BURIED IN BOOKS, the twelfth book in the Bibliophile Mystery series by Kate Carlisle is one that fans have long been waiting for: protagonist Brooklyn Wainwright is getting ready to marry heart-throb Derek Stone. I love how the author has developed their relationship over the series and while this is a mystery and not a romance, it echoes what most readers want: real life with a happy ending… well, except for the dead bodies that Brooklyn seems to find. Her own mother calls her a murder magnet and Brooklyn’s future mother-in-law is starting to agree. While I adore Brooklyn and Derek as characters, Brooklyn’s mother, Becky, and Derek’s mother, Meg, steal each scene they are in. They add zany humor to the story that kept me laughing out loud, yet beneath that is unconditional love and support for their offspring which I find refreshing. In fact, both Brooklyn’s family and Derek’s family are close-knit and seem to get along well together with the impending wedding. I enjoy that Ms. Carlisle focuses the dysfunction on the murderer and not on family.
Amongst the backdrop of wedding plans and a workshop on rare book restoration that Brooklyn is presenting at the National Librarians Association Conference, the murder of one of her old college friends takes place. The theme of betrayal and trust plays throughout the story which I found poignant with Brooklyn’s wedding right around the corner. It also touches on regret of losing friends over the course of years and the joys of reconnecting. There were plenty of suspicious characters introduced and I didn’t want to put the book down until I found out the culprit at the suspense reveal. I also couldn’t wait to find out if Brooklyn was going to get her dream wedding! Ms. Carlisle provides a page-turning story that will thrill her many fans and gain her new ones!
Brooklyn isn’t much of a cook and one of these days hopes to try to conquer some simple recipes. Ms. Carlisle has complied with Brooklyn’s wishes and adds several easy-to-make recipes at the back of the book. I was drawn to the Stuffed Mushroom Caps which uses only four simple ingredients and are a snap to put together. They look elegant and are a delicious appetizer for any type of party! They pair amazingly well with a nicely chilled bottle of champagne and I’ll be making these again and again for family celebrations.
Amazon Synopsis
In the latest in this New York Times bestselling series, matrimony and murder collide as San Francisco book-restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright walks down the aisle…
Brooklyn has it all covered. She’s triple-checked her wedding to-do list, and everything is on track for the upcoming ceremony with the love of her life, security expert Derek Stone.
Not everyone has been as lucky in love as Brooklyn. Her old college roommates Heather and Sara lost touch twelve years ago when Sara stole Heather’s boyfriend. Brooklyn was caught in the middle and hasn’t seen her former besties since their falling-out. When they both show up at her surprise bridal shower, Brooklyn is sure drama will ensue. But she’s touched when the women seem willing to sort out their differences and gift her rare copies of The Three Musketeers and The Red Fairy Book.
Brooklyn’s prewedding calm is shattered when one of her formerly feuding friends is found murdered and Brooklyn determines that one of the rare books is a forgery. She can’t help but wonder if the victim played a part in this fraud, or if she was targeted because she discovered the scam. With a killer and con artist on the loose, Brooklyn and Derek—with the unsolicited help of their meddling mothers—must catch the culprit before their big day turns into a big mess.
A special thanks to Kate Carlisle for providing one winner with a Buried in Books gift box filled with chocolates! Contest is limited to U.S. residents only and ends Monday, July 2, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!)
![](https://cinnamonsugarandalittlebitofmurder.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Stuffed-Mushroom-Caps-17-150x150.jpg)
- 8 ounces mushrooms, stems removed
- 5 ounces Boursin garlic and fine herbs cheese
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
-
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees (F).
-
Discard the mushroom stems. Stuff each mushroom cap with cheese.
-
Mix together bread crumbs and melted butter, then sprinkle over the mushroom caps.
-
Roast until brown, 20 - 25 minutes.
Pin to Pinterest:
If you receive my blog post via email you will need to visit my website to view the video.
I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A little of both, depends on the book or the series. Some I don’t mind lending out.
It also depends on who’s asking, I bet. 🙂 If you can trust a person to return it, then saying yes is easier.
Some books I keep some I pass on to others.
I pass them on to libraries and nursing homes when I’m finished.
That’s such a great idea, Becky. Share the joy!
Mostly I keep my books unless someone really expresses interest in one. Sometimes I donate to my local library.
I usually pass them on once I have read them. A few of them I keep.
I donate them to the friends of the library for their book sale. The only ones I keep are ones that are signed by an author to me personally.
I usually pass them on. Unless they have some really scrumptious recipes.
BURIED IN BOOKS has some amazing recipes, Autumn. 🙂 They’re recipes from Brooklyn and Derek’s wedding. I’ve also created some great book-shaped appetizer recipes that are available in the Secret Room at KateCarlisle.com. I thought my readers would love them because they’d be perfect for book clubs or meetings at libraries. Enjoy!
That depends on the book. Some end up on my keeper shelves and some I donate to libraries and community centers/facilities.
A little of both. If I really like a series then I will keep the books but then again I will pass some books a long. Usually to my sisters of my sister in law.
So nice that you have reading tastes in common.
I do both.
I used to keep almost all my books but it became overwhelming so now I pass them on by the box full. I save the autographed books by my very favorite authors however and have a special bookcase for those.
Thank you for the recipe which was a reminder that I haven’t made any in awhile. I like to get these nudges to be in the kitchen. Thank you.
. ?
I’m happy to be a kitchen nudger! 😀
I’m more of a book collector, but I do share my books ~
I love books and would love to own them all. I keep a few but mostly pass them on. I also read a lot of books from the library. I read 3 or 4 books a week, so can’t afford to buy that many!
That’s what makes libraries so great, Kathy! I’m so glad you’re able to feed your reading habit there. 🙂
If I like the book, I will keep it. If I don’t like it, I pass it on.
I do both. If it’s a great story, a favorite author or signed copy I keep most of those. Otherwise I share the book love.
I am a huge book collector. I keep series I really enjoy and I collect weird, odd and different titles
Oh, that’s fun, Johnna! I’d love to hear a couple examples of odd titles.
I am a book junky! I love books.
Some I can’t stand to get rid of and keep (as evidenced by the full bookcases and stacks all over), some I donate to the library, and some I give to reader friends.
I’m curious, why is there one line of mushrooms to the side of the baking sheet? How are they different from the others?
You’re very observant, Elizabeth! I didn’t even notice that. Kim made the video, so I can’t answer your question. My best guess is that she made those with gluten-free bread crumbs. (But that’s just a guess.)
Kind of a combination of both. There are some books I just cannot part with, and I do re-read so want to save them. But I donate a lot of them to the mini-library at the VA Clinic on the Air Force Base where we receive our medical care. I hope others can get the enjoyment from them I did.
I lik t o pass them on once I’ve read them.
I used to keep them…then went through a stage of selling them until it ceased to be something I could earn money from….so either pass on to adult daughter who reads and returns…if in good enough shape, I pass on to library…or chair It you shop..or a used book store that gives me credit so I can buy more!
There are some books that I keep, my favorites. But most books I donate to the library.
I pass them on unless signed by author
I usually pass them on or donate to our free library. There are certain ones that I will not part with.
I do both.
After I read a book I pass it on to my sister. We have similar tastes in books and this way we don’t buy the same books.
I just love it when families share a love of reading, especially the same books. <3 What a wonderful bond you share with your sister, Dianne.
I used to keep every book that came into my possession. Then in college, I had to resell books to buy the books for the next semester, but I still held on to my fiction. Now unless a book is extra special, I release it to brighten someone else’s reading time.
I collect them until I move then I cull my very favorites and those I most want to read then give the rest to the library for it’s fundraising. I moved last August and donated 8 large boxes of books, many I hadn’t read. Oh, it was painful. That’s why I only buy ebooks now though I still get gifted paper books. One of the books I saved was Kate’s One Book in the Grave which I recently reread.
I’m honored, Anne. Thank you. Here’s hoping you don’t have to move for a while.
I collect books. I have over 3 autographed books now. Thank you for a chance to win buried in Books gift box filled with chocolates.
I am a hoarder of books and like to keep them to reread over…….:)
Love the triple berry coffee cake! Can’t wait to try the mushrooms.
We have a small family book club so once the books get back to me I donate them to a local library. I keep the ones that are signed.
Honestly, I do both. I like sharing them when I can, but sometimes I hoard them. I actually prefer kindle books!
Unfortunately I am a collector of books! But I do share my books with friends and family!?
I don’t consider that unfortunate at all! 😀
I’m a collector. I probably qualify as a book hoarder. ??
I collect some – cozies, my favorite books, and autographed ones.
These mushroom caps look delicious!
We have a library that any of our family and friends can borrow from, its the first thing you see when you walk in the house. I REALLY like books. Lol. Hard to part with them unless I purchase them as gifts from the beginning. However, loving books so much has made me purchase multiple copies of the same book, which are definitely easier to pass on to someone else. I have recently started giving books away that I win and then purchasing the same book for myself. Makes my day to win and I like passing that feeling on….but then I really want to read the book and give the author something in return.
Some books I like to keep, but most of my books I pass on to an older friend.
“Do you collect books or pass them on once you’ve read them?” I used to be more of a collector than I am, but I’m still leery of loaning books, since people never seem to return them!
Thank you for the review of Buried in Books. I have found a new series to add to my read list, also thank you for a chance to win a Buried in books gift bix.
It depends on the book. If I really enjoy them I keep them if I don’t then they are taken to the used book store and traded in.
Usually only to my Mom because she’ll return them. I use to let my little Sister borrow my books but she like to keep them and not return them so I no longer let her unless it’s one I don’t think I’ll reread again.
I keep ones I think I’ll reread. Trying to find good homes for the rest!
Review’s excellent & recipe looks really good!
I keep the books that become special to me but I pass along other books to friends & organizations.
I do both. I absolutely keep any signed books. I also tend to keep books with recipes in them. If I loved a book I will keep it, (I have Barney the Beagle – the first book I read by myself 50 years ago). Other books I like to pass on.
I keep the books that I buy. I let people borrow my books.
It depends on the book and on who is asking to borrow it. There are some books that I have to hold on to but I (usually) have no problem loaning out books to other people as long as I’m sure that I’ll get the book back. I’m looking forward to reading Buried in Books! It’s next up in my TBR pile.
The only books so far I have been able to let go are those that I accidentally bought another copy of or found in a used book sale only to find I already had it. Baby steps lol
I collect the autographed ones, but most are on kindles or my laptop
I normally keep my books but if I know someone likes a certain book that I have, I will give them the book.
In the past I would lend out my books to my Aunt but when she was getting ready to move into a retirement community and told me she donated lots of extra things in her house to her church yard sale, I found out my books went there too. She “forgot” they were mine. First editions and some were signed books. Never again do I loan out books.
I collect autograghed books and also keep books from my favorite authors. Others I donate to the library for their book sales.
I usually keep my book’s, but if I find one that I know a specific person would love, I pass it on to them when I’m done
I keep the books that are autographed then I pass the others on to a girl that my husband deals with she loves to read and write reviews also!
I do a little bit of both. I keep my signed copies, but will lend them out to be read.
I collect books, pass some on once I’ve read them, and loan them to family and friends.
I only lend to my mom. I don’t trust anyone else with my books. And she made the mistake of lending my books out to someone else, and I went ballistic. She won’t make that mistake again. 🙂
I lend out books, but I really love when they return to me. There is something very comforting about being surrounded by stacks of books!!
Mostly I collect. But there have been some that I did pass on. They were books that I did not really like. Such as some insipid (no real plot or character development, no real adventure or mystery) romances that weren’t really romances. Few even know what it is today. So don’t read at all anymore. But every fall my sister visits, she brings me a sack full of books that she’s read that year. Some are syfy, a couple might be mystery. Most are romances, mostly historical. But she also gets a lot of Harlequin.
Appreciate the stuffed mushroom recipe. We do them once in awhile in the summer. Our fave is with horseradish, baby shrimp, chopped celery, etc. I haven’t tried a new one in years. So will do this with for variety. Past time I looked at others.
Sometimes I collect books and sometimes I pass them along. Inspiring books or fun books I keep! Thanks!
I’ve always collected books, but with this last move, I had to get rid of most. I’m starting all over again though!
I am a paperback book collector! I recently had bookshelves made for my livingroom!!