Weekend Links and Cocktails

 It's almost St. Patrick's Day!!  That means a Lunasa concert and soda bread at my house, and I think I might try this cocktail receipt while I'm at it, courtesy of Highclere Castle Gin (I admit I was pulled into trying it by "Downton" but it is really delicious gin...)

And there's a few things to read as well!  Slainte!

Extant Tudor homes that reveal how people lived...

The Cluny Museum is having an exhibit on...unicorns!  (I so wish I could see this!  The Cluny is one of my very favorite museums in Paris)

The Smithsonian magazine talks about Tudor miniature portraits

A look back at Best Actress Oscar winners' gowns over the years

Speaking of Oscars--why Sinners should win Best Picture

8 "badass" librarians!

The needlework of Mary Queen of Scots

What Bridgerton got wrong about corsets (a lot!)

Mary Oliver on creativity and time

Elizabethan posy rings

The Lucky Recipe

  1 oz   Highclere Castle Gin

  1/2 oz Midori  

1/2 oz  Fresh Lime Juice

 1/2 oz  Simple Syrup

Champagne / Garnish:  Mint Sprig

Directions:

1.   Combine gin, Midori, lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled.

2.  Strain into a Champagne flute and top with Champagne. 

3.  Garnish with a mint sprig.

Book sale and Covers!!

 Happy mid-March!  I can't believe next week is St. Patrick's day, and spring is moving in here, with trees blossoming and tulips peeking out (and my allergies raging!).  To celebrate, here's a book sale!  Until Match 13, Flora Flowerdew and the Mystery of the Duke's Diamonds is only .99.  (I've been working on the next in the series, Flora Flowerdew and the Peril in the Piazza, so it's a good time to try it out...)

 I also have a new cover to reveal!!!  The Dollar Princess Dilemma will be out in August.  It's a little bittersweet, I loved visiting Gilded Age Newport with Jane and her duke (tiaras!  Yachts!  Balls!), and the cover is gorgeous, but it's my last Harlequin Historical, as the line is ending.  Watch this space for my further adventures in writing...

Weekend Links

 Happy after-Valentine's Day, everyone!  I bought my half-off chocolates yesterday, and am settling in for a snowy day today with books, sweets, and some BritBox cozy murder.  Hope you're all doing the same (with whatever shows you love to watch!)  In the meantime, here's some reading to distract you....

(Also, there's a few more days to enter the Gilded Age giveaway!  I'll be announcing a winner this weekend)

Yes, it's sadly true that Harlequin Historical (my romance publisher) is closing the line!  I will have one more title out with them, The Dollar Princess Dilemma, in August, but will then be pivoting mostly to mysteries)

American Girl is having a midlife crisis (I had a Samantha doll and loved her so much!  I was always disappointed with the turn the brand took after being acquired by Mattel)

Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell are coming to Broadway in "Much Ado About Nothing"  (I would love to see this so much)

Welcome to the gothennaisance

A new Gainsborough show at the Frick (something else I would love to see)

Why 2026 is the year you should visit Venice (who am I to argue??)

February 10, 1840 was Queen Victoria's wedding--here's a look at her gown, which launched a billion white wedding gowns

The gold Henry VIII/Katherine of Aragon love token is secured for the British Museum

"Wuthering Heights is not a difficult book"

And on that note, the absolutely bonkers costumes of the new WH

Katherine O'Hara was the queen of kooky costumes (RIP you wonderful genius)

Book giveaway time!

 Hello!!  I was cleaning out a few books, and found I have 2 copies of the Mrs. Astor book!  I will be giving it away, along with 2 of my own Gilded Age-set books and a cute Jane Austen bookmark.  Just sign up for my newsletter here (if you're already signed up, you're in the drawing).  Watch this space for more giveaways as the cleaning resumes!

Weekend Links (and staying warm!)

 I hope you all have plenty of great books on your TBR piles for the cold weather weekend!  I am playing to cook some chili in the crockpot and settle in for some writing/research, and watch some more of the excellent "Bookish" on PBS.  In the meantime, here are a few distractions for you...

Book donations for kids in MN

Oscar noms are in!  I thought it was quite a good movie-watching year, and there weren't many surprises here.  (except for "Wicked: For Good" being shut out for anything, even Costumes!  And I did think Paul Mescal deserved a nod...)

The "frazzled English woman interior"  (my house decor is now trendy!!!)

Legendary designer Valentino passed away at 93

12 Audrey Hepburn fashion moments that remain iconic

January 17 was Anne Bronte's birthday

Needlepoint is having a comeback!  (just like my decor, my hobbies are now trendy...)

Who were Sargent's muses, the "wild Wyndham sisters"? 

The boom in Regency balls

5 ways Queen Victoria shaped the modern monarchy

Weekend Links

 

I hope you all survived the holidays!  It's snowy here (finally!  It's been such a dry winter), and I am cozy with some tea and my new gift books, as well as researching a new project..  Hope you are safe and warm, too.

And here's a few more things to read today...

The unearthing of an Iron Age war trumpet

A guide to New York bookstores

A Venetian palace for sale

December 1926--Agatha Christie went missing!

Speaking of Christie--has anyone seen the new "Seven Dials" adaptation?  I haven't had the chance yet, but it looks good...

How to be at French cafe

Can cheese lower dementia risk???  (if so, I should be good for decades...)

An ode to Jessie Buckley (I saw "Hamnet" over the holiday, she was astonishing)

How to read tarot cards: a beginner's guide

The art of Wes Anderson

Weekend Links

 

It's only a few days until Christmas, and I am frantically trying to finish wrapping gifts and ordering goodies!  Then I plan to settle in with new (hopefully) books to read, Emily in Paris episodes to watch (I need its absolute nonsense right now), and some hot cocoa.  I hope you have the same coziness.

And here's a few things to read...

On December 19, 1848, Emily Bronte died at Haworth

Goodbye to Sophie Kinsella  (I loved "Shopaholic")

Why are all the lonely girls going to Paris?  (well, who wouldn't!)

Rare public display of Mary Queen of Scot's final letter

Some of the best (and worst) Christmas songs of all time

Some of the best Christmas perfumes

The Wales' cute Christmas card

How Gen Z is re-writing the rules of wine