New Nonfiction

The World of J.R.R. Tolkein by John Garth: This book takes you to the places that inspired J. R. R. Tolkien to create his fictional locations. Written by renowned Tolkien expert John Garth, The Worlds of J. R. R. Tolkien features a wealth of breathtaking illustrations, including Tolkien’s own drawings, contributions from other artists, rare archival images, and spectacular color photos of contemporary locations across Britain and beyond, from the battlefields of World War I to Africa.

The Lincoln Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer: Tells the little-known, but true story about a failed assassination attempt on President Lincoln. The plot was investigated by famed detective Allan Pinkerton, who infiltrated the group with undercover agents, including one of the first female private detectives in America. Had the assassination succeeded, there would have been no Lincoln Presidency, and the course of the Civil War and American history would have forever been altered

Medical Medium Cleanse to Heal by Anthony William: In this book you’ll discover: how to choose the cleanse that’s right for you; a deep dive into the causes of your symptoms and conditions; critical cleanse dos and don’ts, including modifications and substitutions; the truth about trendy topics such as intermittent fasting and the microbiome; and more than 75 recipes and sample menus to get you through your Medical Medium cleanse Spiritual.

Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen: Speaker and Bible teacher Jennie Allen hears all the time from women who feel stuck in patterns of frustration and defeat. In her search for a solution, she’s learned that the greatest spiritual battle of our generation is taking place between our ears. In this book Jennie draws on biblical truth and recent discoveries in neuroscience to show exactly how we can fight the enemies of the mind with the truth of who God is and who He calls us to be

The Bird Way by Jennifer Ackerman: This is one scientist’s pithy distinction between mammal brains and bird brains: two ways to make a highly intelligent mind. But the bird way is much more than a unique pattern of brain wiring, and lately, scientists have taken a new look at bird behaviors they have, for years, dismissed as anomalies or mysteries. What they are finding is upending the traditional view of how birds conduct their lives, how they communicate, forage, court, breed, survive.

United States of Socialism by Dinesh D’Souza: For those who witnessed the global collapse of socialism, its resurrection in the twenty-first century comes as a surprise, even a shock. How can socialism work now when it has never worked before? In making the moral case for entrepreneurs and the free market, the author portrays President Trump as the exemplar of capitalism and also the most effective political leader of the battle against socialism. He shows how we can help Trump defeat the socialist menace.

Make America Healthy Again by Nicole Saphier: Nicole Saphier, a Memorial Sloan Kettering physician, nationally recognized patient advocate, and media personality, reveals how individual negligence and big government incompetence have destroyed America’s health care system and offers concrete solutions to address this epic problem. We don’t need socialized medicine — we need to take better care of ourselves.

Above the Law by Matthew Whitaker: Matthew Whitaker came to Washington to serve as chief of staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and following Sessions’s resignation, he was appointed Acting Attorney General of the United States. A former football player at the University of Iowa who had been confirmed by the Senate as a U.S. Attorney, Whitaker was devoted to the ideals of public service and the rule of law. But what he found when he led the Department of Justice on behalf of President Trump were bureaucratic elites with an agenda all their own.

The Fifth Vital by Mike Majlak: Mike Majlak was a seventeen-year-old from a loving, middle-class family in Milford, Connecticut, when he got caught up in the opioid epidemic that swept the nation. For close to a decade thereafter, his life was a wasteland of darkness and despair. Now he’s a social media personality with millions of followers, and an entrepreneur, marketer, podcaster, YouTuber, and author who hopes to use his voice to shine a light for those whose own lights have grown dim. This is his story.

The Alliance Public Library has reopened to the public. Items may be reserved online for pickup using our digital catalog at https://alliancelibrary.org. For more information on current library procedures and services, please visit our website at http://libraries.ne.gov/alliance.

Young Adult Fiction

Wicked as You Wish by Rin Chupeco: Many years ago the magical kingdom of Avalon was left desolate, encased in ice when evil Snow Queen waged war. The refugees of Avalon– including Prince Alexei, the sole survivor of the Avalon royal family– are stuck in Arizona. His friend, Tala Warnock, knows his secret– and has a few of her own. The appearance of the Firebird, Avalon’s deadliest weapon, reignites the refugees’ desire to journey back to Avalon. But the Snow Queen, powerful but long thought dead, wants nothing more than to take the Firebird’s magic for her own.

So This is Love by Elizabeth Lim: What if Cinderella never tried on the glass slipper? Unable to prove that she’s the missing princess, and unable to bear life under Lady Tremaine any longer, Cinderella attempts a fresh start, looking for work at the palace as a seamstress. But when the Grand Duke appoints her to serve under the king’s visiting sister, Cinderella becomes witness to a grand conspiracy to take the king–and the prince–out of power, as well as a longstanding prejudice against fairies, including Cinderella’s own Fairy Godmother.

Return of the Temujai by John Flanagan: The Herons are home in Skandia, but the usually peaceful country is in danger. The Temujai–ruthless warriors from the Eastern Steppes–have never given up on their ambition to claim Skandia for their own…and now they’re on the move. Hal and his crew will have to brave the treacherous icy river and rapids to stop them, no matter the cost.

The Prom by Saundra Mitchell: Emma Nolan wants only one thing before she graduates: to dance with her girlfriend at the senior prom. But in her small town of Edgewater, Indiana, that’s like asking for the moon. Alyssa Greene is popular, head of student council, and daughter of the PTA president. She also has a secret. She’s been dating Emma for the last year and a half. When word gets out that Emma plans to bring a girl as her date, it stirs a community-wide uproar that spirals out of control.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo: Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. In New York City, Yahaira Rios is told that her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash. Separated by distance — and Papi’s secrets — the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered. And then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins: It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The odds are against him. He’s been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute, and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

The Burning by Laura Bates: After starting fresh with her mother in a Scottish fishing village, Anna learns that rumors of the “incident” have followed her, and she finds herself drawn to Maggie, a girl burned for witchcraft centuries before. Includes discussion questions.

Crave by Tracy Wolff: Grace’s world changed when she joined the academy. At the academy she is a mere mortal among gods…or monsters. She can’t decide which faction she should join, or if she should join any of them. The one thing that unites them is their hatred of her. Then there’s Jaxon Vega, a vampire with deadly secrets who hasn’t felt anything for a hundred years. Jaxon has walled himself off for a reason. Does someone want to wake the sleeping monster in him? Is Grace the bait?

Not if I Save You First by Ally Carter: Six years ago Maddie lived in Washington D.C. with her father, a Secret Service agent assigned to the President’s family, and her best friend was Logan, the President’s son; but after her father was wounded in an attempted kidnapping the two of them moved to a remote cabin in Alaska and Logan never replied to her letters–but now he has suddenly turned up on her doorstep, and, while she has no attention of forgiving him for his silence, she soon realizes that first she has to save him from the winter wilderness and the men who are pursuing him.  

The Alliance Public Library has reopened to the public. Items may be reserved online for pickup using our digital catalog at https://alliancelibrary.org. For more information on current library procedures and services, please visit our website at http://libraries.ne.gov/alliance.

New Fiction

Pretty Things by Janelle Brown: When that dream crashed, she turned to stealing from rich kids in L.A. alongside her wily Irish boyfriend, Lachlan. Vanessa is a privileged young heiress marked by tragedy who retreats to her family’s sprawling mountain estate. Nina, Vanessa, and Lachlan’s paths collide here, on the cold shores of Lake Tahoe, where their intertwined lives give way to a winter of aspiration and desire, duplicity and revenge.

Conjure Women by Afia Atakora: Conjure Women is a sweeping story that brings the world of the South before and after the Civil War vividly to life. Spanning eras and generations, it tells of the lives of three unforgettable women: Miss May Belle, a wise healing woman; her precocious and observant daughter Rue, who is reluctant to follow in her mother’s footsteps as a midwife; and their master’s daughter Varina. Magnificently written, brilliantly researched, richly imagined, Conjure Women moves back and forth in time to tell the haunting story of Rue, Varina, and May Belle, their passions and friendships

A Good Neighbor by Therese Fowler: A gripping novel that examines the American dream through the lens of two families living side by side in an idyllic neighborhood, and the one summer that changes their lives irrevocably. This book asks big questions about life in America today—what does it mean to be a good neighbor? How do we live alongside each other when we don’t see eye to eye?—as it explores the effects of class, race, and heartrending love in a story that’s as provocative as it is powerful.

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand: When Mallory Blessing’s son, Link, receives deathbed instructions from his mother to call a number on a slip of paper in her desk drawer, he does not expect Jake McCloud to answer. Jake’s wife, Ursula DeGournsey, is the frontrunner in the upcoming Presidential election. There must be a mistake, Link thinks. How do Mallory and Jake know each other? 28 Summers explores the agony and romance of a one-weekend-per-year affair and the dramatic ways this relationship complicates and enriches their lives, and the lives of the people they love.  

Boys of Alabama by Genevieve Hudson: When German transplant Max meets Pan, the school “witch,” he feels seen, and the pair embarks on a consuming relationship: Max tells Pan about his supernatural powers, and Pan tells Max about the snake poison initiations of the local church. The boys, however, aren’t sure whose past is darker, and what is more frightening—their true selves, or staying true in Alabama. Boys of Alabama becomes a nuanced portrait of masculinity, religion, immigration, and the adolescent pressures that require total conformity.

The Second Home by Christina Clancy: After a disastrous summer spent at her family summer home on Cape Cod, seventeen-year-old Ann Gordon was left with a secret that changed her life forever, and created a rift between her sister, Poppy, and their adopted brother, Michael. Fifteen years later, her parents have died, and Michael re-enters their lives with a legitimate claim to the house. But more than that, he wants to set the record straight about that long ago summer.

Always the Last to Know by Kristan Higgins: Barb and John Frost are testy and bored with each other after fifty years of marriage. At least they have their daughters- Barb’s favorite, Juliet; and John’s darling, Sadie. The girls themselves couldn’t be more different, but at least they got along, more or less. Until the day John has a stroke, and their house of cards came tumbling down. And now Barb and John will finally have to face what’s been going on in their marriage all along

Sin Eater by Megan Campisi: In Elizabeth I’s England, a fourteen-year-old girl who steals a loaf of bread is sentenced to be a sin eater, a shunned woman who must assume the sins of the dead, and becomes drawn into a dangerous mystery at the heart of a corrupt and violent court.

The Persuasion by Iris Johanson: Forensic sculptor Eve Duncan and ex-Navy Seal Joe Quinn are about to give Seth Caleb their trust for the most important duty of his life: keeping their daughter, Jane, safe at any cost. Because Jane’s talent as an artist has brought her to the attention of a madman. As the two come face-to-face with danger, one thing is made clear: it will take both of them working together to confront and defeat this evil.

The Alliance Public Library has reopened to the public. Items may be reserved online for pickup using our digital catalog at https://alliancelibrary.org. For more information on current library procedures and services, please visit our website at http://libraries.ne.gov/alliance.

New DVDs

Escape from Pretoria: Escape from Pretoria is the true story of Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee, young, white South Africans branded “terrorists” and imprisoned in 1978 for working covert operations for Nelson Mandela. With breathtaking ingenuity, meticulous surveillance, and wooden keys crafted for 10 steel doors, they make a bid for freedom. This is the story of an oppressed majority’s struggle, and two ordinary men who stood up to be counted in the pursuit of equality for all.

Brahms: The Boy II: Unaware of the terrifying history of Heelshire Mansion, a young family moves into a guest house on the estate where their son soon makes an unsettling new friend, an eerily life-like doll he calls Brahms. Katie Holmes stars as a mother who increasingly becomes uneasy and terrorized by her son’s new supernatural “friend.”

The Last Full Measure: This is the true story of William H. Pitsenbarger who personally saved over sixty men before making the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam’s bloodiest battle. Three decades later, Pentagon staffer Scott Huffman investigates a Congressional Medal of Honor request made by Pitsenbarger’s mission partner and parents. Huffman interviews Army vets to learn more about Pitsenbarger’s courageous acts – and uncovers a high-level conspiracy behind the medal’s denial.

The Invisible Man: Trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy scientist, Cecilia escapes in the dead of night and disappears into hiding. But when her abusive ex suddenly dies, Cecilia suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences turns lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia’s sanity begins to unravel while she desperately tries to prove she’s being hunted by someone nobody can see.

Emma: Jane Austen’s beloved comedy about finding your equal and earning your happy ending is re-imagined in this delicious new film adaptations of Emma. Handsome, clever and rich, Emma Woodhouse is a restless “queen bee” without rivals in her sleepy little English town. In this glittering satire of social class, Emma must navigate her way through the challenges of growing up, misguided matches and romantic missteps to realize the love that has been there all along.

World on Fire: Season One: Summer 1939. Harry, a translator at the British Embassy in Warsaw, is falling in love with Polish waitress Kasia. When German tanks roll into Poland, and Britain declares war on Germany, Harry and Kasia face terrible choices. With her life in grave danger, can Harry help her – and if he can, how will he ever explain himself to Lois Bennett, the girl he left behind in Manchester?

Bumblebee: Cybertron has fallen. When Optimus Prime sends Bumblebee to defend Earth, his journey to become a hero begins. Charlie Watson, a teenager trying to find her place in the world, discovers and repairs the battle-scarred robot, who’s disguised as a Volkswagon Beetle. As the Decepticons hunt down the surviving Autobots with the help of a secret agency led by Agent Burns, Bumblebee and Charlie team up to protect the world in an action-packed adventure that’s fun for the whole family.

Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn: This twisted tale is told by Harley Quinn herself, as only Harley can tell it. When Gotham’s most nafariously narcissistic villain, Roman Sionis, and his zealous right hand, Zsasz, put a target on a young girl named Cass, the city is turned upside down looking for her. While on the trail, Harley clashes with the Birds of Prey, but the unlikely foursome may have to team up to take Roman down.

The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin: It’s 2 AM on a Saturday night in the spring of 2001, and as Cecily reaches for her phone, she hears a guy on the barstool next to her say, “Don’t do it–you’ll regret it.” Over the next several hours–and shots of tequila–the two forge an unlikely connection, and for the first time in her carefully-constructed life, Cecily follows her heart over her head. Then Grant disappears in the chaos of 9/11. Fearing the worst, Cecily spots his face on a missing person poster, and realizes she is not the only one searching for him.

The Alliance Public Library has reopened to the public. Items may be reserved online for pickup using our digital catalog at https://alliancelibrary.org. For more information on current library procedures and services, please visit our website at http://libraries.ne.gov/alliance.

New Fiction

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner: Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable. One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England’s finest novelists. Now its home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen’s legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen’s home and her legacy.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley: On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones: Del Sol native Sunshine Vicram has returned to town as the elected sheriff – thanks to her adorably meddlesome parents who nominated her – and she expects her biggest crime wave to involve an elderly flasher named Doug. But a teenage girl is missing, a kidnapper is on the loose, and all of this is reminding Sunshine why she left Del Sol in the first place.

Walk the Wire by David Baldacci: When Amos Decker and his FBI colleague Alex Jamison are called to London, North Dakota, they instantly sense that the thriving fracking town is ripe for trouble — and now murder. It’s a town replete with ruthless business owners, shady government officials, and religious outsiders, all determined to keep their secrets from coming out, and Decker will need all of his extraordinary memory and detective skills to root out a killer before the boom town explodes.

Hard Cash Valley by Brian Panowich: As a life-long resident and ex-arson investigator for McFalls County, Dane has lived his life in one of the most chaotic and crime-ridden regions of the south. When he gets called in to consult on a brutal murder in a Jacksonville, Florida, motel room, he and his FBI counterpart, Special Agent Roselita Velasquez, begin an investigation that leads them back to the criminal circles of his own backyard.

Who Speaks for the Damned by C.S. Harris: It’s June 1814, and the royal families of Austria, Russia, and the German states have gathered in London at the Prince Regent’s invitation to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon and the restoration of monarchical control throughout Europe. But the festive atmosphere is marred one warm summer evening by the brutal murder of a disgraced British nobleman long thought dead. Several nervous Londoners had reason to fear that Nicholas Hayes had returned to kill them. One of them might have decided to kill him first.   

Simon the Fiddler by Paulette Jiles: On the eve of the Confederate surrender, Simon and his bandmates are called to play for officers and their families from both sides of the conflict. There the quick-thinking, audacious fiddler can’t help but notice the lovely Doris Mary Dillon, an indentured girl from Ireland, who is governess to a Union colonel’s daughter. After the surrender, Simon and Doris go their separate ways. But Simon cannot forget the fair Irish maiden, and vows that someday he will find her again

Fair Warning by Michael Connelly: Veteran reporter Jack McEvoy has taken down killers before, but when a woman he had a one-night stand with is murdered in a particularly brutal way, McEvoy realizes he might be facing a criminal mind unlike any he’s ever encountered. As he races to clear his name, McEvoy’s findings point to a serial killer working under the radar of law enforcement for years, and using personal data shared by the victims themselves to select and hunt his targets

The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin: It’s 2 AM on a Saturday night in the spring of 2001, and as Cecily reaches for her phone, she hears a guy on the barstool next to her say, “Don’t do it–you’ll regret it.” Over the next several hours–and shots of tequila–the two forge an unlikely connection, and for the first time in her carefully-constructed life, Cecily follows her heart over her head. Then Grant disappears in the chaos of 9/11. Fearing the worst, Cecily spots his face on a missing person poster, and realizes she is not the only one searching for him.

The Alliance Public Library has reopened to the public. Items may be reserved online for pickup using our digital catalog at https://alliancelibrary.org. For more information on current library procedures and services, please visit our website at http://libraries.ne.gov/alliance.

New Nonfiction

Me and Patsy Kickin’ Up Dust by Loretta Lynn: Loretta Lynn and the late Patsy Cline are legends–country icons and sisters of the heart. For the first time ever Loretta tells their story: a celebration of their music and their relationship up until Patsy’s tragic and untimely death.

Our Time Is Now by Stacey Abrams: Celebrated national leader and bestselling author Stacey Abrams offers a blueprint to end voter suppression, empower our citizens, and take back our country. A recognized expert on fair voting and civic engagement, Abrams chronicles a chilling account of how the right to vote and the principle of democracy have been and continue to be under attack.

No Ordinary Dog by Will Chesney: The powerful true story of a SEAL Team Six member and military dog handler, and the dog that saved his life. Two dozen Navy SEALs descended on Osama bin Laden’s compound in May 2011. After the mission, only one name was made public: Cairo, a Belgian Malinois and military working dog. This is Cairo’s story, and that of his handler, Will Chesney, a member of SEAL Team Six whose life would be irrevocably tied to Cairo’s.

Revolver by Jim Rasenberger: Patented in 1836, the Colt pistol with its revolving cylinder was the first practical firearm that could shoot more than one bullet without reloading. For many reasons, Colt’s gun had a profound effect on American history. While Revolver is a riveting and revealing biography of Colt, a man who made significant contributions to our country during the nineteenth century, it’s also a lively and informative historical portrait of America during a time of extraordinary transformation.

The Beginner’s Guide to Essential Oils by Christina Anthis: The Beginner’s Guide to Essential Oils puts the power of natural healing in your hands. This simple guide distills the knowledge you need to unlock the potential of commonly found essential oils. Start making remedies for a variety of conditions – as well as personal care and even home care products – that are nourishing, all-natural, and affordable.

Hollywood Park by Mikel Jollett: Mikel Jollett was born into one of the country’s most infamous cults, and subjected to a childhood filled with poverty, addiction, and emotional abuse. At first told through the limited perspective of a child, the story broadens as Jollett begins to understand the world around him. Although Mikel Jollett’s story is filled with heartbreak, it is ultimately an unforgettable portrayal of love at its fiercest and most loyal.   

The Great Awakening Is Coming by Mike Evans: In 1986 David Wilkerson gave Mike Evans an incredible prophecy: “I see a plague coming on the world, and the bars and churches and government will shut down. The plague will hit New York City and shake it like it has never been shaken…And out of it will come a third Great Awakening that will sweep America and the world.” In A Great Awakening Is Coming, Dr. Evans shares how God is working to stir revival in the hearts of people during a time of struggle.

American Crusade by Pete Hegseth: The Fox News senior political analyst and co-host of the television program, “Fox & Friends Weekend,” explores whether the election of President Donald J. Trump was sign of a national rebirth, or instead the final act of a nation that has surrendered to Leftists who demand socialism, globalism, secularism, and politically-correct elitism.

Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck: Green witchcraft is a school of witchcraft for those who want to live in harmony with the earth and its green things–and this book is your how-to guide. Open yourself up to everything from growing herbs and plants for magic and medicine, to honoring the spirits of trees and animals, and using crystals for power and healing.

Countdown 1945 by Chris Wallace: From Chris Wallace, the veteran journalist and anchor of Fox News Sunday, comes an electrifying behind-the-scenes account of the 116 days leading up to the American attack on Hiroshima. April 12, 1945. Told with vigor, intelligence, and humanity, Countdown 1945 is the definitive account of one of the most significant moments in history.

Plague of Corruption by Judy Mikovitz: Dr. Judy Mikovits is a modern-day Rosalind Franklin, a brilliant researcher shaking up the old boys’ club of science with her groundbreaking discoveries. And like many women who have trespassed into the world of men, she uncovered decades-old secrets that many would prefer to stay buried. Recounting her nearly four decades in science, this is a behind the scenes look at the issues and egos which will determine the future health of humanity.

The Alliance Public Library has reopened to the public. Items may be reserved online for pickup using our digital catalog at https://alliancelibrary.org. For more information on current library procedures and services, please visit our website at http://libraries.ne.gov/alliance.

New Fiction

Where will your next book
take you?

Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews:Star reporter Conley is about to take a fancy new position in Washington, D.C. When the new job goes up in smoke, Conley finds herself right back where she started, working for her sister, who is trying to keep The Silver Bay Beacon afloat. Then Conley witnesses an accident that ends in the death of a local congressman—a beloved war hero with a shady past. The more she digs into the story, the more dangerous it gets.

The Goodbye Man by Jeffrey Deaver:Colter Shaw infiltrates a sinister cult after learning that the only way to get somebody out . . . is to go in. Undercover, Shaw joins the mysterious group, risking everything despite the fact that no reward is on offer. He soon finds some people will stop at nothing to keep their secrets hidden . . . and to make sure that he or those close to him say “goodbye” forever.

Camino Winds by John Grisham: Welcome back to Camino Island, where anything can happen – even a murder in the midst of a hurricane, which might prove to be the perfect crime. The local police are overwhelmed in the aftermath of the storm and ill equipped to handle the case. Bruce begins to wonder if the shady characters in Nelson’s novels might be more real than fictional. As he starts to investigate, what he discovers between the lines is more shocking than any of Nelson’s plot twists – and far more dangerous.

Miss Austen by Gill Hornby: Moving back and forth between the vicarage and Cassandra Austen’s vibrant memories of her years with Jane, interwoven with Jane’s brilliantly reimagined lost letters, Miss Austen is the untold story of the most important person in Jane’s life. With extraordinary empathy, emotional complexity, and wit, Gill Hornby finally gives Cassandra her due, bringing to life a woman as captivating as any Austen heroine.

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd: Grounded in meticulous research and written with a reverential approach to Jesus’s life that focuses on his humanity, The Book of Longings is an inspiring, unforgettable account of one woman’s bold struggle to realize the passion and potential inside her, while living in a time, place and culture devised to silence her. It is a triumph of storytelling both timely and timeless, from a masterful writer at the height of her powers.

The Streel by Mary Logue: The year is 1880, and a young Irish woman turned reluctant sleuth as she tries to make her way in a strange and often dangerous new world. From the famine-stricken city of Galway to the bustling New York harbor, to the mansions of Summit Avenue in St. Paul, and finally to the raucous hustle of boomtown Deadwood, Logue’s new thriller conjures the tricky everyday realities of a young immigrant surviving by her wits and grace in nineteenth-century America.  

Savage Son by Jack Carr: Deep in the wilds of Siberia, a woman is on the run, pursued by a man harboring secrets–a man intent on killing her. A traitorous CIA officer has found refuge with the Russian mafia with designs on ensuring a certain former Navy SEAL sniper is put in the ground. Half a world away, James Reece is recovering from brain surgery, unbeknownst the Russian mafia has set their sights on Reece in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Someone Like You by Karen Kingsbury: Maddie West is shaken to the core when she finds out everything she believed about her life was a lie. Dawson Gage’s life is destroyed when London Quinn, the only girl he had ever loved, is killed. Then he discovers she may have a sibling — the frozen embryo donated decades ago. When Dawson invites Maddie to Portland to connect with her long-lost relatives, the Quinns, her biological parents, welcome her into their lives. Maddie is intrigued by their memories of London, who was so much like her. Is this the family and the life she was really meant to have?

The Wedding Dress by Danielle Steel: From the glamorous San Francisco social scene of the 1920s, through war and the social changes of the ’60s, to the rise of Silicon Valley today, this novel takes us on a family odyssey as each generation faces the challenges of their day. From inherited fortunes at the outset to self-made men and women, the wedding dress remains a cherished constant for the women who wear it in each generation and forge a destiny of their own.

The 20th Victim by James Patterson: Three victims, three bullets, three cities. The shooters’ aim is as fearsomely precise as their target selection. When Lindsay realizes that the fallen men and women excel in a lucrative, criminal activity, she leads the charge in the manhunt for the killers. As the casualty list expands, fear and fascination with this suspicious shooting gallery galvanizes the country. The victims were no angels, but are the shooters villains . . . or heroes?

Sorry I Missed You by Suzy Krause: When Mackenzie, Sunna, and Maude move into a converted rental house, they are strangers with only one thing in common—important people in their lives have “ghosted” them. So when a near-indecipherable letter arrives in their shared mailbox—hinting at long-awaited answers—each tenant assumes it’s for her. But the more they learn about each other, the more questions (and suspicions) they begin to have. All the while, creepy sounds and strange happenings around the property suggest that the ghosts from their pasts might not be all that’s haunting them

The Alliance Public Library has reopened to the public. Items may be reserved online for pickup using our digital catalog at https://alliancelibrary.org. For more information on current library procedures and services, please visit our website at http://libraries.ne.gov/alliance.

New DVDs

The Hunt: In this subversive satire, a group of elites gather at a remote Manor House to hunt ordinary Americans for sport. But the elites’ master plan is about to be derailed because one of The Hunted, Crystal, knows The Hunter’s game better than they do. She turns the tables on the killers, picking them off one by one as she makes her way toward the mysterious woman at the center of it all.

Bad Boys for Life: The original Bad Boys, Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, are back. After a string of assassinations and an attempt on Mike’s life, he convinces a hesitant Marcus to hold off retirement and partner one last time. Together, they team up with Ammo, the new hotshot division of the Miami PD, to take down the merciless head of the Aretas Cartel.

Sonic the Hedgehog: Powered with incredible speed, Sonic the Hedgehog, AKA the Blue Blur, embraces his new home on Earth. That is, until he accidentally knocks out the power grid and sparks the attention of the super-uncool evil genius Dr. Robotnik. Now it’s super-villain vs. super-sonic in an all-out race across the globe to stop Robotnik from using Sonic’s power for world domination.

Fantasy Island: The enigmatic Mr. O’Roarke makes the secret dreams of his lucky guests come true at a luxurious but remote tropical resort. But when the fantasies turn into nightmares, the guests have to solve the island’s mystery in order to escape with their lives.

Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker: Lucasfilm and director J.J. Abrams join forces once again to take viewers on an epic journey to a galaxy far, far away with the riveting conclusion of the seminal Skywalker saga, where new legends will be born and the final battle for freedom is yet to come.

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase: For 16-year-old Nancy drew, life in a small town is mighty dull. She longs for excitement, adventure and the chance to make a difference. Nancy gets the opportunity when she is asked to help solve the ghostly activity at the Twin Elms mansion. Can she help explain the creaking footsteps, exploding light bulbs, and ominous creature?

Arkansas: Kyle and Swin live by the orders of an Arkansas-based drug kingpin named Frog, who they’ve never met. Their world is upended after one too many inept decisions, and they find themselves directly in Frog’s cross hairs, who sees them as a threat to his empire. Based on John Brandon’s best-selling novel, Arkansas weaves together three decades of Deep South drug trafficking to explore the cycle of violence that turns young men into criminals and old men in legends.

Like a Boss: Best friends Mia and Mel are living their best lives, running their own cosmetics company until a villainous beauty mogul conspires to steal it from under them. When her devious plan drives the besties apart, Mia and Mel learn that sticking together is the only way to turn the tables and take back their company. The beauty business is about to get ugly.

The Gentlemen: From writer/director Guy Ritchie comes a star-studded sophisticated action comedy. American expat Mickey Pearson built a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he’s looking to cash out of the business forever, it triggers, plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.

Charlie’s Angels: The new Angels are among the world’s smartest, bravest, and most highly trained women all over the globe. Under the guidance of Bosley, the Angels have to protect a revolutionary technology from becoming weaponized. They will have to rely on each other as their assignment becomes increasingly treacherous and even those closest to them can no longer be trusted.

The Way Back: Jack Cunningham was a high school basketball phenom with a promising future when he suddenly walked away from the game. Now years later, he is drowning in the alcoholism that cost him his marriage and any hope for a better life. When Jack is asked to coach the basketball team at his alma mater, he may have finally found a reason to confront his demons.

The Alliance Public Library has reopened to the public with some restrictions. Items may be reserved online for pickup using our digital catalog at https://alliancelibrary.org. For more information on current library procedures and services, please visit our website at http://libraries.ne.gov/alliance.

New Fiction Titles

New titles are added weekly!

All the Ways We Said Goodbye by Beatriz Williams: In France, 1914, an heiress, a resistance fighter, and a widow are all joined by one legendary hotel: the Ritz in Paris.

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate: Unravels the dramatic story of three young women searching for family amid the destruction of the post–Civil War South, and of a modern-day teacher who learns of their story and its vital connection to her students’ lives. Author Lisa Wingate brings to life startling stories from actual “Lost Friends” advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers after the Civil War, as newly freed slaves desperately searched for loved ones who had been sold away.

Secrets of the Chocolate House by Paula Brackston: After her adventures in the seventeenth century, Xanthe does her best to settle back into the rhythm of life in Marlborough. Then Xanthe hears the song of a copper chocolate pot. Soon after, she has an upsetting vision of Samuel in great danger, compelling her to make another journey to the past. This time she’ll meet her most dangerous adversary. This time her ability to travel to the past will be tested. This time she will discover her true destiny.

The Better Liar by Tanen Jones: Robin Voigt is dead. But when their father passed away, Leslie received a rude awakening: she and Robin would receive the inheritance he left them together–or not at all. When she meets a charismatic young woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Robin, the two make a reckless bargain: Mary will impersonate Robin for a week in exchange for Robin’s half of the cash. But neither realizes how high the stakes will be when Mary takes a dead woman’s name.

A Reasonable Doubt by Phillip Margolin: A magician linked to three murders and suspicious deaths years ago disappears in the middle of his new act in Phillip Margolin’s latest thriller featuring Robin Lockwood. As a young criminal defense attorney, a former MMA fighter, and Yale law graduate, she must unravel the tangled skein of murder and bloody mischief to learn how it all ties together.

The Last Odyssey by James Rollins: For eons, the city of Troy–whose legendary fall was detailed in Homer’s Iliad–was believed to be myth, until archaeologists in the nineteenth century uncovered its ancient walls buried beneath the sands a map and to the a hidden realm of Tartarus. When word of Tartarus spreads–and of the cache of miraculous weapons said to be hidden there–tensions explode in this volatile region where Turks battle Kurds, terrorists wage war, and civilians suffer untold horrors.

Cleaning the Gold by Karin Slaughter and Lee Child: Will Trent is undercover at Fort Knox to investigate a twenty-two-year-old murder. His suspect’s name: Jack Reacher. Jack Reacher is in Fort Knox on his own mission: to bring down a dangerous criminal ring operating at the heart of America’s military. But there’s a bigger conspiracy at play–one that neither the special agent nor the ex-military cop could have anticipated. And the only option is for Jack Reacher and Will Trent to team up and play nicely. If the can.

The Jetsetters by Amanda Ward: When seventy-year-old Charlotte Perkins wins a cruise vacation, she dreams of reuniting her estranged children: Lee, an almost-famous actress; Cord, a handsome and wifeless venture capitalist; and Regan, a harried mother who took it wrong when Charlotte bought her a Weight Watchers gift certificate for her birthday. As lovers new and old join the adventure, long-buried secrets are revealed, and the Perkins family is forced to confront the defining choices in their lives.

One Minute Out by Mark Greaney: I was on a simple mission in Bosnia. A bad guy needed to be put down; in and out, no problem. But then I stumbled across a nightmare–a room full of women and children who were being trafficked to rich scum. Since then, I’ve been tracking their smuggling ring around the globe, and I’m finally near the top. Now I’ve got to make a decision: duty or honor. They all think they have me boxed in, but there’s one thing they’re forgetting: I am the Gray Man

You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks: Shay Miller is intrigued by a group of women who seem to have it all together, and they invite her with the promise: ‘You are not alone.’ Why not align herself with the glamorous and seductive Moore sisters, Cassandra and Jane? They are everything Shay aspires to be, and they seem to have the keys to getting exactly what they want. But what price does she have to pay? What do Cassandra and Jane want from her? You are not alone: Is it a promise? Or a threat?

The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley: Everybody lies about their lives. What would happen if you shared the truth?’ This is the question that Julian Jessop, an eccentric, seventy-nine-year-old artist, poses within a pale green exercise book that he labels The Authenticity Project, before leaving it behind in Monica’s Cafe. When Monica discovers Julian’s abandoned notebook, not only does she add her own story to the book, she is determined to find a way to help Julian feel less lonely. And so it goes with the others who find the green notebook that will soon contain their deepest selves.

The Alliance Public Library has reopened to the public with some restrictions. Items may still be reserved online for pickup using our digital catalog at https://alliancelibrary.org. For more information on current library procedures and services, please visit our website at http://libraries.ne.gov/alliance.

New Fiction Titles

The Jerusalem Assassin by Joel Rosenberg: American President Andrew Clarke decides the moment has come to unveil his comprehensive proposal to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians. However, when a series of senior American officials involved in the peace process are assassinated, Clarke orders Marcus Ryker and a team of CIA operatives to hunt down those responsible and bring the killing spree to an end.

In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn: Life is over in an instant for sixteen-year-old Finn Miller when a devastating car accident tumbles her and ten others over the side of a mountain. Suspended between worlds, she watches helplessly as those she loves struggle to survive. Finn needs to move on, but how can she with her family still in pieces?

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell: 2000. Fifteen-year-old Vanessa Wye becomes entangled in an affair with Jacob Strane, her English teacher. 2017. Strane has been accused of sexual abuse by a former student, who reaches out to Vanessa, and now Vanessa suddenly finds herself facing an impossible choice: remain silent, firm in the belief that her teenage self willingly engaged in this relationship, or redefine herself and the events of her past.

The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths: Everything has changed for Ruth Galloway. She has a new job, home, and partner, and she is no longer North Norfolk police’s resident forensic archaeologist. That is, until convicted murderer Ivor March offers to make DCI Nelson a deal. Nelson was always sure that March killed more women than he was charged with. Now March confirms this and offers to show Nelson where the other bodies are buried—but only if Ruth will do the digging.

A Forgotten Murder by Jude Deveraux: Decades earlier, two people ran off together from Oxley and haven’t been heard from since—and Sara wants to solve the case. As the people who were there the night the two went missing, the guests find themselves cast in a live mystery-theater event. In reenacting the events of that night, it becomes clear that everyone has something to hide and no one is safe, especially when the discovery of a body makes it clear that at least one of the people who disappeared was murdered.

Into the Fire by Gregg Hhurwitz: Evan Smoak lives by his own code. Once he was known as Orphan X. But he broke free and reinvented himself as The Nowhere Man, a figure shrouded in mystery, known for helping the truly desperate. If anyone is truly desperate, it’s Max Merriweather, and what seems like a simple job for The Nowhere Man turns out to be anything but. Behind every threat he takes out, a deadlier one emerges and Evan Smoak must put himself in greater danger than ever before.

Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke:  Bakery owner Hannah Swensen is leaving Lake Eden to help a friend in sunny California. But an unexpected phone call swiftly brings her back to a cold Minnesota winter . . . and murder.

Things in Jars by Jess Kidd: Bridie Devine–female detective extraordinaire–is confronted with the most baffling puzzle yet: the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick, secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, and a peculiar child whose reputed supernatural powers have captured the unwanted attention of collectors trading curiosities in this age of discovery. Winding her way through the labyrinthine, sooty streets of Victorian London, Bridie won’t rest until she finds the young girl, even if it means unearthing a past that she’d rather keep buried.

Writers & Lovers by Lily King: Blindsided by her mother’s sudden death, and wrecked by a recent love affair, Casey Peabody has arrived in Massachusetts in the summer of 1997 without a plan. At thirty-one, Casey is still clutching onto something nearly all her old friends have let go of: the determination to live a creative life. When she falls for two very different men at the same time, her world fractures even more. Casey’s fight to fulfill her creative ambitions and balance the conflicting demands of art and life is challenged in ways that push her to the brink.

Journey of the Pharaohs by Clive Cussler: Kurt Austin and the NUMA crew race to identify a link between an ancient Egyptian treasure, a 1927 daredevil aviator’s disappearance and the sinking of a modern fishing trawler to prevent a scheme by a cutthroat arms dealer.