I hope you all had wonderful holidays. Mine were quiet and cozy, and I made plenty of time for reading. Here are some of the books I enjoyed while sipping my hot cocoa.

Senator Cleo McDougal is eyeing a presidential run when MaryAnne, her former best friend from high school, writes an op-ed that goes viral. MaryAnne asserts that “Cleo McDougal is not a good person” and Cleo is left doing damage control, even though she’d rather not rehash past regrets. Her chief of staff suggests a media blitz during which Cleo does exactly that: addresses her ten biggest regrets, including the one that has the potential to completely change not only her life, but the life of her teenage son. “Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing” by Allison Winn Scotch was a quick and engaging read with fun characters.

In “Here is the Beehive” by Sarah Crossan, Attorney Ana Kelly is an estate lawyer who is surprised to discover that her newest client is the wife of the man with whom Ana was having an affair. Connor was killed in a car accident and now Ana must grieve, and help his wife settle his affairs, without ever revealing how well she knew Connor. As Ana reveals more and more about her relationship with Connor, the reader learns just how devastating her loss is and how much it could have cost all of them.

Elizabeth Holmes is fascinated by the royal style of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess of Wales Diana, Duchess of Cambridge Catherine, and Duchess of Sussex Meghan. In “HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style,” Holmes gives a brief history of how each woman ascended to British royalty, then gets to the good stuff: the clothes! Holmes explains how each royal’s style has evolved throughout her life in the public eye and how each uses fashion to send a message to the public. The Queen has created a uniform, Diana used fashion to connect with the people, Kate is a conscientious¬†rewearer, and Meghan has made royal fashion modern. This was a fascinating look at diplomatic dressing and a chance to look at some beautiful photos of lovely clothes.

Andrew Cotter is a Scottish commentator who travels all over the world to attend sporting events. When the pandemic hit and sports were canceled Cotter found himself without work. He turned to his two Labradors, Olive and Mabel, for a bit of action. His first video, which featured his comments on the dogs’ daily race to finish their dinner, went viral and he, Olive, and Mabel became Instagram stars. Cotter’s videos have brought me joy throughout the pandemic and his book is warm and humorous. “Olive, Mabel, & Me: Life and Adventures with Two Very Good Dogs” is a pleasant escape. I also highly suggest following Cotter on Instagram: @mrandrewcotter.

If you’d like to request any of these books, visit www.newulmlibrary.org and click on Library Catalog or give us a call at 507-359-8331. We’d be happy to place these or any other books on hold for you. Happy New Year!