Saturday, November 4, 2017

Art in the Blood by Bonnie MacBird


This is a new Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson story. I say new because to me it feels just like the real ones that I am happy calling it that. I honestly don't think I've met a Sherlock story by any author that I haven't truly enjoyed yet. I hope I never do. 

This one finds Sherlock recovering from his investigation into the Ripper murders, and his return to health and detective work. It has himself and Dr. Watson going to Paris in pursuit of a missing child for a beautiful French performer, a priceless French sculpture, British aristocracy and, of course, it wouldn't be a Sherlock story if there weren't a nemesis or two popping up. 

Art in the Blood is a multifaceted story with three mysteries who are artfully solved by our hero and flawed human that is Sherlock Holmes at his usual best. This one does have a different feel because it deals of course with Paris, with a nemesis that we won't have seen before, but it does still have all the hallmarks of the great detective that I love.

There is a second book out already, but I haven't had the opportunity to grab it up yet. Don't worry, I will. Sherlock Holmes and all who do such a good job of writing about him will always be of interest to me. 

Recommendation: For the lovers of Sherlock Holmes and his many forms. This is a must read. I really can't see how you would regret it!

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper by SARK

I grabbed this lovely book at the library a month or so ago. I grabbed it in the writing section and the title was what grabbed me, but the book itself is what made me take it home.

This is the second book that I've seen done in this unique style. It's done by hand. The words are handwritten, the drawings are done by hand, all of it. It's utterly awesome and totally different from what you normally find on the shelves.

Made me feel like we were holding a copy of her art journal in our hands that was all about writing and being creative and being free with your art. Each page is its own piece of art that is unlike a lot of what's out there.

She really does get the message across that you can be creative and free and anything is possible. She even includes some exercises inside to get you going. She message was pretty spot on for me and I greatly enjoyed it.

If you come across this out and about in life or at the library, I suggest you pick it up and leave through it. It's pretty darn cool inside and something that I think you'll really enjoy having a look at.

Recommendation: This is one of those creativity boosters that we all need at one time or another. Pick this up if you'd like a little hand written sunshine in your day.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

My Part Time Paris Life: How Running Away Brought Me Home by Lisa Anselmo

This memoir caught my eye at Chapters while I was roaming around near the travel section. The cover is beautiful and the idea of someone actually running away, following their dreams, and doing the crazy unthinkable sounded like the perfect book.

I wasn't sure exactly what her story was before picking up the book, but I was on board for the ride because it had to do with living in Paris. This isn't just about a woman who through caution to the wind and bought property in another country, but about a woman who loses her mother and seeks to find herself now that the centre of her life isn't there anymore.

The book follows Lisa from the death of her mother, to that first crazy thought of moving to Paris, to her actually buying a home and moving there for more than a couple weeks. There are ups and downs along the way, and we get to read about how the experiences changed her and helped her grow.

It's like the books Eat, Pray, Love and Wild in that it deals with a loss and the need to reinvent or even simply to find yourself again, be who you are, and be happy. I appreciate these memoirs so much because they are so honest and real and about every day people.

It was a fairly quick read, simple but enjoyable. It made me smile, it made me tear up, and it was so well written that I felt like I was there too. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are someone who loves reading about the people who take life into their hands and do awesome things in pursuit of themselves.

Recommendation: For the love of memoirs about thought women who take back their lives and just go for it.

Saturday, September 16, 2017

A Fatal Collection by Mary Ellen Hughes

This is the first book in a new cozy mystery series by Mary Ellen Hughes. You all should know about my love of cozy mysteries by now, but if not let me fill you in on their greatness.

You've got a main character facing some turmoil in their lives, a dramatic murder takes place (usually someone close to them for the first book) and then you get to watch them bloom as they work to solve the case. There's always a great cast of interesting characters, a town so cool that makes you wish you could visit, a couple of love interests, and a mystery that keeps you guessing. They are simple, fun, and totally engrossing. Like chocolate for your mind.

This one was just what I was looking for. It's about Callie Reed who makes an over due visit to her aunt in the little village of Keepsake Cove which is home to a bunch of collectible shops. Her aunt runs one that sells music boxes. When she finds her aunt has passed away on the floor of her shop from an apparent fall, she stays, believing that her aunt was actually murdered and seeks to find the truth of what happened. She enlists the help of her aunts next door neighbour who was also her aunts best friend, as well as a few other shop keepers in this small little village.

It was easy, but lovely. A quick read, but still one that kept me from putting it down. The characters, the shops, the feel of the town seems like it could really be a real place that would be wonderful to visit. The characters are so interesting that I really do want to know what happens next for Callie and the rest of the people living in Keepsake Cove.

This book will be hitting shelves in November and I do recommend snapping it up! I was given the e-book version of this book by NetGalley to review and I am so happy that I did!

Recommendation: This is for my cozy mystery people out there. You will not be disappointed!!

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Big Mushy Happy Lump by Sarah Andersen

This is the second Sarah Scribbles book. I've got the first, and you can find my review of that one here.

I LOVED this so much. Just as much as the first book! Honestly her comics are golden and amazing and relatable to so many people. I know I see myself in them and it really makes you feel understood just a little bit more.

Like the first one, this book will brighten your day without fail. I like keeping them close by to pick up and flip open randomly when I am feeling down or just worn out. They bring a smile to my face.

This one was a little more closely related to anxiety and such, but I didn't mind. I enjoyed it all.

This one has the famous comic strip in it about the woman who walks into a bookstore and throws money up in the air like a rockstar in it. I'm sure you know the one.

I really hope she keeps releasing her work in collections like this for a long time to come because I love them so darn much. I noticed on Amazon that she's put out a planner too with her stuff and I am so excited to get my hands on that too! I am a big fan!

Recommendation: Read this. It'll take you all of a hour tops, if that. The joy and the feels that you will get from it will last you a whole hell of a lot longer!

Friday, August 18, 2017

Dead Man's Chest by Kerry Greenwood

Another Phryne Fisher book for you're reading pleasure. I mean, you have to like these books (or at least reading about them) if you're reading yet another one of my reviews about this series.

This one was a whole lot less mystery than many of the other ones. Don't get me wrong, I loved this book just as much as I love the busy and intense mystery filled ones. There wasn't really any steamy love bits in this one either. It was more about the day to day with a bit of a mystery thrown in.

Miss Fisher, her family, and her entourage are interesting and exciting all without the murders they work so hard to solve. I would read stories about them any day. How cool would they have been if they weren't just fictional characters. Putting my book lover problems aside, let's talk about this book:

This one is the 18th in the series. Miss Fisher takes her family off for a holiday, expecting a relaxing time with the sun and sand. Instead, they arrive to an empty house that should have had a butler and his wife prepared to welcome them on behalf of the owner of the home who arranged for Phryne to stay, and hints at buried treasure  by the sea that seems to have everyones attention. I won't say more, but it was interesting.

This one was a little light on the mystery, it kind of let things just move along at their own pace without a whole lot of intense investigation which I didn't mind. Doesn't mean I knew how things were going to turn out before they happened, I was still happily surprised.

I am now, and forever will be, a reader of this lovely series of books! Still waiting for the next series to appear on Netflix though. I love the show just as much!

Recommendation: If you still haven't read any of these but you are reading this review, just go to your nearest library and pick one of these babies up! You can't go wrong!

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris

I'm sure you've heard of the new show Midnight, Texas that has recently come out, and you might even know that it was based on a series by the lovely Charlaine Harris. (You'll know her as the author behind the books that are the basis of the t.v. show True Blood.) As a fan of her writing and a fan of this genre and type of book/show in general, I wanted to read the books and watch the show so I grabbed this up as part of a deal at Chapters.

This book is about a little tiny town in Texas called Midnight and the strange and secretive people who call it home. If you've seen the commercials for the show then you might know that theres hints of characters like vampires and psychics. With the arrival of a new person to town, things start to evolve that bring some secrets to light about some of the inhabitants of this little town, both good and bad.

The book was good. I enjoyed it. It kept me glued to the page and I really wanted to know how things all turned out by the end. This book didn't take me very long to read, and I didn't really want to put it down.

I liked how the story came from multiple points of view, giving a look into the lives of people living in Midnight and gave more depth to the story. Everyone has their own mysteries that they keep to themselves so although it was a mystery surrounding one character, each character was like their own little puzzle. I'm still confused and curious about a couple characters and I hope that by reading the other two books things might become clear.

Since watching an episode of the show, some of my suspicions have been confirmed and others are still mysteries for me. Reading more of the books and watching more of the show does need to happen.

I do have a bit of complaints about the show, but I will admit to only seeing one episode and not having read any more of the books yet so I really shouldn't be voicing my opinion. I just felt that even in the first 20 minutes that things were so different than the book was and that does tend to drive me a little nuts. I had no problem with the choice of actors or anything that, my problem was the actual changes being made in the story itself. It felt like the changes were so Hollywood and it was a bit hard for me. I know that the author does have writing credits in relation to the show too and if she's happy with it, then who am I to judge. Nevertheless I am interested and I am going to stick with it for now.

Recommendation: This book was pretty good, and coming from the point of view of someone who didn't know anything about the book or show (my fiancee) the show was pretty good too. I'm a big advocate of reading the book before watching anything related to it, but to each their own. Still, this is for the urban fantasy mystery lovers out there. Give it a chance. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Saturday, August 5, 2017

A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

Half the time when I write these reviews I feel like I'm simply rewriting the blurb on the back of the book in my own words without really telling you much about the book but I hate spoilers and I actively try to avoid writing them. Bear with me while I try to tell you everything without telling you everything.

This is the first book in The Agency series. Set it 1850's London, it's about a girl named Mary who's life is saved from the gallows by these women who run a school for girls that helps them get ahead in life with education and manners, all the things girls need. Turns out the school is a cover for a secret group of women who call themselves The Agency. They are a group of all female private investigators who work behind the scenes going where only women can go, gathering information and helping elite organizations with their expertise.

Mary jumps at the chance to work with them and her first mission puts her in the home of a business man acting as a companion to his daughter. She is out there on her own, told only to pay attention and gather information if she can about his business practices. Things take a turn for the dangerous and Mary is in deeper than she thought.

This book has deception, intrigue, a little bit of romance, and a lot of action to keep you on your toes. Nothing is quite what it seems and with trouble lurking around every corner, as well as a deadline looming, Mary does whatever she can to find the truth.

This book was a simple read, didn't take me very long to finish. I bought it with a good discount because I had seen the cover a couple times, and I was intrigued. I really liked the idea of the all female investigative agency set in this time period and this book didn't disappoint. I do think I'll read more in this series if I can get my hands on them at the library.

Recommendation: For those who enjoy young adult mystery type Victorian intrigues. It's an easy, but interesting read.

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates

Last year I found the book Daisies for Innocence by Bailey Cattrell at the library and I snapped it up because it had such a cute cover, and well, it was a mystery. Quite often that's all I need to know. Needless to say I loved it! (you can read what I thought about it by clicking on the title). The reason I'm telling you this is because that book was the first in a new series. I did some digging and it turns out that Bailey Cattrell was one of the names that the author of this book publishes under. There was a whole series she had written that I wanted to get my hands on.

You would be right in thinking this book is one of those cheesy titled, sweet, cosy mysteries with a single girl protagonist who finds herself solving a mystery when she probably has no business doing it, while getting stuck in a love triangle with two different and totally hot guys who both make it their life's work to save her butt at every turn even though they've only known her a week. 

And you know what? I loved it. It's silly and predictable, but honestly, it's a wonderful break from reality. It's just a book to pick up when you are looking for an easy read that sweeps you up, carries you off to a safe place, gives you a bit of romance and intrigue and keeps your mind occupied for a couple of hours. 

The bonus to this series is it involves magic. In this book, Katie Lightfoot moves to Savannah to open a bakery with her aunt and uncle. Shortly after arriving, she starts noticing strange things going on with her aunt. Turns out her aunt is actually a witch, and so is Katie! When a murder happens right outside the door of the shop, Katie's uncle becomes the prime suspect. With the help of her aunt and their witchy abilities, they must work together to find the real killer. 

For all its simplicity and cheese, I loved it. I will totally pick up more of this series and I am totally looking forward to the next one in the previous series too. This are just easy, fun reads. Like chocolate for the mind! 

Recommendation: If you're all about a good cheesy, cozy mystery that involves a little magic, than snap this one up. It'll be that distraction you've been looking for. 

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Murder in the Dark by Kerry Greenwood

Yep. It's time again for another Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries review. Sorry, not sorry.

Murder in the Dark had a lot of action and a lot of drama. This one really kept me glue to the page. It showed a lot more of the seedy underbelly of drugs, sex, and partying that the rich set got up to back in the 1920's. It was quite thrilling! It didn't include a whole lot of her entourage that I love so much, but it made up for that with really interesting story telling. How Phryne metes out justice and lives to tell the tale is quite awesome.

I utterly enjoyed this book. It was dark and twisted, a little bit rougher than many of her books but I still loved very second of it.

Phryne receives and invitation to the Last Best party of 1928 being held by the Golden Twins whom Phryne knew from her days in Paris. It's a four day extravaganza, and someone has been sending her warning letters trying to keep her from going. Of course that isn't going to stop her. If anything it makers her want to go even more. There is a goat lady (complete with goat), female polo players, pipe smoking acolytes, flirtations, dancing, pleasure parties, and mint juleps. It's Phryne's type of party.

It was so interesting to read about the types of things they might have happened with the rich and popular back in the day. They kinds of trouble they could have gotten into made for a really interesting read. I don't want to give anything away, but if you like the naughtier side of things that tend to go on in these books, then you'll thoroughly enjoy this one!

Recommendation: If you're reading this and haven't yet picked up any of these books to read for yourself, then what are you waiting for?

Monday, July 24, 2017

Under Wildwood by Colin Meloy

This is the second book in the Wildwood trilogy. I've already read and reviewed the first book here if you'd like to know a little more about it.

This book has Prue McKeel heading back into the Impassable Wilderness. She finds herself being hunted by assassins sent by an unknown enemy and heads back into the wood to figure things out. She teams up with her friend Curtis again to start on a journey to bring unity back to the wood.

The side story in this one is all about an orphanage that uses the children as labour in a machine parts shop. The owner of this orphanage is obsessed with the Impassable Wilderness and he dreams to make it in and exploit it for his own gain. That's all that's on his mind, nothing else matters to him. I won't say any more but this does tie into the main story.

These books are just great. They are detailed and intricate but without weighing you down with so many details. The wood and it's creatures really come alive and you feel like you're going on the journey too. At one point, Prue came back to the world as we know it outside of the forest and honestly, I was in a hurry for her to go back. The author has created such a cool place that I want to know everything about it!

This is a young teen type of book because the main characters are quite young but the thing is that it doesn't feel like it. It's got a lot of awesomeness going on that reads like more of an young adult type of fantasy. It's very much a series that makes me think of the Chronicles of Narnia, and in no way is that a bad thing. It's a world where these kids are going to change everything for the better and I love it.

My only complaint was that the first book had a mission and it was resolved by the end of the book. I assumed this book would do the same thing and when things weren't explained/solved by the end of this book I was a little annoyed at it being a sort of cliff hanger. Cliff hangers drive me nuts! It's okay though, I've got the last book already on my shelf and I'm reading it next. This doesn't take away from my love of this book.

Recommendation: If you haven't heard of this series, or if you've not read the first one but you think maybe you'd like to find out more about Wildwood, start with the first book. If you've read the first but weren't sure about continuing, please just give this a try. This is for the fantasy world lovers who want to escape to a place where animals can talk and the woods are alive.

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Blood and Circuses by Kerry Greenwood

Here we meet again, for another conversation about the Honorable Miss Phryne Fisher and her entourage of awesomeness that reside out there in the 1920's Australia.

This one has Miss Fisher going under cover without any back up or help in the Circus to solve the murder of one of the members of the band of misfits that make up the circus. She finds herself utterly bored and when a friend from her past shows up with a problem, she decides she should help. Mr. Christopher has been murdered and it's going to be pinned on the wrong person. In order to solve this mystery she has to join the circus. She must learn to stand up on the back of a horse for the show while trying to fit in and learn all she can about the victim and who might have wanted to kill.

They did an episode of the show about this book. Having seen it and now having read the book they are two very different things. Usually that totally annoys me but I'm not bothered as much in this case. The book dealt with some pretty serious emotional things that just wouldn't have translated as well onto the show. I found this book to be much darker and more serious at times than the show, or even a lot of the books tend to feel.

I felt like this book brought me through a much larger emotional journey than I was expecting. I don't want to say more about that, because I don't want to give anything away. This book just wasn't as cosy and as light as a lot of them usually are. It touches on some rough and tough serious and dangerous things that surprised me, and really hit me hard while reading.

Recommendation: If you haven't read any of these books yet, don't start with this one. If you're familiar with the greatness that is Phryne Fisher, then have at it. It was hard but good.


Tuesday, July 18, 2017

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

This is the first book in a relatively new YA trilogy that has to do with Sherlock and Watson. In this series, Sherlock and Watson were real people who've gone on to have families, and their descendants are still alive and well out there in the world carrying on the names.

This Holmes descendant is a girl named Charlotte. She's got the smarts, the habits, the behaviours, and the drama the surrounds the quintessential Holmes. The Watson descendant is a boy named Jaime. He's still trying to figure out where he fits in the big bad world, and comes into himself once he meets his Holmes.

They find themselves at the same boarding school in the states by some weird coincidence and they quickly make enemies of the same guy at school. It's all well and good until that guy winds up dead and the two main suspects are Holmes and Watson.

Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. I love Sherlock and Watson. Iterations of their greatness are always thrilling and this book did not disappoint. I loved it! A female Sherlock is something my heart has been missing for years. She comes complete with flaws and all, just like he did. I loved it.

The second book was recently released and I am super excited because, of course, I've already got it on my shelf. This is shaping up to be one great series and I am super happy that I found them.

There's just something so refreshing about series related to those characters being done with younger people, and a girl to boot. I was more than happy to go with the flow and just enjoy myself with this book.

Recommendation: If you've ever enjoyed a Sherlock Holmes story, movie, book, whatever before, than I think you'll enjoy this book. Totally for the fans who are open to a new twist.


Saturday, July 8, 2017

Unnatural Habits by Kerry Greenwood

Well, hello! We are back with yet another Phryne Fisher murder mystery review! This one is the 19th book in the series and it's another book that is the basis for one of the episodes of the wonderful show.

The show is only what, an hour long? It makes sense that the books will have a lot more substance and detail in it than the show did. This was of course the case here.

This one deals with missing girls. They are pretty girls who have found themselves pregnant and in trouble. They were staying at the convent for wayward girls, being forced to work in the laundry which is one of the sources of income this convent uses to "take care" of these girls. Once they leave there and go off to another place to have their babies, they all go missing. The book starts with a female reporter on the hunt for these missing girls. It's not till the reporter goes missing too that Phryne steps in and takes up the hunt for these poor girls.

It's got murder, lots and lots of intrigue, and a whole lot more going on than the episode of the show did. I read this in about 3.5 hours, I almost couldn't put it down. It was a little darker than the show was, but it's got the same type of story to it that the show did. Don't start thinking you should skip this one because you know how it ends from the show, because you would be doing yourself a disservice. The book has so much more to it!

Recommendation: Read it. Just read it. You know you want to.


Thursday, July 6, 2017

The Cruellest Month by Louise Penny

It's been a hot minute since I've posted anything about the wonderful books by Louise Penny. She is still one of my favourite authors and I am still working through her books. I read this one last year I believe, but I think it's taken me so long to write the review because I didn't want to post too many reviews of books by the same author all at the same time, then I simply forgot!

I've got this book on my shelf as it came in this awesome box set. I think the reason I don't have all the published books in this series is because they are being published from a different company and because of that the book sizes don't match. Don't know if that annoys anyone else.

Anyway, back to the book. This is the third in the series following the wonderful Chief Inspector Gamache. It's held in the wonderful small town of Three Pines, which is supposed to be out there in Quebec, Canada. This mystery digs into the past of the inhabitants of this place again, revealing secrets. It's Easter and some of the villagers decide to hold a seance in an old house full of history. Someone dies during the seance. Was it of fright? or something else? The colourful cast of characters comes together again, trying to figure out who is the next killer, and who is going to next, and why.

There are so many different levels to these books that it's like they are their own special experiences. They make you feel things for people and situations that you wouldn't normally feel. It's hard to explain but it takes you into different perspectives and shows you other sides to things you wouldn't normally consider.

This book was great and I do recommend it, but of course, I recommend you start with the first one and get ready to enjoy yourself with these beautifully written mysteries.

Recommendation: For the lover of the more intensely human murder mystery type novel. Be prepared to feel.



Wednesday, June 21, 2017

The Penny Heart by Martine Bailey


This was a total cover grab from the library. I saw the colours of the cover and then the title and upon reading the back, I was determined to read this book.

The Penny Heart is about the lives of two women in1850's England. One was to be put to death for a minor crime and the other was simply to get out from under her father's rule and begin a life of her own. Mary, the woman who was almost hanged but spared death and instead sent away to "the ends of the earth" vowed to return to England and seek revenge on the man who testified and sent her away. Grace is the woman who marries the man that sent Mary to the gallows. I won't say more, but it's a really intricate story.

I liked this book but at the same time, it was a little long for me. It took me a lot longer than some books to get through it, and although I am happy I finished it, it felt very long. There were so many details in the stories of these women and what transpires, that I think at times perhaps it was a little bit more complicated than it needed to be.

There were a lot of interesting and captivating moments, including during the last 50 or so pages. By the end I was glued to the page, and I knew that this kind of thing was coming and I knew that it would be worth the wait to read till the end.

The thing is I found myself feeling for both of these women although I knew that there was vengeance and deceit going on. Grace was often so naive and and silly at times, but yet, I still worried for her. This book was very well written.

Recommendation: I don't know if this book is for the casual reader. This story is long and detailed, and probably should only be read by those prepared to go the distance with it. the story is worth the wait though.

Monday, June 19, 2017

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

I grabbed this during a sale thing at Chapters because I haven't read as much of Neil Gaiman's work as I would like.

This is a fairly small, fairly short book. I read about half of it at the hair salon while I was waiting for my fiancée to get a hair cut. 

I think I might have read it too fast though because I got the sense there were like 10 different layers to this book that just floated by above my head. 

It was such an interesting story that I was rushing through it rather quickly and I think that might not have helped. I definitely need to re-read this!

I really enjoy being told a story by Neil Gaiman, and I am grabbing up his other works (as I always do, when I can get a deal) and adding them to my library. After all, I adored both the book and the movie version of Stardust (my review on that one is here).

I didn't know what to expect from this book. The synopsis on the back tells you very little. It's about a man who returns back to where he grew up for a funeral. He begins to reminisce about a girl he knew when he was 7 and the pond behind her house that she used to call an ocean. I don't want to give anything away, so I urge you to grab up this book and read it for yourself. Simply keep an open mind. That way you can be swept along for the journey and just float away into another world. I 

Recommendation: Neil Gaiman's work is a thing of beauty. Read it. 

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Flying Too High by Kerry Greenwood


This one is the second book in the Phryne Fisher mysteries and it introduces some of the characters that we have come to know and love from reading and watching the show.

This one focuses on the death of a family man (who it's believed was murdered by his son) and, you guessed it, aeroplanes. The side mystery involves a young girl who goes missing, and when someone is in need to help, Phryne comes to the rescue. 

Mr. and Mrs. Butler are introduced and Phryne takes up residence in her Australian home, at 221B of course, a nod to the famous detective himself. Everything begins to come together for the fabulous female investigator. She has her household under control, Dot is by her side, and a new mystery or two to solve.

Something I loved right from the beginning with these books is that Phryne is always Phryne. She doesn't change much at all. She retains the same principles and acts exactly how you would expect her to in every situation. It's like reading about a good friend.

I had little to complain about when it comes to this novel. I know sometimes I might find myself irritated a little by the romance or the seemingly easy way the mysteries are solved but this one didn't get under my skin. It was lovely and I enjoyed it as usual! 

Recommendation: I love these books. I can see how they aren't for everyone, but you know, I love a strong woman who does what she wants (while solving mysteries with her lovable band of helpers, of course!)

Monday, June 5, 2017

Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill

This book was the first in a new series. Right off the bat, can we just take a moment and stare at that cover!? Who would have thought a mostly white cover would be so stunning! It's a gorgeous book!

I snapped this up at the library because of the cover and because I had seen it mentioned by a couple of you lovely readers out there in the bookstagram community. This is a fantasy type of story in another world filled with magic.

Ever the Hunted is about a girl named Britta who, after the murder of her father, is trying to survive in a world where she has no rights and cannot inherit property. She gets caught for poaching to survive and is dragged in before the King to trade her life for the life of the person who supposedly killed her father. She must help track him down in order to earn a home of her own and escape death for poaching. Her father was the King's bounty hunter and because of the target they are hunting, they believe she is the perfect skilled hunter to bring him in. That boy? Her father's former apprentice and the boy she used to love who broke her heart. She goes on this journey to figure out who really killed her father, no matter who did it, uncover secrets, and to save the kingdom.

This book was like some other books of this type, but yet, it wasn't. It had the girl who was different, setting out on her own, getting caught up in the race to save the world and the ones she loves, while coming to terms with who she really is and what she can do. Still though, it was delightful to read.

At times it was a little heavy on the romance and the self discovery, but it was really full of twists and turns. It was the world that was created and the magic that was woven through it that really kept me glued to the page. I just went with it, fell into the story, and just enjoyed it for what it was. I didn't get hyper critical or picked it apart. It was a great story.

Reading this felt like such a great escape. That's something I totally look for in the books I read. I was taken out of my life with this book and put into a totally different place and taken along for the ride. I really did enjoy this book and I will be keeping my eye out for the next one! I really, really want to know what happens next!

Recommendation: If you love magic, other worlds, and the search for the truth (and romance) than you will definitely enjoy this book!

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Adulthood is a Myth by Sarah Andersen

If you haven't seen the little comic strips by Sarah Andersen yet, then you might be living under a rock. I think we've all see the one about the money conscious girl who only goes crazy spending at the bookstore. That little gem was created by this woman.

I adore this book. I was given it for my birthday by my fiancée because when I was looking at it at the bookstore, I kept remarking how every panel was exactly like me. I could relate so hard with so much of what she draws that it kind of surprises me a little.

I've read this through cover to cover probably about 5 times now. Every time I end up running over to my guy and showing him bits and pieces exclaiming how "me" and how "us" it is. 

He got it for me because he thought I could look at it every time I get sad and feel a little less alone and a little bit better about things. (Yes, he's the best. Totally taken though, sorry girls!)

If you're a twenty-something trying to figure out this thing called life then you need to pick this up. It will make you laugh and you will feel better, I assure you!

Oh, and she has another book coming out soon!! Can't wait!

Recommendation: For the ones who need a little uplifting funny to go with life. You won't regret it! 

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Malice at the Palace by Rhys Bowen

I was in a bit of a hurry the other day while searching for goodies at Chapters. They had a whole deal going on that you needed to buy so many books and get some percentage off or something (like I need a reason to buy books) and I had a gift card, so I grabbed this book. 

I had seen this series before at the bookstore and it had always piqued my interest. It's about a girl whose cousins with the Royal family in England. It's set back in the 1930's and it involves murder, intrigue, spying, and a woman doing things for herself. In this particular story, Lady Georgiana Rannoch is tasked with being a companion to a Princess from Greece who is to wed the King's son George. Prince George has always been a bit of a play boy so keeping the Princess unaware of his past is a big task. When one of the prince's former flings is found murdered, Lady Georgiana searches for the killer while helping out the highest powers that be from having things turn into a scandal. 

This one is the 9th in the series, and I didn't know too much more about it till I grabbed this one. This was the kind of book that catches your eye and you read the back a couple times before taking the plunge one day and reading it. 

Honestly, I confused this one with another series I was planning on reading but it turned out totally okay as I enjoyed this book! The other series had a female protagonist and dealt with spying too but that's okay. I'll get to that one eventually. 

This book felt a little slow going at the beginning. For a cozy mystery, this one was little bit more complicated that I had thought it would have been. It did get into a groove around the half way mark, so I'm happy I kept with it. 

 There were lots of hints at past exploits without giving too much away which I liked because that gives me a reason to go back and read more. I wouldn't say that this is a series that I need to collect and put on my shelves but I do think that if I come across more of them at the library then I would definitely read them.  

Recommendation: For the lover of a good mystery, especially one about England back in the day. Detailed and interesting. Give it a go!

Saturday, May 6, 2017

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

This book had a lot of hype for about 15 minutes when it came out. It's one of those books that are for the lovers of thrillers, like Gone Girl and the like. Way back I had a long love affair with thrillers and it's only been the last couple years that I've felt differently about them. I think I find them too repetitive and almost too predictable sometimes. This one had a story line that was a little reminicent of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express in that the mystery happens in an enclosed space where no one apart from those on board could have done it. Anyway, back to this book.

This book takes place on a boat trip with a small group of people. The main character is convinced she saw someone who supposedly doesn't exist, and then she heard someone get killed. There are twists and turns, and a whole lot of mystery surrounding the story. 

I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it. There was a lot of back and forth that wasn't really necessary with forshadowing coming events that I could have really done without. It kind of drove me nuts. I didn't feel like it added anything. It distracted me more than anything because I felt like we didn't know enough yet to really believe them. It's hard to explain without actually giving away spoilers which I refuse to do. 

The story was told from the point of view of the main character but so much of her story was about feelings which weighed down on me. I couldn't really connect to her, I felt her to be so focused on emotions rather then really buckling down and figuring out what was going on. There wasn't enough I could get behind as a character. 

This story was a fairly quick read. I don't think it had quite enough meat for me. I wanted more. I did make me think though, and I am curious about what will happen next for these characters. I felt like the book ended almost without me noticing which I guess is a good thing. 

I didn't hate this book. I read it all the way through and I didn't give up on it. I just wanted more I think. It wasn't mind blowing like all the reviews said it was going to be (then again, I didn't like Gone, Girl at all so that should have told me something right there) 

Recommendation: If you liked Gone, Girl and other thrillers of that nature, you will really like this. 

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor

A lot of the books I find to read either happen by accident, I hear about them on Instagram, or while roaming the book store. This was kind of an accident and kind of something I had heard about on Instagram.

I wasn't aware of this author until the last couple months and the reason I was aware of it was because I heard about her through a couple posts made by a blogger I really like. Thing was, Flannery O'Connor apparently had written things of a more specifically religious nature and while that's not really my thing, I was interested in her writing anyway. 

I found this in the fiction section of my library totally by accident one day as I was wandering through the bookshelves. I saw her name on the spine and I figured, why not! This was her first book.

This one does have a religious bend to it, but it's fiction, and it's a story. I picked this up totally to experience her writing, which was totally great, but I think a lot of it went over my head. 

It's about a guy named Hazel Motes who is basically looking to get away from God without actually being able to. He even starts his own church, but can't actually get away from God at all. He meets a blind man and his daughter, and a strange guy who has "wise blood". I don't want to say more really, because I don't know how much I'd be giving away that people may not want to know before hand. With this book, I don't even know what the spoilers are and what they aren't.

There was no doubt a deeper meaning to this story than I was getting, and I think maybe since I missed it, it left something to be desired once it was done. It felt almost like a book we had to read in school, one of those ones that feel intense but in an old time period that we can't connect with, about people who live lives we never will. 

Coming out the other side I'm not sure what to make of it. It was dark, strange, and weird. Her writing was wonderful otherwise I don't think I would have finished this book based on the story. Her writing kept me glued to the page even though I had no clue what was really going on. I hopped over onto Goodreads to see what people were saying and I guess the consensus is its a Southern Gothic novel, and no one can say a whole lot about whats going on either. 

Recommendations: If you want to read something out of the norm, looking to experience different writings, and different stories, then read this. This isn't the book for the usual book worm. 

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

This book has been all over Instagram and because it's classified as a young adult book I didn't really look into it too much at first. I still have a bit of a thing when it comes to reading young adult books, but I am expanding my horizons and enjoying it.

This book was no exception. I loved this book! It was fun and easy to follow. Best part was that it was a western, written like a western with the lingo and the mannerisms. It was lovely. I totally wasn't expecting that when I first picked it up and it was a nice surprise!

I hate to admit it, but all the years I spent living at home with my parents and only having one t.v. meant that I watched a lot of western movies with my dad, and I actually kind of enjoyed them. There was another series I read last year that followed two cowboy brothers around that I really quite liked too.

Vengeance Road follows Kate Thompson, a young woman, in her pursuit of the men who killed her father. She must follow them as they travel towards the location of a hidden gold mine that was written in a journal they stole from her father to seek her vengeance. There's murder, intrigue, a bit of surprising turn of events, and a whole cast of interesting characters that take you on a ride through gold mining country back in the day. It was thoroughly enjoyable!

Now, I know what you might be thinking, that since this is a young adult book that it's perhaps something more sweet and innocent then westerns really are, but it's not. There's death and killing without apologies. Yes, there is a little bit of love thrown in there, but it's not a sweet light western following just a regular sweet girl. This is grittier than that, and I loved it!

There is a new book coming out by this author later this year that is in the same western style, but sadly it doesn't feature the same characters. Everything gets wrapped up at the end of this book but there is always more to know! New characters or not, I will be reading it. I love this old western style with which the author uses to add a little something extra to her books.

Recommendation: Read this if you love good stories, if westerns pique your interest,  and if you're looking for something different. This book will not disappoint!

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Murder and Mendelssohn by Kerry Greenwood

Stop reading right now if you are totally sick of Miss Fisher's murder mystery reviews. I'd apologize, but honestly, I'm not really sorry I'm reviewing another one! They are just too much fun!

This one was a little different than the usual ones. This one featured an old friend of Phryne's from her time spend in the war. The interesting thing was her friend now has a companion who, as it turns out, is a little like another famous mystery character that most of us know and love! (He resides at 221B Baker street) It might actually bother hard core Sir Conan Doyle fans, but although it was obvious the relationship between her characters was based on those famous men, they were still written different enough to be their own separate entities.

I will say that moments got a little weird, a little overly sexual is the best way to describe it, and although I could have done without a lot of that bit there in the middle, it was a good book.

The mystery might have been a little secondary to the storyline of the two gentlemen, which, depending on what you read these books for, can be a little tiresome. I, for one, love the stories about Phryne and her entourage as much as I like a good old murder mystery. A bit of drama and romance is alright by me (at least when it comes to these books!)

There was a choir, a ghastly murder (or two), some romance, old flames, new flames, spies, the war, and much more in this one. All in all I'd have to say it was a pretty darn good book!

Recommendation: As always, lovers of murder, of old time divas in spectacular clothing, women living life to the fullest for themselves, and a great story will love this book and this series as a whole!

Monday, April 10, 2017

The Elven Tales: The Company of the Rose by Fabi Ghittoni

Let me start off by telling you that I was given an e-book form of this book by the author to review.

I came across Fabi on Instagram and through following her I found out she was looking for reviewers for her new book called The Elven Tales: The Company of the Rose. Anything to do with Elves and other creatures like that I am all over it, so of course I asked if I could read and review it!

This book is about a girl named Prudence who is going about life as a normal girl living with her best friends family. After being attacked, she finds herself in a new place with new creatures who are telling her she needs to help them stop this evil being Alanel who has escaped from prison. She must help retrieve the King's runes and learn about who she really is in order to save Arkana. She is aided by the warriors who make up The Company of the Rose who are by her side through the harrowing journey. It's got action, adventure, a little intrigue, and a lot of fun.

First off, the book is gorgeous! It's really stunning! Even the pages are beautiful! It's just an amazing looking book. Every chapter had a different picture in shades of grey on its chapter page and it was just visually interesting to read.

Now, have you ever been so excited about a book that you had to immediately explain the whole entire story to a friend in order to get them to understand how great it was? Well, reading this book felt a little like that.

There were moments where everything was sped up so quickly that I found myself being a little left behind in some places. Like the story teller was saying, yes, those moments are important to the story, but so is this and this and this and this. Like a friend was hurrying to get to her favorite part and didn't have time to slow down and explain it all.

Some parts of the book totally slowed down though, and I felt like I was actually with the characters experiencing what they were experiencing (which is what I love). There were a couple places towards the end that totally grabbed me up and really engaged me which is why, if I had to give this book a rating, I would give it a 3/5.

The bones of this story were so good though. It was such an interesting idea and I was excited to see how it was going to turn out. I did feel though that I had many questions that weren't getting answered and that did take away a little of the fun for me. All in all, it was a good first book from a new author.

Recommendation:  Check this book out on Goodreads and on Instagram. If you are interested in the synopsis, don't pass this by. You kind of have to work with this book for it to work for you, but the story is pretty cool!

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

I've seen this movie a bunch of times but I never had the opportunity to read the book that inspired it.

The book is the true account of what Susannah experienced when she went into treatment with a mental illness. I have always found books and stories like this to be interesting. We all live different lives and being able to look into the lives of others can be enlightening and moving experience. 

Now, the movie is a little more dramatic and embellished than the book (the real story) was. Part of me is so happy that is the case. If you've ever seen the movie, it's got some parts that really kind of grab you and shake you up. Thankfully, those parts weren't experienced by the author in quite the same way. I could explain but I won't go into more detail because I am so against spoilers of any kind.

This was a super easy and quick read for me, and I was totally wrapped up in it when I was reading it. It's really an open window into the lives of those who experience mental illness. 

There are copies of records from the institution from during her stay inserted into the book that I thought were pretty darn cool to see. I do like how much the movie told the story of these characters and did them so much justice though, and I recommend both the movie and the book. 

Recommendation: for those who are interested in the lives and experiences of those touched with mental illness, this is something to read!


Monday, March 27, 2017

And Then There Were Nuns by Jane Christmas

If you've seen any of my Instagram stories, I spend a lot of time in the library on my days off writing and drinking coffee. On one such trip the table I was sitting near happened to be next to the stacks of religious books and the title of this one caught my eye (Agatha Christie fans, you know why).

This is a memoir about a woman who thinks she needs to follow this yearning she has to become a nun. She finally decides she needs to go and visit some convents and truly look into this path right around the same time her boyfriend proposes to her. I found this hilarious and totally engrossing right from the start. She visits four different places over the course of her journey and she details the real feelings and experiences she felt during this period in her life. 

While still in the library I started reading this book and by the time we left I was at chapter two and totally committed in following the path of this book. 

It's funny, it's serious, and it's the kind of memoir that totally draws you in, gives you a cup of tea, and settles you down for the ride. 

I'm not a religious person and I like how she gave information about some of the things she was writing about in such a way that you didn't feel silly for not knowing them. I was able to keep up and feel like I was experiencing what she experienced. 

I read this pretty fast over the span of two days. I love her writing style and I do believe she's written other books which I will be very happy to check out. I've always been curious about the lives of those who spend their time in religious orders and I enjoyed this look into that world.

Recommendation: If you are curious and are looking for a really good memoir about a life different then you're own, a life searching for something, or even a really good read, this is the book you should read.

Friday, March 24, 2017

Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates

I had no idea what to expect from this book. None what so ever. I grabbed this book because I was in the fiction section of the library and I came across these books by the author Joyce Carol Oates and the name sounded familiar (I still don't remember why because I hadn't read anything she had written before this book) so because I still had like three library books at home to read I decided to grab a short read of hers to satisfy my curiosity.

This book says it's about a guy named Quentin who has gotten into trouble molesting a minor and that he's a sexual psychopath. Who doesn't like a creepy story every once and a while. 

This book is actually written from the point of view of Quentin. It's a whole lot stranger and creepier then I thought it would be. I honestly don't know what else to really say about this book without giving away a lot of it. 

It makes you uncomfortable at times, it makes you worried that maybe you know someone who could be like this. It's just one of those books that more like and experience then it is a story. One of those books that takes you along and plops you down in the middle of things to just watch and listen and see what there is to see.

For all it's creepiness and strange and messed up bits I think it was very well written. I really do want to read more by this author. She is on my list. 

It's a very quick read and honestly, it was interesting for all that it was assaulting to the mind. I don't know why I didn't hate this book, but I didn't. I think it's because I can see the fun in writing something like this perhaps. I'm not sure.

Recommendation: For those who like reading really messed up stories that take you out of happy normal things and plants you down into the depths of really weird and messed up psychotic places. 

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Raisins and Almonds by Kerry Greenwood

Yes, I know. Another Phryne Fisher mystery.

This one was focused on saving a bookshop owner from being hanged for a murder she didn't commit. Phryne has a new lover and there is a lot of romance in this one but, there was also a look into the Jewish community that I found quite interesting. 

This was definitely a mystery that keeps you guessing. I had no idea whodunit by the end and I was a little surprised when it was finally solved, and in such a simple type of way. There was misdirection, stories upon stories, everything was shrouded in mystery but of course, Miss Fisher figured it out. 

You know if you've been reading my blog for any amount of time how much I love these books, and this one is a prime example of why. Some I love more than others, and this was one of them!

Recommendation: If you still don't know the greatness that is Miss Phryne Fisher (or haven't even seen the show on Netflix yet) then this is as good a place to start as any!

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Why We Write: 20 Acclaimed Authors on How and Why They Do What They Do by Meredith Maran

This was a random library find a couple weeks ago. I wasn't looking for anything like this but I found myself sitting at a table right next to the shelves of books on writing and as soon as I saw the title of this book I grabbed it up.

As someone who is searching for her meaning in life (which I am highly suspecting has to do with writing) this sounded like a perfect informative read for me.

I have this weird habit of forgetting who sings songs. I might remember the words, sometimes the title, but I almost always forget who is the one performing it. I tell you this because I apparently have that issue when it comes to authors too!

Looking at the list of authors who were sharing their experiences in this book didn't overly thrill me. I think out of 20 I knew/could recognize the names of about 6 of them. As I was reading though, it hit me how many I had heard of, how many I did know, and how much I did know about their work!

This was pretty darn interesting. I am back at the library today as I write this and I am going to be going back to that section and I am going to be looking for more books like this. I love reading about people's lives and why they do what they do (especially when it comes to writing).

To say I learned a lot wouldn't really be true. So much of their advice I had heard before (whether or not I want to listen is a whole other story). What I did learn though was how they feel about their work and how they came about their successes. It's almost reassuring to know that it wasn't easy. Misery loves company after all!

This was an easy read, something that might feel repetitive after the first 10 or so, but I'd advise reading them all. Each person's story is different and unique and I think they all have gems of wisdom to impart.

Recommendation: For the readers who love the process and for the writers who are just starting (or have been writing for years) This was a good read for sure!

Monday, March 6, 2017

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

I'm sure I'm not the only one who does this, but I tend to want to read a book badly around the time I hear it's being made into a movie, because 9 times out of 10 I intend the see the movie. I also prefer to read a book before seeing it's movie because I feel like I should appreciate the original work of art before seeing the movie version. This can prove to be quite annoying for my fiancée because that means I miss seeing movies he would like to watch too in theatres as, in true bookworm fashion, I tend to be reading 3 books at once and sometimes cannot get to finishing the book in time.

I had heard mixed reviews about this book and I wasn't going to read this at first, but the movie trailer looked really cool so I had to see what the fuss was about. 

I liked this book. I thought the characters were really interesting, I thought that the story kept my attention, and although I might have gone a different route in some places, it was pretty great. The world that the author created is one I haven't really seen before and I really do want to know more. 

I haven't gotten a hold of any of the other books yet, and I think it's because I wasn't super jazzed about the ending of this one. Something about it just made me need to step back and pause before I read any more. Probably going to snap them up after watching the movie. That's usually how it goes. 

I haven't seen the movie yet although I really do intend to see it at some point. This book wasn't at all what I was expecting but it's good that it wasn't. It was a fun and different read. 

Recommendation: I'm not sure why people didn't like it but I'd suggest you not listen to them and read it for yourself. It's not what I expected but I liked it and you might just like it too! 

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

This was not the book for me.

I hate books and movies who's sole purpose is to tell you a story that will make you cry. I hate it. I have enough to cry about in my own life, I don't need books to do it too. 

I grabbed this because, again, it was being made into a movie and because I was trying to review and read books that were more mainstream and a different genre/type then my usual read. I was trying to broaden my horizons. What I got from that was a a big pile of tissues and a book hangover that drove me nuts. 

The writing was good. I will admit that even though I hated the story. I think I hate the story so much because it was told well. If it had been a badly written sad story then I might not have been bothered by it so much.

I think it's pretty obvious that I don't recommend this book unless you like sad stories that will make you bawl your eyes out. And I won't be reading anymore by this author. Or any more books like this no matter how much I want to broaden my horizons. 

Oh, and I really, really don't want to see the movie. Nope, nope, nope!

Recommendation: Not for the curious, only for those who feel the need to torture themselves with terribly sad stories. 

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

A few years back I was reading a lot of thrillers to the point where I think might have almost ruined thrillers for myself. They tend to be rather repetitive in their storylines and I've been finding myself underwhelmed quite often by the new ones.

I got the chance to buy this book as an e-book at a really great deal so I had to give it a chance.

I was afraid that was going to happen this time with this book. I was about half way into it when I was getting bored thinking it was repetitive and stereotypical but... It totally redeemed itself by the end. 

This book is about two women, both dealing with their lives the best they can. One loses their husband and the other rejoices by the loss of someone who hurt them badly. Their stories intertwine and there's a whole lot of mystery and intrigue that comes. I want to say more but I'm afraid that I might unleash a spoiler which I really don't want to do. Check this out on your favorite book site if you want to know more. 

I didn't know where this book was going, but I'm really glad I stuck it out to the end. It took a lot of twists and turns I wasn't expecting, and I definitely felt like it grabbed my attention and kept me on the edge of my seat. This is one thriller that actually thrilled me.


Recommendation: Must read for all fans of thrillers. You won't be disappointed. 

Saturday, February 25, 2017

A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess

This was a total cover buy. I came across it at the bookstore and I found myself picking it up and reading the synopsis three times before I actually grabbed it. There was something about this book that kept pulling me in. Usually with teen novels I end up purchasing because I read all about them on Instagram and I take the plunge when I can get them for a good deal (and it sounds like something I would read) but this one wasn't really being mentioned when I bought it.

I guess there are some mixed reviews out about this book but I don't think that should deter you from reading it if you find it interesting. As a reviewer of books myself, I know it sounds counter productive to tell you to ignore reviews of a book, but I don't want to sway you any specific way with my reviews. I just want to tell you my thoughts and feelings and let you make your own decision. The decision you make doesn't affect me in any way, either. I just review books because I love talking about them! The point is, I wouldn't take someone's review as a guarantee of what you might feel about a book. It's all relative. 

I liked this book. It wasn't superb or amazing but it was good. By the end I was glued to the page to read more. In fact, I hope there are more in this series coming out because I really want to know what happens next. It may not have blown my socks off but it's keeping me coming back for more. Bit of a mixed bag of emotions from this one. 

I found parts a little slow, like I was hoping for more character development faster than the book was giving it to me. The basics of the story have also been done many, many times before and I did feel like we were being handed bare bones with a new dress on them to dress them up. The dress though, was one hell of a dress.

No complaints about the end and the twists to the story, it was interesting. I actually did like this book. It felt simple at times but it was good.

Recommendation: If this book interests you, then read it. I don't think you'll be
disappointed! 

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur


I waited a really long time to get my hands on this book but it
was worth it.

Milk and Honey is a book of poetry by this amazing Canadian poet and artist Rupi Kaur. Also people, she's only on her 20's! 

The book is split up into four sections as deals with different things we experience in life. It deals a lot with heartache and love that we all experience in our twenties. 
After seeing so many quotes and pictures on Instagram highlighting her work I needed to get my hands on it myself. I am happy I did.

I read it through pretty fast actually, more like devoured it whole like a big piece of cheesecake. I'm glad I own it versus getting it at the library because I am looking forward to reading it again and again. I think I might have missed some parts or got swept away in some places that a re-read is really important. 

When it comes to relationships and love I totally know where she's coming from although I no longer feel the same way. This book would have dug itself deep into my core about 10 years ago (back when I was writing poetry about the same things) Now though, I understand and appreciate her words, but they don't all hit me the same way.

That's not to say I don't identify with her work, because I definitely do, it's just there's a time in my life when I would have identified with it so much more! 

Recommendation: Don't be scared of this book because it's poetry, if it sounds interesting to you at all then please go read it. There is so much to gain from her words. It's worth it! 

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Ruddy Gore by Kerry Greenwood

Yes, I know. Another Miss Fisher mystery! I'm sorry but they are just so much fun that I can't help but post about them and honestly, I read quite a few at a time (thank you library!) and if I didn't write about them then I wouldn't have very many reviews!

Now this one was pretty cool. It deals with the theater and everything that comes with it. Actors with egos, on stage deaths, the drama and passion of it all. It might be the usual plot line of a mystery involving the stage but it didn't feel that way which is always a plus.

If you've read any of these books yourself, then you'll find a man showing up time and time again as one of her main lovers. I thought this character was quite interesting, and even more interesting is how they meet which is covered in this lovely book. 

I've often wondered why he's never mentioned in the show but I guess because perhaps there isn't time? Or because giving her other lovers is more fun? She does still have more than one in the books (in this book too I believe!). Then there's the tension with the detective that the show provides that I wouldn't change for a minute! 

As always, this was a great read. If you've been following along with me into my foray into this series you'll know that some of them I just find "good" and other ones I find "great" I think this one tips more to the side of great!

Recommendation: For the lover's of murder, mayhem, a woman being herself and being great at it, this is a book for you!

Saturday, January 7, 2017

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Last year this book was all over bookstagram and I was a little wary about it.

Now I have read other books by this author which I enjoyed but for some reason every time I stopped to look at the book at the bookstore I kept putting it back.

It's about wizard called the dragon who comes to the village every 10 years and takes a girl. He does this is exchange for keeping the people safe from the Wood that borders their village. It's fairly clear from the back of the book that the girl he takes isn't the one every one thinks he will take.

I think it was this basic outline that was turning me away at first.  I couldn't see where it was going and how great that it could turn out.

This book took so many turns that I wasn't expecting and each one was more amazing than the last. I really had no clue where this book was going to end up. 

I will admit that I was a little bit silly in not realizing on the back it says the dragon is a wizard because when I started reading I thought the dragon was an actual creature type of thing but right off the bat you find out he's not and I was pleasantly surprised.  Yeah. Still though, I was more than happy with the result. 

This book has magic, adventure, emotion, and intrigue. It is such a lovely tale that sweeps you up and spins a web of fairy tale and fantasy around you like a warm blanket. It's a really great literary distraction, so don't be afraid of picking this one up when you're stressed out. It will totally take your mind off your troubles. 

I've got no idea if there will be more after this one but I am dying to go back into the lives of these characters. This is definitely on my reread list for this year!

Recommendation: Read this. Immediately. You will love it. I promise!

Thursday, January 5, 2017

The Green Mill Murder by Kerry Greenwood

This is one of the books that is covered in the t.v. series although I don't really remember the episode fully, but I do know one of them is like this book.

It's another Phryne Fisher mystery (yes, yes again. I know. I love them thought!) and this one is about a murder that happens right in front of her at a dance competition at the Green Mill club. The story follows two different paths and she ends up investigating two different cases at the same time.

This one wasn't my favorite, but I think part of the problem had to do with the fact that the copy I got from my library in town was one of the copies that is missing the final chapter. I had to go on Good Reads to figure that out because I was a little lost as to why the murderer wasn't revealed in the end. I guess it was a problem back when they were printed and readers who find this out should contact the publisher to get a hold of the last chapter. I haven't done that, but I still may.

I will say that this one leans a little more to the romance side of things which does happen occasionally with this series.  This can be good or bad depending on how you look at it. I don't mind it much in these books, but this one was heavy on that, less heavy on solving the crimes.

Still in love with this series though!

Recommendation: For the lovers of the Phryne Fisher mysteries, for the lovers of the t.v. show, for the lovers of cozy mysteries.

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Yearly Book Challenge Time!


It's the new year and that means we set ourselves new goals and new challenges.

One of the big ones is of course, the reading challenge on Goodreads. For the last two years I've set my goal to 100 books and both years I failed. In 2015 I think I got to around 50 maybe? Last year I read 58 books and was on the 59th on December 31st. 

I've seen a lot of posts about how many books people have read on Instagram in the last couple days and I am totally jealous of the people who made it to 100 books. I'm even more jealous to the writers who've read that many while still completing books. That right there is the dream that I am no where near reaching. I get totally jealous and feel like I'm so much less than them because I've not been able to reach those goals. 

That's such a big thing, that feeling of less than. I feel it every time someone is out there killing it while I'm on my couch watch trash television. I've got a lot to whip into shape when it comes to myself and where I want to be, this I know. 

I'm starting it off with a reasonable, real, honest goal.

I would still love to read 100 books this year, but rather than giving myself that goal (and then changing it over and over through out the year to make myself feel better).

My goal is 60 books. 

Come find me and let's reach our goals together, big or small. We can do this! 




Monday, January 2, 2017

The Graces by Laure Eve

Okay, before I even get into the story, I have to tell you that this book is visually stunning. It's gorgeous! The book wasn't printed in black, it was printed in dark blue. The cover is amazing, but what lies under the dust jacket is equally as gorgeous. It's one gorgeous book.

The Graces is about a family of witches. There is a new girl in school who wants to be part of their family, who wants to be like them.

I really don't want to go too much more into the story because I don't want to give anything away, but it's one of those finding yourself type of stories.

It's really darn good. I really liked it. It was different, and strange, and hauntingly interesting.

The Graces deals with a lot of feelings that we all at one time or another have experienced ourselves. It's a book that connects to the reader no matter what else is happening in the story.

I would have liked a little more magic but, that's just my preference. If you're going to write about witches, the witchier the better is what I say! This book didn't disappoint, but I'm not sure I could ever have enough!

At one point I read something that said people were comparing this to Twilight, and I don't agree at all. Fine, maybe I can see some of the similarities, but its not like that at all. Seriously.

Really looking forward to more, and I'm hoping this is the first in a long series.

Now, excuse me while I go watch The Craft....

Recommendation: This one is for the lovers of a good story, for the lovers of books about finding yourself, growing up, and being who you are. I recommend this book for sure.