A Study in Scarlet Women. Finished 5-3-19, 4/5 stars, mystery, pub.

Unabridged audio

Lady Sherlock #1

With her inquisitive mind, Charlotte Holmes has never felt comfortable with the demureness expected of the fairer sex in upper class society.  But even she never thought that she would become a social pariah, an outcast fending for herself on the mean streets of London.

When the city is struck by a trio of unexpected deaths and suspicion falls on her sister and her father, Charlotte is desperate to find the true culprits and clear the family name. She’ll have help from friends new and old—a kind-hearted widow, a police inspector, and a man who has long loved her. But in the end, it will be up to Charlotte, under the assumed name Sherlock Holmes, to challenge society’s expectations and match wits against an unseen mastermind.   from Goodreads

What a fun twist on a story everyone already knows.  The iconic Sherlock Holmes, whether from the classic books, movies, or TV shows is one of those rare characters that has thrived in the minds of the public for over 100 years.  After reading this I went back and did a little case study on Sherlock and am interested in reading his first book, A Study in Scarlet.  I’ve only read one of his books and am curious now for more.

Charlotte is a woman who knows her own mind and she’s not going to let her parents ruin the future she wants for herself.  When her father backs out of a deal they had made Charlotte takes matters into her own hands and disgraces herself in the process.  Now, as society shuns her she must find a way to support herself.  Enter Mrs. Watson, a widow in need of a companion, who offers her not only a home, but a business plan. “Sherlock Holmes” sets up shop.  As an old friend acts as her liaison to Scotland Yard, Charlotte wades her way into a series of murders that she tried to connect for the sake of her family.

There were a lot of characters and a lot of storylines happening and it was  a little confusing at times, especially because I was listening and not reading, but it all managed to come together in the end.  I liked the personal stories of Charlotte, her unattainable man, Mr. Ingram, and the various secondary characters that will no doubt show up in the rest of the series.  The mystery ended up being several mysteries and it came together brilliantly, even if disturbing.  I loved the narration so I’ve already downloaded the second book of the series.

My One and Only. Finished 4-25-20, 4/5 stars, romance, 379 pages, pub. 2011

Divorce attorney Harper James can’t catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister’s destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she’s being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiancé back at home is not likely to be sympathetic.

Harper can’t help that Nick has come blazing back into her life in all of his frustratingly appealing, gorgeous architect glory. But in Nick’s eyes, Harper’s always been the one. If they can only get it right this time, forever might be waiting—just around the bend.     from Goodreads

Harper has a hunky boyfriend, a coveted house overlooking the beach, and a successful career as a divorce attorney.  Just as she’s trying to propose to hunky boyfriend her step sister calls with the news that she’s marrying Harper’s ex-husband’s brother.  Hunky boyfriend comes in handy in these situations as they head to Montana for the wedding that Harper hopes doesn’t take place.

This is not your normal romance.  Yes, there’s first love never forgotten,  regret and steamy scenes, but there is also heartbreak, divorce, strange family ties and a hero and heroine not quite like the others.  I didn’t care for Harper for awhile and my issues with ex-hubby Nick remained, BUT the book had its charm and the last few chapters were top-notch.  I like the way that Higgins dealt with the parents and their issues in this book.  For me, that where the heart was.

Higgins, as always, entertains while touching your heart.

The Art of the Handwritten Note. Finished 4-17-20, 3/5 stars, reference, 153 pages, pub. 2002

For those who enjoy writing notes, or those who value doing so but find themselves intimidated by the task, acclaimed calligrapher Margaret Shepherd has created both an epistolary tribute and rescue manual. Just as you cherish receiving personal mail, you can take pleasure in crafting correspondence. Love, gratitude, condolences, congratulations–for every emotion and occasion, a snippet of heartfelt prose is included, sure to loosen the most stymied letter writer.  from Goodreads

Civilized, stolen right from the title, is the perfect work for this letter writing reference.  Shepherd starts with the why of a personal, handwritten note and during these crazy times of social distancing I think we all can agree that a heartfelt note in the mailbox can really brighten your day.  Gage and I made crafty heart cards for all of our neighbors on the street and spread some love closer to home.  It’s a great time to pick up a pen and paper and practice your cursive skills.

There’s quite a bit of time spent on the paper to choose, the different kinds of pens, and how to improve your handwriting before she gets into the nitty-gritty of what to say.  I liked reading about what to say and what not to say, but the whole thing felt a little bit tone deaf in 2020.  I picked this up at the library book sale a few months ago and it was a good time to read it.