The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig

Laura Grey has spent the last 16 years of her rather colorless life governessing the children of England's elite.  Searching for a bit of excitement, she enrolls in the Pink Carnation's Selwick spy school and is sent to France, where she is to infiltrate the Parisian household of Andre Jaouen, a high-ranking official under Napoleon - as a governess.  With spies, swordfights, secret messages in bookshops, intrigue, secret identities and sweet romance, this latest installment in the Pink Carnation series is all fun.  This series of Regency tales of the swashbuckling adventures and romances of British spies rather incongrously named after flowers (inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel) begins with The Secret History of the Pink Carnation - start there and read straight through to The Orchid Affair!

Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire

We are all familiar with the story of Dorothy, her dog Toto and her adventures in Oz, but what if that wasn't all of the story? Author Gregory Maguire has taken Frank L. Baum's story and twisted it just a bit. What started in Wicked, and continued in Son of a Witch and a Lion Among Men, is now coming to a conclusion with Out of Oz. Fans of the series will want to pick up the last volume, and new readers will be brought up to speed with a great introduction as well as a time line and important events. Keep your eyes peeled to references to the movie and books, as this Out of Oz is jam packed with action, adventure and a lot of cultural references.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

Flavia de Luce is an eleven year old girl who loves chemistry, particularly poisons.  When she discovers a murdered stranger in the backyard of her family’s English mansion she welcomes the chance to solve the mystery.  She manages to do a much better job of it than the local police.  The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is only the first in a series of Flavia mysteries that keep getting better.   The adventures continue in The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag, A Red Herring Without Mustard, and the just-published I Am Half Sick of Shadows. 

It Looked Different on the Model by Laurie Notaro

Laurie Notaro once again opens up and shares snippets from her colorful life again with readers. From battles at the post office to battles in the fitting room, Laurie is up to the same kind of trouble fans are familiar with. New readers looking for something to laugh out will find lots to laugh at as Laurie gives us highlights from her crazy life.

The Grace of Everyday Saints by Julian Guthrie

St. Brigid Church is over a century old and one of San Francisco’s landmarks.   In 1994 the Roman Catholic archbishop decided to close this beautiful and thriving church.  The parishioners banded together to save their church.  This group of dedicated and faithful Roman Catholics is an inspiration.  However, this story will move everyone, not just Catholics.  It is about power and its misuse, and the joy of faith.  The author is a journalist with the San Francisco Chronicle and wrote about this story over many years.  Check out The Grace of Everyday Saints: How A Band of Believers Lost Their Church and Found Their Faith @the library today!