Let's discuss the great books we are reading in December.

I am in the middle of  Wall-to-Wall Dead (Do-It-Yourself Mystery, Bk 6) :: Jennie Bentley   This series is one of my favorite cozy series. Good mysteries, interesting character, love fixer up tips.

Alice

I finally finished Twice the Spy (too many things going on for serious reading time) and what a ride it was! I loved these books and got a set for my granddaughter - hope she likes them half as much as I did!

Alice, I'm a big fan of the "Do It Yourself" series, too.  The fact that they take place in Maine adds to the books for me.  So far she has only gotten one thing wrong as far as I can see about Maine - in the first or second book her description of an Italian Sandwich was off - all Mainers know you don't put mayonnaise on an Italian - it's olive oil all the way!  :-)

Have just started "Stake & Eggs - A Cackleberry Club Mystery" by Laura Childs.  She is another favorite.  For some reason I can't get into the Scrapbooking series, but I love this one and the Tea Shop series.

Becky, now that you have finished decorating your house, want to swing by mine and lend a hand?   :)  

Hey Joy, I've got first dibs on Becky swinging by my house!  Just cause the outside is done don't mean the inside has anything unpacked yet. 

Okay --- We really are finished decorating as of today.  While at Lowe's we bought some pine and cedar garland and David put it around the bannister on the stairs.  We bought two rosemary Christmas trees in pots (maybe 1 foot high) and they are on the kitchen table with some Byer's Choice figurines of Salvation Army folks.  We bought some other "mixed greens" and put them under the Nativity in the family room and the one in the front entry!!!  So now it looks like we really put forth some effort --- we are not the least bit sad that we do not have a big tree.

Finally I finished "The Eagle Catcher" --- it was a good book and I enjoyed it, but I think should I continue with the series I would become very frustrated with the "non" relationship between the preist and the lady lawyer!!!

I started another book and I believe the author is Joseph Finder --- he writes thrillers usually involved in corporate stuff.  The main character in this one is Nick Heller, but just this moment I cannot think of the title!!!!  Looked it up on my list.  It is "Vanished".

Just started In The Woods by Tana French for the book club in the basement. I'm a little behind, it's the december book, but I kinda forgot to read it, lol. If you've read it or would like to read it join us in the September forum at the bottom of the forum list.

I started reading These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf. My plan was to read just a few chapters and then go about what I needed to get done today. Well a few chapters turned into an hour and then that turned into a few hours and the next thing I knew I was done with my book. It was sooo good, I couldn't put it down. I haven't read Gudenkauf's other book, The Weight of Silence. I'm sure there are some on this board that have read it. What are you opinions on it, was it as good as this book?

***DISCLAIMER*** No children were harmed in my doing nothing but reading all morning, Luckily for me my husband is in charge of breakfast on Sunday mornings. We also had to skip church this morning because my daughter is under the weather and the house is a mess but other than that the children are fine.

Tempie --- Good for you for reading all morning!!!  We did go to church this morning, but David sure was hoping for a day to play hooky, he was reading his book in bed!!!!  I was very tempted to say yes, but today was the last day to bring in the food we have been collecting for our local Christian-based food bank.

Still working on "Vanished" by Joseph Finder --- it is starting to get geared up for the excitement.

Finished Simon Beckett's The Calling of the Grave....the last in the series...I hope that he writes another book soon...I really like this series.

I am reading  Elvis and the Blue Christmas Corpse (Southern Cousins, Bk 5) :: Peggy Webb. I love Elvis the bassett hound very fun series.

Alice

Read another free e-book...Nearly Departed in Deadwood/Ann Charles.  Liked this cozy...MC is a newbie realtor in Deadwood, SD.  She really only did one stupid thing!!  Going to continue with the series.

Death Dances to a Regge Beat/Kate Grilley.  Another good cozy I grabbed at the library.  If I had been thinking, I would have left it until the first of the year and used it for the Challenge.  Oh well, I already have an exotic location book and have ordered in the next in this series, so I'm in good shape!

Silent Witness/Nigel McCrery.  Read the first two in his DCI Lapslie series and liked them, so decided to try this one while I'm waiting for the 3rd to come off my WL.  This is the first in his Dr. Samantha Ryan series.  She is a forensic pathologist in Cambridge.  Another Brit series I plan to continue with.

Devil's Food/Kerry Greenwood.  The third in her Corinna Chapman series about a baker in Melbourn, Australia.  Definitely a very mild cozy (no one gets murdered!), but a nice bit of fun.

Aw Marla, another series for me to check out!  When we took a trip to see Mt. Rushmore we stayed in Deadwood.  That is such a great place!  I love that they have gambling and that maintains the town as a historical site.  We had to visit the cemetery.  Calamity Jane is buried next to Wild Bill Hitchcock there.  The Black Hills are a wonderful sight.  

I just realized I have a pile of books I've read, some at the end of November and polished off some now.

Killer Cocktail by Sheryl J. Anderson; Dead Shot by Victoria Houston; Even Cat Sitter Get the Blues by Blaze Clement; Ain't Too Proud to Beg by Susan Donovan and finished Gourdfella by Maggie Bruce.  These were started in November an finished them up now.

New (December) reading was Dead Man Waltzing by Ella Barrick, second in the series.  I liked it enough to look for the third coming out next year.  A Sheetcake Named Desire by Jacklyn Brady.  The first of the series and I'm looking for the next.  I'm most likely gonna get tired of it.  Girl finds soon to be ex-husbands body with a knife in the chest - at least she doesn't touch it to leave fingerprints.  Finds out husband didn't have a will, he's worth oodles, his current girlfriend thinks she's entitled to all.  Who to our wondering eye does appear but a hot homicide dectective.  Did you have a doubt?  I found myself skipping over desxriptions of how to create fancy cakes.  I mean wedding cake type things.  

I'm pulling out an oldie, Once a Theif by Susan Ledbetter to read now.  I've read her series and like her as an author.  This book has been sitting and waiting for me.  Tsk! 

And since Becky wouldn't bring David and come help me decorate I've got my cousin coming to bring the tote boxes up out of the basement tonight.  Tomorrow begans the marathon Christmas decorating!

It hit me my cousin is Dave!  Not Becky's David this one lives about three miles from me. 

I'm reading THE SECRET KEEPER by Kate Morton.  The novel takes place in the present with flashbacks to WWII.  The mystery concerns a woman's past and her daughter's search for the truth.  I'm enjoying the writing, but I'm finding the plot a bit slow.  (I'm on page 200)  has anyone read it?

Amazon has a promotion going - 12 books of Christmas.  Not mystery today but heavily WL and they're hardcover books for $2.99 with a next day delivery!  I have Prime so no delivery charge.  Just thought I'd pass it on for those who want to check it out.

ANNA S., I recently read "The Secret Keeper" by Kate Morton. I thought it was excellent!! Don't give up on it--the ending chapters will blow you away!!! Morton's "The Forgotten Garden" (2008) is also wonderful!

Geri ~ the series by Jacklyn Brady is one of my favorites!  I don't think you'll be disappointed in the 2nd book, there's a lot less descriptions of cake design.  Ella Barrick's "Waltzing" series is good, too.  The first book really captured my attention as did the second.  Can't wait for the third to come out.

I have finished "Stake and Eggs" by Laura Child.  I liked it, but to me it wasn't my favorite.  Her next book in this series will be named "Eggs in a Casket,"  so far no ISBN that I can find.

I was all set to read another book, and actually got through the first two chapters when "Nightshade on Elm Street" by Kate Collins showed up in my mailbox.  Every other book stops when I get one of these.  Loving it so far.   :)

I am still no my cozy kick. I am now reading  Last Wool and Testament (Haunted Yarn Shop, Bk 1) :: Molly MacRae. Nice first book in a series. I like the main character Kath a lot.  Hope it continues to be good.

Alice

There ya go a perfect example of #12 in the Challenge. Becky and I changed it a bit to read:

Good to see you again... Read an author that you always enjoy rather than re-read.

Joy, with Kate Collins and I got the latest Janet Evanovich and realized my fingers itched to hold that book as soon as it came in the house!  I had to give it to mom so I could save it for the challenge.  She reads slower than I do so I should have the book just in time to ring in the New Year.   

Alice, glad to hear you like the yarn book, I have it waiting for me!  If you didn't like it off it would have gone.

Thanks for the heads up about Amazon Geri. Did you see there's a drawing for a $250 gift certificate you can enter once a day?

Just as I decided to re-read an author I've always enjoyed, now you tell me I can't re-read one.  Good grief!  This is going to cause great havoc in my challenge list you know.   :-) 

Yes, those itching hands, Geri!  I feel the same way about Donna Andrews, Denise Swanson (Scumble River) and a couple others.  Do any of you have authors you just have to read the minute they come in?

Geri...Just downloaded the third in the Ann Charles Deadwood series...free!  (At least it was today).  Suspect I am going to have to breakdown and actually buy the second one.   The first one in her other series is available for 99 cents.  May try that one as well!  I liked Susan Ledbetter's series as well...sorry she didn't write more.

Still not totally sold on the whole e-reading thing.  Would still prefer a printed book!  I can manage it 60-90 minutes at a time.  I finally figured out that my main problem is that I am skimming the books.  Guess I am so used to scrolling quickly thru stuff on the computer, that I tend to do that with the book.  Then I hit something and go "whoa" and have to start going back to figure out what I obvioiusly skimmed over!

Read The Vanished Princess/Meredith Blevins.  Liked this one as well as the first one.  MC is a freelance writer, a widow with a gypsy fortune teller for a MIL.  Lots of interesting characters, some humor, but mainly I just like her writing.  One of the very few authors that I actually carefully read her descriptions of scenery, etc.  Her writing can be almost lyrical in places.

Foul Play a the Fair/Shelley Freydont...the first in her newest series.  MC is an event coordinator for festivals in a small town in upstate NY.  Good, not great, but no recipes, crafts, DYI instructions, etc. (always a plus for me!!!)  MC is a reasonably sensible character.

Marla, I can't seem to read on my computer but my Kindle is another story.  I have an old Kindle and a Kindle Fire.  The Fire is a bit heavier but I bought a cover for it and can prop it like I do a hardcover book.  Love that I can increase the size of the print and "turn" the pages.  No skimming so far.  I went to get some take out, had the Fire in the car and once I got there realized I had left my glasses home.  I just increased the size of the print and was happily reading while waiting for my order.

Okay, I'll have to get the Ann Charles on Kindle.

Yep, I've entered for the $250 Amazon GC.

Joy, you can re-read a favorite or just read one of your favorite authors new books.  If I were going to re-read it would be a Mary Stewart.  Though I can see one of her titles, close my eyes and no book is needed.  That's how many times I've re-read her books.  Since we made the change I can read the latest Janet Evanovich that I had to pry out of my hands to give to mom to read.

Geri --- Did Mary Stewart right a series (3 I think) of books about King Arthur, Merlin, etc.  Maybe "The Crystal Cave"???  Okay, I looked on Fantastic Fiction and I was correct.  She did write those books.  How I loved them.  Read them back in the early 70s when they were released and have not read them again.  I am truly not a re-reader.  Wonder if I would remember them clearly after such a long time???  How is the decorating going?????

Still working on "Vanished" by Joseph Finder and enjoying it.  Yesterday I started a very long historical fiction book, "The Physician" by Noah Gordon and wow it grabbed me from the first page.  It is a trilogy about a young boy who becomes a physician.  It starts in about 1021 or thereabouts.  I know this is not the Historical forum, but I think it is going to be a very good read.  Right now it is in the car, but will soon be coming in the house.