January 1883
I was finishing a pleasant visit on my day out with Joanna Millburn, the friend of my youthful days who looked after my daughter, when I detected something was very wrong. [opening of Speculations in Sin]
Right off the bat, author Jennifer Ashley has me hooked, wanting to know what exactly our heroine, Kat Holloway, is sensing is wrong. I am super excited to finally be reading this latest installment in one of my favorite series and am curious to know more about Joanna Millburn and her family. She's appeared in previous books here and there, but only in very brief moments.
"I prevented them tearing apart cushions and breaking open cabinets. Mrs. Millburn relinquished her keys to me, and I used them on any boxes that were locked - not many. In this way, the helpful vicar could prevent destruction and understand exactly what they were looking for."
"And what were they looking for? I asked, tightly clutching my wine glass. [excerpt from 56% of Speculations in Sin]
I do enjoy when Kat's friends help her with her investigations, and it sounds like Mr. Fielding is doing just that here as he explains Kat a recent visit by constables to the Millburn home. It sounds like Kat is just as anxious to know what they were looking for as I am!
To save an innocent man’s life, amateur sleuth and cook Kat Holloway must expose a financial scam that could ruin the most powerful aristocrats in Victorian-era London, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Secret of Bow Lane.
Kat Holloway is distressed to learn that Samuel Millburn, husband of the woman who looks after her daughter, has been accused of embezzling funds from the bank where he works as a clerk. The accusation is absurd, and Samuel’s wife fears that her husband will not only lose his post but be imprisoned. Kat vows to uncover the truth.
When she discovers the bank is involved in shockingly murky business dealings, Kat realizes she’s treading in dangerous waters. She turns to her confidante and handsome suitor, Daniel McAdam, for help. To exonerate Samuel, Kat and Daniel may have to expose the unseemly financial dealings of prominent aristocrats and government officials, and even those working to bring down the royal family. Kat will risk everything to protect the man who has sacrificed so much for her daughter, even if it means endangering herself and the friends she has come to love. [Goodreads Summary]
Where would you like to travel?
So many places! I would travel the world if I could and see it all. At the top of the list would be to tour the many countries in Europe, see where my ancestors came from. I have always wanted to go to India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. I would like to go deeper into Canada and travel to South America. I also would like to visit every state within my own country, especially the ones I have yet to see. Many of these places and all the others I wish I could see, I will only be able to visit in books, but hopefully I will one day be able to visit a few in person.
What about you?
Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.Do you remember your first library visit? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)
I love this question and I wish I had a better answer. I do not remember my first library visit. I do remember looking forward to visits to the library when I was a young child, being able to pick out books on my own to read and attending the summer reading program at the local public library. I have fond memories of the school librarian reading to my class in the school library and helping shelve books while I waited for my mom to finish up with her school obligations before heading home. And the library was one of my favorite haunts in middle school when I was working on the school newspaper or doing research for a class.
I remember my daughter's first visit to our public library a little more clearly, perhaps because it was not as long ago. Mouse was in awe of all the books. When the library began keeping Saturday hours, it became part of our routine to go after her soccer class and follow it up with time in the park. She would pick out a few books from the shelves, and my husband and I would take turns reading to her. She loved to go up to the front desk to use her own library card to check out books and chat with the librarian. When our Saturdays became filled with other more time consuming activities, our visits to the library dwindled. It was hard to go during the week because of my work hours. When we would go though, Mouse loved to visit the activity table to see what new craft she could do.
I have so many memories of spending time in the library as a child and I hope my daughter will look back on her childhood and feel the same way.
What about you?
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading!
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I don't remember my first visit though I remember there being a library van going round the village.
ReplyDeleteI took my son's to the library when they were very small. My second son was registered in a library so he was even younger 🤣
They sound like lovely memories.
Have a great weekend!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2024/03/22/book-blogger-hop-do-you-remember-your-first-library-visit/
Ohh New Zealand! Yes, to visit all the Tolkien places
ReplyDeleteBlodeuedd - Yes! I would love to see where the movies were filmed. Thank you for visiting!
DeleteOoh nice! I remember storytime with the librarian from school days too! I remember sometimes it was almost like a battle between classmates to checkout the book that was read to us if we really liked it! Lol. I hope your daughter has fond memories of library visits too! I feel like it should be a childhood staple but what with changing times and all, I wonder if my niece and nephew will ever get that experience. Hopefully when they start attending school there will be a school library!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my BBH!
Jessica - I wish my daughter could have experienced the summer reading programs from my childhood, but that wasn't possible. Hopefully she has her own good memories to carry with her. My daughter spent a lot of time in her elementary school library and has fond memories of that. I don't think she's spent much time in the middle school library. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteI enjoyed your sharing from the Jennifer Ashley book. I haven't tried that series as yet, but I think I might. Travel - well, we're thinking of visiting some national parks in the next couple of years that we haven't see as yet. I'd also like to visit a couple of places in Canada. Most of travel though is virtual through books. I'm not brave enough to visit Antarctica, but I love reading about it. As to my first visit to the library, no I don't have specific memories. However, my mother taught me to read when I was 3 or 4 and I do remember going to the library frequently to check out books to read. Once I knew how, I have always been an avid reader. My folks didn't think owning books was necessary, so the library played a big part in my growing up. I must say that I disagreed with them about 'owning' books - know you're shocked about that. LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I remember my first library visit, but I do remember going to the library all through the summer with my dad and older siblings (my dad was a teacher and had summers off), we went to get books, but also to enjoy the air conditioning and to do the puzzle they always set out. It's one of my favorite bookish memories. :D
ReplyDeleteLark - I loved my time in the library as a child. :-) I am glad you have happy memories there too! Thank you for visiting!
DeleteSo cute about Mouse's first trips to the library. Kids are usually blown away by the place and the books! I love the library even now -- getting a few each week on hold ... it's sort of magical, lol. As for travel, these days I wouldn't mind : Scotland, Ireland and Norway. Yay.
ReplyDeleteSusan - We don't make it to the library as much anymore, but we do love it there. It is, as you say, magical. I would love to visit Scotland, Ireland and Norway too. Such beautiful countries. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteThe book you're reading looks like something I would really enjoy! I suppose I should start at the beginning of the series though. I also remember taking my own kids to the library and their first visits more clearly than mine. I think my daughter has fond memories of going to the library.
ReplyDeleteKym - I love the series. The books can be read as stand alones, but there are over arcing stories that make it worth reading the series in order. It was just so long ago when I was a child. It's much easier to remember my daughter's early years. :-) Thank you for visiting!
DeleteGreat excerpts! Here's mine: BOOKISH FRIDAY
ReplyDeleteLaurel-Rain - Thank you!
DeleteI don't recall my first library visit, but I don't think my mom took us to the library very often, if at all. In high school I went to the school library once. The irony, I became a high school librarian.
ReplyDeleteAnne - I remember my high school library, but am not sure if I spent much time there. I practically lived in the university library when I was doing my undergrad studies, but then, I also worked there those years so that was part of the reason. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteThere are so many places! I'm fortunate to have visited a lot of states within the US, but not too many other places. I did go to Australia and it was good, but the flight was so long.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Kat and her friends... but I listen to the audiobooks and for some reason, the release of SIN in audio was delayed. I'm waiting and waiting!
Jen - I have visited a few states but there are still so many to see. Someday hopefully!
DeleteI hope you don't have to wait too much longer for Speculations in Sins to come out in audio format! Thank you for visiting!
there are so many places I would like to travel, one of which is Ireland and I get to go there this summer. I am really lucky to have traveled much of the world already, but Chile and Argentina are on my list.
ReplyDeleteHelen - I hope you have such a wonderful time in Ireland this summer! I bet Chile and Argentina are beautiful. I hope you get to travel to both someday. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteThat beginning hooked me too! This sounds like a series I need to check out! Hope you have a great week! :)
ReplyDeleteAshley - I hope you like the series if you do read it! Thank you for visiting!
DeleteGoing to the library as a kid was so fun! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteJamie - I loved my childhood library visits. :-) Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteI definitely remember going to the library as a kid but I don't remember my first one. It was a very important place though! I really enjoyed Speculations in Sin! That series is definitely a favorite.
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I loved Speculations in Sin. It's such a great series! Thank you for visiting!
DeleteThe Jennifer Ashley series looks so good. It's on my list and hope to get to it soon. I don't remember my first time at a library, but I do enjoy visiting them.
ReplyDeleteYvonne - It's definitely one of my favorite series. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteI do remember going to the library as a kid and getting my first library card! What memories! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteJodie - Such great memories! Thank you for visiting!
DeleteSpeculations in Sin sounds like it's going to be great! The book is super popular at the library, I suspect it will be a while before I read it!
ReplyDeleteEustacia - I hope you are able to get your hands on a copy soon! Thank you for stopping by!
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