'Tis the season... for reading!

Christmas is just around the corner (as I'm sure you know), so take a break from the holiday madness and check out these new Christmas-themed books from your favorite authors!

Silent Night is Robert B. Parker's last novel, finished and published posthumously by his longtime agent. When a homeless client and a local halfway house are being threatened, Spenser discovers links to a drug lord.

For fans of Debbie Macomber, Starry Night is her newest novel. Carrie follows a scoop to get an interview with bestselling, recluse author Finn Dalton. As the two warm to each other, Carrie must choose between her career and her heart.

In A Christmas Hope by Anne Perry, a murder at a holiday party with her new beau as the prime suspect means Claudine must work fast to solve the crime and save the day.

Journey to Savannah in Christmas Bliss, Mary Kay Andrews' newest Christmas outing. Weezie is getting married, but her bridesmaid reveals she is expecting - within a few days! Can Weezie get married in time for Christmas and convince her bridesmaid to settle down with the father? 

In A Seaside Christmas by Sherryl Woods, Jenny returns to her hometown, where she has always been treated as an outsider, for a music project and to see her estranged family. At the same time, an old flame tries to rekindle their stalled relationship. 

It's the perfect season for curling up with a good book. Happy holidays from us here at the Reader's Corner!

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

I have been a fan of  the wildly popular Divergent series since the first book, and I am sad to say that the third book is a disappointment. Allegiant by Veronica Roth takes all the potential of its predecessors and throws it away. I won't go into too much detail in terms of plot in case you haven't read the other books, but suffice to say Tris, Four, and their friends finally get outside the fence surrounding their city and discover what is on the other side.

The final book in the trilogy does not live up to promise of the first two, as it takes the central conflict of the previous novels and makes it completely unimportant. The plot stalls out halfway through the book, so that both the characters and the readers are stuck in one place. In addition, the alternating viewpoints between Tris and Four did not add to the experience, since their voices are so similar as to be completely indistinguishable. There were more than a few times that I had to skip back to the start of the chapter to figure out who was narrating. As I really enjoyed the first two books, I am disappointed in the overblown melodrama  that is the conclusion of this trilogy. Read this novel if you really must find out what happens to Tris and Four, but otherwise - skip it.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Geek's Guide to Dating

As a geek girl (though I have a boyfriend), when I saw this book, I had to read it. The Geek's Guide to Dating by Eric Smith is just what the doctor ordered for all the socially awkward geeks out there who can't find their "Player Two." From the first paragraph, Smith sits this slim tome in the middle of geek lore. With numerous references to pop culture, television, movies, comic books, and other things geeks love, Smith outlines a solid plan on how to date. As a woman, I have to say that Smith's advice is spot on - there are no easy shortcuts, no pick-up lines, and he emphasizes putting in hard work to attract the opposite sex.

I liked that Smith starts with taking a look at yourself and discovering your "special abilities" - knowing yourself before dating others. He emphasizes that you must love yourself and your interests, but also be open to new things and what other people enjoy as well. However, one complaint I have is that there are no tips specifically for the geek girl, which is unfortunate, though Smith says that you can apply his guide to both sexes.

Need a gift idea for the single geek in your life? This book is perfect for any geek ready to dive into dating and who may not want to read a traditional dating guide.

Win a copy of this book! All you need to do is correctly answer this question:

What is the best-selling video game console of all time?

First correct answer wins a copy of the book and a poster. Five correct answers after that will win a poster.


Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian