Six new albums are now available on QC Beats!
Bontempi by Centaur Noir,
Music for the Next Scene by Chrash,
REVELATIONS by Connor Lyle,
Fish Out Water by Lewy Canoe,
Light of the Dark by Molly Conrad, and
and Shapes and Colors by The Textures.
QCBeats is an online streaming audio collection of original music featuring Quad Cities musicians and artists. QC Beats is a collaboration between Davenport Public Library, Bettendorf Public Library, and St. Ambrose University.
In this blog post, I will give you helpful links to area resources, Library resources, and links to the books discussed in our February 2025 episode! If you have not listened to this episode yet, you can listen to Checked In: A Davenport Public Library Podcast online or wherever you get your podcasts!
Romance Tropes!
It’s February and love is in the air! Our hosts shared some of their favorite romance tropes as well as least favorite and gave examples of some of their favorite reads! The books and tropes discussed in this segment are below!
One Bed Trope
– The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
– Love You a Latke by Amanda Elliot
– The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
Fake Relationship Trope
– A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Caña
– Funny Story by Emily Henry
– The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
– The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas
– The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
– The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Enemies to Lovers Trope
– Summertime Punchline by Betty Corrello
– The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
– Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam (publishes in May – check back!)
Grumpy x Sunshine Trope
– Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
– The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
– It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
– My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey
Forbidden Romance Trope
– The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore
Arranged Marriages/Honorable Marriages/Political Marriages Trope
– Dark Olympus Series by Katee Robert
Forced Proximity Trope
– The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
The FRIENDS of the Davenport Public Library
The FRIENDS of The Davenport Public Library! The mission of the FRIENDS of the Davenport Public Library is to raise funds and manage an endowment portfolio that will provide resources to support the literary and educational purposes of the Davenport Public Library. In addition to all of this, they also operate our bookstores! To learn more about the FRIENDS and how to get involved, visit friendsofdavenportlibrary.org.
The Librarians Celebrate Spunky Old Broads Day
Spunky Old Broads Day is a day to celebrate older women for their wisdom, courage, and vivacity, and is celebrated on February 1, but you can celebrate all month long! Below are the titles showcased in this segment!
– My Name is Barbara by Barbara Streisand
– Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik
– The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton
– The Marlow Murder Club Series by Robert Thorogood
– The Thursday Murder Club Series by Richard Osman
– Mrs. Plansky Series by Spencer Quinn
– Agnes Sharp Murder Mysteries by Leonie Swann
– Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino
– The Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich
– Summertime Punchline by Betty Corrello
DavenportU Citizens Academy with Allie McWilliams
DavenportU Citizens Academy is a ten-session program aimed at connecting citizens to their local government. If you have ever been curious about how the City prioritizes projects or how heavy a firefighters turnout gear is – this academy could be for you!
“I look forward to meeting Davenport’s most engaged citizens in each year’s cohort,” said Davenport Mayor Mike Matson. “Even long-time residents of Davenport can learn something new at DavenportU.”
Each session of DavenportU takes citizens behind the scenes of City government with interactive experiences, tours, and presentations. From community and economic development to public safety and parks, DavenportU participants move around the City to learn about the inner workings of each department. DavenportU concludes with a graduation ceremony at the City Council Meeting on May 28, 2025.
Be sure to apply by February 21st here!
Show Your Love for Our Library
To get more involved or to learn more about how to share your love, visit our Advocacy Page!
Black History Month Reading Suggestions
February is Black History Month! Below are some titles that the hosts have enjoyed and hope that you will too!
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Deacon King Kong by James McBride
James by Percival Everett
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Becoming by Michelle Obama
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
What Our Hosts Read In January
Beth’s Reads:
The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg
Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Woman Behind the Legend by John E. Miller
Brittany’s Reads:
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Being Henry: The Fonz… and Beyond by Henry Winkler, narrated by Henry and Stacey Winkler
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle, narrated by Megan Hilty
The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood, narrated by Sofia Oxenham
A Dish Best Served Hot by Natalie Caña
The Last Love Note by Emma Grey, narrated by Leeanna Walsman
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Stephanie’s Reads:
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, narrated by Michael Crouch
Girl Forgotten by April Henry
The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, narrated by Ocean Vuong
Buried in a Good Book by Tamara Berry
The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont, narrated by Lucy Scott
Honey Mead Murder by Dahlia Donovan (Not Available in Rivershare)
Guilt and Ginataan by Mia P. Manansala, narrated by Danice Cabanela
The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, narrated by Jeanette Illidge & Tapiwa Mugweni
On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry
If you would like to listen to our episode, it can be found wherever you get your podcasts. If you prefer listening on the web, it can be found here!
We love hearing from our listeners, please feel free to comment on this blog post, on our socials, or email us at checked.in@davenportlibrary.com.
In January, Morgan and I read The Last Love Note by Emma Grey in honor of Thank a National Handwriting Day on January 23rd. Below is a short synopsis of the book.
Kate’s husband, Cam receives a diagnosis with no cure that progresses quickly leaving her a 39-year-old widow with a small son. Quickly in survival mode, Kate jumps into caring for her son, and dives into her new job. Living through her grief every day, Kate finds it hard to move on from losing the love of her life.
When a work trip presents itself, Kate and boss/friend Hugh jump on a plane but end up stranded on the other side of the continent. The first time away from her son, Kate has the ability to deal with her grief head-on and decide where she wants her life to go and who will be joining her on this next journey.
This book gutted me, it was so beautiful and sad and full of hope. Emma Grey dove headfirst into the grieving process and did so with many little snippets of comical relief with mix of beautiful characters.
Morgan and I have a very exciting lineup of book options for February. Below are our 4 options including our winning title: Just Another Missing Person. Feel free to check them out from Davenport Public Library!
On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi (In Honor of Black History Month & Women Physicians Day February 3rd )
For fans of Grey’s Anatomy and Seven Days in June, this dazzling debut novel by Shirlene Obuobi explores that time in your life when you must decide what you want, how to get it, & who you are, all while navigating love, friendship, and the realization that the path you’re traveling is going to be a bumpy ride.– provided by Goodreads
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner (In Honor of International Day of Women in Science February 11th )
A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them – setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course.– provided by Goodreads
Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyes (In Honor of Galentine’s Day February 13th )
Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister (In Honor of Missing Day February 20th )
From the author of the Reese’s Book Club Pick and the New York Times bestseller Wrong Place Wrong Time comes a new heart-stopping thriller in which a missing-person case unravels deeper, darker secrets that lead a detective to an impossible moral choice.– provided by Goodreads
If you are interested in any of these titles, or have read them, I want to talk about them! Please consider leaving a comment!
Want to converse with other QCL Book Club followers? Consider joining our Goodreads Group!
You can also access our recorded interviews by visiting the QCL Book Club Page!
If you missed the segment, you can watch it here!
The Nightmare Before Kissmas is book 1 in the Royals and Romance series by Sara Raasch. This book is a mix between The Nightmare Before Christmas, Red, White, & Royal Blue, and The Santa Clause and I absolutely LOVED it. 5/5 stars. It was delightful and raunchy and messy and adorable. The world building isn’t overwhelming, the characters are well-developed, and the relationships are realistic. The second book, Go Luck Yourself, is set to be published in March 2025. I can’t wait!
Nicholas ‘Coal’ Claus may be the heir apparent to Christmas, but that doesn’t stop him from being on the naughty list. His father, the reigning Santa, has turned Christmas into a PR stunt, hauling Coal and his younger brother out in front of the news media whenever he has the chance. Determined to find some normalcy, Coal isn’t afraid to bend the rules, even when his escapades end with him drunkenly making out with a random dark stranger in a bar alley after some devastating news breaks.
His attempts to escape are soon quelled by his father when Coal, his brother and his best friend Iris are brought together for Christmas kick-off festivities. Coal is shocked to discover that his father has decreed that he is to marry Iris. This whole situation is bound to end in disaster, given that his brother is secretly in love with Iris. When Halloween unexpectedly shows up with their own suitor for Iris, Coal is at a loss. His rival is the Prince of Halloween, who also happens to be the stranger he made out with behind that bar. This messy situation keeps devolving, leading Coal and his friends to have to fight for what their holidays and they themselves deserve.
Reliable, dependable, and comforting when not on prolonged vacations, Johnny Carson tucked a nation of millions in for three decades. “The Prince” stuffed his hands in his pockets and cornerstoned his career as the impish smirking naughty kid. He constructed a godlike level of cool, descending from his everyman persona. The key? His unabashed knack for self-deprecation, routinely forking over his dignity for the audience. And they revered him for it. It was funnier when the joke didn’t work, and when he skewered his failed nuptials. Johnny was in on the joke, contrary to all the prior self-serious talking heads.
When I thought I had enjoyed the definitive tell-all of Johnny, lo and behold Carson the Magnificent came out this past November. You get to hear the origins of everything….from the pantomimed golf swing to the iconic “heeeeere’s Johnny.” And then there’s experienced pitchman Ed, gameshow host and emcee with the boisterous guffaw, second only to that Dick Clark kid. Fun fact: fans expected Johnny to be diminutive, since he always stood next to his 6’ 4” WWII Naval Aviator second banana.
At times the late author Bill Zehme desperately wants you to know he had a high SAT verbal score. And I guess that’s okay for the New Yorker crowd. We learn when you get past the starlets and palatial estates he was just a journeyman Nebraska magician with a ca-ca eating grin. His mother’s cold-hearted cruelty ruined his adult relationships. After a couple drinks, he inherited this maternal trait. And when he said he was done, he meant it.
Not to belabor the point, but sample the magic Monday through Friday on antenna tv WQAD 8.2 at 9PM. And Saturdays at 10p!
It’s been a quarter-century, and he’s back, with a vengeance. No, it’s Malcolm Gladwell talking Tipping Points, not Pennywise the Clown. This part deux of his seminal work feels less positive, hence the “revenge” label. It’s more of the same fascinating ilk, searching for (this time negative) trends at the intersection of science and culture. Here we have several compelling case studies how a little yellow snowball can roll downhill to form a sociological avalanche.
He takes us to the streets of Los Angeles to meet the world’s most successful bank robbers, rediscovers a forgotten television show from the 1970s that changed the world, visits the site of a historic experiment on a tiny cul-de-sac in northern California, and offers an alternate history of two of the biggest epidemics of our day: COVID and the opioid crisis.
Gladwell teases qualitative meaning out of a heap of data, actually making statistics, well, interesting.
But there is another goal — tracing why things end up getting turned on their head in an astonishingly short period of time. We’re talking years, not millenia. How can we prevent a similar repeat? And, what does the “overstory” say about us? It’s disturbingly not so much the butterfly effect as unintended consequences of run-of-the-mill man-made meddling. We have the power to radically reshape our world (this time NOT for the best) with or without intention.
The over 2600 thrilling miles of the Pacific Crest Trail stretches along the west coast of the United States from Mexico to Canada. Each year thousands of hikers of all abilities attempt to hike the trail either from start to finish or in selected segments. As author Andrea Lankford quickly discovered and documents in Trail of the Lost, not all who hike the trail complete it successfully. Lankford has had a lengthy career searching remote areas as a former park ranger in the National Park Service’s law enforcement team. After her career at the National Park Service ended twelve years prior, Lankford discovered the stories of numerous missing persons hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. A few stories caught her attention and she continued to dig deeper to find out more. She discovered the stories of three young men whose disappearances contained some similarities. The cases had bits and pieces of common threads but occurred in different locations of the trail and the evidence each missing man left behind was vastly different. All three men disappeared within months of each other and had been missing for years when Lankford decided to start the search anew in an attempt to solve these cold cases.
Lankford starts by organizing an initial search, the first of many, and encounters fellow amateur sleuths eager to assist her in the search on the ground. An eclectic group starts a quest that will lead down dangerous and heartbreaking paths for the searchers and the men’s families. There are also moments of bittersweet joy in the search for clues and answers. Lankford’s group includes family members, as well as others who don’t fit the typical mold of amateur sleuths. These searchers, regardless of their background, form strong bonds and share the common desire to give the missing hikers’ families the closure they are seeking. Along the way they encounter and investigate religious cults, possible serial killers along the trail, dubious experts whose intentions are suspect, eyewitnesses who have ulterior motives and quirky trail characters who provide cautious tips and information on the missing hikers.
This is a part fascinating, part heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting account of a group spearheaded by Lankford that did whatever was necessary (including risking their own lives) to find answers for the three missing men’s families. Even though these men’s cases were long cold and the group had numerous setbacks along the way, it is comforting to know that dozens of people selflessly gave their time and effort to find out what happened to the three missing hikers. This is a great and compelling read that combines true crime investigations with the harsh reality of nature.
Happy January! Each January, I really enjoy focusing on titles that are both cozy but also celebrate the climate that they get to enjoy here in the Midwest! Below are some of my favorite cozy or wintry reads that I have been sharing with my outreach storytime patrons!
The Lumberjack’s Beard
by Duncan Beedie
Big Jim, the lumberjack lives in a small cabin in the middle of the woods and always starts off his day with limbering stretches and a huge plate of pancakes and maple syrup. After a long day of chopping down trees, Big Jim has a disgruntled guest show up at his door. It turns out, if you cut down all of the trees in the forest, there are going to be some displaced animals. Where are they to live?
This title is a great title for teaching young people about cause and effect, animal habitats, and the importance of nature. It is also a rather delightful read!
Dinosaur’s Binkit
by Sandra Boynton
Little Dinosaur cannot get ready for bed without a very important lovey! Binkit is missing, no teeth can be brushed or jammies can be donned without the love of binkit. Follow this short journey into the life of a young one fretting over their beloved blankey through lift and flap interactives! You can never go wrong with a Sandra Boynton but this title is extra special. As a mom with two kiddos especially attached to lovies, I can relate!
This work teaches parents (me) to slow down and focus on what is important and taking a moment to breathe.
Snow Falls
by Kate Gardner, illustrated by Brandon James Scott
Winter is officially here and the snow has begun to fall! Will you go outside and sled or will you stay inside for hot cocoa?
I really enjoy reading this title each year because it allows for great conversation with young readers. Before I share this title with my young audience, I always ask them what they like to do in the snow and then we see if what they enjoy doing pops up in the story! With concise dialog and gorgeous illustrations by Scott, this work is truly a joy to share with young people!
Pop-up Peekaboo! Winter
by Amy Grimes
What are Arctic animals up to in the winter? Find out in this highly interactive and enjoyable pop-up board book!
My daughter loves this series of books. They are highly educational and the pop-ups are next level cool!
Wilfred
by Ryan T. Higgins
Wilfred is a giant, hairy, and very lonely monster, who wants a friend more than anything. When Wilfred discovers a little town of peculiar children, he runs onto a playground terrifying all but one brave little boy. The pair become fast friends but the other peculiar townspeople have a rather mean plan for Wilfred.
Wilfred is a great redemption story that helps strengthen emotional intelligence and cause and effect skills!
A Little Book About Winter
by Leo Lionni
Winter is a time for celebration, eating, gathering, playing outside, and warming up by the fire. Follow a mouse family as they navigate it all!
This simple and adorably (even if it is covered in mice) illustrated board book will share many wonderful activities and celebrations that only happen in the winter!
Ned the Knitting Pirate
by Diana Murray, illustrated by Leslie Lammle
“The Pirates were a rugged lot, as fierce as they were strong, and as they swabbed the deck one day, they sang a pirate song…” A pirate crew is brought to stitches when one of their fellow mates shares his love for knitting. The captain “won’t be hearing knitting talk,” and tries to end Ned’s knitting adventures. Just when you think that poor Ned has to give up his craft and life calling, a hero is needed. Can Ned save the day and make the Captain eat his words? I sure hope so!
This is a wonderful story told in rhyme that I love to share each year around this time. Ned the Knitting Pirate has such a great message that it is okay to be your own person and a hero lies in all of us! I also get the opportunity to sing and talk like a pirate, what isn’t to love about this title! Seriously, please check this one out and then I want to talk to you about it!
Have you read any of these titles? I would love to hear about what you thought of them in the comments!
A new year brings new reading challenges! What challenge are you setting for yourself this year? Since 2022, I have set the same challenge, read 11 titles, 1 for each decade in the past 100 years. Below are the shining stars that I have chosen to read this year! Check back at the end of the year to see which ones I kept and those that were reassigned! 😉
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
This is one of my all-time favorite books. I am excited for the chance to read this again this year, and get something new out of it!
Mary Poppins Comes Back by P.L. Travers (Book 2 In the Mary Poppins Series)
I read the first book in this series last year and am excited to tackle the second one this year! I am sure that it will be full of whimsy just as the first was!
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
As a child, I watched and then re-watched the 1988 film of Pippi Longstocking. When I saw this title on the 1945 list, I knew that I HAD to read this to my kids so that we can then watch the movie together!
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
A beloved tale that I have not read in years. I am excited to read this with my kiddos and then watch the new movie!
Fox in Sox by Dr. Seuss
How can anyone resist a good Dr. Seuss? This one is currently sitting on my son’s bookshelf!
Curtain by Agatha Christie
For the past four years, I have enjoyed titles by Agatha Christie especially those in the Hercule Poirot series. I am so excited to tackle this one!
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
Truth be told, I am absolutely terrified of mice. This said, I cannot resist the adorable stories that Numeroff creates!
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
Well, I have had this title on my bookshelf since I watched Wicked in Chicago at the Oriental Theater. There is no time like now than to finally read it!
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
This is another title that I have wanted to read since it came out and have never given myself the opportunity to read it! Also, another adaptation that was made this past year to be able to enjoy after I read this!
Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I am so intrigued by this premise of this title and cannot wait to sink in!
2025 is yet to be determined! I’m excited to find my next favorite read in this new year!
Have you read any of my titles? I would love to chat about them in the comments!
Most famous for his work on Laci Peterson, Jaycee Dugard, and the Golden State Killer, cold case investigator Paul Holes goes deep on the cases he couldn’t shake and the personal toll of internalizing others’ trauma in Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases. If you’re the family of a victim, you’d pray your manila folder ends up on his desk. But if you were in Holes’ family, you were just hoping he’d leave that selfsame cubicle. Every now and then Holes blows a long-dormant case wide open, but it comes at significant psychic cost. Side effects of delayed justice include divorce, night sweats, and increased bourbon consumption. Family members wondered if they even knew the man muttering case details to himself.
The forensic vigilante’s obsessions additionally found him at odds with his superiors when reaching out of jurisdiction. Call it cliché, but Holes is a loose cannon who doesn’t do things by the book. So, he turned in his badge after 27 years, today working as a strong proponent of DNA sequencing, resurrecting lost causes with fresh eyes and fresher technology. Not sold yet? Just pen a letter to Joseph DeAngelo for a testimonial.
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