Nazare

 By: Matt Majendie

Location: FIC MAJ

Genre: Surfing those big waves

Nazare delves into the lives of a select band of surfers who gather in this small Portuguese fishing village with one aim: to surf the biggest wave ever recorded.

JOIN THE QUEST TO SURF THE BIGGEST WAVE IN HISTORY.



In a small fishing village on the coast of Portugal, a select band of surfers take unimaginable risks, pushing the boundaries of their death-defying sport as they seek to go bigger than ever before.

Their goal? To ride the Everest of the ocean – the 100-foot wave.

Sports journalist Matt Majendie is welcomed into the inner circle of Nazaré's tight community of big-wave surfers and extreme thrill-seekers, living among them for a season as he chronicles their incredible highs and terrifying lows.

Follow the endeavours of Britain's leading big-wave surfer, a former plumber from Devon, Andrew Cotton; trailblazing Brazilian female surfer Maya Gabeira; current World Record holder German Sebastian Steudtner; Portuguese Nic von Rupp and jet-ski driver Sérgio Cosme, nicknamed 'the Guardian Angel of Nazaré' for his daring rescues, in this gripping read.

Read more here- this is a great review!

White Bird-The Novel

 By: R. J Palacio 

Location: FIC PAL

Genre:  Holocaust, Historical Fiction

”In these dark times, it’s those small acts of kindness that keep us alive, after all. They remind us of our humanity”.

And it goes on.... Israel and Gaza- when will the pain of these nations give way to lasting peace!

From the bestselling author of Wonder comes White Bird: now a major film starring Ariella Glaser, Orlando Schwerdt, Bryce Gheisar, Helen Mirren and Gillian Anderson.

Sara Blum lives an idyllic life. But her world comes crashing down when the Nazi occupation arrives in her small French town, separating her from her parents and forcing the young Jewish girl into hiding. Sara's classmate Julien and his family will risk everything to ensure her survival, and together, Sara and Julien manage to find beauty in a secret world of their creation.

Originally published as a graphic novel, and featuring characters from the multi-million-copy-bestselling phenomenon Wonder, Sara and Julien's powerful, heartbreaking and timeless story is told here for the first time as a novel, and shows the power of kindness to change hearts, build bridges, and even save lives in the darkest of times.

Cains Jawbone

 By: Torquemada

Location: FIC TOR

Genre: Mystery, Fiction, Puzzle!

"4 stars for an excellent concept and highly confusing initial read
If i fail my degree it’s because i’m giving all my mental energy to solving it" Victoria

Six murders. One hundred pages. Millions of possible combinations... but only one is correct. Can you solve Torquemada's murder mystery?

In 1934, the Observer's cryptic crossword compiler, Edward Powys Mathers (aka Torquemada), released a novel that was simultaneously a murder mystery and the most fiendishly difficult literary puzzle ever written.

The pages have been printed in an entirely haphazard order, but it is possible - through logic and intelligent reading - to sort the pages into the only correct order, revealing six murder victims and their respective murderers.

Only two puzzlers have ever solved the mystery of Cain's Jawbone: do you have what it takes to join their ranks?

Please note: this puzzle is extremely difficult and not for the faint-hearted.

The IT Girl

 By: Ruth Ware

Location: FIC WAR

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

... it’s riveting, well developed, intelligent, captivating reading!

Everyone wanted her life
Someone wanted her dead

It was Hannah who found April’s body ten years ago.
It was Hannah who didn’t question what she saw that day.
Did her testimony put an innocent man in prison?

She needs to know the truth.

Even if it means questioning her own friends.
Even if it means putting her own life at risk.

Because if the killer wasn’t a stranger, it's someone she knows…

Small Mercies

 By: Dennis Lehane

Location: FIC LEH

Genre: Historical Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Crime....

"Wow, this book is incredibly intense and overflows with raw emotion.

The unadulterated love a mother has for her child shines through every word. It's astonishing to witness the extraordinary measures she's willing to take in order to find her child, and it's infuriating to see the flaws within the justice system fueling her anger. The realization that the line between heroes and villains can blur, with some individuals embodying both roles, adds an unforgettable and deeply impactful layer to this book.

Without a doubt, this is an exceptionally compelling and forceful piece of writing." Chantel

The acclaimed New York Times bestselling writer returns with a masterpiece to rival Mystic River —an all-consuming tale of revenge, family love, festering hate, and insidious power, set against one of the most tumultuous episodes in Boston’s history.

In the summer of 1974 a heatwave blankets Boston and Mary Pat Fennessy is trying to stay one step ahead of the bill collectors. Mary Pat has lived her entire life in the housing projects of “Southie,” the Irish American enclave that stubbornly adheres to old tradition and stands proudly apart.

One night Mary Pat’s teenage daughter Jules stays out late and doesn’t come home. That same evening, a young Black man is found dead, struck by a subway train under mysterious circumstances. The two events seem unconnected. But Mary Pat, propelled by a desperate search for her missing daughter, begins turning over stones best left untouched—asking questions that bother Marty Butler, chieftain of the Irish mob, and the men who work for him, men who don’t take kindly to any threat to their business.

Set against the hot, tumultuous months when the city’s desegregation of its public schools exploded in violence, Small Mercies is a superb thriller, a brutal depiction of criminality and power, and an unflinching portrait of the dark heart of American racism. It is a mesmerizing and wrenching work that only Dennis Lehane could write.

Far North

 By: David White with Angus Gillies

Location: The Far North in 920s

Genre: TV Three Series made into a book- 500KG of Meth bust

In our own backyard-  An unbelievable story that is the real deal

June 2016, Far North, New Zealand. The job seemed simple: leave Auckland, pick up 500kg of meth from Ninety-Mile Beach and drive it back south, while keeping a low profile. How hard could that be? This is the true story of one of New Zealand’s biggest ever drug busts, and how those responsible almost got away with half a tonne of crystal meth. Oh, and half a billion dollars. But thanks to the sleuthing skills of Ahipara’s good-hearted locals — and a series of unbelievable faux-pas by the drug-smugglers — police managed to catch the crims. They say fact is stranger than fiction, and in this case it is. Stranger, and funnier. It’s a story like no other. This is Far North.

This Delicious Death

 By: Kayla Cottingham

Location: FIC COT

Genre: Horror, LGBGT,

Im not going to read this, but some of you will like it... it is far to scary and revolting for this old librarian to handle- it is a ghoul pandemic!

Here is what one reviewer says...

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but it turned out to be good. The author gives a warning at the beginning about graphic content like gore, murder, and flesh tearing and much more. It's a likable story, with a bit of YA content that moves quickly and has enough scary and gory moments to satisfy horror fans.

This was the queer, flesh eating, best friends love story that I never knew I needed. This book is about a pandemic, but this pandemic left some individuals craving human flesh. The ghouls were initially quarantined but when synthetic flesh was invented ghouls were given basically a pass for killing people and reintegrated into society. Four best friends are heading to a music festival as their first big outing since they all turned. But the music festival holds more than they could have imaged was coming. And while they try to figure out how to protect each other and their freedom Zoey also struggles with a crush on her best friend. I loved this fairly campy but super fun story. 

Four best friends, one music festival, and a cooler filled with human organs: this summer is about to get gory. ​​​

Jennifer’s Body fans will clamor for this new sapphic horror standalone from New York Times bestselling author Kayla Cottingham.

Three years ago, the melting of arctic permafrost released a pathogen of unknown origin into the atmosphere, causing a small percentage of people to undergo a transformation that became known as the Hollowing. Those impacted slowly became intolerant to normal food and were only able to gain sustenance by consuming the flesh of other human beings. Those who went without flesh quickly became feral, turning on their friends and family. However, scientists were able to create a synthetic version of human meat that would satisfy the hunger of those impacted by the Hollowing. As a result, humanity slowly began to return to normal, albeit with lasting fear and distrust for the people they'd pejoratively dubbed ghouls.

Zoey, Celeste, Valeria, and Jasmine are all ghouls living in Southern California. As a last hurrah before their graduation they decided to attend a musical festival in the desert. They have a cooler filled with hard seltzers and SynFlesh and are ready to party.

But on the first night of the festival Val goes feral, and ends up killing and eating a boy. As other festival guests start disappearing around them the girls soon discover someone is drugging ghouls and making them feral. And if they can't figure out how to stop it, and soon, no one at the festival is safe.

Unearthing Dad

 By: Pam Williamson

Location: FIC WIL

Genre: Kiwi, Porirua, Whanau Samoa, Earthquakes

Fourteen year old Meg has almost given up hope of finding her father when a chance encounter with a stranger reignites her search. Stranded in Wellington after a killer earthquake hits the region, she teams up with two streetwise Pasifika brothers, Ku and Siosi, who help her survive in the demolished city. They hang out in a rough bivvy in the grounds of the badly damaged Sacred Heart Cathedral, sneaking into the building to sleep in the evenings. But the Cathedral's secrets invade their dreams. Are the disturbing and demanding dreams working for them or against them? And who is Father Fitz? Does he hold the key to their futures? Set against the backdrop of a shattered city and racial prejudice, this story of hope follows Meg, Ku and Siosi as they face their deepest anxieties on their individual journeys towards adulthood. With light-hearted moments provided by Snow White, the albino rat, this book leads the reader on a journey of discovery and redemption.

All Her Little Secrets

 By: Wanda M Morris

Location: FIC MOR

Genre: Mystery, Legal Thriller, Fiction

Overall: it’s fascinatingly moving, heart throbbing, action packed, smart thriller- Nilufer

In this fast-paced thriller, Wanda M. Morris crafts a twisty mystery about a black lawyer who gets in over her head after the sudden death of her boss. A debut perfect for fans of Attica Locke, Alyssa Cole, Harlan Coben, and Celeste Ng, with shades of How to Get Away with Murder and John Grisham’s The Firm.

Everyone has something to hide...

Ellice Littlejohn seemingly has it all: an Ivy League law degree, a well-paying job as a corporate attorney in midtown Atlanta, great friends, and a “for fun” relationship with a rich, charming executive—her white boss, Michael.

But everything changes one cold January morning when Ellice goes to meet Michael… and finds him dead with a gunshot to his head.

And then she walks away like nothing has happened. Why? Ellice has been keeping a cache of dark secrets, including a small-town past and a kid brother who’s spent time on the other side of the law. She can’t be thrust into the spotlight—again.

But instead of grieving this tragedy, people are gossiping, the police are getting suspicious, and Ellice, the company’s lone black attorney, is promoted to replace Michael. While the opportunity is a dream-come-true, Ellice just can’t shake the feeling that something is off.

When she uncovers shady dealings inside the company, Ellice is trapped in an impossible ethical and moral dilemma. Suddenly, Ellice’s past and present lives collide as she launches into a pulse-pounding race to protect the brother she tried to save years ago and stop a conspiracy far more sinister than she could have ever imagined…

I recommend this book to those who enjoy an edgy, fast paced, suspenseful story dripping with socially relevant tension! This is the author's debut novel and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!

The Ones We Choose

 By: Julie Clark

Location: FIC CLA

Genre: Fiction , Contemporary, DNA families

 Debut author Julie Clark delivers a compelling read about a young boy desperate to find his place in this world, a mother coming to terms with her own past, and the healing power of forgiveness.

The powerful forces of science and family collide when geneticist Paige Robson finds her world in upheaval: Her eight-year-old son Miles is struggling to fit in at his new school and begins asking questions about his biological father that Paige can’t answer—until fate thrusts the anonymous donor she used into their lives.

Paige’s carefully constructed life begins to unravel as the truth of Miles’s paternity threatens to destroy everything she has grown to cherish. As Paige slowly opens herself up—by befriending an eccentric mother, confronting her own deeply buried vulnerabilities, and trying to make sense of her absent father’s unexpected return—she realizes breakthroughs aren’t only for the lab. But when tragedy strikes, Paige must face the consequences of sharing a secret only she knows.

With grace and humor, Julie Clark shows that while the science is fascinating, solving these intimate mysteries of who we are and where we come from unleashes emotions more complex than the strands of DNA that shape us.

Review

Jennifer

5 stars to The Ones We Choose, a story of family and DNA! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

I know it seems like I’ve been doling out the fives lately, but this book is more than worthy. It has it all and offers so many fresh perspectives, I have to give it the full five.

When I saw that The Ones We Choose is compared to Lisa Genova’s work, I had to read it. I adored the DNA tidbits thrown in throughout the novel, and I absorbed as much as I could. Unlike Genova, Julie Clark is not a doctor; simply an author who immaculately researched and presents her knowledge in a light handed, but still important, way.

Paige Robson is the main character, and her 8-year-old son, Miles, begins to question who his biological father is...The problem is Miles’ father was an anonymous donor.

In a twist that is also included in the synopsis, the donor is planted in Paige and Miles’ lives and it’s almost as if a bomb has exploded. At the same time, Paige is processing through her difficulties with her own absent father.

The Ones We Choose is heartfelt, smart, thought-provoking, profound, poignant, emotionally-resonant, and a book I highly recommend. I know the science may be a little heavy for some, but to me, it was just the right amount and added to the originality of the book.