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Tea & Titles


Welcome back to Tuesday's Tea & a Title -- or should I say 'titles'?  Been a busy week and so far here in New England we've been enjoying a snow-free winter -- of course, now I've jinxed ourselves probably!

 Today's tea is Tevana's Wild Orange Blossom Herbal tea, which is light and quite summery -- just what's needed in 17-degree weather.  And my china cup and saucer is Paragon by Pembroke -- quite elegant with Old World charm.



So, just to cast back for a moment to last week -- Mastering the Art of French Eating by Ann Mah -- I so much enjoyed that book.  Talk about armchair travel -- it was as if I went on a mini tour of the various regions of France -- Lyons, Brittany, Provence and more, learning about the daily life, how these recipes came to be and more.  I heartily recommend the book, especially if you're a Francophile.

 This week I'm starting two books I've been holding onto for a few weeks, waiting for the midwinter blues to strike and a need for more foodie reading and a good historical romance (other than Regency).  And I do believe I've picked winners again.

 Kathleen Flinn's The Sharper your Knife, the Less You Cry is about a young woman's year in training at the Cordon Bleu.  Yikes!  More power to Ms. Flinn and I'm eager to start (tonight after I get home from my night shift at the Reference Desk).  


Here's a quick blurb:  "Kathleen Flinn is a thirty-six-year-old middle manager trapped on the corporate ladder - until her boss eliminates her job. Instead of sulking, she takes the opportunity to check out of the rat race for good - cashes in her savings, moves to Paris, and lands a spot at the venerable Le Cordon Bleu School."

My first question to myself when I read this was:  Dear God, would I have been able to do something like that?   Answer?  Probably not.  So I guess I'm living vicariously through Flinn!

 And for the historical romance, I've chosen Donna Thorland's Rebel Pirate.  I wrote earlier this month that it's been difficult finding historical romance based in the American Colonial period.  So many are set in the Regency period, thanks to the wonderful Jane Austen -- no complaints from me, truly -- but growing up in the Northeast region of the USA, we are surrounded by so much history, especially the colonial period.  So finding Thorland's series (albeit a short one), I enjoyed the first book -- Turncoat -- and am eager to start the second book.


The fact that the 'rebel pirate' is a woman makes it all the better.  The more research that's done in women's history, the more we find how so many women not only helped, but fought alongside the men during the war.  And Thorland's writing is strong, wreathed with enough historical detail to bring the period and the characters to life.  Warning:  Thorland's sex scenes are quite powerful, so take care; not for the faint of heart.

And if you'd like to find out more about my novellas and what's coming up next, please sign up for my newsletter (see link above).  I will not inundate you with daily or weekly newsletter; probably more like monthly unless I have a sale happening or a freebie giveaway. 

One last note:  You may have noticed that I don't link any of the books and tea to the vendors.  I don't want to imply that I'm supporting any commercial operation and am not affiliated with any.  This is neutral ground -- just like your public library!



Happy Reading and stay warm!

Claire H. 

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