2015 Reading Challenge & “Burial at Sea” Review

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I’m so excited to be joining in Anne Bogel’s 2015 Reading Challenge!  2014 was NOT a red-letter reading year for me and even before hearing about the Challenge, I’d vowed to read at least a book a month.  I also resolved to read – as much as possible – books from our family library (which, trust me, is bordering on absurd).

“Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”

I love how accessible and flexible Anne’s categories are: “a book ‘everyone’ has read but you” and “a book your mom loves”.  I couldn’t resist the lure of twelve categories to match my twelve-book resolution!

I kicked off January with “a book by a favorite author” – that author being Charles Finch – and I cozied up with A Burial at Sea, the fifth adventure in the Charles Lenox mystery series.  This installment sees Charles take on the role of special envoy to Egypt in his capacity as an MP to improve Britain’s interest in the newly-built Suez Canal.  On the way, however, murder strikes and Charles must dust off his sleuthing skills and find the traitor on-board before mutiny takes hold!

I applaud Finch for taking Charles out of the streets of London and giving his fans a new backdrop.  The book is meticulously researched and it shows in the details of the ship cabins, provisions, and sailors’ dialogue.  However, I felt the usual fast-paced sleuthing fell victim to the details of the setting.  The killer reveal was more predictable than I’ve come to expect from Finch.

I am looking forward to Lenox’s return to English soil (and first major foray in the English countryside!) in A Death in the Small Hours.

Read anything good lately? Want to jump into the challenge (or dip your toe)? Some resources:

• Anne Bogel’s original post
• Anne’s printable Reading Challenge list
• Reading Challenge Pinterest Board (group board moderated by Anne)
• My Pinterest Board of selections (or candidates . . .completely and unabashedly subject to change)

I plan to review each book on my list as I finish – if you care to join in, comment to each post and let me know what you’re reading! Also, I highly recommend you subscribe to Modern Mrs. Darcy and follow on Facebook for her check-ins, too!

Disclosure: links to the books referenced are affiliate links.

Mascara Monday: Buxom Lash Mascara

I love mascara! But I’m also really fickle when it comes to enhancing my lashes! While I’m conservative in so many ways (the word “trendsetter” would never be used to describe me), I’ll jump for the hottest new thing when it comes to lashes.

So why not turn my mascara ADD into a fun sharing experience?

The Buxom line of cosmetics (a Sephora-exclusive spin-off of Bare Minerals) is billed under the philosophy “live life vividly”. Their signature Buxom Lash Mascara boasts that it will:

Transform lashes with this ultra-volumizing mascara. The vitamin-enriched, clump-resistant formula deepens, darkens, and thickens while the curvy, hourglass-shaped brush evenly coats lashes from root to tip.

What I love:

• Paraben & phthalate free
• Brush stays clump-free (even using daily for a month!)
• Wears well throughout the day without smudging (a big deal when you live in the Sweaty South)
• Buildable without getting clumpy

What I don’t:

• Not a one-coat-out-the-door mascara – part of why it builds well is because it doesn’t deposit a lot of product per swipe; if your lashes are squeaky clean (like mine typically are after the weekend), it takes at least two passes – maybe more – to get the look I’m after

Bottom line: the perfect mascara for my gym bag – the brush holds up well and adds a flawless touch-up coat!

The Kat(e) is out of the bag!

The not-so-secret secret is out: I’m pleased to share that I’ll be contributing a once-monthly piece over at What Would Kate Do?.

My first article – Why the Duchess Never Stops Learning – went live on Friday.   Head over to WWKD to check it out (along with the site’s unrivaled content regarding the Duchess of Cambridge – both her style and substance!)!