk walk. But after getting lost, she ends up with a wounded man stumbling into her arms—and his shooter coming after them both. When she fires back in self-defense, she doesn’t expect him to drop dead. After Isabel endures an interrogation by police, she is free to go, thanks to the Buchanans dispatching former Navy SEAL and now lawyer Michael Buchanan to assist her. Isabel knows she should be grateful for Michael’s help, but since she’s harbored an extreme dislike for him for years, gratitude is difficult to muster. Michael has appointed himself her de facto guardian, and she’s stuck with him despite their constant bickering and sizzling attraction. Even when Isabel goes to Scotland to claim her inheritance, Michael follows her—but he isn’t the only thing she can’t shake. Mysterious threats against Isabel surface, and before they can deal with their growing feelings for each other, Michael and Isabel must first survive." (from Amazon.com)

The Wedding Date is the first in a new series by Jasmine Guillory. "Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn't normally do. But there's something about Drew Nichols that's too hard to resist. On the eve of his ex's wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend....After Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible, Drew has to fly back to Los Angeles and his job as a pediatric surgeon, and Alexa heads home to Berkeley, where she's the mayor's chief of staff. Too bad they can't stop thinking about the other....They're just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward the long distance dating disaster of the century--or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want...." (from Amazon.com)

Sabrina Jeffries's latest is called Undercover Duke. "Along with his stepsiblings, Sheridan Wolfe, Duke of Armitage, is determined to finally solve the mysteries behind the suspicious deaths of their mother’s three husbands. Tasked with investigating a possible suspect, Sheridan finds himself in dangerous proximity to her captivating daughter, Vanessa Pryde. But still haunted by a tragically lost love, the duke is resolved to resist the attraction—and avoid any “scheming” husband-hunters. Besides, lovely Miss Pryde seems utterly smitten with a roguish London playwright . . .Vanessa thinks a little scheming may be in order—for it’s Sheridan she truly has her sights, and her heart, set on. Her theatrical flirtation is intended only to break through his business-like demeanor and guarded emotions. And as Sheridan’s jealousy becomes aroused, the two soon find themselves propelled into a scheme of an altogether different kind, involving a pretend engagement, a secret inquiry—and a perhaps not-so-secret leap into true love . . ." (from Amazon.com)

Bestseller Julia London's latest is titled Last Duke Standing. "When Crown Princess Justine of Wesloria is sent to England to learn the ropes of royalty, she falls under the tutelage of none other than Queen Victoria herself. Justine’s also in the market for a proper husband—one fit to marry the future queen of Wesloria. Because he knows simply everyone, William, Lord Douglas (the notoriously rakish heir to the Duke of Hamilton seat in Scotland, and decidedly not husband material), is on hand as an escort of sorts. William has been recruited to keep an eye on the royal matchmaker for the Weslorian prime minister, tasked to ensure the princess is matched with a man of quality…and one who will be sympathetic to the prime minister’s views. As William and Justine are forced to scrutinize an endless parade of England’s best bachelors, they become friends. But when the crowd of potential grooms is steadily culled, what if William is the last bachelor standing?" (from Amazon.com)

Susan Wiggs continues her Bella Vista Chronicles with her latest Sugar and Salt. "Jerome Sugar learned the art of baking in his grandma’s bakery, also called Sugar, on historic Perdita Street in San Francisco. He supplies baked goods to the Lost and Found Bookshop across the street. When the restaurant that shares his commercial kitchen loses its longtime tenant, a newcomer moves in: Margot Salton, a barbecue master from Texas. Margot isn’t exactly on the run, but she needs a fresh start. She’s taken care of herself her whole life, pulling herself up by her fingernails to recover from trauma, and her dream has been to open a restaurant somewhere far, far from Texas. The shared kitchen with Jerome's Sugar bakery is the perfect setup: a state-of-the-art kitchen and a vibrant neighborhood popular with tourists and locals. Margot instantly takes to Jerome’s mother, the lively, opinionated Ida. The older woman proves to be a good mentor, and Margot is drawn to Jerome. Despite their different backgrounds their attraction is powerful—even though Jerome worries that Margot will simply move on from him once she’s found some peace and stability. But just as she starts to relax into a happy new future, Margot’s past in Texas comes back to haunt her…" (from Amazon.com)

New Titles in the Adult Fiction Collection

 

Co-author of the Dune sequels, Kevin J. Anderson's Gods and Dragons marks his triumphant return to epic fantasy, featuring a politically charged adventure of swords, sorcery, vengeance, and the awakening of sleeping giants. Two continents at war: the Three Kingdoms and Ishara have been in conflict for a thousand years. But when an outside threat arises--the reawakening of a powerful ancient race that wants to remake the world--the two warring nations must somehow set aside generations of hatred to form an alliance against a far more deadly enemy. (from Goodreads.com)

The School for Good Mothers is a taut and explosive debut novel by Jessamine Chan. One lapse in judgement lands a young mother in a government reform program where custody of her child hangs in the balance. Frida Liu is struggling. She doesn’t have a career worthy of her Chinese immigrant parents’ sacrifices. What’s worse is she can’t persuade her husband, Gust, to give up his wellness-obsessed younger mistress. Only with their angelic daughter Harriet does Frida finally feel she’s attained the perfection expected of her. Harriet may be all she has, but she’s just enough. Until Frida has a horrible day. The state has its eyes on mothers like Frida — ones who check their phones while their kids are on the playground; who let their children walk home alone; in other words, mothers who only have one lapse of judgement. Now, a host of government officials will determine if Frida is a candidate for a Big Brother-like institution that measures the success or failure of a mother’s devotion. Faced with the possibility of losing Harriet, Frida must prove that she can live up to the standards set for mothers — that she can learn to be good. This propulsive, witty page-turner explores the perils of “perfect” upper-middle-class parenting, the violence enacted upon women by the state and each other, and the boundless love a mother has for her daughter. (from Goodreads.com)

The Nobel Prize-winner's richest, most sweeping and ambitious novel yet follows the comet-like rise and fall of a mysterious, messianic religious leader as he blazes his way across eighteenth-century Europe in The Books of Jacob. In the mid-eighteenth century, as new ideas--and a new unrest--begin to sweep the Continent, a young Jew of mysterious origins arrives in a village in Poland. Before long, he has changed not only his name but his persona; visited by what seem to be ecstatic experiences, Jacob Frank casts a charismatic spell that attracts an increasingly fervent following. In the decade to come, Frank will traverse the Hapsburg and Ottoman empires with throngs of disciples in his thrall as he reinvents himself again and again, converts to Islam and then Catholicism, is pilloried as a heretic and revered as the Messiah, and wreaks havoc on the conventional order, Jewish and Christian alike, with scandalous rumors of his sect's secret rituals and the spread of his increasingly iconoclastic beliefs. The story of Frank--a real historical figure around whom mystery and controversy swirl to this day--is the perfect canvas for the genius and unparalleled reach of Olga Tokarczuk. Narrated through the perspectives of his contemporaries--those who revere him, those who revile him, the friend who betrays him, the lone woman who sees him for what he is--The Books of Jacob captures a world on the cusp of precipitous change, searching for certainty and longing for transcendence. (from Goodreads.com)

He holds her fate in his hands—she holds his heart in hers. In The Rebel and the Rake (League of Scoundrels #2) by Emily Sullivan, Rafe Davies might seem like just another charismatic rake, but in reality, he is one of the crown’s most valuable agents. As relentless as he is reckless, Rafe has never come upon a mission he couldn’t complete. But when he encounters the intriguing-yet-prickly lady’s companion Miss Sylvia Sparrow while on assignment at a Scottish house party, he finds himself thoroughly distracted by the secretive beauty. Though most women would be thrilled to catch the eye of a tall, dark, and dangerously handsome man, Sylvia is through with that sort of adventure. She trusted the wrong man once and paid for it dearly. The fiery bluestocking is resolved to avoid Rafe, until a chance encounter between them reveals the normally irreverent man’s unexpected depths—and an attraction that’s impossible to ignore. But when Sylvia begins to suspect she isn’t the only one harboring a few secrets, she realizes that Rafe may pose a risk to far more than her heart . . .

Digital Resources. No Library Card Required!

Because we are closed to the public through May 18th, this week’s blog features the digital resources available to our patrons and to the general public who may not have a library card. The only thing necessary to access these resources is an internet connection and a computer, tablet, or smartphone. We are proud to be able to offer these services especially in times like these. 

First, I would like to cover those resources that do not require a login and can, therefore, be accessed directly from our catalog page: https://wcvpl.biblionix.com. As you scroll down, on the left side of the page, you will find a list of resources available. The following items on that list do not require a library card to use: AudioBookCloud, RomanceBookCloud, TeenBookCloud, TumbleBooks, and TumbleMath. (These resources will not require a login through August 31st since the parent company has decided it would be a good idea to make them open to everyone during the COVID-19 crisis.)  

AudioBookCloud is on online collection of audio books available for libraries and schools to have access to classic literature, nonfiction, young adult, new titles, and Spanish language audio books. You can search for your favorite author or title as well as browse through the various genres. There is no software to download, because you stream directly from the website. The downside is that you cannot listen while offline. 

Both RomanceBookCloud and TeenBookCloud are like the AudioBookCloud in that there are multiple genres to choose from and they must be read online. RomanceBookCloud has a core collection of more than 1700 eBook titles from the various romance sub-genres—Contemporary, Inspirational, Historical, Regency, Paranormal, and Sci-fi. TeenBookCloud is a collection of eBooks for grades 7-12. The selection includes graphic novels, enhanced novels, classic literature, National Geographic videos, and audiobooks. It also includes a Common Core portal for grade level reading. 

TumbleBooks is an online collection of animated, talking picture books which help to teach young children the joys of reading. Some of the titles even have a read-along function that allows your child to follow along as the story is read to them. TumbleBooks also has a variety of Story books, read-alongs, eBooks, graphic novels, nonfiction, videos as well as some puzzles and games to keep children engaged. There is also Accelerated Reader information so that your child can keep up with their AR reading. 

Finally, we have TumbleMath which offers math picture books, lesson plans, and quizzes in everything from counting, addition, and subtraction to graphing, probability, and finance. The picture books have subtle animation and narration to help your child learn to love math. The quiz section has quizzes just for TumbleMath, but also a selection of Common Core based quizzes. 

One last thing, we would like our patrons to remember that we will not attach any fines to the materials you have checked out for as long as we remain closed. Please remember that audio CDs, DVDs, Playaways, Playaway Views, and any learning games and toys checked out from downstairs cannot be put in the book drop. Hang on to those and we will be happy to take those once we re-open.

August is Romance Awareness Month!

During August, why not celebrate Romance Awareness Month by checking out some of our romance novels?  We have authors from classical to modern day, including :

• Charlotte Bronte
• Jane Austin
• Joyce Carol Oates
• Denise Hunter
• Beverly Jenkins
• Cindy Woodsmall
• Jane Peart
• Lynsay Sands
• Jodi Thomas

Need more suggestions?  Watch our Facebook page for romance novels that have been turned into movies.

Christmas Romance

Here are a few heartwarming romance stories for your Christmas enjoyment!

In Snowfall on Haven Point by RaeAnne Thayne, Andrea Montgomery and her children have spent the past two years grieving for their lost husband and father, so when the opportunity arises for them to spend Christmas in Haven Point, Andie is determined they are going to enjoy themselves. Andie's friend, Wyn, asks her to look after her brother, Marhall Bailey, who is convalescing after a hit and run accident. Marshall hates feeling so helpless and he resents the protective impulses Andie brings out in him. When a blizzard forces them together for the holidays, Marshall begins to soften and look at Andie in a different light. Her kind nature is soothing and the excitement her kids have for Christmas makes him forget why he never wanted a family. Will Marshall and Andie be able to admit what it is they really want for Christmas?

The Beloved Christmas Quilt by Wanda E. Brunstetter with Jean Brunstetter & Richelle Brunstetter contains three stories all centered around a beloved family quilt. In "Luellas Promise," Luella Ebersol is a caregiver for a dying woman, Dena Lapp, and her young son. When Dena gives Luella her favorite quilt, she makes Luella promise to pass it down to her own daughter. Dena isn't sure she will ever marry. She can't seem to find a man with faith and maturity like Dena's husband Atlee Zook. "Karen's Gift" sees Karen Allgyer and her husband moving to a slow-paced village to raise their children. With three girls and one on the way, Karen is longing for the closeness of her family to help her through the challenges of motherhood. When life's challenges get bigger she will have to either rise above them or cave to her fears. Finally, in "Roseanna's Groom," the unexpected happens on Roseanna Allgyer's wedding day and she winds up blaming herself, though she doesn't understand why. When an old friend returns to town, she battles the butterflies her makes her feel because she fears being hurt once again.

Holly and Ivy by Fern Michaels is a story about the persistence of memory, especially during the holidays. Airline heiress Ivy Macintosh is not looking forward to another festive season alone. For eight long years she has wallowed in the grief caused by the death of her husband and children in a plane crash. Eleven-year-old Holly Greenwood knocks on Ivy's door after becoming lost during a forbidden trip to her singing teacher. Holly's voice is extraordinary and she wants nothing more than to perform in the upcoming Christmas musical, but her father, Daniel, doesn't allow musci in their home, nor does he talk about Holly's mother. Ivy and Daniel will discover that their past tragedies link them together. As Christmas nears, Ivy begins to see a warmth beneath Daniel's gruff exterior and Holly draws Ivy back into the world and toward a new family life that she desperately needs.

Noelle is the fourth novel in the McCray series by Greg Kincaid. Matriarch Mary Ann McCray is determined to shake up this Christmas by becoming Crossing Trail, Kansas's first ever Mrs. Santa Claus. She has decided to put her own twist on tradition and it's no telling what will fall out of her red velvet sleeves. The McCray's close friends, the Robinsons, aren't faring so well this year. They have decided to divorce and all the hoopla is turning their young children's lives upside down. The McCray's son, Todd, has moved back to town to be with his girlfriend and start a new job at the animal shelter. Tagging along is his obstinate dog, Elle, who has a hard time staying out of trouble. The refrain, "No, Elle! No, Elle!" is often heard throughout town. Todd is feeling particularly self-conscious this Christmas and is worried he is somehow disappointing his parents, but he also feels he must live his life and make his decisions on his own terms. Both families are in desperate need of a Christmas Angel, but is this goofy, hard-headed dog the answer?

Other Romantic Christmas Fiction:

New Chick Lit

The Shark Club by Ann Kidd Taylor takes place amid the palm trees, calypso bands and pristine ocean views of Florida. When Maeve Donnally is young, she enjoys spending time near the ocean and is fascinated by sharks. One summer, two extraordinary things happen to her. First, Daniel--the boy she has a crush on--kisses her. Then, she is bitten by a black tip shark. She decides to throw herself into her work as a marine biologist traveling the world studying and teaching others about sharks. Fifteen years later, she returns to the Hotel of the Muses where she grew up under the watchful eye of her grandmother. Maeve has a chance meeting with a young girl on the beach who is as fascinated with the ocean as Maeve had been at that age. This meeting puts her at a crossroads: does she rekindle her romance with Daniel or does she pursue a new relationship with Nicholas--a colleague who is investigating a illegal shark-finning in the area?

It's 1952, but the post-war boom seems to be passing Hooper's Crossing, New York by in Dorothy Garlock's The Nearness of You. Lonely, sheltered librarian Lily Denton longs for adventure and the hustle and bustle of New York City, but, ever since her mother died, her father hasn't let her out of his sight. So, Lily spends her days in the library and her nights hoping that life won't pass her by. The cool, crisp air of autumn brings in tourists for the fall festival as well as a photographer with a knack for finding trouble. But when Boone Tatum snaps a photo of Lily, suddenly he isn't in a hurry to make his way out of town. When danger blows into town and marks Lily as its own, it will take all of her strength and courage to stand up for herself and the man she only just met, but can't live without.

The saga of the Crystal women is the focus of Mary B. Morrison's The One I've Waited For. Mercedes, Devereaux, Alexis, Sandara, and matriarch Blake have had their share of drama, but what happens next will push their bond to its limits and beyond. Mercedes forgave her philandering husband's last ego-boosting affair, but his new tryst, Arizona Remington, is proving to be a challenge. Arizona is determined to keep her wealthy husband as her own, but Mercedes buckles down and unleashes a take-no-prisoners campaign that inspires her sisters to do the same. Devereaux's show is the hottest thing on television and it takes up most of her time. She has been patient with her financially challenged fiance, but when Mercedes convinces Devereaux to do a background check on her man before walking down the aisle, it will take all of Devereaux's strength to let him go and not take him back. Alexis has her own troubles now that her lies are catching up to her; Sandara's babies' daddy is demanding part of her newfound fortune; and Momma Blake is struggling to get and keep her own happy ending.

In Secrets of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery, sisters Kelly and Olivia Murphy have been estranged for ten long years; ever since their father sent Olivia away because of her affair with the town's bad boy. Kelly has lived by herself, tending the tulip farm and getting stuck in a rut of sorts. Now that Olivia is back and newcomer Griffith Burnett has caught her eye, Kelly is finding it hard to keep her secrets to herself. Which is much easier to do when you are alone. Olivia is determined not to let Kelly stand in the way of her homecoming and her mission to rekindle the flame with her man. When secrets start coming to light from both girls, will there be reconciliation or resentment?

 August is Romance Awareness Month and we will be featuring a difference romance author everyday on our Facebook page including both old favorites and newcomers to our shelves.

Pick one up to enjoy today!