Have Yourself a Killer Christmas

"The sleigh bells are jingling, and the clock is ticking for Maggie and Rufus, who must catch the killer or it will be the opposite of a Joyeux Noël in A Cajun Christmas Killing, the recipe-stuffed third installment of author Ellen Byron’s Cajun Country mysteries. Maggie Crozat is back home in bayou country during the most magical time of the year. In Pelican, Louisiana, Christmastime is a season of giant bonfires on the levee, zydeco carols, and pots of gumbo. Except, this year, the Grinch has come to stay at the family-run Crozat Plantation B&B. When he floods travel websites with vicious reviews, Maggie thinks she’s identified him as rival businessman Donald Baxter. That is, until he’s found stabbed to death at Maggie’s workplace. And Maggie and her loved ones become top suspects. The Crozats quickly establish alibis, but Maggie’s boyfriend, Detective Bo Durand, remains under suspicion. With Bo sidelined during the investigation, Maggie finds herself forced to work with an unlikely ally: longtime family enemy Rufus Durand. Her sleuthing uncovers more suspects than drummers drumming, and lands her in the crosshairs of the murderer." (from Goodreads.com)

"Liz McCall grew up in a playful winter wonderland but it was never her dream to manage her father's vintage toyshop. However, after he sank his entire police pension into the business, someone needed to help him turn his dreams into reality—and keep him from sneaking off to patrol the not-so-mean streets of East Aurora, NY. The mood goes from nice to naughty when a nervous man, who was trying to have his antique toys appraised, is found in the shop with a lawn dart through his chest. Suddenly, Liz's business plan is plunged into deep freeze, while she and her father find themselves toying with a cold-blooded killer who's playing for keeps. Now, it looks like Christmas might be cancelled for the neighborhood kids if Liz can't wrap up the case in Barbara Early's delightful debut Death of a Toy Soldier." (from Goodreads.com)

Murder in Season is by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land. "With the renovations on her beloved home nearly complete, Jessica Fletcher is in high spirits and ready to celebrate Christmas. The joyful festive atmosphere, however, is broken by a disturbing discovery: bones emerge from the land of her property. Apparently, they don't all date back to the same era; However, Jessica suspects that, despite the centuries that separate them, the remains may be connected. When reporter Tad Hollenbeck is murdered, the murders don't seem destined to remain in the past. More clues, or rather, more corpses give evidence and as Jessica digs deep to find the connection between those bones and Tad's death, everything seems to lead back to a mystery that has long tormented Cabot Cove. Even the idyllic Maine town hides a dark secret and Jessica will have to bring it to light to save Christmas... and prevent it from being her last." (from Goodreads.com)

"The Yuletide-themed murder mystery is not usually the first thing that comes to mind. But in 1936, Mavis Doriel Hay wrote 'The Santa Klaus Murder', one of three detective novels she published in the 1930s. A classic country-house murder mystery, 'The Santa Klaus Murder' begins with Aunt Mildred declaring that no good could come of the Melbury family Christmas gathering at their country residence Flaxmere. So when Sir Osmond Melbury, the family patriarch, is discovered — by a guest dressed as Santa Klaus —with a bullet in his head on Christmas Day, the festivities are plunged into chaos. Nearly every member of the party stands to reap some sort of benefit from Sir Osmond’s death, but Santa Klaus, the one person who seems to have every opportunity to fire the shot, has no apparent motive." (from Goodreads.com)

"A dark spirit threatens the Pennyfoot Hotel's shiny and bright Christmas in Herald of Death by Kate Kingsbury. The Christmas Angel is a welcome sight during the winter season--but not this year. A killer is afoot in Badgers End, cutting a lock of hair from the victims and sticking a gold angel on their foreheads. Cecily Sinclair Baxter already promised her husband that she'd take a hiatus from sleuthing. But three killings have created a blizzard of bad publicity--and guests are canceling their hotel reservations. Cecily pokes around, but the victims seem unrelated. Then the killer claims a fourth and fifth victim, obviously not slowing down for the holidays--so neither will Cecily. She will have to stop the angel of death from striking again, leaving murder under the tree..." (from Goodreads.com)

We will be open on Friday, December 27 and Saturday, December 28 from 9 AM to 5 PM.

2018 Year End Holiday Hours

We're less than three weeks away from 2019!  Our holiday hours start this coming Monday. 

Please note our holiday hours for the remainder of the year and plan your visits to us accordingly.  Don't forget - even when we're closed, you still have access to a selection of audio books, eBooks, and eMagazines through RB Digital.

It's a Cookie Countdown to Christmas!

Starting December 1st, we will be featuring 25 different cookbooks with cookie recipes, old and new.  Follow us on Facebook as we showcase cookies and cookie decorating.  Find your perfect holiday favorites!

New Christmas Fiction in Large Print

Since the stores have had Christmas merchandise for a while now, I've decided to feature some of our new Christmas novels that are available in large print.

Pretty Paper is the newest by singer/songwriter/actor/activist Willie Nelson. More than fifty years ago, Willie Nelson's Christmas classic "Pretty Paper" was released, and for all that time, Willie has wondered about the real-life Texas street vendor of wrappings and ribbons who inspired the song. Who was this poor soul? What were his trials and tribulations? This novelization explores just those sort of questions. It's the early sixties and Willie is down and out, just barely getting by as a singer/songwriter. Just a week before Christmas, he comes across a legless man with a cart selling his wares in front of a department store. The man's name is Vernon Clay, a staunchly private man who is in no mood to tell Willie his story. Eventually, Willie learns that Vernon is a fellow musician--a fine guitarist and singer. Vernon disappears and leaves only a diary that chronicles his tale of life-altering tragedy, broken hearts, honky tonks, crooked record execs, good cooking, and a genius for writing country songs.

In a continuation of her Lowcountry Summer series, Mary Alice Monroe offers readers A Lowcountry Christmas. A lesson of the true meaning of Christmas and the strength of family bonds is the center of this story of a wounded warrior and his younger brother. Ten-year-old Miller McClellan is feeling sorry for himself at the moment. His father's shrimp boat is docked, his mother is working two jobs, and finances are strained, so Christmas is going to be really tight. Miller won't be getting the dog he desperately wants. "Your brother's return from war is our family's gift," his parents tell him. When his brother, Taylor, returns he is suffering from PTSD and the holiday looks even darker. Then Taylor gets a large black Lab/Dane mix named Thor as his service dog and Miller is more than a little jealous. Miller decides to take his dad's axe and Thor to the woods to get a Christmas tree since they cannot afford to buy one. When Miller gets lost, his family must come together and rediscover their strengths and what it means to be a part of a family.

Richard Paul Evans offers the tale of a lonely blogger in The Mistletoe Secret. The anonymous LBH pours her heart out in her blog thinking that no one is reading. She wants desperately to know what it's like to have another person to care about her. In Daytona Beach, Florida, Alex Bartlett is that person. He reads LBH's posts faithfully as he nurses his own broken heart. When Alex decides to follow a trail of clues LBH inadvertently leaves in her posts, he finds out that she lives in the small town of Midway, Utah. Just after Thanksgiving, he makes his way there determined to find the mysterious blogger. At the Mistletoe Diner, Alex finds Aria, a waitress who encourages his search and serves him pie along with much-needed sympathy and companionship.

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas!

    Our library hours are as follows during the holiday season :

    Monday, December 21 thru Wednesday,  December 23 - 9 AM to 5 PM
    Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24 - CLOSED
    Christmas Day, Friday, December 25 - CLOSED
    Saturday, December 26 - CLOSED

    Monday, December 28 thru Wednesday, December 30 - 9 AM to 5 PM
    New Years Eve, Thursday, December 31 - CLOSED
    New Years Day, Friday, January 1 - CLOSED
    Saturday, January 2 - CLOSED

    We wish all of our patrons a safe and happy holiday season and new year.
 

Christmas Romances to Get You in the Spirit

     Sometimes we need a little push to get us in the holiday spirit. That is why I am featuring three of our newest holiday romance novels to kick your Christmas Spirit into high gear!

     First, we have Evergreen Springs by RaeAnne Thayne. Cole Barrett has a lot on his plate, so it's no wonder Christmas is the last thing on his mind at the moment. His ex-wife died in a tragic accident that has left his two children grieving for their mother. Cole is reclusive and he is in no mood for the peppy disposition of Dr. Devin Shaw. Devin has been studying the curative powers of Lake Haven's mineral waters and, unfortunately, the hot springs are located on Cole's property. Devin decides to strike a bargain with Cole: she'll give Cole's children a wonderful Christmas and Cole will allow her patients access to the springs. Will Devin's holiday magic be able to heal this hurting family?

    Next, we have Snowflake Bay by Donna Kauffman. In this charming story, Fiona McCrae has decided to leave her interior designer job and the fast-paced life of Manhattan and return to her home in tranquil Blueberry Cove. She barely has time to unpack before she gets roped into planning her older sister Hannah's Christmas wedding--less than seven weeks away! Amidst all of the hectic planning, Fiona learns that her first love, Ben Campbell, has moved back to the neighboring town of Snowflake Bay. As kids, Ben continually teased Fiona while pining after Hannah. Fiona never thought of Ben like a brother; and now that she has grown up, her feelings haven't changed. Will the romance of the occasion and the spirit of the season ignite a love between these two that will last for many Christmases to come?

     Finally, we have Do You Believe in Santa? by Sierra Donovan. When she was eight years old, Mandy Reese saw Santa Claus and, now that she is grown, she's not afraid to tell the customers at the year-round Christmas store where she works in Tall Pine, California. They love to hear about her encounter with Saint Nick, but when Jake Wyndham--hunky, charming, and oh-so-practical--comes to town scouting for hotels Mandy has a choice to make. Should she deny what she saw, or let Jake think she's "sugarplum crazy?" Jake has never met anyone quite like Mandy before, but meeting Santa? Really? He's not bah-humbugging on her, but he is definitely a skeptic. Jake realizes, however, that there are a lot of things that he had never experienced until he came to Tall Pine: snow in Autumn, mind-blowing kisses, and falling head-over-heels in love with someone he barely knows.

     These and other Christmas novels can be found at the library. Don't forget that we also have many decorating, cooking, and gift-making ideas here as well. Enjoy, and have a very Merry Christmas!

Spirit of Steamboat

     Legend has it that Steamboat was the greatest bronco of all time. He never let any cowboy ride him: tough as nails. This horse was so famous that Wyoming put an image of him bucking a rider on its license plates. At least, this is the story Craig Johnson tells in his newest Walt Longmire novella. Sheriff Longmire is sitting at his desk on Christmas Eve reading A Christmas Carol by Dickens. (It's a tradition.) His under sheriff is in Brazil with her mother and his daughter is in Pennsylvania; ready to have a baby. His dispatcher, Ruby, tells him there is someone there to see him. A small wisp of a woman with porcelain skin and dark hair carrying a black garment bag walks into Walt's office and asks if he is the sheriff. She speaks to him like she knows him and she asks about the previous sheriff, Lucian Connally. Walt takes the woman to the Durant Home for Assisted Living where Lucian has just shot out the T.V. in the rec room. Lucian answers the door to his apartment wearing nothing but his boxers, a wife beater t-shirt, and only one leg. After all the pleasantries are out of the way, Lucian asks her what the reason for her visit is. She replies, "Steamboat."
    With that, we flash back to 1988 when Walt has just been elected sheriff for the first time and his daughter, Cady, was only 9 years old. Again, it is Christmas Eve and Walt is anxiously awaiting the med-evac flight of a little girl who has just lost her parents and great-aunt in a fiery car crash. There is a blizzard blowing their way and no one is sure that the helicopter carrying the severely burned girl will make it to Denver. It is slow and unable to maneuver in the high winds and icy conditions. Walt asks if the old B-25 34030 sitting in the hangar could make the trip. Yes, no, maybe is the answer he gets. Even if it could there is no one to fly it. But Walt knows someone; Lucian Connally flew one of these very planes in WWII over Japan. So, with the EMT & pilot of the med-evac helicopter refusing to fly in the gathering storm, and a little girl's life hanging in the balance; Walt enlists, Lucian, a reluctant co-pilot named Julie, and Doctor Isaac to help get the B-25 in the air and the little girl to Denver's Children's Hospital. Walt goes along for the ride, as does the little girl's grandmother; who doesn't speak any English. The harrowing ride that follows tests them all in ways they could not imagine, but the little girl gets to her destination and twenty-five years later, she comes back to Durant to get the whole story and to return a memento to Lucian. Why the mention of the bronco? The name of the plane: Steamboat.

Try Your Hand at Card Making!

Since the Fall season has officially begun and thoughts are drifting to the holiday season, many folks begin to think about preparing handmade gifts.  For many years, I have been making Christmas cards to send to my family and friends.  They are a fun way to send something sweet and personal to the folks you love!  I found two new "book treasures" a few days ago when I was looking for new Christmas card ideas.  Both books contain card ideas, although one is focused strictly on cards and the other on general Christmas crafts.  Ultimate Cardmaking by Sarah Beaman is a collection of over 100 techniques and 50 projects to make homemade cards for any occasion!  I really enjoyed the first section, which contains wonderfully illustrated descriptions of many different card techniques.  There are a few templates for Christmas cards in this book, but the biggest value to me is the book's clear explanation of common card techniques.  The second book, Christmas Crafts by Carol McCleeve, gives instructions on how to make cards, gift wrappings and decorations for the entire family!  This book contains many examples of cards, complete with patterns.  I especially enjoyed the section on making your own wrapping paper.  I personally believe it would be time-consuming, but I think the results are gorgeous.  The library has many other Christmas craft books available--please ask the reference desk for help in locating the perfect one for you! 

I Saw Zombies Eating Santa Claus

Have you performed the not-so-fun task of de-decorating the house?  Have you thrown away all the leftover Christmas food because you just can't face looking at it anymore?  If so, then I have found the perfect book for you!  It combines two of my favorite subjects---zombies and Christmas! S. G. Browne's I Saw Zombies Eating Santa Claus is the second "romantic, zombie, comedy" that the author has written.  This book does not have much romance, but it is another zany adventure in the (reanimated) life of Andy Warner, zombie extraordinaire.  The book opens with Andy and his fellow zombies escaping from a research facility in Portland, OR, where he has been subjected to experimental testing for the past year.  The zombies are treated like lab rats, and are forced to endure some pretty horrific things.  Andy escapes into a neighborhood and decides that "borrowing" the Santa Claus costume from a mannequin in someone's front yard is the perfect disguise to throw his captors off his track.  Andy's plan works until he stumbles upon a sweet, lonely, 9 year old girl who reminds him of his own daughter that he's lost, and who believes he is the real Santa.  When a group of rogue zombies recognizes Andy and adopts him as their mentor, Andy hatches a plan with his "zombie crew" to free the rest of his buddies from the research facility.  This is a zany holiday tale that will show you the true meaning of Christmas...zombie style!  If you want to follow Andy Warner's undead life from the beginning, read Breathers first. S. G. Browne lives in San Francisco and can be followed on Facebook and Twitter or visited at www.sgbrowne.com.

     Are you feeling like the Grinch has stolen your Christmas spirit?  The hustle and bustle of the holidays has turned into a real grind?  I have the cure for you!  I read the most charming book entitled Being Santa Claus by Sal Lizard.  Sal is a professional Santa Claus and in this book he reveals what he learned about the true meaning of Christmas.

     Sal was in his twenties when his beard and hair turned completely white and his figure began to resemble that bowlful of jelly we all know and love.  Today, he appears everywhere from malls and parades to schools and hospitals, and from his custom-made red velvet suits to the mistletoe hanging from the rearview mirror of his signature Santamobile, Sal is Santa Claus three hundred and sixty-five days a year.

     In his book, he takes us on a one-of-a-kind journey from embracing his calling and the humorous missteps along the way to earning his stripes and becoming a wise and seasoned veteran Santa.  He shares stories that are heartwarming, occasionally heartbreaking, and sometimes downright hilarious, and he reflects on the valuable lessons he’s learned from both children and adults.

Holiday Homemade

I enjoy browsing the library's wide assortment of holiday books, especially those that involve creating "handmade gifts" for family and friends.  I have found one of the best ornament creation books in our library's Juvenile collection!  The book is titled, More Christmas Ornaments Kids Can Make by Kathy Ross (J 745.599 R824m), and is full of 29 beautiful ornaments that primary-grade children can make with just a little assistance from adults. The projects range from very simple (a plastic lid covered in glue and sprinkled with sequins and glitter) to more complex, and the book's projects will satisfy a variety of skill levels.  The best part is that the materials in the book will be easy to find at any basic craft store.  I believe one of the best experiences in life is sitting down with a child and joining in the spirit of creativity with them!  The library has many other equally wonderful ornament creation books in its juvenile collection, and we invite you to travel down to the first floor and find a book that interests you. 

Holiday Crafting and Baking--with Kids or Adults!

If you want to spend some quality holiday time with your kids, you should check out this new library book! Holiday Crafting and Baking with Kids: Gifts, Sweets and Treats for the Whole Family by Jessica Strand is a wonderful addition to our craft collection. The book contains recipes and craft ideas that are easy and fun and are varying degrees of complexity. The projects cover a spectrum of fall holidays, from Thanksgiving to Kwanzaa and can be enjoyed by families with members of all ages. I especially like the "Incredible Edible Ornaments" and the "Special Place for Kwanzaa Goodies" paper basket. With great pictures, easy-to-follow steps and a comprehensive list of materials needed, this is a must-read for crafty families!

The second craft book the library has received recently is Susan Waggoner's Have Yourself a Very Vintage Christmas: Crafts, Decorating Tips, and Recipes, 1920's-1960's. The book is full of crats, decorating ideas and recipes that date from the 1920's to the 1960's. You can pick a specific decade and use the chapter to create ornaments for your tree, wrapping paper for your presents, and recipes for your party. There is a great section at the end of each chapter that gives "quick crafts" for the time-challenged decorator! The recipes are contained in a separate chapter and each one is introduced with a history of the candy and/or a tip on how to make it. This book ends with an "art portfolio" chapter with reproductions of old postcards and other pictures as well as a section on online sources for crafting materials. This is a beautiful book and will help you plan a vintage Christmas of your own.

Christmas in August???

You might have read this blog title and been a bit confused---but trust me it does make sense!!! We have all been complaining about the heat, so what's a better way to "beat it" than sitting inside your nice air-conditioned home and completing a craft project? I thought you'd see it my way :) Need some inspiration on what new creation to start? Try looking at these books:

Donna Kooler's Ecyclopedia of Quilting (746.46 K82eq)--This updated and revised book has a pattern gallery with 19 projects, basic techniques and hand and machine quilting instructions. It also includes a nifty history of quilting section. This book is perfect for the beginning quilter to dive in and have a quilt completed in a few short weeks.


Sew with Sara: PJs, Pillows, Bags & More by Sara Trail (646.2 T766s)--I absolutely love this accessible, easy, teen and tween-friendly book that teaches you how to sew! The projects are nine beginner-friendly ones and are perfect for the beginner sewer. This book can create some great "family time" with your kids, especially teen girls who think their summer is "boring-" and mom will have a great time teaching (or learning) right along with them.

Handcrafted Ornaments edited by Creative Publishing International (745.594 H236o)--I love creating handmade Christmas ornaments, but always feel so rushed during the holidays that I end up not being able to make as many as I want to, or that the finished products aren't as good as they could be. I have a solution you and I can both use---start your Christmas ornaments in the summer! This book gives you some great ideas on traditional Christmas ornaments you can make and the stories of each ornament's origin. With full color photos and illustrated steps, this book is sure to make you think about the cold air of Christmas.

If your creative juices have started following, don't stop making projects when you are done with these books. The library has many more craft books available for you to check out. The library would love to see your finished projects so stop by and give us a sneek peek when you are done!

Simplify Your Christmas

The current recession has made changes in the way we live our lives--some of these changes are for the better. As we celebrate the holidays, people seem to be looking at a way to simplify and have a more joyful Christmas. To that end, here are some titles that may help. Hundred Dollar Holiday by Bill McKibben offers some suggestions on how to rethink Christmas, so that our current obsession with present buying becomes less important than the dozens of other possible traditions and celebrations. Working through their local churches, McKibben and his colleagues found that people were hungry for a more joyful Christmas season. For many, trying to limit the amount of money they spent at Christmas to about a hundred dollars per family was a real spur to their creativity--and a real anchor against the relentless onslaught of commercials and catalogs that try to say Christmas is only Christmas if it comes from a store. McKibben shows how the store-bought Christmas developed and how out of tune it is with our current lives, when we're really eager for family fellowship, for community involvement, for contact with the natural world and also for the blessed silence and peace that the season should offer. Christmas is too wonderful a celebration to give up on, too precious a time simply to repeat the same empty gestures from year to year. This book will serve as a road map to a Christmas far more joyful than the one you've known in the past.

Christmas on Jane Street by Billy Romp with Wanda Urbanska tells the story of the Romp family who every year came to New York City from their home in Vermont to sell Christmas trees on Jane Street. They arrive from Vermont the day after Thanksgiving and leave just in time to make it home for Christmas morning--and for a few weeks they transform a corner of the Big Apple into a small village community. For the Romps, the Christmas tree business is also a serious business. A good sales season can make the year for this frugal family. Under tremendous financial pressure this particular year, Billy is counting on his family to pitch in as they always do when he faces an unexpected obstacle. His oldest child and best helper Ellie, sets her sights on attending the extravagant Nutcracker ballet and testing her winds outside her close-knit family. How Billy reconciles Ellie's transformation from a tomboyish female version of himself into a graceful, independent young lady is at first a struggle and later a revelation. Along the way he must learn how to let his daughter dream her own dreams--even when they diverge from his own. In setting her free, Billy learns the ultimate lesson of Christmas.

Elaine St. James is the best-selling author of Simplify Your Christmas: 100 Ways to Reduce the Stress and Recapture the Joy of the Holidays. In this book she shares--in brief, easy-to-read essays--a variety of tips that will help readers deal with the seasonal overload. Her simplifying ideas cover every aspect of holiday hassels; dismantling Christmas past, creating a new approach, gift giving, cooking the Christmas goose, decking the halls, holiday spending and much more. Everyone who adopts at least some of St. James' intelligent approaches to the season will have a happier, healthier Christmas.

Etta James at the Library

Recently, a friend of mine called me up to ask me if we had any Etta James music CD;s at the library. I was delighted to discover that we did have two Etta James CD's, Matriarch of the Blues and a wonderful three CD-set called the Chess Box. While searching for these two CD's in our collection I discovered several other gems--from comtemporary bands such as Depeche Mode to classics from Duke Ellington, the library has a bit of music that is sure to please every person's tastes. The Audiovisual Department often pulls out seasonal collections, such as the Christmas music and movie collections on DVD and VHS tapes that the library owns, that are displayed on a table opposite the Audiovisual Circulation desk. Be sure to check out A Christmas to Remember by Amy Grant or Christmas Around the World, a collection of Christmas songs from all over the world.

Unwrap a Christmas Story

Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs is part of the Lakeshore Chronicles. Prim librarian Maureen Davenport is finally getting her chance to direct Avalon’s annual holiday pageant, and she’s determined to make it truly spectacular. But it might just require one of those Christmas miracles she’s always reading about. Former child star Eddie Haven can’t stand Christmas, but a court order from a judge has landed him right in the middle of the merry-making as Maureen’s co-director. Maureen and Eddie spar over every detail of the pageant, from casting troubled kids to Eddie’s original and distinctly untraditional holiday music. Is he trying to sabotage the performance to spite her? Or is she trying too hard to fit the show into her storybook-perfect notion of Christmas? This was a pleasant Christmas story. I read this author when she wrote historical romances and enjoyed those. This is my first modern day story by her. I think I picked this one up because the heroine is a librarian. And one thing the blurb did not mention was the fact the town library was due to close due to lack of funding. The town rich person wants his nephew to star in the pageant and for that he would establish the necessary funding. All Maureen has to do is cast the nephew, whether he is perfect for the role or not. This part hit really close to home. With the recent economic downturn, I can see a community having to decide between police, fire, or the library. And it seems that there is often someone who wants to put on a display of power and call the shots. One of best parts of this book is the fact that the denoument occurs at a fundraiser at the New York Public Library!

Holiday Grind by Cleo Coyle continues the adventures of New York coffee shop owner Clair Cosi. She is looking forward to the holidays and seeing her daughter Joy, who is studying at a culinary school in Paris. She’s also hoping to spend sometime with her new boyfriend, Police Detective Mike Quinn. However as often happens in Clair’s life, her plans go awry, starting with finding the body of a friend who is a traveling Santa Claus. She soon becomes embroiled in the case vowing to find out why her friend was murdered and who did it. Joy calls and says she’s staying in Paris and Mike is assigned a cold case that promises to keep him busy the whole holiday. She decides to focus on the case and in the process is stalked and attacked. Then she hears Mike is seeing someone else. Will things ever be merry and bright? Just in the nick of time, Clair, with the usual suspects—her ex-husband, Matt; her ex-mother-in-law, Madame; and her ever faithful baristas--unravels not only the Santa Claus murder but opens doors to Mike’s cold case. With every book, this series gets better and better. I love the interplay between Clair and her daughter and the way her ex-husband keeps popping back on the scene. Her romance with Mike Quinn is developing, but the appearance of his ex-wife is a bit jarring, if true to life. Madame is still one of my favorite characters, even though she only has a minor part in this book.

The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson is another pleasant Christmas read. After all—any story combining a dog and Christmas, well, enough said. Betty Kowalski isn’t looking forward to the holidays. She just can’t seem to find Christmas in her heart. Maybe it’s because her husband is gone. Maybe it’s because she’s missing her grown children. Or maybe it had something to do with her obnoxious new neighbor, who seems to be tearing his house apart and rearranging it on the lawn. But when a mangy dog appears at her doorstep, the stage is set for Betty to learn what Christmas is really all about. Melody Carlson is primarily a Christian writer and the cover photo of the scruffy dog looking through a window caught my fancy. While the characters are pretty standard and stereotypical, this is a short and enjoyable read if you are looking to de-stress from the holidays.

Get a Head Start on Christmas 2009!

I know, you probably groaned when you read that title, but I am a big fan (and I know there are others out there) of taking advantage of "After-Christmas" sales, especially since our economy is not so wonderful these days. I confess that on New Year's Eve, since the library was closed, I was one of those folks visiting our local craft stores and hunting for bargains for next year's holidays. I did find some wonderful deals on Christmas papers, both scrapbook and decorative, as well as on materials to make Christmas cards. So...now that you have taken advantage of these sales, what will you do with all of the goodies you have purchased? Try getting a jump start on Christmas 2009 with Papercrafts for Christmas: Making Cards and Decorations by Judy Balchin and Polly Pinder. The book has stunning pictures of the completed projects, as well as easy-to-follow directions for even the novice crafter! This book contains three sections: Making Christmas Cards, Making Christmas Tree Decorations, and Making Christmas Table Decorations. I really appreciate the "Basic Materials" pages in each section, because it helps the reader get a sense of how many different materials they will need to complete each craft in the section. It might seem a little crazy, but if you are still in the Christmas mood after New Year's Day, try starting a project for Christmas 2009!

A New Twist on Leftovers

Merry Christmas from the

Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library!

Now that the holiday season is winding down, are you trying to figure out what to do with all of the leftovers crowding your refrigerator? If you are anything like me, you hate to throw any food away that is still good, especially since you spent a huge amount of time making sure it tasted wonderful the first time. However, even the best dish gets tiresome the third time you eat it. Don't panic--I have a solution for you! The Little Book of Leftovers by Kevin Crafts is a humorous and helpful collection of great recipes and tips for food that might otherwise go to waste. Kevin Crafts shows no fear in this cookbook, as he raids the back of the refrigerator, pokes under the aluminum foil, and gives yesterday's first course a second chance. Kevin offers tempting recipes from the four food groups such as turning that half bottle of not-so-bubbly bubbly into Champagne Sauce and leftover pasta into a fantastic frittata. This is a funny and entertaining way to beat those after-Christmas blues and clean out your refrigerator!

Christmas "Stalkings"

It’s a cold winter evening. The Christmas decorations have been hung, the presents are wrapped and you have just slid a pan of cookies into the oven. Now, it’s time to settle down in a comfy chair (by the fireplace if you have one) and open up a great murder mystery! Some of my favorite mysteries are set during the Christmas season and the following is just a few of them:

Aunt Dimity’s Christmas by Nancy Atherton is the story of Lori Shepherd who is anticipating celebrating Christmas with her husband, Bill and twin sons in the beautiful cottage willed to her by Aunt Dimity. Lori makes a disturbing discovery beneath the cottage's snow-covered lilac bushes -- the body of a mysterious stranger, barely alive. Lori must put her plans on hold to team up with the devilishly attractive Roman Catholic priest JuLian Bright and seek out the tramp's identity. Lori unveils the tragic secret that led the stranger to her door, and must confront painful truths about herself and the true meaning of a perfect family Christmas.

Jingle Bell Bark by Laurien Berenson stars dog trainer Melanie Travis, in a cozy canine mystery set during the Christmas holidays. This year, all Melanie wants for Christmas is a dull moment--but she's not going to get it. Between her eight-year-old son, her teaching job, her show dog, and now the mysterious death of her son's bus driver, she's got her hands full.

Iced by Carol Higgins Clark is set in the old silver-mining town-turned-trendy resort of Aspen, Colorado. Many rich and famous folks have arrived in Aspen to celebrate the holidays, as has Regan Reilly who has has arrived with her mystery-writing mom and suave, funeral director father to spend the Christmas holidays on the slopes and visiting friends. Million-dollar paintings start disappearing from elegant condos and chic chalets all over town and suspicion immediately falls on a congenial ex-con caretaker named Eben Bean. Since Regan helped Eben get his caretaking job, she is the only person in town who believes he is innocent, and must prove this to everyone else.

Wreck the Halls by Sarah Graves is one of the “home repair is homicide” murder series. When ex—Wall Streeter Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree buys a charming 1823 fixer-upper in tiny Eastport, Maine, she figures she’s also bought herself a tranquil, stress-free life. When Jake and her best pal, Ellie, arrive at Faye Anne Carmody’s kitchen door, they knock and walk right in. But though Christmas is just two weeks away, what they find is far from festive: a dazed Faye Anne covered with blood, and her no-good husband — the town butcher, Merle — nowhere in sight. Nowhere, that is, until Jake discovers his body — tidily wrapped in his own butcher paper. Jake can’t believe that Faye Anne is a murderer, but can she and Ellie stop the shrewd killer before he chisels another victim’s name onto a tombstone?