Catherine Coles
Coles Notes
The staff of the County of L&A Libraries are avid readers and always eager to share their favourite books. Here we bring you a list of some of the reads we’ve recently enjoyed. This month you’ll find a couple Christmas-reads, a book of stories, and a gritty mystery.
Chantell suggests Let it Snow by Nancy Thayer
“This book set in Nantucket, follows Christina, a toy shop owner who is busy prepping for the upcoming holiday season. One afternoon she catches a young girl named Wink trying to steal, so instead of reporting her she offers the young girl a job in her shop. Christina forms a bond with the young girl and discovers she comes from a wealthy family and is the granddaughter of the Scrooge who is trying to increase the rent on her store. With the threat of having to close her business and the risk of her friends businesses closing as well, she knows she must come up with a plan. With all the holiday havoc and a possible new romance on the horizon, Christmas for Christina this year may be more than what she bargained for. Will Christina find her missing Christmas spirit, will true love warm her heart or will Mr. Scrooge get in the way?”
Andree suggests The Butterfly Girl by Rene Denefeld
“This is a gritty yet hopeful follow-up to the novel The Child Finder. Naomi, abducted as a very young child, escaped her kidnapper when she was seven and is now a licensed private investigator who searches for missing children. Her memories of captivity and her sister are limited. Naomi cannot remember her sister’s name but she is determined to find her. She has promised herself that she will see this desperate search for her sister through to the end and returns to Portland, Oregon when five murdered street girls are discovered in the river. Could this be the work of the same predator? Naomi prowls the underbelly of the city looking for anyone who may have seen or heard about her sister. Her quest takes her to the morgue, soup kitchens, mental hospitals, and a skid row of street people and those who try to help them. She discovers clues about her past that take her on a disturbing journey she may not be strong enough to survive.”
Kristin suggests The Deal of a Lifetime and Other Stories by Fredrik Backman
“From the author of A Man Called Ove and Beartown comes a collection of three meaningful stories about facing life’s greatest struggles and discovering what is truly important in life. If you are looking for a quick, yet deeply moving read this holiday season, then these short stories are for you. Fredrik Backman is an author that skillfully transfers his humour, charm, compassion and wonderful sense of human nature directly into his writing and this collection is no different. I suggest reading this touching collection because it is sure to both warm your heart and make you realize that spending time with loved ones is the best gift we could ever receive this holiday season.”
Julie suggests Broken Man on a Halifax Pier by Lesley Choyce
“This was one of the best books that I read this year. A chance encounter between a down on his luck man and woman contemplating her own life leads them to an impromptu trip to his hometown on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia that results in numerous consequences good and bad. This book has a bit of everything from the opioid drug crisis, unemployment, Alzheimer’s disease and even throw in a force of nature – which makes for a great page turner. So sit down with a pint of Keith’s and enjoy this ‘down home’ read.”
Patricia suggests Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
“Each year as the business of December approaches I shift my reading to light, cozy, predictable and delightful Christmas stories. I love that in just a few hours (not unlike a Hallmark movie) you can enjoy a little brain candy and escape from the hustle and bustle. In Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory readers take a trip to England with Vivian where she meets the Queen’s aide Malcolm. A mistletoe kiss makes both Malcolm and Vivian start to question whether a Christmas affair will end or will the New Year mean new beginnings for both?”
All of these items can be reserved from your local branch of the County of Lennox & Addington Libraries or online at www.CountyLibrary.ca.