The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume 3 by Beth Brower

 Oh my gosh, this series is getting better and better! And finally, a book with a little more length and heft! Over 200 pages! Woohoo! Pure delight on every page. The humor is pervasive and then suddenly, the pain and grief can appear. It's not all lightness; there is the dark to deal with as well.

In this story, Emma and Niall Pierce get closer. Their attic-note-exchanges become more intimate, and in a very poignant part, he shows her his war photos of Afghanistan. Emma's lightness turns dark, but she is honest and allows herself to be guided through it. The mystery of Pierce deepens and we are still wondering how he got his limp.

Before this seriousness, though, there is the zany episode of looking for clues to obtain tickets to Julius Caesar in St. Crispian's. As Emma and her uncle are teaming up to get these tickets, Archibald meets Tybalt the cat in an unfortunate accident and ends up bed-ridden with a broken leg. His behavior worsens and Emma's reactions are predictably funny. 

I was so happy that his volume got to me through the library before I had to return Volume 4, which came in first. And I want to read them in order. They are so good, though, I may have to purchase the entire series because they are that good. In fact, I could start this one over right now, and I might, after I read Volume 4. It's annoying because they are in such demand, they can't be renewed! I don't want to incur the 10cent a day fine, but it's not that. I don't think it's fair to hold on to them too long, to deprive other anxious readers from carrying on.

One of my favorite characters is Emmas's aunt Eugenia and her insults! Roland and the twins are delightful too. Oh, and the Duke! All of these potential suitors are hilarious, not to mention the young Hawkes and her unintended intended, Charles Goodard. Too funny! Agnes the maid is emerging more too, and all of them make up a colorful tableau. None of these hold a candle, though, to Niall Pierce. I love the way he inhabits a sofa or a room...there must be amazing charisma there. So fun! 

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 1 by Beth Brower

 People who review books on Instagram keep mentioning this series, so I was intrigued. And it finally came through on my request at the library! Whohoo!! When I picked it up, the librarian asked me if it was my first time reading this series, and when I told her yes, she warned me that the first couple of books are a little slow and require patience, but that they get better as the series goes on. I believe there are seven books in the series, and I could buy the set on Amazon for $114.00, but don't plan on that at this juncture. 

However, I do have a problem because waiting so long between volumes is hard because I forget the characters and details...and won't have the former books to refer back to if I keep reading them as they become available at the library. What a problem, huh?!

BUT...this first book was so delightful, I'm tempted, sorely tempted to buy the series. Maybe I will. It's clean, it's very witty, and it has cute characters. I love the heroine and her attitude. Of course I love all things British...so this fits right in. And the time period, the late 1800s is a good one too...I may have to cave on this one. I would definitely go for it if it weren't such an obvious marketing ploy to have each book be so SHORT! The first volume was a little over a hundred pages and didn't even last me for two legs of my flights to Indiana! When I got there, Sierra told me she has listened to the series and really enjoyed it too. At the moment, I have a request in for Volume II at the Washington County Library so we'll see how long it takes for that to come in...