new books in the shop

Shelves are overflowing! Just finished unpacking a large order (well....more like huge...) of new books. All ages, all subjects and plenty of THE hot trend of the year: coloring books.

Still with wet ink from the printers..... a 2016 Secret Garden Calendar! The book, Secret Garden by Johanna Basford triggered the start of an adult coloring book craze earlier this year. Publishers are just now finally restocked and we hall all her titles including the newest, Lost Oceans.

Plenty of other coloring books to choose from. I'm loving the idea of coloring calendars...

Girly girl coloring books.....bright, shiny, sparkly and fun....

 Now this is cool.....cityscapes from all over and in different perspectives....

My favorite are the bird's eye views...

We've worked hard stocking up with lots of coloring pencils, pens, markers....you name it. 

My favorite: water color pencils!

Another of the hot coloring books this season..... Harry Potter! Yep. He's back. This is first of several due to release in upcoming months. Perfect for any fan regardless their age (I've seen grown women jump with joy on seeing this....).

Talking about Harry Potter...let's transition to the new kids books in the shop....

This is a fully colored illustrated version of Sorcerer's Stone. It can tide us over while we wait anxiously for the new Harry Potter plays (set to debut next year) and an entirely new kids series by JK expected soon.

Another new series for those who loved Rick Riordan and his Percy Jackson series: Magnus Chase is similar but set in far northern climes within the pantheon of Nordic Gods and Goddesses....

 One of the very popular series for middle school readers: Land of Stories by Chris Colfer. All four titles in the shop along with a brand new addition.... Two new tales....smaller fairy tales from the series given whole books to develop....

Younger early readers also have something new: Latest Adventures of Sophie Mouse! 

Adorable series perfect for those learning to read. 

Lemony Snicket has new addition too... And we have all of them in house!

For the young adult (and adult) mystery fans who enjoy historicals with touch of steam-punk; Sherlockian elements with touches of Bram Stoker.  Chess Queen Enigma is latest installment that began with Clockwork Scarab.

Now let's shift to titles for adults:
 

Hmmm...Kevin Costner co-writing a new adventure series. Okay....usually celebrities fancying themselves as authors not so good....except for this book. This one is very unusual and inventive. It's part graphic novel/adventure tale/historical fiction. Very old-world looking pages that feel wonderful too.

Don't ask me how they made the pages feel so soft and delicate! 

Perfect book for someone who loves unique books. A truly unique gift book.

We love mysteries series around here and some new installments have arrived:

 This time around Mr. Churchill's Secretary is now Mrs. Roosevelt's Confidante...

 Sherlock Holmes is back.....this time from Moriarty's perspective. Recognize the the author? He is the creator of the BBC Foyle's War series. I'm missing Mr. Foyle....wish he didn't retire....

It's the only time the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate has sanctioned new Sherlock stories and they're excellent. 

As for interesting non-fiction....

Here are two of my favorites in the micro-history department. Lucy Worsley is a wonderfully witty British historian (her office is at the Hampton Court....you know....Henry VIII's old digs?). One looks at the history of the home.... the other is the historical genesis of English Murder. Starts with real life cases that inspired a new genre that evolves into classic British greats like Agatha Christie. Fun non-fiction at its best.

This lovely red one with funny name, SPQR is a little tongue in cheek. This year the "hefty, doorstop gift book" on all the "must-read" book lists has the same title. The doorstop is a new controversial history of Rome.  Since I couldn't nab a copy (out of stock until next year) I stumbled across this lovely, light-hearted fun-fact book (literally pounds lighter and inches thinner). Much better choice! Who has time to read a dry, dense, academic history book that will just gather dust on the night stand? Grab this one instead! It's a compendium of obscure, odd and hilarious factoids. And any book that has "miscellany" in the title always catches my eye.

Here's another hot title: a literary atlas....literally. It's full of maps inspired by classic books. Great gift - think illustrated picture book for fans of great literature!  

Final three highlighted novels in historical fiction.

 Story of the invention of printing press in novel form. I'm a sucker for anything Gutenberg.

Next is intrigue at the Tudor Court, post-Henry and pre-Elizabeth. Set during reign of Bloody Mary it's told by three women...all actual historical figures: The two younger Grey sisters (older sis Jane got the ax thanks to Mary), and a well-know court painter, Levina Teerlinc. If you like this period, women's history, art and court intrigue....you'll enjoy this

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Finally, I've saved this spot for a dearly loved series of mine from years ago by Judith Merkle Riley.

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Our heroine is a gifted, determined girl wanting to tell her life story. Not so easy for a 14th century illiterate woman...but she perseveres and in the process we glimpse medieval life at it's fullest. Merkle Riley always had a spot on my staff pics shelf at the bookstore. Now with new reissues, I'm highlighting this sentimental favorite deserving some love. Perfect for those loving medieval tales to read on rainy, stormy winter nights. 

Happy Reading!