The Book Club

Ollie and Gus

were sitting in the pub,

talking about starting

their own book club.

Ollie had milk,

Gus only water,

and it was he who suggested

reading Beatrix Potter.

Ollie said they should 

order some grub,

and invite Peter Rabbit

to join their club.

Gus wrote the letter

and sent it with pride,

but oh, the sorrow,

Peter never replied.

They might still be waiting,

it’s a shame indeed,

that nobody told them -

rabbits can't read.

(©handmade by amalia)

♡

Featured: two 

literary friends.

A Five Star Review

 Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

An Extravagant Death by Charles Finch.

1. The Series: This is the 11th book in the 

Charles Lenox Mysteries series

unfolding in Victorian England.

The book can be read as a stand-alone

but the whole series is excellent.

2. The Detective: Charles Lenox is the

second son of an honorable family and

his choice of career has raised quite

a few eyebrows. He is the most 

thoughtful, courteous and civilized

man and a wonderful character.

3. The Members of the Band: Lenox is

surrounded by a colorful group of recurring

characters - his wife, his daughter, his

brother, his ex-valet, his physician friend, the 

partners in his detective agency.

4. The Plot: While most books in this series

take place in London, this time we 

travel to gilded-age Newport, RI. It is

fascinating to see this new shrine to

American wealth through Lenox's

English eyes.

5. The Best Part: Is the quality of the writing.

Charles Finch crafts an intricate mystery

plot with a memorable setting, wrapped in 

beautiful writing, tenderness and wit.

♡

Featured: a pile or crochet baby blankets.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Kat Holloway Mysteries by Jennifer Ashley.

1. The series - We are in 1880 London and Kat

Holloway is a cook in a posh house. There is

an interesting upstairs-downstairs scenario, there is

a mysterious Daniel, and there are of course bodies.

2. The protagonist - Kat is always the smartest, 

kindest and most capable person in the room 

AND she's a fantastic cook. But I'm not holding it 

against her because, relatively speaking, she is a

product of her time.

3. The sensibility - So many protagonists of historical 

mysteries are liberal feminists with modern 

sensibilities that you forget how difficult it was for

a single woman to make her way. These books

feel more authentic in this respect.

4. The domestic details - I love details of daily life

and these books take the time to let us know how

a cook in Victorian London went about her day.

There are a LOT of yummy food descriptions.

5. The atmosphere - If you are in the market for

a light and gentle read, fast paced but without gore, 

with a likeable heroine, a nice feeling for the period

and a bit of romance, this could be the series for you.

♡

Featured: I made this granny square blanket
as a wedding present. Made with love to celebrate love.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:
The Bunburry Mysteries by Helena Marchmont.

1. The series - Alfie McAlister inherits a
cottage in the village of Bunburry. Someone
has died recently, the locals think that it is
an accident, but Alfie is not convinced.

2. The protagonist - Alfie is a Cary Grant

kind of protagonist - intelligent and

elegant with a keen appreciation of fun.

3. The literary connection - "anyone can be good in
the country, there are no temptations there" -
we are in Oscar Wilde country with a bit of
Miss Marple thrown in. 

4. The Atmosphere - these books are so

light they may very well float away

if you don't hold them tightly.

5. In short - if you are in the market for

a short and gentle read,
contemporary with a vintage feel,
these may well be the mystery novellas for you.

♡

Featured: A felt needlework
of a garden my niece drew for me.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend

by Katarina Bivald:

1. Sara leads a small life - she works in a bookshop

in her hometown in Sweden and corresponds

with Amy, a woman from Broken Wheel,

Iowa. When the bookshop closes, Sara

decides to take Amy up on her offer and visit.

2. This is a book about books, about reading, about 

the wonderful worlds and characters you discover

between the pages. I found so many of my favorites

mentioned and made note of some I haven't read.

3. Sara is that precious commodity - an unusual

protagonist. She finds a new life in Iowa, a better

understanding of herself and... yes, love. 

4. Broken Wheel is not a Hallmark small town, 

full of charm and cheer. Bivald does a wonderful

job of finding beauty in unexpected places.

5. I love books where letters are exchanged.
This one is not all letters but in spirit it does remind

me of a great favorite - The Guernsey Literary 

and Potato Peel Pie Society.

♡

The little hippo

suddenly froze,

he felt a funny

itch on his nose.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Right Sort of Man

by Allison Montclair:

1. The period - We are in 1946 in London

as the city is slowly recovering from 

WWII and shortages and loneliness 

are everywhere.

2. The plot - Two young women decide to go

into business together and open

The Right Sort Marriage Bureau.

It doesn't help that one of their very

first customers is murdered.

3. The characters - Iris Sparks and Gwendolyn Bainbridge 

come from different backgrounds, have different

personalities and life experiences. No reason, 

of course, not to become best friends.

Each is a great character in her own right

and both capture our hearts.

4. The issues - While the book is a historical

mystery with the emphasis firmly on

the murder case, it touches on questions of

gender, class and personal responsibility

in very intelligent ways.

5. The summary - If you are in the mood

for a well-written fun read, full of charm,

energy and plot twists, with two lively and 

lovely women, this is the book for you.

It is the first in a new series.

♡

Featured: A small needlework

winter scene.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Lady Sherlock Series 

by Sherry Thomas

1. The Setting: This historical mystery series

takes us to a Victorian London where

society is strict, the streets are mean,

and a clever woman can still

take charge of her life.

2. The Protagonist: Charlotte Holmes

is a brilliant investigator with a fondness

for frilly dresses and all pastries

(there is an on-going battle with

the Acceptable Number of Chins).

3. The Supporting Cast: Are all

delightful, from Charlotte's

partner Mrs. Watson, to her sister Livia,

Livia's mysterious admirer, and the most

liberal minded lord in London.

4. The Gender Bender: It is

lovely to meet a heroine who is

never afraid of being the smartest

person in the room.

5. The Plots: Very clever,

with a surprising amount of twists and turns.

There are now four books in the series,

beginning with A Study with Scarlet Women,

and I suggest reading them in order.

♡

Featured: A small felt applique

waiting its fate in the dreaded

unfinished pile.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

Murder in Park Lane

by Karen Charlton:

1. The Setting: The book, a historical

murder mystery, unfolds in 1812.

It is not too rich in historical detail but it is

nice to see that things could still get done

without computers, cell-phones and that all

important DNA testing.

2. The Protagonist: Stephen Lavender, a

Principal Officer at Bow Street, is 

considered 'the best policeman in England.'

The nicest thing about him is his relationship

with his sidekick, constable Woods.

3. The Gentleness: For when you've had your

fill of violence and gore, and want no more.

4. The Plot: A body is found in a fashionable 

address in Mayfair. I'm saying no more.
This is a spoiler-free zone.

5. The Best Part: I couldn't really tell

who did it. Isn't it awful when you work

it out half-way through the book and then

have to wait for the detective to catch up?

♡

Features: Celebrating Detective Lavender

with small lavender sachets made for coat hangers.

♡

Talking of mysteries, the blog of our blogger
friend Diane of Lavender Dreams has disappeared
in very disturbing circumstances.
You can find her and her story HERE.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Little Library Mystery series

by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli:

1. The Plot: Jenny's husband turned out

to be a major disappointment. She returns 

to the small town in Michigan where she

grew up and her mother, Dora, still lives.

There is an interesting neighbor with a

potential to be a new best friend, and an

interesting man with a potential to be

a new romance. And there are bodies.

2. The Protagonist: Jenny is not your typical

plucky heroine. And these books 

are not a one-woman effort. There is a whole

cast of characters working to solve the murders.

3. The Coziness: The books have a

small town setting with all the

expected charm and quirky characters.

It is not, however, all fluffiness and light.

The protagonists are more fleshed out

and murder is a bad, sad thing.

4. The Literary References: The first 

book is a tribute to Lewis Carroll,

the second has Emily Dickinson

references, and the third... Jane Austen.

5. The Little Libraries: The town has no 

proper library and Dora has a nice idea.

♡

Features: Two small needlework cushions

made from leftover bits and pieces.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Jane Austen Project

by Kathleen A. Flynn

1. The plot - Rachel and a colleague are sent back

in time from an unspecified future to 1815 England

with a mission to track down Jane Austen.

Why? Of course I'm not telling.

2. The protagonist - Rachel is in her mid 30s,

a medical doctor with a passion for all things Jane.

She is equally tough and fragile, smart, capable,

and very endearing.

3. This is a light read but the book does make you think

about the long way women have come since

the regency. Personally, I've always been concerned 

with questions of hygiene when contemplating 

time travel and the book does touch on that as well,

indoor/outdoor plumbing included.

4. The book reminded me a little of another time travel

favorite - To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis.

5. If you've never dreamed of going back in time

to meet Jane Austen... really, why not?

♡

Featured: a couple of lavender sachets.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

Maybe This Time

by Jennifer Crusie

1. The plot - Andie Miller's ex-husband needs a favor.

He finds himself the guardian of two children living

in a creepy old house and there are rumors of strange

things. Andie, he is convinced, can sort it out.

2. The protagonist - Andie is my kind of woman. 

I liked her from page one and she didn't put a 

foot wrong. She is resourceful and intrepid,

loyal and loving. And she bakes.

3. The things that go bump in the night - I quite like ghosts.

Wouldn't necessarily want them in my home, but

in a grand crumbling mansion - they are almost a must.

4. The message - this book, as the title delicately implies,

is about second chances and these are a precious commodity.

5. Sometimes you really want a light, funny, happily-ever-after 

book that is well written and touches your heart.

♡

Featured: tea towels blowing in the wind

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:
The Darling Dahlias
by Susan Wittig Albert

1. For me this is cozy mystery at its best.
A series of books (6 so far) with an interesting setting,
not too much blood and gore,
a light tone and very decent writing.

2. The time and place - the story is set in the small town of
Darling, Alabama, in the early 1930s.
A group of ladies get together to form the Darling Garden Club
and if they happen upon a mystery - they are on it.

3. The protagonist - we gradually get to know all the ladies
of the club and some of the town's people, but
the protagonist and my favorite character is
Miss Elizabeth Lacey, club president.
Lizzy is a legal secretary by profession,
a gardener and a writer, and as nice as they come.
She is said to look a little like Loretta Young.

4. Beyond the mystery plot this is the story of a small town
struggling with the Depression of the early 1930s.
There are a lot of domestic details, which I always love,
and a lot about the way the ladies help each other and the town
through these difficult times.

5. The message of these books, to my mind, is that
friendship and community are the best weapons to have
in times of adversity (and always).

♡

Featured: My little bear is going to the library in style

in this brilliant car made by my dad

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Midwife of Hope River

by Patricia Harman:

1. The time and place - the story unfolds in the

Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia during the great depression of the 1930s.

The fine details of the story bring to life the unique community that lives there 

in poverty and isolation, but always with hope. And then there are the many

domestic details that I found particularly interesting.

2. The protagonist - Patience Murphy.

Patience has unique voice, unlike any I've ever heard.

She comes to the mountains to escape a complicated past.

Armed with a birth satchel and little confidence, she delivers babies 

for blacks and whites who can no longer afford a doctor.

3. The message - The story carries a beautiful message of 

love and hope, friendship and humanity, with a little humor thrown in.

We meet people who have so little to give yet are the most giving of all.

4. The author - This is Patricia Harman's debut novel.

Harman herself was a lay midwife in rural communities in the 60s

and there is an honesty in this book that must come from her experience.

5. Do you know that feeling you get when you finish a great book

and you are sad about saying goodbye to everyone?

Well, there is a sequel, The Reluctant Midwife, and it is every bit as good!

♡

Featured: a cloth bag embellished with a heart applique.

Could be used for books. Or a sandwich.

A Five Star Review

Five reasons I'm giving Five Stars to:

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows :

1. It's a one-off - Mary Ann Shaffer had the idea for the story for many years
and finally wrote it just before she died. Her niece Annie Barrows finished it for her.

2. I love the story - No worries, I’m not about to give the plot away.
I’ll just say that the story unfolds through a correspondence between Juliet,
a London-based writer, her close friends, and some of the inhabitants of Guernsey,
one of the Channel Islands.

3. The Vintage Vibe - The plot takes place in the aftermath of the Second World War
and touches on friendship and bravery and the magic of books.

4. Shaffer must have read another one of my favorite books -
84 Charing Cross Road. The similarities are obvious but
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society does have its own voice
and darling protagonist.

5. I've had it on my wish list for years and years
but the only copies I could locate on-line were unreasonably expensive.
And then I found it in mint condition in a charity shop for 75p.

♡

Featured: some of my cross-stitched bookmarks.