Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd: A Flavia de Luce Novel
I absolutely love this series. I will be purchasing this hardback for my collection. Flavia de Luce. and Alan Bradley never disappoints. Hope Mr. Bradley continues writing this series. Christmas is coming so buy it for the mystery lover in your life. here is the synopsis: In spite of being ejected from Miss Bodycote’s Female Academy in Canada, twelve-year-old Flavia de Luce is excited to be sailing home to England. But instead of a joyous homecoming, she is greeted on the docks with unfortunate news: Her father has fallen ill, and a hospital visit will have to wait while he rests. But with Flavia’s blasted sisters and insufferable cousin underfoot, Buckshaw now seems both too empty—and not empty enough. Only too eager to run an errand for the vicar’s wife, Flavia hops on her trusty bicycle, Gladys, to deliver a message to a reclusive wood-carver. Finding the front door ajar, Flavia enters and stumbles upon the poor man’s body hanging upside down on the back of his bedroom door. The only living creature in the house is a feline that shows little interest in the disturbing scene. Curiosity may not kill this cat, but Flavia is energized at the prospect of a new investigation. It’s amazing what the discovery of a corpse can do for one’s spirits. But what awaits Flavia will shake her to the very core.
Choose Your Own Misery: Mike MacDonald The Holidays Here is another great Christmas gift. I loved the uniqueness of this book. I loved the choose your own adventure book as a kid, so this didn't disappoint. I will be picking this up in print form. I did notice Mr. MacDonald has another book in this format called The Office I hope he continues writing this format. Here is the synopsis: This is the year you’re going to do it: you’re going to avoid Christmas completely!
...or you were, until your island getaway got washed out by a hurricane. Now you have to choose: should you spend the holiday with your shrewish sister and her Europhile husband, or endure your new girlfriend’s family for a week? Help chop down a tree even though it might throw out your back, or endure the icy judgment of a woman who thinks only children and pussies help bake cookies? Jet off to the glamorous slums of Kingston, Jamaica, or accept the offer of a ride from a man who never stops smiling...and is probably going to turn you into a skin suit?
From the writers who brought you the hilarious parody Choose Your Own Misery: The Office comes a second helping of misery with a festive twist. Christmas is full of fun surprises for kids, but for adults, it’s just an endless series of aggressive crowds, overwhelming credit card debt, and pretending to like the people you’re forced to spend it with.
Once you unwrap all the holiday misery hiding in these pages, the blackness of your heart will rival any lump of coal.
Just Life Neil Abramson
America is full of strays: dogs, cats, people. It seems far too easy for beings to “fall through the cracks.” Yet there are people who care, who reach out to these lost creatures, and try to make them whole. Sometimes, it’s difficult to tell who’s the rescuer, and who’s the rescued, as the act can heal both. “Just Life” delves into several such stories -- a woman estranged from her scientist father; a priest losing his faith and more; a young man damaged by foster care. In each case, saving a canine life saves them.
At the same time, America is full of people who deeply love their pets, thinking of them as one of the family. “Just Life” poses the question: How far would you go, to protect your animal from a government looking for easy answers?
Veterinarian Samantha Lewis and her team are dedicated to providing a sanctuary for unwanted, abused, and abandoned dogs in New York City. But every day it gets harder to operate her no-kill shelter. Sam is already at her breaking point when she learns of an unidentified, dangerous virus spreading through their neighborhood. The medical community can only determine that animals are the carriers. Amid growing panic and a demand for immediate answers, suspicion abruptly falls on dogs as the source. Soon the governor is calling in the National Guard to enforce a quarantine--no dog may leave the area.
Samantha knows from her own painful history that, despite the lack of real evidence against the dogs, a quarantine may only be the beginning. As questions about the source of the virus mount and clash with the pressure for a politically expedient resolution, Sam is forced to make life-altering choices. She finds allies in a motley crew of New Yorkers--a local priest, a troubled teen, a smart-mouthed former psychologist, and a cop desperate to do the right thing--all looking for sanctuary from their own personal demons. But the person Sam needs the most to unravel the mystery of the virus and save the dogs is the last one she'd ever want to call on--because contacting him will mean confronting the traumatic past she has fought so hard to escape.
Thank You Net Galley
A Ferret's Novel Tale