Bookshops & Bonedust
by Travis Baldree
Series: Legends & Lattes, #0
Genres: Cozy Fantasy, LGBTQIA+
Release Date: November 7, 2023
Pages: 339
Get from: Amazon
My Rating: ★★★⯪☆
Review – Bookshops & Bonedust
Posted in Book Blogger
Rachel's Reflections Posts
If I Could Only Keep Ten
Posted in Fountain Pens
When I saw Inky Imaginings’ post in my email, I knew I wanted to come up with my list before reading anyone else’s. So, I waited until I’d determined my ten pens to read Laura’s list or Ana’s or Laura C’s on The Well-Appointed Desk.
I tried to track down an “original” post for this challenge, but I didn’t have any luck. I found random, semi-related posts and videos shared in the past 5 years, but no clear thread like is developing from Laura’s. So, without any parameters to guide me in this, I’ve come up with my own.
A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder
by Dianne Freeman
Series: Countess of Harleigh Mystery, #2
Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction
Release Date: June 25, 2019
Pages: 306
Get from: Library | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
My Rating: ★★★★⯪
2026 Mid-Year Check-In
Posted in Fountain Pens
We’re over halfway through 2026. How is this even possible? My year has been flying by, and mid-year snuck by me. But, better late than never, right?
I want to check in on more than just pens this year, but we’ll start there and then cover a few other things.
Athena: 3 Years Cured
Posted in Cat
Today, we get to celebrate another anniversary of a momentous occasion. Three years ago, Athena was declared cured of FIP. There isn’t too much to say this year for Athena’s cureaversary. Not much has changed since her last post, which is mostly good.
Health
As always, I’ve also updated her FIP Bloodwork Google Sheets file, which includes all of the blood work values that could be related to FIP and her blood work history dashboard.
Review – Brigands & Breadknives
Posted in Book Blogger
Brigands & Breadknives
by Travis Baldree
Series: Legends & Lattes, #2
Genres: Fantasy
Release Date: November 11, 2025
Pages: 336
Get from: Library | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
My Rating: ★★★★⯪
30 Inks, 30 Days, 15 Comparisons
Posted in Ink
In an effort to continue reducing my ink collection and to better “learn” the inks I have, I decided to tackle Ink Journal’s 30 Inks 30 Days challenge as ink comparisons. And, in a happy nod to Pride Month, I went for a rainbow of inks. I made an effort to create doodles that have both standard lines (to show how writing might look) and larger, filled-in areas.
Like any human, I made mistakes as I worked through the 15 skirmishes. Since I want the focus to be on the inks, I’ve edited out the mistakes using Photoshop for the “final” image. However, for transparency, I’ve also included the “original” version without those edits. I’ve done my best to edit the ink colors to be true-to-life, but some of them were exceptionally difficult.
Soolla: Not Quite What We Need
Posted in Storage
Unpopular opinion incoming: The Soolla bag and pouch aren’t well-suited to the fountain pen world.
Now, set aside your pitchforks and torches. I do like Soolla products. I own the 80’s Windbreaker version of both the studio bag and studio pouch, and they’re fabulous. Both are sturdy and well-made, and the range of colors, already large, keeps expanding. I also 100% acknowledge that the Soolla bags weren’t created for the pen world, so I don’t hold it against the creators or the bags that they aren’t perfect for us.
Bogs, Brews, and Banshees
by Rowan Dillon
Series: Skye O’Shea Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, #1
Genres: Mystery, Paranormal
Release Date: March 15, 2024
Pages: 266
Get from: Library | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Books
My Rating: ★★★★☆
9-Year Blogiversary
Posted in Personal
I can hardly believe I’ve reached the 9-year milestone! In celebration, I’m debuting something new on my blog.
Ginny: The Little Force of Nature
Posted in Cat
I meant to write about the newest member of our clowder at her 6-month gotchaversary. But, for some reason, I had in mind that her gotcha day was at the end of November, when it was actually the third. So, I’m a month late, but I don’t think she’d mind. If you want to keep up with our clowder, check out their Instagram account.
Before we start
Jim originally named our girl Jane, since he felt she seemed no-nonsense, rather like Jane Austen. However, I kept thinking of Jane Bennet — from Pride and Prejudice — and our little girl is most definitely NOT calm and serene. She seemed to agree with me, because she showed no sign of responding to her name after about a month.
After considering her personality, I tried Ginevra — Ginny — from Harry Potter. Our Ginny is small, athletic, smart, and temperamental, so I thought it suited her well. And she must agree, because she was responding to her new name within a day.
So, to make things easier, I’m going to refer to her as Ginny throughout this post, but know that she was Jane until late November.
Fountain Pen Rainbow 2026
Posted in Fountain Pens
Happy Pride Month! I love creating my yearly pen rainbow. This year, I chose the progress flag designed by Daniel Quasar to match. I didn’t choose the newer, intersex pride flag because I couldn’t figure out how to represent the purple circle on a yellow background with a pen. This also means I get to choose some additional pens for the colors in the arrow.
You can also check out my 2024 rainbow, 2025 rainbow, and 2025 bi flag matches.
Matching the progress flag means I have two “sections” to match. Following the left-to-right, top-to-bottom reading order, let’s start with the “progress arrow.”
Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for pen envy or impulse purchases resulting from viewing this post.
Per usual, you can click on the images to view them larger. I do my best to provide you with high-quality pen porn. 😉
I’m WAY behind on my pen porn posts. I picked up this Baetylus at the San Francisco pen show last August. Den had sent a selection of their pens with nibmeister Thomas Ang, and this beauty caught my eye almost immediately.
Den is a wizard when it comes to pen shapes, and this one is no exception. If you’re looking for pens with unique shapes, Den is top of my list. Their pens are fully done by hand and inspired by mythology. It doesn’t hurt that Den is a lovely human. Seriously, go take a look at their website and/or Instagram, then come back. Think of it as a pen porn side quest.
Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend
Series: Mischief & Matchmaking
Genres: LGBTQ+, Romance
Release Date: January 9, 2024
Pages: 396
Get from: Library | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
My Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Gwen has a brilliant beyond brilliant idea.
It’s 1857, and anxious debutante Beth has just one season to snag a wealthy husband, or she and her mother will be out on the street. But playing the blushing ingenue makes Beth’s skin crawl and she’d rather be anywhere but here.
Gwen, on the other hand, is on her fourth season and counting, with absolutely no intention of finding a husband, possibly ever. She figures she has plenty of security as the only daughter of a rakish earl, from whom she’s gotten all her flair, fun, and less-than-proper party games.
“Let’s get them together,” she says.
It doesn’t take long for Gwen to hatch her latest scheme: rather than surrender Beth to courtship, they should set up Gwen’s father and Beth’s newly widowed mother. Let them get married instead.
“It’ll be easy” she says.
There’s just…one, teeny, tiny problem. Their parents kind of seem to hate each other.
But no worries. Beth and Gwen are more than up to the challenge of a little twenty-year-old heartbreak. How hard can parent-trapping widowed ex-lovers be?
Of course, just as their plan begins to unfold, a handsome, wealthy viscount starts calling on Beth, offering up the perfect, secure marriage.
Beth’s not mature enough for this…
Now Gwen must face the prospect of sharing Beth with someone else, forever. And Beth must reckon with the fact that she’s caught feelings, hard, and they’re definitely not for her potential fiancé.
That’s the trouble with matchmaking: sometimes you accidentally fall in love with your best friend in the process.
A New Forever Hobby?
Posted in Personal
A year ago today, I started work on my first successful amigurumi (a small, stuffed, knit/crochet creature or object) a Cthulhu kit from Crochet box.
I had tried crochet in the past, and I was proficient at basic knitting. The Woobles ads were all over social media, and they made me want to give crochet another try. My dad bought me a seriously overpriced — but super cute — collector set from the Woobles, so I bought an affordable one with similar yarn off of Amazon. I wanted to try this new yarn in a less expensive kit first. My previous attempts at making amigurumi hadn’t gone well, and I didn’t want to completely f^©k up the expensive ones.
The Hypocrite
by Shana Granderson, A Lady
NOTE: This version of The Hypocrite is only available as part of The Collins Effect.
Genres: Regency Romance, Historical Romance
Release Date: January 20, 2026
Pages: 346
Get from: Amazon
My Rating: ★★★☆☆
What would happen if Miss Elizabeth Bennet took Darcy to task over the hypocrisy that she sees in some of his behaviour after his horrendous proposal and her reading the letter in Hunsford. What if the Bennets were not penniless and unconnected? For the purposes of this story great wealth is assumed, the source of the wealth is explained in the book. Will Darcy choose to acknowledge the rectitude of Miss Elizabeth’s reproofs or will he reject them in pride and conceit?
Does he have the fortitude to change and how will knowing the Bennets affect those around him? Bingley in this variation is closer to his irresolute character that we see in canon. That is the only similarity that your will see in him my dear reader. There are villains but they are not the focus of the story.
You will find all of your favourite characters from canon with a few new ones added in to broaden the tale. I trust that you will enjoy my effort.
Review – The Collins Effect
Posted in Book Blogger
The Collins Effect
by Shana Granderson, a Lady
Genres: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
Release Date: January 20, 2026
Pages: 485
Get from: Amazon
My Rating: ★★★⯪☆
Some events in this tale are close to canon, but most deviate significantly. This one begins by examining the history of some families, the Bennets and Collins included. It delves into what made the characters who they are and the things in their lives which drive them to act the way that they do.
The Bingleys do lease Netherfield Park and Darcy comes with them. Collins invites himself to Longbourn as in Jane Austen’s masterpiece, but that is where the similarities end.
Among others, the story answers the following questions:
- What kind of parents are Thomas and Fanny Bennet?
- How do the Bennet offspring behave?
- Is Darcy his usual insulting, arrogant self?
- Is Bingley the same easily led man?
- What are Lady Catherine’s and Wickham’s roles?
- Do Biggs and Johns make an appearance, and if so how?
- What is the Collins effect?
Please join me as we look at the tale we all adore from a new perspective.
Would I Buy Them Again? Take 2
Posted in Fountain Pens, and Non-Fountain Pens
I first did this post almost exactly four years ago — the timing is just a coincidence — and decided to give it another go. The idea behind this post is pretty straightforward: if the below pens were first announced/released today, would I buy them? Suspend disbelief for the duration of this post. Imagine that none of these pens have existed in this world before today. And I’ll tell you if I would buy them.
Instead of Jim choosing the pens this time, I used a random number generator. Every pen in my Airtable database has a unique number based on its purchase order. I’ve also included the year I purchased or received each pen, just for funsies.
A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder
by Dianne Freeman
Series: Countess of Harleigh Mystery, #1
Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction
Release Date: June 26, 2018
Pages: 281
Get from: Library | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
My Rating: ★★★★☆
In this exciting historical mystery debut set in Victorian England, a wealthy young widow encounters the pleasures—and scandalous pitfalls—of a London social season . . .
Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, enjoys more freedom as a widow than she did as a wife. With her young daughter in tow, Frances rents a home in Belgravia and prepares to welcome her sister, Lily, arriving from New York—for her first London season.
But no sooner has Frances begun her new life than the Metropolitan police receive an anonymous letter implicating Frances in her husband’s death. Frances assures Inspector Delaney of her innocence, but she’s also keen to keep him from learning the scandalous circumstances of Reggie’s demise. As fate would have it, her dashing new neighbor, George Hazelton, is one of only two other people aware of the full story.
While busy with social engagements on Lily’s behalf, and worrying if Reggie really was murdered, Frances rallies her wits, a circle of gossips, and the ever-chivalrous Mr. Hazelton to uncover the truth. A killer is in their midst and Frances must unmask the villain before Lily’s season—and their lives—come to a most unseemly end . . .
My Paper System: Coming Full Circle
Posted in Paper
Two and a half years ago, I abandoned my one-notebook system and have been struggling to perfect my paper system ever since. While I’ve had success with my work and blog binders, figuring out my personal planning continues to evade me.
I can’t say I regret moving away from a single notebook. I enjoy the freedom I have with binders, and it’s been helpful to have my work stuff isolated. But I will freely admit to some serious annoyance with how much trouble I’ve had working out my personal planning.
I eventually managed to accomplish all of my plans from my last paper system post. My work binder is perfectly set up now. My blog binder is functioning well. The cat binder is a great resource for me and our vets. The health binder is useful. My digital tracker is working well as a temporary data holder. The book binder? It’s a reading journal (notebook) now. A decorated reading journal. And the personal binder? Well, it’s a notebook now, too, and it’s been a mess and a half.