Summer Reading

Welcome to Summer Reading 2011! At the end of 4 weeks we had 342 people signed up.

This week, 25 new people participated and 55 people read 175 books, which brings the totals for the summer to 127 people and 505 books.

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Total Control By Britton, Pamela 2007-09 - Harlequin Books 9780373772421 Check Our Catalog Indi Wilcox has a bad track-record with race-car drivers, so her only rule is to never date one. Todd Peters is NASCARs new bad boy, and his new rule is to win a date with Indi. Good thing rules are made to be broken. Original. HPL patron: Benjamin is a very sick child with cancer. Indi is a woman who made his dream of meeting NASCAR Todd Peters. Todd and Indi disliked each other right off, but both loved Benjamin and together bent over backwards to get him better. Through all this they started to fall in love. Indi fought it for a long time, but in the end Todd won his race and her hand in marriage. …More

Sittin' in the Front Pew By Brown, Parry 2002-04 - Villard Books 9780375757051 Check Our Catalog From the author of the national bestseller The Shirt off His Back comes a novel about love, family, and honoring loved ones Death brings about strange emotions, and people's true colors start to show. Glynda Naylor discovers this when she gets the call that her father has died suddenly and she must fly from Los Angeles to Baltimore to bury him. Her beloved daddy, Edward Naylor, raised his four young daughters after their mother's death, and was the perfect father, brother, fiance, and friend to those who loved him. As friends and family gather to pay tribute to this pillar of the community, Glynda and her sisters begin to search for answers about who the real Edward Naylor was. Their father was a good man, without question, but he also took a secret to his grave. What happens when his secret shows up for the funeral? HPL patron: A radiant family drama with all too real scenary. Deep emotional impact, enlightening and entertaining. …More

The Cat Who Blew the Whistle By Braun, Lilian Jackson 1996-03 - Turtleback Books 9780613693622 Check Our Catalog For use in schools and libraries only. Jim Qwilleran and his feline sleuths, Koko and Yum Yum, investigate the disappearance of a wealthy railroad buff--and alleged multimillion-dollar embezzler--a case that becomes complicated by red herrings, a tragic train wreck, and a murder in a railroad …More

The Cat Who Brought Down the House By Braun, Lilian Jackson 2004-01 - Large Print Distribution 9781594130113 Check Our Catalog A New York Times Bestseller The denizens of Pickax are starstruck: Thelma Thackeray, a native of Moose County, had returned after a nearly six-decade-long career in Hollywood! And she doesn't intend to be idle -- with the acquisition of the old opera house, her plans for a film club are already becoming a reality. But Thelma's arrival is marred by the birdnapping of her fabulous Amazon parrots, and the circumstances of her twin brother's recent death appear increasingly suspicious to columnist James Quilleran. Will Quill's Siamese, Koko, who's debuting in the Kit Kat Revue, deign to help his master find those responsible for the dastardly deeds? …More

Three More Mrs. Murphy Mysteries in One Volume: Pay Dirt/Murder, She Meowed/Murder on the Prowl By Brown, Rita Mae Author Sneaky Pie Brown Illustrator Wray, Wendy 2005-05 - Wings 9780517225226 Check Our Catalog Following up on the success of the first Rita Mae Brown omnibus, here are three more mysteries starring that canny cat sleuth, Mrs. Murphy, and her human, Mary "Harry" Haristeen, postmistress of Crozet, Virginia. "Pay Dirt--Who created the computer virus that ravaged the neighborhood and then murdered the mysterious biker who roared into town? "Murder, She Meowed--Who murdered a jockey in the barn during the annual steeplechase races? "Murder on the Prowl--Who's dead? Who's not? Phony obituaries and real live murders; what's happening in Crozet? …More

A Salty Piece of Land By Buffett, Jimmy 2004-11 - Little Brown and Company 9780316743761 Check Our Catalog Jimmy Buffett, bestselling author of "Tales from Margaritaville" and hero to "parrotheads" everywhere, flies back into view with a novel set in the Caribbean, involving a lighthouse, a mystery, a wild cast of characters, and more than a few bottles of tequila. Raucous, wise, and familiar with the world's wonderful strangeness, "A Salty Piece of Land" is the escapism at its best. HPL patron: Summer "light" read of lighhouses and tales from WWII to now-from in the Carribean to the South Seas. …More

Heartsick By Cain, Chelsea 2007-09 - Minotaur Books 9780312368463 Check Our Catalog BookPage Notable Title Addicted to pain killers and still bound to Gretchen Lowell, the beautiful serial killer who had abducted and tortured him before turning herself in, even after she is incarcerated for her crimes, Portland detective Archie Sheridan is caught in another deadly duel with a vicious murderer targeting teenage girls, ambitious reporter Susan Ward, and Gretchen herself. …More

Vixen Icon: A Tell-All by Buffie the Body By Carruth, Buffie 2009-06 - Vickie Stringer 9780982099629 Check Our Catalog Finally, the bar will be set and the truth will be told. Buffie Carruth, known as the legendary Buffie the Body, takes readers from ATL'S most wanted dancer, most sought-after YouTube actress, leading lady in G-Unit and other music videos, an in-demand ringtone wallpaper model, the most sought-after prison wall pinup girl in America and most curvaceous woman in the world, to book author with her highly anticipated expose of the industry, Vixen Icon. Buffie gives readers a Making-of-the-Body look behind the videos and cover shots and reveals the Who, the What, and the Why of the industry and leaves no opinion unwritten. The very assets that have made her the most downloaded Web girl have set the stage for ladies everywhere to swing their hips proudly. Often compared to other vixens, Buffie the Body is a far cry from the Superheads of the industry; Vixen Icon proves the Body is the most prominent and illustrious Icon the world has seen for years to come. HPL patron: Buffie is very blunt about her life. It's great she is open and honest. Maybe she will help someone gain the status they want in the industry. …More

Burned By Cast, P. C. Author Cast, Kristin 2010-04 - St. Martin's Griffin 9780312606169 Check Our Catalog This highly anticipated seventh book continues the House of Night series in a chilling fashion. P.C. and Kristin Cast once again prove their talent in telling a tale filled with all the normal teenage angst compounded with becoming a Vampyre ("Paranormal Romance Reviews"). …More

Gentlemen of the Road: A Tale of Adventure By Chabon, Michael Illustrator Gianni, Gary 2007-10 - Del Rey Books 9780345501745 Check Our Catalog BookPage Notable Title This rollicking saga by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is set 1,000 years ago along the ancient Silk Road, and tells the tale of two wandering adventurers and unlikely soul mates. HPL patron: A.D. 950: Middle East: strangely believable tall tale between Northern Eurpean and Jewish/Arab cultures--great read and illustrations. …More

Henry's Demons: Living with Schizophrenia, a Father and Son's Story By Cockburn, Patrick Author Cockburn, Henry 2011-02 - Scribner Book Company 9781439154700 Check Our Catalog A journalist's memoir, written with his son, about his son's descent into schizophrenia--a profoundly moving account of mental illness in the family. HPL patron: Fascinating first-person account of living with schizophrenia. Dispels a lot of myths about one of the most misunderstood mental illnesses. …More

The Reversal By Connelly, Michael 2010-10 - Little Brown and Company 9780316069489 Check Our Catalog BookPage Notable Title Longtime defense attorney Mickey Haller is recruited to change stripes and prosecute the high-profile retrial of a brutal child murder. Together Haller and LAPD Detective Harry Bosch set off on a case fraught with political and personal danger. HPL patron: A thriller. Many turns and twists with an unexpected hide away. …More

Baking Illustrated: The Practical Kitchen Companion for the Home Baker By Cook's Illustrated Magazine Illustrator Burgoyne, John Photographer Tremblay, Carl 2004-03 - America's Test Kitchen 9780936184753 Check Our Catalog Packed with 375 recipes, more than 150 4-color photos and 400 illustrations, Baking Illustrated brings you inside America's Test Kitchen, where the Test cooks and Editors have exhaustively examined every ingredient, technique and piece of equipment that is critical to your baking success. HPL patron: I get all my desserts from here. …More

The Archer's Tale By Cornwell, Bernard 2001-10 - HarperCollins Publishers 9780066210841 Check Our Catalog Written by the author of the Richard Sharpe series, this is the spellbinding tale of a brave, young archer who sets out to avenge his family's honor--and begins the quest for the Holy Grail. HPL patron: Historical fiction, well written, first of a trilogy "The Grail Quest." Recommend this author. …More

Heretic By Cornwell, Bernard 2003-10 - HarperCollins Publishers 9780060530495 Check Our Catalog The newest installment--after "The Archer's Tale" and "Vagabond"--continues the bestselling saga about a young archer on a quest for the Holy Grail. …More

Vagabond By Cornwell, Bernard 2002-12 - HarperCollins Publishers 9780066210803 Check Our Catalog The spellbinding sequel to "The Archer's Tale" is the thrilling story of a fearless young archer who sets out to avenge his family honor and winds up on a quest for the Holy Grail. …More

Demonic: How the Liberal Mob Is Endangering America By Coulter, Ann 2011-06 - Crown Forum 9780307353481 Check Our Catalog The #1 "New York Times"-bestselling author of "Guilty, If Democrats Had Any Brains They'd Be Republicans," and "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" is back with an all-new, completely original book. True to form, Coulter does not shy away from controversy in this new work. HPL patron: She likens the Democratic Party to a mob. She takes readers through a number of areas. She backs all she says with quotes the people make. She has a good wit. Excellent book. …More

The First Rule By Crais, Robert 2010-01 - Putnam Adult 9780399156137 Check Our Catalog From the "New York Times"-bestselling author who sets the standard for intense, powerful crime-writing comes a blistering thriller featuring Joe Pike and Elvis Cole. …More

The Kingdom By Cussler, Clive Author Blackwood, Grant 2011-06 - Putnam Adult 9780399157424 Check Our Catalog The thrilling new adventure from a #1 "New York Times"-bestselling author. The husband-and-wife team of Sam and Remi Fargo are used to hunting for treasure, but they aren't used to hunting for people--until an investigator friend of their goes missing, and they promise to search for him. What they discover, however, will be beyond anything they could have imagined. HPL patron: I would strongly recommend this book. …More

The Bride's House By Dallas, Sandra 2011-04 - St. Martin's Press 9780312600167 Check Our Catalog The "New York Times"-bestselling author of "Whiter Than Snow" delivers a novel about the secrets and passions of three generations of women who live in a Victorian Colorado house. HPL patron: Good book. Another enjoyable book by this author. One of my favorites. …More

Other Eyes By D'Amato, Barbara 2011-01 - Forge 9780765326065 Check Our Catalog Forensic archaeologist Blue Eriksen is convinced that a hallucinogen derived from mushrooms can prevent or cure drug addiction. But a secret international organization that facilitates the production, delivery, and sale of illegal drugs considers Blue a threat and sends one of their enforcers to kill her. …More

In the Company of My Sistahs By Daniels, Angie 2006-02 - Kensington Publishing Corporation 9780758207432 Check Our Catalog Exactly how much trouble can four sexy, sassy, and stubborn women get into when they spend a week in Jamaica together? The answer: Plenty! HPL patron: Very good, loved the book club questions. …More

Dead and Alive By Koontz, Dean R. Author Gorman, Ed 2009-07 - Random House Large Print Publishing 9780375434723 Check Our Catalog From the celebrated imagination of Dean Koontz comes a powerful reworking of one of the classic stories of all time. If you think you know the legend, you know only half the truth. Now the mesmerizing saga concludes. . . . As a devastating hurricane approaches, as the benighted creations of Victor Helios begin to spin out of control, as New Orleans descends into chaos and the future of humanity hangs in the balance, the only hope rests with Victor's first, failed attempt to build the perfect human. Deucalion's centuries-old history began as the original manifestation of a soulless vision-and it is fated to end in the ultimate confrontation between a damned creature and his mad creator. But first they must face a monstrosity not even Victor's malignant mind could have conceived-an indestructible entity that steps out of humankind's collective nightmare with powers, and a purpose, beyond imagining. HPL patron: I love this series. It is awesome. "From the Paperback edition." …More