Planning Your Next Getaway

     It’s time to start planning your next vacation – either for real or in your imagination. Here are some titles to help you make your plans.

     Fodor’s 2014 Walt Disney World gives you the latest scoop on Disney World, Universal Orlando, Sea World and Discovery Cove, The Space Coast, International Drive, and more. Descriptions, recommendations, color photos and maps make this the go-to resource for Orlando.

     Ears of Steel: the Real Man’s Guide to Walt Disney World, written by Bart Scott, gives a humorous take on the sights, sounds and tastes that are especially appealing to the adult male Walt Disney World visitor. You’ll find lots of humor here but no color photos or maps.

     Birnbaum Guides 2014 Disneyland Resort offers first-hand recommendations for the California Walt Disney destination. Visit both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, choose the best accommodations and meals for your pocketbook, and find out what other tourist attractions are in the area.

     Around the World in 500 Festivals: the World’s Most Spectacular Celebration, written by Steve Davey, presents the highlights of festivals worldwide. Arranged by continent/country and subject, each festival listing includes a brief description and date of occurrence. Large color photos accompany the text.

     Don’t settle for visiting tourist traps while on vacation. Get some ideas from Where the Locals Go: More than 300 Places around the World to Eat, Play, Shop, Celebrate, and Relax. Join the National Geographic Travel Team as they present tips and insider information, along with attractive color photos.

     Lonely Planet’s 1000 Ultimate Adventures from the World’s Leading Travel Authority offers the reader ideas for adventure vacations from around the world. With such chapter headings as “Mountain Quests”, “Most Excellent Equine Escapades”, “Eye-Catching Atmospheric Extravaganzas” and more, any one of these trips will make for a memorable experience.

 

New Mysteries

      The psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware and LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis return to solve another appalling murder in Killer: an Alex Delaware Novel, written by Jonathan Kellerman. Two women, physician Constance Sykes and her sister Cherie, fight for custody of Cherie’s daughter. Alex is called in to evaluate the child’s psychological well-being and the fitness of the mother to retain guardianship of her child. Alex rules in the mother’s favor. Constance exacts revenge by taking out a hit on Alex. Discovering this, Milo moves in on Constance, only to find out that she’s been murdered. Has Cherie killed her, or someone else? Then, Cherie and her daughter disappear. As usual, the murderer is not who we think it is. Quick plot twists and lots of action keep the reader moving towards the satisfying conclusion.

        I’ve Got You under my Skin, written by Mary Higgins Clark, presents another youthful heroine, Laurie Moran, who is a television producer and single mother. When Laurie’s husband was murdered five years ago the killer told her son that he would be back to kill them both. Laurie’s father, a retired NYPD official, spends his days trying to protect them. Laurie starts production of her new reality show based on true crime, cold-case murders. The first episode to be filmed is about the murder of a wealthy Westchester socialite after she had hosted a college graduation party for her daughter and her three friends. The principal players from twenty years ago are invited back to recreate the murder scene. Old animosities reappear and tensions arise; the murderer from twenty years ago is among this group and will strike again. Meanwhile, Laurie’s husband’s murderer shows up too. Action, suspense and romance make this an enjoyable read.

 

Crafted by Hand

Crafting can be the act of expressing yourself while creating an object to satisfy a physical need. The following books show the beauty of crafts when they combine excellence of design with function.

Beautiful LEGO, written by LEGO artist Mike Doyle, is a collection of color photos illustrating the works of eighty artists whose works range from realistic to abstract. Brief biographical interviews with the artists also are included.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Making Metal Jewelry, written by Nancy Lee, guides the beginner through the setup of a workspace, including selection of tools and equipment. The reader then learns about the qualities of the metals and how to manipulate them, followed by instruction on adding textures, colors, gems and more. Complete instructions for ten projects are included.

Fabrigami: the Origami Art of Folding Cloth to Create Decorative and Useful Objects is written by Jill Stovall and others. Color photos and detailed diagrams teach the reader how to create fun, imaginative objects suitable for gifts or home décor.

Woodworking Techniques: Projects for the First-Time Woodworker is written by John Kelsey. Learn the seven fundamental woodworking skills, and then jump right in by choosing one or all of the twenty-three projects presented. Color photos aid in the presentation.

Zany Wooden Toys Reloaded!: More Wild Projects from the Toy Inventor’s Workshop is written by Bob Gilsdorf. After a brief review of woodworking basics, the reader is presented with eight projects, each including a list of the necessary materials and tools, patterns and diagrams, color photos and ideas on how to play with the toys.