In this beautifully written and heartbreaking gem, Jodi Picoult tells the story of Sage Singer. Sage is a young woman who befriends an elderly gentleman (Josef) in her grief support group. As time progresses and their friendship grows, Sage learns that long ago Josef was a Nazi officer. Josef begs Sage to not only forgive him for his past sins, but also to help him die. The Storyteller is a very intense novel that grabs you from the very beginning and does not let you go.

This scary psychological novel will stay with you long after you turn the last page. In Sharp Objects, a young reporter from Chicago travels back to her hometown in Missouri to try to find answers concerning two recent murders of young girls. It’s very hard to put down between chapters, and of course, comes complete with a surprise ending. Creepy!

Check out all of Gillian Flynn’s novels at the library.

We’re entering the dog days of summer and with that comes the mid-point of the season of America’s game. If the Cubs and Sox aren’t enough for you, here are two recent baseball films we loved.

Trouble with the Curve (2012) PG-13
Clint Eastwood movies are always good and this one is no exception.  In this heartwarming story, he is an aging baseball scout whose vision is starting to fail. Enter Amy Adams, his estranged daughter, to help her dad. Trouble with the Curve explores the very special relationship between fathers and daughters.

Moneyball (2011) PG-13Moneyball was a great movie which provided insight into the behind-the-scenes world of baseball. For the story behind the film, check out Michael Lewis’ Moneyball: the art of winning an unfair game.

For more baseball films, check the list on our website.

An evil man just released from prison and obsessed with getting revenge on his ex-wife. A misguided young woman who thinks she has finally met the man of her dreams. A woman and her young son living in fear in Ohio. Blend these all together and you’ll have a suspenseful thriller that is guaranteed to keep you up late into the night. A well-written story. I was sorry to see it come to an end.

Check out Mad River Road by Joy Fielding today.

To all Janet Evanovich fans: it’s Stephanie Plum, the bounty hunter, in the flesh! One for the Money is based on Evanovich’s first Stephanie Plum novel of the same name. The film comes packed full with action, laughs, and many favorite characters you know and love (even Grandma Mazer!). A fun movie!

Interesting page turner set in the Pacific Northwest - a popular high school teacher is arrested for the murder of one of his students. Police have worked for months to catch a suspect, but do they have the right man? This novel explores how quickly hatred and bigotry can destroy a person's life. A good mystery.

Check out An Isolated Incident by Susan R. Sloan.

Many staff members at the library were reading this novel, so I could not wait to get my hands on a copy! It's a great novel with a surprise twist thrown in at the end.

Andy Barber, a desperate father who works for the District Attorney's office, tries his best to help his son after he is accused of murdering a fellow classmate. This book is one of those gems that will keep you up long into the night turning pages.

Read Defending Jacob by William Landay today.

Touching tearjerker about loving adoptive parents who fight to keep their son Joey when the birth parents want him back.  Like Dandelion Dust is a good movie exploring the love of family.

Based on the 2006 novel by Karen Kingsbury.

This novel, which is told by three different narrators, is fast-paced and quite intriguing. A major theme which runs through the story is "What makes a good parent?"

Travis Brown is a young single father who loves his four-year-old daughter Bella more than anything in the world. Down on his luck and out of work, he trusts the wrong people and finds himself involved in a situation that is illegal and dangerous.

Diane Chamberlain keeps getting better and better with each novel she writes. You just have to continue reading "one more chapter" to find out what will happen. Very entertaining!

Check out The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain.

Based on a true story of the Abbate family, a young man leads his college football team to a winning season in memory of his youngest brother, who was killed in a tragic car accident. It’s a very touching movie; you may need to grab the box of tissues.

For more on the family behind the story, visit the Luke Abbate 5th Quarter Foundation website.

Find the movie The 5th Quarter at the library.

 

No one can get into the minds of her characters like Jodi Picoult. That’s what makes her books really enjoyable to read.

In this hard-to-put-down novel, the author explores and intermingles several complex topics, such as infertility, same-sex marriage, ultra-conservative churches, and legal battles over frozen embryos.

I felt I knew the characters so well that I was sorry to see the story come to an end. Definitely a keeper!

Check out a copy of Sing You Home today.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (2008)
All animal lovers should read this book! It is narrated by Enzo, who is a dog. You may need a box of tissues, particularly at the end, but this is a lovely novel which explores the beauty of love and family relationships.

Check out the book trailer for Racing in the Rain below.

Saving Max by Antoinette Van Heugten (2010)
This is a good legal thriller that will keep readers engrossed until the last chapter. Danielle Parkman is a single mother who struggles against insurmountable odds to prove her teenage son is innocent after being accused of murder. The novel also explores the difficulties parents face when raising a child with special needs.

For more legal thrillers here is a list of books in genre  we recommend.

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks (2010)
This is a rather captivating story written by Nicholas Sparks about a young woman who manages to escape from her abusive husband and start a new life in North Carolina. She meets a widower and falls in love with him and his two children. Of course, her deranged husband, who is also a police detective, never gives up searching for her. Good entertaining read!

If you like Nicholas Sparks, check out our list of other books you may enjoy.

Shattered by Karen Robards (2010)
A young attorney returns home to Kentucky to care for her terminally ill mother. While at work, she stumbles across a cold case which, of course, leads to danger. Throw in some romance, and this is a story that’s fun to read and hard to put down.

For other romantic suspense titles, check out our bibliography. Read an excerpt on the author's website.