
As you can imagine, I am reading (or listening to) books all the time. I just finished the newest Flavia De Luce mystery by Alan Bradley, Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd. This very British mystery series features a young girl with a passion for chemistry who solves murders. It's quirky and humorous, yet poignant.
If you just want some fun escapist reading, my library book club just read Heartbreak Hotel by Deborah Moggach (of Exotic Marigold Hotel fame). The plot involves a retired gentleman who becomes tired of dealing with life in London and moves to the country to run a B&B. He has lots of unusual people staying at his B&B, including one of his ex-wives! It's quite humorous and relatable to those “of a certain age.”
Exploring the same theme of leaving the city for a calmer life in the country, I recently listened to a contemporary romance called, The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller. Twenty-something Livvie, an accomplished pastry chef in Boston, escapes to Guthrie, Vermont, after her flaming dessert sets her employer’s Michelin-starred restaurant on fire. She’s also escaping an unhappy love affair with that same boss. Livvie finds employment at the Sugar Maple, an idyllic inn with a crotchety owner, but will she find love too? To find out, read the City Baker… but be prepared to be hungry after all the tempting descriptions of Livvie’s creations. Happy reading!