The Dewey Decimal System of Love by Josephine Carr

Ally Sheffield is the head of the reference department at the Philadelphia Public Library, and has recently fallen in love with a man she had never met. Aleksi Kullio is the new conductor of the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra and not only does he not even know that Ally exists, but he is married as well.

After watching Aleksi lead the orchestra one night, Ally decides that she is in love with this man and in order to encourage this relationship which she believes will soon come to fruition she begins to volunteer at the Philharmonic. Once Ally begins an email correspondence with Aleksi she convinces herself that he feels the same way.

The plot also features some senseless vandalism of both the library and the Philharmonic building, a mystery surrounding a possible murder for hire, missing musical scores and librarians that don't seem to ever work.

When I first saw the title of this book I really wanted to like it. It seemed that it might combine my love of romance with my love of all things library. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. None of the characters seemed particularly likeable and once the plot started to get interesting it was rushed right along to the end. Overall, I think the general idea of this book was a good one, it just wasn't put together very well.

Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts

Cal, Fox and Gage are childhood friends who share the same birthday. To commemorate their 10th birthdays, the boys sneak off to the woods, where they swear a blood oath to one another, unwittingly releasing a centuries-old demon. Every seven years for one week, all hell breaks loose on their small town, resulting in a horrific crime wave. Now, 21 years later, the demon's strength is growing and the 3 men know this might be their final chance to end the reign of terror.

Quinn Black is an author who specializes in the macabre, and has come to town to research her book on the phenomena that take place in Hawkins Hollow. She and Cal not only share an instant attraction to one another, but also the ability to experience things that happened in the past. When Layla inexplicable finds herself drawn to Hawkins Hollow, Quinn recognizes a connection to the demonic events, and summons her friend Cybil to complete the group.

This is the first book in the "Sign of Seven" trilogy, and focuses mostly on Cal and Quinn. While it is traditional Nora Roberts fare, it is an entertaining and quick read. Fans of paranormal romance will enjoy this book, and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy!

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

We all have heard stories about Ernest Hemingway, one of the finest writers of the twentieth century, but how much do we know about the man behind the myth? Although this is a work of fiction, author McLain has researched Hemingway for years and feels quite "proprietary" towards him as a subject and it shows in this book.

The story begins with Hadley and Ernest's first meeting at a party in Chicago. Hadley is a 28 year old quiet and respectable woman to Ernest's 20 year old lively self. The two become infatuated with one another, even as Hadley returns home to St. Louis, the two continue to correspond by mail. When Ernest proposes marriage and a move out of the country, Hadley accepts.

The Hemingways life in Paris was a whirlwind - befriending other creative types such as Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gertrude Stein, the "anything goes" lifestyle of Paris in the 1920's is a big adjustment for the young couple. Although very much in love with one another, Ernest's larger-than-life yet extremely needy personality and prevalence of a willing partner, leads Ernest to betray Hadley with one of her closest friends.

The Paris Wife is first and foremost a love story between Ernest Hemningway and the woman he continued to love for the rest of his life. It is poignantly and sympathetically told, bringing the characters to life as well as Paris and the lifestyle favored by the "in" crowd. If you are looking for a gripping story of love and betrayal, look no further!

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Set in the not-too-distant future (the year 2044,) Cline's dystopian yet hopeful tale is a fun, thought-provoking and clever story.

Orphaned high school senior Wade Watts lives in the "stacks" - giant stacks of trailers piled on top of one another - with his aunt and several others just outside of Oklahoma City. In an effort to escape his bleak reality, he spends his days logged into the virtual world, "OASIS," where he has created an alternative identity and also where he attends school. When not attending his online classes or hanging out in a chat room with his best friend, he devotes his time to pursuing the ultimate gaming challenge - OASIS creator James Halliday's complex multi-layered puzzle, the winner of which will receive Halliday's fortune.

When Wade solves the first puzzle, he (or his avatar, Parzival,) is suddenly thrust into the limelight, triggering untold fame and infamy, as he becomes the main target for the evil corporation, IOI, who employ thousands in the hopes of solving the puzzle (and gaining the fortune and power) first. The floodgates are then open, as Wade's best friend, online crush, and brothers from Japan also solve the first puzzle, soon to be followed by the IOI bots (i.e. "Sixers.") It isn't long before the Sixers have the advantage, and are the closest to solving the final puzzle.

Can Wade and his friends outsmart and defeat the Sixers? Or will they all go down in fiery defeat? Will Wade ever be able to function in reality, instead of just online?

Cline's love of pop culture shines through in this endearingly geeky homage to the 1980's. There are so many layers to this story, it has the potential to appeal to a wide audience. Rumors indicate that a movie is already in the works!

The Sunflower by Richard Paul Evans

Looking for a light, gentle romantic read with a social conscience? Richard Paul Evans might be just what you are looking for.

Christine is stunned when her fiance, Martin, calls off their wedding (that she has planned in a bridezilla-like fashion) one week before hand. Her best friend, Jessica, in an effort to pull Christine out of her deep depression, signs them up for a volunteer trip to Peru, where they will put in time at an orphanage.

Paul, the director of the orphanage, an American ex-pat who also happens to be a doctor, has some baggage of his own to deal with. However, when he first lays eyes on Christine, he is transfixed by her. Although their time together is brief, the adventures they encounter in the jungles of South America allow them to get to know each other fairly well - enough to know that they both will have some tough questions to answer about their future at the close of the trip.

Ultimately, this is a romance, which guarantees a happy ending. Not even the appearance of Martin towards the end of the story can thwart the budding romance between Paul and Christine. Will they remain in Peru, working at the orphanage together? Or will they come back to the U.S. to live happily ever after?

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

When nervous flyer Emma Corrigan is on a turbulent flight, she unwittingly spills embarassing details about her life to the handsome American sitting next to her, thinking either she would never see him again or they were going to die in a fiery crash. When he turns up the next day as the owner of the company she works for, she is completely floored.

As her boss, Jack Harper continues to show an interest in Emma's life, seemingly tormenting her with the (mostly) little white lies that she has based her life on, and as she responds to his interest, she begins to live a more honest, less duplicitous existence, beginning with splitting up with her seemingly "perfect" boyfriend and dating Jack.

While this chick lit tale is as formulaic as they come, Emma and Jack are both very likable characters - Emma is sweet, her little lies are things many of us can relate to, and very funny. Of course, Jack is ruggedly handsome, very sexy and also very droll. This quick read is a fun book with a satisfying ending just perfect if you are looking for a little pick-me-up!

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

This story of whimsy, friendship and secrets is a perfect read to cozy up to this fall. Set in Walls of Water, North Carolina, the book is based around the seemingly different lives of Willa Jackson and Paxton Osgood. Willa was the quiet prankster in high school, who only returned to her hometown following the death of her father and after the demise of her marriage; Paxton, of the prominent Osgood family, is a community leader who still lives with her parents and is spearheading the renovation of an old, decrepit mansion that at one time belonged to Willa's ancestors.

When a skeleton is unearthed under the peach tree on the renovation site, Paxton and Willa unwillingly come together to solve a mystery that involves both of their grandmothers, who, were the best of friends at one time until a change in fortune that saw Willa's grandmother going to work for the Osgoods as a maid. While both grandmothers are still living, Willa's suffers from dementia and Paxton's from sassiness that make it difficult for the women to string together the events that led to the mysterious skeleton.

Sarah Addison Allen writes an enchanting tale that has a little something for everyone - romance, intrigue, humor, history, murder - even ghosts. Small town history and secrets are always a hit with me...and, as always, if you are a sucker for a happy ending, you will enjoy this latest offering from Allen.

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

With the movie version of this book being released soon, I thought it was time for me to delve into a little chick lit reading to determine how it might stack up with the film.

Something Borrowed follow the basic Chick Lit formula - single, professional woman suffering from relationship troubles. The woman in question, Rachel, is turning 30. Rather than the husband and children she anticipated having by this stage in her life, she remains not only single, but with no contenders on the horizon. This all changes, however, when she and her best friend's fiance take a little detour after her 30th birthday party, ending up in a very compromising position.

While she realizes that Dex is a great guy and one of her very good friends, she does not even consider the possiblity that he might be seriously interested in her - plus, after all, he is engaged to her best friend, the gorgeous Darcy. When she discovers that Dex does have feelings for her, she realizes that she reciprocates those feelings, and they begin a romantic relationship in spite of Dex and Darcy's continued engagement. How will this situation be resolved? Will Dex follow his heart and choose Rachel? Will Darcy discover the illicit relationship? Will Rachel ever find happiness? Anyone who has read any kind of Chick Lit probably knows the answer to those questions, but it's still worth the quick read to find out!

Fancy Pants by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

This is not your typical romance novel, although the "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back" element is certainly there. Our main characters, Francesca Day and Dallie Beaudine, are like oil and vinegar, or so it seems at first. Francesca, or Fancy Pants as Dallie "fondly" calls her, a member of the British upper class finds herself down on her luck. She heads to America for a great opportunity that turns out not to be so great and results in Franny walking down the road in a Scarlett O'Hara dress. Enter Dallie, a not-quite-professional golfer, and his caddy Skeet who stop to pick Franny up and give her a ride. These characters are richly developed and very likeable. It's not the "fast read" of a typical romance, but well worth the investment of time to get these characters.

The best thing is, if you like Dallie and Franny, they make cameo appearances in Lady Be Good by the same author.

This Mystery Series Has It All!

If you haven't read Julia Spencer-Fleming's excellent Rev. Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series, this is definitely one not to miss! The seventh book of the series, One Was a Soldier, is due out April 12th - but, don't start with this one. This is a series you definitely want to read in order.

Set in the fictional Adirondack village Miller's Kill, New York, Clare first comes to town as the new Episcopalian minister in the first book of the series, In the Bleak Midwinter. Here she is introduced to the sheriff, Russ. Clare is not your typical minister - not only is she a female, she is also a tough-as-nails former Army helicopter pilot. Russ, also a former army soldier, is the wizened married lawman of his hometown.

The two first come together to solve the mystery of an abandoned baby that is left at Clare's church, become friends who share a growing attraction to one another, and become a formidable team in solving the rash of crimes that go on in their little community. One aspect of the series that is very interesting is the different perspectives the two main characters come from in investigating the crimes - Clare from a sociological perspective, and Russ from a law enforcement perspective. Despite the fact that Clare is a reverend, this is not a cozy mystery series.

Here are the books in order:

1. In the Bleak Midwinter
2. A Fountain Filled with Blood
3. Out of the Deep I Cry
4. To Darkness and to Death
5. All Mortal Flesh
6. I Shall Not Want
7. One Was a Soldier

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott

Like so many women of a certain age, one of my favorite books growing up was Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Jo March was and always will be a heroine of mine, and Louisa and Jo, in my mind, were one and the same.

Author Kelly O'Connor McNees, also a fan of Little Women and Louisa May Alcott, took the opportunity to do some research and create a fictionalized account of one of Louisa's summers of which little to no documentation survives. We were fortunate enough to have Ms. McNees join us at the Minooka Branch, where she provided a reading from the book, answered questions from the audience and signed copies of her book.

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott takes place during the summer that Alcott's family spent in Walpole, New Hampshire, when Louisa was 22 years old. During the course of the summer, in this fictionalized account of her life, Louisa falls in love. McNees deftly weaves her story in with fact, producing a hopeful yet very human heroine. This is a bittersweet and nostalgic book that I would highly recommend to any fans of Alcott, historical fiction or romance.

Check out the very wonderful and lovely Kelly O'Connor McNees at her website as well:

http://kellyoconnormcnees.com/

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

Ann Brashares continues to jump successfully from teen to adult fiction in her second adult book, “My Name is Memory.” A mix of romance and fantasy takes readers on a journey across centuries and past lives. Daniel is one of a few people in the world who remembers his past lives, no matter the body he is born into. We hear a firsthand account of Daniel’s journey from sixth-century Africa through eighth-century Turkey to WWI, in almost a detached way, except when it comes to Lucy.

Readers meet Lucy as Daniel pursues her in present day, trying to get her to remember who he is and their lives together. Readers are able to see Daniel’s view of their star-crossed love story as it has developed over time, but Lucy (also known as Sophia in the past) never remembers. Though scared by Daniel’s seemingly insane claims about their lives, prompting Daniel to leave her alone, Lucy slowly and eventually discovers the truth. As the mysteries are unraveled, going back and forth between their two viewpoints, another element of danger in the form of a murderous soul threatens to ruin their current reunion.

I most enjoyed the element of fantasy of this book, which has never been explored thoroughly in the past, shedding a different light on the idea of reincarnation. Brashares does changing viewpoints and romance well, developing characters to care about and a romance to root for. While the book becomes sluggish at some points, the adventure and suspense Brasheres leads up to is worth the wait. “My Name is Memory” is an intriguing start to Brashares' planned trilogy.

Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie

Andie Miller has had 10 years to get over her divorce and her ex-husband, and now that she's getting ready to remarry, she is ready to put the past behind her. While visiting her ex to wrap up some final details, he asks her one last favor - to take over supervision of two orphans in a creepy haunted manor in a remote corner of the world - for which she will be paid enough money to begin her new life debt-free.

When Andie arrives at the home, she is greeted with open hostility by the housekeeper, Mrs. Crumb, and stony indifference by the two children: 12 year-old Carter and 8 year-old Alice. As Andie sets about debunking the ghosts that she keeps hearing about, getting through to the children and getting the house in order, she begins noticing some odd occurrences and strange characters hanging around the house.

The longer Andie spends at the house, the more determined she is to protect and stay with the children, and the more she starts believing in ghosts. Will she be able to protect the children from the malevolent spirits she has seen? Can she convince the children to leave the only home they have known? Will she marry her fiance and live happily ever after?

Jennifer Crusie has penned a spooky and fun story complete with romance, terror, humor and intrigue. Gothic chick lit! While it gets a little messy towards the end with a sudden storm of characters and plot lines, overall, it is still a quick and satisfying easy read.

Rereading Old Favorites

Have you ever had the experience of reading a book, absolutely loving it, then returning later to read it again, and wonder what you were thinking the first time around? Happily, I did not have that experience with the book, Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen.

One of the selections for this month's Bookies Book Club, Water for Elephants is a romantic story full of intrigue, danger, and circus characters...and who can resist a circus? Told in the form of flashbacks, 90 year old Jacob Jankowski, now a resident of an assisted living facility, recalls his unlikely stint as a vet for a traveling circus during the summer of 1931.

Reeling following the unexpected deaths of his family, Jacob is unable to complete his final exams to obtain his ivy league veterinarian degree and decides to hop a train to escape the nightmare his life had become. As luck would have it, the train he just happened to catch was the Benzini Bros. circus train, and they were thrilled to have a young almost-vet willing to join their crew. Jacob is quickly indoctrinated into the circus, and is soon liked and trusted by both the performers and the working men - no easy feat. When he meets the beautiful Marlena, who just happens to be married to his sometimes charming, sometimes scary boss, he is lost. Rosie the elephant eventually joins the menagerie and Jacob falls for her as well. When the circus owner's unethical practices come back to haunt him, Jacob's life suddenly turns in a whole new direction.

This book is an engrossing and beautifully told story. Gruen has done her research and captures the feel of the traveling circus marvelously. The characters, including Rosie the elephant are multi-dimensional and real. My absolute favorite thing about this book, however is the ending - without including any spoilers, let's just say that I am a sucker for a happy ending, no matter how twisted that might be. A wonderful read that is also being made into a movie of the same title, starring Robert Pattinson as Jacob and Reese Witherspoon as Marlena. It's hard to imagine the movie living up to the book, but I am willing to give it a shot!

Fancy Pants by Cathy Marie Hake

Set in the 1890's, this story features Lady Sydney Hathwell, who travels from England to America to meet a potential groom. Lady Sydney quickly decides they are not suited to each other. Mr. Hume doesn't care though so Lady Sydney decides to go and meet her American Uncle. The only problem is that when she contacts him, Uncle Fuller mistakenly thinks Sydney is a nephew.

What's a girl with no other options to do? Put on a pair of britches and travel out west to her Uncle's ranch. Some people see right through her masquerade. Some don't which leads to some great adventures, seeing life through the eyes of an almost "man", since Sydney is not quite 18.

This Christian fiction mixes just the right amount of humor, romance and adventure to satisfy a wide variety of readers.

All Over the Map by Laura Fraser

Wow, I can see by the topic of books I've been reading that I am due for a vacation! My latest is titled, All Over the Map, written by Laura Fraser. She authored an earlier book called, An Italian Affair, which I would recommend reading prior to this one, but it's certainly not mandatory. In the earlier book, Fraser details her post-divorce relationship with a Paris professor, providing the reader a window into her broken heart and slowly-healing self image. It is a lovely little book.

Her latest autobiographical tale begins as she awaits the professor's company in Mexico on yet another romantic travel adventure. When he arrives, he shares some news with her that will end their relationship as she knows it. She leaves Mexico with renewed determination to find love, companionship and security. She undertakes this new mission the only way she knows how - by succumbing to her desire to travel, explore new places and meet new people.

It is on one of these adventures that she unexpectedly becomes a victim - something that shatters her confidence and steals the magic of travel from her. Will she ever be able to recover her love of travel and the nerve to wander on her own? Will she find the love and/or home she is searching for? Fraser is a gifted writer with a wonderful sense of humor. This book is great for any one who seeks love, adventure, and dreams of far off places. Think Eat, Pray, Love but way less self-absorption. Also check out Fraser's website at: http://www.laurafraser.com/