Category: Staff Picks

Festive Feasts

- Stephanie Leave a comment

When browsing the new nonfiction, my eyes are always drawn to the cookbooks. These books are full of gorgeous food photographs, tempting recipes, and my own dreams of being able to someday replicate the delicious looking food on the covers. Sadly my creations all come out looking a bit wonky, but it doesn’t stop me from checking out the new cookbooks and spending hours pouring over new tasty recipes to try. Below I have gathered a list of new cookbooks full of festive recipes. If you have a favorite recipe or cookbook, let us know in the comments!

As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions are provided by the publishers.

Baking for the Holidays: 50+ Treats for a Festive Season by Sarah Kieffer

A charming holiday baking cookbook brimming with delicious, indulgent recipes, cozy winter photography, and lots of holiday cheer from Sarah Kieffer.

Here’s a festive holiday baking book to celebrate this very special time of year. Sarah Kieffer, author of 100 Cookies, beloved baker behind The Vanilla Bean Blog, and creator of the “bang-the-pan” method offers more than 50 delicious recipes for seasonal brunches, cookie swaps, and all those Christmas, Hanukah, and New Year’s Eve parties.

Delight family and friends with edible gifts and whip up some delicious baked goods to treat yourself through the long winter months after the holidays have ended. Recipes include: Triple Chocolate Peppermint Bark, Meyer Lemon–White Chocolate Scones, Pear-Almond Danish Bread, Hot Chocolate Cake, and Pumpkin Pie with Candied Pepita Streusel.

With cozy holiday imagery, a lovely, clean aesthetic, and easy yet innovative recipes, this is a go-to cookbook for baking enthusiasts, anyone who loves the holiday season, and, of course, fans of Sarah Kieffer and her hugely popular cookie book, 100 Cookies.

  • GREAT GIFT OPPORTUNITY: With happy, festive photography and anyone-can-do-it recipes, this is a perfect holiday gift alongside a cute apron or baking product. It’s sure to please anyone in your life who loves to while away the winter months in their warm and cozy kitchen.
  • BELOVED, ACCOMPLISHED BLOGGER AND AUTHOR: Sarah Kieffer is the beloved blogger behind The Vanilla Bean Baking Blog, which won the SAVEUR Reader’s Choice Best Baking & Desserts Blog in 2014. Her pan-banging cookie technique went viral on the New York Times website. She has written two cookbooks and been featured by Food52, The Today Show, Mashable, The Kitchn, America’s Test Kitchen, Huffington Post, and more.

Perfect for:

  • Bakers of all ages
  • Holiday bakers
  • Fans of Sarah’s bang-the-pan cookies, 100 Cookies, and The Vanilla Bean Blog
  • Holiday gift givers – Chronicle Books

The Book on Pie : Everything You Need to Know to Bake Perfect Pies  by Erin Jeanne McDowell

Look no further than The Book on Pie for the only book on pie you’ll ever want or need.

Erin Jeanne McDowell, New York Times contributing baker extraordinaire and top food stylist, wrote the book on pie, a comprehensive handbook that distills all you’ll ever need to know for making perfect pies. The Book on Pie starts with the basics, including ways to mix pie dough for extra flaky crusts, storage and freezing, recipe size conversions, and expert tips for decorating and styling, before diving into the recipes for all the different kinds of pies: fruit, custard, cream, chiffon, cold set, savory, and mini. Find everything from classics like Apple Pie and Pumpkin Pie, to more inspired recipes like Birthday-Cake Pie and Caramel Pork Pie with Chile and Scallions.

Erin also suggests recommended pie doughs and toppings with each recipe for infinitely customizable pies: Mix and match Pumpkin Spice Pie Dough and Dark Chocolate Drippy Glaze with the Pumpkin Pie, or sub in the Chive Compound-Butter Crust for the Croque Madame Pielets . . . the possibilities are endless. With helpful tips, photographic guides, and inspirations—pie-deas—it’s almost like having Erin in the kitchen baking pies with you. – Harvest

The Complete Autumn and Winter Cookbook: 550+ Recipes for Warming Dinners, Holiday Roasts, Seasonal Desserts, Breads, Food Girls, and More by America’s Test Kitchen

Celebrate the season with this treasure trove of cozy cooking and baking recipes, from soul-warming soups and simple dinners to showstoppers and weekend projects.

As the air grows chillier and nights longer, these dishes draw us to the table and the warmth of an active kitchen: Slow-simmered dishes like Cider-Braised Pork Roast, cheesy weeknight pasta like Unstuffed Shells with Butternut Squash, or a crusty bread like Fig and Fennel Bread.

When the flavors of summer fade, autumn and winter fruits and vegetables can be just as bold and bountiful. Find recipe inspiration from the season’s first ripe figs and plump brussels sprouts to roasty sides featuring celery root, kohlrabi, and kabocha squash, or a cranberry curd tart to brighten a winter’s night.

Themed chapters showcase all the reasons to love autumn and winter cooking:

  • Find new celeberation favorites with a chapter of centerpiece dishes like Turkey and Gravy for a Crowd or Swiss Chard Pie to wow your guests.
  • Picked apples on an autumnal adventure? All Things Apple covers both sweet and savory recipes like French Apple Cake and Celery Root, Fennel, and Apple Chowder to help you use them up.
  • Create the ultimate party spread with chapters devoted to Appetizers, Festive Drinks, and Brunch: Try fried Korean fried chicken wings, latkes with beet-horseradish applesauce, or Everything Straws.
  • Obsessed with pumpkin? So are we! In the Everyone Loves Pumpkin chapter you’ll find everything from Creamy Pumpkin-Chai Soup to Rum Pumpkin Chiffon Pie.
  • Bake to your heart’s content with chapters covering breads, cookies, cakes, pies, puddings, and more.
  • Give the gift of food with recipes for Rocky Road Bark and Fruits of the Forest Liqueur.

America’s Test Kitchen’s tips and tricks guarantee every meal is a success. Flip to the introduction for menus and entertaining tips. Plus, we’ve added seasonally themed spreads throughout so you can decorate the perfect holiday cookies or plan a charcuterie board with last-second appetizers. – America’s Test Kitchen

Feasts of Good Fortune: 75 Recipes for a Year of Chinese American Celebrations, from Lunar New Year to Mid-Autumn Festival and Beyond by Hsiao-Ching Chou

75 recipes for a full year of celebrations with family and friends the Chinese American way in this deeply personal intergenerational cookbook, cowritten by mother and daughter.

Covering everything from traditional Lunar New Year menus with recipes passed down generations to Thanksgiving get-togethers celebrated with tantalizing side dishes, Feasts of Good Fortune invites you to take a seat at the Chou’s warm family dinner table.

Author and former James Beard Foundation cookbook committee chair Hsiao-Ching Chou (Chinese Soul Food) brings her on-ramp approach to Chinese cooking full circle with fresh, uncomplicated home cooking for celebrations typical of the Chinese American experience. Master dumplings, scallion pancakes, and more, to contribute to “tuan yuan” (the act of coming together) that define family meals in these 75 tried-and-true recipes anyone can tackle.

Cowritten with Hsiao-Ching’s 17-year-old daughter, Meilee, on reconnecting with her Chinese American heritage as a young adult, this deeply meaningful cookbook is an exploration of what it means to grow up in a “forever hyphenated culture” and celebrates the joy of the mother-daughter bond in cooking together.

Organized chronologically with menus that’ll take out the guesswork, including:

  • Lunar New Year (Sticky Rice with Chicken and Chinese Sausage)
  • Lantern Festival (Glutinous Rice Balls with Black Sesame Paste)
  • Honoring the Dead/Qing Ming (Steamed Spinach Dumplings)
  • Dragon Boat Festival (Zong Zi)
  • Mid-Autumn Festival (Mooncakes)
  • Birthdays & Party Bites (Stir-Fried Long-Life Noodles)
  • Side Dishes for East-meets-West Menus (Braised Kale with Dried Cranberries)
  • Hot Pot Parties – Sasquatch Books

The German Christmas Cookbook: Sweet and Savory Recipes for the Holidays by Jurgen Krauss

From stollen and lebkuchen to gingerbread houses and zimtsterne, no holiday table is complete without a few delicious German treats. Now, for the first time, The Great British Baking Show star Jürgen Krauss shares his favorite Christmas recipes in this truly special collection.

Jürgen’s delicious holiday recipes are crafted with care, drawing his inspiration from the flavors, techniques, and memories of his childhood Christmases in the Black Forest. In addition to festive cookies, breads, cakes, and tarts, Jürgen also presents recipes for traditional holidays feasts, featuring everything from appetizers and soups to spaetzle and dessert. He then rounds out the holiday season with beloved treats from Germany’s famous Christmas markets, including magenbrot, potato cakes, roasted almonds, and mulled wine. With easy-to-follow instructions, appetizing photographs and pictures from his own scrapbooks, as well as Jürgen’s reminiscences of Christmases past, The German Christmas Cookbook is a must-have for both fans of Jürgen and bakers who want to fill their home with the warmth and deliciousness of the season.

AUTHENTIC GERMAN RECIPES: Expand your culinary skills and fill the air of your home with the scent of freshly baked strudels, cookies, and authentic German holiday treats.

TREATS FOR EVERY HOLIDAY GATHERING: From simple cookies to elaborate holiday showstoppers, create authentic German sweets, breads, and snacks that will make your next holiday gathering memorable.

MAKE A GERMAN HOLIDAY FEAST: Jürgen’s recipes for winter soups, appetizers, main dishes, and desserts will be the hit of your holiday table.

FULL-COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY: The German Christmas Cookbook features gorgeous full-color photography to help inspire, teach, and ensure baking success.

PERFECT GIFT FOR THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW FANS: Fans of The Great British Baking Show will love Jürgen’s easy-to-make and tasty recipes. – Weldon Owen

Good Housekeeping Holiday Cookies: 100 Fun and Festive Treats to Enjoy Throughout the Season by Good Housekeeping

Bake your best batch yet with 100+ holiday cookie recipes from the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen that will come out perfect every time

There’s nothing better than a warm-from-the-oven cookie, especially during the holidays. The experts at the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen bake a thousand delightfully festive holiday cookies every year making sure they’ll all turn out perfectly in any home kitchen.

This special recipe collection offers a crunchy or chewy, or chocolatey cookie for everyone and it will inspire you to take your own baked goods to the next level! Inside, you’ll find:

  • 100 cookie recipes perfect for every occasion—from small to big batches
  • Good Housekeeping favorites like Linzer Stars, Holiday Spritz Cookies, Chocolate Peppermint Cookies, Fruitcake Crisps and more
  • The secrets of hosting the ultimate cookie swap, including wrapping and shipping hacks
  • Fun and entertaining info on traditional holiday cookies around the world
  • Helpful decorating tips, like how to flood icing, creative flourishes for gingerbread houses

Whether you’re baking a small batch for the family, a big batch for a cookie exchange, or simply putting a few out with milk for Santa, these cookies will make your holiday festivities a little sweeter. – Hearst Home

The Magical Christmas Cookbook: Create the Sparkle of European Christmas Markets at Home with 75 Festive Recipes by Murdoch Books

It’s time to light the candles, decorate the home and start mulling the wine. Christmas is coming and you’re going to need plenty of comforting recipes to take you through the festive season.

Whether you’re expecting lots of guests, or you just want to create a special meal for two of you, The Magical Christmas Cookbook will provide all the inspiration you need – along with festive poems and songs to accompany this most enchanting time of year. There are over 70 recipes for complete meals and everyone’s favourite baked treats that will fill the house with the smell of spices. – Murdoch Books

Warm Your Bones: Cozy Recipes for Chilly Days and Winter Nights by Vanessa Seder

Los Angeles native Vanessa Seder lived in Brooklyn and Boston before she landed in Maine—a place where this chef, food stylist, and recipe developer learned to love the culinary upside of raising a family in a place where it’s so cold, for so long.

In this book, Seder shares seventy-five of her favorite recipes that take the edge off any chill, from long, slow braises and simmers perfect for a winter afternoon at home to weeknight meals that draw on ingredients and nutrients that will power you and your family through a cold snap to recipes and menus for holidays and cozy gatherings. The book also includes recipes for sweets like homemade caramels and invigorating grapefruit-flavored cookies; warm drinks like teas, toddies, and several versions of hot chocolate; and pantry staples like marmalades and flavored salts. The style and imagery of the book is bright and inviting, designed to combat any winter blues.

Warm Your Bones is perfect for at-home cooks who have an interest in international cuisines, for those who practice hygge, and for individuals who generally enjoy the coziness of winter. – Union Square & Co.

What’s for Christmas Dinner?: Festive Meal Plans, Big-Day Timings, Essential Shopping Lists by Sarah Rossi

‘It’s all here… everything you need to know for pulling off Christmas cooking without any stress! Leaving you free to focus on fun with family and friends. If the prospect of cooking the biggest meal of the year is a little daunting, fear not.’

Take the stress out of Christmas cooking with the master of meal planning, Sarah Rossi!

This beautiful festive book is your new one-stop-shop for all things Christmas, including planning and shopping in the run up; the big day itself; timings plan; extra equipment needed; shopping lists; tips to get ahead; dealing with leftovers, and inclusive recipes for gluten free, veggies and vegans too.

Chapters cover: Nibbles and Party Food; Cosy Nights In; Freezer Fillers; The Big Day; Gorgeous Gifts; Festive Feasts; Christmas Breakfast and, of course, Baking – for delicious dishes to please the whole family and save your sanity, Sarah’s got you covered. – Harper Collins Publishers

Scandinavian Self-Help Books

- Beth Leave a comment

Have you heard the term “hygge” and wondered what it meant? And how to pronounce it? (It means “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being” and it pronounced: ho͞oɡə.) Do you think Swedish death cleaning might improve your life? Are the Danish happiest and the Finnish the most relaxed? Don’t be left behind the ongoing trend of Scandinavian self-help that focuses on warmth, health and happiness, even during the coldest and darkest winters experienced in northern Europe.

Here are some of the most popular nonfiction books that come from Scandinavian region that focus on health and personal growth. All are owned by the Davenport Public Library as of the publication of this blog post. Descriptions provided by the publishers.

The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking was a best-selling sensation that kicked off the Scandinavian self-help trend when it came to America in 2017. From picking the right lighting to organizing a Hygge get-together to dressing hygge, Wiking shows you how to experience more joy and contentment the Danish way.

More recently in 2022, Wiking released My Hygge Home: How to Make Home Your Happy Place. Inspired by Danish design and traditions, this book, features tips based on research from The Happiness Institute in Copenhagen, and shows how to turn a home into a cozy sanctuary regardless of available space or budget.

Winter Swimming: The Nordic way Towards a Healthier and Happier Life by Susanna Søberg, Whether in lake, lido, river or sea, we know the benefits of swimming outdoors and in nature – environmentally friendly and accessible, it can influence our happiness, our energy and our inner tranquility, and give us that winter glow. Danish scientist Dr Susanna Søberg leads us step by step into the icy water and explains the “cold-shock response”, the massive endorphin rush as our body reacts and adapts to very cold temperatures through the winter season. Not only do our circulation, heart, lungs and skin respond positively, but our immune system, metabolism and mental health too. 

The Cliff Notes to living well, the Scandinavian way. Diet and lifestyle guides are all the rage, but they tend to be too prescriptive and difficult to follow. And most self-help books are too long.  Cue The Nordic Guide to Living 10 Years Longer by Bertil Marklund. With this pragmatic little book that channels the healthy lifestyle of Scandinavia, 10 easy tips will add 10 healthy years to your life.

In The Nordic Theory of Everything, Anu Partanen compares and contrasts life in the United States with life in the Nordic region, focusing on four key relationships — parents and children; men and women; employees and employers; and government and citizens. She debunks criticism that Nordic countries are socialist “nanny states,” revealing instead that it is we Americans who are far more enmeshed in unhealthy dependencies than we realize. As Partanen explains, the Nordic approach allows citizens to enjoy more individual freedom and independence than the American way. Partanen wants to open Americans’ eyes to how much better things can be — to provide the opportunity to live a healthy, safe, economically secure, upwardly mobile life for everyone.

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnusson. In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, dö meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning.” Margareta instructs readers to embrace minimalism and suggests which possessions you can easily get rid of (unworn clothes, unwanted presents, more plates than you’d ever use) and which you might want to keep (photographs, love letters, a few of your children’s art projects). Digging into her late husband’s tool shed, and her own secret drawer of vices, Margareta introduces an element of fun to a potentially daunting task. 

Not to be left out, Finland contributes The Finnish Way and Pantsdrunk to the Scandinavian self-help reading list.

In The Finnish Way: Finding Courage, Wellness, and Happiness Through the Power of Sisu Journalist Katja Pantzar shares a practical guided tour of the simple and nature-inspired ways that Finns stay happy and healthy — including the powerful concept of sisu, or everyday courage. Pantzar moves to the remote Nordic country of Finland. What she discovered there transformed her body, mind and spirit. In this engaging and practical guide, she shows readers how to embrace the “keep it simple and sensible” daily practices that make Finns one of the happiest populations in the world, year after year. 

 

Pantsdrunk: The Finnish Path to Relaxation by Miska Rantanen. Danes have hygge. Swedes have lagom. But the Finns have the best — “kalsariokanni” or pantsdrunk — drinking at home, alone, in your underwear.

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

- Stephanie Leave a comment

“I’m afraid of the unpredictability of existing. I’m afraid of not being able to control the direction of my life. I’m afraid that no matter how much I plan, I won’t be able to avoid hurtful and sad things. But above all…” I take a deep breath and laugh softly, because what I’m about to say is ridiculous, even if it’s true. Even if it’s me. “Mostly, I’m afraid of attempting something and not being perfect at it.”
― Ali Hazelwood, Deep End

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood has been recommended to me by many staff members and friends alike. When the audiobook was finally available, I decided to give it a listen and oh boy, was this book great. (Scroll to the end of this blog post for a list of content warning and content notes that do include spoilers.) This is a steamy college romance with threads to other books by Ali Hazelwood. Check out this title if you’re interested in a sports romance that isn’t afraid to explore a powerful, yet tender, romance.

Scarlett Vandermeer is a competitive diver at Stanford. She is a junior and a student athlete who is concentrating on getting into med school and staying out of trouble. After suffering from an injury that almost ended her career, Scarlett is struggling with a mental block that has been keeping her from performing the type of dive that she was doing when she injured herself. With a busy schedule, Scarlett has no time for romantic relationships. She has a hard enough time keeping up with her teammates, her stepmom, and her roommate.

Lukas Blomqvist is a senior at Stanford. He’s the captain of the swim team, a world champion swimmer, and considered by all to be THE golden boy. He consistently breaks records and wins gold medals by thriving on discipline and complete and utter focus. His rigidness in swimming extends to every other aspect of his life as well. Lukas needs to be in control (his roommates can testify to this as he has a strict cleaning schedule that they all must adhere to).

Scarlett and Lukas are on each other’s peripheries, united through Penelope, Scarlett’s friend and Lukas’s girlfriend. They have nothing in common besides her, until Penelope shares a secret that threatens to destroy the friend group yet somehow make everything better. Scarlett and Lukas soon find themselves writing up an agreement that leads to their relationship heating up. As the two works towards the Olympic trials, their budding new relationship grows stronger. Soon the two must decide what they want from each other. This fling has grown more serious than either expected.

The emotional buildup between the characters had me hooked all the way through. I loved the characters, their vulnerabilities, and their flaws. Ali Hazelwood has this incredible ability to write science based romance novels in an accessible and easy to understand way. Each character was flawed, yet Hazelwood took the time to explore each of their pasts in such a way that made sense to the story. None of the characters’ story developments felt rushed and readers could clearly track how they grow through the story. The plot kept me engaged through the whole book and was enjoyable with complex characters.

This title is also available in large print.

This is a list of content warnings & content notes for Deep End (includes spoilers):

  • Exploration of kink and some aspects of BDSM (always consensual and always negotiated); the sexual relationship between the MMC and the FMC includes several power exchange scenarios/situations
  • Mentions of sports injuries and orthopedic surgeries
  • Mentions of an abusive relationship (coercive control) between the FMC and her father (off-page; in the past; no physical violence ever occurs)
  • Death of a parent (off-page; in the past)
  • Terminal illness (off-page; in the past)
  • Bullying (off-page; in the past)
  • Explicit and graphic sexual content
  • Cursing and vulgar language

Holiday Romances

- Stephanie Leave a comment

As soon as Halloween passes (and definitely after Thanksgiving is over), I find myself reaching for romances that take place over the holidays or during cold weather months. For this list, I wanted to focus on romances published in 2025 that take place over the winter holidays. As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. This is by no means a complete list of the new holiday romances we have on hand, but is meant to be a small sampling. Descriptions are provided by the publishers.

Christmas People by Iva-Marie Palmer

The Seven Year Slip meets Hallmark with a dash of sass and a sprinkle of sexiness in this sparkling Christmas rom com…with a speculative twist! Some people are Christmas people, but Jill Jacobs is most certainly not. She hasn’t been ever since her hometown love broke her heart on Christmas Eve three years ago. After that, Jill moved to L.A. to pursue her dream of becoming a screenwriter. She hasn’t been home in years to avoid her ex, but this winter she finds herself back in drab, suburban Illinois for the holidays. After one very hazy night, Jill wakes up to a hometown that’s filled with jolly neighbors, covered in pristine white snow, and seasoned with the smell of peppermint. She realizes that this is more than just a bad hangover… she’s stuck in a Heartfelt movie. One set in her town, starring real people from her life, including her family, her high school crush (uber perfect, owns a bakery, and definitely a Christmas Person), and of course, her ex —handsome as ever and now exclusively clad in plaid flannel. The only way out of this bizarro world is to complete the plot of the movie, including a holiday bake off and a cookie-sweet love story. To get home in time for Christmas, Jill must act out a picture-perfect holiday romance with the one that got away, all while her ex watches on. Fa la la la freaking la…. – St. Martin’s Griffin

Date Night in December by Jaqueline Snowe

‘Tis the season for second chances in this charming and delightful festive romcom—perfect for fans of Maggie Knox and Jenny Bayliss. He has one month to make a Christmas miracle happen. Laney Reynolds knows there’s only one place that can help her heal a broken heart: Cherrywood Creek. The small town where she grew up, with its holiday festivals and snow-covered streets, is exactly where she needs to be this December. It feels good to leave the bustling city, where her husband was too busy climbing the corporate ladder to notice the growing distance between them. But she’s got his attention now . . . Connor received his wake-up call loud and clear when Laney left, and there’s no way he’s giving up on his marriage. If that means dropping everything and trading high-rises for gingerbread houses to sweep his wife off her feet in her hometown, then so be it. This time, he’s listening; but it’ll take more than hot chocolate dates and even hotter nights to win Laney back. Can he prove that being a CEO is nowhere near as important as being her husband? – Forever

Good Spirits by B.K. Borison

The USA Today bestselling author of Business Casual, B.K. Borison is back with a whimsical new holiday romance—this time with a magical twist—that will have everyone falling in love with the Ghost of Christmas Past. He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. She’s not exactly Scrooge. Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other—get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he’s faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he’s ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future. Harriet York has no idea why she’s being haunted. She’s a good person—or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what’s expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together— and realize there might be more to moving on than expected. With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other’s pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection? – Avon

The Holiday Hookup List by Alexis Daria

The twelve days of Christmas have never been hotter! Spice up the holiday season with this sizzling enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy by an internationally bestselling author. Valencia After calling it quits with my cheating fiancé, I’m definitely not feeling the Christmas spirit this year. But when my best friend invites me to a holiday dance party, I show up ready to shake my ass. Except I must be on Santa’s naughty list, because who do I run into? My infuriatingly sexy high school archnemesis, Gideon Noble. The pulsing music, red and green strobe lights, and Gideon’s bitable bottom lip make me reckless, so I drag him onto the dance floor. And then? I take him home with me. Gideon If this is my second chance with Valencia, I’m not wasting it. We’re both alone this Christmas, so we create a naughty and nice list that would make Santa blush: twelve days of wholesome yuletide cheer, and twelve nights decking each other’s halls. As Christmas Eve, and the end of our list, approaches, I realize that twelve days with Valencia Torres isn’t enough. I want forever. But does she? – Montlake

Holly and Nick Hate Christmas by Betsy St. Amant

Holly Sinclair has hated Christmas for as long as she can remember. Who names their Christmas baby Holly in the first place? She was teased mercilessly growing up. Holly Berry, Holli-days, Holly Jolly . . . not to mention the fact that her birthday is often totally overlooked amidst the season. To make matters worse, instead of getting the promotion she was expecting, Holly’s been downsized—which is just fancy holiday talk for fired. Now Holly has to go home single, unemployed, turning thirty, and only a tinsel strand of faith. Bah, humbug. Holly’s big brother, Ryan, has dragged his best friend, known holiday-hater Nick Kinsley, home with him. But when Holly discovers that Nick’s here to be her pity date, she decides the best revenge is to play along . . . and Christmas like she’s never Christmas’d before. Commence Operation: Naughty List. The fact that she’s attracted to Nick is totally not the point. She’ll teach him a lesson, one ho ho ho at a time. The holiday grows more complicated when Holly and Ryan find out their parents asked all the siblings to come home for Christmas this year, but refuse to say why. The rest of the Sinclair siblings descend, each with their own sleigh full of secrets. Rumors spread as everyone tries to guess the reason for their parents’ demand—and Nick turns out to have a secret of his own. Will this be a Christmas to forget? Or will Holly and Nick discover there is so much more? – WaterBrook

A Little Holiday Fling by Farah Heron

There are two things that Ruby Dhanji loves with her whole entire heart: Christmas and anything to do with the UK. For Ruby the holiday season means joy, generosity, and warm memories with her late mother. And now she’s on the verge of realizing the dream she and her mom always had: moving to England and opening a cozy inn. The only problem, Ruby needs some hotel experience first. Rashid just doesn’t get all the holiday hype. But when he meets a woman dragging home a Christmas tree alone from the Winter Market, he has to offer to help—even if he soon finds Ruby adores all the things he dislikes. When Ruby discovers that Rashid’s family owns a luxury boutique hotel chain in Britain, she offers him a proposition: she’ll help him give his young nieces an amazing Christmas if he’ll facilitate an introduction to his family. As Ruby and Rashid get closer, she realizes that the great big grump loves his large, eccentric family fiercely. And when their friendship turns to something more, she’s afraid she’s falling for someone weeks before she moves across the Atlantic and she’ll soon have to decide which dream she wants to chase. – Forever

A Mannequin for Christmas by Timothy Janovsky

A Christmas romance for Barbie fans who wished Ken and Allan got their own love story. Henry Aster swears he is unlucky when it comes to love. He thought he’d finally found The One, but a sudden break-up has left him hopeless right before the holiday season. Facing another family Christmas alone, Henry makes a wish for “The Perfect Man.” The next morning, when he arrives at the Jersey Shore vintage shop he manages, he finds one of the male display mannequins has sprung to life and entirely wrecked the place. The magicked man is gorgeous, of course, but he comes with a Cinderella-style caveat: If he doesn’t experience true, human love before the midnight chime on New Year’s Eve, he will turn back into a mannequin for good. Now Henry doesn’t have to show up to family Christmas alone. The catch? This new man—self-named Aidan Smith—knows nothing about being a human. Henry has one month to teach Aidan how to be a functioning person in the modern world and the swoony boyfriend that will win over his family. It’s an arduous task that draws them close together… but can human love ever really be true? – St. Martin’s Griffin

My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely

A holiday romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, with spice and fake dating that follows a fiery designer who teams up with her charming billionaire boss for a week-long Christmas competition, and their pretend holiday romance soon starts to feel all too real—now with a never-before-published short story. “Wanted: hot billionaire to pose as my Christmas boyfriend. Must be willing to make my cheating ex jealous by kissing me under the mistletoe at holiday parties. Bonus if you make him cry.” To Fable’s surprise, her billionaire boss, Wilder Blaine, is more than willing to take on the challenge of playing her holiday boyfriend. The sexy single dad desperately needs a plus one for a Christmas Eve wedding, where he’s the best man and she’s the maid of honor. With her ex also in the wedding party, the two team up as a pair of insta-lovebirds for the holiday season. Their partnership includes participating in the annual week-long Christmas competition leading up to the snowy destination wedding. What starts as late nights crafting the best popcorn balls for the contest soon turns into a passionate night together, where the sparks between them are impossible to ignore. But when the holidays end, can their winter wonderland romance turn into something real back at the office? Or are they destined to go the way of a Christmas tree on New Year’s Day? – Atria Books

Snow Kissed by Raeanne Thayne

‘Tis the season for a little white lie… Christmas has always been single mom Holly Goodwin Moore’s favorite time of year. The twinkly lights on the tree, the cookies in the oven, the snow on the ground. But she’s just not feeling it this year. The wedding in her ex’s family is almost here, her daughter, Lydia, is bursting at the seams to be a flower girl…and Holly couldn’t be dreading it more. She told a little white lie about having a new boyfriend as her plus-one, hoping to save face. She needs a date for the wedding…and she needs it now. Ryan Caldwell wants to be free this holiday season. So even he isn’t sure how he landed in Shelter Springs, looking after his niece, Audrey, with his estranged father down the road. But when he meets Holly, she makes him want to belong for the very first time. So they make a deal: he’ll be her date if she’ll help him give Audrey a true Christmas to remember while her mom is away. This holiday season, escape to Shelter Springs for a heartwarming story of unexpected romance, festive charm, and the joy of finding love where you least expect it. Perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery.  – Canary Street Press

A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart by Morgan Lockhart

In this holiday romance with an enchanting twist, a magic-averse witch returns home to save her small town’s beloved winter festival in time for the holidays with the help of her estranged coven and distractingly handsome childhood rival. Rowan Midwinter has sworn off magic after a spell gone wrong back in high school, so she’s not exactly thrilled when she’s guilted into returning to her quaint mountain hometown for the holiday season. But it’s already Yule and much-needed snow still hasn’t fallen, so Rowan decides she can put up with her former coven and unwanted memories if it means saving the town’s beloved winter festival from the megacorporation threatening to buy it out. But Rowan’s plans to save the beloved tradition and make it through the holiday magic-free go awry when Gavin McCreery, prodigal son of the festival’s landlord, insists on helping, and their unwanted chemistry keeps setting off holiday lights…literally. As the end of the festive season draws closer and Rowan realizes what is truly at stake, she must reconnect with what she tried to leave behind, overcome the fear of her power, and let her heart lead the way. – Dutton

While It Was Snowing by Julia London

Under the mistletoe, a single mom and a professional athlete realize they have more in common than the lake house they unexpectedly have to share for the holidays, in this heartwarming romance from New York Times bestselling author Julia London. All Amy Casey wants for Christmas is to paint. She needs five new paintings for the holiday show at her local art gallery, but between her two teenage sons, her needy ex-husband, and her overbearing parents, she hardly has any time for herself. Luckily, her best friend has the perfect solution: a vacant family lake house in North Texas, all hers for two weeks of distraction-free painting. Or so she thought. Turns out professional golfer Harrison Neely also rented the lake house so he can spend the holidays rehabbing the injury that has put his career—and life—on hold. Despite the booking snafu, both Amy and Harrison (along with Amy’s old blind dog and the army of child-sized nutcrackers residing in the living room) agree to share the festive lodging. When an impending snowstorm has the two cozying up by the fire, sparks fly in more ways than one, and they open up to each other, unwrapping secrets and stories they’ve never shared before. But Harrison is expected back on the tournament circuit after the holidays, and Amy’s family needs her. As their departure date looms and her family and his manager press them for answers, they’ll have to decide if this December to remember has been a fun holiday fling, or if they’ve found a Christmas miracle: true love. – Berkley

Winter Picture Books

- Stephanie Leave a comment

When the weather turns chilly, I turn to winter picture books. Curling up with these titles transports me to a world transformed by snow while also saving me from bundling up to actually be in the snow! These cozy books talk about different traditions and stories from all over the world, while also discussing the wider theme of winter. Below you will find a list of comforting winter picture books that will hopefully give you some warm fuzzies as the cold weather approaches!

As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions are provided by the publishers.

Alice in a Winter Wonderland written and illustrated by Jan Brett

A striking rendition of Alice in Wonderland transported to a shimmering Alaskan tundra, in Jan Brett’s rich signature style.

When Alice spies a white rabbit checking his pocket watch before hippity-hopping down a crevasse in an Alaskan glacier, she knows she must follow him. And so she pops down the rabbit hole, into a world of absurd personalities, topsy-turvy action, and laugh-out-loud silliness. Favorite characters like Cheshire Cat and the Duchess and King and Queen come to life as vibrant animals native to Alaska making this classic tale shine through a fresh lens, certain to appeal to readers of all ages. – G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Counting Winter written by Nancy White Carlstrom, illustrated by Claudia McGehee

Inspired by the author’s years in Alaska, this lyrical, beautifully illustrated counting book celebrates the rhythms of the tundra and its inhabitants.

​One red fox walks across the white snow—quietly stalking winter. Two ravens croak and gurgle—raucously talking winter. Three snowshoe hares hop on big paws—silently tracking winter. Wherever you look, another creature is making its mark on the snow-covered season.

Author Nancy White Carlstrom used her years living in Alaska to inspire lyrical text celebrating the rhythms of the tundra and its inhabitants. Claudia McGehee’s stunning scratchboard art brings the winter season alive. For reading on chilly days—whether winter is just beginning or just starting to melt into spring. – Eardmans Books for Young Readers

A Cozy Winter Day written and illustrated by Eliza Wheeler

New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Eliza Wheeler welcomes readers to Acorn Village, where a community of adorable forest animals celebrates all the wonder that winter offers.

The busy animals of Acorn Village love to spend winter days doing all sorts of cozy activities together, whether they’re indoors reading, baking, and doing art projects or outside playing in the snow. And at the end of the day, the coziest activities await—sharing songs, hot drinks, and stories in front of a crackling fireplace, and then snuggling into bed and drifting off into dreamy sleep. Eliza Wheeler’s charming illustrations give her story the feel of a beloved classic and are full of rich, cozy details sure to ignite imaginations and make readers want to visit Acorn Village again and again. – Nancy Paulsen Books

Duck, Duck, Goose! written and illustrated by John Hare

Duck, duck, goose! Moose? From acclaimed author-illustrator John Hare, this funny picture book follows two ducks, a goose, and their unexpected friend, Moose, on a surprising journey. For fans of Suzanne Lang’s Grumpy Monkey and Kelly Bingham and Paul O. Zelinsky’s Z Is for Moose.

Join Duck, Duck, and Goose as they soar through the skies, leaving the cold weather behind on their annual migration south. Will Goose and friends catch a ride on a caboose? Will Duck’s truck get stuck in the muck? And why is there a moose in this book? Wait, where did Moose go?

John Hare, the acclaimed author-artist of A Mouthful of Minnows, has crafted a hilarious picture book full of rhyming wordplay, exuberant illustrations, and friendship—and featuring a sly nod to seasonal migration. Duck, Duck, Goose! is an innovative, playful, and unpredictable picture book that begs to be read again and again, making it a wonderful choice for emergent readers as well as family and storytime sharing. – Greenwillow Books

Hiro, winter and marshmallows written and illustrated by Marine Schneider, translated by Vineet Lal

A dreamlike tale about a bear, a boy, and the conversation they share one snowy evening.

​Hiro is a bear too curious to sleep all winter long. So she packs her things, heads out of her cave, and follows some odd tracks in the snow…. straight into a bonfire party! Everyone runs away—except for Émile. He is a boy too curious to give up his chance to talk to a bear. “What it’s like, being a bear?” Émile asks Hiro. As bear and boy sit, talk, and roast marshmallows, a friendship sparks between them…

With wonderfully quirky narration and richly colored art, this enchanting book begs to be read aloud on cozy nights by the fire. Young readers will be delighted by Hiro and Émile’s winter world of crackling bonfires, bear songs, and ooey-gooey toasted marshmallows. – Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

In the Winter written and illustrated by Lauren Kukla

From the author of Being Me from A to Z comes the charming illustrated tale In the Winter. Travel through snowy woods, over frozen lakes, and beneath dark winter skies aglow with sparkling stars and northern lights. Animals make silent tracks in the snow, while others snooze in their burrows. Communities prepare for events and festivities. This delightful story celebrates the gentle beauty of winter, showing how it brings us together with a quiet sense of coziness and the warmth that comes from human connection.

In the Winter invites readers to embrace the season’s beauty while awaiting warmer days. With soft, cozy illustrations capturing the essence of winter, this book is the perfect companion for bedtime and cherished family moments. – North Star Editions

It’s Winter! written and illustrated by Renée Kurilla

There’s so much to love about winter! From snowball fights with friends to holidays spent with loved ones, cozy up with this celebration of a festive, favorite season from #1 New York Times bestselling artist Renée Kurilla.

Flurries flutter, soft and light. It’s winter, and our world is bright!

Pull out your warmest coat, mittens, and scarf! It’s time for sledding, skating, and snowmen! And don’t forget the hot chocolate, decorations, and special time with family and friends—it’s winter! From Hanukkah and Kwanzaa to Christmas and Valentine’s Day, get in the spirit of the season with this joyful rhyming follow-up to It’s Fall! from a New York Times bestselling creator. – Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

A Little Like Magic written and illustrated by Sarah Kurpiel

Winner of the Schneider Book Award and glistening with winter charm, this is an exhilarating, tender story of pushing past your comfort zone and finding inspiration in art and natural beauty.

Our young narrator doesn’t like itchy hats or cold wind, and she especially doesn’t like going places she’s never been before. But she reluctantly agrees to join her mom at an ice festival, where they watch sculptors chisel and drill until it’s too cold to watch anymore. That night the girl discovers that she has lost the horse figurine she’d brought with her, and she wishes she’d never gone . . . until the next night, when they return to the festival and see what the artists have created: sparkling, glorious sculptures that feel a little like magic. One surprise in particular seems even more magical to the girl. The ice art will stay with her long, long after it has melted away. – Rocky Pond Books

Ready for Winter written by Federico van Lunter, illustrated by Katya Longhi

Felix Fox is ready for winter.
He’s looking forward to a fun snow day!
But . . . not a single snowflake is falling.
That’s okay! Felix Fox’s friends remind him that
winter is beautiful, with or without snow. Just watch!

A cheerful and familiar book about the first snow.
For winter kids ages 3 years and up. – Clavis Publishing

Sally’s Snow Day written by Andrew Larsen, illustrated by Dawn Lo

Sally is going out in the snow!

It’s a winter’s day and Sally the dog is headed to the park! But first she has to put on some warm clothes: coat and boots. It’s not easy to zip up a pup, but finally she’s ready to sniff and snout her way through the snow. At the park she finds other pups to play with and sees people rolling snowballs to make snowdogs of all shapes and sizes! Sally sniffs them all before saying goodbye to her new friends and heading back home for a well-earned snooze. – Orca Book Publishers

Snow is… written by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez

From award-winning author Laura Gehl, a sparkling, lyrical picture book about the magic of an early snow.

It’s dawn and there is snow all around. The wonder of winter’s first snowfall brings the magic of changing seasons and sees a family sharing the perfect snow day with coziness and togetherness from dawn to dusk. – Simon & Schuster / Paula Wiseman Books

The Snow Thief written by Alice Hemming, illustrated by Nicola Slater

From New York Times bestselling author of The Leaf Thief comes the funny snowy companion picture book that teaches kids about winter, adapting to change, and the seasons.

Squirrel and Bird are back, and this time it’s winter! But squirrel has never seen snow before. Will he like it? You bet he will! Except, just as Squirrel starts to get used to the snow, it disappears. Is there a snow thief on the loose?

With vibrant art and captivating characters, the magic of winter is captured beautifully on each page as readers tag along Squirrel’s forest adventure. Is there truly a snow thief on the loose, or is something else going on in Squirrel’s forest? A perfect exploration of change—both seasonal, and the anxiety that change sometimes causes. Bonus material explaining about the changing of the seasons. Poised to be a new fall classic. – Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

So Cold! story by John Coy, illustrations by Chris Park

Embrace the cold with this engaging children’s book about a father and son who practice science experiments using household objects outside on a snowy day!

When the temperature drops far below freezing, many people plan to stay warm and cozy inside. But when it’s “so cold” that everyday things behave in unusual ways, it is worth the effort to get outside and play! In this vibrantly illustrated children’s story, a boy and his father dress in layer after layer before braving the cold, and the youngster declares: “Call me Freezeman!” Together the two experiment: What happens when boiling water is flung into the air? Or when maple syrup is poured on clean snow? The night before they left a banana outside: now it’s frozen solid. Can they can use it like a hammer? A helium balloon that floats inside the house changes dramatically in the freezing air. These and other discoveries await explorers bold enough to venture out on a bright and chilly day. Back inside at the end of the day, no wonder Freezeman declares: “so cold is so fun!” This playful narrative by John Coy celebrates curiosity and exploration, while Chris Park’s brilliant artwork illuminates a winter landscape that is anything but bleak. An author’s note explains the science behind the various experiments, leaving just one question: with all these amazing activities to undertake with your favorite adult when it’s “so cold,” why would anyone prefer to stay inside? – Minnesota Historical Society Press

Winter magic written by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Wendell Minor

A heartwarming, rhyming picture book that rejoices in the seasonal beauty of winter by the award-winning creative team behind The Great Zombie Pumpkin Parade.

Discover the magic of winter in this heartwarming read-aloud full of cozy charm and beautiful artwork. Best enjoyed with a mug of hot cocoa in hand, this seasonal celebration captures a beloved time of year—from making snow angels and gingerbread houses to sledding and ice-skating, to lighting the menorah and decorating with holiday wreaths and trees. It’s all inside this timeless gift book that brims with both seasonal and holiday cheer. Winter is special for all to experience and enjoy! – Christy Ottaviano Books

Winter Solstice Wish written by Kate Allen Fox, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli

On the shortest day of the year, people reach out for light–and one another–in this luminous, lyrical winter solstice story.

Today we stretch the daylight as much as we can, trying to make it last.

On the shortest day of the year, when daylight slips by like sand through one’s fingers, people savor the light. As night falls, a community gathers on a beach and builds a bonfire of hope. Winter Solstice Wish is an ode to the winter solstice, human connectedness, and the hope of renewal.

Inspired by winter solstice bonfires built on a San Diego beach near the author’s home, Winter Solstice Wish combines scientific concepts with the intangible longing for connection and togetherness that people all over the world reach for on the shortest day. Backmatter includes information about global winter solstice celebrations and a brief scientific explanation of what’s happening on a solstice. – Beaming Books

Online Reading Challenge – December

- Stephanie Leave a comment

Welcome Readers!

This month the Online Reading Challenge is focusing on historical fiction. Our main title for December is Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Here’s a quick summary from the publisher:

Inspired by true events that rocked the nation, a searing and compassionate new novel about a Black nurse in post-segregation Alabama who blows the whistle on a terrible injustice done to her patients, from the New York Times bestselling author of Wench

Montgomery, Alabama, 1973. Fresh out of nursing school, Civil Townsend intends to make a difference, especially in her African American community. At the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, she hopes to help women shape their destinies, to make their own choices for their lives and bodies.

But when her first week on the job takes her along a dusty country road to a worn-down one-room cabin, Civil is shocked to learn that her new patients, Erica and India, are children—just eleven and thirteen years old. Neither of the Williams sisters has even kissed a boy, but they are poor and Black, and for those handling the family’s welfare benefits, that’s reason enough to have the girls on birth control. As Civil grapples with her role, she takes India, Erica, and their family into her heart. Until one day she arrives at their door to learn the unthinkable has happened, and nothing will ever be the same for any of them.

Decades later, with her daughter grown and a long career in her wake, Dr. Civil Townsend is ready to retire, to find her peace, and to leave the past behind. But there are people and stories that refuse to be forgotten. That must not be forgotten.

Because history repeats what we don’t remember.

Inspired by true events and brimming with hope, Take My Hand is a stirring exploration of accountability and redemption. – Berkley

Looking for some other historical fiction titles? Try any of the following.

As always, check each of our locations for displays with lots more titles to choose from!

Online Reading Challenge – November Wrap-Up

- Stephanie Leave a comment

How did your reading go this month? Did you read a detective or crime fiction title for November? Share in the comments!

I read our main title: The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King.  Originally published in 1994, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice (Or On the Segregation of the Queen) is the first book in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie R. King. This title was also a nominee for the Agatha Award for Best Novel in 1995.

When searching for a book to read for this month, I knew I wanted to pay homage to the great Sherlock Holmes, but I didn’t want to read something written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which led me to exploring spinoffs. I eventually found Laurie R. King and her Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. This series started in 1994 and has a total of 19 books so far. The latest book in the series, Knave of Diamonds, was published in 2025.

Let’s get into The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. It’s 1915 and Sherlock Holmes has been retired for quite a number of years. When a young Mary Russell stumbles upon an older gentleman on the Sussex Downs studying honeybees, she doesn’t realize that he is Sherlock Holmes at first. Russell is gawky, exceptionally smart, and recently orphaned, but her intellect is what attracts her to Holmes. Holmes decides to tutor Russell, which eventually leads them on a variety of cases throughout this first book. Eventually they are called to Scotland Yard to assist with finding the kidnapped daughter of an American senator. This case ends up being connected to Holmes’ past in a significant way and has deep repercussions for Holmes and Russell’s futures.

My thoughts: I quite enjoyed the fact that Sherlock Holmes was coming out of retirement a bit reluctantly in this book. Russell and Sherlock’s relationship was also intriguing. They become reluctant friends throughout this book with a relationship that changes the more they learn about each other. The disguises, danger, and problem solving was top-notch in this book. I also quite enjoyed that this book was told from young Mary Russell’s point of view which allowed me to take a step back and see Holmes through different eyes. All in all, a sold start to the series.

Next month, we will be reading historical fiction!

In addition to following the Online Reading Challenge here on our Info Cafe blog, you can join our Online Reading Challenge group on Goodreads and discuss your reads!

Dual Timeline Young Adult Fiction

- Stephanie Leave a comment

Let’s talk about a controversial narrative structure in books: dual timelines. Some people love them, some people hate them! Dual timelines usually present as past and present narratives that are linked together by a common mystery, thread, or story. Sometimes dual timelines are told from the perspective of the same character, but they can be told from two different characters’ perspectives at different points in time. The important key to remember, and what separates dual timelines from a multiple narrator or dual perspectives story, is that one timeline is typically set in the past and another is set closer to the present. I fall in the reader camp that loves dual timelines. I love the switch between characters, seeing how the past informs the present, and the little clues that the author leaves for readers to find. Below I have gathered six young adult novels with dual timelines that have caught my attention recently. As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions are provided by the publishers.

All You Have to Do by Autumn Allen

In All You Have to Do, two young Black men attend prestigious schools nearly thirty years apart, yet both navigate similar forms of insidious racism.

In April 1968, in the wake of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, Kevin joins a protest that shuts down his Ivy League campus . . .

In September 1995, amid controversy over the Million Man March, Gibran challenges the “See No Color” hypocrisy of his prestigious New England prep school . . .

As the two students, whose lives overlap in powerful ways, risk losing the opportunities their parents worked hard to provide, they move closer to discovering who they want to be instead of accepting as fact who society and family tell them they are. – Kokila

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

The fire wasn’t Marlowe Wexler’s fault. Dates should be hot, but not hot enough to warrant literal firefighters. Akilah, the girl Marlowe has been in love with for years, will never go out with her again. No one dates an accidental arsonist.

With her house-sitting career up in flames, it seems the universe owes Marlowe a new summer job, and that’s how she ends up at Morning House, a mansion built on an island in the 1920s and abandoned shortly thereafter. It’s easy enough, giving tours. Low risk of fire. High chance of getting bored talking about stained glass and nut cutlets and Prohibition.

Oh, and the deaths. Did anyone mention the deaths?

Maybe this job isn’t such a gift after all. Morning House has a horrific secret that’s been buried for decades, and now the person who brought her here is missing.

All it takes is one clue to set off a catastrophic chain of events. One small detail, just like a spark, could burn it all down—if someone doesn’t bury Marlowe first. – HarperCollins

Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler

Natalya Fox has twenty-four hours to make the biggest choice of her life: stay home in NYC for the summer with her dad (and finally screw up the courage to talk to the girl she’s been crushing on), or spend it with her basically estranged mom in LA (knowing this is the best chance she has to fix their relationship, if she even wants to.) (Does she want to?)

How’s a girl supposed to choose?

She can’t, and so both summers play out in alternating timelines – one in which Natalya explores the city, tries to repair things with her mom, works on figuring out her future, and goes for the girl she’s always wanted. And one in which Natalya explores the city, tries to repair things with her mom, works on figuring out her future, and goes for the guy she never saw coming. – Wednesday Books

Nothing Burns as Bright as You by Ashley Woodfolk

Two girls. One wild and reckless day. Years of tumultuous history unspooling like a thin, fraying string in the hours after they set a fire.

They were best friends. Until they became more. Their affections grew. Until the blurry lines became dangerous.

Over the course of a single day, the depth of their past, the confusion of their present, and the unpredictability of their future is revealed. And the girls will learn that hearts, like flames, aren’t so easily tamed.

It starts with a fire.

How will it end? – Versify

Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian

2019. Moud is an out gay teen living in Los Angeles with his distant father, Saeed. When Moud gets the news that his grandfather in Iran is dying, he accompanies his dad to Tehran, where the revelation of family secrets will force Moud into a new understanding of his history, his culture, and himself.

1978. Saeed is an engineering student with a promising future ahead of him in Tehran. But when his parents discover his involvement in the country’s burgeoning revolution, they send him to safety in America, a country Saeed despises. And even worse—he’s forced to live with the American grandmother he never knew existed.

1939. Bobby, the son of a calculating Hollywood stage mother, lands a coveted MGM studio contract. But the fairy-tale world of glamour he’s thrust into has a dark side.

Set against the backdrop of Tehran and Los Angeles, this tale of intergenerational trauma and love is an ode to the fragile bonds of family, the hidden secrets of history, and all the beautiful moments that make us who we are today. – HarperCollins

Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer

Ellis and Easton have been inseparable since childhood. But when a rash decision throws Ellis’s life—and her relationship with Easton—into chaos, she’s forced to move halfway across the country, far from everything she’s ever known.

Now Ellis hasn’t spoken to Easton in a year, and maybe it’s better that way; maybe eventually the Easton-shaped hole in her heart will heal.

But when Easton’s mom invites her home for a visit, Ellis finds herself tangled up in the web of heartache, betrayal, and anger she left behind . . . and with the boy she never stopped loving. – HarperCollins

November’s Celebrity Book Club Picks

- Stephanie Leave a comment

Bestsellers Club is a service that automatically places you on hold for authors, celebrity picks, nonfiction picks, and fiction picks. Choose any author, celebrity pick, fiction pick, and/or nonfiction pick and The Library will put the latest title on hold for you automatically. Select as many as you want! Still have questions? Click here for a list of FAQs.

It’s a new month which means that Jenna Bush Hager and Reese Witherspoon have picked new books for their book clubs! Oprah has also recently announced a new pick. Reminder that if you join Bestsellers Club, you can choose to have their selections automatically put on hold for you.

Jenna Bush Hager has selected Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite for her November pick.

Curious what Cursed Daughters is about? Check out the following description provided by the publisher.

When Ebun gives birth to her daughter, Eniiyi, on the day they bury her cousin Monife, there is no denying the startling resemblance between the child and the dead woman. So begins the belief, fostered and fanned by the entire family, that Eniiyi is the actual reincarnation of Monife, fated to follow in her footsteps in all ways, including that tragic end.

There is also the matter of the family curse: “No man will call your house his home. And if they try, they will not have peace…” which has been handed down from generation to generation, breaking hearts and causing three generations of abandoned Falodun women to live under the same roof.

When Eniiyi falls in love with the handsome boy she saves from drowning, she can no longer run from her family’s history. As several women in her family have done before, she ill-advisedly seeks answers in older, darker spiritual corners of Lagos, demanding solutions. Is she destined to live out the habitual story of love and heartbreak? Or can she break the pattern once and for all, not only avoiding the spiral that led Monife to her lonely death, but liberating herself from all the family secrets and unspoken traumas that have dogged her steps since before she could remember?

Cursed Daughters is a brilliant cocktail of modernity and superstition, vibrant humor and hard-won wisdom, romantic love and familial obligation. With its unforgettable cast of characters, it asks us what it means to be given a second chance and how to live both wisely and well with what we’ve been given. – Doubleday

This title is also available in large print.

Reese Witherspoon has selected Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy for her November pick.

Curious what Wild Dark Shore is about? Check out the following description provided by the publisher.

A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon.

Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers, but with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants. Until, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman mysteriously washes ashore.

Isolation has taken its toll on the Salts, but as they nurse the woman, Rowan, back to strength, it begins to feel like she might just be what they need. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting herself, starts imagining a future where she could belong to someone again.

But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, they all must decide if they can trust each other enough to protect the precious seeds in their care before it’s too late—and if they can finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together.

A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us disappears. – Flatiron Books

This title is also available in large print.

Oprah Winfrey has selected Some Bright Nowhere by Ann Packer for her latest pick.

Curious what this title is about? Check out the following description provided by the publisher.

The bestselling, beloved author returns with her first novel in over a decade, an intimate and profoundly moving look at a long marriage and the ways in which a startling request can change a couple’s understanding of who they are, together and apart.

Eliot and his wife Claire have been happily married for nearly four decades. They’ve raised two children in their sleepy Connecticut town and have weathered the inevitable ups and downs of a long life spent together. But eight years after Claire was diagnosed with cancer, the end is near, and it’s time to gather loved ones and prepare for the inevitable.

Over the years of Claire’s illness, Eliot has willingly—lovingly—shifted into the role of caregiver, appreciating the intimacy and tenderness that comes with a role even more layered and complex than the one he performed as a devoted husband. But as he focuses on settling into what will be their last days and weeks together, Claire makes an unexpected request that leaves him reeling. In a moment, his carefully constructed world is shattered.

What if your partner’s dying wish broke your heart? How well do we know the deepest desires of those we love dearly? As Eliot is confronted with this profound turning point in his marriage and his life, he grapples with the man and husband he’s been, and with the great unknowns of Claire’s last days.

Ann Packer makes a triumphant return with this powerful novel that is tender and raw, visceral and unexpected. Emotionally vibrant and complex, Some Bright Nowhere explores the profound gifts and unexpected costs of truly loving someone, and the fears and desires we experience as the end of life draws near. – Harper

This title is also available in large print.

Join Bestsellers Club to have Oprah, Jenna, and Reese’s adult selections automatically put on hold for you!

New Pregnancy and Parenting Books

- Stephanie Leave a comment

Everyone has their own opinions on pregnancy and parenting. While the Library is by no means an expert, we do have the resources to help you on your pregnancy and parenthood journey. We have gathered a list of new nonfiction books published in 2024 and 2025to help parents and parents-to-be! As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. This is not a complete list of the new pregnancy and parenting books in our collection! If you are looking for others, please let us know. Descriptions are provided by the publishers.

The Bonus Family Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Co-Parenting and Creating Stronger Families by Jann Blackstone

Imagine you’re in a heated argument. Your kids have decided that they don’t want to go back to your ex’s home, and your ex isn’t having it. Meanwhile, your new partner is squirming uncomfortably in the other room. What do you do? How do you stop the madness and come together to find the best solution for everyone?

The Bonus Family Handbook introduces readers to a completely new approach to co-parenting and blending families. Until now, parents have been told that once there’s been a break-up, they become autonomous, single parents, and can make decisions for their children on their own. But that’s not true. That’s not real life. That “old school” break-up attitude offers no direction for co-parenting. The Bonus Family Handbook changes all that. It helps even the most contentious parents learn how to work together in the name of their children, teaching them how to apply practical co-parenting techniques so that they will be able to form a supportive, loving family.

The Bonus Family Handbook also recognizes the importance of incorporating new partners into the mix—of bringing in Bonus Moms and Bonus Dads—and empowering them to make decisions for the safety and well-being of the children. With its emphasis on positive, collaborative co-parenting, this book is an essential resource for today’s integrated families. – Bloomsbury Publishing

BoyMom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity by Ruth Whippman

Combining painfully honest memoir, cultural analysis, and reporting, BoyMom is a humorous and heartbreaking deep dive into the complexities of raising boys in our fraught political moment.

“Rapist, school-shooter, incel, man-child, interrupter, mansplainer, boob-starer, birthday forgetter, frat boy, dude-bro, homophobe, self-important stoner, emotional-labor abstainer, non-wiper of kitchen counters. Trying to raise good sons suddenly felt like a hopeless task.”

As the culture wars rage, and masculinity has been politicized from all sides, feminist writer and mother of three boys Ruth Whippman finds herself conflicted and scared. While the right pushes a dangerous vision of fantasy manhood, her feminist peers often dismiss boys as little more than entitled predators-in-waiting. Meanwhile her home life feels like a daily confrontation with the triumph of nature over nurture.

With young men in the grip of a loneliness epidemic and dying by suicide at a rate of nearly four times their female peers, Whippman asks: How do we raise our sons to have a healthy sense of self without turning them into privileged assholes? How can we find a feminism that holds boys to a higher standard but still treats them with empathy? And what do we do when our boys won’t cooperate with our plans?

Whippman digs into the impossibly contradictory pressures boys now face; and the harmful blind spots of male socialization that are leaving boys isolated, emotionally repressed, and adrift. Feminist gonzo-style, she spends months interviewing incels, reports on a conference for boys accused of sexual assault; crashes at a residential therapy center for young men in Utah, talks to a wide range of psychologists and other experts, and gets boys of all backgrounds to open up about sex, consent, porn, body image, mental health, cancel culture, screens, friendship and loneliness. Along the way, she finds her simple certainties about male privilege seriously challenged.

With wit, honesty, and a refusal to settle for easy answers, BoyMom charts a new path to give boys a healthier, more expansive, and fulfilling story about their own lives. – Harmony

Growing Up: A Guide to Puberty and Adolescence for Teenagers and Parents by Robert M. L. Winston

The teenage years can be awkward – bodies change, and sweat, smells, and spots become part of life.

Growing Up has a supportive but straightforward approach that gives you the knowledge ahead of time.

Why do boys’ voices break? How do hormones work? From managing spots to mending a broken heart, this book has the answers and advice for parents and kids on discussing potentially embarrassing topics. Inside this book, you’ll find: -An overview of the main areas of growing up, including mental and physical health, social media, relationships, exams and money-Clear, step-by-step explanations to support parents and children in tackling important issues such as puberty, gender, self-expression, digital life and so much more-Simple and colourful graphics to make these subjects seem a little less scary As well as the biological facts of puberty, this book is bursting with tips on how to navigate the emotional and social challenges of growing up – from relationships and confidence to cyberbullying and alcohol.

It gives you the tools to understand and tackle challenging subjects, including discrimination, drugs, and difficult life events, and practical, straightforward guidance on mental health issues such as anxiety and low self-esteem. Growing Up has also been updated so it contains content on contemporary topics such as post-pandemic mental health, eco-anxiety, online hate, and the impact of influencers. – DK

Manners Begin at Breakfast: Modern Etiquette for Families, Revised and Updated Edition by Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece

Princess Marie-Chantal’s must-have parenting resource for the modern age, now fully revised and updated

Manners Begin at Breakfast addresses rules of etiquette, including table manners, social media, fashion dos and don’ts, and party conversation. Covering children from infants to teens, it is an essential guide for all parents keen to raise polite, well-rounded children, equipped to thrive in society and develop into confident, successful adults.

This updated edition captivates and enlightens, adding new insights on parenting in a post-pandemic world. By popular demand, each chapter is now peppered with delightful anecdotes and personal stories from Marie-Chantal’s experience putting her own advice into practice.

Adorned with charming, specially commissioned illustrations and a fresh, updated introduction by leading pediatrician Dr. Perri Klass, Manners Begin at Breakfast is the quintessential guide to propriety for the modern family.

The founder of a successful children’s clothing line, author of an influential parenting blog, and mother of five children, Marie-Chantal of Greece is constantly asked how she manages to do it all. So many of these queries–about proper etiquette for children in our fast-paced, technology-centered world–led her to recognize the need for a modern handbook on children’s manners. – Vendome Press

My Child is Trans, Now What?: A Joy-Centered Approach to Support by Ben V Greene

As a full-time public speaker specializing in spreading awareness and understanding of the transgender community, what I hear the most from parents and loved ones is the phrase “I’m sorry.” They’re sorry for using the wrong word, sorry for asking an offensive question, sorry for not knowing this already, sorry for asking a question at all. Far too often, people who have good hearts and minimal access to information are so afraid to make a mistake they don’t even try.

In My Child is Trans, Now What? A Joy-Centered Approach to Support, I break the mold by offering a judgement-free guide to people across generations, from millennial parents to members of older generations who may not have had previous positive exposure to the trans community. I focus on providing two key resources in this book: information and emotional support. He explains what to expect, what systems exist to support trans youth, and what loved ones can do to help.

Using a combination of personal stories and experiences, definitions, and additional resources, My Child is Trans, Now What? is an essential guide for anyone looking to help trans youth thrive. – Ben Greene

Parent Yourself First: Raise Confident, Compassionate Kids by Becoming the Parent You Wish You’d Had by Bryana Kappadakunnel

A fresh, no-nonsense parenting guide that shows you how to become a great parent (even if you didn’t have one yourself).

Many of us didn’t have a perfect childhood. But it’s never too late (or too early!) to transform into the parent you were always meant to be—grounded, present, intentional, compassionate, and confident. In Parent Yourself First, licensed marriage and family therapist Bryana Kappadakunnel argues that the secret to successful parenting is to UN-learn the wounded patterns you grew up with and create new ways to connect with your child. Parenting from a place of connection may feel unlike anything you experienced as a child or what you thought parenting was meant to be. But the results can be remarkable—and transformative.

As the founder of the popular Conscious Mommy community on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, Kappadakunnel explains that your upbringing is probably impacting your parenting style in ways you don’t even fully recognize, from how you manage your own emotions to how you connect with your kids in their vulnerable moments. In Parent Yourself First, she shares powerful stories from the families she’s counseled and practical tools for managing common parenting woes like tantrums and defiance. Her promise: You can break free of past patterns that no longer serve you and liberate your soul from old traumas and wounds.

Everyone has baggage. But it’s your responsibility to make sure your baggage doesn’t become your child’s problem. Healing yourself allows you to truly connect with your child; understand their needs; and guide them to live the happy, authentic life that they deserve. – G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Why Won’t You Sleep?! A Game-Changing Approach for Exhausted Parents of Nonstop, Super Alert, Big Feeling Kids by Macall Gordon and Kim West

Have you tried everything to get your child to sleep and nothing has worked? You are not alone.

Researcher and sleep coach Macall Gordon and the Sleep Lady Kim West offer a tried-and-true approach to shifting sleep behavior that actually works . . . even when nothing else has.

A tsunami of modern sleep training methods promise “easy” and “quick” results and for many parents and children, these methods work as intended. However, there is a large, exhausted group of parents whose children have sleep problems that are not responsive to those crying-based methods.

These children tend to be more reactive, persistent, and perceptive than their peers. And when it comes to sleep, little ones with this kind of temperament put up a much, much bigger fight. They need a different approach. That’s where Why Won’t You Sleep? comes in.

Based on extensive research and proven methods used with thousands of families just like yours, this guide gives you strategies tailored to your child’s unique temperament. Readers will learn:

  • Why popular sleep training techniques don’t work for some children
  • The strengths and challenges of your child’s temperament traits
  • Simple changes to your child’s routine and environment that set you up for success
  • How to create a plan for your child, using the time-tested approach that doesn’t require leaving anyone alone to cry
  • Tips, tricks, and workarounds for bedtime shenanigans, night wakings, co-sleeping, and more
  • How to confidently push past plateaus and setbacks

Along the way, Gordon and West provide much-needed encouragement, validation, and insights to bolster parents’ self-confidence and resilience. Why Won’t You Sleep?! gives you concrete answers to why sleep has been more challenging for these kiddos—and offers parents a much-needed dose of “I’ve got this!” – BenBella Books