The Goddess of Shipwrecked Sailors by Skye Alexander

The Goddess of Shipwrecked Sailors by Skye Alexander

First Paragraphs:

After driving for seven hours, the four musicians arrived at Matthew Gardner's home on the most fashionable street in Salem, Massachusetts, a three-hundred-year-old town known for its seafaring history, Nathanial Hawthorne, and hanging women suspected of witchcraft.  Lizzie eyed the grand boulevard and the elegant eighteenth-and nineteenth-century mansions that lined both sides of it.

'How very pretty,' she said.

Candles burned in the windows of the Gardners' handsome three-story Georgian house.  An electrified Moravian star illuminated the front portico.  In the yard, an evergreen tree strung with chains of popcorn and cranberries offered food for the birds.  Despite temperatures in the low teens, a group of carolers, bundled up against the cold, strolled from house to house, celebrating the holiday with joyful voices.

My Thoughts:

I  loved  this 3rd entry into the Lizzie Crane mystery series, written by Skye Alexander.  The timeframe is again the mid-1920's and Lizzie and her friends, Melody, Sidney, and Bert (also known as The Troubadours) are hired to provide entertainment during the '12 Days of Christmas' for the Gardner family and their guests.  The setting is Salem, Massachusetts in this book and I really enjoyed all the information about this famous Massachusetts area.  All begins well, but soon there is a dead body and a cousin that Lizzie didn't know she had who might or might not be someone she'd like to know.  The body is found near her 'new' cousin's tavern and you can add theft, a missing goddess, and secret tunnels under the streets of Salem.  These were used long ago in Salem's shipping days to smuggle goods.  Could they still be in use?  Hmmm....it's possible.

Salem's history has been well researched by the author and she includes lots of things you might have known, but there are likely more that will be new to you.  As I said, I loved it and am happy to report that #4 in the series is in the works.  The author shared a guest post with me last week here.  My conclusion - try this series, bet you'll like it!        

Blurb:

December 1925: Salem, Massachusetts

When Matthew Gardner, the heir to a shipping fortune, hires New York jazz singer Lizzie Crane and her band to perform during the Christmas holidays, she has high hopes that this prestigious event will foster their career and bring them riches and recognition. She’s also eager to reconnect with a handsome man from one of Boston’s most esteemed families, whom she met at an earlier visit to Massachusetts.

But the evening the musicians arrive in historic Salem to begin their engagement, police discover the body of a man near a tavern owned by Lizzie’s cousin––a cousin she even didn’t know she had until Christmas Eve. In the dead man’s pocket is a cryptic letter addressed to Gardner. To compound her dismay, she also learns that her host plans to marry his daughter to the man Lizzie wants for herself.

Soon Lizzie’s caught in the middle of a high-stakes feud between her cousin and her employer over a mysterious lady. When she digs deeper into their conflict, she discovers its roots are deep and bitter: her cousin’s father crewed on one of Gardner’s grandfather’s ships that sunk during a storm in 1868. As she struggles to piece together the puzzle and find the lady at its center, Lizzie becomes a pawn in each man’s deadly game for money and revenge.

Why I Write What I Don't Know - A guest post by Skye Alexander

Today I have a guest post by my friend, Skye Alexander.  This is the third guest post that Skye has shared here on my blog and I'm always happy to learn more about her writing process and research.  I'll have a review of her latest book, The Goddess of Shipwrecked Sailors, soon.  

Note:
Skye shared this article on another blog recently here.  That blog is Sleuths & Sidekicks and I encourage you to take a look at it as well.  Always nice to find a new mystery blog.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------   

Writers, especially beginners, are often advised to “write what you know.” Everyone has a story to tell––maybe two or ten––and for many people, writing a book isn’t quite so daunting if you can draw on the huge body of knowledge and experience you already possess. Although that’s good advice, I find it much more interesting to write about what I don’t know. In the process of researching my books, I dig up a wealth of unexpected booty that fills my stories with riches I never imagined.

I write traditional, historical mysteries in the Agatha Christie vein, set in the mid-1920s. I confess, I never liked history when I studied it in school because most of it centered on rulers, wars, and politics rather than the lives of ordinary people. But once I started researching this colorful period for my Lizzie Crane mystery series I got hooked. I realized how much I didn’t know, and I was determined to rectify that deficit.

For example, while doing research for my second novel What the Walls Know, I discovered that the first automatic gate was invented by an Egyptian guy named Heron about 2,000 years ago. He also invented a coin-operated dispenser for holy water. How cool is that? I also learned that some of the world’s great pipe organs have more than 30,000 pipes and seven keyboards, and this incredibly intricate instrument dates back to ancient Greece. Because the book features a cast of mediums and other occultists, I also delved into the Spiritualist movement at the early part of the 20th century––séances, Ouija boards, tarot cards, etc.–which turned out to be fascinating.

For my third, recently released book The Goddess of Shipwrecked Sailors set in 1925 in Salem, Massachusetts, I had to bone up on the clipper ship trade between New England and the Orient. In the process, I found out that these beautiful sailing vessels not only brought precious tea, spices, teak, ivory, and silk to the U.S. in the mid-1800s, but also opium (which was legal at the time). The Chinese goddess Quan Yin, sometimes considered the Buddha’s feminine counterpart, is said to have protected seafarers and ferried shipwrecked sailors to shore––hence the title for my book. Many of the ship owners whose clippers made it home safely didn’t want to pay taxes on the valuable goods they’d risked bringing from halfway around the world, so they slipped them past the revenuers via a series of smuggling tunnels built beneath the city of Salem by the country’s first National Guard unit.

Because my series is set in the Roaring Twenties and my protagonist, Lizzie Crane, is a jazz singer from New York City, I had to familiarize myself with the jazz musicians of the period. Before I began writing this series, I wasn’t a big fan of jazz but that’s changed as a result of hearing the greats such as George and Ira Gershwin, Bix Beiderbecke, and Louis Armstrong play. YouTube is a valuable resource for this. If you’ve never listened to “Davenport Blues” or “Rhapsody in Blue” I urge you to do so. For my fifth book in the series, When the Blues Come Calling (not yet published), I learned about the rapidly developing music recording industry, how records were made in 1926, and even a portable record player called a Mikiphone that could spin a 10-inch disc yet folded up small enough to fit into a good-sized purse.

For me, every day is an exploration into worlds unknown. During my journey, I’ve learned about jigsaw puzzles, merry-go-rounds, rose windows, ladies’ undergarments, Jell-O, New York’s subways, voodoo veves, and so much more. I never know what tidbits of trivia or historic fact I’ll stumble upon and how they’ll influence the direction of my stories. It’s so much more fun than simply recapping what I already know.

 

Four books coming January-April that I'm excited about trying...

I have more upcoming books that I'm wanting to try in the next few months.  It's a cold, cold day outside at my house and so this seems like a good thing to do - check out books to be published during this month and the ones to come.

This first one has actually already come out.  It's been a long time since I read a book by James Patterson, but the title caught my eye and why not, right?  It includes the last names of three of my favorite mystery-related names. 

Holmes, Marple & Poe by James Patterson and Brian Sitts - published last week

Crime! Murder! Who are you going to call?

In New York City, three intriguing, smart, and stylish private investigators open Holmes, Marple & Poe Investigations. Who are these detectives with famous names and mysterious, untraceable pasts?

Brendan Holmes—The Brain: Identifies suspects via deduction and logic.

Margaret Marple—The Eyes: Possesses powers of observation too often underestimated.

Auguste Poe—The Muscle: Chases down every lead no matter how dangerous or dark.

The agency’s daring methodology and headline-making solves attract the attention of NYPD Detective Helene Grey. Her solo investigation into her three unknowable competitors will delight mystery fans.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

I read Iris Yamashita's debut book, City Under One Roof, last year and her new one comes out in February.  Yes, I am interested!

Village In The Dark by Iris Yamashita - publishes February 13th

Detective Cara Kennedy thought she’d lost her husband and son in an accident, but harrowing evidence has emerged that points to murder--and she will stop at nothing to find the truth in this riveting mystery from the author of City Under One Roof.

On a frigid February day, Anchorage Detective Cara Kennedy stands by the graves of her husband and son, watching as their caskets are raised from the earth. It feels sacrilegious, but she has no choice. Aaron and Dylan disappeared on a hike a year ago, their bones eventually found and buried. But shocking clues have emerged that foul play was involved, potentially connecting them to a string of other deaths and disappearances. 

Somehow tied to the mystery is Mia Upash, who grew up in an isolated village called Unity, a community of women and children in hiding from abusive men. Mia never imagined the trouble she would find herself in when she left home to live in Man’s World. Although she remains haunted by the tragedy of what happened to the man and the boy in the woods, she has her own reasons for keeping quiet. 

Aided by police officer Joe Barkowski and other residents of Point Mettier, Cara’s investigation will lead them on a dangerous path that puts their lives and the lives of everyone around them in mortal jeopardy.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I recently read and discussed a book by Simone St. James with my mystery book group.  And she has a new one coming in March!  Yes, I'm interested!!

Murder Road by Simone St. James - publishes March 5th

A young couple find themselves haunted by a string of gruesome murders committed along an old deserted road in this terrifying new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Cold Cases.

July 1995. April and Eddie have taken a wrong turn. They’re looking for the small resort town where they plan to spend their honeymoon. When they spot what appears to a lone hitchhiker along the deserted road, they stop to help. But not long after the hitchhiker gets into their car, they see the blood seeping from her jacket and a truck barreling down Atticus Line after them.

When the hitchhiker dies at the local hospital, April and Eddie find themselves in the crosshairs of the Coldlake Falls police. Unexplained murders have been happening along Atticus Line for years and the cops finally have two witnesses who easily become their only suspects. As April and Eddie start to dig into the history of the town and that horrible stretch of road to clear their names, they soon learn that there is something supernatural at work, something that could not only tear the town and its dark secrets apart, but take April and Eddie down with it all.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've loved so many of Elly Griffiths' books.  This new one will include some of the characters from The Postscript Murders.  Sign me up!

The Last Word by Elly Griffiths - publishes April 23rd

Words turn deadly with an unlikely detective duo on the case of a murdered obituary writer in this literary mystery from the internationally bestselling author of the Ruth Galloway series. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Anthony Horowitz.

Natalka and Edwin are perfect if improbable partners in a detective agency. At eighty-four, Edwin regularly claims that he’s the oldest detective in England. He is a master at surveillance, deploying his age as a cloak of invisibility. Natalka, Ukrainian-born and more than fifty years his junior, is a math whizz, who takes any cases concerning fraud or deception. Despite a steady stream of minor cases, Natalka is frustrated. She loves a murder, as she’s fond of saying, and none have come the agency’s way. That is until local writer Melody Chambers dies.

Melody’s daughters are convinced that their mother was murdered. Edwin thinks that Melody’s death is linked to that of an obituary writer who predeceased many of his subjects. Edwin and Benedict go undercover to investigate and are on a creative writing weekend at isolated Battle House when another murder occurs. Are the cases linked and what is the role of a distinctly sinister book group attended by many of writers involved? By the time Edwin has infiltrated the group, he is in serious danger…

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, do any of these appeal to you?  Hope so! 

Memorable books that I read in 2023...and a small update

Hello book pals!  Hope you are all having a good week.  Mine has been good, but busy.

I did get to attend our mystery book group on Tuesday evening and we had a great time discussing and giving opinions about Simone St. James' 'Gothic-type' mystery, The Book of Cold Cases.  Most liked it pretty well, though some were not as fond of the 'ghostly' aspects.  Don't know if you have read any of Simone St. James' books.  The maybe supernatural or maybe not is a theme she uses for all the ones I've read, I think.  My favorite up to now is probably The Broken Girls, which I read a few years ago and wrote about here.  In any case, it was a fun discussion.  We'll be talking about Lucy Foley's book, The Paris Apartment, next month.

Before time gets away from me, I want to share a few books that I found memorable in 2023.  As I've mentioned, I didn't read so many books number-wise this last year.  Life took over.  Ha!  However, looking back at my reading journal, I picked out 5 books that I think I'll remember fondly.  Here they are (no reviews) and tell me if you read them and what you thought if you'd like.  I'll put a link if I did write about them in a post during this last year.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn - talked a bit about it in this post. 

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb - my thoughts on this book here.

Murder At Haven's Rock by Kelley Armstrong - blog post here.

Killers Of A Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn - have not shared about this book as yet - it's our mystery book group selection for March so more to come.

The Maid by Nita Prose - have not talked about this one - maybe when I get the next in the series read.

------------------------------------------------------

I'll be around early next week to share four more books that I'm anticipating in upcoming months.  Plus, at the end of next week, I'll have a guest post by my friend, Skye Alexander, from Kerrville.  She has a third book in her Lizzie Crane mystery series out and I'm reading it right now.  Hope to have some thoughts on The Goddess Of Shipwrecked Sailors soon.  Take care and enjoy your reading!

  

Happy New Year! It's 2024!!

 

Hello my book friends!  And a very Happy New Year - 2024 - to you.  My wish is that all will find joy (I love that word), peace, and contentment in this new year.  And books, right?  I don't think any of us will struggle with that - ha!  The books - they will insist on leaping into your hands or cart or onto your e-reader.  Do you agree that books are one of our most special 'happy' places?  They are certainly mine.  However, I have definitely struggled with my reading 'numbers' for the last few years.  Lots has happened, many changes, and who knows?  I might have not read as much even if changes had not happened.  Distraction can occur for lots of reasons.  

So, what will 2024 look like?  Hmmm...well, I'm not going to have 'official' goals with numbers, etc.  That being said, I would like to settle in a little more to reading 'normally' and make my way through a few more books and series.  I love series - mystery series especially.  And I am behind on several that I would like to play 'catch-up'.  

There were lots of changes in our lives this last year.  We didn't plan on all of them, but we are settled in our new home and I'm hoping that 2024 will see me reaching out to new opportunities for volunteering.  Likely at my new library.  I've already been talking to some of the staff there about that.  I know - you're surprised - ha!  I also want to do more on my ongoing health journey.  Movement, eating healthy, sleeping well, trying to keep from getting too 'creaky' (and that takes work!) and also doing a little better with my distracted, anxious mind.  Thinking of peaceful things (yes, like a 'nice' murder mystery) and not worrying so much about 'stuff'.  

Again, wishing you all 'joy', 'peace', and 'contentment' for 2024!  Off to find my first book of 2024!

Happy Holidays....and a very Merry Christmas!!

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas....truly!  Wishing each and every one of you much 'Peace', 'Love', and 'Joy'.  I am very, very blessed to have each of you in my life and I'm hoping your holiday season is filled with good smells, good food, good fellowship, good feelings.  And if you're not in that sort of place right now...well...and sometimes we are not, I'm wishing you an extra measure of 'Peace'.  Happy Holidays - however you celebrate them!

Bones Under The Ice by Mary Ann Miller

Bones Under The Ice by Mary Ann Miller

First Paragraph:

Sheriff Jhonni Laurent half-strode, half-slid down the huge pile of snow, her breath streaming out in a white plume.  A February blizzard had blown through northern Indiana the night before.  The gusting winds had now died, but the late morning temperature was plummeting.  She glared at the pesky reporter perched at the bottom of the hill, pelting questions.

My Thoughts:

I'm laughing because I've had a 'read cold books in summer' way of doing things for a long, long time.  And yet - this is the second book I've read recently that is definitely 'cold'.  Ah well.  Bones Under The Ice is a debut mystery by Mary Ann Miller.  It's the first in a planned series and features a female sheriff in small town Indiana.  Set in the winter, it begins with the discovery of a victim in the snow.  The question arises whether the young woman got lost in the blizzard or if more nefarious things are going on.  I did like this one and really more so as the story continued.  As I mentioned, it's a debut book and we are getting to know the characters and place, etc.  The story is a little slow at first, but it ramps up by the end.  I've found that the next book in the series will be coming out in October.  It's called Cracks Beneath The Surface.  I'll be watching for that one.  If you try this one, let me know what you think.

Blurb:

Jhonni Laurent is the first female sheriff of Field' s Crossing, Indiana— and now she has her first murder case.

Two days after a blizzard hits Field's Crossing, Indiana, Sheriff Jhonni Laurent discovers the frozen body of a high school senior under a fifteen-foot pile of snow and ice. Murder is rare in farm country, and this death marks the beginning of Jhonni' s first homicide case.

Just as the investigation gets underway, Jhonni' s opponent for sheriff from four years ago wages a bitter reelection battle to oust her. Then, Jhonni finds another body, and further complications arise when a century-old feud between two families reaches its breaking point.

Soon, a slew of newspaper articles causes the Indiana State Election Board to doubt her credibility. Jhonni must fight to maintain her reputation, keep the small farming community together, and find the murderer at large— all while demons from her own past threaten to crush her. Can she find the killer and mend her battered spirit before it' s too late?

Four more upcoming books that I'm eager to try...one for each month - December through March...

I love sharing upcoming books that have caught my eye.  It's a reminder to me that I want to watch for them in the 'on order' section of the library or in the bookstore.  Here's four that will publish in December, January, February and March.  Let me know if they sound good to you.  I'm definitely 'waiting' on all four of them.  

Death In The Dark Woods by Annelise Ryan - published yesterday, December 12th - this is #2 in the author's 'Monster Hunter' mystery series.

Business has been booming since Morgan Carter solved the case of the monster living in Lake Michigan. The Odds and Ends bookstore is thriving, of course, but Morgan is most excited by the doors that were opened for her as a cryptid hunter. 

Recently, there have been numerous sightings of a Bigfoot-type creature in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest area of Bayfield County, Wisconsin. After a man is found dead from a vicious throat injury in the forest, the conservation warden asks Morgan to investigate. 

When Morgan and her dog, Newt, go there to investigate, they uncover a trail of lies, deception, and murder. It seems a mysterious creature is indeed living in the forest, and Morgan might be its next target.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Midnight by Amy McCulloch - publishes January 2, 2024

THE SUN NEVER SETS AND THIS KILLER NEVER SLEEPS

Olivia Campbell has always dreamed of spending a sunlit night on the frigid Antarctic continent. But as an actuary who assesses risk for a living, she never imagined she would have the chance. So when her career takes an unexpected detour, and her boyfriend—a high-powered art dealer with a taste for the finer things in life—decides to stage an ostentatious, career-making auction on a luxury liner to Antarctica, Olivia is thrilled. That is, until things start to feel a bit strange. In addition to the scores of wealthy patrons and potential buyers, they'll also be traveling alongside a small group of beleaguered employees of Pioneer Adventures—the company responsible for managing the ship—and their charismatic, divisive CEO.

When the first bodies are discovered, it's easy enough for Olivia to write it off as a terrible accident. But as the situation heats up and the temperatures continue to plummet, she begins to wonder whether she might have booked a one-way ticket to her own demise.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The Women by Kristin Hannah - publishes February 6, 2024

Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.

But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill - publishes March 19, 2024

When Theodosia Benton abandons her career path as an attorney and shows up on her brother's doorstep with two suitcases and an unfinished novel, she expects to face a few challenges. Will her brother support her ambition or send her back to finish her degree? What will her parents say when they learn of her decision? Does she even have what it takes to be a successful writer?

What Theo never expects is to be drawn into a hidden literary world in which identity is something that can be lost and remade for the sake of an audience. When her mentor, a highly successful author, is brutally murdered, Theo wants the killer to be found and justice to be served. Then the police begin looking at her brother, Gus, as their prime suspect, and Theo does the unthinkable in order to protect him. But the writer has left a trail, a thread out of the labyrinth in the form of a story. Gus finds that thread and follows it, and in his attempt to save his sister he inadvertently threatens the foundations of the labyrinth itself. To protect the carefully constructed narrative, Theo Benton, and everyone looking for her, will have to die. 

USA Today bestselling author Sulari Gentill takes readers on a rollercoaster ride in The Mystery Writer, a literary thriller that turns the world of books and authors upside down and where a writer's voice is a thing to be controlled and weaponized, to the peril of everyone who loves a good story.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please share any good books that you are waiting on.  I'd love to hear.

The Twelve Days Of Murder by Andreina Cordani

The Twelve Days Of Murder by Andreina Cordani

First Paragraph:

You Are Invited to a Murder

Charley has been holding the heavy, cream-coloured invitation card for four hours now, running her fingers over the glossy, embossed calligraphy.  The details:  time and place of killing, dress code, RSVP.  The black edges of the invitation are becoming worn away by the constant stroking of her fingertips.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book!  OK, in the last few days many are sharing their 'Christmas' and 'Holiday' reads and I've been loving hearing about them.  What does Kay end up enjoying?  A 'nice' Christmas murder story.  Ha!  I've shared that my reading has been distracted and up and down.  Well, I did a read/listen of this book, having checked the print copy out from my 'new' library.  And I just couldn't put it down.  It reminded me a bit of some other holiday mysteries and also of the 'group stranded' theme that is very popular these days.  Shades of Agatha Christie, but a bit more gruesome.  Twists and turns galore.  The audio was narrated by Ella Lynch and I'm not sure I've heard her before, but she was great.  Had the various Scottish/British accents down pat.  It was cold and snowy and creepy.  Lots of fun.  This is Andreina Cordani's first adult book - think she has written some YA books in the past.  In any case, I'll be watching for what she writes next.  Did I guess the outcome?  Not exactly.  Now, off to find another good read.

Blurb:

Twelve years ago, eight friends ran an exclusive group at university: the Masquerade Murder Society. The mysteries they solved may have been grisly, and brilliantly staged, but they were always fictional—until their final Christmas Masquerade, when one of the group disappeared, never to be seen again.

Now our privileged young cast of old university friends are summoned to the depths of Scotland for a Christmas-themed masquerade party. But all are hiding something deep below the surface that could make or break their careers.

When they arrive, each is assigned a new identity themed around the Twelve Days of Christmas—they become Lady Partridge or Mr. Gold, Lord Leapworth or Doctor Swan. The game begins, and it feels just like old times—until the next morning, when Lady Partridge is found hanging, dead, from a pear tree.

It quickly becomes clear that in this game the murder will be all too real, and the story is bringing long-hidden secrets to the surface. If the group hopes to win the game and survive until Christmas morning, they will need to face the truth about their history together and who they have become—and what really happened on that fateful night twelve years before.

A new library to explore, some Christmas shopping and planning, and connecting again with a much-missed Mystery Book Group...

 

Here's a small update on what I've been up to in the last week or two.  First of all, I've been exploring and enjoying visiting the 'new-to-me' library in my area.  I took a quick picture yesterday after I ran in and picked up a couple of holds that were available.  This is a nice library that includes a small cafe (the baked goods look yummy - haven't tried them yet!), a spacious teen area and a separate children's area - all these on the first floor as well as the new book section and a bunch of computers for the public.  The second floor has the adult books and several areas to sit.  It also includes a 'Friends of the Library' bookstore that is open all the hours that the library is open.  I haven't joined the 'Friends' group as yet, nor have I made a decision about volunteering at this library.  I'm leaving that until next year.  However, I give a nice thumbs-up to the Georgetown Public Library.  

We've been doing some shopping and planning for Christmas as well.  We will be hosting our local family members on Christmas Day and we'll enjoy a nice meal together and then do some gift exchanging.  What's a bit different is how we will do the gifts.  Everyone is now 'grown' and so we've decided not to draw names and instead try a 'White Elephant' kind of thing - with whoever decides to participate getting the chance to 'steal' gifts.  We'll see how it goes.  My husband and I are providing a few extra selections and we've said that gift cards qualify, there will be a limit on how much to spend, and you don't have to join in if you don't wish to.  I had fun shopping for some 'random' gifts.  Again, we'll see how it plays out.  Ha!

Lastly, I was very pleased to be able to attend the December meeting of the Mystery Book Group that I was part of here in the Austin area for so many years.  This meeting did not have a specific book to read, but everyone brought their 'best of' lists, a snack to share if they wished, and there was also a table of books that people we ready to let go of.  I was so happy to see several that had been long-time members and I also got to meet new people.  The group is going well and Gayle, who is now the leader/moderator, is doing a wonderful job of keeping things rolling along.  The group will be reading Simone St. James' book, The Book of Cold Cases, for January.  I read it a while back, but I am going to read it again to refresh my memory.  Have you read that one?  

I'll be back next week with a few more 'I'm anticipating' books to be published in the December-March period.  Have a good weekend!