Staff Choices

I read great reviews of this book and had to read it. Great job of letting you learn about quantum physics. The story itself was interesting too, the characters were a bit one dimensional but the science more than made up for that. Informative and exciting read. Recommend to all who have asked themselves the question "where do we go when we die?". Food for thought.

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb is suspenseful, unique and lured me into a world of classical music when a priceless violin is stolen from the main character, Ray. The story has many layers including the struggle to succeed despite his money-hungry family, other forces at work against him, his ancestors' painful history, the racism Ray still encounters and his drive to recover the violin his beloved Grandmother gave him. The same violin that belonged to Ray's great-great-grandfather.

All of Ray's hard work in practicing, learning and helping support his family is pointing him in the direction of the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition held every four years. When his violin is stolen we learn about its history, what it means to Ray and can he earn a chance to perform at the competition with a different violin?

Slocumb made this story very readable and approachable. The author is, himself, a talented musician and a music educator. Certain situations in the novel are autobiographical, strengthening the narrative. As I read I listened to YouTube performances of classical pieces described in the book, enhancing the story even more for me.

Pick up a copy of this book if you like a mystery that has family drama, classical music and the intrigue of art theft.

Broadway superstar Sutton Foster opens up her heart and soul in this engaging memoir. Starting on the stage at an early age was exciting and thrilling, but it certainly had it's share of stresses and disappointments. To help her calm her nerves and still her nervous energy, Sutton turned to crafting as a way to cope. As a young girl she watched her Mother cross stitch. An aunt she was close with taught her additional craft skills, but Sutton took it to a whole new level. Knitting, crocheting, cross stitching and eventually collaging and painting became her passion that she continues back stage on big Broadway shows to this day. 

In the book, she opens up about her relationship with her agoraphobic mother and the enormous effect that had on her life. We learn about her brother who is also a Broadway star, her relationships, her marriages, and her personal  struggle and journey with fertility. Between singing and dancing in musicals, Sutton has starred in several TV shows, such as Younger  (which I loved) and Bun Heads to name a few. Peppered with anecdotes about celebrities she has worked with both on stage and on screen such as Patti Lupone, Hilary Duff and Peter Hermann, Hooked: How Crafting Saved Life will get you hooked, and perhaps have you pick up a needle and thread! Her journey is sometimes complicated, but often wonderful, and the her story is a testament to the healing power of art. 

Can a book defy category? Possibly, and I think Emily Wilde’s Encylopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcette may have accomplished that feat. Somehow this novel is a cozy fantasy with a dark twisted horror undertone, full of academia, a tiny bit of romance, a dose of history, some adventure, all rounded out with a mystery. 

I would certainly never call this book 100% cozy as there are several sections of casual cruelty where faeries are concerned. The way Emily lays out the facts is anything but flowery and speaks to the gruesome nature of Faeries in this world. Even so, Fawcette was able to make me feel the story rather than solely visualize it.  

At certain points I found myself feeling enchanted and jovial, yet dark and terrible scenarios played out on the page in front of me. How? I have no idea, but it happened, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

This book is unique in a refreshing way. I will say it certainly started slowly for me but picked up pace around the halfway mark. There is a lot of detail that lends to the academic nature of the novel. This is book one of a duology, but doesn't end on a cliffhanger.

The newest thriller by Barry Eisler, features the background and how Dox became the dangerous yet interesting character in the Eisler collective.

I found it interesting to read where Doxs got his name from and why. It was also useful to understand Dox's family background. The story itself taking place in Indonesia added some foreign flavor to it. The love interest that dox had in this story was also very integral to shaping his character for the rest of the books about him. Plenty of action and a very different ending than I expected. But it was appropriate to the story.

The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn is a family saga; a novel in 5 Acts and an Encore spanning the years of 1919 - 1945. Three children, Cristabel, Flossie, and Digby grow up in an English manor house with little supervision. The adults are rather dysfunctional and turn the home into a sort of artist colony. Taras, an artist and a bit of a grifter, ends up in residence at Chilcombe manor with his entourage of family and a couple of free-spirited admirers. As the children grow up, they are the ones who have a sense of decency, maturity, and a devotion to each other. Taras helps set up the Whalebone Theatre styled from the ribs of a beached whale and is the one who encourages the children's creativity.

When WWII befalls England and the world, everyone must do their part. Cristabel and Digby are driven to do more dangerous work. Flossie remains at home but participates in the Women's Land Army. German soldiers are taken prisoner and are sent to work at the house tending the grounds, garden and stable. English soldiers are billeted inside. Every aspect of their lives are upturned; there is sacrifice and deprivation. It is a frightening time and showed a point of view I hadn't read before.

The story moves at a langurous pace through its 553 pages but I found the storyline engrossing. This is for readers who enjoy a long story, and are in it for the long haul; and who enjoy reading a historical fiction debut novel. 

Every now and then, a book unexpectantly falls into your hands and ends up being the most pleasant surprise! Matt Cain manages to do that with his charming novel; The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle. Albert is a 64 yeat old postal worker who, since his Mum died, lives a solitary life with his cat Gracie. With no friends, family or hobbies, the news of his forced retirement sends him spinning. He realizes he has no choice but to start truly living and emabarks on a painful yet exhilirating journey to do just that. He courageously starts to reveal himself to neighbors, co-workers and customers on his route, who unexpectantly teach him what love, acceptance and frienship are. Eventually he realizes he needs to go back and find a lost love from 40 years ago as he seeks the happiness that was once so cruelly denied him. The overarching message that it's never too late to find love, will touch you and remind you that joy is often just a journey away. Filled with humor and plenty of interesting, quirky characters, I loved this heartwarming feel-good book!

Love a good story about rich people behaving badly? The Social Climber by Amanda Pellegrino centers around the wealthy elite in a juicy revenge story. A domestic thriller about Eliza Bennett, an evangelical college graduate, who is set to marry Graham Walker, a wealthy Yale alum from a prestigious family. Eliza has many secrets from her past and as they start to unfold, we are left unsure of her true intentions. You get a sneak peek into Eliza’s college days in the dual timeline that reveal what shaped her into the woman she is today. The mystery behind Eliza’s secrets is slow to build yet keeps you in suspense.

The book reminded me a little of Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll. Both books have plot twists that have me recommending them as must reads for domestic thriller fans. So strap on your Louboutin’s and hang on for a jaw dropping finish.

Dr. Benjamin Gilmer tells a fascinating story of solving a medical mystery that contributed to the Other Dr. Gilmer murdering his father, the reason he is serving a life sentence in prison, and his pursuit of getting him appropriate treatment. It's also a human interest story of the unlikely bond that develops between the two Dr. Gilmers (no relation) over a 10 year period and whose lives are forever intertwined.

In 2022 I learned that my heart holds a special place for cozy fantasies. The year started with House in the Cerulean Sea and ended with The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. Without a doubt, if you enjoyed the former, you will adore the latter. 

Sangu Mandanna hit it out of the park with this warm, uplifting tale of a lonely witch on a path to self-discovery and love. It has found family, a fun magic system, romance and a twist I did not see coming.  

Mika Moon is a witch, but outside of a small group of other witches (whom she only sees a few times a year disguised as a book club), no one knows it. The only family she’s ever known is Primrose, the aging leader of their group who took Mika in when she was orphaned at a young age.  

Against Primrose’s ‘rules’ Mika starts an online account where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. However, one person doesn’t quite believe she’s pretending and invites Mika to tutor three young witches he is keeping hidden. Although she knows that Primrose would never approve, Mika accepts the offer and travels to Nowhere House. 

Upon arrival she learns she has only a few short months to help her new students learn to control their magic, or their family and everything they’ve ever know could be torn apart. What follows is heartwarming, quirky and 100% worth reading.