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Literary Cookbooks

2 Comments / Book List, Cookbooks, Cozy, Holidays, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Non-fiction

What cook can resist a great new cookbook?

Even better, what foodie/avid reader can resist a cookbook created by his/her favorite author?

The following twelve cookbooks have been recommended by the readers of Nightstand Book Reviews as part of their literary and/or cookbook collections. The cookbooks would definitely make a fun gift to a fan of any of the authors. There are some pretty famous writers in the mix and many of the cookbooks have been nominated for awards. 🙂 If you have tried any of the recipes, please let us know in the comments.

Click on the book title to learn more about the featured recipes.

"Cooking with Jane Austen" – Kirstin Olsen

"Food to Die For" – Patricia Cornwell, Marlene Brown

"Goldy’s Kitchen Cookbook" – Diane Mott Davidson

"Jan Karon’s Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader" – Jan Karon

"KP Authors Cook Their Books" – 11 Kindle Press authors

"Mystery Writers of America Cookbook" – Kate White, editor; famous mystery writer contributors

"The Cat Who Cookbook" – Lilian Jackson Braun

"The Cozy Cookbook" – Laura Childs & other bestselling cozy writers

"The Hemingway Cookbook" – Craig Boreth

"The Outlander Kitchen: The Official Outlander Companion Cookbook" – Theresa Carle-Sanders

"Yashim Cooks Istanbul: Culinary Adventures in the Ottoman Kitchen" – Jason Goodwin

"Winnie the Pooh’s Teatime Cookbook" – A.A. Milne

Happy cooking! 🙂

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Author Profile: Craig Allen Johnson

2 Comments / Adventure, Author Profile, Award Winner, Bestselling Author, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Suspense, Thriller, Western

The Walt Longmire character that Craig Allen Johnson has brought to life both in award-winning books and on TV, has come to personify the modern Western law man – rough, tough, and ready for whatever the bad guys can throw at him.

Somehow, I had not realized that the show was based on Johnson’s books until the first season was half over. Books? Well, I ran right out – really – and bought the books that my local store had in stock. I started with Cold Dish and was forever hooked.

I watched the Longmire series on A&E until somebody in the network offices lost their collective minds and cancelled the show because the demographic didn’t fit their model of the future. Say what? A successful show that millions of people watch, that is making your corporation money and you don’t like the people who are doing the watching? Hmph.

Well, we fans are not a dumb bunch and we mounted a social media campaign for another network to pick up the show. Netflix and the Johnson people were able to come to an agreement and the fans collectively smiled. It has been reported that the Netflix association may come to an end after Season 6, but we still have the fabulous bestselling books – with more to come.

Craig Johnson was born in West Virginia, but wound up in Wyoming some years after a visit while delivering horses. He built the 2,000+ square foot log cabin in which he and his wife, Judy, now live. Ucross, Wyoming is sparsely populated – a mere 25 inhabitants – and is the source for Johnson’s twitter handle: @ucrosspop25.

What makes Sheriff Walt Longmire so immediately likable? Middle-aged, experienced at his job, widower of a woman he loved more than life itself, an attorney daughter of whom he is so very proud, and a Cheyenne best friend/sidekick whom he has known since childhood. Longmire mostly follows the rules, but when justice is in question, the rules are sometimes open to interpretation.

The stories are full of wonderful dialogue, intriguing mysteries, life and death situations, and a core set of characters with whom you’d like to spend as much time as possible. Johnson’s obvious love of the wide-open spaces of Wyoming spills onto the pages when the landscape becomes a character, as suddenly dangerous as any killer could be or as mesmerizing as a beautiful painting.

The books have been credited as having one of the best depictions of Native American/White Man interactions in the world of fiction – they certainly ring true in the reading. Johnson’s ranch is right next to a Cheyenne reservation, and through the years he has come to respect the challenges that Native Americans have faced and continue to face. His books explore the cultural differences and celebrate the traditions in thoughtful and meaningful ways, often including those themes in the mysteries.

When not writing the Longmire series, consulting on the TV show, or working his ranch, Johnson travels around the country (and to France) with Judy, doing book tours. I met him in Raleigh, NC at Quail Ridge Books. He’s charming and as funny in person as you would hope him to be after having read the books.

A great showman who delivers a great read. 🙂

Take a look at the reviews of:

“The Cold Dish”

here

“Kindness Goes Unpunished” here

“Dry Bones”

here

Check out www.craigallenjohnson.com, where you will find details about his upcoming tours, the online fan store with lots of Longmire goodies, and photos of the cast of Longmire.

*Photo of Craig Allen Johnson taken by Patti Phillips at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, NC.

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“Echoes of Edisto” by C. Hope Clark

Leave a Comment / General, Mystery, Romance, Suspense

Callie Jean Morgan is now the Police Chief in “Echoes of Edisto,” the third book in C. Hope Clark’s Edisto Island series. The former Boston police detective, haunted by the tragic death of her husband, is living in South Carolina on the coastal island of Edisto with her teenaged son. She has come to Edisto to get as far away from the memories as possible, but it seems that law enforcement is in her blood and those memories have a way of following her trail to the beach.

A horrifying traffic accident tests Callie’s mettle as a new Police Chief, pushes the limits of her sobriety, and raises more than one question about the people in her life. “Echoes of Edisto” delves into Callie’s actions, both past and present, and we get to see more of what makes this complex flesh and blood woman tick. Clark delivers an astonishing revelation: just when Callie has come to terms with her deceased father’s behavior, a new bombshell turns her life upside down.

In a perceptive nod to real-life alcoholics, Clark has Callie switch parental roles with her son at her lowest points – he watches out for her when she places herself in danger or drinks too much. Clark explores the nuances of their evolving relationship in occasionally tender, sometimes painful ways as they navigate the minefield of terrifying experiences that have accidentally shaped this young man’s world.

Kudos to Clark for creating very real teenagers in her books. The Slade Mysteries has a teenaged daughter and the Edisto series has the teenaged son and both are spot-on in their love for their moms without being sappy, with nothing out of character for the modern teenaged voice. They are not perfect children by any means, but are occupied with normal (sometimes secret) activities and the average rebellious moments of trouble and subterfuge. Ah, the times that try moms’ souls.

The recurring characters – friends, family, neighbors, supporting officers and personnel – along with the new people essential to the plot, are nicely written with changing attitudes toward Callie as they get to know her through the three books. Mike Seabrook, doctor turned police officer, is her sometime romantic interest, but in self-preservation mode, Callie has placed boundaries on the relationship because of work. It turns out that Seabrook has secrets/challenges of his own that place them all at risk.

Some of the quirky tourists made me LOL. Life as a beach cop must have plenty of “are you kidding me?” moments mixed in with the more serious policing of vacationers who leave their common sense at home. The subplots are complex, with murders and nasty bad guys, along with twists that will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens to these likable people.

More books are planned in the series and I look forward to discovering the stories that develop on Edisto Island, especially the ones with a newcomer from Callie’s past. Delicious possibilities were set up in “Echoes of Edisto” for the future.

Please visit www.chopeclark.com for information about her appearances and her other works of fiction and non-fiction. C. Hope Clark’s profile can be read here.

*Some adult topics and occasional adult language.

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“Just Killing Time” by Julianne Holmes

4 Comments / Cozy, Debut Author, Mystery, Nominated for Award

Ruth Clagan’s grandfather, a clockmaker, dies during a robbery in “Just Killing Time” and leaves his Massachusetts clock shop, the Cog & Sprocket, to her. A rift between them caused by her ex has kept her away from the Berkshires for five years and now she has been robbed of a chance to reconnect. Why would anyone do this to a lifelong member of the community?

To complicate matters, the business is a puzzle, the shop is a mess and Ruth must deal with the oddly massive inventory as well as her grandfather’s widow. It makes sense to sell the Cog & Sprocket and get on with her life, but does Ruth really want to? Why did her grandfather have so much inventory? Could it be the reason he was killed?

“Just Killing Time” is complete with small town politics, reunions with old friends, and beautifully written dialogue that makes you feel as if you could join the conversation and fit right in. The wonderfully diverse cast of characters made me yearn for the days of small towns and friendly neighborhoods, where everybody knows your name. There is a real connection to the past with Orchard’s grandfather clocks and clock towers and small businesses on Main Street. Ahhh… life as it used to be outside the metropolitan areas of the country, before big box stores and fast food joints.

I connected immediately with Ruth, a fellow coffee addict. 😉 Julianne Holmes’ richly drawn Clagan clicks as a character trying to begin again, sorting through her life’s complications, but adapting as she sees alternate paths to follow. How many of us are given the opportunity to go back home to something familiar when life has taken an unexpected turn? And this clockmaker is always late? A giggle of a quirk.

We learn a great deal about the fascinating world of clocks – how they function and what makes the business model succeed in a time where digital seems to rule our lives. Grandfather’s repair specialty was clock towers, which require a tremendous amount of skill to maintain. Coincidentally, I saw a TV show about Big Ben (the clock tower in London) at the time I had started reading “Just Killing Time.” There’s more to its operation than climbing the steps to wind the clock or replace the parts. Wind can catch at the hands, pulling at them and slowing down the time. Minute changes in the atmosphere can affect the clock time. When I picked up “Just Killing Time” again, I found that it wove technical information in with the clever plot, giving us a clear understanding of why the Clagans love the business they’re in.

The layered storyline in this Agatha nominated debut novel involves possible fraud, people with hidden agendas, a tug-of-war between those that want a more modern town and those who wish to create an historic district. Happily, there is the potential for a little romance with a suitably hunky barber. “Just Killing Time” also includes some deviously nasty characters who will do anything to get what they want, including murder.

The second book in the series, “Clock and Dagger,” has recently been released and you should make time to read both.

Please visit www.jahennrikus.com for more information about Julianne Holmes and her alter ego, J.A. Hennrikus.

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Meet C. Hope Clark

2 Comments / Author Profile, Award Winner, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Non-fiction

C. Hope Clark is a Southern gal to the core – born, raised, married, and happily still in the Carolinas. Her agricultural roots are deep, being the granddaughter of a Mississippi cotton farmer, so it’s not surprising that Clark received a B.S. in Agriculture from Clemson University and then went to work for the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Carolina Slade, the lead character in the Slade Mysteries, was drawn from Clark’s own experiences at the USDA.

Hope is married to a long-time (former) officer of federal law enforcement, now working as a contract investigator. The opening scene to “Lowcountry Bribe,” is based on a bribery case that involved both of them in real-life. They married after that case, and now live on Lake Murray, in South Carolina, spending time on Edisto Island whenever they can. The settings for several of Hope’s books, while reimagined to protect the innocent, depict the countryside she loves and has traveled through for most of her life.

She founded and continues to run FundsforWriters.com, a site that Writer’s Digest has recognized as one of 101 Best Web Sites for Writers for fourteen years. Hope has been published in multiple magazines, she speaks at writers’ conferences, her books are award winners, and she remains one of the most gracious, generous mystery writers in the business. And, wow, can she hook you with her stories! 🙂

Fun facts about Hope:

Her favorite dessert is Crème Brulee. She considers it “pure luxury.”

One of her inspirations in the writing business? Lisa Gardner.

She is a member of MENSA!

She loves seafood (as does Callie in the Edisto series) especially shrimp and crab, and has wonderful recipes for both.

Click here to see the recipes for Steamed Blue Crab and Citrus Shrimp.

The current list of C. Hope Clark’s Fiction:

The Carolina Slade Series:

“Low Country Bribe”

“Tidewater Murder”

“Palmetto Poison”

Edisto Series:

“Murder on Edisto”

“Edisto Jinx”

“Echoes of Edisto”

Non-fiction:

“The Shy Writer: An Introvert’s Guide to Writing Success”

“The Shy Writer, Reborn”

It has been my pleasure to read all of C. Hope Clark's works of fiction. My reviews of two of the titles can be found by clicking on the links.

Read the review here.

For information about C. Hope Clark's appearances, signings, and Funds for Writers, please visit www.chopeclark.com. 🙂

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Authors of the Carolinas

2 Comments / Adventure, Award Winner, Bestselling Author, Book List, Christian, Cozy, General, Historical, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Romance, Suspense, Western, Women's Fiction

How many of you have read about a region of the USA in a novel and wanted to travel there, in part to experience the food, in part to relax and enjoy the fabulous scenery that can only be seen in that one area of the planet? The Carolinas (both North and South) are home to fabulous shrimp & grits dishes, as well as mouth-watering other goodies. And you can’t visit either State without having a refreshing glass of world famous Sweet Tea.

The authors listed below either live in North or South Carolina, grew up here, or set their books in the region. We are treated to the cuisine of the Appalachia, the Low Country boils, the scenery of the mountains, and/or the wildlife/marshes of the coast. There is a mix of historical, paranormal, happily-ever-after, outrageous comedy, dark mysteries, and cozies – something for everyone who loves thumpin’ good fiction.

Click on the website links to find out more. J

Suzanne Adair “A Hostage to Heritage” www.suzanneadair.net

JD Allen “Grasshopper” in “Murder Under the Oaks” www.jdallenbooks.com

Maria Alonso-Sierra “The Coin” www.mariaelenawrites.com

Mike Axsom “Making Memories Down South” www.mikeaxsom.com

Jodie Bailey “Breach of Trust” www.jodiebailey.com

Kaye Wilkinson Barley “Whimsey” www.kayewilkinsonbarley.com

Cindy Blackburn “Five Spot” www.cueballmysteries.com

Heather Blanton “A Promise in Defiance” www.ladiesindefiance.com

Susan Boyer “Low Country Book Club” www.susanmboyerbooks.com

Felicia Bridges “Czechmate” www.adventuresthatinspireaction.com

Antoinette Brown “One-Cat Woman” in “Carolina Crimes”

Ross Cavins “Barry vs The Apocalypse” www.rosscavins.com

Diane Chamberlain “Pretending to Dance” www.dianechamberlain.com

C. Hope Clark “Echoes of Edisto” www.chopeclark.com

J.A. Coffey "Double Dog Dare" www.jacoffey.com

Cynthia Cooke “Going All the Way” www.cynthiacooke.com

E.B. Davis “Ice Cream Allure” in “Carolina Crimes” www.ebdavismysteries.com

Saword Broyles Eller www.amazon.com/author/saywordbeller

Nora Gaskin (Esthimer) “Time of Death” www.lystrabooks.com

Normandie Fischer “From Fire into Fire” www.normandiefischer.com

Beatrice Fishback “Bethel Manor” www.beasattitudes.net

Dorothea Benton Frank “All Summer Long” www.dotfrank.com

Marni K Graff “Death Unscripted” www.auntiemwrites.com

Jordon Greene "They'll Call It Treason" www.jordongreene.com

Leigh Greenwood “Forever and Always” www.leigh-greenwood.com

Lynette Hampton “Fiona’s Journey” www.agnesalexander.com

Rick Helms “Older than Goodbye” www.richardhelms.net

Judy Hogan “Haw” www.judyhogan.home.mindspring.com

Tom Honea “A Confluence of Rivers” www.amazon.com/dp/B009LU1X8I

Ellen Hunter "Much Ado About Murder" www.ellenhunter.com

Polly Iyer “Indiscretion” www.pollyiyer.com

Regina Jeffers "Angel Comes to the Devil's Keep" www.rjeffers.com

Sabrina Jeffries “Stormswept” www.sabrinajeffries.com

Linda Johnson “Trail of Destruction” www.lindajohnson.us

Kieran Kramer “Trouble When You Walked In” www.kierankramer.com

Vicki Lane “Under the Skin” www.vickilanemysteries.com

Linda Lovely “Lies” www.lindalovely.com

Cynthia Luhrs “First Knight” www.cluhrs.com

Margaret Maron “Long Upon the Land” www.margaretmaron.com

Jamie Mason “Monday’s Lie” www.jamie-mason.com

Karen McCullough “Wired for Murder” www.kmccullough.com

Heather McGovern "A Moment of Bliss" www.heathermcgovernnovels.com

Ruth Moose “Wedding Bell Blues” www.ruthmoose.com

Katy Munger “Desolate Angel” www.katymunger.com

Nancy Naigle “Every Yesterday” www.nancynaigle.com

Heather Newton “Under the Mercy Trees” www.heathernewton.net

Kathryn O’Sullivan “Neighing with Fire” www.kathrynosullivan.com

Gail Oust “Cinnamon Toasted” www.gailoust.com

Kate Parker “Deadly Scandal” www.kateparkerbooks.com

Britni Patterson “A Thousand Deadly Kisses” www.britnipatterson.com

Leigh Perry “The Skeleton Haunts a House” www.leighperryauthor.com

Ashantay Peters “Reading Between the Lives” www.ashantay.com

Patti Phillips “Kerrian’s Notebook, Vol. 1” www.pattiphillipsbooks.com

Karen Pullen “Cold Feet” www.karenpullen.com

Kathy Reichs “Trace Evidence” www.kathyreichs.com

Jennifer Riley “Jerk Alert” available at Amazon

Sarah Shaber “Louise’s Chance” www.amazon.com/Sarah-R.-Shaber/e/B001HMPB9U

Nancy Simpson “B.O.Q.” www.authornpsimpson.com

Regina Smeltzer “Retribution” www.reginasmeltzer.net

Jennifer Hudson Taylor "For Love or Liberty" www.jenniferhudsontaylor.net

Ellis Vidler “Prime Target” www.ellisvidler.net

Kathryn R. Wall “Jordan Point” www.kathrynwall.com

Tamara Ward “Concealed Suspicions” www.authortamaraward.com

Lynn Chandler Willis “Wink of an Eye” www.lynnchandlerwillis.com

Bonnie Wisler “Count a Hundred Stars” available at Amazon

Caleb Wygal "Blackbeard's Lost Treasure" www.calebwygal.com

See any new-to-you names on the list of Authors of the Carolinas?

Happy reading! 🙂

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“Indiscretion” by Polly Iyer

4 Comments / Mystery, Romance, Suspense

A successful writer, separated from a bullying husband, meets a swoon-worthy art professor on the beach and is seduced, not at all reluctantly. During this “Indiscretion,” Zoe Swan relishes the wonderful attention she receives, something that has been missing from her marriage for a very long time. The lovers spend several passionate days together until some truths are revealed – none of them good.

The art prof is not who he seems and Zoe is suddenly caught up in a dangerous game involving a Vermeer stolen during the 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist in Boston. Her condo is trashed, someone is dead, and her almost-ex, David, is called by the police to answer questions. When it looks as if Zoe is under suspicion for everything that is happening around her, her shady brother-in-law is approached for help as a last resort.

Iyer gives us authentic characters in “Indiscretion,” with a story that flows effortlessly between the art heist and the consequences that befall everyone involved. We’re never sure whom to trust in this interplay of shady art world, antiquities, and both good and bad law enforcement officers. Zoe may be the only one we can believe to be exactly who she says she is, keeping the reader thoroughly absorbed with each new twist.

Iyer’s interesting subplot in “Indiscretion” plays brothers against each other as family debts are called into question. A temporary alliance is made with David and it’s hard to tell why he didn’t become a bonafide -ex years ago. Iyer nails David as a character, and makes us understand the complex dynamics of this marriage gone bad.

The total value of the entire missing collection is pegged at nearly 500 million dollars and a LOT of people want some of that action. The race is on to retrieve the hidden masterpiece and stay one step ahead of the several groups out to get rid of the amateurs in the way. Iyer’s version of the real-life art theft from the Gardner Museum is explored and is as entertaining as any I’ve read. The surprising revelations will keep you turning the pages until the end.

The Gardner decided that they would leave the frames empty until the paintings were recovered, but it’s haunting to visit the museum and see the vacant places where the paintings once hung. A daring heist to be sure, and amazing that 25 years after the theft, the paintings are still officially unaccounted for. There have been suspects, but the statute of limitations has long since passed. The Museum would just like to get the paintings back. There is a 5 million dollar reward for their return.

“Indiscretion” is a Kindle Scout winner.

For more information about Polly Iyer and her work, please visit www.pollyiyer.com

*Contains adult themes and dialogue.

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