I have long been a fan of Kate Carlisle’s Bibliophile Mystery series and was very happy when BOOKS OF A FEATHER was recently released. And even though the book does not contain recipes, Kate was gracious enough to let me share her Peaches Poached in White Wine recipe, which she developed for RIPPED FROM THE PAGES. When “chatting” about the recipes, she mentioned that she “didn’t develop any for this particular book since it seemed wrong, somehow, to celebrate birds and eat them at the same time. LOL!” Kate does have a good point!
The Peaches Poached in White Wine is a light, refreshing summer dessert. I loved that it wasn’t overly sweet and the whipped sour cream topping added a boost of tangy richness. I’ll be honest, I didn’t bother sharing ANY of this with any of my taste testers…I ate the entire recipe all by myself…it was absolutely delicious even with chilled peaches! Next time I’ll double the amount of peaches I use, but the sour cream topping is plenty for two batches. Thank you, Kate, for letting me share your delectable summery dessert!
Synopsis
BOOKS OF A FEATHER finds rare book restorer, Brooklyn Wainwright, back home in San Francisco. She is helping catalog books with Genevieve, owner of Taylor’s Fine Books after the shop had experienced multiple thefts. Brooklyn is also setting aside the rarer books that need repaired and she has a stack to take home. Both are excited about the unveiling party of Audubon’s Birds of America exhibit at the Covington Library. At the party Genevieve slips a damaged rare book to Brooklyn, telling her she thinks her cousin was trying to steal it and could be responsible for the other thefts. Shortly after that the president of the Bay Area Bird-watchers Society, Jared Mulrooney, slips her a small Audubon book and begs her to repair it without anyone finding out.
Not long afterwards, Brooklyn finds Jared murdered in a deserted wing of one of the galleries. Finding the dead man is only the beginning of the trouble that heads Brooklyn’s way. Her home is broken into; a homeless man is found murdered in front of her book safe; and she’s caught in the middle of a nasty divorce when she agrees to be an expert witness. She knows the two murders have to be related to one of the books she recently obtained, but which one is it? Brooklyn’s research into the tomes leads her to a centuries old mystery crossing continents. Can she figure out the secret to the books before she becomes the next victim?
My Review
First off, this book made me want to desperately visit The Huntington Library, Art Collection, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. It’s a bit of a trek from my house, considering traffic, but I can lose myself for hours in the vast, wonderful galleries. And it’s exactly what I picture the Covington Library to be like in BOOKS OF A FEATHER! I loved the author’s description of the old books and the loving care Brooklyn takes in restoring them. She provides quite a bit of detail in the restoration process, but you can tell it’s because of the deep respect she has for books. She also gives some good tips for caring for your own books at home which makes me want to empty my bookcase and examine my books one by one. I found it interesting that each of the many books mentioned in BOOKS OF A FEATHER, had some sort of reference to birds.
Kate also has allowed Brooklyn to mature, especially in her relationship with Derek Stone, and I enjoyed seeing his interaction with her family. Brooklyn’s parents show up in San Francisco and are a hoot with their free-spirit. I did miss the other characters back in their hometown of Dharma, so I hope the next book takes us back for a visit. The plot provided a satisfying mystery, with enough subplots to keep me guessing and turning pages. I look forward to the next installment in this terrific series!
As a bonus for my readers, one winner will have the choice of either a hardcover copy or an e-book copy of BIRDS OF A FEATHER! (Print copy U.S. residents only.) Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. Contest ends Thursday, June 16, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Winners will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
Peaches Poached in White Wine
with Whipped Sour Cream
Ingredients
Poached Peaches
2 peaches, peeled, pitted, and halved
1 cup white wine
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Whipped Sour Cream
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
Poached Peaches
In a small saucepan, heat the wine, honey, lemon juice, and vanilla to a simmer.
Add peaches and continue to simmer for 30 minutes.
Occasionally, spoon syrup over the peaches and flip the peach halves over.
Remove the peaches from the poaching liquid and set aside. Allow the liquid to continue simmering to thicken while you prepare the whipped sour cream topping.
Whipped Sour Cream
Combine ingredients in a bowl that has been chilled in the freezer.
Whip until it thickens enough to mound up on a spoon.
Serve the peaches warm with a drizzle of the poaching liquid and a dollop of whipped sour cream on top.
Tips
Use freestone peaches if you can find so the halves will be easier to slice and remove the pit, resulting in a prettier dessert.
Dip the peaches into boiling water for 30 seconds and then rinse in cold water to easily peel them.
Don’t use an oaky Chardonnay for this recipe. It’s better to use a light, crisp wine such as Sauvignon Blanc, or a good Riesling for a bit more sweetness.
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I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What a nice change. Usually I see recipes for poached pears. I’m not crazy about pears, but peaches I really like.
I hope you’ll love the poached peaches, Elizabeth. They’re delicious, and the whipped sour cream is just the right amount of sour to counteract the sweetness.
We live in a small town in Tennessee and we have no museums or other art exhibits close by.
interesting- I’ll have to try.
sounds just wonderful i think this is one that i will give to hubby so he can make for us!
I hope you both love it, Peggy!
This is definitely the recipe to make it easy to eat five serving of fruit a day! The book has got to be great…the author is.
My favorite museum is the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. Marvelous cultural exhibits along with events and gatherings. Although, I did love seeing the ancient artifacts at the Louvre in Paris!
Aw, thanks, Kathleen. That’s sweet!
My family visits the Field Museum in Chicago every summer , it never gets old ! I would love an e-book if I’m lucky enough to win ! kathambre@yahoo.com
Oh, what fun! I could spend hours there and never get bored.
I would prefer hardcover if I win. I would like to go back to the Chicago Museum of Science & Industry and the Natural History Museum. Visited often as a child and loved it.
Science & industry museums are fascinating. To me, they’re more about possibilities for the future than looking at the past, though history is certainly a part of it. They just always make me wonder where we’ll go next.
First let me say, I would like a hardcover if I would win. Second, living near Cleveland, OH, there are many wonderful museums from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum, Natural History Museum, Great Lakes Science Museum, as well as many, many more. I am lucky to have the choice of any of them. robeader53@yahoo.com
That sounds like heaven, Robin! Do you go to the museums regularly? If a visitor to Cleveland could only hit one, which would you recommend?
I would love a hardcover book. My friends and I like to go to special exhibits at the Art Museum in Raleigh, NC.
I have read and loved every single title Kate has written! Thanks for the chance to win a hardback of this newest title!
Hurray! Thank you, Johnna! I’m so glad you’re enjoying my books. Thank you for stopping by!
I love just about any museum, but I think my favorites are the Tate Museum in London and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. I would love to receive a hardcover copy of Books of a Feather if I am selected. Thanks Kim & Kate!
You’ve opened up the world with your comment, Celia. 🙂 Thank you for the comment!
I would like to visit the Smithsonian again next time I am in DC.. I’d love to win a print copy of Birds of a Feather. Thanks for the chance to win…
I’d love to spend a week at the Smithsonian, a whole week, nothing else on the agenda. Heaven!
I have no favorite museum. I would love a hard cover book, please. Thank you for the chance to win one.
When I lived in Pittsburgh, PA. growing up I loved going to the Carnegie museum, they had a room that was all in marble with statues and a restored church front, I always felt like I was stepping back in time. I haven’t been to the one here yet, I really need to get there.
Thanks for the recipe, I love the idea of using peaches!
With all his interest in libraries, Carnegie is one of my favorite all-time philanthropists. 🙂
A museum that my husband and I enjoy is in Sarasota ,FL. It is a museum about the circus but it has a lot of other exhibits there as well. It is beautiful and the grounds are gorgeous. It also has a house open to the public that was owned by the man who first started the circus. Back then it was considered a mansion. And it is beautiful.
I would prefer a hard copy of the book. Thank you so much for the chance. I would love to win it.
A circus museum?! That must be fascinating. I’m curious about the other exhibits. Do you mean that they aren’t related to the circus?
Yes, in Richmond, VA- The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has the most wonderful exhibits. There are special exhibits that are there for limited times, too.
Museums are smart to hold special exhibits, to bring traffic back to the museum on a regular basis. In BOOKS OF A FEATHER, the Covington Library has a special exhibit of Audubon’s Birds of America. Of course, that exhibit is the scene of a murder, which is not exactly what the organizers had hoped. 😉
I forgot to type- Hardcover book is great. 🙂
This recipe looks like a great summer recipe. I’m lucky that Chicago has a lot of great museums andthe Museum of Science and Industry is my favorites. It has such unique exhibits and they also have some great special exhibits from time to time. I prefer a hardcover book, still like the feel of the book in my hands and I can share with my sister.
Chicago is a great museum city, Dianne. You are lucky! 🙂
I don’t get to visit my favorite museums any more because they are too far away; Chicago Museum of Science and Industry probably isn’t even under the same name but loved visiting it. Have always love visiting art or science museums where ever we lived.
Love this series and Books of a Feather is sure to be awesome.
Ebook. So much easier with arthritis.
Thanks for your comment, Jeanie! I think you’re the third person so far today to mention the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, so I do think it’s still under the same name. Hope you get to visit there again someday!
Many favorites in Mpls/StPaul area! Hardcover preferred if I should win.
I spent a day at the Field Museum in Chicago last month. I loved it.
I love the Field Museum! We saw Sue there.
I enjoy going to the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh, PA. It’s also an art museum. My children and grandchildren like to go there, too. They love to visit the dinosaur room! I would love to have a print copy. Thank you!
Oooooh, a dinosaur room *and* fine art?! Something for everyone! 😉
We have the Heritage Village from the 19th century that has regular tours. As well as the historic carousel and museum. the Ghost Town/Mining museum. Some of my favorite places. To get to one of them we have to go through Sweet Home they have 6 huge murals based on the 19th century as well. I
I’d like to give the poached peach recipe a try. But peaches rarely get made into anything here. They just don’t last long enough. Fresh is everyone’s favorite way to eat them. and even when I say hands of I want to make something. Everyone is right at them.
I would prefer the book in hardcopy if I am lucky enough to make the draw. Thank you for the chance to get it.
I must admit, Della, I *love* fresh peaches, too. You could make this with canned peaches, if you want to try that. You won’t need to poach them as long, but other than that, it should work the same.
I love the Crocker in Sacrament and Folsom has a neat small one. Must find some local peaches and try this, looks delish. I’s love a hard copy if I’m lucky and win.
I just looked at the Crocker’s website, Ruth, and it looks like they have some really neat hands-on stuff for kids, too. That’s nice!
Did you look up the one in Folsom. Ca.Small and does things no others do.They just featured one of The Paper bags of many stores. Sometimes old toys and at Christmas the most wonderful Christmas Sets done by a man know world wide as Father Christmas.It’s a magicial places.
I am lucky that I now live in Ottawa, which as Canada’s capital city, has plenty of national museums! My favourites include the Canadian Museum of History (formerly callled Canadian Museum of Civilization). If I win, I would like an e-book, please!
Oooh, I love the Museum of Civilization! I wonder why they changed the name. It’s so intriguing!
We have to go to Austin or Dallas for exhibits. I would prefer a print book. Thank you for a chance to enter!
My favorite museum is the Perot Museum in Dallas. I prefer e-books.
Locally, I enjoy the Kimball Art Museum in Fort Worth, TX and the Dallas Museum of Art. I would love this book in hardback. Thanks for the chance to win.
I love visiting the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston Texas. I love looking at the pictures and learning the history behind them. I prefer hard copy books.
I live up in the northwoods—no large cities near—-so I don’t have any large libraries or museums to visit—-wish I did. I would prefer hard copy.
At least with the internet, you can now view interesting art online. Not the same as seeing it in person, though, especially when it comes to rare books.
This is one of my favorite series, I read all of Kate’s books as soon as they come out and would love to win this one as I haven’t yet bought it. Thanks for offering the giveaway, lilflynracer at msn.com
My favorite museum is The Louvre
I enjoy Kate Carlisle’s books (both series) and even was introduced to caramel Hershey kisses while reading Brooklyn Wainwright series. 🙂 So, it doesn’t surprise me that she’d contribute sweetly to you (har, har). I love real books but I actually have a few e-books of Ms. Carlisle’s because I couldn’t wait to get to a bookstore! LOL I will enjoy trying this “light” dessert this summer with friends. 🙂
Thank you, Robin! I’m so glad you’re enjoying both the Bibliophile Mysteries and the Fixer-Upper Mysteries, Robin. That’s always great to hear! <3
Super excited to get into this book! Kate writes great stuff!
Aw, thanks, Amanda!
The dessert looks wonderful!
I do not live close to a large city that a big library or museum would be in, but I enjoy a small local library.
I prefer a hardcover book.
Small local libraries are vital to the towns they’re in. We are blessed in this country to have such a robust library system. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Connie!
Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science
here in Evansville, IN I prefer hardcover
I’ve enjoyed Kate Carlisle’s previous books. Looking forward to reading Birds of a Feather. Hardcover is my choice if I win.
The local library in my hometown has an art exhibit that showcases many talented artists. Thank you for this chance! I would love a hard copy if I am lucky enough to win. 🙂
When I was younger, I loved going with my grandparents to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia…especially going through the beating heart. Thanks for the review, giveaway and great recipe.
I enjoyed going to the Smithsonian when my daughter lived in DC. I would love a hard cover book, please.
There are museums in OKC AND Tulsa. And I’m sure there are some small local ones in Bartlesville. But here in Dewey, we have The Dewey Hotel as a Historical museum. And we have the Tom Mix Museum.
I’d like a print copy. Looking forward to this book.
This is such a good series!
I would like to win a hardcover your books are awesome. I really love mysterys.11
I love all libraries. I would love a hard copy.
Thereadmaster(at)me(dot)com
We have a very nice Art Museum in my city. I prefer a hard covered book.
I prefer hardcover books although I do have many on my kindle. Still, nothing like a book in hand. I like interactive museums I can visit with my grandchildren.
I also love the Huntington Library. I’ve only been there once but it is fantastic. I would love the Hard cover book! Nothing beats a real book!!!
I would prefer the hardcover if I should win.
My family tends to visit museums wherever we travel. The Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park is one of my favorites; I used to live very near it when I was a child. My local public library features exhibits by local artists, which is always great. I’m looking forward to trying the poached peaches recipe. I had just finished making a batch of peach jam before going on Facebook tonight!
I would like a hardback book, would injoy reading one of your books.
IN Minneapolis there is a science center that was cool! Haven’t been there in years.
Prefer hard cover!
Thanks!
I love the Field Museum in Chicago. Can spend all day there…so much to see. Really love the Egyptian exhibit. I prefer hard covers.
Hardcover for sure. The museum in Seymour!!
This recipe sounds delicious I’ll have to make it soon
I used to work at Houston City Archives and go to the Rare Book Section on my lunch breaks so I love Books about binding and collector’s items. My favorite Museum though would be Sam Houston State University 20 acre site with historical buildings. Thanks you for the Poached Peaches I am going to try it….I prefer an ebook…
Thank you… Marilyn at ewatvess@yahoo.com
Would love to read this book
Hardcover. When I’m through with it, I give it to my Library. I love the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I also like Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, Arkansas.
I have two museums I love to visit, although both of them are not in the area for me to visit: The British Museum in London and the Field Museum in Chicago. Both had great exhibits, and you need more than a little bit of time to visit. Loved them. I would love to have an ebook if I’m lucky enough to win. Thanks for the chance, and for the great recipe!
I just finished reading this and LOVED it. The characters are so delightful and find the pace is perfect for me. I love the series and am anticipating the next book. I also enjoy your comments and website. The recipes are fun .
I love contests especially for books, but I have to say this, I strongly dislike rafflecopter giveaways. With that said, thank you for the opportunity.
I am so sorry, I forgot to mention that I would like the eARC, but with the hardback, I can pay it forward, and that’s always a good thing!
Thanks for the chance to win. A hardcover copy would be so great. The recipe sounds interesting.
Hardcover. I love the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh!
I live in a little town in Ohio. I love the different Smithsonian museums I was able to visit on a trip to Washington, DC. I would like a hardcover version if I win.
I live in Washington St. and there is in incredible museum called Maryhill in southwestern Wa. There is even a mini Stonehenge on the grounds of the mansion.
The views, furniture, paintings, and the fashion dolls are incredible.
oh and I prefer e books if I happen to win.