Southern charm and snappy wit meet mystery in the second installment of the Lily Barlow series. True to the endearing style and southern drawl of its protagonist, Lily Barlow Book Two: The Mystery in the Mangroves picks up right where Book One concluded. The tantalizing romance between Lily and Jack persists, punctuated with comedic beats that are sure to amuse and a mystery that unfurls with unexpected turns. When romance, comedy, and mystery intersect, the result is a fast and flirty romcomstery that intensifies with every turn of the page. In this sprightly sequel, Lily takes on a quest to identify an unnamed murder victim. She and her friends venture to the Florida Keys to share their information with the police. The trip down south, however, unearths yet another unpredictable twist. Things are heating up!
Lily Barlow has one goal in life: to get out of her hometown. But after her father’s heart attack, Lily returns home from college to get the family business running, while simultaneously searching for the identity of a murder victim. After pausing her plans and returning to sleepy Marshall, Virginia, 21-year-old Lily Barlow is determined to keep this visit short and sweet. Rather than temporarily moving back home, Lily opts to rent a room from Miss Delphine Walker, a senior who grows flowers and mutters about the murderous intentions of the human heart. Lily’s return prompts Jack Turner, her best friend since kindergarten, to ask if they can be more, just as Lily begins investigating the identity of an unidentified murder victim. Fancying herself a southern-fried version of Stephanie Plum, Lily dodges Jack’s romantic advances as she dives into the mystery with exuberance and good intentions. Told in a sometimes sweet, sometimes snarky southern accent, Lily Barlow Book One: the Mystery of Jane Dough delivers romance, comedy and mystery in a joyride of contemporary fiction. Readers will laugh out loud at this fast-paced tale complete with relatable characters, quaint small-town setting and loads of southern charm.
Lily Barlow came back to her sleepy hometown of Marshall, Virginia, for one reason and one reason only--to rescue her family's bakery from financial ruin after her dad's heart attack. She successfully managed that without even donning an apron, but before heading back down to the University of Virginia, Lily unraveled a case of mistaken identity. She uncovered some evidence that her elderly landlady, Miss Delphine, is up to something, and got blindsided by her best friend, Jack Turner, who suddenly declared he and Lily should start dating. How's that for a week of being home? The identity of the woman with the purple flower tattoo remains a mystery, however. Pouring over a website that tracks unidentified murder victims, Lily got sucked into the profile of a woman whose decapitated body was found in a Florida swamp. The victim wasn't Lily's acquaintance after all, but she is haunted by the fact that this woman remains nameless. Lily and her friend, Storie Sanders, pursue a lead that draws them from the quiet backroads of Virginia to the tropical mangroves of the Keys. Things take several unexpected turns as they work their way deeper into the mystery. Is their investigation leading them dangerously close to the murderer himself? A devotee of Stephanie Plum, Lily is inspired by this chain of events and starts to wonder if she could go from an amateur sleuth to a professional one, or at the very least get a minor in sleuthing. You gotta start somewhere, right? After all, she's certain Mis Delphine is busy burying bodies out back, and if she just had a little more crime scene training, she could probably blow that case sky high. Not that she necessarily wants to bust a crazy old lady who has been nothing but kind, letting her live rent-free in the efficiency apartment above the garage. Regardless, Miss Delphine is hiding something. Or is it someone? Lily's dad, George Barlow, is recovering quite nicely from his heart attack, although Lily is stuck in alert mode. She lost her mama at the age of six and is painfully aware that she's one parent away from orphan status, even if she is a legal adult at this point. Maybe the University of Virginia in Charlottesville is too far away to keep tabs on her dad. It's only a two-hour drive, but that seems like forever when your dad is being taken by ambulance to the hospital. If she moved back to the stifling little town, would she go completely bonkers? And what in the name of fishing lures and French fries is going on with Jack these days? This whole change in their status is bizarre. They've been best friends since kindergarten, never having tested the waters of a physical relationship. That's probably because the brotherly/sisterly bond was so strong. Jack has clearly lost his mind with this crazy suggestion the two start dating. He's taking his Principle of Proximity way too far, crossing every line Lily can manufacture with his neck smelling and his eye contact and his powers of seduction. Her gut says this is a risky little game that could cost her the most important person in her life. Her instinct is to tell him it's a hard no on the dating question even if the romance is simmering down in the Keys. Is the Florida heat playing tricks on her or is Jack winning? As if she didn't have enough to keep her occupied between Jack, the family crises, school starting back up...and you know...murder victims, a curious question surrounding her dead mama, Connie Barlow, has suddenly surfaced. There's a missing piece in that puzzle, but where should she look?
A GREAT GROUP READS Selection of the Women’s National Book Association and National Reading Group Month A GOODREADS Best of the Month Selection “A powerful, poignant novel.” —In Touch, Grade A From the internationally bestselling author of The Orphan Collector comes a beautifully written and moving tale of family secrets and the importance of a mother’s love—and how it can shape a life—even in the most shocking ways. A painful saga of strength and reinvention perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes and Lisa Wingate—set in two different times, as two young women come of age and uncover the mysteries of their families, and find their own ways in the world… On a summer evening in 1931, Lilly Blackwood glimpses circus lights from the grimy window of her attic bedroom. Lilly isn’t allowed to explore the meadows around Blackwood Manor. She’s never even ventured beyond her narrow room. Momma insists it’s for Lilly’s own protection, that people would be afraid if they saw her. But on this unforgettable night, Lilly is taken outside for the first time—and sold to the circus sideshow. More than two decades later, nineteen-year-old Julia Blackwood has inherited her parents’ estate and horse farm. For Julia, home was an unhappy place full of strict rules and forbidden rooms, and she hopes that returning might erase those painful memories. Instead, she becomes immersed in a mystery involving a hidden attic room and photos of circus scenes featuring a striking young girl. At first, The Barlow Brothers’ Circus is just another prison for Lilly. But in this rag-tag, sometimes brutal world, Lilly discovers strength, friendship, and a rare affinity for animals. Soon, thanks to elephants Pepper and JoJo and their handler, Cole, Lilly is no longer a sideshow spectacle but the circus’s biggest attraction...until tragedy and cruelty collide. It will fall to Julia to learn the truth about Lilly’s fate and her family’s shocking betrayal, and find a way to make Blackwood Manor into a place of healing at last. Moving between Julia and Lilly’s stories, Ellen Marie Wiseman portrays two extraordinary, very different women in a novel that, while tender and heartbreaking, offers moments of joy and indomitable hope. “Perfect for book clubs and readers who admired Sara Gruen’s Like Water for Elephants.” —Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW “A vibrant maze of desires.” —ForeWord Reviews “Seamlessly blends mystery and history with compelling and well-researched details.” —The Historical Novels Review “Vividly drawn and complex…Fans of Karen White and Sara Gruen will be drawn in by the drama and mystery of Wiseman’s novel.” —BookPage
HIYAAAAAAAA! Meet the night watch ninjas, keeping your towns safe from evil night-time mischief! When their midnight snack is interrupted by some shocking news, the ninjas don't hang about! Their new mission is to protect everyone from a bad guy as sneaky as he is stinky. Nowhere is safe from his bottom of toxic destruction, and the ninjas are going to need all their skills to foil his devious plans. . . But with lots of stink bombs and smelly cheese throwing them off the scent (literally), things don't always go to plan! For fans of Steven Seagull and Supertato, this vibrant and funny picture book about nocturnal animals will have you laughing out loud whilst cheering on the brave ninjas!
A modern-day classic. This highly acclaimed adventure series about two friends desperate to save their doomed city has captivated kids and teachers alike for almost fifteen years and has sold over 3.5 MILLION copies! Lina and Doon have led the citizens of Ember to an exciting new world. When they discover a village called Sparks, they are welcomed, fed, and given places to sleep. But the town’s resources are limited and it isn’t long before resentment begins to grow between the two groups. When mysterious acts of vandalism cause tempers to erupt, putting everyone’s lives in danger, it’s up to our two heroes to find the courage to stop the conflict and bring peace. Praise for the City of Ember books: Nominated to 28 State Award Lists! An American Library Association Notable Children’s Book A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing Selection A Kirkus Reviews Editors’ Choice A Child Magazine Best Children’s Book A Mark Twain Award Winner A William Allen White Children’s Book Award Winner “A realistic post-apocalyptic world. DuPrau’s book leaves Doon and Lina on the verge of undiscovered country and readers wanting more.” —USA Today “An electric debut.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred “While Ember is colorless and dark, the book itself is rich with description.” —VOYA, Starred
