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HITTING THE BOOKS, by Jenn McKinlay, is the ninth book in the Library Lover’s Mystery series and every bit as entertaining as the preceding books! You can always count on Ms. McKinlay to provide a story that’s filled with humor, romance, suspense, and puns to pull the reader in and keep them turning pages late into the night. Protagonist, Lindsey Norris, is the librarian director at Briar Creek Public Library in Connecticut. She has a knack for treating both employees and patrons as family, which I find endearing. I am completely enthralled with her library’s Crafternoon events, in which a group meets once a week for lunch, a craft, and a book discussion. The mention of the various authors have inspired me to try out different books that Lindsey recommends to the group and to other patrons. Beth, who is Lindsey’s children’s librarian, is charming. I love seeing what new costume or theme she will tie in to the book she’s chosen for the kids’ events. Lindsey and Beth also have a delightful repartee which adds to the humor and sets up entertaining situations. Ms. McKinlay brings each character to life and forges a connection between the reader and the people on the pages.
When Lindsey witnesses a hit and run accident that mows down the town’s high school tennis coach, she can’t help but want to find the culprit. Who would want to kill the newly engaged woman, especially when there’s a second attempt on her life? As Lindsey delves into the life of the woman, her soon-to-be husband, and her soon-to-be step-daughter, the librarian finds a long ago disappearance that was never solved. I love how Lindsey puts her librarian research skills to work to hunt down clues and piece together the two separate crimes. She’s also willing to share those insights with the town’s chief of police instead of keeping the information and putting herself needlessly in danger. The author keeps you guessing and like her protagonist, Lindsey, you’ll find you will have OMC Syndrome… “One More Chapter” as you turn the pages to get to the exciting conclusion!
The Crafternooners take turns providing food for their get-togethers and Ms. McKinlay has included recipes for some of those dishes at the back of the book. She also includes a Readers Guide for the book Lindsey’s group discuss and instructions for a craft. I was immediately drawn to the recipe for Flourless Chocolate Cake Dusted with Confectioners’ Sugar and have already made it two times! And one of those times was for my birthday dinner celebration with family… it’s that yummy! Simple ingredients, a couple different easy techniques, and voilà, a decadent dessert that will have your guests wanting seconds. I love that it is naturally gluten-free and the richness of the chocolate needs nothing more than a sprinkling of confectioners’ sugar for garnish… and maybe a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Amazon Synopsis
It’s murder by the book in the latest hit Library Lover’s mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Death in the Stacks.
When a stack of library materials is found at the scene of a hit and run, library director Lindsey Norris finds herself dragged into the investigation as the police try to link the driver of the stolen car to the person who borrowed the books. Before Lindsey can delve into the library’s records, the victim of the hit and run, Theresa Houston, suffers another “accident” and the investigation shifts from driver negligence to attempted homicide.
A clue surfaces in the confiscated library materials that could crack open the case and it is up to Lindsey to piece it all together. But things are not as they seem in the sleepy town of Briar Creek and when the driver of the stolen car turns up dead, Lindsey, her staff and her library friends have to hit the books before the murderer gets the last word…
A special thanks to Jenn McKinlay for providing a winner with a hardcover copy of HITTING THE BOOKS. Contest ends Sunday, September 16, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
- 12 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- 1-1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 large eggs, room temperature
- 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
- Confectioners' sugar
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Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F). Grease a 9-by-2-inch springform pan.
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In a large microwave-safe bowl, put the chocolate, butter, and salt. Melt in the microwave for 90 seconds. Stir and microwave again, in 1-minute intervals, until completely melted.
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In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and sugar with a mixer until light and thickened, about 8 minutes with a handheld mixer or 4 minutes with a stand mixer.
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Fold the melted chocolate into the whipped eggs until evenly combined.
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Pour the batter into the springform pan and bake about 1 hour and 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out damp but not runny.
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Remove cake from the oven and cool on a rack.
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Once the cake is cool, carefully remove from the pan, invert onto a serving platter, and sift a light layer of confectioners' sugar over the top.
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I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I often have trouble stopping reading at night…and in the morning, the afternoon…anytime really lol 🙂
I keep on reading until I either finish the book or fall asleep. LOL
It depends on whether I am sleepy or not. I usually try to read at least two chapters before turning out the light.
Nope I gotta read at least one more chapter before sleep.
What??? Only one more chapter???? I read until I can’t keep my eyes open and the print is blurry. My hubby has came to bed and had to take my kindle or book out of my hands because I have fallen asleep. Thanks for having Jenn McKinley on your blog. Her books are great.
I have to be in a good spot in the book to put it down meaning not the ending, maybe a nice calm place in the middle. If I’m into the showdown, game over, I’m reading till I’m done LOL
I read myself to sleep, usually waking in the middle of the night to take off my glasses ?
I usually can put the book down when I get really sleepy.
My old eyes usually get so tired I have to stop reading. Plus, I keep a pretty good schedule so my body gets tired at the same time every night, too.
I’m usually pretty good but it depends on the book, sometimes if I’m close to the end I have to finish it.
Once I start reading the world goes out the window. I often tell people when interrupted “I just got to the good part!”.
I have been known to have to read one more chapter before going to sleep.
Depends on whether I’m trying to sleep between shifts (then I can’t read OMC) or if it’s my off days (in which case I’m definitely a OMC participant). It was very difficult for me to develope the self discipline to put down the book, but working 12 hr night shifts is not easy without sleep. ?
I often have to put the book down if I have to get up early. It is hard and sometimes I don’t.
It depends on where I am in the book. If it’s at a really exciting part of the book I have been known to stay up too late because I have a hard time putting the book down. Otherwise I can usually limit myself to just one chapter before bed.
I wish I had OMC but I just get too tired so I’m more like one chapter and then I’m asleep at night.
This is a great post, and I enjoyed your review — I can’t wait to read HITTING THE BOOKS. RE: OMC Syndrome: I will read until the words start to blur, but do try to finish the chapter ~
I definitely have a hard time putting my book down when it’s time to go to sleep! There have been many mornings I’ve woken up with my nook or a book in my hand or on top of me. So looking forward to reading this book. It’s a great series by a great author! Thanks for sharing this recipe! It sounds so delicious and rich.
I suspect I have never put a book down to go to sleep, instead falling asleep while reading it.
I am the world’s worst to stop reading. It’s lost me not only sleep, but has made me have to jump through my tail to get ready to go some place when I’ve misjudged how much time I need to get ready and at times it’s made me late because I just had to finish the chapter before I head out the door. Thank goodness for hubby because he’s my voice of reason. At least when he’s around he keeps me on track. Now that he’s retired, I do better with it all except for the sleep part. He’s gotten use to going off to sleep with the light on. 🙂
Can’t wait for the opportunity to read “HITTING THE BOOKS”.
The recipe for Flourless Chocolate Cake Dusted with Confectioners’ Sugar sounds a lot like one my Mom use to make. I haven’t had it for years and no idea where the recipe may be. I will definitely be trying this one.
It depends on the book or perhaps what is happening in the book when I would normally set it down. And I love flourless chocolate cake, it is my go to when I really want to have a special occasion cake.
There are a lot of nights I stay up because I can’t put my book down. I have to just finish one more chapter or the book.
I usually have to find the right spot to quit reading not unless I can’t keep my ? open!!
I always read at night. It’s the way I settle my brain down. If I can’t fall asleep, I will read some more.
Looks delish! Now to adapt it to be sugar-free…YUM!! Thanks for the give away, Jenn.
Me too. I keep saying gonna read one more chapter, ended up reading 4 sometimes 5 more,lol. Thank you for the chance to win a hardcover copy of Hitting The Books.
I read all I can until it’s time to go to bed and then I have to read at least to the end of the chapter. Working the next day does not work well with losing sleep for me.
I read myself to sleep every night. Sometimes it is hard to keep my eyes open because I want to keep reading.
OMC, morning, noon, AND night!
It depends on the book and where the events in the book are going, but most of the time, I can find a decent stopping point relatively quickly and not be the worst for wear 🙂 The cake looks yum! Thanks for the review and the giveaway!
I usually put the book down when I feel sleepy because my concentration starts to wane.
definitely OMC
It’s not only OMC, sometimes it’s OMB – one more book!
It really depends on how tired I am…I’m usually the OMC type of gal, but on occasion my brain shuts down and I wake up having lost my darn place. I can’t wait for Hitting the Books and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE flourless chocolate cake. This is very similar to one I already make so it will be easy to give this one a try. Thank you for the recipe and the entry into the contest.
When I was younger I would to the OMC thing, now that I’m older and get up super early for work, sleep wins out.
I have a hard time stopping! I also read out loud at night to my dog. He was a rescue and it calms him down enough to have the light out.
Thank you for the recipe and the book giveaway!
I can usually find a stopping point.
If a book is really great, I don’t put it down until my eyes start closing, and I can’t read any more. I love the recipe. Thank you for this chance!
Often I find myself having to reread a paragraph many times when I should really put the book down and go to sleep. So many times I have had to work with very little sleep because I just couldn’t stop reading. The recipe sounds deliscious and thanks for the giveaway.
I can’t stop too easily and end up reading late most nights. OMC for sure?thank you for the chance to own this book.
I suffer from OMC too! It’s so hard to put a book down if it’s really good.
I am a lifelong insomniac, so I always read more chapters. Thanks for the opportunity.
browninggloria@hotmail.com
I love this series and can’t wait to try this recipe! Thanks!
This doesn’t look like a cake, more like brownies. I might try it one day. I do love Jenn McKInley’s books.
It will depend on where I am in the book and how tired I am. If I am only 2-3 chapters away from the ending, I will push on, to find out who did it!
I can put it down and go to sleep
I’m really really bad with the “one more chapter” line. I have to give myself a hard cut off. Usually 2am is quitting time.
Depends on how good the book is. Sometimes it’s very hard to put it down and other times I shut the book or turn off the reader in mid chapter.
I love to read at night and I always know when it’s time to stop…..it’s when I fall asleep with my glasses on and the end table light on until morning. ?
I love listening to books and reading. They help me to unwind at night . I listen to books while I cook , clean, driving , and doctors visits. Books are my great escape . scoobyspenny@gmail.com
I read until I fall asleep holding the book.
Congrats on the 5 star review.
Love reading your books and cannot wait for the next ones
I will read until my eyes are dry and I can’t see anymore words and then usually if I have an anxiety/panic attack I’ll pick up right where I left off until I’m doing the same again.
I suffered from OMC all my life ! I love to read in bed at night when all is quiet, comfortable and with no responsibilities except to enjoy my book. I see no reason to turn off the light when I am enjoying a good book .
I like the cover and the goodies sure look good!
I used to have that problem but I am succeeding in my efforts to get to bed at a consistent time.
It depends on how that day went. Sometimes I’m ready for sleep after only reading for 10-15 minutes & other times I can read all night.
I stop reading when the book is finished! (I was up until 3:00 a.m. the other night with an amazing book!)
I don’t have OMC so much as insomnia, so I read most nights until I’m totally dropping off to sleep–it seems to be the best use of my time as I’m trying to go to sleep.
I will “one more chapter” myself until I wake up the next morning and discover I fell asleep and lost my place!
It really depends on the book, and how close I am to finishing. I’ve been known to fall asleep in my chair with the book open in my lap!