Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros
Recommended by Tuki in Adult Services…
Tuki’s synopsis:
This is for Historical Romance readers, heavier on the romance than on the historical appeal. This book tells the story of Cecelia , who falls in love with Gabriel Fairchild, a son of a nobleman. Gabriel joins the Royal Navy to prove his love and commitment to Cecelia, going to the extent of not using his social status to occupy a position of rank in the army but fighting on the front lines. He returns from battle a hero but at the cost of having lost his eye sight. Upon his return Cecelia goes to visit him at the hospital but runs away at the sight of her lover. Gabriel is under the impression her reaction is because she is repulsed at his transformation. The real reason Cecelia runs away is because of the guilt she feels in having put Gabriel through the ordeal. To assuage her guilt she disguises herself and takes the position of a nurse to take care of Gabriel’s needs. Gabriel never suspects anything and falls in love with Cecelia for the second time.
She says:
If you are a fan of romance novels this is a pleasurable read with an interesting twist at the end.
Evening’s Empire by Bill Flanagan
Recommended by Jeff in Technical Services..
Jeff’s synopsis:
From the swinging 60’s in London, laid back California 70’s, hard edge New York 80’s, and from Live-Aid to Live 8, Jack Flynn manages the band and solo careers of the Ravons. He begins as a lawyer to sort out a divorce for the band’s front man Emerson Cutler and stays with them through the up and downs, ins and outs, busts and breakups of a 40 year ride through the music industry.
He says:
Besides being a great story of a lawyer who ends up managing a rock band, this is a great fictional history of the music industry from the late 60’s until the present. This book hits all the highs and lows starting with the British invasion to the huge benefit concerts, the obscurity to the comebacks, from Top of the Pops to MTV, and from changing formats such as albums and CD’s to digital downloads. We can only wonder where the music will take us from here.
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffeneger
Recommended by Karyn in Youth Services…
Karyn’s synopsis:
When Elspeth Noblin dies, she leaves everything to the 20-year-old American twin daughters of her own long-estranged twin, Edie. Valentina and Julia, as enmeshed as Elspeth and Edie once were, move into Elspeth’s London flat and through a series of developing relationships a crisis develops that could pull the twins apart.
She says:
I honestly did not know what this book was about when I picked it up, I only chose it because I love Niffeneger’s writing style. This book did not disappoint. It was filled to the brim with such excellent details and unusual characters all of which were spun together into a wonderful gothic tale. If you enjoyed any of Niffeneger’s other books you should definitely check this one out.
Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell
Recommended by Asra in Adult Services…
Asra’s synopsis:
Set in the 1930s; the harrowing story of a Ukrainian family striving to establish a home in the Canadian tundra. Destitute, Maria struggles alone to provide for her five children when husband Teodor finally returns from being unjustly imprisoned. Daily life and routine resumes without much fanfare. Maria and Teodor begin to see the fruits of their labor as she earns a modest income selling items from a garden she tends to, and he builds a house that allows the family to move out of the shack they live in. Just when their life seems full of hope, demise appears in the form of Teodor’s brother-in-law Stefan, who sets in motion events that undermine everything Maria and Teodor have worked so hard to build.
She says:
This is a heart-wrenching story, which makes it unsuitable for the faint-of-heart. In its reading, you glimpse everyone’s burdens: the weight of the world in Teodor; a mother’s relentless worries in Maria; a child’s innocence and confusion in Ivan; a young man’s struggle towards manhood in Myron; unworthiness due to a birth defect in little Lesya; an emotional abyss in Anna; chilling selfishness in Stefan. Having developed such vivid characters, you cannot help but root for this family’s peace and comfort. But for some, life doesn’t deal such comforting hands. While a gloomy finish can be inferred from this review, the novel’s end still surprises and the stunning development of characters makes it well worth reading.
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
Recommended by Colleen in Outreach Services…
Her synopsis:
Two stories woven together — one is set in modern day Utah and deals with the murder of a polygamist man. The second addresses the story of one of Brigham Young’s wives, who sued him for divorce.
She says:
This book was interesting and thought-provoking. Many of the events of 1880 were reflected in this modern day “cult” of polygamists. The author also weaves in a pretty good mystery into the novel.
