Review: By Book or By Crook by Eva Gates

Title: By BOOK or by CROOK

Author: EVA GATES

First in a new cozy series (A LIGHTHOUSE LIBRARY

MYSTERY)

Lucy Richardson left her cushy job of rare literature at the Harvard Library in Boston. Boston happens to be where most of her family lives which was more the reason why she needed to leave Boston and her future husband is the last reason she left Boston. She didn't want to marry him so she visits her Aunt Ellen in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the rest is history.

She is now assistant librarian at the Bodie Lighthouse Library on Bodie Island.

This month they are honoring Jane Austen Novels and have the rare books locked up in a cabinet. All manners of events are happening but the books are priceless. When one of the books is stolen at the grand opening of such an event this is a tragedy. When the library board president is found murdered it becomes all too real that someone might be a bit too much of a Jane Austen fan and not enough of a library fan.

Lucy lives on the second floor of the lighthouse library in her small apartment. She loves her career, her apartment and the best thing about the library is Charles the cat.  When strange things start happening Lucy isn't as spooked but when another Jane Austen Book is stolen then she gets downright mad.

This beautifully written cozy mystery with a setting to die for and any mystery lovers dream job is perfect reading for a summer, spring rain afternoon, deep in winter or the swirl of fall leaves.

A compelling mystery with interesting characters and I look forward to reading the next book in this delightful new series.

Eva Gates has penned a beacon of fun and I can't wait to read how te next plot thickens in this series.

Pamela *********

Review - Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsey

On Valentine's day 1900, young women from an Australian boarding school go on a picnic at the Hanging Rock.  3 Girls and a teacher disappear mysteriously.  A week later, a young man finds one of the girls on a ledge with no memory of the events.  

I had originally seen the movie based on this novel a few years ago and really enjoyed it.  It was a great mystery with no resolution and a hint that maybe something otherworldy may have occurred.  A pink mist, what may be visions or dreams, lack of any sign of the girls...these are all things that provide an atmosphere of the possibility of paranormal goings on.

And yet, the place was full of caves and crevices and certainly could have had a natural explanation for the disappearances.

The author says in the book that it doesn't matter whether it is based on a true story or not which I thought was amusing.  And the truth is, it doesn't.  The tale itself is very satisfying.

Terri

Review - You by Caroline Kepnes

This is a pretty disturbing book - a story of obsession, stalking and murder.  Joe is a seemingly innocent man to the outside world, but internally he is obsessive and delusional.  His obsession with college student, Beck is overwhelming.  You get a great insight into his thoughts and how they drive his actions in a way that is terrifying.  His manipulation of social media to spy on her and cover traces of his crimes makes you realize how vulnerable we are in the digital age.

The thing is, he presents himself well and normal to the world, covering up how incredibly dangerous he actually is.  The problem I had though, is that I didn't like ANY of the characters and that detached me from caring about his actions.  As much as he despised the pretentiousness of the people in Beck's life, he also was pretentious.  As a result, this book was much slower going than I expected and I am not sure I will read the next - Love.

Terri

• File Size: 2845 KB
• Print Length: 433 pages
• Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books (September 30, 2014)
• Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00IGVH9LI

Review: A Proper Tea by Johanna Isles

I love tea! And this book was a lot of fun. There was a lot of interesting history of tea, its' discovery in the West, how it came to be a tradition in England and other fun tidbits.

It was great at explaining different types of tea and how best to serve them. 

There was a story of the legend of the Willow Plate pattern china which is so popular. 

And BEAUTIFUL watercolor illustrations!  It is based on themes such as A proper tea, a nursery tea, a picnic tea, Tea in bed etc...  and each section is illustrated accordingly and has appropriate recipes for the theme.  Many traditional, some unusual -- A Black and White Tea and a Bizarre Tea for example.

Then of course, some great recipes -- it is a cookbook after all.

My favorites to try: Elegant Sugar Thins, Banana sandwiches, Cherry cake, Bengal Sandwiches and Cold Spiced Tea

Terri

• Hardcover: 95 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1 edition (October 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312651422
• ISBN-13: 978-0312651428

Review: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Death by Christine Wenger

Title: Diners, Drive-ins, and Death (A Comfort Food Mystery Series)

Author: Christine Wenger

Paperback Series

ISBN: 978-0-451-41510-3

US Price:7.99

Trixie Matkowski owns the Silver Bullet Diner, plenty of lake front property and cabins, a big Victorian home which she calls the "Big House", and what she doesn't own her best friend Antoinette Chloe Brownelli (ACB) for version of her name.

Anyway ACB has  bought some land to open a drive-in movie theater.

What the surprise was is that her missing beau Nick Brownelli is found murdered there. The worst happened an ACB is arrested for murder.

Trixie is trying to take care of her diner, the Miss Salmon Contest to which ACB set up but with her in jail there is a problem of hands on trouble. You see all the Miss Salmon contestants are staying at the (Big House), and on her land is also The Rubbers the Motorcycle Chefs that Nick rode with and are there for the services.

Topping all of this Sandy Harbor, New York, has laid claim to good looking Ty Brisco a Houston transplant and is the top local law enforcement. Trixie's ex-husband cheated she is not interested in Ty, he may be good looking, has a cute dimple, knows how to wear a pair of jeans and cowboy hat but no Trixie hasn't noticed.

Anyway when threats start happening, shady business deals, murders and eccentric characters chime in to this week Trixie thinks what more could go wrong? As it turns out plenty could and does go wrong.

This is a very entertaining series and the characters will make you die of love an laughter. I will read the series as long as Christine Wenger writes it. I give this book eight out of ten.

Pam

Daylight Savings Time

Good Morning,

Spring forward has begun. It has effected me in so many ways and here are but a few. I don't know when to get up and when to go to bed. Eating seems to lack luster since it feels too early or late to a meal at the proper time. I can't feel settled in and all the sudden I want to live in the past because the present is too difficult.

This is only day two of DST and I want to stop not knowing if I am coming or going. I know it will stop in a week or two and I'll laugh about how much I was upset over DST. You know this year is the worst year for this to affect me so badly. I feel it's because I have had such a bad health winter with being sick almost all winter that one more change is one too many.

Last week I had vertigo so bad I could get off the couch and out of my pj's  it was scary. Don't know what brought it on and I couldn't make it to the doctor as it was that bad.

So I am hoping all these things will work themselves out and will be doing better as soon as the spring is here and the flowers bloom. LOL... I know allergies and sinuses but at least I can get out and walk etc...

.

What is everyone reading? What was your favorite book you read in February?

Happy first Monday of daylight savings time.

Pam

Guest Blogger - Alice Duncan

Um…

February turned out to be a month filled with loss, with infinitely more mayhem than magic. Three people of whom I was fond died in February (well, four, if you count Leonard, Nimoy, and I certainly do). My cousin died. Pat Browning, a dear cyber-friend and longtime journalist died. But the one that got to me the most was when I learned of Wallace J. Swenson’s death.

Most of you have probably never heard of Wally Swenson, but if I have my way, the entire world will know about him and his wonderful books soon. I had the honor of editing three of his books for Five Star’s Frontier Fiction line: BUELL, PINE MARTEN, and CARLISLE. Wally had more books in the works (I believe they were all written, actually) and Five Star aims to publish them. I will be proud to edit as many books as Wally had lying around at the time of his death.

Wally’s dream was to be a published writer of western fiction. He didn’t rely on the Old West shoot-‘em-up myth, but told stories about people who felt like friends, and he put them into situations that might actually have occurred. Don’t know how many of you have seen “Deadwood” on TV, but that will give you an idea of how Wally’s books worked.

Well, Wally died before he could even hold his first published book, BUELL, in his hands. Broke my heart, as well as the hearts of his many friends and family members. Perhaps you have to have had a dream like Wally’s in order to truly appreciate what a cruel loss his death was. I still feel like crying.

Here’s the cover for BUELL, which will be published in August of this year:

Wally chose this photograph for the cover of his book, because he says this guy looks just like Buell, and I agree with him. Please buy this book when it comes out. You won’t be sorry. And it’ll be available electronically, too, so you don’t have to spend a bunch of money. The book itself is worth a bundle, but e-books are nice like that.

As for me, life goes on. I’ll be in touch with the winners of February’s contest, so they can tell me which of my books they want me to send them.

And for this month’s contest… um… well, I dunno. How about I give away a couple of copies of SPIRITS REVIVED, Daisy Gumm Majesty’s six-and-a-halfth adventure? If you’d like to enter my contest, please send me your name and home address in an e-mail to alice@aliceduncan.net

If you’d like to learn more about my books, please visit www.aliceduncan.net and if you’re really a sucker for punishment, check out my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/alice.duncan.925

Thanks!