“Lovely.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s what you said for the last three outfits.”
“And I meant it. You always look lovely.”
I’ll admit it. I was charmed. As faults go, unflinching adoration is a good one in a boyfriend. My name is Brooklyn Wainwright, and the boyfriend in question—though he’s far too debonair to fit such a label—is Derek Stone, who recently moved from another continent just to be with me. He’s a security expert from Britain, now living in my San Francisco loft.
I wasn’t normally such a ninny about clothes, but today was a big day. I’d been hired as the rare book expert on This Old Attic, an antiques appraisal TV show that I’d been watching for as long as I could remember. I’m a professional bookbinder. I doubt you’ve ever heard of me, but I am quite well known in the field. I was honored, humbled… and as nervous as a papermaker in a flood.
“I’m going to text a few pictures to Robin. She’ll give me an honest opinion.”
I felt a momentary twinge of wistfulness. Not long ago, Robin would’ve raced right over to help me choose just the right ensemble for my national TV debut, but she’d recently fallen in love and moved back to our hometown, Dharma, a wine country commune. I consoled myself with the fact that the man she fell in love with is my brother. Still, I needed to find a new local friend who could give me fashion advice in person.
“I don’t know why you’re so nervous, darling,” Derek said as he picked up the tiny kitten we’d yet to name. “You will be talking about books. It’s very unlikely you’ll find another dead body.”
“Don’t even joke about that! You’ll jinx me!”
I grimaced. That would be just my luck. For some reason, according to Guru Bob, the leader of my family’s commune, the universe had decided that my other calling—the non-bookish one—was to right the terrible wrong of murder. I had had the dubious honor of discovering murder victims on several occasions, and had helped put their killers in jail. An experience I was not eager to repeat.
Forcing the dark thoughts from my mind, I quickly texted three pictures to Robin. No dead bodies. Not this time. Today, I was going to go dazzle the audience of This Old Attic with my unsurpassed knowledge about rare books and the art and craft of bookbinding, and I was not—repeat, not—going to interact with a single person of the non-breathing variety.
You can read more about Brooklyn in The Book Stops Here, the eighth book in the “Bibliophile” mystery series, published by Obsidian. The first book in the series is Homicide in Hardcover. The Book Stops Here was released in hardcover on June 3 and A Cookbook Conspiracy is available now for the first time in paperback.
GIVEAWAY
Comment on this post by 6pm EST on June 10, and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY. One winner will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
New York Times bestselling author Kate Carlisle is a native Californian who worked in television production for many years before turning to writing. Her Bibliophile Mystery series features protagonist Brooklyn Wainwright, whose rare book restoration skills invariably uncover old secrets, treachery and murder. Kate is also the author of the new Fixer-Upper Mysteries featuring small-town girl Shannon Hammer, a building contractor specializing in Victorian home restoration. Book one, A High-End Finish, will debut in November 2014. Find excerpts and more at www.katecarlisle.com and Facebook.
Follow dru’s book musing on Facebook for book giveaways, contests, posting about discounted books and some of my reading musings.
Books about books – my favorites! Thanks!
Yay! I love a reader who loves books about books. Hee hee
Yeah yeah always looking forward to a new book from Kate!
Aw, thank you! That’s nice to hear!
Aw, thank you! That’s nice to hear!
Her books are very enjoyable. The family of Brooklyn het involved in her search of the murders. I have all her books. Looking forward to her new book and the new series that she is writing.
Thank you, Lois! It’s great to hear from readers who love Brooklyn’s family as much as I do. I have fun surprises in store for you in upcoming books.
Love her books and would love to read/win this one
Thank you, Debbie. Good luck!
I enjoy this series and would love to win this book. Thank you for the chance
I’m currently reading the 2nd book in this series….sooooo good!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!
Love that enthusiasm! And hey, you’re probably the Cyn209 who won a copy of THE BOOK STOPS HERE the other day on the Romance Bandits. You haven’t sent in your address yet, so I’m guessing you didn’t go back to see if you won. 🙂
Sounds like another good one from this author.
Thanks for the chance to win this book. I love this series
Looks fantastic, I hope I get a chance to read it 🙂
I just started reading this series – LOVE it.
This is such a great series! Thank you for the chance to win. lisaksbookreview@aol.com
I love this series…. Would love to win this one!
I have been waiting on this , it’s on my wish list !
I’m new to this series, but I love stories that incorporate the love of books, and I love the British so the fact that Brooklyn’s boyfriend is British will interest me. Sounds like a great book.
Lauigl[at]carolina[dot]rr[dot]com
I hope you’ll give me a try! You’ll find free excerpts by clicking on each book cover here: http://katecarlisle.com/books.php
I loved reading the excerpts. They sound great, and I have to give your books a try. Except the one with the séance in it. I don’t like to read that kind of stuff….creeps me out.
I love the cover! I’d love to read this! It sounds good!
I’ve been reading this series and I’m ready for another chapter in Brooklyn’s life. Wonder whose body she will find?
I can tell you that, since it’s in the cover copy… the owner of the first book Brooklyn appraises on air (The Secret Garden) is killed the very next day. Coincidence? I think not… 😉
I’m just leaving the adventure in Scotland after finishing If Books Could Kill and I’m looking forward to Brooklyn’s next major mishap in The Ties That Bind. To say that I’ve fallen in love with this series would be an understatement! I’m glad I have a few more to go before I catch up! Write faster Kate Carlisle!
Thank you, Jan! (You sound like my editor. Write faster! LOL)
I love all your books with Brooklyn. I am a lover of old books (really all books) myself and would love to be able to do what she does with an old book. The Book Stops Here reads like another winner for you and Brooklyn. Keep the books coming…Love them!
Thanks, Toni! That means everything to me.
What a love introduction for me. Books are an addiction and this could be one of the books I need to help my habit.
I’m really looking forward to reading your latest book! I am a big fan of Brooklyn and Derek, and I would like to read more about them. I love how you weave a story with a weird combination of a family, and yet pull it off by making it looks normal. It is all so captivating!
It is their normal. 😉
I love it! Great tease. Hope I win, otherwise I will have to go on the library waiting list!
Sounds like a good book, I can’t wait to read it.
Can’t wait to read this book. Love the series and Secret Garden is one of my all time favorite books.
It’s one of mine, too, Beth! It’s fun to decide which rare book will be restored in each Bibliophile Mystery. This was one I knew I wanted to use at some point, and THE BOOK STOPS HERE was the perfect opportunity.
It sounds like a great book. It is one I will definitely have to pick up.
I like this, especially the fact that Derek is still around. Love that man! PS; I already have 2 copies of the book. In my eagerness not to miss it, I pre-ordered twice. Fan loyalty, eh?
LOL!!!!! I kind of love that, even though I’m sorry you accidentally bought it twice. Maybe it’ll be the perfect gift for someone you love?
I’m so behind on this series – I totally need to catch up. 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I love Kate Carlisle’s books. I feel so at home with her characters. Thank you so much for the chance to win one of her books!!!!
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
That’s so nice to hear, Carol. Thank you! Good luck.
Can’t wait to read this. I’m on the list for the library but would rather have my very own copy. Thanks for the teaser.
Love books on books!! We have some old books that I’d like our fictional sleuth to check out for us. Suppose reading about it will be more fun though!!
You had me at “San Francisco loft.” I’m in.
LOL!!!
This book would be a treasure. Thanks for this feature.
It’s so wonderful to get another glimpse into Brooklyn and Derek’s private moments.
This is a delightful series. I live with an antique book collector (the Golden Age of Illustration types) and can really appreciate the insider bits.
Oh, I’d love to see that collection!
I love this series, the contrast between Brooklyn and her family.
kaye.killgore@comcast.net
Love this excerpt and would be thrilled to win a copy. Thanks for the chance!
That just made me want to see where she finds the body and learn more about Derek – is he perfect?
Why haven’t I heard of this series?? Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention. Thank you for the chance to win A Cookbook Conspiracy!
As a librarian and historian, I love this series!!!! And, the characters are wonderful. I want them as friends, really. Loved the excerpt and “wanna” win! Thanks for the giveaway.
The characters seem very real. I also like the inclusion of the kitten. A book about books seems right for me.
Love the prequel scene! Makes me want to read the book even more!
I just starting read my first book by Kate. I will have to get the rest of her books. Hope I can win this one.
Love this series.
great intro without rehashing all the past books–I think about taking a class in bookbinding after I finish each book, but then I realize I must wait til my kids are older;) great series!
Isn’t this cover great? All of us who have read Kate’s Bibliophile series know how great the stories are and I just HAD to comment on the great covers that go with the superb books. One of the authors that I hope to meet one day is Kate too. Being in MA we don’t get a lot of book signings for cozies around our area, and I am not able to travel at all, and hopefully will again, but not sure so reading great books keep me very happy while being homebound. Keep up the great work, Kate.
Just got this one as a book nerd today!! So very excited to continue in the adventures you write!! Cant wait to start on it tonight! Thanks for always being around for your readers.
Thank you for a chance to win A Cookbook Conspiracy. This is a series I need to catch up on since I have recently been able to purchase books again.
Thanks for the little peek, this sounds like an awesome series I need to check out.
I love mysteries and books about people who love books. Thanks sharing her morning, that was fun.
I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read in this series and looking forward to reading this one as well. Thanks for the chance to win.
Maybe Brooklyn needs to change her perspective when trying to choose an outfit. She should think offer self as a new journal that needs a cover. In this case a cover would need to covey that there will be serious, intelligent thoughts put down in the journal, there will also be bits of whimsy or mischievousness involved. She’s very good at coming up with the proper textures and colors for journals/books so this might help when she’s trying to dress for some occasion.
Would love to read this. 🙂
This sounds really good! I would love to enter and win. Love the series.
I love your books Kate – count me in for a copy of your book.
Kate always writes , that the reading is a pleasure.
Great except! Thanks for the giveaway!
I’m really going to enjoy another book with Brooklyn and Derek.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.co,
I haven’t read any books in this series, but this sounds really good. I would love to read it. Thanks for this chance to win it.
Love Brooklyn and this series, it is probably my most fav 🙂
Thanks Kate for interacting with my readers.
Contest is closed.