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Summer Blooms All Around Us!

As the summer begins, the flowers are in bloom, birds are happily singing in their nests, and all the woodland creatures are joyous. Sometimes we get the inspiration to beautify and spread the floral aspects of nature to our own little worlds by creating a flower garden, building an outdoor recreation space or planting trees and shrubs to enhance our surroundings. If you get that notion, you should stop by Scott County Public Library where we have the resources to help your creativity bloom!

Designing and Planning a Woodland Garden  by Keith Wiley

For many of us, woods and trees evoke powerful, often deeply subconscious emotional responses. If you have a romantic inclination, you cannot fail to be moved by the moss-covered, rock strewn gnarled oak woodlands occasionally found on the uplands of the wetter western wide of the United Kingdom. Woodlands are magical places and even small gardens can capture the atmosphere with a carefully chosen tree and some shade-loving plants.  Selecting the right plant for the right place is essential and expert plantsman Keith Wiley explains how to combine plants that will thrive together and even how to create shade if you don’t already have it. In this evocative account, he mingles beguiling, less-well-known plants with familiar, time-tested ones to create fabulous effects in all seasons.

Garden Pools, Fountains, and Waterfalls  by Scott Atkinson

If anything in nature is magic, it must be water. The shimmer and sound of pools, fountains, and falls have cast their spell throughout history. Add tranquility and beauty to your garden with the serene shimmer of a pool or the enchanting sound of a waterfall. This book contains…

*Innovative ways to incorporate eye-pleasing water features into any outdoor space

*16 do-it-yourself projects that will transform your yard in a weekend- from small spill fountains to picturesque ponds and waterfalls

*Building tips from the pros, with easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step photos

*Learn how to keep plants and fish thriving in your pond

Water Gardens 1-2-3  by Home Depot publishers

Whether you’re an experienced do-it-yourselfer or you’ve hardly built anything before, Water Gardens 1-2-3 will help you create just the right water feature for you. This book, like all the Home Depot 1-2-3 series books, is a collaborative effort of writers, editors, photographers, and designers, but also of Home Depot associates. They have put their direct input and expertise into Water Gardens 1-2-3, taking their knowledge from years and even decades of working with customers like you and making sure this book presents the clearest, most helpful information on building water gardens possible.

Gardening for Birds, Butterflies, and Bees  by the editors of Birds and Blooms

It’s time to bring fresh life to your garden. Attracting birds and butterflies has never been simpler with the tips, tricks and plant picks in this handy guide. Plus, you’ll help support the dwindling bee population, which is essential to the future of gardening. Whether you’re just starting out or are a bona fide green thumb, you’ll turn to this can’t miss birding and gardening resource for years to come.

Inside you’ll find…

*250+ photos of plants that birds, butterflies and bees can’t resist

*DIY backyard projects

*Profiles and ideas for attracting the most-wanted backyard birds and butterflies

*Answers to our most frequently asked backyard questions

We pride ourselves in celebrating the “beauty in your own backyard” with a mix of expert advice and personal stories from our family of readers

Touch a Butterfly: Wildlife Gardening with Kids  by April Pulley Sayre

Turn your garden into a hummingbird hot spot, a haven for butterflies, and a thriving ecosystem that will delight and inspire the young and young at heart.

Gardening with children is a pleasure in itself, but when you learn to include wildlife in your plans, gardening becomes an even more joyful family experience. Creating a garden that invites wildlife opens up a wider world of nature for investigation, inspiration, and delight. Begin to see your yard from an animal’s perspective: discover plans that attract colorful birds and bugs, embrace the sensory experiences that native plants and creatures bring, and understand how your yard fits into the surrounding landscape. Along the way you will discover simple ways you can actively support wildlife in your immediate environment, no matter where you live.

So come to Scott County Public Library and search our resources for the fun and inspiration of creating your own backyard haven!

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Bookshots Hit the Mark!

Have you ever wanted to read an exciting novel but just feel as if life doesn’t provide enough time to do so? You’re busy with work, family, and other commitments and it’s difficult to devote your time to reading a novel. Consider James Patterson’s Bookshots.  They are high-action, short little novels that can easily be read in a day or two in your spare time. The stories are intriguing; the characters are always compelling. Think the novel (or you) won’t have time for a great story? Check these out!

French Kiss    James Patterson with Richard DiLallo

Bonjour, Detective. Now Watch your back.

Very handsome and charming French detective Luc Moncrief joined the NYPD for a fresh start-but someone wants to make his first big case his last. Welcome to New York. Moncrief cut his teeth in the French capital chasing down murderers and uncovering major drug crimes. When his partner is killed while working undercover Moncrief must deliver the news to her family and is then tasked with finding the murderer.

Hunted     James Patterson with Andrew Holmes

Evil has a new game…

Someone is luring men from the streets to play a mysterious high-stakes game in the English countryside. Former Special Forces officer David Shelley will go undercover to shut it down. But this might be a game he can’t win.

SAS David Shelley learns of the death of his friend and military veteran, whose body sustained injuries that do not match up with the official record. While the friend is homeless, these are not battle scars from life on the streets that might accompany his lifestyle. Approached by a MI5 agent with a theory and news of a potential suspect, Shelley agrees to go undercover to substantiate rumours of an exclusive club that finds sport in killing homeless men.

Killer Chef  James Patterson with Jeffrey J. Keyes

Eat, drink, and be murdered.

Someone is poisoning diners in New Orleans’ best restaurants. Now it’s up to chef and homicide cop Caleb Rooney to catch a killer- who has an appetite for revenge. Called to the scene of a popular restaurant, Rooney begins by surveying the scene, where he discovers two patrons have been poisoned. The owner of the establishment is an old flame, which provides a moment of awkwardness, but not as much as the realization that she is unsure who might be behind these murders. Rooney rushes to make an arrest, but also discovers a common denominator between a number of the victims, outside of their love of good food. What looks like a quick solution turns into something more complex than creating the perfect souffle. This mystery will have you begging for more to come.

Manhunt     James Patterson with James O. Born

Michael Bennett, be grateful you’re alive.

Someone attacked the Thanksgiving Day parade directedly in front of Michael Bennett and his family. The television news called it ‘holiday terror,” Michael Bennett calls it personal.

A car has come crashing through the Thanksgiving parade, injuring many. Bennett jumps into action and chases down the terrorist. After crashing into one of the floats and pressing a detonator switch, the driver utters a baffling Arabic phrase and rushes off while mayhem ensues. Bennet will not let up as long as the terrorist is on the loose, even if it means bending the rules set out for him. The hunt is on…

Taking the Titanic; A Heist to Remember    James Patterson with Scott Slaven

The greatest story in modern history has a new chapter.

Posing as newlyweds, two ruthless thieves board the Titanic to rob its well-heeled passengers. But an even more shocking plan is afoot- a sensational scheme that could alter the fate of the world’s most famous ship. As people of all classes and backgrounds prepare for the Titanic’s maiden voyage in April 1912, there were a few aboard who saw it as an opportunity to line their pockets. Nigel Bowen lures the unsuspecting to gamble away large sums of money at the poker table, bleeding them dry after playing the role of inept card player. Celia Bowen uses her nimble fingers to steal from the women on board, while harboring a secret of her own back in England. Will Nigel and Celia be able to turn away from their scandalous pasts and work together to survive?

The Witnesses     James Patterson with Brendan DuBois

The family next door has a very dark secret.

The Sanderson family has been forced into hiding after one of them stumbled upon a criminal plot. Or so they think. They have been temporarily relocated from their California home to the small community of Levittown, New York. There is a hit put out on the Sandersons and a trained killer is slowly pulling together leads to find them. After a single mishap, beacons are alerted on both sides of the law and it’s a rush to get to Levittown to deal with the breach. Who gets there first is anyone’s guess, but either way, the Sandersons won’t be around for any town bake sales this autumn.

No one will answer their questions. And the terrifying truth may come too late…

So you’ll soon see that it doesn’t take a lot of time to find yourself in the middle of an international mystery, with life and death consequences. When you check out these little gems at Scott County Public Library, be sure you’ll escape into a world of mystery and intrigue!

Michael.stephens@scottpublib.org

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Amish Mysteries in Large Type

We’ve all seen the Amish romance novels that abound and have been very popular, but did you know there are Amish mysteries that combine the culture with the solving of a murder or mystery? There are some really good choices out there and we have many of them here in the Large Type section at Scott County Public Library! Not only good stories, but easy on the eyes! 

A Prayer for the Night    by P. L. Gaus

A bit of freedom isn’t always good.

Sara Yoder is learning that danger can lurk in freedom’s shadow. John Schlabaugh and Abe Yoder-Sara’s friends and fellow travelers on the Amish rite of passage, Rumschpringe, or wild days- are missing.  Worried, but distrustful of most “English,” she calls Pastor Carl Troyer for help. Then Sara also disappears, and Troyer, along with his old friends Professor Michael Branden and Sheriff Bruce Robertson, must race against the clock to find a murderer and break a ruthless drug ring operating within the heart of Ohio’s  Amish country.

Murder in Plain Sight   by Marta Perry

There are secrets buried in Amish country…

Did a sweet-faced Amish teenager brutally murder a young woman? To save her career, big-city lawyer Jessica Langdon is determined to defend him against the community’s bitter and even violent outrage. Yet without an understanding of Amish culture, Jessica must rely on arrogant businessman Trey Morgan, who has ties to the Amish Community- and believes the boy is guilty.

Jessica has threats coming from all sides; a local fanatic, stirred up by the biased publicity of the case; the dead girl’s boyfriend; even from the person she’s learned to trust the most, Trey Morgan.

Just when Jessica fears she’s placed her trust in the wrong man, Trey saves her life. And now they must both reach into a dangerous past to protect everyone’s future- including her own.

A Plain Death    by Amanda Flower

In Appleseed Creek, the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country, life is not as serene as it seems.

While her Cleveland friends have relocated to Southern California and Italy, twenty-four-year-old computer whiz Chloe Humphrey moves with some uncertainty to Appleseed Creek to direct technology services at a nearby college.

Her first acquaintance is Becky, an ex-Amish teenager looking for a new home. While driving Chloe’s car, Becky collides with a buggy, killing an Amish bishop. But what looks like an accident is soon labeled murder when police discover the car’s cut brake line.

Now Chloe must take on the role of amateur sleuth to discover who the real intended victim was before the murderer makes a second attempt. Becky’s handsome Amish-turned Mennonite brother, Timothy, a local carpenter, will come in handy along the way. And with God’s help, they’ll solve the mystery that’s rocking this small community.

Murder Freshly Baked   by Vannetta Chapman

Kindness is a virtue, Meanness is a sin, Better watch your bakery pies for poison I’ve slipped in.

 The Amish Artisan village in Middlebury, Indiana, has been decorated with every color of balloon and flower for the Race for a Cure. As manager of The Village, Amber Bowman is thrilled to see the turnout- and relieved to have something to distract her from the “Poison Poet”- an individual who has been sending notes containing bad poetry to warn of poisoned baked goods.

Then Ryan Duvall crosses the finish line of the race- and falls down dead, murdered in broad daylight. But who did it? And why? The police suspect Preston Johnstone, but Amber refuses to believe her employee could do such a thing.

Amber once again looks to her young Amish friend Hannah Troyer to help her find the killer- and to determine if it’s the same person leaving the cryptic poems and pies. Can they help the police before the Poison Poet strikes again? Both Amber and Hannah will need to draw on their faith as they fight to preserve the peaceful community they’ve built at the Amish Artisan Village.

Broken English     by P. L. Gaus

The search for justice can be a dangerous game.

Trained by the U. S. military to kill, “English” outsider David Hawkins came to the quiet town of Millersburg and found salvation among the pacifist Amish. But Hawkins’s fragile tranquility is shattered when a marauding ex-convict descends upon Millersburg, unleashing a wave of violence whose casualties include an investigative journalist and Hawkins’ only daughter. Sheriff Bruce Robertson suspects that Hawkins has forsaken his pacifism in the name of vengeance. But two of the sheriff’s closest allies build a very different case.

So stop by the Scott County Public Library and check out some of these Amish mystery gems. They will intrigue and entertain you, we’re sure of it, and the Large Type will be easy on your eyes!  See you soon!

Michael.stephens@scottpublib.org

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Fantasy Abounds at the Library!

There’s nothing like a good escape from the complicated world around us. Fantasy tales have always been that place, a time for new adventures and epic, bizarre characters.  The best new fantasy tales are a great way to start off the New Year.  Check out these fantastical gems!

The Tomb of Dragons     by Katherine Addison

Without his title, Witness for the Dead, what defines Thara Celehar?  While his title may be gone, his ever-present duties are not. Celehar contends with a municipal cemetery with fifty years of secrets, the damage of a revethavar he’s terrified to remember, and a group of miners who are more than willing to trade Celehar’s life for a chance at what they feel they are owed.

Celehar does not have to face these impossible tasks alone. Joining him are his mentee Velhiro Tomasaran, still finding her footing with the investigative nature of their job; Iana Pel-Thenhior, his beloved opera director friend and avid supporter; Anora Chanavar, his stalwart friend and fellow prelate of Ulis; and the valiant guard captain Hanu Olgarezh.

Amid the backdrop of murder and a brewing political uprising, Celehar must seek justice for those who cannot find it themselves under a tense political system. The repercussions of his quest are never as simple as they seem, and Celehar’s own life and happiness hang in the balance.

In The Veins of the Drowning     by Kalie Cassidy

Imogen Nelis is in hiding. Hiding from a cruel kingdom that believes Sirens are monstrous, blood-hungry creatures. Hiding from a king and his captain who viciously hunts her kind. Hiding from her own alluring abilities. By keeping herself from the sea, Imogen’s bloodlust is dulled, and her black wings remain concealed beneath her skin.

When a neighboring king comes to visit, Imogen can no longer hide. He knows precisely what she is, and he believes she can save their kingdoms from an even greater monster. But Imogen’s power threatens to violently reveal itself and the two form a blood bond that protects them both. They flee together, traversing waters teeming with the undead.

As the lines between duty to their people and the desire for each other begin to blur, Imogen worries her ancestral powers may not be enough to kill what hunts her-the only way to defeat a monster may be to become one herself. 

The Witch of Whispervale      by R. A. Salvatore

This second novel in the Buccaneers trilogy (#1 is Pinquickle’s Folly) is set at the beginning of a new war in R. A. Salvatore’s bestselling DemonWars saga. From the legendary author and creator of Drizzo Do’Urden comes the next installment in the New York Times bestselling DemonWars fantasy series about the traitorous invasion by the Xonocai of the eastern realm of Corona.

Treaties are discarded as the full invasion of the Xoconai has begun and war returns to Corona. The consolidating resistance in Behren and with the abbeys as a last stand against the golden warriors is the catalyst for the return of the most powerful gem wielding witch the world has ever known.

And when the rumor of a witch of gemstone magic reaches the Xoconai leaders, they send a hunter, one so brutal he is known as the Coyote, to find her. The heroes of the last war against their demon god may be forgotten by some, but they are not powerless, and the Xoconai are determined to exterminate any sparks of revolution before they can catch fire.

Galaphile  (The First Druids of Shannara series)  by Terry Brooks

New York Times bestselling author Terry Broks makes his triumphant return to the world of Shannara, delving deep into the origin story of the Druid Order and of its enigmatic creator- a man whose singular vision for the future will change the face of the Four Lands forever.

One of the most iconic structures in the Four Lands is Paranor, the fortress home of the Druid order. Legend holds that it was erected by an Elven leader known as Galaphile Joss, but who was this Galaphile, and how and why did he establish this center of magic and learning?

Within these pages we meet the real Galaphile, following him from friendless teenage orphan stranded in the Human world to powerful adult and master mage, studying under the infamous recluse Cogline. We learn of the forces that shaped Galaphile-those he loved and those he lost; those who aided him and those who stood against him.

Throughout it all, his goal is a noble one; to bring order to a chaotic world and to make life better for those trying to survive it. To this end, he commences building the citadel that will one day be known as Paranor, with the aid of the King of the Silver River. But there is another who seeks dominion over the Four Lands-and for far less virtuous ends.

So stop by the Scott County Public Library in beautiful Georgetown, KY and browse through the aisles for some great escapism. We have fantastic choices - your adventures are just beginning!!!

Michael.stephens@scottpublib.org

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Best New Male Authors of 2025

Last month we looked at the best new novels of 2025 written by female writers. Now let’s see what the guys have to offer. These new gems are making a splash in the literary world, garnering a lot of attention, and I think you would enjoy them!

The River is Waiting  by Wally Lamb

Corby Ledbetter is struggling. New fatherhood, the loss of his job, and a growing secret addiction have thrown his marriage to his beloved Emily into a tailspin. And that’s before he causes the tragedy that tears the family apart.

Sentenced to prison Corby struggles to survive life on the inside, where he bears witness to frightful acts of brutality but also experiences small acts of kindness and elemental kinship with a prison librarian who sees his light and some of his fellow offenders, including a tenderhearted cellmate and a troubled teen desperate for a role model. Buoyed by them and his mother’s enduring faith in him, Corby begins to transcend the boundaries of his confinement, sustained by his hope that mercy and reconciliation might still be possible. Can his crimes ever be forgiven by those he loves?

Dream State  by Eric Puchner

Cece is in love. She has arrived early at her future in-laws’ lake house in Salish, Montana, to finish planning her wedding to Charlie, a young doctor with a brilliant life ahead of him. Charlie has asked Garrett, his best friend from college, to officiate the ceremony, though Cece can’t imagine anyone more ill-suited for the task-an airport baggage handler haunted by a tragedy from his and Charlie’s shared past. But as Cece spends time with Garrett, his gruff mask slips, and she grows increasingly uncertain about her future. And why does Garrett, after meeting Cece, begin to feel well, human again? As a contagious stomach flu threatens to scuttle the wedding, and Charlie and Garrett’s friendship is put to the ultimate test, Cece must decide between the life she dreamed of and a life she’s never imagined.

The events of that summer have long-lasting repercussions, not only on the three friends caught in its shadow, but also on their children, who struggle to escape their parents’ story. Spanning fifty years and set against the backdrop of a rapidly warming Montana, Dream State explores what it means to live with the sins of the past-both our own and the ones we’ve inherited. 

The Emperor of Gladness   by Ocean Vuong

One late summer evening in the post-industrial town of East Gladness, Connecticut, nineteen-year-old Hai stands on the edge of a bridge in pelting rain, ready to jump, when he hears someone shout across the river.  The voice belongs to Grazina, an elderly widow succumbing to dementia, who convinces him to take another path. Bereft and out of options, he quickly becomes her caretaker, with the power to alter Hai’s relationship to himself, his family, and a community at the brink.

Following the cycles of history, memory, and time, The Emperor of Gladness shows the profound ways in which love, labor, and loneliness form the bedrock of American life. At its heart is a brave epic about what it means to exist on the fringes of society and to reckon with the wounds that haunt our collective soul. Hallmarks of Vuong’s writing- formal innovation, syntactic dexterity, and the ability to twin grit with grace through tenderness- are on full display in this story of loss, hope, and how far we would go to possess one of life’s most fleeting mercies: a second chance.

Culpability   by Bruce Holsinger

When the Cassidy-Shaw’s autonomous minivan collides with an oncoming car, seventeen-year-old Charlie is in the driver’s seat, with his father, Noah, riding shotgun. In the back seat, tweens Alice and Izzy are on their phones, while their mother, Lorelei, a world leader in the field of artificial intelligence, is absorbed in her work. Yet each family member harbors a secret, implicating them all in the tragic accident.

During the weeklong recuperation on the Chesapeake Bay, the family confronts the excruciating moral dilemmas triggered by the crash. Noah tries to hold the family together as a seemingly routine police investigation jeopardizes Charlie’s future. Alice and Izzy turn strangely furtive. And Lorelei’s odd behavior tugs at Noah’s suspicions that there is a darker truth behind the incident-suspicions heightened by the sudden intrusion of Daniel Monet, a tech mogul whose mysterious history with Lorelei hints at betrayal. When Charlie falls for Monet’s teenaged daughter, the stakes are raised even higher in this propulsive family drama that is also a fascinating exploration of the moral responsibility and ethical consequences of AI. Culpability explores a world newly shaped by chatbots, autonomous cars, drones, and other nonhuman forces in ways that are thrilling, challenging, and unimaginably provocative.

So come check these out and much more- at Scott County Public Library, your source for great reads!   

Michael.stephens@scottpublib.org

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Best New Female Authors of 2025

There are so many new books that hit the market each year, it’s almost impossible to check them all out. You know what you’re looking for, but narrowing it down to the ones you want to read can be a daunting task. Let us help you a bit. Among various literary sources, these new female authors are creating quite a buzz with their new novels, considered some of the best of this year.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay  by Kate Fagan

In this propulsive and keenly observant debut novel, an anonymous bestselling author reveals the secrets from her past and why she’s been on the run. Cate Kay knows how to craft a story. As the writer of a bestselling book trilogy whose adaptation struck box office gold, she’s one of the most successful authors of her generation. The thing is- Cate Kay doesn’t exist. Her real identity has been a closely guarded secret, with only one other woman knowing the truth.

That all changes when the actress from Cate Kay’s movie adaptations, Ry Channing, asks to meet the writer behind the pen name. Cate feels an immediate connection with Ry but is hesitant to reveal her true self. What follows leads Cate down the rabbit hole of her former life, still wondering, all these years later, if she made the right choice by running.

An inventively told, edge-of-your-seat read. The Three Lives of Cate Kay explores the complex relationships between women, the limits of ambition, and the power that comes from embracing your story.

Homeseeking  by Karissa Chen

Haiwen is buying bananas at a 99 Ranch Market in Los Angeles when he looks up and sees Suchi, his Suchi, for the first time in sixty years. To recently widowed Haiwen, it feels like a second chance, but Suchi has only survived by refusing to look back.

Suchi was seven when she first met Haiwen in their Shanghai neighborhood, drawn by the sound of his violin. Their childhood friendship blossomed into soul-deep love, but when Haiwen secretly enlisted in the Nationalist Army in 1947 to save his brother from the draft, she was left with just his violin and a note: Forgive me.

Homeseeking follows the separated lovers through six decades of tumultuous Chinese history as war, famine, and opportunity take them separately to the song halls of Hong Kong, the military encampments of Taiwan, the bustling streets of New York, and sunny California, telling Haiwen’s story from the present to the past while tracing Suchi’s from her childhood to the present, meeting in the crucible of their lives. Throughout, Haiwen holds his memories close while Suchi forces herself to look only forward, neither losing sight of the home they hold in their hearts.

At once epic and intimate, Homeseeking is a story of family, sacrifice, and loyalty, and of the power of love to endure beyond distance, beyond time.

Blob: A Love Story  by Maggie Su

The daughter of a Taiwanese father and white mother, Vi Liu has never quite fit into her Midwestern college town. Aimless after getting dumped by her boyfriend and dropping out of college, Vi works at the front desk of a hotel where she greets guests, refills cucumber water samovars, and tries to evade her bubbly blonde coworker, Rachel. But in the alley outside the bar one night, Vi discovers a strange blob-a small living creature with beady black eyes. In a moment of concern and drunken desperation, she takes it home.

The blob is no ordinary pet. Becoming increasing sentient, it begins to grow, shift shape, and obey Vi’s commands. As the entity continues to change, Vi is struck with a daring idea: she’ll mold the creature into her ideal partner.  She feeds it a stream of sweet breakfast cereals and American pop culture, and the creature grows into a movie-star-handsome white man. But when Vi’s desire to be loved unconditionally threatens to spiral out of control, she is forced to confront her lonely childhood, her aloof ex-boyfriend, and the racial marginalization that has defined her relationships-a journey of self-discovery that teaches her it’s impossible to control those you love.

Blending the familiar with the surreal, Blob is a witty heartfelt story about the search for love and self and what it means to be human.

Penitence  by Kristin Koval

When a shocking murder occurs in the home of Angie and David Sheehan, their lives are shattered. Desperate to defend their family, they turn to small town lawyer Martine Dumont for help, but Martine isn’t just legal counsel-she’s also the mother of Angie’s first love, Julian, a now-successful New York City criminal defense attorney. As Julian and Angie confront their shared past and long-buried guilt from a tragic accident years ago, they must navigate their own culpability and the unresolved feelings between them.

Spanning decades, from the ski slopes of rural Colorado to the streets of pre-9/11 New York City and back again, Kristin Koval’s debut novel, Penitence, is an examination of the complexities of familial loyalty, the journey of redemption and the profound experience of forgiveness.

Good Girl   by Aria Aber

In Berlin’s artistic underground, where techno and drugs fill warehouses still pockmarked from the wars of the twentieth century, nineteen-year-old Nila at last finds her tribe. Born in Germany to Afghan parents, raised in public housing graffitied with swastikas, drawn to philosophy, photography, and sex, Nila has spent her adolescence disappointing her family while searching for her voice as a young woman and artist.

Then in a haze of Berlin’s legendary nightlife, Nila meets Marlowe, an American writer whose fading literary celebrity opens her eyes to a life of personal and artistic freedom.  But as Nila finds herself pulled further into Marlowe’s controlling orbit, ugly, barely submerged racial tensions begin to roil Germany-and Nila’s family and community. After a year of running from her future, Nila stops to ask herself the most important question: Who does she want to be?

A story of love and family, raves and Kafka, staying up all night and surviving the mistakes of youth, Good Girlis the virtuosic debut novel by a celebrated young poet and now, a major new voice in fiction.

So come check out these new writers on the verge of reaching their pinnacle of fame. Their writing is new, innovative, and will leave you waiting for their next. And the best part is we have them all here at Scott County Public Library in beautiful Georgetown, Ky.  See you soon!   

Michael.stephens@scottpublib.org

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Holiday Treasures at the Library!

The holiday décor is already out in the stores as we gear up for another busy and exciting Christmas time. Perhaps a little down time with a good book is the perfect way to ease into the bustle! Check out these little treasures at the library that will set the stage for the perfect holiday gatherings!

   A Christmas Message  by Anne Perry

The year is 1900 and Victor Narraway is giving his wife, Vespasia, an unforgettable Christmas present- a trip to Jerusalem.

Vespasia is enchanted by the exotic landscape of Palestine, and charmed by a fellow traveler the Narraways meet at their hotel in Jaffa. But when the man is murdered over a torn piece of ancient parchment he was taking to Jerusalem, Victor and Vespasia risk their lives to finish his mission and deliver the puzzling document to his home. Pursued by a shadowy figure with evil intent, they embark on a dangerous yet ultimately enlightening pilgrimage to the holy city, where the mysterious message on the parchment may finally be revealed.

All I Want is You  by Falon Ballard

Exes, Professional rivals, Just one bed. What could go wrong?

All Jessica ever wanted is her own happily ever after. But until that happens, she spends her days as a small-town romance writer, penning satisfying happily-ever-afters to soothe the heartache left by her ex-boyfriend Nick-also a romance writer and now her biggest rival- who has found success writing love stories without happy endings. It’s what he’s good at, after all…

So when their professional obligations bring them to a remote inn a few days before Christmas, they’re a little more than peeved, especially when they get trapped sharing a room in a snowstorm. But what’s more fitting for two romance writers in a slump? Realizing the friction between them might be the only cure for their writer’s block, they decide to turn their frustration into fiction…and the pages start flying.  But will Jess’s heart soar, too? Nick is the last guy on earth she should love…but what if he is really all she wants for Christmas?

Unleashed Holiday  by Victoria Schade

Chelsea Higgins is doing just fine. She’s heading into the holidays at the helm of a thriving dog training business, and she’s got a mellow senior dog at home to keep her warm at the end of the day. What more could she need? Enter certified gym bro Andrew Gibson, Chelsea’s former nemesis, and now the newest neighbor in her business complex, who also wants to expand into the vacant space Chelsea’s been eyeing for months.  Who cares if it’s the season of joy? Let the turf war begin.

When an unfortunate and literal run-in with Andrew’s lawless dog leaves Chelsea with a bum wrist, the two strike a deal; Andrew will help Chelsea rehab the injury if she’ll work with him to train his adorably uncivilized boxer.

Their bickering soon turns to bantering, and Chelsea finds herself inexplicably drawn to the man she thought she had nothing in common with. As she gets to know Andrew and his parents, she realizes she needs to refocus on her own family, especially with a milestone Christmas speeding toward them. But Chelsea can’t help wondering if she and Andrew are training for keeps, or if this unexpected Christmas gift is just too good to be true.

A Christmas Vanishing  by Anne Perry

Mariah Ellison, Charlotte Pitt’s grandmother, accepts an invitation to spend Christmas with her longtime friend Sadie and Sadie’s husband, Barton, in their picturesque village. But upon arrival, Mariah discovers that Sadie has vanished without a trace, and Barton rudely rescinds the invitation. Once Mariah finds another acquaintance to stay with, she begins investigating Sadie’s disappearance.

Mariah’s uncanny knack for solving mysteries serves her well during her search, which is driven by gossip as icy as the December weather. Did Sadie run off with another man? Was she kidnapped? Has someone harmed her? Frustratingly, her neighbors’ questions reveal more about the villagers themselves than about Sadie’s whereabouts. Yet in the process of getting to know Sadie’s friends, Mariah finds a kind of redemption, as she rediscovers her kinder side and her ability to love.

It is up to Mariah to master her own feelings, drown out the noise, and get to the bottom of what occurred, all before Christmas Day. With the holiday rapidly approaching, will she succeed in bringing Sadie home in time for them to celebrate together- or is that too much to hope for?

A Christmas Duet  by Debbie Macomber

Hailey Morgan’s life has always revolved around music. She once had big dreams of becoming a professional songwriter, but the reality has led her to working as an assistant high school band director in Portland. As the holidays approach, Hailey dreads the annual tradition of spending Christmas with her family and dodging her mother’s meddling questions about her love life.

When Hailey’s close friend offers her the use of her family’s empty cabin for a rejuvenating solo holiday retreat, Hailey decided to finally do something to make herself happy. However, her arrival in the small town of Podunk, Oregon, is anything but peaceful when she discovers the cabin has been invaded by several wild animals. Luckily, Jay, the son of the town’s general store proprietor-and an incredibly handsome and charming former musician to boot- is more than willing to help.

So postpone the stress of the holidays and treat yourself to a good novel- All are available at Scott County Public Library! Happy Holidays to you!                                                                                               

Michael.stephens@scottpublib.org

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Crime and Punishment

National Crime Prevention Week is later this month, and it brought to mind all the wonderful resources we have on crime here at Scott County Public Library.  Whether it’s real crime that intrigues you?  Or famous cold cases? Or grisly crimes that are the stuff of legend, I think you will find what you’re looking for. Perhaps a career in law enforcement or forensic science piques your interest!

Trials of the Century; a Decade-by Decade Look at Ten of America’s Most Sensational Crimes  by Mark J. Phillips & Aryn Z. Phillips

Americans are addicted to violent crime. Not to committing it, particularly, notwithstanding a history of nineteenth century gunslingers, twentieth century gangsters, and the wide prevalence of handguns, which outnumber citizens. Rather, Americans love to talk about crime, to read about it, relive it, and revel in it.

For trial junkies- and who isn’t? - these riveting accounts of ten trials of the century, one from each decade, are a must-read. The stories tell us as much about the history of each decade as they do about the trials themselves. Investigate O. J. Simpson, Casey Anthony, Bruno Hauptmann and the Lindbergh baby, eight dead nurses and the Texas drifter, and several others. An informative and mesmerizing read.

Trace Evidence- Dead People Do Tell Tales  by Stephen Eldridge

Every contact leaves a trace.  Footprints…fingerprints…clothing fibers…hair. Wherever you go, you leave some evidence or pick some up and take it with you.  For this reason, detectives and forensic scientists have been using trace evidence to catch criminals for more than one hundred years. Find out how scientists collect and analyze evidence with these fascinating stories about how trace evidence helped solve crimes! It is an insightful look into the world of trace evidence using real case examples.  Readers will learn how the use of hairs and fibers link criminals to their crimes, and how this evidence can be useful in conjunction with DNA evidence. Intriguing crimes and intriguing cases!

A Pattern of Violence; How the Law Classifies Crimes and What It Means for Justice  by David Alan Sklansky

We take for granted that some crimes are violent and others aren’t. But how do we decide what counts as a violent act?  David Alan Sklansky argues that legal notions about violence-its definition, causes, and moral significance-are functions of political choices, not eternal truths. And these choices are central to failures of our own justice system. The common distinction between violent and nonviolent acts, for example, played virtually no role in criminal law before the latter half of the 20^th century. Yet to this day, with more crimes than ever called “violent’, this distinction determines how we judge the seriousness of an offense, as well as the perpetrator’s debt and danger to society. Similarly, criminal law today treats violence as a pathology of individual character. But in other areas of law, including the procedural law that covers police conduct, the situational context of violence carries more weight. The result of these inconsistencies, and of society’s unique fear of violence since the 1960’s has been an application of law that reinforces inequities of race and class, undermining law’s legitimacy.

The Lizzie Borden “Axe Murder” Trial  - A Headline Court Case  by Joan Axelrod-Contrada

On the morning of August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were found dead in their home in Fall River, Massachusetts-victims of a brutal double murder.  When Lizzie Borden was accused of killing her father and stepmother, all of Fall River was shocked. Surely, she could not have committed such a terrible crime! But if she didn’t do it, who did?

In The Lizzie Borden “Axe Murder” Trial: a Headline Court Case, author Joan Axelrod-Contrada takes readers through a trial that consisted mainly of circumstantial, unsubstantiated, evidence. Lizzie Borden’s responses to questions were at times confused and inconsistent, but she had, after all, just lost her father and stepmother. Was a bit of confusion not to be expected? Jurors were told they could either sentence Borden to death or set her free. In a decision that is still debated today, the jury found Lizzie Borden innocent-based largely on the persuasiveness of her attorney and the fact that no one ever saw her commit the murders. If Lizzie Borden was not responsible for the murders, who was? Perhaps we will never know.

The Death Penalty – an Opposing Viewpoints Series  by Jean Alicia Elster, Editor

Throughout history, people have engaged in heated debates over controversial issues. Each title in The History of Issues series shows how the arguments have both changed and remained constant over time, proving the old adage that “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” Each anthology in the series contains a wide range of primary documents-including speeches, court cases, personal reflections, and newspaper accounts-that brings controversies from previous eras back to life. Essays by historians and modern scholars add background and insight. An annotated table of contents, chronology of key events, and through index, facilitate quick reference. An extensive bibliography and list of organizations to contact offer avenues for further research.  All these features combine to provide a unique historical perspective on issues that continue to spark intense debate.

So, stop by and see us at Scott County Public Library. We’re sure you’ll find all the spine- chilling resources you need to make your day a little bit “darker.” Or perhaps you’ll see the world from a more “forensic” perspective!  Justice, equality, crime, forensic pathology- We have it all!

Michael.stephens@scottpublib.org

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Hot Off the Steel Press!

Danielle Steel is the world’s bestselling living author and has sold one billion copies of her books worldwide. If you’re new to Danielle Steel’s books or are already a fan, this would be a great place to start! If her books were stacked, they would reach higher than 60,000 Eiffel Towers or 45,000 Empire State Buildings! She’s written over 200 books, all of which are still in print and 25 of her novels have been adapted into films. Here at Scott County Public Library, we have all her latest releases! Check these out!

A Mother’s Love (just released in July 2025)

A moving and powerful story of resilience, healing, and the courage to confront the past. Halley Holbrook, a bestselling novelist and recently widowed mother of twin daughters faces her first Christmas alone in decades. Seeking solace, she escapes to Paris, where a chance meeting with businessman Bart Warner offers unexpected companionship. But when Halley becomes the victim of a shocking crime, long-buried memories of her traumatic childhood resurface. With Bart’s support, Halley finds the strength to confront her fears, uncover her own resilience, and open her heart to the possibility of love once more.

A Mind of Her Own (May 2025)

Alexandra Bouvier sets off for a new life in America, aged just eighteen. Raised to believe that she can achieve anything, the First World War and flu pandemic have taken their toll, and she has suffered unimaginable loss. Living with her grandfather in Illinois, Alex is able to attend university and her journalistic talent secures her an internship with a New York newspaper, where she meets crime reporter Oliver Foster. The two are drawn to each other, but Alex is determined to remain true to her ambition…

Far From Home (February 2025)

Arielle von Auspeck arrives at the dazzling Ritz hotel in 1944 Paris, excited to be reunited with her husband Gregor, a retired German colonel. But all plans go astray when she receives news that Gregor was part of Operation Valkyrie-a failed attempt to assassinate Hitler- resulting in him being shot as a traitor. Arielle, who comes from both French and German heritage, must now go into hiding for her safety. Armed with a fake identity and unable to contact her children in Germany, she tries to navigate her new life under Hitler’s rule. But she soon discovers there are people who are willing to fight for the possibility of finding and returning home to their families. Far From Home captures the devastating effects of World War II in Danielle Steel’s classic and moving style.

Never Say Never (January 2025)

Prestigious book editor Oona Kelly Webster heads to the French countryside alone after her husband’s sudden decision to end their marriage, unravelling the life she’s carefully built over twenty-five years. Yet her solo retreat soon turns into an unplanned exile when a global pandemic halts the world and her job back home is suddenly gone. Stranded in the picturesque village of Milly-la-Foret, Oona finds herself forced to redefine her life. But just as the slower pace begins to mend her spirit, a chance meeting with a reclusive Hollywood actor leads to an unexpected connection…

Trial By Fire (November 2024)

Dahlia de Beaumont, a successful CEO of a luxury cosmetics brand, has spent years building a life defined by work and motherhood, shielding herself from heartbreak after losing her husband. But when catastrophic wildfires engulf Northern California, her world is upended. Stranded in San Francisco, she finds herself drawn to a pet rescue center in Napa Valley, where she meets Mark Hamilton, a lawyer with his own scars from love. As fire rages closer, Dahlia and Mark must confront not only the danger surrounding them, but the emotional walls they’ve built over the years.

If you’ve never read Danielle Steel, you’re in for a treat and if you’re already a die-hard fan, you will love her latest tales of love, romance, deception and danger. All of these available at your local library!

Michael.stephens@scottpublib.org

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Testing Resources at your Local Library

It’s that time of year again, when our kids are getting ready to make that transition to college life, or your spouse has decided a new career choice is in order. Summer just does that to us- it offers us a new start! You may not know that Scott County Public Library has resources to help you ace that college entrance exam or prepare for that new career you’ve always wanted. Check out these testing resources available here at the library. They can help you prepare, get a great score, or build confidence to make that career leap you’ve always wanted!

ACT Prep  published by the Princeton Review

If it’s on the test, it’s in this book. The book contains techniques that actually work and powerful tactics to avoid traps and beat the American College Test (ACT).  It contains tips for pacing yourself and guessing logically. It contains everything you need for a high score- complete coverage of all test topics, including the multiple-choice and written portions, thorough review of the skills necessary to help you ace all five ACT sections, information on the ACT Online Testing option, superscores, and more.

You can practice your way to excellence with 6 full-length practice tests (4 in the book and 2 online) with detailed answer explanations. There is also a diagnostic answer key to determine which topics you are familiar with and which you will want to carefully review. You will have instant score reports for the online tests and essay checklists to help you grade the writing tests

Digital SAT PREP PLUS 2024   published by Kaplan

In January of 2022, the College Board announced a major revision to its Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT test). Instead of the pencil and paper test, the new test would be both completely digital and adaptive by section. This book is designed to help you achieve your highest score on this new digital SAT in early 2025 and beyond. After reading the introductory material, check out these domains of the material tested by the College Board on the new SAT; Algebra, Problem-solving and Data analysis, Advanced Math, Geometry and Trigonometry, Reading and Writing: Reading Skills, and Reading and Writing: Writing Skills. This book, published by Kaplan, has Proven Strategies (score boosting, tried and true strategies make study time efficient), Expert Feedback (detailed answer explanations and performance analysis help you improve with every question) and Targeted Practice (zero in on the skills and information you need to ace the SAT).

GRE PREP 2024    published by the Princeton Review

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a 3 hour, 45 minute exam that’s used to rank applicants for graduate schools.  The scored portion of the GRE consists of the following sections:

• One 30-minute Analysis of an Issue Essay
• One 30-minute Analysis of an Argument Essay
• Two 30-minute Verbal Reasoning Sections
• Two 35-minute Quantitative Reasoning Sections

This book, published by the Princeton Review, has 5 full-length practice tests, proven techniques for success, and complete content review. The Princeton Review is going to make this whole ordeal a lot easier for you. They give you the information you need to do well on the GRE, including time-tested strategies and techniques.

GMAT Focus Premium   published by The Princeton Review

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized test that business schools use as a tool to help decide whom they are going to accept into their MBA programs. It includes Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal, and Data Insights sections. This book will help you learn the famed Princeton Review test taking strategies, learn the specific skills you will need, periodically take simulated GMATs to measure your progress, hone your skills, and keep track of the application process. It contains techniques that actually work, everything you need for a high score, and allows you to practice your way to excellence. You’ll also find 3 computer-adaptive practice tests, 2 additional diagnostic tests, complete content review and premium online extras.

ASVAB Prep Plus   published by Kaplan

The ASVAB is used by the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy and National Guard to emphasize the importance of mission preparedness. You are on your way toward being well prepared to take the ASVAB test that is a prerequisite for enlisting in one of the services. The United States Military Entrance Processing Command administers the ASVAB for all the services.

Your Kaplan book contains:

• Full-length diagnostic test
• Tools to help you plan your studies
• Chapters that cover each of the subject tests
• Two full-length practice tests
• 500 flashcards to help you remember important concepts for the technical subtests

If you want to see more actual tests for additional preparation, ask our information staff about the online practice tests we provide for many of these standardized exams.  Whether you’re preparing for college, grad school, or a career change, these resources at Scott County Public Library can help make your educational or career change much less difficult. It’s easy to be prepared, confident, and knowledgeable!

Michael.stephens@scottpublib.org

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Gentle Yoga Flow

Grab your yoga gear and head to the Scott County Public Library for a mindful practice on the mat.  This yoga flow centers on gently building strength, flexibility, and balance as we practice a moving meditation.  It is aimed for beginners, but those familiar with yoga are welcome to attend as well. Please bring a water bottle, mat, and any other yoga props you would like to use, as well as wear comfortable clothing. This program is by registration only and slots fill up fast, so please remember to register. Join in on this healthy and active fun!

Chair Yoga

Chair Yoga is an excellent way to gently stretch and strengthen the body. This yoga class is suitable for all levels, especially for those with limited mobility.  Please bring a water bottle and any other yoga props you would like to class.  

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a moving meditation conducted through a sequence of gentle movements that promote harmony between mind and body.  Registration is required and space is limited.  Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and flat-soled shoes.

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Waiver Needed (Inside SCPL)

This program contains physical activity that has risks associated with participation. You will be asked to sign an Accident Waiver & Release of Liability form before you can participate.

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A Novel Idea Book Discussion

A Novel Idea Book Discussion. Join us the first Wednesday of every month at 5:00 p.m. for this casual book discussion where we read a mixture of everything and talk about the books we love. Meets first Wednesday at 6 pm.

Book Talk

Book Talk. Join us for this casual book discussion which discusses both fiction and non-fiction works. You are welcome to bring your own lunch to enjoy while we chat. Meets select Friday at 12 pm.

Horror Book Club

Horror Book Club. Join us as we discuss our favorite horror novels and authors, in the casual book discussion led by associate professor of English Literature Gerry Adair of BCTC. Meets last Wednesday of the month at 6 pm.

Love Story Society: A Romance Book Club

Calling all romance lovers! We invite you to join us as we discuss some modern and diverse romantic reads. Everyone is welcome to join! It meets the 3^rd Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm.

The Quiet Spell

The Quiet Spell is a casual discussion of fantasy books and a cozy craft. Each month will have a different theme. Meets second Thursday of each month at 5 pm.

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A Close-Knit Community: Knitting Club

A Close Knit Community: Knitting Club.  Would you like to learn how to knit and create spring and summer-weight shawls, baby blankets or gifts for the holiday season?  Do you already know how to knit and want to join forces with other knitters to share creativity, learn new skills, exchange yarn and needles?  Well, A Close-Knit Community Knitting Club is for you!  Bring your own yard, needles and skills or just bring yourself and use our needles and yarn.  If you need knitting instruction we will get you started!  If you want to learn a new stitch, how to make lace or more advanced techniques, we will teach you those too.  Registration is recommended. 

Sit & Stitch

Sit & Stitch.  Do you need a break and are looking for somewhere calm and soothing?  Sit & Stitch is a time specifically to bring your current needlecraft project (knitting, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, tatting, crewel, etc.) to work quietly with others.  

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Recording Studio Orientation

Disclaimer(s) Accessibility

SCPL makes every reasonable effort to provide equal access to all patrons. Please call 502-863-3566 at least 72 hours prior to an event to arrange for accommodation. All facilities and meeting rooms are ADA compliant.

Visit our Recording Studio to learn more.

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Discover! Program

Discover! Programs are designed with consideration for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Registration is required - participants' caregivers need to be present and register for the class as well. Ages 16 and older.

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Sounds from SCPL

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Find Your Roots

Additional resources are available by visiting our Electronic Resources page.