Amanda Quick, one of my favorite historical romance authors, has just released The Mystery Woman, the second in the "Ladies of Lantern Street" series. Quick’s books are a lively mix of romance and suspense with a dash of the paranormal tossed in to add that little something extra.

The ever prolific Nora Roberts has just released her latest novel Whiskey Beach, which promises to be another bestseller.  Her books are always a wonderful blend of romance and suspense.

Mary Roach, a science writer who has a way of making science funny, is out with her new book Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal.  She has written four previous books, including Stiff and Packing for Mars, and also writes for such magazines as National Geographic, New Scientist, Wired and the New York Times Magazine.  The publisher’s blurb for Gulp states that “the alimentary canal is classic Mary Roach terrain: the questions explored in Gulp are as taboo, in their way, as the cadavers in Stiff and every bit as surreal as the universe of zero gravity explored in Packing for Mars.” 

Pulitzer Prize−winning author Elizabeth Strout has released a new novel titled The Burgess Boys.  A Booklist review describes this latest work as a story “in which the fabric of family, loyalty, and difficult choices is revealed in layer after artful layer.”

In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook examines why she thinks women’s progress in achieving leadership roles  in the workplace has stalled and offers solutions that can empower women to achieve their full potential.  Even prior to its release Lean In has been inspiring a great deal of discussion. From what I have gathered on various blogs and articles some are either greatly inspired by Ms. Sandberg's  message, while others find her views somewhat elitist. She was recently  featured on the cover of Time with the headline "Don't Hate Her Because She's Successful" and just this past Sunday, was interviewed on 60 Minutes where she urged women to lean in, not back at work and stated "that there's an awful lot we [women] can control and we can do for ourselves to sit at more tables, raise more hands."   The book should make for an interesting read.  Check out some of the links below for more information about Lean In and Ms. Sandberg.

This week Richland Library has many new and upcoming releases ready for checkout or to be requested, so peruse the choices listed below, because you are sure to find a great read among them. 

Matt and Ted Lee, authors of the Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook, the 2007 James Beard Cookbook of the Year, are out with a new cookbook, The Lee Bros.: Charleston Kitchen.  According to the author's website they “interviewed home cooks, chefs, farmers, fishermen, caterers, and funeral directors to get the most accurate—and at the same time very intimate—perspective on Charleston foodways” and describe this as their most personal book yet.  In addition, the cookbook includes walking tours and driving maps that correspond to recipes.  So, if you enjoy good food and Charleston, SC you should have a grand time with this cookbook.  A link to the author's website is linked below, according to the Tour Schedule they do plan to be in Columbia in March for book signings at two area bookstores.