Faces of the Gone

I was really intrigued with the title of this book, which is one of the reasons I first picked it up! Faces of the Gone is a fast-paced thrill ride and the debut for author Brad Parks. Author Parks graduated from Dartmouth College and spent a dozen years as a reporter with The Washington Post and The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ). He currently writes novels and lives with his wife and two small children in Virginia. For more information on Brad Parks, visit his web site at http://www.bradparksbooks.com/. Faces of the Gone stars investigative reporter Carter Ross, an employee of the Newark Eagle-Examiner who is sent to the scene of a crime: four bodies stacked in a vacant lot with a single bullet wound in the back of each head. Ross is puzzled by the fact that the four victims have nothing in common--an exotic dancer, a drug dealer, a hustler and a momma's boy--and all resided in different parts of the city. The police eagerly pounce on the theory that the murders are revenge for a bar robbery, and Ross' paper prints the story, but Carter is determined to figure out the truth. Carter enlists the help of several newspaper employees and discovers that the victims do have one thing in common, but this discovery could get him killled. This book has a great "New Jersey flavor" and if you like Harlan Coben's books, you are sure to love Brad Parks!

Bring the "Oscars" Home...

I enjoy watching the Academy Awards every year, and diligently try to watch every movie in the "Best Picture" category before the big awards night. I am really NOT sure where this year has gone, but I was only able to watch a few of the nominated movies this year before the awards ceremony. If you're in the same boat as me, don't worry! The Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library is a great place to visit to check out Oscar nominees and past winners. We are blessed to have a wonderful DVD collection on our first floor, and if you are unable to find the movie you are looking for, you can place a "reserve" on the item by logging into your library account from one of our catalog-accessible computers or by asking a library staff member for help! I recently watched The Hurt Locker (this year's "Best Picture Winner") and Up In the Air (one of this year's "Best Picture Nominees.") The library's goal is to purchase DVD's as soon as they are released, so keep checking the library's catalog if you are looking for a particular item. Remember that your library staff is available to help you find the perfect movie for your viewing enjoyment!

Fido Fashion

Lately, have you been thinking that Fido looks like a candidate for "What Not to Wear?" If so, then check out Dogwear by Mette Syrstad Hoydal. It has over thirty super-easy sewing projectst that offer fashionable, functional and fun gear for your four-legged friend. From vests to jackets to chokers, these are made for the nattily attired pooch. And in additon to the forward fashions, there are also directions for collapsible water bowls, doggie bags, harnesses and dog bed liners. Whether pure-bred or shelter-adopted, these styles will let your love for your furry friend shine through. See if you can resist the cute pooch on the cover of this adorable book!

Yasmine Galenorn Strikes Again!

I will forever be grateful to my co-worker, Denise, for introducing me to the world of Yasmine Galenorn! I just finished reading the seventh book in her "Otherworld Series" and I enjoyed it as much as I have the other six. The latest book in this series is titled Bone Magic, and it follows the lives of the D'Artigo sisters, three half-fae, half-human women who work for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency and live on Earth. Mennolly is a vampire, Delilah is a shapeshifter who shifts into a cat and Camille is a witch who serves the Moon Mother. Every book focuses mainly on one sister and Bone Magic's focus is on Camille. I recommend reading the books in order, as many of the story elements build on each other, especially the relationships between the sisters and their various human, demon and fae family and friends. The sisters face intense peril as they fight against the demons threatening to take over Earth and the other forces determined to rip apart the fabric separating the Otherworld and Earth and wreak irrevocable damage. The action in Bone Magic is intense and there are plenty of good and evil characters running loose. Each sister has to face her own trials and tribulations and life does not always work out easily for them. I truly enjoy reading these books because they showcase a world that is different from ours but entirely believable. I also found out some other news---Yasmine Galenorn is currently writing a new series involving vampires that will be published later this year! For more information on this author, check out her web site at http://www.galenorn.com/.

What Can One Yard of Fabric Make?

I have found one of the cutest books for you or your favorite crafty person! The book is One-Yard Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins, and includes 101 sewing projects from totes and aprons, to tea cozies, laptop covers and dog beds. The book is full of photos and easy-to-follow instructions and even includes patterns for some of the projects. The best thing is that each project can be made from one yard of fabric. If you are anything like me, you have tons of "just the right fabric" lying around your house, and the projects in this book are perfect ways to showcase those fabrics in your home or as a gift for you or a friend. The book is spiral bound so it's easy to turn the pages and lay them flat while you are creating the projects. There is a handy glossary in the back of the book as well as a nice introductory section detailing sewing techniques such as types of stitches and instructions on how to make your own bias tape. Author Rebecca Yaker owns Hazel and Melvin's Room, http://www.hazelandmelvin.com/, an online boutique for which she designs and creates custom baby bedding, accessories and apparel, and author Patricia Hoskins is the cofounder of Crafty Planet, http://www.craftyplanet.com/, a retail fabric and needlework store and craft workshop in Minneapolis, MN. Together, Robecca and Patricia organize the No Coast Craft-a-Rama, an independent craft fair held every year.