The Hot Pink Farmhouse

The Hot Pink Farmhouse
Author: David Handler
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Total Pages: 340
Release: 2007-04-01
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1429974877

The Hot Pink Farmhouse is the second book in a the Berger and Mitry Mystery series from the award-winning author David Handler. In their latest adventure, the mis-matched romantic duo of Mitch Berger, a Jewish film critic from New York, and Desiree Mitry, Dorset's newest resident trooper, come face to face with murder. Transplanted New York film critic Mitch Berger is discovering a whole new world in the idyllic atmosphere of wealthy Dorset, Connecticut, not the least of which is his new love. That's Resident State Trooper Desiree Mitry, beautiful, bright, and strong-minded. Des has transferred out of her position as the highest-ranking black woman in the State Police Homicide department to give more time to the art for which she has a sure talent. Shortly after Mitch's encounter with "Hangtown" Frye in the town dump, his new friend suffers the worst blow of his life - his beloved daughter "Moose" is killed when her sister's car, which she was driving, explodes. It's very soon clear that the explosion was no accident, and Des, as one more familiar with the community than the state cop in charge, takes an advisory part in the investigation. As one of the very few Dorset citizens with whom Frye will have any truck, Mitch is involved in two directions - as a good friend willing to help as he can around the dilapidated farmhouse that is Frye's ancestral home, and as the devoted, if unlikely, lover of the police officer unofficially but very actively on the case. Meanwhile, the old town is coming to a boil over the question of a new public elementary school, one that will be built with contributions from a developer with nothing but good wishes for the education of the local children, and coincidentally a program of healthful outdoor living for those who can afford the homes he will build on the old school property. Hangtown and Mitch are among the dispute's dubious. In a climax that is a realistic and frightening version of a tour through an amusement park "haunted" house, the film critic and his policewoman love come close to tragedy. Readers met these "wonderfully drawn characters [Susan Isaacs] and "best buddy team to come along in years" [Jeffrey Deaver] in Handler's first book of the series, The Cold Blue Blood. Now, in The Hot Pink Farmhouse, Handler carries on their sharp, inimitable and lively adventures to further delight his readers.

The Hot Pink Farmhouse

The Hot Pink Farmhouse
Author: David Handler
Publisher: Macmillan
Total Pages: 334
Release: 2002-11-06
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0312280157

A new resident of wealthy Dorset, Connecticut, New York film critic Mitch Berger finds himself investigating a homicide when the daughter of famed American sculptor Hangtown Frye is found murdered.

So Close to Amazing

So Close to Amazing
Author: KariAnne Wood
Publisher: NavPress
Total Pages: 235
Release: 2017-09-05
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 149642204X

This is a book celebrating the incredible, awesome, special individual within each of us. It’s also a book for anyone who has ever mismatched her shoes or trimmed her own bangs when a professional might have been a better choice or added too much soap to the washer and watched it overflow. (Not that KariAnne Wood has ever done any of these things.) Fans of The Magnolia Story and The Pioneer Woman will love this debut memoir from the beloved Thistlewood Farms blogger. So Close to Amazing is a collection of hilarious and heartfelt reflections on getting it almost right―and how, instead of giving up, we can choose to simply embrace our real selves right where we are. It’s a story of transparency and honesty and recognizing that perfection is completely overemphasized and overrated. It’s about grace and learning from mistakes and rejoicing in every victory, no matter how small. Because when you find joy in the “you” God created you to be, you’ll discover the amazing that was there all along. Contains beautiful DIY project ideas anyone can do, whether you’re Pinterest perfect or craft challenged—homemade signs, centerpieces, recipe walls, and more!

The Bright Silver Star

The Bright Silver Star
Author: David Handler
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Total Pages: 320
Release: 2007-04-01
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1429974818

From the Edgar-Award winning author David Handler comes The Bright Silver Star, the third installment in the Berger and Mitry Mysteries Mitch Berger has been accepted at least on the surface by some of the posh families in the small enclave to which he's moved - even his open affair with the beautiful black policewoman is looked upon peaceably. But when a member of the small group of men who gather for early-morning walks is found dead, the subsequent investigation, involving both Mitch and Desiree, opens a very large container of personal evil that has no place in any society. "With its vivid setting, quirky and unusual characters, and fast-paced plot skillfully interwoven with movie trivia, this cozy with attitude is sure to satisfy Handler's many committed fans and attract new ones." - Publishers Weekly

The Invited

The Invited
Author: Jennifer McMahon
Publisher: Anchor
Total Pages: 368
Release: 2019-04-30
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0385541392

A chilling ghost story with a twist: the New York Times bestselling author of The Winter People returns to the woods of Vermont to tell the story of a husband and wife who don't simply move into a haunted house--they build one . . . In a quest for a simpler life, Helen and Nate have abandoned the comforts of suburbia to take up residence on forty-four acres of rural land where they will begin the ultimate, aspirational do-it-yourself project: building the house of their dreams. When they discover that this beautiful property has a dark and violent past, Helen, a former history teacher, becomes consumed by the local legend of Hattie Breckenridge, a woman who lived and died there a century ago. With her passion for artifacts, Helen finds special materials to incorporate into the house--a beam from an old schoolroom, bricks from a mill, a mantel from a farmhouse--objects that draw her deeper into the story of Hattie and her descendants, three generations of Breckenridge women, each of whom died suspiciously. As the building project progresses, the house will become a place of menace and unfinished business: a new home, now haunted, that beckons its owners and their neighbors toward unimaginable danger.

Wild Fermentation

Wild Fermentation
Author: Sandor Ellix Katz
Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing
Total Pages: 322
Release: 2016
Genre: Cooking
ISBN: 1603586288

Fermentation is an ancient way of preserving food as an aid to digestion, but the centralization of modern foods has made it less popular. Katz introduces a new generation to the flavors and health benefits of fermented foods. Since the first publication of the title in 2003 he has offered a fresh perspective through a continued exploration of world food traditions, and this revised edition benefits from his enthusiasm and travels.

The Lavender Lane Lothario

The Lavender Lane Lothario
Author: David Handler
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Total Pages: 254
Release: 2016-02-23
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1466887494

The Lavender Lane Lothario is the eleventh in David Handler's original, hilarious and charming series featuring the engaging biracial couple that fans love. Every year, the Gant family performs an annual ritual desecrating the tomb of Aurora Bing. The Gants have held a grudge against the legendary silent film star for almost eighty years, but for Shem Gant and his son, things have become personal. Aurora's only grandchild, Hubie Swope, has shut down Shem's notoriously rowdy beachfront bar, and refuses to allow The Pit to reopen until Shem undertakes expensive upgrades. This means war. And when The Pit catches fire and Hubie Swope's charred remains are found in the rubble, it also means murder. Who killed Hubie Swope? Crime-fighting duo Mitch and Des have no idea. Not only are Shem and his son prime suspects, but so are the women in Hubie's life. To their surprise, Mitch and Des discover that Dorset's building inspector, a quiet widower who repaired cuckoo clocks in his little house on Lavender Lane, was secretly juggling four girlfriends at once. And then there's Gaylord Holland, a builder who had a beef of his own with Hubie. Dorset is in turmoil, and only New York City film critic Mitch Berger and Connecticut State Police Resident Trooper Des Mitry can put it back together.

Patina Farm

Patina Farm
Author: Brooke Giannetti
Publisher: Gibbs Smith
Total Pages: 263
Release: 2016-06-24
Genre: House & Home
ISBN: 1423640470

The husband and wife team behind Giannetti Home welcome readers into their gorgeous farm residence blending modern style with French antiques. When Brooke and Steve Giannetti decided to leave their suburban Santa Monica home to build a new life on a farm, they traveled to Belgium and France for design inspiration. In Patina Farm they share their collaborative process, as well as the enviable result of their team effort and creativity: an idyllic farm in California’s Ojai Valley. With two hundred gorgeous photographs and Steve’s architectural drawings, Brooke takes readers through their inspirations, thought process, and materials selections. Readers are given a full tour of the family home, guesthouse, lush gardens, and delightful animal quarters.

The Burnt Orange Sunrise

The Burnt Orange Sunrise
Author: David Handler
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Total Pages: 322
Release: 2007-04-01
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1429974834

The odd couple Mitch Berger and Desiree Mitry return in The Burnt Orange Sunrise, the fourth book in award-winning author David Handler's mystery series. But Les lied. He had much bigger plans, full of Hollywood heavy-hitters, supermodels, rap music stars, high-profile athletes, and camera crews from every celebrity TV show in America. They are all to gather at the faux castle that Ada's husband had built for her in little Dorset, Connecticut. All of them would come to celebrate the return of Ada Geiger from self-imposed exile--just the kind of event Mitch Berger hates, even though idolizing Ada was one of the things that had led him into the film world as a critic. But it's too late to pull out now. Then Mitch has a lucky break---or so he thinks at the time. The snowiest winter anyone under the age of ninety could remember has hit Dorset and vicinity with what seems like six more inches every three days. Soon, the regrets and "have to wait till tomorrows" come flowing in. The gathering is pared down to what Les had falsely promised---just a few people: Ada's immediate family, Mitch and his lover, beautiful police officer Des Mitry, and a few "deserving" others make a manageably small group. When it snows even harder, they are all prisoners of the storm. The reduced guest list makes the job a little easier for Des and Mitch when one by one the people at the Castle are killed off. Since our two friends have no intention of waiting to pinpoint the murderer until he--or she--is the only one left standing, Des and Mitch dare to dive into a breathtaking climax that has Des taking a terrible chance, and Mitch taking a worse one.

Jessica Farm Book 2

Jessica Farm Book 2
Author: Josh Simmons
Publisher: Fantagraphics Books
Total Pages: 105
Release: 2016-05-04
Genre: Comics & Graphic Novels
ISBN: 1606999249

In the second volume of critically acclaimed cartoonist Josh Simmons’s lifelong page-a-month series, Jessica encounters a room whose physics you can alter with your mind and much more. Jessica Farm fuses serialized adventure, fantasy and psychological horror and stamps it with Josh Simmon’s signature macabre sensibility. In Book 2, our heroes come upon the Groovy Room, where the atmosphere is different and if you configure your mind just right, you can hover in the air. Jessica Farm is an ambitious experiment in worldbuilding as conceived by Simmons.