On the shelves - June 12

The books listed below are now available for checkout at the Clovis-Carver Public Library. The library is open to the public, but patrons can still visit the online catalog at cloviscarverpl.booksys.net/opac/ccpl or call 575-769-7840 to request a specific item for curbside pickup.

“The Spark of Love” by Amanda Cabot. When a spurned suitor threatens her, heiress Alexandra Tarkington flees New York for Mesquite Springs in the Texas Hill Country, where her father is building a hotel. But the happy reunion she envisions is not to be, as her father insists she return to New York. Instead, Alexandra carves out a niche for herself in town, teaching schoolchildren to paint and enjoying the company of Gabe Seymour, a delightful man she met on the stagecoach. But all is not as it seems. Two men, each with his own agenda, have followed her to Mesquite Springs. And Gabe, an investigator, is searching for proof that her father is a swindler. With so much to lose--and hide from one another--Alexandra and Gabe will have to come together if they are ever to discover whether the sparks they’ve felt from the beginning can kindle the fire of true love.

“Book of Night” by Holly Black. Charlie Hall has never found a lock she couldn’t pick, a book she couldn’t steal, or a bad decision she wouldn’t make. She’s spent half her life working for gloamists, magicians who manipulate shadows to peer into locked rooms, strangle people in their beds, or worse. And to rob their fellow magicians, they need Charlie Hall. Now, she’s trying to distance herself from past mistakes, but getting out isn’t easy. Not to mention that her sister Posey is desperate for magic, and that Charlie’s shadowless, and possibly soulless, boyfriend has been hiding things from her. When a terrible figure from her past returns, Charlie descends into a maelstrom of murder and lies. Determined to survive, she’s up against a cast of doppelgangers, mercurial billionaires, gloamists, and the people she loves best in the world―all trying to steal a secret that will give them vast and terrible power.

“Whereabouts” by Jhumpa Lahiri. In the arc of one year, an unnamed narrator in an unnamed city, in the middle of her life’s journey, realizes that she’s lost her way. The city she calls home acts as a companion and interlocutor: traversing the streets around her house, and in parks, piazzas, museums, stores, and coffee bars, she feels less alone. Among those who appear on this woman’s path are colleagues with whom she feels ill at ease, casual acquaintances, and “him,” a shadow who both consoles and unsettles her. Until one day at the sea, both overwhelmed and replenished by the sun’s vital heat, her perspective will abruptly change.

“The Art of Mindful Living” by Pyramid. The road to a balanced and meaningful life is different for each of us, and in such a busy world we can often lose sight of what that means. This little collection of tips and reflections will show you the benefits of taking just a few minutes’ break in your day, allowing you to step back, understand your thoughts and improve your overall focus.

“The Complete Guide to Absolutely Everything: Adventures in Math and Science” by Adam Rutherford & Hannah Fry. Written with wit and humor, this brief book tells the story of science―tales of fumbles and missteps, errors and egos, hard work, accidents, and some really bad decisions―all of which have created the sum total of human knowledge.

“Family Comforts” by Rebecca Wilson. Discover brilliant breakfasts, quick-cook snacks, and midweek meal ideas prepared in a matter of minutes. Enjoy simple home-cooked food, delicious bakes and family treats for big smiles and full tummies.

— Summaries provided by library staff