Review: The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny

by Carol8 Comments
The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny is fifth in the Inspector Gamache series, which I've been listening to in order, so, yes, it's revisiting a town, Three Pines, that I've grown to love and catching up with the characters I feel like I know, but beyond that it's about relationships and lies and greed and the power of words. "Chaos is coming, old son." The peace of Three Pines has once again been shattered by murder. A stranger's body is found in the bistro and Chief Inspector Gamache is called in, along with his team, to investigate. They soon discover that the man is a hermit who lives in the cabin in the woods surrounded by priceless antiques. There are several suspects, most new introductions to the series, but one, Olivier the bistro's owner, has been a main character from the first book. All of them are hiding secrets and lies, but which of them is the killer? What kills can’t be seen,...
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Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings

by Carol17 Comments
Dear Santa, I know you probably have your sleigh all packed and ready to go, and I'm sure you've got all kinds of goodies in there for me, but just in case you're looking for some last-minute ideas, here are some books I would love to see under the tree. Of course, I do love to see just about any book under the tree, or gift certificates for books, or book accessories, but that's beside the point. Brunetti's Cookbook by Roberta Pianaro The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco Tales of a Sixth Grade Muppet by Kirk Scroggs The Redbreast by Jo Nesbø The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me edited by Kate Bernheimer Little, Big by John Crowley Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini Buy Back by Brian M. Wiprud But I know I'll be thrilled with whatever I find Sunday morning. And don't worry, we'll leave cookies out for you. Love, Carol   Top...
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Review: “The Flying Stars” by G. K. Chesterton

by Carol3 Comments
"The Flying Stars" is one of Chesterton's mysteries featuring Father Brown. It's actually the first of these short stories I've read and I picked it up more because it's a Christmas mystery than to meet Father Brown, even though he is a character I'd like to read more of. The story takes place at an English manor home on Boxing Day. A young lady and the young man who lives next door are present, as is the girl's father, Colonel Adams, a newly arrived uncle and a quite rich godfather. Also present, in addition to the servants, simply because the Colonel likes his company is the local priest, Father Brown. The godfather has brought a gift for the young lady, a set of three gorgeous, large diamonds, which he has tucked away in his coat pocket. The uncle comes up with a plan for the evening's enter, a masquerade play, with costumes and hijinks and jokes. Of course, the diamonds get stolen...
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Christmas Meme

by Carol8 Comments
I found this meme over at Jessica Aspen Writes and I do love Christmas. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Both please! Of course, I drink hot chocolate all year-long, egg nog is a special holiday treat. I never make my own, neither David nor Amber will drink it, but every year my mom makes a batch- delicious. At home, I have to settle for the store-bought king, not nearly as good. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Warps them up of course, at least for the most part. There have been some years when certain presents were just too tough fit in a box or bag, so those just sit out. Colored lights on tree/house or white? We've gone with colored lights, both on the tree and on the house. I got tired of all white, it seemed just too ordinary. Do you hang mistletoe? Usually we have plastic mistletoe that we hang up. I actually can't picture it being hung anywhere this...
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Review: Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennett

by Carol4 Comments
"O Jacob Marley! Heaven and the Christmas-time be praised for this! I say it on my knees, old Jacob, on my knees!" Most of us know the story of Scrooge's redemption in Dicken's A Christmas Carol. AFter being visited by 3 spirits, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, he vows to keep Christmas in his heart all year long and he truly is a new man. But so often we forget the first ghost who visits him, who announces what is to come, who prepares the way for the others Jacob Marley, a man as shrewd and cold-hearted and self-centerd as himself. We don't really know much about Marley aside from the fact that he regretted how he had lived and that he carried chains wrapped around him in the after-life as a result of his sins. Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennett seeks to change that. Bennett introduces us to Marley and tells about his childhood and the chance compliment that set...
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Flash Fiction: Falling to Fight

by Carol6 Comments
Falling to Fight Tears streamed down her face as she hacked off her wing, banishing herself from the golden courts, abandoning her place in the chorus. "Fear not," she whispered, gathering her courage. She had a mission, a reason she had chosen to make the fall. For centuries, she had watched as the Father's people had turned their back on Him time and again,  but always He gave them another chance, welcomed them back. Even if she hadn't understood His forgiveness, she had admired Him, respected His choices. Then He had done the unthinkable, sent the Beloved to them, as a baby no less, defenseless, powerless, but she had done her duty, visited the hillside, sang the announcement, the "good tidings of great joy." Then she had watched as He grew, fulfilling His destiny, angering the powerful, uprooting the establishment. And they had killed Him. It had been the Father's plan, the only way to redeem creation, but seeing His anguish and pain,...
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