thornton37814's 12 More Categories for the 12 in 12 - thread 3

My first 12 in 12 challenge can be found here in thread 1 - http://www.librarything.com/topic/122988 and in thread 2 - http://www.librarything.com/topic/134333. After I finished those, I set up another 12 categories at http://www.librarything.com/topic/137271 which was continued at http://www.librarything.com/topic/140950.

I set a minimum of three for each category with no maximum:

Here are the categories:

1. Europe Endless Challenge - I'm determined to finish this challenge this year. I will be reading approximately 3 books per month for this one. (I've already read one in May.)

2. Critically Acclaimed - This category is for books that I've added to my TBR list because of a review here on LibraryThing in the 12 in 12 or 75 book groups.

3. Around the World - I read a lot of American (50 states and DC) and British books. I am reading lots of books with European settings as a result of the Europe Endless Challenge. This category will hopefully make me read a few more set in other parts of the world including Canada, Mexico, Central & South America, Islands, Australia, Asia, Africa, Middle East, etc.

4. Hot off the Press - Books with a 2012 copyright date.

5. I Want to Go Home - These are my friend's books that I need to read and return!

6. Operation Mount TBR - I need to whittle down the books that I have on hand that need to be read. Don't we all?

7. Library Books - Most of these will be books that are on my TBR list that I haven't purchased but that are available at my library. However, any library book will qualify.

8. Non-Fiction - History, religion, cookbooks, travel, etc. Anything that isn't fiction qualifies.

9. Random Drawing - I'm going to cut up some slips of paper with the titles of books that are in my TBR pile, my library list, my wish list that are not owned, my friend's books that are here, etc. and draw one or two per month out of hat or box or whatever I use. I'll probably put about 50 titles in the box -- some will be books I'm eager to get to; some will be books that I'm not quite as eager to read. I'll feel that I'm accomplishing something by getting them off whichever list they are on!

10. Next in Series - Some of my series are getting pushed to a back burner, so I'm going to try to make myself get to the next one and eventually catch up with some of them.

11. Holidays - Books with a Holiday setting or theme. I may not get to these until later in the year, but this one gives me a place to fit all those Christmas books, but gives me a chance to read books for other holidays as well.

12. It Floats My Boat - It's a book I'm reading because I want to read it. A great catch-all category for things don't fit one of the others.

Europe Endless Challenge

1. Uneasy Relations by Aaron Elkins - completed 18 May 2012
2. The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million by Daniel Mendelsohn - completed 25 May 2012
3. A Survey of Liechtenstein History by Otto Seger - completed 18 June 2012
4. The Aland Islands by W. R. Mead and S. H. Jaatinen - completed 19 June 2012
5. The Expats by Chris Pavone - completed 22 June 2012
6. Snow Angels by James Thompson - completed 1 July 2012
7. Resistance by Anita Shreve - completed 2 July 2012
8. Silence of the Grave by Arnaldur Indridason - completed 4 July 2012
9. Katarina by Kathryn Winter - completed 23 July 2012
10. Time's Magpie: A Walk in Prague by Myla Goldberg - completed 26 July 2012
11. Belshazzar's Daughter by Barbara Nadel - completed 4 September 2012
12. Apples Are From Kazakhstan by Christopher Robbins - completed 4 September 2012
13. The Black Mountain by Rex Stout - completed 15 Sept 2012
14. Of Whom the World Was Not Worthy by Marie Chapian - completed 28 Sept 2012
15. The Bielski Brothers by Peter Duffy - completed 14 Oct 2012
16. The Strange Intruder by Arthur Catherall - completed 16 Oct 2012
17. This Royal Breed by Judith Saxton - completed 19 Oct 2012
18. The Georgian Feast by Dara Goldstein - completed 7 Nov 2012
19. A Freak of Freedom by J. Theodore Bent - completed 8 Nov 2012
20. The Folklore of the Isle of Man by Margaret Killip - completed 11 Nov 2012
21. The Fall of Prince Florestan of Monaco by Charles Wentworth Dilke - completed 22 Nov 2012
22. The Road to Andorra by Shirley Deane - completed 28 Nov 2012

Critically Acclaimed

1. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - completed 30 June 2012
2. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel - completed 19 July 2012
3. The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri - completed 8 Sept 2012
4. A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd - completed 16 Oct 2012
5. The Children of Willesden Lane by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen - completed 21 Nov 2012
6. What Is Mine by Anne Holt - completed 31 Dec 2012

Around the World

1. A Body Surrounded by Water by Eric Wright - completed 30 May 2012
2. Termination Dust by Sue Henry - completed 5 June 2012
3. The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny - completed 13 Sept 2012
4. The Gramma War by Kristin Butcher - completed 6 Nov 2012

Hot Off the Press

1. Calico Joe by John Grisham - completed 28 Jun 2012
2. Living Jesus: Doing What Jesus Says in the Sermon on the Mount by Randy Harris with Greg Taylor - completed 13 July 2012
3. Beach House Memories by Mary Alice Monroe - completed 21 July 2012
4. The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber - completed 9 Aug 2012
5. Tresspassers in Time: Genealogists and Microhistorians by Anne Patterson Rodda - completed 25 Aug 2012
6. Fever Season: The Story of a Terrifying Epidemic and the People Who Saved a City by Jeanette Keith - completed 19 Sept 2012
7. Thomas Jefferson's Creme Brulee by Thomas J. Craughwell - completed 25 Sept 2012
8. The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller - completed 30 Sept 2012
9. Eleven Pipers Piping by C. C. Benison - completed 2 Oct 2012
10. The Notorious Elizabeth Tuttle: Marriage, Murder, and Madness in the Family of Jonathan Edwards by Ava Chamberlain - completed 3 Oct 2012
11. The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen - completed 21 Oct 2012
12. Kiku's Prayer by Shusaku Endo - completed 25 Oct 2012
13. The Roots of My Family Tree by Niki Alling - completed 23 Nov 2012
14. Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel - completed 26 Nov 2012
15. Postcards from Cedar Key by Terri DuLong - completed 4 Dec 2012
16. Cathedral Windows by Clare O'Donohue - completed 6 Dec 2012
17. A Murder at Rosamund's Gate by Susanna Calkins - completed 24 Dec 2012

I Want to Go Home

1. Blood of the Prodigal by P. L. Gaus - completed 25 May 2012
2. Trophy Hunt by C. J. Box - completed 31 May 2012
3. Borrower of the Night by Elizabeth Peters - completed 3 June 2012
4. Louisa and the Missing Heiress by Anna Maclean - completed 7 June 2012
5. The Wooden Overcoat by Pamela Branch - completed 20 June 2012
6. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters - completed 23 June 2012
7. Weighed in the Balance by Anne Perry - completed 7 July 2012
8. When Will the Dead Lady Sing? by Patricia Sprinkle - completed 14 July 2012
9. The Black Tower by Betsy Byars - completed 24 July 2012
10. An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor - completed 28 July 2012
11. A Shilling for Candles by Josephine Tey - completed 5 Aug 2012
12. Death at Dartmoor by Robin Paige - completed 8 Aug 2012
13. Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs - completed 23 Aug 2012
14. Now May You Weep by Deborah Crombie - completed 25 Sept 2012

Operation Mount TBR

1. Farm Fresh Murder by Paige Shelton - completed 22 May 2012
2. One Bad Apple by Sheila Connolly - completed 27 May 2012
3. Death, Bones, and Stately Homes by Valerie S. Malmont - completed 7 Jun 2012
4. Open Season by Archer Mayor - completed 16 June 2012
5. Fire and Ice by Dana Stabenow - completed 18 June 2012
6. Cooks Overboard by Joanne Pence - completed 4 July 2012
7. Spiced to Death by Peter King - completed 16 July 2012
8. Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn - completed 16 July 2012
9. Quietly in Their Sleep by Donna Leon - completed 17 July 2012
10. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome - completed 29 July 2012
11. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver - completed 30 July 2012
12. Murder Over Easy by Marshall Cook - completed 4 Aug 2012
13. False Premises by Leslie Caine - completed 17 Aug 2012
14. Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris - completed 18 Aug 2012
15. Southern Discomfort by Margaret Maron - completed 25 Aug 2012
16. Family Tree by Katherine Ayres - completed 19 Oct 2012
17. The Water's Lovely by Ruth Rendell - completed 30 Dec 2012

Library Books

1. Murder Makes Waves by Anne George - completed 26 May 2012
2. Classified as Murder by Miranda James - completed 2 June 2012
3. Death Books a Return by Marion Moore Hill - completed 25 June 2012
4. Bitter Tide by Ann Stamos - completed 9 July 2012
5. Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie - completed 10 July 2012
6. Sew Deadly by Elizabeth Lynn Casey - completed 12 July 2012
7. Folly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank - completed 23 July 2012
8. Homeplace by Anne Shelby - completed 14 Aug 2012
9. Damsels Not in Distress: The True Story of Women in Medieval Times by Andrea Hopkins - completed 14 Aug 2012
10. Through the Eyes of Your Ancestors by Maureen Taylor - completed 17 Sept 2012
11. Death of a Cozy Writer by G. M. Malliet - completed 17 Sept 2012
12. The Blood Detective by Dan Waddell - completed 21 Sept 2012
13. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett - completed 10 Oct 2012
14. Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand - completed 5 Nov 2012
15. Casper and Catherine Move to America by Brian Hasler - completed 9 Nov 2012
16. My Mother's Pearls by Catherine Myler Fruisen - completed 9 Nov 2012
17. Two Continents, Four Generations by Peter Hays and Beti Rozen - completed 12 Nov 2012
18. Family Tapestry by Barbara Maley Yamamoto - completed 12 Nov 2012
19. Where Did You Get Those Eyes?: A Guide to Discovering Your Family History by Kay Cooper - completed 13 Nov 2012
20. Letters from the Heart by Annie Bryant - completed 16 Nov 2012
21. Threadbare by Monica Ferris - completed 25 Nov 2012
22. Black Potatoes: The Story of the Irish Famine, 1845-1850 by Susan Campbell Bartoletti - completed 8 Dec 2012
23. Death in Lacquer Red by Jeanne M. Dams - completed 17 Dec 2012
24. Moon Spinners by Sally Goldenbaum - completed 26 Dec 2012
25. Wish You Were Here by Lani Diane Rich - completed 28 Dec 2012
26. Death Without Tenure by Joanne Dobson - completed 31 Dec 2012

Non-Fiction

1. A Brief Guide on How to Research Your Ancestry by Evette Gardner - completed 20 July 2012
2. Epitaphs to Remember: Remarkable Inscriptions from New England Gravestones by Janet Greene - 14 Aug 2012
3. A Student's Guide to Native American Genealogy by E. Barrie Kavasch - completed 19 Aug 2012
4. Children of the Settlement Houses by Caroline Arnold - completed 15 Sept 2012
5. The Great Ancestor Hunt: The Fun of Finding Out Who You Are by Lila Perl - completed 28 Sept 2012
6. We Rode the Orphan Trains by Andrea Warren - completed 29 Sept 2012
7. DNA: Window to the Past by Jim Ollhoff - completed 28 Nov 2012

Random Drawing

1. Twain's Feast: Searching for America's Lost Foods in the Footsteps of Samuel Clemens by Andrew Beahrs - completed 3 June 2012
2. How to Sew a Button: and Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew by Erin Bried - completed 1 July 2012
3. Italian Food by Elizabeth David - completed 31 July 2012
4. The Estate of the Beckoning Lady by Margery Allingham - completed 28 Sept 2012
5. The Rainaldi Quartet by Paul Adam - completed 13 Oct 2012
6. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes - completed 15 Nov 2012
7. The Piano Shop on the Left Bank by Thad Carhart - completed 10 Dec 2012

Next in Series

1. Endangered Species by Nevada Barr - completed 30 May 2012
2. Wedding Rows by Kate Kingsbury - completed 25 Aug 2012
3. Scotched by Kaitlyn Dunnett - completed 6 Sept 2012
4. Decaffeinated Corpse by Cleo Coyle - completed 15 Sept 2012
5. Stealing Lumby by Gail R. Fraser - completed 9 Oct 2012
6. Grave Consequences by Dana Cameron - completed 29 Oct 2012
7. The Master Quilter by Jennifer Chiaverini - completed 1 Nov 2012

Holidays

1. Buttercream Bump Off by Jenn McKinlay - completed 3 Sep 2012
2. A Christmas Garland by Anne Perry - completed 6 Oct 2012
3. Angels at the Table by Debbie Macomber - completed 22 Oct 2012
4. Avram's Gift by Margie Blumberg - completed 13 Nov 2012
5. An Unlikely Royal Family Tree: The Ballad of Matthew's Begats by Andrew Peterson - completed 16 Nov 2012
6. It's Thanksgiving by Jack Prelutsky; ill. by Marylin Hafner - completed 21 Nov 2012
7. Matchless by Gregory Maguire - completed 4 Dec 2012
8. The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans - completed 4 Dec 2012
9. Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop edited by Otto Penzler - completed 9 Dec 2012
10. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham - completed 11 Dec 2012
11. A Home for Christmas by Deborah Grace Staley - completed 14 Dec 2012
12. Ruth's First Christmas by Elly Griffiths - completed 19 Dec 2012
13. My True Love Gave to Me by Christine Lynxwiler - completed 20 Dec 2012
14. Decked with Folly by Kate Kingsbury - completed 22 Dec 2012

It Floats My Boat
1. Don't Look Back by Karin Fossum - completed 13 June 2012
2. The Bobbsey Twins, or Merry Days Indoor and Out by Laura Lee Hope - completed 1 Aug 2012
3. The Fifth Servant by Kenneth Wishnia - completed 6 Aug 2012
4. My Family History by Jane O'Connor - completed 8 Aug 2012
5. Who Do You Think You Are?: Be a Family Tree Detective by Dan Waddell - completed 8 Aug 2012
6. Seven Brave Women by Betsy Hearne - completed 8 Aug 2012
7. Homer, the Library Cat by Reeve Lindbergh - completed 9 Aug 2012
8. B Is For Bookworm: A Library Alphabet by Anita Prieto - completed 9 Aug 2012
9. The Library Gingerbread Man by Dotti Enderle - completed 9 Aug 2012
10. The Copper Beech by Maeve Binchy - completed 14 Aug 2012
11. Hurricanes in Paradise by Denise Hildreth Jones - completed 28 Aug 2012
12. Let's Go Camping by Nancy Streza - completed 23 Nov 2012
13. Perki Cati by Robin Petty; ill. by Charles W. Hurley, Jr. and Robin Petty - completed 23 Nov 2012
14. Kittens on the Barn Roof by Finley Keller - completed 23 Nov 2012
15. The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson; ill. by Ripple Digital Publishing Corp. - completed 23 Nov 2012
16. Stick Dog Wants a Hamburger by Tom Watson - completed 23 Nov 2012

Pretty new digs to finish out the year!

Yes - I decided it was time to move it over. I'll finish at least one book tonight and perhaps two. Then as soon as I finish those -- one is a picture book; the other is a book for upper elementary kids that is a couple hundred pages long -- I've got an adult book lined up!

Since the genealogy of Jesus is tied to the Christmas story, I'm counting this one in my "Holidays" category:

An Unlikely Royal Family Tree: The Ballad of Matthew's Begats by Andrew Peterson - While I liked the idea of a children's book based upon the genealogy of Jesus, this one left a bit to be desired. The phrase "he had" was over used, and sometimes in an effort to make things rhyme, things became a bit awkward. The book was conceived as a song and later put in book format. Some annotations were made, but they are nothing that is going to grab a child's attention. The illustrations are better than those of many Christian children's books, but they are not outstanding. I really recommend just getting a children's version of the Bible and reading the account from the Bible to a youngster rather than using this book. There was a CD with the song sung included with the book. It's very acoustical. (2.5 stars)

In my "Library Books" category:

Letters from the Heart by Annie Bryant - I read this book because the synopsis mentioned that the students would be involved in a family history project at school. Although I was excited about finding a book for middle school age students about researching their roots, I quickly became disappointed as the details of the girls' everyday existence seemed to play more importance to the narrative than the pursuit of their class project. Although each student finds items relating to their families, there was a lot of missed opportunity in this book to illustrate ways of conducting research. I did like the manner that one student researched the education of African Americans in Boston when she discovered her ancestor had been one of the early African American Boston educators. A lot of the text is gimmicky which would probably be enjoyed more by the intended audience more than by me. This book may work better for some readers than others. (2 stars)

I'm thinking that I should read this book that is in my library soon:



Twinkie Deconstructed

> 18 - What a timely book considering the recent news!

Yes. I've managed to find imitation recipes for just about all the Hostess products.

Twinkies: http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/Hostess-Twinkie-Recipe.html

Ding Dongs: http://acozykitchen.com/homemade-ding-dongs/

Sno Balls: http://bakingbites.com/2008/08/homemade-sno-ball-cupcakes/

There's even one for Wonder Bread: http://www.food.com/recipe/homemade-wonder-bread-92282

I have tried, but can't see why anyone would want to recreate Wonder Bread. That stuff is exactly like wet Kleenex. Is that the recipe?

We never ate Wonder Bread at my house. We always used Sunbeam. My neighbors across the street swore by Wonder Bread though so I did occasionally have it. I preferred what we had at my house. I really prefer whole wheat or multigrain breads though.

My mom never got Wonderbread for us. I grew up on rye and generic white bread. Now I enjoy the great variety of whole grain and sourdough breads available. I frequently plan dinner around what kind of bread I can get. One of my favorites is a loaf with roasted garlic cloves. Excellent with split pea soup!

Its the Hostess ads of my childhood that makes the company's demise seem like the end of an era. I don't remember my Mom buying any of the Hostess products - maybe they weren't as readily available in the part of Canada we lived it but I do remember the Vachon pastry products - but we did see all the American advertising.

mamzel - Bread with roasted garlic cloves sounds wonderful! I was just thinking earlier today that I wished that we had a Panera closer to where I worked so I could have had soup and one of their wonderful breads for lunch. I ended up settling for Subway.

Lori - I've seen people on Facebook referring to it as the "Twinkopocalypse." Someone even asked if the Mayan calendar had predicted it.

There was an episode of America's Test Kitchen recently that recreated the Hostess Cupcake, including the three loops of white icing on the top. Of course, it was supposed to be a "better" tasting version. Might need to find that episode and print out the recipe. I think I heard last night that e-bay has a Twinkie selling for $5,000. Some company will buy the recipes, that they'll continue with different names, I would suppose.

You have to log in to see the recipe, but it's online at http://www.americastestkitchenfeed.com/recipes/chocolate-cream-cupcakes/.

My husband just adored Twinkies and was heartbroken when the company died. Maybe I'll try the recipe and make them for his birthday.

Someone said that the brand may survive under a different company.

Looks like I missed an earthquake this morning by being away for Thanksgiving. I'll have lots of reviews to post when I get back home. It's too hard to post them from an iPhone which is the only Internet access I have until I get home.

There was a second earthquake near Sevierville shortly before 10 a.m. It wasn't as strong as the first one. I didn't feel the second one, either. I was getting my hair done and would have been close to the blow drying stage at that time.

Thanks to Whisper1 (Linda) for the recommendation for this book which goes into my critically acclaimed category and for sending her copy to me.

The Children of Willesden Lane by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen - What an interesting story. The story revolves around Lisa Jura who was transported via one of the Kindertransport trains/ships from Austria with the destination of England. Her parents could only afford to send one of their three children. One was too old to be eligible. They chose to send Lisa, an accomplished pianist, in hopes that she would be able to continue to practice her musical skills. Although Lisa was first placed with a family and was well treated, she asked to be placed in London. She ended up in a boarding house on Willesden Lane. She worked in a factory. There was a piano in the boarding house, and she was allowed to practice. She eventually found a sponsor to bring her younger sister to England on the very last Kinderstransport train out of Austria. Her sister is placed with a family outside of London. Lisa has an opportunity to further her study of the piano and with the assistance of a couple other residents of Willesden Lane, she is able to prepare herself for the audition. We see how the Blitzkrieg affected London. This is an absolutely touching memoir. Even in the midst of adversity, Lisa was able to accomplish much. The people of England showed tremendous resolve. This is a story that needed to be told, and it was told very well. (4.5 stars)

For my Holidays category:

It's Thanksgiving by Jack Prelutsky; ill. by Marylin Hafner - Prelutsky has provided some Thanksgiving poems that are certain to be hit with elementary school aged children. Marylin Hafner provided the illustrations which are fitting. (4 stars)

Filling the spot for Monaco in my Europe Endless Challenge with:

The Fall of Prince Florestan of Monaco by Charles Wentworth Dilke - This is a brief account of Prince Florestan's short reign in 19th century Monaco. He had never really been groomed to rule the country. He noted that there was too high percentage of a population employed by the government. He wanted some reforms such as separation of church and state, but he was never able to rally the people behind him. He eventually went to live in exile in England. The book does give a sense of Monaco's dependence upon the gambling income even in the 19th century. (3 stars)

In "It Floats My Boat", I chose a children's book off my Kindle about camping:

Let's Go Camping by Nancy Streza - I downloaded this book some time ago when it was offered free on the Kindle. It's a very cute book that focuses mainly on camping gear. The sentences are short. It would be good for a beginning reader who is getting ready to go on his/her first camping trip. By camping, I mean tent camping rather than RV camping because many of the items would not be taken by those traveling with more advanced camping equipment. (3 stars)

Another one for "It Floats My Boat" features a cat:

Perki Cati by Robin Petty; ill. by Charles W. Hurley, Jr. and Robin Petty - I downloaded this book awhile back when it was offered as a Kindle freebie. I really didn't expect much from a free children's book, but I got a surprise. This is a great book about an intelligent cat and the mischief he creates for his "staff." Although I read this on my black and white Kindle, I could almost envision the colors the illustrator must have used in the book. This is a great book for kids who have cats or are thinking about getting them or for any cat lover, regardless of age. (4.5 stars)

Another Freebie Kindle cat book for "It Floats My Boat":

Kittens on the Barn Roof by Finley Keller - Cute story about kittens for younger readers. The illustrations were a little disappointing. I think young children will enjoy it. (3 stars)

In my "Hot off the Press" category:

The Roots of My Family Tree by Niki Alling - This is a great book to introduce younger children to the topic of genealogy/family history. The book focuses primarily on geographic origins rather than the specifics of researching. It is a book that will create interest rather than a "how to" book. The illustrations which depict things about the countries mentioned provide springboards for discussion of what is pictured in relation to the country. I was prepared to rate the book higher, but the final sentence was weak and left me a bit disappointed. I still think this book will be interesting to children. (3 stars)

Another one in "It Floats My Boat":

The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson; ill. by Ripple Digital Publishing Corp. - The classic children's story with fresh illustrations by Ripple Digital Publishing. I prefer the illustrations by Jerry Pinkney to these. (3 stars)

Another one in "It Floats My Boat":

Stick Dog Wants a Hamburger by Tom Watson - Cute book for children about a dog and his dog friends who are trying to figure out how they can get their own hamburgers at the family cookout. It has rather simplistic illustrations by the author who admits a little too often that he cannot draw. (2.5 stars)

Just a note: These children's books listed this morning were all on my Kindle. I was trying to find short reads because I was being interrupted quite a bit.

I should finish Bring Up the Bodies either today or tomorrow. I still have 1 chapter to go, but it's about 160 pages long.

I almost forgot to add the audio book I'd downloaded from the library and listened to on my Thanksgiving travels. This one goes in the "Library Book" category:

Threadbare by Monica Ferris - The bodies of two homeless women are found frozen in Excelsior. Both women are connected in some way to ladies who shop in Betsy Devonshire's shop, Crewel World. When the local police investigator believes murder may be involved even though there is no real evidence to suggest it at first, Betsy's customers become suspects and ask her to look into it. Betsy receives some assistance from a homeless woman named Annie who attends the funeral of one of the women. Their investigation takes them by train to Fargo to gather information. The character of Annie was a great addition to the series, and I hope we'll see her back in future installments. I listened to this mystery via an Overdrive download from my library on a road trip. The narrator was better with female voices than with male ones, and I really loved the way she did Annie. I was quite disappointed in Godwin's voice, but he played a minor role in this installment. (3.5 stars)

I mean tent camping rather than RV camping

Staying in an RV is not camping. You may be at a campground, but you are not camping. You are parking.

In my "Hot Off the Press" category goes:

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel - Thomas Cromwell has been given the job of finding Henry VIII a way out of his marriage to Anne Boleyn who has failed to produce a male heir. There are rumors floating around about Anne's marital unfaithfulness to Henry, so Thomas must simply find a way to implicate a few men. While there is nothing wrong with the plotting or writing, this book failed to engage me as Wolf Hall did. Several of the chapters are entirely too long -- one is 159 pages long; another is 85 pages long. The two books thus far in this trilogy have given me insights into the period of Henry VIII. (3.5 stars)

I'm finishing off my "Europe Endless Challenge" with my book for Andorra:

The Road to Andorra by Shirley Deane - Shirley Deane, her husband Malcolm, and their sons decided to go and live a short while in Andorra. Malcolm was a painter. Andorra is very mountainous, and there were very few cars there at the time the family lived there. The family grew accustomed to walking through the mountains and valleys to go shopping, for entertainment, and just about anything else. They lived mainly off the land although they were able to make occasional bread purchases when the baker made his weekly delivery to the village. They were beginning to settle in for the long winter when they expected to be snowed in when Malcolm received an offer to manage a pig farm on Ibiza, an island off the coast of Spain. They spent some time along the coast of the island and on a neighboring island as well. After they had been there about a year, some American reviews of a prior book Shirley had written caused the family to be expelled from Spain. None of their efforts to stop it were successful because the banishment came from a high official. The family went back to Andorra and then back to England. I found this to be one of the more engaging travel narratives that I've read recently. At many points I found myself wondering if the country of Andorra was more modernized now or if he still held some of the rustic charm described in the book. There's quite a bit of humor in the pages as one pictures her trying to travel with her dog and in other situations. I found myself wanting to find the book that caused her banishment, along with the American reviews of it! (4 stars)

In the Non-Fiction category:

DNA: Window to the Past by Jim Ollhoff - This book on DNA and genealogy written for children was published less than a couple years ago, yet some of the information is far more dated than that, and some of it was somewhat inaccurate even then. The author addresses only Y-DNA and mtDNA testing and completely ignores autosomal testing which was being offered by all the major players in genetic genealogy testing by that time. The author made a statement about the "two types" of DNA tests saying that "one test is for males, and the other is for females." This statement is completely wrong for the latter. The mtDNA test is offered to both sexes although it will only test the direct maternal line. He later clarifies that it is "usually conducted on females." There is a high enough percentage of males doing mtDNA testing that it is also an inaccurate statement. Some of the photos used to illustrate the book were dated. One such photo was illustrating "current genealogy work on a home computer," yet the photo showed a CRT monitor with a very dated looking genealogy program. I do think that the author's chapter on "Famous DNA Discoveries" would engage young readers. His stories about Christopher Columbus, Captain Cook, and "Cheddar Man" would be useful to use with the young readers. I would, however, encourage the use of a different book or website to discuss the types of genetic tests offered, even if they are written for adults. (2 stars)

Just a quick update. I'm still alive and kicking. I'm also not in one of those book funks. I was pretty busy on Saturday. Yesterday I was at church most of the day. I was home in the afternoon, but I was trying to get rid of a headache that I'd gotten at church that morning from a person who was wearing perfume in the choir. (We're not supposed to wear any because there are several who are allergic, but this was probably a new person who had not been told.) I will have to admit that I am struggling with my Early Reviewer book. It's not really a bad book, but it's pace is far too slow, and I find myself losing interest after reading a couple of very short chapters. If they ever get around to letting her investigate the reason she went to that island in the first place, I might become interested. I have begun alternating between it and a short story collection. I may even grab a non-fiction book I checked out of the library to add to the mix. I should say that the short stories are interesting, but my real goal is to get through the ER book.

This is a busy time of year so it is expected that people disappear off of LT for a bit! Sorry to hear your current ER book is a bit of struggle for you. I hate it when a book doesn't grab me and I want to just wander off and pick up something that will.

Hi, Lori! Glad that all is well -- or mostly, anyway. When I was in school, I once sat next to a woman (assigned seats) whose perfume I was allergic to. Perfume isn't normally a problem for me, but that one was.

I know you've been reading a lot of genealogy books aimed at children and young people, and I wonder if you have a specific recommendation for my 8-year-old granddaughter? She's very interested in history and has always loved family stories that I've told her, and I think she might like knowing how to go about it, and especially how to make or use charts, or what information it's important to include in family stories. (Yes, I could tell her, up to a point, but there's something to be said for discovering it for oneself, and also having a handy reference.) She's a very good reader, so could undoubtedly handle something aimed at older children, so long as the content would make sense to a (fairly sophisticated) 8-year-old.

One of my favorites so far has been the one by Dan Waddell entitled Who Do You Think You Are?. It was written in conjunction with the British version of the television program. It has a lot of pop-ups and activities. Maureen Taylor's book Through the Eyes of Your Ancestors is dated in some ways, but it's still a pretty good book. (Being dated is a fairly common problem with most genealogy how-to books, especially those that include online resources. Of course, they may be dated if they lack those too.) The Fancy Nancy book might be useful too. It's called My Family History and is written by Jane O'Connor.

Hi Lori: I can't believe that I somehow managed to miss this new thread (and its 50 messages) entirely. How can that happen?

I'll miss Twinkies. I'd buy a pack at a gas station or somewhere about once a year. What I really liked were the Hostess Cupcakes.

Little Debbie already has a version of both Twinkies and Hostess Cupcakes out. I remember the Twinkie-type ones are called "Cloud Cakes." I don't remember what the cupcakes were called, but they had the squiggly white icing on top of the chocolate icing.

>50 thornton37814: Thanks very much, Lori! I think Who Do You Think You Are? will appeal to her very much, and I plan to order it in the next couple of days. The Taylor book seems to be out of print, but maybe dated internet advice isn't a good starting point, anyway. The Fancy Nancy book seems cute, and she read and loved a lot of them few years ago -- I didn't see this one, I guess, because I think I would have gotten it for her -- but she considers herself beyond Fancy Nancy now. I'll have to keep it in mind for my littler granddaughter, in a couple of years, but who knows whether she'll be interested (right now her passion is race cars and trucks -- and I'm getting a bit annoyed by the male bias in books and toys).

My October Early Reviewer book is my next book in "Hot Off the Press":

Postcards from Cedar Key by Terri DuLong - Berkley Whitmore moves from Salem, Massachusetts to Cedar Key, Florida to search for answers to her mother's mysterious absence for the summer of her fifth year. They had lived in Maine until that summer. She and her grandmother had moved to Salem while her mother went away. Some postcards are her only clue about what happened during those months. She opens a chocolate shop and markets the yarn spun from her alpacas who reside in Maine with a friend to the local yarn shop. One of her first customers is a British gentleman who sweeps her off her feet. She does eventually get answers for her questions, but I'll not give those away and let you discover them in your reading. This was my first experience with a Cedar Key novel although I've had the first one on my wish list for quite some time. I found that the characters were fleshed out enough that I had no trouble reading this as a stand-alone. I found the plot pacing to be a bit too slow in the beginning. I found myself picking up the novel, reading a couple of chapters, and then putting it down. About halfway through, the pacing picked up, and I began enjoying the book and the story. I will warn readers that Berkley's discoveries are not all pleasant, but they do help her to discover a side to her mother she had never known. I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program with the expectation that a review would be written. (3 stars)

I struggled with whether to give this 3 or 3.5 stars. I finally decided on 3 stars because of the very slow start.

In my "Holidays" category is my 225th completed read for the year. (I abandoned a couple.)

Matchless by Gregory Maguire - This is a retelling of the classic Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, "The Little Match Girl," from the perspective of the boy who finds the slipper. The setting is changed from the New Years Eve of the original tale to Christmas Eve for this rendition. Many readers will prefer the original story and books with full color illustrations. I did enjoy the illustrations even though they appear to be mainly pencil sketches. Each illustration is done in a circle. (3 stars)

Another one for "Holidays":

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans - As a young couple with a four year old daughter and an entrepreneurial business, Evans and his wife move in with an older woman who needs companionship. As they begin to store their own furniture in the attic, they discover a Christmas box there. This box becomes important as it along with the woman begin to remind Evans of the true meaning and spirit of Christmas and of the importance of spending time with the family. (3.5 stars)

226 books! I consider half of that a fine reading year!

Well, I know about 25 to 30 of those are children's or YA books. However, I always have a few of those in the mix. Still, it's been a good reading year.

I finished a short read last night for my "Hot Off the Press" category. It could also go in my "Holidays" category, but I'll put it in "Hot Off the Press" since it's a NetGalley title.

Cathedral Windows by Clare O'Donohue - This novella, featuring Nell Fitzgerald, centers around 3rd grade teacher, Charlie. Nell is teaching the schoolchildren of Archers Rest piece together quilt squares which will be used for quilts to be sold as fundraisers. When Charlie's home catches fire and it is determined to be arson, suspicion turns to Charlie. Nell is determined to prove that Charlie is innocent so that he can enjoy a Merry Christmas. While it's not great literature nor is it meant to be, it does provide a nice escape with a happy ending which is what many readers want around the holidays. Many people would love to be part of a community such as Archers Rest where people love you unconditionally. I received this as an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley with the expectation that a review would be written. (3.5 stars)

Here's one for my "Library Books" category:

Black Potatoes: The Story of the Irish Famine, 1845-1850 by Susan Campbell Bartoletti - While this book may have been aimed at middle school readers, it is a very readable account of the Irish potato famine which led to so many Irish immigrants arriving in U.S., Canadian, and even Australian ports. It is very well researched, yet readable. While it's lack of footnotes may bother adult readers seeking well-documented accounts of the famine, the bibliography does include a discussion of the sources used and how they were used in the work. One must consider its intended audience. It would be a great book to use with a budding young genealogist who has just discovered an ancestor who moved from Ireland during this time period. The illustrations greatly enhance this book and its appeal. I can picture a young reader asking a lot of "Why?" questions as he or she is reading the narrative. Highly recommended. (5 stars)

For my "Holidays" category:

Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop edited by Otto Penzler - Otto Penzler is the proprietor of New York City's Mysterious Bookshop. This collection of short stories grew out of a 17 year tradition at his store of having one of his favorite mystery writers pen a short story featuring his bookshop in it each Christmas as a thank you gift to customers. The collected short stories, originally published individually, are now available to anyone who wishes to read them via this collection. As is usual in such a volume, some of the stories were better than others. One of my favorites was the story penned by Ed McBain entitled "I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus." The one thing that became quite clear to me is that my mystery interests are quite different from those of the shop owner. Only two or three of my favorite writers were included in the collection. Having never been to the Mysterious Bookshop, I did get a feel for the shop and its owner after reading so many stories with the setting; however, I'm not sure it is a shop I would frequent even if I lived in New York City even though mystery is my favorite genre. I did come to one other conclusion, the mystery genre, in general, does not lend itself well the the short story form. (3 stars)

I've requested Black Potatoes from the library as it sounds interesting. They have it catalogued as an adult book though.

That's interesting. I think adults will enjoy it, but I do think that it's intended audience is a bit younger. I did notice one teacher thought she'd have trouble using it in the classroom. I can see it as being problematic for an entire class because of the level of detail, but I do think that those who might have an interest in the topic would find it quite engaging.

For my non-fiction Random Drawing category:

The Piano Shop on the Left Bank by Thad Carhart - Thad Carhart is an American residing in Paris. One day he stumbles across a shop that restores and sells used pianos. He wanted to buy a used piano but discovered he must have an introduction from an existing customer to be allowed access. This book recounts Carhart's renewed interest in the piano he learned to play in childhood. While a great deal of technical information on the building and tuning of pianos is included, it is done so in a highly engaging manner. This book will be enjoyed by those who share a love a music, especially of the piano. (4 stars)

In my "Holidays" category:

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham - When Luther & Nora's daughter joins the Peace Corps and leaves for Peru, they face their first Christmas without their daughter. They decide to skip Christmas entirely and go on a Caribbean Cruise instead. As expected, neighbors, co-workers, and charities try to get them to give in to the commercialism (and fundraising events) surrounding Christmas. I was prepared to give this a 4 star rating for much of the book, but I was a little let down in the ending. Even then the ending did provide some humor and an ultimate act of unselfishness. This is a memorable holiday read! (3.5 stars)

This is soemwhere in my TBR pile; maybe some Dec I'll get to it.

66> Betty - It's worth the read when you do get around to it. I found myself asking why I hadn't read it earlier.

Sure - add a little pressure :)

68 > At least I added it during the Holidays when you expect extra pressure!

No kidding. I had to take a half day sick so I could fit in a couple more batches of cookies today. Going to roll out some gingerbread in a little while.

Sounds yummy! I do love holiday baking!

I went into Great Smoky Mountains National Park today. Here's a photo I took:

You can see the city of Gatlinburg from the overlook where I took this one:

SantaThing: To open or not to open - that is the question.

I like that picture of the mountains. Not too much 'smoke' obscuring them.

No, but there were signs up warning people of snow and ice on roads, presumably in the higher elevations.

I know, Lori. I did choose Powell's so there'd be no question that that was my SantaThing package, but now I'm sorry I have no excuse to "accidentally" open that package. At least mine hasn't arrived to test my will power!

It probably will soon, Kay. It's another package I'll have to haul to Mississippi though! At least I'll have some books as gifts!

Another book for my Holidays category:

A Home for Christmas by Deborah Grace Staley - Dr. Janice Thornton has returned to her ancestral hometown of Angel Ridge, Tennessee. She practices medicine in Knoxville which is described as being about two hours away, although it and Maryville serve as the places most residents are hospitalized when the need arises in Angel Ridge. Her uncle wants her to take over his practice. She's not so sure she wants to do that. She meets a guy named Blake who has purchased her grandparents' home. It's love at first sight for him so he very much wants for her to stay. I almost abandoned this book about 50 pages into the book, but then I told myself I'd give it one more chapter to prove itself to me. Enter the character of Miss Estelee. I kept reading it. She wasn't a major character, but the book would have been sadly lacking had it not been for the characters of Miss Estelee and Dixie and the medical crises that arose. I think that one event that arose near the end was not fully resolved before she had the characters "kiss and make up" so that the romantic ending everyone expected could be there. (2 stars)

I can't think of any place about 2 hours away from Knoxville that wouldn't be just as close or closer to Chattanooga, the Tri-Cities, Nashville, or Asheville for medical treatment.

This is the weekend of our Living Christmas Tree at church. It's being streamed live online at http://www.fbcmtn.com each evening at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Last night was the first performance. We have performances tonight (Saturday) and tomorrow night (Sunday). It will be available on the website for non-live viewing sometime next week. This photo was taken last night before we actually loaded the tree.

Stunning countryside! That tree looks cool even without people on it! It must be so dramatic when they are on it.

Thanks, everyone. It went well except for at least one small glitch each night. The glitches on Friday and Saturday involved piano/orchestra disconnect. The one Sunday night was where the youth soloist forgot to get back up there to do the reprisal of her solo and came in a measure or so late. I'm glad it's over now. It's hard to stand for as long as we have to stand there. I went this afternoon to the retirement home where our music ministry at church does music and a brief devotional on the 3rd Monday of each month. We did a mix of traditional Christmas songs like Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire and Frosty the Snowman and carols. The ones of us leading all did a solo also. The worship pastor and his wife were late arriving so in order to start on time, I played the keyboard and let the others lead until they arrived. The residents really enjoy that time we spend with them each month.

Another library book:

Death in Lacquer Red by Jeanne M. Dams - Hilda Johansson, a Swedish immigrant to the United States who is working as a servant in a large house in South Bend, Indiana, discovers the body of a woman. The deceased had returned from China, where she had served as a missionary. Her return was precipitated by the Boxer Rebellion. What reason could anyone possibly have for murdering the woman? Convinced that the police will blame an immigrant for the woman's death when she is certain someone else committed the offense, Hilda begins to investigate on her own, ignoring the butler's admonitions against doing so. I failed to connect with the characters. I particularly disliked the butler in Hilda's household and secretly wished he had been the perpetrator. I had higher hopes for this series since the author's Dorothy Martin series is one of my favorites. Hilda really had no reason to investigate. She put herself and her friends in a great deal of danger by doing so. Very few of the actions seemed to be authentic to a servant of her prescribed station in that time period. I do not intend to read future installments. (2 stars)

I tried the Food Truck today, not quite as good as 5 Guys, but it's the best we have in our city.

I'll have limited Internet access until after the 1st of the year. I thought I'd share briefly what I'm taking with me to read:

Ruth's First Christmas by Elly Griffiths - Christmas themed e-book/novella that I'm in process of reading and might finish tonight
My True Love Gave to Me by Christine Lynxwiler - Christmas themed e-book
Decked with Folly by Kate Kingsbury - a Christmas book from my TBR pile
The Water's Lovely by Ruth Rendell - for a TIOLI challenge from my TBR pile
The Famine Plot by Tim Pat Coogan - ER book/non-fiction
A Murder at Rosamund's Gate by Susanna Calkins - a NetGalley selection
Moon Spinners by Sally Goldenbaum - next in a series set in New England/e-book from library
Unfinished Desires by Gail Godwin - e-book from library
Wish You Were Here by Lani Diane Rich - e-book from library
What Is Mine by Anne Holt - e-book from library
Death Without Tenure by Joanne Dobson - audiobook from library; I may have read this one before, but I don't remember it very well if I did
A Spoonful of Poison by M. C. Beaton - audiobook from library

Then I have lots of other books on my Kindle that I can read if I finish those, not to mention the SantaThing and Christmas Swap books that are to be opened Christmas Day.

I'll try to post reviews as access permits. I should be able to mark off challenge books via my iPhone.

Don't run out of books!

And happy holidays, Lori, and all the blessings of the season.

I've read none of those that you're taking although some of the authors are familiar. Look forward to hearing if they're good.

Enjoy your holidays

Merry Christmas, Lori!

In case, I forgot to say it on your 75er thread - Merry Christmas, Lori!

Thanks for the Christmas wishes. I've managed to finish the first two on the list. I told my "cat" story over on my 75 group thread, but I don't want to type it out again here via iPhone. I managed to get the remainder of my Christmas shopping done in Sevier County this morning "on the way."

Wow for already finishing two from the list, Lori. I really enjoyed the cat story so, to help Lori share the story here, this is the link to the post over on the 75 group mentioned at #91 above: http://www.librarything.com/topic/144757#3761484

That's a cute story. I knew my border collie does things like that , but I didn't realize cats had those instincts too.

Thanks, Lori. I am glad you and dudes22 enjoyed it.

I have been copying old family recipes onto recipe cards as part of a Christmas gift. I came across one that called for 5 cent Hershey Bars. How I wish they still cost that! If anyone knows where I can buy a full size Hershey bar for that price, please let me know. (I'd hate to spend too much!)

Merry Christmas and safe travels, Lori!

Happy holidays, Lori.

Thanks, Terri and Kay.

I just finished a NetGalley copy of A Murder at Rosamund's Gate. It's a historical mystery from 17th century England due out in 2013. Longer review later, but I loved it. It features the Black Death and the Fire that burned much of London. The mystery was well done as well--not too obvious but it made sense.

I'm a quite happy camper. I've opened my SantaThing and Christmas Swap packages.

Myckyee was my Santa. I got:
Sail of Stone by Ake Edwardson
The Elements of Cooking by Michael Ruhlman
Hearse and Buggy by Laura Bradford
Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Literary Society by Amy Hill Hearth

In Mark's Christmas Swap, Pat (phebej) picked:

The Seasons on Henry's Farm by Terra Brockman
Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA by Richard Hill

I'm looking forward to reading all these. I also got a $25 Amazon gift card from a family member. Maybe I finally have them trained!

I'm posting reviews for the books already reported as read. I've managed to get myself to a public library with wifi access!

For my "Holidays" category:

Ruth's First Christmas by Elly Griffiths - Archaeologist Ruth Galloway hasn't been celebrating Christmas, but she decides to do so for Kate this year. Unfortunately there isn't a great deal of plot to the novel except for a rehash of Ruth's pagan preferences. The best parts of the entire novella/short story are when Cathbad makes an appearance. Recommended only for those who can't get enough of the series. (2.5 stars)

My True Love Gave to Me by Christine Lynxwiler - Philip is laid off from his job. After Thanksgiving he announces to his wife Penny and two children that they will be taking a month-long RV trip. Penny is horrified that they will miss Christmas with the family. Penny has only a few days to pack, and they begin their journey heading west. Philip keeps the agenda a secret from his wife. She suspects that they are headed to Memphis to see Graceland, but soon she discovers that they end up at Tupelo, Mississippi. I don't want to give this novella away by telling too much of the plot so I'll stop here and say, this book shows the true spirit of Christmas. The novella started a little flat for me, but once they began the journey, I couldn't wait to see where they were going and what they would be doing next. (3 stars)

Decked with Folly by Kate Kingsbury - The body of a former Pennyfoot employee is found in the pond with only 2 feet of water. At first everyone assumes that he was drunk and drowned, but it isn't long before foul play is suspected. The chief suspect is one of the current employees of the hotel whose marriage to the man was annulled when it was discovered he had a wife elsewhere. I think I'm tired of this series and its characters. It's just not working for me. I just can't see a constable abandoning his duties in the manner that this one does. He should have at least called in his superiors to continue the investigation while he goes on Christmas vacation. The hotel manager has no business investigating, and the plot is simply not plausible. (2 stars)

For "Hot Off the Press":

A Murder at Rosamund's Gate by Susanna Calkins - When the body of a servant girl in a magistrate's household turns up dead, suspicion falls to the brother of Lucy, a servant girl in the household. He had been dating the murdered servant. The magistrate's son Adam is also briefly suspected because of an accusation. It's one of a series of similar murders. Lucy decides she must try to prove her brother's innocence before he hangs. She finds an ally in Adam. The Black Death and London Fire occur during the course of the novel. While the author does take some liberties with the historical details, she does provide a note specifying those that she has taken. I found this to be well-plotted and highly engaging. The solution was not entirely obvious, but it was a logical one. Some of the red herrings were rather convincing. This appears to be the first in the series, and I will definitely be looking for future installments. The review is based on an advance e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley. (4.5 stars)

Another completion that I'll review when I have wifi on my laptop:

Moon Spinners by Sally Goldenbaum

Today I completed Wish You Were Here by Lani Diane Rich. It was better than I expected although I wanted to wash some of the characters mouths out with soap a couple of times while reading it. Full review later.

Another completion today:

The Water's Lovely by Ruth Rendell - It was well-plotted but it got off to a slow start, and I didn't like the ending.

I finished the audio book that I'd almost finished en route to my brother's house. I'll review it later. It was:

Death Without Tenure by Joanne Dobson

I started reviewing some of my books in their categories and noticed that I didn't have my December random drawing in that category. My random drawing book was The Piano Shop on the Left Bank so I moved it from Non-Fiction to its proper spot. Now I've got to try to put the other books I've read on this trip into their proper categories. I'm sitting in a McDonald's parking lot accessing the Internet. The wifi outside the library was down. Laptop is in an awkward position so I'm not sure how long I'll stay here.

I think I've got all of those posted. I've also added What Is Mine by Anne Holt which I'll finish either this afternoon or in the early evening today to the Critically Acclaimed category. It's a bit dark like most Scandi Crime novels. I'll be posting full reviews of it and of all the others for which I've only put short comments here in the last few days after I get back home later this week. I'll post those to this thread since they are 2012 books.

If you want to follow my 2013 Category Challenge, you'll find that thread here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/142986

I officially completed the Holt book!

Here are the longer reviews promised:

Moon Spinners by Sally Goldenbaum - Nell and her friends set out to figure out who might have wanted to send Sophia plunging over the cliff when it is discovered that the brakes had been tampered with. There are several suspects including one to whom almost all the circumstantial evidence points although Nell is not convinced the person could have committed the deed. Although I enjoy most of the characters in this series, this installment seemed to be a somewhat borrowed plot from another book I've read in the past that concerned developers wanted land. The author did, however, make it her own in the end; however, much of the narrative seemed similar. (3 stars)

Wish You Were Here by Lani Diane Rich - Freya has been sent from Boston by her CEO father to close a real estate deal on an Idaho campground that is being run by Nate Brody, a Cincinnati chef. She discovers that the deal is impossible to close even though the offer is incredibly more than the campground is worth. Nate has to fulfill his promise to his deceased father before he can sell the campground and move back to Cincinnati. Nate has a daughter whose mother run out on them. It's a light read that provides an escape for a few hours. I wanted to wash out the mouths of some of the characters with soap from time to time. (3 stars)

The Water's Lovely by Ruth Rendell - Ismay has always thought that her sister Heather was responsible for the drowning death of their step-father. Now that Heather is likely to be married, Ismay struggles with whether or not she should reveal her suspicions. This novel is more of a psychological thriller than a mystery like the author's Inspector Wexford series. This got off to a very slow start, but once it got going it picked up. Unfortunately, the ending was disappointing for me. If I read more Rendell novels, I think I'll stick to her Wexford series. (2.5 stars)

Death Without Tenure by Joanne Dobson - Karen Pelletier is a candidate for tenure at Enfield College in Massachusetts. Only she or Joe Lone Wolf will achieve that status. She should be a shoo-in. After all, she has an earned Ph.D. and a publishing record far superior to that of her colleague's. Members of the tenure review committee, however, may have plans to keep Joe because of his ethnicity. When Lone Wolf turns up dead, suspicion falls to Karen and to some of her students. In the mean time, her tenure portfolio disappears. Karen's boyfriend, a police detective, is serving in Iraq, and she does not trust the investigator who already dislikes her to resolve the issue. She must investigate on her own with the help of her boyfriend's partner who is on leave. I listened to this in audio format. I thought the narrator Christine Williams did a good job. I did find some similarities between the plot of this novel and an academia mystery that I read probably 15 to 20 years ago that centered on a tenure plot. However, this one did differ in enough aspects of the plot to make it seem new. (3.5 stars)

What Is Mine by Anne Holt - Vik is a profiler. Stubo is a police detective. They pair up to solve a series of child abductions in Norway. Vik is also interested in an older case in which she believes the accused was innocent. While the first child abducted is yet to be found, the other children begin to show up dead. They race to solve the case before the first child, young Emilie, meets a similar fate. Like most Scandinavian crime fiction, this has a dark tone and is multi-layered. (3 stars)