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                  <td class="main"><h1>Good Reads - Fiction</h1>
                    <h1>What We're Reading</h1>
                    <h2>2007 Archives</h2>
                    <h3>December</h3>                    <p>MYSTERY/BALZO<br>
                      Balzo, Sandra - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=balzo+sandra&title=grounds+for+murder" target="_blank">Grounds
                      for Murder</a> - 2007,
                        217p.<br>
                      In this second in a series, Maggy Thosen reluctantly agrees
                      to be in charge of the barista competition at Java Ho,
                      the specialty coffee convention. Unfortunately, the head
                      judge of the competition, the disagreeable Marvin LaRoche,
                      is murdered at the convention center, leaving Maggy to
                      find his killer, as she seems to be a suspect, although
                      there are many others who disliked him. Complicating matters,
                      Maggy would like her relationship to the local sheriff,
                      Pavlik, to begin to heat up, but does he really consider
                      her a suspect? Details of coffeehouses and the specialty
                      coffee world are nicely integrated into the story which
                      includes a likable main character and well-developed secondary
                    characters. Sue O'Brien</p>
                    <p>MYSTERY/HARVEY<br>
                      Harvey, John - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=harvey+john&title=darkness+and+light" target="_blank">Darkness &amp; Light</a> - 2006,
                      350p.<br>
                      Retired investigator Frank Elder is somewhat content with
                      his solitary life in the isolated city of Cornwall. He
                      rarely sees his ex-wife Joanne and his daughter Katherine,
                      so he is surprised when he receives a call from Joanne
                      pleading with him to help with the disappearance of an
                      old friends' sister. He reluctantly agrees, but soon
                      after he arrives in London, Claire Meecham is found dead
                      in her own bed. The similarities between this murder and
                      an unsolved homicide keep Frank actively involved as a
                      civilian consultant on the case. Eventually, old fashioned
                      police work enables Frank to solve the crime. This well
                      written police procedural combines complex character development
                      and high tension and a satisfying, albeit unexpected, ending.
                      Sheila Guenzer</p>
                    <p>FICTION/FRANK<br>
                      Frank, Dorothea Benton - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=frank+dorothea+benton&title=christmas+pearl" target="_blank">The
                      Christmas Pearl</a> - 2007, 139p.<br>
                      Ninety-three-year-old Theodora is the matriarch of a family
                      who has lost the true meaning of Christmas and has shunned
                      the idea of celebrating Christmas in the grand Southern
                      traditional way that Theodora remembers from her childhood.
                      With her family acting especially mean-spirited to each
                      other Theodora gets unexpected help from Pearl, her grandmother's
                      long deceased housekeeper. Pearl has been sent from Heaven
                      to teach this family to treat each other with respect and
                      love and what Southern holiday traditions are all about.
                      Using her Gullah magic and some Christmas miracles Pearl
                      shows Theodora's family what a love-filled Christmas
                      holiday is all about. Frank adds some traditional Southern
                      holiday recipes at the end as a bonus. Marianne Trautvetter</p>
                    <p>FICTION/JOHNSON<br>
                      Johnson, Dedra - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=johnson+dedra&title=sandrines+letter+to+tomorrow" target="_blank">Sandrine's
                      Letter to Tomorrow</a> - 2007, 212p.<br>
                      Anticipating another summer vacation with her beloved paternal
                      grandmother, Mamalita, ten-year old Sandrine Miller endures
                      a confusing, extended visit with her physician father,
                      his current girlfriend, and her eight-year old daughter
                      in a boxy town home in Meridian, Mississippi. Expecting
                      Mamalita any day, the neglected and unsupervised girls
                      are instead particularly vulnerable to the untrustworthy
                      adults in their world. Sandrine determines to return home
                      to New Orleans and the other refuge in her young life:
                      the Sisters at St. John of God School. When word comes
                      that Mamalita has died, Sandrine despairs. Stalked by a
                      man from the neighborhood, Sandrine asserts herself despite
                      the mistreatment, ridicule, and disbelief of her mother,
                      Shirleen. Details pertaining to the African American community,
                      family diatribe, and rural Mississippi health care abound
                      in this aptly-told, coming-of-age novel set in the 1970s.
                      Suzy Miller</p>
                    <p>FICTON/MERULLO<br>
                      Merullo, Roland - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=merullo+roland&title=breakfast+with+buddha" target="_blank">Breakfast
                      with Buddha</a> - 2007,
                        323p.<br>
                      Soon after receiving the news that his parents have been
                      killed in a car accident, middle-aged New York editor Otto
                      Ringling reluctantly embarks on a cross-country journey
                      to settle their sizeable estate (one thousand acres of
                      North Dakota farmland). Otto's only sibling, free-spirited
                      sister Cecilia, has agreed to accompany him. Unbeknownst
                      to Otto however, Cecilia has decided to bequeath her portion
                      of the estate to her guru, a Skovorodinian monk, who due
                      to her insistence becomes their traveling companion. Their
                      scenic, laid-back road trip (which includes a tour of the
                      Hershey chocolate factory) ultimately becomes a journey
                      of profound spiritual awakening for Otto, who rediscovers
                      life's abundant joys along the way. A delightful
                      ride! Debbie Deady </p>
                    <h3>November</h3>
                    <p>MYSTERY/ASHFORD<br>
                      Ashford, Lindsay Jayne - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=ashford+lindsay+jayne&title=frozen" target="_blank">Frozen</a> - 2006,
                        222p.<br>
                      At the request of the local police department, profiler
                      Megan Rhys, of Heartland University's Department
                      of Investigative Psychology, develops a profile to help
                      identify a serial killer who murders prostitutes and is
                      operating in the Birmingham-Wolverhampton part of Britain.
                      The police soon believe they have identified a suspect,
                      but Megan doesn't agree; so she must convince them
                      that the killer is still out there before more people die.
                      A likable main character and the fast-paced mystery draw
                      the reader into the story. Watch for the second in the
                      series, <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=ashford+lindsay&title=strange+blood" target="_blank">Strange
                      Blood</a>, to be published in the United States
                      in December. Sue O'Brien</p>
                    <p>FICTION/GIMINEZ<br>
                      Gimenez, Mark - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=gimenez+mark&title=abduction" target="_blank">The
                      Abduction</a> - 2007, 503p.<br>
                      Gracie Brice is a precocious ten-year old and star of her
                      soccer team. Her father, a Bill Gates type, is just about
                      to take his company public, and Gracie's mother is
                      a high priced attorney, busy with a successful legal practice.
                      Then the unthinkable happens &#8211; Gracie is abducted
                      from her soccer game. While everyone waits for the ransom
                      call which never comes, Gracie's grandfather, Ben
                      Brice, a Viet Nam and Black Ops war hero, becomes actively
                      involved in the investigation. Although estranged from
                      his son and wife, he has always had a special relationship
                      with Gracie and is determined to find her. Along with his
                      son, they pursue a lead which puts them in the middle of
                      a group of sinister revolutionaries. The twists and turns
                      in this fast paced thriller just keep coming, and as the
                      story unfolds, the reader becomes obsessed with the question
                      why was Gracie kidnapped. Dark family secrets which are
                      revealed only make Gracie's situation more precarious.
                      This is a hard to put down book which keeps the reader
                      in suspense till the very end. Sheila Guenzer</p>
                    <p>FICTION/HORAN<br>
                      Horan, Nancy - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=horan+nancy&title=loving+frank" target="_blank">Loving
                      Frank</a> - 2007, 362p.<br>
                      Set in the early 1900s Mamah Brothwick Cheney and architect
                      Frank Lloyd Wright fall in love and leave their families.
                      They live in Europe and in Wisconsin, where she, her two
                      children and some of Wright's apprentices are killed
                      by a servant. The sad ending is balanced however, by the
                      fact that Wright continues to create world class architectural
                      marvels like Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, and the Guggenheim
                      Museum in New York. The author also includes many rich
                      details about the Oak Park area, as well as the lives of
                      Wright and Cheney and their families. Margaret D., C.O.D.
                      intern</p>
                    <p>FICTION/ JACOBS<br>
                      Jacobs, Rayda - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=jacobs+rayda&title=confessions+of+a+gambler" target="_blank">Confessions
                      of a Gambler</a> - 2003,
                        2007, 240p.<br>
                      Women's lives are as complex in the suburbs of Cape
                      Town, South Africa as they are in the Western Suburbs of
                      Chicago. For Abeeda, a divorced, Muslim woman with four
                      adult sons, modern life is complicated; she continuously
                      struggles with her faith, her sisters, her ex-husband and
                      her sons. As a woman of faith, who has been to Mecca, wears
                      two head scarves, has four grown sons, all raised with
                      the Word of God, Abeeda finds herself seeking relief from
                      life's mounting tensions in a surprising place, at
                      the local casino, playing the slots. Abeeda's struggle
                      to craft a life where modern realities and her religion
                      are balanced, drive this interesting novel of a modern
                      Muslim woman, in suburban South Africa, dealing with her
                      personal demons. Terri W.</p>
                    <p>FICTION/KIMMEL<br>
                      Kimmel, Haven - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=kimmel+haven&title=used+world" target="_blank">The
                      Used World</a> - 2007,
                        306p.<br>
                      The two weeks preceding Christmas in Jonah, Indiana is
                      the Midwestern setting for this contemporary literary novel.
                      Owner Hazel Hunnicutt operates the Used World Emporium
                      with the help of two long-time employees: Claudia Modjeski
                      and Rebekah Shook. The Emporium&#8212;a combination resale
                      and antique store housed in a former tire warehouse&#8212;is
                      the repository for all manner of objects which, once purchased,
                      are repurposed into new lives. With steady pacing, Kimmel
                      establishes a story with multiple plot lines told from
                      different points of view. The characters lives are intertwined
                      with a measured grace; though, a carefully guarded secret
                      threatens to undermine the devoted friendship these three
                      women have forged. Culminating in June of the following
                      year, the story underscores the importance of cultivating
                      and responding to a kind of spiritual intuition with those
                      we cherish most. Suzy Miller</p>
                    <p>FICTION/WOOD<br>
                      Wood, Patricia - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=wood+patricia&title=lottery" target="_blank">Lottery</a> - 2007, 310p.<br>
                      Thirty-two-year-old Perry L. Crandall is not retarded,
                      to be retarded your IQ must be 75 or lower and Perry's
                      IQ is 76. Perry's grandmother always tells him that
                      the "L" stands for lucky. His grandmother,
                      who has raised him since he was a baby, is always teaching
                      him things. She instructs him on bettering himself by making
                      him work through the dictionary, learning to cook, and
                      explaining to him the types of people he can't trust.
                      Perry is very happy with his life and his routines: learning
                      from his grandmother, working at the marine supply store,
                      and hanging out with his friends Keith and Cherry. When
                      the moment that his grandmother has prepared him for finally
                      happens, Perry knows that his life has changed forever.
                      Perry continues the weekly routine he had with his grandmother
                      and his life changes even more dramatically when he wins
                      twelve million dollars in the lottery. Told in first person
                      from Perry's point of view, this is a touching and
                      uplifting story. Nicole S.</p>
                    <h3>October</h3>
                    <p>FICTION/ALLEN<br>
                      Allen, Sarah Addison - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=allen+sarah+addison&title=garden+spells" target="_blank">Garden
                      Spells</a> - 2007,
                        290p.<br>
                      Fans of Alice Hoffman will enjoy this magical story of
                      two sisters: successful caterer Claire Waverley and Sydney,
                      the sister who left home immediately after high school.
                      Claire is living in the family home when Sydney, along
                      with her daughter, comes back to Bascom, North Carolina
                      to escape an abusive relationship. The sisters, never close,
                      begin to forge a bond as Claire opens herself up to care
                      for others and risk possible loss while Sydney reclaims
                      her heritage as a Waverley. Romance, small town life, quirky
                      characters, and touches of magic make this a truly warm,
                      satisfying story. Sue O'Brien</p>
                    <p>FICTION/CROSBY<br>
                      Crosby, Ellen - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=crosby+ellen&title=the+merlot+murders" target="_blank">The
                      Merlot Murders</a> - 2007,
                        286p.<br>
                      When Lucie Montgomery is summoned back from France to Virginia
                      for her father's funeral, she has no idea what she
                      will find. The beautiful family estate and winery has fallen
                      into disrepair, and her brother is intent on selling to
                      keep his self-indulgent wife happy. Lucie, however, has
                      other ideas and when her godfather also ends up dead she
                      is sure that her father's death was no accident.
                      This intricately plotted novel and cast of intriguing characters
                      along with the details of wine industry make this an impressive
                      debut novel. Sheila Guenzer</p>
                    <p>FICTION/HARVEY<br>
                      Harvey, Michael - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=harvey+michael&title=the+chicago+way" target="_blank">The
                      Chicago Way</a> - 2007,
                        303p.<br>
                      A first novel by a Chicago author known for his work on
                      A&amp;E's Cold Case Files. Michael Kelly, an ex-cop
                      and private investigator, gets sucked back into the game
                      after a visit from a former colleague. Soon, the colleague
                      ends up dead, and the case gets personal as Kelly finds
                      himself in peril while trying to solve an old rape case
                      before more crimes occur. Could a serial killer who shocked
                      the area with his despicable crimes somehow be active from
                      behind bars? This fast paced crime novel will please fans
                      of gritty urban thrillers. Set in Chicago and steeped in
                      the details of the city, readers will enjoy Kelly's
                      view of familiar streets, neighborhoods, and haunts. Heather
                      Booth</p>
                    <p>FICTION/IRONSIDE<br>
                      Ironside, Virginia - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=ironside+virginia&title=no+i+dont+want+to+join+a+book+club" target="_blank">No!
                      I Don't Want to Join a Book Club</a> - 2006, 231p.<br>
                      As her 60th birthday approaches, London columnist and confirmed
                      curmudgeon Marie Sharp, begins a diary in which she writes
                      about the "perks" of senior citizenship (i.e.
                      free rides on the metro) and her new found freedom from
                      the pressure of having to learn, or begin anything new
                      (what's the point?). When Marie is informed that
                      she is going to be a grandma, she is thrilled, but soon
                      after baby Gene's arrival, she notices that she can't
                      quell her sudden irrational fears about harm coming to
                      the baby. To make matters worse, Marie realizes that she
                      has become oddly attracted to her (gay and committed) friend
                      Hughie, who has been recently diagnosed with a terminal
                      illness. What's a liberated, senior cynic to do?
                      This is a laugh-out-loud novel, no matter what your age
                      or philosophy. Debbie Deady</p>
                    <p>FICTION/KLINE<br>
                      Kline, Christina Baker - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=kline+christina+baker&title=the+way+life+should+be" target="_blank">The
                      Way Life Should Be</a> - 2007, 271p.<br>
                      Goaded by her best friend, Lindsay, 31-year-old museum
                      event planner Angela Russo (aka: NewYorkGirl) reluctantly
                      decides to dabble with online dating herself. Spicy emails
                      and a steamy weekend with MaineCatch (aka: Richard Saunders)
                      allow for an unexpected fiasco at work putting Angela out
                      of a job. Despite the misgivings of her family and friends,
                      Angela impulsively agrees to an extended visit at his home
                      in picturesque Mount Desert Isle, Maine. There, some startling
                      discoveries cause her to reassess MaineCatch while taking
                      tentative steps to realign her priorities with a new job
                      and living arrangements. Briskly paced and engrossing,
                      this delightful contemporary novel offers an insightful
                      look into online dating as well as the benefits ensuing
                      from a candid reappraisal of life choices. Readers who
                      enjoy cooking will especially enjoy the numerous details
                      about preparing authentic Italian food. Suzy Miller</p>
                    <p>FICTION/LOURIE<br>
                      Lourie, Richard - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=lourie+richard&title=a+hatred+for+tulips" target="_blank">A
                      Hatred for Tulips</a> - 2007,
                        182p.<br>
                      In this slim novel, the author takes a fictional look at
                      the boy who gave away the hiding place of Anne Frank and
                      the others taking refuge in the secret annex. Narrating
                      his story to the younger brother who was able to unknowingly
                      escape the horror of living in wartime Holland, Joop shares
                      the shame that has lived with him for decades. An absorbing
                      read that you will not soon forget. Nicole S.</p>
                    <p>FICTION/SHAPIRO<br>
                      Shapiro, Dani - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=shapiro+dani&title=family+history" target="_blank">Family
                      History</a> - 2003.
                        269p.<br>
                      Narrator Rachel Jensen, the mother of teenage daughter
                      Kate and toddler son Joshua, gives a poignant look into
                      the life of a family in peril. A devastated Rachel lies
                      in her darkened bedroom watching old home movies of what
                      was once a happy family. The problems in the family seem
                      to have started when Kate goes through extreme emotional
                      and behavioral changes as she becomes a teenager. Rachel
                      and her husband Ned at first think the changes are Kate's
                      reaction to the birth of her brother. In flashbacks the
                      author gives insight into what the family was like in the
                      past, parallels what they are going through in the present
                      and shows hope for their future. Marianne Trautvetter</p>
                    <h3>September</h3>
                    <p>BIOGRAPHY/WARD<br>
                      Ward, Logan - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=ward+logan&title=see+you+in+a+hundred+years" target="_blank">See
                      You in a Hundred Years</a> - 2007,
                        245p.<br>
                      Tired of working long hours, take-out dinners and ambivalent
                      daycare providers, Logan and Heather Ward decide to exchange
                      city life in Manhattan, circa 2000, for an earlier time
                      altogether. Moving with their young son to forty acres
                      of farmland outside Swoope, Virginia, Ward documents the
                      myriad of adjustments and challenges they encounter living
                      as small-scale farmers did at the turn of the last century.
                      Season by season, Ward describes the effort needed to sustain
                      their small family by growing crops, maintaining livestock
                      and keeping house while facing the same limitations as
                      farmers in 1900. Their year culminates with celebrating
                      the community of friends and connectedness to place that
                      is the real crowning achievement of the project. Brisk
                      pacing and vivid descriptions offer readers a contemplative
                      examination of a bygone era with these modern time-travelers.
                      Suzy Miller</p>
                    <p>FICTION/FOLLETT<br>
                      Follett, Ken - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=follett+ken&title=pillars+of+the+earth" target="_blank">Pillars
                      of the Earth</a> - 1989,
                        2002, 973p.<br>
                      A departure from his popular thrillers, Follett paints
                      a broad and gripping picture of life in twelfth century
                      England, focusing on the lives of those drawn together
                      by the construction of a great cathedral. From the master
                      builder who lays out the original plan, to the pious young
                      prior struggling to understand the political machinations
                      of both the clergy and the crown, to the dispossessed daughter
                      of an earl who strives to restore her family to their previous
                      nobility, the characters are vividly drawn and multifaceted.
                      Interesting period detail is woven into the action of the
                      story, illuminating both day to day reality and broad cultural
                      and political changes. Pillars of the Earth is considered
                      by many to be Follett's most enduring work. Read
                      it in anticipation of the much awaited sequel featuring
                      descendents of the original characters, <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=follett+ken&title=world+without+end" target="_blank">World
                      Without End</a>,
                      to be released this October. Heather Booth</p>
                    <p>FICTION/MORIARTY<br>
                      Moriarty, Laura - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=moriarty+laura&title=rest+of+her+life" target="_blank">The
                      Rest of Her Life</a> - 2007,
                        303p.<br>
                      High school senior and model student Kara Churchill is
                      the driver in a reckless driving accident that kills a
                      fellow student and changes Kara's life dramatically.
                      This novel is told from the point of view of Kara's
                      mother, Leigh, whose relationship with her daughter is
                      now even more strained than before the accident. Leigh
                      finds she feels jealous and left out when Kara looks to
                      her father, Gary, for comfort and support. Acting protectively
                      of her daughter, Leigh tries to shield Kara from the public
                      outcry of the community while at the same time she feels
                      sympathetic towards the family whose daughter died in the
                      accident. Moriarty's characters are well-developed
                      and she does a realistic job of telling the story from
                      all points of view. Marianne Trautvetter </p>
                    <p>YA/FICTION/NELSON<br>
                      Nelson, Blake - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=nelson+blake&title=paranoid+park" target="_blank">Paranoid
                      Park</a> - 2006, 180p.<br>
                      The unnamed narrator of this story is a sixteen-year old
                      skater whose life isn't so great lately. His parents
                      are headed towards divorce and a girl he's not even
                      sure he likes is aggressively pursuing him. The one consistent
                      thing in his life is skating; he is never without his board.
                      Paranoid Park in downtown Portland is a skater's
                      dream but the regulars are pretty tough. When his friend
                      ditches him to go visit a "sure thing" at Oregon
                      State University, the narrator decides to go to Paranoid
                      Park alone. Everything changes when he gets entangled in
                      a fight and someone ends up dead. An engrossing and fast-paced
                      read. Nicole S.</p>
                    <p>FICTION/PERRY<br>
                      Perry, Thomas - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=perry+thomas&title=silence" target="_blank">Silence</a> -
                      2007, 439p.<br>
                      Jack Till, once a LAPD detective, now turned private investigator,
                      helps people disappear. He coached Wendy Harper so well
                      six years ago, that now even he can't find her, and
                      her ex-boyfriend will soon be tried for her murder. Things
                      are even more complicated by the fact that the people Wendy
                      was running away from six years ago now want her dead,
                      and have hired a ruthless pair of killers who are happy
                      to eliminate everyone and everything in their way. Reminiscent
                      of Perry's Jane Whitfield series, this engrossing
                      intelligent thriller keep the reader in suspense till the
                      unpredictable and satisfying conclusion. Sheila Guenzer</p>
                    <p>FICTION/ VANCE<br>
                      Vance, Lee - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=vance+lee&title=restitution" target="_blank">Restitution</a> - 2007, 322p.<br>
                      In this suspenseful debut a high flying Wall Street player
                      loses everything as the only suspect in his wife's
                      brutal murder. Peter Tyler, the only suspect in Jenna's
                      murder, has nothing to live for until Detective Tiling
                      shows up on his doorstep with the first and only tangible
                      lead. A package, delivered the morning of the murder to
                      Jenna from Andrei, a long time friend living in Russia,
                      is missing. The police want to talk to Andrei, but Andrei's
                      vanished. With nothing left but a desire for revenge, Peter
                      flees to Russia to find Andrei and answers, but instead
                      uncovers questions that lead him straight back to Wall
                      Street. This is a complex financial thriller that twists
                      and turns to the very last page. Terri W.</p>
                    <p>FICTION/WALLACE<br>
                      Wallace, Daniel - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=wallace+daniel&title=mr+sebastian+and+the+negro+magician" target="_blank">Mr.
                      Sebastian and the Negro Magician</a> - 2007, 257p.<br>
                      As the only son of a down-on-his-luck, hotel employee (a
                      casualty of the Great Depression), Henry Walker becomes
                      the young prot&eacute;g&eacute; of the mysterious resident
                      of room 702, Mr. Sebastian &#8211; a magician whose illusions
                      are so incredible, and his skin so luminously-white, that
                      one might wonder if he isn't the Devil incarnate.
                      Heartbroken, after the suspicious disappearance of his
                      sister, and desperate for work after his father loses his
                      job, Henry is talked into masquerading as a black man,
                      and booked as a novelty act, aka the "Negro Magician." Years
                      later, after joining a traveling circus, Henry's
                      own mysterious disappearance and the detailed story of
                      his life, is narrated by a few of the quirky characters
                      whose lives intersected with his. A good choice for Pablo
                      Coelho fans and those who liked <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=gruen+sara&title=water+for+elephants" target="_blank">Water
                      for Elephants</a>. Debbie
                      Deady</p>
                    <h3>August</h3>
                    <p>F/BAKER<br>
                      Baker, Ellen - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=baker+ellen&title=keeping+the+house" target="_blank">Keeping
                      the House</a> - 2007,
                        528p.<br>
                      Set in Pine Rapids, Wisconsin, the novel begins with arrivals;
                      native son, John Mickelson, returning home with a new bride,
                      circa 1896, to assume his place in the family business
                      and shifts to a present-day 1950 when the Magnusons, another
                      young couple, arrive in town for husband Byron to partner
                      in a new Chrysler dealership. Dolly, Byron's wife,
                      fastidiously cares for him in their modest home tutored
                      by leading women's magazines of the day. Disillusioned
                      when her efforts do not reproduce the same happy results
                      seen on the glossy pages, Dolly becomes fascinated with
                      the grand, but neglected Mickelson house down the block
                      and manages to slowly learn the history of the abandoned
                      home at weekly Ladies Aid meetings. Told from multiple
                      points of view, this densely written historical novel shifts
                      from Dolly's perspective as a lonely housewife to
                      the story of the Mickelson clan; once-dominating scions
                      of Pine Rapids business and society. Offering a vivid portrait
                      of life in Wisconsin's northwoods during the first
                      half of the twentieth century, the novel is rich with details
                      of family sacrifice, wartime service, and women's
                      lives in conjunction with societal expectations of that
                      time. Suzy Miller</p>
                    <p>MYSTERY/HARRIS<br>
                      Harris, Charlaine - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=harris+charlaine&title=dead+until+dark" target="_blank">Dead
                      Until Dark</a> - 2001,
                        260p.<br>
                      Sookie Stackhouse isn't your average barmaid in Louisiana,
                      she has a "disability" that most others try
                      to ignore. Most people don't consider being telepathic
                      a disability, but try being around people when you can
                      hear their every thought. When a stranger shows up at the
                      bar where she works, Sookie finds herself drawn to him
                      because of the silence around him, she can't hear
                      his thoughts or sense any feelings. The stranger happens
                      to be a vampire, which isn't too odd, considering
                      that vampires "came out" on television a few
                      years earlier and proclaimed their existence to the world.
                      When Sookie saves Bill the vampire from two shady human
                      customers in the bar, she has no idea that her life is
                      about to change. This is the first title in an addictive,
                      funny, and fast-paced series that blends mystery and romance
                      with the supernatural. Look for it to be adapted soon into
                      an HBO television series called True Blood. Nicole S.</p>
                    <p>MYSTERY/HARRIS<br>
                      Harris, Charlaine - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=harris+charlaine&title=ice+cold+grave" target="_blank">Ice
                      Cold Grave</a> - 2007<br>
                      After being struck by lightning as a teenager, Harper Connelly
                      has developed the unique ability to find the dead and see
                      how they died. She and her stepbrother, Tolliver Lang,
                      now travel the country and assist law enforcement personnel
                      and the family members of the dead. In her third case,
                      due to be published in late September, Harper is hired
                      to find a woman's missing grandson in Doraville,
                      North Carolina. Harper finds his body, along with the bodies
                      of several other missing teenagers, long thought to be
                      runaways. After Harper locates the teens, she is injured
                      by an unknown attacker, so she stays in Doraville to recover
                      and continue to assist the police. Well-developed characters,
                      the supernatural, and a unique premise distinguish this
                      mystery series by the author who also writes the Sookie
                      Stackhouse series. Sue O'Brien</p>
                    <p>FICTION/JUNGERSEN<br>
                      Jungersen, Christian - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=jungersen+christian&title=exception" target="_blank">The
                      Exception</a> - 2007,
                        502p.<br>
                      This international bestselling novel centers around the
                      lives of four female co-workers employed at the Danish
                      Centre for Genocide Studies, a small office charged with
                      researching and archiving global war atrocities. When two
                      of the women receive anonymous email death threats, they
                      immediately suspect a well-known international terrorist,
                      who had been the recent subject of their office news articles.
                      However, when evidence surfaces that implicates one of
                      their own, suspicions arise and finger-pointing escalates &#8211; resulting
                      in the estrangement and bullying of targeted co-workers
                      (not unlike the behavior of the war criminals they research).
                      A shocking murder makes it clear that the threats are real,
                      and all are suspect. The page-turning action that follows,
                      adds a riveting conclusion to this unique psychological
                      novel. Debbie Deady </p>
                    <p>FICTION/STROHMEYER<br>
                      Strohmeyer, Sarah - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=strohmeyer+sarah&title=sleeping+beauty+proposal" target="_blank">The
                      Sleeping Beauty Proposal</a> - 2007, 312p.<br>
                      Genie Michaels is overwhelmed with happiness when Hugh,
                      her boyfriend of four years, proposes on national television
                      while being interviewed by Barbara Walters. Hugh doesn't
                      specifically name the woman he asks to marry him, but a
                      shocked Genie soon realizes the proposal wasn't to
                      her. Later when she finally reaches Hugh, he tells her
                      on the phone that he is in love with another woman and
                      that he just isn't sexually attracted to her. Genie's
                      best friend Patty takes over and suggests that Genie fake
                      the engagement and plan her wedding taking advantage of
                      the royal treatment from family and friends since Hugh
                      will be away in Europe all summer on a book tour. Even
                      though she feels guilty about lying to her family and friends,
                      Genie finds as an engaged woman people see her in a new
                      light and especially enjoys the attention she receives
                      from Nick, a hunky carpenter friend of her brother. Fans
                      of Sophie Kinsella or Jennifer Weiner should enjoy the
                      humor in this novel. Marianne Trautvetter</p>
                    <p>813.09 EVE<br>
                      <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/teverything+i+needed+to+know+about+being+a+girl+i+learned+from+judy+blume" target="_blank">Everything
                      I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy
                      Blume</a> - 2007, 275p.<br>
                      Judy Blume's funny, heartfelt, cringe-worthy tales
                      of growing up have been entrancing girls since the 1970s.
                      Books like Are You There God, it's Me, Margaret and
                      Forever&#8230; were the dog-eared novels passed around
                      on the playground and the girls' locker room. Here,
                      twenty one authors of chick-lit and YA novels recall the
                      moments in their lives when the lessons learned, relationships
                      explained, and feelings of validation gained through reading
                      Blume's work echoed in their lives. Brief essays
                      offer a blend of humor and reflection as the authors delve
                      into their girlhood and point out that, as the title suggests,
                      Judy Blume's characters went through it all: friendship,
                      loneliness, puberty, first love, bullying, and much more.
                      A treat for those for whom Judy Blume was an essential
                      part of childhood. Heather Booth</p>
                    <h3>July</h3>
                    <p>FICTION/ABRAHAMS<br>
                      Abrahams, Peter - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/t?nerve+damage" target="_blank">Nerve
                      Damage</a> - 2007,
                        304p.<br>
                      Still mourning the accidental death of his wife fifteen
                      years earlier in a helicopter crash, Roy Valois, a quasi-famous
                      junk art sculptor, receives two bits of shocking news:
                      first that he is suffering from a rare form of asbestos-related
                      cancer and has only months to live; and secondly that his
                      wife Delia may still be alive. To make matters worse, it
                      appears that she had been secretly working as a high-level
                      political operative during their marriage, and as Roy digs
                      closer to the truth, he unwittingly sets in motion a sequence
                      of deadly events and conspiratorial cover-ups. A nice choice
                      for fans of Harlan Coben's psychological thrillers.
                      Debbie Deady</p>
                    <p>F/BERG<br>
                      Berg, Elizabeth - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=berg+elizabeth&title=dream+when+youre+feeling+blue" target="_blank">Dream
                      When You're Feeling Blue</a> - 2007, 276p.<br>
                      Set in Chicago during World War II, this novel is an intimate
                      portrayal of a large Irish Catholic family and the many
                      sacrifices they are forced to make during the war. The
                      oldest girls, Kitty and Louise, say good-bye to their boyfriends
                      at the train station when they ship off to go overseas.
                      Kitty is disappointed when her younger sister becomes engaged
                      to Michael and her own relationship with Julian is cooling
                      down now that he is overseas. Youngest sister Tish convinces
                      her sisters to attend USO dances with her to cheer up the
                      boys. None of the Heaney's three sons are old enough
                      to serve in the war, but the oldest son runs off with a
                      fake birth certificate to try and enlist. Berg adds just
                      enough humor to lighten the hardships the family endures,
                      but in the end it is the families' strong love for
                      each other that gets them through this difficult time.
                      Marianne Trautvetter</p>
                    <p>F/CONNOLLY<br>
                      Connolly, John - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=connolly+john&title=book+of+lost+things" target="_blank">The
                      Book of Lost Things</a> - 2006,
                        339p.<br>
                      Soon after young David's mother dies, he hears her
                      much-loved books talking to him. Then, David sees a sinister,
                      crooked man appears in his window one night, though no
                      one believes him. David is soon thrust into a strange land
                      reminiscent of his fairy tale books, but much more brutal
                      than he remembers. Here, the crooked man alternately taunts
                      and aids him in his search for the king of the land, whose
                      Book of Lost Things supposedly holds the key to David's
                      return home. But at what price? This is a suspenseful,
                      fantastical journey through faintly familiar tales, at
                      the core of which is a child's love for his late
                      mother and his search to reacquaint himself with his forever
                      altered family. H. Booth</p>
                    <p>FICTION / JAMES<br>
                      James, P.D. - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=james+p+d&title=children+of+men" target="_blank">The
                      Children of Men</a> - 1993,
                        241p.<br>
                      It has been 25 years since the last human was born. Universal
                      male infertility, an inexplicable event, has altered the
                      world. In Britain the crisis spawned a general malaise,
                      mass suicides, eroding civil society and a dictatorial
                      centralized government. Like many in Britain, Theo Feron,
                      professor of Victorian history, struggles daily to maintain
                      a routine; to follow the government's guides "to
                      seek comforts and remain engaged." When first approached
                      to use his influence to assist a small group of civil activists
                      Theo reluctantly agreed, if only to avoid a disagreeable
                      situation, but, his involvement with the group changes
                      abruptly when he finds himself intimately and desperately
                      involved with the group's survival. An interesting
                      examination of a dystopic future. Although used as the
                      basis for the 2006 film of the same name, there are few
                      similarities. Terri W.</p>
                    <p>FICTION/LEE<br>
                      Lee, Min Jin - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=lee+min+jin&title=free+food+for+millionaires" target="_blank">Free
                      Food for Millionaires</a> - 2007, 562p.<br>
                      An unemployed economics graduate, twenty-two-year-old Casey
                      Han wrestles to balance her expensive tastes cultivated
                      among wealthier Princeton classmates, and retail work at
                      an upscale clothier during school breaks, with the values
                      of her hard-working immigrant Korean parents. A violent
                      argument with her parents, and betrayal by her clandestine
                      Caucasian boyfriend, leave Casey without a home in Queens
                      or place of refuge in Manhattan. Coerced by dire straits,
                      Casey accepts help and ultimately friendship, from a long-time
                      acquaintance and member of her family's Korean church
                      who she formerly ridiculed. Told from multiple points of
                      view, the densely written novel moves at a clipped pace
                      mirroring contemporary American life while detailing the
                      unique perspective of assimilated immigrant offspring who
                      must somehow reconcile the old homeland with the new. Rich
                      with family drama and details of the Korean-American experience,
                      Lee's novel is the quintessential summer-time read!
                      Suzy Miller </p>
                    <p>FICTION/<br>
                      McLaughlin, Emma  - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=mclaughlin+emma&title=dedication" target="_blank">Dedication</a> - 2007,
                        279p.<br>
                      Jake Sharpe is one of the most recognizable musicians in
                      the world, with six albums under his belt. His songs can
                      be heard everywhere&#8230; on the radio, in the gym, even
                      in grocery stores. Kate Hollis, her life being his inspiration
                      since he stood her up right before prom, has been planning
                      her revenge since his first song about her was played on
                      the radio. When Kate finds out from her best friend that
                      Jake will be back in their hometown for an exclusive MTV
                      special, she heads home to finally confront him. Told partially
                      through flashbacks, the 80s references and likeable main
                      character make this newest chick lit title from the authors
                      of The Nanny Diaries a worthwhile read. Nicole S.</p>
                    <p>MYSTERY/PRINGLE<br>
                      Pringle, Peter - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=pringle+peter&title=day+of+the+dandelion" target="_blank">Day
                      of the Dandelion</a> - 2007,
                        306p.<br>
                      Arthur Hemmings, a Kew Gardens researcher and an agent
                      for the Office of Food Security, investigates when British
                      Professor Alastair Scott and Russian researcher Tanya Petrovskaya
                      can't be found after seeds that could revolutionize
                      the food industry are stolen from a safe in the Oxford
                      Museum. Governments and agriculture conglomerates all want
                      to patent the genetics of the seeds, giving them control
                      of the worlds' food supply, while the researchers
                      want the technology to be freely available for all. When
                      Scott turns up dead, Hemmings must find Tanya. Did she
                      return to Russia with the valuable seeds, or is she on
                      the run? A fast-paced adventure with details of genetics,
                      botany and food science woven throughout. Sue O'Brien</p>
                    <h3>June</h3>
                    <p>FICTION/ESTILL<br>
                      Estill, Katie - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=estill+katie&title=dahlias+gone" target="_blank">Dahlia's
                      Gone</a> - 2007,
                      239p.<br>
                      The murder of 18-year-old Dahlia Everston in a tiny Ozark
                      riverfront town is the focus of this taut psychological
                      drama which alternately examines the lives and relationships
                      of the three women most affected by the unsolved crime:
                      Sandra (Sand) Williams, the Everston's closest neighbor
                      who was asked to check on Dahlia and her 17-year-old stepbrother
                      while their parents were vacationing in Myrtle Beach; Deputy
                      Sheriff Patti Callahan, the lead investigator on the case;
                      and Dahlia's stepmother Norah, who refuses to accept
                      the growing suspicion that her son knows more about his
                      sister's murder than he is willing to admit. Brisk
                      pacing, memorable characters, and rich, sense-of-place
                      detail. Debbie Deady</p>
                    <p>FICTION/JANOWITZ<br>
                      Janowitz, Brenda - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=janowitz+brenda&title=scot+on+the+rocks" target="_blank">Scot
                      on the Rocks</a> - 2007,
                        293p.<br>
                      Attorney Brooke Miller's plan to attend her ex-boyfriend's
                      wedding in California with her handsome, successful Scottish
                      boyfriend Douglas derails when he breaks up with her mere
                      days before the wedding, leaving her homeless as well as
                      boyfriendless. After moving in with her best friend, she
                      convinces a colleague to pretend to be Douglas, so she
                      can still attend the wedding, her dignity intact. Her scheme
                      leads to hilarious complications as the likable Brooke
                      completely fails to see what's right under her nose.
                      Sue O'Brien</p>
                    <p>YA/F/JOHNSON<br>
                      Johnson, Maureen - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=johnson+maureen&title=girl+at+sea" target="_blank">Girl
                      at Sea</a> - 2007,
                        336p.<br>
                      Who wouldn't want to spend the summer cruising around
                      the Mediterranean? Seventeen-year-old Clio certainly doesn't.
                      It will ruin her plans for summer romance! When she arrives,
                      things head downhill. She has to share a cabin with her
                      dad's new girlfriend's daughter Elsa, she has
                      to cook for the crew, she can't use the phone or
                      Internet, and no one will tell her what they are doing
                      or why. But Clio and spunky British Elsa quickly become
                      friends, and eventually, Clio digs up some dirt on the
                      mission: a secret undersea archeological search. Then,
                      Clio "rocks the boat" when she finds herself
                      attracted to Aiden, the cute research assistant that Elsa
                      is pursuing. A whirlwind of mystery and action hit (jellyfish!
                      kidnapping! undersea shipwreck!), and Clio rises to the
                      occasion. The friendship, romance, and adventure make this
                      is a perfect summer read for fans of the <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=brashares+ann&title=sisterhood+of+the+traveling+pants" target="_blank">The
                      Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants</a>. Heather Booth</p>
                    <p>817/ NOTARO<br>
                      Notaro, Laurie - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=notaro+laurie&title=autobiography+of+a+fat+bride" target="_blank">Autobiography
                      of a Fat Bride: True Tales of Pretend Adulthood</a> - 2003, 257p.<br>
                      As a new wedding season approaches, another comical collection
                      of relatable essays from the author of <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=notaro+laurie&title=idiot+girls+action+adventure+club" target="_blank">The
                      Idiot Girls Action-Adventure Club</a> can lighten your mood. After describing
                      all of the losers that she has managed to scare away or
                      date, Laurie somehow finds a Good Guy, so good that she
                      knows she needs to find a way to keep him. After deciding
                      that she can't possibly keep the Good Guy inebriated
                      at all times, she unveils her secret weapon, homemade succulent
                      cutlets. Irreverent true tales of wedding horrors and domestic "bliss" keeps
                      the reader laughing throughout the book. Not to be missed
                      is the actual picture the awful wedding photographer took
                      of the plump bride sucking on her teeth without sucking
                      in her stomach. Nicole S.</p>
                    <p>BIOGRAPHY/PERRY<br>
                      Perry, Michael - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=perry+michael&title=truck+a+love+story" target="_blank">Truck:
                      A Love Story</a> - 2006,
                        281p.<br>
                      This month-by-month collection of essays chronicles two
                      of the author's ardent passions: planting the annual
                      backyard garden at his home in New Auburn, Wisconsin and
                      restoring a 1951 L-120 International Harvester pick-up
                      truck purchased nearly twenty years earlier. Humorous,
                      insightful observations pepper these essays detailing Perry
                      and brother-in-law Mark's progress on the truck,
                      Perry's travels on book tour for an earlier work,
                      <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=perry+michael&title=population+485" target="_blank">Population
                      485</a>, and how the garden is faring during the
                      2003&#8211;2004 season. Car aficionados as well as gardeners
                      will especially enjoy this peek into the country life which
                      is best likened to a leisurely meander inner tubing on
                      a river. Referring to himself as a "quirky single," this
                      forty-something confirmed bachelor finds an unexpected
                      surprise as the growing year unfolds! Suzy Miller</p>
                    <p>FICTION/RICHMOND<br>
                      Richmond, Michelle - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=richmond+michelle&title=the+year+of+fog" target="_blank">The
                      Year of Fog</a> - 2007,
                        369p.<br>
                      Photographer Abby Mason finds her life turned upside down
                      in just a moment when her fianc&eacute;'s six-year-old
                      daughter, Emma, disappears on a fog-bound beach in San
                      Francisco. Abby had been distracted briefly to photograph
                      a dead baby seal and when she looked up again Emma was
                      gone. Abby and Emma's Dad, Jake, devote all their
                      time and energy into finding the girl and helping with
                      the police investigation, but there is not trace of the
                      missing child. Abby continues to relive those minutes in
                      her mind searching for clues that will help find Emma.
                      As the months go by Abby and Jake's once blissful
                      relationship changes dramatically and Jake cannot look
                      at Abby without blaming her for Emma's disappearance.
                      This page-turner will remind readers a lot of Jacquelyn
                      Mitchard's <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=mitchard+jacquelyn&title=deep+end+of+the+ocean" target="_blank">The
                      Deep End of the Ocean</a>. Marianne Trautvetter</p>
                    <p>FICTION/SHREVE <br>
                      Shreve, Anita - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=shreve+anita&title=body+surfing" target="_blank">Body
                      Surfing</a> - 2007, 295p.<br>
                      Sydney Sklar is 29 and once divorced and once widowed.
                      While trying to get her life back together, she takes a
                      job as a tutor for the wealthy Edwards' family as
                      they spend the summer in their New Hampshire oceanfront
                      cottage. Sydney becomes close with her young charge, Julie
                      and the summer is going well until the Edwards' two
                      sons, Jeff and Ben arrive for a weekend. The competitive
                      nature of the brothers is soon apparent, and intensifies
                      as they turn their attentions toward Sydney. She is quickly
                      attracted to one of the brothers &#8211; but is it for
                      the right reason? This story of the complex relationships
                      within one family and an unexpected ending is a compelling
                      and thought-provoking read. Sheila Guenzer</p>
                    <p>MYSTERY / STARK<br>
                      Stark, Richard - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=stark+richard&title=ask+the+parrot" target="_blank">Ask
                      the Parrot</a> - 2006,
                        278p.<br>
                      The most recent in this unusual mystery series catches
                      up with Parker, on the run, in upstate New York. A botched
                      bank robbery has left Parker, a professional cold-blooded
                      thief, trapped. He needs clean money and he needs ID. Enter
                      Parker's rescuer, Tom Lindahl, a small town recluse
                      with a sweet plan of revenge for his former employer. Tom
                      figures he could use some help from a professional thief
                      like Parker, especially a professional who is beholding
                      to Tom for his freedom. But Parker isn't exactly
                      the beholdin' type, and when he gets involved, Tom's
                      simple scheme becomes deadly serious. Although this is
                      the newest is a long running series, it works well as a
                      stand-alone. (Richard Stark is Donald Westlake's
                      darker side.) Terri W.</p>
                    <h3>May</h3>
                    <p>FICTION/COBEN<br>
                      Coben, Harlan - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=coben+harlan&title=woods" target="_blank">The
                      Woods</a> - 2007, 404p.<br>
                      Four teens at summer camp take a walk in the woods and
                      two don't come back. One of those who did not come
                      back was Paul Copeland's sister Camille. Twenty years
                      later he is a county prosecutor in Essex, New Jersey, and
                      the body of an adult male who may have been one of the
                      missing teens is found. Could his sister also be alive?
                      As Paul struggles with this, he is also trying one of the
                      biggest cases of his career, a high profile rape case involving
                      wealthy college students as defendants. This exciting,
                      complex, and well written thriller with multiple plot lines
                      and powerful characters ends with a surprising and satisfying
                      conclusion. Sheila Guenzer</p>
                    <p>FICTION/DALLAS<br>
                      Dallas, Sandra - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=dallas+sandra&title=tallgrass" target="_blank">Tallgrass</a> - 2007, 305p.<br>
                      Life in the small town of Ellis, Colorado is changed when
                      the government opens a Japanese internment camp in their
                      town during World War II. Thirteen year-old Rennie Stroud
                      experiences discrimination first hand, when she sees how
                      the rights of these Japanese Americans have been violated
                      after they have been forced to leave their homes on the
                      West coast. When a young handicapped girl from Ellis is
                      murdered, the strangers from the camp become prime suspects
                      causing the townspeople to behave more cruelly towards
                      the Japanese Americans. The Stroud family is one of the
                      few families that show any compassion towards the Japanese
                      Americans when Rennie's father hires workers from
                      the camp to help with his sugar beet harvest. Dallas's
                      characters ring true to life and her depiction of a small
                      town facing large issues during World War II is compelling.
                      Marianne Trautvetter</p>
                    <p>FICTION/FFORDE<br>
                      Fforde, Katie - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=fforde+katie&title=bidding+for+love" target="_blank">Bidding
                      for Love</a> - 2007,
                        390p.<br>
                      When Flora Stanza inherits 51% of the family antiques business,
                      an auction house, she moves from London to the country
                      wondering if she'll like country life and be able
                      to fit in. She quickly becomes enamored of the business,
                      coming up with new ideas and learning about valuing the
                      antiques. However, her very distant cousin Charles and
                      his fianc&eacute;e are not at all happy about her eagerness
                      to become a part of the business. Flora perseveres, finding
                      a job she loves and several new romantic possibilities
                      in this charming tale of a young woman finding her passion
                      and a new man in her life. Sue O'Brien</p>
                    <p>FICTION/FOX<br>
                      Fox, Lauren - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=fox+lauren&title=still+life+with+husband" target="_blank">Still
                      Life with Husband</a> - 2007,
                        258p.<br>
                      Is it wrong not to want to do what everyone expects? To
                      the world, thirty-year old Emily Ross seems to be happily
                      married to Kevin, a sensitive guy, for nearly nine years.
                      She knows that she should be yearning to get to the next
                      stage in her life, a house in the suburbs and a baby in
                      the near future, at least that's what Kevin and her
                      mother tell her. Lately, a strangling sense of suffocation
                      in a marriage that seems to be getting tedious is all Emily
                      feels. A chance meeting at a coffee shop with David, a
                      writer for the local newspaper, spins Emily's life
                      in an unexpected direction. A genuine and sometimes humorous
                      look at expectations and relationships. Nicole S.</p>
                    <p>YA FICTION/MITCHARD<br>
                      Mitchard, Jacquelyn - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=mitchard+jacquelyn&title=now+you+see+her" target="_blank">Now
                      You See Her</a> - 2007,
                        200p.<br>
                      Soon after Hope Shay, a beautiful and talented high school
                      sophomore meets senior acting legend Logan Rose, she is
                      chosen to play the part of Juliet in Starwood Academy's
                      production of the Shakespearean tragedy, opposite Logan's
                      role as Romeo. Hope is understandably smitten, but before
                      long their relationship (which they decide to keep secret)
                      takes a dangerous turn &#8211; beginning with Hope's "staged" abduction,
                      following the opening night performance. As the details
                      of that event are revealed, we become increasingly aware
                      of Hope's fragile mental state, and begin to question
                      the reliability of her emotional narration. A poignant
                      psychological novel with plenty of teen drama. Debbie Deady</p>
                    <p>FICTION/MITCHELL<br>
                      Mitchell, David - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=mitchell+david&title=black+swan+green" target="_blank">Black
                      Swan Green</a> - 2006,
                        294p.<br>
                      Jason's stammer severely limits his ability to communicate
                      comfortably with his peers. But as he tells the story of
                      his thirteenth year, the reader is treated to an eloquent
                      narration from this earnest and likable character who contemplates
                      the world swirling around him. It is 1982; Margaret Thatcher
                      and the Falklands War are becoming everyday topics in Jason's
                      quiet British village. Something is brewing at home that
                      begins with an odd phone call in his father's private
                      study. And the conflicts, brutalities, and triumphs that
                      make up the daily life of a sensitive teen loner loom large.
                      More accessible than Mitchell's award-winning <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=mitchell+david&title=cloud+atlas" target="_blank">The
                      Cloud Atlas</a>, this is a poetic novel of chronological vignettes
                      that are as achingly poignant as the teen years themselves.
                      Heather Booth</p>
                    <p>FICTION/OLMSTEAD<br>
                      Olmstead, Robert - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=olmstead+robert&title=coal+black+horse" target="_blank">Coal
                      Black Horse</a> - 2007,
                        218p.<br>
                      In this sparsely written work, fourteen-year old Robey
                      Childs is charged by his mother Hettie with the task of
                      bringing his father home from the Civil War battlefield.
                      Clad in a jacket crafted by his mother (grey on one side;
                      blue on the other) allowing him the ability to move freely
                      between opposite sides, Robey receives weapons, provisions,
                      and the loan of a coal black horse from Old Morphew owners
                      of the local mercantile. Succinct language and evocative
                      Civil War details enhance the well-drawn characters Robey
                      encounters locating his father in this historical literary
                      novel which is as much a coming-of-age story as it is an
                      epic journey. Suzy Miller</p>
                    <p>MYSTERY/VAN PATTEN<br>
                      Van Patten, Vince and Robert J. Randisi - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=van+patten+vince&title=picasso+flop" target="_blank">The
                      Picasso Flop: A Texas Hold'em Mystery</a> - 2007, 292p.<br>
                      When Jimmy Spain walked out of the Bellagio elevator for
                      the first day of the World Poker Tour Five Diamond World
                      Classic, more than ten years had passed since the last
                      time he'd been in Vegas. Most of that time wasted
                      behind bars in Marion, Illinois. Much had changed but,
                      not everything. The lights, the characters, the tension,
                      were all still there. This trip he only had two goals,
                      keep his young prot&eacute;g&eacute; Kat focused and keep
                      them both in the game long enough to finish in the money.
                      But when a couple of obnoxious dot-com poker boys turn
                      up dead, Jimmy finds himself forced to divide his time
                      between keeping his seat at the table and using his background
                      to seek out a killer. This series debut is an interesting
                      peak into the glitz, grit and characters of the world of
                      professional poker. Terri W.</p>
                    <h3>April</h3>
                    <p>FICTION/ABRAMS<br>
                      Abrams, Douglas Carlton - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=abrams+douglas+carlton&title=lost+diary+of+don+juan" target="_blank">The
                      Lost Diary of Don Juan</a> - 2007<br>
                      (An Account of the True Arts of Passion and the Perilous
                      Adventure of Love) <br>
                      In 1593 the sole ambition of Don Juan Tenorio, Seville's
                      infamous libertine &amp; galanteadore, was to cultivate,
                      celebrate and satisfy the desires of women (many, many
                      women) while remaining out of the grasp of the despised
                      Holy Office of the Inquisitor. But, much to the dismay
                      of his faithful coachman Crist&oacute;bal, as Don Juan
                      purses his latest passion, the unattainable Do&ntilde;a
                      Ana, his favor with King Phillip II and the protection
                      of his patron, Marquis de la Mota, are slipping away leaving
                      Don Juan vulnerable to the whims of the Inquisitor. Orphan,
                      thief, spy, Juan Tenorio's charmed life has been
                      one adventure after another. Will pursuit of this forbidden
                      fruit be his final adventure? This is a novel of daring
                      escapes, sword fights and seductions, truly a swashbuckling
                      adventure! (to be published in May 2007) Terri W.</p>
                    <p>YA/FICTION/ANDERSON<br>
                      Anderson, M.T. - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=anderson+m+t&title=feed" target="_blank">Feed</a> - 2002, 237p.<br>
                      Teenagers Violet and Titus star in a dystopia that explores
                      human relationships in a meg computerized world. It's
                      a love story. Or is it? What would love be like in a time
                      in the near future when almost everyone is connected to
                      the feed and communication is mind-to-mind, like Instant
                      Messaging without the external computer? What if it were
                      a time when advertisements/information for anything and
                      everything popped up inside your head? Feed extrapolates
                      from today's people and technology into a tomorrow
                      where written communication is rare, schools are run by
                      corporations and the environment has gone totally mal.
                      This (sort of) satire is intended for teens, but if their 'rents
                      appreciated Aldous Huxley and Kurt Vonnegut, they will
                      also want to catch the Feed. Christine Ricker, COD LTA
                      Intern</p>
                    <p>FICTION/CROOK<br>
                      Crook, Elizabeth - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=crook+elizabeth&title=night+journal" target="_blank">The
                      Night Journal</a> - 2006,
                        454p.<br>
                      This detailed and fascinating novel traces the lives of
                      four generations of women, beginning with 37-year-old Meg,
                      the granddaughter of renowned historian Claudia Bass who
                      raised her. Their relationship is precarious, and the two
                      headstrong women clash while on a trip to Claudia's
                      childhood home in Pecos, New Mexico where they uncover
                      disconcerting details about the life of Claudia's
                      mother, a frontierswoman around the turn-of-the-nineteenth-century.
                      This multi-layered, historical novel weaves elements of
                      mystery and romance throughout this intricate portrait
                      of life in the American southwest. Debbie Deady</p>
                    <p>F/DELINSKY<br>
                      Delinsky, Barbara - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=delinsky+barbara&title=family+tree" target="_blank">Family
                      Tree</a> - 2007,
                        358p.<br>
                      Dana and Hugh Clarke excitedly welcome their first child
                      in this briskly paced contemporary novel. When baby Lizzie
                      is born with decidedly African-American features, Hugh's
                      upper class family insinuates that Dana has been unfaithful.
                      Insisting on a DNA test and on revisiting efforts to identify
                      and locate Dana's birth father, Hugh's misguided
                      attempts to placate his family result in alienating him
                      from Dana, the orphaned only child of a single mother who
                      was raised by her maternal grandmother. Test results expose
                      a surprising secret and propel all of the Clarke's
                      to reexamine their ideas of family, race, and identity.
                      Readers who enjoy knitting will appreciate the sub-plot
                      featuring skilled fiber artists at the yarn shop owned
                      by Dana's grandmother. Suzy Miller </p>
                    <p>YA/FICTION/PFEFFER<br>
                      Pfeffer, Susan Beth - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=pfeffer+susan+beth&title=life+as+we+knew+it" target="_blank">Life
                      as We Knew It</a> - 2006,
                        337p.<br>
                      Astronomers predict a meteor is on a collision course with
                      the moon. Sixteen-year-old Miranda and her friends at school
                      think it will be a cool event to watch, along with the
                      rest of the country. Getting out the telescopes and binoculars
                      with her younger brother and her mom seems normal, and
                      with most of the neighbors outside, it almost seems like
                      a block party. What scientists did not predict was the
                      moon would be knocked out of its orbit, or the natural
                      disasters that would occur around the world as a result.
                      Told in diary format, Miranda records the devastation that
                      occurs, and the daily struggles that ensue because of the
                      meteor's impact on the moon. An engrossing testament
                      to survival that might appeal to fans of the television
                      show Jericho. Nicole S.</p>
                    <p>YA/FICTION/RABB<br>
                      Rabb, Margo - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=rabb+m+e&title=cures+for+heartbreak" target="_blank">Cures
                      for Heartbreak</a> - 2007,
                        235p. <br>
                      Days after being admitted to the hospital with a stomachache,
                      Mia's mother &#8211; her best friend, and inspiration &#8211; dies
                      from cancer. Fifteen-year-old Mia hasn't experienced
                      death in any meaningful way, but now, it seems to be all
                      around her. The Holocaust section of her history textbook,
                      the dire warnings about cholesterol in her Health Now magazine,
                      or an oddly shaped mole on her arm all tie Mia to her mother
                      and make her acutely aware of her own mortality. In time,
                      she finds others to whom she can relate, like "cancer
                      guy," who turns out to be a philosophical world traveler
                      (and cute!) and finds that though grief never ends, neither
                      does love. Older teens looking for touching realistic fiction
                      with the right splashes of humor and romance will enjoy
                      this tender story. Heather Booth</p>
                    <p>FICTION/SIMON<br>
                      Simon, Scott - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=simon+scott&title=pretty+birds" target="_blank">Pretty
                      Birds</a> - 2005, 351p.<br>
                      It's 1991 and Irena is a high school basketball star
                      in Sarajevo. She has doting parents, great friends, and
                      hope for the future. Then the civil war that will consume
                      the next four years and over 200,000 lives begins. Irena
                      and her family are forced into hiding. Irena, however,
                      is no passive victim; she becomes a sniper, a way for an
                      agile, assertive, Muslim girl to hit back at Bosnian Serbs.
                      Anyone familiar with Scott Simon's work on National
                      Public Radio will be impressed that he is as talented a
                      novelist as he is a correspondent. In this debut novel,
                      he creates extraordinary characters, dialogue, and setting.
                      He uses humor often and to excellent effect, including
                      the sound effects of Pretty Bird, the family's parrot.
                      Simon makes us understand what civil war is about, and
                      he makes us care. Christine Ricker, COD LTA Intern</p>
                    <p>F/WEIR<br>
                      Weir, Alison - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=weir+alison&title=innocent+traitor" target="_blank">Innocent
                      Traitor</a> - 2007,
                        402p.<br>
                      Historical biographer Alison Weir makes her fiction debut
                      in this novel about Lady Jane Grey and, at fifteen years
                      of age, her nine-day reign as Queen of England. Weir uses
                      multiple narrators which proves effective in moving the
                      story along and clearly shows the conspiratorial web which
                      surrounded Jane. Her parents, the Marques and Marchioness
                      of Dorset, groomed her from birth as a possible match for
                      Prince Edward, but when he died at such a young age they
                      schemed with the Duke of Northumberland to subvert the
                      line of succession making Jane the heir to the throne.
                      Fans of Philippa Gregory and Carolly Erickson might enjoy
                      this novel. Marianne Trautvetter</p>
                    <h3>March</h3>
                    <p>MYSTERY/CRAWFORD<br>
                      Crawford, Isis - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=crawford+isis&title=catered+valentines+day" target="_blank">A
                      Catered Valentine's Day</a> - 2007, 275p.<br>
                      In their fourth adventure, sisters Libby and Bernie Simmons,
                      owners of A Little Taste of Heaven, join forces with Just
                      Chocolate, provider of hand-dipped chocolates, for a Valentine's
                      Day fundraiser. While planning the menu for the fundraiser
                      and dealing with a troublesome new oven, the sisters get
                      involved in sorting out a mystery when Ted Gorman, who
                      supposedly died unrecognizable in a fiery car crash, is
                      found in the wrong grave and is easily identified by Bernie
                      and Libby. The two investigate, along with their former
                      police chief father and Libby's mortician boyfriend
                      Marvin, untangling multiple motives and suspects. The relationship
                      between the two very different sisters, quirky characters,
                      humor, and recipes add to this culinary mystery that will
                      appeal to fans of Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen series.
                      Sue O'Brien</p>
                    <p>FICTION/GROSSMAN<br>
                      Grossman, Lev - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=grossman+lev&title=codex" target="_blank">Codex</a> - 2004, 348p.<br>
                      It was supposed to be a brief stop&#8212;one last piece
                      of business in New York before a vacation, followed by
                      a new job in London. Instead, investment banker Edward
                      Wozny finds himself cataloging a quirky Duchess's
                      massive collection of antiquarian books, and surprising
                      himself by getting completely wrapped up in the hunt for
                      a fabled 14th century illuminated text. When Edward realizes
                      that he is in over his head, he enlists the help of a beguilingly
                      cold medievalist whose passion ignites at the prospect
                      of uncovering one of literature's biggest secrets.
                      When events surrounding the search for the text begin to
                      eerily mirror scenes from a computer game, Edward starts
                      to wonder if he is playing the game, or if the game is
                      actually playing him. Heather Booth</p>
                    <p>FICTION/DOYLE<br>
                      Doyle, Roddy - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=doyle+roddy&title=paula+spencer" target="_blank">Paula
                      Spencer</a> - 2006, 281p.<br>
                      Doyle's unforgettable character from <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=doyle+roddy&title=woman+who+walked+into+doors" target="_blank">The
                      Woman Who Walked into Doors</a> returns in this sequel. It has been nearly
                      ten years since her abusive husband Charlo was shot and
                      killed by the Dublin police, but Paula has been sober for
                      just over four months. Each new day brings the mental and
                      physical struggle not to return to her former drinking
                      habits. Paula's four children are a constant reminder
                      of her past failed battles with sobriety and give her strength
                      to wait another day before taking a drink. With a newfound
                      clarity, she sees her own tendencies in some of her children,
                      as well as those of their father. Each day she doesn't
                      succumb to alcohol provides her with insight into the simple
                      pleasures of life, from opening a bank account, learning
                      about Google from her youngest son, to meeting her grandchildren
                      for the first time. Doyle succeeds in continuing the powerfully
                      realistic portrayal of a flawed heroine. Nicole S.</p>
                    <p>FICTION/LOWENTHAL<br>
                      Lowenthal, Michael - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=lowenthal+michael&title=charity+girl" target="_blank">Charity
                      Girl</a> - 2007,
                        321p.<br>
                      With America poised on the brink of WWI, more than 15,000
                      women suspected of venereal disease are quarantined in "detention" centers
                      and held against their will&#8212;a true chapter in U.S.
                      history. Seventeen-year-old Frieda Mintz, a department
                      store clerk becomes one of the unfortunates, after an impulsive
                      night with an infected soldier leads to her arrest and
                      confinement. Her (fictionalized) story details the physical
                      and emotional humiliation she endures in the camp, while
                      concurrently portraying her intrepid spirit and personal
                      resilience. A great book discussion choice. Debbie Deady</p>
                    <p>FICTION / LUTZ<br>
                      Lutz, Lisa - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=lutz+lisa&title=spellman+files" target="_blank">The
                      Spellman Files</a> - 2007 <br>
                      The first in a humorous new series features Izzy Spellman,
                      the eldest daughter of an eccentric family of private detectives.
                      The Spellman children were drafted into the family business
                      at an early age (mostly to keep Izzy out of trouble). At
                      the age of 12 the children began with examining trash,
                      quickly progressing to shadowing, ease-dropping, stake-outs,
                      and generally all around snooping. When 27-year-old Izzy
                      declares her independence and tries to move out of the
                      Spellman house and break with the family business (really
                      a girl needs some privacy!), life becomes complicated.
                      Keeping Daniel, "future ex-boyfriend #9," happy,
                      investigating a missing child, plus dealing with the Spellman
                      family ties that bind, is just a bit this side of impossible
                      to juggle. The result is a laugh-out-loud peek into a loving,
                      but wacky, family of snoops! A good bet for Janet Evanovich
                      or Sarah Strohmeyer readers. Terri W.</p>
                    <p>FICTION/POWERS<br>
                      Powers, Richard - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=powers+richard&title=echo+maker" target="_blank">The
                      Echo Maker</a> -  2006,
                        451p.<br>
                      Every year over half a million sandhill cranes migrate
                      along the Platt River in Nebraska. This year they are the
                      only witnesses to the mysterious and near fatal accident
                      of Mark Schulter. His sister Karin receives a distressing
                      phone call that her brother's truck has rolled over
                      and his injuries are serious. She immediately returns home
                      and is at her brothers' bedside when he awakes from
                      a fourteen-day coma. Her joy is short-lived however, as
                      Mark accuses Karin of being an imposter. Eventually diagnosed
                      with Capgras syndrome, a condition where people cannot
                      recall previous emotional connections, Karin eventually
                      enlists the help a famous neurologist Gerald Weber. As
                      they all struggle to make Mark well, they learn not only
                      about the science of the illness but the human aspect as
                      well. This is a literary and gripping novel with an unexpected
                      ending. Sheila Guenzer</p>
                    <p>FICTION/WINSTON<br>
                      Winston, Lolly - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=winston+lolly&title=happiness+sold+separately" target="_blank">Happiness
                      Sold Separately</a> - 2006, 294p.<br>
                      Lawyer Elinor Mackey and her husband Ted, a podiatrist,
                      seem to have an ideal marriage until after two years of
                      failed fertility treatments, they find themselves growing
                      apart. Elinor overhears Ted talking on the phone with Gina,
                      his fitness trainer at the gym who he is having an affair
                      with. Ted promises to break-off the affair and convinces
                      a devastated Elinor to give him another chance. Winston
                      deals with difficult issues&#8212;infidelity, infertility,
                      a troubled kid&#8212;in a realistic insightful manner adding
                      just enough humor while at the same time her characters
                      are so multi-dimensional that readers may find themselves
                      sympathetic to all three protagonists. Fans of Elizabeth
                      Berg and Jennifer Weiner might enjoy this book. Marianne
                      Trautvetter</p>
                    <h3>February</h3>
                    <p>FICTION/DEKKER<br>
                      Dekker, Ted - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=dekker+ted&title=thr3e" target="_blank">Thr3e</a> - 2003, 352p.<br>
                      This riveting page-turner plunges readers into the life
                      of Kevin Parson, a 28-year-old seminary student who becomes
                      the target of an unknown stalker (identified only as "Slater")
                      who baits him into an unavoidable game of cat and mouse,
                      using cryptic riddles that Kevin must either solve &#8211; or
                      die trying. Events in Kevin's past may offer clues
                      as to the identity and motives of Slater, while several
                      provocative plot twists keep readers guessing until the
                      very last page. Debbie Deady</p>
                    <p>MYSTERY/GREENWOOD<br>
                      Greenwood, Kerry - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=greenwood+kerry&title=murder+on+the+ballarat+train" target="_blank">Murder
                      on the Ballarat Train</a> - 2006, 151p.<br>
                      The is the third book in this series featuring gutsy and
                      glamorous amateur sleuth Phryne Fisher. The setting is
                      1920s Australia, and Phryne and her companion Dot are traveling
                      by rail to visit relatives in Ballarat. However, they never
                      make their destination as Phryne, dozing on the train,
                      wakes up to the smell of chloroform. She immediately opens
                      the windows, stops the train and helps get all the passengers
                      off and into fresh air &#8211; all but one, however. A
                      young girl wakes up to find her mother missing who eventually
                      is found dead, while another young woman is suffering from
                      amnesia. Phryne takes them both under her wing and is determined
                      to find answers to the mysteries surrounding both women.
                      There are sixteen books in this series, and following the
                      adventures of this endearing character is a satisfying
                      and enjoyable read. Sheila Guenzer</p>
                    <p>FICTION/KUNZMANN<br>
                      Kunzmann, Richard - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=kunzmann+richard&title=bloody+harvests" target="_blank">Bloody
                      Harvests</a> - 2006,
                        455p.<br>
                      This compelling debut thriller reaches into the depths
                      of Johannesburg's slums in search of answers to a
                      series of brutal murders. The discovery that a murdered
                      child is the result of a ritualistic muti-killing, propels
                      Detectives Mason and Tshabalala into the slums of Johannesburg,
                      South Africa, where traditional tribal culture co-exists
                      uneasily with modern life. While the detectives struggle
                      to piece together evidence, the investigation turns ever
                      more urgent as it becomes clear that they are hunting pure
                      evil. This is a complex thriller for readers who enjoy
                      multifaceted characters and a powerful sense of place.
                      Terri W.</p>
                    <p>FICTION/NASLUND<br>
                      Naslund, Sena Jeter - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=naslund+sena+jeter&title=abundance" target="_blank">Abundance:
                      A Novel of Marie Antoinette</a> - 2006, 545p.<br>
                      A fascinating, first-person look at a much maligned historical
                      figure. The story begins as Maria Antonia, a young, eager
                      girl of fourteen, prepares to leave her life in Austria
                      and become Marie Antoinette of France. As she becomes a
                      queen and a mother, she remains the same vivacious, inquisitive,
                      sensitive character, yet grows detached from the reality
                      of her times as she is isolated by the lavish opulence
                      of Versailles. Detailed writing that flows smoothly and
                      brief chapters make the lengthy work very accessible. Abundance
                      is a good choice for book groups that typically read women's
                      fiction, but want to branch out to historical fiction with
                      a focus on the life and internal conflicts of an individual.
                      Heather Booth</p>
                    <p>FICTION/SAKEY<br>
                      Sakey, Marcus - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=sakey+marcus&title=blade+itself" target="_blank">The
                      Blade Itself</a>  - 2007,
                        307p.<br>
                      Small-time burglar Danny Carter leaves the crime business
                      for good after his partner, Evan McGann, shoots a shop
                      owner and goes to prison for the crime. While Evan is in
                      prison, Danny becomes a respected construction manager
                      in Chicago with a great girlfriend who knows of his past,
                      but will leave him if he goes back to a life of crime.
                      When Evan is released from prison, he wants to resume their
                      partnership and kidnap Danny's boss' son and
                      hold him for ransom. Unable to dissuade Evan from his plan,
                      Danny agrees to help him, so no one gets hurt. Fast pacing,
                      well-developed characters, and surprising plot twists add
                      to this suspenseful story. Sue O'Brien</p>
                    <p>SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/STAR TREK<br>
                      Martin, Michael A. - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=martin+michael+a&title=taking+wing" target="_blank">Star
                      Trek Titan: Taking Wing</a> - 2005, 370p.<br>
                      William T. Riker, former First Officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise,
                      has just assumed his first command of the newly built Luna-class
                      starship U.S.S Titan. Eager to begin the mission of exploration
                      with an extremely diverse crew and his wife, Deanna Troi,
                      as the ship's diplomatic officer, Captain Riker is
                      dismayed when the Titan is diverted to prevent a civil
                      war from breaking out in the Romulan Empire. Attempting
                      to control the situation and guaranteeing that every faction
                      is represented is a daunting first mission for Captain
                      Riker. A satisfying new addition for fans of Star Trek:
                      The Next Generation. Nicole S.</p>
                    <p>FICTION/WALKER<br>
                      Walker, Mildred - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=walker+mildred&title=fireweed" target="_blank">Fireweed</a> - 1934, 314p.<br>
                      A contemporary novel when first published in 1934, Mildred
                      Walker's Fireweed still resonates with readers of
                      a new century. Celie Henderson and Joe Linsen, children
                      of immigrant loggers and childhood sweethearts, marry despite
                      Celie's longing to escape the dreary, dead-end mill
                      town of Flat Point, Michigan they have known all their
                      lives. Told mainly from Celie's point of view, Walker's
                      vivid descriptions of Upper Peninsula life demonstrate
                      the universality of life choices and the challenges in
                      living with them. While the story depicts a less-complicated
                      world, its message of making the most we can of our little
                      corner of the world and of cherishing those we love remains
                      timeless. Suzy Miller</p>
                    <h3>January</h3>
                    <p>FICTION/BEARD<br>
                      Beard, Philip - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=beard+philip&title=dear+zoe" target="_blank">Dear
                      Zoe</a> - 2005, 196p.<br>
                      The hit-and-run death of three-year-old Zoe, on the same
                      morning of the 9/11 attacks, is close to unbearable for
                      Tess, who nearly a year later, has yet to forgive herself
                      for her role in her half-sister's death. Written
                      in journal format, Dear Zoe is Tess' soulful account
                      of her life since the accident. Not that this novel is
                      overly grim &#8211; Tess shares lighter moments with her
                      caring (yet clueless) stepfather; finds solace while spending
                      the summer with her biological dad (a kind-hearted petty
                      criminal); and experiences first love with the (complicated)
                      boy next door. Alternately both poignant and hopeful, this
                      is an emotionally charged coming-of-age novel with appeal
                      for both adults and teens. Debbie Deady</p>
                    <p>SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/FLYNN<br>
                      Flynn, Michael - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=flynn+michael&title=eifelheim" target="_blank">Eifelheim</a> - 2006, 320p.<br>
                      When mathematical historian Tom Schwoerin discovers that
                      the village of Eifelheim was abandoned during a plague
                      outbreak in the Black Forest in 1349, it is not surprising
                      to him. What fascinates him is the village was never resettled,
                      despite its prime location. Digging deeper, Tom discovers
                      that local legend had proclaimed the area cursed, with
                      flying demons inhabiting the area. With the assistance
                      of his longtime girlfriend Sharon Nagy, a physicist, Tom
                      sets upon a course to discover what truly happened to Eifelheim
                      and its residents. Alternating between present day and
                      the German village in the past, this hard science fiction
                      novel delivers on its intriguing premise. Nicole S.</p>
                    <p>FICTION / FRAZIER<br>
                      Frazier, Charles - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=frazier+charles&title=thirteen+moons" target="_blank">Thirteen
                      Moons</a> - 2006,
                        420p.<br>
                      This evocative story spans 19th century America, from the
                      1820s to the end of the century. A time and place meticulously
                      painted with vivid prose, bringing each mountainside and
                      trail to life. Recounted at the pace of a time long past,
                      through the eyes of a man who watched the better part of
                      a century pass and try to take the Eastern Cherokee's
                      way of life with it. At the age of 12, Will Cooper was
                      sold into servitude. Alone and terrified, running an Indian
                      Trading Post at the edge of Cherokee Lands in the Appalachian
                      wilderness, Will is befriended by Bear and adopted into
                      the Cherokee Nation. Will's story is one of adventure
                      and fortune guided primarily by his drive to protect a
                      vanishing way of life. For those who enjoy historical fiction
                      set in America, this is a story to be savored. Terri W.</p>
                    <p>FICTION/MCDERMOTT<br>
                      McDermott, Alice - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=mcdermott+alice&title=after+this" target="_blank">After
                      This</a> - 2006, 279p.<br>
                      The private moments in the life of Mary and John Keane
                      an Irish Catholic family of Long Island are depicted in
                      vignette-like chapters starting when the couple first met
                      in the 1940s and continuing on through the 60s and 70s.
                      McDermott creates a clear picture of the couple and their
                      neighbors as they raise two sons and two daughters dealing
                      with such issues as the Vietnam War, sex, drugs, and abortion
                      while at the same time staying true to their Irish heritage
                      and Catholic faith. As the children grow older they find
                      a way to interpret their strong faith and heritage in a
                      way that will translate to their own generation and values.
                      Marianne Trautvetter</p>
                    <p>FICTION/O'HEHIR<br>
                      O'hehir, Diana - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=ohehir+diana&title=erased+from+memory" target="_blank">Erased
                      from Memory</a> - 2006, 283p.<br>
                      Amateur sleuth Carla Day and her 86-year-old Egyptologist
                      father, who suffers from Alzheimer's, visit Northern
                      California's Egypt Regained Museum where her fathers' discovery
                      is housed. Carla's father, once famous for his expertise
                      in Egyptian artifacts, is delighted to be at the museum.
                      However, when a man is murdered at the museum, her father
                      becomes a suspect. Cleared quickly from this accusation,
                      Carla agrees to stay on for a short time. When a second
                      murder occurs, Carla suspects a link with the present day
                      murders and the museum crypt. Not sure who she can trust,
                      Carla investigates and unwittingly puts herself and her
                      father in danger. A well written novel, with quirky characters
                      and an explosive and surprising ending. Sheila Guenzer</p>
                    <p>MYSTERY/PAGE<br>
                      Page, Katherine Hall - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=page+katherine&title=the+body+in+the+ivy" target="_blank">The
                      Body in the Ivy</a> - 2006, 246p.<br>
                      Novelist Barbara Bailey Bishop invites a group of her former
                      Pelham College classmates to a reunion on her private island.
                      However, none of the guests know the others are coming.
                      It seems that Bishop suspects one of the women killed her
                      twin sister in 1970, right before graduation&#8212;a death
                      that was ruled a suicide. Faith Fairchild, hired to cater
                      the event, finds herself stranded with the others on the
                      isolated island, with no means of communication to the
                      outside world, during a major storm. Then the guests begin
                      to die&#8230; Faith struggles to find the killer and keep
                      herself alive in this sixteenth in a series&#8212;a homage
                      to Agatha Christie's <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=christie+agatha&title=and+then+there+were+none" target="_blank">And
                      Then There Were None</a>. Sue
                      O'Brien</p>
                    <p>F/SHARFEDDIN<br>
                      Sharfeddin, Heather -  <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=sharfeddin+heather&title=mineral+spirits" target="_blank">Mineral
                      Spirits</a> - 2006,
                        250p.<br>
                      In Mineral County Montana, Sheriff Kipp Edleson is at a
                      loss to identify the badly decomposed body found alongside
                      the Clark Fork River by ten year old Gray Dausman. Oblivious
                      to his unraveling marriage, Edleson works the case making
                      some startling discoveries about himself. The real story
                      of this novel unfolds in the way these tightly drawn characters
                      display their humanity as they interact with one another.
                      Readers who savor this story won't want to miss Sharfeddin's
                      earlier book, <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=sharfeddin+heather&title=blackberry" target="_blank">Blackberry</a>, another thought provoking novel
                      of the west. Suzy Miller</p>
                    <p>YA/FICTION/WESTERFELD<br>
                      Westerfeld, Scott - <a href="http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/q?author=westerfeld+scott&title=so+yesterday" target="_blank">So
                      Yesterday</a> - 2004,
                        225p.<br>
                      At seventeen, Hunter may look like a regular teenager&#8212;a
                      very cool looking teenager, but regular nonetheless. In
                      fact, he is one of the most sought after consultants in
                      New York City. Hunter is a "cool hunter," the
                      kind of person that can make or break a multimillion dollar
                      advertising campaign with as little as a slight nod of
                      his head. When he and Jen, an even more sought-after "Innovator" of
                      style, find out that their boss has gone missing and stumble
                      upon the most amazing shoes ever, shoes that might be a
                      sign of the end of consumer culture as we know it, the
                      world of cool hunting and hot shoes gets a lot more complicated.
                      A fast paced contemporary teen mystery with a clever sense
                      of humor. Heather Booth</p></td>
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