Central Kansas Library System

Carved on the trunk of the mighty copper beech that embraces the school yard in Shancarrig are declarations of love, hope, and identity - the youthful dreams of the children who played there. Now grown, yet shaped by their years in the schoolhouse, they lead different lives. The Copper Beech is about eight of these dreamers. From Ryan's Hotel to Barna Woods, where the gypsies came each year, from Nellie Dunne's sweet shop to Father Gunn's church,...

In nineteenth-century Yorkshire, the passionate attachment between a headstrong young girl and a foundling boy brought up by her father causes disaster for them and many others, even in the next generation.

Peter disobeys his mother, and almost gets caught in Mr McGregor's garden. Beatrix Potter's classic tale of mischievous little Peter Rabbit is produced in a lovely new board book format. The text and illustrations of the classic Tale of Peter Rabbit, loved by children around the world for generations, appear in full.

The former president offers an account of growing up on a Georgia farm during the Depression and provides profiles of the people who shaped his life.

"Coming home dredges up deeply buried secrets in The Survivors, a thrilling mystery by New York Times bestselling author Jane Harper Kieran Elliott's life changed forever on the day a reckless mistake led to devastating consequences. The guilt that still haunts him resurfaces during a visit with his young family to the small coastal community he once called home. Kieran's parents are struggling in a town where fortunes are forged by the sea. Between...

"In this work of creative nonfiction, Kate Benz provides an intimate look at the present-day residents of Courtland, Kansas (population 285), a town whose economy depends almost entirely on agriculture. Her narrative shows how macro-level issues, from rising tariffs and operation costs to sinking commodity prices and infusions of federal farm subsidies affect these Americans' daily lives, and how their love of their community continues their collective...

Winter is over, but it's not quite spring in Acorn Hill. The in-between weather leaves Jane unsettled and ready for a challenge, so she throws herself into a new hobby, with surprising results. But Jane is not the only one dealing with the unexpected: Alice is courted by a persistent admirer, and Louise becomes the confidante of a well-liked guest who is facing a personal crisis. All the while, Grace Chapel Inn and the town are in the thrall of hosting...

With Louise away at a music camp, Alice and Jane host a scrapbooking retreat at the inn and learn more about their family's history. As winter approaches, the Howard sisters venture outside their comfort zones to try something out of the ordinary. Louise heads to music camp and learns a different style of piano playing, while Jane tests out recipes for a new audience and Alice unearths some family history. The results of their experiments are mixed,...

Acorn Hill is happily abuzz with anticipation of the Grace Chapel's women's retreat and a fortieth wedding anniversary that is surrounded by secrets and surprises. Already busy preparing for their Valentine's Weekend special, the Howard sisters find themselves at the center of activity planning for these events and counseling a young Southern bride who is having trouble adjusting to life in Pennsylvania. Their most difficult task, however, is preventing...

Three years ago, Bella Castle left her hometown nursing a broken heart over Dominic Thane, the man she fell in love with but couldn't have. Now she's made a life for herself in the country, working for an estate agent. She loves her new home, her new job, and her new boyfriend Nevil, who also happens to be her boss. They seem to be the perfect match for each other. But although Nevil's just proposed to her, he's been strangely preoccupied recently,...