"The Third Angel" by Alice Hoffman. Hoffman weaves a magical and stunningly original story that charts the lives of three women in love with the wrong men: Headstrong Madeleine Heller finds herself hopelessly attracted to her sister's fiancé. Frieda Lewis, a doctor's daughter and a runaway, becomes the muse of an ill-fated rock star.

And beautiful Bryn Evans is set to marry an Englishman while secretly obsessed with her ex-husband. At the heart of the novel is Lucy Green, who blames herself for a tragic accident she witnessed at the age of twelve, and who spends four decades searching for the Third Angel, the angel on earth who will renew her faith.

Brilliantly evoking London's King's Road, Knightsbridge, and Kensington while moving effortlessly back in time, "The Third Angel" is a work of startling beauty about the unique, alchemical nature of love.

"Girl with No Shadow" by Joanne Harris. Harris returns with an exquisite treat that continues the story begun in her novel, "Chocolat."

More than four years have passed since Vianne Rocher pitted her enchanted chocolate confections against the local clergy's interpretation of Lent in small town France; since then, Vianne has renounced magic, changed her name to Yanne Charbonneau and moved with her two daughters to Paris's Montmartre district.

There, Yanne embraces conformity and safety, much to the dismay of her increasingly troubled older daughter, Anouk. Harris again structures the narrative around a liturgical season (in this case Advent). Harris gives fans much to savor in this multilayered novel, from the descriptions to the novels classic, enduring theme of good vs. evil and the difficulty of telling the difference.

"Armageddon in Retrospect: And New and Unpublished Writings on War and Peace" by Kurt Vonnegut. The first and only collection of unpublished works by Kurt Vonnegut since his death is a fitting tribute to the author, and an essential contribution to the discussion of war, peace, and humanity's tendency toward violence.

Imbued with Vonnegut's trademark rueful humor, the pieces range from a visceral nonfiction recollection of the destruction of Dresden during World War II, an essay that is as timely today as it was then, to a painfully funny short story about three Army privates and their fantasies of the perfect first meal upon returning home from war, to a darker, more poignant story about the impossibility of shielding our children from the temptations of violence.

Also included are Vonnegut's last speech as well as an assortment of his artwork, and an introduction by the author's son, Mark Vonnegut. "Armageddon in Retrospect" says as much about the times in which we live as it does about the genius of the writer.

"Ladies of Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation" by Cokie Roberts. In "Founding Mothers," Cokie Roberts paid homage to the heroic women whose patriotism and sacrifice helped create a new nation. Now the renowned political commentator continues the story of early America's influential women with "Ladies of Liberty."

In her delightfully intimate and confiding style, Roberts presents a colorful blend of biographical portraits and behind-the-scenes vignettes chronicling women's public roles and private responsibilities. Recounted with the insight and humor of an expert storyteller and drawing on personal correspondence, private journals, and other primary sources, Roberts brings to life the extraordinary accomplishments of women who laid the groundwork for a better society.

From first ladies to freethinkers, educators to explorers, this exceptional group includes Abigail Adams, Margaret Bayard Smith, Martha Jefferson, Dolley Madison, Elizabeth Monroe, Louisa Catherine Adams, Eliza Hamilton, Theodosia Burr, Rebecca Gratz, Louisa Livingston, Rosalie Calvert, Sacajawea, and others.

"My Bag and Me!: Save a Bag, Save the Earth!" by Karen Farmer. Every child will love following along with "My Bag and Me" to see how they can help save our land and sea one bag at a time. In this simple and clever book, it's off to the store they go with their reusable bag, just like Mom and Dad.

They will be encouraged to shop for things that make our earth smile and when the shopping is done, they proudly hand over their bag and say, plastic no more! This is a sure way to teach even our young ones that they too can help make a difference. The book even includes a reusable bag just for them! (Ages 6 & up)

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Compiled by manager Susan Beck at The Book Seller, 107 Mill Street, Grass Valley, 272-2131. Hours are Mon. through Fri. 9:30 a.m. Ð 7 p.m., Sat. 9:30 a.m. Ð 5:30 p.m., and 11 a.m. Ð 4 p.m. Sunday.