May's Books

Elizabeth Keckly was born into slavery and bought her freedom and that of her son for $1200. A talented seamstress, she opened a shop in St. Louis, and soon counted among her customers the important and influential women of society. When Abraham Lincoln was elected to the presidency, Mary Todd Lincoln engaged Mrs. Keckly to sew new gowns for her important Washington functions.

When the President was assassinated, it was Lizzy Keckly who was constantly by Mary Lincoln’s side. And when the President’s widow left Washington with creditors on her heels, it was the dressmaker who helped her try to settle her debts.

A fascinating look at a former slave and the privileged southern woman and their relationship.

Chill Before Serving by Cynthia Lawrence
Death of a Dapper Snowman by Angela Pepper
Don't Dare a Dame by M. Ruth Myers
Bear in the Back Seat II by Kim DeLozier
The Good Spy: the Life and Death of Robert Ames by Kai Bird
Phantom Angel by David Handler
Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Keckly: the Remarkable Story of the Friendship Between a First Lady and a Former Slave by Jennifer Fleischner

April's Books

In Skink: No Surrender, Carl Hiaasen's latest book, fourteen year old Richard is the only one who sees through his cousin Malley’s ruse. She told her parents she was leaving for boarding school but she left the airport and got into a car with a strange man she met on the internet. She begged Richard not to tell, but when he met a strange old man on the beach—one with bird beaks in his beard, a missing eye, and picture perfect teeth—he spills the story. He’s worried about Malley, although she claims she’s having an adventure.

The seemingly crazy old man, who turns out to be ex-governor Clint Tyree, is assumed to be dead. He tells he’ll help Richard track down his cousin, and with some behind the scenes help from a retired Florida Highway Patrol trooper, they locate Malley. As usual in Hiassen’s books, there are colorful characters, wild animals, and nature at odds with man. This is Hiassen’s first young adult book, but all fans of Hiassen will want to read Skink’s latest adventure.

 

Skink: no surrender by Carl Hiaasen
Death of a Liar by M.C. Beaton
Catification: Designing a Happy and Stylish Home for your Cat by Jackson Galaxy
Lady Parts by Andrea Martin
Rancher Rescue by Barb Han
The Rome Affair by Addison Fox
Scene of the Crime: Baton Rouge by Carla Cassidy
When No One is Watching by Natalie Charles
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion
Dead Wake: the Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson
Alive at 5 by Linda Bond
Dead on Arrival by Lori Avocato