After last weekend’s frigid temperatures, it’s nice to have things a bit on the warmer, but maybe a bit wetter side! So, you can curl up with a new book, and relax! This week the New Arrivals at Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester include a few non-fiction books that will end up pleasing the palate – and not just for food, but for cocktails, as well. The first book, Cocktails in Color: A Spirited Guide to The Art and Joy of Drinkmaking by Sammi Katz and Olivia McGiff is a vibrant, knowledgeable mixology book for both seasoned and newbie drinkmakers, having stunning illustrations throughout. If you are looking for a cookbook to make small items, creative nibbles and bites such as gussied up vegetables, crispy bar snacks, dressed-up cheeses, and more, The Complete Small Plates Cookbook: 300+ Shareable Tapas, Meze, Bar Snacks, Dumplings, Salads, And More by America’s Test Kitchen is perfect for you.
For fiction, there is a book of literary fiction from Salman Rushdie, written right before his attack in NYC called Victory City, in which a nine-year-old girl in India has a divine encounter that will change the course of history. She will be instrumental in the rise of a great city called Bisnaga—literally “victory city”—the wonder of the world.
A historical fiction book, The House of Eve, a daring and redemptive novel set in 1950s Philadelphia and Washington, DC, that explores what it means to be a woman and a mother, and how much one is willing to sacrifice to achieve her greatest goal.
Someone Else’s Shoes, a women’s fiction novel by Jojo Moye is a story of mix-ups, mess-ups and making the most of second chances. Full of Jojo Moyes’ signature humor, brilliant storytelling, and warmth, Someone Else’s Shoes is a story about how just one little thing can suddenly change everything.
Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones is the page-turning horror sequel to My Heart Is a Chainsaw. December 12th, 2019, Jade returns to the rural lake town of Proofrock the same day as convicted Indigenous serial killer Dark Mill South escapes into town to complete his revenge killings.
In the mystery Encore in Death: An Eve Dallas Novel by J. D. Robb, a Hollywood Celebrity couple gives a party, and one of the hosts end up poisoned to death. The wrong one, it was assumed. Eve and the police are given the task of finding who the enemies of the intended target are – and who the murderer is.
In the conclusion of Katrine Engberg’s Scandinavian series, her latest book, The Sanctuary, has Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner rush to untangle a long-simmering mystery before a brutal killer strikes again.
Radiant Sin (Dark Olympus #4) by Katee Robert is considered mythology, but it is also a romance story. Greek myths get unspeakably hot new twists in this contemporary series as Apollo teams up with Cassandra when Zeus turns to Apollo to find out about a new enemy that has taken up residence in Olympus.
For actual romance, there is Secretly Yours, a novel by Tessa Bailey. This is a steamy new rom-com about a starchy professor and the bubbly neighbor he clashes with at every turn…
As always, thank you for making our shelves your destination.
NON-FICTION:
COOKBOOKS: (& DRINK BOOKS!)
COCKTAILS IN COLOR: A SPIRITED GUIDE TO THE ART AND JOY OF DRINKMAKING by Sammi Katz and Olivia McGiff
An artistic cocktail book that is as beautiful as it is practical. By utilizing design and their expertise, Sammi and Olivia have created a vibrant, knowledgeable mixology book for both seasoned and newbie drinkmakers.
Cocktails in Color celebrates the craft of drinkmaking, from raw ingredients to finished, delightful refreshments. Together, Sammi Katz and Olivia McGiff explore the elements, tastes, and techniques of all things drinks to create an accessible, visually delicious new guide to drinking that gives you the tools to design your own cocktails. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a new kid at the bar, Cocktails in Color deserves a spot on your bar cart. Each page is fully illustrated with rich, inspiring gouache paintings, making it a visual delight that stands out from other bartender books. This book encourages readers to explore a palette of ingredients for their developing palate.
Fans of cocktail recipe books like The Art of Mixology or The Home Bartender who want a fresher, more aesthetically driven alternative will find exactly what they’re looking for in Cocktails in Color, with its stunning gouache illustrations on every page. Anyone looking for bartender gifts will appreciate the unique combination of essential tips and recipes and beautiful art that make this a must-have for cocktail enthusiasts everywhere.
THE COMPLETE SMALL PLATES COOKBOOK : 300+ SHAREABLE TAPAS, MEZE, BAR SNACKS, DUMPLINGS, SALADS, AND MORE by America’s Test Kitchen
This complete guide to the wonderfully diverse world of small plates offers practical ways to make spreads that can be sumptuous or streamlined
Making a satisfying array of small plates at home is all about putting the right pieces together. Balance hearty anchor dishes with creative nibbles and bites such as gussied up vegetables, crispy bar snacks, dressed-up cheeses, and more. This collection of recipes is achievable and low-stress, with helpful make-ahead advice and presentation tips. A robust introduction offers suggestions for pairings, taking ease, prep, flavor, and serving temperature into consideration. Planning is key, which we show you how to do with our Game Plan strategies with every recipe, and a useful appendix to turn to when you need.
Bar snacks: For cocktail parties, make small, satisfying morsels such as Smoky Shishito Peppers with Espelette and Lime
Nibbles, Little Bites, Heartier Bites: Pair hearty dishes like Pinchos Morunos with littler bites like Fennel, Orange, and Olive Salad, Stuffed Pickled Cherry Peppers, and Southern Cheese Straws, along with store-bought nibbles such as olives and cheese
Fully make-ahead: Make many recipes (Pork-Ricotta Meatballs) a day or more ahead of your gathering for fussfree and efficient entertaining
Perfect pairings: Balance fresh dishes like Scallops with Asparagus and Citrus Salad with rich Carciofi Alla Giudia
One-bite sweet treats: End your evening sweetly with Chocolate–Lemon Truffles or Turkish Stuffed Apricots with Rose Water and Pistachios
Mix and match proteins, deconstruct salads, fry dumplings, make tempting dessert bites. Vegetable Pakoras with Shashlik and Spinach Squares? Yes, please.
FICTION:
LITERARY FICTION:
VICTORY CITY: A NOVEL by Salman Rushdie
The epic tale of a woman who breathes a fantastical empire into existence, only to be consumed by it over the centuries—from the transcendent imagination of Booker Prize-winning, internationally bestselling author Salman Rushdie
In the wake of an unimportant battle between two long-forgotten kingdoms in fourteenth-century southern India, a nine-year-old girl has a divine encounter that will change the course of history. After witnessing the death of her mother, the grief-stricken Pampa Kampana becomes a vessel for a goddess, who begins to speak out of the girl’s mouth. Granting her powers beyond Pampa Kampana’s comprehension, the goddess tells her that she will be instrumental in the rise of a great city called Bisnaga—literally “victory city”—the wonder of the world.
Over the next two hundred and fifty years, Pampa Kampana’s life becomes deeply interwoven with Bisnaga’s, from its literal sowing out of a bag of magic seeds to its tragic ruination in the most human of ways: the hubris of those in power. Whispering Bisnaga and its citizens into existence, Pampa Kampana attempts to make good on the task that the goddess set for her: to give women equal agency in a patriarchal world. But all stories have a way of getting away from their creator, and Bisnaga is no exception. As years pass, rulers come and go, battles are won and lost, and allegiances shift, the very fabric of Bisnaga becomes an ever more complex tapestry—with Pampa Kampana at its center.
Brilliantly styled as a translation of an ancient epic, this is a saga of love, adventure, and myth that is in itself a testament to the power of storytelling.
HISTORICAL FICTION:
THE HOUSE OF EVE by Sadeqa Johnson
From the award-winning author of Yellow Wife, a daring and redemptive novel set in 1950s Philadelphia and Washington, DC, that explores what it means to be a woman and a mother, and how much one is willing to sacrifice to achieve her greatest goal.
1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college, in spite of having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising a daughter. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright.
Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his parents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done.
With their stories colliding in the most unexpected of ways, Ruby and Eleanor will both make decisions that shape the trajectory of their lives.
WOMEN’S FICTION:
SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES: A NOVEL by Jojo Moye
A story of mix-ups, mess-ups and making the most of second chances, this is the new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before You and The Giver of Stars
Who are you when you are forced to walk in someone else’s shoes?
Nisha Cantor lives the globetrotting life of the seriously wealthy, until her husband announces a divorce and cuts her off. Nisha is determined to hang onto her glamorous life. But in the meantime, she must scramble to cope–she doesn’t even have the shoes she was, until a moment ago, standing in.
That’s because Sam Kemp – in the bleakest point of her life – has accidentally taken Nisha’s gym bag. But Sam hardly has time to worry about a lost gym bag–she’s struggling to keep herself and her family afloat. When she tries on Nisha’s six-inch high Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes, the resulting jolt of confidence that makes her realize something must change—and that thing is herself.
Full of Jojo Moyes’ signature humor, brilliant storytelling, and warmth, Someone Else’s Shoes is a story about how just one little thing can suddenly change everything.
GENRES:
HORROR:
DON’T FEAR THE REAPER by Stephen Graham Jones
December 12th, 2019, Jade returns to the rural lake townof Proofrock the same day as convicted Indigenous serial killer Dark Mill South escapes into town to complete his revenge killings, in this riveting sequel to My Heart Is a Chainsaw from New York Times bestselling author, Stephen Graham Jones.
Four years after her tumultuous senior year, Jade Daniels is released from prison right before Christmas when her conviction is overturned. But life beyond bars takes a dangerous turn as soon as she returns to Proofrock. Convicted Serial Killer, Dark Mill South, seeking revenge for thirty-eight Dakota men hanged in 1862, escapes from his prison transfer due to a blizzard, just outside of Proofrock, Idaho.
Dark Mill South’s Reunion Tour began on December 12th, 2019, a Thursday.
Thirty-six hours and twenty bodies later, on Friday the 13th, it would be over.
Don’t Fear the Reaper is the page-turning sequel to My Heart Is a Chainsaw from New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones.
MYSTERY/CRIME FICTION:
ENCORE IN DEATH: An Eve Dallas Novel by J. D. Robb
The homicide cop with a passion for justice returns in the captivating crime thriller series by the #1 New York Times bestselling author.
It was a glittering event full of A-listers, hosted by Eliza Lane and Brant Fitzhugh, a celebrity couple who’d conquered both Hollywood and Broadway. And now Eve Dallas has made her entrance—but not as a guest. After raising a toast, Fitzhugh fell to the floor and died, with physical symptoms pointing to cyanide, and the police have crashed the party.
From all accounts, he wasn’t the kind of star who made enemies. Everyone loved him—even his ex-wife. And since the champagne cocktail that killed him was originally intended for Eliza, it’s possible she was the real target, with a recently fired assistant, a bitter rival, and an obsessed fan in the picture. With so many attendees, staff, and servers, Eve has her work cut out determining who committed murder in the middle of the crowd—and what was their motivation. As one who’s not fond of the spotlight herself, she dreads the media circus surrounding a case like this. All she wants is to figure out who’s truly innocent, and who’s only acting that way…
THE SANCTUARY by Katrine Engberg
From internationally bestselling author Katrine Engberg, the series that is a “gripping addition to the Scandinavian crime fiction pantheon” (Oprah Daily) comes to a stunning conclusion as Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner rush to untangle a long-simmering mystery before a brutal killer strikes again.
Jeppe Kørner, on leave from the police force and nursing a broken heart, has taken refuge on the island of Bornholm for the winter. Also on the island is Esther de Laurenti, a writer working on a biography on a female anthropologist with a mysterious past and coming to terms with her own crushing sense of loneliness in the wake of a dear friend’s death. When Jeppe lends a helping hand at the island’s local sawmill, he begins to realize that the island may not be the peaceful refuge it appears to be.
Back in Copenhagen, Anette Werner is tasked with leading the investigation into a severed corpse discovered on a downtown playground. As she follows the strange trail of clues, they all seem to lead back to Bornholm. With an innocent offer to check out a lead, Jeppe unwittingly finds himself in the crosshairs of a sinister mystery rooted in the past, forcing him to team up with Anette and Esther to unravel the island’s secrets before it’s too late.
With her signature “unforgettable characters and brilliant plot twists” (Kathy Reichs, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Katrine Engberg weaves a satisfying and white-knuckled finale to her Korner and Werner series that is a modern classic of Scandinavian noir.
MYTHOLOGY/ROMANCE:
RADIANT SIN (Dark Olympus #4) by Katee Robert
Greek myths get unspeakably hot new twists in this contemporary series from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert
Apollo’s official title is Keeper of the Lore, but the truth is that he deals in more secrets than anyone. And now that a new enemy has taken up residence in Olympus, Zeus turns to Apollo to find answers. But even his extensive skills bring up nothing about their enemy… Which means it’s time to pull out the big guns.
Cassandra Gataki is a member of a fallen house, and no one in Olympus’s glittering upper city lets her forget it. With her parents in exile, it’s up to her to provide for her younger sibling. She’s forever skating the edge of power while fighting not to get too close, lest she make the same mistakes her parents did. When her boss, Apollo, comes to her with an invitation to accompany him to a week-long house party hosted by the new power player in Olympus, Cassandra turns him down flat.
Apollo might take no for an answer, but Zeus won’t. He commands Apollo and Cassandra to find answers, no matter what it takes—even if it means going “undercover,” attending the house party as a couple in order to get Cassandra access to places the more infamous Apollo can’t reach. As the week progresses, real sparks fly in their fake relationship. But if their host finds out their true purpose, the least of Cassandra’s worries will be a broken heart…
ROMANCE:
SECRETLY YOURS a novel by Tessa Bailey
A Paperback Original—Also Available in a Hardcover Library Edition
From #1 New York Times bestselling author and TikTok sensation Tessa Bailey comes a steamy new rom-com about a starchy professor and the bubbly neighbor he clashes with at every turn…
Hallie Welch fell hard for Julian Vos at fourteen, after they almost kissed in the dark vineyards of his family’s winery. Now the prodigal hottie has returned. When Hallie is hired to revamp the gardens on the Vos estate, she wonders if she’ll finally get that smooch. But the grumpy professor isn’t the teenager she remembers and their polar opposite personalities clash spectacularly. One wine-fueled girls’ night later, Hallie can’t shake the sense that she did something reckless—and then she remembers the drunken secret admirer letter she left for Julian.
On sabbatical from his ivy league job, Julian plans to write a novel. But having Hallie gardening right outside his window is the ultimate distraction. She’s eccentric, chronically late, often literally covered in dirt—and so unbelievably beautiful, he can’t focus on anything else. Until he finds an anonymous letter sent by a woman from his past. Even as Julian wonders about this admirer, he’s sucked further into Hallie’s orbit. Like the flowers she plants all over town, Hallie is a burst of color in Julian’s gray-scale life. For a man who irons his socks and runs on tight schedules, her sunny chaotic energy makes zero sense. But there’s something so familiar about her… and her very presence is turning his world upside down.
Annie's Book Stop of Worcester 