Category: Books

If I had to pick my favorite genre, I would choose Mystery, and that's been pretty consistent since I read my first Nancy Drew story. I read a large variety of books, from romance to self-help to picture books and most things in-between, but I inevitably return to mysteries. While I was commenting on Melissa's Who? What? Where? post at My World...in words and pages the other day, I realized that my true love is even more narrow. I love mysteries set in small towns with they're eccentric set of characters, preferably not small-town America rather somewhere I'm not familiar with, solved by a detective or at least someone who's investigations make sense, like a reporter or doctor. Wicked Autumn by G. M. Malliet falls into that niche. It's set in the small English village of Nether Monkslip, which has a good variety of residents, from artists to yoga instuructors, writers and the typical busy-bodies. The vicar, Max Tudor, is our detective. I...

Not all books I enjoy are actually good. Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich falls into the category. I found it a fun, light-hearted romp, but I can't say "this book is so good - you need to read it," because honestly it's not and you don't. I listened to it on audio while running, doing laundry, walking the dog, and it was perfect for my purpose. This is the second in a series and I did read the first, well listened to it. The set up is that Lizzy, a baker, and Diesel, a man whose job it is to find things or people are on the search for a set of ancient relics representing the seven deadly sins. Also after them is Diesel's cousin, Gerewulf Grimorie, and the kicker is that all three are Unmentionables, people with enhanced powers. Lizzy for example can feel the magic in objects. Diesel and Wulf have all kinds of powers, including opening locks (Diesel)...

I love autumn! The leaves are just starting to change, the weather getting cooler but hasn't hit downright cold yet. It's also the perfect time of the year to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book. Here's what books showed up at my house over the past month or so. Mailbox Monday, was started by Marcia and is hosted on the Mailbox Monday blog this month. The Knight, The Princess and the Magic Rock by Sara Azizi from Wisdom Tales via NetGalley Saint Francis of Assisi by Demi from Wisdom Tales via NetGalley A King James Christmas edited by Catherine Schuon and Michael Oren Fitzgerald from Wisdom Tales via NetGalley Lady Louisa's Christmas Knight by Grace Burrowes from Sourcebooks via NetGalley Debt-Proof Your Christmas by Mary M. Hunt from Baker Publishing via NetGalley Something Red by Nicholas Douglas from Atria The Isaac Quartet by Jerome Charyn from the author Nikolas and Company: The Merman and the Moon Forgotten by Kevin McGill from the author Attorny-Client Privelege by...

I have mixed feelings about Into the Pumpkin by Linda Franklin. Here's the blurb: The fun of Halloween comes alive in this beautifully illustrated children's book. The drawings, done each year by the author on the eve of Halloween, follow various Halloween characters as they prepare to celebrate this mystical holiday -- pumpkins, witches, bats, ravens, black cats, scarecrows, spiders, ghosts, and more. Should they have their party in the graveyard or the pumpkin patch? Should they dress up or simply go as themselves? Take a ride on the witch's broom and enter the pumpkin for a magical trip both you and your kids will not soon forget. And it is a gorgeous book. I read a digital version, but even then you could see how lovely the illustrations are. They're full of fall colors, soft and muted, some are eerie, but not scary. It has a friendly spooky feeling, swirly and wispy. And the story is told in rhyme, which is appealing...