In November, Morgan and I read The Girls in Navy Blue by Alix Rickloff in honor of Veteran’s Day on November 11th. Below is a short synopsis of the book and what I thought of it!
1918: Viv, holding tight a secret, enlists in the United States Navy as part of their new Yeomanette program. Trying to escape her past, Viv is befriended and taken in by the boisterous and tough Blanche. The pair then take in Marjorie, another Yeomanette, and the 3 women strike a bond to last a lifetime.
1968: Peggy has recently inherited her great aunt’s home in Virginia. Determined to fix up the home and put it on the market, Peggy hopes to distract herself from the heartbreak of her past and make something old, new again.
This dual-timeline story was full of friendship, redemption, and finding love when you least expect it!
Morgan and I have a very exciting lineup of book options for December. Below are our 4 options including our winning title! Feel free to check them out from Davenport Public Library!
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen (In Honor of Write a Friend Month)
Hart Ralston is a marshal, tasked with patrolling the wasteland of Tanria, hunting for drudges. It’s an unforgiving job, and Hart’s got nothing but time to ponder his loneliness. Mercy Birdsall never has a moment to herself. She’s been single-handedly keeping Birdsall & Son Undertakers afloat – despite definitely not being a son – in defiance of sullen jerks like Hart Ralston, who seems to have a gift for showing up right when her patience is thinnest. After yet another exasperating run-in with Mercy, Hart finds himself penning a letter addressed simply to “A Friend”. Much to his surprise, an anonymous letter comes back in return, and a tentative friendship is born. If only Hart knew he’s been baring his soul to the person who infuriates him most – Mercy. As the unlikely pen pals grow closer, so does the danger posed by the drudges. And suddenly their old animosity seems so small compared to what they might be able to do: end the drudges forever. But can their blossoming romance survive the fated discovery that their pen pals are their worst nightmares – each other?
– provided by our catalog
*December Pick* The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (In Honor of Thank a Soldier Week – The Week of Christmas)
The year is 1974, Ernt Allbright decides to uproot his family to live off the grid in America’s last true frontier, Alaska. Once in Alaska, the family is taken in by generous locals but as the days grow shorter, Ernt’s mental health declines leaving his family to have to fend for themselves.
– provided by Goodreads
All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata (In Honor of National Roof Over Your Head Day on December 3rd)
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (In Honor of Roots Day on December 23rd)
From the bestselling author of Mexican Gothic and Velvet Was the Night comes a dreamy reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Mexico. Carlota Moreau: A young woman growing up on a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of a researcher who is either a genius or a madman. Montgomery Laughton: A melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol. An outcast who assists Dr. Moreau with his experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas and plentiful coffers. The hybrids: The fruits of the doctor’s labor, destined to blindly obey their creator and remain in the shadows. A motley group of part human, part animal monstrosities. All of them live in a perfectly balanced and static world, which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Dr. Moreau’s patron, who will unwittingly begin a dangerous chain reaction. For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and, in the sweltering heat of the jungle, passions may ignite. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is both a dazzling historical novel and a daring science fiction journey.– provided by our catalog
If you are interested in any of these titles, or have read them, I want to talk about them! Please consider leaving a comment!
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