What's New at Cross Reference Library - Raising sons and new novels from Ashley Clark

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In The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark, Harper Dupree has pinned all her hopes on a future in fashion design. But when it comes crashing down around her, she returns home to Fairhope, Alabama, and to Millie, the woman who first taught her how to sew. As Harper rethinks her own future, long-hidden secrets about Millie’s past are brought to light. In 1946, Millie Middleton - the daughter of an Italian man and a Black woman - boarded a train and left Charleston to keep half of her heritage hidden. She carried with her two heirloom buttons and the dream of owning a dress store. She never expected to meet a charming train jumper who changed her life forever… and led her yet again to a heartbreaking choice about which heritage would define her future. Now, together, Harper and Millie return to Charleston to find the man who may hold the answers they seek… and a chance at the dress shop they’ve both dreamed of. But it’s not until all appears lost that they see the unexpected ways to mend what’s frayed between the seams.

In Paint and Nectar by Ashley Clark, a spark is forming between Eliza, a talented watercolorist, and William, a charming young man with a secret that could ruin her career. Their families forbid their romance because of a long-standing feud over missing heirloom silver. Still, Eliza and William’s passion grows despite the barriers, causing William to deeply regret the secret he’s keeping… but setting things right will come at a cost. In present day Charleston, a mysterious benefactor gifts Lucy Legare an old house, along with all the secrets it holds - including enigmatic letters about an antique silver heirloom. Declan Pinckney, whom Lucy’s been avoiding since their disastrous first date, is set on buying her house for his family’s development company. As Lucy uncovers secrets about the house, its garden, and the silver, she becomes more determined than ever to preserve the historic Charleston property, not only for history’s sake but also for her own.

Dads today are often overwhelmed with both the responsibility and the complexity of raising sons in this challenging culture. At the same time, self-initiation is killing our young men. Without strong mentors, boys are walking alone into a wilderness of conflicting messages about who they should be as men. It’s no wonder that our sons are confused about what the world expects from them and what they should expect of themselves. The Intentional Father is a helpful antidote. This concise book is filled with practical steps to help men raise sons of consequence - young men who know what they believe, know who they are, and will stand up against the negative cultural trends of our day. Jon Tyson lays out a clear path for fathers and sons that includes specific activities, rites of passage, and significant “marking moments” that can be customized to fit any family. It’s not enough to hope our sons will become good men. We need them to be good at being men. This book shows fathers, grandfathers, and other male mentors how to lead the way.

Cross Reference Library is located at 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE,
and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.