What’s better than the perfect gift? A PAIR of perfect gifts! We asked each of the Chicks to pair one of their books with a potential gift idea. Please check out the results below, just in time for the holidays…
Lisa Q. Mathews
 |
 |
|
There’s no snow, except for the fake kind, but what could be more holiday-festive (and dangerous) than Fashion Week in glittering Milano, FL? You’re cordially invited to join the Ladies Smythe & Westin on this Christmas-time case. |
Zut, alors! Who can resist the little girl who lives on the tippety-top floor of the Plaza Hotel with her nanny, dog and turtle? They’re all headed to Paris–city of dreams for Ladies-reader-darling Juliette-Margot, the 6 yo Francophile who hopes to follow in the stiletto heels of her supermodel French mom. Buy Eloise in Paris here, s’il vous plait |
Ellen Byron
 |
 |
| Ricki James-Diaz moves to New Orleans to start a new life as the proprietor of Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop at the Garden District’s Bon Vee Culinary House Museum. Will it be a success or a recipe for disaster? | What pairs better with a series inspired by vintage cookbooks than a cookbook bringing lost recipes back to life? That’s The Book of Lost Recipes: The Best Dishes from Historic Restaurants Rediscovered |
Cynthia Kuhn
 |
 |
| Lila Maclean Academic Mystery #5 is set during the holidays, in a Victorian mansion covered with snow! Get ready for some cozy holiday cheer, carols, and of course crimes. | How about wrapping up a beautiful teacup with your favorite tea, coffee, or cocoa–because reading while sipping a toasty beverage = joy! Here are some one-of-a-kind options. |
Leslie Karst
 |
 |
| Sally Solari is a champion, both in the kitchen and on the case, but when an old acquaintance is murdered at the annual Santa Cruz Artichoke Cook-Off and she sets off to investigate, her life heats up like a cast iron skillet over an open flame. | The red-handled cleaver featured in The Fragrance of Death was inspired by one I inherited from my wife’s grandmother, and it’s become one of my favorite knives–perfect for hacking up a rack of ribs or….? Get your own here. |
Kathleen Valenti
 |
 |
| Between work woes and Constantine’s aunt, who stumbled across her husband’s dead body while sleepwalking, Maggie is losing a serious amount of sleep. | Trouble falling asleep? Relax. Lavender-scented bubbles and lotion can help you unwind, sending insomnia to bed. Cue the visions of sugarplums. |
Becky Clark
 |
 |
| At the end of Police Navidad, all the main characters are gathered for their Christmas gift exchange. | Ozzi gave 80-somethings Don and Barb these matching t-shirts. They immediately donned them. |
Jennifer Chow
 |
 |
| L.A. Night Market Mystery #1 features two cousins with opposite personalities who start up a food stall at their local night market. After one of their customers has a fatal reaction to a bubble tea drink, the cousins also partner together to solve a crime. | The obvious pairing is a cup of bubble tea. For a more lasting gift, check out some bubble tea necklaces. I got mine from BoxLunch (a set of two; my daughter’s version says “Best” and mine says “Teas”), but you can also find an assortment of designs online. |
Vickie Fee
 |
 |
| Party planner Liv McKay is planning a Moonshine and Magnolias bash for high maintenance clients when Death Crashes the Party. Liv and pal Di follow a trail of sinister secrets and just when they think they’re whistling they find themselves in the crosshairs of the least likely killer of all… | Ole Smoky Tennessee Apple Pie Moonshine Jelly makes just the right gift for a tippling host or the perfect stocking stuffer for that favorite uncle. It contains just a kick (less than 1% of distilled Tennessee Moonshine. |
What are your favorite gifts to give or to pair (and/or what is #1 on your wish list)?
Chicks on the Case 
I usually only buy books for my granddaughters and grand nieces so I match them with either clothing or a toy that is the same theme as the book.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I am really getting into this whole pairing idea, Queen–you were a trailblazer!
LikeLiked by 3 people
It’s fun too. Get a Cinderella book and either a costume or pajamas. My oldest is into Harry Potter so I get a wall hanging or a bed comforter.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I gave one of mine the Wonky Donkey book and a stuffed donkey. We always have to search for the donkey before we can read it. Can’t leave Wonky out of the fun!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Brilliant! You’re an amazing gifter!
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOVE this! So cool.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great topic, Lisa, especially since my latest book, Sister! releases today. Here is the perfect pairing – it plays a crucial role in the story. I’d love someone to give me one, tho it is a little pricey!
https://a.co/d/6aZRMm8
LikeLiked by 2 people
First, Tom, congrats on your pub day for Sister! I hope you were very good this year so that you can score this prize gift from Santa. (But hey, if he doesn’t bring it, maybe this would be a good congrats prezzie for Sister!)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Love the gift idea. I’d be envious if my formed had that!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Happy book birthday, Tom!
LikeLike
Cute concept. I might use it and pretend it’s my idea 🙂 Nah, I’d credit you guys…link the post…but I’m gonna use it!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Sounds like a plan, Judy! Cynthia was the Chicks mastermind for this one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
(Cynthia’s the mastermind of many great ideas!)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Please do, Judy!!
(And aw+hugs, though all credit goes to #ChicksTeamwork!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great suggestions, ladies! Thanks for the ideas. 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
What would you pair with your latest, JC?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, I want to know!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Also want to know!
LikeLike
Pairing a book with a second gift is brilliant? Why had I never thought of that?
I usually try to give a book series as a gift.
What if we gave Colleen Gleason‘a Phyllida books with a tea pot (since the books are about AC’s fake housekeeper?)
Or Kelley Garrett’s first series with a couple of classic movies.
Here’s what I picture for each of the chicks
Lisa’s books totally go with something like the Clue board game or some activity the recipient would do in retirement
Ellen’s books pair with an unusual cookbook (like my PA Dutch ones) or a recipe box complete with recipes for a party (appetizer entries, snacks, drinks and desserts
Cynthia’s books would pair with a Scrabble board (she is an English major after all) and accompanying dictionary
Leslie’s books with any small kitchen gadget or some tea towels
Kathleen’s books would pair with A is for Arsenic, the book of AC’s poisons
Becky’s books pair well with a nice pen and a journal or to-do checklist notepad.
Jennifer’s books match a a tea (not coffee) cup and box of fancy teas, tea forte is a good suggestion.
And of course I can’t forget my good friend JC Kenney, who’s books would pair with classic rock CDs.
Man, I come up with fabulous stuff! I want all these gifts for me now! 😂
LikeLiked by 4 people
Perfect!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great list, Hestia!
(And one of my kids loves getting entire book series as gifts and proudly displays them on her bookshelf.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so thoughtful!! Thank you!
LikeLike
What great pairings!
I give a lot of books, especially to my two young nephews (4 and 1). But I’m looking for a toy appropriate for a 1-year-old this year. He has Down’s Syndrome and I want something that will help him developmentally. I’m so out of practice.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yay for books! I have an idea: maybe search up “taggie” stuffed toys? They’re supposed to be both calming and tactile and were faves around here. Also the VTech Musical Rhyme book is so cool–saw a baby with one the other day and asked the mom what it was because I wanted to keep that in mind for presents!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, Taggies! I love the sloth.
LikeLike
Some fun pairings!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I love these pairings! I already own Bayou Book Thief & just ordered a copy of The Book of Lost Recipes to go with it! I love to pair a book with a bookish accessory – bookmark, Book socks or hot chocolate to celebrate Jolabokaflod!
LikeLiked by 3 people
LOVE book socks!! 😀 Perfect add.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Omg, I just saw this. Yay!
LikeLike
What great ideas these all are! I’m going to change into my “the older I get” T-shirt and “best-teas” necklace, grab my red-handled cleaver, prepare some dishes from the “Lost Recipes” cookbook, then eat a leisurely dinner whist reading “Eloise in Paris,” then slip into a bubble bath and sip some tea before bed….
LikeLiked by 3 people
The perfect day, Leslie! (And Juliette-Margot would insist that you take the Eloise book with you into the bubble bath. Parfait!)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well, *with* the copy of 39 Winks of course. JM can be a little pushy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a great and thorough answer, Leslie…you’re a genius.
LikeLiked by 1 person