Northcoast Journal article

Interesting article about a local small publishing house, called Stark House, owner, Greg Shepard.

The Pulp Mill Crooked Cops Private Dicks And The Shady Ladies Of Stark House

The Christmas Garden Affair

Well, while I'm waiting for my library to get The Handmaiden and The Carpenter in, I'm going to read Ann Ripley's The Christmas Garden Affair. Looks like a fun and interesting book. It's mystery, (my fav!), and gardening, (my other fav!) and it's set during the holidaze! How much better can it be? Well, the librarian said Ann Ripley is one of her favorite authors. Well, there you have it. It's a must read!

This is what I know so far. Ann Ripley writes mysteries and short stories back home in Colorado, and she's an organic gardener. She has written 10 books! Mulch 1994, Death of a Garden Pest 1996, Death of a Political Plant 1998, The Garden Tour Affair 1999, The Perennial Killer, 2000, Harvest of Murder, 2001, The Christmas Garden Affair, 2002, Death At The Spring Plant Sale, 2003, Summer Garden Murder, 2005, and her newest book; Death In The Orchid Garden, 2006. Man! Who knew you could draw so much writing inspiration from gardening?!?

Being a gardener (somewhat organic) I think I'm going to really enjoy this book!

Join me if you dare....Susan, my fellow gardener, I think you should read this and post a comment on this blog.

Having It & Eating It - the review

I have to say, I really enjoyed this book. Being a mother of two, and having had a career "BC (Before Children)", I related to so much of this mother's hassles in life. For a while I felt like I was Maggie Owen, but, as the story progressed, I'm very glad I'm not. I read another review of the book and someone's comment was that Maggie's character was a bit whiney. I had read this review before finishing the book, so I took offense to the comment. I fully disagreed, but in the end, I have to say, she was right. Although, I didn't mind it. I was starting to relate a bit too much to this character, and than, I realized I was much better off than her. Thank God!

This book is full on "chicklit", so it's not going to appeal to everyone. Definitely not a "classic novel", but a fun read. Comedy, mystery, romance, just a fun read. And, you'd think with all that, that it would have a predictable ending. Nope! That's what really made me enjoy this book. I really didn't know how it was going to end until the last few pages.

This was Sabine Durrant's first published novel, and it was great. I'm definitely planning on seeking out more of her work. Ms. Durrant has been a journalist for the Gardian, the Observer, Independent, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Times. She has written two other books; The Great Indoors and Cross Your Heart, Connie Pickles.

Well, I'm almost done with Sabine Durrant's book, Having It & Eating It, which I have been thoroughly enjoying. A total guilty pleasure. Now I'm thinking I'd like to read something with a bit of a Christmas theme on the next round, being that Christmas is almost here. I happened to run onto Elizabeth Berg's The Handmade And The Carpenter. It's the story of how Mary and Joseph met and about their marriage and the birth of Jesus. This isn't your typical Christmas story though. It's told in a way that puts Mary and Joseph in a more human light, not so much as legends of a great story, but the human side of them and their story. The excerpt I read was very refreshing. A whole different perspective on an ancient story. I hope to make this my next read.

To read an excerpt go to The Handmaden And The Carpenter excerpt