All I Want for Christmas is... a romantic novel

by Beth Cronk, Litchfield head librarian

It’s the Christmas season, and for some people that means it’s time to get in the spirit by reading Christmas books.  Some Christmas novels are family stories, cozy mysteries, or inspirational novels, but quite a few are romances.   Find comfort and joy with these new holiday romances available at the Litchfield library.

 “Royal Holiday” is the fourth in Jasmine Guillory’s very popular “Wedding Date” series of romances.  Middle-aged American Vivian accompanies her professional stylist daughter on a work trip to an English royal wedding.  She meets the very proper Malcolm, longtime private secretary to the Queen, and they begin a romance after a kiss under the mistletoe.  Some reviewers have commented on how enjoyable it is to find a rom-com featuring people over fifty.

“The Christmas Keeper” is the second in the “Happily Ever After” series by Jenn McKinlay, but the two books are only loosely connected.  “Booklist” magazine describes the novel as a combination of small town charm, “sassy humor,” spicy romance, and Christmas cheer.  The premise of the story is that a rancher falls in love at first sight, but the woman he wants to marry is preoccupied with getting revenge on a former boss. He enlists the staff of the local bookstore and the spirit of Christmas to win her over.

“Coming Home for Christmas” is family story by RaeAnne Thayne, set in her fictional town of Haven Point.  Elizabeth, a married mother of two, was deep in postpartum depression and grief from the death of her parents when she left her family.  A car accident damaged her memory and prevented her from returning to them for years.  When her husband finds her and brings her home for Christmas, they find a second chance at love and family.

Author Emily March also sets her stories in a fictional small town, Eternity Springs.  Recently, Litchfield Library has gotten “The Christmas Wishing Tree,” the eighteenth in that series, in large print.  International adventurer Devin is visiting his hometown for Christmas when he gets a misdialed call from a little boy who thinks he is talking to Santa.  The little boy’s guardian Jenna thinks that the peaceful town of Eternity Springs sounds like the perfect place to hide from a threat in their lives.  When she meets Devin, he suggests a way to face the danger they’re under and make the little boy’s wish come true.

Charlotte Hubbard is an author of historical romances and Amish novels.  The library has recently added the large print of her novel, “A Simple Christmas” from the “Simple Gifts” series.  The Simple Gifts craft shop is preparing for Christmas amid financial troubles.  Horse trainer Marcus left his Amish life years ago but has returned to seek some help from his family.  Rosalyn is the last unmarried daughter of the craft shop’s owner, and when Marcus walks into the shop, sparks fly.

Wanda Brunstetter is a popular Christian fiction author.  Her novel “A Christmas Prayer” tells a story of a group of pioneers who set out too late to complete their travels west before the snow falls.  Christmas finds them taking shelter in a small cabin in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Cynthia is traveling with her mother and the man she has promised to marry, a loveless arrangement meant to provide for the women.  But the snowstorm allows the entire traveling party to get to know each other better, offering Cynthia new romantic prospects and a chance to reconsider her plans.

Clearly these are all lightweight escapism in book form, but sometimes we need that during the holidays. Pioneerland libraries will be closed on Tuesday, December 24, and Wednesday, December 25, for Christmas.  The libraries will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, and will be closed on Wednesday, January 1, for New Year’s.  All other days the library will be open regular hours.  Merry Christmas!

Popular books for the people on your shopping list

by Beth Cronk, Litchfield head librarian

As you work on your Christmas shopping, are you looking for some book ideas for people on your lists?  I can tell you which new titles are popular in our library system.  One of these might be just the right thing for someone you know

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Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II’s Most Audacious General is the latest in the Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard “Killing” series.  In this one, the authors question whether the general’s death from injuries sustained in a car accident was really accidental.  It’s the in-demand book in our library system right now.  For the history buffs and conspiracy theorists on your list.

The last book in Nora Roberts’ Cousins O’Dwyer trilogy has just come out.  Blood Magick wraps up the series about the Dark Witch gift shop in County Mayo, Ireland, and the owner’s forbidden romance.  For fans of Nora Roberts and paranormal romance.

John Grisham has a new novel out, Gray Mountain.  This is his 27^th to be published.   A young lawyer is laid off from her comfortable New York job and ends up working in legal aid in Appalachia.  This is the first time Grisham has had a female main character.  For fans of legal thrillers and those who care about environmental causes. 

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s autobiography has just been published and is expected to be available from booksellers this month after a couple of delays this fall.  Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography is a project of the South Dakota State Historical Society, which is a very small publisher.  This is Laura’s first draft of her life story, written in 1930 before she began her novels.  This book contains new background research by the historical society that gives context to Laura’s story.  It should be interesting to see which stories were left out of the eventual series because they were too mature for children, as well as to find out what Laura’s original writing was like.  This book is on my Christmas list, and I keep hearing that other people are asking for it, too.  For Little House fans, obviously.

Stolen from the Garden: The Kidnapping of Virginia Piper is the true story of a wealthy socialite who was kidnapped for ransom in Orono in 1972.  Author William Swanson reviewed documents about the case and interviewed many of the people who were closely involved.  In the end, Swanson makes his case for what he thinks really happened.  For fans of true crime.

James Patterson books are always popular, and this is true for the latest Alex Cross novel, Hope to Die.  Patterson has a new book out every other month or so, pairing up with other writers to pump them out.  This one appears to be written by Patterson himself, and the reviews are good.  Detective Alex Cross is battling a psychotic genius to get his family back.  This isn’t the place to start reading the series, so it would be for people who are already fans of these thrillers.

Lila is the latest novel from Pulitzer Prize-winner Marilynne Robinson.  It tells the story of the minister’s wife from Robinson’s novel Gilead, who is the mother of the main character of her novel Home.  It isn’t necessary to have read the other two books, however.  This novel tells of Lila’s difficult years of abuse and homelessness and how she adjusts to her new life with such a past.  For literary readers. 

One good thing about library books is that you can check them out for free before you decide if you want to buy a copy for yourself.  The titles I’m covering here have waiting lists because they are so popular, so you may or may not have the chance to borrow these before Christmas.  But we have shelves full of so many other things that you can preview before you make your Christmas list or do your shopping.  Have a happy holiday season!

The library is like a box of chocolates

by Beth Cronk, Litchfield head librarian

Since it’s nearly Valentine’s Day, I suppose we should talk about romances.  Not all romance novels are the stereotypical “trashy Harlequins”; in fact, Harlequin offers so much variety now that some of theirs get great book reviews.  Following are some well-reviewed love stories you can find at the Litchfield Library.

Many romance readers enjoy stories set in the Regency era -- think Jane Austen.  One from this past year is The Autumn Bride by Anne Gracie.  It made NPR’s and Library Journal’s lists of the best romances of 2013.   In a desperate act to save her sister and two friends from a life on the streets, former governess Abigail breaks into a mansion she believes is abandoned to steal something.  She finds the neglected and ill Lady Beatrice instead.  Lady Beatrice takes in the young women as her “nieces” to save herself as well as them.  The deception works well for everyone until Lady Beatrice’s handsome nephew Max returns from the Orient.  Publishers Weekly calls it a “deep, rich story” with “deft characterization.”

The Best Man by Kristan Higgins made the same best-of-the-year lists as the previous book.  Faith returns to her hometown years after being left at the altar.  She comes back to help her family with their winery, but she also needs to confront her past and her former fiancé’s best man, who broke up her wedding.  They find healing and a second chance in the friendship and chemistry they discover together.  This one is supposed to have some good humor, as well.  And it’s published by Harlequin!

Steampunk is a relatively new genre, really a type of science fiction.  These books are usually alternative Victorian history in which the inventions people imagined in that time are real and the world is steam-powered:  think Jules Verne and H.G. Wells.  Bec McMaster is the author of a series of steampunk romances set in London.  The first is Kiss of Steel, the second is Heart of Iron, and the third is My Lady Quicksilver; more will be coming.  Heart of Iron has gotten especially good reviews.  Lena is a debutante, spy, and secret clockwork toy maker who help to polish a werwulfen diplomat who has sworn to protect her.  Romance and seduction ensue. 

A bit more literary, Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen was grouped with the love stories in NPR’s best of the year.  Is it a romance novel just because there’s a love affair in it?  So many books involve a love story, but that doesn’t make them romance novels.  Really for something to be called a romance novel, it's supposed to have a happy ending and be focused on the romantic relationship.  I think that means this one is historical fiction instead of romance, but it is about an imagined passionate love story.  Poet Frances Osgood, a real person who is known to have been friends with Edgar Allan Poe, struggles to support her children after her husband abandons them.  She meets Poe and finds that they have a powerful attraction which leads, at least in the novel, to an affair.  Meanwhile Poe’s frail, odd wife insists on befriending Frances.  As the novel progresses, Mrs. Poe’s friendship becomes more threatening and concealment of the affair more difficult.

The Typewriter Girl is another novel that is romantic but not all about the romance.  This first novel from Alison Atlee landed on Publishers Weekly’s lists of this past year’s best romances, but it is again a historical novel.  At the turn of the last century, Betsey arrives at the English seaside resort of Idensea with barely a thing other than the hope of finding employment, having been fired from her last job for resisting a lecherous clerk.  She is hired by John Jones to run tourist excursions. Through this opportunity, Betsey discovers her business abilities and independent streak, as well as her soul mate.

Find a novel to sweep you away with a good love story this Valentine’s weekend.  You decide if you want something fluffy and escapist or literary and complicated.  The library is like a box of chocolates, with something for everyone.