Understanding the "Why" Chromosome by Cathy Guisewite, 128 pages

 "My job isn't to revolutionize anything. My job is to give women a sense of relief, to acknowledge what they're struggling with." -Cathy Guisewite Like women around the globe, Cathy has been constantly puzzled by her romantic relationships. From Irving to Simon to Alex, the men in Cathy's life have provided a never-ending source of confusion and amusement ever since the strip began in 1976. "If men's hair falls out," our weary heroine laments, "it's because there's nothing in there for it to hold onto." It's no wonder, then, that cartoonist Cathy Guisewite's Cathy collection should be called Understanding the "Why" Chromosome . In this hilarious book, Cathy outdoes herself in witty revelations about men, food, Mom, and Cathy's four basic guilt groups. Cathy epitomizes the highs and lows felt by distaff women throughout the world. In Understanding the "Why" Chromosome , Cathy's found a new a boyfriend who's a decade younger than she. Fitness fanatic Alex, who's sensitive and not particularly ambitious, introduces Cathy to an entirely new relationship angst, then introduces her to his hip, young mother. Cathy's baffled by the age difference, but is just as stumped when he proposes. "What's wrong with our relationship the way it is now? "she wails when Alex finally pops the question. Throughout her trials and tribulations, Cathy's friends keep her sane. There's happily married Charlene, the office loudspeaker; exhausted Andrea, mother of Zenith and Gus; her well-meaning mom and dad; Cathy's unrealistic boss, Mr. Pinkley; and bouncy little Electra, Cathy's canine alter ego. Her frequent and frustrating shopping excursions also give rise to an enormous wave of female recognition "Skip the clothes and just shove a Stairmaster through the curtain," Cathy deadpans. Cathy Guisewite is an enormously talented cartoonist who has won numerous awards for her strip and animated television shows. Her countless fans trust Cathy to constantly express the right blend of humor and observation almost as if she had x-ray vision into the human condition.

The Cat Who Robbed a Bank by Lilian Jackson Braun, 242 pages

 As the Highland Games approach, Jim Qwilleran and the citizens of Pickax prepare to celebrate their Scottish heritage with such events as bagpipe skirling and tossing the caber. But the traditional revelry is marred by troublesome rumors when a visiting jewelry dealer, renowned for his romantic streak (and his mysterious cash-only policy), is found dead in his hotel room. His assistant is missing—and soon, the winner of the caber-tossing contest disappears as well. Quill has a lot of mysteries to sort out- not the least of which is Koko's sudden interest in photographs, pennies, and paper towels..

Cursed Princess Club #2 by LambCat, 352 pages

 Just because you’re cursed doesn’t mean you’re not special.

Gwendolyn, the youngest of the King’s three daughters, is living proof that princesses don’t always have it all. She isn’t like a typical fairy-tale princess, or other princesses in the Pastel Kingdom. Gwendolyn, with her big heart and love of baking, isn’t particularly attractive. Unlike her sisters who have woodland creatures do their hair and makeup, or have flowers blossom wherever they sleep, Gwendolyn is a bit…different. So when her father proposes marriage for her and her sisters to make an alliance with the Plaid Kingdom, it breaks Gwendolyn’s heart to hear that Prince Frederick thinks she’s “really ugly.” Overwhelmed and ashamed, she runs away into the forest and encounters the twisted world of the Cursed Princess Club, where her life will never be the same.

The Cursed Princess Club are a ragtag band of outcasts, misfits and cursed princesses who have created an incredible friendship circle. It is among these friends where Gwendolyn learns to embrace her uniqueness and find her people.

In this second book of the series, we learn low self esteem isn’t just for girls! Meet the Princels―princes who have shunned society not because of curses (although one has to wonder…) but because of their own insecurities about their physical appearance and their inability to find romantic partners. And then we have Prince Frederick, who starts to worry if he even deserves Gwen. Plus, you too can learn to be as pretty as a Cursed Princess!

Revelations From a 45-Pound Purse by Cathy Guisewite, 128 pages

 Cathy is an American icon. She represents Everywoman for millions of women around the world. The noseless character has earned a place in the pantheon of America's most beloved cartoon characters. Of course, Cathy is oblivious to all that. Her relationship with Irving and her new diet are distracting her.

Second Chance Romance by Olivia Dade, 395 pages

 Karl and Molly were never together. There was a time, right after high school, where it seemed like they might finally cross the line from friends to lovers…but instead, a foolish misunderstanding meant they never spoke again. Molly went to LA and got married. Karl stayed in Harlot’s Bay and bought a bakery.

The only connection the pair has shared over the years is painfully one-sided: Now divorced, Molly narrates monster romance audiobooks, and Karl is an ever-diligent listener, clinging to his only piece of the one that got away.

Still, Molly hasn’t totally left Harlot’s Bay behind. When she hears that Karl’s obituary has run in the local paper, unexpected grief prompts her to hop on the next flight to Maryland…where she finds Karl very much alive, the victim of nothing but an accidental obituary.

As the pair reunite, they finally hash out their missed connection. True, Molly isn’t quite ready to trust again, but Karl is determined to prove himself worthy of her faith and devotion. And as her remaining time in Harlot’s Bay ticks down, Molly, the habitual cynic, just might find that Karl, the cranky town curmudgeon, is impossible to leave behind a second time.

The Thirteenth Pearl by Carolyn Keene, 179 pages

 A pearl necklace that is unusual and valuable has been stolen. The girl detective soon learns strange and dangerous people are responsible for the theft. Nancy and Carson Drew travel to Japan in search of the necklace. Clues found near home and in Japan help her uncover a group of underworld jewel thieves hiding behind the front of a pearl worshipping cult. 

Bad Girls by Jan Stradling, 287 pages

 Sassy, brilliant, vicious, cunning, unstable, tough-as-nails—readers will relish these stories of 22 women in history who defied the mainstream boundaries and social mores of their times.

Each gripping story speaks for itself: from Queen Mary I who did ‘what it took’ to protect Catholicism in England, to Madame Mao who became one of communist China’s most powerful and feared leaders, to Georgia Tann who, as a director of the Tennessee Children’s Home, made millions selling babies on the black market.

Some of these women were cruel, others visionary, yet others blinded by ambition or love. All were driven by a powerful combination of primal forces.