There is NEVER a wrong time to read a book about books-or bookstores!
The oldest mystery specialty bookstore in the world, The Mysterious Bookshop, is There is NEVER a wrong time to read a book about books-or bookstores!
The oldest mystery specialty bookstore in the world, The Mysterious Bookshop, is an actual place, and Otto Penzler is an actual person.
And, for most of its forty-five-year history, he has commissioned an original short story as a holiday gift for its customers, written exclusively for the store and never published elsewhere. The stories were given out to customers as a holiday gift to thank them for their business, and were either handed out or mailed between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
The prompt for these stories requires three things-that it be set at Christmastime, that it involve a crime of some kind, or the suspicion of one, and that it be set at least partially in the bookstore.
This is a collection of 12 of these short stories, compiled in one book!
Since the Mysterious Bookshop only sells Crime and Mystery books-these aren’t your typical Christmas stories-Hallmark writers need NOT apply. Here is a HINT of what to expect:
Black Christmas by Jason Starr-nothing cozy about this story about “soulmates”.
A Midnight Clear by Lyndsay Faye-In a seedy apartment close to the Mysterious Bookstore, a man mourns a woman.
Wolfe Trap by Loren Estleman-a locked room (locked drawer) mystery.
Secret Santa by Ace Atkins-a “has been” author keeps up the facade of annual book signings at the Mysterious Bookshop on Christmas Eve.
The Gift of the Wiseguy by Rob Hart- a stakeout at the Mysterious Bookshops for an author’s mob father.
Snowflake Time by Laura Lippman-an offensive author’s rant about everything including Goodreads reviews that deduct points for the killing of cats.
The Christmas Party-Jeffrey Deaver-a nurse at an assisted care senior center who really goes the extra mile for her patients.
Here we come A Wassailing by Thomas Perry- Takes “regifting” to a whole new level!
A Christmas Puzzle by Ragnar Johasson-a clerk at the Mysterious Bookshop agrees to help an 80 year old widow solve a puzzle after the shop closes on Christmas Eve.
Hester’s Gift-Tom Mead-an amateur sleuth named Hester Queeg helps Police solve an unusual double murder.
Sergeant Santa by David Gordon-a pickpocket must find a way to return an item!
End Game by Martin Edwards-a ghost story for Christmas that involves “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”.
Who knew a bookstore could be so dangerous?
My favorites were “The Gift of the Wiseguy”, a “Christmas Puzzle” and “Sergeant Santa” (all 4 star) and my only two star story was “Snowflake Time” with most of the others earning 3.5 stars, so I will round up.
AVAILABLE October 22, 2024 if you like to start shopping early for Christmas Stocking Stuffers!
Thank You to the Mysterious Press for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts....more
“Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginnings End” from the song “Closing Time” by Semisonic.
“New Year’s Eve. Or in Scotland-Hogmanay- the las“Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginnings End” from the song “Closing Time” by Semisonic.
“New Year’s Eve. Or in Scotland-Hogmanay- the last day of the year, and one of enthusiastic celebrations and long held traditions-as one year ends and the new one begins.”
But, this could be the last year that Hogmanay will be celebrated at Gino’s Trattoria, a family business that never quite recovered after Covid. Dario has until midnight to secure new funds or sell to an Investment group in America.
Ailish’s 30 year marriage ended at Gino’s two years ago, when she caught her husband in a compromising position with his secretary out back. Will she finally have the courage to return or will she continue to hide and allow him to ruin one of her favorite traditions?
Ailish’s daughter, Emmy suspects that her boyfriend, Cormac might not be any more loyal to her than her Dad was to her mom.
And, Emmy’s grandmother, Minnie Ryan will be bringing a gift to Gino’s that she has waited all year to deliver.
A LOT will change in 24 hours-and the story unfolds in two hour increments starting with 8 a.m-10 a.m, until we reach midnight where we will begin the countdown to the New Year…
Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge Written by Kjerski Herland Johnsen Translated by Olivia Lasky
3.5 ⭐️
This is being marketed as a feel-good mystery set in Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge Written by Kjerski Herland Johnsen Translated by Olivia Lasky
3.5 ⭐️
This is being marketed as a feel-good mystery set in the snowy mountains of Norway, at a cozy, historic family inn-structured as an advent calendar, 24 chapters, one read each day, beginning with Dec. 1 and ending with Dec. 24.
So, let’s discuss the story and the concept.
The Story:
After a traumatic climbing accident, well-known Alpinist Ingrid Berg has returned home with HOPE of a fresh start. She will be taking over the management of the Glitter Peak Lodge from her aging grandmother.
The Inn has been in her family for 130 years, despite many attempts at takeovers from larger hotel chains, and Ingrid is hoping to keep the family legacy alive, while finding new purpose in her own life.
But soon after Ingrid’s return, complications arise-everything from leaky pipes, to the early arrival of some guests, and the very last-minute cancellations from others.
A long-buried mystery also resurfaces, and Ingrid discovers that the challenges may be too great to bear alone-she may need the help of the whole village-and a bit of Christmas magic!
As her Nana Borghild always says: “Joy Shared is Joy Doubled, and Sorrow Shared is Sorrow Halved”.
The story itself wasn’t particularly riveting, instead it mostly paints a picture of the days leading up to Christmas beginning with “Kakelinne” (a term used to describe mild weather in December that in earlier times was blamed on all of the holiday baking.)
It mostly described the foods eaten, and the traditions enjoyed, and these things could have been revealed one chapter at a time, to more closely follow an Advent calendar but I didn’t really feel like that happened with the Kindle copy. It does look like the physical copy presents more that way because illustrations are included.
But, it was helpful to be reading this on a Kindle, as I was unfamiliar with MANY words, but a quick highlight would explain many of the words for me. Thankfully, the printed book does provide a glossary of terms, and food descriptions. Even some recipes are included.
An Advent Calendar counts the days of Advent beginning with the first Sunday of Advent, which varies from Nov 27 through December 3, but many reusable calendars made of paper or wood, begin on Dec. 1. Advent refers to a 4 week season of remembering and celebrating the arrival of Jesus on Earth. Advent calendars have become popular in recent years as calendars with flaps that open, a day at a time to reveal a picture appropriate for the season, or a small treat and many commercial Advent calendars are now themed.
While I was attracted to the CONCEPT of reading a chapter per day, I DON’T think the execution of this story succeeded in FEELING like an Advent Calendar. Vignettes that were connected or that built upon each other, might have worked better for this format. Or, if each chapter had ended with a cliffhanger.
My advice-if this book interests you-I wouldn’t worry about only reading only one chapter per day.
Where the story DID succeed is it provided ARMCHAIR TRAVEL for readers interested in Norway, who may never get the opportunity to visit in person, wrapped up in a “Hallmark like” Christmas story.
AVAILABLE NOW.
Thank You to HarperVia for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. These are my candid thoughts!...more
Lexie was shocked to discover that she had inherited half of her father’s holiday travel company, R & L Travel -See the World through Celebration!
AftLexie was shocked to discover that she had inherited half of her father’s holiday travel company, R & L Travel -See the World through Celebration!
After all, they have hardly spoken over the last 10 years.
It is a successful niche business specializing in trips that explore the holiday traditions of cultures all over the world-something they used to do as a family each Christmas-until he left and started a new family with another woman.
The other half of the company has been left to Theo-her father’s good looking young executive. The will stipulates that the two of them must find a way to run the company together for a year AND turn a profit, before deciding whether or not to sell.
He wants to keep it. She wants to sell.
Can he change her mind in time?
I always look forward to Emily Stone’s holiday romances, but this wasn’t a favorite-Perhaps it is because the ENEMIES to LOVERS trope is a hard sell for me.
How does a person almost instantly fall in love with someone who is self admittedly usually acting like a petulant child? It’s NOT an attractive quality.
This isn’t a bad story BUT although the travel company idea sounds wonderful, and Lexie shows some personal growth by the end of the book-this just didn’t quite work as a romance for me!
The journey/anticipation wasn’t all that entertaining, I didn’t “FEEL” any chemistry between Lexie and Theo, and I WASN’T rooting for them to get together as a couple which are three MUSTS in any romance novel.
But, I am still a fan of the authors work, and will look forward to whatever she pens next!
And, what a gorgeous cover!
A buddy read with DeAnn. Be sure to watch for her review and to see if she offers a different perspective!
Expected publication date: October 15, 2024
Thank You to Dell for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts....more
The holidays were always a special time for our favorite maid, Molly Gray and her Gran. They shared many traditions including getting aNOW AVAILABLE!
The holidays were always a special time for our favorite maid, Molly Gray and her Gran. They shared many traditions including getting an Advent calendar and filling it with small things to treasure, like shiny silver spoons or chocolate covered cherries.
The first few Christmases without Gran were difficult for Molly, but this year her boyfriend Juan Manual is determined that she have a “MOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS “starting with their own Advent Calendar and adding to the celebrations with some new traditions of their own.
But, despite all of the wonderful surprises he plans, Molly notices some suspicious behavior which has her questioning his love.
Savvy readers that we are, we can figure out what he is up to-but Molly has always had trouble making sense out of what she sees and hears.
She will have to rely on both the wisdom of dear friends and the lessons that her Gran left her with until she catches up to the rest of us and the mystery is solved.
This was a delightful 124 page novella filled with all of the sights, sounds and tastes of the holiday season which will help advance the story in preparation for the next installment “The Maid’s Secret” (Molly the Maid #3) due to be released in April 2025.
I paired my reading with the Audiobook narrated by the talented Lauren Ambrose (2 hrs 38 minutes) but this time I preferred the written copy only because I have imagined a “different voice” for this character, which didn’t match hers.
I highly recommend that you read the books in order, or you may not be able to fully appreciate this charming Christmas short story. ...more
When “T” is kind enough to let “C” know that he has sent his email to the wrong aValentine’s Day 2014
“One typo, and a boy and girl connect by chance”
When “T” is kind enough to let “C” know that he has sent his email to the wrong address, he thanks her and wishes her a happy Valentine’s Day.
But, “C” is the “exception to the rule” so this email exchange isn’t the end, instead becoming an annual tradition, albeit a few rules: no pics, no real names, and nothing too personal-to keep things fun!
But as TEN years go by, they realize that they have actually become friends.
Is 2024 the year that they might finally meet in person?
“Christina Lauren’s The Exception to the Rule is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute, irresistibly romantic stories about finding love when and where you least expect it. They can be read or listened to in one sitting and are included with your Amazon Prime subscription.”
I have tried this extremely popular writing duo before, but their writing was too YA for me. But this Valentine’s Day novella, with its two narrators reading aloud the annual emails was an almost perfect “meet cute” despite some YA dialogue, and it was definitely one of my favorites in this delightful holiday series! ...more
I’m never approved for this author’s books, so as I eagerly await publication day for “Just For the Summer” on April 2nd, it was nice to be able to reI’m never approved for this author’s books, so as I eagerly await publication day for “Just For the Summer” on April 2nd, it was nice to be able to read this Amazon Original, which is part of “The Improbable Meet-Cute” series which was released just in time for Valentine’s Day.
These short stories are about finding love when and where you least expect it, and the collection was penned by some of your favorite romance authors. Each can be read or listened to in one sitting.
Abby is a favorite of mine because she ALWAYS manages to make me laugh, and cry-even when she only has 61 pages to work with! Oh, and did I mention-there are always dogs! ...more
Detective Constable Becky Greene has just gathered up the mail that needs to be taken up to CID when she notices * A Seasonal Christmas Read for 2023*
Detective Constable Becky Greene has just gathered up the mail that needs to be taken up to CID when she notices the large square envelope addressed “To A Detective Who Knows What To Do”.
Curious, she slices open the envelope but when she finds an Advent Calendar inside, which contains actual crime scene photos behind each door-she knows it isn’t a prank.
Could a serial killer be announcing in no uncertain terms that he has literally gotten away with murder for the last twenty years? And, why now, at Christmas time?
With 4 doors missing photos, Detectives Carmine and Greene know that there is no time to waste, if they want to prevent more holiday heartache for celebrating families.
After recently reading and enjoying “The Party Season” and realizing that it was book two of the Detectives Carmine and Greene Christmas Police Procedural series, I knew I needed to backtrack and read this one, and it didn’t disappoint!
The author writes these stories in a way that purposefully keeps us as the reader, a step ahead of the detectives but at 55% there was suddenly a (WOW!!) moment that had my jaw dropping open!
And, the last 20% had some nail biting, heart thumping moments too!
The first two books set up a possible third, and I DO HOPE, I will be reading it next Christmas! (2024)
A fun buddy read with Ceecee and Susan-be sure to watch for their (always) amazing reviews to see if they enjoyed this one as much as I did!...more
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