The Frozen River | Ariel Lawhon
penguinrandomhouse.com
The silent winter season in a quiet town is shattered when a man is found frozen in Maine in 1789. Drawn from the diaries of real-life 18th-century midwife Martha Ballard, this novel explores themes of power, record-keeping, midwifery, the judicial system, and secrets in rural New England during the early days of the United States. This murder mystery is based on a fascinating but almost-forgotten history, and it's a wonderful story of family, community, and justice that practically demands to be read on a cold winter's day.
Wrecking Ball: Race, Friendship, God, and Football | Rick Bass
simonandschuster.com
His best friend was volunteering as the team trainer when award-winning author Rick Bass decided to write about The Texas Express, a minor league football team based in Brenham. The team was short on players, so they talked Bass—who was 60 at the time—into suiting up and taking the field. By far the oldest member of the team, Bass spent a season learning about his fellow players, re-learning his love of football, and discovering many hard truths between the hard hits.
Shield of Sparrows | Devney Perry
entangledpublishing.com
Start the year off with a slow-burn, high-stakes romantasy where monsters stalk a cursed realm, enemies become lovers, and a forgotten princess finds the strength to tear off her crown and become the warrior she was never meant to be. Blending romance, adventure, and fantasy, Shield of Sparrows is a fantastic read for anyone exploring science fiction and fantasy for the first time or longtime lovers of the genre. Plus, it’s the highest-rated book of the year for the library’s “Swords and Seductions Romantasy Book Club,” so you know it’ll heat things up.
You’ll always find the perfect read at the Patrick Heath Public Library. Special thanks to Robin Stauber, Caren Creech, and Sarah Habeeb for these recs. Visit them to discover your next favorite book!
boernelibrary.org | 830-249-3053 | 451 N. Main St.