A gripping read of a Seal Warrior Medic!
Battle Ready: Memoir of a SEAL Warrior Medic
Author: Mark L. Donald, with Scott Mactavish
Available format: Book
“The gripping memoir of Navy Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart recipient SEAL Lieutenant Mark L. Donald.
As A SEAL and combat medic, Mark served his country with valorous distinction for almost twenty-five years and survived some of the most dangerous combat actions imaginable.
From the rigors of BUD/S training to the horrors of the battlefield, Battle Ready dramatically immerses the reader in the unique life of the elite warrior-medic who advances into combat with life-saving equipment in one hand and life-taking weapons in the other. It is also an uplifting human story that reveals how a young Hispanic American bootstrapped himself out of a life that promised a dead-end future by enlisting in the military. That new life begins with the Marines and includes his heroic achievements on the battlefield and the operating table, and finally, of his inspirational triumph over the demons caused by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that threatened to destroy him and his family.” -- Amazon
Review -- Amazon
- "Although he doesn't like the term, Mark is a true American hero. Battle Ready is a well-written journey from training to combat to recovery." —Howard Wasdin, New York Times bestselling author of Seal Team Six
- “Battle Ready is a compelling account of a remarkable American’s journey in the military. Mark Donald’s journey is unique and contains many lessons in life for everyone to reflect upon. There is no bravado and self-serving intent in this book. It is written from the heart from an American hero, and that alone makes it worth reading.”—Wade Ishimoto, Former Senior Advisor to Assistant Secretary of Defense, Special Operations / Low Intensity Conflict
About the Authors
- MARK L. DONALD, the son of a retired U.S. Army Warrant Officer and a Mexican mother, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps before transferring to the Navy to train as a Corpsman. He subsequently completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training and served in SEALs until 1996 when he was selected for the Intra-service Physician Assistant Program. He graduated from the University of Nebraska and was commissioned a Medical Service Corps officer. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, he was assigned as operational medical support to special operations where he served in a number of capacities until his retirement. Donald was awarded the Navy Cross, the highest medal awarded by the Department of the Navy, for extraordinary heroism while engaged in enemy action against Al Qaeda fighters in southern Afghanistan. He lives in Chesapeake, Virginia.
- SCOTT MACTAVISH is an author, filmmaker and veteran of the United States Navy.
Uncover Secrets with Ali Reynolds in another J. A. Jance Thriller!
Deadly Stakes: A Novel (Ali Reynolds Mystery) by J. A. Jance (2013)
Available format: Book (regular and large print)
"Police academy-trained former reporter Ali Reynolds is contacted to investigate the grisly murder of a gold-digging divorcee on behalf of a woman accused of the crime. Lynn Martinson is dating the dead woman’s ex-husband, and she and her boyfriend Chip Ralston have been charged.
Ali is simultaneously drawn to the case of A.J. Sanders, a frightened teen with secrets of his own. Ali struggles to determine if A.J. and Lynn’s cases are related. Though her friends in the police department grow increasingly irritated by her involvement with the cases, Ali must stop a deadly killer from claiming another victim…before she herself is lost in this game of deadly stakes.” – Amazon
Praise for Deadly Stakes –
- “A truly thrilling case with red herrings, characters coming out of the woodwork, back stories that will make you gasp, and a conclusion that you will not see coming!” (Suspense Magazine)
Praise for J. A. Jance -
- “Jance starts her books fast… and keeps things moving with cinematic panache… You want an accessible thriller? Jance is your gal… Engaging and entertaining” (L A Times)
Other Ali Reynolds Mysteries –
- Left for Dead (2012) Library Copies; available format: Book (regular and large print) & Audio CD
- Fatal Error (2011) Library Copies; available format: Book (regular and large print) & Audio CD
- Trial by Fire (2009) Library Copies; available format: Book (regular and large print)
Update to the Overdrive Media Console App just released!
Have you downloaded the latest update to the Overdrive Media Console mobile app? This release now displays the Next Generation website.
Find a Book then Read It! No need to worry about Adobe IDs or Adobe Digital Editions. Just “See Book—Read Book” in your browser or download to the App.
No more “add to cart” or “confirm checkout” so now checkout is a breeze.
Experience the Next Generation today!
YES you can!!!
Stop thinking that you can’t. We know that you can. Conquer your goals with the library’s collection of popular “For Dummies” series titles from John Wiley.
Browse these titles to help you learn about your iPad, prepare for a college entrance exam, learn to use your HDTV, plan your own wedding, practice a foreign language, or teach your old dog a new trick.
Getting at the truth is touch and go!
Touch & Go: A novel by Lisa Gardner
Available formats: Book (regular print & large print) and book on cd
"Justin and Libby Denbe were a happily married couple who had it all: a beautiful teen aged daughter; grand home in a high brow neighborhood; admiring friends and family; and a lucrative family business. Everything seemed perfect, until the day the Danbe family vanished. Investigator Tessa Leoni is hired by the Danbe Construction Company to solve the crime, but she must first wrist the case from Boston Detectives, D.D. Warren and Neil Cap. D.D. is none too pleased, but provides Tessa with their initial findings, before handing off the case. Tessa inspects the crime scene, but there is little in the way of leads. The evidence suggests that the family was kidnapped, but why has no one demanded a ransom? Tessa sets about picking apart the Danbe’s perfect world to get at the truth, but she is not alone in this hunt. Enter North County New Hampshire Sheriff’s Detective, Wyatt Foster, who is conducting an investigation of his own, despite interference from Special Federal Agent Nicole Adams. In the meantime, the Danbe family must survive their terrifying captivity as best they can. In the end Tessa, Wyatt and Nicole must piece together all of their facts to solve the case. They are in for the shock."
Praise for Touch & Go:
- "This no-holds-barred stand-alone from Thriller Award–winner Gardner opens with the brutally efficient kidnapping of the Denbe family.…Gardner effectively alternates between the physical and emotional disintegration of the family under the pressure of their captivity and the efforts of [Invesigator Tessa] Leoni and company to dig into the secrets of Denbe Construction, its key employees, and its finances, as well as to locate the Denbes. The suspense builds as the action races to a spectacular conclusion and the unmasking of the plot’s mastermind." —Publishers Weekly
Praise for Lisa Gardner:
- "Gardner’s depiction of a woman in the midst of emotional chaos is spot on, as usual, and she proves herself just as capable when it comes to creating intriguing men. Readers will want to see more of Wyatt, just as they grew to appreciate Bobby Dodge in Gardner’s earlier books." —Booklist
Other titles by Lisa Gardner: Library Copies
- Catch Me (A D. D. Warren novel) (2012)
Available formats: Book (regular print and large print) and audio book.
- Love You More (A D. D. Warren novel) (2011)
Available formats:Book (regular print and large print), audio book, eBook and eAudio.
- Live to Tell (A D. D. Warren novel) (2010)
Available formats: Book (regular print and large print), audio book and eBook.
Comfort Food with David Venable!
In the Kitchen with David: QVC’s Resident Foodie Presents Comfort Foods that Takes You Home by David Venable (2012)
Foreword by Paula Deen.
Available format: Book
“David Venable will be the first to tell you: He loves his food. And as the beloved host of QVC’s popular program, In the Kitchen with David,® he’s put that passion on mouthwatering display, welcoming some of the greatest names in the food world. But Venable’s own culinary skills—honed in the Carolina kitchens of his mother and grandmothers—are nothing short of remarkable and tantalizing.
Now, in his anticipated debut cookbook, Venable shares 150 delicious recipes of hearty, easy-to-make, comforting dishes. In the Kitchen with David covers everything from appetizers and breads to soups and salads to main courses and sides, as well as his lifelong love of bacon (The Divine Swine!). You’ll get ideas for quick Monday-to-Friday dinners, let-it-cook-all-weekend suppers, savory breakfasts and brunches, cocktail party fun, game-day eats, and family reunion feasts. And of course, no Southern-influenced cookbook is complete without a little something sweet.
Loaded with gorgeous photographs, helpful “Dishin’ with David” tips, and personal anecdotes, In the Kitchen with David encourages you and your family to gather around the dinner table for great meals and, more important, great memories. After all, the portions are generous; the options are limitless.” -- Amazon
Praise for In the Kitchen with David -
- “In the Kitchen with David truly represents David’s love of food and family. It feels like a little slice of Southern heaven. Easy, delightful, and delicious!”—Anne Burrell, author of Cook Like a Rock Star
- “When it comes to comfort, no one dishes it up better than David! Filled with warmth and scrumptious recipes, this book is guaranteed to make you do the happy dance.”—Marlene Koch, author of Eat What You Love and Eat MORE of What You Love
Praise for David Venable -
- “David Venable’s unbridled love for good, hearty comfort food is absolutely infectious. He knows what delicious food tastes like, and one peek at the recipes in his book had me positively drooling. I haven’t been this excited about a cookbook in a long, long time!”—Ree Drummond, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Pioneer Woman Cooks
- “David definitely knows his way around the kitchen, and he sure gets cooking with some comfort food in this book. And that’s saying something coming from the two of us comfort food lovers!”—Pat and Gina Neely, hosts of Down Home with the Neelys
Look for these wonderful books by the above reviewers:
- Cook Like a Rock Star: 125 Recipes, Lessons & Culinary Secrets by Anne Burrell (2011) Available format: Book---Library Copies
- Eat More of What You Love by Marlene Koch (2012) Available format: Book
Library Copies
- The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food From My Frontier by Ree Drummond (2012) Available format: Book---Library Copies
- Down Home with the Neely: a Southern Family Cookbook by Pat & Gina Neely (2009) Available format: Book---Library Copies
- Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible by Paula Deen (2011) Available format: Book
Library Copies
What's up with the What family?
Gustav Gloom and the People Taker (Book #1)
Author: Adam-Troy Castro; Illustrator: Kristen Margiotta (juvenile fiction)
As the books opens, we meet Gustav Gloom, a lonely 10 year old boy who lives in a big black mansion in the trendy community of Sunnyside Terrace. Even worst is Gustav is ignored by the people in the community. Fear over an incident involving a man named Mr. Notes, had made the black mansion, and its occupant, off limits to all. Mr. Notes, of the Neighborhood Standards Committee, had been sent to the Gloom mansion to demand that the mansion be remodeled to match the surrounding homes on its street. The end result of Mr. Notes’ visit was that he fled the mansion (and Sunnyside Terrace) crazed, screaming … and shadowless.
Next we meet 10 year old, Fernie What and her family. Her father, Mr. What, an over worried professional safety consultant; her fearless 12 year old sister, Pearlie What; her beloved, but silly cat, Harrington; and her absentee mother, Mrs. What, the professional adventurer, who is off adventuring somewhere. The family, sans Mrs. What, move into the house across the street from the Gloom mansion. Although Mr. What is not too happy about being so close to the Gloom place, both of the girls find its haunted appearance to be intriguing. For his part, Gustav watches the What family with a mixture of longing and foreboding.
Even before Fernie has finished unpacking, she encounters her first mystery. Following the runaway shadow of a dog named “Snooks 5”, Fernie crosses the street and heads straight to the Gloom mansion. There she meets Gustav for the first time. He does not seem concerned about Snook 5’s wayward shadow, and insists that shadows are free to roam at will. Fernie is skeptical, but invites Gustav to her house to meet her family. Gustav wistfully explains that he can never leave his yard. He also warns her about the “People Taker”, a mysterious villain who has been responsible for the disappearance of several people in the Sunnyside Terrace area. Gustav is abruptly called away and Fernie must return to her house to finish unpacking.
Later that same night, Fernie must leave the safety of her home to find her cat, Harrington, who has been chased by his own shadow, across the street and into the Gloom mansion. Recklessly, Fernie follows her pet into the mansion and discovers that, not only is the mansion full of free ranging shadows, but the People Taker is also in the house… and after her. Can Gustav save his new friend and her family? Find out more...read the rest of the story.
Gustav Gloom and the Nightmare Vault (Book 2) Release date: April 18, 2013
Gustav Gloom and the Four Terrors (Book 3) Release date: August 15, 2013
Let's Plan the Future of the Library Together!
Your Library is hosting "Strategic Planning" meetings and we need your input. We've schedules several parish-wide community meetings to help plan for future development and improvement of your libraries. The public is strongly encouraged to participate in the open discussions and inspire library personnel with ideas for the future. Dr. Gabriel Morley, library director, will be in attendance at the meetings to share your ideas and answer any questions or concerns that you may have.
The meetings will take place at the following branches:
- 5:00 p.m., Thursday, February 7th @ Sulphur Regional Library, 1160 Cypress Street, (337) 721-7141
- 3:30 p.m., Friday, February 15th @ Central Library, 301 W. Claude Street, (337) 721-7116
- 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 18th @ Fontenot Memorial Library, 1402 Center Street, (337) 721-7095
- 7:00 p.m., Monday, February 18th @ Hayes Library, 7709 Perier Street, (337) 721-7098 or (337) 622-3605 (local residents)
- 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 19th @ DeQuincy Library, 102 W. Harrison St., (337) 721-7087 or (337) 786-4213 (local residents)
- 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 20th @ Westlake Library, 937 Mulberry St., (337) 721-7113
- 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 20th @ Carnegie Memorial Library, 411 Pujo St., (337) 721-7084
- 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 22nd @ Iowa Library, 107 E. 1st St., (337) 721-7101 or (337) 582-3597 (local residents)
- 6:00 p.m., Monday, February 25th @ Epps Memorial Library, 1320 N. Simmons St., (337) 721-7090
- 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 26th @ Moss Bluff Library, 261 Parish Rd., (337) 721-7128
- 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 27th @ Starks Library, 113 S. Hwy 109, (337) 721-7107 or (337) 743-6560 (local residents)
Here's your chance! The Library is offering a FREE memoir writing class!
Have you ever wanted to write a memoir but didn't know where to start?
Your Library has the answer!!!
Your Library is holding a FREE six-week memoir writing class each Tuesday night from 6-8 p.m. beginning March 5th at the Central Library.
Each class will focus on a different aspect of memoir writing such as format, narrative and the fluidity of memory. Participants will learn to use the tools of fiction (scene, character and dialogue) to tell a true story about their lives. Those who finish the six-week course can expect to complete several short memoir pieces and perhaps develop the foundation of a book-length memoir.
Participants will be required to share their work with the class each week. Dr. Gabriel Morley, a writer and librarian, will lead the class.
Interested? For more information or to register, contact Morley at 337-721-7167 or gmorley@calcasieu.lib.la.us.
See Book---Read Book! Seriously?
It can't be that easy, right? It’s the Next Generation for the Library's Digital Library collection of eBooks & eAudiobooks!! Find a Book then Read It! No need to worry about Adobe IDs or Adobe Digital Editions. There’s no software to download or apps to install.
“See Book—Read Book” in your browser. No more “add to cart” or “confirm checkout” so now checkout is a breeze.
Did you unintentionally borrow a title? No problem. There’s an option to return the borrowed title. Or if you unintentionally downloaded a title, in most cases, you have the option to return the title from the respective software.
Here are a few extras:
- Sync to “furthest page read” between devices. Start reading in Chrome on your desktop computer, pick up where you left off in Safari on your iPad, and then again in your Android phone’s default browser. Just navigate to your Bookshelf to resume.
- Customize the font, font size, justification, line spacing, even the theme. Use bookmarks or the unique “thumb placeholder” feature to save your place.
- Full-book searchability enables you to locate that specific passage/quote.
It is recommended that you use HTML5 browsers such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer 10, and Safari.
If you’re using older versions of Internet Explorer, you may be prompted to install the free ‘Chrome Frame plug-in’ when you click on an eBook to read for the first time.
Works in all standard and mobile browsers, including Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Internet Explorer.
Basic steps:
- Search/browse titles/subjects then choose desired title
- Click “Borrow” then select Library; enter card/pin#
- Click “Go to Bookshelf” then click “Download”
- Choose desired format (ex: ePUB or PDF)
- Click “Confirm/Download” or “Read in Browser”
Future enhancements will bring streaming video and audio services on videos, audio-books and music on any device with a web browser and an Internet connection. This will dramatically enhance discovery and access to your existing collection of WMV and WMA titles (pending publisher approval).
Experience the Next Generation today!
