To our readers who celebrate from all of us at Reader’s Entertainment News
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah
There’s a Book for That: December Holidays
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” or so the song says. Indeed, merriment abounds in December as we gather for holiday parties and exchange gifts with friends, family, teachers and colleagues. Christmas trees, decorations and lights are beautifying city and town squares, lobbies and homes. There’s cookie baking, Latke-making and shipping galore! Menorah candles will be lit on the first night of Hanukkah, December 22nd and for eight days until December 30th. The excitement of children is infectious as stories and traditions of Christmas and Hanukkah are shared. To add to the holiday spirit, we offer the following festive titles for adults and kids:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella returns with a festive new Shopaholic adventure filled with holiday cheer and unexpected gifts.
No one could ask for a better present than a collection of Connie Willis Christmas tales. These are amazing stories, representing all the best of the Connie Willis experience: true Christmas gifts to her many fans. They are full of humor, absurdity, human foibles, tragedy, joy and hope. They both send up and embrace many of the best Christmas traditions, such as the Christmas newsletter, Secret Santas, office parties, holiday pageants, and Christmas dinners (both elaborate and spare). There are ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet To Come; debates over which is the best Christmas movie (Connie argues for the original Miracle on 34th Street, hands down); Rockettes; modern-day Magi; and the triumph of generosity over greed.
Melanie Trenholm should be anticipating Christmas with nothing but joy—after all, it’s the first Christmas she and her husband, Jack, will celebrate with their twin babies. But the ongoing excavation of the centuries-old cistern in the garden of her historic Tradd Street home has been a huge millstone, both financially and aesthetically. Local students are thrilled by the possibility of unearthing more Colonial-era artifacts at the cistern, but Melanie is concerned by the ghosts connected to the cistern that have suddenly invaded her life and her house—and at least one of them is definitely not filled with holiday cheer….
The bestselling author of A Wrinkle in Time reflects on themes such as advent, epiphany, faith, and wonder in this Christmas holiday classic.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CHRISTMAS DEMON by James Lovegrove
It is 1890, and in the days before Christmas Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson are visited at Baker Street by a new client. Eve Allerthorpe – eldest daughter of a grand but somewhat eccentric Yorkshire-based dynasty – is greatly distressed, as she believes she is being haunted by a demonic Christmas spirit. Holmes and Watson travel to the Allerthorpe family seat at Fellscar Keep to investigate, but soon discover that there is more to the case than at first appeared and when a member of the household is found dead, the companions realize that no one is beyond suspicion.
Including five new, never before published Christmas stories and the classic “Dave Cooks the Turkey,” this special collection from the Vinyl Cafe is Stuart McLean at his finest.
FOR YOUNGER READERS
’Tis the season for all of us to write our holiday wish lists. But everyone—even the crayons—know the best presents are the ones that you give. In this unique book, readers get to see how Duncan, the crayons, and their families celebrate the holidays. With real, folded letters from the Crayons that you can pull from their envelopes and read, games, punch-out ornaments, a poster, and a pop-up tree.
With dazzling images and engaging text, readers learn about the historical and cultural significance of Hanukkah and why it is celebrated around the world. From the lighting of the menorah to the special foods that are shared to the spinning of the dreidels, they’ll get insights about this holiday’s traditions and the Jewish faith. This book also offers fascinating facts, a recipe, and a Common Core-aligned activities.
Ebenezer Scrooge is a mean old man with no friends or family to love him – he’s just so miserable and bitter! One freezing cold Christmas Eve, Marley’s Ghost pays Scrooge a visit and an eerie night-time journey begins. The Christmas spirits are here to show Scrooge the error if his nasty ways. By visiting his past, present and future, will Scrooge learn to love Christmas and the others around him?
For many centuries young and old alike have been singing about the maids a-milking, the lords a-leaping, and a partridge in a pear tree. In this book, sumptuously illustrated by Jan Brett, all the splendid images of The Twelve Days of Christmas come joyously alive. Look closely and you’ll see not only the extravagant gifts given by a suitor to his lady, but a love story, a family’s busy Christmas preparations, “Merry Christmas” in eleven languages, and a veritable menagerie of charming creatures.
Lucy Latke’s family is just like yours or mine. Except that they’re potato pancakes. And also, they are completely clueless. After they light the menorah and gobble the gelt, Grandpa Latke tells everyone the Hanukkah story, complete with mighty Mega Bees who use a giant dreidel to fight against the evil alien potatoes from Planet Chhh. It’s up to the Latke family dog to set the record straight.
Wrap yourself in the warmth and joy of Christmas with this lyrical celebration of the holidays. With lush, classic art from your favorite yuletide Little Golden Books, this snowy winter wonderland—full of shimmering lights, warm gingerbread, and friendly carolers—will make the perfect addition to your holiday traditions.
Acclaimed author Emily Jenkins (A Greyhound, a Groundhog) and Caldecott Award-winning artist Paul O. Zelinsky (Rapunzel) bring the beloved All-of-a-Kind Family to life in a new format. Fans, along with those just meeting the five girls (“all of a kind,” as their parents say), will join them back in 1912, on the Lower East Side of NYC, and watch as preparations for Hanukkah are made.
In this time when immigrants often do not feel accepted, the All-of-a-Kind Family gives a heartwarming glimpse of a Jewish immigrant family and their customs that is as relevant—and necessary—today as when it was first written. Jenkins and Zelinsky’s charming compliment to Taylor’s series perfectly captures the warmth and family values that made the original titles classics.
With glorious illustrations by Caldecott-winning illustrator Roger Duvoisin accompanying Clement C. Moore’s classic text, this edition of The Night Before Christmas makes the perfect stocking stuffer and is just the right size to make a wonderful gift.
For more information on these and related titles visit December Holidays 2019
Martha Stewart’s Secrets to Baking Perfect Cookies (Recipes!)
The editors of Martha Stewart Living present a new, fun source for anyone looking to make their go-to cookies even better and bolder. These recipes make ordinary cookies absolutely extraordinary – all the familiar favorites you love, but taken up a notch in variety, flavor, and creativity. Two of the book’s most popular holiday-themed recipes – Glazed Spiced Snowflakes and Honey-Spice Gingerbread Townhouses – are featured below for easy access.
As part of her introduction to the book, Martha Stewart writes, “It is our belief that this book will open up for you, the home baker, a new realm of cookie perfection. We hope that once you bake one—pick your favorite or start with one of mine, Molasses-Ginger Crisps—you will bake many more, and that you will experiment with flavors and ingredients, trying every recipe in this book. We would love to see your cookies and for you to share your experiences, so be sure to post photos on social media—it will be fun for all of us to see how you’ve used this book and enjoyed these recipes.”
Clarkson Potter Senior Editor Jenn Sit brought her valuable perspective and editorial expertise to this project, commenting, “In a gorgeous package just in time for holiday gift-giving, Martha’s newest book delivers exactly what her readers love from her: obsessively tested, never-fail baking recipes that look as spectacular as they taste. The collection has the perfect combination of classic, modern, and whimsical delights, and with her famous test kitchen standing behind every recipe as always, fans know they can reach for these treats with confidence, whether to impress guests or whenever the craving strikes.”
Glazed Spiced Snowflakes
Makes 7 Large, 12 Medium, and 36 Small Cookies
FOR THE COOKIES:
- 3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
FOR THE GLAZE:
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 1/4 cup whole milk, plus more if needed
- 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Make the cookies: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. In another large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium-high, beat butter with brown sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add half the flour mixture, then 1/3 cup water, then remaining flour mixture, beating on low after each addition until just incorporated. Shape dough into 3 disks and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
- Working with one disk at a time, roll out to 1/4‑inch thickness on lightly floured parchment. Cover with a doily and gently roll to make an imprint. (Dough should now be about 1/8 inch thick.) Remove doily and freeze dough until firm, about 15 minutes.
- Using a 5-inch snowflake-shaped cutter, cut snowflakes from one disk. Cut remaining dough disks using 3-inch and 1 1/2‑inch snowflake-shaped cutters. Chill and reroll scraps. Arrange large cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and medium and small cookies together on another; freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325°F. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until cookies are set around edges, 16 to 18 minutes for large, 12 to 14 minutes for medium and small. Transfer sheets to wire racks and let cool completely.
- Make the glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together confectioners’ sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. If necessary, add more milk, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, until glaze is slightly thicker than cream. Dip each cookie, imprint side down, into glaze, tilting to evenly coat. Transfer to rack until glaze is set, about 10 minutes. (Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.)
Honey-Spice Gingerbread Townhouses
Makes 1 Dozen
A fragrant gingerbread cookie is the basis for these elegant and impressive townhouses. The dough is sweetened with honey and spiced with warm ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Since the flavor of gingerbread cookies improves over time, these can be displayed during the holidays and are perfect for gifting. When decorating the townhouses, remember to squeeze the pastry bag with one hand and use the other hand to guide the tip.
- 5 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 4 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup honey
- 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
- Royal Icing (recipe below)
- Fine sanding sugar, for decorating
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking soda, and spices. In another large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium-high, beat butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then honey and molasses. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture until well combined. Divide dough into 3 pieces, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm but still pliable, about 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Working with a third of dough at a time, roll out to 1/4‑inch thickness on generously floured parchment. Brush off excess flour, transfer dough on parchment to a baking sheet, and freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.
- Use the townhouse templates (page 247 of Martha Stewart’s Cookie Perfection) or 6-inch-tall house-shaped cutters to cut out 12 cookies. Transfer houses to parchment-lined baking sheets. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. Bake cookies 6 minutes. Remove sheets from oven and tap firmly on counter to flatten cookies. Return to oven, rotating sheets, and bake until cookies are crisp but not darkened, 6 to 8 minutes more. Transfer sheets to wire racks and let cool completely.
- Transfer icing to a pastry bag fitted with a fine plain tip (such as Ateco #1) or a closed star tip (such as Ateco #13). Pipe designs on cookies, then immediately sprinkle with sanding sugar; tap off excess. Let cookies stand at room temperature until set, at least 2 hours, and preferably overnight. (Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.)
Royal Icing
Makes About 2 Cups
1 pound (4 cups) confectioners’ sugar, sifted, plus more if needed 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon meringue powder In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on low, beat confectioners’ sugar, meringue powder, and scant 1/2 cup water until smooth and opaque white, about 7 minutes. If icing is too thick, add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, beating until icing has the consistency of glue; if too thin, continue beating icing 2 to 3 minutes more, or add more sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Use immediately, or refrigerate in an airtight container up to 1 week; stir well with a flexible spatula before using.
Classic recipes discover new life with unexpected twists such as Brown-Butter Crinkle Cookies and Carrot Cake Thumbprint Cookies. Go over-the-top in super-sized fashion with Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookies; get inspired by cultures around the globe with Brazilian Wedding Cookies and Stroopwafels; and celebrate with beautifully decorated holiday treats, such as Easter Egg Puzzle Cookies and Snowball Truffles. Whether for a special celebration or a sweet anytime-treat, you’ll be sure to find inspiration to trade in your everyday cookies for versions far more special—and especially delicious.
4 Finance Books That Will Help You Afford More Books
4 Finance Books That Will Help You Afford More Books
By guest blogger Booke Chaplan
Many people are struggling financially, and it is possible that you’ve recently experience a few money issues that make it hard to even afford to go to the bookstore. While buying books should never feel like a luxury spend, it is also easy to feel guilty about a purchase when you know that you should be saving. Fortunately, you can look at your next purchase as an investment by checking out these four options that improve your understanding of good money management.
“The Wealthy Gardener” by John Soforic
If the thought of reading a dry textbook-style chapter on finances makes you squeamish, then this book might help to break you in to the subject. Soforic has written a unique finance book that describes how he became financially independent by the age of 50. He includes lessons that are written in a parable style that is very much like how a parent would talk to their child about money.
“Your Credit Score: How to Improve the 3-Digit Number That Shapes Your Financial Future” by Liz Weston
This book helps to break down the basics of what goes into your credit score. Not only does it show you how the financial decisions that you make affects your score, but it also shows you ways to improve it that you might not have thought about before. For instance, online loans make it possible for you to demonstrate your financial responsibility to future lenders. By making regular payments on these loans you can make your credit score go up. This book is full of helpful tips that can help you get an online installment loan with bad credit.
“The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey
This well-known financial guru has written yet another book that helps you get your finances back on track. It provides a step-by-step outline on the best ways to get a handle on your budget. From showing you where you need to focus on investing your money to simplifying things such as retirement planning, you’ll find a wealth of information that helps you begin to improve your personal finances. Keep in mind that this book also builds upon some of the concepts that he’s included in his other books. While you can read this as a standalone book, it also helps to put the information that he has shared over the years together.
“Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School” by Cary Siegel
If you are one of those people that has been making financial blunders since high school, then this book is going to help you begin to learn some basic skills that everyone should be taught. Sadly, the education system does not always focus on financial lessons enough, but Siegel is right there to help clear things up. There are 99 lessons packed into this book, and each one helps you begin to build for a stronger financial future.
You can turn your leisure time into more than just a guilty pleasure. By focusing on reading up on personal finance strategies, you can begin the process of finally feeling as though you have the financial freedom to truly enjoy your favorite hobbies.
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan
Book Review: “The Charlemagne Pursuit” by Steve Berry
Book Review: “The Charlemagne Pursuit” by Steve Berry
Review by MIKE PIHLMAN of TraceyReaderDad: Book Reviews
November 1971
Cotton Malone’s dad, Forrest, was commanding a top secret mission using a small top secret submarine, the NR-1A (aka the USS Blazek). There was a malfunction in the nuclear power plant, then a fire, then the sub disappeared…all on board were presumed dead.
Mission not Accomplished.
Present Day
Cotton Malone has spent his whole life wondering what happened to his dad, and has just received a document from his old boss in the Justice Department’s Magellan Billet, Stephanie Nelle, that, he hopes, can explain what happened so many years ago. But, before he got a chance to read it, two people attacked him in an attempt to get it.
One died. And the other one failed.
But, now, Cotton knows that other people want this document, and that he needed to turn on his special agent skills (which he keeps at bay as a bookseller in Copenhagen) so he can find out who wants this document, and why……and stay alive.
The document not only answers some of Cotton’s questions, it also, opens the door to many many more questions: Which can change human history and change our views of how ancient civilizations evolved.
Danger and murder follow as Cotton tracks down the people who want this document and one very powerful individual in government who wants Cotton dead.
“The Charlemagne Pursuit” is a great romp through history and around the world culminating in Antarctica! Lots of action, intrigue, and twists and turns. You’ll love it!
But……grab some tissue for the last few pages….you will need it. 
NEW BOOK IN DOG MAN SERIES BY AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR DAV PILKEY
Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, today announced the title of the new book in the worldwide bestselling Dog Man series. Dog Man: Grime and Punishment, a new installment in the critically-acclaimed series by Dav Pilkey, will be published on September 1, 2020. The forthcoming Dog Man novel, Dog Man: Fetch-22, releases today with a 5 million copy first printing.
Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls, published on August 13, 2019, debuted at #1 on the USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and The New York Times bestseller lists, and was the #1 bestselling book overall (children’s and adult books combined) in the U.S. for four straight weeks. Since the first Dog Man book was published in Fall 2016, the series has more than 26 million copies in print to date with 35 foreign language editions available. Dog Man: The Musical from Theaterworks USA, the musical adaptation inspired by the books, debuted this past summer at the Lucille Lortel Theater in New York City, and is currently touring in North America through next year.
Dav Pilkey, the Caldecott Honor-winning artist and #1 New York Times bestselling author, was recently named one of Fast Company magazine’s “Most Productive People.” Pilkey concluded his Dog Man “Do Good” Global Tour appearing at sold-out venues including arenas, theaters, schools, military bases, and libraries across the U.S. Inspired by the theme and characters in the Dog Man series, each large-scale event featured a charitable component benefiting local literacy and nonprofit organizations to highlight the importance of doing good and to inspire readers to make a positive impact in their communities. For the first time, Dav Pilkey also toured in Asia where he appeared at multiple events in China, Singapore, and India.
With its trademark humor and heart, Dog Man was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller, appealing to kids and critics alike. Publishers Weekly hailed Dog Man in a starred review, “Readers (of any age) will be giggling from start to finish.” Booklist, in a starred review, said “Pilkey has once again fired an arrow of joy straight at the fevered childhood psyche of millions of readers…an utter, unfettered delight.” Kirkus, also in a starred review, called Dog Man “riotously funny and original.” The Washington Post called Dav Pilkey “a rock star,” and the San Francisco Chronicle praised Dog Man as “hilarious, clever, and just right for kids of all ages.”
Dog Man follows the adventures of a lovable canine superhero who’s part dog and part policeman. With each Dog Man book, readers see the growth and development of the main narrators George and Harold through their comics. Their artwork, grammar, as well as their spelling improve as the series progresses. The series also explores universal themes and positive messages including empathy, compassion, striving to become a better version of one’s self, as well as the importance of doing good.
In addition to the Dog Man and Captain Underpants series, Dav Pilkey is the author and illustrator of over 60 books including The Paperboy which won a prestigious Caldecott Honor, Dog Breath which won a California Young Reader Medal, ‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving, God Bless the Gargoyles, and the Dragon series. When Dav Pilkey was in second grade, he was diagnosed with dyslexia and what is now widely known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Because of his learning and behavioral issues in school, he was often sent out in the hallway by his teachers. It was in his elementary school hallway where Dav created comic books about superheroes that eventually became Dog Man and Captain Underpants.
Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants series has more than 90 million copies in print worldwide and has been translated into more than 25 languages. In 2017, DreamWorks released the feature film adaptation of Captain Underpants featuring the voices of Kevin Hart (George Beard), Thomas Middleditch (Harold), and Ed Helms (Captain Underpants). Netflix also released The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants, an original television series inspired by the books.
For more information about Dav Pilkey and his books, visit www.scholastic.com/davpilkey or http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/davpilkey
Jimmy Kimmel’s Debut Children’s Picture Book Reminds Us to Be Silly in a Serious Way
This week’s Igloo Book Buzz selection is Jimmy Kimmel’s THE SERIOUS GOOSE(Random House Books for Young Readers), #1 on The New York Times Children’s Picture Books bestseller list. The late-night host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! wrote, illustrated and lettered his delightfully original, fun and funny picture book, challenging young readers to bring the silly out of a very Serious Goose, reminding us all to be silly in a very serious way.
Jimmy Kimmel
Photo credit: Molly McNearney
Kimmel’s daughter, Jane, was the inspiration for the book. “When she was about 2 years old, I’d call Jane ‘goose,’ and ask her if she’s going to be a serious or a silly goose,” says Kimmel. “And it just became a thing; it became her nickname.”
Kimmel adds, “When I was a kid, I wanted to draw comic books. So when you get a chance like this to use a dormant ability you’ve neglected, in a way it validates some expectation your parents had of you.”
Mallory Loehr, SVP & Publisher, RH, Golden, Doubleday & Crown, Random House Children’s Books, and Martha Rago, Executive Creative Director, Random House Children’s Books, worked with Kimmel on this project. Martha and Mallory said:
“The best picture books are those in which the art 
and text are seamlessly entwined. Jimmy seemed to know this instinctively. He was tireless in refining and perfecting the words and the drawings to make a perfect balance of the two. For someone known for his silly side he took this endeavor VERY seriously. His editor and art director were seriously awed!”
Kimmel’s proceeds from sales of THE SERIOUS GOOSE will be donated to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and children’s hospitals around the country.
Time Magazine Names SORA Reading App One of 2019’s Best Inventions
OverDrive Education’s student reading app Sora completed a record-breaking year as one of TIME’s 100 Best Inventions of 2019. This achievement illustrates the app’s exceptional originality and influence proven to inspire students to read more books.
The Sora app, which achieved record highs in 2019 in student usage, provides students anytime-anywhere access to ebooks and audiobooks from their school’s digital collection as well as their local public library. According to TIME, Sora “lets kids check out e-books and audiobooks in multiple languages as they would at a library, make notes as they read, and share those notes with their teacher or classmates.” In addition, “teachers can also track the time students spend reading,” which increases accountability and helps students overcome reading challenges and increase comprehension.
“Sora is fantastic for its ease of use, 24/7 accessibility, and option to seamlessly connect with public library collections,” said Jenny Takeda, District Librarian at Beaverton School District (Oregon). “With our district’s instructional mobile device program and the offline reading option, Sora enhances the choice reading component of our Language Arts curriculum and breaks down the walls of the physical library so all our students have access to current, engaging, and high-quality ebooks and audiobooks.”
To be considered for a Best Inventions honor, TIME solicited nominations across a variety of categories from editors and correspondents around the world, as well as through an online application process. Each contender, including Sora, was then evaluated on key factors, including originality, effectiveness, ambition and influence. The result: 100 groundbreaking inventions that are changing the way we live, work, play and think about what’s possible. The full list of TIME winners can be found here.
In addition, Sora was also a recipient of the 2019 Academics’ Choice Smart Media Award. The independent Academics’ Choice Awards program and its seal of excellence are recognized worldwide by consumers and educational institutions as a mark of genuinely effective learning tools that stimulate the mind and provide potential for the student to fully develop higher order thinking skills. The Academics’ Choice Advisory Board consists of leading thinkers and graduates from Princeton, Harvard, George Washington University, and other reputable educational institutions. The full list of winners is posted here.
The Sora app is available for participating schools’ students, faculty and staff to download through the Apple® App Store and Google Play™ Store, and on Chromebooks™ that support the Google Play Store. It is also available for use in web browsers at https://soraapp.com. For more information about Sora, visit http://meet.soraapp.com.
OverDrive Education is a division of Rakuten OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools worldwide. Rakuten OverDrive’s Libby app for public libraries was selected as one of TIME’s Best iPhone and Android Apps of 2018. To learn more about OverDrive Education, visit https://company.overdrive.com/education/.
New Mysteries and Holiday Reads
The Christmas Husband Hunt: Husband Hunters #4 Kate Moore
When a husband is needed by Christmas, a trusted slender volume for ensuring a merry match is indeed a gift! In this Regency delight from beloved, award-winning author Kate Moore, a spirited governess joins a gentleman spy on a daring mission: finding a mate for a jilted debutante—while drawing dangerously close to each other . . .
Behind her seemingly dependent role as an unpaid caretaker—of both children and dogs—Harriet Swanley has in fact astutely avoided a forced marriage. But hers is not the only secret under wraps: Charles Davenham is working covertly to unmask a Russian agent—until the younger sister he’s always protected comes to him, recently rejected and clutching The Husband Hunter’s Guide to London. The little handbook would be a godsend—if only the distraught girl didn’t mangle all of its good advice! If Harriet can help Charles find a love match for his sibling, perhaps, in this season of good tidings, a long-buried attraction can set their own hearts aflame.
Praise for The Husband Hunter’s Guide to London
“Appealing protagonists and a slow simmering romance. An ideal choice for fans of traditional Regencies who enjoy the occasional dash of mystery.” –Library Journal
You can purchase THE CHRISTMAS HUSBAND HUNT at:
Kensington Books
Murder With Cherry Tarts: A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery #4 Karen Rose Smith
In Pennsylvania’s Amish country, Daisy Swanson has a tea shop to run, a daughter to marry off—and a murder to solve . . .
Daisy’s worried one of her employees at Daisy’s Tea Garden may be in a spot of trouble. Lately Karina’s been loading up on soup and second-day baked goods at the end of her shift—and while the shop’s scrumptious treats may be hard to resist, Daisy suspects there’s more going on, especially since Karina has been seen hanging out in a rundown part of Willow Creek.
Planning her own daughter’s wedding is enough to keep her busy, but Daisy can’t help feeling a protective maternal instinct—and an instinct to investigate. It turns out Karina has been helping a down-on-his luck single dad who’s been making ends meet—barely—by selling antiques at a place called Pirated Treasures.
But when an employee at the antiques store is bludgeoned to death with a marble rolling pin, Karina’s new friend is suspect number one. Though the motives are muddy and steeped in intrigue, Daisy is more than determined to flush the real killer out.
Includes delicious recipes!
You can purchase MURDER WITH CHERRY PIE at:
Kensington Books
Murder At The Arts And Crafts Festival: A Cleo Mack Mystery G.P. Gardner
It’s late March in Fairhope, Alabama, and artists from around the country are flocking to the bayside town’s Arts & Crafts Festival. The annual tradition has something for everyone, only this year, the main attraction is murder . . .
Cleo Mack’s life has been a whirlwind since she inadvertently became the executive director of Harbor Village, a retirement community bustling with energetic seniors. Juggling apartment sales, quirky residents, and a fast-moving romance is tricky business. But on-the-job stress develops a new meaning when Twinkle Thaw, a portrait artist known to ruffle a few feathers, arrives unannounced for the weekend’s festival and drops dead hours later—mysteriously poisoned . . .
Twinkle’s bizarre death doesn’t seem like an accident. Not with a sketchy newcomer slinking around town and a gallery of suspects who may have wanted her out of the picture for good. As Cleo brushes with the truth, she soon finds that solving the crime could mean connecting the dots between a decades-old art heist and an unpredictable killer who refuses to color inside the lines . . .
You can purchase MURDER AT THE ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL at:
Kensington Books
The Vanishing Angle: A Will Novak Novel #5 Linda Ladd
A Day On The Water
A lazy cruise up the Atlantic Coast is all ex-Navy SEAL turned private investigator Will Novak has in mind until thugs ambush him. Novak is kidnapped, drugged, and hauled out of town…
A Night In The Country
Taken to a horse farm deep in Virginia, Novak finds himself at the center of the most dangerous kind of family affair. Irina Blackwood, pregnant and desperate, begs for Novak’s help to escape. All that stands in their way is her adoptive father—retired Senator Charles Blackwood, one of the most ruthless power brokers in the nation.
A Run From The Money
Given his tastes for espionage, drug trafficking, and corruption, Blackwood’s not interested in a fair fight. And with the police on the payroll and a private gang ready to set Novak up for murder, the odds of justice prevailing—or Novak surviving—are getting slimmer by the minute…
Praise for Linda Ladd’s Claire Morgan Thrillers
“One of the most creepy, crawly, and compelling psychological thrillers ever.” —Fresh Fiction
You can purchase THE VANISHING ANGLE at:
Kensington Books
Sauvigone For Good: The Wine Trail Mysteries #4 J.C. Eaton
Can Norrie stop a murderer’s reign of terror?
The descent of winter on the Finger Lakes means it’s time for the Wine Trail Association’s Chocolate and Wine Extravaganza. Unfortunately, for screenwriter-turned-reluctant vintner, Norrie Ellington, her Two Witches Winery is co-hosting the festivities. Norrie’s duties include wrangling the three international chocolatiers featured at the event—bitter rivals and industry influencers who can make or break Two Witches.
But the heated competition among the celebrity confectioners soon spills out of the professional arena, and before the Extravaganza is over, one of the cocoa pros is dead, last seen sipping a Two Witches’ Cabernet Sauvignon. With spirits souring at the Extravaganza and her winery on the line, Norrie must hustle to find the uncorked killer before Two Witches’ reputation is crushed once and for all.
You can purchase SAUVIGONE FOR GOOD at:
Kensington Books
4 Inventive Ways to Display Your Favorite Books
4 Inventive Ways to Display Your Favorite Books
By Guest Blogger Lizzie Weakley
Great books deserve to be on display. Whether you own twenty books or a hundred, try these tips to make your collection really shine.
Sort Your Books by Color
One quick way to revolutionize your bookshelf is to re-sort your books by color. Sure, alphabetical is easier to work with, but it’s only necessary if you work in a library.
Start by grouping your books based on their color schemes. Then, decide if you want to arrange your books in a rainbow. You could also alternate colors on each shelf to create bold visual stripes. Try using black or gray books as section dividers, and don’t forget to pay attention to the color of the text on the spine.
Find Unique Shelving Methods
The shelves that you use have a huge impact on your book display. Ordinary bookshelves are useful, but they aren’t always visually fun. Look for shelving ideas that are unique, elegant, and interesting.
Try using floating shelf brackets to make it look like your books are hovering in the air. To get the greatest impact, place the shelf below a light source; the shadow underneath your book will make them pop out from the wall.
Face Your Books a Different Way
The traditional way to store books is to line them up spines-out. This protects the interior pages and lets you quickly tell which book is which.
There’s nothing wrong with this method, but you can spruce things up a little by selectively rotating your favorite titles. Stack some of your books horizontally instead of vertically. Find books with great covers, and face these ones outward. If you create an artful mix of vertical, horizontal, and outward-facing books, your bookshelf will be significantly more visually interesting.
Add Decorative Items to Your Bookshelf
By now, your book collection should look like it came out of a magazine. Add the finishing touch by selecting a few decorative items to mix in with your book collection. Try statues, vases, figurines, or even clever bookends. Look for items that go with the colors in your room, or choose something that complements the cover of your favorite book.
Mix up where your decorative items are placed on each shelf. On one shelf, place an item at the end; on another shelf, put the item in the middle. Rearrange your display until it looks picture-perfect.
As you’re crafting a book display, remember that your favorite titles should be the center of attention. The books that you’ve read say a lot about you; create a display that shows off your personality.
