Need a Good Book?

Use this Librarian created list to find great books! Need A Good Book?

  • African American
  • Music
  • Alabama Authors
  • Mystery/Suspense
  • Award Winners
  • Other Sites for Readers
  • Book Discussion Group
  • Romance
  • Current Best Sellers
  • Science Fiction & Fantasy
  • Chick Lit
  • Southern Writers
  • Gay and Lesbian
  • Southern Voices Authors
  • Historical
  • Teens
  • Horror
  • Westerns
  • Inspirational
  • Popular Series
  • Movies
  •  


     

    African-American

    Website Features
  • African-American Fiction Writers
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark
  • African-American Literature Book Club
    • Increases knowledge of the diversity of African-American literature and serves as a resource and vehicle of expression for aspiring and professional writers
      • is a recognized source of critical reviews of books by and about African-American authors
        contains book reviews
      • includes author profiles
      • provides a copy of their current newsletter
      • offers writer's resources

       

  • Book Remarks
    • Promotes books written by or about African-Americans
      • is managed by author Cydney Rax
      • is a top-viewed website that promotes literary works which may reflect the African-American culture
      • publishes new releases by mainstream as well as self-published writers
      • offers monthly author interviews as well as book previews and reviews
  • MystNoir
    • Showcases the African-American contribution and presence in mystery fiction
      • features African-American amateur sleuths, P. I.s, and police detectives as well as their authors
      • highlights one title a month and offers book reviews of other titles
      • updates readers on latest mystery news as well as new, recent, and upcoming releases
      • provides writer information for aspiring mystery writers

       

  • NoveList
    • Explores romance, mystery, western, as well as general fiction

     

  • Online Guide to African-American Books
    • A listing of over 350 authors and titles for the mystery, Christian fiction, science fiction, horror, romance, short stories, and classic literature genres
      • includes a Young Adult and new releases link
       
       
       

     


     

    Alabama Authors

    Website Features
  • Alabama Authors and Their Works
    • An extensive listing compiled by the Alabama Library Association’s Bibliographic Committee which lists the works of specific Alabama authors

     

  • Alabama Authors: A Selection of Fiction
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

       
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
     

    Award Winners

    Website Features
  • BookNews
  • This site lists awards for:

    • American Library Association Award
    • Audie Award (Audio books)
    • Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
    • Buckeye Children’s Book Award
    • Caldecott Medal (American picture book for children)
    • Christy Award (Contemporary Christian fiction)
    • Coretta Scott King Award
    • Edgar Award (Mystery)
    • Hugo Award (Science Fiction)
    • James Beard/KitchenAid Awards (Cooking)
    • National Book Award (Cooking) National Book Award for Young People’s Literature
    • Nebula Award (Science Fiction/Fantasy)
    • Newbery Medal (American literature for children)
    • PEN/Faulkner Award (Fiction)
    • Printz Award (Young Adult)
    • Pulitzer Prize

     

  • BookSpot
  • This site lists awards for:

    • Booker Prize Caldecott Medal (American picture book for children)
    • National Book Award
    • National Book Critics Circle Award (books published in English)
    • Newbery Medal (American literature for children)
    • Nobel Prize for Literature
    • PEN/Faulkner Award (Fiction)
    • Pulitzer Prize
    • Hammet Award (Crime)
    • Bram Stoker Award (Horror)
    • James Beard/Kitchen Aid Award (Cooking)
    • Spur Award (Western)
    • Rita Award (Romance)
  • Gold Medallion Book Award
    • Christian Books

     

  • Lambda Literary Award
    • Gay/Lesbian literature

     

  • RITA Awards
    • Romance

     

       
       
       
       

     

     


     

    Book Discussion Group

    Website Features
  • Beauregard Parish Library
    • Provides reading group lists as well as links to websites devoted to reading groups and reading guides

     

  • Hoover Public Library Book Discussion Group 2003
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • Hoover Public Library Book Discussion Group 2004
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • Hoover Public Library Book Discussion Group 2005
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • Hoover Public Library Book Discussion Group 2006
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • Hoover Public Library Book Discussion Group 2007
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • Oprah's Book Club
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • Oprah's Classic Book Club
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • Penguin Putnam
    • Offers an extensive selection of reading group guides along with general reading group information

     

  • Random House
    • Offers reading group guides for a variety of different genres

     

  • Reading Group Guides
    • Provides book synopses, discussion questions, and critical feedback

     

  • Simon Says
    • Offers reading group guides along with the current issue of the Book Club Reader (requires Adobe Acrobat to view)

     

       

     


     

    Chick Lit

    Website Features
  • Candy Covered Books
    • Lists and rates chick lit by book title, author, and cover
      • each entry has a plot summary and reviews of the book

     

  • Chick Lit
    • Hoover Public Library Bookmark

     

  • Chicklit
    • The online women's magazine that celebrates 21st century woman's contemporary fiction and lifestyle.
       
     

     

     

     

       

     

     

     
     

    Current Best Sellers

    Website Features
  • BookSpot
    • Offers bestseller lists from various sources

     

  • The New York Times
    • Complete bestseller lists

     

  • Publishers Weekly
    • Complete bestseller lists
     

     

     

     

       

     

     


     

    Gay and Lesbian

    Website Features
    • Lists award winners and offers reading suggestions
      • Note: There is no search feature

     

    • Explores the gay and lesbian romance and mystery genres

     

       
     

     

     

     

       
       

     


     

    Historical

    Website Features
  • Book Browser
    • Provides a listing of titles in very specific categories of the historical fiction genre
      • also provides plot synopses and reviews
      • provides information concerning bestsellers, new releases, and recommended reading for the historical fiction genre

     

  • HistFiction.net
    • Author Database with a list of works and other information
      • includes book reviews and a link to mystery and nautical fiction
  • Historical Mystery
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • Historical Romance
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • NoveList
    • Explores historical romance and historical fiction

     

  • Overbooked
    • Lists author, title, and synopsis of novels receiving at least one starred review.
      • Provides lists of Historical Fiction and Historical Crime Fiction.
  • Maritime Adventure
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark
       
       

     


     

    Horror

    Website Features
  • Book Browser
    • Provides a listing of titles in very specific categories of the horror genre
      • also provides plot synopses and reviews
      • provides information concerning bestsellers, new releases, and recommended reading for the horror genre

     

  • Horror Writers Association
    • Offers reading suggestions and lists all awards and winners
      • provides links to several other horror sites with reviews

       

  • If You Like Stephen King
    • Hoover Public Library Bookmark

     

  • Novelist
    • Explores the horror fiction genre

     

     

     

       
       
       

     


     

    Inspirational

    Website Features
  • Book Browser
    • Provides a listing of titles in very specific categories of the inspirational fiction genre
      • also provides plot synopses and reviews
      • provides information concerning bestsellers, new releases, and recommended reading for the inspirational fiction genre

     

  • If You Like Inspirational Fiction
    • Hoover Public Library Bookmark

     

  • Irving Public Library
    • Offers reading suggestions covering a broad range of inspirational fiction
      • contains excellent series lists for specific authors

       

  • NoveList
    • Explores the inspirational western, romance, and mystery genres

     

     

     

       
       
       

     


     

    Movies

    Website Features
  • Internet Movie Database
    • Offers searching by movie title, plot, character, actor/actress, and quotes
      • also offers movie reviews and news

     

  • Rotten Tomatoes
    • Searchable database of objective film and video reviews

     

     

       

     


     

    Music

    Website Features
  • All Music Guide
    • Offers searching by artist, album, title, record label, and music style
      • also offers music news and reviews

     

  • CDNow
    • Offers searching by artist, album, title, record label, and music style
      • also offers music news and reviews

       

  • Metacritic
    • Provides access to and summarizes the vast amount of entertainment criticism available online

     

       
       
       
       

     


     

    Mystery/Suspense

    Website Features
  • Amateur Detectives
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • Bone Appetit
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • Book Spot
    • Offers links to many different mystery sites with reviews, current mysteries, and mystery series

     

  • Cluelass
    • Lists upcoming titles and release dates in the Bloodstained Bookshelf

     

  • Espionage
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • Historical Mystery
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • If You Like Dan Brown
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • If You Like Sandra Brown
  •  

    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • If You Like Agatha Christie
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • If You Like Tom Clancy
  •  

    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • If You Like Mary Higgins Clark
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • If You Like Patricia Cornwell
  •  

    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • If You Like Sue Grafton
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • If You Like John Grisham
  •  

    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • If You Like James Patterson
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • Maritime Adventure
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • The Mystery Reader
    • Lists police/detective, thriller, suspense, cozy, historical, and romantic suspense mysteries along with new authors and news
      • each entry includes title, author, and synopsis

     

  • MystNoir
    • Showcases the African-American contribution and presence in mystery fiction
      • features African-American amateur sleuths, P. I.s, and police detectives as well as their authors
      • highlights one title a month and offers book reviews of other titles
      • updates readers on latest mystery news as well as new, recent, and upcoming releases
      • provides writer information for aspiring mystery writers

     

  • NoveList
    • Explores the mystery fiction genre

     

  • Police Procedurals
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • Private Investigators
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark
  • Stop, You're Killing Me
    • Offers searching by series character and character's occupation
      • links to reviews, news, awards, and authors

     

       
       
       
       
       

     


     

    Other Sites For Readers

    Website Features
  • Readers Advice
    • 8100+ authors in 450 subgenres

     

  • Reader's Robot
    • Offers searching by length, description, etc.

     

  • Webrary
    • Offers a broad range of genres, characters, settings, subjects, and authors
      • also has a miscellaneous category

     

     

       

     


     

    Romance

    Website Features
  • Book Browser
    • Provides a listing of titles in very specific categories of the romantic fiction genre
      • also provides plot synopses and reviews
      • provides information concerning bestsellers, new releases, and recommended reading for the romantic fiction genre

     

  • BookSpot
    • Offers links to many different romance websites with current information on the romance genre, series, author links, and more

     

  • Historical Romance
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • If You Like Sandra Brown
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • NoveList
    • Explores the romance fiction genre

     

  • Romance Reader
    • Offers many top 10, 50, 100 lists, etc. and lists authors, titles, and synopses as well as reviews

     

  • Romance Writers of America
    • Features a large searchable database with information on both current and past bestsellers
      • also offers lists of award winners

       

       
       
       
       

     


     

    Science Fiction & Fantasy

    Website Features
  • BookSpot
    • Offers links to several different science fiction sites

     

  • Fantastic Fiction
    • Offers searching for fantasy, science fiction and horror
      • includes several extensive awards lists
      • lists top 250 most frequently visited authors' web pages (may not all be science fiction)

       

  • If You Like J. R. R. Tolkien
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • NoveList
    • Explores the science fiction genre

     

  • SF Site
    • Provides titles with excerpts and synopses

     

       
       
       
       

     


     

    Southern Writers

    Website Features
     

     

  • Southern Writers
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

     

     

     

     

       
       

     


     

    Website

    Features

    Southern Voices Authors

     
  • Hoover Public Library Southern Voices Conference
    • A listing of participants in both the past and present Southern Voices Conferences

     

     

       
       
       

     


     

    Teens

    Website Features
  • Author Connections
    • Links to web pages of well-known YA authors

     

  • Award Books
    • An annotated list of award and notable books links

     

  • BookSpot
    • Offers a young adult section with links to author information and reviews

     

  • Berry Middle School
    • Link to Berry's Media Center for the Accelerated Reading and Summer Reading lists

     

  • Bumpus Middle School
    • Link to the Bumpus Accelerated Reading lists

     

  • Reading Rants
    • Features lists of recommended young adult books

     

  • Simmons Middle School
    • Link to the Simmons Accelerated Reading list

     

  • TeenReads.com
    • Book reviews and author interviews written by teens

     

  • Young Adult Books in Series & Sequels
    • Source for lists of series by title and author

     

  • School Summer Reading List
    • The Summer Reading lists of schools in Hoover and Shelby County

     

       
       
       

     


     

    Westerns

    Website Features
  • If You Like Westerns
    • Hoover Public Library bookmark

     

  • NoveList
    • Explores the western fiction genre

     

  • ReadWest.com
    • A forever growing web directory of Western authors of today and of the past
      • Includes a monthly online magazine

       

     

     

     

     

       
       

     


    POPULAR SERIES

    Books in a Series

       
    Kent District Library Database Developed by Kent District Library, this website is a series index for a wide variety of authors and genres.
    Author  
  • Terri Blackstock

    • The Cape Refuge series
      • Cape Refuge
      • Southern Storm
      • River’s Edge
      • Breaker’s Reef
    • The Newpointe 911 series
      • Private Justice
      • Shadow of Doubt
      • Word of Honor
      • Trial by Fire
      • Line of Duty
    • The Restoration series
      • Last Light
      • Night Light
    • The Seasons series (written with Beverly LaHaye)
      • Seasons Under Heaven
      • Showers in Season
      • Times and Seasons
      • Season of Blessing
    • The Second Chances series
      • Never Again Good-bye
      • When Dreams Cross
      • Blind Trust
      • Broken Wings
    • The Suncoast Chronicles
      • Evidence of Mercy
      • Justifiable Means
      • Ulterior Motives
      • Presumption of Guilt

       

  • Ann Brashares

    • The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series
      • The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
      • The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
      • Girls in Pants

       

  • Lee Child

    • The Jack Reacher series
      • Killing Floor
      • Die Trying
      • Tripwire
      • Running Blind
      • Echo Burning
      • Without Fail
      • Persuader
      • The Enemy
      • One Shot
      • The Hard Way

       

  • Bernard Cornwell

    • The Sharpe series
      • Sharpe’s Tiger
      • Sharpe’s Triumph
      • Sharpe’s Fortress
      • Sharpe’s Trafalgar
      • Sharpe’s Prey
      • Sharpe’s Rifles
      • Sharpe’s Havoc
      • Sharpe’s Eagle
      • Sharpe’s Gold
      • Sharpe’s Escape
      • Sharpe’s Battle
      • Sharpe’s Company
      • Sharpe’s Sword
      • Sharpe’s Enemy
      • Sharpe’s Honor
      • Sharpe’s Regiment
      • Sharpe’s Siege
      • Sharpe’s Revenge
      • Sharpe’s Waterloo
      • Sharpe’s Devil
      • Sharpe's Fury

       

  • Ted Dekker

    • The Circle series
      • Black
      • Red
      • White
      •  

  • Vince Flynn

    • The Mitch Rapp series
      • Term Limits
      • Transfer of Power
      • The Third Option
      • Separation of Power
      • Executive Power
      • Memorial Day
      • Consent to Kill
      • Act of Treason

       

  • C. S. Forester

    • The Horatio Hornblower series
      • Mr. Midshipman Hornblower
      • Lieutenant Hornblower
      • Hornblower and the Hotspur
      • Hornblower during the Crisis
      • Hornblower and the Atropos
      • Beat to Quarters
      • A Ship of the Line
      • Flying Colours
      • Commodore Hornblower
      • Lord Hornblower
      • Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies

       

  • Anne George

    • The Southern Sisters series
      • Murder on a Girls’ Night Out
      • Murder on a Bad Hair Day
      • Murder Runs in the Family
      • Murder Makes Waves
      • Murder Gets a Life
      • Murder Shoots the Bull
      • Murder Carries a Torch
      • Murder Boogies with Elvis

    Also by Anne George, but not in the series, is This One and Magic Life.

       

  • Elizabeth George

    • The Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers series
      • A Great Deliverance
      • Payment in Blood
      • Well-Schooled in MurderA
      • Suitable Vengeance
      • For the Sake of Elena
      • Missing Joseph
      • Playing for Ashes
      • In the Presence of the Enemy
      • Deception on His Mind
      • In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner
      • A Traitor to Memory
      • A Place of Hiding
      • With No One as Witness

         

  • E. Lynn Harris

    • The Invisible Life series
      • Invisible Life (1994)
      • Just As I Am (1994)
      • Abide with Me (1999)
      • A Love of My Own (2002)
    • The John Basil Henderson series
      • If This World Were Mine (1997)
      • Not a Day Goes By (2001)
      • Any Way the Wind Blows(2001)

    Note: Harris’s characters tend to appear in various books, moving between series.

     

  • Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

    • The Morland Dynasty series
      • Founding
      • Dark Rose
      • Princeling
      • Oak Apple
      • Black Pearl
      • Long Shadow
      • Chevalier
      • Maiden
      • Flood-Tide
      • Tangled Thread
      • Emperor
      • Victory
      • Regency
      • Campaigners
      • Reckoning
      • Devil’s Horse
      • Poison Tree
      • Abyss
      • Hidden Shore
      • Winter Journey
      • Outcast
      • Mirage
      • Cause
      • Homecoming
      • Question
      • Dream Kingdom
      • Restless Sea
      • White Road

     

  • Dee Henderson

    • The O’Malley series
      • Danger in the Shadows
      • The Negotiator
      • The Guardian
      • The Truth Seeker
      • The Protector
      • The Healer
      • The Rescuer
    • The Uncommon Heroes series
      • True Devotion
      • True Valor
      • True Honor
      • True Courage
    •  

  • Jan Karon

    • The Mitford series
      • At Home in Mitford
      • A Light in the Window
      • These High, Green Hills
      • Out to Canaan
      • A New Song
      • A Common Life: The Wedding Story
      • In This Mountain
      • Shepherds Abiding
      • Light from Heaven

    Other titles by Jan Karon not in the Mitford series include Patches of Godlight, The Mitford Snowmen, and Esther’s Gift.

     

  • Stephen King

    • The Dark Tower series
      • The Gunslinger
      • The Drawing of the Three
      • The Wastelands
      • Wizard and Glass
      • Wolves of the Calla
      • Song of Susannah
      • The Dark Tower

       

  • Karen Kingsbury

    • The Firstborn series
      • Fame
      • Forgiven
      • Found
      • Family
      • Forever
    • The Forever Faithful series
      • Waiting for Morning
      • Moment of Weakness
      • Halfway to Forever
    • The Redemption series
      • Redemption
      • Remember
      • Return
      • Rejoice
      • Reunion
    • The Red Gloves series
      • Gideon’s Gift
      • Maggie’s Miracle
      • Sarah’s Song
      • Hannah’s Hope
    • The Sunrise Series
      • Sunrise
      • Summer
    • The 911 series
      • One Tuesday Morning
      • Beyond Tuesday Morning
    • The Women of Faith Club series
      • A Time to Dance
      • A Time to Embrace
    • The Cody Gunner series
      • A Thousand Tomorrows
      • Just Beyond the Clouds
    • The Lost Love series
      • Even Now
      • Ever After

     

  • Tim LaHaye

    • The Babylon Rising series
      • Babylon Rising
      • The Secret on Ararat
      • The Europa Conspiracy
      • The Edge of Darkness
    • The Left Behind series
      • Left Behind
      • Tribulation Force
      • Nicolae
      • Soul Harvest
      • Apollyon
      • Assassins
      • The Indwelling
      • The Mark
      • The Desecration
      • The Remnant
      • Armageddon
      • Glorious Appearing

     

  • Louis L’Amour

    • The Sackett series
      • Sackett’s Land
      • To the Far Blue Mountains
      • The Warrior’s Path
      • Jubal Sackett
      • Ride the River
      • The Daybreakers
      • The Courting of Griselda
      • Lando
      • Sackett
      • Booty for a Badman
      • Mojave Crossing
      • The Sackett Brand
      • The Sky-Liners
      • The Lonely Man
      • Mustang Man
      • Galloway
      • Treasure Mountain
      • Ride the Dark Trail
      • Lonely on the Mountain

     

  • Robert Ludlum

    • The Bourne series
      • The Bourne Identity
      • The Bourne Supremacy
      • The Bourne Ultimatum

     

  • Alexander McCall Smith

    • The 44 Scotland Street series
      • 44 Scotland Street
      • Espresso Tales
    • The Isabel Dalhousie series
      • The Sunday Philosophy Club
      • Friends, Lovers, Chocolate
      • The Right Attitude to Rain
    • The Precious Ramotswe series
      • The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
      • Tears of the Giraffe
      • Morality for Beautiful Girls
      • The Kalahari Typing School for Men
      • The Full Cupboard of Life
      • In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
      • Blue Shoes and Happiness

     

  • Larry McMurtry

    • The Berrybender Narratives
      • Sin Killer
      • The Wandering Hill
      • By Sorrow’s River
      • Folly and Glory

     

  • Patrick O’Brian

    • The Master and Commander series
      • Master and Commander
      • Post Captain
      • H. M. S. Surprise
      • The Mauritius Command
      • Desolation Island
      • The Fortune of War
      • The Surgeons Mate
      • The Ionian Mission
      • Treason’s Harbour
      • The Far Side of the World
      • The Reverse of the Medal
      • The Letter of the Marque
      • The Thirteen Gun Salute
      • The Nutmeg of Consolation
      • The Truelove
      • The Wine-Dark Sea
      • The Commodore
      • The Yellow Admiral
      • The Hundred Days
      • Blue at the Mizzen

     

  • James Patterson

    • The Alex Cross series
      • Along Came A Spider
      • Kiss the Girls
      • Jack & Jill
      • Cat & Mouse
      • Pop Goes the Weasel
      • Roses Are Red
      • Violets Are Blue
      • Four Blind Mice
      • The Big Bad Wolf
      • London Bridges
      • Mary, Mary
    • The Women’s Murder Club series
      • 1st to Die
      • 2nd Chance
      • 3rd Degree
      • 4th of July
      • The 5th Horseman

     

  • Kathy Reichs

    • The Temperance Brennan series
      • Deja Dead
      • Death Du Jour
      • Deadly Decisions
      • Fatal Voyage
      • Grave Secrets
      • Bare Bones
      • Monday Mourning
      • Cross Bones
      • Break No Bones

     

  • Francine Rivers

    • The Lineage of Grace series
      • Unveiled
      • Unashamed
      • Unshaken
      • Unspoken
      • Unafraid
    • The Mark of the Lion series
      • A Voice in the Wind
      • An Echo in the Darkness
      • As Sure as the Dawn
    • The Sons of Encouragement series
      • The Priest
      • The Warrior
      • The Prince

     

  • Ann B. Ross

    • The Miss Julia series
      • Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind
      • Miss Julia Takes Over
      • Miss Julia Throws a Wedding
      • Miss Julia Hits the Road
      • Miss Julia Meets Her Match
      • Miss Julia School of Beauty
      • Miss Julia Stands Her Ground

    Also by Ann B. Ross, but not in the series, is The Pilgrimage

     

  • J. K. Rowling

    • The Harry Potter series
      • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
      • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
      • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
      • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
      • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
      • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince