Recordpub.com - One for the Books: Fun Christmas Reading

I've been filling my reading hours with Christmas-themed novels -- mostly mysteries -- and I've had a lot of fun.

My favorite of the bunch may be "Decked with Folly" by Kate Kingsbury. This true British cozy, part of the Pennyfoot Hotel mystery series, takes place just days before Christmas in the first years of the 1900s. Cecily Sinclair Baxter, manager of the "country club on the quiet southeast coast of England," and her staff are preparing for the holidays when a dead body is found in the duck pond. Everyone's a suspect, including the staff and guests. The deceased was a former employee at the club and had some complicated romantic relationships, but who would want to kill him?

Other than a couple main characters, the rest are a bit two-dimensional, and most of their conversations are just to move the plot along. But the mystery is just complicated enough to make it a great story, and it's suitable for any age. I really liked it, and I'm going to look for the rest of the series.

I also enjoyed an Amish romance by Cindy Woodsmall, "The Sound of Sleigh Bells." In Pennsylvania, young Beth can't get over the tragic death of her beau, Henry. She's the liaison between the Amish community and the "Englischer" store owners, and when she travels to Ohio on business, she finds herself drawn to the artistic creations of a mysterious "Old Man." All her life, all she's ever wanted for Christmas was a sleigh ride. And, after a series of mistaken identities, she may just get her wish.

The story is more full of insight about personal pain, both physical and emotional, than about Amish life, although there are moments of reflection when "Sunday afternoon conversations ran like threads through a homemade dress, each one helping to hold the family together." It's a very nice, quick read, perfectly suitable for all ages.

The Body in the Sleigh

"The Body in the Sleigh" is the newest of the Faith Fairchild mysteries by Katherine Hall Page. Faith and her husband are spending Christmas in Maine when Faith finds a dead body among the mannequins in a sleigh on display at the local historical society. Meanwhile, a woman tending her goats on a nearby farm finds a baby in a basket, tucked in among a passel of hundred-dollar bills. Is the baby related to the dead woman in the sleigh? Faith takes it upon herself to find out how the woman died and to whom the baby belongs.

The book has a slow start but the pace increases throughout the book. It's a good choice for those who want to take a leisurely vacation in a small town for the holidays and spend time with "the women settled around the kitchen table with their coffee talking about recipes, diets tried and untried, husbands, and kids. The things women talk about." It's a very nice read, with some adult language and situations. And there are holiday recipes, too.

Holiday Grind

"Holiday Grind" is part of the Coffeehouse Mystery series by Cleo Coyle. Clare Cosi is a single mother and manager of the Village Blend coffeehouse in New York City's West Village. As the staff at the shop prepares for Christmas and Hanukkah, romance is in the air. But Clare finds a fully costumed Santa Claus dead in the snow. The police conclude that the death is the result of a random mugging, but Clare, who was a friend of the victim, is convinced that she's found some clues, and when she starts checking them out, her own life is put in danger.

This is an enjoyable visit to the city. Plus, there are more than 80 pages filled with coffee recipes, tips, and a glossary of coffee-related terms.

Merry, Merry Ghost

"Merry, Merry Ghost" is Carolyn Hart's second mystery to feature the problem-solving spirit of the late Bailey Ruth Raeburn. (The first was "Ghost at Work.") Bailey Ruth's ghostly boss, Wiggins, sends her on a new assignment: watching over a young orphaned boy who's been united with his elderly grandmother just before Christmas in Oklahoma. The boy's a joyful surprise to the wealthy family matriarch, who decides to change her will in his favor. But the relatives may not be happy about losing their inheritance, and both the old woman and the boy may be in danger. It's up to the dead-but-still-active Bailey Ruth to keep the boy safe.

Believe For a bit of sexy romance, Victoria Alexander has "updated and tweaked" the paperback version of her romance novel "Believe," about a modern woman who meets Merlin and is magically sent back in time to the days of King Arthur. There, she has a personal -- that is, intimate -- encounter with Sir Galahad when the two are sent together on a dangerous mission to find the Holy Grail. This is simply escapist fun with adult situations. If you like the plot, move on to the wonderful Mark Twain classic "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court."

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What's Happening: The Record-Courier's own Roger Di Paolo has put together a collection of his "Portage Pathways" columns in a very nice book titled "Rooted in Kent: 101 Tales from the Tree City." He will sign copies of the book at a special event from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Kent Historical Society, 234 S. Water St., where the books will be on sale for $20 each. Proceeds will benefit the society, which published the book. Contact the society at 330-678-2712 or visit www.kentohiohistory.org.

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BOOK NOTES, One for the Books Extra Online Exclusives:
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Check out my new blog on books, inspiration, fun and thought-provoking goodies! It’s called “Shine A Light!”

http://blogs.dixcdn.com/shine_a_light/

If you lose that link, go to www.recordpub.com. Click “Blogs” in the blue bar at the top of the page, and find “Shine A Light.”

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LOCAL BOOK CLUBS:

The Kent Free Library’s book discussion group meets at 6:45 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month in the second floor meeting room at the library.
Previous books discussed include “The Great Gatsby,” “A Christmas Carol” and “Anna Karenina.”
Members come from Kent, Stow and Rootstown, and everyone is welcome. The discussion is led by librarian Kristin Pool. Any question should be directed to her at 330-673-4414.

The Book Discussion Group at the Randolph Library meets the first Monday of the month, except August, at 6:30 p.m. in the Randolph Senior Center. The group is open to everyone, and new members are always welcome. The library will stock copies of the books each month. Call the library at 330-325-7003.

Pierce-Streetsboro Library’s Book Discussion Group meets regularly on the second Monday of each month at 6:45 p.m. in the library’s meeting room. New members are always welcome to attend and participate in the discussion. The library is located at 8990 Kirby Lane in Streetsboro, next to the administrative offices of the Streetsboro City Schools. For more information, call the library at 330-626-4458.

The Book Discussion Group at the Mogadore Branch of the Akron-Summit County Library, 144 S. Cleveland Ave., 330-628-9228, meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays to discuss books.
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The NCR Online Book Club looks at “Racial Justice in the Age of Obama” by Roy L. Brooks:
http://ncronline.org/node/16139

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from Shelf Awareness: New Titles Out November 24:

Pirate Latitudes: A Novel by Michael Crichton
American Sketches: Great Leaders, Creative Thinkers, and Heroes of a Hurricane by Walter Isaacson
The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War by James Bradley
Warriors: Omen of the Stars #1: The Fourth Apprentice by Erin Hunter
First Lord's Fury by Jim Butcher
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New Titles Out December 1:

U Is for Undertow by Sue Grafton
YOU: Having a Baby: The Owner's Manual to a Happy and Healthy Pregnancy by Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz
Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat, and Obsession by Julie Powell
Comeback 2.0: Up Close and Personal by Lance Armstrong
Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson
Trial by Fire by J.A. Jance
Liberating Atlantis by Harry Turtledove

New titles out December 8:

Divine Misdemeanors: A Novel by Laurell K. Hamilton
The Disciple by Stephen Coonts
Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil by Drew Karpyshyn
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New Books Out December 14 and 15:

Witch & Wizard by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet
Too Much Money: A Novel by Dominick Dunne
Nanny Returns: A Novel by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Love and War: Finding the Marriage You've Dreamed Of by John Eldredge and Stasi Eldredge
The Futurist: The Life and Films of James Cameron by Rebecca Keegan
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PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST-SELLERS
By The Associated Press

HARDCOVER FICTION
1. “U is for Underflow” by Sue Grafton (Putnam Adult)
2. “The Lost Symbol” by Dan Brown (Doubleday)
3. “I, Alex Cross” by James Patterson (Little, Brown)
4. “Under the Dome” by Stephen King (Scribner)
5. “Pirate Latitudes” by Michael Crichton (Harper)
6. “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett (Putnam Adult/Amy Einhorn)
7. “Ford County: Stories” by John Grisham (Doubleday)
8. “Breathless” by Dean Koontz (Bantam)
9. “The Last Song” by Nicholas Sparks (Grand Central Publishing)
10. “The Paris Vendetta” by Steve Berry (Ballantine)
11. “The Lacuna” by Barbara Kingsolver (Harper)
12. “The Christmas Sweater” by Glenn Beck (Threshold Editions)
13. “Pursuit of Honor: A Novel” by Vince Flynn (Atria)
14. “True Blue” by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing)
15. “The Gathering Storm” by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (TOR Books)

HARDCOVER NONFICTION
1. “Going Rogue: An American Life” by Sarah Palin (HarperCollins)
2. “Have a Little Faith: A True Story” by Mitch Albom (Hyperion)
3. “Stones Into Schools” by Greg Mortenson (Viking)
4. “Open: An Autobiography” by Andre Agassi (Knopf)
5. “True Compass” by Edward M. Kennedy (Twelve)
6. “Arguing With Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government” by Glenn Beck and Kevin Balfe (Threshold Editions)
7. “SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance” by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner (William Morrow)
8. “What the Dog Saw” by Malcolm Gladwell (Little, Brown)
9. “It’s Your Time: Activate Your Faith, Achieve Your Dreams, and Increase in God’s Favor” by Joel Osteen (Free Press)
10. “Half The Sky” by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (Knopf)
11. “Outliers: The Story of Success” by Malcolm Gladwell (Little, Brown and Company)
12. “Guinness World Records 2010” by Guinness World Records (Guinness)
13. “The Imperial Cruise” by James Bradley (Little, Brown)
14. “A Simple Christmas” by Mike Huckabee (Sentinel)
15. “The Pioneer Woman Cooks” by Ree Drummond (Morrow)

MASS MARKET PAPERBACKS
1. “Born of Ice” by Sherrilyn Kenyon (St. Martin’s Paperbacks)
2. “Dear John” by Nicholas Sparks (Grand Central Publishing)
3. “The Associate” by John Grisham (Dell)
4. “The Charlemagne Pursuit” by Steve Berry (Ballantine)
5. “Arctic Drift” by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler (Berkley)
6. “7th Heaven” by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Vision)
7. “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy (Vintage)
8. “Loitering with Intent” by Stuart Woods (Signet)
9. “Worth The Risk” by Nora Roberts (Silhouette)
10. “Lavender Morning” by Jude Deveraux (Pocket)
11. “Mrs. Miracle” by Debbie Macomber (Harper Paperbacks)
12. “Cross Country” by James Patterson (Vision)
13. “Fairy Tale Weddings” by Debbie Macomber (Mira)
14. “The Lost” by J.D. Robb, Patricia Gaffney, Mary Blayney and Ruth Ryan Langan (Jove) (F-P)
15. “The Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold (Little, Brown)

TRADE PAPERBACKS
1. “Push” by Sapphire (Vintage)
2. “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game” by Michael Lewis (W.W. Norton & Company)
3. “The Shack” by William P. Young (Windblown Media)
4. “The Piano Teacher” be Janice Y.K. Lee (Penguin)
5. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson (Vintage)
6. “Bed of Roses” by Nora Roberts (Berkley)
7. “The Guernsey Literacy and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (Dial)
8. “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein (Harper)
9. “Olive Kitteredge” by Elizabeth Strout (Random House Trade Paperbacks)
10. “The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger (Mariner Books)
11. “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (Penguin)
12. “Glenn Beck’s Common Sense” by Glenn Beck (Threshold Editions)
13. “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy (Vintage)
14. “Say You’re One of Them” by Uwem Akpan (Little, Brown)
15. “Freakonomics” by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner (Harper Perennial)
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WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST-SELLERS
By The Associated Press

FICTION
1. “U is for Underflow” by Sue Grafton (Putnam Adult)
2. “The Lost Symbol” by Dan Brown (Doubleday)
3. “I, Alex Cross” by James Patterson (Little, Brown)
4. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days” by Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books)
5. “Under the Dome” by Stephen King (Scribner)
6. “Pirate Latitudes” by Michael Crichton (Harper)
7. “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett (Putnam Adult/Amy Einhorn)
8. “Ford County: Stories” by John Grisham (Doubleday)
9. “Breaking Dawn” by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
10. “Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas” by Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser (HarperCollins)
11. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw” by Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books)
12. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” by Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books)
13. “Breathless” by Dean Koontz (Bantam)
14. “The Christmas Sweater” by Glenn Beck (Threshold Editions)
15. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules” by Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books)

NONFICTION
1. “Going Rogue: An American Life” by Sarah Palin (HarperCollins)
2. “Have a Little Faith: A True Story” by Mitch Albom (Hyperion)
3. “Stones Into Schools” by Greg Mortenson (Viking)
4. “Guinness World Records 2010” by Guinness World Records (Guinness)
5. “Open: An Autobiography” by Andre Agassi (Knopf)
6. “True Compass” by Edward M. Kennedy (Twelve)
7. “Arguing with Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government” by Glenn Beck and Kevin Balfe (Threshold Editions)
8. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book” by Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books)
9. “SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance” by Steven D. Levitt Stephen J. Dubner (William Morrow)
10. “What the Dog Saw” by Malcolm Gladwell (Little, Brown)
11. “The Imperial Cruise” by James Bradley (Little, Brown)
12. “A Simple Christmas: Twelve Stories that Celebrate the True Holiday Spirit” by Mike Huckabee (Sentinel)
13. “Half the Sky” by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (Knopf)
14. “It’s Your Time: Activate Your Faith, Achieve Your Dreams, and Increase in God’s Favor” by Joel Osteen (Free Press)
15. “Last Words” by George Carlin with Tony Hendra (Free Press)

The Wall Street Journal’s list reflects nationwide sales of hardcover books during the week ended last Saturday at more than 2,500 Barnes & Noble, B. Dalton, Bookland, Books-a-Million, Books & Co., Bookstar, Bookstop, Borders, Brentano’s, Coles, Coopersmith, Doubleday, Scribners and Waldenbooks stores, as well as sales from online retailers Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
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USA TODAY BEST-SELLERS
By The Associated Press
Key: F-Fiction; NF-Nonfiction; H-Hardcover; P-Paperback

1. “Going Rogue: An American Life” by Sarah Palin (HarperCollins) (NF-H)
2. “New Moon” by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) (F-P)
3. “Eclipse” by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) (F-H)
4. “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) (F-P)
5. “U is for Underflow” by Sue Grafton (Putnam Adult) (F-H)
6. “The Lost Symbol” by Dan Brown (Doubleday) (F-H)
7. “Breaking Dawn” by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) (F-H)
8. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days” by Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books) (F-H)
9. “I, Alex Cross” by James Patterson (Little Brown) (F-H)
10. “Under the Dome” by Stephen King (Scribner) (F-H)
11. “Have a Little Faith: A True Story” by Mitch Albom (Hyperion) (NF-H)
12. “The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition” by Carol V. Aebersold and Chanda B. Bell (CCA & B) (F-H)
13. “Push” by Sapphire (Vintage) (F-P)
14. “Pirate Latitudes” by Michael Crichton (Harper) (F-H)
15. “The Shack” by William P. Young (Windblown Media) (F-P)
16. “Guinness World Records 2010” by Guinness World Records (Guinness) (NF-H)
17. “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett (Putnam Adult/Amy Einhorn) (F-H)
18. “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game” by Michael Lewis (W.W. Norton & Company) (NF-P)
19. “Worth The Risk” by Nora Roberts (Silhouette) (F-P)
20. “Dear John” by Nicholas Sparks (Grand Central Publishing) (F-P)
21. “Stones Into Schools” by Greg Mortenson (Viking) (NF-H)
22. “The Christmas Sweater” by Glenn Beck (Threshold Editions) (F-P)
23. “Mrs. Miracle” by Debbie Macomber (Harper Paperbacks) (F-P)
24. “Born of Ice” by Sherrilyn Kenyon (St. Martin’s Paperbacks) (F-P)
25. “Ford County: Stories” by John Grisham (Doubleday) (F-H)
26. “Arguing with Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government” by Glenn Beck and Kevin Balfe (Threshold Editions) (NF-H)
27. “Open: An Autobiography” by Andre Agassi (Knopf) (NF-H)
28. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw” by Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books) (F-H)
29. “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak (HarperTrophy) (F-P)
30. “The Last Song” by Nicholas Sparks (Grand Central Publishing) (F-H)
31. “The Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold (Little, Brown) (F-P)
32. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” by Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books) (F-H)
33. “Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas” by Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser (HarperCollins) (F-H)
34. “Breathless” by Dean Koontz (Bantam) (F-H)
35. “True Compass” by Edward M. Kennedy (Twelve) (NF-H)
36. “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy (Vintage) (F-P)
37. “7th Heaven” by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro ( Vision) (F-P)
38. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules” by Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books) (F-H)
39. “Fairy Tale Weddings” by Debbie Macomber (Mira) (F-P)
40. “Bed of Roses” by Nora Roberts (Berkley) (F-P)
41. “The Twighlight Saga” by Stephanie Meyer (Little, Brown for Young Readers) (F-H)
42. “SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance” by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner (William Morrow) (NF-H)
43. “The Lost” by J.D. Robb, Patricia Gaffney, Mary Blayney and Ruth Ryan Langan (Jove) (F-P)
44. “Lavender Morning” by Jude Deveraux (Pocket) (F-P)
45. “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (Penguin) (NF-P)
46. “Tempted” by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (St. Martin’s Press) (F-H)
47. “New Moon” by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) (F-P)
48. “Arctic Drift” by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler (Berkley) (F-P)
49. “The Associate” by John Grisham (Dell) (F-P)
50. “What the Dog Saw” by Malcolm Gladwell (Little, Brown) (NF-H)

Reporting stores include Amazon.com, B. Dalton Bookseller, Barnes & Noble.com, Barnes & Noble Inc., Books-A-Million and Bookland, Booksamillion.com, Borders Books & Music, Bookstar, Bookstop, Brentano’s, Davis Kidd Booksellers in Nashville, Jackson, Memphis, Tenn., Doubleday Book Shops, Hudson Booksellers, Joseph-Beth Booksellers (Lexington, Ky.; Cincinnati, Cleveland), Powell’s Books (Portland, Ore.), Powells.com, R.J. Julia Booksellers (Madison, Conn.), Schuler.
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Here are links to other recent One for the Books columns. More links are available on my blog at http://blogs.dixcdn.com/shine_a_light/one-for-the-books/

Palin-Tology -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4718844

Treats for Dog Lovers -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4709611

Current Best-Sellers -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4694861

Picture Books for Ages 4 to 8 -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4684752

All About Food -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4675462

Doctorow, Atwood, Pynchon -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4665676


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Thanks for reading One for the Books. Please let us know what kind of book news you’d like to see on this page. Send e-mail to Books@recordpub.com. Send other mail to Mary Louise Ruehr, Books Editor, Record-Courier, 126 N. Chestnut St. (P.O. Box 1201), Ravenna, OH 44266.