Cookie Lit

KariLeave a comment

‘Tis the season for cookies. No, really, National Cookie Day was on December 4th. Since 2015, the New York Public Library has celebrated National Cookie Day by baking and blogging delicious recipes that correspond with favorite books. This year’s recipes feature thumbprints as an ode to mysteries, carrot cake cookies for Peter Rabbit, apple cinnamon oatmeal cookies for romance author Sarina Bowen’s latest book, and many more. You can check out the New York Public Library’s cookie lit celebration here. For more inspiration, check out the cookbooks below available at your library. Happy baking and eating this holiday season!

The Cookie Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum 

Featuring nearly every cookie imaginable, from French macarons to double ginger molasses cookies to snickerdoodles to coconut snowball kisses, this is your must-have cookie book. Baker Rose Levy Beranbaum’s foolproof recipes feature detailed instructions, notes for planning ahead, and ingenious tips to ensure cookie success each and every time.  

100 Cookies: The Baking Book for Every Kitchen by Sarah Kieffer  

Chocolatey, fruity, crispy, chewy, classic, inventive – there’s a creative recipe for the perfect cookie for everyone in this book from celebrated blogger Sarah Kieffer of The Vanilla Bean Baking Blog. 

Sally’s Cookie Addiction: Irresistible Cookies, Cookie Bars, Shortbread, and More by Sally McKenney 

From the blogger behind the popular Sally’s Baking Addiction, this cookbook features dozens of recipes for cookies, cookie bars, cookie dough dips, slice-and-bakes, no-bakes, and more. 

The Cookies & Cups Cookbook: 125+ Sweet & Savory Recipes Reminding You to Always Eat Dessert First by Shelly Jaronsky 

With recipes ranging from the deliciously decadent, like s’mores fudge bars, to the deceptively simple, such as chocolate chip cookies, The Cookies & Cups Cookbook has something for everyone, from the cooking novice the seasoned chef.  

The Cookie Collection: Artisan Baking for the Cookie Enthusiast by Brian Hart Hoffman  

Become a cookie connoisseur with a variety of flavors and cookie styles from sandwich cookies to sugar cookies to gingerbread to shortbread. No matter the occasion, this cookbook has you covered with cookies for the season. 

Cookie Love: More Than 60 Recipes and Techniques for Turning the Ordinary into the Extraordinary by Mindy Segal 

Get ready to up your cookie game. Self-professed “cookie nerd” Mindy Segal offers more than 60 recipes for every kind of cookie including drop cookies, bars, sandwich cookies, shortbread, thumbprints, and more, as well as tricks and tools to build the ideal cookie pantry. 

Live Well Bake Cookies: 75 Classic Cookie Recipes for Every Occasion by Danielle Rye 

Danielle Rye, the creator of the blog Live Well Bake Often, believes that anyone can become an expert baker, and in this cookbook she gently guides bakers in the kitchen with easy recipes for delicious, classic cookies.  

Life Is What You Bake It: Recipes, Stories, and Inspiration to Bake Your Way to the Top by Vallery Lomas 

Winner of the Great American Baking Show, Vallery Lomas debuts her first baking book featuring more than 100 recipes, many of them family heirlooms from her native Louisiana, and stories. Vallery’s “when life gives you lemons, make lemon curd” philosophy will empower legions of bakers and fans to find their inner warrior and bake their best life.  

December Holiday Films on Kanopy

NicoleLeave a comment

Did you know that Kanopy has a great selection of films for the holidays? You can look at their curated collection of seasonal films available for home streaming here. From classics to comedies, ballet performances to holiday horror (yes, that’s a thing and its awesome) there is something for everyone on Kanopy this December. Take a look below to see my top 5 picks for holiday viewing- including the aforementioned classic Christmas slasher (Black Christmas, 1974) and a documentary all about the weird and wonderful world of Christmas music (Jingle Bell Rocks!, 2013). Hot chocolate and cookies are not required for viewing, but highly recommended. *wink wink*

Enjoy and happy holidays to you and yours this season!

True Crime Book Review

Megan1 Comment

Without a Prayer: The Death of Lucas Leonard and How One Church Became a Cult by Susan Ashline


In October of 2015, 19-year-old Lucas Leonard was beaten to death by his parents, sister, and other members of their church. The beating was punishment for Lucas’ admission that he practiced witchcraft, wished his parent’s dead, and had committed other even worse and unspeakable crimes. Lucas’ family were members of the Word of Life Christian Church in Chadwicks, New York. The church was founded by the Irwin family, evangelical Pentacostals, lead by Jerry Irwin. Following his death, leadership transferred to his daughter, Tiffanie. It was Tiffanie who instructed the punishment of Lucas and his younger brother that fateful night.

Without a Prayer introduces readers to the Irwin family, tracing the roots of the Word of Life Church and documenting the church’s transformation from church to cult. The second part of the book follows the trials of the six members of the church indicted for the Lucas’ murder.

Because Tiffanie and her congregants documented everything, Susan Ashline had access to hours of video and audio materials, tens of thousands of text messages, and court documents to aid her reporting. The result is a horrifying and compelling story of the ascent of dangerous religious zealot. This is a must read for true crime fans and those interested in cults and cult behavior.

For more True Crime content, visit our Facebook group, Riverinos.

New Books Tuesday @ RRPL

semanurLeave a comment

Here some of the new exciting releases for you to take a look at this week. Whether you are looking for a romantic page-turner, an autobiography, or a historical thriller, we have something for you!

Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim – After her desperate family sells her to a courtesan school, Jade befriends JungHo, an orphan boy begging on the streets of Seoul, and must decide to pursue her dreams or risk everything in the fight for independence.

Sharpe’s Assassin by Bernard Cornwell – The New York Times best-selling author returns with his iconic hero, Richard Sharpe—outside, hero, rogue and the one man you want on your side.

The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-dale – Returning to the Palais Garnier Opera House to choreograph the ballet that will kickstart her career—and finally make things right with her former friends, ballerina Delphine quickly discovers that things have changed—and some secrets can’t stay buried forever.

A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw – An expert at locating missing people is asked to find the vanished, well-known author of dark, macabre children’s books and is led to Pastoral, a reclusive community found in the 1970s that many believed to only be a legend.

W. E. B. Griffin Rogue Asset by Brian Andrews & Jeffery Wilson – To save the secretary of state from an army of terrorists in Cairo, the President revives the Presidential Agent program and calls Charley Castillo out of retirement to direct a new agent, Killer McCoy, to get the job done.

Bright Burning Things by Lisa Harding – Haunted by her failed career and lingering childhood trauma, a former stage performer turns to alcohol but is saved from the brink of the abyss by her son whose love redirects her towards rehabilitation and redemption.

The Midnight Hour by Elly Griffiths – Newly minted PI Emma Holmes, while investigating the murder of retired music-hall star Verity Malone’s husband, discovers they have a mutual connection—a man who is married to a Hollywood star who could blow this case wide open, but who could also be the killer.

City of Shadows by Victoria Thompson – Elizabeth Miles Bates investigates when a friend’s mother begins paying a medium increasingly large amounts of money to make contact with her son who recently died of influenza, in the fifth novel of the series following City of Schemes.

Boy Underground by Catherine Ryan Hyde – The son of prosperous landowners in rural California befriends the sons of field workers who must contend with the changes that occur after the bombing of Pearl Harbor scatters one each into the army, an internment camp and into hiding.

The Churchill Sisters: The Extraordinary Lives of Winston and Clementine’s Daughters by Rachel Trethewey – Drawing on previously unpublished family letters from the Churchill archives, this biography paints a vivid portrait of the Churchill girls—Diana, Sarah, Marigold and Mary—who were eyewitnesses to some of the most important events in world history.

~Semanur

Warm Up with a Good Book

carolLeave a comment
Featherweight by Mick Kitson

Annie is born in the mid-19th Century, alongside coal-covered canals of the Black Country, in the West Midlands of England, to a large Romani family. When her father dies, her mother becomes desperate and makes the impossible decision to sell Annie, who is almost nine years old to the highest bidder at an annual fair. Overnight, Annie becomes daughter to the famous, and foul-mouthed bare-knuckle boxer Bill Perry, the legendary “Tipton Slasher,” who though over-fond of drink, dotes on the girl.

As Annie grows up, she ends up taking care of an aging and ailing Bill more and more. When Bill ends up in financial trouble, Annie decides to train as a fighter, herself, in order to get him out of the jam. Soon enough, Annie becomes a legend in her own right, and along with the opportunity to attend school and become literate. Will that be enough to allow her to escape to a better life?

This rollicking read is filled with run-ins with the law, robberies by dangerous highway men, the finding of first love, and of course, plenty of fist fights. Annie’s independence and joie de vive make her a delight to spend time with, and her determination to succeed no matter the obstacles in her path, makes her downright inspirational. If you like action-packed historical fiction with strong and unique characters, a vivid setting and old world dialect, don’t miss Featherweight. It will knock you out!

-Carol

Warm Up with a Good Book

EmmaLeave a comment

Miss Iris Sparks (a former British Intelligence Officer) and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge (a young upper class widow), co-owners of the “Right Sort Marriage Bureau”, are contacted by Lady Patience Matheson a cousin of Gwen’s who works in the palace. A letter meant for Princess Elizabeth was intercepted. Someone claims to have damaging information. Supposedly this blackmailer has correspondence written between Alice, Phillip’s mother, and a lover. Lady Matheson wants Iris and Gwen to authenticate the assertions and find out who sent the letter. The information needs to be proven true or false before the Princess and Philip become engaged. The investigation must remain hush-hush.

The second entry in the Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery series is a delight and a sure winner for fans of British mystery series and the royal family.

Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery series

The Right Sort of Man – 2019

A Royal Affair – 2020

Rogue’s Company – 2021

Unkept Woman – 2022

~Emma

Radio Hits

KariLeave a comment 
If you’ve caught yourself singing along to one of these Billboard Hot 100 hits in your car, we’ve got you covered. Go from listening to hits on the radio to discovering the full albums of today’s biggest stars with your library card. 
Easy on Me
Album: 30 by Adele
Track Listing: 2
Adele’s fourth studio album 30 was released last month on November 19. The album has already received widespread acclaim from music critics with many saying that it’s Adele’s most honest album to date and features her strongest vocal performances. 30 tackles Adele’s separation and divorce from Simon Konecki, motherhood, and the vulnerabilities of fame. 

Shivers and Bad Habits 
Album: = by Ed Sheeran (Pronounced Equals)
Track Listings: 2 and 4 
Equals is the fifth studio album by Ed Sheeran and has reached number 1 on the music charts in the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, New Zealand, and more despite mixed reviews from critics. Sheeran describes the album as a “coming-of-age" record where he reflects on his marriage, the birth of his daughter, turning 30, and the passing of a close friend.

If I Didn’t Love You
Album: Macon by Jason Aldean
Track Listing: 5
"If I Didn’t Love You" is the first single from Jason Aldean’s tenth studio album Macon and features Carrie Underwood. Macon is part of a double album project consisting of 30 total tracks; 20 new songs and 10 live recordings of Aldean’s top hits. The second part of the project entitled Georgia is set for release in April 2022. Macon plays homage to Aldean’s hometown and the many musical styles he encountered while growing up.

Happier Than Ever
Album: Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish
Track Listing: 15 
Happier Than Ever is the second studio album from Billie Eilish. Like her first album, Eilish wrote the music with her brother Finneas O’Connell. Eilish cites self-reflection during the COVID-19 pandemic as the biggest inspiration for the record. Music critics have praised the album for its bold depiction of teenage stardom, candor, and humor. 

Ghost  
Album: Justice by Justin Bieber 
Track Listing: 11 
Justice is the sixth studio album from Justin Bieber. The album has received mixed reviews with critics praising Bieber’s vocals, but finding the lyrics confusing. Bieber has stated that he hopes the album reflects all he has learned about commitment, healing, and building trust. Bieber will begin a world tour for the album this coming February.  

Cold As You
Album: What You See Is What You Get by Luke Combs
Track Listing: 12
What You See Is What You Get is the second studio album from Luke Combs. It includes all five songs from Comb’s 2019 EP The Prequel. When it was released in 2019, the album debuted as number 1 on the US Billboard 200. The album was rereleased in 2020 with five new songs. At 11 months and 15 days, the record became the first since Bon Jovi’s This House Is Not for Sale to return to number 1 after an extended wait. The album was among the top 10 albums of 2020 and Combs’ popularity continues to skyrocket. 

Need to Know
Album: Planet Her by Doja Cat
Track Listing: 5
Self-published rapper Doja Cat found fame in 2018 after the music video for her song “Mooo!” became a viral meme. Planet Her is her third studio album. She has explained that Planet Her is the most visually captivating project she’s ever done, complete with lush and detailed music videos, and that the album is meant to focus on relationships and feel “otherworldly.” Critics have praised Doja Cat’s vocals and versatility on the album.

All Too Well (Taylor's Version)
Album: Red (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift
Track Listing: 5
Ever since ownership of her first six studio albums changed hands in 2019, Taylor Swift has been on a crusade to rerecord her music to make a master catalog that she fully owns. Red (Taylor’s Version) follows Swift’s first rerecorded album Fearless (Taylor’s Version). Red (Taylor’s Version) consists of 30 tracks: 20 songs from the original deluxe album edition; Swift’s 2012 charity single “Ronan;” a 10-minute long version of “All Too Well;” 2 recordings of songs Swift wrote for Little Big Town and Sugarland; and six new “from the vault” tracks that never made the original album. Critics have praised the new songs, the tone of Swift’s adult voice, and improved production details.

Heatwaves
Album: Dreamland by Glass Animals
Track Listing: 14
Glass Animals drummer Joe Seward suffered a near-fatal collision in July 2018. In the years following, frontman Dave Bayley wrote and produced their third studio album Dreamland. Dreamland is almost entirely autobiographical, and takes inspiration from Bayley’s childhood in Texas and 90s pop culture. The album is even structured around audio clips of Bayley’s childhood home videos. Dreamland has received mostly favorable reviews since its release.  

Smokin Out the Window
Album: An Evening with Silk Sonic by Silk Sonic
Track Listing: 5
R&B duo Silk Sonic is comprised of rapper Anderson .Paak and singer Bruno Mars. .Paak opened for Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic World Tour in 2017 and the two joined forces by the end of the year “as a joke” and to have fun. Their debut album An Evening with Silk Sonic has received widespread acclaim with critics stating that the album is full of charisma and pays homage to 70s soul singers and funk.

We're Good 
Album: Future Nostalgia: The Moonlight Edition by Dua Lipa
Track Listing: 13
Future Nostalgia is the second studio album by Dua Lipa. Songs speak to feminism and the experiences of female adolescence. Lipa has said she wanted the album to feel like a dancercise class with nostalgic tones of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. The album has been remixed, produced in French, and reissued many times since its original release. 

Save Your Tears
Album: After Hours by The Weeknd
Track Listing: 11
"Save Your Tears" was the fourth single released by The Weeknd from his 2020 album After Hours. In November of this year, "Save Your Tears" was remixed with Ariana Grande and peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. After Hours has been described as a reinvention for The Weeknd, with the introduction new wave, dream pop, and psychedelic influences. The album is said to explore promiscuity, overindulgence, and self-loathing.

Review: All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris

MeganLeave a comment
Find it here.
Ellice Littlejohn escaped her poor, small-town Georgia life at 14 and has rarely looked back since building a successful life and law career for herself in Atlanta. She does the best she can to help her younger brother, Sam, but his past run-ins with the law and her fancy corporate lawyer gig means that Ellice keeps the two parts of her life separate. She was successful at that until the morning she arrives at work to find her boss and lover, Michael, dead in his office. In a whirlwind of events in the aftermath of Michael’s murder Ellice finds herself in the center of a conspiracy that she never saw coming. 

This debut novel has it all-secrets, lies, murder, and suspense. Mixed in with all the action and drama are themes of racism, white supremacy, and family secrets. 

Readalikes:

New Books Tuesday @ RRPL

semanurLeave a comment

Here some of the new exciting releases for you to take a look at this week!

Dava Shastri’s Last Day by Kirthana Ramisetti – After receiving a brain cancer diagnosis at seventy, one of the world’s richest women tells her children that she wants to announce her death early so that she can read her obituaries, which ultimately reveal devastating secrets.

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult – With everything perfectly on track, Diana O’Toole finds things going off the rails when she is quarantined during her dream vacation in the Galapagos due to a virus, forcing her to reevaluate herself and her life when she makes a connection with a local family.

The Sisters Sweet by Elizabeth Weiss – After her sister exposes the family’s fraud and runs away to Hollywood, Harriet, who has only ever known life onstage posing as a conjoined twin in a vaudeville act, begins to form her first relationships outside her family, which forces her to make a difficult decision.

Autopsy by Patricia Daniels Cornwell – New chief medical examiner and forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta is given a highly classified case involving two scientists who were found dead on a private space laboratory in the latest addition to the series following Chaos.

The Midnight Lock by Jeffery Deaver – When he is fired as a consultant for the NYPD, Lincoln Rhyme decides to risk jail to solve a case involving “the Locksmith”—a sociopathic intruder who can break through any lock or security system every devised, terrorizing the entire city.

The Postmistress of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton – As German tanks roll across the border and into Paris, an American heiress joins the resistance and becomes known as the Postmistress because she delivers information to those in hiding and uses her charms and skill to house the hunted and deliver them to safety.

Someone Perfect by Mary Balogh – When she accompanies her friend Maria to Everleigh Park, where Maria must stay with her half-brother, whom she loathes, Lady Estelle Lamarr, as family secrets unravel around her, must stay away from this dark, dour man who believes she is his perfect match.

~Semanur