Okay, girls. I know that someone is still out there!! I'm insanely busy at work, as I know you are too, but I'm doing this as a brief refrain from the daily monotony.

I've decided to give a brief list of what I've read (and can remember reading) over Christmas. I had a desire for fluff and since we are all so literary minded, I thought a brief journey into the land of fluff could be a good (and much needed) thing.

1) I read the sequel to "The Girls Guide to Witchcraft," previously posted. I am delighted to say that it was on par with the first. It was a little slow going at first, but quickly regained itself. Consequently, I regret reading it so quickly; I should have savoured the experience.

2) Anyone read any Elizabeth Peters? Being an archaeologist-type, I suppose I should have read some of her work prior to now (or, maybe not!). It was the fluffiest of fluff; exactly what I needed while nursing a nasty cold before Christmas. I read "The Legend in Green Velvet" about an ambitious History undergrad who travels to Scotland for a vacation and find herself in the middle of a mystery and lots of intrigue. She even finds herself a Scottish boyfriend (yum!). Wanting to continue more fluff, I promptly went down to the local Wee Book Inn and bought more Peters, however I've yet to get to them.

3) Continuing the mystery fluff, I picked up another by Mary Jane Maffini, an Ottawa writer. I really enjoyed "Organize your Corpses." Good female protagonist! She wears red leather stilleto boots, has two duchshunds named "Sweet Marie" and "Truffle," and she has a weakness for chocolate. Really good plot line with a nice red herring -- Agatha Christie would be proud. After this, I read "The Dead Don't Get Out Much" with another female protagonist worried about fashion (but not so much this time). The plot was a bit weaker in this one, as it was all based on following an elderly friend to Italy just to make sure that she was alright and of sound mind.

4) Mary Jane's "Organize Your Corpses" was exactly what I needed and so set out to find more in the general style. I stumbled upon Cleo Coyle's "Decaffeinated Corpse." I learned alot about coffee! Who knew! It's set in New York at the famous Village Blend in Greenwich Village, home to some of the most famous American musicians and artists of our time. She weaves a pretty good plot too. Characters aren't bad either -- she's sympathetic towards women with ex's that just won't quit. I really like her style -- she isn't afraid to use $5 dollar words and writes like she means it.

This is small sampling of what I encountered over Christmas this year. See a pattern? There is a large, new sub-genre in mystery catering to women, single women, and women you generally wouldn't think of as solving mysteries (or crimes), like bridge clubs! I even read one about a small town librarian (but the protagonist was so stuck up, I liked her side-kick much better!).

Keep reading and keep in touch everyone!! -- if only to keep your sanity in a working world that would rather you go insane (then they wouldn't have to pay you!).

yk