book

…the enchanted Theatre Illuminata? You can visit it in Eyes like Stars, by Lisa Mantchev. Bertie (Beatrice Shakespeare Smith) grew up in the Theatre Illuminata with no memory of her parents or a life before that magical place.

…the great cozy mystery series set in a vintage boutique? Death by Diamonds* is the third in this series by Annette Blair. The Vintage Magic clothing boutique, owned by Madeira “Maddie” Cutler, is located in Mystic Fall, Connecticut, in what used to be a funeral parlor. The mostly-remodeled shop comes with its former owner who is now a ghost.

… the Boogeyman who steals children? The Stuff of Legend. Book 1: The Dark is a graphic novel about a group of toys who try to rescue their Boy after he is stolen by the Boogeyman. When the toys go into the Dark, they become larger and more lifelike – the stuffed bear becomes a full-sized bear (although he keeps the bow around his neck), the metal soldier looks like a human soldier and can use the items stored in his pack, and so on.

… how to save money at the grocery store? Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half with America’s Cheapest Family, by Steve and Annette Economides, guides you past clipping coupons and watching for sales, though that’s a good start.

… the ghost who solves mysteries? A ghost’s work is never done in Ghost in Trouble* by Carolyn Hart.

… the Department of Good Intentions? Bailey Ruth is back in Merry, Merry Ghost* by Carolyn Hart.

…the ghost-oriented “cozy” mysteries by Carolyn Hart? In Ghost at Work*, we meet Bailey Ruth Raeburn. Sometimes you can see her, and sometimes you can’t.

… the zombie outbreak of 2014? Mira Grant’s* Feed** shows us what the world is like twenty-five years after the initial outbreak. Humans have survived, but so have zombies. People live with the knowledge that when they die, they will become zombies. Any person who is bitten by a zombie or come into contact with its blood will become a zombie.

…the myths, legends, and real origins behind some of the most popular (and most reviled) words and phrases in English? Origins of the Specious: Myths and Misconceptions of the English Language by Patricia T.

… twelve year old CeeCee Honeycutt? The star of Beth Hoffman’s Saving CeeCee Honeycutt has been taking care of her mom forever. Her mom still thinks she’s the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen and carries her tiara around with her. You might say she’s lost her grip on reality.