Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.  ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Yes, Virginia...

I'm sure the very last thing that little Virginia O'Hanlon thought at the tender age of eight back in 1897 was her short little ditty to the editor of the New York Sun would turn into a holiday classic.  Upon asking her father, Dr. Phillip O'Hanlon, if Santa existed since her friends at school failed to believe any longer, he suggested she write to the editor because, "If you see it in The Sun, it's so", which dropped the pressing question on to the desk of Francis P. Church, who had been a Civil War correspondent.

Mr. Church was a popular journalist and often wrote human interest features and tackled tough theological debates of the time.  It might be why his, editor, Edward P. Mitchell thought him up to the task of debating Santa's existence. Church supposedly bristled at the idea of penning a response to a girl about Santa Claus, but thankfully not only was he up to the task, he wrote a masterpiece under a deadline.

As someone who has never been particularly fond of Santa Claus, I do adore the letter and find the message not only inspiring, but in a clever way answers a little girl's question without crushing her, but having her realize that Santa Claus is a symbol of the season, of all the good things that the Christmas season brings out in people.  And should be remembered not just at this time of year, but all year long.

Below is the article from The Sun.  You'll noctice despite being a holiday favorite, it was written on September 21, 1897, and they say we start the holiday season early! ;-)

Dear Editor—
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. 
 ~ Albert Camus

Happily Ever After

After taking a bit of break from romance, I was happy to fall in love again with Nora Robert's final novel in her best-selling Bridal Quartet series.  The series focuses on four childhood best friends who turn their afternoons of playing "Wedding Day" into reality as they pool their talents to create a premiere wedding venue and service called Vows.

Each novel focused on each of the friend's falling in love along with showcasing their talents in the business.  Mac, from the first novel, Vision in White, is a spunky photographer.  Emma, the hopeless romantic of the group, is the florist, in Bed of Roses.  While Laurel the smart mouthed baker extraordinaire displays her talents and love story in Savor the Moment.

Happy Ever After revolves around the uber-organized business woman Parker Brown, who's the creator of Vows. She finds her inner organized self at war with her feelings towards one of her brother's friends and her mechanic, Malcolm Kavanaugh.  Sparks fly, but while she's used to creating the best day of every bride's life she seems almost clueless of where her own love life is heading.

While I loved all the other books in the series, and eagerly anticipated each one (this one included), it was a tiny bit of a let down.  I knew what to expect since it was hinted in the last novel who her love interest was going to be and fully expected a happy ending.  After all that is why women read romances - to see a happy ending. 

My main quip with the novel was the pacing, which felt a little slower than the others and the excess of Parker handling various brides.  Perhaps I was spoiled by learning about different crafts in the other novels, whereas I didn't feel that way with the wedding planner position. I just felt hassled while Parker dealt with silly bride problems. 

Otherwise, the romance part of the novel was fabulous.  Watching a straight laced woman hop on a Harley and basically come undo by her feelings for a man she normally wouldn't give the time of of day to (not because she's a snob, but just because she's so consumed by work & afraid to let someone in).

All in all I most especially recommend this if you've read the others in the series and if you haven't start at the beginning and wrap yourself in the wonderful decadent world of brides, lace, cakes and flowers.  You won't be sorry.  This installment, as all the others is excellent brain candy!

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. 
~ Chinese Proverb

Currently reading...

...and completely enjoying every minute of this romance.  I've been on a romance hiatus for a while, so it's nice to sink back in with this gem.  No one does romance like Nora Roberts.  Review to follow soon!

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.  Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.  ~ Groucho Marx

New series by Kathy Reichs

Kathy Reichs of Bones fame is stepping into the world of young adult (YA) fiction!  Adoring Temperance Brennan and her exploits both on TV and in the bestselling novels, I'm thrilled that Virals is being released on November 2nd.  According to the very brief description, the series will center around Tory Brennan, Temperance's niece, who lives on an island off South Carolina.

I'm seriously tempted to pre-order it for my Kindle.  So many books, so little time...{sigh}

How to Crash a Killer Bash

 Penny Warner's second outing with her new series of party- planning mysteries was a party not to be forgotten anytime soon.  We catch up with Presley Parker at a famous art museum during their murder-mystery charity gala that she's organized.  Things were running fairly smoothly until the gala's host, Mary Lee Miller, is found dead during the event.  Presley's best friend Delicia is soon arrested because of an earlier argument she had with the victim and is the prime suspect.

Now, Presley must depend on her sharp organizing skills and abnormal psychology background to help her railroaded friend from being put on trail for a murder she did not commit. 

The pacing and intricately woven plot were spot on and kept me entertained throughout.  The museum back drop was not only interesting but clearly well researched.  While I did solve the murder quite early on (I blame it on my viewing a recent episode of Bones in assisting me with picking out the murderer), I wasn't 100% sure of my suspect choice almost until the end.

I also enjoyed the secondary plots (Presley's mom & her Alzheimer's), the romantic tension (Brad the crime scene cleaner & his mysteriousness) and humor, all add to this cozy.  I can't wait till the next installment!

New York Public Library Reading Room

To sit alone in the lamplight with a book spread out before you, and hold intimate converse with men of unseen generations - such is a pleasure beyond compare.    ~Kenko Yoshida

A Deadly Deli Mystery

This new cozy mystery series by Delia Rosen unfortunately doesn't completely cut the mustard.  While the premise was fantastic, a mystery set in a Kosher deli in the heart of Nashville, the writing felt disjointed at times.  The tale opens suddenly and proceeds to introduce practically every character seemingly in the first few pages of chapter one, so my head was spinning to keep everyone straight.

Gwen, the cozy's amateur sleuth, has recently inherited her Uncle Murray's troubled deli. Having uprooted herself from NYC after a bad divorce, she finds herself with an unruly staff, while trying to run a deli she knows virtually nothing about. Throw a murdered patron on Kosher Karaoke Night into mix and you've got a real recipe for disaster.

While I enjoyed the interesting characters peppered throughout and the mystery plot, I did sometimes feel there was a great deal of let's get to the point already moments, which slowed down the pacing of the novel.  I eventually warmed up to Gwen and the author's writing style, but not before having to put the book down once.

Since this is Rosen's first outing, I'm willing to give the series another go when One Foot in the Gravy, the next deli mystery, comes out next fall.  I recommend the book for those with an open mind and don't mind a sleuth with chutzpah.

The smallest bookstore still contains more ideas of worth than have been presented in the entire history of television.  ~Andrew Ross

Next up on the review schedule

So many mysteries, so little time!  While perusing my local Barnes & Noble this morning before picking up my morning shot of Earl Grey, I stumbled upon some new releases that caught my eye. I succumbed since they were both new in a series of cozies.

One is a Deadly Deli Mystery entitled, A Brisket, a Casket, by Delia Rosen and the other is a Museum Mystery - Fundraising the Dead, by Shelia Connolly, who also wrote the Orchard Mysteries series.

Should I flip a coin or do eeny meeny miney mo?  Here's hoping that not only do I decide, but I do so before my lunch hour! ;-)
 

Paperback Parade

Title: Dirty Rotten Tendrils
Author: Kate Collins
Published: October 2010
Format: Paperback/Kindle

Collins continues to entertain me with her tenth tale of Abby Knight, flower shop owner and amateur sleuth.  While Abby, also the narrator of the series, waxes poetic about how lovely it is to live in a small town things begin to change courtesy of singer, Cody Verse, who won a reality show contest and calls New Chapel, Indiana his hometown along with Abby.  The town rolls out the red carpet for Cody who is being accused of stealing another local resident's song and turning it into a chart topper.

As always, a body turns up and Abby needs to help her friend and former, employer, lawyer Dave Hammond clear his name and weed through the growing list of suspects to find the real murderer.

While the murder investigation takes centerstage, plenty of secondary stories abound -- including an enagement ring mix-up, a social commentary on stardom and reality shows with family concerns thrown in to keep everyone on their toes.  The mystery was deftly written and I was kept in suspense to almost the end trying to solve the puzzle along with Abby.  New Chapel's charming residents and Abby's boyfriend, Marco keep this series entertaining and fun.  I highly recommend it.

To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life. 
~W. Somerset Maugham

Found - Great Blog re Mysteries!

I was browsing Blogger in search of other like-minded bloggers and stumbled upon a real gem called Killer Characters.  It's a fabulous resource on cozy mysteries brought to you by some of your favorite cozy authors.  What could be better?  I highly recommend you check out the blog filled with new releases, cozy insights from the authors and information on their book tours, contests and the like.

Up next on my review list is Dirty Rotten Tendrils by Kate Collins, which was just released on October 5th.

With Halloween on the Horizon...

...I thought it would be cool to pass along some appropriate reads in case the gloomy NYC Monday isn't creepy enough!

Novel Appraisal's Halloween reading list:

Audrey's Door by Sarah Langan - it's a Bram Stoker Award winner horror/suspense tale about a young Manhattanite who finds a beautiful apartment cheap.  If it looks to good to be true, it probably is, as this thriller illustrates.

Wicked Witch Murder by Leslie Meier is the 16th installment of the Lucy Stone cozy mystery series.  Lucy is not only dealing with a drought, her children and the harvest festival, but now with the murder of a a local businessman, her witchy ways are being blamed for every problem in the town.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shelia Jackson (of "The Lottery" fame) is an oldie, but a goodie.  It's quite a disturbing haunted house tale with a psychological/paranormal twist.

Books are lighthouses erected in the great sea of time. 

~E.P. Whipple

Like spending time with an old friend...



UK Cover



I’ve know Becky Bloomwood since her first overdraft and always look forward to “spending” time with her whether she’s tramping up 5^th Avenue, climbing the side of a mountain, searching for her half-sister or in the latest installment, being a mum to a tantrum throwing toddler.  So begins Sophie Kinsella’s latest in the saga of her popular shopaholic series.

 

The book opens on Christmas Eve at a shopping mall where little Minnie, now two years old, begins to throw a fit when she sees a toy pony that initially Becky doesn’t want to purchase.  In standard Becky fashion, she finds a reason to cave (much the same rationale permeates the entire series - it’s on sale, it’s a one-off, it’s a classic, etc.) and averts disaster, only temporarily.  A hilarious, albeit mortifying, incident ensues at Santa’s Grotto where the whole family is banned for life.

This scene introduces one of the major plotlines of the novel, Minnie’s out of control nature.  Many hilarious toddler problems ensue and Nanny Sue (a TV nanny comes to the rescue, but not before a comical mannequin incident).  With typical Becky flair, she finds her way into a myriad of problems such as planning a surprise party for Luke while trying to utilize the bartering system because of the economic downturn. 

On some level, Becky is still Becky.  Shopping, scheming, lying and keeping secrets, but somehow she manages to endear herself to you because you know she’s harmless and truly means well.  Like all the novels, everything ties up neatly at the end in this installment also and we are left wondering/knowing/hoping that another tale of Becky shopping till she drops is soon to follow.  Minishopaholic is a fun, fast chick-lit read.  If you’ve enjoyed the others in the series you’ll love this one.

So many books, so little time

I love reading, obviously! ;) But I'm finding that with so many responsibilities pulling me in every direction, it's becoming more difficult to fit in all the books I want to read into my schedule.  Oh, the humanity of it all! 

I've made my way through the first quarter of the Mini Shopaholic and am currently debating if I should read Wicked Appetite by Janent Evanovich next or Nick Spark's latest Safe Haven. 

Not to mention the fact that in the beginning of November, Nora Roberts' final book in the wedding quartet is being released as well.  Sigh.  Who would have ever thought the biggest issue on a dreary Monday afternoon would turn out to be an internal debate on what to read next?



Sweet romance...





...or spicy mystery/adventure?



"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid."
~ Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

Seriously looking forward to this purchase...

Being a woman means that I have a wee bit of a shopaholic in me.  We all do on some level.  Whether our obession is shoes, handbags, magazines, books, movies, music or office supplies.  There is something all ladies have a hankering for when we shop. 

Becky Bloomwood of course has this problem to the tenth power, but that's why she's the favorite charcter of a series by Sophie Kinsella (and a movie adaptation).  This past Tuesday, her latest in the series was released,  Mini Shopaholic.  Having not had the opportunity to pick it up just yet, I do hope to begin reading it in the next week or so.  So until then I leave you with the below US commerical from YouTube...

Which Austen Heroine are you?

Being at loose ends this morning before my day got started, I took a quiz about which Jane Austen heroine I am.  Frankly, I was surprised to find out I was Elinor Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility.  Granted, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Elinor.  She's solid, practical and loving (and gets to marry Hugh Grant's character at the end of the movie), but I always thought of myself more of an Elizabeth Bennet kind of girl.  You know, witty, observant and able to laugh at oneself. 

The quiz described me as "practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see."  Makes me sound like someone's trusty matron aunt, no?  So, curiosity got the better of me and I checked to see what the quiz said about Elizabeth Bennet.  Apparently she's described as "intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive."  Now I feel incredibly miffed!  But it could be worse, I could be Elinor's sister, Marianne, who's described as "impulsive, romantic, impatient, and perhaps a bit too brutally honest".

The quiz results made me think though, did I always assume that I was like Elizabeth Bennet, because she is my favorite Austen heroine?  Or is the quiz faulty?  So, I took the quiz again (no offense Elinor!), because on some of the questions, more than one of the choices fit me, and this time I'll pick the alternate choice.  And now for the results...drum roll please...I'm Elinor Dashwood again!  Cripes! 

Interestingly enough, Sense and Sensibility is my favorite Austen novel by far. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that I keep turning out to be Elinor in that blasted quiz ;-)  The only thing I do know is I encourage other Austen fans to take the quiz and let me know if they are satisfied - unsatisfied - indifferent - surprised by the results of the quiz.

http://www.strangegirl.com/emma/quiz.php

Paperback Parade

Title - Hounding the Pavement (Ellie Engleman, Dog Walker Mysteries, No. 1)
Genre - Cozy Mystery

Available – Paperback/Kindle

This first in a new series of romantic mysteries with a paranormal twist was a real treat.  Divorced, Ellie has shed her old life completely and instead of being the perfect Stepford wife, she’s now a dog walker to NYC’s elite.  What makes this plot even more original than the dog walking concept is the paranormal twist.  No fear, no werewolves or vampires, Ellie has a special gift, she can hear the voices of her four-legged friends.

Unique, quirky are just a few words to describe the gift.  Initially, I was concerned the Dr. Dolittle routine would either be too odd to enjoy or get old fast, but neither happened.  I was surprised at how well the author, Judi McCoy was able balance the different voices of various pooches. 

The murder that Ellie stumbles onto by virtue of her profession was unique in method and the road to solve it by literally pounding the streets of NYC was enjoyable.  The smoldering romance that simmers courtesy of a hot NYPD detective is a great diversion to all the murder and dog-nappings.  The writing is light and even a little fluffy at times, but the book makes for a fun light read for commuting or travel.

 

  

Sizzling Sixteen – More fizzle than sizzle

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Genre - Mystery

Available – Hardcover/Kindle

Having read the vast majority of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, I was more than a little excited about the latest installment in the series. I pre-ordered it for my Kindle and began reading it on the subway ride the morning it was released. That alone should tell you how eager about the release of this book. Unfortunately, not only did it fall short of my expectations (I also found a downside to Kindle, you can’t chuck it across the room when you’re ticked-off like a regular book), but left me incredibly frustrated.


While I’m used to the madcap adventures of Stephanie, Lula, and Grandma Mazur I was more than a little put off with the pure insanity of this book. First off there was this lucky bottle, which is made out of glass that Stephanie carries around in her handbag throughout most of the story. I’m still trying to figure out how it never broke, especially considering she was chased by an alligator at one point (don’t ask!) and ran off a collapsing fire escape.


Also not to mention the fact that Ranger willing gave her two cars (one of which of course ends up destroyed). I’m certain he likes her a whole lot, but I don’t think anyone could like someone so much so that they would let them destroy a vehicle and not make her pay for it. Odd. What was also odd was how she was saved when she was in a terrible pickle, Hobbits anyone?


My other biggest issue was the sheer amount of Lula I had to endure. Don’t get me wrong Lula is a fun character, but in moderation. I felt like she was in every scene, spewing bad grammar at every turn. At some point it grated on my nerves and I almost wished the alligator would’ve eaten her! Mean I know, but there’s only so much tight pink spandex and Cluck-in-a-Bucket a girl can take.


The most glaring problem is the continuous flip-flopping Stephanie does when it comes to her love life. Nothing developed on this front at all. No choice has been made. She moons for Ranger when she sees him and then longs for Joe when she’s in his presence. I don’t know how either man tolerates her inability to commit to one of them for more than a week. It’s getting a bit played out.


Janet, it’s time Stephanie grew up. She grumbles constantly about how much she hates bounty hunting, well get another job and/or settle down! She can’t bring herself to decide who she wants as a permanent fixture in her life. She needs to stop stringing two guys along like a sixteen year old who can’t decide if she wants to take the motorcycle dude or the start quarterback to the prom. I understand that if she does one or both of these things the series is over, but maybe it’s for the best. It’s been a fun, wacky ride and I’ve enjoyed every minute until this installment. The next book should be called Sayonara Seventeen.