Have Mercy on Me!

Moon Called is the first novel in the series written by Patricia Briggs and starring Mercedes Thompson, a skinwalker or shapeshifter who can shift into a coyote and back again, at will. Mercedes is a very interesting woman--she is an auto mechanic who is friends with vampires, demons, werewolves, fae and many other supernatural creatures. Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson was raised by a tribe of werewolves because her parents weren't sure what to do with her. She learned much about werewolves, but perfers to exist on her own, not following any pack rules or rituals. When a newly formed werewolf stumbles into Mercy's garage, looking for food and a place to sleep, Mercy knows she has to contact the local werewolf pack to assist the lone wolf in adjusting to his new life. When Mercy finds the new wolf dead on her doorstep and Adam, the leader of the werewolf pack seriously injured and his daughter missing, she commits herself to finding the truth. Complicating the issue is the fact that Adam is half in love with Mercy and Mercy has to re-visit the pack who raised her to figure out the truth. This is a great supernatural mystery story with a very strong female heroine. Mercy is definitely a "lone wolf" who has to work hard at letting people in. I especially enjoyed watching how Mercy revels in her "coyote nature" and is as much at one with her animal form as she is with her coyote form. If you like this book, try also reading the Otherworld series written by Yasmine Galenorn. The first book in the series is Witchling and the series stars the D'Artigo sisters--one is a witch, one is a changeling and one is a vampire. If you'd like to learn more information about Patricia Briggs, check out her web site at http://www.patriciabriggs.com/

Mmmmm....Pie....

On a cold wintry day, there is nothing better to eat than a nice, hot, piece of pie! I must admit, the thing that attracted me the most to this book was its beautiful cover image of a piece of apple pie, drippping with cinnamon between a flaky, sugary crust...are you hungry yet? Julie Hasson's The Complete Book of Pies is as delicious as it looks. This book contains 200 recipes for pies, ranging from sweet to savory and the recipes I've tried have all turned out wonderfully. The book includes basic pie recipes as well as directions on how to "correct" any baking issues you have, and many recipes for different types of crusts. My favorite recipe in this book was the "Steak and Mushroom Pie"--instead of the cubed beef sirloin the recipe called for, I used deer tenderloin, and the resulting pie was so delicious that even an 8 year old who doesn't like deer meat ate it! The book also includes recipes for different pie fillings as well as for the perfect food that complements sweet pies, ice cream. The recipe directions are easy to follow, simply written and include tips on the side of each one. There are also lots of beautiful, full color images of the recipes in the book. Every cook will enjoy this book, from the novice pie maker to the veteran baker. Go ahead and slice up your own piece of pie!

Explore "The Scarpetta Factor!"

If you've ever had a conversation with me about books, for more than five minutes, you will probably hear me talk about author Patricia Cornwell's character, Kay Scarpetta. I remember the first time I began reading her books, and from the first one, I've been hooked! Dr. Kay Scarpetta is the former Chief Medical Examiner for the state of Virginia, and in her latest book, The Scarpetta Factor, she is living in New York City and is the senior forensic analyst for CNN as well as someone who offers her services pro bono to New York City's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Dr. Scarpetta is famous--she has solved many serial killer cases and her television appearances have helped to make her face and name known throughout many states. The book opens with the case of Hannah Starr, the daughter of a famous financial analyst, who has disappeared and is presumed dead. Embroiled in the mix is the meaderings of a former psychiatric patient of her husband, Benton Wesley, and an association her niece, Lucy, has had with several people involved in the case. This book has everything a Kay Scarpetta fan can ask for--detailed descriptions of fascinating forensic techniques, interactions between the beloved members of Scarpetta's friends and family, and wonderful Italian recipes that you can almost smell when you read about them. Dr. Kay Scarpetta is a tough heroine, who always seems to skate through danger, barely escaping its clutches. If you are a big fan of gritty, sometimes gory, fast-paced forensic mysteries, then this book is for you! Try one out and let us know if you like it.

A Dash of Rosemary and Rue

Seanan McGuire begins her October "Toby"Daye series with a bang! Rosemary and Rue is a tense, involved urban fantasy suspense story filled with all sorts of creatures, human and fae. October Daye is a half-human changeling and former private investigator. The premise of the story is that the Faerie world did not disappear but went into hiding and continues to exist parallel to our Earth world. When the Fae and Earth worlds collided, changelings were born. Half-humand and half-fae, these creatures are outsiders from birth and fend their lives fighting for the respect of their immortal pureblood relatives. Toby has spent her whole life trying to fit into either the human or faerie world and has failed in relating to either one. She wakes up from a fourteen year old curse spent as a fish, and retreats into the "normal" human world, giving up all her friends, relatives and her private investigator business. The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose, one of the secret regents of the San Francisco Bay area pulls Toby back into the fae world. Right before her death, Evening binds Toby with a curse and she is forced to investigate and find Evening's killer or risk death herself. This is a great book, full of mystery and a great story. Most of the story is spent setting up the history of the series, but it is worth it to read the story. Toby is a tough heroine with a stubborn streak and armor she wears to hide her self from everyone else. This book is the first in the October Daye series and I know that I am looking forward to reading more about this character.

Why Caged Doves Weep

Carla L. Johnson Curry's Why Caged Doves Weep is a wonderful book about women in prison in Mississippi. It's gritty and full of stories about women who made mistakes, ended up in prison and either tried to make their lives better or succumbed to the horrors of life "on the inside." The book realistically explores prisoners in Parchman prison and the Rankin County Women's Correctional Center. Ms. Curry was herself an inmate at Parchman prison and details in this book the people she met while serving her own time. Ms. Curry believes that each year more and more crimes are committed by children and that parents don't realize the daily influences on young minds that television, school confrontations and graphic crimes have. Ms. Curry hopes that this book will help inspire teens to do "the right thing" and not begin a life of crime. Carla L. Johnson Curry is a native of Vicksburg and the mother of four children. She attended Alcorn State University and received her Associate of Arts Degree, with Honors. Ms. Curry enjoys laughter and expressing herself and plans on writing many more books. Ms. Curry also recently hosted an Author Talk and Book Signing at the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library.

Find Some Magic in the Emporium

Are you one of those people who enjoys a good movie about magical things? Try watching Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, a beautiful funny film about living your dreams. This DVD is a fun-filled comedic adventure starring Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman. Dustin Hoffman stars as Mr. Magorium, the owner of the most amazing toy shop in the world because every toy comes to life in it. When Mr. Magorium decides to retire, the store doesn't like it and starts acting up and throwing a tantrum. Mr. Magorium's reluctant manager, played by Natalie Portman, can't decide if she wants to take over ownership of the shop once Mr. Magorium retires or pursue her dream career in music. Mr. Magorium hires an accountant, played by Jason Bateman, to get the store's affairs in order and with the help of each other, all of these characters work together to save the emporium by finding the magic within themselves. My favorite part of the movie is when the stuffy accountant finally lets down his guard and begins to act like a kid...it's a wonderful part of the film and a great inspiration for everyone to find the kid within themselves! This is a great film to share with your family, coupled with a visit to your favorite toy store :)

Invent a Haiku

Andrew Vachss' Haiku is a new novel for the author, and a departure from his popular Burke series. The novel centers around Ho, a highly respected sensei who renounced his possessions and his role as a master when his arrogance caused the death of one of his beloved students. Ho now roams the streets of New York City, seeking ways to atone for the death of his student. Inspired by his passion and presence, a group forms around Ho. The group is made up of Michael, an addicted gambler who has lost everything; Vietnam veteran Ranger; Lamont, a fearless street-gang-warlord turned alcoholic; unstable Target, who speaks only by echoing the sounds of others; and Brewster, an obsessive collector of hardboiled paperbacks that he stashes in abandoned buildings. Trouble begins when Michaels notices a woman in a Rolls-Royce throwing something in the river---thinking she would be the perfect blackmail target, he tries to encourage the others to search for her. But, news that Brewster's building is slated for demolition, as well as his library that is stashed there, spurs the group into finding money and a way to save Brewster's precious book collection. Thus begins a frantic, action-packed story full of excitement, twists and turns. Andrew Vachss has been a federal investigator in the area of sexually transmitted diseases, a social-services caseworker, a labor organizer and the director of a maximum security prison for aggressive-violent youth. He is now a lawyer and consultant in his own private practice and represents children and youths exclusively. Vachss is a native New Yorker, and divides his time between New York City and the Pacific Northwest. To find out more about Andrew Vachss, visit his website at http://www.vachss.com/.

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.

Succulent River Cuisine

Every now and then a book with a snazzy cover or title catches my eye! The library recently purchased The Paddling Chef: A Cookbook for Canoeists, Kayakers and Rafters, by Dian Weimer. Being a canoe and kayaker myself, I was intrigued when this book was cataloged and made available for checkout. The author was born and raised in Vancouver, and is a big fan of adventure kayaking, which she does all over Canada. Whether you are an experienced paddler, or strictly a beginner, you will love this book! In a friendly, non-nonsense manner, Weimer explains how to plan your menus, whether you are taking a two-day or a seven-day trip, and how to organize your food in dry bags (pack the frozen meat on the bottom and place the cheese on top of it so it will stay cool as the meat unfreezes) or in plastic tubs. She also gives great tips on how to pack your items so that your veggies receive the least amount of bruising and you don't have to empty your whole pack each time you make a meal. The best part of the book are the recipes included: from meat to pasta to vegetable and dairy recipes, the recipes range from easy to hard and include helpful advice about how many pans or pots you need to prepare the recipe. I especially enjoyed the dessert and saucy companions recipe sections. I agree with Weimer--the right sauce can cover up any mistakes made by overcooking your meat on a camp stove you can't regulate properly! Weimer also includes a section on drying food for longer trips and several anecdotes about disasters and successful meals she has prepared on her paddling trips. This is a great book for any paddling or camping enthusiast!

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.