It’s that time of year when all the holiday meals, goodies and treats surround us with the aromas and tastes to kill for… at least in fiction. Hopefully in real life, people will stop short of murder and share a bite of their decadent deserts with their loved one sitting at the table next to them. But with food on my brain twenty-four seven, (no, I’m not pregnant, I’m planning the shopping list for my son’s return from college), I found myself drawn to two new releases featuring a quilt shop owner hosting a sleigh ride that makes a stop at every shop in town for a course in the holiday meal, and a food critics adventures at a tropical restaurant enlisting her houseboat up for a lighted boat parade. Remember to take a break through the holidays and pick up a copy of one of these great cozy mysteries. You don’t want to miss these quirky characters, loveable pets, and great settings for a mystery to remember. Look for the added bonuses of tips on how to make an Amish quilted snowman and learn recipes to die for! MURDER, SERVED SIMPLY by Isabella Alan MURDER, SERVED SIMPLY Amish quilt…

You are what you eat, or so the saying goes. As a retired personal chef, I know this all too well. It’s amazing how picky some people can be when it comes to their food. I’d meet with a client to go over their list of likes, dislikes, allergies, and possible menus. One person would love the taste of onions, but didn’t want to see them in their food. The texture made them gag. Another couldn’t abide green peppers, while the next would be a total vegan. Learning to cook around these constraints was a challenge. It made me wonder what is it about our psyche that affects the way we look at and relate to our food. The taste of homemade chicken and dumplings comforts, or the smell of fish or cabbage can remind a person of a bad experience. Food is necessary for life, but it can also be an addiction. It can lead us into judgment of others. I know I’m guilty of watching an obese person eat and wondering why they can’t control their appetites. This is a case of the pot calling the kettle black, because I’m overweight, and I’m sure the skinny girl at…

IF THE SHOE KILLS is set in the days just before Thanksgiving. Like Jill Gardner, my amateur sleuth, I stress about the upcoming holidays. Will the turkey be done? Will it be dry? Does Uncle Leo like ham better than turkey? Should we serve both? This year, I’m adding in a medical procedure so I’ll be out of commission for a few days mid-November. Which adds to the stress as I can’t do the cleaning, cooking and shopping I enjoy. But I’ve decided to think of my limitations as a forced take care of Lynn time.  J So let’s chat about strategies to make the holidays a soothing time rather than a stressful time. Add in your favorites too. Here are my top five must do’s – Schedule only the things you want to do. I know, family responsibilities may take you places where you just don’t want to go, but for the other things, do you have to say yes to every invitation? Chose the ones you enjoy, do a few required events, and the rest, politely decline citing prior commitments. They don’t need to know your commitment is a planned evening at home watching the Charlie Brown special….