You’ll Do: A History of Marrying for Reasons Other Than Love by Marcia A. Zug

Americans hold marriage in such high esteem that we push people toward it, reward them for taking part in it, and fetishize its benefits to the point that we routinely ignore or excuse bad behavior and societal ills in the name of protecting and promoting it.

In eras of slavery and segregation, Blacks sometimes gained white legal status through marriage.

Laws have been designed to encourage people to marry so that certain societal benefits could be achieved: the population would increase, women would have financial security, children would be cared for, and immigrants would have familial connections.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

THERE’S NOTHING AS GOOD AS THE RICH GONE BAD.

When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family’s estate high in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

But in the aftermath of her death, her adopted son, Camden, wants little to do with the house or the money―and even less to do with the surviving McTavishes. Instead, he rejects his inheritance, settling into a normal life as an English teacher in Colorado and marrying Jules, a woman just as eager to escape her own messy past.

The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis

Luna Wright is a lot of things, but sweet and trusting isn’t on the list. However, she’s a sucker for the underdog and a hard-luck story. Adopted at birth, with scant knowledge of her biological family, she’s created her own inner circle, a motley crew which includes her bestie Willow, to help her run the struggling but charming Apple Ridge Farm.

With a farm-to-table café as well as a menagerie of rescued animals (complete with a baby goat who keeps escaping to the pantry to eat the secret stash of decidedly not organic potato chips), it’s the best home she’s ever known. But when the owner Silas, who they secretly call The Grinch, passes away, Luna discovers the farm is now under control of his investment manager, the enigmatic Jameson Hayes….and her. And that Silas had many, many secrets.

Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang

She was destined for heartbreak. Then fate handed her love.

Val is ready to give up on love. It’s led to nothing but secrets and heartbreak, and she’s pretty sure she’s cursed―no one in her family, for generations, has ever had any luck with love.

But then a chance encounter with a pair of cute lion dancers sparks something in Val. Is it real love? Could this be her chance to break the family curse? Or is she destined to live with a broken heart forever?

Betting On You by Lynn Painter

When seventeen-year-old Bailey starts a new job at a hotel waterpark, she is less than thrilled to see an old acquaintance is one of her coworkers. Bailey met Charlie a year ago on the long flight to Omaha, where she moved after her parents’ divorce. Charlie’s cynicism didn’t mix well with Bailey’s carefully well-behaved temperament, and his endless commentary was the irritating cherry on top of an already emotionally fraught trip.

Now, Bailey and Charlie are still polar opposites, but instead of everything about him rubbing Bailey the wrong way, she starts to look forward to hanging out and gossiping about the waterpark guests and their coworkers—particularly two who keep flirting with each other. Bailey and Charlie make a bet on whether or not the cozy pair will actually get together. Charlie insists that members of the opposite sex can’t just be friends, and Bailey is determined to prove him wrong.

The Selkie’s Daughter by Linda Crotta Brennan

Brigit knows all the old fisherman songs and legends by heart: sea goddess, warriors, and people who are not quite human. But Brigit also knows the truth. It’s evident in the webbing between her fingers–webbing that must be cut. She’s the daughter of a selkie. A truth she must keep secret from everyone.

But there is another secret growing in the village. A terrible one that will invite the wrath of the Great Selkie, bringing storm, sickness, and death. To protect those she loves, Brigit must find a way to Sule Skerrie, the land of selkies, to confront the Great Selkie and bring the truth—all of it—into the light.

Prehistoric Sea Monsters by Stephanie Warren Drimmer

Meet Megalodon and more of the biggest, coolest, and creepiest marine animals from the prehistoric era!

Teeth, tails, and scales—oh my! Newly independent readers will be transported back to a time when bugs were big and monsters ruled the deep. Each page of this dazzling Level 2 reader is packed with jaw-dropping facts on the fiercest predators of the ancient oceans. Learn about Megalodon, the largest shark ever to have lived; Jaekelopterus, a human-size scorpion; Helicoprion, a fish whose teeth were in the shape of a circular saw; and more!

Love is my favorite color by Nina Laden

A sparkling and tender picture book about all the things that are bright and loving in the world and fill our lives with joy.

From caring to hoping to peace to sharing, there are many ways to find joy in the everyday. Celebrate the things that make life wonderful and each day special. With stunning artwork, readers of all ages will find moments to treasure.

Yellowstone by Cath Ard

Encompassing more than 2 million acres of protected land, Yellowstone is home to a rich variety of wildlife including species like the grizzly bear, wolf, bison and wolverine. Readers will discover the rainbow waters of the Grand Prismatic Spring, the tallest geyser in the world and discover how life in the park survives in the depths of winter when there’s 20 feet of snow! Yellowstone also has strong indigenous cultural connections, with 27 tribes celebrating ties to the land, its wildlife and geography which the park has only recently begun to acknowledge and celebrate. This stunning illustrated guide is packed with incredible facts about Yellowstone’s wildlife, people, geography and history.