Hello! I hope you’ve had a fantastic weekend. Mine was absolutely perfect – we didn’t go out at all so I could enjoy the comforts of home to the fullest! Here are some treasures from last week:
Cosy shows
I started rewatching Virgin River which very much feels like coming home, especially in autumn. The quote in the title of this post is something Jack tells Mel when they first meet. I made myself a pot of biscuit tea, a few madeleines and cosied up to this cocoony show. I think this is my fourth time watching the entire show. I’ve just finished season one again.
Jack’s bar with its fireplace, dark woods and delicious squash and lentil stew is heaven. Mel’s clothes always look so soft and cosy chic.
Their relationship is lovely – the flirting is excellent and they grow together and actually communicate, bless. I love Mel so much. This show can be so sad – they’ve both been through a lot – but they show up for each other and the whole town is so lovely and loving.
Fantasy of manners books
Krista D. Ball published the last installment in the Ladies Occult Society series and this was my most anticipated release of the year! This is the last book and it was every bit as wonderful as the rest. I feel like this is such a hidden gem of fantasy of manners, I’ve never heard anyone talk about it even though it’s amazing!
Elizabeth, a dutiful, obedient eldest daughter of a family of girls in Regency England is gifted an inheritance from a loving uncle – books on magical theory. She decides to use her newfound independence for good to help the women around her and restart the Ladies Occult Society with the help of a temperamental ghost.
This series is SOOOO GOOD. Full of domestic details of what the daily life of the impoverished gentry was like. It’s about managing a household, making clothes, mending clothes, preparing meals (you ALWAYS know what they’re eating!), helping servants, sisterly affection and a lot of lovely details about letter-writing, what goes into throwing a ball and more.
Elizabeth is focused on helping her sisters at the expense of her own happiness and learns over the course of four books that she matters too. I can’t tell you how much I loved this, it’s one of my favourite fantasy of manners of all time. The characters are so vividly written and the female characters are all so different and really come to life. Wonderful, wonderful stuff. I’m so sad it’s over.
Women’s fiction books
I was in the mood for some Christmas contemporary romance and picked this one up because the cover is to die! The Christmas Book Club by Sarah Morgan was everything I wanted.
First of all – petition to rename women’s fiction ‘friendship fiction’ which is, after all, what it is.
This was BRILLIANT and I’m so happy it was my first Sarah Morgan. What a fantastic story about a group of friends each with her own set of difficulties coming together to hold their annual book club at a picture-perfect little lodge over the Christmas holidays and meeting the owner in the process.
I loved everything about this and was invested in every story. I also loved that one of the characters, Claudia, is a chef, and there was a good deal about food here (my number one obsession). The Christmassy ambiance was gorgeous and the found family feeling too. The writing is so clear and effortless, I never felt any of the transitions. This is lovely stuff. I can’t wait to read more by Sarah Morgan!
Historical mystery books
I absolutely love historical mysteries and always have a series on the go. I’m currently working my way through the Sebastian St Cyr mysteries by C.S. Harris and I read book number two, When Gods Die.
It was excellent, I’m LOVING this series even though it’s quite dark. The sheer amount of history in this was incredible and riveting and I couldn’t put this book down!
Sebastian is hired to investigate the death of Guinevere, the Marchioness of Anglesey, who’s known in society for having married a man much older than her and whose body was found by none other than a drunk Prince Regent. The mystery takes a whole new dimension when Sebastian realises Guinevere was wearing a necklace he thought had been buried with his mother.
Things I loved in this particular book:
- Sebastian (a Viscount, our detective), Kat (the actress he’s always loved) and Tom (the orphan Sebastian rescues) all have sections of this novel and I loved following each of them in their own sphere of society. I think Kat is my favourite, I really enjoy learning more about her with each book.
- Incredibly detailed history here, you don’t need to know anything beforehand but as I realised just how high the stakes were, this genuinely blew me away. It is SO interesting. The author explains it all in a note at the end.
- Regency London truly comes alive here, not the balls but the criminal world, politics and some great immersive writing. Excellent social commentary too. A few lines really impressed me, this has a great sense of place.
Loving this series, this was much better than the first book too! I highly recommend it.
Hallmark movies
I absolutely love Hallmark movies and I’m currently catching up on their Fall in Love films (6 movies total). The Real West blew me away. It’s about Rebecca who’s a Professor of the Old West, recently widowed with two children. They all take a family holiday at a ranch where she meets Jake, a famous cowboy who’s never settled down.
This has, hands down, the best kiss I’ve EVER seen in a Hallmark movie and off the charts chemistry. I love Kimberly Sustad, she’s great at being emotional on screen and this movie has some great scenes for her. There’s also a ghost hunting subplot (her youngest is obsessed with ghosts) which turned out really heartfelt which was a nice surprise. The children were well-written too (her teen son is navigating his first relationship) and great scenery with gorgeous horses. This is a must-watch and I know I’ll be rewatching it in autumn!
That’s is from me, I hope you have a wonderful week and I’ll see you next Monday! ❤️Lots of love!
Magical Emma Rose 