Snowdrops by Andrew Miller

In the early 2000’s, the basis of Russian business was corruption and the basis of Russian entertainment was sleaze. Nicholas Platt, a British lawyer working in Moscow at the time, looks back and explains how he became ensnared in both. After meeting two beautiful sisters at a Russian train depot, he became involved in their lives and problems, including their efforts to help an elderly aunt. But things were not what they seemed and as Nick tells his story, he points out the warning signs he should have heeded but didn’t, and turns the story into a suspenseful page turner with a shocking conclusion.  For an intense read, check out Snowdrops @the library!

One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf

In the quiet city of Broken Branch a gunman has entered the one school in town.  The citizens can only watch and wait.  Five different characters tell the story piece by piece.  A student in the school, a grandparent, a police officer, a seriously ill mother far away from her children, and a teacher share their viewpoints of the incident. 

Heather Gudenkauf comes through with an edge of your seat novel that will cause you to keep reading to see what happens next.  Just published today, check One Breath Away out, especially if you’re a Jodi Picoult fan!

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

Jenny Lawson's life is not normal. From her observations about her family growing up in Wall, Texas to her married life with her husband there is no stone from her life left unturned. Each story, list or conversation is retold with humor and honesty, and her hysterical observations will make you laugh out loud.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened is full of short essays, stories from the author's life, and random tangents that will leave you giggling, laughing and even full on snort-laughing. If you've ever had an argument with your significant other about surviving the Zombie Apocalypse, found yourself slowly turning into one of your parents, or obsessed with taxidermy animals dressed in costumes, then this is the book for you.

Fans of Jen Lancaster, Lori Notaro and David Sedaris should not miss Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) by Jenny Lawson. Also check out her blog for more of her hysterical writing, and information about the book! 

Between You and Me by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Logan is making her way in New York City putting her past behind her.  Logan’s cousin Kelsey is a pop star, beloved by millions. When her assistant leaves she asks Logan to take over.  She becomes entrenched in Kelsey’s family and must balance her life with her new boyfriend and being there for her cousin. Will she be able to help Kelsey when her life turns upside down?

After reading this book you’ll look at the media differently and reconsider any thoughts of being famous. Check out this great summer read @the library!

The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler

Quirky characters with unusual occupations and mundane domestic lives amuse and charm the reader in The Beginner’s Goodbye.  Aaron Woolcott has been living a quiet life with his wife Dorothy when she is suddenly killed by a freak accident. Although they were somewhat mismatched and sometimes had trouble communicating, they were a close and devoted couple for over eleven years. Aaron, unable to deal with Dorothy’s unexpected death, becomes emotionally numb and withdrawn, resisting the efforts of his sister, his co-workers, friends and neighbors to help him through his grief. But then Dorothy begins to appear to him. Sometimes they talk. Sometimes they are silent. Sometimes they even annoy each other. These appearances comfort Aaron. However, Dorothy has another purpose for her visits and she eventually makes Aaron a better man.

Gold by Chris Cleave

Olympic cyclists Kate and Zoe have been rivals and best friends since they met at the Elite Prospects Programme at age 18.  Kate missed the 2004 Athens Olympics to stay home with her baby daughter, Sophie, and took a miss again at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when Sophie was diagnosed with leukemia.  Instead of competing in front of the world with her husband and her best friend, Kate chose to be the one to take her very ill daughter home.  Zoe took gold in both Olympics - as did Kate's husband (and Zoe's old flame), Jack.  At age 32, this will be Kate, Zoe, and Jack's last Olympics.

All three are planning to go out in a blaze of gold glory - until the Olympic Committee changes the rules, and only one female cyclist will be allowed to compete in the Olympics.

From the author of the best-selling Little Bee comes this gripping, heart-wrenching, and surprisingly funny story of family, love, friendship, and fierce competition.  Driven, self-destructive Zoe, sweet, feisty fighter Kate, their tough-as-nails coach Tom, and determined, Star Wars-obsessed Sophie (who is pretty sure that her returning leukemia is just a side effect of the midochlorians in her blood turning her into a Jedi) all have to figure out how to shift their worlds to the rules change without crashing their lives out on the track. 

This review is based on an advanced reader's copy received from the publisher.  Gold will be published on July 10, 2012.

Watergate by Thomas Mallon

Since the facts of the Watergate scandal are stranger than fiction, the plot of this book writes itself.  Seven men who worked at the direction of CREEP (The Committee to Re-Elect the President) were arrested while breaking into the Democratic National Headquarters in Washington DC. Hush money was paid. Hearings were held. Perjury was committed. High ranking government officials went to jail and President Richard Nixon was forced to resign. By recounting this story fictionally, the author is able to depict a humanity for the perpetrators, co-conspirators and innocent by-standers that mere facts cannot convey. Once the deed is done, emotions, not rational thinking, take over. We follow and even empathize with, Richard Nixon, E. Howard Hunt, Fred LaRue, Rose Mary Woods and others who get caught in an ever-growing web of lies.

Life as I Blow It by Sarah Colonna

Sarah Colonna thinks that everyone has two different personalities. For her, there is the responsible person who pays bills on time, always has a job and lives close to her family. Then there is the side that sees the benefits of being alone, having fun and partying. Finding a guy who accepts and understand both of these sides is not easy, and these are her stories of trying to find Mr. Right, and sometimes Mr. Right Now.

From her dating exploits as young girl growing up in Arkansas to a more mature woman trying to work and live in LA are laugh out loud funny. Fans of Chelsea Handler will recognise her friend and co-worker, and definitely enjoy Sarah's takes on dating and life.If you are looking for something fun to read in a beach chair with an umbrella drink, check out Life as I Blow It by Sarah Colonna.

The Paper Garden: An Artist (Begins Her Life's Work) at 72 by Molly Peacock

Mary Delaney was a minor member of the British aristocracy in the 18^th century. After the death of a much older husband ended an unhappy marriage, she created for herself a new life, full of friends, music, art, science and remarriage. During her second widowhood, at the age 72, Mrs. Delaney began to construct flower mosaics from cut paper and continued to do so for the next 10 years, creating 985 beautiful and botanically correct pictures, now kept in the British Museum. Paper Garden contains color reproductions of some of her work.