Reviews by librarians Jennifer Niederhausen, Dona Stein and Heather Timko
. Adult Services Division, 
Strongsville Branch Library.

What are you doing this week? If you need something fun to do, why not stop in to the library to pick up these and many more exciting new books. 

We hope you will enjoy these selections. Happy reading!

The Good Dream By Donna VanLiere, July 2012, 308 pages. 

Ivorie Walker is a 30-something woman in 1950s who has been labeled by her Tennessee community as an old maid. Ever since her parents passed away, she has hidden her loneliness behind a fierce independence and a claim of not needing anyone. When she realizes that someone has been stealing vegetables from her garden — a dirty-faced boy who disappears into the hills — something about him haunts Ivorie and makes her want to find out who he is and where did he come from. As Ivorie steps out to uncover the answers, she unleashes a firestorm in the town that would rather let secrets stay secret. This book is sure to please readers looking for a new character-driven novel. 

The Making of Us: a Novel By Lisa Jewell, August 2012, 368 pages.

As a man named Daniel slowly fades away in a London hospice, he tells his friend Maggie that he was an anonymous sperm donor who fathered four children. This revelation unexpectedly brings together a group of strangers in this powerful celebration of family, friendship, life and love. This novel is a literary gem that will remind readers of the miracles that happen when we bring life into the world and share our lives with those we love. Fans of books by Jodi Picoult will surely enjoy this new book.

Thieftaker By D. B. Jackson, July 2012, 332 pages.

This is the first in a series, an unusual mix of historical fiction and urban fantasy, written under a pseudonym by David Coe. Coe is an award winning author of over a dozen books including epic fantasies. Ethan Kaille is a thieftaker in Colonial Boston, scratching out a living by restoring stolen property to its rightful owners. But unlike others in his profession, Ethan relies on magical spells as well as his wits to track down thieves. Fans of the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher should enjoy this well-crafted historical fantasy.