On the shelves - Nov. 3

These books are available at the Clovis-Carver Public Library:

“The Birthday Girl” by Melissa De La Cruz: Before she became a glamorous fashion designer, Ellie de Florent-Stinson was a trailer-park teen about to turn sixteen. But a night of birthday celebration doesn't go exactly as planned and it descends into a night she'll never be able to forget. Now, on the cusp of her fortieth birthday, it appears Ellie has everything she ever wanted. Hiding those skeletons has a cost, and it all comes to a head the night of her fabulous birthday party in the desert-where everyone who matters in her life shows up, invited or not.

“A Defense of Honor” by Kristi Ann Hunter: When Katherine "Kit" FitzGilbert turned her back on London society more than a decade ago she determined never to set foot in a ballroom again. But when business takes her to London and she's forced to run for her life, she stumbles upon not only a glamorous ballroom but also Graham. As much as she desperately wishes to tell Graham everything, revealing the truth isn't worth putting him and everyone she loves in danger.

“Last Ragged Breath” by Julia Keller: From the night-black depths of a coalmine to the sun-struck peaks of the Appalachian Mountains, from a riveting murder mystery to a poignant meditation on the meaning of love and family. The latest novel in the critically acclaimed series strikes out for new territory: the sorrow and outrage that spring from a real-life chapter in West Virginia history

“A Garden Can Be Anywhere” by Lauri Kranz: Edible Gardens LA founder Lauri Kranz shares her secrets for planning, planting, growing, and maintaining luscious edible gardens, no matter the setting or size of the plot. Through gorgeous gardens created for her well-known clientele, this practical guide is built around Lauri's philosophy that nourishment and beauty are not separate goals.

“The Outlaw Ocean” by Ian Urbina: There are few remaining frontiers on our planet. But perhaps the wildest, and least understood, are the world's oceans: too big to police, and under no clear international authority, these immense regions of treacherous water play host to rampant criminality and exploitation.

“If You Ask Me: Essential Advice From Eleanor Roosevelt” by Eleanor Roosevelt: In 1941, Eleanor Roosevelt embarked on a new career as an advice columnist. She had already transformed the role of first lady with her regular press conferences, her activism on behalf of women, minorities, and youth, her lecture tours, and her syndicated newspaper column. Practical, warm-hearted, and often witty, Eleanor's answers were so forthright her editors included a disclaimer that her views were not necessarily those of the magazines or the Roosevelt administration.

— Summaries provided by library staff