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A Trace of Deceit
Smoke swirling around the darkened doorstep creating mysterious shadows. A carriage racing down the uneven cobblestone street creating a sense of urgency. The distant echoing of the lamplighter’s steps fading into eerie silence. A sudden and unexplained murder. Yes, please! After reading Diane Freeman’s newest novel (and thoroughly enjoying it), I thought maybe I needed to start exploring the world of Victorian mystery. I opened up my email and saw a message asking if I would like to review A Trace of Deceit by Karen Odden. It was an offer too tempting to resist. I am now officially a Victorian mystery lover! A Trace of Deceit is itself a painting…
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Flirtation and Folly
Marianne Mowbrey is a responsible country rector’s daughter who longs for the novelty and excitement she reads about in novels. When her crusty Aunt Harriet agrees to give her a Season in London, Marianne vows to dazzle the world, win a husband, and never go home again. But the Londoners who determine social success are inclined to pass over plain Marianne in favor of her beautiful, reckless younger sister. In a world of ambition, fashion, flattery, and deceit, how can Marianne stay true to her real self—when she is not even sure what that real self is? FLIRTATION AND FOLLYBY ELIZABETH RASCHE Publication Date: November 10, 2020Quills and Quartos PublishingPaperback & eBook;…
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Reading Recommendations
I have had a greatly reading streak of late. Don’t you just love it when you segue from one good book to another! There are just so many great books out there to read. Here are quick reviews of a couple of my favorites from the last few weeks. Heartbreakingly beautiful, A Wilful Misunderstanding is a reminder that love is never easy but true love is always worth fighting for. A Wilful Misunderstanding: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Amy D’Orazio My rating: 5 of 5 stars A heartwrenching story that leaves you wondering… can love truly conquer all? From the first few chapters of the story, I was hooked!…
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Miracle Creek Christmas
Did you finish watching all of your Christmas in July Hallmark movies and are looking for your next sweet romance guilty pleasure? Miracle Creek Christmas is just what you need! When Riley Madigan moves to the sleepy mountain town of Miracle Creek, she hopes her new job as a high school art teacher will help her mend her recently broken heart. A little peace and quiet would be a gift this Christmas season. The last thing on her mind is love. Former firefighter Mark Rivers has spent the last year recovering from burns sustained during a rescue operation. He’s been trying to piece his life back together but still struggles…
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The Bachelor Duke
Move over Mr. Darcy, there is a new moody man in town! Who can resist a man who thinks he doesn’t want to marry? Remington Warren is everything you want in a romantic hero. Grumpy, moody, resistant to love -falling in love with the heroine at first sight. Typically I’m not a fan of love-at-first-sight tropes, but Cecilia does a great job showing character growth that makes it seem believable. I really enjoyed this debut novel written by Cecilia Rene. If there was ever a heroine I could identify with, it is Lady Olivia St. John. She loves to read and eat sweet. We are meant to be BFF’s! There…
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Bronte’s Mistress
One of the most heartbreakingly honest books I have ever read depicting the life of a Victorian woman. I must admit that I had my reservations about reading Bronte’s Mistress because I had heard from my friends that it doesn’t end in neatly wrapped up happily ever after -which is true. While it is an emotionally difficult book to read, it is so beautifully written that I could not put it down. Anyone interest in Victorian-era life needs to grab this book. It gives such a unique perspective into the suffocating life that so many Victorian women were forced to lead. Yorkshire, 1843: Lydia Robinson—mistress of Thorp Green Hall—has lost…
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The Memory House
Welcome! Today I am excited to share with you an excerpt from Jenetta James new release, The Memory House. This is a book that I have been much looking forward to! The Memory House Chapter 3, Pages 35-36 Kitty swept into her father’s library and peered around. It was an enormous room, standing upon almost half of the ground floor of the house, yet it always felt crowded with objects. Unlike the fashionable libraries of many gentlemen, it was not arranged to showcase the owner’s education and scholastic achievements. There were books aplenty, but they were not there to impress others―nor would Sir Roland have invited outsiders to peruse them.…
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Regency Pen Pals
In her book Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert says, “I believe that inspiration will always try its best to work with you– but if you are not ready or available, it make indeed choose to leave you…” The other morning while out for a walk the day was magical. As we lazily made our way down the path, the birds were singing, the crickets were chirping, then suddenly -I had a Big Magic moment. What if authors that I enjoy were to write letters for their fans to get to know them -but Regency style? I don’t know about you, but I was (and still am) pretty excited about this idea.…
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The Shop Around The Corner With The Beauty Library
One of the reasons I chose the name Probably at the Library is that, to me, it gives a feeling of wanting to learn. A library is a place of empowering yourself with limitless knowledge. Since my early thirties, I have been interested in learning more about clean beauty. When my mom was diagnosed with cancer, I became hyper-aware of what ingredients were going in and on my body. It was while I was making a change to clean beauty that I realized you don’t need to sacrifice results with more natural ingredients. In fact, my skin is happier than it has ever been. One day on Instagram, I stumbled…
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A Lady’s Guide To Mischief And Murder
It’s no surprise that I’m pretty dedicated to reading historical romance, but I was feeling like I needed to shake things up a bit this summer. What better way to do that than with… a murder! Growing up my mom was a dedicated Murder She Wrote and Masterpiece Mystery fan. I remember laying in bed with the lights out, only able to faintly hear the tv in the living room. The swaying shadows on my bedroom wall from the trees outside, moaning sound effects from the show faintly making their way down the hall, and my very vivid nine-year-old imagination always got the best of me. (Seriously, those howling wind…
