All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, June 2016

Genre: Fiction

Pages: eBook, 384 pages

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

It’s been ten years since Nicolette Farrell left her rural hometown after her best friend, Corinne, disappeared from Cooley Ridge without a trace. Back again to tie up loose ends and care for her ailing father, Nic is soon plunged into a shocking drama that reawakens Corinne’s case and breaks open old wounds long since stitched.

The decade-old investigation focused on Nic, her brother Daniel, boyfriend Tyler, and Corinne’s boyfriend Jackson. Since then, only Nic has left Cooley Ridge. Daniel and his wife, Laura, are expecting a baby; Jackson works at the town bar; and Tyler is dating Annaleise Carter, Nic’s younger neighbor and the group’s alibi the night Corinne disappeared. Then, within days of Nic’s return, Annaleise goes missing.

Told backwards—Day 15 to Day 1—from the time Annaleise goes missing, Nic works to unravel the truth about her younger neighbor’s disappearance, revealing shocking truths about her friends, her family, and what really happened to Corinne that night ten years ago.

Review:

This book had me feeling one of two ways... either loving every second, or wishing it would be over (read: wanting to put it down).

My biggest issue with this book was the format in which it was written. I did not like reading the story backwards, and while I fully realize that by the end of the book, it made complete sense to read the story that way, at the time I found it confusing, annoying and kinda boring. There were many points during those two weeks (of the story) that I seriously considered marking this as a DNF because I was frustrated at not knowing what was happening... reading about the aftermath of something before I even knew what has happened, only to read about it happening in the next chapter. I can't say for sure whether the book would have read better moving forward but I can for sure say that this was not a reading style I enjoyed.

As for the characters, they were okay... not anything that will stick with me, yet also enjoyable in the story as I was reading. If I am being honest, the characters and their backstory reminded me 100% of Sweet Home Alabama... the hillbilly girl runs away from her life (and boyfriend), meets a big city guy and gets engaged, ends up back home where the hillbilly boyfriend is still in love with her... come on now... I can't be the only one who felt this way!!

Overall, while the ending totally saved this book, I don't have any major feelings either way and am finding it hard to review. I can't believe that there is a #2 in the All the Missing Girls series and can't say that I will rush to pick it up... but, it's on the TBR, for now.

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press, April 2016

Genre: Fiction

Pages: Paperback, 352 pages

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

Sometimes the only thing to fear…is yourself.

When reclusive writer Leonora is invited to the English countryside for a weekend away, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip. But as the first night falls, revelations unfold among friends old and new, an unnerving memory shatters Leonora’s reserve, and a haunting realization creeps in: the party is not alone in the woods.

Review:

I would have given this book a full 5-stars but felt like there was a bit of an issue with pacing... just some parts that were either a bit too slow or maybe had more detail than necessary. However, WOW... what a ride!!

Have you ever picked up a book because it was either blurbed by someone you really like (either another author, an actor or perhaps a magazine)? That's how I stumbled across In a Dark Dark Wood... it was blurbed by Reese Witherspoon, whom I love, so I felt as though I HAD to read it. When I first started it, I was a little worried that I had fallen victim to the hype and it took about 80 pages before I can honestly say that I was completely, 100%, hooked!

What I found most appealing about this story was the way that it was told. Going from the present, where you know something horrible has happened, back to the past, where you are getting the 'bigger' picture, was brilliant. I found that I was devouring the pages as I yearned to learn more... wanted to know what happened... NEEDED to understand.

The characters were... okay. I didn't love any of them but found Nora a great lead to follow. However, she's an extremely unreliable narrator so if that's not your thing, be warned! I, personally, really enjoy that type of story so found it part of the appeal of the story.

Overall, this was a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat thriller that I would recommend to anyone who doesn't mind missing out on sleep! You will be up reading until the very last page.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Publisher: Berkley, July 2014

Genre: Fiction

Pages: Paperback, 494 pages

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).

Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.

New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

Review:

It's not often that you come across a chick lit book that is also a mystery/suspense novel... in fact, I can't actually say that I have ever read a book that combines those two elements and I FULLY believe that I would, almost exclusively, stick to the genre because it was fantastic.

One of the things that I found most enjoyable about Big Little Lies was that, while still holding an element of mystery and intrigue, it really felt like a light read. So many times, when you pick up a murder mystery, there is a heaviness with the story... lots of angst and sadness but with this story, I didn't really have that feeling. Now, that's not to say that there wasn't a certain part of you that sympathized with the characters because each of them had their own struggles and hardships that really would hit you in the gut and make you feel for them.

Following each of the three main characters, both the public and personal side of the story, was so interesting. I loved how it really brought to light the struggle that parents can go through to put on a brave face for others. As a mother of a young child, I don't know that I would have been able to be as brave as Jane... she was one kick-ass mom!! Each of the women in this story deal with such different life 'issues' and while that can sometimes get confusing and feel as if it's just too far-fetched, Liane Moriarty was able to weave each of the stories together so that, while vastly different, it didn't feel like you were burdened with too many details. All three of the main characters were extremely easy to relate to and I just enjoyed them all so very much (I can see why this is now a TV series on HBO!)

I feel like a broken record when I talk about how I love when an author leaves me guessing to the very last minute... but, once again, that happened! While you spend the entire story knowing that a murder has taken place, you don't find out (or for me, even guess) who the victim is/was or who did the deed (how it was done) until the end. I found myself gripping the pages as I was reading and wanting to skip ahead so I could just take a peek and see who it was... I didn't because BORE! The mystery was top-notch and I love how everything wrapped up very neatly in the end and left the story without any missing details.

Overall, a great read and I am now looking forward to watching the TV series as well as reading more from Liane Moriarty!

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Choosing to DNF a Book/Series

Choosing to DNF a Book/Series

Have you ever picked up a book that looked amazing, sounded great, held such promise, only to find that you can't get into it?  It's one of the worst things to happen to a book reader.  The dreaded decision to continue on and push through the pain OR put the book down and chalk it up as a DNF (or Did Not Finish).

It took me a long time before I would ever put down a book and not finish it... I just couldn't do it.  I had invested money in bringing it into my collection and chances are, the book was highly recommended through a friend/co-worker/booktuber/reviewer, so how could it not be as good as promised?  I mean, everyone likes ALL THE THINGS don't they?  Once I finally reminded myself that NO, we don't all like the same things and just because someone LOVED a book, does not mean that I will nor does it mean that if I love a book, you will, I came to terms with allowing myself to DNF books.  Even with all that said, it's not something that I do lightly and I make it a point to get at least 100 pages into a book before I finally make a decision one way or another.  

So, what have I learned from the books that I have DNF'd?  Let's be clear, there have only been a handful in my life... but that could be because I am learning from my mistakes.  The main takeaway that I have from looking back at my list of DNF books is that they are all books that fall outside of my chosen genres.  I love, LOOOOVE, mystery/suspense/chick lit style books and have never once put one down in disgust.  I have, however, DNF'd way too many Young Adult novels.  Whether the plot was too far-fetched, the characters completely unrelateable or the story way too confusing, there is something between YA books and I that just does not mix.  There are definitely stories that I have enjoyed (Twilight, Hunger Games, Delirium) but for the most part, I just find the books too juvenile for my taste.

Another thing that will cause me to, almost instantly, DNF a book is poor grammer/spelling/punctuation.  A recent addition to my list is the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness (also a YA series) and I gave up on that in less than 20 pages... I couldn't handle the phonetic spelling and lack of any sort of sentence structure.  Am I a perfect English major?  No, but I still like to read my books in a way that I understand and not put so much thought into what the words mean or constantly be correcting the sentences as I go.

Lastly, I have recently learned that the format of a book is really important to me.  In fact, I DNF'd the Illuminae_Files series (YA) just last night for this very reason.  I am a person who appreciates natural breaks in a book.  Whether it be chapters or page breaks, I am not overly picky BUT, I want a place that I can stop reading and feel like I won't come back in the middle of something important and have to backtrack to remind myself.  The Illuminae_Files consists of two books that are made up of e-mails, text conversations, ASCII artwork, random pages with words that mean nothing... I was so annoyed with the constant changing formats that I just couldn't get into the story at all.  I have read books that are all diary entries or emails, I think even text messages, but with them being all ONE format, with natural breaks in the book, it was easy to get into.  Mixed medium books are just not for me!

Overall... my life motto when it comes to books is "Life is TOO SHORT for a crappy book"!

Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens

Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens

Publisher: St. Martin's Press, March 2016

Genre: Fiction

Pages: Paperback, 384 pages

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

Eleven years ago, Lindsey Nash escaped into the night with her young daughter and left an abusive relationship. Her ex-husband was sent to jail and she started over with a new life. Now, Lindsey is older and wiser, with a teenage daughter who needs her more than ever. When her ex-husband is finally released, Lindsey believes she’s cut all ties. But she gets the sense that someone is watching her. Her new boyfriend is threatened. Her home is invaded, and her daughter is shadowed. Lindsey is convinced it’s her ex-husband, even though he claims he’s a different person. But can he really change? Is the one who wants her dead closer to home than she thought?

Review:

** A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No compensations were made and all opinions are my own **

Have you ever read a Chevy Stevens book? I have read every single one, including her novella, and each one gets better than the last. It's hard for me to say that Never Let You Go is her best to date because I still remember my first read by her and I get chills... in fact, all of her books leave me with chills!

Chevy Stevens is a writer of thriller/suspense novels and one of the best part about her writing is how she makes you crave more. I don't think a single one of her books has every taken me more than a couple of days to read because, once you start, you cannot stop. Fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat suspense will leave you sleepless.

One of the things that I love about Chevy's books are her characters. They are so real, so relatable and developed to feel like you would see them on the street or in the local coffee shop. The characters in Never Let You Go were no different. I loved Lindsey (I mean, her name alone) and felt that her story, her strength and her love for her daughter was so real that I understood why she did what she had to to get away from a dangerous situation. A mother's love is no joke... they will bring out the bear when needed. Sophie was another great character. Full of the typical teenage angst and trouble that you never know if you love them or hate them. As for the other, supporting, characters, every single one fit the story so well and worked to advance the story exactly as they should have!

When you are an avid reader of mystery books, you tend to learn to expect the unexpected (any Big Brother fans out there) and start to look at the most unlikely character to be the 'bad guy' but, once again, my jaw dropped when everything comes together at the end.. I love that feeling. It's rare and i takes some serious talent to be able to have the reader constantly second-guessing 'who dun it?' BRAVO!!

Overall, a stunner of a book and one that you MUST read. I can't say enough about Chevy Stevens, she is the queen of mystery and at the top of my must-read author list... perfection in a book!!

Troublemaker by Leah Remini

Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini

Publisher: Ballantine Books, November 2015

Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir

Pages: Paperback, 228 pages

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

Leah Remini has never been the type to hold her tongue. That willingness to speak her mind, stand her ground, and rattle the occasional cage has enabled this tough-talking girl from Brooklyn to forge an enduring and successful career in Hollywood. But being a troublemaker has come at a cost.

That was never more evident than in 2013, when Remini loudly and publicly broke with the Church of Scientology. Now, in this frank, funny, poignant memoir, the former star opens up about that experience for the first time, revealing the in-depth details of her painful split with the church and its controversial practices.

Indoctrinated into the church as a child while living with her mother and sister in New York, Remini eventually moved to Los Angeles, where her dreams of becoming an actress and advancing Scientology’s causes grew increasingly intertwined. As an adult, she found the success she’d worked so hard for, and with it a prominent place in the hierarchy of celebrity Scientologists alongside people such as Tom Cruise, Scientology’s most high-profile adherent. Remini spent time directly with Cruise and was included among the guests at his 2006 wedding to Katie Holmes.

But when she began to raise questions about some of the church’s actions, she found herself a target. In the end, she was declared by the church to be a threat to their organization and therefore a “Suppressive Person,” and as a result, all of her fellow parishioners—including members of her own family—were told to disconnect from her. Forever.

Review:

Let me first start off by saying that this book was a BITCH when it came to getting my hands on it... being in Canada, where no one seems to have the rights to it, I had to order it from the US and I swear, they stopped it at the border twice before I finally got it in my mitts. By the time it was finally mine, the desire to read it had waned a little, mainly because the A&E series had finished a couple weeks before and I had moved on.

When it comes to Leah Remini, I absolutely love her. I watched her in Saved By The Bell (ummm, I am a child of the 90's), Who's The Boss and, of course, The King of Queens. My husband and I joked that we were the real life Carrie and Doug so I definitely knew that I loved Leah and would appreciate her 'story-telling' ability. Glad to say that I was not wrong! Leah's ability to tell her story is exactly as I imagined and, in fact, feels like you are right at the kitchen table with her, enjoying a cup of tea (glass of wine) while she's telling you all of the details.

Now, the details is where I found the story to fall kinda flat. After seeing the A&E series, I knew most of the facts behind her leaving Scientology but felt like the backstory was missing... Troublemaker was able to fill in those gaps but after reading it, I feel like I am no better off than I was before. The details are that interesting... they didn't add any feelings about the church one way or another and really, they were kinda boring. Yes, she was able to pull me in with her ability to tell me about them but, overall, it was just not my cup of tea.

Sadly, had the book arrived to me quicker or I had read it before the series aired on TV, I think I would have been able to take more out of this book... it just didn't feel worth the time and effort it took to get it.

The Collector by Nora Roberts

The Collector by Nora Roberts

Publisher: Putnam Adult, April 2015

Genre: Fiction

Pages: eBook, 496 pages

Rating: 2/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

When professional house-sitter Lila Emerson witnesses a murder/suicide from her current apartment-sitting job, life as she knows it takes a dramatic turn. Suddenly, the woman with no permanent ties finds herself almost wishing for one. . . .

Artist Ashton Archer knows his brother isn’t capable of violence—against himself or others. He recruits Lila, the only eyewitness, to help him uncover what happened. Ash longs to paint her as intensely as he hungers to touch her. But their investigation draws them into a rarified circle where priceless antiques are bought, sold, gambled away, and stolen, where what you possess is who you are, and where what you desire becomes a deadly obsession. . . .

Review:

I've mentioned before that I absolutely love Nora Roberts books but, for some reason, this felt so much different from what I have come to expect.

First off, there really wasn't much of a mystery to the story and, anyone who has read Nora Roberts knows that kind of her thing. Now, The Collector did start off with a bang but within a couple of chapters, you know who has committed the crime, you know what the whole reason behind it is, so it really took away the 'who done it?' that I generally crave.

Secondly, it felt like there was an excess of dialogue or "fluff" that just seemed unnecessary. Again, there was less of a mystery to this book so a lot of time was spent on the romance between Lila and Ash... even that wasn't really that interesting. There are a lot of issues that I have with the overall development of their relationship, how it started, how intense Ashton was, all sorts of things... I just found it unhealthy.

As for the characters, I didn't really like any of them... other than Luke, he seemed kinda awesome and can make fresh muffins first thing in the morning - total win! Lila was overly annoying to me in that she just seemed a little to big for her britches... come on, no one challenged a murderer with a teacup poodle or a Swiss Army knife. NOPE!!

Overall, not my favourite Nora Roberts novel and, honestly, if it was my first, I would be a little turned off.

Fractured by Catherine McKenzie

Fractured by Catherine McKenzie

Publisher: Lake Union, October 2016

Genre: Fiction

Pages: Paperback, 360 pages

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

Julie Prentice and her family move across the country to the idyllic Mount Adams district of Cincinnati, hoping to evade the stalker who’s been terrorizing them ever since the publication of her bestselling novel, The Murder Game. Since Julie doesn’t know anyone in her new town, when she meets her neighbor John Dunbar, their instant connection brings measured hope for a new beginning. But she never imagines that a simple, benign conversation with him could set her life spinning so far off course.

After a series of misunderstandings, Julie and her family become the target of increasingly unsettling harassment. Has Julie’s stalker found her, or are her neighbors out to get her, too? As tension in the neighborhood rises, new friends turn into enemies, and the results are deadly.

Review:

Can you give a book more than 5 stars? If you can... this would be the one I would do it for! YOU GUYS, I was riveted... so into this book that I gave up an entire day of the first long weekend of the year to do nothing but read.

I first heard about Catherine McKenzie from a fellow Canadian blogger, Kaley (Books, etc.), and knew when I read her first book that she would be an author who lives on my 'must read' list. Her ability to pull you into a story is unlike most authors out there and this book was no different. When I sat down to read, I had no idea what the book was about but knew that it was a mystery-type story... little did I know that it was an edge-of-your-seat, nail-biter of a book... one of those that you refuse to put down because you MUST know what happens.

The characters in Fractured were extremely well developed... even though the story was told from two points of view, I felt as though I could understand the story, and the atmosphere that surrounded everything, from many of the neighbours of whom played a roll in the book. Both Julia and John were great characters to read the story through and provided very different looks into how things happened... the back story that led up to the big mystery. Living in a 'community' neighbourhood myself, I definitely understand the dynamics that exist when you live on a street where there is always someone watching... trying to see who is doing what and reporting those who don't follow the rules to a 't'. I felt for Julia... moving away from a horrible experience and ending up in an even worse one.

Overall, this book was amazing... one that I think everyone needs to read! If you like a good mystery, this is a book that will satisfy every single desire that you crave when you pick up a book! LOOOOOVE!

What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan

What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks, December 2015

Genre: Fiction

Pages: Paperback, 512 pages

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

In a heartbeat, everything changes…

Rachel Jenner is walking in a Bristol park with her eight-year-old son, Ben, when he asks if he can run ahead. It’s an ordinary request on an ordinary Sunday afternoon, and Rachel has no reason to worry—until Ben vanishes.

Police are called, search parties go out, and Rachel, already insecure after her recent divorce, feels herself coming undone. As hours and then days pass without a sign of Ben, everyone who knew him is called into question, from Rachel’s newly married ex-husband to her mother-of-the-year sister. Inevitably, media attention focuses on Rachel too, and the public’s attitude toward her begins to shift from sympathy to suspicion.

As she desperately pieces together the threadbare clues, Rachel realizes that nothing is quite as she imagined it to be, not even her own judgment. And the greatest dangers may lie not in the anonymous strangers of every parent’s nightmares, but behind the familiar smiles of those she trusts the most.

Where is Ben? The clock is ticking...

Review:

As with all books, especially mystery themed ones, I picked up this book only knowing the hype surrounding it an not really knowing what the plot actually was. When I found out that it was about the abduction of an 8-year-old boy, I was hit a little to close to home as I have a 9-year-old and because of that, I found that I was distracted and also a little uncomfortable reading it. However, even with that said, I found myself gripping the pages to find out what exactly happened and who dun it!!

This was my first go with author Gilly Macmillan and I really found her writing style to be right up my alley. I loved the fact that, while having many characters throughout the story, she focused the points of view on only two (or three if you count the psychologist). For some reason, I think that books with alternate points of view to be perfect when reading mysteries, yet if you have too many, it gets confusing... so two is perfect. Not only does it give you a different perspective with which to hear what's happening but it makes you read that much faster... the need to find out what's happening is real.

Now, even though I like the fact that the book was written from different characters perspectives, I didn't love them both equally. I really did feel for Rachel and was insanely disappointed with the way the public treated her... I mean what parent doesn't loosen the leash on their child a little as they get older?? Was she a fantastic character? No, but she was definitely relatable and I can see myself, or any other mother, being exactly as she was should they ever find myself in that same position - god forbid. Jim, on the other hand ... actually the entire of the police force... I could not stand. Why was he so affected with the outcome of the trial? I am still baffled by this. I was also extremely disappointed with the way each of the officers treated Rachel every time she called or came by. I would hope that, in real life, the police would treat the family of the victim with more class and dignity.

Overall, I found this story very well written, the characters well developed and it really kept me guessing to the very last second. As an avid mystery fan, I love when an author can leave me thinking I know how it's going to turn out only to pull the rug out from under me at the last minute.

Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton

Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton

Publisher: St. Martin's Press, September 2016

Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir

Pages: Hardcover, 272 pages

Rating: 4/5 pages

Summary (from goodreads.com):

Just when Glennon Doyle Melton was beginning to feel she had it all figured out—three happy children, a doting spouse, and a writing career so successful that her first book catapulted to the top of the New York Times bestseller list—her husband revealed his infidelity and she was forced to realize that nothing was as it seemed. A recovering alcoholic and bulimic, Glennon found that rock bottom was a familiar place. In the midst of crisis, she knew to hold on to what she discovered in recovery: that her deepest pain has always held within it an invitation to a richer life.

Love Warrior is the story of one marriage, but it is also the story of the healing that is possible for any of us when we refuse to settle for good enough and begin to face pain and love head-on. This astonishing memoir reveals how our ideals of masculinity and femininity can make it impossible for a man and a woman to truly know one another - and it captures the beauty that unfolds when one couple commits to unlearning everything they’ve been taught so that they can finally, after thirteen years of marriage, fall in love.

Review:

Before I begin, I have to tell you that I don't read the book synopsis of any book before diving in. I like the surprise element so before I began Love Warrior, all I knew was that it was a memoir (non-fiction) and because that is my least favourite genre, I was not anticipating enjoying it... not only that, but I may have even harboured thoughts about skipping it entirely and if it wasn't the Paper & Glam Book Club book for February, I would have likely done that. However, by the second or third page of the book, I was HOOKED and it turned out to be an amazing story of a woman who went through so much before she was able to love herself.

While most of what Glennon goes through from her adolescence through to her adulthood are things that I have never personally dealt with (bulimia, alcoholism, drug abuse, infidelity), I have suffered many similar things to different degrees so I felt very vulnerable reading her story and relating to so much of it. I loved how candid she was while telling her story and that there really was no hiding from her issues. She laid everything out on the table and basically said, "Take me as I am" because that was, indeed, who she was.

Again, because I don't read the synopsis before diving in, I didn't realize that there was a spiritual aspect to this book and I was so grateful as I read about Glennon's love for God. I was moved to (near) tears as she realized just how much God loved her and that no matter what she does in her life, she will always be loved... she will find her eternal home with unending love. It was so heartwarming.

Overall, if you have, or even if you haven't, felt the pressure that society puts on us to be perfect but realized that perfection is unattainable so felt like you were failing at life, this is a book that you must read. I feel that so many people would benefit from Glennon's story about becoming a Love Warrior. You don't have to be religious or spiritual to enjoy this story... you just have to love yourself or have a deep desire to learn to love yourself!

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

Publisher: Ballantine Books, June 2016

Genre: Fiction

Pages: Hardcover, 384 pages

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

Growing up, Josie and Meredith Garland shared a loving, if sometimes contentious relationship. Josie was impulsive, spirited, and outgoing; Meredith hardworking, thoughtful, and reserved. When tragedy strikes their family, their different responses to the event splinter their delicate bond.

Fifteen years later, Josie and Meredith are in their late thirties, following very different paths. Josie, a first grade teacher, is single—and to swearing off dating for good. What she wants more than the right guy, however, is to become a mother—a feeling that is heightened when her ex-boyfriend’s daughter ends up in her class. Determined to have the future she’s always wanted, Josie decides to take matters into her own hands.

On the outside, Meredith is the model daughter with the perfect life. A successful attorney, she’s married to a wonderful man, and together they’re raising a beautiful four-year-old daughter. Yet lately, Meredith feels dissatisfied and restless, secretly wondering if she chose the life that was expected of her rather than the one she truly desired.

As the anniversary of their tragedy looms and painful secrets from the past begin to surface, Josie and Meredith must not only confront the issues that divide them, but also come to terms with their own choices. In their journey toward understanding and forgiveness, both sisters discover they need each other more than they knew . . . and that in the recipe for true happiness, love always comes first.

Review:

It's been a hot minute since I've read any of Emily Giffin's book but I was easily reminded just why I like her writing style. The stories that she weaves are so easy to get lost in and always centred around topics that are not only relatable but also real. Things that you would hear about standing around the water cooler at work or watching tv.

When I first added "First Comes Love" to my TBR shelf, I assumed it would be the perfect read for February (Valentines Day) but it actually turned out to be a much different story than I was expecting. While there is a certain love element, as with all chick lit books, it went so far outside of the box that I wouldn't even say this is a 'love story' at all. In fact, it's more about family dynamics and how families deal and move on from tragedy.

All of the characters in this book were very flawed... not necessarily in a bad way but with each and every one of them, there was something beneath the surface that just felt 'off'. I actually appreciated that and felt that it touched on how many of us survive the day-to-day, covering up a secret that lives deep down. My biggest issue of all came with Meredith... I wanted to throat punch her and actually felt that she made her own misery. I mean Nolan seemed like a dreamboat!!

Overall, I enjoyed reading this and, while cheesy and a little predictable, I still feel like there are underlying themes that will hit some harder than others. A definite must for all of Emily Giffin's fans.

Trapped by Michael Northrop

Trapped by Michael Northrop

Publisher: Scholastic Press, February 2011

Genre: Fiction, Teen/Young Adult

Pages: Paperback, 232 pages

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive. . . .

Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision. . . .

Review:

I have to start this off by saying that I am a self-proclaimed disaster junkie. "Breaking News" is my crack (sorry if that's offensive, but you get my point). I love any movie that centres around extreme weather (Twister, San Andreas, The Day After Tomorrow, to name a few) so I figured why would books be any different?!

After seeing Trapped on one of the book tube channels I watch and hearing that it was about the biggest snow storm in the history of the US, I knew I not only had to read it but wanted to save it for a super snowy day... that was yesterday!!

Now, this was a super easy read and I want to say that it was geared more for the teens than anything but even with that, I found it to be a very enjoyable read. The characters were a group of typical high school kids and fit into every stereotype that you can think of.. maybe a little too "cookie-cutter" but I still managed to find each of them decent in their own rights. The main character "Scotty" was a good narrator and I enjoyed the book from his perspective.

I've heard of Nor'easter's before but just imagine 18 feet of snow in less than a week with no breaks in between... that's insane and I'm not even sure it's possible. However, it made for an intense, edge of your seat read and I found myself turning pages as fast as I could and just as tuned in as I would be to my real-life disasters.

Overall, a quick read that was totally worth it! Definitely pick it up during the next snow storm!!

My (Not So) Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

My (Not So) Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

Publisher: Penguin Random House, February 2017

Genre: Fiction

Pages: Paperback (ARC), 436 pages

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

Katie Brenner has the perfect life: a flat in London, a glamorous job, and a super-cool Instagram feed.

Ok, so the real truth is that she rents a tiny room with no space for a wardrobe, has a hideous commute to a lowly admin job, and the life she shares on Instagram isn’t really hers.But one day her dreams are bound to come true, aren’t they?

Until her not-so perfect life comes crashing down when her mega-successful boss Demeter gives her the sack. All Katie’s hopes are shattered. She has to move home to Somerset, where she helps her dad with his new glamping business.

Then Demeter and her family book in for a holiday, and Katie sees her chance. But should she get revenge on the woman who ruined her dreams? Or try to get her job back? Does Demeter – the woman with everything – have such an idyllic life herself? Maybe they have more in common than it seems.

And what’s wrong with not-so-perfect, anyway?

Review:

**This book was provided to me by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own**

First off, I love Sophie Kinsella... LOVE! I believe I have read every single one of her books and just love her ability to weave a story and keep the reader engaged in every aspect of it so it comes as no surprise that I absolutely adored "My (Not So) Perfect Life". You know that feeling you get when you start a book and already, on page one, you know that you are going to be in for a good read? I got that feeling when I was reading this book.

There is something about stories that take place in London that grip me and when you add such loveable characters, like Katie (or Cat or Cath), into the mix, it's a recipe for success. In fact, all of the characters really are wonderful... each of them have their own personality which add a certain element to the overall flow of the story. Whether you love or hate them, they really grow on you as the book progresses and I found myself rooting for the people I had least expected.

I also like that the book was broken into two parts... a London storyline and a Somerset (or country) storyline. While I did enjoy the London part of the story, my favourite part was when Katie moved to the country... I can't even imagine what it would be like to go from a city-loving girl to finding yourself, back at home, in the middle of your families latest money-making adventure. I found myself smiling and laughing out loud as Katie took her 'Glampers' on crazy adventures and used some of that pent-up frustration to get back at her, more privileged, guests.

As with most chick-lit books, there is going to be a romantic aspect to the story but I really like that Sophie Kinsella doesn't shove it down your throat. It wasn't a 'romance' book and the relationship that developed really was more of a behind the scenes story... it also didn't follow that usual recipe for romance which I really appreciated. Now, that said, it doesn't take a genius to figure out how things go but, I will say that I was very happy come the end of the book.

Before I wrap up this review, I wanted to touch on the underlying message that I found running through the book and that is of the 'perfect life' that we see so much in social media. The life that people WANT you to see... I thought it was brilliant that Katie had a 180 degree spin in her thoughts on how social media works. It's so true that what you see isn't always the true story. Nobody wants you to see the heaps of dirty laundry, the messy stove, the couches covered in animal hair (speaking from experience here)... everybody wants to give the illusion that their lives are perfect. So, THANK YOU Sophie for making that a theme in your novel, I found it humbling to know that so many will read that and hopefully feel better about their own lives and the way they present themselves to other people. xx

Overall, if you are a fan, in any way, of Sophie Kinsella, this book is a must. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am already chomping at the bit for her next book to come out!

The Obsession by Nora Roberts

The Obsession by Nora Roberts

Publisher: Piatkus Books, April 2016

Genre: Fiction

Pages: eBook, 464 pages

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

Naomi Carson is a survivor. As a child, her family was torn apart by a shocking crime. It could have destroyed her, but Naomi has grown up strong, with a passion for photography that has taken her all around the world.

Now, at last, she has decided to put down roots. The beautiful old house on Point Bluff needs work, but Naomi has new friends in town who are willing to help, including Xander Keaton - gorgeous, infuriating and determined to win her heart.

But as Naomi plans for the future, her past is catching up with her. Someone in town knows her terrifying secret - and won't let her forget it. As her new home is rocked by violence, Naomi must discover her persecutor's identity, before it's too late.

Review:

You guys... have I mentioned before just how much I love Nora Roberts books? This chick can do no wrong! I have read many of her books (like a lot of them) from all sort so of genres... mystery, romance, witchcraft... and each and every time I finish one, I am blow away by the sheer enjoyment I get out of it.

The Obsession literally had be gripped right from the first page and didn't let up until I finished the book. I spent a good amount of time trying to figure out the whole "who-done-it" aspect and could not centre on one person and when I finally would think of someone, I wasn't happy because I really started to fall in love with the characters. The whole idea of a small town, the quiet escape, a house on a bluff really appealed to me so I didn't want anyone who was in that ideal, dreamlike, place to be guilty of killing young women.

One of the things that I found to really enjoy about the writing style for this novel is that, while the story started in the past, it stayed with the current day throughout the rest of the book... you were never left hanging in a chapter and while I can appreciate back-and-forth style books, it seems so common these days. I really liked that Nora Roberts kept this book chronological... that may seem like a weird thing to like but it made the story so much easy to read and you would really get lost in it - hours will disappear, I promise!

Overall, I loved this story and am already craving the next Nora Roberts book on my TBR... as I said before, you can never go wrong by picking up one of her books. She's amazing!

Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon

Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks, October 2009

Genre: Fiction

Pages: eBook, 271 pages

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary (from Goodreads.com):

One summer day, at a gas station in a small Vermont town, six-year-old Ernestine Florucci is abducted by a person wearing a rabbit suit while her mother is buying lottery tickets. Twenty-three year old Rhonda Farr is the only witness, and she does nothing as she watches the scene unfold – little Ernie goes with the rabbit so casually, confidently getting into the rabbit’s Volkswagen bug, smiling while the rabbit carefully fastens her seatbelt.

The police are skeptical of Rhonda’s story and Ernie’s mother blames her outright. The kidnapping forces Rhonda to face another disappearance, that of her best friend from childhood – Lizzy Shale, whose brother, Peter just so happens to be a prime suspect in Ernie’s abduction.

Unraveling the present mystery plunges Rhonda headlong down the rabbit hole of her past. She must struggle to makes sense of the loss of the two girls, and to ask herself if the Peter she grew up with - and has secretly loved all her life - could have a much darker side.

Review:

I went into this book, thinking that it would be all about the abduction of a little girl and the search to bring her home. Never, in the long time that it was on my TBR list, did I realize that it really wasn't about finding the little girl who had gone missing but was more about solving mysteries from the past.

When I started reading, I was gripped by both ends of the story... the current timeline (2006) and the past (1993) but as I read further, I found my mind drifting and I could tell that if I let myself, I would be skimming the paragraphs just looking for parts of dialogue that added to the overall flow and weren't just words added to fill up more pages. Now, I will say that as the story comes together at the end, it does pick up it's pace and I found that I was reading from the edge of my seat. But for the overall flow, I wasn't impressed.

Now, as far as the two stories go, I can say that they are both very predictable... I had called the ending from, basically, the beginning and I imagine that readers of mystery/suspense books will be able to do this as well. It's definitely a story that I have read before and there was nothing added to it to make me excited.

The characters were okay... I didn't find myself drawn to anyone in particular and actually found Rhonda to be annoying and so wishy-washy that it was bothersome. I mean, who sees a child being lured from one vehicle to another, by A BUNNY, and just sits in their car DOING NOTHING?!?! Glad to know there are stand-up citizens like Rhonda out there to protect the innocent children of the world. (insert eye roll here).

Overall, not a book that I would recommend and while I am always glad to get another book under my belt, this one isn't very memorable.

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books, August 2016

Genre: Fiction

Pages: eBook, 346 pages

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary (from Goodreads.com):

As the daughter of a meth dealer, Wavy knows not to trust people, not even her own parents. Struggling to raise her little brother, eight-year-old Wavy is the only responsible "adult" around. She finds peace in the starry Midwestern night sky above the fields behind her house. One night everything changes when she witnesses one of her father's thugs, Kellen, a tattooed ex-con with a heart of gold, wreck his motorcycle. What follows is a powerful and shocking love story between two unlikely people that asks tough questions, reminding us of all the ugly and wonderful things that life has to offer.

Review:

Going into this book, all I had seen were good star ratings but I hadn't read anything about what it was about or the actual reviews. I feel very conflicted on whether I want to give this book a stunning review, or talk about just how horrified I was to learn about its controversial topic...

Let's not beat around the bush here... I've marked this as a "spoiler" review because I'm not sure how clear they make the statutory rape topic in any of the synopsis's.

I was disgusted and horrified when I read about how Kellan and Wavy's relationship progressed. When I first started reading, I knew that it seemed to be leaning that way, but assumed it was more on Wavy's end and she just had a school girl crush but no... it most definitely was not that way. When things progressed into actual, uncomfortable to read, sexual encounters, I felt all sorts of mixed emotions. I was grossed out, horrified, disgusted, sickened... all the appropriate adjectives to describe very disruptive relations between a 12/13 year old and a 25+ year old. However, the relationship that had developed, through the first half of the story, between Kellan and Wavy was so beautiful and innocent... loving and trusting... that it made an absolutely bad situation not seem as... illegal. I just have so many weird feelings about this book that I understand the ratings and can't help but give it a 5-star myself.

I don't really know what else to say... the characters were great, I enjoyed each of the points of view that the story was written from and felt that they all added greatly to the overall flow. For me, the story read very quickly and had me anxious to hear what was going to happen next.

Overall, I really did love this book, even with such a controversial topic, it was handled with beauty and grace and I can honestly recommend it to anyone who is willing to take a chance on a book that is maybe a little out of their comfort zone.

Paper & Glam Book Club | Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, September 2016

Genre: Non-Fiction, Lifestyle

Pages: Paperback, 352 pages

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary (chapters.indigo.ca):

She’s the creator and producer of some of the most groundbreaking and audacious shows on television today. Her iconic characters live boldly and speak their minds. So who would suspect that Shonda Rhimes is an introvert? That she hired a publicist so she could public appearances? That she suffered panic attacks before media interviews?

With three children at home and three hit television shows, it was easy for Shonda to say she was simply too busy. But in truth, she was also afraid. And then, over Thanksgiving dinner, her sister muttered something that was both a wake up and a call to arms Shonda knew she had to embrace the challenge: for one year, she would say YES to everything that scared her.

Review:

Let me start this review by saying that I am a die-hard 'Grey's Anatomy' fan and have seen every show at least twice so when I saw that Shonda Rhimes book was up first for my book club, I was excited to pick it up.

At first, this book was everything I was hoping it would be... funny, interesting and very easy to read. Turns out that pre- "Year of Yes" Shonda is very similar to myself and I was able to easily identify with many of the situations she found herself in, and dreading. I loved reading along as she worked her way around her fears and tackled many of them head-on and proved that, even when it seems hard and/or scary, putting yourself out there is worth it in the long run.

Where I feel the book fell short and, for me, moved from 5-star territory down to 3.5-star, was after that year was up. Whether it was that the book was too long or the chapters feeling like they belonged in another book, I can't for sure say why my feelings started to change. The voice of Shonda just seemed to go from a relatable person to someone that I found myself not really liking... she came across a little obnoxious and a little to entitled (yes, I know she's the Queen of Tv, but you know what I mean). I'm overjoyed that she found her happy but... I just had a bitter taste in my mouth as I finished reading.

Overall, it was definitely a worthwhile read but just fell a little flat at the end and I honestly feel like it could have been so much more.

Savage Drift (Monument 14 #3) by Emmy Laybourne

Savage Drift (Monument 14 #3) by Emmy Laybourne

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends, June 2015

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult

Pages: Paperback, 306 pages

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary (from chapters.indigo.ca):

It's over.

Dean, Alex, and the other survivors of the Monument 14 have escaped the disaster zone and made it to the safety of a Canadian refugee camp. Some of the kids have been reunited with their families, and everyone is making tentative plans for the future. And then, Niko learns that his lost love, Josie, has survived!

Or is it?

For Josie, separated from the group and presumed dead, life has gone from bad to worse. Trapped in a terrible prison camp with other exposed O's and traumatized by her experiences, she has given up all hope of rescue. Meanwhile, scared by the government's unusual interest in her pregnancy, Astrid-along with her two protectors, Dean and Jake-joins Niko on his desperate quest to be reunited with Josie.

Review:

** spoiler alert **

As I have continued to read YA books, I have started to discover that I don't love them, they just don't relate to me anymore and I find them a little too juvenile for my liking. However, there is something about dystopian/post-apocalyptic stories that just grab me and suck me in... it probably has something to do with being a self-proclaimed disaster junkie... I just enjoy reading about the world in chaos.

For me, Savage Drift, was a great book... full of non-stop, fast-paced action that kept me reading way past my bedtime (remember, I'm old). It was a great ending to the series and I found that, for the most part, the story wrapped up very nicely and didn't really leave me with too many unanswered questions. I love it when a series does that!

I liked that this part of the story focused on more of Josie's story because she sort of felt like the lost character in the previous books and I knew she was such a bad-ass that I wanted to learn more about her. As for the other half of the story, while I enjoy reading from Dean's point of view, he is just such a wimp... even with his new 'bulked up, type-o' image of himself, he just bugs me.

Overall, very glad that I picked up the final book in the Monument 14 series because it really is a great series. Worth the read if you love dystopian novels!

Always Watching by Chevy Stevens

Always Watching by Chevy Stevens

Publisher: St. Martin's Press, June 2013

Genre: Fiction

Pages: Hardcover, 342 pages

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

She helps people put their demons to rest.

But she has a few of her own…

In the lockdown ward of a psychiatric hospital, Dr. Nadine Lavoie is in her element. She has the tools to help people, and she has the desire—healing broken families is what she lives for. But Nadine doesn’t want to look too closely at her own past because there are whole chunks of her life that are black holes. It takes all her willpower to tamp down her recurrent claustrophobia, and her daughter, Lisa, is a runaway who has been on the streets for seven years.

When a distraught woman, Heather Simeon, is brought into the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit after a suicide attempt, Nadine gently coaxes her story out of her—and learns of some troubling parallels with her own life. Digging deeper, Nadine is forced to confront her traumatic childhood, and the damage that began when she and her brother were brought by their mother to a remote commune on Vancouver Island. What happened to Nadine? Why was their family destroyed? And why does the name Aaron Quinn, the group’s leader, bring complex feelings of terror to Nadine even today?

And then, the unthinkable happens, and Nadine realizes that danger is closer to home than she ever imagined. She has no choice but to face what terrifies her the most…and fight back.

Sometimes you can leave the past, but you can never escape.

Review:

I have now read all of Chevy Stevens books and have to say that she remains at the top of my must-read authors. Like her other books, Always Watching is set in British Columbia Canada, which I love, and delves into the crazy world of cults. Unlike most of the mystery/suspense authors I read, Chevy Stevens books deal with issues that are unique and she handles the storyline flawlessly. Each of her books, this one included, read like they are based on true stories and keep you turning the pages to find out what happened next ... I always want to google the locations and the story to read more.

While Always Watching started off a lot slower than the other Chevy Stevens books I've read, it sure picked up and WOW... Was it ever a great read.

If you enjoy books that involve "cults" and mystery... I would definitely recommend this one.

The Daughter by Jane Schmilt

Daughter by Jane Schmilt

Publisher: Penguin, March 2015

Genre: Fiction

Pages: eBooks, 352 pages

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary (from chapters.indigo.ca):

Jenny is a successful family doctor, the mother of three great teenagers, married to a celebrated neurosurgeon.

But when her youngest child, fifteen-year-old Naomi, doesn’t come home after her school play, Jenny’s seemingly ideal life begins to crumble. The authorities launch a nationwide search with no success. Naomi has vanished, and her family is broken.

As the months pass, the worst-case scenarios—kidnapping, murder—seem less plausible. The trail has gone cold. Yet for a desperate Jenny, the search has barely begun. More than a year after her daughter’s disappearance, she’s still digging for answers—and what she finds disturbs her. Everyone she’s trusted, everyone she thought she knew, has been keeping secrets, especially Naomi. Piecing together the traces her daughter left behind, Jenny discovers a very different Naomi from the girl she thought she’d raised.

Review:

What just happened? I love me a mystery novel but man, this one was so frustrating that I sit here, having just finished reading it, not knowing whether I enjoyed it or hated it.

Normally, I love stories written from multiple perspectives. 'Daughter' is written all from Jenny (the mom's) point of view, but over a fifteen month time gap. One part of the story is current day, or a year after the disappearance, and the other is at the time of the disappearance. I found that I totally enjoyed the part if the story taking place in the past but the current day narrative was very slow moving and almost seemed unnecessary at times. As the story progressed, that got better but overall, I found the story definitely dragged.

When it comes to the characters, for the most part, I enjoyed them all. I thought Ted was a piece of junk and wanted to punch Ed on multiple occasions, but for the flow of the story, I thought they were all very well written. I related most to Jenny but as a mom, I wouldn't really expect much different.The part of the story that just fell flat, to me anyways, was the ending. I still don't really feel like we know what happened the night Naomi disappeared and I don't feel like we know what the future holds. I want more detail and given that the book is closing in on 400 pages, I think we should have some ideas that answer these, very important, questions.

Overall, good but not great... I never like finish a book and feeling unsatisfied.

Far From True by Linwood Barclay

Far From True by Linwood Barclay

Publisher: Doubleday Canada, March 2016

Genre: Fiction

Pages: eBook, 480 pages

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary (from chapters.indigo.ca):

After the screen of a run-down drive-in movie theater collapses and kills four people, the daughter of one of the victims asks private investigator Cal Weaver to look into a break-in at her father's house. Cal discovers a hidden room where salacious activities have taken place—as well as evidence of missing DVDs. But it may not be the discs the thief was interested in.

Meanwhile, Detective Barry Duckworth is still trying to solve two murders he believes are connected, since each featured a similar distinctive wound. And when yet another murder happens, Cal and Barry are both driven to pursue their investigations, no matter where they lead. But where they lead may be more horrific than either man can imagine.

Review:

** spoiler alert **

This is the second book in a series (listed as a trilogy, but there is another book with the same characters so I am not sure how that fits in). I have opted to hide the review on the off chance that it ends up spoiling something... even though that is never my intention.

Okay, I am going to say that I liked this book but not nearly as much as I assumed I would based on how much I enjoy Linwood Barclay's writing style. I can't say whether it was me or the story but it just felt like there was too much going on, too many side stories that I didn't see the point of, too many characters to keep straight. With that said, it was still a good book in the sense that you wanted to read further to see what was happening and how the whole story would weave itself back together but be prepared to sift through the unnecessary stuff.

The characters all seemed to carry over (with the exception of a few more obvious ones) from the previous book and while I tend to appreciate when authors don't dwell on mundane details that have already been explained, I could have done with a little more. With so many characters to keep straight, I would have liked just a little more backstory for each person so I could link them easily with the previous book/story... again, it could have been just me. As for the characters themselves, I liked them all for the most part with my favourite being Cam... I don't know, he just seems like a good guy that I would want on my side. The 'bad guys' were deplorable and while I kinda found myself enjoying their stories (who doesn't like a bad guy?)... I was pleased with how their stories panned out!

Overall, a decent second book in the trilogy (is there ever a good one?) and I will definitely continue on with the third.

Bridget Jones's Baby: The Diaries by Helen Fielding

Bridget Jones's Baby: The Diaries by Helen Fielding

Publisher: Knopf Canada, October 2016

Genre: Fiction

Pages: Hardcover, 219 pages

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary (from chapters.indigo.ca):

8:45 P.M.  Realize there have been so many times in my life when have fantasized about going to a scan with Mark or Daniel: just not both at the same time.

Before motherhood, before marriage, Bridget with biological clock ticking very, very loudly, finds herself unexpectedly pregnant at the eleventh hour: a joyful pregnancy which is dominated, however, by a crucial but terribly awkward question – who is the father? Mark Darcy: honourable, decent, notable human rights lawyer? Or Daniel Cleaver: charming, witty, notable fuckwit?

9:45 PM  It’s like they’re two halves of the perfect man, who’ll spend the rest of their lives each wanting to outdo the other one. And now it’s all enacting itself in my stomach.

Review:

Quick, fun and simple read... exactly what I would expect for a Bridget Jones story. I have loved all of the books in this series, more so that the actual movies, and was thrilled to see a new book to continue the storyline.

For me, Bridget Jones' Baby was exactly what I was looking for... it is the type of book that you want to read when you finish a 'heavy' story. I love the fun nature of the story... the dynamic between Bridget, Mark and Daniel is just as endearing as it always is.

A great book for all the Bridget Jones lovers out there.

Little Lies by Heather Gudenkauf

Little Lies by Heather Gudenkauf

Publisher: Mira, May 2014

Genre: Fiction

Pages: eBook, 45 pages

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary (from chapters.indigo.ca):

When the body of a woman is discovered in a local park-with her bewildered four-year-old son sitting beside her-veteran social worker Ellen Moore is called in to assist in the police investigation. Positioned beneath a statue of Leto, the goddess of motherhood, the crime is weighted with meaning and, Ellen discovers, remarkably similar to one from a decade past. Ellen's professional duty is to protect the child, but she's not equipped to contend with a killer. As she races to connect the dots, she knows her time is running out. And the stakes are high: if she fails, another mother is sure to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Review:

When I found out this was a short story/prequel, I decided to download the ebook from my library and blow through it in an afternoon. I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did but WOW, what a roller coaster ride of pure adventure.

Heather Gudenkauf is an author that I have picked up here and there over the years but not someone that I continually pay attention to and I have to wonder why that is. This is likely the third book of hers that I have read and can honestly say that I loved all of them. It's taking everything in me NOT to order up the book 'Little Mercies' that this book is the prequel to because I have that MUST READ MORE feeling.

Now, with short stories/prequels, I have always read the actual book they are based on before it so I am not sure how exactly Ellen (and family) and Joe are connected in the main story. Whether it is based around the original crime from 13-years ago or if the crimes of 'Little Lies' have nothing to do with it but either way, I am excited about the potential of reading more of these characters. I liked both Ellen and Joe and think there is definitely 'more to the story' of their relationship.

Overall, a very worthwhile read for those who enjoy quick, fast-faced, stories.