Review: Written in the Stars

Not every Jane Austen fan appreciates an adaptation of her work but, for the most part, this Jane Austen fan does. So, I was excited when I heard about Alexandria Bellefleur's novel Written in the Stars. A play on Pride and Prejudice with a queer couple? I was all in. And, happily, I enjoyed every minute reading this book!

Here's the synopsis:

After a disastrous blind date, Darcy Lowell is desperate to stop her well-meaning brother from playing matchmaker ever again. Love—and the inevitable heartbreak—is the last thing she wants. So she fibs and says her latest set up was a success. Darcy doesn’t expect her lie to bite her in the ass. 

Elle Jones, one of the astrologers behind the popular Twitter account, Oh My Stars, dreams of finding her soul mate. But she knows it is most assuredly not Darcy... a no-nonsense stick-in-the-mud, who is way too analytical, punctual, and skeptical for someone as free-spirited as Elle. When Darcy’s brother—and Elle's new business partner—expresses how happy he is that they hit it off, Elle is baffled. Was Darcy on the same date? Because... awkward.

When Darcy begs Elle to play along, she agrees to pretend they’re dating to save face. But with a few conditions: Darcy must help Elle navigate her own overbearing family over the holidays and their arrangement expires on New Year’s Eve. The last thing they expect is to develop real feelings during a fake relationship.

But maybe opposites can attract when true love is written in the stars?

Those looking for an exact adaptation of Pride and Prejudice will be a touch disappointed because Bellefleur takes some liberties with the classic and, ultimately, makes it her own story. I was totally into that and it reminded me of Bridget Jones's Diary in a way. Darcy likes things done in a certain way and can come across as aloof and reserved and, while that's kind of accurate, it's not really what she's like deep down. Which is kind of like her namesake. Elle is a lot more like Bridget than Elizabeth - she seems like she's all over the place and is untraditional. But she is smart and kind, with a family that loves to meddle. They're perfect opposites and perfect for each other.

An added bonus to reading this in December - there was a bit of a holiday element to it! Darcy and Elle have a Thanksgiving "date" at Elle's family's house and Elle also surprises Darcy with the sweetest Christmas treat which shows how well the pair know each other even though they're trying to pretend their relationship is just that, pretend. 

I wouldn't say I'm usually drawn to fake dating tropes but I've read a few this year that may have converted me. It's similar to friends-to-lovers, which is one of my favourites. There's a hint of enemies-to-lovers in this book because Darcy and Elle do not hit it off. At all. Darcy shows right away that there's more to her under her icy exterior and Elle's big heart is evident quickly as she chooses to forgive Darcy and go along with the fake dating scheme. She doesn't let Darcy walk all over her though and that helps the reader fall in love with the both of them, just as they start falling for each other.

Anyone who likes Austen-esque stories or fake dating tropes or, honestly, just excellent rom coms, should check out Written in the Stars. Alexandria Bellefleur's novel made me SO happy when reading it and I cannot wait to read the next book, Hang the Moon. 

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Canada, via Edelweiss in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Reviewing 2020: Favourite Books

What. A. Year.

I think we can all agree that at this time last year we had NO idea what the next twelve months would bring. The clock striking midnight won't magically make all our problems go away but 2021 is a fresh start and a chance to start as we mean to go on. Be anti-racist. Be a better neighbour by staying home as much as possible and wearing a mask when you do go out. Be a champion of local businesses. Let's take the good from 2020 and keep up with it and learn from the bad and grow as humans.

Like a lot of readers, I found the year to be a weird one. Sometimes I read book after book in quick succession, and other times I wanted to do anything but read. Of course there wasn't a whole lot else to do so there were a lot of phone games being played and TV and movies being streamed. At the start of the year I didn't think I'd get to 100 books. I barely made it in 2019 and there is no point stressing about a number because reading is more than your Goodreads goal. Imagine my surprise when I hit book #100 (In a Holidaze) over Thanksgiving weekend in October! As I write this, I'm working on book # 123 (Little Women) and will start # 124 (The Duke and I so I can watch The Bridgertons) shortly. Needless to say, it's really, really hard to narrow down my favourites from such a long list. But I shall try!

First up: authors I read multiple titles from and who deserve shout outs so other titles can make it on The List! I listened to both The Flatshare and The Switch (review) by Beth O'Leary this year and absolutely adored them both. I also read an abundance of K.A. Tucker's novels and, no surprise here, loved each and every one. She wrapped up Jonah and Calla's story in Forever Wild (review) after two full length and amazing novels. She also gave us The Player Next Door (review) which I swooned over. Karina Halle also had a number of releases with Lovewrecked (review) and One Hot Italian Summer (review) being up there for me. 

My favourite debut was The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner (review) and, not surprisingly, my favourite reread (something I actually did this year!) was Pride and Prejudice. 

I only read four non-fiction titles which, for me, is actually a high number. Desmond Cole's The Skin We're In is a must-read.

Broken down by genre and in no particular order, I present you: The List! 

Historical

Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown (review)

The Forgotten Home Child by Genevieve Graham (review)

The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe (review)

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue 

The Whispers of War by Julia Kelly (review)

The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester (review to come soon!)

Mystery
This is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf (review)

Contemporary

Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis (review)

Better Luck Next Time by Kate Hilton (review)

Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter (review)

Romance

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert (review)

Beach Read by Emily Henry (review)

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren (review)

All Stirred Up by Brianna Moore (review)

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur (review to come tomorrow!)

Honorable mentions: A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon, The Love Study by Kris Ripper (review), Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, In Five Years by Rebecca Serle (review), The Guest List by Lucy Foley, Waiting for a Star to Fall by Kerry Clare (review)

What books did you love this year? Do we share any favourites?

Review: The Twelve Dogs of Christmas

I had been looking forward to reading The Twelve Days of Christmas by Lizzie Shane ever since Forever's publicist, Estelle, gushed about it during a virtual event at the end of July. And I only just got to it! For shame! I love small town Christmas romances and all the doggos seemed liked such a cute addition. Final verdict? Super sweet and super festive.

Here's the synopsis:

Pine Hollow has everything Ally Gilmore could wish for in a holiday break: gently falling snow in a charming small town and time with her family. Then she learns some Grinch has pulled the funding for her family's rescue shelter, and now she has only four weeks to find new homes for a dozen dogs! But when she confronts her Scroogey councilman nemesis, Ally finds he's far more reasonable — and handsome — than she ever expected.
As the guardian of his dog-obsessed ten-year-old niece, Ben West doesn't have time to build a cuddly reputation. But he does feel guilty about the shelter closing. So he proposes a truce with Ally, agreeing to help her adopt out the pups. As the two spend more time together, the town's gossip is spreading faster than Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve. And soon Ben is hoping he can convince Ally that Pine Hollow is her home for the holidays... and the whole year through.

The Christmas magic in this novel comes through with the town having various holiday events (tree lighting! A parade! A pageant!) leading up to the big day, which was featured at the end of the novel (which is not always the case). Not only were there festive events taking place for the characters to attend, but there was a big emphasis on family. Ben and Astrid are still trying to figure out how their family looks after the loss of her parents (his sister and brother-in-law) and Ally just wants to help out her grandparents but they're not allowing her to spend her "vacation" doing work (even if she's good at it and enjoys it). There are a number of sweet moments throughout as family, found and blood relatives, come together to celebrate the season.

I had some minor issues with the ridiculous lack of communication between Ally and Ben. It wasn't just lack of communication, it was the assumptions they each made even though they hardly knew a thing about each other. Instead of asking Ben about the fiancee she heard he had in a passing comment that should not have counted as fact, Ally just assumed there was one. And Ben assumed Ally wanted to get the hell out of Pine Hollow as soon as she could but she had never definitively said she wanted to go back to New York City. I know it's easy to judge when I'm outside of a situation and not trying to figure out my feelings for someone but that was the main conflict between the two - this confusion and the assumptions they make. The end of the world? No. Just a bit tiresome by the end.

I was so invested in the dog adoptions! I was, of course, rooting for a Happily Ever After with the humans, but I may have been even more into seeing who was going to bring a dog home for the holidays. That might be because I knew Ally and Ben had to get together (and which dog I was sure Ben was going to adopt after caving to pressure from his niece) but I didn't know who would get together with the dog they were meant to adopt. And each doggo had their own personality! You'd think it would get a bit confusing with twelve dogs to home but it didn't and I was cheered every time there was a successful adoption. Adopt, don't shop!

I love Pine Hollow and can't wait to revisit the town. Normally I get a bit annoyed when I can tell when an author is setting up a series or sequel but something about this town and these characters really got under my skin, in a good way, and I really enjoyed spending time with all of them. I was sad to say goodbye but happy to know I'll be able to see them again soon enough in Once Upon a Puppy.

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas was a delight to read. Yes, Lizzie Shane's holiday novel was a bit predictable but that's the charm of these types of stories. I appreciated the twist she put on the small town and having all the dogs was surprisingly charming (obviously dogs are always appreciated but I wasn't expecting to be so wooed by them!). I wanted to keep reading and am already looking forward to the second book so consider this a successful reading adventure!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Christmas on Peach Tree Lane

Ah, holiday romances. Sweet and festive with a guaranteed Happily Ever After complete with a Christmas tree or five. That's what Christmas on Peach Tree Lane gives readers (seriously, it had way more than five decked out Christmas trees). Jules Bennett has written a holiday story worthy of the Hallmark treatment and readers will be pleased with a romance that leaves them smiling.

Here's the synopsis:

Event planner Violet Calhoun lives to deck the halls, and her quaint Southern hometown’s fiftieth annual Tinsel Tour will be the event of the season. With a magazine crew on hand to document Peach Grove’s transformation into a winter wonderland, this year’s festivities have got to be the holly-est, jolliest yet. She does not have the time to deal with a Grinch—even a gorgeous one like Brady Jackson.

Divorce attorney Brady has plans to divest himself of his family’s ancestral mansion and be back at his Atlanta firm by New Year’s. Hanging so much as a wreath on the door is not a part of that plan. Nor is dealing with an annoying—though undeniably adorable—elf.

But Violet is all about making holiday magic happen. As they work together to stage Brady’s historic house, the town grump reveals he’s more sexy than Scrooge. And after some mind-blowing kisses, what starts as a Christmas flirtation starts to feel more like a year-round affair…

I know I'm not alone in loving the "big city worker coming to a small town and finds the meaning of life and Christmas" stories. As long as they're interesting, I don't care that they follow the same formula. In this story, Brady is the one who leaves the city (under duress, I may add) and Violet shows him that small towns have their own charm and can offer just as much as a big city can.

Bennett does a good job of making the reader understand that Brady isn't really a jerk. He's hurting and grieving after the loss of his grandfather and doesn't know how to make sense of these feelings. Luckily, Violet understands that too. I think if he had come across as super rude, instead of just a bit grumpy, I would have had a harder time rooting for him and Violet to get together. (And root for them, I did.) I do wish that Bennett hadn't had Brady and Violet's friend, Simone, go on a couple of dates a few years prior. I don't think it was necessary and just added weird tension that wasn't needed for the story.

I definitely appreciated how committed Violet was to her job and how Bennett made it clear that Violet is so busy and always working because she genuinely loves it. That's a stark contrast to Brady who works all the time because he can and feels he has to. Sure, he's a great lawyer but that doesn't necessarily mean he's loving what he does. Work will look different to a lot of people and this story showed that nicely.  

When I pick up a holiday romance I want a Happily Ever After with a sprinkling of festive cheer. Christmas on Peach Tree Lane delivers, though it's definitely a Christmas book you can read well before Christmas arrives as the big day doesn't actually feature in the novel. I think Jules Bennett has set us up for a new small town series and I'm happy she decided to start it off with a story that showcased the town and the magic of Christmas.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Harlequin, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: One More for Christmas

Sarah Morgan has been a go-to author for me for years. I've been thoroughly enjoying her festive offerings for the last couple of years and was very much looking forward to One More for Christmas, this year's holiday novel. It gave me all the Christmas feels, complete with a lovely (and dramatic in the best way) family story, with a side of two romances and a stunning setting. I liked it a lot (didn't quite love it) but would definitely recommend it to holiday lovers this season.

Here's the synopsis:

For sisters Samantha and Ella Mitchell, Christmas is their most precious time of the year—a time for togetherness, love and celebration. Most of all, it’s about making up for everything their childhood Christmases lacked. But this year, they’ll be buying presents for the most unexpected guest of all—their estranged mother. It’s been five years since they last saw each other. But when their mom calls out of the blue and promises that this Christmas will be different, Samantha and Ella cautiously agree to spend it all together…

Gayle Mitchell is at the top of her career, but her success has come at a price—her relationship with her daughters. She never seemed to say or do the right things. Her tough-love approach was designed to make them stronger, but instead managed to push them away…until a brush with her own mortality forces Gayle to make amends. As the snowflakes fall on their first family celebration in years, the Mitchell women must learn that sometimes facing up to the past is all you need to heal your heart…

Gayle was a really hard character to get a handle on. I think that was kind of the point but, like Samantha, I found it difficult to believe she did want to change and also that she could change. At some point that feeling did go away and I was on board for Gayle examining her life choices and realizing that the life she was living was so not an ideal one. It maybe seemed a bit far fetched but I think having an accident and then being faced with the Christmas season can make a lot of people reexamine their lives.

The story was told in third person with shifting perspectives. Gayle, Samantha, and Ella all have many chapters but Kirstie, whose family owns the house in Scotland where the Mitchells spend the holidays, also has a couple of chapters. If memory serves, it really was just two. I know Morgan wanted to give some background into the family without Brodie, an eventual love interest, being the focus but it was really odd to have these random chapters when Kirstie really doesn't play a large role in the novel at all.

But the setting? Oh my word, it was magical. I loved being transported to the Scottish Highlands (and wish I could be there right now, to be honest. If I'm going to be locked down again soon, may as well be somewhere more remote. With reindeer!) I did find myself wishing the story would hurry up and the family would just arrive already but the set up was worth it. You got to understand a bit more why Samantha would be investigating the house for work (her travel company focuses on wintery, festive escapes and I love that idea) and understand how difficult it was going to be for all of the Mitchells to spend the holidays together.

What I like about having multiple characters to read about is you get three very different lives and storylines. Gayle is having, well, I guess a mid-life crisis brought about by her accident and I absolutely adored reading as she got to know her granddaughter and became friends with Mary, the owner of the house. Ella has a wonderful marriage and I really appreciated that Morgan showed how solid she and her husband were. They had a great relationship that was a partnership and they were also still clearly excited about each other in the bedroom. Then there was Samantha, who, despite her best intentions, seems to be following in her mother's footsteps and has been so focused on work she hasn't allowed herself to get involved in a real relationship. So seeing her open up with Brodie was delightful (and he is oh so romantic and I loved him). I was rooting for all sorts of Happily Ever Afters while reading this novel.

One More for Christmas was a lovely holiday novel. Sarah Morgan continues to be a must-read for me and I think others will thoroughly enjoy this one as well. It's not perfect but it's perfect for the season and that's all that matters to me. Now...let's start planning a vacation to the Scottish Highlands. 

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Canada/Harlequin, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Merriest Magnolia

Note to self: make sure you check if a book is part of a series before you request it. I hadn't realized that The Merriest Magnolia was actually the second book Michelle Major had written in her Magnolia Sisters series. It wasn't the end of the world but it meant I wasn't prepared for not knowing everything about the characters but expecting to. I got over that fairly quickly but then the rest of the book kind of let me down.

Here's the synopsis:

Home for the holidays has always meant cozy small-town traditions…but this year all that may change…

Carrie Reed has always been known as her hometown Good Girl, yet she still loves Magnolia, North Carolina—after all, this is where her newly discovered sisters, Avery and Meredith, live. But Christmas is on its way and with it, her first love. Dylan Scott is back in town and planning on changing everything she’s ever loved about Magnolia with his real estate development project…but not without a fight.

Returning to Magnolia was never in Dylan’s plans—it holds too many reminders that he would never be good enough, and memories of the girl he left behind. But when a tragedy leaves him guardian of a grieving teenager, Dylan returns, ready to remake the town into something only money can buy, small-town traditions be damned. But with Carrie determined to stop him, he finds himself wondering if redeeming his teenage reputation is worth losing out on his second chance at love.

In a surprise to no one who knows what romance novel tropes I like, I requested this book because of the second chance love story. If I'm being honest though, I'm starting to wonder why. Because usually there's major heartbreak and massive miscommunication and then lots of anger when they see each other again after 10+ years. So, I think I need to reevaluate things and take a closer look at which second chance stories I am actually drawn to. And maybe not get distracted by festive storylines!

Dylan was, quite frankly, an idiot. I can forgive running off when he was 18 (ish?) because no one really knows themselves at that age. He should have just talked to Carrie because he was stupid to think she was too good for him (not to say that she wasn't good...she was. And perhaps was too good for him. But that's for HER to decide.) and there was a lot of hurt and emotional issues that could have been avoided if he hadn't just taken off. He was holding onto too much anger about what her father did to him and the town and couldn't see that he was acting in quite a similar manner when he came storming back into town wanting to take over things and make them "better" without even taking the time to figure out what the town actually needed. Newsflash: it wasn't him and his fancy schmancy ideas. Ahem. Yeah, I didn't like Dylan at all and that did not help me like this story.

Carrie was a very good person. Too good. She had turned into a doormat because her father emotionally manipulated her. I feel like I was missing a few pieces since I hadn't read the first book where she and her half-sisters find out about each other after their father's death. He seemed like a real piece of work and I hated that she lost out on so much of her own life because he and his ego were too fragile to let her go and experience things on her own. And he discouraged her painting because she was better than him! What parent does that?? She did have a typical romance heroine journey and found a backbone and rekindled her love of painting, so I appreciated that. But it was hard to get over my anger with her father...and Dylan...and even her mother for leaving her with her dad. 

I did, surprisingly, love the fact that Dylan was now the guardian of his late cousin's teenager (obviously I was not a fan of people dying and the kid having his life turned upside down). I was more invested in Sam and his storyline than I was the romance between Dylan and Carrie. I liked seeing as he opened up to Carrie, and then Dylan, and started to learn that there were still people in the world who cared about him and were there for him. I said it was surprising that I liked this storyline because I'm not into single parent stories. I don't want kids and have a hard time connecting with romances where the hero or heroine has kids. But there was something about this one that got me right in the feels.

Ultimately, The Merriest Magnolia did not leave me feeling very...well...merry. Michelle Major's latest novel wasn't a bad one. It just wasn't for me. Might be worth a read if you're looking for a hit of small town Christmas and half-sisters becoming the best of friends but if you already have a TBR pile as tall as a Christmas tree, I'd maybe give this one a miss.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Harlequin, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Sea Gate

Jane Johnson's novel, The Sea Gate, published last month but I had been waiting for it for months before that. I saw the cover, read what it was about, and it immediately went on my Highly Anticipating list. Because this has been the year it's been, I just finally got to reading it over the last week. It didn't thrill me as much as I expected but it intrigued me enough that I just had to see how the mystery would unfold and how many secrets were being hidden.

Here's the synopsis:

A broken family, a house of secrets—an entrancing tale of love and courage set during the Second World War.
After Rebecca’s mother dies, she must sort through her empty flat and come to terms with her loss. As she goes through her mother’s mail, she finds a handwritten envelope. In it is a letter that will change her life forever.
Olivia, her mother’s elderly cousin, needs help to save her beloved home. Rebecca immediately goes to visit Olivia in Cornwall only to find a house full of secrets—treasures in the attic and a mysterious tunnel leading from the cellar to the sea, and Olivia, nowhere to be found.
As it turns out, the old woman is stuck in hospital with no hope of being discharged until her house is made habitable again. Rebecca sets to work restoring the home to its former glory, but as she peels back the layers of paint and grime, she uncovers even more buried secrets—secrets from a time when the Second World War was raging, when Olivia was a young woman, and when both romance and danger lurked around every corner...
A sweeping and utterly spellbinding tale of a young woman’s courage in the face of war and the lengths to which she’ll go to protect those she loves against the most unexpected of enemies.

I'm really not sure why I didn't fall head over heels for this book. World War II stories never get old for me so that wasn't it. I think it boils down to the way the story was told. And boy was it told. It's super slow to start and I was just waiting for the moment where all would be revealed, and I knew just how it would be done too. There was a whole section at the end where Olivia tells Becca (and therefore the reader) everything. Sure, there were some flashback scenes but it was sort of an info dump as the loose ends got tied up. 

There were a few things I did like about the WWII aspect of the novel. First, I liked that it was another insight into how the war affected those who were left behind. How did the women and children (and men who couldn't fight) look after the homes and farms with so many men away at war? We get so many war stories from the male perspective but it touched the lives of far more people than just those who were on the battlefield and the effects were felt far beyond where the battles were fought.

Olivia's mother is away for the majority of the war and I appreciated that Johnson mentioned that she had been part of the SOE. It's a part of WWII's history that isn't talked about as much because it was mostly involving women. It has shown up in a number of books in the last year or so and I am so here for it because those women were heroes who deserve to be recognized.

Finally, Johnson also touched on Prisoners of War and the prejudices that ran rampant during the war. There were clear parallels between both the flashbacks and contemporary story (perhaps too clear...like it was history repeating itself and I think that was something I struggled with) with a white woman and a non-white man having romantic feelings for each other. One of the things that showed was that things have not changed nearly enough in the years since WWII ended.

Jane Johnson's The Sea Gate didn't hit the high notes for me but I still found myself needing to know what secrets Olivia and her home were hiding and that kept me reading until the last page. 

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Mistletoe and Mr. Right

 

I read Sarah Morgenthaler's The Tourist Attraction this past summer after I saw all sorts of bloggers and bookstagrammers talking about it. The cover first grabbed me and the description drew me in even further. Once I realized it was going to be a series, I was thrilled and made sure to request a copy of Mistletoe and Mr. Right to read and review. I'm so glad I did because it was so enjoyable - even more so than the first book!

Here's the synopsis:

How the moose (almost) stole Christmas.
Lana Montgomery is everything the quirky small town of Moose Springs, Alaska can't stand: a rich socialite with dreams of changing things for the better. But Lana's determined to prove that she belongs...even if it means trading her stilettos for snow boots and tracking one of the town's hairiest Christmas mysteries: the Santa Moose, an antlered Grinch hell-bent on destroying every bit of holiday cheer (and tinsel) it can sink its teeth into.
And really...how hard could it be?
The last few years have been tough on Rick Harding, and it's not getting any easier now that his dream girl's back in town. When Lana accidentally tranquilizes him instead of the Santa Moose, it's clear she needs help, fast...and this could be his chance to finally catch her eye. It's an all-out Christmas war, but if they can nab that darn moose before it destroys the town, Rick and Lana might finally find a place where they both belong...together.

If I had to try to explain Moose Springs, I would have to liken it to Stars Hollow but moved from Connecticut to Alaska and with a lot more moose. The townspeople are quirky but loveable and always there for each other. They're very much against tourists and that's why they're hellbent on blocking Lana at every turn. I think that was a really interesting thing to read as the townspeople don't want change nor do they want a bunch of strangers ruining their town. Most of them do know that without tourists their town would start dying but it has to be hard to see your quaint town overrun with people who don't care about what's left when their vacation is over. The thing is, Lana really does care about the town and you can't help but hope the town realizes that her vision does have some merit and that they can all find a way to work together.

I couldn't really remember how Lana and Rick met and there was some allusion to their history that kept throwing me off because I couldn't remember any of it. And I only read the first book in the summer! It wasn't a huge deal but I had to keep reminding myself that they did have history and that was why their relationship was moving as it was. It's a bit of an opposites attract kind of story but I find that kind of insults both Lana and Rick. She's rich, yes, but she knows the important things are friends and family which is why she holds on to her friendship with Zoey and Graham so tightly. And Rick isn't some small town guy with no brain, which he sometimes comes across as - which I don't think was Morgenthaler's intent. He's a quiet guy who observes everything and has a lot of his shoulders, trying to take care of a failing business and raising his ex-wife's nephew, who is now twenty and Rick's roommate.

Speaking of roommates - Rick is a total animal lover (he has a tendency to take in strays and look after everyone which was a bit refreshing since normally it's the female in the romances who has that issue). He has a giant cat, Roger, who often makes his displeasure known but deep down loves his home. AND HE HAS A HEDGEHOG. The set-up to the reader meeting Darla was perfection and I laughed out loud when I got to that part. I'm not a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, exactly, but even I found it too funny that the hedgehog is named after a character in the show.

This book is heavy on the comedy with a sweet romance (no open door sexy time here) and important messages woven throughout. It's not all fun and games when you're trying to: catch a destructive moose, prove to your family that you have a solid business plan for your favourite town, keep your pool hall afloat, keep your nephew out of jail, and just generally save the town.

Sarah Morgenthaler's Mistletoe and Mr. Right is quirky and lovable and I had a lot of fun reading it. I enjoyed the second Moose Springs book much more than the first and I really looking forward to the next book in the series, Enjoy the View. 

*An egalley was provided by the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Home for the Holidays

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! And that includes on my reading list. Many holiday books are released in late September/early October and I'm just not quite in the mood for frosty, festive, fun at that time. I have to wait until after Thanksgiving (which is in October here in Canada) and then there's usually a warm spell and then it's Halloween so November is when my holiday reading ramps up! My second holiday book this year was Sara Richardson's Home for the Holidays, which was the first of Richardson's that I've ever read. It had really strong family elements which is one of my favourite things to read in a holiday book.

Here's the synopsis:

The Buchanan sisters all share special childhood memories of their Aunt Sassy’s beloved Juniper Inn. There, they frolicked in the snow, baked sugar cookies, and celebrated the town’s annual Christmas extravaganza. They haven’t been back to Colorado in nearly fifteen years, but when their aunt invites them for one last Christmas, they can’t say no . . .
With her ex-husband whisking her children away for the holiday, Dahlia decides it’s time to do something for herself. Juniper Springs is just as beautiful as she remembers, but it’s also full of surprises — including the town’s handsome doctor, who makes her feel like herself again for the first time in years.
To the outside world, baker Magnolia has the ideal marriage. Only the pain and sorrow of infertility have strained her relationship with her husband, perhaps beyond repair. But a holiday miracle is about to change her life.
After a whirlwind romance, youngest sister Rose is about to be married, but as the wedding draws near, she’s unsettled by her fiancé’s expectations that she become a society wife. Spending Christmas with her family could be a necessary reality check — or the beginning of a brand-new happily ever after.
Thanks to the strength of their sisterhood, some mistletoe, and the love of their Aunt Sassy, the Buchanan sisters will discover what it is they truly want this Christmas.

Each Buchanan sister is at a bit of a crossroads. Rose, the youngest and the only one still living in their hometown, is preparing for a wedding that's becoming increasingly out of her control. Magnolia is struggling with infertility and instead of talking to her family about it, she and her husband have kept it to themselves and their marriage is suffering. And Dahlia, the eldest, is facing the first Christmas without her kids as they head to Europe with their dad, her ex-husband. So a letter from their Aunt Sassy comes at the perfect time and they all jump at the chance to spend the holidays with their estranged aunt.

One of the most important parts about Christmas, for me, is spending time with family. I won't be seeing my (very tiny) family this year in part because of the pandemic and in part because my sister is living in England and my mom is almost three hours away. So, I think the family part of this story really hit me, in a good way, maybe more than it would have if I had read this book last year. The sisters may live in different cities across the US but you can tell they're really close. I found myself hoping that stars would align and they would be able to find a way to all live in the same town. Ideally at the Juniper Inn! That was actually more important to me than any of them finding a romantic Happily Ever After, though I was rooting for three of those, too.

Given this is a (holiday) romance, the reader has a pretty good idea of how the characters will be paired up by the end of the story. As usual, that was not at all a problem for me! I don't mind figuring out how the HEA might look as long as the journey there is enjoyable. And it really was for each of the three sisters. There were some irritations (especially with Dahlia's storyline...oooh boy I was so annoyed and so proud of her for standing up for what she wanted, not what was "best" for the family) but they had less to do with the romances and more to do with general life stupidity. (I know that probably doesn't make sense but I'm trying not to be spoilery.)

I have to say that the whole reason Sassy and the sisters' mom were estranged was...stupid. I know every family is different and it's hard to judge but I just couldn't understand how their mother was so incredibly judgemental and clueless (I really disliked her) and why Sassy wouldn't have tried to reach out the girls' when they were a bit older. Or why the sisters wouldn't reach out to Sassy once they were old enough to wonder why they suddenly stopped visiting somewhere they had traveled to often.

You'll find the Christmas spirit mostly in the family connections but also as the sisters prepare for a holiday extravaganza at the Juniper Inn. It was the kind of Christmas event I would want to attend - twinkling lights, food (all the baked goods!), drink, sleigh rides, and time to gather with friends and family. 

Home for the Holidays was a really sweet read. I'd recommend Sara Richardson's novel to those who are looking for a holiday read with a lot of heart. It wasn't groundbreaking but I enjoyed the time I spent reading it and I'm looking forward to seeing if Richardson will revisit the sisters and the Juniper Inn in an upcoming novel.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Forever Wild

I knew we needed a final wrap up to Calla and Jonah's love story but I hadn't quite anticipated how perfect Forever Wild would be. I never want to say goodbye to characters I love but K.A. Tucker has completed her Wild series in a way that left my heart full and happy. 

Here's what the novella is about:

The holiday season is upon Calla and Jonah, and with the mistletoe and gingerbread comes plenty of family drama. Jonah is bracing himself for two weeks with a stepfather he loathes, and while Calla is looking forward to her mother and Simon’s arrival, she dreads the continued pressure to set a date for their wedding … in Toronto. Add in one bullheaded neighbor’s unintentional meddling and another cantankerous neighbor’s own family strife, and Christmas in Trapper’s Crossing will be anything but simple.

This is a true series so you can't hop into reading this one without having already read The Simple Wild (review) and Wild at Heart (review). I mean, you could, but you would be so confused and you'd have so much spoiled for you. 

Not only was Forever Wild such a perfect story to wrap up the series, but I loved that it's set at Christmas. Christmas stories lend themselves so well to novellas and short stories, given it's such a small part of the year overall, and Tucker used that to her advantage. It also made for the perfect reason for the whole family to be together, tucked into Calla and Jonah's house and cabin. The emotions were running high in the house and I liked seeing how all the traditions came together to create such a wonderful holiday for everyone.

While I can see why Tucker chose to make this a novella, I do wish it could have been a full novel. I think I needed a bit more pre-Christmas time with Calla and Jonah and there didn't seem to be enough (if any??) sightings of Zeke and Bandit - two animal characters that are as well loved as any Disney sidekick. I wanted more about their jobs too since that was a big thing they were trying to sort out in the last book - what, exactly, would give Calla purpose in Alaska? And, yes, I would have loved just more of this story, these characters, that setting. It was hard to say goodbye to Calla and Jonah but it was the right thing for the series. I will say that I'm not surprised that Tucker plans to expand the Wild universe a little bit and will be writing a story about Marie, a longtime vet friend of Jonah's who had a major crush on him. Mostly it's unsurprising because I found the hints pretty obvious in this novella. Not that I'm complaining - I'll read anything Tucker writes!

Multiple characters in the story had a lot of drama but it worked well, considering the novella is only just over 150 pages. Tensions always run high during the holiday season but once things settle, you're left with a group of individuals who care fiercely for each other, whether they're blood relatives or not.

There's not much more I want to say about Forever Wild because I don't want to give away any spoilers. I read this in one sitting on Saturday afternoon and absolutely loved it. I'm pretty sure I was the heart eye emoji come to life as I finished the last page. If you're a fan of contemporary stories, you should definitely pick up K.A. Tucker's Wild series. This is a romance series for those who don't think they're romance readers so keep it in mind this holiday season for gifts for others - or yourself!

Buy Forever Wild
Amazon * Apple * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Indie Bound * Indigo

Not quite ready to buy it or haven't read the first two books? Add Forever Wild to Goodreads. 

About the Author

K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.

She is the internationally bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, The Simple Wild, Be the Girl, and Say You Still Love Me. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women.

K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto.

Connect with the Author

Website * Goodreads * Amazon * Facebook * Facebook Group *
Instagram * Twitter * Bookbub * Pinterest *

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the author via Valentine PR in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Too Much Lip

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll likely know that I've been to Australia twice and I absolutely love the country (and I don't shut up about it). I don't, however, read many Australian authors. I have a feeling that some of that has to do with rights and what is available to Canadian publishers for Canadian bloggers to read. All that to say, when I came across Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko, I was intrigued and immediately interested. It's a super dark comedy that was different than anything else I've read this year and I enjoyed it.

Here's the synopsis:

Wise-cracking Kerry Salter has spent a lifetime avoiding two things - her hometown and prison. But now her Pop is dying and she's an inch away from the lockup, so she heads south on a stolen Harley. Kerry plans to spend twenty-four hours, tops, over the border. She quickly discovers, though, that Bundjalung country has a funny way of grabbing on to people. Old family wounds open as the Salters fight to stop the development of their beloved river. And the unexpected arrival on the scene of a good-looking dugai fella intent on loving her up only adds more trouble - but then trouble is Kerry's middle name. Gritty and darkly hilarious, Too Much Lip offers redemption and forgiveness where none seems possible.

I do have to say I don't think I was quite in the mood for this book when I read it. I'm definitely a big mood reader and I hadn't realized quite how dark it was going to be. It's definitely more drama than comedy, I felt, but that's not a bad thing. Just took awhile for my brain and expectations to catch up.

Not only was this book set in Australia, but it takes place close-ish to where I've traveled. The town Kerry grew up in is fictional but a few real towns were mentioned so I could get a better idea of the location. It also caused massive wanderlust for me! I can't wait to go back. 

You may have noticed the synopsis mention "Bundjalung country." Bundjalung people are an Aboriginal nation in Australia, which, we should all know is a country with some problems with how they've treated the original custodians of the country (and I say this as a Canadian who knows her own country has many problems as well). Like a lot of readers, I've been trying to seek out more BIPOC authors for the last couple of years and show my support to those authors (and show publishers that we want and need stories by authors who aren't white and straight). I'm really happy to have stumbled across this book (seriously, I had to find it myself in the publisher's catalogue...no one was talking about it).

This novel is about more than a granddaughter returning home as her grandfather is dying. Lucashenko does not shy away from really tough subjects that need to be explored in literature and in life. There were disputes over land rights as well as a lot of trauma in the family. Some characters, like Kerry, have questions about their sexuality. Yes, there was a lot going on but it wasn't confusing in the least. It made my heart hurt and yet also made me laugh out loud a few times. And it taught me a few new words, too.

I think I would have liked Too Much Lip a little bit more if it were less literary (not my favourite) and more comedic. This is, completely, a personal reading preference and doesn't make the book any less good. Because it is that: a really good book. Melissa Lucashenko's novel was an engaging read though and I definitely recommend it, especially to those like me who are trying to expand their reading horizons. I'd also love to talk this book through with someone else who's read it!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

New Release: Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye

Happy release day to Jacquelyn Middleton! Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye (her fourth novel) is out in the world today! I have, sadly, not been able to get to it yet despite being so, so, so excited to dive into this fun, sweet, sexy, wonderful romance. Middleton's novels always delight me and I can't wait to read it (why must life be so complicated and time consuming?). 

Here's what the new novel is all about:

Will her fling become his forever?
Leia Scott has sworn off love. Fresh from a messy, public divorce from her hockey player ex, the twenty-six-year-old fashion designer temporarily trades New York for London to heal and embrace her freedom. Her vow? To protect her heart, steer clear of relationships, and say yes to flings without strings. She throws herself into designing upcycled dresses and exploring London with her sister. But Leia's carefully curated plan encounters a flirty complication with an irresistible British accent.
Wealthy, charming, and devastatingly attractive, Tarquin Balfour is tired of meaningless hookups and dates that go nowhere. For years, he has played the bon viveur with reckless abandon, throwing decadent parties, sleeping with a parade of women, and diving into extreme sports around the globe. But now the young property developer wants more. He craves love and commitment, to prove his kind heart matters more than the abundance of zeroes attached to his bank balance. Struggling with undiagnosed depression, Tarquin worries he'll never find The One...until he meets his princess, a fashion designer named Leia.
Afraid of falling in love and fearful of being alone, Leia and Tarquin enter into an entanglement that threatens to hurt them both.

I've really enjoyed the rest of Middleton's novels and I wish I had had time to re-read them all before this one published. I don't know about you but I'm having the most up and down reading life this year...I'm rolling with it because that's all you can do in this weird time but it's hard when I find myself struggling to fit in reading books I'm SO excited for. Anyway. Some of the characters from her previous novels will pop up in this story and I'd love to have had the time to remind myself of who's where and dating who. (Whom? This is why I don't write books. Or copy edit them.)

Here's what I thought about two of her previous books:
London Can You Wait? - Review
Until the Last Star Fades - Review

Early Buzz
"Leia and Tarquin's chemistry sizzles…this sultry, yet sweetly heartfelt romance is a winner. Fans of contemporary romance will rejoice in this story of falling in love through and despite mental illness."
-- Publishers Weekly's BookLife 'Editor's Pick'

"Sex scenes are steamy, well written, and anti-shaming. Humor enlivens the drama nicely...SAY HELLO, KISS GOODBYE offers well-drawn, multilayered characters and standout, sex-positive romance."
-- Kirkus Reviews

"As steamy as it is heartwarming...the two main characters are undeniably endearing...mental health issues are explored with the appropriate gravitas and the theme of gratitude is strong throughout. Romance fans will be grateful they picked up this novel. With SAY HELLO, KISS GOODBYE, Middleton has written a winner."
-- BlueInk Review (STARRED REVIEW)

Where to Buy
Amazon * Apple Books * Nook * Kobo 

Not ready to buy? Add Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye to your Goodreads!

About Jacquelyn
Jacquelyn Middleton is an award-winning author of love stories for hopeful romantics--'hopeful' because her novels are always full of optimism and a 'happy ever after' is important now more than ever before. But life is messy, relationships are messy, and her books aren't afraid to go there, too. If you enjoy character and relationship-driven stories about people dealing with the triumphs and disasters we all face, Jacquelyn's books are for you.
In 2019, she was named BEST CANADIAN AUTHOR at the RWA's Toronto Romance Writers 'Northern Hearts' Awards for UNTIL THE LAST STAR FADES. She is also the author of LONDON BELONGS TO ME, LONDON, CAN YOU WAIT? and SAY HELLO, KISS GOODBYE.
An own voices author, Jacquelyn has dealt with anxiety, panic attacks, and depression all her life, and is dedicated to depicting mental health challenges realistically and empathetically in her novels.
Jacquelyn's books have been featured by The Hollywood Reporter, NBC News, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Daily News, USA Today, Cosmo, Redbook, and the Huffington Post.
She lives in Toronto with her British husband and Japanese Spitz dog.

Connect with Jacquelyn
Website * Goodreads * Amazon * Facebook * Facebook Group * 
Instagram * Twitter * Bookbub * Newsletter  

Review: Forever with You

Barb Curtis' debut novel Forever with You delighted me beyond belief. It's the first in a new romance series set in a fictional small town and I had such a lovely time reading it. Romance lovers, take note!

Here's the synopsis:

Jay Wynter wants to be successful on his own merit. That's why he left Sapphire Springs and his family's winery to build a career from scratch. But now that he's successor to Wynter Estate, Jay must return to his small hometown to face everything, and everyone, he left behind-especially his high school sweetheart, who happens to be his stunning new business partner . . .

Leyna Milan knows family legacies come with strings attached, but she's determined to prove that she can run her family's restaurant. Of course, Leyna never expected that honoring her grandfather's wishes meant opening a second location on her ex's property-or having to ignore Jay's sexy grin and guard the heart he shattered years before. But as they work closely together, she begins to discover that maybe first loves deserve a second chance . . . 

Sapphire Springs isn't a real town and Curtis, a fellow Canadian, chose to set her novel in upstate New York. However, in her acknowledgements she mentioned she talked to winemaker Brian Schmidt at Vineland Estates Winery, which is in the Niagara region (in Canada) and where I live. It wasn't obvious at the start that it was in New York state so I went about my merry way and pictured the town as one of the few small villages surrounding Vineland Estates. Even after I learned where it was supposed to be set, my little brain refused to acknowledge it and I will just pretend this is a book set in Canada :)

This is very much a romance novel, which I'll get to more in a bit, but Curtis added a mystery into the mix. Jay was convinced something went wrong with Leyna's inheritance and there was something amiss. I won't go into many details because it should stay a surprise but...Curtis kind of lost me with that plot. It was overdramatic and kind of far fetched and just didn't quite seem to work with the rest of the story. It wasn't bad and it did add a little bit more tension but after I finished the book I was just kind of like...what the heck just happened?

One of the reasons I chose to read and review this book was the second chance element. That's my jam and I liked how Curtis wrote the relationship between Jay and Leyna. It was almost hard to believe that they could fall back into a relationship after 18 years apart, especially since they were teens when they dated the first time around, but I could see it. What got frustrating was Leyna's insistence that they not talk about why they split the first time around. Don't these people realize they should communicate? (No, they don't, because then where would the story be??) But I rolled with it and read on to see if (or, more accurately, how) the pair could sort things out.

I also wanted to read this one because it was set in a small town around a winery. Small town set stories are another of my favourites, given I grew up in a small town and really like the community aspect so many towns have. Plus, as I mentioned, I live in wine country in Ontario and, well, let's just say I take part in the local offerings quite often. It was really cool to have Jay explain about the winemaking process. It may read as too technical for some people but I really enjoyed learning about how certain grapes grow and what a winemaker needs to consider when growing and taking care of grapes. Some of it I already knew, you pick up a lot living around here and dating a journalist who often talks to folks at wineries, but some was new to me and I liked learning about it.

I really liked reading Forever with You and definitely recommend Barb Curtis' novel to other romance readers. It was fun and sweet and I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series.

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: All Stirred Up

I've been getting more into audiobooks this year so NetGalley's advanced listening copies have been great. I happened to stumble upon Brianne Moore's debut novel All Stirred Up and was immediately intrigued because it's an updated version of Persuasion, my favourite of Jane Austen's novels, and it was set in Edinburgh - a place I had visited just in time at the beginning of March this year. I was sold. And when I was done? Thoroughly delighted.

Here's the synopsis:

Susan Napier's family once lived on the success of the high-end restaurants founded by her late grandfather. But bad luck and worse management has brought the business to the edge of financial ruin. Now it's up to Susan to save the last remaining restaurant: Elliot's, the flagship in Edinburgh. But what awaits Susan in the charming city of Auld Reekie is more than she bargained for. Chris Baker, her grandfather's former protégé - and her ex-boyfriend - is also heading to the Scottish capital.

After finding fame in New York as a chef and judge of a popular TV cooking competition, Chris is returning to his native Scotland to open his own restaurant. Although the storms have cleared after their intense and rocky breakup, Susan and Chris are redrawn into each other's orbit - and their simmering attraction inevitably boils over. As Chris's restaurant opens to great acclaim and Susan tries to haul Elliot's back from the brink, the future brims with new promise.

But darkness looms as they find themselves in the crosshairs of a gossip blogger eager for a juicy story - and willing to do anything to get it. Can Susan and Chris reclaim their lost love, or will the tangled past ruin their last hope for happiness?

It's been a few years since I've read Persuasion (I just checked Goodreads...I read it last in 2013) so the particulars of the novel are a bit fuzzy. I do recall some of the main plot points so I could see where Moore was honouring the story in certain parts. I don't think you have to know Austen's work to appreciate this story and I also think diehard Austen fans can enjoy the way Moore updated the story for her novel. Though I will say I would have much rather had a letter from Chris instead of a text message. If you know, you know.

The reason I love Persuasion so much is because it's a second chance romance, just like All Stirred Up, and that's one of my favourite tropes. It's been years since Chris and Susan have seen each other and you know right from the get-go that there's unfinished business between them. There were so many contributing factors to their break up that neither of them had the full story. They both felt hurt (Chris was justified to feel as such and Susan knew that her hurt was self-inflicted) and that kept them from communicating with each other. I got ever so slightly annoyed when they just refused to talk things through but that's the nature of rom coms, my friends. They're going to do frustrating things! I was rooting for them the whole time because I couldn't wait for them to get over the bullshit in their past and finally get back together. I needed that Happily Ever After!

As I alluded to at the top, I listened to this one as an audiobook. The narrator, Mary Jane Wells, did a pretty good job switching characters and her male Scottish accent didn't annoy me (which is what happened with another audiobook I listened to earlier this year). Since I pretty much only listen to audiobooks on my commute, I found myself looking for ways to get more reading time in. A walk after work when my partner had to work late? Done. (That was before the time change of course. Now it's dark before I even get home. *sobs*) Doing the dishes? Perfect time to listen. Playing mindless games on my phone? More listening time! I didn't want to stop!

This novel was a love letter to Edinburgh. Moore wasn't born there but you can tell in her descriptions that she absolutely, totally, completely loves the city. I had goosebumps as I listened to the description of Susan flying into the city then again as she walked around her new neighbourhood and mentioned streets and monuments I had seen myself back in March. There's a scene where she climbs to the top of Calton Hill that had me swooning because I could completely picture where she was (so much so that I shared my pictures from my trip on Instagram after finishing the novel). 

There were many reasons that may have made me love All Stirred Up more than the average reader but I was so completely thrilled with Brianne Moore's novel that I don't even care. I loved it and it made me feel so happy. That is what I look for in almost every read, even more so this year, and I'm so pleased I had a chance to read this novel.

*An advanced listening copy was provided by the publisher, Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem

Romance mixed with historical fiction and mystery is how I'd describe A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem, the latest book (and first in a new series) by Manda Collins. Sounds pretty intriguing, right? And with a really fun cover to boot! I liked this one but definitely didn't love it. It was fun but there was something...lacking.

Here's the synopsis:

England, 1865 : As one of England's most notorious newspaper columnists, Lady Katherine Bascomb believes knowledge is power. And she's determined to inform and educate the ladies of London on the nefarious-and deadly-criminals who are praying on the fairer sex. When her reporting leads to the arrest of a notorious killer, however, Katherine flees to a country house party to escape her newfound notoriety-only to witness a murder on her very first night. And when the lead detective accuses Katherine of inflaming-rather than informing-the public with her column, she vows to prove him wrong.
Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham's refusal to compromise his investigations nearly cost him his own career, and he blames Katherine. To avoid bad publicity, his superiors are pressuring him to solve cases quickly rather than correctly. When he discovers she's the key witness in a new crime, he's determined to prevent the beautiful widow from once again wreaking havoc on his case. Yet as Katherine proves surprisingly insightful and Andrew impresses Katherine with his lethal competency, both are forced to admit the fire between them is more flirtatious than furious. But to explore the passion between them, they'll need to catch a killer.

I loved the idea of this novel. The actual practice of it? It let me down a little. I was reading an egalley so I acknowledge there could be changes but I can't check them against a finished copy since wandering around a bookstore is not encouraged right now. I felt like there were a number of scenes where Collins repeated herself and others where they seemed to be out of order. For instance, right near the beginning of the novel we meet Eversham's boss Darrow. There's a scene where the two men talk and Eversham goes about his day. But then, a chapter or so later, they're back together and that's when the reader gets some backstory on Darrow. I didn't find it necessary to begin with and it was a weird spot to have it.

Lady Katherine, or Kate as she's better known by her friends, is very much a feminist which I appreciated. What was awkward was that it seemed like Collins was going out of her way to make sure the reader knew without any doubt that Kate was feminist. Like, I get it. She wants to make sure women have a voice. She runs her own newspaper. She's not afraid to discuss topics that were not "ladylike". I love all of that and maybe it's my modern sensibilities that made it stand out so much. It was also irksome that she was of noble birth and all these rich people were commenting on society when they have no clue what it's like for the average person, like those people who were getting murdered right under their noses. There were comments on classism and racism as well that drew parallels to what we're dealing with right now. And, while I appreciated them, it just didn't quite fit into the story. It felt like they were shoehorned into the plot and dialogue and it was jarring for me.

I liked the characters but I don't really feel like we got to know them very well. I was convinced for awhile that Caro couldn't be trusted because she was a new friend even though she and Kate were acting like they've been best friends since they were young. I was also irked that 1. It took forever to learn about how bad Kate's marriage had been and 2. It was her friend Val who told Eversham, and the reader, about it, not Kate.

The mystery was really intriguing and probably the best part of the plot. It kept me guessing and I really wasn't sure who the murder (or was it murderers, plural?) was going to be. I did have an idea early on, and was right, but that didn't keep me from being interested in, and anxiously waiting for, the reveal and (hopeful) capture of the killer. There were also way more layers to the murders than I could have guessed and that helped make it even more interesting. 

All in all, A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem was fine. Manda Collins' novel didn't thrill me and I probably won't pick up the next in the series but it entertained me enough while reading it. I'm sure there are many a reader out there who would love it more than I did.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

New Release: A Very Perry Christmas

I'm so very thrilled that Marie Landry's latest novella is out in the world! Yesterday was the publication day for A Very Perry Christmas, which I've been shouting about since Thanksgiving (that's Canadian Thanksgiving in October, don't forget). I beta read this for Marie and I was completely obsessed. I had a wicked bad headache that weekend but the story made me forget about it for awhile. The holiday magic is strong in this one.

Since I did beta read the manuscript, I won't be doing a true review but I wanted to post about it one more time to remind you all that it is now available for your ereaders (it's also out in paperback - the first time Marie has ever had a paperback!).

Here's what the novella is about:

Hot chocolate by the fire. Christmas carols. Stolen kisses in the snow. When Gwen's boyfriend Evan invites her to spend Christmas with his family, she pictures a perfect Hallmark holiday scene, complete with all the happy sighs and swoons.
But between Evan's brother who schedules the family’s every move, his sister who’s never met a mirror she didn’t like, and the amorous newlyweds who flaunt their sexcapades, Gwen finds herself dodging the Perrys like it's her job. The more Evan's family bring their own brand of chaos to Christmas, the more Gwen wonders if she's in over her head, and if the Christmas of her dreams is going to turn into a nightmare.

Here's where you can buy it:
Amazon Canada * Amazon US * Amazon UK * Kobo  * Nook * iBooks

And if you're not quite ready to buy it yet, make sure you add it to Goodreads so you remember to get it later.

Here's where you can connect with Marie online:
Instagram * Facebook *  Twitter * Website

Cover Reveal: Eventually Evie

I've "known" Cat Lavoie for years now and got to meet her in person at an event back in 2013 (I can't believe it's been seven years since I helped plan BookBuzz Toronto). She has four novels under her belt now and Eventually Evie, which will be published on January 4, 2021, will be her fifth. I've loved all of her previous books and this next one sounds just as delightful!

Here's what it's all about:

How are you supposed to get your life back on track when the Universe won’t stop messing with you?
After a series of personal and professional setbacks, interior designer Evie Glass has lost faith in herself and the world. The last thing she needs is her loud, boisterous family poking their noses in her business, so that’s why she avoids opening up about anything—especially her love life—during their weekly dinners. Thankfully, her bestie and next-door neighbor, Matilda, always has her back.
When Evie is asked to cat-sit Matilda’s beloved rescue, she’s not thrilled at the prospect. One well-meaning mistake later and a distraught Evie is rushing her furry charge to the ER where she meets and is instantly smitten with Fletcher West, a charming veterinarian who seems to return her interest. That is until they both realize they’ve met before—ten years ago when he was dating her temperamental cousin. Fletch’s break-up with Bee put him at the top of her family’s hit list and makes him the last person Evie should be dating.
In addition to navigating a secret romance with Fletch, Evie must also deal with a demanding new job, an eccentric client from her former life, and an ex who’s suddenly blowing up her phone. She convinces herself she’s got it all under control, but what happens when things start falling apart and Evie learns she’s not the only one keeping secrets?
One thing’s for sure…
Eventually Evie’s got to take a chance—on love, on life, and on herself.

Doesn't that sound like so much fun? I'm so excited to read it.

Time for the cover reveal! *drum roll*

How cute is that?? I really like the illustrated look of this one and how textured it is.

Now that you've read about the book and seen the super sweet cover, you should add Eventually Evie to your Goodreads shelf.

Better yet! Preorder it!
Amazon * B&N * iBooks * Kobo

Here are my reviews on her last few books:
Breaking the Rules
Zoey and the Moment of Zen
Peri in Progress
There's also Messing with Matilda but I didn't review that one for some reason!

About the Author
Cat Lavoie is a chick lit writer from Montreal, Canada.
She loves writing fun and quirky romantic comedies and is the author of BREAKING THE RULES, ZOEY & THE MOMENT OF ZEN, PERI IN PROGRESS and MESSING WITH MATILDA.
A fan of all things feline, Cat loves cats and hopes to someday have a house full of them in order to officially become a crazy cat lady. (But one or two cats will do for now.)
If she isn't reading or writing, Cat enjoys listening to podcasts (mostly comedy and true crime) and watching way too much TV. She fell in love with London many years ago and hopes to go back one day. Cat is currently at work on her next novel.
To connect with Cat and find out more about her books, visit CatLavoie.com and follow @CatLavoieBooks on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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