books in series

Have you ever started reading a book only to discover that this is the first in a series or worse maybe the third in a series? I have done this and sometimes find it hard to track down the rest of the series titles in the correct reading order. I have been playing around on the web to find a site that could help with this problem. Today I came across a site through the Nebraska Library Commission called Books in Series. It is really neat. I looked up C.S. Lewis, Robert Jordan, Jan Karon, Gilbert Morris, Isaac Asimov, Sue Grafton, and Beverly Cleary. I found them all. The lists were in a basic format with the series name in bold type followed by the titles in correct order. I am providing the link so you can take a look for yourself. The site also provides links to other web sites such as Fantastic Fiction. Happy Searching.

http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/ref/booksinseries/

Monica Ferris Needlecraft mystery series

I am not sure exactly when I was introduced to this series of books. I just know for me it was a way to combine two of my hobbies -- reading and cross stitch. Of course cross stitch isn't the only needlecraft mentioned in the books. Knitting, crochet, and needlepoint are mentioned frequently. I also like the bonus needlework pattern at the end of every book. I have listed the books in order of publication date. It is best to start with the first one so that you can follow the lives of the main characters as they evolve.

1. Crewel World
2. Framed in Lace
3. A Stitch in Time
4. Unraveled Sleeve
5. A Murderous Yarn
6. Hanging by a Thread
7. Cutwork
8. Crewel Yule
9. Embroidered Truths
10. Sins and Needles
11. Knitting Bone
12. Thai Die
13. Blackwork

If you would like to learn more about Monica Ferris and the other pseudonyms she uses, please visit her webiste at http://monica-ferris.com/

Christmas fun

Tired of shopping, wrapping, and decorating? Why not rest a spell and try your hand at some Christmas trivia, color with the kids awhile, or play some games. I did a simple internet search and found the following web sites. If you know of other fun sites for Christmas trivia, games, and coloring pages, please feel free to add to the list.


http://www.santaletter.com/christmastrivia/
http://www.worldpath.net/~hiker/ChristmasTrivia.htm
http://www.corsinet.com/braincandy/xmastrivia.html
http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/world/seasonal/christmas.html
http://christmas.howstuffworks.com/games/christmas-trivia.htm
http://holidays.kaboose.com/xmas-color.html
http://www.coloringpages.net/christmas.html
http://www.ivyjoy.com/coloring/christmas/
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/songs.html
http://www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/christmas/games.htm
http://www.northpole.com/Den/Books/
http://www.northpole.com/

Ten most checked out fiction books of 2008

I have been sitting in my office trying to work, but my eyes are drawn to the one outside window I can see from my desk. At one point I thought for sure it was going to pour rain. Well, rain just makes me think of being home curled up in my comfortable chair with a good book. Of course, then my mind wanders to book titles and authors. What will I pick? There are so many to select from that the saying about so many book so little time is true. While learning the ropes of my new position, I came across a report that lets me see what were the most checked out books in certain areas in 2008. I thought that seeing what others have read will help me pick something different to read. Then I thought that you might also be interested in seeing what others are reading. Today I will list the 10 most checked out fiction books of 2008 at Decatur Public Library. The other breakdowns of mystery, science fiction, and inspirational will come later.

Ten most checked out fiction books of 2008:
1. Playing for Pizza by John Grisham
2. The Appeal by John Grisham
3. You've Been Warned by James Patterson and Howard Roughan
4. The 6th Target by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
5. The Quickie by James Patterson
6. The Whole Truth by David Baldacci
7. 7th Heaven by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
8. Double Cross by James Patterson
9. The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks
10. Duma Key by Stephen King

Happy Reading!

Christmas fiction list I promised

All Through the Night - Mary Higgins Clark - F Clark
Autobiography of Santa Claus - Jeff Guinn - F Guinn
Blessing - Jude Deveraux - F Deveraux
Blue Christmas - Mary Kay Andrews - F Andrews
Candy Cane Murder - Joanne Fluke - Mystery F Fluke
Carol for another Christmas - Elizabeth Ann Scarborough - F Scarborough
Cat Deck the Halls: a Joe Grey mystery - Shirley Rousseau Murphy - Mystery F Murphy
Cedar Cove Christmas - Debbie Macomber - F Macomber
Certain Poor Shepherds: a Christmas Tale - Elizabeth Marshall Thomas - F Thomas
Christmas Angel: a Cape Light Novel - Thomas Kinkade - Inspirational F Kinkade
Christmas Basket - Debbie Macomber - F Macomber
Christmas Beginning: a novel - Anne Perry - Mystery F Perry
Christmas Blessing - Donna VanLiere - F Vanliere
Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens - F Dickens
Christmas Garden Affair: a gardening mystery - Ann Ripley - Mystery F Ripley
Christmas Grace - Anne Perry - Mystery F Perry
Christmas Guest - Anne Perry - Mystery F Perry
Christmas Hope - Donna VanLiere - F Vanliere
Christmas in Harmony - Philip Gulley - Inspirational F Gulley
Christmas Letters - Debbie Macomber - F Macomber
Christmas Letters: a timeless story for every generation - Bret Nicholaus - Inspirational F Nicholaus
Christmas Promise - Donna VanLiere - F Vanliere
Christmas Promise: a Cape Light Novel - Thomas Kinkade - Inspirational F Kinkade
Christmas Shoes - Donna VanLiere - F Vanliere
Christmas Star: a Cape Light Novel - Thomas Kinkade - Inspirational F Kinkade
Christmas to Remember: a Cape Light Novel - Thomas Kinkade - Inspirational F Kinkade
Christmas Visitor: a Cape Light Novel - Thomas Kinkade - Inspirational F Kinkade
Deck the Halls - Mary Higgins Clark - F Clark
Grace - Richard Paul Evans - Inspirational F Evans
Great Santa Search - Jeff Guinn - F Guinn
He Sees You When You're Sleeping - Mary Higgins Clark - F Clark
Holly - Jude Deveraux - F Deveraux
Home for the Holidays - Johanna Lindsey - LP F Lindsey
How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas - Jeff Guinn - F Guinn
Magical Christmas - Heather Graham - F Graham
Murder with all the trimmings - Elaine Viets - Mystery paperbacks
Pastor's Wife - ReShonda Tate Billingsley - Inspirational F Billingsley
Present: a Malory holiday novel - Johanna Lindsey - F Lindsey
Promise in a Kiss: a Christmas Novel - Stephanie Laurens - F Laurens
Santa Clawed - Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown - Mystery F Brown
Silent Night - Mary Higgins Clark - F Clark
Skipping Christmas - John Grisham - F Grisham
White Christmas Pie - Wanda E. Brunstetter - Inspirational F Brunstetter

It's Christmas Time

Where has the year gone? I can't believe that Christmas time is here again. Have you started decorating? Are you already planning your holiday feast? Are you like me and need a little help to get into gear? I have been roaming out in the shelves to see if I could find something to get me into the Christmas mood. Here are a few of the titles I found. My list grew rather long so today I will do nonfiction and then do some fiction titles in a couple of days.

Angels We Have Heard on High: a book of seasonal blessings 242.335 And
Betty Crocker Christmas Cookbook 641.5 Bet
Carols for Christmas 783.65 Car
Christmas: making the perfect celebration 641.5686
Christmas Companion 745.591 Chr
Christmas Customs and Traditions: their history and significance 394.2 Mil
Christmas Ornaments: exquisite handmade ornaments for the tree 745.5 Chr
Christmas Traditions and Legends 394.2663 Bai
Christmas with God 242.335 Chr
Christmas with Jinny Beyer 745.594 Bey
Christmas with Paula Deen 641.5 Dee
Christmas with Southern Living 394.268 Chr
Comfort and Joy: 14 Quilts for Christmas 746.46 Hic
Country Living Handmade Christmas 745.594 Cou
Crafter's book of Santas: more than 50 festive projects 745.594 Die
Decorate your home for Christmas 745.594 Wil
Decorating for Christmas: 136 ideas to make the holidays special 745.594 Dec
Do you know what I know? the symbols of Christmas 394.2663 Coo
Donna Kooler's 555 Christmas Cross-Stitch Designs 746.44 Koo
Everything Christmas Book 394.2 Eve
Foxfire Christmas: Appalachian Memories and traditions 394.2682 Fox
Gooseberry Patch Christmas, Book 2, 4, and 5 745.59 Goo
Great American Christmas Book 394.2663 Gre
International Book of Christmas Carols 783.65 Ehr
Making Collectible Santas and Christmas Ornaments in Wood 745.594 Max
More storeis behind the best-loved songs of Christmas 264.23 Col
Santa Remembered (cross stitch patterns by Leisure Arts) 746.443 San
Southern Christmas Book 394.2 Kan
Southern Living Christmas Cookbook 641.5 Sou
Spirit of Christmas 20th Anniversary Edition 745.594 Spi
Spirit of Christmas, Book 2, 4, and 7 745.594 Spi
Stories behind the great traditions of Christmas 394.2663 Col
365 Ways to Prepare for Christmas 394.2663 Mon
Ultimate Christmas (Reader's Digest) 745.594 Ult
Ultimate Christmas Cookbook 641.5 Ult