On the shelves - Dec. 22

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.

“How to Kiss a Movie Star” by Jenny Proctor. I’m a wildlife biologist in a tiny mountain town, not some kind of law-breaking celebrity stalker. At least not on purpose. It was an accident when I wandered onto the property of one of Hollywood’s hottest movie stars. Five minutes ago, I’d never even heard of Flint Hawthorne. I definitely didn’t know he lives in Silver Creek. When I’m detained for trespassing, the last thing I expect is to trade my handcuffs for a designer gown. All I wanted was permission to conduct my research on a remote corner of his estate. Now I’m walking the red carpet of a Hollywood movie premiere as Flint’s (very fake) girlfriend. At least, the relationship is supposed to be fake. But the way he slips his arm around me, his breath tickling my ear, the chemistry feels like something real. The trouble is, I’m not really built to handle his fast-paced celebrity life. I should be glad we’re only pretending.

“Flint Kill Creek: Stories of Mystery and Suspense” by Joyce Carol Oates. These new, recent, and reformulated stories by Joyce Carol Oates, collected here for the first time, showcase a wide range of crime fiction and psychological suspense. A young, insecure woman finds her relationship changing as she grows more and more dependent on a man who likes to take her on long walks beside a dangerously roaring creek. Another woman, nervous around men, not quite knowing how to act when paid a compliment, becomes flustered when a doctor suggests they go out for coffee, or possibly a drink. She finally decides that she will join him when he suggests they meet at his home. A man is so forgetful that his wife panics and yells into his phone, asking where their daughter has gone. A young man is curious to see why sirens have filled the night and the police arrest him, beginning an unimaginable nightmare. A woman resents that a colleague has achieved greater success and thinks she ought to do something about it.

“The Author’s Guide to Murder” by Beatriz Williams, Lauren, & Karen White. There’s been a sensational murder at historic Castle Kinloch, a gothic fantasy of grey granite on a remote island in the Highlands of Scotland. Literary superstar Brett Saffron Presley has been found dead in the castle tower’s book-lined study. Years ago, Presley purchased the castle as a showpiece for his brand. Now it seems, the castle has done him in, or, possibly, one of the castle’s guests has. Detective Chief Inspector Euan McIntosh finds himself with the unenviable task of extracting statements from three American lady novelists. The women claim to be best friends writing a book together, but the authors’ stories about how they know Brett Saffron Presley don’t quite line up, and the detective is getting increasingly suspicious.

“Erie Legends” by Ricardo Diseño. Our world is a strange place. This hauntingly illustrated book peers into the dark spaces that lie somewhere between belief and imagination, and into the weird stories we tell to make sense of where and who we are. Here are tales of vengeful ghosts, bloodthirsty monsters, internet-conjured nightmares, cryptid curiosities, aliens, and more.

“Elegant One-Pan Cakes” by Sonali Ghosh. Delight in dozens of delicious, easy-to-make cakes with Sonali Ghosh, creator of Sugar Et Al and cake baker extraordinaire. Through her careful guidance, you’ll learn how to build layers of sophisticated flavors to make show-stopping one-pan bakes that are sure to impress.

“Embroidery: Learn in a Weekend” by Roisin & Alisha McDonnell. The traditional craft of embroidery has become more exciting as a new generation of stitchers bring contemporary style to subjects such as houseplants and modern interiors. This smart little book, written with beginners in mind, perfectly captures that aesthetic and gives readers the skills they need to succeed.

— Summaries provided by library staff