Summer Reading

Welcome to Summer Reading 2011! At the end of 9 weeks we had 368 people signed up. This week, 4 new people participated and 32 people read 125 books, which brings the totals for the summer to 170 people and 1287 books.

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The Vision By Graham, Heather 2010-02 - Mira Books 9780778329152 Check Our Catalog The gift of sight comes at a dangerous price. When Deep Down Salvage begins the hunt for the "Josephine Marie, " it seems like any other dive...until Genevieve Wallace sees the vision of a dead woman in the water, her vacant eyes boring into Genevieve's very soul. Terrified and confused by what she saw, Genevieve is haunted by the memory, but no one--including her diving partner Thor Thompson--believes her. When a dead woman washes up on shore, everyone assumes this is Genevieve's "vision," but Genevieve knows the truth: the dead woman is "not" the ghost she saw but another victim of the same brutal killer. Sensing that the threat of death is coming closer, she and Thor are forced to acknowledge that some things can't be explained, but simply "are." Somehow they have to link a violent past with a present-day mystery or risk losing themselves in an abyss of terror. …More

Body Language By Hall, James W. Author Hall, Jim 1998-08 - St. Martin's Press 9780312192433 Check Our Catalog From the nationally bestselling author of "Under Cover of Daylight" and "Red Sky at Night" comes an electrifying suspense novel about a female forensic photographer on the trail of a brutal killer with ties to her past. "James Hall's prose runs as clean and fast as Gulf Stream waters".--"The New York Times Book Review". …More

Rough Draft By Hall, James W. 2000-01 - St. Martin's Press 9780312203832 Check Our Catalog After the brutal murders of her parents, mystery novelist Hannah Keller quit the Miami P.D. to devote more time to writing, and to her eleven-year-old son Randall -- still haunted by the discovery of his grandparents' bodies five years ago. But just when life seems to be calming down for Hannah, she finds a copy of one of her books, with cryptic notes scribbled in its margins. Hannah, immediately sensing the connection to her parents' deaths, is soon plunged into a harrowing search for answers -- one that will draw her and her son closer to danger...to a reclusive millionaire who may hold all the answers...to two villains -- one out for revenge and the other for blood...and to a real-life mystery more shocking than anything she could have penned. …More

Fingerprints of the Gods: The Evidence of Earth's Lost Civilization By Hancock, Graham 1995-05 - Crown Publishers 9780517593486 Check Our Catalog The mediagenic author of the bestselling The Sign and the Seal takes readers along on a quest for the proof of the existence of an ancient advanced civilization--not Atlantis--that predates Egyptian, Hittite, and Chinese cultures. 16 pages of photos. …More

Distant Shores By Hannah, Kristin 2003-04 - Ballantine Books 9780345450722 Check Our Catalog In her remarkable "New York Times bestseller, "Summer Island, Kristin Hannah struck a chord in readers and critics alike with her portrayal of the bittersweet reunion between an errant mother and her unforgiving daughter. Now Hannah once again reveals the fragile ties that bind a family in transition, as two people choose to escape the limits of their ordinary lives and reach for the extraordinary promise that lies on "Distant Shores. Elizabeth and Jackson Shore married young, raised two daughters, and weathered the storms of youth as they built a future together. But after the children leave home, they quietly drift apart. When Jack accepts a wonderful new job offer, Elizabeth puts her needs aside to follow him across the country. Until the sudden death of her father changes everything. Grieving and alone, she retreats to an isolated beach house where she packs away the last remnants of her parents' lives. There, the pieces of a past she never knew unfold to reveal a tender story of lasting devotion, the kind of steadfast commitment that Elizabeth admits is missing from her own marriage. Faced with her own disillusionment, she makes a terrifying decision, risking everything she has for a second chance at happiness. Enriched by soul-stirring emotion and an appreciation for the simple joy of everyday miracles, "Distant Shores is an exquisite reminder of the most precious gifts in life: friends and family, children and lovers, the strength to change, and the courage to forgive-all flawlessly captured by the graceful hands of Kristin Hannah. "From the Hardcover edition. HPL patron: This is another wonderful K. Hannah book about human nature and family life. So many of us keep things "bottled up" and don't share our feelings and dreams. This book shares one woman's courage in facing her dreams and feelings. …More

A Moveable Feast By Hemingway, Ernest 1996-10 - Scribner Book Company 9780684833637 Check Our Catalog This magnificent autobiographical chronicle of the sights, sounds and tastes of Paris in the 1920s is written from inside the American expatriate, literary community that included Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, and Ford Maddox Ford. Published posthumously in 1964, this is vintage Hemmingway--the best non-fiction account of the Lost Generation in Paris ever written. photos. …More

Secrets to the Grave By Hoag, Tami 2010-12 - Dutton Books 9780525951926 Check Our Catalog A #1 "New York Times"-bestselling author returns with her second thriller in the Deeper Than the Dead microseries, exploring the early days of forensic investigation, the characteristics of innocence--and the nature of evil. HPL patron: Very thrilling. …More

The Wedding Game: A Mystery at the University of Michigan By Holtzer, Susan 2001-03 - Minotaur Books 9780312978662 Check Our Catalog Police lieutenant Karl Genesko and his fiance, computer pro Anneke Haagen, are finally tying the knot. But when Karl is called away to investigate a mail-bomb murder, the victim turns out to be one of the computer gamers in Anneke's on-line chats. As both Karl and Anneke are suspected, they create a murder game to catch a killer on-line. Martin's Press. …More

Killing Time By Howard, Linda 2006-06 - Ballantine Books 9780345453464 Check Our Catalog Returning to the entrancing supernatural territory of her popular novels Dream Man and Son of the Morning, New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard has written a sizzling new novel that is her most daring, exciting, and original yet. In 1985, with much fanfare, a time capsule was buried under the front lawn of a small-town county courthouse, to be reopened in 2085. But just twenty years later, in the dead of night, the capsule is dug up, its contents stolen. That same night, one of the contributors to the capsule is brutally slain in his home-with no sign of forced entry or indication of a struggle. One by one, others who had placed items in the time capsule are murdered. Besides his suspicions about the sudden, mysterious appearance of Nikita Stover, the chief investigator, Knox Davis, has absolutely no leads. And while Nikita's no murderer, she seems to be hiding plenty of secrets. With more at stake than anyone else realizes, the smart-talking Nikita is determined to catch this cunning killer-while at the same time battling her own deepening feelings for a man and for a world in which she doesn't belong. When readers crave a seductive novel of unrelenting suspense with a paranormal twist, Linda Howard delivers time and again . . . make that Killing Time-a captivating, character-rich story that races along on a breathless plot full of action and intimacy, romance and danger, thrills and intrigue. …More

Retribution By Ingermanson, Randall Scott Author Ingermanson, Randy 2004-09 - Zondervan Publishing Company 9780310247074 Check Our Catalog Jerusalem, A.D. 66 . . . The City of God seethes with rage against imperial Rome . . . and, in an act of unspeakable brutality, Rome takes deadly retribution. War looms on the horizon?but one woman already knows the outcome. . . . Transported from the far future, Rivka Meyers has made her home in Jerusalem with her husband and fellow time traveler, Ari Kazan. But in a turbulent age, Rivka's foreknowledge of history is a heavy responsibility. She knows Jerusalem will be destroyed?and that a prophet will warn the fledgling church to flee the city. Is Rivka herself that prophet? And if so, will the people heed her warning? Rivka's fears deepen when Jewish zealots demand Ari's help to design weapons of war. Ari faces an impossible choice: join the ?men of violence? in their doomed cause, or leave the people defenseless against Nero's legions. Desperate to know God's will, Ari and Rivka are about to face the cost of forgiveness . . . gain an unexpected ally . . . and learn the extraordinary power of sacrifice. Retribution is a convincing page-turner, full of compelling, distinctly voiced characters. I devoured the book and wished it were longer. --Kathy Tyers, author, Shivering World and the Firebird Trilogy …More

The Brotherhood By Jenkins, Jerry B. 2011-01 - Tyndale House Publishers 9781414309071 Check Our Catalog Boone Drake is a young cop rising through the ranks in Chicago-- until everything goes horribly wrong. His personal life destroyed and his career and future in jeopardy, Boone buries himself in guilt and bitterness. Face-to-face with the most vicious gang leader Chicago has seen in decades, he begins to realize that God is a God of second chances... and can forgive the worst of crimes. …More

Quicksand By Johansen, Iris 2008-10 - St. Martin's Press 9780312368074 Check Our Catalog #1 blockbuster bestselling author Iris Johansen returns with a novel of gut-wrenching intensity about a woman in a desperate race against time to bring a killer to justice. "Do you still miss your little Bonnie? "This one sentence, spoken by a male voice in anonymous phone call, is all it takes to drag Eve Duncan right back to that horrifying moment years ago when her only daughter vanished without a trace. Since then, Eve's life has become an obsession to find her daughter's remains. Only one man--a brilliant, ruthless killer--knows the truth about what happened to Bonnie. But taunting Eve might be his first and last mistake... "Action-packed, adrenaline-fueled...will keep [you] eagerly turning the pages."--"Publishers Weekly"" " For Eve is armed with more than just her talent as a forensic sculptor. She brings with her former Navy SEAL Joe Quinn, an Atlanta detective who will do anything to help Eve put the pain of Bonnie's death to rest. Even if he has to lie to the woman he cares about the most. And even if this killer wants nothing more than to lure Eve further and further into his swamp of madness..."" "QUICKSAND" …More

Alice, I Think By Juby, Susan 2003-06 - HarperTempest 9780060515430 Check Our Catalog This brilliantly observed debut novel was short-listed for two Canadian literary awards and is certain to appeal to fans of "Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging." Wise, witty, and entirely original, "Alice, I Think" is a chronicle of small-town life and a window into the soul of an utterly appealing heroine. …More

All That Is Bitter and Sweet: A Memoir By Judd, Ashley With Vollers, Maryanne 2011-04 - Ballantine Books 2300164173328 Check Our Catalog Actress and human rights activist Judd has recorded her experiences both abroad and at home in journal entries, which she has woven into a highly personal and powerful memoir about change, hope, and human transformation. She also describes her own personal spiritual journey of discovery. …More

One Candlelit Christmas: Christmas Wedding WishThe Rake's Secret SonBlame It on the Mistletoe By Justiss, Julia Author Burrows, Annie Author Brisbin, Terri 2008-11 - Harlequin 9780373295197 Check Our Catalog "Christmas Wedding Wish" by Julia Justiss Disenchanted with empty-headed society debutantes, dashing gentleman Allen Mansfell decides that, if he must marry, he will choose a lady whose mind and heart he'll have to win over--a lady like Miss Meredyth Wellingford. But for Merry, finding true love will take a miracle.... "The Rake's Secret Son" by Annie Burrows Before Carleton Tillotson left Nell, the rebellious rake broke her heart. Now he is back, just in time for Christmas, and Nell can't hide her secret any longer--Carleton's the father of her son! "Blame It on the Mistletoe" by Terri Brisbin Julia Fairchild has loved Iain MacLerie forever--but the boy she once knew is now a hardened and aloof man. Amid the festivities and warm cheer of yuletide, can Julia melt Iain's guard and ignite the spark that continues to burn between them...? …More

Broken for You By Kallos, Stephanie 2007-06 - Center Point Large Print 9781585479849 Check Our Catalog Funny, heartbreaking and alive with a potpourri of eccentric and irresistible characters, this fresh debut novel is about two women in self-imposed exile whose lives intersect, transforming both their worlds. …More

The Icing on the Cake By Kent, Alison 2010-09 - Health Communications 9780757315350 Check Our Catalog An on-line dating service is not Michelle Snow's idea of how to find love. However, when the Big 3-0 hits, Michelle decides she has nothing to lose 264 pp. …More

Just After Sunset: Stories By King, Stephen 2008-11 - Scribner Book Company 9781416584087 Check Our Catalog BookPage Notable Title 2009 Alex Award Following his two recent critically acclaimed bestsellers, "Duma Key" and "Lisey's Story," celebrated author King delivers a stunning collection of short stories, his first in six years. …More

Dark Rivers of the Heart By Koontz, Dean R. 2000-08 - Bantam 9780553582895 Check Our Catalog Spencer Grant had no idea what drew him to the bar with the red door. He thought he would just sit down, have a slow beer or two, and talk to a stranger. He couldn't know that it would lead to a narrow escape from a bungalow targeted by a SWAT team. Or that it would leave him a wanted man. Now he is on the run from mysterious and ruthless men. He is in love with a woman he knows next to nothing about. And he is hiding from a past he can't fully remember. On his trail is a shadowy security agency that answers to no one -- including the U.S. government -- and a man who considers himself a compassionate Angle of Death. But worst of all, Spencer Grant is on a collision course with inner demons he thought he'd buried years ago -- inner demons that could destroy him if his enemies don't first. DARK RIVERS OF THE HEART Do you dare step through the red door? …More

Frankenstein: City of Night By Koontz, Dean R. Author Gorman, Ed 2009-07 - Bantam 9780553593334 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. The mystery, the myth, the terror, and the magic continue. . . . They are stronger, heal better, and think faster than any humans ever created-and they must be destroyed. Not even Victor Helios-once Frankenstein-can stop the engineered killers he's set loose on a reign of terror through modern-day New Orleans. Only the one-time "monster" Deucalion and his all-too-human partners, Detectives Carson O'Connor and Michael Maddison, stand in their way. But as the three race to uncover the true dimensions of an age-old conspiracy, they will discover that Victor's new, improved models have infiltrated every level of the city's society . . . and far beyond. HPL patron: Following the first book to the same night Detective O'Conner and Maddison realize that before Armagedon will start their lives are to come to an end. The whole time the "New Race" is falling apart literally and figuratively. …More

Frankenstein: Lost Souls By Koontz, Dean R. 2010-06 - Bantam 9780553808018 Check Our Catalog Every city has secrets, but none as terrible as this. His name is Deucalion, a sleight-of-reality artist who's traveled centuries with a secret worse than death. He arrives as a serial killer, one who carefully selects his victims for the humanity that he is missing. Detective Carson O'Connor and her partner Michael Maddison get on the case and may just end up in hell itself. HPL patron: Entirely new approach to Frankenstein legend. Good read. …More

To Kill a Mockingbird By Lee, Harper 2010-05 - Harper 9780061743528 Check Our Catalog Lawyer Atticus Finch defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic, Puliter Prize-winning novel--a black man charged with the rape of a white woman. Through the eyes of Atticus's children, Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humor and unanswering honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930's. HPL patron: Saw the movie, appeared in the play, but just now sat around to read the book-considered the best novel of the 20th century. Sorry I waited so long- …More

Piety and Politics: The Right-Wing Assault on Religious Freedom By Lynn, Barry W. 2006-10 - Harmony 9780307346544 Check Our Catalog BookPage Notable Title A nationally syndicated radio host offers a call to arms to anyone who cares about America's separation of church and state, saying that when the Religious Right attacks the constitutionally mandated separation, what they're really attacking is the open marketplace of religion. HPL patron: At last, a well-thought out, fair look at why the separeation of church and state, as outlined in the Constitution, benefits society as a whole AND religous organizations. Recommended for anyone who finds the political influence of Religous Right fundamentalists like Jerry Falwell troubling. And for those who don't think it is such a big deal, this book will change your mind. …More