Kathleen Hale

Light Hardcover (1 lb or less)

West Virginia

Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series meets the cult classic film Fargo in this gripping, dark comedy by debut author Kathleen Hale. A quiet town like Friendship, Wisconsin, keeps most of its secrets buried . . . but when local teen Ruth Fried is found murdered in a cornfield, her best friend, Kippy Bushman, decides she must uncover the truth and catch the killer. Since the police aren't much help, Kippy looks to her newly discovered idol, journalist Diane Sawyer, for tips on how to conduct her investigation. But Kippy soon discovers, if you want to dig up the truth, your hands have to get a little dirty, don'tcha know. In this riveting young adult novel, Kathleen Hale creates a quirky murder mystery that is intricately plotted and sure to keep readers guessing, laughing, and cringing until the surprising final pages. "Can a murder mystery be funny? You betcha!" raved Kirkus Reviews in a starred review.

No One Else Can Have You

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#hardcover #weareinevitable #romance #gayleforman #yaromance #ya #fiction #smalltown #bookstore

Mississippi

After losing his brother, mom, and most of his friends, Aaron Stein is left with his shambolic father alone in their moldering secondhand bookstore, but just when he considers selling the store he meets new people and takes on new challenges, helping him come to terms with what he has lost and who he wants to be.

We Are Inevitable

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#youngadult #sexandthecity #prequil #carrie #smalltown #highschool  #writer #nyc.  For similar 🔖Bookmark Journey 📚 titles, click #bookmarkjourneyyoungadult For similar 🔖Bookmark Journey 📚 titles, click #bookmarkjourneyfiction 

Hardcover (1 to 2 lbs)

Illinois

Tells the story of Manhattan columnist Carrie Bradshaw's high school years, her relationships with her peers, and how she became a writer.

The Carrie Diaries

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Fannie Flagg

Wear on dust jacket and somw staining on lower part, pictured. Book was purchased by me secondhand and has a label inside added by previous owner, pictured. 

California

Captures the humorous and complex realities of ordinary people living in Elmwood Springs, Missouri, including Neighbor Dorothy, a radio hostess, her son Bobby, the Oatman Family gospel singers, and hotshot salesman Hamm Sparks.

Standing in the Rainbow

8e2a50c6-c63f-4172-92b8-5349a5501f22

Nancy Thayer

New York

A Novel

Known for her heartwarming observations of family life, New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer showcases her beloved Nantucket's snowy off-season in this emotionally gratifying and utterly entertaining story.
 
Holidays on this Massachusetts island are nothing short of magical, and the season's wonderful traditions are much loved by Nicole Somerset, new to Nantucket and recently married to a handsome former attorney. Their home is already full of enticing scents of pine, baking spices, and homemade pie.
 
But the warm, festive mood is soon tempered by Nicole's chilly stepdaughter, Kennedy, who arrives without a hint of holiday spirit. Determined to keep her stepmother at arm's length--or, better yet, out of the picture altogether--Kennedy schemes to sabotage Nicole's holiday preparations. Nicole, however, is not about to let anyone or anything tarnish her first Christmas with her new husband.
 
Nancy Thayer's wonderful tale reminds us that this is the season of miracles. Before the gifts are unwrapped, surprise visitors appear, and holiday joy comes to all, both naughty and nice.
 
Praise for Nancy Thayer

A Nantucket Christmas

"Thayer's Christmas story is as sweet and warm as a fresh-baked cookie. . . . heart-twisting moments and a yuletide miracle will get readers in the holiday mood."--RT Book Reviews
 
"Thayer gives readers of women's fiction another enjoyable foray to Nantucket."--Library Journal
 
Moon Shell Beach
 
"Nancy Thayer has a deep and masterly understanding of love and friendship, of where the two complement and where they collide."--New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand
 
"A beautifully textured story about love, friendship, and forgiveness, a great beach read. It will make you want to pack your bags for Nantucket."--New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah
 
Beachcombers
 
"Thayer's sense of place is powerful, and her words are hung together the way my grandmother used to tat lace."--Dorothea Benton Frank
 
"A charming and fun summer read . . . Readers will love this story of family and love."--The Plain Dealer
 
Summer Breeze
 
"Nancy Thayer is the queen of beach books. . . . All [these characters] are involved in life-changing choices, with all the heart-wrenching decisions such moments demand."--The Star-Ledger
 
"An entertaining and lively read that is perfect for summer reading indulgence."--Wichita Falls Times Record News

A Nantucket Christmas

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Lilian Jackson Braun

When a visiting estate jeweler is found dead, prizewinning reporter Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, must do their best to find the purr-petrator in this delightful novel in the New York Times bestselling Cat Who series.

As the Highland Games approach, Jim Qwilleran and the citizens of Pickax, Michigan, prepare to celebrate their Scottish heritage with such evens as bagpipe skirling and tossing the caber. But the traditional revelry is marred by troublesome rumors when a visiting jewelery dealer, renowned for his romantic streak (and his mysterious cash-only policy), is found dead in his hotel room. His assistant is missing—and soon, the winner of the caber-tossing content disappears as well.

Qwilleran and his snooping Siamese are willing to go to any lengths to find the killer and set the town at ease. But first they'll have to contend with a highjacked bookmobile and an attempted bank robbery. Qwill has a lot of mysteries to sort out—not the least of which is Koko's sudden interest in photographs, pennies, and paper towels...

Indiana

The Cat Who, book 22

The residents of Pickax are thrilled to see the moldering Pickax Hotel restored and reopened under new ownership, but when one of the first guests turns up dead, the victim of foul play, Qwilleran and his snooping Siamese cats are soon prowling around for clues. 155,000 first printing.

The Cat Who Robbed a Bank

ccf76de5-2e23-4061-86e0-6529e005e451-1

Oregon

Sharing a childhood in small-town Wisconsin before going their separate ways with careers and families, Hank, Leland, Kip and Ronny are reunited during a visit marked by culture clashes, respective pursuits of meaning and a woman who inspires passion in each of them. A first novel. 150,000 first printing.

Shotgun Lovesongs

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#mystery #thriller #botm #bookofthemonth #smalltown #podcast 

Everything We Didn’t Say

Dorothy Dreyer

Light Paperback (1 lb or less)

North Dakota

Christmas in Silverwood

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#hardcover #fiction #contemporay #katiemcgarry #motorcycleclub #romance #smalltown #youngadult 

The sheltered daughter of a motorcycle club leader falls unexpectedly in love with a blue-eyed youth who aspires to join the club by protecting her from vindictive rivals. Simultaneous eBook.

Nowhere but Here

72c2e99e-d700-4476-a3e0-0cf35271e79f-1

Jude Deveraux

Heavy Hardcover (2 to 4 lbs)

Kentucky

Scarlet Nights

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#hardcover #fiction #stories #phillipgulley #small-town #smalltownfiction 

Georgia

A day in your hometown-it takes you back to a simpler time, when life was uncomplicated and everyone knew what was right. Now readers who cherished the timeless values Philip Gulley evoked in his bestselling Front Porch Tales can go back home again. Hometown Tales takes them there with even more insightful stories and enduring virtues. Unforgettably illustrating the nine fruits of the Spirit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control-these 45 grace-filled stories offer powerful spiritual encouragement. They'll help readers realize that they can go home again, even in today's weary, hope-less world, and discover lasting peace and joy.

Hometown Tales

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has remainder mark but is otherwise in great condition! #hardcover #fiction #murder #mystery #smalltown #ya #crime #fear 

New Jersey

Veronica Henry

Pennsylvania

The enchanting story of a bookshop, its grieving owner, a supportive literary community, and the extraordinary power of books to heal the heart Nightingale Books, nestled on the main street in an idyllic little village, is a dream come true for book lovers--a cozy haven and welcoming getaway for the literary-minded locals. But owner Emilia Nightingale is struggling to keep the shop open after her beloved father's death, and the temptation to sell is getting stronger. The property developers are circling, yet Emilia's loyal customers have become like family, and she can't imagine breaking the promise she made to her father to keep the store alive. There's Sarah, owner of the stately Peasebrook Manor, who has used the bookshop as an escape in the past few years, but it now seems there's a very specific reason for all those frequent visits. Next is roguish Jackson, who, after making a complete mess of his marriage, now looks to Emilia for advice on books for the son he misses so much. And the forever shy Thomasina, who runs a pop-up restaurant for two in her tiny cottage--she has a crush on a man she met in the cookbook section, but can hardly dream of working up the courage to admit her true feelings. Enter the world of Nightingale Books for a serving of romance, long-held secrets, and unexpected hopes for the future--and not just within the pages on the shelves. How to Find Love in a Bookshop is the delightful story of Emilia, the unforgettable cast of customers whose lives she has touched, and the books they all cherish.

How to Find Love in a Bookshop

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Elizabeth Berg

The feel-good book of the year: a delightful novel of friendship, community, and the way small acts of kindness can change your life, by the bestselling author of The Story of Arthur Truluv
 
Lucille Howard is getting on in years, but she stays busy. Thanks to the inspiration of her dearly departed friend Arthur Truluv, she has begun to teach baking classes, sharing the secrets to her delicious classic Southern yellow cake, the perfect pinwheel cookies, and other sweet essentials. Her classes have become so popular that she’s hired Iris, a new resident of Mason, Missouri, as an assistant. Iris doesn’t know how to bake but she needs to keep her mind off a big decision she sorely regrets.

When a new family moves in next door and tragedy strikes, Lucille begins to look out for Lincoln, their son. Lincoln’s parents aren’t the only ones in town facing hard choices and uncertain futures. In these difficult times, the residents of Mason come together and find the true power of community—just when they need it the most.

“Elizabeth Berg’s characters jump right off the page and into your heart” said Fannie Flagg about The Story of Arthur Truluv. The same could be said about Night of Miracles, a heartwarming novel that reminds us that the people we come to love are often the ones we don’t expect.


Mason, book 2

The feel-good book of the year: a delightful novel of friendship, community, and the way small acts of kindness can change your life, by the bestselling author of The Story of Arthur Truluv Lucille Howard is getting on in years, but she stays busy. Thanks to the inspiration of her dearly departed friend Arthur Truluv, she has begun to teach baking classes, sharing the secrets to her delicious classic Southern yellow cake, the perfect pinwheel cookies, and other sweet essentials. Her classes have become so popular that she's hired Iris, a new resident of Mason, Missouri, as an assistant. Iris doesn't know how to bake but she needs to keep her mind off a big decision she sorely regrets. When a new family moves in next door and tragedy strikes, Lucille begins to look out for Lincoln, their son. Lincoln's parents aren't the only ones in town facing hard choices and uncertain futures. In these difficult times, the residents of Mason come together and find the true power of community--just when they need it the most. "Elizabeth Berg's characters jump right off the page and into your heart" said Fannie Flagg about The Story of Arthur Truluv. The same could be said about Night of Miracles, a heartwarming novel that reminds us that the people we come to love are often the ones we don't expect. Advance praise for Night of Miracles "Elizabeth Berg is a master storyteller and one of my personal favorites. Night of Miracles is full of charming, entertaining characters that tug at the heart."--Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author "The thing about an Elizabeth Berg novel is, it'll always make you feel hopeful. True to form, Night of Miracles is wise and funny, not shying away from life's troubles but spotlighting the shining small miracles and pleasures of ordinary days. And, of course, there are delicious cakes."--Jenna Blum, New York Times bestselling author of Those Who Save Us

Night of Miracles

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Siamese cat Koko finds a bunch of clues when an out-of-town actor dies mysteriously in this mystery in the New York Times bestselling Cat Who series.

With the opening night of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest fastapproaching—along with the dedication of the new bookstore in town—good times are ahead for the citizens of Pickax. But the merry atmosphere is dampened by the suspicious death of an out-of-town actor and the theft of a rare book. Qwill finds himself distracted from the recent events by his finicky pal Koko, who’s been acting more fishy than feline. Has Koko gone bananas, or is he trying to let the cat out of the bag to help Qwill solve the dual mysteries?

The Cat Who, book 27

James Qwilleran and his talented team of feline sleuths, Koko and Yum Yum, investigate the supposedly accidental death of a cast member in a car crash on the eve of the Theatre Club's performance of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. 225,000 first printing.

The Cat Who Went Bananas

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J. K. Rowling

First edition.
Goodreads Choice Award.

J.K. Rowling’s first book since the Harry Potter series; her first apart from that series, and her first novel for adult readership. 

Heavy Paperback (2 to 4 lbs)

Maryland

The Casual Vacancy

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#paperback #fiction #magic #magical #smalltown #suspense 

When Cohen Marah steps over his father's body in the basement embalming room of the family's funeral home, he has no idea that he is stepping into a labyrinth of memory. As the last one to see his father, Cohen is the primary suspect. Over the next week, Cohen's childhood memories come back in living color. The dramatic events that led to his father being asked to leave his pastoral position. The game of baseball that somehow kept them together. And the two children in the forest who became his friends--and enlisted him in a dark and dangerous undertaking. As the lines blur between what was real and what was imaginary, Cohen is faced with the question he's been avoiding: Did he kill his father? In Light from Distant Stars, master story weaver Shawn Smucker relays a tale both eerie and enchanting, one that will have you questioning reality and reaching out for what is true, good, and genuine.

Light from Distant Stars

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#hardcover #fiction #travel #adventure #humor #smalltown 

Wisconsin

And Other Adventures on the Way Back Home

The author of the best-selling Mama Makes Up Her Mind offers a new collection of funny stories about Southern characters, places, and goings-on, from leaky mansions to fishing camps to one-room schoolhouses. 200,000 first printing. Tour.

Sleeping at the Starlight Motel

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#paperback #fiction #historical #movie #chicklit #family #relationships #small-town 

A transcendent tale of a woman's self-discovery—the New York Times–bestselling second work of fiction by the author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Book of Longings Inside the church of a Benedictine monastery on Egret Island, just off the coast of South Carolina, resides a beautiful and mysterious chair ornately carved with mermaids and dedicated to a saint who, legend claims, was a mermaid before her conversion. When Jessie Sullivan is summoned home to the island to cope with her eccentric mother’s seemingly inexplicable behavior, she is living a conventional life with her husband, Hugh, a life “molded to the smallest space possible.” Jessie loves Hugh, but once on the island, she finds herself drawn to Brother Thomas, a monk about to take his final vows. Amid a rich community of unforgettable island women and the exotic beauty of marshlands, tidal creeks, and majestic egrets, Jessie grapples with the tension of desire and the struggle to deny it, with a freedom that feels overwhelmingly right, and with the immutable force of home and marriage. Is the power of the mermaid chair only a myth? Or will it alter the course of Jessie’s life? What happens will unlock the roots of her mother’s tormented past, but most of all, it will allow Jessie to discover selfhood and a place of belonging as she explores the thin line between the spiritual and the erotic.

The Mermaid Chair

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Lillie Vale

Rhode Island

Fresh out of high school, Babe Vogel should be thrilled to have the whole summer at her fingertips. She loves living in her lighthouse home in the sleepy Maine beach town of Oar’s Rest and being a barista at the Busy Bean, but she’s totally freaking out about how her life will change when her two best friends go to college in the fall. And when a reckless kiss causes all three of them to break up, she may lose them a lot sooner. On top of that, her ex-girlfriend is back in town, bringing with her a slew of memories, both good and bad. And then there’s Levi Keller, the cute artist who’s spending all his free time at the coffee shop where she works. Levi’s from out of town, and even though Babe knows better than to fall for a tourist who will leave when summer ends, she can’t stop herself from wanting to know him. Can Babe keep her distance, or will she break the one rule she’s always had - to never fall for a summer boy?

Small Town Hearts

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Jan Karon

Michigan

Father Tim Kavanagh struggles to find meaning in retirement, while newlyweds Dooley and Lace face a crisis that drains their bank account, and four-year-old Jack Tyler looks forward to the biggest day of his young life.

To Be Where You Are

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Virginia

Hattie Owen enjoys the familiarity of her small town life, but during the summer she turns 12, her world is turned upside down with the arrival of an uncle no one has ever spoken about. Now that Hattie's uncle's "school" - an institution for the mentally disabled - is closing, Hattie's family must deal with a childlike young man whose existence they've denied for years.

A Corner of the Universe

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Cathleen Armstrong

The red warning light on her car dashboard drove Lainie Davis to seek help in the tiny town of Last Chance, New Mexico. But as she encounters the people who make Last Chance their home, it's her heart that is flashing bright red warning lights. These people are entirely too nice, too accommodating, and too interested in her personal life for Lainie's comfort--especially since she's on the run and hoping to slip away unnoticed. Yet in spite of herself, Lainie finds that she is increasingly drawn in to the dramas of small town life. An old church lady who always has room for a stranger. A handsome bartender with a secret life. A single mom running her diner and worrying over her teenage son. Could Lainie actually make a life in this little hick town? Or will the past catch up to her even here in the middle of nowhere? Cathleen Armstrong pens a debut novel filled with complex, lovable characters making their way through life and relationships the best they can. Her evocative descriptions, observational humor, and talent at rendering romantic scenes will earn her many fans.

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Kathleen Hale

No One Else Can Have You

Gayle Forman

We Are Inevitable

Candace Bushnell

The Carrie Diaries

Fannie Flagg

Standing in the Rainbow

Nancy Thayer

A Nantucket Christmas

Lilian Jackson Braun

The Cat Who Robbed a Bank

Nickolas Butler

Shotgun Lovesongs

Nicole Baart

Everything We Didn’t Say

Dorothy Dreyer

Christmas in Silverwood

Katie McGarry

Nowhere but Here

Jude Deveraux

Scarlet Nights

Philip Gulley

Hometown Tales

Kathleen Hale

No One Else Can Have You

Veronica Henry

How to Find Love in a Bookshop

Elizabeth Berg

Night of Miracles

Lilian Jackson Braun

The Cat Who Went Bananas

J. K. Rowling

The Casual Vacancy

Shawn Smucker

Light from Distant Stars

Bailey White

Sleeping at the Starlight Motel

Sue Monk Kidd

The Mermaid Chair

Lillie Vale

Small Town Hearts

Jan Karon

To Be Where You Are

Ann M. Martin

A Corner of the Universe

Cathleen Armstrong

Welcome to Last Chance