New Contemporary Romance Authors

June 22, 2016July 15, 2025 / Linda / Leave a comment

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

The 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 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.

Someone 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.

What Do Your Kids Want To Be?

June 15, 2016May 24, 2016 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Ask any young child what they want to be and you could get a variety of answers. Some want to be doctors or nurses, others want to be firefighters or police officers. Some answer with more entertaining answers like ‘rich’ or ‘a giraffe’. (Yes, I have heard that answer.)

Most kids have big dreams. It is important that we encourage them to explore the wide variety of options available. A great way to foster those dreams, and how important school and responsibility are to achieve them, is to help them learn about the actual careers. My daughter is set on becoming a wild animal veterinarian, and my son is determined to either hunt monsters or write books and graphic novels. In both cases I get to focus that interest in reading certain books, and the importance of certain subjects and willingness to dive in to the subjects that interest them most. I also get to teach them about related careers, and what paths their interests might take them.

I always wanted to be an astronaut or archaeologist, but I learned early on that I was much better with words and thinking about the big things rather than doing the math, engineering, and physical labor necessary for either. It was not long before I decided that books and the written word was a much better focus for my energies and aptitudes.

Here are some great resources for researching different careers, and the education paths and experience that can help your kids test if they are really interested and if the interest will last. These resources can also be used to encourage studying particular subjects or give some career ideas for those that enjoy one subject over others.

Dinosaur Scientist: Careers Digging up the Past by Thom Holmes
Unusual and Awesome Jobs Using Technology: Roller Coaster Designer, Space Robotics Engineer, and Moreby Linda LeBoutillier
Talking with Adventurers: Conversations with Christina M. Allen, Robert Ballard, Michael L. Blakey, Ann Bowles, David Doubilet, Jane Goodall, Dereck & Beverly Joubert, Michael Novacek, Johan Reinhard, Rick C. West and Juris Zarins compiled and edited by Pam Cummings and Linda Cummings
Have you Seen this Face?: the Work of Forensic Artists by Danielle Denega
Unusual and Awesome Jobs Using Science: Food Taster, Human Lie Detector, and More by Jennifer Wendinger
Dusted and Busted!: the Science of Fingerprinting by D.B. Beres
Unusual and Awesome Jobs in Sports: Pro Team Mascot, Pit Crew Member, and Moreby Jeremy Johnson
Scuba Divers: Life Under Water by John Giacobello
Unusual and Awesome Jobs in Math: Stunt Coordinator, Cryptologist, and More by Lisa M. Bolt Simons

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For the youngest readers I would recommend the easy nonfiction series’ by Patricia Hubbell or Heather Adamson. Here are some of those titles; Police: Hurrying! Helping! Saving!, Teacher!: Sharing, Helping, Caring, , Firefighters!: Speeding! Spraying! Saving!, Check it Out!: Reading, Finding, Helping, A Day in the Life of a Police Officer, A Day in the Life of a Firefighter, A Day in the Life of a Construction Worker.

There are even more resources for the older readers and young adults, including; Cool Careers Without College for Animal Lovers by Chris Hayhurst, Exploring Careers: a Young Person’s Guide to 1,000 Jobs from the editors at JIST, The Teen Vogue Handbook: an Insider’s Guide to Careers in Fashion, Careers for Environmental Types & Others Who Respect the Earth by Michael Fasulo and Jane Kinney, College Majors and Careers: a Resource Guide for Effective Life Planning by Paul Phifer, and Great Careers in 2 Years: the Associate Degree Option: High-Skill and High-Wage Jobs Available Through Two-Year Programs by Paul Phifer.

June is National Rose Month

June 8, 2016May 10, 2016 / Linda / Leave a comment

rose

Roses have a long and colorful history. They have been symbols of love, beauty, war, and politics. The rose is, according to fossil evidence, 35 million years old. In nature, the genus Rosa has some 150 species spread throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from Alaska to Mexico and including northern Africa.

November 20, 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed a resolution making the rose the national floral emblem. Americans have communicated their feelings through roses for years.

Rose Color Meanings:

Red: love, beauty, courage, respect

Yellow: joy, gladness, friendship

Red and yellow: jovial, happy

Yellow with red tips: falling in love

White: purity, innocence

Pink: appreciation, thank you, admiration

Orange: desire, enthusiasm

Peach: appreciation, sincerity, gratitude, closing the deal

Lavender: love at first sight

Coral: desire

Roses by the Number:

A single rose of any color: utmost devotion

Two roses entwined: ‘marry me’

Six roses: a need to be loved or cherished

Eleven roses: receipient is truly and deeply loved

Thirteen roses: secret admirer

Roses make an appearance in many books. To connect to our catalog for all things roses, click here. Below are a few fiction books referencing roses.

Winter Roses – Diana Palmer – Ranch owner Stuart York is at the mercy of Ivy Conley, his younger sister’s best friend, when she, upon returning home, is determined to prove that she is no longer a little girl, but a woman who wants him more than anything.

Chalice of Roses – Jo Beverley – Four novellas about quests for the Holy Grail, including a woman who must use it to bring peace to England and a Regency lady who must protect it from Napoleon’s spies.

Roses – Leila Meacham – Having not married in spite of their true feelings, cotton tycoon Mary Toliver and timber magnate Percy Warwick struggle with deceit, secrets and tragedies that challenge their children and grandchildren in their small east Texas community.

For The Roses – Julie Garwood – Discovered abandoned as a baby in a New York City alley and raised by the Clayborne brothers, four urchin boys, Mary Rose Clayborne remains fiercely loyal to her misfit family until an English lord reveals a shocking secret that sends her into a confrontation with her past.

Coming Up Roses – Catherine Anderson – Widow Kate Blakely, who is wary of love after her failed first marriage, nonetheless falls for her new neighbor, Zachariah McGovern, after he rescues her four-year-old daughter, Miranda, from a well.

Bed of Roses – Nora Roberts – Florist Emma Grant despairs of ever finding Mr. Right, until she develops feelings for Jack Cooke, an architect who works closely with her and her colleagues at Vows wedding planning.

Summer of Roses – Luanne Rice – Lily Malone is forced to confront the events and relationships of the past as she deals with the man who has separated her from everything she has ever loved, but who could hold the key to her young daughter Rose’s future.

A Good Year for the Roses – Gil McNeil – Recently divorced and struggling to support her three boys, Molly is stunned when she inherits her aunt’s manor house, a house that includes her eccentric old uncle, an ailing bed-and-breakfast, and a beautiful rose garden.

Roses Are Red – James Patterson – Facing a particularly vicious breed of killer in his latest investigation, Alex Cross finds his family targeted by the vengeful Mastermind, a situation that is complicated by tension in his relationship with his girlfriend Christine and his daughter Jannie’s unexplained seizures.

The Care and Handling of Roses With Thorns – Margaret Dilloway – Enduring a strict schedule that balances her teaching job with the hospital regimen required by her kidney disease, Gal Garner devotes her spare hours to cultivating a new rose variation before her world is upended by the arrival of her teenage niece.

If you’re interested in the growing and care of roses, we have a great selection of nonfiction books under 635.9337.

Roses: a celebration –A unique book on roses gathers together the wisdom of thirty-two well-known rose gardeners, including Rosie Atkins, David Austin, Thomas Christopher, Ken Druse, Joe Eck, Allen Lacy, Anthony Noel, Michale Pollan, David Wheeler, Christopher Lloyd, Anne Raver, and Graham Stuart Thomas, among others.

Roses Without Chemicals – A former curator at the New York Botanical Garden describes 150 different varieties of roses that can be grown without the use of pesticides, fungicides or fertilizers and provides information on planting, pruning and caring for these gorgeous blooms.

Everyday Roses – A guide to growing roses dispels common myths, offers advice on selecting the right roses for one’s landscape, provides information on disease and chemical-free pest control, and includes suggestions for garden design and maintenance.

Designing With Roses – Explores the versatility of roses and offers advice on planting, feeding, and pruning.

Coffee For Roses – Accompanied by full color photographs, a garden expert reveals the truth behind 71 common garden practices, in this delightful combination of practical advice and gardening history.

Complete Guide to Roses – An innovative, lavishly illustrated series of authoritative gardening books from the experts at Miracle-Gro takes the mystery out of horticulture for home gardeners of all skill levels with essential information on plant selection, cultivation, garden maintenance, pest control, soil preparation, climate, landscape design, and more.

How to Keep Summer Reading From Being a War

June 6, 2016May 10, 2016 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Summer, and in turn the dreaded summer reading list, is on the way. Even the most eager readers are rarely thrilled to be told what to read, and this seems to be especially true in the summer months. Kids are thinking about the fun they want to have over summer vacation, rather than checking off a to-read list.Most schools offer suggested reading lists; usually vague offerings mentioning award winners, well known writers, and some nonfiction. Other schools require a certain number of books, a list of genres or subjects that need to be read, or particular books that need to be read. The more general the requirements the more likely parents and librarians are to keep everyone reading and enjoying it. However, sometimes trudging through a book that is not something your kids would pick on their own is necessary. I have some tips and tools to help make the process more enjoyable for everyone.

My first suggestion is to start increasing the pleasure reading now and try to get a firmer grasp of which books will keep your readers happy over the summer. Check with the kids about how much they liked a certain book, or if they like a particular author or genre more than others and why. If there is an obsession in the house, Disney movies, superheroes, Minecraft, horses, Star Wars, or whatever, then start with books on those topics to spark interest. Perhaps a star or sticker chart to help figure out the pattern of what they enjoyed most will help your selections of reading materials hit the mark even more often. I need to start this myself, because even though my two children request certain books and proclaim that they love them, rarely do I see them actually reading the books in question.

It would also be a good idea to get a routine in place. Whether the whole family troops to the library together (one day a week, once a month, or what ever works for you), you bring a selection of materials home, or you browse the e-book offerings from home, it would be great to get a dependable routine in play. My children know that every Monday I bring whatever books they are done with or did not want to read back to the library and bring home a new batch of books and movies. I try to bring home a few fun or silly books that I know will capture their attention. However, I also bring home a few nonfiction books and books that I think they would enjoy while stretching their reading skills a little. I still strike out with some of my picks, but the regularity and wide variety of reading choices help to keep them reading.

It is very important that you don’t make reading a chore. I know there is pressure to get the reading done in a timely manner. I also know that you won’t like everything your child might want to read. However, putting pressure on anyone to do something is more likely to cause push back rather than happy reading. So lets keep reading fun. Join the library’s Summer Reading program so your kids have fun goals to reach and some rewards for their efforts. If there are particular reading requirements that need to be met, particularly if it includes books they aren’t looking forward to reading, alternate those with their favorites or light, silly reads. Don’t be afraid of letting them enjoy something a little easier than their current reading level, such as graphic novels, magazines, audio books, or a repeat read.

My final suggestion is to model the behavior you want to see in your children. In other words, if you want your children to see reading as something fun, valuable, and worth doing regularly then they need to see you treating reading the same way. This doesn’t mean that you need to start assigning yourself classic or acclaimed books to read. I suggest that parents do exactly what I suggest they let their children do. Read what interests you, what makes you happy. Whether that is enjoying graphic novels from Hoopla, magazines from Zinio, the newspaper, the latest New York Times best seller, the same books your children are reading, or something completely different, it really doesn’t matter. If your children see that you put some time into reading and get something out of it, they are going to be more willing to keep reading as well.

Books that Defy Genre Labels and Description

May 25, 2016May 10, 2016 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

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 include 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.

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 Birnbaum
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 workers 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.

More 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?