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SOMETHING READ, SOMETHING DEAD is the fifth book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series by Eva Gates (aka Vicki Delany) and I’m so happy that this series has continued to flourish with its new publisher. The protagonist, Lucy Richardson, lives and works in the coolest spot imaginable: a lighthouse turned library! This Outer Banks setting in Nags Head, North Carolina is brought to life by the author, who weaves a tale of murder, stalking, and a disintegrating lighthouse into wedding celebrations. The backdrop is set amidst unpleasant out-of-town family descending upon the town to sow their discord. The drama that ensues is enough to make the bride, Josie, want to follow through on her wishes to elope, or hide out until the disagreeable guests have left town. Ms. Gates has created well-developed characters and allowed her protagonist to shine in the face of adversity as Lucy supports her cousin/best friend, Josie. Some of the out-of-town guests are nasty people and it wasn’t hard to think that someone, or even many people, would want to do away with one of them.
Ms. Gates also weaves in a few subplots that effectively kept me guessing about who the culprit was with a unique twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. The entire town is also pulled into the drama when a huge crack is discovered at the lighthouse library and the safety of the building is questionable. It provided an uplifting way to showcase the small-town spirit and the heartwarming conclusion left me cheering for Lucy and her friends and counting down the days until the next book!
While there aren’t any recipes in this series, the bride-to-be, Josie, owns a bakery while her fiancé owns Jake’s Seafood Bar. There are so many yummy mentions of food and Ms. Gates has kindly shared her recipe for Gluten-Free Banana Cupcakes as served at Josie’s bridal shower held at the lighthouse. These moist cupcakes rely more on the bananas for their richness and flavor instead of being heavy on butter or oil, which I truly appreciate. I left a few cupcakes unfrosted and served them as breakfast cupcakes (aka muffins) which was a hit with my granddaughters. Note: If you don’t have to eat a gluten-free diet, feel free to substitute regular all-purpose flour. But if you must eat gluten-free, you’ll feel spoiled when you bite into one of these delectable mini cakes!
Amazon Synopsis
Dark deeds in the Lighthouse Library threaten to send Lucy Richardson’s soon-to-be-wed cousin Josie to an early ‘til-death-do-us-part.
Winter falls on North Carolina’s Outer Banks as Lucy Richardson and her friends joyfully help her favorite cousin, Josie O’Malley, plan her wedding. The owner and head baker of Josie’s Cozy Bakery and her fiancé, chef Jake Greenblatt, want a small, simple wedding.
But to their horror, Josie’s imperious grandmother, Gloria, descends with the “Louisiana Mafia”: a gaggle of aunts and cousins who intend to take control of the wedding plans. Gloria doesn’t do small and simple, and cousin Mirabelle has her own ideas for Josie’s wedding, something grand and lavish—and paid for by Josie’s parents, of course—that will kickstart her fledgling event planning business and get her work shown on the covers of wedding magazines. To make matters worse, Mirabelle focuses her full Southern charm on the prospective groom…and Jake doesn’t seem entirely adverse to her attentions.
To smooth the waters, Lucy hosts a bridal shower at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. But it turns deadly when Mirabelle collapses—soon after eating the gluten-free treats Josie prepared specifically for her. Now, to save her favorite cousin from prison, Lucy will have to bring a crook to book in this fifth festive Lighthouse Library mystery from national bestselling author Eva Gates.
A special thanks to Eva Gates for providing a winner with a hardcover copy of SOMETHING READ SOMETHING DEAD. Contest ends Sunday, March 17, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. and Canadian residents. 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!)
Its January in the Outer Banks, and Lucy Richardson and her friends are joyfully helping her favorite cousin, Josie O'Malley, plan her wedding in Something Read Something Dead. Lucy and Josie’s mother throw a shower at the Lighthouse Library, and Josie, being Josie, insists on doing the baking herself. Two of the desserts she makes are gluten-free, including these tasty cupcakes.
- 1-1/2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour blend
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (6 tablespoons total)
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 2 medium overripe bananas, mashed
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
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Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
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In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt.
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In a large mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, mashed banana, and buttermilk and continue to beat until combined.
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Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just till combined.
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Divide the batter evenly among the liners, filling 2/3 full (about 1/4 cup of batter per cupcake).
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Bake for 23-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
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Cool completely before frosting with your favorite frosting.
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I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Looks like a castle on the outside, Rows, Rows and Rows of books on the inside.
I think an underwater library would be great. You could sit in a comfy chair and read, and then look up and watch the aquatic life swim by for a bit. Congratulations on the new release!
I would love something like a treehouse library or better yet have one like that needle restaurant that is up high and revolves with an awesome view. You could relax, have a cup of cocoa and in between chapters admire the view. 🙂
It would be a library that you could just access from touching a button right inside your house. Touching the button would bring up an automatic door that you could go through to access all of the library books and when you were done, you just slip back through the door you came through to get in and you are back home.
I would love a library where there are so many thousands of books that you wouldn’t know where to start first. I would also love it if the library was right across the street from where I live. Thanks for your great generosity.
I have two young daughters so Disney is a must. I really like Princess Sofia secret library tree with flying elevator. I would definitely add comfier seating though!
I would love a cute and cozy she-shed library in my backyard, so I could “get away” without going too far!
I would like to have a library at restaurants especially for children so they could visit it and choose a book when finished eating or while waiting for order to arrive.
A library with every craft book I always wanted to read.
I saw a photo on an author’s newsletter with curvey bookshelves full of books on a beach. While I imagine that’s not too good for the books it’s still a cool idea.
I think it would be interesting to have a library in an old, big church/cathedral with lots of stained glass windows (but up high, so there would be room have lots and lots of bookshelves below). Just walking in would give you a sense of reverence and peace ~
This one is. Lucy is so lucky to live & work in a library in a lighthouse.
After reading my first Lighthouse book, I’d love to see a library inside a lighthouse, or maybe an old Victorian place with winding staircases and books in every single room, even little alcoves for reading.
In Brooklyn this wish is really a “Pipe Dream”. It would be a library branch with a nice sized parking lot attached to it. Parking in Brooklyn and Queens County has gone from 15 minutes for a quarter down to either 10 or 12 minutes per quarter depending on how busy that area is. Seniors get no discounts on parking (they use a solar powered machine that spits out a ticket with the date and time on it.
In a tree house!
My most ideal of the most unique library location is next door to my house. But we live in the middle of no where so won’t happen unless we build it. Thank you for a chance to win a print copy of Something Read, Something Dead.
Frankly, I would like a library in a pub that sells a substantial variety of micro brews and single malts.
I love the idea of libraries tucked in everywhere. Plus of course the huge libraries with the wonderful selections.
First, I can’t wait to share this recipe with my SIL who is gluten-free and skps out on most yummy treats. She will love this! And a unique location for a library, oh so many ideas. First thing that comes to mind is in a secret room in a castle. In Scotland. And I’m moving in tomorrow. hahahaha!
I’d love one out in the middle of nowhere that you have to hike to get to so I’d have it all to myself.
I like the library in Daytona Beach which is on the intercostal waterway. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your book.
A library in a old mansion with nooks to read in and a secret room.
I would like to see a library in a Art Gallery
So glad you found another publisher.
Imagine a large shopping mall closed due to store closing….different types of books in different store fronts…coffee shop….nice chairs to sit in..heaven
I think a treehouse would be unique.
on a boat
I think libraries at every street corner would be fun!
Love this series and love lighthouses, so I think a lighthouse is a great library location. I want to live in the top floor apartment.
“What would be your idea of the most unique library location? Real or imagined.” I would like to create a beautiful library on Antarctica for all of those explorers and scientists!
My library would have one way of glass, With a flower garden outside. The other walls would be books. I’d have a special chair that would take me to different places in library so I could pick out what I’d want to read.
I would love a library right next to the beach
I think the idea of having a library in a lighthouse is the most unique place for a library. It sounds fantastic. I would love to see one in real life.
I’m so glad this series is back! I obviously missed book #4, but I was so upset when the publisher cancelled it. I think a unique place for a library would be in the subway of NYC. One of the maintenance rooms could be changed into one!
I think having a library in a botanical garden would be great! That way you would get to see all the flowers and plants on your way into and out of the library.
Thanks for the contest!
mlduffer(at)att(dot)net
I say a unique library around here would be in a resident an actual home, would be amazing to see how things would be set up
A library in a fast food chain would be great!
My idea library would be located closer to where I live, preferably across the street, next door or may be 1 block from where I live. I would like all mysteries to be in one section of the library.
I would love a library in my home, walls of builtin bookcases, couple wingback chairs, fireplace, window seat looking out onto a cottage garden.
Hmm, that’s an interesting question! A library in a castle would be really cool, especially with hidden rooms and secret passageways— perhaps the library could even have events where you follow scavenger-hunt type clues to locate them! ?
In an animal rescue kennel.
A comfortable setting, coffee or tea available, and lots of books.
If I had a bigger house I would have my own personal library inside!!!
A large, roomy, lots of windows and rows and rows of shelves holding every book ever written. And every few yards comfy chairs and a crackling fireplace for reading. All on miles of floating island.
A unique library? One under ground — reached by an elevator. It would be full of books on every subject. And every book in a series by an author would be available. There would be comfortable reading areas; a coffee shop with light meals & snacks. But no clocks — one could read without time constraints.
I would settle for a large room in my home, filled with books.