“Ana María and the Fox” by Liana De la Rosa. Copyright 2023, Berkley (341 pages, $17.00).
“Isabel and the Rogue” by Liana De la Rosa. Copyright 2024, Berkley (339 pages, $19.00).

“A River of Golden Bones,” by A.K. Mulford. Copyright 2023, Harper Voyager (385 pages, $29.00).
“A Sky of Emerald Stars,” by A.K. Mulford. Copyright 2024, Harper Voyager (354 pages, $29.00).

“The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy” by Megan Bannen. Copyright 2022, Orbit (439 pages, $18.00).
“The Undermining of Twyla and Frank” by Megan Bannen. Copyright 2024, Orbit (404 pages, $20.00).

Nice things come in threes, so here are three trilogies that are concluding with their final book in 2025.

Megan Bannen’s Hart and Mercy series is an interconnected, standalone trilogy, full of magical and western themes. Mercy is one of the many undertakers for her father’s business, Birdsall & Son, in the town of Eternity. Hart is a marshal patrolling the magical and strange wilds of Tanria. They both seem to not hold a lot of patience for one another. But when they both start receiving letters from “A Friend” and having someone to confide in, they realize that there might be more to each other than they originally thought.

Twyla and Frank have been Tanrian Marshals for eight years now, best friends for even longer. But when a nefarious plot is uncovered in Tanria that they need to investigate, it leads to complications – even with their friendship – something that Twyla is now realizing could be an all or nothing kind of love.

Adam is the doctor to the town of Eternity, but he seems to know more about what’s happening in Tanria than what he’s letting on. Rosie is an immortal demigod who’s lived so long that nothing should be surprising her anymore, so why is Dr. Adam and his portals and his knowledge of the mist surprising her?

Liana De la Rosa’s Luna Sisters Series is a historical romance trilogy following three heiresses as they are secreted away to London during the French occupation of Mexico. Ana María is the ever-dutiful daughter, the perfect niece, and the best representative for the Luna families. She’s in London to keep her sisters and herself safe, but she doesn’t feel like being safe when Mr. Gideon Fox keeps giving her his attentions. Gideon has to keep reminding himself of his goal in Parliament – to abolish the Atlantic slave trade – and that Ana María is just a distraction. But when Ana María is in need of a gentleman’s aid, Gideon knows he must help Ana María (and her sisters).

Isabel always considers herself as the wallflower, the forgettable Luna sister. Which works well for Isabel as she sneaks away from societies get-togethers to find information that she can send back to Mexico to help with the French occupation. But Isabel isn’t as forgettable as she thinks she is, as she accidentally continues to cross paths with Captain Sirius Dawson. After one too many times, Isabel and Sirius use their powers of sleuthing in order to help with their own agendas, and if they allow their attraction to be known – that’s just a perk of the job.

Gabriela – the youngest, prettiest, and most rebellious of the three sisters, is ready for her freedom. As she whisks away to her homeland, she finds herself in trouble and in need of aid. In steps Sebastian Brooks, Duke of Whitfield.

A.K. Mulford’s Golden Court trilogy is a whimsical blend of high fantasy, adventure, love, and self-discovery. The first book follows Calla, a wolf shifter in hiding, and their fight to save their kingdom and to figure out who they are outside of their twin sister.

Book two continues with Calla finding their footing while butting heads with the Ice Wolf Pack, but we also see Sadie’s POV’s as she struggles with where she fits in the new Golden Court and her travels across the land of Aotreas.

Book three seems to be from the POV of Briar, Calla’s twin sister, as she is in the middle of enemy territory with struggles of her own as Calla must figure out how to navigate a war to save themselves, their sister, and their people.

We carry copies of books one and two in each trilogy. If you don’t see book three – just ask a librarian (or fill in a suggestion online) to see if we can order it for the end of the year! Below are expected publishing dates for each conclusion for each trilogy:

The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam by Megan Bannen – July 8, 2025

Gabriela and His Grace by Liana De la Rosa – August 26, 2025

A Heart of Crimson Flames by A.K. Mulford – November 4, 2025

Kayleigh D. is a Library Technical Processing Assistant at May Memorial Library.

Alamance County Public Libraries’ annual murder mystery is sure to be a colorful event this year, filled with intrigue and excitement and a healthy dose of comedy. With help from the audience, it won’t take any time at all to figure out who murdered our victim.

Museum Director and Curator, Artemis Astor, was a loving father and husband, who worked diligently to bring beautiful art to his community. He worked tirelessly for years, trying to make a name for himself and impressed a lot of people, but his family came first. So, he packed up and moved to North Carolina where he could showcase all kinds of art, from local artists to celebrity artists from around the globe. Astor was an upstanding community-oriented man…or was he?

Someone on the art scene certainly didn’t think so! Could it be his lovely wife, Birdie? Perhaps Councilman John Martin had something to do with it? The competition, Monet Bardeaux could have done it! But what about Astor’s daughter, Leona? Or the mysterious Yuri? And we can’t forget Astor’s business partner, Indigo Guthrie! He’s looking quite suspicious these days.

Did Astor bring art to a community that wasn’t ready for it? Did he step on the wrong toes? Did he schmooze the right people? Why kill him? Who had the motive? Who had the heart? Who murdered Artemis Astor?

            Between all the artsy espionage, backstabbing, and secrets, this year’s murder mystery is one not to be missed. Expect anger, drama, and what’s a murder mystery without the FBI Art Crimes Department being involved?

The event itself is free and for adults only. It will take place at May Memorial Library at 7:00pm on both Friday, July 25^th and Saturday, July 26^th. Light hors d’oeuvres will be provided, so please come a little hungry.

Registration is limited to 4 tickets per household and tickets will be made available starting Tuesday, July 1, at midnight and are available electronically this year at our website:

https://alamancelibraries.libcal.com/calendar/maymemorial?t=g&q=murder%20mystery&cid=5444&cal=5444&inc=0

As always, space is limited, so please remember to book yours early! For more information, please call (336) 790-0465 or email Emery Lai at elai@alamancelibraries.org.

Nayak, Michael. Symbiote. London : Angry Robot, an imprint of Watkins Media Ltd, 2025.

Symbiote was a really enjoyable read for me. The mix of sci-fi and horror was handled in a way that felt fresh and grounded. The setting—a group of people working at a research station in the South Pole—added a great layer of isolation and tension. Right away, you can feel that something’s not right, and that sense of unease grows with every chapter.

One of the things I liked most was how the story built its horror slowly. There aren’t any jump scares or over-the-top monsters—instead, it’s the quiet dread, the things that feel off, and the sense that something dangerous is creeping in. The science adds realism, but it never bogs things down. It all feels close enough to real life to make the horror hit harder.

The group dynamics were another highlight. Being stuck in such a remote place made it feel like a return to high school—where small tensions can turn into big problems, and past baggage resurfaces in ugly ways. Watching the characters try to keep it together while everything starts unraveling made the story even more gripping. You start to wonder what’s scarier: the strange force they’re up against, or how people act under pressure.

Overall, Sybiote is a strong mix of sci-fi and psychological horror. If you like slow-burn stories with tense atmosphere, layered characters, and a creeping sense of dread, this one is definitely worth a read.

Tyler J. is a Library Assistant at Mebane Public Library.

Mandanna, Sangu. Vanya and the Wild Hunt. New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2025.

If your child loves fantastical adventure books, they’ll love Vanya and the Wild Hunt!

Vanya can hear books talk. She also has ADHD, which is why she figures her parents wouldn’t believe her if she told them about her conversations with An Incomplete Guide to Good Manners, Lady Firoza’s Encyclopaedia of Flowers, and The Pocket Compendium of Poisons. But when she comes home early from school because she forgot her homework, she saves her parents from an Old One and find out there’s a lot they’ve been hiding from her, too.

Vanya’s mother is an archwitch, and her dad is an archivist. Her mother made a deal with an Old One years ago to keep Vanya safe, but someone else broke the agreement. Now that Vanya’s powers are known and the deal with the Old One is off, her parents decide to send her to Auramere, a school for young Archlings. Being the child of two powerful monster-hunters, she should be safer there, and will learn to harness and wield her powers.

At Auramere, Vanya lives with her parents’ best friends, Jasper and Roman, who are professors at the school. For the first time in her life, she finds school interesting, and she is excelling at her studies. But the Old Ones are stirring, and no one knows who is behind the attacks. There are sightings of The Wild Hunt, which shouldn’t be able to be in Auramere, unless the one controlling The Wild Hunt is one of them.

Vanya is a relatable heroine for kids. She gets herself in trouble, but has a huge heart and love for others. This story isn’t as complex as Rick Riordan’s books, making it something younger kids will enjoy before they’re ready for his series. I would recommend this book as a read aloud for younger children as well. I really enjoyed the story, and am looking forward to book two whenever it comes out.

Mary Beth A. is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries.

Our Summer Reading Program began this week, and we wanted to review a few light and enjoyable books to get the summer started. If you’re reading, you should be logging your minutes in our Summer Reading Program through Beanstack. After you’ve logged 90 minutes, Beanstack will let you know you won a prize, and you can come to the library to pick up your free book. Every 90-100 minutes after that, you’ll get a raffle ticket to enter in our end-of-summer basket giveaway.

Beanstack works best on their app, but you also can use a computer to log your minutes on the ACPL Beanstack site.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

My beach read pick for the summer is Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry.  It’s the story of two authors who compete to write the biography of a former tabloid princess who no one has seen in years.  The book is humorous and light, with a romantic storyline and a little bit of spice.  If you’ve enjoyed Henry’s other novels, you will be pleased with this read. 

– Amy K., Branch Manager, May Memorial Library

The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman

This is the second of a feel-good series featuring two “old maids” in Regency England. Augusta and Julia Colebrook solve mysteries, right wrongs, and rebel against what society thinks mature women (or really, women at all) should do with their time. This book is a cozy mystery/proper romance, and is perfect for sitting outside under a tree with an icy drink.

– Mary Beth A., Community Engagement Librarian

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

A man trapped in a sword. A woman trapped (literally) in her own bedroom by a scheming aunt who wants her to marry her son. When Hella takes the sword off the wall, and tries to hurt herself with it, Sarkis awakes and pleads with her to NOT use the sword in such a way. Instead, they escape and then work to return her to her rightful inheritance. This is a cozy fantasy with a lovely romance, and enough action (sword fights with an awakened sword) to make the story fly along.

– Mary Beth A., Community Engagement Librarian

The theme this year’s Summer Reading Program is Color Our World, and there are many ways you can participate!

Summer Reading Kickoff

This year’s Summer Reading Program begins Saturday, June 7, with our Summer Reading Kickoff Celebration at Fairchild Community Center and Park from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. We’ll have outdoor games and a bouncy house obstacle course, face painting from Painted Grape, balloon creations from Patti Cake, ice cream from Culvers, and more fun inside Fairchild Gym. Everyone is invited to take part in our community art project as well! The event is free to the public.

Log Your Reading

Read this summer and win prizes for every 90 minutes read! This year, you will track your minutes through Beanstack. Download the free app(recommended) or log in to the website, and use it to keep track of how much you’ve read. For everyone, your first prize after reading 90 minutes is a book! After that first 90 minutes, children can choose a prize from our prize box, and teens and adults will receive a (virtual) raffle ticket and can choose which basket they’d like to win. Baskets include Art, Baking, Bluey, Outdoor Fun, Tech and Treat Yourself.

Programming

Our existing children’s programming will continue throughout the summer, with additional special programs at each branch every month.

Highlights include:

June 13 – Gem Mining, Graham, grades K-5 (registration required)

June 19, July 17 and August 21 – Esports Champions, Graham, ages 13-18

June 19 – MAD Science, North Park, all ages (registration required)

July 5 and August 2 – AniMebane Senpai, Mebane, ages 13-19

July 8 – Paint Our World with Painted Grape, May Memorial, ages 7-14 (registration required)

July 15 – Afro-Columbian Dancing with Huepa!, May Memorial, grades K-5 (registration required)

July 31 – Big Bang Boom Children’s Concert, North Park, ages 3-10 (registration required)

August 4 – Pancake Art Party, Mebane, grades 6-12 (registration required)

In addition, our Mobile Library has two Pokemon Card Game programs each month. Kids of all ages – 7 to adult – are invited to learn to play Pokemon at Mackintosh On The Lake and Collington Farms.

For a full schedule of events, see our SRP calendar online or pick up a brochure at our branches.

For adults, we have a Summer Reading Craft Series. Each program will be offered at May Memorial, Mebane and Graham. In June, we’ll do rubber cement watercolor resist art, in July, we’ll offer Mason Jar Lid Suncatchers, and in August, we’ll make Button Bouquets. Our regular art programs will continue, including Experiment with Art at Graham and North Park’s Make and Take Tuesdays, plus we’ll add a monthly Loteria and Libros program at May Memorial, Cards and Coffee at May Memorial, digital literacy classes at Graham, and even more opportunities for adults to learn, play and thrive at the libraries this summer.

For more information on upcoming events, see our calendar of events.

Have you cut back on paid video subscriptions this year? Try Hoopla’s BingePass to get your streaming fix. With the checkout of one BingePass, you will have access to a large selection of entertainment media including movies, TV, magazines, puzzles and video courses.

Available BingePasses include:

For Movies – Hallmark +, Dove Channel, and Curiosity Stream

For Crafters – Creativebug and Craftsy

For Kids – Kids’ Books in Action and The Highlights Collection

For Puzzlers – Puzzmo and Puzzle Palace

And more!

As a crafter, I love being able to hop on Creativebug and get ideas and inspiration for my next craft. The instructors go step-by-step and provide supply lists and downloadable resources to help every level of crafter to feel comfortable trying out something new. Most classes are divided up into segments to allow for easy playback. This feature has been helpful when I need to find and repeat part of the instructions.  I enjoy learning about art mediums I am unfamiliar with and Creativebug allows me to sit back and relax by watching the creation of a craft.  Whether you are looking for a daily practice or a one-off craft, give Creativebug a try and start creating!

To access BingePass, you will need to set up your Hoopla account using your library card number, your pin, and your email address. Once you are on the homepage, click the BingePass tab to view the collection. You have access to 4 instant borrows with your Alamance County Library card. A single BingePass counts one instant borrow that give you free access to that platforms’ content for 7 days.

Susana S. is a Library Assistant at Graham Public Library.

“Only When It’s Us” by Chloe Liese. Copyright 2023, New York: Berkley Romance (372 pages, $17.00).
“Always Only You” by Chloe Liese. Copyright 2023, New York: Berkley Romance (370 pages, $17.00).
“Ever After Always” by Chloe Liese. Copyright 2024, New York: Berkley Romance (351 pages, $17.00).
“With You Forever” by Chloe Liese. New York : Berkley Romance, 2024.
“Everything for You” by Chloe Liese. Copyright 2024, New York: Berkley Romance (352 pages, $18.00).
“If Only You” by Chloe Liese. Copyright 2024, New York: Berkley Romance (369 pages, $18.00).
“Only and Forever” by Chloe Liese. Copyright 2024, New York: Berkley Romance (356 pages, $18.00).

The Bergman Brothers Series follows the love lives of seven Swedish-American siblings living on the West Coast. Every novel is filled with heart, humor, and heat and each can be read as a standalone.

We meet the Bergman’s in Only When It’s Us, the first book of the series, as we follow Ryder and Willa’s frenemies-to-lovers relationship when both characters are forced to open up and be vulnerable in order to find their happily ever afters. Content warning: death of a parent, cancer, grief, sexual content.

Always Only You is the grumpy sunshine book that you didn’t know you needed. Ren Bergman – all-star hockey player and secret Shakespeare enthusiast – is the sunshine, and Frankie – lover of Harry Potter, coke flavored gummies, and her dog, Pazza – is the grump. He falls first, obviously, but she falls harder. Content warning: chronic illness, sexual content, ableism, drug use.

Here we have our first Bergman sister, Freya, the oldest of the Bergman clan in Liese’s third installment, Ever After Always. She and her husband, Aiden, are in a marriage of crisis as their own stubbornness and anxieties get in the way of them having an open dialogue to ease their worries. Content warning: sexual content, mental illness, panic attacks/disorders, abandonment, alcoholism.

With You Forever is our contemporary marriage of convenience with reserved Axel (Bergman) and sunshine incarnate Rooney (Sullivan-Bergman) and all of the shenanigans that happen up at the A-Frame, from siblings crashing without warning to animals upending well laid plans. Content warning: sexual content, abandonment, chronic illness, IBS, ableism.

Don’t be alarmed by the time skip in Everything for You. We still have all of our favorite Bergmans popping up, along with some new ones! Everything for You can be likened to what Ted Lasso would be if it was a bit gayer and American. Oliver is the rising soccer star that is grating on Gavin’s veteran talents until they are forced to co-captain their team together and learn that they are not only good at co-captaining their team, but their lives as well. Content warning: sexual content, mental illness, panic attacks/disorders, homophobia/biphobia, injury.

If Only You is where we have our youngest Bergman (and the only other sister) Ziggy wanting to change up her image a bit with the help of her brother Ren’s best friend – Sebastian. And honestly, Sebastian could use an image rehaul as well, and Ziggy’s squeaky-clean reputation can help balance out his bad boy image. This is probably the slowest of slow burns that Liese has written, but it is so worth the wait. Content warning: sexual content, alcoholism, chronic illness, emotional abuse.

Only and Forever is the conclusion to this Bergman Family saga where Viggo finally gets his moment. Viggo has seen all of his siblings fall in love and is hoping for his chance at his happily ever after. As Viggo’s path crosses with Tallulah again, can this hopeless romantic convince a chilly cynic that love is worth it, especially if it involves the two of them? Content warning: sexual content, chronic illness, medical content, mental illness, abandonment, fatphobia.

I cannot recommend this book series enough. It has something for everyone with the vast varieties of tropes but it also has so much neurodivergent representation alongside other various forms of chronic illnesses – mental and physical. I discovered Chloe Liese during the pandemic and she has become a comfort favorite. This is a series that I will always and gladly revisit.

Kayleigh D. is a Library Technical Processing Assistant at May Memorial Library.

Feeney, Alice. Beautiful Ugly. New York : Flatiron Books, 2025.

This page-turning mystery follows the story of a bestselling author who is overcome with grief when his wife goes missing.  If you’re a fan of the author like me, you know that Feeney is the queen of the plot twist.  Feeney created so many twists and turns throughout the narrative, but she tied together all the loose ends beautifully at the end of the book.  If you want to read a mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end, this book is for you!

Amy K. is the branch manager at May Memorial Library.

Highly suspicious and unfairly cute. Hibbert, Talia. New York, : Joy Revolution, [2023]

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert is a fun, heartfelt young adult romance that combines humor, witty banter, and a touch of vulnerability. The story follows two very different characters, Celine and Bradley, who initially have a contentious relationship but are thrown together in a high-stakes situation that forces them to confront their differences, while also exploring their underlying connection.

The premise centers around Celine, a smart, confident, and somewhat skeptical young woman who has a complicated relationship with Bradley, her former best friend-turned-rival. Bradley, on the other hand, is charming, popular, and often the center of attention, but beneath his outward persona, he struggles with personal issues and insecurities. When they both sign up for the same adventure challenge, they find themselves forced to team up, and the tension between them builds in both frustrating and romantic ways.

Talia Hibbert does an excellent job of balancing humor and heart in this novel. The dynamic between Celine and Bradley is the core of the book, and their interactions are full of sharp, hilarious dialogue and moments of real emotional depth. The way Hibbert develops their relationship from enemies (or, at least, wary acquaintances) to a romantic partnership is both entertaining and heartwarming.

One of the standout features of the book is Hibbert’s ability to create well-rounded characters with complex emotional lives. Celine is smart, fiercely independent, and unapologetically herself, but she also has her own vulnerabilities and insecurities that make her a compelling character. Bradley, though initially appearing to be the “perfect” jock, is revealed to have his own struggles and personal growth throughout the novel. This depth of character development makes their eventual romance feel earned and satisfying.

In addition to the romance, the novel touches on important themes like self-acceptance, the pressure of expectations (both from others and from oneself), and the complexity of relationships. The adventure challenge that Celine and Bradley take on provides a fun and lighthearted backdrop to the emotional growth they experience, and it allows for a mix of tender moments and hilarious situations.

The pacing of the book is well-handled, with the right balance of tension, conflict, and resolution. While the story is largely character-driven, Hibbert’s strong writing keeps the plot engaging, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers invested. The book’s humor is another highlight, with Hibbert’s sharp wit coming through in the characters’ dialogue and internal thoughts.

Overall, Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute is an enjoyable, sweet, and witty romance with well-developed characters and a healthy dose of humor. Fans of Hibbert’s previous work and readers who enjoy YA romances with a good balance of humor, heart, and character growth will likely find this novel a charming and satisfying read.

Chantell H. is a Circulation Assistant at North Park Library.