Around the World in 99 Beds by Dottie Miller, 210 pages

 

The Royal Mess by MaryJanice Davidson, 210 pages

 A tough princess meets her match - a rugged bodyguard - in the third book of the royally entertaining series from the New York Times best-selling author.

When it comes to the wild Kingdom of Alaska, in a reality where Russia never sold the territory to the United States, a Rodinov has always protected the Baranov royal family. And Jeffrey, born and raised to be the next in the long and illustrious line of protectors, is not about to let the tradition fail with him.

But Princess Nicole isn't exactly the easiest charge: an expert at hunting who's sharp as nails, stubborn as a bull, and completely convinced she doesn't need anyone watching her back. Even worse, she's got the most kissable lips Jeffrey has ever seen.

What Nicole really needs is a man with the perfect combination of brains and brawn to show her the royal ropes (and cuffs...and scarves...). Someone who can make her feel like a queen - in bed and out of it. And, after all, taking care of the royal family is exactly what Rodinovs are trained to do....

Stinetinglers by R. L. Stine, 210 pages

 A boy who hates bugs starts to see them everywhere. A basketball player’s skin starts to almost drip off his hands―but no one else can see it. Three friends find a hole in the ground that just gets bigger, and bigger, and bigger... And each story is introduced by Stine himself, providing a personal touch sure to delight fans.

Laced with Stine’s signature humor and a hefty dose of nightmarish fun, Stinetinglers is perfect for fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Stine’s own Goosebumps books. These chilling tales prove that Stine’s epic legacy in the horror genre is justly earned. Dive in, and beware: you might be sleeping with the lights on tonight!

Overdue: Reckoning with the Public Library by Amanda Oliver, 210 pages

 Who are libraries for, how have they evolved, and why do they fill so many roles in our society today?

Based on firsthand experiences from six years of professional work as a librarian in high-poverty neighborhoods of Washington, DC, as well as interviews and research, Overdue begins with Oliver's first day at an "unusual" branch: Northwest One.

Using her experience at this branch allows Oliver to highlight the national problems that have existed in libraries since they were founded: racism, segregation, and class inequalities. These age-old problems have evolved into police violence, the opioid epidemic, rampant houselessness, and lack of mental health care nationwide—all of which come to a head in public library spaces.
 
Can public librarians continue to play the many roles they are tasked with? Can American society sustain one of its most noble institutions?

Secret Santa by Andrew Shaffer, 210 pages

 The Office meets Stephen King, dressed up in holiday tinsel, in this fun, festive, and frightening horror-comedy set during the horror publishing boom of the ’80s, by New York Times best-selling satirist Andrew Shaffer.

Out of work for months, Lussi Meyer is desperate to work anywhere in publishing. Prestigious Blackwood-Patterson isn’t the perfect fit, but a bizarre set of circumstances leads to her hire and a firm mandate: Lussi must find the next horror superstar to compete with Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Peter Straub. It’s the ’80s, after all, and horror is the hottest genre.

But as soon as she arrives, Lussi finds herself the target of her co-workers' mean-spirited pranks. The hazing reaches its peak during the company’s annual Secret Santa gift exchange, when Lussi receives a demonic-looking object that she recognizes but doesn't understand. Suddenly, her coworkers begin falling victim to a series of horrific accidents akin to a George Romero movie, and Lussi suspects that her gift is involved. With the help of her former author, the flamboyant Fabien Nightingale, Lussi must track down her anonymous Secret Santa and figure out the true meaning of the cursed object in her possession before it destroys the company—and her soul.

The Day the Music Died by Edward Gorman, 210 pages

The first in a charming new series featuring Sam McCain, Judge Eleanor Whitney, and America in the 1950s. This will be a memorable weekend for McCain: Buddy Holly has just died in a plane crash; he's got investigative work to do for the judge; and he must help help his sister decide whether or not to have an abortion.
Someone in the prosecutor's office asked me if I knew about a book series she wanted to re-read from her youth. I was able to figure out the series for her and decided to give the first one a go myself. The author really wanted you to know what the time period was from all the references he included. I felt like they dominated the book rather than the plot.

Christmas Caramel Murder by Joanne Fluke, 210 pages

Almost a prequel/standalone. I'm waiting to find out what's wrong with Russ. I just can't see Hannah with him.

Slave in a Box by M.M. Manring, 210 pages

This book was mentioned in another book and I was interested in learning about the advertising history of Aunt Jemima. This actually covered very little of the actual advertising history and centered more on the societial mores. The book was pretty dry and geared more towards a thesis than a book it seemed like. Not the best nonfiction read I've picked up.