The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin  (We loved this book so much that we needed two reviews!!!)
From Karen:  Melanie Benjamin is one of my favorite authors and I love to recommend her to others to discover. Her newest book, The Aviator's Wife, one of her best!   In this work of fiction, she imagines the inner (and public) life of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, the daughter of an ambassador who is swept off her feet by the dashing young aviator, Charles Lindbergh, who is at the beginning of his career. Her marriage to the difficult Lindbergh, the tragedy of their baby's kidnapping, and her care of him at the end of his life are all chronicled in a thoughtful and poignant way. I felt as if I finally 'knew' Anne, and had to keep reminding myself that this is a work of fiction. Ms. Benjamin was respectful of the Lindbergh family's privacy, while engaging us thoroughly in the inner life of an amazing woman in her own right. I thoroughly recommend this novel.   

From Elizabeth M.:  In the author's note at the end of the book, Benjamin writes that the most gratifying thing for an historical novelist to hear is that the reader wants to learn more about the people in the story.  As I read the last page, I immediately wanted to return to Anne Morrow Lindbergh's diaries and her beloved Gift from the Sea.  From page one you will be spellbound as you read about a shy, introverted young woman who was "chosen" by the dashing and adored young aviator to be his co-pilot and life partner.  The world was fascinated by their every move and made them celebrities without any chance of a private life.  Anne proved to be a brilliant aviatrix, a creative writer, a devoted parent and a long suffering partner to a very complicated man.  

List Price:  $26.00  Our Price:  $20.80   (Available 1/15/2013) 

The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier 

For lovers of historical fiction, a new novel by Tracy Chevalier is cause for celebration!  The author of Girl with a Pearl Earring and many other bestsellers has written her first book set in the United States.  Honor Bright, a modest English Quaker, has moved to Ohio in 1850 only to find herself alienated and alone, forced by family tragedy to rely on strangers in a harsh, unfamiliar landscape.  Nineteenth-century America is practical, precarious, and unsentimental, and scarred by the continuing injustice of slavery. Honor discovers that principles count for little, even within a religious community meant to be committed to human equality.  However, drawn into the clandestine activities of the Underground Railroad, Honor befriends two surprising women who embody the remarkable power of defiance. Eventually she must decide if she too can act on what she believes in, whatever the personal costs.  List Price: $26.95  Our price: $21.56  (Available 1/8/2013)

From Vicky:  11/22/63 by Stephen King
I  don't generally read Stephen King novels - they are too scary for me! - but after I gave 11/22/63  as a  Christmas gift, I decided to give it a try - and it is one of those "Oh, my gosh" fantastic reads!  11/22/63 is the story of Jake Epping, an English teacher from Maine who travels back in time so that he can stop Lee Harvey Oswald from shooting President Kennedy.  It's a great historical novel set in small towns in Maine and Texas during the years leading up to the shooting.  It is the troubling tale of Lee Harvey Oswald and his family.  It is a terrifically beautiful and moving love story.  Finally, of course, it is a Stephen King story complete with violence, undertones of  the supernatural and an overwhelming sense of dread about what might happen and why.  King is a brilliant writer and a grand storyteller, too.  I just spoke with a college student who has read most of King's books and he felt this was one of his best.  (He also enjoyed seeing characters and settings incorporated from his earlier books.)  Now that the holidays are over and you have time for a ripping good, long book, this might just be a great choice!   But make sure you have some time - you won't want to put this book down! 

1356 by Bernard Cornwell 

Cornwell, part time Cape Codder and considered by the Wall Street Journal as "the most prolific and successful historical novelist in the world today" has delivered another blockbuster with this thrilling tale of peril and conquest at the Battle of Poitiers in September 1356. All over France, towns are closing their gates and crops are burning. The English army is set to invade.  But what if there was a weapon that could decide the outcome of the imminent war?   Thomas of Hookton, an Englishman known as le Batard, has orders to uncover the lost sword of Saint Peter, a blade with mystical powers said to grant certain victory to whoever possesses her.   As the outnumbered English army becomes trapped near Poitiers, Thomas, his troop of archers and men-at-arms, his enemies, and the fate of the sword converge in a maelstrom of violence, action, and heroism.  Rich with colorful characters, great adventure, and thrilling conflict, 1356 is a magnificent tale of how the quest for a holy relic with the power to change history may culminate in an epic struggle.   

List price: $28.99  Our price: $23.19  (Available 1/8/2013)

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
Picking up from A Discovery of Witches' cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew's old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.  List Price:  $28.95  Our Price:  $23.16  

Home by Toni Morrison
An angry and self-loathing veteran of the Korean War, Frank Money finds himself back in racist America after enduring trauma on the front lines that left him with more than just physical scars. A deeply moving novel about an apparently defeated man finding his manhood--and his home.  $15.00

From Rita: The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott   

A young woman, Tess, is an aspiring seamstress who is hired by a famous designer to be her personal maid on the doomed voyage of the Titanic. Tess catches the eye of two very different men on the ship, one a sailor and the other a wealthy man from Chicago. This proves to generate problems for Tess throughout the book. Once the disaster is over and those who survive are on land, the rumors start on how the rescue was handled. Tess's employer is the main subject in the government hearings that follow the sinking. The behavior of the designer and her husband are questioned throughout the hearings.  It is a page turning account of the aftermath of its sinking.  I now feel a differently about the Titanic and the manner in which those who survived handled themselves.  $15.00   

The Legend of Broken by Caleb Carr 

Legend meets history in this mesmerizing novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Caleb Carr. Demonstrating the rich storytelling, skillful plotting, and depth of research he showcased in The Alienist, Carr has written a wildly imaginative, genre-bending saga that redefines the boundaries of literature.  List Price:  $28.00  Our Price: $22.40    

Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn

After decades of service and years of watching her family's troubles splashed across the tabloids, Britain's Queen is beginning to feel her age. She needs some proper cheering up. An unexpected opportunity offers her relief: an impromptu visit to a place that holds happy memories--the former royal yacht, Britannia, now moored near Edinburgh. Hidden beneath a skull-emblazoned hoodie, the limber Elizabeth (thank goodness for yoga) walks out of Buckingham Palace into the freedom of a rainy London day and heads for King's Cross to catch a train to Scotland. But a characterful cast of royal attendants has discovered her missing. In uneasy alliance a lady-in-waiting, a butler, an equerry, a girl from the stables, a dresser, and a clerk from the shop that supplies Her Majesty's cheese set out to find her and bring her back before her absence becomes a national scandal.   

From Elisa:  "Mrs. Queen Takes the Train is a very sweet contemporary tale of the Queen in the tradition of Roman Holiday. It is charming and pleasant and is a fantastic read." List Price:  $25.99  Our Price:  $20.79

The Two Week Wait by Sarah Rayner
What if the thing you most longed for was resting on a two week wait? From the author of the international bestselling "One Moment, One Morning," comes a moving portrait about what it truly means to be a family. After a health scare, Brighton-based Lou is forced to confront the fact that her time to have a baby is running out. She can't imagine a future without children, but her partner doesn't seem to feel the same way, and she's not sure whether she could go it alone. Meanwhile, in Yorkshire, Cath is longing to start a family with her husband, Rich. No one would be happier to have children than Rich, but Cath is infertile. Could these strangers help one another? With her deft exploration of raw emotions and her celebration of the joy and resilience of friendship, The Two Week Wait is Sarah Rayner at her best.  $14.99    

The Intercept:  A Jeremy Fisk Novel by Dick Wolf
From the creator of Law and Order television series, Dick Wolf makes his literary debut with a tense, driving thriller.  Days before the July Fourth holiday and the dedication of One World Trade Center at Ground Zero, an incident aboard a commercial jet flying over the Atlantic Ocean reminds everyone that vigilance is not a task to be taken lightly. But for iconoclastic NYPD detective Jeremy Fisk, it may also be a signal that there is much more to this case than the easy answer of this being just the work of another lone terrorist.  List Price: $27.99  Our price: $22.39  

Non-Fiction

  From Eldon Ziegler: Turing's Cathedral: The Origins of the Digital Universe by George Dyson

  George Dyson tells the stories of the men and women who realized Alan Turing's vision of the general purpose computer by creating the machine itself and the software to make it useful. Much of the story centers around John von Neumann at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton from the end of World War II until the early 1950's, during which time early code for weapons research, weather prediction, genetics and artificial intelligence made use of von Newmann's insight that numbers could not only measure things but also stand for commands that the machine would carry out to perform the computations. Running through the story are Alan Turing, Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Edward Teller, Kurt Gödel, John Eckert, John Mauchly and the engineers and software developers that surely would be envious of the computers that sit on our desks or even in our phones. The author was at the Institute for Advanced Study as a young boy while his father, the renowned physicist Freeman Dyson, was in residence.  New in paperback.  $16.95  

On Assignment with National Geographic: The Inside Story of Legendary Explorers, Photographers, and Adventurers by Mark Collins Jenkins

Join National Geographic archaeologists and adventurers, explorers and scientists on this thrilling jaunt through more than 125 years of research, discovery, and unforgettable photojournalism. Featuring behind-the-scenes tales and show-stopping imagery, this delightful little book captures the heart of the Society's fascinating history, from its earliest days as a scientific club to its growth into one of the world's largest geographic organizations. It's all here, from Jacques Cousteau's pioneering underwater explorations to James Cameron's recent record-breaking descent to the floor of the Mariana Trench, the oceans' deepest point. Countless other explorers and their astounding achievements through the years are documented, including Louis Leakey, Jane Goodall, Spencer Wells, and Sylvia Earle. More than 200 photos, sidebars, and fun facts accompany these amazing stories, pulling you from one adventure to the next.  $9.99 

Making Perfect Popcorn:  A Fun, Healthy Way to Spend Time with Family and Friends by John Beigel
Who doesn't love the enticing aroma, fluffy melt-in-your-mouth texture, and satisfying light taste of popcorn? The trick is knowing how to make perfect popcorn so you can enjoy this healthy delightful treat any time.  John Beigel, physicist, former CEO, and Cape Cod resident, is a popcorn aficionado. He now discloses his popped-to-perfection secrets so that you can purchase, prepare, eat, and enjoy  popcorn.  Throughout Making Perfect Popcorn, Beigel shares his curiosity, his scientific bent, and his fun stories of family, friends, and dogs. Delight in your own journey with this healthy, popped to perfection snack to enjoy with family and friends. This  book shows you how!  $16.95

The Butler's Guide to Running the Home and Other Graces by Stanley Ager and Fiona St. Aubyn
Perched on an island off the shores of Cornwall, England, the soaring castle of St. Michael's Mount has been home to the St. Aubyn family since 1647. For nearly thirty years, Stanley Ager, one of the most esteemed butlers of the twentieth century, ensured that St. Michael's Mount was an impeccable place to live and a gracious and welcoming one for guests to visit.  But you don't need a manor to benefit from Ager's wisdom on homekeeping. This carefully detailed, charmingly illustrated, eminently useful volume offers important insights and techniques, including how to: wipe a glass until it sparkles; fold napkins precisely;  polish furniture--or silver--to a mirror finish; lay a beautiful table and serve a meal impeccably; brush, buff, and maintain any manner of clothes and footwear; fold and pack for a trip; select and pour wine, stage "impromptu" romantic picnics; and , among other graces, open a door soundlessly, roll an umbrella perfectly, and iron a newspaper.  $21.99

Reading Group Choices 2013
Filled with over 70 titles carefully selected to be of interest to reading groups, complete with insightful "Conversation Starters " to facilitate lively group discussions. $6.95





Cookbooks

From Elisa:  Small Changes, Big Results, Revised and Updated: A Wellness Plan with 65 Recipes for a Healthy, Balanced Life Full of Flavor by Ellie Krieger
Ellie Krieger, the host of Food Network's Healthy Appetite and New York Times bestselling author, has revised and updated her 12-week wellness plan, now with 25 new recipes for nutrition-packed meals and snacks, plus dozens of tips for apps and web sites to help you make the best choices for a healthy body.  What I loved most about this book is the simple steps are broken down to only a few changes each week.  And guess what!  

The changes are simple and small but the impact seems great.  I love Ellie Krieger's cookbooks and use her recipes all the time.  This book includes lots of wonderful recipes with easy to find ingredients that won't break the bank.  I can't wait to get started!  $16.00

Slow Cooker Revolution: One Test Kitchen, 30 Slow Cookers, 200 Amazing Recipes by the Editor's at America's Test Kitchen
The 200 recipes in this family friendly collection deliver a revolution in slow cooking. Who says you can't have convenience and big, bold flavors! And with America's Test Kitchen, the recipes are guaranteed to work.  $26.95


Children's Books

Bunnies on Ice by Johanna Wright
When you're a champion ice-skater, you have to wait for the conditions to be just right.  You have to wait through spring. You have to wait through summer. You have to wait through autumn until, finally, as the snow begins to fall, you can show the world just how good you really are! $16.99


Open This Little Book by Jesse Klausmeier and illustrated by Suzy Lee
Did you hear us laughing when we opened a box of books last week and found this wonderful picture book?  Everyone in the bookshop had to open this beautiful little book.  (Sorry - pun intended!)  When you open one little book - you find.... another book!  Picture book lovers of every age are sure to open this book again and again...and again and again.  $16.99

Navigating Early by Claire Vanderpool
At the end of World War II, Jack Baker is suddenly uprooted from Kansas after his mother's death and placed in a boy's boarding school in Maine. There, Jack encounters Early Auden, the strangest of boys, who reads the number pi as a story and collects clippings about the sightings of a great black bear in the nearby mountains. Newcomer Jack feels lost yet can't help being drawn to Early, who won't believe what everyone accepts to be the truth about the Great Appalachian Bear, Timber Rattlesnakes, and the legendary school hero known as The Fish, who never returned from the war. When the boys find themselves unexpectedly alone at school, they embark on a quest on the Appalachian Trail in search of the great black bear. But what they are searching for is sometimes different from what they find. They will meet truly strange characters, each of whom figures into the pi story Early weaves as they travel, while discovering things they never realized about themselves and others in their lives.  This is another great story by the author of the Newbery Award winning novel, Moon Over Manifest.  $16.99 (Ages 10 and up)

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
5th grader Hazel, adopted from India and living with her divorced mother, just doesn't fit in at her new school with anyone except her next door neighbor and best friend, Jack.  But now he has stopped talking to her  after a shard of glass enters his eye and he disappears into the forest with a mysterious woman made of ice. Now it's up to Hazel to rescue him.  Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen, Breadcrumbs is a stunningly original fairy tale set in the deep woods of Minnesota, a dazzling ode to the power of fantasy, and a heartbreaking meditation on how growing up is as much a choice as it is something that happens to us.  We are so happy that this fabulous children's book, which has garnered four starred reviews, is now available in paperback. $6.99 (Ages 9-12)

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine
Two girls separated by race form an unbreakable bond during the tumultuous integration of Little Rock schools in 1958 in this beautifully written, moving historical novel.  Twelve-year-old Marlee doesn't have many friends until she meets Liz, the new girl at school. Liz is bold and brave and always knows the right thing to say, especially to Sally, the resident mean girl. Liz even helps Marlee overcome her greatest fear - speaking, which Marlee never does outside her family.  But then Liz is gone, replaced by the rumor that she was a Negro girl passing as white. But Marlee decides that doesn't matter. Liz is her best friend. And to stay friends, Marlee and Liz are willing to take on integration and the dangers their friendship could bring to both their families.
Ages 9-12  $7.99 (Available 1/10/2013)

The Final Four by Paul Volponi
Four basketball players with one thing in common: the will to win.  Malcolm wants to get to the NBA. Roko wants to be the pride of his native Croatia. Crispin wants the girl of his dreams. M.J. just wants a chance.  March Madness is in full swing, and there are only four teams left in the NCAA basketball championship. The heavily favored Michigan Spartans and the underdog Troy Trojans meet in the first game in the semifinals, and it's there that the fates of Malcolm, Roko, Crispin, and M.J. intertwine. As the last moments tick down on the game clock, you'll learn how each player went from being a kid who loved to shoot hoops to a powerful force in one of the most important games of the year. Which team will leave the Superdome victorious? In the end it will come down to which players have the most skill, the most drive, and the most heart.  Ages 12-17   $9.99   (Available 1/10/2013)

From Vicky:  The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
by Jennifer E. Smith
What a delightful, touching love story!  When 17 year old Hadley misses her plane from New York to London, she meets Oliver, and everything changes.  Hadley is on her way to London to attend her father's second wedding -  to a woman Hadley's never met.  Oliver is an English student studying at Yale and flying back to London.  Hadley and Oliver find themselves falling in love as they talk their way across the Atlantic.  Unfortunately, the two become separated at the airport in London and Hadley is thrust into the wedding ceremony she is emotionally unprepared for.  The characters in the book are all so human - and we feel Hadley's conflicting emotions of anger and love and frustration with her father, her deep longing for things to return as they were and the beginning of her acceptance of the way things are.  But love is there, complex and flawed and unending - love between Hadley, her mother and her father - and now a blossoming new love with a boy she is just beginning to understand.  What is the statistical probability of love at first sight?  And who can say how or why we fall in love?  $8.99  (Ages 13-17)

Under the Never Sky by Vernoica Rossi
Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will.  Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild--a savage--and her only hope of staying alive. 
Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile--everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.  In her enthralling debut novel, Veronica Rossi sends readers on an unforgettable adventure set in a world brimming with harshness and beauty.  $9.99  (Ages 14 up)

Mandala Designs: 101 Illustrations for Creative Coloring by Mary Robertson 
This wonderful coloring book contains 101 mandala designs for coloring enthusiasts of all ages. Adults will enjoy coloring and decorating the mandalas with a variety of media, including markers, colored pencils, and gel pens. Children can use crayons, as many of the drawings are designed with enough room for little hands to explore and color. A perfect mix of interesting, yet not too complex designs provides a playground for any imagination. A great book for families to share! $12.95