Historical Fiction

New Books Tuesday @ RRPL

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Check out this selection of new releases for your enjoyment coming this week!

MY FRIENDS

Jarrod has felt distanced from his daughter Liv since the death of Jarrod’s partner Charlie, but when Liv finds boyfriend Zel murdered, Jarrod rushes to her aid and they comb for clues across the Coachella Valley while a killer’s on the loose.

SOUTH OF NOWHERE

When a levee collapses in Northern California, Colter Shaw and his disaster response specialist sister, Dorion, race to locate a missing family and uncover whether sabotage, not nature, threatens the town’s survival.

MY NAME IS EMILIA DEL VALLE

In 1800s San Francisco, young writer Emilia, daughter of an Irish nun and a Chilean aristocrat, journeys to South America with talented reporter Eric to uncover the truth about her father—and herself.

THE TENANT

Blake Porter, desperate to keep his life afloat after losing his job, rents a room to the seemingly perfect Whitney, but as strange occurrences escalate and secrets unravel, he realizes too late that she’s woven a deadly trap within his own home.

ONE GOLDEN SUMMER

Charlie was 19 when Alice took his photo near her Nan’s cottage in Barry’s Bay, but now he’s a grown-up flirt who makes Alice feel seventeen again—warm nights on the lake with Charlie are a balm for Alice’s soul, but she begins to worry for her heart.

THE RIVER IS WAITING

Corby Ledbetter, grappling with addiction, prison life, and the tragedy that shattered his family, finds unexpected kindness and connection behind bars, as he seeks redemption and hopes for forgiveness from those he’s hurt the most.

THE CHILDREN OF EVE

When private investigator Charlie Parker is hired to find Wyatt Riggins, who vanished after a cryptic message, he uncovers a sinister web involving the abduction of four children linked to relentless killers, a cartel boss, and the chilling truth about the enigmatic Children of Eve.

THE MISSING HALF

Nicole Monroe, still haunted by her sister Kasey’s unexplained disappearance seven years ago, teams up with Jenna Connor, whose sister vanished under similar circumstances, as they unravel buried secrets and risk everything to uncover the truth about their missing loved ones.

PARENTS WEEKEND

Five families gather for Parents Weekend at a small college in Northern California, but their kids—Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella—never show up for dinner, and FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller must discover if the sins of their parents have caused them peril.

~Semanur

New Books Tuesday @ RRPL

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There are many exciting new book releases coming and you don’t want to miss it…

THE MAID’S SECRET

Head maid Molly Gray’s discovery of a priceless artifact sparks a media frenzy, a daring heist, and revelations from her grandmother’s hidden diary, intertwining a present-day mystery with a long-lost tale of forbidden love and family secrets.

THE GRIFFIN SISTERS’ GREATEST HITS

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner comes The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits, a deeply moving novel set against the glitz and chaos of early 2000s pop stardom. Equal parts heartfelt family saga and behind-the-scenes look at fame, this is a story about sisters, secrets, and the power of second chances.

HAPPY LAND

When Nikki visits her estranged grandmother in North Carolina, she uncovers a hidden legacy tied to a forgotten kingdom of freed people, unraveling her family’s secrets and her own identity while fighting to protect their endangered heritage.

FLIRTING LESSONS

When shy, newly single Avery enlists flirty heartbreaker Taylor for flirting lessons, their playful arrangement ignites undeniable chemistry, forcing both women to confront their feelings and risk everything for the chance at something real.

THE CAT WHO SAVED THE LIBRARY

The long-awaited sequel to the #1 international bestseller The Cat Who Saved Books—an uplifting tale from Japan about a talking cat, a book-loving girl and the power of books to make a difference in the world.

THE BOOK THAT HELD HER HEART

As an infinite library teeters on destruction, Livira must mend fragile bonds with Evar and reunite scattered allies across time and space to confront an unresolvable conflict threatening the very fabric of existence.

COLD ETERNITY

Cold Eternity is the newest action-packed space horror from S.A. Barnes perfect for fans of Severance, where desperation for eternal life leads to a fate worse than death… Halley is on the run from an interplanetary political scandal that has put a huge target on her back. She heads for what seems like the perfect place to lay low: a gigantic space barge storing the cryogenically frozen bodies of Earth’s most fortunate citizens from more than a century ago…

~Semanur

New Books Tuesday @ RRPL

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There are tons of new releases that come to our shelves every week. Here are some books we picked out for you!

THE WRITER

When the husband of bestselling true-crime author Denise Morrow is found dead in their luxury apartment, NYPD Detective Declan Shaw must unravel whether she is a target, a victim, or the mastermind behind a chilling plot.

BEACH VIBES

Beth’s idyllic life running her Malibu beach shop unravels when she discovers her brother’s infidelity and must make a moral decision threatening her newfound happiness and forcing her to choose between love and loyalty.

THE SUMMER GUESTS

In Purity, Maine, former spy Maggie Bird and her Martini Club of ex-CIA operatives are drawn into the search for a missing teen with ties to their past, as they confront an innocent friend’s wrongful suspicion, a buried corpse, and dark secrets that threaten to unravel everything they’ve worked to protect.

THE PARIS EXPRESS

Set on a fateful 1895 train journey to Paris, a diverse group of passengers-including politicians, a medical student, an inventor, and an anarchist-navigate personal ambitions and hidden motives, culminating in a disaster that forever changes their lives.

THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND

In 1952, illustrator Clara Harrington travels to London with her daughter Wynnie to investigate a discovery linked to her vanished mother, a famed author, uncovering long-buried truths amid the chaos of the Great Smog and a remote Lake District retreat.

EVERYTHING IS TUBERCULOSIS

An award-winning bestselling author explores of tuberculosis’s historical and social impact, highlighting global healthcare inequities, personal stories like a young patient in Sierra Leone and the urgent need for action against this preventable yet deadly disease.

THE LOVE WE FOUND

Ten years after Gabe’s disappearance, Lucy follows a clue to Rome, uncovering secrets about his past while meeting Dax Amstrong, whose connection challenges her to confront her lingering grief, the truth about her son’s father, and the possibility of moving forward.

A MAP TO PARADISE

Blacklisted actress Melanie Cole and her maid, Eva, form an unlikely alliance to uncover the mystery surrounding their agoraphobic neighbor’s disappearance, leading them to a surprising discovery about themselves and their shared past.

THE BUFFALO HUNTER

In 1912, a Lutheran pastor documents the chilling confessions of Good Stab, a Blackfeet vampire seeking justice for a historical massacre, intertwining themes of revenge, survival and haunting truths on the Blackfeet reservation.

~Semanur

New Books Tuesday @ RRPL

semanurLeave a comment

There are many exciting new book releases coming and you don’t want to miss it…

THE OLIGARCH’S DAUGHTER

Paul Brightman, a former Wall Street star hiding in a New England town with a bounty on his head, is forced to flee into the New Hampshire wilderness as he unravels a conspiracy involving Russian operatives and government agencies after falling in love with Tatyana, the daughter of a powerful oligarch.

ORDER OF SWANS

Kaley Adams travels to friend Jobi’s island home, but she awakens on the plane in the birthplace of fairytales, and when the king asks Kaley to find the prince, she must rely on fairytale knowledge and her handsome guide to survive this new world.

THE CRASH

Eight months pregnant and abandoned by her baby’s father, Tegan embarks on a desperate journey to her brother’s house during a storm, only to crash and find herself at the mercy of a remote couple with potentially sinister intentions.

BEEN WRONG SO LONG IT FEELS LIKE RIGHT

Detective King Oliver fulfills his grandmother’s dying wish to reunite with his estranged father while also protecting a missing woman and her daughter from a powerful billionaire, in the third novel of the series following Every Man a King.

GOOD DIRT

Ebby Freeman’s life unravels when her brother is killed and a centuries-old family heirloom is shattered but years later, while fleeing a public breakup, she uncovers how that lost, shattered jar may hold secrets to her future.

ABDUCTION OF A SLAVE

In ancient Egypt, Tetisheri, Cleopatra’s trusted agent, is sent to Cyrenaica to investigate a communication breakdown involving her uncle, a master trader. As she navigates a landscape filled with spies and hidden agendas, Tetisheri uncovers a web of intrigue linked to impending war and a local murder mystery.

JOHNNY CARELESS

Burnout from a heartbreaking NYPD case leads Jeep Mullane back to Long Island’s North Shore to head a small department, and when wealthy childhood friend Johnny Chambliss is found dead, Jeep must face Johnny’s wealthy family, enigmatic ex-wife, and decades-old secrets to untangle the mystery.

PENITENCE

When a shocking murder occurs in the home of Angie and David Sheehan, their lives are shattered; and, desperate to defend their family, they turn to small-town lawyer Martine Dumont for help.

~Semanur

New Books Tuesday @ RRPL

semanurLeave a comment

There are many exciting new book releases coming and you don’t want to miss it…

LAWBREAKER

Tony Garza has been Odalie Everett’s nemesis since the day they met. Once a New Jersey crime boss, Tony now owns an art gallery in New York, where he spends most of his time delegating his shadier business to subordinates. Odalie is a professional singer whose lifelong dream is to perform at the Met. She never expected to run into the heartbreaker from her past when she rents a small house near Tony’s Manhattan apartment while taking voice lessons.

DEFINITELY BETTER NOW

A touching and deeply funny debut about starting over sober only to discover life’s biggest messes are still waiting right where you left them.

The very last person anyone should worry about is Emma. Yes, hi, she’s an alcoholic. But she’s officially been sober for one entire year. That’s twelve months of better health. Fifty-two whole weeks of focusing on nothing but her nine-to-five office job, group meetings, and avoiding the kind of bad decisions that previously left her awash in shame and regret. It’s also been 365 days of not dating. And with her new dating profile, Emma, 26, of New York is ready to put herself back out there.

NORTH IS THE NIGHT

In the Finnish wilderness, more than wolves roam the dark forests. For Siiri and Aina, summer’s fading light is a harbinger of unwelcome change. Land-hungry Swedes venture north, threatening the peace; a zealous Christian priest denounces the old ways; and young women have begun to disappear.

BLACK GIRLS BREATHING

As a Black woman, Jasmine Marie knows the impact that intergenerational trauma and systemic racism have had—and continue to have—on her community. Those experiences, along with her own journey through chronic stress, are why she created black girls breathing®, a movement dedicated to helping Black women understand the power of the mind‑body connection and its impact on their holistic health, one breath at a time.

FODOR’S ESSENTIAL SPAIN 2025

Whether you want to explore the Alhambra, marvel at La Sagrada Familia, or enjoy tapas, wine, and flamenco, the local Fodor’s travel experts in Spain are here to help! Fodor’s Essential Spain guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time.

INVISIBLE HELIX 

Detective Galileo, Keigo Higashino’s best loved character from The Devotion of Suspect X, returns in a case where hidden history, an impossible crime, are linked by nearly invisible threads in surprising ways. The body of a young man is found floating in Tokyo Bay. But his death was no accident – Ryota Uetsuji was shot.

~Semanur

Dori’s Top Ten of 2024

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Yikes! Where did 2024 go? I know that I did not read as much as I usually do – my attention span was suffering a bit this year – but I still read quite a few great books. I’d love to hear what you read, too!

Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy: A mother writes to her baby about the harrowing days of early motherhood – deeply moving, fierce, and raw.

The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl: A joyful book about backyard wildlife, Renkl writes 52 brief essays inspired by the activity in her yard. There are also lovely collages by her brother.

Twists of Fate by Paco Roca: I read his newest book, Return to Eden, and then went back and explored his older works. This graphic novel tells the story of a former Spanish Civil War fighter who is forced to join a “The Nine”, a unit that fought all over in World War II – it’s a gripping tale that I wasn’t familiar with.

Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan: Set during the early years of a three decade Civil War in Sri Lanka, Sashi tells the story through the stories of her brothers and how each was affected by the war. Luminous, emotional, epic.

Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino: Adina is an alien, sent from another planet to observe life on Earth, born as a human girl in Philadelphia, who faxes her observations to her superiors. Sounds weird, but it’s deeply moving, funny, and delightful – really a coming of age story about belonging and what it means to be human.

The Hunter by Tana French: A sequel to The Searcher, we delve deeper into the village of Ardnakelty and the history of Trey’s family. Love a well-written, dark mystery.

So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan: This is a collection of stories by the amazing Irish writer – just read it – she’s so good.

Clear by Carys Davies: This started out as standard historical fiction and turned into something completely different. Set in 19th century Scotland during the Clearance, when farmers are being forced off their lands, it follows an impoverished minister to a remote island, charged with telling it’s lone inhabitant that he has to leave. Language, love, loneliness – ah this is a beauty.

James by Percival Everett: Lots of hype but well-worth it. Totally surprising and turns the story on it’s head – read this one too.

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar: A debut novel by a poet about a young man from Iran, raised in the U.S. by his father, suffering from ennui and sadness, and his search for meaning through martyrdom. It’s really hard to explain the plot without giving it away, the writing is hypnotic and humorous – I loved this one.

~ Dori

Stacey’s Selected Titles -2024 edition

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Are you as exhausted by 2024 as I am? How about a book to help soothe the soul, or make you laugh, or give you a reason to read more on a topic? Here are twenty options that made my list (and more available upon request- heh heh!):

Actual Facts (aka Nonfiction)
The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl
This is a beautifully crafted book, both the art work and the sharing of the author’s life experience in monthly chapters. If you’re looking for a gift for a nature loving friend -this might be worth checking out.

Generations by Jean Twenge
This book plus The Coddling of the American Mind have answered a lot of questions for me I didn’t know I had.

Something Cozy
Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy
Short in length, long on happiness impact. Take an afternoon and enjoy!

A New Lease On Death by Olivia Blacke
Looking for a cozy mystery? Here you go!

How to Age Disgracefully by Claire Pooley
Zesty characters and a cute dog. Do I need to say more?

The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
Welcome back to Patrick O’Hara -everyone’s favorite Guncle!

Something a Little Different
Tilda is Visible by Jane Tara
What if you felt invisible because you’re a woman who’s getting older, and then your physical body actually started disappearing? And the medical community even had a name for the phenomenon?!

The Voyage of the Damned  by Frances White
If you’re willing to read a fantasy book in which charming characters have magical gifts, this is also a locked room mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.

The Failures by Benjamin Liar
A chonky science fiction story with multiple storylines that come together in a pretty satisfying way to end the first in a trilogy.

After Annie by Anna Quindlen
When Annie unexpectedly passes away, we are given the opportunity to know her better through the lives she touched.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
Margo is used to people thinking she makes bad choices, the current bad choice would be sleeping with her married college professor. When she discovers she’s pregnant and decides to keep the baby, Margo feels overwhelmed and determined to succeed.

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
When a woman on a plane starts predicting when and how other passengers will die, the first response was to brush it off. After the first prediction comes true, the rest of the group begins to bond and a search begins to find the mysterious lady.

Something a Little Dark
Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond
First in a new series, this is another short in length but long on impact book. You’ll be amazed at the world building the author is able to accomplish in only 167 pages!

The Haters by Robyn Harding
Camryn Hart went from celebrating her first published book to trying to figure out who’s making damaging false accusations about her online. The longer the attacks go on, the less trust Camryn has in the people surrounding her. What a wild ride!

Diavola by Jennifer Thorne
Creepy, creepy, creepy… So good!

Something Old (aka Historical)
Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate 
Set in Oklahoma, with storylines in 1909 and 1990s, this book is filled with young women fighting for survival and for acceptance.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
I had no idea who Martha Ballard was before reading this book and now I know why her legend lives on. Fascinating details on midwifery and all the additional jobs that were attached to that title.

The Mesmerist by Caroline Woods
Using some factual happenings and some fictional characters, this is another story of women fighting to have control over their own lives.

The Wealth of Shadows by Graham Moore
Just when you think there’s nothing new to learn about World War II, you read a book like this. Also, I’m a little sorry I didn’t pay more attention in my Macro Economics course…

Hopefully one of these books is just what you were looking for, and I’m *always* interested in hearing what you thought after reading! []~(￣▽￣)~*

Enjoy! 
Stacey

New Books Tuesday @ RRPL

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Check out this selection of new releases for your enjoyment coming this week!

LOCKED IN

On the day after Christmas, head of Department Q, Detective Carl Mørck, finds himself handcuffed in a police car headed for Copenhagen’s Vestre prison. After fifteen years, a violent case from his past has caught up with him. Charges of drug trafficking and murder threaten to destroy his life and career. But he is being framed. Someone has a million-dollar bounty on his head to make sure he doesn’t talk, putting him in grave danger among the prison’s incarcerated criminals and corrupt officers. The question that remains is, Why?

BELLEVUE

Twenty-three-year-old Michael “Mitt” Fuller starts his surgical residency with great anticipation at the nearly three-hundred-year-old, iconic Bellevue Hospital, following in the footsteps of four previous, celebrated Fuller generations. The pressure is on for this newly minted doctor, and to his advantage he’s always had a secret sixth sense, a sensitivity to the nonphysical.

GOLDEN HOUR

Teddy Fay is ready to embark on the European press tour of Peter Barrington’s latest film Storm’s Eye, when he receives an unexpected visit from Lance Cabot, director of the CIA. Several CIA agents have been turning up dead. The commonality? They were all part of a mission Teddy was involved in: Golden Hour. Lance wants Teddy to use his trip as a cover to investigate who is behind these killings.

TRIAL BY AMBUSH

Delves into the sensationalized true story of Barbara Graham, a neglected woman wrongfully portrayed as a femme fatale during a media frenzy surrounding a 1953 robbery-murder case, exposing the sexism, misinformation, and critical evidence overlooked by the prosecution that shaped her tragic narrative.

THE GREATEST LIE OF ALL

Fledgling actress Amelia Grant is at rock bottom when offered the opportunity of a lifetime: to star in a biopic about the world-renowned romance author Gloria Diamond, who used her own tragic love story as inspiration for her bestselling books. To prepare for the role, she’ll spend a week with Gloria at her secluded Washington estate. It’s a chance to get out of LA, away from her cheating ex-boyfriend, and to make her recently deceased mother proud.

DEFENSE PROTOCOL

For decades, Taiwan has been a thorn in the side of the Chinese government. An independent nation to the rest of the world, it is considered a rogue province by the PRC. Previous governments have tried to conquer the island using economic force and diplomatic pressure, but new Chinese President Li Jian Jun is done fooling around. He’s devised a secret military operation to take the island.

THE SILENT WATCHER

Far from the neon glare of the Vegas Strip, attorney Piper Danes walks away from a hotshot law firm to work as a guardian ad litem (GAL). Piper was once a vulnerable youth herself, and a GAL gave her hope when she needed it most. Now she’s committed to paying it forward.

SECRET THREE FATES

American heiress Ruby Vaughn still hasn’t entirely forgiven her octogenarian employer and housemate Mr. Owen for bringing the occult into their lives during her recent trip to Cornwall. He claims their journey to Manhurst Castle in the Scottish Borders is simply to appraise and acquire illuminated manuscripts for their rare books shop, however when Ruby discovers there are no manuscripts and receives news of a séance to be held that very night, she begins to grow suspicious about the true reason why they have come.

MY DARLING BOY

In a close-knit English village, Chrissy and Alice were once best friends. So were their sons, Leo and Robbie. Until the night Leo killed Robbie with a single, devastating punch. Now Leo has gone to prison, Chrissy has lost her pub, and Alice has been pouring her anger into a twisted project . . .

~Semanur

New Books Tuesday @ RRPL

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Here are some of the new books coming to our shelves this week for you to add to your book list!

THE HOUSE OF CROSS

In Washington, DC, as the president-elect prepares for her inauguration, Detective Alex Cross is thrust into a high-stakes investigation when multiple Supreme Court candidates are murdered; tasked with delving into the mind of a cunning killer, Cross must confront the most dangerous aspects of his work for the sake of his family, city, and nation.

CHRISTMAS IN BETHEL

The New York Times bestselling author of The Christmas Box returns with another quiet tale of parental love, the sacrifices they are willing to make for their children and the true meaning of Christmas.

CITY OF NIGHT BIRDS

After a career-halting accident, prima ballerina Natalia Leonova returns to St. Petersburg to confront her past and to decide whether to rejoin the stage amidst the cutthroat world of Russian ballet.

AMBER ALERT

An explosive portrait of Dirty South revenge, triple-dealing, and crimes of passion as a suburban mom’s high-end criminal past comes back to haunt her, endangering her children and propelling her into a high-stakes game she remembers all too well.

THE ICON & THE IDEALIST

Examines the intense rivalry between Margaret Sanger and Mary Ware Dennett in the early 20th century, revealing how their conflicting visions for reproductive rights and birth control access significantly influenced American women’s lives and shaped the broader movement for reproductive freedom.

BETTY CROCKER FOUND RECIPES

From Betty Crocker, the brand beloved by generations of Americans, a carefully curated treasure trove of more than 100 favorite vintage recipes found in the Betty Crocker archives, dusted off and so delicious you’ll love them on today’s table.

DEATH TAKES THE LEAD

APRIL 1891: Prudence MacKenzie is delighted to attend a riveting rehearsal of Waif of the Highlands with her dear friend, Lydia Truitt, whose cousin, Septimus Ward, stars in the play. But the drama continues after the curtain falls, as the women overhear a ferocious argument between Septimus and the play’s famous playwright-director, Barrett Hughes.

~Semanur

New Books Tuesday @ RRPL

semanurLeave a comment

Here some of the new exciting releases for you to take a look at this week!

IN TOO DEEP

Waking up handcuffed in a dark hospital room with no memory, Reacher finds himself framed for a murder, setting the stage for an explosive reckoning, in the latest addition to the long-running series following The Secret.

KARLA’S CHOICE

George Smiley, John le Carré’s most famous spy, is drawn out of retirement in 1963 to investigate a missing man tied to a Russian defector, leading him back into the perilous world of espionage and his most cunning adversary’s secrets.

PATRIOT

A political freedom fighter who paid the ultimate price for his convictions recounts his political career, the many attempts on his life and the lives of the people closest to him and the relentless campaign he and his team waged against an increasingly dictatorial regime.

BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT

Seattle attorney Keera Duggan helps former childhood friend Jenna Bernstein, a disgraced biotech CEO accused of murdering her former partner, amidst rising doubts and circumstantial evidence in the second novel of the series following Her Deadly Game.

THE WOOD AT MIDWINTER

From an internationally bestselling and prize-winning author comes a short story set in the world of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.

EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS HAS A SECRET

A fan of mystery novels investigates a real-life murder when the benefactor of a world-famous magician turns up dead in the days leading up to Christmas and all the suspects are masters of illusion and misdirection.

DREAMING OF AUTUMN SKIES

Caroline, living with her domineering grandfather, embarks on a determined campaign to reclaim her power and independence, vowing to overcome her past suffering in the third novel of the series following Chasing Endless Summer.

~Semanur