A Dangerous Dress

A Dangerous Dress
by Julia Holden

Twenty-five year old Jane Stuart leads an unremarkable life in Kirlin, Indiana until she inherits a stunning, exquisite, "dangerous" flapper dress from her Grandma. Jane's musings on how her rural Indiana grandma came to own such a dress lead Jane on adventures of her own. From Paris to New York and then back to Kirlin, Jane handles all that life throws at her with remarkable grace and wit. A fun read with the added attractions of life in Paris and designer clothes!

- Linda B.

Slings & Arrows

Slings & Arrows
DVD TV-Series

A television show from Canada, Slings & Arrows is a comedy about a Shakespearean theatre troupe. You do not need to be a Shakespeare enthusiast to enjoy this show.

This series is very funny and sophisticated. The writing and acting are first-rate. Be aware that Canadian censors are different from those in the U.S. The language is sometimes coarse, and some of the scenes are for mature audiences.

This is one of my favorite television shows, a great change of pace from much of TV - check this series out!

- Kathy S.

An Irish Country Village

An Irish Country Village
by Patrick Taylor

An Irish Country Village is the sequel to An Irish Country Doctor, and it picks up right where the first book left off without missing a beat. With the same wonderful characters, young Dr. Laverty learns what being a general practitioner in a small village means. With some help from his colleague, Dr. O'Reilly, they look after the townspeople's needs, including everything fro A to Z.

A very entertaining read.

- Patti

The Barefoot Home

The Barefoot Home: dressed down design for casual living

by Marc Vassallo

We all have our favorite home design book. You know, the book with the homes that you dream of living in - the deck you want to walk out on, the kitchen that would inspire culinary creativity, the bathroom to place your favorite green candles, the bedroom that calls your sleepy name. Well, for me that book is The Barefoot Home. There's nothing fancy about these homes - just inviting architecture for creative & casual living.

If living in a simple & wholesome environment is as appealing to you as it is to me, the barefoot spirit will be won on you, too. - Holly

The Day Donny Herbert Woke Up

The Day Donny Herbert Woke Up

by Rich Blake

This is the true story of Donny Herbert, a Buffalo firefighter who was severely injured while fighting a house fire in 1995. He lapsed into a coma and doctors gave up hope and predicted he would be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life.

Amazingly, almost ten years later Donny woke up and spoke to his family for 16 hours straight.

Sad and yet uplifting, this book gives hope that miracles do happen.

- Kathy S.

Belong To Me

Belong To Me
by Marisa de los Santos

In Belong To Me, Marisa de los Santos writes of the public and private lives of three strong and unforgettable women, including Cornelia Brown from her book Love Walked In. A wonderful story about friends, family, neighbors, and especially love, this is one of the better books I've read in quite a while. The author's first book, Love Walked In, is also well worth reading.

- Lynn

Venetian Betrayal

Venetian Betrayal
by Steve Berry

Cotton Malone, a retired justice department agent turned Danish bookseller, is lured back into another intriguing situation. This time, he and his cohorts are on the hunt for Alexander the Great's tomb. The search leads through Venice to Asia. Double crosses, tactical warfare and antiquities - what a combination!

- Rochelle

Ballykissangel

Ballykissangel
BBC DVD

I can't help it. I love the BBC TV series Ballykissangel. From Father Peter Clifford to bar owner Assumpta Fitzgerald, the characters are lovable in a small town quirky way. Of course there's the budding romance plot, the humorous characters making a mess of things and the typical small town big shot. At the center of it all is Fitzgeralds, the local pub.

Filmed in Avoca in County Wicklow, the setting is gorgeous. This would make the perfect St. Patrick's Day film fest.

- Holly

Dark Tort

Dark Tort
by Diane Mott Davidson

Diane Mott Davidson "cooks up" another murder mystery with Colorado caterer, Goldy Schultz. Goldy is the owner of Goldilocks Catering and has been recently hired to cater for the local law firm of Harahan & Jule, a.k.a. H & J. Just as Goldy enters H & J one evening to start preparing her Chicky Bread for the next morning's breakfast, she stumbles over the dead body of Dusty Routt. Dusty was a paralegal in training and niece to Richard Chenault, owner of H & J.

At Dusty's mother's request, Goldy decides to try and find the murderer, in between catering jobs. Soon, she is knee deep in clues and interesting suspects.

I liked this mystery because it kept me guessing right up to the end. Goldy's recipes are in the back of the book, in case you get hungry. I highly recommend the Chicken Piccata Supreme!

- Ann

Chosen by a Horse

Chosen by a Horse: a memoir

by Susan Richards

This is a poignant memoir about a special bond between the author, Susan Richards, and a rescue horse she agrees to care for.

While caring for the horse, Ms. Richards has to deal with the memories of her past . . . a past of abuse and without love. Because of the love and trust this special horse has shown her, Ms. Richards finds it possible to heal her personal wounds and learn to love again.

-Rosie

Blue Heaven

Blue Heaven
by C. J. Box

An intense stand-alone thriller by C. J. Box, author of the game-warden Joe Pickett series, Blue Heaven takes place in a small north Idaho town where two young children accidentally witness a murder and are seen by one of the perpetrators. It is a story of LA cops-gone-bad, a good cop trying to solve an 8-year-old robbery, and an old rancher who, in trying to protect the children, must figure out who is worthy of trust. This is a page-turning cat and mouse hunt to the very end.

- Linda B.

A Crooked Path

A Crooked Path
by Annette Smith

Manny Ortega's father abandons his family when Manny is a young boy. By the time Manny is 15, he feels the need to provide for his family, so he goes to Texas for work. Now in his 30s, Manny works for a cranky old rancher who is also seriously ill. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Manny becomes the sole caregiver of Mr. Green and a deep bond is formed between them.

Issues of racism and a visit from Mr. Green's daughter threaten to sever the relationship. Can this relationship be restored before it is too late and Manny loses yet another father?

- Dixie

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict
by Laurie Viera Rigler

Twenty-first century Jane Austen addict Courtney Stone, broken-hearted due to a cheating fiance, suddenly and inexplicably finds herself inhabiting the body of young Englishwoman Jane Mansfield (no, the joke is not lost on Courtney) in the early 19th century. Courtney at first fights against her situation but then comes to realize that she is calmly becoming this other woman while still wishing to find a way back to her own world. This book is a unique combination of historical fiction, comedy, romance, and the bending of space and time as both young women struggle toward their individual destinies.

- Linda B.

The Wednesday Letters

The Wednesday Letters
by Jason F. Wright

Jack and Laurel Cooper die in each other's arms. When their adult children arrive to make the funeral arrangements, they find boxes of letters that their father had written to their mother every Wednesday during their lives together. These letters reveal the secrets of a marriage and show the power of love and forgiveness. This was a gentle, thoughtful read.

- Pat

Where My Heart Belongs

Where My Heart Belongs
by Tracie Peterson

This is a modern-day prodigal story involving two sisters in a small Kansas town. Amy hates her small town life and leaves home. Kathy stays and her future plans change dramatically. When Amy reappears, the sisters have a long road to reconciliation.

A good vacation read!

- Dixie