New Fiction Coming Soon! July/August 2016

coming soon

Want a little heads up on when your favorite author is publishing a new book?  Here are some of the new fiction hardcover books coming out in July and August.  Clicking on the title will bring you to our catalog where you can place a hold if you’d like.

JULY

whitefernAndrews, V.C. Whitefern – The long-awaited sequel to My Sweet Audrina, one of V.C. Andrews’s strangest, most beloved books—and now a Lifetime movie! Whitefern swallowed Audrina’s childhood—and now the sprawling Victorian mansion threatens her adult life too.

 

innocentsAtkins, AceThe Innocents – A former high school cheerleader is found walking a back road completely engulfed in flames.

 

 

killer lookFairstein, LindaKiller Look – When murder rocks New York City’s Fashion Week, Alex Cooper along with Detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace, must reveal the grime beneath the glitz to expose the culprit—unless a wolf in model’s clothing gets to them first.

 

fallingGreen, Jane Falling – Eight years ago, Emma Montague left behind the strict confines—and rather dull boyfriend—of her upper-crust English life and moved to New York City, where she immediately found success in finance. But her soulless, cutthroat, all-consuming job was another life she didn’t want.

drinking gourdHambly, Barbara Drinking Gourd – Following the murder of a chief ‘conductor’ of the Underground Railroad, Jubal Cain, the coordinator of the entire Railroad system in Mississippi, is accused of the crime. It’s up to Benjamin January to step in and find the true killer – before their covers are blown.

night and dayJohansen, Iris Night and Day – Protecting Cara Delaney from the enemies who want her dead leads Eve to be their target. It will take everything she has to rescue Cara, and doing so will put that which is dearest to her at risk.

 

make me love youLindsey, JohannaMake Me Love You – A sparkling, passionate tale of an earl’s daughter who must convince a mysterious viscount to marry her and end his vendetta against her brother.

 

another oneLovesey, PeterAnother One Goes Tonight – Two police officers are about to head home after a long night shift when they receive one last call: a suspicious nude person has been spotted. En route to the call, the patrol car spins off the road, killing one of the exhausted cops instantly and leaving the other in critical condition.

chance developmnetsMccall Smith, Alexander Chance Developments – While gathering material for a photography book about Edinburgh, Alexander McCall Smith found himself inspired to create stories about the people captured in a number of particularly striking photos.

 

white bonePearson, Ridley White Bone – When ex–military contractor John Knox receives a text from partner Grace Chu warning that she fears her cover may have been blown while on assignment, he jumps into action.

 

secret language ofRose, M. J.The Secret Language of Stones – As World War I rages and the Romanov dynasty reaches its sudden, brutal end, a young jewelry maker discovers love, passion, and her own healing powers in this rich and romantic ghost story.

 

outfoxedRosenfelt, David Outfoxed – Lately, Defense lawyer Andy Carpenter has been involved in a county prison program where inmates help train dogs the Tara Foundation, the dog rescue organization he runs, to make them more adoptable, benefiting both the dogs and the prisoners.

 

magicSteel, DanielleMagic – A tale set against a backdrop of the glamorous annual White Dinners in Paris traces the experiences of longtime participant Jean-Philippe Dumas, who reflects on friendship, love and magical possibilities on a life-changing night.

 

land of theWood, BarbaraLand of the Afternoon Sun – The story of a woman finding her own personality and strength in the West against a breathtaking desert landscape that changes constantly and shows its deadly side in poisonous snakes, flash floods and sand storms, with dramatic moments of forbidden romance, reversals, treachery, betrayal and, ultimately, triumphs.

AUGUST

die like an eagleAndrews, Donna Die Like An Eagle – Meg and Michael coach their twin sons’ youth baseball team and tangle with Biff Brown, the petty, vindictive league head. On opening day, Biff’s lookalike brother is found dead at the ball field. Biff has an alibi–and Meg suspects he may actually have been the intended victim.

crowned andBowen, Rhys Crowned and Dangerous – With Darcy driving me out of London in a borrowed motor car, I soon discover that he isn’t planning to introduce me to the pleasures of sinning in secret—as I had hoped—but to make me his wife!

 

puppetBrown, Dale Puppet Master – Recruited into the FBI to help track down criminals behind a massive financial scam, a robotics genius is swept up by a dangerous conspiracy that compels him to unleash the most powerful cyber weapons the world has ever seen.

 

jealous kindBurke, James Lee The Jealous Kind – An atmospheric, powerful, coming-of-age story set in 1950s Texas, as the specter of the Korean War looms.

 

surrend new yorkiCarr, CalebSurrender, New York – Many dedicated years working for the NYPD didn’t mean much when criminal psychologist Trajan Jones was fired from the force. Now living in exile in upstate New York, Trajan is reduced to teaching an online course in criminal investigation.

a time of tormentConnolly, John A Time of Torment – Dangerous and driven private investigator Charlie Parker returns in the latest gripping thriller, in which ungodly fears haunt a strange and isolated community.

 

knit your ownFerris, Monica Knit Your Own Murder – Local knitters are participating in a fundraising auction to save a community center, creating a growing pile of stuffed animals and toys right in front of the auctioneers as the audience bids. Among those contributing the most knitted goods is temperamental businesswoman Marsha Hanover—who keels over halfway through the event.

sunday kind of loveGarlock, Dorothy Sunday Kind of Love – The New York Times best-selling author of Twice in a Lifetime presents a latest heartland America romance that explores the challenges of finding love in unexpected places.

 

three sistersGregory, PhilippaThree Sisters, Three Queens – Raised in the coldly ambitious nursery of their grandmother Lady Margaret Beaufort (The Red Queen) Margaret and Mary Tudor are destined to be queens. The lives of these three women intertwine,  as each survives childbirth, war, and political treachery.

brokenGriffin, W.E.B.Broken Trust – Having investigated his share of gruesome murders, Philadelphia Homicide Sergeant Matt Payne is beginning to think nothing can shock him – until the case of a young socialite’s death lands on his desk.

 

sweet tommorrowsMacomber, Debbie Sweet Tomorrows – Jo Marie Rose and Mark Taylor return in the conclusion to this wonderful series set in Cedar Cove, as new guests check in to the Rose Harbor Inn—where happily ever afters await those who need them most.

 

liar's keyNeggers, CarlaLiar’s Key – An FBI legend, a mysterious antiquities specialist and a brazen art thief draw top FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan into a complex web of blackmail, greed and murder.

 

bullPatterson, James Bullseye – Tracking a pair of killers who are targeting an extremely popular United States president, detective Michael Bennett puts himself in the line of fire to prevent an assassination and the re-ignition of the Cold War.

 

first starPhillips, Susan Elizabeth First Star I See Tonight – A star quarterback and a feisty detective play for keeps in this sporty, sexy, sassy novel.

 

 

damagedScottoline, LisaDamaged – Named the guardian ad litem of a middle-school boy with emotional issues on whose behalf she is suing the Philadelphia school district, Mary DiNunzio is confronted by elite lawyer Nick Machiavelli and risks her engagement in her obsessive investment in the case.

 

rushing watersSteel, Danielle Rushing Waters – An interior designer, her independent architect mother, a British investment banker, an ER doctor who survived Hurricane Sandy and two NYU students are thrust together when a major hurricane descends upon New York City and wreaks unimaginable devastation

 

family treeWiggs, SusanFamily Tree -Love. Success. A handsome husband, a beautiful home. These are the things Annie Rush can call her own. These are the foundations of her charmed life in Los Angeles.  But in an instant, that life is shattered. And as Annie sifts through the ashes, she must face the shock and pain of a devastating loss.

 

smooth operatorWoods, Stuart Smooth Operator – When President Kate Lee calls Stone Barrington to Washington on an urgent matter, it’s soon clear that a potentially disastrous situation requires the kind of help more delicate than even he can provide .

New Contemporary Romance Authors

I catalog the new mass market paperbacks, so I have easy access to the new titles coming in and I decided to take a gamble on some new authors.  Some were surprisingly entertaining and I’ve added a few of the new authors to my favorites list. If you’re looking for something new to read in the contemporary romance family, take a look at some of these new titles. They are all series but can be read alone.

Don’t be afraid to try something new – you might like it!

as good as newAs Good As New  (A Something New Novel) – Jennifer Dawson – After an injury ends his NFL career, Evan Donovan is stunned when Penelope Watkins, the woman who has loved him for years, shows up on his doorstep determined to nurse him back to health—and to make him admit that he cannot live without her.

heart like mineHeart Like Mine  (An Echo Lake Novel) – Maggie McGinnis – To save the pediatric department at Vermont’s Mercy Hospital, aspiring CFO Delaney Blair must convince pediatrician Dr. Joshua Mackenzie to help her on her mission, and as they work closely together, an emergency changes everything and forces them to realize that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.

hold your breathHold Your Breath  (Search and Rescue) – Katie Ruggle – When he and his team of rescue divers go face-to-face with a killer, Callum, the haunted leader of the close-knit Search and Rescue brotherhood, finds that both his heart and life are on the line as he allows himself to get close to newcomer Louise “Lou” Sparks.

love walks inLove Walks In  (The Shaughnessy Brothers) – Samantha Chase – Though most things come easily to wealthy, luxury resort owner Hugh Shaughnessy, the loss of his mother hit him hard, and he’s been wary of growing close to anyone ever since—until a runaway bride Aubrey literally climbs into his life via a hotel window.

more than a feelingMore Than A Feeling  (Heart of the Rockies) – Sara Richardson – While starting a new life free of fear in Aspen, Colorado, Ruby James finds her quiet existence interrupted by police office Sawyer Hawkins who awakens feelings within her that she thought were long buried.

one night charmerOne Night Charmer  (Copper Ridge Novels) – Maisey Yates – Determined to make it on her own, Sierra West asks overly opinionated, yet totally gorgeous Ace Thompson for a bartending job, and as they work side by side, they get closer and closer to breaking the “no mixing business with pleasure” rule.

take me home tonightTake Me Home Tonight  (Rock Star Romance) – Erika Kelly – The new keyboardist of the band Blue Fire, Calix Bourbon, who is desperately trying to keep his fractured family together, finds himself distracted by the band’s beautiful personal chef, who has her heart set on auditioning for a televised cooking show—and on him.

draw me closeDraw Me Close  (Hearts and Crafts) – Nicole Michaels – Happy with her life the way it is, DIY refurbisher Lindsey is thrown for a loop when she encounters the man she has never stopped loving—Derek, an architect and single father who will do anything to keep her close this time and never let her go.

best laid weddingBest Laid Wedding Plans (Magnolia Brides) – Lynnette Austin – After inheriting her family’s beautiful antebellum home, Jenni Beth Beaumont, determined to turn the residence into a wedding destination, goes up against an architectural salvager—and her former flame—who is determined to purchase and deconstruct her family’s estate.

one for meThe One For Me (A Danvers Novel) – Sydney Landon – When he meets Crystal Webber, who literally faints at his feet, billionaire playboy Mark DeSanto suddenly finds himself wondering if it’s time to explore something long-lasting instead of a brief encounter.

cuff meCuff Me  (New York’s Finest) -Lauren Layne – When his longtime partner, Jill—a sassy, sexy, smart-mouth blonde—begins seeing someone, NYPD homicide detective Vincent Moretti realizes that he wants her for himself and will break all the rules to convince her to be his partner for life.

someoneSomeone Like You (The Harrisons) – Jennifer Gracen –  Agreeing to coach a kids’ soccer team, soccer star and black sheep of the wealthy Harrison clan, Pierce Harrison, meets his match in his co-coach Abby McCord, a sweet-faced beauty with trust issues, who blocks his amorous advances at every turn.

Books that Defy Genre Labels and Description

Part of my job in labeling and cataloging books includes deciding if it needs a genre label and which one(s). Some books are easy. With some books I know right away that it needs a mystery, fantasy, or science fiction sticker. Particularly if the publisher is nice enough to include that information in a subtitle or in the book description. Sometimes it takes a little more research, but the author or publisher often include the intended genre pretty clearly somewhere, if you know where to look. However, there are some books that are simply beyond categorizing. Sometimes this is because the book covers so much ground very well, sometimes it is because it simply defies description, and sometimes it is because it crosses so many genre lines that there is not enough room to defygenre1include all the relevant genre stickers.

Here are a few examples of fascinating reads that defy simple genre classifications:

The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
Interweaves six narratives spanning the period between 1984 and the 2030s to chronicle a secret war between a cult of soul-decanters and a small group of vigilantes who would take them down. By the award-winning author of Cloud Atlas.defygenre2

Flatland: a Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott
A century-old classic of British letters that charmed and fascinated generations of readers with its witty satire of Victorian society and its unique insights, by analogy, into the fourth dimension.

Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami; translated by Alfred Birnbaumdefygenre3
Tracking one man’s descent into the Kafkaesque underworld of contemporary Tokyo, Murakami unites East and West, tragedy and farce, compassion and detachment, slang and philosophy.

2666 by Roberto Bolaño; translated from the Spanish by Natasha Wimmer
An American sportswriter, an elusive German novelist, and a teenage student interact in an urban community on the U.S.-Mexico border where hundreds of young factory defygenres4workers have disappeared.

The Incarnations by Susan Barker
Receiving mysterious letters from someone claiming to be his soulmate, a Beijing taxi driver learns about their shared relationships in numerous past lives before becoming increasingly certain that someone is watching him.

defygenrebtmMore suggestions for indescribably interesting reads include: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, Valis by Philip K. Dick, Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, Here, There be Dragons by James A. Owen, Frost in May by Antonia White, The Secret History by Donna Tartt, If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino,Gun, With Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethe,Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke,The Marvels by Brian Selznick, In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters, and The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov.

Have you ever read a book that left you changed but still somehow wondering what exactly it was that you just read? What is your favorite book that left you speechless when it came down to recommending it or describing it to someone else?

New Fiction Coming Soon! May/June 2016

new fiction

Want a little heads up on when your favorite author is publishing a new book?  Here are some of the new fiction hardcover books coming out in May and June.  Clicking on the title will bring you to our catalog where you can place a hold if you’d like.

MAY

aunt dimityAtherton, NancyAunt Dimity and the Buried Treasure Discovering a beautiful garnet bracelet belonging to Aunt Dimity, Lori learns the story of a doomed love affair from Dimity’s youth and is asked to return the bracelet to a long-ago suitor, an endeavor that is complicated by discovery that the bracelet could be part of a lost national treasure.

boar islandBarr, NevadaBoar Island – When her paraplegic friend’s adopted daughter attempts suicide in the face of cyber-bullying and stalking, National Park Service Ranger Anna Pigeon investigates the person behind the increasingly violent harassment, who follows the troubled teen when Anna tries to move her to a safe haven.

tall tailBrown, Rita MaeTall TailWhen a confidante to the former governor of Virginia dies under suspicious circumstances, Harry and her furry detective cohorts look for answers in the eighteenth century, where they discover a secret ancestry that originated in brutality and silence.

 

dominionConnolly, JohnDominion – Emerging from the mysterious Derith wormhole to discover that years have passed in their universe, Syl and Paul are confronted by an Illyri civil war, Earth’s occupation by Others and the dark plans of a new Sisterhood leader.

 

emperor's revengeCussler, CliveThe Emperor’s Revenge – Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon join forces with a former CIA colleague to track down a rogue hacker and a ruthless former Ukrainian naval officer who are behind a violent bank heist that occurred during the Monaco Grand Prix.

girl from summer hillDeveraux, Jude The Girl From Summer Hill – Clashing with a gorgeous Hollywood star who is playing Darcy in a local production of Pride & Prejudice, Casey, a chef who puts her career first and who believes the actor’s brother-in-law’s damning claims, finds herself becoming attracted to him in spite of herself.

haunted destinyGraham, HeatherHaunted Destiny – Assigned to investigate a mysterious serial killer who leaves his victims in churches with saint medallions on their necks, paranormal investigator Jackson Crow and New Orleans agent Jude McCoy team up with piano player Alexi on a haunted cruise ship when the ghost of a victim appears to them.

rock a bye bonesHaines, Carolyn Rock-a-bye BonesCoping with a broken heart and the attack on Scott Hampton’s blues club, Sarah Booth Delaney discovers a baby in a basket on her porch and bloody footsteps leading to her driveway, a situation that places her in the same danger as a troubled mother running for her life.

nightshiftHarris, Charlaine Night Shift – When weapons obtained from Midnight’s local pawn shop are used in a series of dramatic suicides at the main crossroads in town, the vampire Lemuel makes astonishing discoveries about why the community has attracted so many paranormal residents, who must work together to stop the violence.

troublemakerHoward, LindaTroublemaker – Sent to a remote location in a small West Virginian mountain town to lay low after almost being killed in an ambush, Morgan Yancy finds his attraction to part-time police chief and housemate Isabeau Maran adds an unexpected complication to his life.

marrying winterboneKleypas, LisaMarrying Winterborne – Achieving wealth and success through his savage ambitions, tycoon Rhys Winterborne resolves to marry shy, aristocratic Lady Helen Ravenel, who in spite of her gentle upbringing responds to Rhys’s seductions with her own unexpected passions.

blood flagMartini, Steve Blood Flag – Defending a client accused of mercy-killing her father, attorney Paul Madriani is drawn into a treacherous conspiracy involving the victim’s former unit from World War II and a feared Nazi relic. By the best-selling author of The Enemy Inside.

 

prayers the devilMccrumb, SharynPrayers the Devil Answers – Appointed to serve out her late husband’s term as sheriff of their Depression-era Tennessee mountain town, Ellie struggles to reconcile her responsibilities with societal expectations for women and forges unexpected ties with a condemned killer she is scheduled to execute.

15thPatterson, James15th Affair – When an alluring blonde with links to the CIA disappears from the scene of a brutal murder at a luxury hotel, detective Lindsay Boxer is forced to uncover difficult truths about her husband’s secret life.

 

miller's valleyQuindlen, Anna Miller’s Valley – Living in a 1960s farming community in eastern Pennsylvania, Mimi struggles with the family secrets she unearths.

 

everybody's foolRusso, Richard Everybody’s Fool – Returns to the setting of “Nobody’s Fool” to find Sully confronting a daunting health prognosis, which he hides from his loved ones, including his longtime mistress, an increasingly distant best friend, and an obsessive chief of police.

the apartmentSteel, DanielleThe Apartment – Four friends sharing a beautiful loft apartment in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen revel in the glamour of city life before new relationships, job opportunities, and surprising circumstances test the strength of their bond.

 

the island houseThayer, NancyThe Island House – Having spent every summer of her adult life in Nantucket, Kansas City university professor Courtney finds herself caught between two lifestyles and two men before settling into the glamorous life she associates with the seaside and questioning her choice in the face of an unexpected turn.

JUNE

charmersAdler, ElizabethThe Charmers – Inheriting a family villa in the South of France after her aunt’s sudden and mysterious death, Mirabella has a close call with a motorcycle on her way to her new home and realizes that she is being targeted by dangerous people from her aunt’s past.

 

cavedonBradford, Barbara TaylorThe Cavendon Luck Picks up nine years after the events of Cavendon Women, in an epic tale that finds Cecily and Miles drawing on the collective strength of the whole family to protect Cavendon Hall and its clan from the challenges of World War II.

 

melody of murderCameron, StellaMelody of Murder – The arrival of a talented, ambitious and unusual new family leads to mayhem and murder in the peaceful Cotswold village of Folly-on-Weir.

 

liberty'sCoonts, StephenLiberty’s Last StandIn the wake of an assassination attempt by a decorated sniper on the eve of a presidential election, Jake Grafton and Tommy Carmellini risk everything to uncover a massive conspiracy while helping a new resistance movement rise up against a new enemy.

pursuitEvanovich, JanetThe Pursuit – After rookie lawyer Jessica Monaghan meets with the First Lady, the VIP is killed in a car accident in which Jessica manages to survive. When she suspects the accident was something else and she becomes the next target, she and experienced FBI agent Mark Ryan team up to uncover the plot behind the First Lady’s murder.

guilty mindsFinder, JosephGuilty Minds – Summoned to investigate potentially explosive charges of corruption levied by a gossip website against the chief justice of the Supreme Court, private intelligence operative Nick Heller is given 48 hours to prove that the story is baseless.

 

first comes loveGiffin, Emily  – First Comes LoveWhile Meredith becomes increasingly unsure about the strength of her bond with her seemingly perfect husband and daughter, her once-happily single sister, Josie, frantically dates and considers her options in her desperation to have a baby.

here's to usHilderbrand, Elin Here’s To Us Gathering at a ramshackle Nantucket cottage, a late celebrity chef’s wives and children confront the sources of their bitter rivalries and slowly let go of resentments as they remember positive times and share long-held secrets.

 

born of legendKenyon, SherrilynBorn of Legend – Rescuing a teen boy from a violent mob, a fugitive royal becomes an unlikely ally to the boy’s mother, a rare Andarion Fyreblood whose people are being hunted to extinction by assassins from The League.

 

end of watchKing, StephenEnd of Watch – A conclusion to the best-selling trilogy that also includes the Edgar Award-winningMr. Mercedes and Finders Keepers finds mental patient Brady Hartsfield manifesting powers to commit deadly acts without leaving his hospital room, while retired detective Bill Hodges and his partner investigate a suicide with ties to the Mercedes Massacre.

daredevil snaredLaurens, StephanieThe Daredevil Snared – Hoping to prove himself by taking up his brothers’ covert mission in Freetown and protecting escaped captives in the jungle, hedonistic youngest son Caleb Frobisher falls in love with captive governess Katherine Fortescue, who is being targeted by a sadistic mercenary.

 

tea with jamMyers, Tamar Tea with Jam and Dread – While trying to welcome British royalty to her PennDutch inn and acquaint them with traditional American culture, Magdalena Yoder embarrassingly discovers a mummified corpse in the elevator shaft.

 

defenderPalmer, DianaDefender – Investigating a stalking case involving a Texas millionaire’s daughter-turned-assistant district attorney whose heart he broke three years earlier, FBI agent Paul Fiore struggles to regain her trust after discovering the truth about her nightmarish youth and the damage he caused by leaving her. 

vinegarTyler, Anne Vinegar Girl – A modern retelling of The Taming of the Shrew follows the experiences of a preschool teacher who alienates others by speaking her mind and who manages her family’s home before she is expected by her eccentric father to marry his assistant to prevent the young man’s deportation.

dishonorable Woods, Stuart Dishonorable Intentions – A latest adventure by the Edgar Award-winning author of Chiefs finds New York City cop-turned-rainmaker for a top Manhattan law firm Stone Barrington and his associates confronting a new threat that tests the limits of their collective skills.

April 27, 2016 is Administrative Professional Day!!

Did you know that the last full week of April is Administrative Professionals Week, and the Wednesday of that week is Administrative Professional Day? This is a day, and week, were we should all give the people that do so much behind the scenes a special thanks for all the work they do to make the world run smoothly.

Think about all the moments in your life that have been made easier by the person scheduling an appointment, making phone calls, ordering and managing the supplies, and otherwise making the world go round. Not just the people that do these things for you, or where you might work, but the people that do these things at the companies you do business with. Salespeople, service people, medical professionals, teachers, and so on could get very little done without the wonderful people that do everything in their power to make things run smoothly and frankly make it all look easy.

In honor of these hard working, and generally under-appreciated, people I have gathered up some fiction about the people that have worked as administrative professionals. Included are novels where assistants of different varieties face more work and trouble than anyone should, and still handle it all with style.

adminaf1Chore Whore: Adventures of a Celebrity Personal Assistant by Heather H. Howard
Reaching her breaking point after being abused by more than twenty celebrities in her work as a professional Hollywood assistant, Corki Brown is dismayed to learn that ending her career is proving more difficult than anticipated.

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisbergeradminaf2
A small-town girl fresh out of an Ivy League college lands a job at a prestigious fashion magazine, but wonders if the glamorous perks are worth working for the editor from hell.

adminf3The Second Assistant: a Tale From the Bottom of the Hollywood Ladder by Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare
A former congressional intern who takes a job as second assistant at The Agency, a powerful Hollywood talent agency, Elizabeth Miller never expected to have to cope with the trials, tribulations, and dirty dealings of the film world, from a Machiavellian assistant and company power struggle to a lecherous producer and ritalin-snorting boss.

adminaf3Off the Menu by Stacey Ballis
Alana, the culinary assistant to a Chicago celebrity chef, discovers Southern hospitality after an accidental online connection to a Tennessee native and must decide on her priorities in life.

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
adminf4A chance encounter with a handsome banker in a Greenwich Village jazz bar on New Year’s Eve 1938 catapults witty Wall Street secretary Katey Kontent into the upper echelons of New York society, where she befriends a shy multi-millionaire, an Upper East Side ne’er-do-well, and a single-minded widow.

More fiction featuring stalwart assistants include: Oh! You Pretty Things by Shanna Mahin, Mr. Churchill’s Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal, Princess Elizabeth’s Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal, The Age of Desire by Jennie Fields, The Haunting of L. by Howard Norman, The Hanging Girl by Jussi Adler-Olsen; translated by William Frost, The Apprentice Lover by Jay Parini, and Margot by Jillian Cantor.