Twelve Books of Christmas by Kate Carlisle

 

Brooklyn and Derek plan a special Christmas Eve buffet with all the trimmings. The festive mood takes a twist when a phone call interrupts with an invitation to a wedding in Scotland. It should be a merry occasion, but the phone call ends with the news that twelve books have been lost or stolen from their library. These were first editions that would fetch a handsome price.

Off to Scotland at a moment's notice, with mom and dad tagging along. There’s lots going on in the castle in Scotland and so many people. So many suspicious people. I had to keep a cheat sheet to follow who was who, who knew what, and what their motive might be.

Lots of food, tons of drinks and planning for a wedding with little notice to anyone. There’s a lot to be learned about book binding and archery. There was just a lot going on with many people that made the missing books a small tidbit to deal with.

And then there’s murder. I was two-thirds through the book before the body was found.

The book provides an interesting description of a week among friends with some scary noises, bats and a weird librarian. Quite a mix.

I received an advanced reader copy from #Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Sugar Plum Poisoned by Jenn McKinlay

 

This was my first venture into the Fairy Tale Cupcakes series. I met Mel and Angie just before the arrival of Shelby, the star of the Christmas Show the girls are catering. Apparently there was some history because the heat of jealousy flared up quickly from Mel. Now the girls are sisters-in-law, so the why would probably be clear to me if I'd read the last fourteen books. In considering whether starting the series now would be a good idea, I have to consider my intake of cupcakes.  

The reading was enjoyable, although it did cause me to wonder whether it was a good idea for me to start baking cupcakes at all hours of the night. Irresistible delights were found on these pages. If only we had Fairy Tale Cupcakes in my town. I'd do my part to support them.

Encountering Doc early on, I knew he wouldn’t last long in this group. But with so many suspects clustered in one place, how to determine the one who did it? I thought I knew but then I didn’t and then there’s Christmas. 

I felt overwhelmed as the Christmas party guest list grew. Pulling it off while keeping all the traditions of all the guests was a project I wouldn’t attempt. I feared this Holiday dinner wouldn’t have a chance of success, something would have to go wrong. You’ll have to read it to find out.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for providing an unbiased review.

Where Evil Hides: A Bridget Bishop FBI Mystery Thriller Book 3 - Melinda Woodhall

This was a very well written thriller. I totally missed awareness of the villain's identity although I really watched those clues. It held my interest and I read every word, finishing in one afternoon (I'm a fast reader when a story grabs a hold of me).

The setting was enough but oh so cold, the characters were interesting enough and boy did she almost miss the boat (pun intended) on the potential love interest, but the story was great.

Who dunnit? I'll never tell. You'll need to read the book and find out for yourself. I highly recommend.

I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Paper Caper by Kate Carlisle

This was my first Kate Carlisle read in her series. It looks like I have a lot to catch up on since it's number sixteen. It worked wonderful as a stand alone book and I like that, when i can drop in anywhere in a series. Maybe I don't know all the history but if I enjoy it, like I did number sixteen, I can always go back and start at number one. 

I found the book binding information valuable. It brought out very clear images in my mind, to understand how it is done. I always love books with librarians, so interesting. 

And don't I love a strong, irritating antagonist, like Joseph's mother-in-law? No, not at all but very necessary to balance out the protagonist I'm rooting for. 

I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys a good who-dun-it, with a strong female sleuth. She's in a happy marriage and that's pleasant to read. Poison is my favorite way to kill off a problem, thanks Kate Carlisle for offering this great story.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lydia's Journey

 

I haven’t been blogging, I’ve been writing. Yesterday I submitted a short story to my first contest.

I’ve also been writing my first historical novel. In 1908, my grandmother gave birth to my father in a small Midwestern town. Her story intrigues me, a strong woman, she died before I was born.

I’ve been researching the time period and have discovered a multitude of interesting facts. I decided to write a story about the women of my family. They are not the leading characters in the story, rather Lydia and Sarah take on that role. A great aunt leaves Michigan for Wyoming in 1905. I want to write her story next.

I also added a few more characters to this one. I was inspired when I visited the town's genealogical library and learned of a horrific scandal taking place that year. A woman, dressed as a man, was going about with all the rights and privileges of a man. As if she had those rights too! How dare she?

My protagonist is Lydia. She has a fiery hot temper rivaled only by her blazing red hair. Her piercing green eyes take no prisoners. She is sick and tired of the social and economic injustice and is ready to do something about it.

Lydia's best friend is Sarah. The town librarian takes on the role of amateur sleuth when a murdered man dies on the steps of the postal station right after she gave him a stamp. Sticking her nose in where it doesn’t belong is just up her alley.

The Poe Predicament by Phil Thomas

I felt like I was visiting the early 19th century. The setting was very realistic, the research was exceptional. The attention to details of the environment were most interesting to me. The time-travel felt flawless, very believable.

I enjoyed the aspect of an alternate history of Edgar Allen Poe, funny hearing him called Eddie.

But it does have a horror feel to it, the settings and experiences, some of the people were pretty creepy. Getting close to Halloween, it's a scary story to be sure.

I did like his visit from another time-traveler at the end of the story. He met her in another time and then she visited him in this time. Nice finish.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain

 

This was a beautiful story. It broke my heart and then healed it again. The sixties brought blacks and whites to the streets, and it was ugly. The historic ugliness in the book is intercepted with a tender love story that ends with a broken heart.  Women grown and still holding onto a piece of the past. But the book ends with hope.

At times I wished the telling of the story would stay in the current era, 2010. The trails down 1965 were brutal at times and I didn’t want to go back there. However, it was necessary. We shouldn’t forget the reality of our history. The story was told well without any extraneous nonsense. This was a serious work about a serious subject.

There were parts that were hard to read, parts I had to skip over. I knew what happened, I was alive in those years I know what the kkk is about. The hard part for many of us is knowing that behind those masks were our relatives, ancestors and neighbors.

Kayla brings healing to the small community many years later. She doesn’t know that’s what she’s doing, by choosing to live in the house she and her husband built. But it was necessary, and her strength was necessary.

It’s a story I won’t soon forget. I’m glad I read it.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.