The Quick and the Thread & The Long Stitch Good Night by Amanda Lee

As I have said I am into mysteries all of a sudden. Especially if I can relate to the location or subject of the mystery. This series I have been reading is An Embroidery Mystery. I have read four in the series. I am pulled to this series because it is focused on Marcy a one time accountant turned shop keeper. Marcy opened a shop for her interest in embroidery and she offers all kinds of classes. She is the 'investigator' and keeps the police informed of any leads she finds. The latest in the series, The Long Stitch Good Night, I read I thought I knew who the murderer was but at the end there was a twist. I didn't suspect Charles!

I was not always a librarian like Marcy I have changed my career but still within the education field. If you are into embroidery and crafting this is a good series to read. The first in the series is The Quick and the Thread #1, enjoy. Oh an if you love Irish grey hounds you will love Angus.

The Long Stitch Good Night- #4
What is Marcy up to now! She has a new interest in Irish embroidery, that's good for her, she can offer classes in the Irish embroidery.  It's St. Patrick's Day, how is Marcy involved with the murder at Todd's bar? Or maybe she isn't? Who dun it?

Fire and Ice by Julie Garwood

I have enjoyed reading mysteries. Not so the deep meaningful kind but the quick read pleasurable reads. I can read them quickly and carry them with me when I get kept waiting in an office.

In Fire and Ice, Sophie Rose is the daughter of Bobby Rose a supposedly notorious big time thief sought after by the Chicago Police.  Sophie writes for a local small time Chicago paper. She is asked to interview a guy running his 25th 5K marathon. He has told Sophie he is involved in a 'Alpha' project. She doesn't understand the relevance to the marathon. But William disappears, doesn't run the marathon but disappears off the face of the earth, cell phone  and web page are no longer working or online.  Sophie has issues with the police and FBI because of her father but some how she has Jack MacAlister (he is FBI) as a body guard when she goes to Prudhoe Bay to find out what happened to William in Alaska. So what did happen to William and how did Kelly's Root Beer employees lose all their retirement money?? Lots of turns and twists with a good dose of romance.

the Serpent's Shadow- Rick Riordan

It's the 3rd book in the Kane Chroniles series. It's Sadie and Carter's mission to find the shadow and restore Ma'at. Apophis is causing all kinds of trouble. Gods are disapperaring and Magicians are divided. I won't spoil the book by saying it is the conclusion of the Kane Chronicles. But is it really? the end to Sadie and Carter's adventures.

Wine Country Mystery- Ellen Crosby

The Merlot Murders, 2006

The Chardonnay Charade, 2007

The Bordeaux Betrayal, 2008

The Riesling Retribution, 2009

The Viognier Vendetta, 2010

The Sauvignon Secret, 2011

I read them all in order. I enjoyed the mysteries because of the location of the stories. I love reading about the areas I have visited and know. It is like revisiting the area all over again.

Lucie Montgomery becomes the sole owner of her family's winery that is not doing well financially.  She has a cranky vintner named Quinn Santori from California. Whom she thinks is hiding something but has a major crush on. You know sometimes you can pick out the murderer I couldn't there was always a twist that i didn't count on. The series was recommended to me and I enjoyed each one. I am glad Lucie got her man, tall, dark and dangerous. 

Reading for the summer

Its been hectic these past few weeks.  I have to say I am glad school is out for summer break. I will be teaching summer school but as the librarian not a classroom teacher. Should be good.  My own personal reading have been off. Sometimes reading too much just is that too much.  I did organize a guest speaker for school this spring. He was from the Mosby Heritage Association. After listening to him for 2 days he got my curiosity up about women in the Civil War. I have read 2 books how women took up arms for both the North and South to fight for their side.
They Fought Like Demons-Blanton, Deanne this book opened my eyes to women in battle on both sides. Some were recognized and other shunned.
Another book I read during the SOL testing, it was a quick read with lots of pictures, I found it in my school library. I'll Pass for Your Comrade- Anita Silvey. I read this book first which then took me to the other book.

I have read other books which I will add as other entries. It was a busy school year for me even with an assistant and a 2nd librarian. I really can't believe the school district actually paid either a salary. She or I should say both were unprofessional all year. The most I can say about the 2nd librarian was she came up with ideas for bulletin boards, read lots of magazine so she and the assistant could talk about the latest goings on in Hollywood, created jewelry patterns and weeded the non ficiton collection.  It was pathetic to see her feet up on the desk as she read books during SOL testing. I really can't come up with anything she really did all year that really earned her a pay check. There were days when both of them chatted from beginning of the day to the end of the day. And they both looked exhausted at the end of the day. I figured if I worked this hard with the 2 of them there, I could work just as hard by myself in an elementary school. In my district most elementary schools only have 1 librarian. I know I can work in an elementary library, isn't that what I did this past school year work alone!  A good example; 3rd quarter I was working on over due notices to put into report cards, she actually sent a student to me to assist in finding a book and the other librarian continued her chat with the assistant. When asked to collaborate on the end of year report she added 1 sentence about weeding the non fiction collection. She was a public library librarian she should have kept the job because she isn't a school librarian.  I'll keep looking and hoping for a elementary school librarian position within my district.  I'll really don't want to go through the interview process again.  

Paperquake by Kathryn Reiss

Just like San Francisco Earthquake 1906, Paperquake in the past takes place during the 1906 earthquake but in present day takes place during a more recent earthquake in the Oakland/ San Francisco area. Violet dreams of earthquakes, children running and being scared, why does she have the dreams, and what could be causing the dreams? Her parents purchase another store in San Francisco for their business, as Violet and her sisters clean the store they find letters addressed to 'V'. How do the letters help the children in the past but also bring comfort to Violet. Violet uncovers information that helps her write her science report but also solves the mystery of the letters and diary.

Its about time traveling, magic and earthquakes. A good mystery solved by Violet. Bringing yesterday into the present.

San Francisco Earthquake 1906 by Kathleen Duey

Inventory was taken at the school library the last week in January. I found so many good books that students have ignored in favor of the latest greatest new book that has been published lately. Including the Hunger Games series which I first read about 3 years. I know the movie hype is why all of a sudden people are looking to read the novel. Hopefully it will keep teens reading. There is a world of books on book shelves that are just as good as Hunger Games, with real believable characters. So keep reading.

I have read San Francisco Earthquake 1906 because I saw it sticking itself out on the book shelf at school the other day. I saw the word 'earthquake' in the title which is another reason why I took the book to look at and brought it home to read. I finished reading Paperquake by Kathryn Reiss perhaps that is why I brought home the other book to read. On the spine of this book was the label romance perhaps that is why I brought home the book to read. I read many romance novels especially after I have read so many young adult books. San Francisco Earthquake didn't come across to me as a romance as much as a mystery. Yes Sierra develops a puppy love crush on one of the guys staying at the hotel but its her life that captured me. How she struggled by herself to make a life for herself but also about the dreams she has and yearns to happen. Sierra realizes the guy she crushed on was a dandy. Praying on the rich wealthy ladies to get ahead.

You need to read the book to find out Sierra helps the Harlans and getting the guy of her dreams.

I hope when I take the book back to school that I can encourage a student to read it.

The book was published in 1999 but worth looking for in the library as well as Paperquake written by Kathryn Reiss.