2021 goals and commitment

 Happy New Year!

   We are back from a lovely Christmas break in Maine. According to the rules of our school since the kids left the state they need to attend class virtually for 2 weeks. The first week is going okay with each day bringing its own hiccups.  

   I have again set several reading goals for myself for the year, but have decided lifestyle-wise monthly commitments may increase success and follow through.

Reading:

• I plan to read 60 books over the year. 20 of which from my own bookshelves. To help with this goal I am joining the Unread Shelf challenge again hosted by Whitney.  
• I plan to read 10 from the 20th Century project hosted by Ashley of The Big White Farmhouse
• Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge this year a 'pick your own path' of many options of which I have picked some that overlap with the other two and some that have my stretching my reading muscles a bit.

Lifestyle :

• In January after my morning coffee till dinner, I'm only going to drink water
• I will aim for 8,000 steps a day
• Strength train 3x a week

A Year in Books

   Reading has always been a favorite hobby of mine and increasingly a key form of self-care, and this year was no different. Through worries about loved ones far away and the stress of virtual learning, reading has been my refuge and my pleasure.  Last January I set my Goodreads reading goal as 40 books ( I read 42 in '18, and 43 in '19), I've currently read 87 books.  

   I'm not at all expecting to maintain that pace this coming year. I am h0wever grateful for all the new book-focused Instagram accounts I have found in the corner known as Bookstagram and all of their reviews and recommendations. These accounts also provided the needed adult conversations during those moments during the spring and summer when needed.

  It was amazingly a year of few misses and many 4* and 5* reads including;

• 
  
  
  Ayesha at Last
• Brown Girl Dreaming
• The Jane Austen Society
• The Warmth of Other Suns
• A Lovely War

Summary for 2020
Books Read: 87

Fiction: 75  // Non-Fiction: 12
Kindle Books: 31  // Paper Books: 56 // Rereads: 6

Midyear Reading Challenge Update

 As June wraps-up and we hit the halfway point of the year I thought I would do a quick update for how various different challenges are going.  

 Modern Mrs Darcy Challenge
    I have completed 6/12
    I read The Jane Austen Society for the debut novel category
    I read Circle the Sun for the book recommended by a source I trust
    I read Bossypants for a book by a local author
    I read A Man Call Ove for the book in translation category
    I read Wings of Fire: The Lost Heir for the not my genre book
    And Anne of Avonlea was my reread

For the Unread Shelf Project 2020 hosted by Whitney of the Unread Shelf
   I have read 5 of my top ten list, read and 'returned'  4 of my Prime Reading borrows and have met the monthly reading challenge every month but March, which I skipped to focus on Lenten reading.

For The 20th Century in Books hosted by Ashley of The Big White Farmhouse this year I've read Anne of Avonlea (1909), Rilla of Ingleside (1921), 
Cotillion (1953), Across Five Aprils (1964), and Numbering the Stars (1989).  
At this point I have read a book from 46 of the 100 years.
         


Finally on Goodreads back in January I challenged myself to read 40 books this year.  'Sheltering at Home' and the fact that reading is one of my favorite stress relievers will likely combine to have me hitting that goal sometime next month (currently at 37) and am curious what my yearly total will be.

How is your reading year going?
   

What I'm Reading (likely) this year for the Challenges.

  So once again I'm joining in on the Modern Mrs Darcy reading challenge; and here are my initial thoughts about what to read for the different categories.

1. A book published the decade you were born:  A Summer to Die or A Swiftly Tilting Planet
2. A debut novel: Eleanor and Park
3. A book recommended by a source you trust: Circle the Sun
4. A book by a local author: Bossypants by Tina Fey
5. A book outside your genre comfort zone: The Lost Heir (Wings of Fire 2)
6. A book in translation: A Man Named Ove or Pachinko
7. A book nominated for an award in 2020: ??
8. A reread: ??
9. A classic you didn't read in school: East of Eden or Call of the Wild
10. Three books by the same author: L.M Montgomery or G.Heyer likely.

   Am also focusing on reading down my shelves this year and so have started following Whitney of The Unread Shelf and will be letting her challenge categories helping me choose among my TBR list throughout the year.

  Starting off the year by reading A Gentleman in Moscow which has been on my TBR list for over a year

Quick Takes #284: Mid December Check-In

1. Greeting and Salutations; not sure how all of November and nearly half of December has pasted since my last Quick Takes. November was overall very nice and Thanksgiving in particular as we had a wonderful time with my family including my nephew who surprised us by coming home from college, and encountered remarkably little traffic for a holiday weekend.
2. Advent is going well. The kids seem to enjoy our wreath tradition while of course debating whose turn it is to light or blow out the candles. I've been pleasantly surprised how independent Caitlin is when it is her turn to read the prayer.
3. This week in particular is very fun #liturgicalliving wise. In addition to the Good Bishop visiting us last Friday with chocolate and oranges; last night the kids enjoyed Choco Taco in honored of Our Lady of Guadalupe (thanks Colleen for that idea).  Given that I knew dinner was going to be a bit of a rush job given the school's Christmas Tableau I appreciated a fun and easy way to mark the feast.  This morning I made cinnamon rolls to mark the Feast of St. Lucy.
4. The Christmas Tableau was lovely with all of the kids doing a lovely job under the direction of the school's wonderful music director.  It is the tradition that the 6th graders act out the Christmas Story during the show.  It was such fun for me to watch these kids many of whom I've known since Lisbeth was in Kindergarten perform (she by the way was one of the dancers who ushered the Romans in the proclaim the census).
5. I am finishing The Cross which is will wrap-up my book challenge reading for this year; and with Modern Mrs Darcy announcement of next year's reading challenge I'm excited to start thinking about next years reading.
6. We truly love our house but from the time we bought 5 years ago we knew at some point we wanted to put in a bathroom on the first floor; and it is finally happening.  Seriously the whole getting estimates and finding a contractor took much longer than I would have ever guessed.  We have already pulled up our deck in preparation and will this weekend take down some fencing to make way for the builders this week.
7. Some pictures to share:

Please head over to Kelly's for more Quick Takes!

Quick Lit ~ July '19

Linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy, and sharing what I've been reading ~ many of which complete categories in the MMD reading challenge.

The Gown by Jennifer Robson; which I chose for the cover (category) and to ease my impatience while I wait for the next season of the Crown.   While the story did not contain much of the lives of the Windsor's; it was a wonderful story of post WW2 England when rationing was still in effect and Londoners were dealing with survivor guilt and beginning look forward.  Primarily it tells the story of two of the embroiderers while they worked on Princess Elizabeth's wedding gown and how their grandchildren learn of this fascinating past.  I appreciated the stories of female friendship and the ease with which the author moved from the past, to present day and back again.

The Spanish Bride by Georgette Heyer is the story of Brigade-Major Harry Smith and his newlywed Juana. They met and fell instantly in love in Portugal while Major Smith was serving during the Peninsular War.  While I've been reading and enjoying Heyer's Regency 'comedy of manners' books for years this was my first 'historical', and found the balance she found between the details of battles and troop movements and the daily challenges faced by the couple and their friends excellent.  I learned a lot about the war (at least from the British perspective) but didn't feel like the human element was lost.

The Grace of Enough by Haley Stewart is part memoir of Stewart's family's adventure as they down-sized dramatically and moved to a farm in TX for her husband's work; and part primer on how to live intentionally so that your choices fit your values even if they differ from those around you.  Stewart does a wonderful job of sharing what worked for her family while still being open to how those choices might not work in other situations.  She also manages to write beautifully about her value system and how she and her family have chosen to live according to them without coming across judgmental about other approaches to home and family.

The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick is the story of William Marshall, a knight and tournament  champion during the time of the Plantagenet Kings.  Fictionalized but based on extensive research of the actual man; Chadwick tells an amazing story of a liege knight who must navigate loyalty and politics as his liege lord shifts from King Henry II, to his eldest son Henry the Young King, back to King Henry and by the end of the book King Richard.  This is the third book of Chadwick's I've read, and continue to really enjoy her attention to detail and character development.

Please head over to Modern Mrs Darcy for more Quick Lit.

7 Quick Takes #272: Advent Happening

1. Happy Advent! We got the tree trimmed and stockings hung last weekend.  Candles in the window and wreath on the door.  Hoping to get outside lights up this weekend.
2. Saint Nicholas visited and brought the miracle that everyone got to check out what the good bishop brought and still got to school on time.
3. Am following the Blessed is She Advent Devotion and am really appreciating the daily reminder to think about how am I bringing the light and love of Christ in the world.
4. The kids (in particular Liam) were learning more about Our Lady of Guadalupe this year and so I tried to kick our observation of the feast up a notch and made enchiladas.  Lisbeth is never fond of trying new foods and even calling them 'Mexican crepes' didn't get her to eat more than a bite or two ~ but there was also zero grumbling from her on why we were having Mexican food for dinner.
5. The Christmas concert was last night and the kids all did well and enjoyed even Caitlin whose cold has given her an occasional but painful earache this week.
6. This week Modern Mrs Darcy announced the categories and released the reading kit for next years reading challenge. I've of course already printed the checklist out and am thinking of different options for the different categories.  
7. Happy Weekend and Blessed Gaudete Sunday!

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's

Reading fun and future challenges

    Last week I finished In Farleigh Field (review in works) and with that I have completed this year's Modern Mrs Darcy reading challenge.  This is my 4th year attempting the challenge and as ever I really enjoy pushing myself to out of my reading comfort zone and try new genres or go for a longer/tougher book than I might otherwise.

Looking back at my planning post; I made a few changes but overall it was a good framework to follow.

   Speaking of challenges; as many of you know I love a book challenge and I love geography; so when a friend shared this link I knew it was something I wanted to try.  While not setting a time limit I will try to stick to their recommended list for each state though not including Look to the Mountain as a suggestion for New Hampshire is a huge omission and I'm considering that state done 😊.

As of this point I have 22 states covered ~ 28 to go 💃!

Quick Takes #253: Post-op Reflections and Lenten Plans

1. Caitlin two weeks post surgery is doing well. Overall it went very smoothly; the staff was kind and worked with her very well. Her recovery was up and down but mostly the medicine regiment they recommended worked well and with encouragement she was willing to drink. All about the popsicles to start, now ice cream is the fave.  Another funny memory will be the day she was very reluctant to drink but ate 3 mozzarella sticks at a birthday dinner for a friend.
2. She is actually home from school today complaining of a very stiff neck but I believe we are coming to the end of the acute recovery period. The key question being if she actually sleeps better and snores less after all of this.
3. Was happy to see that Jess Ptomey is again hosting a Catholic Reading challenge this year. Am not sure that I'm up for another reading challenge but given the first category is the same as the MMD challenge 'read a classic' perhaps I can find enough overlap to make it doable.
4. Last Sunday went very well for two of the teams we root for in the house.  The Super Bowl will hopefully prove to be a lot of fun with very little downside.
5. I've found that a guided devotional really helps my prayer life in Lent and this year I ordered the Take Up and Read.  It arrived earlier this week and is thick, beautiful and I'm very optimistic about what it will bring to my observance of Lent this year.
6. Somewhere in the past week this little blog of mine had a blogaversary and marked 9 years since it's starting. Thank you to all those who have read, commented and encouraged me to keep writing in my corner of the blogosphere!
7. This weekend kicks off Catholic School Week here and the kids are excited for us to see the various projects in preparation for the Open House.

Have a  good weekend and please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's!

What I'm (probably) reading in 2018

In the end I just can't quit the MMD challenge! Since I have also challenged myself to read thirty books this year I figured there would still be a lot of 'off-roading' even with trying to fulfill these twelve categories.

Inspired by our host's post I thought I would share what I'm thinking of reading this year.

A classic you’ve been meaning to read: Am currently reading A Room with a View.
A book recommended by someone with great taste: The Awakening of Miss Prim got some many raves I knew I had to give it try (currently reading).

A book in translation: Haven't decided
A book nominated for an award in 2018: TBD

A book of poetry, a play, or an essay collection: • Envelope Poems, by Emily Dickinson or A Small Porch, by Wendell Berry

A book you can read in a day: The Penderwicks 
A book recommended by a librarian: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

A book that’s more than 500 pages: A Team of Rivals or The Summer Queen (or maybe both)

A book by a favorite author: This category was easy—just not sure which author yet.

A banned book: Not really sure but thinking Of Mice and Men.
A memoir, biography, or book of creative nonfiction: Traveling Mercies or All is Grace.

What is on your reading list this year?

Quick Takes #251 Advent and etc

1. Hello ~ how's your Advent going? We are doing well here and finding a good rhythm I think.  The kids rotate lighting the candles, reading the prayer and then blowing out the candles.  Caitlin repeats after me but Liam is becoming more and more independent in his reading which is so exciting to watch.
2. We had our first snowfall of the year last weekend of which an inch or so has stuck around which definitely gives the neighborhood that holiday feel; as does getting our Christmas tree.  No ornaments were broken in the trimming and I only had to bite my lips or sit on my hands a bit.  AKA you never realize how much of a control freak you can be until you have to let your young kids trim the tree.
3. We left our shoes out for Saint Nicholas and ate chili on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadeloupe. Next week both schools have Christmas programs.  Such a busy time but hopefully finding a good balance.
4. As I finish up my last couple books for the year and start to think about what is topping my 'want to read' list for the new year I was excited to see Modern Mrs Darcy post her challenge list for 2018.  I'm still leaning towards 'off roading' next year but will definitely keep track of the different categories in case I get in a rut.
5. The Crown; watched and really enjoyed the new season.  Which makes the knowledge that many of the principle actors are done rather bittersweet.  I understand and even like the idea of recasting every two seasons rather than continuing to age the actors but am sad to see Claire Foy and Matt Smith go.
6. I have nearly half of our Christmas cards mailed and so feel like I can enjoy those we are receiving. I didn't write a letter this year but was tempted to include the kids ages on the photo card though with Caitlin having a January birthday wasn't sure what age to put. 
7. Have a wonderful weekend!

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's!

Reading Challenge at the halfway point

Happy July! Hope your summer is going well.  Mine has been made substantially better by the addition of some rockers on our front porch and the fact the weather so far has been warm but not too humid and often with a breeze.  Reading is absolutely one of the best methods of self care for me and hopefully has me modeling a love of books to my kids.  I also appreciate how the different categories in the MMD challenge provides direction and the push I need to read outside my comfort zone.

At the midway point from the reading for fun path (the one I'm focusing on) I've completed 6 categories:

a book set somewhere I'm interested in but never been:
A Year of Living Danishly

a juicy memoir:
Talking as Fast as I Can

a book about books or reading:
Howards End is on the Landing

a book in a genre I usually avoid:
Becoming and Belonging

a book you don't want to admit you're dying to read ( I modified this one to a book I'm embarrassed I've never read): 84, Charing Cross Road

a book I was excited to buy but had not read yet:
Winter Garden


I've only completed one category of the reading to grow path but do hope to complete a couple more while largely focused on the "oomph path"

Anyone else attempting this year's challenge?
What are you reading?

Quick Takes #220 Christmas memories and looking forward

1. Happy New Year! Happy Epiphany!! Hope you all had a good Christmas. 
2. We did ~ after getting a later start than we had hoped we made the trip north in a great for us 8 hours. Kids only requiring 1 longish stop and 1 quick one plus amazingly little traffic allowed us to keep moving and get to Maine in good order and early enough to get all of us a decent night sleep ahead of Christmas Eve.
3. All in all a great week with a lot time catching up with family, quality cousin time, the chance for an afternoon out to celebrate our anniversary and a 6in snow fall which made for some excellent sledding in G-ma's back yard.
4. New Years Eve we enjoyed the traditional fondue dinner which went so much better than I had envisioned when Dr Daddy suggested letting the kids cook their own meat. When we went to wake Lisbeth and Liam at midnight they both declined to come down but had no memory in the morning which made for annoyed kids ~ next year we will tried harder to wake them.
5. Am once again doing the MMD book challenge; this year she is offering two tracks and while I will be focusing on the fun track will depending on how the year goes try and tackle a few of the stretch category's.
6. I hit my admittedly minimal goal of 50 posts last year; and am (I think) finding my way forward. I still care too much about comments or not but I imagine trusting and resting in my value as a child of God is the work of a lifetime.  Onward!!
7. Along with the ongoing process of putting the house back in order, after the holidays and time away, this weekend we will also be celebrating Caitlin's 4th birthday. Her party is not for a week but we most definitely mark the day with balloons and cupcakes.

Please head to Kelly's for more 7QT's

Halfway Point Challenge Check-in

Having enjoyed the Reading Challenge sponsored by Modern Mrs Darcy last year I decided to join again this year and a little more than halfway through the year this is where things stand.

Of the twelve categories I've fulfilled 6 having read

Brideshead Revisited for the 'a book I've been meaning to read' category

These Old Shades for the 'a book published before you were born' category

The Screwtape Letters for the 'a book that intimidates you' category

Why Now? for the 'a book published this year' category

O'Pioneers for the 'a book you should have read in school' category

And as far as the 'a book I've read before' category ~ at least three that I can recall so I'm considering that category done!

I'm currently reading You Learn by Living by Eleanor Roosevelt which was recommended by Anne the Modern Mrs Darcy herself and while she is not a bookseller; she is my favorite resource for book tips so once I finish the book I'm considering that category done.

I know I have a couple tough categories still to go but am feeling good about my progress and having some fun picking books.

Anyone else doing the challenge?
How is your year going?

Open Book ~ May 2016

O Pioneers by Willa Cather was my pick for the category "a book I should I have read in high school"  in this year's Modern Mrs Darcy reading challenge ~ and I'm so glad I did.

Cather's story of a Swedish family seeking to make a go of homesteading on the Nebraska prairies led by the level headed daughter after their father's death is lovely; filled with successes and failures, of people being kind to each other and people not. The writing is compelling and draws you in but doesn't overwhelm you as the various characters make their revelations slowly and with due deliberation.

While currently my TBR list is long I am now curious about this author's other works and will no doubt be back before too long.

Please now head over to Carolyn's for more Open Book!

Open Book on Wednesday ~ March 2nd

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh: A story of England 'between the wars' and one mans connection with a Catholic family. Charles Ryder meets Sebastian Flyte at Oxford and spends the next twenty years entangled with one member or another of the family.  It is beautifully written both in description and dialogue but overall was a bit too cynical for me.  I find it interesting that it was apparently written shortly after Waugh's conversion to Catholicism as the faith is overall not presented in a very positive light. Leaving me to wonder if he was perhaps working through some ambivalence


These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer: As any reader of this blog knows I've been a fan of Heyer for several years but for whatever reason this book had not come my way.  Having now read it I can see why it is credited with launching the author. It is wonderful; filled with her usual mix of biting humor, outrageous supporting characters and plenty of misdirection. Set in the Georgian period, about twenty years before the Regency she often writes of, it was interesting to see the ease with travel between England and France you don't see in later books due to the Napoleonic War.

Screw-tape Letters by C.S. Lewis: this is my current read/nearly done book. Had heard about this book of letters from senior demon Screwtape to his young nephew Wormtape for many years and it is as fun and weird as I expected. It took a bit of time to get use to the bad is good, the Enemy is Jesus plot line but have really enjoyed this book and am glad I decided to read it this Lent.




All three fulfill categories of the Modern Mrs.Darcy challenge this year.  Old Shades was written before I was born. I'm not sure which of Brideshead or Screwtape I was more intimidated by and as I wanted to read them both I'm considering both of those categories done and not worrying by which book.

Now please head over to Carolyn's for more Open Book

Reading recap and looking forward

I will with a bit of luck finish the book I selected for the final category of MMD's 2015 reading challenge later this week; Snowflake Bay a book I choose for its cover and that it was set in Maine at Christmas time as that was where I too was spending Christmas.

Good not great with decent dialogue but I found the plotting slow and the chemistry between the hero and heroine a bit forced. Plus the book kept referring to a city as being in Rhode Island that I know to be in New Hampshire.

Looking forward Modern Mrs Darcy is hosting another reading challenge this year and I'm signing up again. Starting off with Brideshead Revisited for the Book that Intimidates Me category and I have ideas for a couple of the other categories feel like the categories leaves room for me to discover some books along the way.

Speaking of reading challenges; Lisbeth's grade was again challenged to read 40 books over the course of the school year. However unlike last year where it was a tough slog this year she is doing amazing and is already over halfway done and having fun discovering different genres.  As part of the challenge she needs to read 10 non-fiction books and so far 4 of the 5 she read are about dinosaurs.  That's my Lisbeth!!

What are you reading these days?
Anyone else joining the reading challenge?

Quick Takes #196: Advent Happenings

1. After a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with family where good food was shared and the kids had a great time with their cousins; we headed home and are jumping on the Advent train.
2. Actually started letting the kids open windows on their calendar on Sunday when we lit the first candle on the Advent wreath.  We always forget a night here and there ~ and now we are already ahead a night or two.
3. We are again using the prayers from Welcome Baby Jesus by Sarah Reinhard when we light the Advent wreath candles. Except this year Lisbeth is reading the prayers!!!
4. Check these excellent posts on Advent observances in these 'in the trench' days: 
5. Have started the two books in the last two categories I need to read to complete the Modern Mrs Darcy reading challenge. Am not sure that I will be able to finish both this month but am proud of myself with sticking with and meeting the challenge. 
6. Liam is a camel in his school's Christmas Play; I'm a bit disappointed it not a lobster. Name the movie :)
7. Plans for the weekend includes a bit more decorating and getting together with friends and perhaps the first fire of the season.

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's

WWRW: September 2nd

Between Heaven and Mirth by Fr. James Martin SJ is an interesting look at how joy, humor and laughter intersects between everyday life and our prayer life. I found the beginning dry and slow-going though in fairness Martin does a good job defining terms and explaining the role humor has played in various religious traditions. Once the focus shifted onto how to better incorporate joy and happiness into our lives today I enjoyed it much more. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Thessalonians.  While I thought not good as his earlier My Life with the Saints; I am glad I read it and may from time to time re-read portions.



The Grand Tour by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevemer is the sequel to Sorcery and Cecilia and picks up where the first left off with our two heroines leaving with their new husbands on a grand tour/honeymoon. While this book isn't quite as memorable as Sorcery and Cecelia, I still really enjoyed it. The characters are still charming and the dialogue funny.  The way the plot moves is different than its predecessor, and not as suspenseful at least to me.  Cecy's entries are part of an official document she must write, while Kate's entries are from her personal journal; these two styles tie together very well but I missed Cecy's reflections on marriage and her improving magic skills.  There is apparently a third book to the series which I will likely hunt up at some point.

The Fallen Man by Tony Hillerman was my selection of a book from a genre I don't usually read for the MMD book challenge.  Contemporary mysteries are still not my 'thing' but I will admit that my husband choose a good one for me and I may even ask him for another recommendation from the series.  The series in general follows the police work of Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Police Force; in this book he is recently retired but teams up with the newly promoted Lt. Jim Chee when the skeleton of a decade old missing person is found.  The pace of the plotting was good and I enjoyed the many references to the different Native American cultures found in the Four Corners region of Arizona and Colorado.





Now please head over to Housewifespice for more WWRW

WWRW August 5th

A Town like Alice  by Nevil Shute; I read this as part of the MMD challenge for the category 'a book my mom love' only to find out later that she loves the movie but can't remember if she has ever read the book. Well I have now and really enjoyed it. It's actually three books in one.
A young Englishwoman receives an inheritance and tells the story of her experiences in WWII in Malaya where she was a POW of the Japanese with a group of women and children who trekked from one camp to another and another.  She decides to use part of her inheritance to thank the village women who gave her group shelter when they were left stranded after their last guard died.
She reminisces about another POW, an Australian who is driving a truck, who helped her group with stolen food, soap, and medicine. Their deepening relationship is built on small telling details that grab your heart.
    Sgt Joe Harmon is the kind of hero you'll love and remember for the rest of your life.
After her stay with the Malayan women, Jean decides to visit the outback town where Joe had lived; small and rough, with nothing to offer its young people, nothing at all like Alice Springs, a thriving boomtown. Her story here would be a completely satisfying romance novel by itself.  All of those is told from the perspective of an elderly lawyer back in England who serves as the major trustee to the trust set-up surrounding her inheritance.

Historical aside: This is a work of fiction but based on the actual events that took place on Sumatra during WWII.

Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevemer; I received this book for my birthday and I have already hit up the giver to see if she had the sequel (which she did and I'm happily taking on vacation).  This is a delightful regency mystery told in a series of letters exchanged between two cousins one attending the Season in London and one back at home with just a bit of magic and wizardary thrown in. Sweet, funny, well paced with just the right about of suspense and trepidation thrown in.

Currently reading Fr James Martin's Between Heaven and Mirth, more on which I will say next time.

Now please head over to Jessica's for more WWRW.