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Adult Summer Reading 2015: Escape the Ordinary June 29, 2015
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Jim DeBosh, $10 Shoprite gift card Katie Swope, $10 Applegate's Bakery gift certificate
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Saint Odd
by Dean R. Koontz
I read this book because I somehow felt obligated to finish the series after reading the other Odd Thomas books. The series was more fun before Dean Koontz took on an apocalyptic theme and the stakes became global disaster. That said, the book was what I expected and it held my interest for the most part. Unlike the best books I have read, I could put this one down and pick it up again. I was not hooked, but it had entertainment value. Submitted by Reyna.
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The mistletoe promise
by Richard Paul Evans
If you have read Richard Paul Evans walk series you are in for a real treat with his latest book The MistleToe Promise.You do not have to wait till Christmas to enjoy it.
The holiday season is an emotional and difficult time for many people.One November day Elise Dutton meets a stranger in a food court at work.Both are lonely and a single and do not want to face the christmas season alone. They draw up a platonic mistletoe promise contract to go as a couple to holiday parties .They grow closer throughout the christmas festivities and as the Christmas Eve deadline approaches each discover secrets about one another which could threaten their future. A great message of forgiveness predominates the theme and the inspirational quotes at the beginning of the chapters make it a great read. Submitted by Ann.
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The irresistible blueberry bakeshop & café : a novel
by Mary Simses
The story involved the "what ifs" and the different paths that could be followed in life. I usually read these books for the sense of gemutlichkeit created by the author when the protagonist lands in a small town and life is slowed down to a manageable pace. I didn't really get that here. The story had its moments, with some humor, but was otherwise fairly predictable. Submitted by Reyna.
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Death of yesterday
by M. C Beaton
Twists and turns for Officer Hamish Macbeth. Was it the owner of the new t-shirt factory who had Morag Merrilea killed? Who killed Hannah Flemming? Where is Mr. Gilchrists' wife? Who should Hamish finally marry---Miss Priscilla Halburton-Smythe or Elspeth Grant? Will our Hamish ever find happiness? Easy read, which is one reason I love these cozy mysteries. Submitted by Judy.
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Hallucinations
by Oliver W Sacks
I first heard about this book on NPR and was curious about the subject matter. Oliver Sacks is a well-respected neuroscientist who makes the information from this field accessible to the lay reader. The descriptions of the various syndromes and types of hallucinations were best portrayed through anecdotes from real people. The writing was weighed down a bit by intensive history lessons describing the origins of the syndromes. For the most part, the meat of the matter (i.e. how does the brain create these phenomena?) was not described. What the reader was given was a sense of how the brain can seemingly project internally created visual and auditory sensations to a point external to the subject. Submitted by Reyna.
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The beach house
by Georgia Bockoven
Having never read this author before and looking for escape summer reading I selected the book The Beach House by Georgia Bockoven.Picture a peaceful time in your childhood and a place that was like a haven of childhood memories and you will love the beach House in Santa Cruz. To Julia and several other families who rented this beach house on a monthly basis for years this would be a summer of tremendous change.There are stories of young love,and mature older love spending their last days on this earth together all inhabiting this house.Four separate stories meld together as they share their lives with us. Brockoven's style of writing and rich characterizations made this a hard book to put down. I am now reading Return to The Beach and her third in the series Another Summer are on my summer reading list. Submitted by Ann.
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The Ghost Hunters
by Neil Spring
The story centers on the true historic events involving Harry Price's investigation of the purportedly haunted Borley Rectory. The author did an exceptional job of bringing the post World War I era to life in this story, as well as explaining Spiritualism in light of the psychological scars inflicted on the survivors of that war. The characters of Sarah Grey and Harry Price were subtly drawn, but fully fleshed out for the reader. The author takes license in embellishing the tale to provide a highly satisfying ghost story that leaves the reader guessing as to the boundaries between truth and manufactured events. Submitted by Reyna.
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That old black magic
by Mary Jane Behrends Clark
Piper Donovan mystery brought memories of Shotgun Houses, Jackson Square, the French Quarter, Beignets, Voodoo, Hoodoo to life in this mystery you can't put down. Who is using voodoo/hoodoo for the recent killings on Royal Street? What is happening in the Crescent City? Pick up the book and find out. Not who I expected. Submitted by Judy.
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Die again
by Tess Gerritsen
Another great Rizzoli & Isles mystery that will leave you hanging on every word and hard to put down once you start reading. Loved the going back and forth between Boston, today and what happened in Africa 6 years prior. I knew the killer wasn't who Millie thought it was but was surprised to find out who it was. Hooked on this series by Tess Gerritsen. Submitted by Judy.
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Ordinary grace : a novel
by William Kent Krueger
This is a who done it, coming of age,small town , family dynamic, work of fiction. Once you start you won't want to put it down and when it's done you'll wish it weren't. Written from the perspective of 13 yr old Frank Drum it will take you back to the summer of 1961 with all the associated nostalgia. Despite some deathly dealings, a fun book. Submitted by Carol.
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My lucky life in and out of show business : a memoir
by Dick Van Dyke
Found myself back with Laura & Rob Petrie, Bert dancing with Mary Poppins and much more. What a beautiful story and wonderful man. Through all the good and hard times he came through. I still watch reruns of the Dick Van Dyke show and Diagnosis Murder. Well worth the read especially if you are a fan of Mr. Van Dyke. Submitted by Judy.
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14th deadly sin
by James Patterson
The Women's Murder Club is on the scene again in James Patterson's new book 14th Deadly Sin.Gathering together for Claire's birthday celebration they realize that every year for the past several years they were called from the party to solve a case.Some of the cases are dead cases but this time the perpetrators appear to be men dressed in the blue windbreakers of the SFPD.Is there some coincidence to the June 14th date and could it be that a serries of rogue cops are responsible for these crimes? My criticism would be the ending of this book. However I am such a fan of the Women's Murder Club series and his Alex Cross series you cannot deny that his characters are like an old comfortable pair of shoes . Yes, the plots are predictable, but for some reason he does not use the violence he has in many of his other series.Its not summer without a James Patterson book in your bag. Submitted by Ann.
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The whole enchilada : a novel of suspense
by Diane Mott Davidson
Another Goldy Schulz mystery with twits and turns along with great recipes to try. You know that her friend hasn't suffered a heart attack, which all believe has killed her and you also know that Goldy will find the answers no matter what. Another 'cozy' mystery series and fast read. I've read all of Ms. Davidson's Goldy Schulz mysteries and enjoy as well as can't wait for the next one. Submitted by Judy.
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Doctor Sleep
by Stephen King
The shining is one of the scariest books of all time, and this sequel does it justice. Submitted by William.
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The look of love : A Piper Donovan Mystery
by Mary Jane Behrends Clark
Another Piper Donovan Mystery and a fast read. Who threw the acid on the housekeepers face? Who in the peach latex gloves at the spa is the murder? Will the slimy paramedical aesthetician get caught? Will Piper let her feelings go and admit she has feelings for Jack? Read on to find all the answers and why the bride wants a pumpkin wedding cake. Submitted by Judy.
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Garden of lies
by Amanda Quick
Great summer read. Not the Arcane series. Submitted by Marguerite.
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Mean streak
by Sandra Brown
Classic Sandra Brown, in a good way. Great story and characters. Submitted by Marguerite.
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When? This year's summer reading program runs from Monday, June 22 through Friday, August 14th, with our grand prizes drawn Monday, August 17. Complete an entry slip for each book read during the program. You can submit paper slips at the library or fill out an online entry form. Optionally, if you submit your review online, you can share your opinions with other readers by writing brief reviews on the books you have read. They will be posted in our weekly summer reading newsletter. Prizes: Weekly prizes include gift certificates from some of your favorite local businesses. This year, we are offering two grand prizes. We are giving away a Nook Simple Touch with Glow Light and a Samsung Nook Tablet, both compatible with our 3M Cloud Library digital books catalog.
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We thank the following local businesses for their support of the adult summer reading program:
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