SantaThing and

Interested in a Secret Santa for books?

SantaThing is a Secret Santa for LibraryThing members.

How it works

You pay into the SantaThing system (choose from $15–$50). You play Santa to a LibraryThing member we pick for you, by selecting books for them. Another Santa does the same for you, in secret. LibraryThing does the ordering, and you get the joy of giving AND receiving books!

Sign up once or thrice, for yourself or someone else. If you sign up for someone without a LibraryThing account, make sure to mention what kinds of books they like, so their Santa can choose wisely.

Even if you don’t want to be a Santa, you can help by suggesting books for others.

Sign-ups close MONDAY, December 1st at 9pm Eastern. By Tuesday morning, we’ll notify you via profile comment who your Santee is, and you can start picking books.

Picking closes Monday, December 8th at 12pm Eastern. As soon as the picking ends, the ordering begins, and we’ll get all the books out to you as soon as we can.

» Go sign up to become a Secret Santa now!

 

 
 Penguin Random House to Give Away Books on Giving Tuesday

Penguin Random House’s employees will be giving out free books on Giving Tuesday, December 1 as part of its #GiveaBook social media campaign, in which the publisher is donating a book to "First Book" for every tweet with the hashtag #GiveaBook, up to 35,000 times.

Tweet to provide kids with books!

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Guest Post - Jean Flowers

I am tickled to have Jean Flowers today for the post.  Jean Flowers is a new name, but it is a pen name for Camille Minichino, who has published over 20 novels and many short stories and nonfiction articles.
 
As Camille Minichino, she's published Periodic Table Mysteries, featuring retired physicist Gloria Lamerino GLORIA LAMERINO. I reviewed one of these and highly enjoyed it (click here.)
 
As Margaret Grace, she writes the Miniature Mysteries, featuring miniaturist Geraldine Porter and her 11-year-old granddaughter, Maddie. The 8th in the series, Manhattan In Miniature was released in April 2015.

As Ada Madison, she's published the Professor Sophie Knowles Mysteries, featuring college professor Sophie Knowles.  I reviewed The Square Root of Murder (click here).

As Jean Flowers, Camille is launching a new series, The Postmistress Mysteries. The first, Death Take Priority, debuted Nov 2015.

I was blessed early on interview Ms. Minichino (click here.)

Please welcome her!

The US Postal Service:

I've been a fan of the US Postal Service since I was a kid. It could have been the uniforms that got my attention. In my working class neighborhood, uniforms were a rarity. The men, most of them laborers like my father, wore nondescript "work clothes," usually in olive drab or khaki; the women wore housedresses and aprons.

The mailman, however, wore a snazzy blue-grey outfit with an Eisenhower-style jacket—banded waist, two pleated-patch breast pockets, and buttoned cuffs. The round patch on the sleeve, of a pony express delivery, couldn't have been cooler. A matching safari-style hat topped it off. What was not to like?

My sixth-grade teacher also contributed to my interest when he assigned a special project: we were to write a "business letter" and ask for information through the mail. The who and the what were wide open, leaving us to our own imaginations. (Thanks for that, Mr. D.)

I'd certainly never been on an airplane, but for some reason I chose to send a request to an airline for information about becoming a stewardess. Pre-Google, who knows where I got the address of an airline? The important thing is that it was my first foray into research and it worked! I still remember the package that arrived a couple of weeks later—the requisite application forms, with my name and address on the large envelope! Colorful pamphlets toppled out also, all showing the glamorous life of a waitress at thirty-thousand feet. I took the package to school and impressed all my friends.

After that, I couldn't be stopped. I sent away for all kinds of things, just to receive letters or packages with my name on them. "Send for more information" was an invitation I never refused. As a result, I acquired such items as brochures from the army, kits for home improvement, pamphlets on family health, and brochures for colleges and universities all over the world. When the pen pal craze hit, I was there!

Since that time, I've had many jobs, from research physicist to novelist, but one of my proudest tenures was with the USPS as a temporary sorter during my holiday vacations from college. My only regret was that I didn't get to wear the uniform.

My latest tribute to the men and women in whom we put our trust to take care of our communications is my new series: the Postmistress Mysteries.

Meet Cassie Miller, Postmistress in a small town in western Massachusetts. She wears the now red-white-and-blue uniform proudly. She has mail to deliver and crimes to solve!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank you Camille (Jean).  I found that interesting and a good reminder of how important our mail is.

Have you seen the 2016 Create Your Shining Year Life & Business workbooks and NEW weekly planner? 

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2016 Calendar and Planner for YOUR Best Year

 

I discovered these calendar/planners last year and loved them.  So I am sharing them again with you.  I love the bright colors and exuberant drawings.  It is joyous and affirming, while guiding you to define your vision for the year and make it happen.   Ordering has begun, so get yours while supplies last.  (CLICK HERE TO ORDER)

“The 2016 Create Your Shining Year Biz & Life workbooks and brand spankin’ new weekly planner are incredibly popular & useful tools to help you plan out & make happen your most incredible year in life or business (or both!).

Over the last seven years, thousands of women have used these goals workbooks with the most amazing results. It’s the best planning tool available to help you make your year your most exceptional yet!

Used by entrepreneurs, artists, mamas, creatives, coaches, teachers and women of all ages, the Creating Your Shining Year workbooks + daily planner are filled with powerful worksheets to help you create your amazing new year.”

 HERE'S TO YOUR BEST SHINING YEAR.  ENJOY!

Review - Claws for Alarm

I reviewed the first book in this series, Meow if it's Murder (click here), and the author did a guest post for us (click here.)  I was looking forward to this next installment in the series.  So let's see what else Nora and cat sidekick Nick investigate.   

Author: T.C. LoTempio

Copyright: Nov 2015 (Berkley) 291 pgs

Series: 2nd in Nick and Nora Mystery series

Sensuality: N/A

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy Mystery

Main Characters: Nora Charles former crime reporter, now a small business owner

Setting: modern day, Cruz, California

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review


Nora's sister Lacey is arrested and Nora runs to her side, determined to uncover the real killer.  The murder victim, an esteemed art collector and Lacey’s bullying professor, was stabbed in the heart. The police believe Lacey killer her professor over a low grade and heated argument...of course Lacey being found over the dead body holding the knife didn't help.  There are plenty of suspects from his ex-wife and gambling son, trophy wife who isn't weeping over his death, perhaps a scorned student mistress, over somebody else.  To complicate things, the lead detective is Leroy Samms, a brief fling of Nora's from college.   

Nora shows a more stubborn side in this outing as she races against the clock to clear her sister when the DA is rushing to arraign her for murder.  Lacey and Nora aren't "close" sisters and this ordeal will either make them closer or farther apart.  Detective Leroy Samms, the college fling who is repeatedly telling Nora to stop asking questions or generally being involved.  This gets old real quick.  Oliver, Ollie, Sampson a PI who helps Nora out occasionally joins her for a few scenes.  Aunt Prudence and long time friend Irene are the Odd Couple, bickering back and forth.  Detective Daniel Corleone doesn't get much time in the story, but does make a few cameo appearances.  This seems to be shaping up for a Samms vs Corleone for Nora (I'm team Corleone, declaring it now.)  Nick the cat is still the intuitive wonder, giving Nora clues via scrabble tiles or even torn pages.

Plot and Pacing The plot is standard for a cozy, providing a reason for her to get involved.  But the plot gets progressively more complex.  Nicely done. The pace keeps a steady rhythm and kept me interested.  The killer reveal had some delicious tense moments and the wrap up set the stage for two men vying for Nora. 

This is a delightful mystery with plenty of charm and spunk.  If you are looking for an entertaining light mystery, this is your book.

Rating:  Excellent - Loved it, it had a good grip on me! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list.


Two-Layer Pumpkin Bread
Go for two layers of pumpkin bread in one recipe. Our Double Decker Pumpkin Bread features great fall spices and a layer of cream cheese for the ultimate in fall baking.

It works great for breakfast or as a fall snack.

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees.
Next, grease the bottoms and a half an inch up the sides of two 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pans.  Then place 4 ounces (that's half an 8-ounce package of softened cream cheese) in a medium bowl and add a quarter cup of sugar.

Use an electric mixer set on medium to combine them then add an 8-ounce container of sour cream and 1 egg. Beat everything well then stir in 2 tablespoons of finely chopped crystallized ginger and set the mixture aside. Measure 3 cups of flour into a mixing bowl and then add 2 teaspoons of baking soda, 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, and a half teaspoon of salt. Mix it well and set it aside.

Next, measure 2 cups of sugar into a large bowl then add 4 eggs, one 15-ounce can of pumpkin, 1 cup of cooking oil, and a third cup of water with a mixer on low. Combine everything well.

Now begin to gradually add the flour mixture and beat it until the four is fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Spoon 1-1/2 cups of batter into each loaf pan. Divide the cream cheese mixture between the 2 pans, making sure to spread it out evenly. Evenly spread the remaining pumpkin batter on top of each cream cheese layer. Bake each loaf until a toothpick inserted into its center comes out clean. This will take about 60 to 70 minutes.

Cool the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes then remove the loaves from the pans. Place each loaf on a wire rack and allow them to cool completely. Wrap the loaves and store them in the refrigerator overnight before slicing them. Store any leftover double-decker pumpkin bread on the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

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Guest Post - Kate Carlisle

Besides the Bibliophile mysteries that I have reviewed on this blog, I reviewed the debut book of the new Kate Carlisle Fixer-Upper series, A High End Finish (click here), the second book This Old Homicide (click here), and third book Crowned and Moldering (click here) and we were honored to have two prior guest posts from the author: post 1 (click here) and post 2 (click here).  Ms. Carlisle is back to share another guest post with us.

History Buffs: You Will Tingle All Over

Kate Carlisle is the New York Times bestselling author of two ongoing mystery series—the Bibliophile Mysteries, and the Fixer-Upper Mysteries, the latter of which centers on Victorian home expert Shannon Hammer who renovates homes and investigates murder in quaint Lighthouse Cove, California. Smart. Funny. Murder!

Two months ago, when planning for the release of Crowned and Moldering, a Fixer-Upper Mystery, I decided to create a series of internet memes with wisdom from Victorian times. (Shannon Hammer, the heroine, is a Victorian home renovation expert living in present day California.) While searching for Victorian wisdom, I stumbled across something that made the history buff in me tingle all over: the British Newspaper Archive.

The British Newspaper Archive


Bless those Brits, they've digitized hundreds of years of newspapers and put them online, with searchable text! Admit it, you just got the tingles, too, didn't you? The British Newspaper Archive isn't free, but it only costs just under 13 pounds for a month (about $20, give or take), and they accept US credit cards. 

You can search by year, by city, by publication title, or any combination thereof. It's easy to get lost in reading these newspapers from another era. Pure pleasure!

Since I was specifically looking for Victorian wisdom, I limited my search to the time of Victoria's rule: 1837-1901. Although a lot has changed, you'll also be amazed by how much has not.



"[Athletics] are a constantly-increasing necessity in our urban centres, where the hours of confined and sedentary labour are gradually extending." – The Luton Times and Advertiser, 2 January 1855
"The fortunate in this world, who content themselves with helping the poor from a distance, scarcely realize all the trouble that must be gone through to obtain the least trifle when money is wanting." – Leeds Intelligencer, 24 March 1860

"Worry kills more people than work ever did, and most overwork is the work that is done because of the worry." – Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, 5 November 1898

The Victorians had a way with words, didn’t they?

If you enjoy a little learning with your mystery fiction, I hope you'll check out Crowned and Moldering.

Contractor Shannon Hammer works on plenty of hot properties but is about to tackle her first cold case...

When Mac Sullivan—famous thriller writer and Shannon's new beau—first moved to Lighthouse Cove, California, he bought the historic lighthouse mansion that is the town's namesake. Of course, Mac needs help returning the run-down place to its former glory, and Shannon is more than happy to get her handywoman hands busy. But the renovation grinds to a halt after the remains of a missing young woman are found.

Fifteen years ago, locals assumed Lily Brogan had simply run away. Now Shannon knows she must pry the right secrets and clues from Lily's problematic past, and bring the guilty to justice, before an old murder sparks a new killing...

You can read a free excerpt here: http://katecarlisle.com/crowned-and-moldering.php. Enjoy!

What search words would you want to look for in the British Newspaper Archive? Would you want to search a particular time period?

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
Kate Carlisle is the New York Times bestselling author of two ongoing mystery series—the Bibliophile Mysteries, and the Fixer-Upper Mysteries, the latter of which centers on Victorian home expert Shannon Hammer who renovates homes and investigates murder in quaint Lighthouse Cove, California. Smart. Funny. Murder! 

Thank YOU Ms. Carlisle.

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Review - Crowned and Moldering

This is the third in a new series.   I reviewed the debut book of the series, A High End Finish (click here), and the second book, This Old Homicide (click here), plus we were honored to have a guest post from the author (click here).  In the newest addition to the series, our lady renovation and construction owner gets to work on a historic lighthouse. 

Author: Kate Carlisle

Copyright: November 2015 (Signet) 336 pgs

Series: 3rd in Fixer-Upper Mystery series

Sensuality: kissing

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy Mystery

Main Character: Shannon Hammer, owner of restoration/renovation construction business

Setting: Modern day, Lighthouse Cove California (near San Francisco)

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review



When Mac Sullivan—famous thriller writer and Shannon’s new beau—first moved to Lighthouse Cove, California, he bought the historic lighthouse mansion that the town is named after. Mac needs help cleaning up the place, and Shannon is more than happy to get her handywoman hands on the run-down Victorian.

But during demolition, a grisly discovery is made among the debris—the bones of a teenage girl who went missing fifteen years ago. Locals had always assumed Lily Brogan ran away from her difficult life, but it seems her troubles followed her to the grave. If Shannon has any chance of getting her renovation back on track, she’ll need to tackle the cold case. But with new suspects coming out of the woodwork every day, she’ll have to be careful to pry the right secrets and clues from the poor girl’s problematic past…

Shanon gets nostalgic with the discovery of a girl's body she knew in high school and she exhibits some strong protective tendencies towards Mac's visiting niece.  Chief of Police Eric Jensen's character consults with Shanon to provide background on the beautiful Lily Brogan and the high school dynamics from when she disappeared.  His character is warming up a bit.  Crime Writer MacKintyre Sullivan continues to be my favorite choice with Shannon's romantic interest.  Mac shows more interest in Shannon and takes a more active role in this case since it happened on his new property.  Whitney Reid has been Shannon's arch nemesis continues to be a thorn in Shannon's side.  Callie, Mac's sixteen year-old niece is a delight and I am hoping for her return soon.  Sean, Lily Brogan's brother and Shannon's employee is a gentle giant type character that your heart goes out to in his grief.



Lighthouse Cove sparkles with details.  The lighthouse location is vividly portrayed with it's own secrets to uncover and the gardens at the nursery had me wanting to visit.  The plot of the cold case of an apparent run-away that was murder is solid and the resulting digging up high school memories ads to the mix.  Some great misdirection and twists keep the pacing moving nicely.  The killer confrontation/reveal was suspenseful but a tad too quickly over (give me more!)  The wrap up left me with a big smile.

This series continues to deliver varied and interesting characters with a mystery that keeps you guessing, lovely setting, and exciting resolutions.  This cozy series in like visiting old friends with each book.  I look forward to each addition.

Rating: Near Perfect - Couldn't Put it down. Buy two copies, one for you and one for a friend.



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