Fans of the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon have longed for the books to be adapted for the screen since the first novel was published in 1991. The 7 books (with an 8th due later this year) defy genre categorization, containing elements of romance, fantasy/time travel, and historical fiction. Thy are epic in scale, rivaling George R. R. Martin’s “Song of Ice and Fire” series for sheer page-count.
Ron Moore, creator of ‘Battlestar Galactica’, is on board to helm the new “Outlander” series for the Starz cable network. Set to unfold over 16 episodes, Outlander tells the story of married World War II combat nurse Claire, who accidentally steps back in time to the year 1743 where she is “immediately thrown into an unknown world of adventure that sends her on the run and threatens her life.” The ‘Outlander’ series of books have sold over 20 million copies.
As a huge fan of these books, I was both thrilled and wary when Ms. Gabaldon announced at BEA 2013 that Outlander would finally be adapted for the screen. So often, books we love don’t measure up when made into movies or television series. Still, I’ll be watching!
cheshire public library
Linda reads: Cowboy Take Me Away by Jane Graves
After surviving a horrific childhood, Luke Dawson leaves Rainbow Valley, Texas determined to forget the past, including a childhood friend, Shannon North. Luke becomes a bull rider and is destined for the world championship. He decides to come back to town for the funeral of his father and maybe some closure on his past.
Shannon North left a high power, high paying job as a CPA to return to her roots in Rainbow Valley and take over the Rainbow Valley Animal Shelter. She worked there during her teens and it holds a special place in her heart. The shelter is now run down, overcrowded and dependent on donations. Shannon is hoping her experience in the finance world will help pull her beloved shelter from ruin. She and Luke have a past that ended badly, and she avoids his father’s funeral.
Luke’s plans are to leave town as soon as the funeral is over, but decides to take a look at the property and home his father left behind. Maybe if he goes into the house, he can erase some of the demons plaguing him. But as he tries to take that first step onto the worn porch, he crashes through and injures his knee. Luckily, Shannon drives by and suddenly they are thrown together whether they like it or not.
What follows is a painful, inspiring, hopeful journey where both Luke and Shannon have to overcome obstacles from their past and try to build on the feelings they reluctantly still feel for one another. Luke grows from an obstinate, juvenile delinquent to a charismatic, caring adult. He’s determined to show everyone in town that he is not his father’s son. Shannon struggles with her perception of him (helped along by an overbearing mother) and some of her own issues from her past. You can really feel this couple’s pain and will find yourself holding your breath for a happy outcome.
This story also includes some wonderful secondary characters in the towns’ people, an interesting legend, and the animals that are housed at the animal shelter bring an added extra dimension to the story.
This book fits in perfectly with the popularity of small town romances. It is heartwarming, inspiring and very entertaining.
Allons-y! To the Foreign Language Books!
Did you know the Cheshire library has a wonderful collection of books printed in foreign languages? From Histoire de la Mafia by Gaetano 
Falzone, to Charlotte Link’s Das Haus der Schwestern, there is a wide variety of both fiction and non-fiction books in French, German, and Spanish. These are located in a special area of the upstairs Moss Room; just ask and we’ll be happy to open it for you.
In the children’s room, there are beginning storybooks and alphabet books in Russian, Spanish, Latin, French, and Chinese. We are also able to request books in Russian, Polish, and more from surrounding libraries.
If listening to language is more your style, check out an audiobook to learn a new language or improve your skills in Spanish, Italian, Russian, Mandarin, Japanese, Hebrew, and more (Dewey number 468). Are you a foreign speaker trying to learn English? We have discs for that as well. There are audiobook language sets geared for children, too. Prefer an online approach where no one can hear you stumble? Check out the free on-line language programs on our website.
Grab your dictionary, dust off your skills, and with a little practice, you’ll be ready to take on our foreign films without subtitles!
Staff Storytime Selections
You might not know it, but the children’s cataloging office is a very busy place to be. It can also be quite a bit of fun! The number of fantastic picturebooks that cross our desks is absolutely astounding. Sometimes we are so impressed by a book, or so entertained by it, that a staff storytime must be held and some of the new favorites shared. Here are some of the favorites from recent staff storytimes.
Skippyjon Jones Cirque de Olé
Swim, Swim
The hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School
Otis and the Tornado
Some other authors that frequent our storytimes are Bob Shea, Mo Willems, and Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Do you have a favorite picturebook or picturebook author?
There’s Just Something About A Cowboy!
Contemporary Western Romances have become very popular reads. That cowboy drawl, the tight jeans, the muscular body, the slightly long and unruly hair, chaps, the “yes ma’m, thank you ma’m”, the tough exterior with the soft and gentle heart – it stirs a woman’s heart! The Cheshire Library has many titles to choose from that will get your heart afluttering. Listed below are some of our most popular.
Cowboy Take Me Away by Jane Graves. This is the first in her new series Rainbow Valley, Texas. She also has several other titles on our Romance paperback shelves, including the very popular series Plano, Texas featuring Hot Wheels and High Heels, Tall Tales and Wedding Veils, Black Ties and Lullabies, Heartstrings and Diamond Rings.
Katie Lane has a popular series, Deep in the Heart of Texas. Titles in this series include: Trouble In Texas, Catch Me A Cowboy, Going Cowboy Crazy, Make Mine A Bad Boy.
Carolyn Brown’s final book in her Spikes and Spurs series, Cowboy Seeks Bride, will be out in August (we’ll be ordering it when the new fiscal year starts). The other books in the series are: Love Drunk Cowboy, Red’s Hot Cowboy, Darn Good Cowboy Christmas, One Hot Cowboy Wedding, Mistletoe Cowboy and Just a Cowboy and His Baby.
C H Admirand has a hot cowboy series – The Secret Life of Cowboys. Titles are: Tyler, Dylan and Jesse.
Emma Cane has a cute series – Valentine Valley. True Love at Silver Creek Ranch is the latest. A Town Called Valentineis the first.
Cardwell Ranch Trespasser is book number 3 in B. J. Daniels series Cardwell Ranch. Book one is Unforgiven. Book two is Redemption.
Joanne Kennedy’s newest cowboy book is Cowboy Tough. She also has several other titles on our shelves.
Laura Moore has a new series, Silver Creek. Book one is Once Tempted. Her Rosewood Trilogy was very popular. Book one is Remember Me. Book two is Believe in Me. Book three is Trouble Me. 
Other popular authors that write Contemporary Western Romances are: Janet Dailey, Joan Johnson, Jodi Thomas, Debbi Macomber, Kat Martin, Linda Lael Miller, Diana Palmer and Jodi Thomas. Come in and check out our extensive collection in the Romance Paperback section of the library.
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