’42’ – A Movie About Jackie Robinson

April 11, 2013June 5, 2014 / Linda / Leave a comment

The movie ‘42′ is set to be released Friday, April 12^th. It tells the life story of Jackie Robinson (played by Chadwick Boseman) who became the first African-American to play professional baseball. He signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers where team executive Branch Rickey (played by Harrison Ford) guided Robinson through this momentous time. The movie is already generating positive buzz with great reviews and high praise.

The Cheshire Library has several books about Jackie Robinson that you might want to read – for both children and adults.

Adult:

Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball by Scott Simon

The Jackie Robinson Reader: perspectives on an American hero by Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson by Arnold Rampersad

Children:

Jackie Robinson by Tony DeMarco

Stealing Home : Jackie Robinson: Against All Odds by Robert Burleigh

Jackie Robinson and the Story of All Black Baseball – by Jim O’Connor

There are also more titles to choose from. The Children’s Librarian or Reference Librarian can help you locate them.

BOOK REVIEW: Thrill Ride by Julie Ann Walker

April 11, 2013August 27, 2014 / Linda / Leave a comment

Julie Ann Walker

Julie Ann Walker is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Black Knights, Inc. series. This is book four in the romantic suspense, intense, sexy series. The books do not have to be read in order, however, it would help in knowing a little bit about the other characters and the history of the Black Knights.

This book certainly lives up to its title. It is filled with action, suspense, love, loyalty, friendship and honor. The action is fast, the sex is hot, there are unexpected surprises, there’s a bit of humor, a lot of emotion, and you are kept on the edge of your seat throughout.

The story centers around ex-navy SEAL, sexy Cajun, Rock Babineaux and Black Knight operative, Vanessa Cordero. Rock has been off the radar for quite some time until word gets back to the Black Knights that the CIA has issued an order to immediately terminate him for crimes the Black Knights don’t believe he committed. This begins the race to see if the Black Knights can find Rock before the CIA and clear his name. Vanessa has been secretly in love with Rock and is determined to save him. Mixed in with the story of the crimes and the hunt, is also the back story of Rock’s and Vanessa’s pasts. Add to that are the wonderfully entertaining secondary characters. Although all are tough, intense individuals, they are portrayed with humor and real human emotion that makes the story very believable.

Ms Walker’s writing is edgy, entertaining and hot! Suspense and intrigue levels are high. The chemistry between Rock and Vanessa sizzles. This book is truly a thrilling read!

If you’d like to read the first three books in the series, they are:

Hell on Wheels

In Rides Trouble

Rev It Up

Jane Fonda’s Adopted Daughter

April 10, 2013August 27, 2014 / Linda / Leave a comment

It came as a surprise to many people that Jane Fonda has an adopted African-American daughter who was raised in Oakland during the 70’s in a family that belonged to the Black Panthers. Mary Williams’ father was in prison most of her life, her older sister was a prostitute and her mother struggled to raise six children alone. When Mary was thirteen, she was invited to spend the summer at the Laurel Springs Children’s camp run by Jane Fonda and her then husband, Tom Hayden. Mary flourished at the camp and started to confide in Jane about her difficult life at home. After Mary suffered a nightmare assault, Jane provided care and therapy and invited her to come live with her family. Jane was a wonderful mother who helped with homework, and offered inspiration and encouragement.

Mary’s life since has been one of adventure and opportunity. It also involved returning to Oakland to reconnect with her biological family. The Lost Daughter: A Memoir is a chronicle of her journey back in time, an exploration of fractured family bonds, and a moving epic of self-discovery.

Author Profile: Robyn Carr

April 9, 2013August 27, 2014 / Linda / Leave a comment

Robyn Carr published her first book in 1978, but it took her 30 years to make the New York Times Best Seller List. She is a pioneer of the small-town romance genre.

She married her high school sweetheart during the peak of the Vietnam War. She studied nursing in college, but couldn’t practice because of their constant moving between military bases. To occupy her time, she took up reading and fell in love with romances. She feels romances are important because people need a safe place to deal with emotions they’re stuck with, and a book is a safe place to do that. After much trial and error, she settled upon writing contemporary romances. Her novels deal with real issues in a realistic manner. She is strongly drawn to issues and causes that honor men and women who serve our country. Her stories are about strong, capable women who have issues that every woman faces at some point in her life.

She is the author of the very popular Virgin River series. It is a blend of romance and women’s fiction that entertains as well as addresses sensitive issues, such as domestic violence, health issues, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It takes place in a fictional town in the Redwood forests of California. The series centers around men of honor and the women they love. The first book of the series, Virgin River, was published in 2007. There are 20 books in the series. They are:

Virgin River
Shelter Mountain
Whispering Rock
A Virgin River Christmas
Second Chance Pass
Temptation Ridge
Paradise Valley
Under the Christmas Tree (novella)(not available)
Forbidden Falls
Angel’s Peak
Moonlight Road
Midnight Confessions (novella)(not available)
Promise Canyon
Wild Man Creek
Harvest Moon
Bring Me Home for Christmas
Hidden Summit
Redwood Bend
Sunrise Point
My Kind of Christmas

Ms. Carr has spent most of 2012 writing a brand new series, Thunder Point. It is set in a picturesque coastal community on the Oregon coast. Like her Virgin River series, this series will make you laugh, sigh, and fall in love with a small town filled with people you’ll never forget. Book one – The Wanderer – is out now. It will be followed by The Newcomer in July and The Hero in September.

BOOK REVIEW: Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods

April 6, 2013August 27, 2014 / Linda / Leave a comment

Sherryl Woods is a master storyteller when it comes to bringing small town living alive with warmth, emotions, and character-driven stories.

Sand Castle Bay is the first book in her new trilogy Ocean Breeze. Emily Castle, the youngest of three sisters, is a very successful interior designer on the West Coast. She left her life in North Carolina to follow her dreams. She also left behind the man she loved, Boone Dorsett, a successful restaurateur. A hurricane barreling straight towards her grandmother’s home has Emily heading back to North Carolina.

Neither Emily nor Boone were looking forward to seeing each other, but it was inevitable. There is still a lot of built-up emotion between the two. The hurt, betrayal, and misunderstandings of ten years ago still lingers. The author weaves a captivating story of these two characters working out their differences to get a second chance at love. There are complications thrown in – Boone’s young son and his ex in-laws – and trust issues, and it is all told with such attention to detail you feel you are part of the story. The supporting characters draw you in and make you feel like part of the community. The author beautifully sets the background for Emily’s two sisters and their stories, and I can’t wait to read the next two books in the trilogy.