Blue Ridge Regional Library - Home
Fresh Picks
New Arrivals
Recently added titles from across our collection
The dying light.Cleeves, AnnOctober 13, 2026
The Dying Light is a searing new novel featuring DI Matthew Venn, brimming with energy and taught with claustrophobic tension, as the detective peels back layer upon layer to discover the dark secrets this family is keeping. A scorching heatwave marks the start of the summer in Devon. Detective Matthew Venn is called in to investigate a puzzling death, when the body of a young woman, Lottie, is found in the swimming pool of a luxurious holiday home. The girl’s best friend, Hannah, whose family owns the house, is missing. The girls had arrived in Devon a few days ahead of the family to celebrate the end of their school exams, and had managed to make waves during their short time there; they disrupted the folk music festival at the neighboring farm, with Lottie posting incendiary videos on social media mocking what she snobbishly considered to be a parochial community. When further tragedy strikes, Venn and his team begin questioning a community filled with secrets. Hannah’s father, Paul Armstrong, is a rising political star, a fact that quickly draws intense media scrutiny to the case, not least because there are many who would want to take him down. With the summer heat come holidaymakers, and it emerges that some of them may have more connections with the Armstrong family than first thought. Caught between a powerful family's secrets and a powder keg of local tensions, Venn and his team must navigate a treacherous path. He knows all too well that the real answers lie not in what people say, but in the silence that they keep . . .
The Zorg : a tale of greed and murder that inspired the abolition of slaveryKara, SiddharthOctober 13, 2026
"A book of great importance and one that will likely become a classic." - New York Times Book Review One of The New York Times' 100 Most Notable Books of 2025 A Time Magazine Must-Read Book of 2025 A New Yorker Essential Read From the Pulitzer Finalist and New York Times bestselling author of Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives Perfect for fans of David Grann’s The Wager and The Wide, Wide Sea by Hampton Sides In late October 1780, a slave ship set sail from the Netherlands, bound for Africa’s Windward and Gold Coasts, where it would take on its human cargo. The Zorg (a Dutch word meaning “care”) was one of thousands of such ships, but the harrowing events that ensued on its doomed journey were unique. By the time its journey ends, the Zorg would become the first undeniable argument against slavery. When a series of unpredictable weather events and navigational errors led to the Zorg sailing off course and running low on supplies, the ship's captain threw more than a hundred slaves overboard in order to save the crew and the most valuable slaves. The ship's owners then claimed their loss on insurance, a first for slaves who had not been killed due to insurrection or died of natural causes. The insurers refused to pay due to the higher than usual mortality rate of the slaves on board, leading to a trial which initially found in their favor, in which the Chief Justice compared the slaves to horses. Thanks to the outrage of one man present in court that day, a retrial was held. For the first time, concepts such as human rights and morality entered the discourse on slavery in a courtroom case that boiled down to a simple yet profound question: Were the Africans on board people or cargo? What followed was a fascinating legal drama in England’s highest court that turned the brutal calculus of slavery into front-page news. The case of the Zorg catapulted the nascent anti-slavery movement from a minor evangelical cause to one of the most consequential moral campaigns in history―sparking the abolitionist movement in both England and the young United States. The Zorg is the astonishing yet little-known true story of the most consequential ship that ever crossed the Atlantic.
Falling for Peachtree Bluff.Harvey, Kristy WoodsonOctober 13, 2026
"Peachtree Bluff is my happy place, with its salt air and small-town charm, and this close-knit family of strong Southern women. I loved every messy, complicated, glamorous, warm-hearted page!" —Susan Mallery, #1 New York Times bestselling author “Longtime readers will appreciate the emotional depth and interconnected storylines.” —Library Journal Welcome to Peachtree Bluff: a cozy coastal town where family secrets refuse to be washed away by the tide and close-knit community is everything. As New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey reunites the Murphy crew just in time for pumpkin spice season, “we dare you not to wish you were a member of this family” (E! Online). Eldest sister Caroline has never been happier. The family business is thriving, her kids are great, and her sister Emerson’s hunky costar has absolutely swept her off her feet. But when her not-quite-ex-husband decides it’s high time he begged Caroline for a second chance, she is thrown into the midst of a love triangle she never saw coming. Caroline is the family fixer and, when her sisters Sloane and Emerson and daughter Vivi need her help with their troubles, she has to decide whether to swoop in and save them—or if it’s finally time to focus on what she wants. Matriarch Ansley and her new husband, Jack, have finally hit their stride. But when a scandal rips through Peachtree Bluff—and Jack just might be at the center of it—Ansley is left questioning whether the man she has loved since she was sixteen years old, the man she fought so hard to be with, is actually who she thought he was at all. The air is crisper, the water is calmer, but, when it comes to the Murphy family, nothing is ever quite as simple as it seems... Through it all, these Southern women must rely on their powerful family bonds and the quirky characters and small-town charm of the place that, no matter what, always calls them home. This is the kind of heartfelt fall treat that “readers will unwrap with glee” (Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author) from the “go-to for elevated beach reads” (People).
Drawn together.Ron, MercedesOctober 13, 2026
He was my protection... and my greatest weakness. Twenty-year-old Marfil Cortés lives the kind of life people imagine from afar. The daughter of a powerful businessman, she spends her days juggling Columbia classes, stolen hours at her ballet studio, and glittering nights in New York City. Her world feels untouchable -- polished, predictable, safe. Until the afternoon she's abducted in Central Park. Days later, Marfil opens her eyes in a hospital in New Orleans with no memory of what happened. There are no demands, no suspects, no explanation, only fear and the unsettling certainty that she is no longer safe. In the wake of the attack, her father tightens security and assigns her a bodyguard: Sebastian Moore. Sebastian is controlled, distant, unreadable -- a man whose discipline borders on dangerous. His quiet intensity unsettles and infuriates Marfil in equal measure, stirring resentment toward his presence, his rules, his unyielding watchfulness. Yet as the threat surrounding her refuses to fade, Sebastian becomes the one person she cannot escape... and the one she cannot stop wanting. What begins as tension slowly ignites into something far more dangerous. Because the closer Marfil gets to Sebastian, the more she realizes the greatest risk may not be the one lurking in the shadows... but the feelings she never meant to have for the man sworn to protect her. Lush, addictive, and charged with suspense, Drawn Together is a darkly romantic story about love and survival, temptation and control, and the cost of uncovering what others would rather keep buried.
All we hunger forMercier, AnnaOctober 13, 2026
This limited deluxe edition is printed with stenciled edges and designed endpapers! A young woman sneaks her way into a magical baking contest but gets pulled into an elusive aristocrat's lavish world and his nefarious plan as rebellion brews in their city—for fans of This Woven Kingdom. "Anna Mercier’s debut is your next obsession.” —Emily J. Taylor, New York Times-bestselling author of Hotel Magnifique In Anespérer, where magic comes alive through artistic skill, Elara Rousseau knows she'll never be selected for the Objet d’Art. The high-stakes baking competition will elect a new Souverain to join the ruling council, and someone from the slums would never be considered. But when a brooding figure from her past sneaks her into the Objet, Elara has the chance to compete for a better future... as long as no one uncovers her traitorous secret. Nikolas Dupont will do whatever it takes to impress his powerful father, a Souverain who hasn't officially recognized his son—like handpick a contestant to win and become his father's political pawn. But Elara is more than he bargained for, and she ignites his own subdued passions. Against all odds, Elara excels and becomes a hero to the city's poor, all while Nik’s faith in his father crumbles and the sparks between them burn brighter. As the competition heats up, Elara and Nik must choose: fight to win the competition and secure a future of safety for them both, or use the power of Elara’s art to spark a revolution. A Cozy Romantasy for readers who love: ● For fans of Chloe Gong, Judy I. Lin, and Stephanie Garber ● Forbidden Romance & Brooding Love Interests ● Slow-Burn Tension & Stolen Moments ● Secrets, Betrayal, and Rivalry ● Rebellion, Food Magic, and Fighting for Love
To dance the moon and starsTasia M. S.October 13, 2026
In a kingdom where dance is forbidden, a future high priestess must bend the rules to stop an ancient evil from destroying everything and everyone she loves, including the crown prince, in this sweeping romantasy graphic novel. Eighteen-year-old Myra has spent her entire life training to succeed her grandmother as high priestess. But with her ascension rapidly approaching, she’s worried about the path ahead. How can she become the herald of the god Alrun when he forbids the thing she loves most: dancing? Her people can’t afford her self-doubt, though. A peace treaty is dependent on Myra receiving Alrun’s wisdom, and the forces of darkness are seeping through the barrier between worlds. The only source of light Myra has is her childhood best friend, the crown prince. Without his support and . . . love, she may not be able to stop what’s coming. Myra must dig deep into her kingdom’s forgotten history for answers, even if it means defying the law. But the key to saving her people may require her to make the biggest sacrifice of all.
Free girlsMcCallum, KristenOctober 13, 2026
"This one is for all the labeled 'bad kids' who need someone to see the good in them. Full of heartache but never short on hope." —Sonido Reyes, bestselling and award-winning author of The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School A heartfelt coming-of-age debut about a girl starting over while keeping secret that she’s spent the last year in juvenile detention. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Leah Johnson. Sixteen-year-old Jasmine Cooper is back after twelve months at Guiding Hearts Home for Troubled Girls, and nothing is the way it was. Her mom has remarried and now there’s a big new house, a shiny new family, and a fancy new school. Jas feels completely out of place, and things only get more complicated when her mom insists that her “fresh start” include hiding the truth of where she’s been and cutting off people from her past. As Jas settles into her new life bonding with her seemingly perfect stepsister, making a close-knit group of besties, and maybe even falling for the cute girl in class, it starts to feel like her second chance might actually be real. But when a friend from the detention center reaches out to reconnect, Jas worries that everything she’s built could fall apart. How long can she keep her past a secret? And how many times can she spin the truth before she forgets who she really is?
Beasts beyond the riverSigler, ScottOctober 13, 2026
No description available
The haunted librarianWallace, AuraleeOctober 13, 2026
A lonely librarian finds love, friends, and a few ghosts between the shelves in this cozy, paranormal tale from beloved bestselling author Auralee Wallace. It’s a dark and stormy night…and Amelia Bates is caught in the rain. Life hasn’t always been kind to her, and being a ghostseer certainly doesn’t make things any easier. Glowing warmly through the autumnal downpour is her safest haven: the library. Amelia, the newly hired librarian, has always relished the comfort of curling up with a novel, vastly preferring it to the company of humans (alive or ghostly). But Amelia is shocked to discover the building is full of more than quiet stories and warm cups of tea. There are curious, talkative patrons, a shy, bespectacled head librarian who makes her heart skip a beat, and three quirky spirits causing paranormal havoc that endangers the future of the library. To help the ghosts and save the building, Amelia will have to gather all her bravery and wits, because learning to trust others might just be the first step to a happily ever after she only thought was possible in books.
Murder in Blackfriars.Ashley, JenniferOctober 13, 2026
In Victorian London, valiant cook and amateur sleuth Kat Holloway must help the man she loves solve the murder that will finally uncover his mysterious past, from the New York Times bestselling author of A Silence in Belgrave Square. Kat Holloway’s beau, Daniel McAdam, has always had a past shrouded in mystery. He knows nothing about his origins, only that he was rescued from the streets many years ago. So when someone claiming to know where Daniel came from turns up dead moments before meeting with him, Daniel goes on the hunt for the killer. It soon becomes clear that to see justice served, Daniel will have to figure out who he truly is. When he asks Kat for her assistance, she readily complies, knowing she’ll do whatever she must to protect the man she’s come to love. The quest takes Kat and Daniel deep into the East End, where they face dangerous foes from Daniel’s rugged past who will stop at nothing to keep Kat and Daniel from uncovering their secrets. As Kat begins to learn things about Daniel’s history, she fears that the darkest secret—his true name and lineage—will tear apart the tender bonds they’ve begun to form.
Countdown to Christmas murder.Meier, LeslieOctober 13, 2026
Christmas may be 63 days away, but as the Tinker’s Cove Chamber of Commerce gears up for an elaborate Dickens-themed Christmas event, reporter Lucy Stone is already feeling a bit Grinchy—until a possible murder requires her sleuthing skills in the latest Lucy Stone Mystery from bestselling author Leslie Meier. With all four kids out of the house, Lucy Stone’s suddenly empty nest has put a damper on her usual zest for Christmas. She’s got plenty of article ideas to keep her busy though, including reports of vicious social media posts targeting several town residents. Plus, there’s the self-proclaimed “reputation changer” who promises he can clean up any negative press. It all seems a bit too convenient to Lucy, who decides an investigation is in order. On top of all that, after agreeing to play Mrs. Cratchit in “A Dickens of a Christmas,” Lucy also decides to plan a pre-Thanksgiving family weekend. Despite her juggling, it’s not a success—the kids and their partners come but the mood is tense, and Lucy is relieved to see them off. Then comes shocking news: bank manager Bert Cosgrove, one of the victims of the slanderous media posts, has been found dead. The police are calling it a suicide. No one, including Lucy, believes sweet, mild Bert would take his own life. While holiday preparations reach a feverish pitch, she’s determined to find his killer. And as she burrows into a surprising history of motives, longstanding secrets and family connections begin to stink like rotten plum pudding. Now, as Lucy gets closer to the truth, she finds herself in a life-threatening situation that would definitely spoil Christmas—permanently.
The ghost and the dead librarian.Coyle, CleoOctober 13, 2026
In an utterly charming new paranormal cozy mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle, a smalltown Rhode Island bookshop owner investigates the death of an eccentric librarian with the help of a wisecracking, 1940s gumshoe ghost. As a young widow, Penelope moved back to her quaint Rhode Island town to give her young son a safer home and her aunt’s dying bookshop new life. Using her late husband’s insurance money, Pen polished the store into a local treasure. But her updates did more than attract new customers. They roused a dead private eye from his big sleep. With Pen’s affection for hardboiled detective stories, it’s no surprise she’s developed a fondness for the wisecracking yet oddly likeable spirit. Sure, Jack’s cold spots are exasperating, along with his proclivity for putting noir fiction in the cozy section. But murder was Jack’s business in life, and his PI skills come in awfully handy when the body of an eccentric librarian is found amid the bookshop’s mystery aisles. For years, Dory jokingly called herself “The Dead Librarian” because of her hobby of collecting local obituaries. Now, in death, she’s discovered holding her own eerily pre-written obit. Was it a suicide note? Jack and Pen say no and their certainty takes them from a ghost town’s ancient cemetery to a prominent family’s Newport estate. Then an intriguing stranger comes to town. Nikki Burnside takes a keen interest in Dory’s death and makes Pen a shocking offer, one that may change her life—and Jack’s afterlife. But unless Jack can help Pen prove who “checked out” the librarian, a ruthless killer may close the book on her.
Death note.Oba, TsugumiOctober 13, 2026
No description available
Her sharp embrace.Koenig, KateOctober 13, 2026
The first in a sweeping queer fantasy duology set in a shimmering, New Orleans-inspired world. In the glittering city of New Soleil, beauty masks danger at every turn. The Nightshades, a crew of magical outlaws, are no different. Their glamorous facades conceal the terror they strike into the hearts of the rich and powerful as they steal from the corrupt and fight for the forgotten. Noa Toussaint fled her cossetted life as a Saint to join the Nightshades. Infatuated with their ferocious leader, Lennon, Noa aims to capture her heart and keep it. Her talent for alchemy is valuable, but her connection to her family puts all of the Shades in danger. Now enemies are closer than Lennon knows and Noa must uncover the threat and keep them both alive. Because in a city where lies are lethal and magic is fading, secrets aren’t just costly—they’re deadly.
A wall is also a roadNewitz, AnnaleeOctober 13, 2026
Bestselling author Annalee Newitz invites us to explore a large and not-so-lonely universe in this science fiction adventure about what happens when the alien becomes familiar–and beloved. Gardenpath is a graduate student. They also happen to be an amoeba–a slime mold, to be exact–from an ancient civilization that dwells in the space between the stars. And when they turn their many eyes to researching a remote spot on one spiral arm of the galaxy, they stumble upon a discovery that will change everything they thought they knew: a mysterious planet teeming with unexpected life, language, and culture. One of these alien animals is a creature named Murtis, who lives in a city she calls Pompeii and works in a brothel known as “the lupanar.” Unfazed when her strange visitor says she’s from the stars, Murtis takes Gardenpath into her care, introducing her to the seaside tourist town full of immigrants and shopkeepers who are just trying to get by. Before they met Murtis, Gardenpath expected to finish their research, present their discovery, and return home to become an acclaimed scientist. But as they look into their new friend’s bizarre sensor bulbs from within the suit that allows them to survive and blend in on her surprising planet, they are beginning to wonder if there’s more to life than academic achievement. They're not sure what it is, but they're going to use science to find out. A thought-provoking and heartwarming novel about science, the meaning of life, and love, perfect for fans of Becky Chambers, Ryka Aoki, and Martha Wells.
Blue BeachParsons, KarynOctober 13, 2026
Perfect for fans of Promise Boys, this gripping historical mystery follows a teenager who finds a murdered girl on her family's California beach—a discovery that will reveal the racism rampant in her world. Fifteen-year-old Blue Collins’s parents own the only Black beach in Santa Monica in 1929. She loves spending time there with her handsome friend Ben Clark. It’s a quiet spot where they can be alone and where Ben’s darker skin won’t be judged by onlookers—or Blue’s own family. During a sunset rendezvous after a summer parade, the pair discovers the body of Dottie Whitehouse, a white debutante. Blue Beach is already threatened by local white property owners. Now their whole community could be at risk. In their panic, Blue and Ben move Dottie’s body into the waters of a nearby white beach. Dottie’s body washes ashore, and it isn’t long before all eyes are on Ben. Everyone saw how Dottie teased him and how they shared smiles. And their history goes deeper than Blue ever realized. But to save Ben from the outraged white townspeople, she’ll need to do whatever she can to dig up the truth and prove his innocence. Ben isn’t the only one whose life depends on it.
Mirror, mirror. : a twisted taleCalonita, JenOctober 13, 2026
Mirror, Mirror: A Twisted Tale poses the question, what if the Evil Queen poisoned the prince? Following her beloved mother's death, the kingdom falls into the hands of Snow White's stepmother, commonly referred to as "the Evil Queen" by those she rules. Snow keeps her head down at the castle, hoping to make the best of her situation. But when new information about her parents resurfaces and a plot to kill her goes haywire, everything changes for Snow. With the help of a group of wary dwarfs, a kind prince she thought she'd never see again, and a mysterious stranger from her past, Snow embarks on a quest to stop the Evil Queen and take back her kingdom. But can she stop an enemy who knows her every move and will stop at nothing to retain her power... including going after the ones Snow loves?
Silent nightmares : haunting stories to be told on the longest night of the yearOctober 13, 2026
No description available
A season of secretsMichaels, FernOctober 13, 2026
A holiday of secrets and second chances. When Ashley's DNA test reveals a hidden past, she heads to London--where Emily uncovers a lost twin. As their lives collide, a Christmas reunion promises truth, healing, and the magic of finding family at last.
The wonder of one : a novelRedfearn, SuzanneOctober 13, 2026
From the #1 Amazon bestselling author of In an Instant comes an inspirational coming-of-age story about one extraordinary girl's determination to chase a dream. Vivien Kendall has always been different. Born with a birthmark covering much of her face, she's bullied, ridiculed, and mistreated as a child. But at the age of six, Vivien learns that in each of us there burns a spirit flame--a deep belief in oneself that must be nurtured and never allowed to go out. Living by that wisdom and through the enduring friendships of her nanny, her mentor, and the legend who eventually becomes her coach, she chases her dream to someday become the greatest figure skater in the world. Along the way, she faces a rapidly evolving world full of modern prejudice and injustice. She falls in love, has her heart broken, learns what it means to win or lose, and discovers the wonder of one, the power within each of us to change things.
The French illusionGrisham, JohnOctober 13, 2026
No description available
Bad words : a novelRobinson, RioghnachOctober 13, 2026
A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK! “A book that could only ever have been written by Ríoghnach Robinson, whose clear, clever voice and incisive social commentary elevate the book’s irresistible will-they-won’t-they romance to a once-in-a-lifetime read about truth, art, vulnerability, and all the sticky places they intersect. BAD WORDS LEFT ME BUZZING.” - EMILY HENRY, #1 New York Times bestselling author A sharp and deeply felt debut about the connections that both inspire and undo us. Parker Navarro’s debut novel was meant to define his career - until critic Selina Chan’s blistering review made it the flop of the decade. Four years later, his new book is his shot at redemption; for Selina, reviewing him again is a professional risk she can’t refuse. When her second takedown ignites a viral feud, both their fortunes shift overnight. But as the literary world feeds on their public sparring, a quieter dialogue begins - one that challenges everything they thought they knew about success, sincerity, and each other. Both incisive and tender, Bad Words lays bare the costs of creation - the pull between ambition and integrity, the vulnerability of being seen, and the unexpected closeness that can grow in the space between critique and care. "A genre-redefining romance that sets a thrilling new standard... Easily one of my favourites of the year, if not the decade." - Carley Fortune, #1 New York Times bestselling author "Full of blistering barbs, incisive takedowns and searing gazes, Bad Words is smart and propulsive." - Mary H.K. Choi, New York Times bestselling author
Death note.Oba, TsugumiOctober 13, 2026
No description available
Return to Breakneck Island. : a Treasure Hunters Club mysteryRyan, TomOctober 13, 2026
Long-buried secrets resurface in this alluring mystery from the bestselling and award-winning author of The Treasure Hunters Club that welcomes readers back to Maple Bay—a seaside town “that has all the cozy charm of Jessica Fletcher’s Cabot Cove, with almost as many murders” (Library Journal, starred review) Breakneck Island: nestled precariously off the coast of Maple Bay, the lighthouse atop this rocky outcrop is all that stands between safe passage and nautical disaster. For generations, the MacLeary family lived on Breakneck Island in an isolated and physically-demanding existence. One night in 1932, after a ruthless storm battered all of Maple Bay, the MacLearys disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only whispers of a missing fortune. Nearly a century later, three people are drawn to Breakneck Island and its perplexing past: Peter Barnett, a recent Maple Bay transplant who’s piecing his life back together and possibly catching feelings for a charming professor; Dandy Feltzen, a wistful teenage girl searching for new beginnings while juggling the arrival of an unexpected visitor; and Cass Jones, a successful author given a cryptic tip for a haunting new story. As Peter, Dandy, and Cass are drawn into the orbit of one of Maple Bay’s darkest mysteries, dangers past and present collide on the rocky shores of Breakneck Island, and the real story of the MacLearys finally comes into focus. But if the island is to reveal its oldest secrets, it may demand fresh bodies in return.
Kingdom of waves.De la Cruz, MelissaOctober 13, 2026
The Gilded Wolves meets A Magic Steeped in Poison in the first of a new pulse-pounding YA fantasy duology about two thieves who go after the same mythical treasure, from #1 New York Times-bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz. Once upon a time, there was a shining kingdom floating on the sea . . . The kingdom of Ophir was one of the most powerful and beautiful places in the world. But after an invasion by the land of Lacon, it was lost to the waves. Now, the Ophir live as second-class citizens beneath Lacon’s golden palaces. When two bands of Ophir thieves—one led by Eban Sadreal and the other by Gineth Strong—go after the same treasure, a priceless relic, their worlds and hearts suddenly collide. For the relic releases an ancient magic that could restore the legacy of Ophir—a magic that could change the course of Eban and Gin’s lives forever. With impossibly high stakes and charming will-they-won’t-they romance, this heist fantasy is perfect for fans of Six of Crows and A Tempest of Tea.
Red star rebelsKaufman, AmieOctober 13, 2026
8 HOURS TO STOP AN EXPLOSION...8 HOURS TO FALL IN LOVE. From the New York Times bestselling co-author of Illuminae and Aurora Rising comes a high-stakes, high-chemistry, sci-fi romp about a stowaway girl and the richest boy in the galaxy, racing the clock to outwit a gang of mercenaries. It’s 2067, and the Graves family has transformed Mars from a lifeless rock into a chaotic patch of settlements. You can buy a one-way ticket to a new life--if you're rich. Enter Hunter Graves, the handsome, ambitious grandson of the man who settled Mars. With spectacularly bad timing, Hunter arrives at the United Nations base just as an emergency evacuation sends everyone scurrying for safety. Except he’s left behind. Uh-oh. Also stranded: Cleo, a sharp-tonged stowaway with no intention of dying today, and even less patience for overconfident trust fund boys. But the enemy of your enemy might just help you survive, so here we are. It turns out the evacuation is just a cover for the mercenaries who come next, and the plan to blow up the base--and every trace of their crime--in eight hours. Now, Hunter and Cleo have one shot to stop the explosion, escape alive, and deal with the inconvenient fact that they're falling for each other. The clock is ticking.
Crossroads of Ravens.Sapkowski, Andrzej.October 13, 2026
Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher series is a global phenomenon with over thirty million copies sold and translated into over forty languages worldwide. Crossroads of Ravens is the instant New York Times bestselling standalone novel following fantasy's most beloved monster hunter, Geralt of Rivia, on his first steps towards becoming a legend.
When we almost came undoneBoone, Georgia K.October 13, 2026
A girl struggles to find hope with her sisters, her best friend, and a new crush, as the country navigates a pandemic & protests against police brutality, in this timely coming-of-age novel perfect for fans of Darius the Great is Not Okay. I just want to enjoy being alive. Can’t that be enough? Tia doesn’t know how much more she can take. Her middle sister Mel is in a coma after a mental health crisis, a global pandemic has stolen her senior year, and racial tension is high across the country, following the murder of another unarmed Black man by a police officer. Her best friend, Drew, seems to think the answer is speaking up and out. But Tia? She's just trying not to fall apart. So when her oldest sister, the usually calm and collected Alexis, invites Tia to stay at her place, Tia jumps at the chance to escape her house and her despair, if only for a little while. Surrounded by a new city, a new romance with a cute girl, and a new pandemic puppy, Tia starts to feel a glimmer of light in the darkness. But the darkness lingers. Will Mel finally wake up? Is Alexis as steady as she seems? Will Drew forgive Tia for stepping back, instead of stepping up? Is love, in all its forms, enough to sustain her, or will illness and injustice define her life? Stifled by unrest and uncertainty at every turn, Tia will have to figure out how to keep from losing her mind and losing hope.
Ruthless : a novelSteel, DanielleOctober 13, 2026
A journalist and the powerful man she is assigned to profile find themselves on a collision course in this powerful novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel. Shipping magnate John Randall Williams is feared by his competitors, loathed by his only daughter, Gabby, and at sea after the recent death of his devoted wife. About to face his first Christmas alone, John meets a young woman named Lillith at a dinner party and is immediately drawn to her beauty. He invites her to share the holiday with him on his 350-foot sailboat in Saint Barts, and Lillith allows herself to be swept away. Charlotte Ramsay, a senior editor at Vanity Fair, is on assignment in Saint Barts during the holidays. Known for her integrity as a journalist, she has come to the island to interview another powerful man: the elusive high-tech billionaire Ben Sharpe, whose luxury yacht is also anchored in the harbor. Though the first interview goes badly, she eventually agrees to have dinner with him and becomes intrigued by the real man behind the facade. A chance encounter between the two couples sets the stage for a face-off between the Charlotte and John. He might have a well-earned reputation for ruthlessness, but when she is in pursuit of her story, she never backs down. From the power corridors of Manhattan to the sunsets in Saint Barts, Danielle Steel masterfully pulls back the curtain on the private lives of the wealthy elite, where all is not always what it seems.
Witch trialTyce, HarrietOctober 13, 2026
"Absolutely superb--grips like a vice throughout and has a perfect, bold ending that no one will see coming. An utter masterpiece of the murder mystery and the legal thriller genre."--Sophie Hannah, New York Times bestselling author of No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done and The Monogram Murders "A legal thriller unlike any you've ever read, this mind-melting page-turner is Tyce at her whip-smart best."--Ellery Lloyd, author of The Club Internationally bestselling author Harriet Tyce returns with a page-turning thriller involving three teenage girls, one murdered classmate, and a chilling modern-day witch trial that will leave readers breathless. Let the Witch Trial begin . . . When eighteen-year-old Christian Shaw is found dead in a park, the city of Edinburgh is stunned--and the shock only deepens when police charge her best friends, Eliza Lawson and Isobel Smyth, with the murder. As social media explodes in a tizzy of theories and headlines scream for justice, rumors of bullying are overshadowed by something more wicked and frightening: whispers of dark rituals, feverish obsession, and a teenage pact gone wrong. When the trial begins, everyone in Edinburgh clamors for a front-row ticket to the show: to look upon the murderous Eliza and Isobel with their own eyes. Everyone, that is, but Matthew Phillips, a respected heart surgeon picked for the jury. But, as the trial unfolds--and the girls' lawyers offer a surprising and unsettling defense--the reluctant Matthew finds himself questioning everything: the motives, the evidence, even his own judgement. Then he begins to have strange visions of terrifying things--hallucinations he tells himself. After all, witchcraft isn't real . . . or is it? Who is telling the truth? Who can be trusted? And what really happened to Christian Shaw?
Return to the shack. : a journey into redemptionYoung, William P.October 13, 2026
In the long-awaited sequel to one of the world’s most beloved and widely read books of the last twenty years—The Shack—unrivaled storyteller Wm. Paul Young leads us back to the great questions of human existence: How does life go on in the face of irreconcilable loss? How can the irredeemable find redemption? Ten years after the devastating events of The Shack, Mackenzie Allen Phillips is still living in the shadow of loss. Though life has moved forward, grief continues to haunt his family, his relationships, his faith, and his very sense of self. Nan, his wife, carries her own hidden sorrow. They are two people bound together by love yet often divided by pain. On what would have been their daughter Missy’s sixteenth birthday, Mack and Nan confront the unthinkable when Mack is asked to visit death row to speak with the serial killer who abducted and murdered her. In the stark silence of the prison, Mack encounters not only the brokenness of another human being but also the raw weight of his own anger, doubt, and disappointment with God. Where is God when unbearable suffering endures? How can a shattered heart ever heal? In Return to the Shack, William Paul Young invites readers on a profound journey into the depths of grief, the complexity of trauma, and the surprising humanity of those we most fear. With honesty and compassion, he explores the devastating impact of mental illness, abuse, and violence, the strain of loss on relationships, and the staggering cost—and unexpected freedom—of forgiveness. This long-awaited sequel dares to ask the hardest questions: What does it mean to forgive the unforgivable? How do we live with God’s silence when our wounds cry out for answers? And can even the darkest prison and the most desolate wreckage of broken dreams become places where grace and redemption take root? Both tender and unflinching, Return to the Shack is a story of pain, faith, and the relentless possibility of hope.
Touchdown in BrazilTyree, OmarOctober 13, 2026
Amid the landmark NFL game in the electric city of São Paulo, Brazil, three very different family men cross paths and find that when it comes to what matters most, cultural differences melt away in this insightful, transporting, multi-cultural drama from New York Times bestselling, NAACP Image Award-winning author Omar Tyree. It’s a long way from South Philly, but there’s no way die-hard Eagles fan and amateur sports bettor Tony Costa is going to pass up seeing his team play the Green Bay Packers in South America’s first-ever NFL game. Forget concerns about wildfires and gang violence, Tony needs a break from his wife and three kids—and his struggling finances need a win. When it comes to cheeseheads, Packers devotee Arthur Braddock more than qualifies as the manager of a Wisconsin cheese factory warehouse. The game provides a wonderful chance to travel with his family—including his 11-year-old daughter, who’s become passionate about American flag football. In São Paulo, the game promises great business for Mario Gabriel Santos da Silva and his wife, who own a sports bar and restaurant. But he’s most excited to show his 10-year-old son, already a lightning-fast flag football player, what NFL football actually looks like from the stands. As the main event approaches, the men bond over shared meals and anticipation. Game day is epic, a drama-filled battle to the very last second. But Tony is waging an internal battle as well. The only man who’s left his family behind, Tony can’t help envying the bond between the others. And as he reflects on their perspectives, he begins to understand what winning really means . . . Uplifting and fast-paced, Touchdownin Brazil re-creates the excitement of travel while reminding us of the unifying power of sports and the importance of family ties . . .
The small and the mighty : : twelve unsung Americans who changed the course of history, from the founding to the civil rights movementMcMahon, SharonOctober 13, 2026
"In The Small and the Mighty, Sharon McMahon proves that the most remarkable Americans are often ordinary people who didn't make it into the textbooks. Not the presidents, but the telephone operators. Not the aristocrats, but the schoolteachers. Through meticulous research, she discovers history's unsung characters and brings their rich, riveting stories to light for the first time. You'll meet a woman astride a white horse riding down Pennsylvania Ave, a young boy detained at a Japanese incarceration camp, a formerly enslaved woman on a mission to reunite with her daughter, a poet on a train, and a teacher who learns to work with her enemies. More than one thing is bombed, and multiple people surprisingly become rich. Some rich with money, and some wealthy with things that matter more. This is a book about what really made America--and Americans--great. McMahon's cast of improbable champions will become familiar friends, lighting the path we journey in our quest to make the world more just, peaceful, good, and free"--
A critical conjunction.Barrett, LornaOctober 13, 2026
A new business isn't the only thing going belly-up in the newest mystery in Lorna Barrett's New York Times bestselling Booktown series. When Tricia Miles's sister, Angelica, announces to their chosen family that they're going into business together, it's news to Tricia. But rejuvenating Stoneham Stoneware, a struggling kitchen and home goods store, is something the sisters know they can do. It's a win-win situation. But right after they take possession, they find the store trashed and the previous owner dead. Leona sold the enterprise to Angelica because she needed the money, but tried to renege on the deal after it had gone through. Not one to back down, Angelica refused to cancel, which made Leona bitter, leading to strained discussions witnessed by others. But it turns out plenty of others had issues with the recently deceased as well. Tricia will have to crack the case before the murderer destroys not only the fledgling business, but more lives as well.
Last to leaveRichards, TeresaOctober 13, 2026
A trendy, fast-paced mystery for fans of the Knives Out movies as well as Netflix's The Residence. Video game streamer Fallon joins a 1920s-themed murder mystery game, and the only thing more important than figuring out whodunit is who has the most fans. When seventeen-year-old up-and-coming video game streamer and content creator, Fallon, earns a coveted spot in the new murder-mystery reality game, SleuthIt, her objective seems pretty straightforward: play the game, solve the mystery, and win the million-dollar prize. The fact that she’ll do it all on livestream with seven other young content creators only makes things better—after all, increased exposure is influencer gold, and winning will catapult her gaming channel to the next level. But unbeknownst to each other, the contestants are interconnected, and when one of them turns out to be Fallon’s online gaming partner, Dante, she starts to doubt the objective of the game. The intrigue runs much deeper than Fallon ever thought—the eight contestants chosen for the show are not the only players in the game, and the interlopers have hidden agendas and competing interests. As secrets come out and the lines between ally and adversary blur, Fallon will have to figure out what game she’s really playing, who might be playing her, and what she’s willing to sacrifice in pursuit of fame and fortune. Because, in the end, no one can have it all. "Utterly original and so fun to read! I couldn't resist the fun premise, and Richards delivers with a ton of wit and depth." —Jesse Q. Sutanto, author of Dial A For Aunties "Last to Leave is a delightfully smart and entertaining caper with an engaging ensemble cast that jumps off the page. It's also a love letter to online gaming, family, and friendship that wears its heart on its sleeve while holding its clues behind its back. I loved this modern twist on a classic game of Clue, which kept me guessing, gasping, and frantically turning pages all the way until the final reveal." —Lauren Thoman, author of You Shouldn't Be Here
The rancher's one and only.Yates, MaiseyOctober 13, 2026
Could this rancher be her most important discovery? Dr. Ernestine Martin is serious about one thing: her research. But when Jax Noble finds her digging for fossils on his ranch, Ernestine’s focus shifts. How can she concentrate on dinosaurs when this perfect male specimen keeps crowding her dataset? Maybe Jax would entertain an experiment? The former MMA fighter turned rancher has had his pick of partners, but quirky, forthright Ernestine is unlike any woman Jax has met. He’ll happily participate in her "research," but he knows it can’t be anything more—what could someone with his emotional scars have to offer her? But as they draw closer, the lines they try to draw keep blurring. Which begs a new hypothesis… Is he ever going to be able to let her go? New York Times Bestselling Author From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness. A Three Brothers Ranch Romance Book 1: The Rancher's One and Only
Wither : a novelWarner, DanOctober 13, 2026
For readers of Jeff VanderMeer and Paul Tremblay, Wither is a propulsive, darkly funny literary sci-fi debut about technology, privacy, and humanity in transition.
Of devotion and death. : a Dear Miss Hermione mysteryHastings, AnastasiaOctober 13, 2026
A cozy Victorian historical murder mystery full of wit and unforgettable characters. Violet Manville knows everything about manners—and murder. Violet is looking forward to taking some time away from the advice column she writes under the nom de plume Miss Hermione. She can’t wait to head off to Venice to spend some time with Eli Marsh, a mysterious, annoying, and extremely attractive American. Little does she suspect that the specter of death will come calling at her front door in the person of Ash Kumar, a man she once knew—and loved—when she lived in India. She certainly doesn’t expect Ash to be arrested for his wife’s murder on her front door step. As Violet tries to unravel the murder, she is pulled between between the two men. As the past and present become blurred, she soon discovers that the truth can be deadly. Perfect for fans of Mary Winters, Dianne Freeman, and Katherine Schellman's A Scandal in Mayfair.
Checking you outChen, JenniferOctober 13, 2026
XO, Kitty meets Dash & Lily in this rom com about two teens falling in love via letters left in their favorite library books - even if in real life they think they have nothing in common. Lizzie Wei is a huge book nerd, and proud of it. And when she realizes there is a mysterious reader who has been checking out all of her favorite books from the library, she can’t help but get a crush on someone she’s never even met. Her friends make it their mission to find Lizzie’s long lost book soulmate and convince her to leave notes for her crush. But what if the person Lizzie is looking for, isn’t at all what she expects? Dylan Lin loves reading, secretly anyway. Ever since a bullying incident at his last school, he’s hidden his love of fantasy novels, instead leaning into his jock persona. Now he's the tennis team captain, runs every day, and actively avoids reading. So, when he decides to start volunteering at a kitten nursery, and his super cute co-volunteer Lizzie asks if he likes reading, he says no. He never expects the look of complete and utter disappointment on Lizzie’s face. Lizzie is certain her secret crush isn’t Dylan. It can’t be! But when he accidentally makes an obscure reference to her favorite book during their volunteer shift, she’s not so sure anymore. Can Lizzie forgive Dylan for lying? And can Dylan be brave enough to be himself? Jennifer Chen’s Checking You Out is a contemporary romance about being true to yourself and celebrating what you love, because you just might find the perfect person to share it with.
Free falling. : a Sweetwater Peak novelSage, LylaOctober 13, 2026
Old haunts, new feelings The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Rebel Blue Ranch series returns to the haunted town of Sweetwater Peak for another love story, this one featuring an antiques shop owner and a farmer who fake a relationship to save their legacies . . . but will they be able to fool the ghosts of their past? “Lyla Sage is the queen of dreamy, spooky, atmospheric small-town romances—I’ll read anything she writes.” —Iman Hariri-Kia, author of Female Fantasy Clarke Cartwright probably needs to get out more. She just has a lot to do. Running Toade’s Antiques is no small feat, especially considering that the roof is in shambles and half her merchandise is unsellable. But dealing with that feels easier than her other option: chatting it up with the ghost of her childhood crush’s father, who just can’t seem to leave her alone. Leith Wilkes has spent his life preparing to take over his family’s farm. Well, he’s actually spent most of his life flirting, but now he’s ready to buckle down, which has nothing to do with an oddly specific clause that his dad left in his inheritance. Leith is pretty sure he’s the only one who knows about it . . . until Clarke drunkenly spills that she knows, too, along with a bunch of other Wilkes family secrets. Leith starts to wonder if there’s more to Clarke than she lets on . . . and if his dad has something to do with it. And if she is keeping secrets of her own, maybe she won’t mind helping him with his.
Friends of the Library Book Sale!
Join us for a book sale hosted by the Friends of the Blue Ridge Regional Library in the basement of the Martinsville branch. Member's only sale is Friday, October 9th from 1-5pm (can become a member at the door) and a public sale will be held on Saturday, October 10th form 9:30am-2pm.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Blue Ridge Regional Library is to provide free, friendly service and access to timely materials that educate, enrich, and entertain the entire community.
Bassett Branch Expansion Project
Click here to learn more about the Bassett Branch Expansion Project!
Long Range Plan
Digital Reading
Borrow digital books, audiobooks, and magazines with Libby
Use your library card to start reading on your phone, tablet, or computer.