Ruby Among Us


Book Description

Lucy DiCamillo is safely surrounded by her books, music, and art–but none of these reclusive comforts or even the protective efforts of her grandmother, Kitty, can shield her thoughts from the mother she can barely recall. Lucy senses her grandmother holds the key, but Kitty seems as eager to hide the past as Lucy is eager to find it. From the streets of San Francisco and Sacramento to the lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley, Lucy follows the thread of memory in search of a heritage that seems long-buried with her mother, Ruby. What she finds is as enigmatic and stirring as it is startling in this redemptive tale about the power of faith and mother-daughter love.




Sober Curious


Book Description

Would life be better without alcohol? It’s the nagging question more and more of us are finding harder to ignore, whether we have a “problem” with alcohol or not. After all, we yoga. We green juice. We meditate. We self-care. And yet, come the end of a long work day, the start of a weekend, an awkward social situation, we drink. One glass of wine turns into two turns into a bottle. In the face of how we care for ourselves otherwise, it’s hard to avoid how alcohol really makes us feel… terrible. How different would our lives be if we stopped drinking on autopilot? If we stopped drinking altogether? Really different, it turns out. Really better. Frank, funny, and always judgment free, Sober Curious is a bold guide to choosing to live hangover-free, from Ruby Warrington, one of the leading voices of the new sobriety movement. Drawing on research, expert interviews, and personal narrative, Sober Curious is a radical take down of the myths that keep so many of us drinking. Inspiring, timely, and blame free, Sober Curious is both conversation starter and handbook—essential reading that empowers readers to transform their relationship with alcohol, so we can lead our most fulfilling lives.




Hello, My Name Is Ruby


Book Description

Ruby, a very small bird in a very big world, is looking for a friend, so she introduces herself in this stunning new picture book by Caldecott Medalist Stead ("A Sick Day for Amos McGee"). Full color.




Death on the Sapphire


Book Description

An extraordinary woman living in extraordinary times, Lady Frances Ffolkes is an Edwardian-era suffragette who has an uncanny ability to attract danger and romance. When Major Colcombe, a family friend and war veteran, dies under mysterious circumstances, the good Lady Frances discovers that he was working on a manuscript about South Africa’s bloody Boer War, which reportedly revealed a scandalous mistake that cost many innocent lives. Now, it’s up to Frances and her loyal lady's maid, June Mallow, to track down the missing manuscript and bring the killer to justice. Despite clashes with Scotland Yard and the British Secret Service, Frances never backs down and finds herself in several very unfortunate positions--and one very fortunate love triangle. Death on the Sapphire, R. J. Koreto's witty and winsome series debut, is sure to delight fans of historical mysteries for years to come.




Boys in Poverty


Book Description




Rose House


Book Description

“A story nestled in a masterful weaving of secrets, betrayals, hope, and healing.” –Allison Pittman, author of Stealing Home and Saturdays with Stella A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms. She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet. What kind of artist would dare to intrude on such a personal scene, and how did he happen to witness Lillian’s pain? As the mystery surrounding the portrait becomes entangled with the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and children, Lillian is forced to rethink her assumptions about what really happened that day. A captivating novel rich with detail, Rose House explores how the brushstrokes of pain can illuminate the true beauty of life.




Ragtime for the Rockies


Book Description

This tragic love story unfolds in and around the town of Platteville, Colorado in 1925 and 1926. In the Roaring Twenties, young women challenge their elders by dancing to jazz music, wearing abbreviated clothing, and drinking prohibited alcohol. Some men express their opposition in church. Otbers join the Klux Klan,which expands into the Northern States, promising violent resistance to social change. OWEN MATTISON comes to Platteville High School as athletics coach and science teacher, including Vocational Agriculture. Owen's bride, RUBY, a Home Economics graduate, is an accomplished pianist and jazz fan whose clothes and bobbed hair show the triumph of flapper fashion. We meet Owen and Ruby, married for six weeks, sharing a picnic on the LYDELL farm overlooking the river. Inspired by natural beauty, Owen sings a favorite hymn, and Ruby harmonizes. Returning to their tiny rented home, Owen receives a telephone call from ARTHUR STARK, a School Board member. Stark's son later says Stark dislikes the twentieth century and wants to hold it back. Stark changes a meeting date with Owen to attend a luncheon where he joins the Ku Klux Klan, with OLIVER SCOTT, the Platteville barber. Both men participate in the next Klan raid on a dancehall. Eager to teach moral values, the School Board votes to require readings of the King James Bible as part of classroom opening ceremonies. This distresses Catholic parents, whose children will be required to hear a proscribed text. FREDERlCK KOBLENZ, owner of the Platteville Mercantile store, organizes a protest student walkout. FRANCIS (FRA1\K) KOBLENZ, Frederick's son, leads the walkout from Owen's classroom. The School Board soon writes to all parents, requiring all students to remain for the Bible readings




Change of Heart


Book Description

A Colorado senator’s wife, Evelyn Brandt seems to have it all. But her carefully constructed life comes toppling down when the FBI crashes her society brunch with news that her husband has been arrested for embezzlement, and he’s far from repentant. It turns out this was only the start of his indiscretions—for which he has little regret. As the weeks following the scandal turn into months, Evelyn withdraws, even shirking her duties with the philanthropic Valentine Volunteers. The inquisitive women of the group are determined not to let Evelyn’s divorce destroy her. They have big plans for her to use her long-forgotten artistic talent to reimagine the city’s iconic lamppost hearts. But doing so will force Evelyn to work closely with Trevor Whitney, her ex-husband’s former best friend. Though she and Trevor used to be close—and he’s been letting her hide in his guesthouse—his gruffness conveys his unease with the situation. Amid the beauty of Trevor’s farm and the comfort of a paintbrush, Evelyn starts to reclaim the dreams she sacrificed to become the perfect politician’s wife. And as creativity inspires them both, Whit begins to see the girl he fell in love with before his friend—and his own mistakes—stole his chance. Possibilities for a new beginning emerge, but long-kept secrets threaten to ruin everything. After so much time, is a change of heart too much to hope for?




Just Look Up


Book Description

After tirelessly climbing the ranks of her Chicago-based interior design firm, Lane Kelley is about to land her dream promotion when devastating news about her brother draws her back home--a quaint tourist town full of memories she'd just as soon forget. With her cell phone and laptop always within reach, Lane aims to check on her brother while staying focused on work--something her eclectic family doesn't understand. Ryan Brooks never expected to settle down in Harbor Pointe, Michigan, but after his final tour of duty, it was the only place that felt like home. Now knee-deep in a renovation project that could boost tourism for the struggling town, he is thrilled to see Lane, the girl he secretly once loved, even if the circumstances of her homecoming aren't ideal. Their reunion gets off to a rocky start, however, when Ryan can't find a trace of the girl he once knew in the woman she is today. As he slowly chips away at the walls Lane has built, secrets from his past collide with a terrible truth even he is reluctant to believe. Facing a crossroads that could define his future with Lane and jeopardize his relationship with the surrogate family he's found in the Kelleys, Ryan hopes Lane can see that maybe what really matters has been right in front of her all along--if only she'd just look up.




Just Let Go


Book Description

Quinn has finally achieved her dream of owning a flower shop. But she's soon over her head as she begins some much-needed renovations. When bad-boy Olympic skier Grady Benson gets into legal trouble, Quinn becomes his community service project. Can the notorious athlete and the small-town shopkeeper embrace love and the adventure of a lifetime?