By Will Morris

The holiday season is in full swing at Rowan Public Library and a short visit to the New Fiction section shows it. Drop in to any of our four locations (Salisbury, Rockwell, China Grove or Cleveland) and you’ll encounter a range of seasonal delights among the new arrivals.

You might be interested in “Christmas with the Queen,” by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb. This historical novel set in 1950s Britain tells the story of a star-crossed romance between characters Jack and Olive, both of whom are moved, in different ways, by Queen Elizabeth II’s first holiday address to the nation as monarch. Fans of the early seasons of Netflix’s “The Crown” will find a lot of familiar themes in this book.

If you prefer something less traditional, you might check out Erin Sterling’s “The Wedding Witch.” This novel focuses on an arcanist, a collector of magical secrets, who stumbles into an adventure with a client. Oh, and they might just fall in love along the way. With its mix of magic, holiday shenanigans and time travel (yes, you read that right), this cozy romance is sure to warm you up this winter.

For a holiday read of the slightly more somber, but no less fulfilling, variety, might I suggest Taylor Hahn’s “A Home for the Holidays?” When main character Mel gets a phone call shortly before Christmas informing her that her mother has died, she goes on a journey of discovery about a side of her family she never knew. It is a thoughtful meditation on grief and family, a reminder to hold those you love close every time of year, but especially around the holidays.

In addition to these titles, the library has new holiday books on the shelf by several community favorite authors. Donna Andrews, Debbie Macomber, Fern Micheals, Linda Lael Miller all have holiday books that just joined the collection. When in doubt, ask a library staff member what they recommend. We are always happy to help.

If you are keen on books of a more gift-wrapped nature, RPL’s annual Twelve Gifts of Reading event is going on until Dec. 21. Come to any branch and you can check out a bundle of twelve-themed children’s books. RPL staff hand-picked each book, expertly wrapped them, bowed the bundles with care and filled the whole batch with cheer. Young library users will delight in the joy of unwrapping one book a day — and adults can have a good time with it, too.

When planning your library visit this time of year, please note that RPL branches will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 19, for staff development, but will be open for regular library hours on Friday, Dec. 20. All branches will also be closed for the holidays from Tuesday, Dec. 24 through Thursday, Dec. 26. Normal library hours will resume on Friday, Dec. 27.

Come to your nearest RPL branch for a touch of holiday cheer. For more information about other new holiday treats in RPL’s collection, go to www.RowanPublicLibrary.org or call 980-432-8670.