Summer Reading

I've had the chance to read some good books lately. So, here's some highlights from my summer reading.

Jane and the Stillroom Maid by Stephanie Barron - Beloved author Jane Austen plays the sleuth in this historical fiction mystery series. A stillroom maid (apothecary) has been murdered and Jane discovers the body. With the help of dukes, duchesses and lords, she solves the mystery and nabs the murderer. This book's written in the language of Jane Austen's novels and almost feels like it could be the next chapter in one of her heroine's stories. Barron did her research and many of the characters and places are based on actual history.

The Redemption of Sarah Cain by Beverly Lewis - Lewis is the author of a number of books set in Amish Lancaster County. I read her Abram's daughters series and got hooked. The Redemption of Sarah Cain comes from a different view though because the main character is a non-Amish woman who is living a fast-paced life in Oregon when her sister, Ivy, dies. Ivy and her husband had become Amish about 10 years earlier. After Ivy dies, Sarah is named the guardian of her sister's children. Sarah and her sister's relationship had always been strained, and it became even more so when Ivy became Amish. It was a good quick read, although I enjoyed the Abram's daughters books even more because they focus entirely on Amish culture and since they are a series, allow for more character development.


The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert - I'm currently reading this book and am only on around Chapter 4 but so far it's really entertaining. Similar to the Stillroom Maid, this book is a part of a mystery series with a popular author as the detective. I just happened to stumble on both of these books at the library a few weeks ago. In the Tale of Hill Top Farm, children's author Beatrix Potter has just purchased her farm in Sawrey, England. For those that saw the recent, Miss Potter, you'll revisit some of her life's details, such as the death of Beatrix's fiance Norman and her strained relationship with her parents. A fun thing about these books is that all the animals talk to each other. A jack russel terrier and a calico cat squabble. A fussy hedgehog and foolish mouse tease each other. And, I have a feeling that in the end, the animals are going to play a big role in solving the mysteries. But that's just a hunch, I'm no sleuth myself.