Valemount Public Library

When young James Dixon, a local jack-of-all-trades recently returned from the Battle of Waterloo, meets writer Dorothy Wordsworth, he quickly realizes he's never met another woman anything like her. In her early thirties at the time of the meeting, Dorothy has already lived a wildly unconventional life. As her famous brother William Wordsworth's confidante and creative collaborator--considered by some in their circle to be the secret to his success as a poet--she has carved a seemingly idyllic existence for herself, alongside William and his wife, in England's Lake District. One day, Dixon is approached by William to do some handiwork around the Wordsworth estate. At William's urging, he takes on more and more chores--and quickly understands that his real, unspoken responsibility is to keep an eye on Dorothy, who is growing frail and melancholic. The unlikely pair of misfits form a sympathetic bond despite the sometimes troubling chasm in social class between them, and soon Dixon is the quiet witness to everyday life in Dorothy's family and glittering social circle, which includes literary legends Samuel Coleridge, Thomas de Quincy, William Blake, and Charles and Mary Lamb.

"This novel provides an examination of contemporary America through the prism of a family tragedy: when a powerful parent dies, each of his adult children reacts in startling and unexpected ways, and his grieving widow in the most surprising way of all. Stark and penetrating, it's an exploration of psychological trauma, class warfare, grief, and eventual healing."--Provided by the publisher.

"Jake Brigance, the protagonist of A Time to Kill, John Grisham's classic legal thriller is back. This time he's at the epicenter of a sensational murder trial that bitterly divides the citizens of Clanton, Mississippi. A Time to Kill is one of the most popular novels of our time. It established Jake as a classic American hero-a lawyer who seeks truth and justice at all costs, even when his life and reputation are on the line. Brigance returned in 2013's Sycamore Row, in which he once again found himself embroiled in a deeply divisive trial. Now, in A Time for Mercy, Jake is the court-appointed lawyer for Drew Gamble, a young man accused of murdering a local deputy. Many in Clanton want a swift trial and the death penalty, but Brigance sees it another way. Once he learns the details of the case, he realizes he has to do everything he can to save Drew-who is sixteen. Jake's commitment to the truth puts his career and the safety of his family at risk. Filled with all the courtroom machinations, small-town intrigues, and plot twists that have become the hallmarks of the master of the legal thriller, A Time for Mercy emphatically confirms John Grisham's reputation as America's favorite storyteller. There is a time to kill, a time for justice, and A TIME FOR MERCY."-- Provided by publisher.

In this latest Highland Falls romance, a single mom-to-be is rescued by an undercover FBI agent who makes her believe in love again.

"The Way to a Man's Heart: On the surface, Meghan O'Day and Grey Carlyle seem like they couldn't be more different. But stuffy literature professor Grey keeps coming back to the diner where bubbly Meghan works—and it's not just for the coffee and pie. They both love chatting about books, and Meghan has opinions on the classics she's not afraid to share. She also thinks she could teach the professor a thing or two about happily-ever-after."--

"Shot up and left for dead, Sheriff Quinn Colson has revenge on his mind. With the help of his new wife Maggie, rehabilitation, and sheer force of will, he's walking again, eager to resume his work as a southern lawman and track down those responsible for his attempted murder. But someone is standing in his way: an interim sheriff, appointed by the newly elected Governor Vardaman, the man who Quinn knows ordered his murder. Vardaman sits at the top of the state's power structure--both legal and criminal--and little does he know, Quinn is still working to take him down. Quinn will enlist the help of his most trusted friends, including federal agent Jon Holliday, U.S. Marshal Lillie Virgil, and Nat Wilikins, an undercover agent now working for crime queen Fannie Hathcock. Since Quinn's been gone, the criminal element in north Mississippi has flourished, with Hathcock enjoying unbridled freedom. Now as a bustling factory shuts down, a labor leader ends up dead, and Quinn's own nephew goes missing, everything looks to be unraveling. Even an old friend from Quinn's past, Donnie Varner, is out of jail and up to his own ways. Quinn Colson and company have been planning for years, and now they're finally ready to bust apart a criminal empire running on a rigged system for far too long. This is the Battle of Jericho, the epic showdown that's been years in the making. Eventually, the war will end--for better or worse."--

Libby Beckett has come home to Collinstown, Maryland, to fulfill a dream and start over. Last year's messy divorce from her devious pharmaceutical executive husband has given her enough money to finally open her own yarn shop along the Chester River. Opening Y.A.R.N. has taken creativity, funds, and nerve--and Libby finally has enough of all three. To Libby, Y.A.R.N. stands for "You're Absolutely Ready Now," but the acronym changes whenever it needs to, and customers add to the list of suggestions that fill the blackboard wall in the shop. Libby is thrilled when she lands famous Norwegian knitting celebrity Perle Langager to host a knitting tutorial at Y.A.R.N. Libby's English bulldog, Hank, has been modeling one of Perle's doggie sweaters, and customers just can't wait to see Perle in action. But once she arrives in Collinstown, Perle seems distracted and on edge. And when she's found dead in the back of Libby's shop, Libby knows she has to solve a knotty mystery and save Y.A.R.N before her new life unravels.