Stories for Mothers and Daughters Anthology 🥰👩🏻📘👧🏻🧡

 A new favorite British Library Women Writers title!! 😍❤️💜💙🧡

"From forthright mothers and very modern daughters to the quiet dreamers on either side of the generational divide, this anthology sketches a joyous, fraught and ultimately tender portrait of mother-daughter relationships throughout the twentieth century. It brings together the talents of Richmal Crompton, Sylvia Townsend Warner, Jeanette Winterson, Jamaica Kincaid, A.S. Byatt, Inez Holden, Winifred Holtby, Maeve Brennan, E.M. Delafield, and Tillie Olsen to embrace the mother-daughter bond in all its lovely, imperfect forms." —from the back cover of Stories for Mothers and Daughters

Although my top favorite in the series so far is probably still O, The Brave Music by Dorothy Evelyn Smith, Stories for Mothers and Daughters is certainly a super close second. In my top three is also Lady Living Alone by Nora Lofts.

I'm not sure if it's because I love the theme of mothers and daughters (since I am both!) or because these short stories are just brilliant. But, either way, I seriously LOVED this new addition to the Women Writers collection. 

Rating: 5🌟

Short stories are such a joy for me because my brain wanders easily and short stories (and, also short chapters) help to my interest fresh and steady. I also find it fun and interesting to have a "taste" of authors I've never read before.

In this collection, I hadn't read any books by most of the authors, so it was such a treat.  Although I truly enjoyed all of the stories, these are my favorites (in order of preference):

❤️ Week-End by Richmal Crompton
❤️ The Battle-Field by Phyllis Bottome 
❤️ The End of the Fairy Tale by Maud Egerton King
❤️ The Silver Cloak by Winifred Holtby
❤️ Mothers and Daughters by Frances Gray Patton
❤️ The Shadow of Kindness by Maeve Brennan 
❤️ History Again Repeats Itself by E.M. Delafield

Love the color of the French flaps—so vibrant!

Overall, I'm over-the-moon excited about this British Library short story collection. Every one in the series so far has been super good. Many thanks to the British Library for sending me this book to read and review! Reading this anthology brought me so much happiness and caused me to be very thoughtful about my relationships to my mother and my daughter.

Stories for Mothers and Daughters is definitely a must-have for fans of British literature, women writers and domestic fiction...any mothers and daughters. 

Tell me friends, which is YOUR favorite British Library Women Writers book? Do you have a few books or the entire collection? I'm dying to know! 

Keep an eye out for upcoming reviews of The Tree of Heaven by May Sinclair, Dangerous Ages by Rose Macauley, and one more British Library Women Writers title! 🤩

Wishing you the most wonderful day and happy reading!! 💕🌸🤗🌸💕

___________________________________________________________________

POSSIBLE SPOILER: I don't want to say much about each of the stories because I think it would spoil your enjoyment of them. So, I'll just share a few feelings/thoughts on each of the stories:

Week-End: breathless energy, riding the waves and finally relaxation and sweetness

Maternal Devotion: a little chuckle

The Value of Being Seen: confusion, ethereal, slightly abstract 

Psalms: stubborn, hint of religion, doing what mother says

The End of the Fairy Tale: initial selfishness, devotion, joy, loving choices 

The Pictures: being grateful for the little things, mindful of the present moment

The Silver Cloak: jealousy, understanding, maturity, allowing someone else to have the limelight

History Repeats Itself: modern and independent vs. old fashioned ideas during holiday season

Mothers and Daughters: disappointment, frustration,  growing up, nostalgia

The Shadow of Kindness: haunting, strangely comforting

Rose-Colored Teacups: thoughtfulness, imagination, memories

Life is Not a Pie: unconventional relationships, unsettling feelings, love is love 

The Battle-Field: healing, anxiety and hope

The Step Mother: eagerness, disgust, keeping up appearances

My Mother: abstract, transformation, connection

It's strange how the first story was my favorite and the last was my least favorite 🤔 But, perhaps that was on purpose? Let me know your thoughts on these stories, if you've read them!

My Manderley Press Collection! 🤩📚🌈✨

I’m finally sharing my small but lovely Manderley Press Book Collection!

After buying and reading this enchanting feature in 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 magazine about Rebeka’s home and publishing journey, I was in awe and very much inspired! (Such a gorgeous magazine, too.)

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MANDERLEY PRESS BOOKS:
🌟 Absolutely breathtaking cover art
🌟 Exquisitely constructed
🌟 Topics that are incredibly interesting and/or unique
🌟 Excellent and personal customer service
🌟 A joy to hold and collect!

One day, I hope to own ALL of these beautiful books!! For now, I’m super excited to read Tales from London Town!!

 The Armourer's House by Rosemary Sutcliff 5🌟

China Court by Rumer Godden 3.5🌟 

The House in Cornwall by Noel Streatfeild 4.5🌟

Much love to Rebeka at Manderley Press for sending adorable bookmarks, postcards, and notes to me. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate her generosity and bookish friendship! ☺️💙📘

Do you have a favorite book from Manderley Press? (Mine, so far, is The Armourer's House.)

Happy Wednesday, awesome friends! 💕🌸🤗🌸💕

Love this magazine!

 

 

 

What a great pic of Rebeka!

She has such a beautiful home!!

Luckier Than Most - NEW Dean Street Press Autobiography! 🤩🎬🎩

Woo! Today, I'm celebrating the debut of Dean Street Press' newest book—Luckier Than Most by David Tomlinson! 🥳❤️✨

If you're in the mood for a mannerly memoir with a sprinkle of marvelous old Hollywood movie magic, you will love the musings of this modest and multi-talented man!

A surprisingly enjoyable read!

I have to admit that I was a bit wary (and also nervous) to read this book. I have very little knowledge of the old Hollywood scene in general and I only recognized David Tomlinson as "the father from Mary Poppins" and "the magician from Bedknobs and Broomsticks".

So, after reading the first couple of chapters, I was scared that I wouldn't be able to keep reading. Oh, no!! (Not because of the DT's writing style, but because I felt completely and utterly out of my depth.)

I tend to feel overwhelmed by any book (fiction or non-fiction) that starts off by describing a lot of people/characters who I know nothing about. I try scratching out a rough family tree on a piece of scrap paper for reference and then I end up in despair. [Plus, the only pre-1970s British actors I'm familiar with have been from Agatha Christie (or Alfred Hitchcock) movies. I might recognize a face, but not always a name.]

But, after a helpful suggestion from Caro to do a Google search of the name of an actor/director/movie as I read, I began to feel more invested in Luckier Than Most. I was able to match faces with names and that was a turning point. (Thanks, Caro!!) Once I past the halfway mark, I was considerably more interested and flew through the rest of the autobiography.

Things I Truly Admire About David Tomlinson:

• Extraordinary ability to adapt to stressful and difficult situations
• Sense of humor, loyalty and affection for his friends and family
• Skill at being polite in even the most challenging circumstances
  
• Continuing zest for life...from humble beginnings in a small, windowless room near Charing Cross  looking for any sort of acting job to owning his own property in the country after years of theatrical success.

Favorite Parts From the Book:

• "Often Julie Andrews, a new mother, took me under her wing as well. She cooked for me while I occasionally held the baby."
• "On my birthday, May 7th, 1960, Audrey presented me with our third son—an especially beautiful, especially perfect little boy." (My daughter, Rose, was also born on May 7th!)
• When Walt Disney assisted in bringing in a consultant for David and Audrey's third child for possible deafness (which he did not have).
• Finding the best person to aid his autistic son when professionals were discouraging and unhelpful.
• Wonderful photographs in two sections of the book.
  

My Favorite Quotes From the Book:

"I spent six months at a recruit depot at Caterham where to say the discipline was rigid would be like saying the Equator is quite warm or that the monsoon season brings light showers to the tropics."

"'Lie down, ' she shouted, throwing herself to the ground. I was wearing a new suit. Not in this suit, I thought to myself. I dragged her to her feet and we continued on our way."

"They were exuberant company although I resisted their attempts to get me to accompany them to observe an amputation. What I needed was a job, not nausea."

"Perhaps the most important thing I learned was that the vital thing an actor must have is courage....Not yesterday, not tomorrow—but now."

"When asked , "Is that an Oscar?", I always say, "No, better!" (Referring to when David received an 'Eddy'—an award given by the American Cinema Editors for the best debut in a US film. )

This is not a book I would normally choose to read, but lovely Victoria (Director of the Dean Street Press Ltd. team) thought I would enjoy it. And she was right! Now, I have the urge to watch more of David Tomlinson's movies. I'm pretty sure my dear friend Caro would be happy to watch one his movies on our crochet/movie date night! 😁🧶📺

Overall, I really appreciated learning about DT's life. It completely changed my view of him— in the most positive way. Reading about the human being behind the actor is a powerful thing. I very much encourage you to give this book a try!

It's time to get your copy!!

Please check out Caro's excellent and thoughtful review of this book on her website and on Instagram.

Many thanks to DSP for sending me an advance copy of this book to read and review! I'm almost always reading a Dean Street Press book and they never fail to delight me in some way. Yay! 😍

Let me know in the comments which David Tomlinson movie is your favorite 😁

Happy Reading, Friends!! 💕🌸🤗🌸💕

 

Flavia de Luce #11 Book Review! 👧🏻📙🔍☠️🧪

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley 🤩

A gem!! I forgot how much I love this character created by Alan Bradley!

Book Rating: 4.5🌟 

Oh, what an amazing addition to the series! I've read at least six books so far and I was in love from the very beginning. Flavia de Luce is the most charming and hilarious character. 

It's impossible not to be charmed by her youth, awkward nerdiness, sharp intelligence and overactive mind. Although I was classified as "nerdy" in high school for my love of mathematics, I don't think I have even a quarter of her talented and brilliant mind.

Following Flavia, her sisters, her kooky cousin Undine, helpful Mrs. Mullet and loyal Dogger was such a treat. You never knew what will happen next! But, that's the beauty of this mystery series. The country village of Bishop's Lacy was also wonderful to come back to, especially because it takes place in the 1950s (one of my favorite time periods).

I love everything about this book...such a gorgeous edition!

Overall, I loved the pacing, the plot and all of the seemingly random (but also very clever) details sprinkled throughout the narrative. I found myself slightly overwhelmed at times because there was so much going on, but it was for the very best reasons. Plus, the ending was perfect.

Now, I need to go back and read 7-10!!

Many thanks to Penguin Random House Publishing for sending me this book to read and review! I can't wait to read the next in the series! 😍❤️

So many amazing titles!! One of my absolute FAV mystery series!

 

Love Comes Home by Molly Clavering 👩🏻🏡🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💖

Happy Furrowed Middlebrow Friday and Happy Valentine's Day, Friends!! 😍❤️📕💝

Before I share my review of this lovely book (spoiler! 😂), I'd love to know—What's your favorite thing to do on Valentine's Day? Is it spending the day alone doing everything you love to do, going out with your favorite person/best friend/partner, or just hanging out with family and furry friends?

Last weekend, Ian and I had an early romantic Valentine's Day and it was so awesome! Here's what we did:

• Morning at a Favorite Coffee Shop - Vanilla latte with almond milk for Ian and Chai latte with almond milk and coconut for me...mmmm.
• Daily Sketchbook Practice - Creating patterns and art (See photo below!)
• Antique Shopping - So much fun! Ian found a vintage comic book and I came home with pink balloon animal earrings...not vintage...lol.
• Nepalese Dinner Date - I love Dunbar Square in Portsmouth, New Hampshire! I always get the vegan sweet potato chili with basmati rice and it's sooo delicious!
  
• Late Night Movie - This late 1800s Music Hall used to be a Victorian theater and is absolutely gorgeous inside. I love seeing movies there! The velvet seats and unique bathrooms are so fancy! Unfortunately, the movie was a gore fest and I was more than slightly traumatized (eeek!) If you're a sensitive person, do not see this film! 

Cat Head Lady inspired by the art of Terry Runyan and her Painting Happiness book!

Anyway, on to the book review!!!

4🌟 It's always a joy to read a Molly Clavering novel, especially in the Dean Street Press Furrowed Middlebrow edition!

This book centers around the Cranstoun family of Scotland and, specifically, the daughters of the family...Jane and Love. Jane is a thoughtful, dependable and careful young lady who is in the middle of a sticky situation with two young men, "Perry" and John. Peregrine Gilbert is shy, unsociable and nature-loving political man who buys the property next door to Sir Mangus and Lady Cranstoun. John Marsh is a flirty, charming and passionate friend of Jane's friends, Kitty and George (who live in England).

Love is Jane's younger sister just returning from finishing school. She is willful, self-centered, immature and lively, but also very likable and beautiful. Love decides to make her own plans for Jane's love life—with possibly dire results.

This story is a mixture of witty conversations, misunderstandings, jealousy, gossip and young love. Although this type of situation usually makes me feel very frustrated, I really liked Love Comes Home. There was a bit too much nature description for me (some of it went on for more than a page)— I find it hard to picture in my mind landscapes and plants that are unknown to me. But, I still adore Molly Clavering's writing and this novel totally charmed me!

Many thanks to my new book friend and Instagram cheerlader, Chelcy (@cbstutzman on Instagram), for buddy reading this book with me. 😍❤️ We had such a nice chat on Wednesday night about this book and tons of other fun topics. I hope we'll get to read and discuss another cozy book soon! 🤞🏼🤞🏼

I only have Yoked with a Lamb left to read and then I'll have read all of the republished novels by DSP. Yay! I'll definitely read through all of them again next year. They're just SO GOOD! Highly recommended author!!

Do you love Molly Clavering's books as much as I do? Let me know in the comments!

All my love to you!! 💕❄️🤗❄️💕 

 

Under the Rainbow by Susan Scarlett 😍❤️🌈📗

Happy Furrowed Middlebrow Friday, Friends!! 🤩🌟📚

So excited to share this review of Under the Rainbow by Susan Scarlett! 

Book Rating: 5🌟

Sheer delight!! Susan Scarlett (aka Noel Streatfeild) does it again with another wonderful light and cozy romance novel. From the very beginning of the book, I was invested in this head-in-the-clouds vicar, Martin Richards, and his new parish in the village of Saltings. Everything about Under the Rainbow is appealing (even horrible Aunt Connie and the very clingy widow Lady Blacke) because of the sunshine-y personality and practical goodness of the lovely Judith Griffiths.

It was a joy reading about Judith's integration into the Richards family as a caretaker for Martin's newly orphaned niece Polly and nephew Andrew. She's the type of person who would bring peace, happiness, good sense and organization to any home. Seeing how she maneuvers her way around the nasty mind of Aunt Connie and the jealous tendencies of the wealthy Lady Blacke is brilliant (although, also sad in some ways, too).

I don't want to say too much because the journey from the beginning to the end of this charming book is such a treat. Though I felt anger at the meanness and frustration for selfishness, I found myself mostly surrounded by the warmth, love and understanding created by the rest of the characters. There is a level of depth to this seemingly light novel that really stays with you long after you finish reading.

I adore books that leave me with a feeling of  hope and inspire me to be a better person—and also to seek out more friends like Judith. Under the Rainbow was <i>absolutely</i> this type of book.

I'm very grateful to Susan of the Girls in White Dresses blog for inspiring me to finally read this book that I'd been saving on my shelf for months!! This is definitely a new favorite Susan Scarlett book!

Many, many thanks to Dean Street Press Ltd. for republishing so many of Susan Scarlett's books. I've been loving them so much! I can't wait to read (and buy!) more of her books on my DSP shelf—yay!

SUSAN SCARLETT BOOK RATINGS: 

(Click on each title to read my full review—more to come!)

Babbacombe's 4.5🌟

Clothes-Pegs 4🌟

Sally-Ann 4.5🌟

I'm off on a trip down south for a family celebration and I'm extra excited because I'll be able to visit one of my very first Bookstagram friends, Marjorie (@marjoriepaper)! Yippppeeee!! 

We've only met in person once, but it was such a fun day of lunch and book shopping that we're going to do it again this time. 🥳💜🍽🛍📚 Even though we chat at least once a month about so many fun things (books, crafts, kids, oracle/tarot, fountain pens, etc.), it'll be amazing to see her beautiful face in person. 😍

Marjorie and I in January 2023

Wishing you the loveliest and most enjoying book-reading week, friends! Thinking of you and thank you for all the comments and love on Instagram. It means so much to me!!! 

P.S. I'm hoping to reach 2K followers by the end of the year 🤞🏼🤞🏼 If you have other bookish friends that might like my account, please consider sharing it with them. Thank you!!! 🥰❤️📕

 

 

 

Vintage Barbie Book Collection! 👱🏻‍♀️🎀💙📚✨

This Christmas, I finally completed my vintage Barbie book collection thanks to awesome Ian and my parents! Yay!! 🥳💜

My Vintage Barbie Book Shelfie!

Ian found me a very affordable (and lovely) edition of Barbie's Easy-as-Pie Cookbook on eBay and it’s SOOO cute! The illustrations and recipes are adorable. This is one of my new favorite vintage cookbooks and, bonus, the cookbook actually has a mini story as an introduction to each recipe section. They're super fun to read!

My 2025 journal, knitting and this sweet Easy-as-Pie Barbie Cookbook!

Breakfast Tips!

Love the duotone illustrations!

Such cute chapter intros!

Sounds like a yummy punch!

Also, I’d been searching for the Ghost Town Mystery book for at least a few years. Even if I glimpsed a copy somewhere out in the wacky world wide web, it was snatched up before I even had a chance to look at the listing. 😭

Yipppeee!! The Ghost Town Mystery is finally in my hands!

When I DID manage to find copies of this book (or the Easy-as-Pie Cookbook) for sale, vendors were asking no less than $100-$150 (even in terrible condition) 😩

But, one day after the holidays, I just happened to be on Thrift Books and I saw this hard-to-find book listed for only $25! I couldn’t believe it (whaaa???? 😱), but I bought it immediately (using Christmas money from my mom and dad). I seriously did not think it would axtually arrive, but it did! And, it was in great condition. BEST DAY EVER! 😍❤️

Even though I’ve only read a few books in my collection so far, they’ve all been really good—with much better writing than you’d expect from a middle grade chapter book based on a popular doll of the time. 

Vintage Astronaut Barbie, Barbie Comics and Barbie Books!

I can’t tell you how happy I am to finally have them all! Woooo! 🥳💜

BOOK RATINGS:

• Here's Barbie 3.5🌟
  
• Barbie's New York Summer 4.5🌟
  
• Barbie's Candy-Striped Summer 3.5🌟
  
• Barbie's Easy-As-Pie Cookbook 4.5🌟

It's funny because I've not only been to New York in the summer (at least a few times), but I was also a candy striper when I was young and, now, my work is writing articles (and occasionally creating recipes) for a very popular vegan food blog (which is essentially an online cookbook). Isn't that cool? Maybe someday I'll have a fashion success, solve a mystery, visit Hawaii and perhaps be on television (though, if you count YouTube as television—like this What's in My Purse video—I already am!) 😂😂

9/13 Barbie Series Book Collection

VINTAGE BARBIE SERIES LIST: 

Characters include: Barbie Millicent Roberts, Ken Carson, Midge Hadley and Allan Sherwood. Published from 1962-1965.

1. Here's Barbie by Bette Lou Maybee/Cynthia Lawrence
2. Barbie's Fashion Success by Bette Lou Maybee
3. Barbie's New York Summer by Cynthia Lawrence
4. Barbie & Ken by Cynthia Lawrence
5. Barbie Solves a Mystery by Cynthia Lawrence
6. Barbie's Hawaiian Holiday by Bette Lou Maybee
7. Barbie's Secret by Eleanor K. Woolvin
8. Barbie in Television by Marianne Duest
9. Barbie, Midge & Ken by Cynthia Lawrence
10. Barbie's Candy-Striped Summer by Eleanor K. Woolvin 
11. Barbie and the Ghost Town Mystery by Eleanor K. Woolvin
12. Barbie's Easy-as-Pie Cookbook by Cynthia Lawrence
13. The World of Barbie by Cynthia Lawrence/Bette Lou Maybee (this is a compilation of the first three books in one volume)
    

Although I don't own The World of Barbie, I do own the first three books. I'm very undecided whether I should purchase this last book or not. What do you think? 

The eBay vendor sent me this vintage peignoir as a surprise gift with my book!

Many thumbs up to Random House for publishing such fantastic books in the 1960s! I think Lil of @lilsvintageworld would really love these books, too!

Let me know if you loved Barbie growing up (my little sister Kim and I did!!) and if you collect any vintage Barbies or Barbie books!

My little sister, Kimberly, and young ME! (approx. 1977 or 1978)

Many January hugs!! 💕❄️🤗❄️💕

Here are more pics of my vintage Barbie/Barbie Book collection! 🤩

Vintage Astronaut Barbie and Comics! I loved Astronaut Barbie!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of astronauts...did I tell you that I went to Space Camp when I was 15 and also first attended college with a major in Aerospace Engineering? I switched to Mathematics, but I still loved my time at Space Camp/Academy. Here I am wearing my flight suit from 1988—it still fits!

Love this vintage Barbie case I found on Facebook Marketplace!

Not a great story (lol), but really fun to listen to and such a great cover!

Victorian Elegance Barbie I found at a flea market for $5!

Vintage Barbie Book Stack!

Favorite 24+ Books of 2024! 🤩🌟🎉📖

Happy January, Friends!!! 

I wish I could give you all the biggest New Year's hug 🤗🤗 Grab a cup of tea (or fav beverage) and a little treat (wish I could share my homemade cranberry orange scone with you!) and let's get caught up with favorite books!

I had another awesome reading year with 241 books under my book belt - woo-hoo! 🥳 Here are the books that brought me the MOST JOY last year 🥰   

Find all of my Goodreads reviews HERE! 

REPUBLISHED BOOKS

🌟You know how much I love out-of-print books that are brought back to life by amazing new publishers. These Dean Street Press Furrowed Middlebrow, British Library Women Writers and Manderley Press books stole my heart this year! Every single Ruby Ferguson book I read was a 5 star rating and I can't wait to read the last two Molly Clavering books in my collection.

NON-FICTION BOOKS 

 🌟 I love reading memoirs, almanacs, nature journals and finding favorite quotes. These books were absolutely wonderful and lovely to read before bed. Month-by-month books are my favorites—The Shape of a Year by Jean Hersey is now a new all-time favorite! (I'm currently reading her first book, A Sense of Seasons, each month during 2025.) The Elizabeth Goudge memoir touched my heart so much and, after reading this book, my admiration for her has grown even more! (Note: The Elizabeth Goudge Book Club, hosted by Julie, will be reading The Joy of the Snow this June 💚)

🌟 Unearthing the Secret Garden by Marta McDowell was also amazing!! I had no idea that the life of Frances Hodgson Burnett was so fascinating! She is definitely a person (along with Agatha Christie, Gladys Taber and Elizabeth Goudge) that I wish I could go back in time to meet. I'd also love to add a few more Susan Branch books to my collection this year! (I think I'm only missing a few...)

VINTAGE BOOKS
🌟 I enjoyed SO many Kathleen Norris (loved buddy reading this author's books with Andrea @sorrythankyou79 😍) and Marcia Willett books (thanks to Caro @carosbookcase 😁) this year. Kathleen Norris writes vintage romances (primarily set in California) that are full of cozy and descriptive details, twists, turns and (usually) thrilling endings. Marcia Willett is a new favorite of mine with her compelling family dramas. You can really get lost in her stories! Also, it's no surprise that another Ruby Ferguson and DE Stevenson title are also featured here! (Blow the Wind Southerly is alternate title for Charlotte Fairlie.) Dear Mad'm was definitely a surprise—rustic, humorous and very charming!

VINTAGE CHILDREN’S BOOKS
🌟 More brilliant books by Ruby Ferguson and Frances Hodgson Burnett! I plan on reading at least a few more children's books by BOTH authors this year. Yay! Also, The Maida and Mary Jane series are adorable, refreshing and so fun to read. Thanks to Caro (again!) for recommending Castaway Christmas and for our lovely buddy read in December 🥰🎄

 

BONUS A: CONTEMPORARY CHILDREN’S BOOKS
📘 I loved reading the entire Willam Horwood's "Tales of the Willows" series with @carosbookscase 🥰  I'm so excited that we'll be doing a re-read this year - yes!! I was so happy to find more vintage childrens/middle grade lighthouse books that have become favorites. I'd love to read more. Do you have any suggestions for me? (I might look into getting a lighthouse shaped bookcase for my lighthouse books!)

The two Bushel & Peck books are so beautiful (both in construction and story) and they now have a permanent place on my favorites book shelf! Pansy Goes to Paris was absolutely adorable (especially after my trip to Paris this year with Beth and Liz!) I'd love to read Clarence Goes to The Chelsea Flower Show next 😄

BONUS B: CONTEMPORARY BOOKS
🌼 These six books were fabulous!!! Even though I accidentally shared a photo of the wrong Laura Wood book (I meant to share a photo of A Season for Scandal), this first book was awesome, too! I'm impatiently waiting for A Game of Scandal (due out mid Feb 2025!) Dying to read more books by Valerie Perrin (especially Forgotten on Sunday), Ginny Moyer, Barbara Matteson and Lynda Marron 🤩 If you haven't read any books by these talented authors, it's time!! You'll love them!

MY TOP FAVORITE VINTAGE AUTHORS THIS YEAR
💓 Ruby Ferguson
💓 Kathleen Norris
💓 Molly Clavering
💓 Gladys Taber
💓 Frances Hodgson Burnett
💓 Jean Hersey

Dean Street Press Furrowed Middlebrow Favorites!!! Love!

Love and thanks to all of my 2024 buddy reads with Bookstagram friends! ☺️📚💚
@carosbookcase
@sorrythankyou79
@beth.bonini
@pony.books
@marjoriepaper
@elizabethgoudgebookclub
@bagfullofbooks
@gina.stanyer.books
@sabines.literary.world

Such vibrant and brilliant books! I just love the Women Writers series!

Many thanks to The British Library for sending so many books for me to review this year!! ❤️

Love the gorgeous books published by Manderley Press!

Rebeka has been so kind to send me postcards and bookmarks for each of the Manderley Press books the past year or so! She's thoughtful, generous and so talented!! 🥰💕

Warm wintery hugs to you! 💕🌸🤗🌸💕 Let me know what you're currently reading and loving! (Stay tuned for a personal blog update in the next week or two!) Much love 😍