• A styled flat-lay of a book titled 'Hester' by Laurie Lico Albanese, displayed alongside a small heart-shaped leather bookmark and tea infuser, a packet of herbal tea and Gothic Romance annotation tabs from Fehmerling Books. The book cover features a black background decorated with pink roses and green leaves.
  • Fehmerling Books "Gothic Romance" book journaling tabs featuring burgundy, mustard gold, and slate blue notes on a notched ruler card.
  • Plum Deluxe Tea - Spicy Caramel Apple Herbal Tea - Fall Seasonal Blend: 1 oz - Fehmerling Books
  • A close-up product photo featuring an open, stainless steel Heart Tea Infuser resting on a textured white surface. One half of the infuser is filled with the Plum Deluxe Creme Brulée Earl Grey blend, showcasing dark tea leaves mixed with vibrant blue cornflower petals. In the soft-focus background, a vintage-style green floral teacup sits ready, creating an inviting literary tea-time atmosphere.
  • The cover of the "Reading Journal" features a decorative botanical pattern of dark green leaves and delicate ferns on a light sage green background. A central, pale cream sunburst design contains the words "Reading Journal" in an elegant brown script, framed by a golden circular border. This Fehmerling Books printable is a premier tool for readers to document their literary journey with scholarly elegance.
  • A clean, organized page from the Hosta Reading Journal designed for comprehensive book tracking. The layout includes dedicated fields for Title, Author, Genre, and Book Length, along with a five-star rating system at the top. This Fehmerling Books resource is perfect for the intentional reader looking to capture their thoughts in the "What I Thought of This Book" lined section.
  • A minimalist, lined notebook page from the Hosta Reading Journal titled "Thoughts, Notes, & Quotes" in a soft olive green. The screenshot showcases a decorative divider with a diamond motif at the top and subtle, faded botanical leaf silhouettes in the bottom left corner. This Fehmerling Books resource provides an open space for readers to record meaningful passages and personal insights.
  • A structured page from the Hosta Reading Journal titled "My Reading Goals" in an elegant olive green script. The layout features three identical goal-tracking sections, each providing space for "Goal Started," "Goal Completed," and a large lined area for the "My Reading Goal" description. This Fehmerling Books resource is designed to help the intentional reader visualize and track their reading progress.
  • A clean, functional page from the Hosta Reading Journal titled "Daily Reading Tracker" in a soft gold-toned script. The layout includes a weekly grid with circular checkboxes for each day of the week (Mon–Sun) alongside lines for recording the Book Title. This Fehmerling Books resource is designed to help the intentional reader maintain a steady reading habit throughout the month.
  • A minimalist, structured page from the Hosta Reading Journal titled "To Be Read" in a warm, gold-toned script. The screen showcases two clear columns labeled "Title:" and "Author:" with ample horizontal lines for organizing a future reading list. In the bottom left corner, a subtle, vintage-inspired botanical leaf silhouette adds an elegant touch to the clean white background.
  • A clean, organized page from the Hosta Reading Journal titled "Finished Reading Log" in an elegant brown script. The screen showcases two side-by-side columns labeled "Title:" and "Author:" with clear horizontal lines for documenting a completed literary journey. In the bottom left corner, delicate botanical leaf silhouettes add a scholarly and vintage touch to the minimalist white layout.
  • A clean, minimalist page from the Hosta Reading Journal titled "Favorite Books" in an elegant brown script. The screen showcases two side-by-side columns labeled "Title:" and "Author:" with clear horizontal lines for listing and ranking top literary picks. In the bottom left corner, delicate botanical leaf silhouettes add a scholarly, vintage touch to the organized white layout.
  • Instructions on how to print a digital download from Fehmeling Books, including steps for downloading and opening a PDF file.
  • Instructions for adjusting print settings and choosing paper for a document on a white background.
  • Instructions for printing and troubleshooting on a white background
1 15

Historical Fiction, Gothic Mystery, and Women's Fiction

The Reader's Retreat: Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

The Reader's Retreat: Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

$63.32 USD
$63.32 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

The Reader's Retreat: Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese | Spiced Apple Tea & Historical Fiction

In 1829, young Scottish seamstress Isobel Gamble flees Edinburgh with her unreliable husband Edward, arriving in Salem, Massachusetts. Left alone when Edward departs on a privateering voyage, Isobel uses her needlework skills and her secret gift of synesthesia—experiencing colors when hearing sounds—to support herself.

Isobel forms a passionate bond with aspiring writer Nathaniel Hawthorne, becoming the inspiration for Hester Prynne in his classic novel The Scarlet Letter. Laurie Lico Albanese weaves 19th-century Salem history, needlework arts, and female independence into a feminist retelling.

Immerse yourself in 19th-century Salem with The Reader's Retreat. Brew a cup of artisanal loose-leaf Spicy Caramel Apple herbal tea using your heart-shaped infuser. As you read, use the "Gothic Romance" translucent tab palette to mark synesthesia descriptions and historical themes.

What's Inside Your Reader's Retreat:

  • One New Hardcover Copy: Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese.
  • One Annotation Tab Palette: "Gothic Romance" theme (translucent repositionable flags).
  • One 1oz Package of Loose-Leaf Tea: Spicy Caramel Apple herbal tea.
  • One Stainless Steel Tea Infuser: Heart-shaped mesh design.
  • One Printable Digital Reading Log: PDF download for reading notes.
  • Bonus Reader's Pen: Ballpoint pen for marginal notes (color varies).
  • Bonus Bookmark: Heart-shaped page marker (color varies).
  • Gift-Ready Weatherproof Packaging: Hand-packed in a dedicated gift box and shipped inside a protective weather-resistant polymailer. Packing slips with pricing details are kept outside the gift box for effortless, price-free direct gifting.

Why You’ll Love This Bundle

This mid-tier self-care set combines caffeine-free caramel apple herbal tea with active text annotation tools. Perfect for readers who enjoy atmospheric New England historical fiction and cozy reading rituals.

Book Details

ISBN: 9781250278555

Binding: Hardcover

Pub Date:

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 322

Author:

  • Laurie Lico Albanese

Language: English

View full details
$63.32 USD
$63.32 USD
Sale Sold out

Explore the Collection Archive

This title is held within our hand-vetted thematic collections, curated to deepen your discovery and enrich your reading ritual.

Featured Archive

Historical Fiction

Explore Collection
Featured Archive

Mystery Books & Thrillers

Explore Collection
Featured Archive

The Reader's Retreat

Explore Collection

Read, Sip, Unwind

Plum Deluxe Honey Sticks

Enhance your favorite reading moments with a touch of natural sweetness.Our Plum Deluxe Honey Sticks offer the pure, delightful essence of Oregon wildflowers, gathered by bees from local farms, captured in one perfectly portioned, no-mess stick.

Get Yours Here

Deepen your reading ritual with curated history, lore, and literary musings.

December 02, 2025

Cozy vs. Hard-Boiled: A Definitive Breakdown of the Mystery Subgenre

Discover the difference between Cozy and Hard-Boiled mysteries. Learn how setting, tone, and character shape the story—plus the perfect tea to pair with each.
Read Full Article
October 23, 2025

Introducing Our Curated Reader's Gift Sets: An Immersive Experience

Discover our brand-new Reader's Gift Sets! Explore three tiers of thoughtfully curated bundles designed to create a complete, immersive reading experience.
Read Full Article
November 25, 2025

The Gifting Ethos: Curating the Perfect Immersive Reading Experience

Learn the philosophy behind truly thoughtful gifting. This guide shows you how to transform a simple gift into a complete, immersive reading ritual that speaks to the recipient’s desire for self-care and quiet refuge.
Read Full Article
12