Mercer County Library Blog

Let’s be real here, sometimes we are not as active readers as we would like to be. Family, relationships, career, and life overall get in the way. All this makes that 300-page novel collecting dust on your shelf that you’ve been meaning to pick up for weeks, now look as daunting as ever. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. If you need something a little less time-consuming that still can pull you in and leave a big impact, look at a short story collection! Short story collections can be small narratives exploring multiple types of fun and unique genres. They are an avenue through which authors can choose to indulge in the weird and eccentric sides of our typical romance, horror, and science fiction categories. They’re a great way to introduce yourself to genres you would’ve never picked up on your own! As a short story lover myself, I can confirm that there is a lot of depth within the short pages of these collections. Think a short story collection could get you out of your reading f...

It’s July, and summer is ripe and inviting. A cool breeze dances around you as the sun's rays crisp the tips of your shoulders. The smell of salt and sand tickles your nose as you turn the next page of your book, until you realize…you forgot to put sunscreen on. Ouch! Instead of getting burned by the sun this summer, get swept away into the captivating flame of a “slow burn” romance novel! When it comes to romance novels, a lot of the spicy, romantic play happens quickly. The intrigue of a fast-paced romance allows the rush of passion to hit all at once and can be very exciting to read. However, it is also very fulfilling to be engulfed in the world of slow-burn romance. The tension between two characters gently grows, creating a push-and-pull dynamic that allows you to bond to the anticipated relationship in a way that would not be possible with a fast-paced romance. Each turn of the page creates a gripping excitement, making reading about the characters' relationship even mo...

As a child, reading was mainly for school - some of those books were either a hit or a miss. But when given the chance to decide on a book for oneself, it was marvelous and it just had to be about horses. The series that ended up being the favorite was Pony Pals by Jeanne Betancourt. The characters bond over their love for ponies and create their own little group called Pony Pals - hence the title. Together they go on trail rides and explore their little town. Within each book, a problem presents itself and together the Pony Pals work to help each other solve it. The problems that come up in the series are, to a child, maybe some of the hardest kinds of problems to deal with, such as: What do you do when a pony is sick? Is it a simple dietary issue or sprained ankle? Or just an upset stomach? A Pony in Trouble by Jeanne Betancourt Pam's father is a veterinarian, so she is used to being around sick animals. But when her own pony gets sick, Pam needs her Pony Pals more ...

Did you know August is Read a Romance Month? It’s been celebrated since 2013, and was created for readers to celebrate their love of reading about love. The first romance book was written by a man in 1740. Samuel Richardson wrote a novel called Did you know August is Read a Romance Month? It’s been celebrated since 2013, and was created for readers to celebrate their love of reading about love. The first romance book was written by a man in 1740. Samuel Richardson wrote a novel called Pamela , a love story about a maid and her land-owning master.  Romance books have come a long way since then! There are many sub genres to choose from including romantic comedy (aka rom-coms), historical, contemporary, regency, paranormal, and fantasy. Choices that will appeal to everyone. I say there’s nothing like being at the beach and reading a fun, light hearted contemporary romance book! Here are some of my favorite beach reads!                 ...

Valentine’s Day is coming up and love is in the air! While I personally believe any time of year is the right time to read a romance, reading romance fiction in February is a fun way to celebrate the Valentine season. Romance fiction has many subgenres: contemporary, fantasy & paranormal, and historical romance are only a few of the numerous categories the genre has to offer. Below are a few selections of recent releases in those genres. Take a look, maybe one will catch your eye! Contemporary Romance The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest "A shy bookworm enlists her charming neighbor to help her score a date, not knowing he's the obscure author she's been corresponding with, in this sparkling and heart-fluttering romance by Kristina Forest.” Provided by publisher Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura A merry and bright hockey romance about finding your place, finding your people and finding your way back to the one you love the most.” Provided by publisher Red ...

2022 was a hard year for queer books and voices in libraries and schools: from attacks on Drag Queen Story Hours to the call for banning books with even a mention of homosexuality and the trans experience. To honor the voices and stories that need to be told, I wanted to highlight three queer novels released in 2022 that I read and enjoyed. This is by no means an exhaustive list nor a best-of; however, they are novels that captivated me, told a good story, and that I recommended at least 10 times after reading. Husband Material (London Calling Book 2) by Alexis Hall (he/him) This novel is the second in the London Calling series, the first one being Boyfriend Material , and was released Aug 02, 2022. Reading the first one is a must in order to fully enjoy this sequel and understand the dynamics between the two main characters: Luc and Oliver. The story is structured similar to Four Weddings and a Funeral - a British romcom released in 1994 starring Hugh Grant - and even without ha...

Winter is my favorite time of year to cozy up in front of the fireplace with a warm blanket, a mug of hot chocolate and a good winter rom-com book! What is a rom-com book? A rom-com is short for romantic comedy. You guessed it...there are two parts: a light and fluffy central love story and a happily-ever-after with some humor and spice mixed in. There are so many rom-com books. Try reading a few of these this winter. Happy reading! In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren "Love Actually meets Groundhog Day in the quintessential holiday romance by the New York Times bestselling author of The Honey-Don't List"-- Maelyn Jones is living with her parents, hates her job, and just messed up her love life. She is dreading the family's last Christmas at their Utah cabin, but one random wish and she may just get a do-over." - from the publisher The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer "When her publisher insists that she write a Hanukkah ...