Nancy Springer has a marvelous character in Enola Holmes, Sherlock Holmes' much younger sister. In The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets, Dr. Watson goes missing. Enola has to come up with a more clever disguise - one that her very observant older brothers would never suspect - so she decides to become beautiful. There is a subplot about Enola's mother, Eudoria Holmes, who disappears before the first book in this series ever begins and Enola's efforts to contact her. And the language of flowers, a woman's domain, features prominently in this mystery as well.

The books are well-written, true to the Victorian era in which they are set and quick reads. There are enough clues to keep the reader guessing and a number of coded messages to decipher. I am not good at deciphering so I am happy that Springer interprets the codes soon enough in the story.

Stephanie Meyer's last Twilight book, Breaking Dawn, will be on sale on August 2nd. That should give me time to read the first three in the series. I will have to take the paperbacks with me on vacation. I can't read everything!

I'm home with another sinus infection and it's snowing. Is there anything better than being home on a snowy day? Hmm, probably but I can't think of anything right now.

I have a very full storytelling schedule - for me - coming up. I tell stories at Godfrey Daniels on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 17th at 2 pm, and I tell at Bear Creek Ski Resort on Feb. 18th and March 8th both at 7 pm.

Then, during the Lehigh Valley Story Festival, I will tell at Girls' Night Out, March 29th, again at Godfrey's, sharing the stage with Kathy Pierce and - oh I forget, someone really good. And on April 1st, Larry Sceurman and I will tell tales of foolishness at Deja Brew, 10 W. 4th Street, in Bethlehem, PA. Alas, Deja Brew does not seem to have a website. Neither do I!

So, come out and hear stories and my wild accordion next weekend or sometime in March or April. Enough now. I'm supposed to be resting.