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At the Library

The following books have recently been added to the Brooke County Library’s collection:

ADULT FICTION

THE ODYSSEY OF EFFIE FROST by K. S. Hollenbeck. “Effie Frost believes the Argonauts to be fools. When she and her younger sister are made to accompany their spoiled cousin to California, she’s certain life there will be unbearable. As they journey across the Isthmus of Panama, she dreams of going home to Boston and is determined to do that once Beatrice reunites with her Argonaut husband in San Francisco. Once they arrive, they discover that Beatrices husband is dead. Nearly penniless and stranded in a fog-choked, half-built city of almost all men, Effie devises a plan to find the gold herself. Murder, revenge, love, grief, and an overzealous vigilante committee and trial round this tale, during which the earliest days of the California Gold Rush are told by a young woman – the stubborn and resilient Effie Frost.” — Provided by publisher.
SECRET REMAINS by Jennifer Dornbush. “It’s been ten years since Sandi Parkman went missing after being dropped off at home by her schoolmate, Nick Larson, now the sheriff of Freeport, Michigan. When a construction crew unearths Sandi’s bones — along with Nick’s letterman jacket and one of his hairs — Nick becomes suspect number one in the murder. Dr. Emily Hartford, the daughter of Freeport’s medical examiner, is called in to investigate, but the case is about to get personal. Nick was Emily’s high school love, and now she has to either clear his name — or contend that he’s the killer. As she delves into the case, a host of other suspects emerge: a coterie of Nick’s jock friends from high school; Sandi’s sister, Tiffany, now a dancer at a local strip club; and James VanDerMuellen, a trust funder who left Freeport after graduation and disappeared. As the autumn skies darken over Freeport and the holiday season looms, Emily must sift through more than Sandi’s brittle bones to solve the case. Can she exonerate Nick — and rekindle their long-smoldering romance? The race is on to find the truth.”– Provided by publisher.
FAMILIA by Lauren E. Rico. As the fact checker for a popular magazine, Gabby DiMarco believes in absolute, verifiable Truths-until they throw the facts of her own life into question. The genealogy test she took as research for an article has yielded a baffling result- Gabby has a sister-one who’s been desperately trying to find her. Except, as Gabby’s beloved parents would confirm if they were still alive, that’s impossible. Isabella Ruiz can still picture the face of her baby sister, who disappeared from the streets of San Juan twenty-five years ago. Isabella, an artist, has fought hard for the stable home and loving marriage she has today-yet the longing to find Marianna has never left. At last, she’s found a match, and Gabby has agreed to come to Puerto Rico. But Gabby, as defensive and cautious as Isabella is impulsive, offers no happy reunion. She insists there’s been a mistake. And Isabella realizes that even if this woman is her sister, she may not want to be. With nothing-or perhaps so much-in common, Gabby and Isabella set out to find the truth, though it means risking everything they’ve known for an uncertain future-and a past that harbors yet more surprises . . .

ADULT NON-FICTION

BIG MOE’S BIG BOOK OF BBQ by Moe Cason. The 75 mouth-watering recipes gathered in these beautifully photographed pages showcase time-tested techniques and recipes, from smoked bone-in Tomahawk steaks to a 14-hour turkey brine. Savor a secret-ingredient mac-n-cheese that wowed Steve Harvey, a generations-old family recipe for sweet-and-savory cornbread, and perfectly seasoned collard greens. Cason offers expert guidance on different types of smokers and grills, filling the pantry with time-tested spice rubs and marinades, selecting the perfect cut of meat, and more.
THE CHICKEN RUNS AT MIDNIGHT by Tom Friend. As a Major League Baseball coach, Rich Donnelly was dedicated, hardworking, and successful. But as a husband and father, he was distant, absent, and a failure. He’d let baseball take over his life, and as a result, his family suffered–that is, until the day he received some harrowing news. “Dad, I have a brain tumor, and I’m sorry.” These words from his seventeen-year-old daughter, Amy, turned his world upside down. Now, more than ever, he was determined to put his family first. The time they spent together in the months before Amy’s death were moments that Rich and his family will treasure forever, but they’ll especially remember the inside joke that became a catchphrase for not only the Donnelly family but also the Pittsburgh Pirates as they played in the National League Championship Series that year: “The chicken runs at midnight.” This book shares the heartwarming story behind the odd catchphrase–and how it still lives on as a symbol for never giving up–and proves that God can work in any person’s life, even despite their mistakes and failures.

EASY/JUVENILE/YOUNG ADULT/GRAPHIC NOVEL

WHO IS KATIE LEDECKY? by James Buckley, Jr. Katie Ledecky began swimming competitively at age six after watching her mother and brother in the pool. By age fifteen, she was setting records and winning gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics. And with each year, Katie improved her skills and her times in the water! The Summer 2024 Olympics in Paris will be Katie’s fourth, and the world will be watching. With over seven Olympic gold medals, nineteen World Championship gold medals, and twenty-two overall medals at the World Aquatics Championships to her name, Katie has become the most decorated female swimmer in the world. Her charming spirit and impressive athletic skills have made Katie a popular role model for young swimmers, and everyone is eager to see what she achieves in the future.
BEYOND THE ISLE OF THE LOST by Melissa de la Cruz. For Red, growing up in Wonderland has been no piece of cake (literally–dessert is outlawed). Her mom, the Queen of Hearts, rules the kingdom with an iron scepter, while Red longs for a life of her own. She’s heard rumors about an island that once housed all the villains of folklore. A place with no rules? It sounds perfect. But then the Queen declares that Red will issue a royal decree at the annual Wonderland Tea Ceremony (aka she’ll come up with new ridiculous laws). Of course, Red loathes idea of following in her mother’s crimson-heeled footsteps. Banding together with new friends, Ace and Chester, Red plans the ultimate rebellion: a party. Little does she know that they’ll be setting off a chain of events (or un-events) that could change things forever.