Week 16 Prompt

How reading and books have changed for me since I was a child:

Ebooks are one of the biggest changes since I was a child. My parents made sure that I always had access to books, whether it was them buying children's books, gifts from family and friends or books from the library. But they were always print books. When I was really little they would read them to me and then I would read them myself as I got older. There were not as many options then as there are now. Now there are more options such as board books for the little little kids which offer a variety of ways to experience the book such as touch-and-feel, lift-the-flap, etc. There are also audio books that children have access to as well as ebooks that they can get free from the library. A lot of primary books also have included a CD so that the story can also be read out loud while following along in the book.

Future of books/publishing:

This may be because I am also a creative writer but there is a shift from traditional publishing to self-publishing. It is gaining in popularity among not only writers but also readers as well. The majority of the authors who choose to self-publish their books now are making sure to put in the time and effort to produce a quality work, making sure that it is edited by a professional and having a professional cover created. Traditional publishers do not completely dominate the market anymore since self-publishing continues to grow in popularity. So one of the changes could be that we might find more self-published works in libraries and not only ones from local authors.

I like to hope that we will read more in the future, especially younger kids. So often they come into the library needing to find a book from a specific genre because it is for an assignment and one of the first things they say is that they don't like reading at all and that they want a short book that just meets the requirements set by their teacher. In the future I would like to see this change. It would be great if more people enjoyed reading and made it a part of their lives, even if only a few pages at a time. I think that the popularity of ebooks and audiobooks will continue to grow, especially with ebooks being cheaper than print copies but I think that there will always be readers who prefer print copies.

Week 15 Prompt

Three ways my library does or could market the fiction collection:


Social Media Posts: Many of the social media posts for my particular library that deal with the actual items included in the fiction collection are the same "See what's new..." with a picture that is similar to what many other libraries have. Facebook is the social media site that my library uses but they do not actively promote the fiction collection and it is not consistent when they do. I think that they should include posts about individual items, especially if it is an item that someone has loved. Something like book cover with the caption: "Favorite read in historical fiction from Holly: The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran. Nefertari must overcome her family's past to build a better future. She gains her chance not only for that but for the love of a lifetime when she catches the eye of Ramesses the Great. Will their love be enough for them to build a stronger Egypt together or will the forces working against them be too much? You'll have to read it to find out!" This not only promotes the historical fiction genre within the collection but because it is a recommended read it also makes it more personal and could help it stand out in the news feed. A couple of us write YA reviews and we do post those on FB but there is not much for the rest of the fiction collection. I would also recommend the library use Instagram and Twitter as well to reach other age groups within their target audience, especially since the algorithms on FB hide many posts. I would also suggest including other types of posts such as fun "What character would you be in a Jane Austin novel?" type quizzes that can be found. Those would be fun and could help with engagement on the social media page. Hashtags should also be utilized.

Bookmarks: For our library the children's department always has tons of bookmarks that are popular not only with the kids but the adults also sometimes take one as well. But there are not bookmarks in the rest of the library. I think would be a great opportunity, especially if they were created to be unique to the library. The library does have a blog which sometimes has information about the fiction collection. (I would suggest for the blog that staff recommendations and reviews, and even a place for comments from viewers for other recommendations/reviews to be included.) But the bookmarks could include a QR code which could lead to the blog. (This next part would depend on cost and what material was used.) In children's we created bookmarks in which we each picked a color (mine was purple) and it would say "Highly recommended by Miss Holly!" and these would be put in books we had selected and placed on the top of the shelves. We used card stock for our bookmarks so that we could print more if needed and those books got picked so much more. A few staff members could choose recommended reads and maybe the books might get noticed more. Or instead of just having it say recommended read, it could contain a list in a fun font and they could have them at the circulation and information desks that patrons could take. They like bookmarks and these could promote the fiction collection and maybe help someone find their next favorite read. Pictures could also be taken of these recommended reads with their bookmarks or just of the bookmarks themselves and be posted online.

Read-a-like/Genre lists: Again this is something that my library only does for children's but not for YA or adult fiction. Having these types of lists around the library, especially at the desks could help patrons find awesome new books. It's also something that they can take. Usually they are in pamphlet form and that could also work as a bookmark. They can not only show what variety the fiction collection genre wise has but also awesome fiction books included. Something like "If you liked The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah then you might like..."But they shouldn't all be like that, I think it would be fun and unique to also appeal to what patrons like in the form of other media but in a way that can promote the fiction collection. Something like: "Fan of Supernatural? Then you'd like Covet (Fallen Angels #1) by J. R. Ward." These can also be put on bookmarks, posted on social media and placed on the website to make sure that patrons, those in person and virtual can see them. Having genre lists could help patrons find other books in a genre they already love such as Historical Fiction, Mystery, etc. These could be a mixture of new and older titles. 

Week 14 Prompt

If it was up to me whether or not LGBTQ and African American fiction should be separated into their own collections, I would say no. I would choose to keep them in with the adult and teen fiction collections. Now that does not mean that I wouldn't create displays with only those on them but that would be to highlight those books, not keep them separate from the rest of the fiction collection. I think it would do more harm than good, even though in this scenario, patrons have requested this. If the other genres within fiction are not being separated into their own areas then neither should these two, just because it might make some uncomfortable to have it there. Libraries are meant to be a safe place where patrons can come find information and great books and taking certain genres from the main collection, not to highlight them but because others do not like them takes away from that. A few reasons that I feel it should be included in with the rest of the fiction are:

1. In many instances, readers find new books and authors they love by browsing. If they are not sure whether or not they would like one of those books then they might not even go to those areas, but if the books stay within the main collection, a patron might discover a new book or author that they now love but might not have found if it had been somewhere else. 
2. Readers who already love those genres might feel judged or uncomfortable having to go to a separate area to find the books they want to read, especially if they are worried that other patrons might be watching them and judging what they choose to read. 
3. If libraries will not censor books and other materials or remove items from a collection just because someone or a group does not agree then items should not be removed from the main collection to another area just because a group does not think that they belong. Unlike wanting these genres moved so that they can be highlighted and celebrated, asking for them to be moved so that they do not have to see them goes against what libraries are all about and that is providing information and knowledge to all without judgement and making sure that the patrons that want to read those genres have access to them. 

Week 13 Prompt

Personally, I think it's great that adults like to read YA and New Adult. I read both and there are a lot of adults that come into my library and ask for those books as well. Most of the new adult, especially new adult romance seems to get lumped in with romance but YA is definitely kept separate. I think libraries and librarians should make sure that readers feel comfortable reading and looking into YA. I think that could help with the impression that YA is only for older teens and not for adults. Most YA is promoted with teens in mind and it would be a great idea to include adults in that as well, even if it's just including YA books in read-a-likes or suggestion lists along with the adult fiction/non-fiction. Many people read for enjoyment and it's completely okay to not like a certain genre after reading something in it but I think it can be limiting when people think they shouldn't read something because "it was written for teens." or something similar. I think it would be helpful to survey adult readers as well to find out if they like and read YA so that librarians could take that into consideration with promotion and collection development.

Young Adult-Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) by Laini Taylor

Summary:

Karou is unique: she's human but she was raised by demons. They took her in as a baby and are the only family she's ever known or wanted. She's always wanted to know more about her family and the world they come from. Even though she is allowed a small glimpse into their world, she's kept in the dark for her protection. That changes when black handprints begin appearing on doors all over the world, including the door that leads to her family. Soon after this begins she meets Akiva, an angel who's haunted by the tragedy in his past. He's angry, cold, and is working to punish those he deems responsible for the death of the woman he once loved. He soon finds that his heart is not as closed off as he thought when he meets Karou, who he is drawn to even as he tries to fight it. They're on opposite sides of a war but when secrets are revealed they'll have to choose: a side or each other.

Young Adult Characteristics:

• Younger main characters: Karou is 17 and though Akiva is an angel, appears 17 even though he is much older. They age differently so he does not seem older. 
• Issues faced: Even though this is a paranormal YA novel, the characters are facing important issues and topics such as love, war, family, etc. Even thought the characters are younger it does not take away from the issues they are facing. Karou is a teenager and fights with her family but she still loves them and in the story, works to protect them. This causes a conflict later with Akiva that she has to deal with. Karou also has to help her best friend end up with a boy she likes so even in the paranormal YA we get instances of the typical teenager that helps make the story better.
• Likable characters: Karou is an extremely likable character. She's funny, sarcastic, kind and a well rounded and developed character. Even when Akiva is considered an "enemy" he is still a character that readers seem to gravitate to. He's tortured and damaged but he's strong but like Karou, he makes mistakes and all this makes him a well rounded character as well. He's not as outgoing as Karou but when the reader gets to see those glimpses of the happy and warm Akiva, it makes them that much more powerful.
• Pacing: Like most YA this is a fast paced story. It is action filled with slow parts to give the reader a breather but it is a quick read. It unfolds in a way that keeps the reader turning pages, wanting more of the story.

Read-a-likes:

YA:

• Marked (House of Night #1) by P. C. and Kristin Cast (Strong female protagonist in a paranormal YA)
• Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush #1) by Becca Fitzgerald (Angels)
• Fallen (Fallen #1) by Lauren Kate (Angels)
• City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare (descendants of angels)

Adult: (I chose to include Adult read-a-likes since like our prompt for this week, many adults also like YA and might want read-a-likes in adult books as well.)

• Covet (Fallen Angels #1) by J. R. Ward (Angels)
• Angel's Blood (Guild Hunter #1) by Nalini Singh (Angels)
• Wicked Nights (Angels of the Dark #1) by Gena Showalter (Angels)

TV Show recommendations: (These two shows immediately came to mind when I was thinking about this book so I thought I would include some other media recommendations.)

• Shadowhunters (Based on Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series. It's awesome.)
• Supernatural (It's got demons and angels and I think readers would enjoy the series. Also, Cas is amazing.)

My opinion of Daughter of Bone and Smoke:

I loved this book! I could not put it down and was immediately thankful that I had checked out all three in the trilogy so I could continue the story and start the second book. I liked that this switched up the typical angel and demon type of story and put a unique twist on it. This is one of those books that I would immediately recommend if someone came in asking for a paranormal YA. It is a large YA book but it is one of those books that as you're reading you don't feel like you're reading a huge book, it's fast paced and intriguing and kept me hooked from the beginning.

Week 12 Prompt

Reader's Advisory Matrix: You Can Do It: Strength by Jasinda Wilder (You Can Do It #2)

Where is the book on the narrative continuum?

Highly narrative (reads like fiction)

What is the subject of the book?

In the second book of this trilogy, Jasinda is going beyond her eight week plan for health and wellness and adding in more strength training and other exercise aspects. It also builds upon the eating habits built in the first book.

What type of book is it?

It is part memoir part with the beginning as she tells her story and how she got where she is now and  plan for wellness.

What is the pacing of the book?

It is a very quick read and enjoyable.

Describe the characters of the book:

Jasinda, the author, is the main character since this is mainly about her journey to health and wellness but it also focuses on her husband and fellow author, Jack and their six children. All have gotten healthier because of these lifestyle changes.

How does the story feel?

Inspiring. She really wants the reader to relate and know that they can succeed with the plan.

What is the intent of the author?

To inspire and help the readers be the healthiest they can be.

What is the focus of the story?

Jasinda's health journey and how it can help others.

Does the language matter?

Yes, it is what makes it so readable.

Is the setting important?

Not for this book, no.

Are there details? Charts, graphs, etc.?

Yes: pictures, recipes, and info graphs that are very well described and useful to the reader.

Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience?

Yes to all three. It is not only trying to teach but to inspire. But Jasinda is also trying to show that she has been where many readers have and that they can succeed too. It is clear that she is rooting for them.

Why would a reader enjoy this book?

1. Characterization
2. Narrative continuum
3. Learning/Experience

Non-Fiction: You Can Do It

You Can Do It by Jasinda Wilder

You Can Do It Trilogy #1

Summary:
Jasinda Wilder asks one thing of the reader of this non-fiction book: will you give yourself eight weeks to try a new way to lose weight and begin a lifestyle change that will their health for the better. The main aspect of this lifestyle change is to give up sugar. She details an eight week plan where you slowly start to ween yourself off sugar and change your eating and exercising habits. Before you get to the plan she tells her story and how she got to where she is health wise. She also includes awesome recipes and fun extras.

Narrative Continuum: This novel is very easy to read and it reads like a first person novel. The way Jasinda wrote this book is as if she was sitting there talking with the reader. It makes it a quick and easy read and there is a clear progression of this "story."

Subject: Fans of Jasinda's fiction works expect fun and humor and even though this book has some serious aspects of it, it also delivers on the lighthearted humor that readers have come to expect from her. She is very open and honest about her health journey.

Type: This is part memoir part health, weight loss guide.

Appeal: 

Pacing: A great thing about this book is that the reader does not have to bring any knowledge of the subject into the reading because it is explained early on in the book. It is very narrative and quick to read.

Characterization: The author does want the reader to identify with them. Jasinda has gone through this process and details it in great depth.

Storyline: There is a great flow to this book. It is very readable and even though it is non-fiction, it reads like a fiction story.

Intent of Author: This book is mainly to educate but it also hopes to inspire and encourage readers who might be going through the same things she did or starting this journey to be the healthiest they can be.

Subject focused: While this book is very subject focused, the story is vital to the book as well. It adds to it and makes it more readable and enjoyable.

Detail: This book does have a lot of detail including, illustrations about the way to do the plan and recipes with pictures.

Learning/Experiencing: This book is a nice blend of the two. In the beginning Jasinda is sharing her story but it gets into more of teaching moments with her explaining the plan and why she is recommending the choices she is.

Language: The language in this book is part of what makes it so successful and easy to read. It is fun, lyrical and feels as if she is talking to you. It makes it a quick read.

Setting: The location is not part of the book.

Tone: The tone of this book is very light. She wants to inspire readers and that comes through in the writing.

Read-a-likes:

• 21 Days of Eating Mindfully by Lorrie Jones. 
• Running Like a Girl: Notes on Learning to Run by Alexandria Heminsley
• Trim Healthy Mama Plan by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison

My Opinion of You Can Do It:

I loved this book! I had read a few of Jasinda's romance novels before so I was already a fan of her writing and when I found this I thought I would give it a try. I thought was very easy to read and an enjoyable read as well. She does a great job of adding detail and facts in a way that just fits the flow of the story and plan. It doesn't feel like an information dump. It was a very inspirational read. 

Week 11 Prompt

Personally, I think that there is a lot of appeal to both ebooks and audiobooks. For ebooks I think that the lower price definitely comes into play. But it is also a way to free up space. Readers are now able to get a lot more books because with ebooks and audiobooks they do not have to worry about making room on a shelf for them. I am the kind of person that I like both regular books and ebooks. I don't really like one over the other. Sometimes I get ebooks instead of regular books because they cost less, they are immediately in one of the various apps on my phone and sometimes I tend to read ebooks quicker than I do regular books. But other times I like having that book in my hand. I know that a lot of people love audiobooks. Recently I've seen a lot more people come into the children's department of my library asking for the audiobook version of a book, even when we have the book in. For me, I have never been able to find an audiobook that I could actually get into. Even narrators with an accent haven't been able to get me to like them. Whenever a narrator goes to do a voice of the opposite gender, I usually can't get over the voice. It distracts me so much I completely get drawn out of the story. I keep hoping I'll find one that I like but so far, no luck. My aunt and I use to read a lot of the same books and because we were reading the same series I would usually just loan her my physical copy of the book. Because the writing was so small, it would take her a lot longer to read but now that she has an ereader and can change the size of the text, she is able to read faster and seems to really enjoy it more. Audiobooks are also great for car rides and a lot of patrons have come in saying they're going on a trip and wanted an audiobook or two to enjoy on the journey. Personally, having an ebook or regular book, I don't feel like one over the other helps determine or affects my knowledge of the genre. I don't go by book length when thinking about that. The cover usually has more input when I think about the genre type.

Historical Fiction-Cleopatra's Daughter

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Egyptian Royals Series #3

Summary:

When Marc Antony and Cleopatra die, their surviving children are left at the mercy of their enemy, Octavian. Their children are taken to Rome in chains and only two survive the journey, the ten-year-old twins, Selene and Alexander. Told from Selene's perspective this story details their time in Rome as "honored guests" of Octavian. As they grow up in Rome they are faced with many challenges from the personal ambitions of Octavian's family who view the twins as threats to political uprisings in which they become personally involved. Selene is charming and intelligent like her mother and works to secure a future for herself with Juba II, son of the defeated king of Numidia.

Characteristics of Historical Fiction:

• This story was very well researched and includes a lot of accurate historical detail, including the setting, (both briefly in Egypt at the beginning as well as in Rome) Historical events were also used in the story, such as two slave trials which were based on two such trials that happened in Ancient Rome. 
• The tone of this novel is at times light such as when Selene gets to work on her drawings and sketching or in their school but at most the tone is more serious as the fate of the children comes into question. 
• The story line of this story focuses mainly on Selene's journey with brief instances of the other characters who interact with her. This novel also raises the moral issues of slavery in Ancient Rome and how Selene especially wants to change that, along with Juba. 
• Almost all of the characters, especially the main ones, were real and they do fit the time in which the story takes place. Whereas some might find Selene's education too advanced for a woman, we are reminded that she is the daughter of the woman who was considered one of the most learned women of her time. They were not allowed to be children and had to live in an adult world from a very young age, which is shown in the novel so it makes those parts fit within the story and time period. The characters' actions fit with the historical times and the details of that time period. The actions that Selene takes through the novel makes sense within not only the historical setting but also that of her character. She is portrayed as intelligent and bold and her actions fit those descriptions. 
• This novel is longer but it is a fast-paced and very intriguing story that pulls the reader in. Years pass within this novel but it never gets dull or boring. There is a great balance of historical detail and the plot of the story. One never over powers the other.
• While much of the novel is accurate and "authentic" the author took creative liberties with a few aspects to make it a better reading experience, such as changing wording to better fit what a modern reader is familiar with, such as using books instead of codices or changing the Roman practice of kicking doors as opposed to knocking on them. 

Read-a-likes:

Adult:

Fiction:

• Nefertiti and The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran (The first two books in this series which detail the life of the famous queens Nefertiti (step-mother of King Tut) and Nefertari (niece of Nefertiti and wife of Ramesses the Great)
• Lily of the Nile (Cleopatra's Daughter #1) by Stephanie Dray (Details Selene in Rome but with a fantasy aspect as she has powers which the ruler wants to use for his own gains as she fights to see her mother's dreams for Egypt come true.)

Non-Fiction:

• Ancient Rome on 5 Denarii a Day by Philip Matyszak (Ancient Rome)
• Plutarch's Lives, Volume 2 (Modern Library Classics) by Plutarch (Historical figures of Ancient Rome)

Online resource:

• http://www.michellemoran.com/books/cleopatra/background.html This is a great resource, not only about how Moran went about writing the book but also about the research she did. There is ton of awesome information. She has this type of information for her other books too. I found it fascinating.

My opinion of Cleopatra's Daughter:

I absolutely loved this novel! Normally I lean more toward romance because historical fiction can sometimes get really bogged down with all the detail but Michelle Moran does a great job of finding that balance between the detail and the plot. I really loved the first two in this trilogy too so these are three I would recommend to anyone interested in historical fiction or Ancient Egypt and Rome. I've always been interested in Ancient Egypt but this was the first I had heard of Selene and I thought it was great!

Book Club Experience

            I chose to go to a book club at a small local library. I also told them that I was there as part of my class since they were asking if I had read the book or not. The moderator was actually the branch manager of this local library. (It seemed to only have about three people there at a time; it is also a small two-room library with one room being a meeting room where the book club meets.) This book club meets every Wednesday morning. They decide how much of the book they want to read for the next week depending on the size of the book and the schedules of the members. I was not the only new person there either, there were two new members, one who had read the book and his wife who had not read it.

            For this meeting there were seven people there including the moderator and myself, though they did say that there were a few others who could not make it that week. The moderator did lead the meeting, asking the first few questions but everyone contributed, not only to answering the questions but also for asking follow-up questions. The leader also let the others answer before she contributed her own thoughts on the book.

            The questions were not ones that could be answered with a yes or a no but that required an in depth answer. One such question was when they were asked what they thought of a character’s wife and her actions and responses to what her husband was being accused of. (The book was an historical fiction book set during the Holocaust.) One thing that I was really happy to see was that everyone answered and engaged, even the new members. There were not one or two people who either spoke too much or too little.

            The book club meets in the small meeting room of the library and it is a very friendly, lively atmosphere. Those of us that were new, whether we’d read the book or not, we were instantly welcomed and they encouraged us to contribute as well. There were drinks provided as well. This book club seems to read a variety of books but ones that they hope will encourage an engaging discussion. This current book covered the Holocaust and it looked like the next book or two would be similar. I was told that a book they had read earlier was Follow the River by James Alexander Thom, which is about the Native American captive, Mary Ingles, who escaped and walked all the way home by following the river. After speaking with the moderator after the meeting she said that she was also considering the book, Salt to the Sea by Ruta Septys. I loved that book so I thought it would be a great one for that book club to read.

            Overall, I thought this book club was very successful. It was engaging and everyone participated and they seemed to really have an insightful and thorough discussion over the book and the topics it brought up.

Summary of Special Topics Paper

For my special topics paper I chose to write about the evolution of the romance genre. In this I examined not only the way the genre itself has evolved with the addition of sub genres and the explosion of self-publishing but also the way romance readers are gaining the respect that other readers have.

Romance novels are now being included in literature courses because scholars and other academics are seeing that romance novels are not inferior to other works of literature. In many cases it was thought that the writing in romance novels was simplified for the reader so that they would not have to think very hard while reading and that thinking is changing as critics see that not only can the plots be very complex but that the writing is of a quality that can hold its own in an academic setting. This is also enabling readers to be more open about their love of the romance genre and that many do not feel that they need or should be embarrassed to express how much they enjoy reading romance novels, no matter the sub genre or subject matter.

Self-publishing has been huge in the evolution of romance novels as it has opened up the door for other sub genres to be explored that might not have been considered by traditional publishers or not published to the extent that self-publishing can, such as dark, taboo or m/m romances.

Not only is the romance genre continuing to evolve and change as time passes but it is losing the stigma that people held toward it and the readers who love romance. The genre and its readers are gaining the respect that readers of the other genres have. It also shows that romance novels are of a quality that deserves to be included with other literary genres.

References used in paper:

Dugger, J. M. (2014). "I'm a Feminist, But..." Popular Romance in the Women's Literature Classroom. Journal Of Popular Romance Studies, 4(2), 1.

Regis, Pamela. 2003. A Natural History of the Romance Novel. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

Wyatt, N., Olson, G., Ramsdell, K., Saricks, J., & Welch, L. (2007). Core Collections in Genre Studies. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 47(2), 120-125.

Veros, V. V. (2012). The Romance Reader and the Public Library. Australian Library Journal, 61(4), 298-306.

Week Seven Prompt Response

I feel like fake memoirs can be very detrimental, especially since readers are getting deceived into thinking that the information they are reading is true and factual. Publishers and authors that are publishing these false memoirs as truth are making it so that readers are not going to trust what is being put out there. It is harmful for those that are actually writing the truth because it could cause those readers to not believe that after hearing about so many being fake. Memoirs can be very helpful and inspiring, but that's when they are the truth and accurate. When it is discovered that the information was fabricated or misrepresented to create a better story, it is causing more harm than good. Readers are going to be upset by this and for a good reason and it could cause them to not read other memoirs or non-fiction for fear that the information they are receiving is fake as well. It's sad that this is something that we have to watch out for but maybe now that it has come to so many readers' attentions less will be created.

Mystery-Dirty Little Secrets

Dirty Little Secrets by Liliana Hart

J. J. Graves Mystery #1

Summary:

J. J. Graves is the coroner for a small town, best friends with the sheriff, Jack Lawson, and smack dab in the middle of what appears to be a serial killer running loose. She thinks her luck's changing when a famous mystery writer shows up on her front porch wanting to shadow her and sparks fly between them. It turns out that every victim in this small town had a secret and J. J.'s own secrets might be making her the next target. J. J. and Jack are fighting to get ahead of the killer but seem to always be one step behind. If they're going to stop the killings and keep J. J. from becoming the next victim then they'll have to get inside the killer's head before they lose it all.

Mystery Characteristics:

• The solving of the various murders in this story drives the plot forward. While J. J. and Jack work to figure out who is the serial killer, the reader is also sorting through the clues, trying to discover the culprit. 
• It is determined by the end of the story who the killer is and J. J., Jack and the reader know why the killings were committed at the end as well.
• Mysteries focus on an investigator and the team. In this case it is the witty and sarcastic coroner J. J. Graves and serious, protective, down to earth Jack Lawson, the sheriff. J. J. is involved in every aspect of this investigation, she goes with Jack to help discover more clues. It goes beyond her role as the coroner.
• Like many mysteries, this is the first in a series and the other books continue to follow J. J. and Jack as they solve crimes. Secondary characters in the town played a huge role in this story, whether they were suspects or not, they moved the story along and will probably be seen again in later books since they stay in the same town.
• The setting of the town-Bloody Mary-is vital to the story. It is J. J.'s home town and the small town setting really adds to the "whodunit" aspect of the story.
• The mood of this story ran from light hearted and witty with the banter between J. J. and Jack to dark and gritty with the violence and description of the murders. This story did a nice job of falling in that fine line between the two.
• There were many twists and turns in the plot of this story but it was constantly moving toward the solution and reveal of the killer and the reasoning behind the killings.

Read-a-likes:

Adult Mysteries:

• Armed and Fabulous (Lexi Graves Mysteries #1) by Camilla Chafer. (Strong female protagonist who finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation)
• One for the Money (Stephanie Plum #1) by Janet Evanovich. (Female protagonist solves mystery for her family company)

YA Mysteries:

• One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus. (Five strangers walk into detention, only four come out alive. The four work to figure out what really happened to the fifth, especially since they're all suspects.)
• Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard. (Girls work to discover if their missing friend is back and if she's the one blackmailing them with secrets from their past.)

My Opinion of Dirty Little Secrets:

Mysteries are not my favorite genre but I really loved this book. I was actually surprised by how much. I will definitely be reading the others in the series. This story is told from J. J.'s POV and she was a witty sarcastic protagonist which I really liked. It added some light and humor to a plot that was dark. It helped that there was some hints of romance in it with her relationship with the mystery writer but even that added to the mystery plot. I also liked that I wasn't able to guess who the serial killer was but the reveal made sense so I wasn't disappointed nor did I feel like I'd been tricked by the clues left. The clues weren't ones just to throw the reader off and it all came together in the end.

Week Six Prompt Response

To promote romance I think a creative display would help garner interest in the romance genre. Having both works of fiction, non-fiction, as well as movies, audio books and cds could help draw in patrons who maybe would not want to pick up a romance novel but instead might consider an audio book, etc. Most of the displays in my local library focus on one option, for instance, there would only be fiction books on the display or just movies, but by having a variety of options it might not only promote the romance genre but catch the attention of more patrons because it is something different from what they normally see in the library. Including props or interesting pictures or quotes could help make the display stand out as well.

Romance-Covet

Covet by J. R. Ward

The Fallen Angels #1

Summary:

Jim Heron, a man with a dark past becomes a fallen angel and is tasked with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. If he fails, the world will end. His first assignment is Vin diPietro, a ruthless businessman who cares about himself and what he's earned. Things begin to change for Vin when he meets Jim and Marie-Terese, a woman running from her past. While Jim is trying to save not only Vin's soul and Marie-Terese's life, a demon in the guise of a beautiful and cunning woman is hoping to keep her claws in Vin. To get free of her clutches and save his soul, Vin will have to rely on Jim and a couple other tough as nails fallen angels but he'll have to let go of the past and entrust his heart to Marie-Terese if they're going to survive. If Vin and Marie are going to get their happily ever after then they're going to have to overcome their pasts and work with the fallen angels to defeat a demon.

Romance Characteristics:

• The characters are very likable and are what one would expect from a paranormal romance. Jim is a hardcore assassin turned fallen angel savior. Vin is your suave businessman who gets what he wants. Marie-Terese has had a rough past and while she may be running, she's far from weak and won't back down. She'll do whatever it takes to protect herself and her family. 
• While romance novels are almost always going to have a happily ever after, and Covet, is no exception, the journey the characters take to get there is anything but easy. 
• The characters also need to change, whether it's learning to trust, risking opening their heart to another and potentially getting hurt, or putting another's safety before their own, they are on a character arc. They are not going to be the same person that they were when the story began. They're going to grow and change for the better. 
• Even though there are outside forces impacting the plot, the story is character driven and their actions and inactions are what moves the story along.

Read-a-likes:

Adult romance:

• Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J. R. Ward (A secondary character in Covet has his own story in the BDB) (Paranormal Romance-Vampires)
• Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter (Paranormal Romance-Immortal warriors are cursed to house the demons/sins from Pandora's box inside themselves after they rebel and open it. A secondary character is also a hilarious yet lethal angel.)

YA romance:

• Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush #1) by Becca Fitzpatrick (YA Paranormal Romance-Fallen angel hero)
• City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare (YA Paranormal Romance-Shadowhunters, descendants of angels.)

My Opinion of Covet:

I loved this book! The love story was great and the paranormal elements were incorporated in a way that didn't make question it. I thought the premise of this story was great. Having read J. R. Ward before I am use to her having other points-of-view other than the hero and heroine, which is typical for a romance. I loved that the reader gets to experience some of the story from Jim's POV as well as that of one of the villains. While the attraction between Marie and Vin was quick, their relationship built slowly. I was definitely rooting for them and I'm excited to see who Jim has to save next. I will definitely be recommending this for any paranormal romance readers.

Week Five Prompt

Reviews and Collection Development:

Since many libraries do seem to focus on how a book is reviewed to help determine whether or not an item will be added to the collection, I do feel like it can hurt that some review sites focus only on books that are both ebook and print and not on ones that might only be ebook. Many great self published books are also left out of consideration because of this as well. I think that while reviews can be very helpful, it also helps to remember that just because someone loved or hated a book that does not mean that others will as well. It would seem that if the publications are focusing more on big name authors or only books that are also print then they are missing out on a lot of great reads and since they are not reviewing those books, then librarians could be missing adding them to their collection.

The Billionaire's First Christmas Reviews:

While I think that both of the reviews do give some good information about the plot, I do not think that they are reliable. They seemed too focused on the fact that the hero didn't like Christmas. Also, this is a romantic suspense book and yet neither review goes into that aspect of the plot. While the blurb caught my eye, I do not believe that I would purchase this book for a library collection, especially not given the reviews.

Angela's Ashes Reviews:

I feel like the reviews do a nice job of giving us a summary not only of the plot but the feel of the book as well. They give enough information to draw in interest but without telling everything. Based on these reviews I do think that I would consider adding this to a collection if I thought it would fit with what was already there and that it would be received well.

Fairness of reviews:

While I do not think it is fair that big name author's books get reviewed by practically everyone and yet other amazing works of lesser known authors don't get any recognition, it is what it is. Not all but many big name authors didn't start out that way, their popularity grew over time. At least with those lesser known authors or self published authors, there are other review sites where they could possibly get some reviews to get noticed but it will be harder to get them into a library's collection unless the librarians start looking other than those review publications or the publications start widening the net with who and what they will review.

While I don't think it is necessary for a reviewer to get personal or extremely rude or nasty, negative reviews are not something that I think need to be banned. Not everyone is going to love every thing that someone writes or publishes. Interestingly enough, I have had authors tell me that it was the few one star reviews they received that have some times gotten people to read their books when they wouldn't otherwise instead of all the five star ones. So while I don't think that anyone wants to see a negative review, people have a right to their opinion and as long as the negative reviews are not cruel or personal toward the author then I do not think that they should not be printed.

Personally, if I am going to use reviews to find a book to read I always use Aestas Book Blog, which focuses mainly on romance books. Sometimes I will skim the reviews on Amazon or Goodreads but I always keep in mind that they are someone's personal opinions and that mine may agree or differ with them. Mainly I use Aestas Book Blog for recommendations and finding my next new book.

Kirkus Style Review

LORD OF THE FADING LANDS

By C. L. Wilson

Tairen Soul Book 1

Simple woodcarver’s daughter, Ellie, discovers she is anything but ordinary when Rain Tairen Soul, leader of the Fey claims her as his truemate. He’s tortured by his past, haunted by the madness caused by his first wife’s death and only Ellie can help him save the world and discover a love that’s worth fighting for.

Rain has spent a thousand years behind the border of the Fading lands, since the death of his wife when he literally “scorched the world.” Madness is creeping up on him but when it is determined that the way to save his people and the legendary Tairen, beasts of immense power, Rain will be forced to journey to a neighboring kingdom with his friends and family. He meets Ellie when he feels her pain and comes to her aid. The first of the kings of the Fey to find a truemate, he finds that he must put aside his anger and distrust in order to win Ellie’s love. Behind her shy exterior lies a strength and courage that will have her standing toe to toe with her fearsome truemate. As Rain struggles to open his heart, Ellie must navigate being thrust into the spotlight with foreign courting customs, jealous queens, and an old enemy who’s determined to destroy Rain and all he holds dear. As Rain comes to love his feisty truemate, Ellie must come to terms with what she’d always known and accept the magic that resides inside her. For only if she and Rain fight together, can they save the world…and each other. The first book in C. L. Wilson’s Tairen Soul Series is an epic fantasy romance that will have the readers fully immersed in the masterful worldbuilding. Told from the POV of Ellie and Rain, this is a powerful story of love that is both action-packed and emotionally charged that had me unable to put it down.

Secret Shopper Summary

I went to a small local library in a rural community close to me but not one I'd be known at. I started out by asking the librarian if she could recommend a good book to read. I expected her to ask me a couple questions about what I liked to read or what I might be interested in. Instead, she led me over to where the new fiction is kept and told me that I might be able to find something I enjoyed from the new books. I tried giving some more information before she could return to the desk. I said that I had recently read a few books by Linda Lael Miller and really enjoyed them and asked if she could recommend a similar author. Again, she did not ask any follow up questions, and led me to Miller's books in their collection. When I said they were romances with cowboys she took me over to the romance section and started looking at the covers to find ones with cowboys on them and said I might like one of those.

Even though I was not able to find a book the librarian was friendly and not rude but she did not seem to know what to ask to help me find something that I might like. I think it would have been better if she had asked a couple quick questions about what I liked and maybe used an online resource to find a similar author instead of merely skimming their romance shelves.

Week Three Prompt Response

(I didn't have access to Novelist so I used Goodreads)

1. I am looking for a book by Laurell K. Hamilton. I just read the third book in the Anita Blake series and I can’t figure out which one comes next!

The Lunatic Cafe by Laurell K. Hamilton (Anita Blake #4) 

To find this book I searched the author, chose one of the Anita Blake books then clicked the series order to see #4. Normally though when searching for a series order I tend to use the author's website instead of another site.

2. What have I read recently? Well, I just finished this great book by Barbara Kingsolver, Prodigal Summer. I really liked the way it was written, you know, the way she used language. I wouldn't mind something a bit faster paced though.

Something Rising by Haven Kimmel. I first looked at the "Books Similar to Prodigal Summer" section and narrowed down the selections from there. Since the patron wants something faster paced I wanted to focus on that while also giving the option of it having a similar subject matter, even if it was a broad category such both stories dealing with the way people interact with each other and their surroundings. Since the patron also focused on the language used, I made sure to look at quotes from the two books to see how they compared. 

3. I like reading books set in different countries. I just read one set in China, could you help me find one set in Japan? No, not modern – historical. I like it when the author describes it so much it feels like I was there!

Normally I would ask if they preferred adult fiction, YA or if it mattered. Since it is not mentioned I chose a couple options both adult and YA. I wanted to choose a few that they might not have heard of and one or two that they had. I knew about the YA historical from my own reading but for the others I searched in the Genre: Historical Fiction Japan.

The Way of the Warrior by Chris Bradford. YA historical fiction. This book is very descriptive and does a great job of putting you right there in the story. "Jack Fletcher is shipwrecked off the coast of Japan, his beloved father and the crew lie slaughtered by ninja pirates. Rescued by a legendary master swordsman and brought under his wing, Jack begins the grueling physical and psychological training needed to become a samurai. Life at Samurai school is fraught with difficulty for Jack who is bullied and treated as an outcast. With his friend the remarkable, beautiful Akiko at his side and all the courage he can muster, Jack has to prove himself. Will he be able to face deadly rivals and challenges that will test him to his very limits?"

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. This is one they have probably heard about but I would still recommend it as an option. 

"In Memoirs of a Geisha, we enter a world where appearances are paramount; where a girl's virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder; where women are trained to beguile the most powerful men; and where love is scorned as illusion. It is a unique and triumphant work of fiction - at once romantic, erotic, suspenseful - and completely unforgettable."

Shōgun by James Clavell. 

"A bold English adventurer. An invincible Japanese warlord. A beautiful woman torn between two ways of life, two ways of love. All brought together in an extraordinary saga of a time and a place aflame with conflict, passion, ambition, lust, and the struggle for power..."

4. I read this great mystery by Elizabeth George called Well-Schooled in Murder and I loved it. Then my dentist said that if I liked mysteries I would probably like John Sandford, but boy was he creepy I couldn't finish it! Do you have any suggestions?

First I would ask if they had read the others in the Inspector Lynley series which the book they loved is the third of, if not I would recommend those as well as a couple others.

Since this book is set in Britain I chose to look at the list: The Best British Crime/Mystery Fiction to see if I could find other suggestions.

Agatha Christie is an author I would recommend. Murder on the Orient Express. If they were already a fan or had already read her books then I would recommend:

The Lord Peter Wimsey series by Dorothy Sayers. Murder Must Advertise.

Since the patron did not like John Sandford I also looked him up and looked at those similar reads to make sure I was not picking one that might be too similar or creepy.

5. My husband has really gotten into zombies lately. He’s already read The Walking Dead and World War Z, is there anything else you can recommend?

Deadline (Newsflesh Trilogy #2) by Mira Grant. "Shaun Mason is a man without a mission. Not even running the news organization he built with his sister has the same urgency as it used to. Playing with dead things just doesn't seem as fun when you've lost as much as he has. But when a CDC researcher fakes her own death and appears on his doorstep with a ravenous pack of zombies in tow, Shaun has a newfound interest in life. Because she brings news-he may have put down the monster who attacked them, but the conspiracy is far from dead. Now, Shaun hits the road to find what truth can be found at the end of a shotgun."

To find this book I looked up World War Z and looked at the similar books.

6. I love books that get turned into movies, especially literary ones. Can you recommend some? Nothing too old, maybe just those from the last 5 years or so.

The Great Gatsby (2013 film)

The Book Thief (2013 film)

7. I love thrillers but I hate foul language and sex scenes. I want something clean and fast paced.

For this I searched "clean thrillers" on Listopia on Goodreads and looked at "The Best Clean Thrillers and Adventures" list for options.

I would suggest Mary Higgins Clark and Thieves of Darkness by Richard Doetsch. The second was listed under a clean reads discussion on Goodreads as a thriller not a mystery.

How I find books to read:

While I do find new books to read on Goodreads mainly I find new books by following book bloggers of my favorite genre such as Aestas Book Blog. I mainly find out about the new books based on those recommendations through social media. I also find new books or new to me authors by browsing, either on a site like Amazon or when I go to Barnes & Noble. Sometimes I use friend recommendations but I'm usually the one recommending books I've read to them.