Gentle Reads
June 2023
New and Recently Released
The Boxing Baroness: A Witty Regency Historical Romance
by Minerva Spencer

Of questionable birth, but made for greatness, the Regency-era heroines in Minerva Spencer’s thrilling new historical romance series possess both clever minds and unusual skills that enable them to go head-to-head—and heart to heart—with the best of men, including those of the ton. Magnetic and educated, Marianne Simpson has the manner of a lady and the looks of a lover, not a fighter. Neither of which explains her occupation as a boxer in her uncle’s circus, Farnham’s Fantastical Female Fayre. Nonetheless, when St. John Powell, the exquisitely handsome Duke of Staunton, begins turning up at her shows, she finds herself dangerously distracted by the powerful peer’s mysterious presence. With her safety at stake, Marianne’s days in the ring are numbered. But how long can she fight her attraction to the man the ton calls Lord Flawless? St. John Powell doesn’t just want Marianne Simpson, he needs her … to rescue his brother, who is being held for ransom by a treasonous English baron—the man all of Britain knows as the Rake of Rakes. No matter how little Marianne wants to see her duplicitous ex-lover, the man responsible for the humiliating nickname the Boxing Baroness, St. John must convince her. Even if it means climbing into the ring with the beautiful boxer and taking everything she’s got.
Thief of Fate
by Jude Deveraux

When Liam O’Connor stole Cora McLeod from her destined soul mate, Finley Walsh, in 1844, he changed the course of history. Now Liam has been given three months to set things right, but he has failed to reunite Cora and Finn. And with time running out, things are looking worse than ever. As the three investigate a murder case together, they are caught in a devilish love triangle. Finn has always loved Cora. She has finally realized she wants Liam. And Liam knows he has no choice but to push Cora away if he has any hope of avoiding eternal damnation. The angels have made it clear—balance must be restored. As Liam tries desperately to make amends, he realizes his actions in the past have put them all in grave danger. And, once again, someone will pay the ultimate price.
Ana Takes Manhattan
by Lissette Decos

As a reality TV producer, Ana Karina orchestrates extravagant marriage proposals that always (well, mostly) go as planned. When they don’t, she’s not afraid to cut and paste scenes to make the moment picture-perfect. If only Ana’s own life was as simple to direct. Her colleagues are getting promotions. Her best friend and her younger sister are both getting married. Everyone is moving forward—except Ana. Sick of feeling stuck, she decides to start living with no regrets. She’s going to pitch all her ideas at work, no matter how unlikely. She’ll take a chance on a guy even if he doesn’t check all her boxes for Mr. Right. Soon, she’s swept up in a roller coaster of exhilarating dates—a comedy show, a Jane Austen reenactment, a rave pool party, and a whirlwind trip to Vienna. With all this excitement, Ana should be on her way to her own happily-ever-after, but instead her life is getting messier by the second. Yet throwing caution to the wind may still bring Ana more than she hoped for as she begins to listen to her heart and realizes the life—and man—truly meant for her might be the one she never saw coming.
A Kiss in the Moonlight
by Cathy Maxwell
 
Once there were three Irish sisters—Gwendolyn, Dara, and Elise—who had to fend for themselves when their gambler of a father disappeared, leaving them with an unscrupulous cousin. Dara hatches a daring plan: they gamble what little they own to finance a London season. Her goal: to use their looks and their wits to find a duke to marry for each sister! It seems her crazy plot might work when the sisters are declared the “Incomparables” of the Season. Dukes and lords line up at their door, but bold women and scandal always go hand in hand. Particularly when Dara’s plans are challenged by the likes of Michael Brogan, who provokes Dara as much as he tempts her. The handsome, clever, and rising politician is definitely not a duke, but he’s determined to teach her about ambition, men, and, above all, love, making Dara wonder if her plans are about to change.
Silver Alert
by Lee Smith

Herb’s charmed life with his dear wife Susan in their Key West house is coming undone. Susan, in her 70s, now needs constant care, and Herb is in denial about his own ailing health. The one bright spot is the arrival of an endlessly optimistic manicurist calling herself Renee. She sings to Susan during manicures, gets her to paint, and brings her a much-needed sense of contentment. Then Herb and Susan’s adult children arrive to stage an intervention with their stubborn, independent father, and as a consequence, Renee’s gig with Susan—and her grand plans for her own life—start to unravel as well. Herb isn’t ready to let go of all that he has ever had, and it turns out that Renee is not the happy, uncomplicated girl she pretends to be. She is not even Renee; she is really Dee Dee, and she, too, has reasons of her own to hit the road. So Herb suggests one last joy ride in his Porsche with her riding shotgun; and they light out for parts north, setting off a Silver Alert. As the unlikely friendship between Herb and Dee Dee deepens, we see how as one life is closing down, another opens up. This time that Dee Dee has spent with Susan, this time in Key West, and this time in the Porsche with the elderly Herb reveals to Dee Dee how much more truly lies ahead.
Things I Wish I Told My Mother
by Sue Patterson
 
A mother and daughter on vacation in Paris unpack a lifetime of secrets and hopes—with a giant Pattersonian twist at the end! Every daughter has her own distinctive voice, her inimitable style, and her secrets. Laurie is an artist, a collector of experiences. She travels the world with a worn beige duffel bag. Every mother has her own distinctive voice, her inimitable style, and her secrets. “Dr. Liz,” Laurie’s mother, is an elegant perfectionist who travels the world with a matched set of suitcases. When Laurie surprises her mother with a dream vacation, it brings an unexpected sparkle to her eyes. So begins Things I Wish I Told My Mother. You will wish this novel never ends.
The Wedding Planner 
by Danielle Steel

Faith Ferguson is New York’s most in-demand wedding planner, an arbiter of taste for elegant affairs, lavish ceremonies, and exclusive fêtes. She appreciates a simple celebration as much as a dazzling event, for she knows that a dream wedding is not necessarily the most expensive one. As much as Faith enjoys her work, her two failed engagements leave her with no desire to get married herself. She finds fulfillment in her close relationship with her twin sister, Hope, her role as a mentor for her assistant, Violet, and her career. This year, new clients have flocked to her, and she signs up an extravagant reception, a mid-sized gathering, and an intimate soirée, in addition to her mother’s next marriage and Violet’s modest ceremony. Faith finds herself forming bonds with her new clients and their loved ones—most notably the handsome brother of one of her grooms. But weddings are not always all champagne and roses, and in no time, Faith is grappling with private quarrels, unplanned pregnancies, family scandals, dark secrets, and the possibility of cancelled ceremonies. Through her own journey, Faith will prove once and for all that there is not just one path to happily ever after.
Summer on Sag Harbor 
by Sunny Hostin
 
Against the odds, Olivia Jones has blazed her own enviable career path and built her name in the finance world. But hidden behind the veneer of her success, there is a gaping hole. Mourning both the loss and the betrayal of Omar, a surrogate father to her and her two godsisters, Olivia is driven to solve the mystery of what happened to her biological father, a police officer unjustly killed when she was a little girl. Untethered from her life in New York City, Olivia moves to a summer home in Sag Harbor and begins forging a new community out in this Historically Black Beachfront Community. Friendships blossom with Kara, an ambitious art curator; and Whitney, the wife of an ex-basketball player and current president of the Sag Harbor Homeowners Association; and a sexy new neighbor and single father, Garrett, who makes her reconsider her engagement with Anderson. She also takes to a kind, older gentleman named Mr. Whittingham, but soon discovers he too is not without his own troubles. As the summer stretches on, each relationship teaches her more about who she really is. Though not without cost, Olivia’s search for her authentic identity in the secret history of her family of origin and her fight to preserve her new Black utopia, will lead her to redefine the meaning of love, friendship, community, and family—and restore her faith in herself, her relationships, and her chosen path.
Upcoming @ Your Library!
For Youth
Summer Enrichment 2023
 
Join us starting in June for CPL’s Summer Enrichment Program, “All Together Now!” Your goal: reach 1,000 points by Thursday, August 31st, and win prizes along the way! Gain points every time you read or attend any of our Summer programs, including: Stage a Story – Stone Soup! with Ms. Emily; Science Heroes, Saving Earth Together; Read to a Therapy Dog Second Saturday Storytime; Happy Trails Petting Zoo; Didgeridoo Down Under; and Andrew’s Big Show, all happening in June and July (click the links for more details and to register for each program). Come by the library beginning Wednesday, June 21st to pick up your Summer Enrichment Starter Kits. All who register are eligible to win a Grand Prize. Recommended for ages 3-14.
 
 
Family Storytime 
Every Wednesday at 11:00 AM
Join Ms. Laura for stories, songs, and fun for everyone in the Children's room!
 
 
Thursday CRAFTernoon
Thursdays, 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM
Get your creative juices flowing and drop by the library's Maker Space after school every first Thursday of the month for a new craft! Any supplies left over will be made available for Take-and-Make crafts the following Thursdays of the month.
 
 
 
 
Second Saturday Storytime: Superheroes!  
Saturday, June 10th 11:00 AM 
Reading Avengers, Assemble! Fly into the library and join us for a special Superhero Storytime. Come dressed as your favorite superhero (Ms. Laura and Ms. Liz will be!) and be ready to engage in heroic activities and listen to some super stories! Remember, with great Storytime comes great responsibilty... for fun! 
 
 
Stage a Story: Stone Soup!
Saturday, June 24th 11:00 AM
Have you ever made soup from stones?!? Join Ms. Emily from Stage a Story and act like soldiers and villagers to play out this classic tale about sharing. Recommended for ages 5 to 10. Registration required.
 
Register Here
 
 
 
Science Heroes: Saving Earth Together 
Tuesday, June 27th 11:00 AM
Science and stories collide in this brand new interactive STEM program! Two unlikely heroes must learn to work together to stop a super polluting mastermind! Throughout the story, you’ll help the performer conduct amazing science experiments all about air pressure, the laws of motion, chemical reactions, and much more! This event will be held in meeting rooms 1 &2. Recommended for ages 4-11. Registration required.
 
Register Here
 
 
 
Friday Afternoon Flicks
Friday, June 30th 2:00 PM
Join us every Friday afternoon from June 30th to July 28th at 2:00pm for an all-ages movie at the library! We'll gather in the meeting room, where popcorn and drinks will be provided, along with some sensational cinematic fun!
For Adults
 
 
Chess Club 
Mondays, 4:00 PM
Cranbury Public Library will be home to its own Chess Club every Monday, beginning on June 5th!

All ages and experience levels are welcome to attend. Equipment will be provided, but patrons are welcome to bring their own if they prefer.

Chess Club will take place in Meeting Room 1 unless otherwise specified. 
 
 
 
Spinning Yarns 
Tuesdays, June 6th & 20th 6:30 PM
Enjoy an hour of knitting, crocheting, crafts and conversation. All levels welcome. This workshop will be in Meeting Room 2.
 
Register Here
 
 
 
Vietnam - South to North: Notes on Urban and Rural Life from a Recent Visit 
Thursday, June 8th 6:30 PM
Professor John Reinfelder of Rutgers University will discuss observations from his recent travels to Vietnam.
 
Register Here
 
 
OnStage Senior Performance
Friday, June 9th 2:00 PM
Join us for a variety show of theatrical performances studying the real stories of seniors!
 
 
 
 
Introduction to Apple Watches
Monday, June 12th 11:00 AM
Did someone gift you an Apple Watch? Are you getting the most out of the Apple Watch? Would you like to actually know how to use it? This Technology Workshop is for you! In this session, we will learn how to pair our Apple Watches to our iPhones, discuss the benefits of the watch in a fitness fashion, and discover new tips and tricks. Apple Watch and an iPhone will be required for this session. 
 
Register Here
 
 
Great Decisions Foreign Policy Discussion Group
Tuesday, June 13th 6:30 PM
Meets the Second Tuesday of the month in Meeting Room 1. Video at 6:30 and program following. Copies of the Great Decisions Briefing Book available for checkout at the Cranbury Public Library. Potential Discussion Topics Include:
Energy Geopolitics, War Crimes, China and the U.S., Economic Warfare, Politics in Latin America, Global Famine, Iran at a Crossroads, and Climate Migration.
 
 
 
Infant CPR by Penn Medicine Princeton Health 
Wednesday, June 14th 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
The Family & Friends CPR program teaches you how to perform CPR on  infants and how to help an infant who is choking. An infant is defined as a child 1 year of age or younger. This course is designed for family members, friends, and members of the general community who want to learn CPR but do not need a course completion card.
 
Register Here
 
 
Adult/Child CPR by Penn Medicine Princeton Health
Wednesday, June 14th 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
The Family & Friends CPR program teaches you how to perform CPR on adults and children and how to help an adult or child who is choking. This course is designed for family members, friends, and members of the general community who want to learn CPR but do not need a course completion card.
 
Register Here
 
 
Afternoon Book Discussion
Wednesday, June 21st 1:30 PM
Our next book discussion will be in person at the new library!  To see what we are reading go to Cranbury Public Library Book Chat on Goodreads.  New members always welcome!  Register below to receive emails about the books we are discussing. This book discussion will take place in Meeting Room 2.  
 
 
Caregiver Support Group
Tuesday, June 20th 10:15 AM
There are different types of caregivers and ALL are welcomed. This is a judgment free safe place to share, to learn and/or to just listen. It’s a place of love, empathy and respect. It is a place to share the triumphs, the challenges, the disappointments, the accomplishments or simply a place to vent and reset ourselves so we can carry on one day at a time. Stress - free, safe environment respectful of everybody's level of comfort and pace of engagement.  Kat welcomes you with open arms! Kat Verdi is a Certified Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Trainer. She serves as a sound referral resource for anyone caring for a loved one. Her mission are the “3E’s” - to Educate, Empower and Encourage caregivers.
 
Register Here
  
 
Red Cross Blood Drive
Wednesday, June 21, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Giving blood is a simple thing to do, but it can make a difference in the lives of others. American Red Cross will be at the Cranbury Public Library collecting blood donations on Wednesday, June 21 from 1:00pm to 6:00pm.  These donations are extremely critical. Just one pint can save up to three lives! 
 
Register Here
 
 
American Ramble
Thursday, June 22, 6:00 PM
Author Neil King Jr. will discuss his newly published book American Ramble: A Walk of Memory and Renewal. This is a stunning, revelatory memoir about a 330-mile walk from Washington, D.C., to New York City—an unforgettable pilgrimage to the heart of America across some of our oldest common ground. 

The author's journey took him through Cranbury Township, where he met with some of our local residents. The associated anecdote of his journey through Cranbury is included in the book.
 
Register Here
 
 
 
 
Cinema Under the Stars: Movie Night at Cranbury Library 
Friday, June 23rd 8:00 PM 
You are invited to the Premier Film Event of the Summer! Bring the family and join us for Cinema Under the Stars, a special outdoor viewing of a classic blockbuster movie (rated PG) to help kick off Cranbury Public Library’s Summer Enrichment Program, All Together Now. Popcorn and other refreshments will be available. You may bring your own snacks and drinks if you prefer; however, alcoholic beverages are prohibited. You are encouraged to bring your own lawn chairs, mats, and blankets for your viewing comfort.
Please be seated by 8:00pm at our outdoor patio, as the film will begin promptly at 8:15pm. Rain date of July 14th. 
 
Register Here
 
 
iPhone 101 Basics
Monday, June 26th 11:00 AM
Learn all about how to use your iPhone or iPad!  In this workshop we will discuss all the new features and benefits of iOS 16 along with the general uses of an iPhone! No experience is  necessary but it is recommended to have an Apple iPhone or Apple iPad to attend this workshop.
This workshop will be held in Meeting Room 1.
 
Register Here
 
 
Evening Book Discussion
Tuesday, June 27th 7:00 PM
Meets the 4th Tuesday of the month. New members always welcome! To see what we are reading go to Cranbury Public Library Book chat on Goodreads.  This meeting will be located in Meeting Room 2.
 
Register Here 
 
Special Announcements
Notary services are now available by appointment  
The Cranbury Public Library offers, free of charge, notary public services for the benefit of the residents of Cranbury and for Cranbury Public Library cardholders. In lieu of fees, a donation
may be made to the Cranbury Public Library Foundation. Persons seeking notary public services who are not Cranbury residents or Cranbury cardholders shall be charged a $2.50 fee per signature.
 
Schedule an Appointment Here
 
Please note our Notary is not an attorney licensed to practice law and may not give legal advice about immigration or any other legal matter or accept fees for legal advice.
 
 
Now offering free digital access to the NY Times and WSJ for CPL cardholders! 
Links to the NY Times and WSJ can be accessed from our homepage, and from the Digital Services page on our website. 
 
Library Hours and Closings
Monday thru Thursday - 10 AM to 8 PM
Friday - 10 AM to 5 PM
Saturday - 10 AM to 4 PM
Sunday - 12 PM to 4 PM

*Library Closed Friday, June 16th for the Juneteenth federal holiday*
 
Cranbury Public Library
30 Park Place West
Cranbury, New Jersey 08512
609-722-6992

www.cranburypubliclibrary.org/