Author: Linda

BOOK REVIEW: Once Tempted by Laura Moore

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This is book one of the new series Silver Creek.  We are introduced to the Knowles family who own and operate the Silver Creek Ranch in California.  Not only is this a working ranch with cattle, goats, and sheep, it is also a first class resort.  This book centers on Ward Knowles, the oldest son of three children.  He was once engaged to a woman who turned out to be a gold digger, so he is not at all looking for romance.  He is dedicated to making the Silver Creek Ranch the best ranch and resort it can be.

Tess Casari is a born and bred New Yorker and Events Planner.  She endured a horrific marriage, then stood by her ex-husband while he died from a brain tumor.  Wanting to totally escape and start over, she and her friend come up with a unique idea that lands Tess in Acacia, California – home to Silver Creek Ranch.  She finds sanctuary there as an assistant to Ward’s mother, Adele.

Ward and Tess are like water and oil and, at first, think the sparks between them are because they dislike each other so much.  But as time goes on, they begin to realize there is something more and decide to have a no strings, no expectations relationship.  It was fun to watch Ward and Tess navigate through their relationship.  The author was also very adept at working their pasts into the storyline.

The pace of the book is a little slow.  A lot of time is spent on the scenery and ranch life.  But this sets up a beautifully written book.  The story is compelling and there are a whole host of secondary characters that provide depth and interest.  I can’t wait to see what happens next at Silver Creek Ranch!

Cozy Mysteries

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it's a mysteryWhat is a cozy mystery?  The cozy mystery generally takes place in a small town where everybody knows each other.  This makes it easy for the genial sleuth to gossip with people to help solve the mystery. These books provide a fun read that engages a reader’s mind.  Cozy mysteries are considered gentle reads – no sex, no profanity, no violence – and are light-hearted and funny.  They are fast-paced with several twists and turns.  There is an emphasis on plot and character development.

Cozy mysteries have become very popular in the last few years – so much so that authors are coming up with a wide diversity of subjects for their series.  More and more authors are setting their cozy mysteries in a series so the reader becomes emotionally involved and connects with recurring characters.

No matter what hobbies you like, or subject you are interested in, chances are there is a cozy mystery series available for your reading pleasure.  Below is a small sampling of some of the cozy mystery series.

An Amish Mystery
A Ballroom Dance Mystery     
A Barking Detective Mystery
A Cat in the Stacks Mystery
A Cats and Curiosity Mystery
A Celebration Bay Mystery
A Cheese Shop Mystery
A Classic Diner Mystery
A Clueless Cooking Mystery
A Coffee House Mystery
A Consignment Shop Mystery
A Country Cooking School Mystery
A Crime of Fashion Mystery
A Cupcake Bakery Mystery
A Daring Finds Mystery
A Deadly Deli Mystery
A Farmer’s Market Mystery
A Flower Shop Mystery
A Glee Club Mystery
A Haunted Souvenir Shop Mystery
A Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery
A Honey Bee Mystery
A Magical Dress Making Mystery
A Mall Cop Mystery
A Missing Pieces Mystery
A Mystery by the Numbers
A Peach Pies and Alibis Mystery
A Piece of Cake Mystery
A PTA Mystery
A Renaissance Faire Mystery
A Soup Lovers Mystery
A Southern Sewing Circle Mystery
A Trash ‘n Treasures Mystery

A great website to visit is cozy-mysteries-unlimited.com.  It will give you a breakdown of titles by category and new release titles by month.

If you go to our library catalog, and in the “Search For” box type in the series name, then click on the blue box series, it should pull up all the titles we own in that series.

Have fun searching for your favorite series – and don’t forget, the above is just a sampling of the various subjects out there.  If you have a hobby or interest not listed, you might find it on the above mentioned website.

BOOK REVIEW: The Summer He Came Home by Juliana Stone

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Juliana Stone

Juliana Stone

Author Juliana Stone loves the written word and 80’s rock.  She sings in an 80’s rock band where her husband plays the guitar.  So it’s no surprise that The Summer He Came Home centers around a bad boy rock ‘n roller.  This is book one in the series Bad Boys of Crystal Lake.

Ten years ago, Cain Black packed his guitar and left Crystal Lake to chase his dream.  The death of one of his best friends forces him back home.  He thinks it’s going to be a quick trip to pay his respects, but his heart has other ideas.  Cain has learned the hard way that fame and fortune is not all it’s cracked up to be.  He finds out his wife (now ex) and best friend (also ex and key member of the band) were fooling around with each other behind his back and he’s also just plain tired of the rock star life style.

Maggie-Grace O’Rourke is a single mom and new to Crystal Lake.  She works as a maid and is counting on living in the shadows to hide from her terrible past.  The last thing she needs is the attention of a famous rock star.  She’s looking for some peace and a good place to raise her 7 year old son.

Cain meets Maggie on his first day back in Crystal Lake.  Neither one wants or is prepared for the attraction they feel for each other.  The author takes her time in letting their relationship grow.  It was fun to watch them get comfortable with each other and Cain’s relationship with Maggie’s son is very sweet.   There is drama, suspense, and humor mixed in with a sweet and, eventually, hot romance.

One of the best aspects of the book was the relationships between Cain and the other “bad boys”.  We are introduced to Jake, who is the twin brother of Jessie – whose funeral it is that Cain came back for.  Jessie was killed in Afghanistan – his death witnessed by Jake.  Jessie leaves behind his wife, Raine.  Jake not only has issues with his twin’s death, but also what to do about Raine.  We are also introduced to Mac, an architect who has his own demons to deal with – namely an abusive father.  The author does an excellent job of weaving these characters, and others from this small town, into the story.

This is a beautifully written story of love and friendship with very realistic and likeable characters.  I’m looking forward to the upcoming books in this series.

Top Ten Challenged Books of 2012

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banned booksEach year the American Library Association compiles a list of the top ten most frequently challenged books in school and public libraries.  A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness.  For the year 2012, 464 challenges were reported.  (It is estimated that for every challenge reported, 4 or 5 go unreported.)

The top ten challenged books for 2012 are:

  1.  Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey – Reasons:  Offensive language, unsuited for age group.
  2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie – Reasons: Offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
  3. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher – Reasons:  Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group
  4. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James – Reasons:  Offensive language, sexually explicit
  5. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson – Reasons:  Homosexuality, unsuited for age group
  6. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini – Reasons:  Homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
  7. Looking For Alaska by John Green – Reasons:  Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
  8. Scary Stories (series) by Alvin Schwartz – Reaons:  Unsuited for age group, violence
  9. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls – Reasons:  Offensive language, sexually explicit
  10. Beloved by Toni Morrison – Reasons:  Sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence

BOOK REVIEW: Currant Creek Valley by RaeAnne Thayne

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raeanne thayneRaeAnne Thayne is a relative newcomer to the small-town romance genre, but she certainly has a winner with her series Hope Crossings.  Currant Creek Valley is the fourth book in the series.  The first three books of the series center around the town uniting to boost each other up after a terrible tragedy.  The titles in order are:

  1.  Sweet Laurel Falls
  2. Woodrose Mountain
  3. Blackberry Summer

Currant Creek Valley, and the next two books, center around how the town comes together to help those outside their community.

Alex McKnight is a chef in the process of opening her very own restaurant.  She has a quick wit and casual approach to life that masks a terrible secret from her past.

Contractor Sam Delgado is looking to start over in a new town with his 6 year old son after the death of his wife.  Alex hires him to put the finishing touches on her restaurant’s kitchen.

They are instantly attracted to each other – much to their dismay!  Neither one is interested in any kind of relationship because they have so much to deal with from their pasts.  The author tells their story with gritty emotion and humor.  There are wonderful descriptions of this picturesque town and the wonderful food Alex creates.

You don’t have to read the original three books first, but it might help you understand the enchanting secondary characters and their backgrounds.  You’ll have time to read them before book five – Willowleaf Lane (July) and book six – Snowflake Canyon (October) are published.