By Marci Tate

It’s just about time to start snuggling in every evening with a good book. Nothing too hard, just something to keep you entertained. Here are a few choices.

This feel-good novel follows the path of young Chancy Deal as she searches for a place to belong. Paper Hearts by Debrah Williamson brings together a range of characters with good results. Teenage Chancy escapes a terrible home situation by hitching a ride. She winds up in little Wenonah, Oklahoma. There she encounters Max, an older gentleman who isn’t doing such a great job caring for himself after the passing of his beloved wife. When a second encounter between the two brings Max to find Chancy sleeping in his garage, he offers her a place to stay and story to keep the authorities at bay for both of them. The new neighbors across the street also figure into this story of lovable characters forming lasting bonds. A sweet story to enjoy on these cool fall evenings.

This next one manages to walk the fine line between being a touching story versus being over-the-top sappy. Author Jill Smolinkski gets it right with The Next Thing on My List. June Parker is an average girl with an average life who seems to be a bit stuck in a rut. Everything changes when she offers a ride to a barely known acquaintance and is involved in a car accident that takes the other girl’s life. June, who emerges the accident with no life-threatening injuries, finds a list the girl made of “20 Things to Do Before My 25th Birthday”. With only two items on the list crossed off, June decides she will finish the list for the girl – in only six months. Several items on the list seem possible – #10 ride in a helicopter, but several other items will cause June to work with friends, family and co-workers to accomplish it all - #7 make Buddy Fitch pay (who is Buddy Fitch and why must he pay?). The ending was not what I expected, but I was still left pleased. This story may make you want to create your own life “to do” list.

For a quick, fun read, try Milk Eggs Vodka: Grocery Lists Lost and Found by Bill Keaggy. This is one to buy and pass along to all of your friends so they can have a good laugh and you can discuss your favorites. Bill Keaggy (and friends) collects grocery lists that have been left behind in shopping carts. Some are confusing, some are hilarious and some are just plain sad (especially when it comes to the state of spelling in our society). The author creates commentary throughout the book, which can either add to the hilarity or just get in the way in some chapters. You will even see that some people will write their grocery lists on anything available. A friend shared this with me and even marked her favorite one with a post-it note so we could laugh about it later. I have to tell my favorite since I can’t stick a note on your book. (Note from the author states this is the ultimate PMS grocery list) – snickers, tampons, ice cream. Try to muffle your laugh-out-loud moments after the kids have gone to bed and wake up your husband to share your favorites (in fact, he will want to read this one, too). Enjoy!

Submitted by Marci Tate of Fayetteville – busy wife and mom of two, avid reader (when time allows) and Library Media Specialist at Vandergriff Elementary School.

The Oprah show might not be considered a “drama,” but apparently one of her recent episodes stirred up quite a bit of it. Author and marriage counselor Gary Neuman was recently on the show to talk about his new book “The Truth About Cheating.” On Thursday (Sept. 18th), there will be a follow-up show to talk about the emotional reaction many women had to the discussion.

I missed the first show but I’ll definitely be setting my DVR to record Thursday’s show. I have a friend going through a painful divorce as a result of infidelity. And for every woman who thinks it could never happen to her, there are at least 10 women who thought the same thing and ended up going through it themselves. I haven’t read the book yet so I can’t give a recommendation, but here are some eye-opening statistics from the book as well as a link to more info about it on the Oprah website. (The article on Oprah.com also lists signs to watch for that might indicate that a husband is cheating or is about to cheat.)

• 1 in 2.7 men will cheat on their wives, and most wives will never know about it.
• 88% of cheating men said the other woman was not more attractive or in better shape than his wife.
• Only 7% of men who strayed told their wives without being asked. 55% didn’t tell or lied about it when confronted.
• The No. 1 complaint cheating husbands have about their home sex lives is frequency.
• 92% of men who cheated said it resulted from an emotional disconnection with their wives, feeling underappreciated and the lack of thoughtful gestures.

Click here for more info about the book on the Oprah website. The next Oprah show discussing this book will air this Thursday on ABC. If you read the book or saw the first show and have a comment to share, please post it below by clicking on the word “comment” in the lower right-hand corner of this post.

Need some new books to read to the kids? Here’s a selection for various age groups, recommended by our resident book expert and bookshop owner, Marti Genge of Pages of Parenting Bookstore.

For Babies

Mommy’s Best Kisses, by Margaret Anastas

For Toddlers

It’s Time to Call 911, by Smart Kids

For Young girls (age 6-10)

You Can Do It, by American Girl

For Kids

Dude, That’s RUDE! (Get Some Manners), by Pamela Espeland

For more information on these and other great books for kids, click here to visit Marti’s Pages of Parenting website.

By Marci Tate

It’s summertime and the reading is easy! I’m convinced that summer was made for light, fluffy, and fun reading. In true summer fashion, The Beach House by Jane Green features an array of characters coming together for one summer of change. Nan is the aging widow in an old-fashioned estate in Nantucket. Due to financial shortcomings, she opts to spruce up the place and rent out the rooms to a few tenants. The tenants are introduced pretty early in the book as they go about their lives that lead them to needing a place to get away. Daniel is a married father of two who has been living a lie and is ready to acknowledge his true self. Daff is a newly divorced mother of one trying to find who she was before marriage and motherhood. In the mix is Nan’s son, Michael, who is escaping from a disastrous affair with his boss. Throw in a little romance and drama and you have an enjoyable book for the dog days of summer.

The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain is hard to put down once you get involved with these characters. Cee Cee Wilkes is a young girl in love and willing to do anything to please her boyfriend. She becomes entangled in a horrible kidnapping plot that leads to one bad decision after another. In another state and under a new name, Cee Cee is now caring for a baby that is not her own, but that she comes to loves fiercely. The reader follows Cee Cee through most of her life as she goes on living her lie waiting for her past mistakes to catch up to her. It is easy to get swept up in this story of love and desperation. When it all starts to unravel for Cee Cee, be prepared to clear your schedule because you won’t want to put the book down for anything.

After reading a great review for this one, I was excited to get it until picking it up to see the cover, when I was sure it was not my type of book. However, Poison Study by Maria Snyder, surprised me with its spellbinding story weaving elements of fantasy, romance, drama and more. When describing this book, it is hard to convey just how enjoyable it is from a brief synopsis. So, if you get your hands on this one, give it a shot before dismissing it as not your type of book. Yelena has been locked in the castle awaiting execution when she is given the choice to become the food taster for the Commander. With a new lease on life, she begins tasting various poisons to prepare for the role. Her teacher, Valek, is a dangerous and mysterious man working as head of security for the Commander. Yelena becomes a pivotal force in the future of the country as she is drawn into political actions and intrigue. She is a smart, strong character who is finding her way as her own skills are coming to light. Written in a way that you feel like you are there, this medieval fantasy is enjoyable from start to finish. You won’t be disappointed for an escapist read on a long, hot summer day.

Submitted by Marci Tate of Fayetteville – happy wife, busy mom of two, avid reader (when time allows) and Library Media Specialist at Vandergriff Elementary School