Review: The Menopause Support Group

It's been a couple of years since I've read one of Heather Wardell's novels which is so unreal to me as I had been devouring her novels ever since I came across her books way back in 2011. Her first book, Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo (review here), set me on a path that has now seen me read eleven of her novels. Plus, I've met Heather a number of times now and she is a wonderful human. Her latest novel is The Menopause Support Group and it's reminded me why I love Wardell's novels and why I've pushed her titles on almost everyone I know.

Here's the synopsis:

Three women, one menopause support group, and a whole lot of hot flashes.

Emily's perfect plan for becoming a mommy in her twenties has just been shattered by a cancer-removing hysterectomy, and her anger is all-consuming.

Michelle's been laser-focused on getting a promotion... until early menopause (at thirty-nine??) hit her hard last year. Now that she can't have a baby, she's obsessed with them. And also with getting that promotion.

Sixty-four-years-young Brenda takes care of everyone, whether they want her to or not. She's actually finished with menopause, but she's faking symptoms so she won't lose the group and the opportunities for "helping" others it provides.

The three of them and their fellow group members work through career crises, marriage disasters, and the world's worst birthday celebration as they learn together what it means to be a woman in menopause and beyond.

When a novel is told in multiple perspectives, it's inevitable you're going to feel more drawn to one character over the other(s). For me, I was more into Michelle's story. It doesn't mean Emily and Brenda's stories were any less interesting, it was just Michelle that I wanted to get back to every time the perspective switched.

Speaking of perspective, each chapter changes character and each is told in first person. It was a bit jarring at first because you're essentially bopping from brain to brain and the three women were so different. But after awhile, I didn't even notice because I was so into the story. 

The whole menopause storyline was interesting to me. I'm in my early 30s and no longer live at home or near family so no one's around to really give me any insight into what's to come in a couple of decades. It's not something I've been researching (I'm still very fixed on the whole not having a baby thing) so to read a novel with three very different women experiencing menopause? I really liked it. It's also an example of how reading can make you much more empathetic and allow you to "experience" different things.

This is very much a story where the characters are going on an emotional journey. Michelle, Emily, and Brenda are dealing with a lot of serious issues - and not just the menopause. Michelle is in a very sexist work environment and fighting like hell for a promotion she deserves. Emily has wanted children her entire life and now she has to completely reevaluate her life. And Brenda has become stuck in her life and hasn't realized how she's changed and how overbearing she's become. This means that none of them are at a good spot when we first meet them and their personalities and decisions may grate on the reader ever so slightly. But I think that's just because you know there's a good person under there and you already know you want to be rooting for them to figure out a better path forward out of this hellish spot they find themselves in. It's a really uplifting story as you read as the women grow and, seemingly against all odds, become friends.

While The Menopause Support Group is technically part of Heather Wardell's Toronto series, you can read it as a standalone. They all exist in the same universe so you'll find Easter Eggs that relate back to other stories - I especially liked that Steel restaurant popped up. Wardell tells the most interesting and wonderful stories that are full of heart and I definitely think you should read this one - and all of her others.

*A copy of this novel was provided by the author in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Girl from Widow Hills

The Girl from Widow Hills, published on June 23, is only the second novel I've read from Megan Miranda. The other was The Perfect Stranger and I really enjoyed it (review here). After reading two of her novels I'm even more inclined to check out her backlist because knows how to tell a good and twisted story.

Here's the synopsis:

Everyone knows the story of “the girl from Widow Hills.”

Arden Maynor was just a child when she was swept away while sleepwalking during a terrifying rainstorm and went missing for days. Strangers and friends, neighbors and rescue workers, set up search parties and held vigils, praying for her safe return. Against all odds, she was found, alive, clinging to a storm drain. The girl from Widow Hills was a living miracle. Arden’s mother wrote a book. Fame followed. Fans and fan letters, creeps, and stalkers. And every year, the anniversary. It all became too much. As soon as she was old enough, Arden changed her name and disappeared from the public eye.

Now a young woman living hundreds of miles away, Arden goes by Olivia. She’s managed to stay off the radar for the last few years. But with the twentieth anniversary of her rescue approaching, the media will inevitably renew its interest in Arden. Where is she now? Soon Olivia feels like she’s being watched and begins sleepwalking again, like she did long ago, even waking outside her home. Until late one night she jolts awake in her yard. At her feet is the corpse of a man she knows—from her previous life, as Arden Maynor.

And now, the girl from Widow Hills is about to become the center of the story, once again, in this propulsive page-turner from suspense master Megan Miranda.

At first I was kind of annoyed at the use of "girl" in the title because I'm kind of over that trend of women-centred thrillers that Gone Girl spawned (even though many, many of them have been very good). I felt better, then, when I realized that the story was about a literal girl. Or at least, Adren was a girl when she was thrust into the spotlight with her sleepwalking adventure. She's an adult now, going by Olivia, trying to keep her head down and forget her past. Surprise. It's not going to work.

Often I find I can piece together some of the threads to have an idea of how a thriller or mystery might end up. With Miranda's latest? I had absolutely no idea how the story would end up. And just when I thought it was wrapping up, another surprise or five showed up to throw me off the trail again. I really, really liked being totally shocked at the end

I also really wasn't sure what to think of Olivia. I can't say I blame her for living her life the way she was. It can't have been easy being in the spotlight for such a harrowing experience that she couldn't even remember. I'd probably hide away too and be worried about my mental state when strange things started happening again. At first I wasn't sure if Miranda was leaning hard into the unreliable narrator trope but eventually I decided not to worry about it and just let the story sweep me away. And it did.

I liked that the story featured newspaper articles, transcripts, and the like to help the reader try to piece together what on earth happened to Arden. Because you realize pretty early on that something just doesn't add up. Miranda gives the reader information bit by bit and you think it's starting to help shape a picture of what happened but there are a lot more holes in the story than you'd expect. So you keep turning the pages, waiting to see how it all ties together.

The Girl from Widow Hills was a mystery that kept me guessing until almost the very final page and I think those looking for a suspenseful read should pick up Megan Miranda's latest book. I'd love to know if you were as surprised as I was by the ending!

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

Review: Take a Hint, Dani Brown

I wasn't the only one who fell in love with Talia Hibbert last year when I read Get a Life, Chloe Brown. Bloggers and bookstagrammers everywhere were gushing about it. So, it was with excitement and a little bit of nervousness that I picked up the second book in Hibbert's Brown Sisters series, Take a Hint, Dani Brown. I didn't need to be worried. I absolutely, totally, completely freaking adored it.

Here's the synopsis:

Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown, and an occasional roll in the hay to relieve all that career-driven tension. But romance? Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. Romantic partners, whatever their gender, are a distraction at best and a drain at worst. So Dani asks the universe for the perfect friend-with-benefits—someone who knows the score and knows their way around the bedroom.

When brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong, it’s an obvious sign: PhD student Dani and ex-rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep together. But before she can explain that fact, a video of the heroic rescue goes viral. Now half the internet is shipping #DrRugbae—and Zaf is begging Dani to play along. Turns out, his sports charity for kids could really use the publicity. Lying to help children? Who on earth would refuse?

Dani’s plan is simple: fake a relationship in public, seduce Zaf behind the scenes. The trouble is, grumpy Zaf’s secretly a hopeless romantic—and he’s determined to corrupt Dani’s stone-cold realism. Before long, he’s tackling her fears into the dirt. But the former sports star has issues of his own, and the walls around his heart are as thick as his... um, thighs.

Suddenly, the easy lay Dani dreamed of is more complex than her thesis. Has her wish backfired? Is her focus being tested? Or is the universe just waiting for her to take a hint?

If you never got around to reading Chloe's story, that's OK. I mean, you definitely should, but if you find yourself with a copy of Dani's story first, go forth and read. Chloe and her HEA are in the story because the sisters are all very close but you don't really see her that much. 

Dani is a PhD student so she's wicked smart but she has this...charm to her that kept her from being the kind of pretentious academic you sometimes read about. I think what I especially liked was reading how Zafir was in total awe of her brain and how it worked. Sometimes it seemed like she was all over the place or zoned out but really it was because her brain was moving super quickly or she was, as many characters told her, thinking very hard. So hard it was almost audible. It just all added to the wonderful uniqueness that was Dani and part of why I loved her so much. 

I absolutely loved that Zaf reads romance novels. That element reminded me a bit of The Bromance Book Club (which I reviewed here) but only a touch. I guess it's really only because they're both rom coms that have the male characters reading romance novels. Unlike the guys in Bromance though, Zafir turned to romances after a devastating loss. And I'm sure there are many of us who can relate to having that need for a story with a Happily Ever After when life is really hard. I know I'm especially drawn to romances right now during the pandemic. There were so many wonderful quotes around Zaf and his reading that I'd love to share but 1. I don't have a finished copy to check against and 2. I think you should read it to find them out on your own.

Ooh, and the chemistry between Dani and Zaf? Hoo boy, pass me a fan. It was palpable and so fun to read as they flirted and teased and then finally slept with each other. I don't blame the students for filming the rescue because the two of them were obviously so into each other. Obvious, of course, to everyone but them.

I know lots of people are trying especially hard to read more diversely (ie read more authors who aren't white) - myself included (it's been something I try to do every year and I haven't done nearly as well as I should). So, please note that Hibbert is a Black author, Dani is Black and bisexual, and Zafir is Muslim. 

I really can't think of a single thing I didn't like about Talia Hibbert's novel, Take a Hint, Dani Brown. Seriously. I mean, other than I would have loved to read more...and more...and more. Dani and Zafir will completely charm the reader as thoroughly as they charmed each other. Hibbert's novel is one that should be read for all sorts of reasons, the main one being is it's amazing and you'll love every second you spend with 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.*

Review: The English Wife

I've read a lot of books that take place during WWII and I'm always interested in reading even more. What I haven't read before is a dual timeline novel that follows one character through the war and another through 9/11 and being stranded in Gander, Newfoundland. That's the basis of Adrienne Chinn's new novel The English Wife, out tomorrow, and it definitely intrigued me.

Here's the synopsis:

Two women, a world apart.
A secret waiting to be discovered…
VE Day 1945
As victory bells ring out across the country, war bride Ellie Burgess’ happiness is overshadowed by grief. Her charismatic Newfoundlander husband Thomas is still missing in action.
Until a letter arrives explaining Thomas is back at home on the other side of the Atlantic recovering from his injuries.
Travelling to a distant country to live with a man she barely knows is the bravest thing Ellie has ever had to do. But nothing can prepare her for the harsh realities of her new home…
September 11th 2001
Sophie Parry is on a plane to New York on the most tragic day in the city’s history. While the world watches the news in horror, Sophie’s flight is rerouted to a tiny town in Newfoundland and she is forced to seek refuge with her estranged aunt Ellie.
Determined to discover what it was that forced her family apart all those years ago, newfound secrets may change her life forever…

I did read an egalley but these bonkers times mean I can't easily and safely pop out to a bookshop just to double check a print copy So. Do you see how the synopsis references VE Day? That was May 8, 1945. (We just celebrated the 75th anniversary this year, which prompted me to post this photo on Instagram back in May.) Here's the thing...not a single chapter in this book takes place during 1945. The mind is boggled.

Related to the dual narrative/time period...it took a bit to get my head around. The novel starts with Part One in 1946 with Ellie leaving England to move to be with Thomas in Newfoundland. Then chapter two and three introduces Sophie in September 2011. And then it goes back to Ellie in 1940, and then Sophie in 2001. While it might be nitpicky, I would have liked the first three chapters as a prologue, especially given part one is so long. It would have helped ground the story and helped the time jumps seem more seamless.

At first I was wondering how on earth there were so many secrets in a family. And that there was such a conviction to keep those secrets buried. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the generation who lived through the war really tended not to tell their stories. Further, many of us in later generations just...didn't ask questions. My grandma would have been five when the war began and while things would have been different here in Canada, she still would have remembered some things about the time during and especially after the war. But I never asked. All that to say, perhaps it would have been easier to hide things than I first thought.

One of the secrets I managed to figure out before it was revealed so I was sort of like, ok ok get on with it already. Unfair? Perhaps. That said, there was one final twist that I was surprised about. (Yes, vague. Can't really say more without giving it away and we don't want that!)

I'm not really sure what I thought about this novel, to be honest. I didn't dislike it. But it was just...fine. For a novel that features two of the biggest moments in recent-ish history (I'd say THE two biggest but this whole COVID-19 thing is pretty intense), it's going to be a pretty forgettable book for me.

What I did absolutely love was that so much of the story took place in Newfoundland. I've never been there, haven't been to the east coast at all, but I love when my country gets to be featured in any novel. It doesn't happen nearly enough, in my opinion. Given the author was born in Newfoundland, the description of the province rang true and it was as magical as I expected it to be.

Adrienne Chinn's new novel was well written even if the story and characters failed to completely captivate me. The English Wife tells the tale of a number of ordinary people trying to make their way through extraordinary times. If nothing else, it allows the reader a glimpse into other peoples' lives which is, really, why a lot of us turn to books - to experience other things that are different than our own life.

*An e-galley was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Crown Dissected

It seems like everyone and their grandmother has watched the Netflix hit The Crown. And if they hadn't before COVID-19 shut down the world, they've probably watched it now. I've been interested since the beginning and not long after finishing season three, I picked up Hugo Vickers' book The Crown Dissected. I was really interested to see what the showrunners got right and what they embellished on...or got just plain wrong.

Here's the book's description:

Hugo Vickers is an acknowledged authority on the British Royal Family. He has commented on royal matters on television and radio since 1973 and worked as historical adviser on a number of films. He is the author of books on the Queen Mother, the Duchess of Windsor, Princess Andrew of Greece (Prince Philip's mother) and Queen Mary all of whom are featured in the popular Netflix show, The Crown.

Since November 2016, Peter Morgan has presented millions of viewers with the first 3 seasons of The Crown, positioned as an accurate, dramatized portrayal of the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

Now, in The Crown Dissected, Vickers separates fact from fiction in all 3 seasons of the series. Episode-by-episode analysis dissects the plots, characterization and historical detail in each storyline. Vickers tells us what really happened and what certainly did not happen.

It's a must-read for fans of the show, and proves that more than a little artistic license has gone into the making of The Crown.

I know some history of the royal family and England in general but not a ton. So, I wasn't always sure when the show started to veer away from the truth. Every once and awhile I'd look up what actually happened after finishing an episode but never found anything super wrong. And, I mean, I knew I was watching a fictionalized story. I expected it to be faithful to history but I knew the conversations between Elizabeth and Philip, for example, were always going to be made up. 

I can definitely understand that it would seem to Vickers, whose job it is to know the history of the royal family, the show took far too many risks and made errors that he could not overlook. I get it. When it comes to historical fiction in books or on screen, I want it to be truthful, not embellished like, say, Braveheart (it's top of mind for me...I was in Scotland in March and learned a lot about the true story of William Wallace). But Vickers sort of seemed to take it like a personal attack when the writers got things "wrong" and he constantly mentioned how the writers' storytelling when it came to the history of the royals was weak compared to telling stories of the politics of the time. It seemed a bit petty, to be honest.

This is also a very small book. Each episode is broken down in just a few pages. I'm not saying I need a massive amount of information but there were times when I wanted Vickers to go into more detail. I think too, I found the writing to be quite choppy which didn't help with the short chapters.

There are a lot of interesting tidbits to be learned in Vickers' book, however. I never really thought about the importance of certain seals or crests, nor would I have noticed if a sash was too red or wide or if someone was missing a medal. In Season 1, Episode 7, the Queen requests a tutor so she can become more educated. Turns out that's completely false. I remember wondering in Season 3 who an older gentleman was that seemed to dine with the immediate family quite often. Turns out that was the Duke of Gloucester who had been dead for some time and would not have been experiencing much of what his character did in that season. 

While I'm glad I gave The Crown Dissected a shot, I'm not sure I'd exactly recommend Hugo Vickers' book to others. I think he certainly has a case in presenting the truth and historical fact compared to a fictionalized version of events on the TV screen, but I wasn't a fan of how he went about it in his writing.

*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher, Firefly Books, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Player Next Door

I am a happy, happy reader when K.A. Tucker releases a new book. Her latest is The Player Next Door and this remarkably fun and sexy romance did not let me down. It was pretty much exactly what I needed to be reading and the only downside I found to it was that it had to end and I could never go back to reading it for the first time. 

Here's the synopsis:

Scarlet Reed has returned to Polson Falls, convinced that twelve years away is long enough to shed her humiliating childhood identity as the town harlot's daughter. With a teaching job secured and an adorable fixer-upper to call home, things in her life are finally looking up.

That is, until she finds out that Shane Beckett lives next door.

Shane Beckett, the handsome and charismatic high school star quarterback who smashed her heart. The lying, cheating player who was supposed to be long gone, living the pro football dream and fooling women into thinking he's Prince Charming. Shane Beckett, who is as attractive as ever and flashing his dimples at her as if he has done no wrong.

Scarlet makes it abundantly clear that old wounds have not been forgotten. Neighbors they may be, but friends they most certainly are not. She won't allow herself to fall for the single father and firefighter again, no matter how many apologies he offers, how many times he rushes to her aid, or how hard he makes her heart pound.

But as she spends more time with him, she begins to fear that maybe she's wrong. Maybe Shane has changed.

And maybe this time she's the one playing herself—out of a chance at true happiness.

I grew up in a small town. It wasn't quite as small as Polson Falls but it sure as hell felt like it. So reading as Scarlet moved back and had to confront some of the people she thought she'd left behind forever? It really, really resonated with me. Now, my experience in my hometown was just fine. I didn't have any mean girls after me nor any embarrassing family members (I did have family members I wished didn't exist but that's a whole other therapy session review). I was just bored as hell. I left for university and haven't lived there for more than summers since. Now that I'm older (just a few years older than Scarlet), I can sort of see the appeal to the smaller towns but I don't think you'll catch me moving back anytime soon. My point? If you also grew up (or currently live) in a small town, you'll love how Tucker captures the setting of this novel. And if you're a city dweller? Know that this is the real deal.

Tucker's stories are kind of all over the map in terms of genres. Some are more suspenseful with murder and dangerous individuals lurking around every corner. Others are dramatic with serious issues like single parenthood, a death of a parent, or learning a friend is on the spectrum. But they all have a romantic element woven throughout. Which is always welcome (you all know I'm a big fan of love stories) and always well done. I like to recommend her books to those who say they don't typically read romance (usually after I've gone on a lengthy monologue about how romance novels and readers are stigmatized and stereotyped) because hers are stories that feature realistic people doing their thing and living life. Life that happens to include a romance because that's the case in real life. There are careers and friends and lessons to be learned, but there's a romantic relationship happening too. It's wonderful.

And the romance in The Player Next Door? Well, it's pretty front and centre in this story and it is steamy. Scarlet and Shane had to overcome a lot before they could get back together. There was a loss of trust because Shane was such a bonehead in high school. You might think, "that was over a decade ago and Scarlet needs to let that shit go" and, well, you're not wrong. But when someone hurts you that deeply and you've never been able to figure out why? It's going to be hard to listen to reason. Scarlet makes Shane work for it and once he is finally able to get his side of the story out, she decides to forgive him. Then the sexy times can start. You may want a fan nearby. 

The characters Tucker writes are always so well developed and so interesting. You're able to feel like you can step right into the story and become friends with these people. Especially in this story. I would love to be able to go out for drinks at the local restaurant with Scarlet and her friends and just hang out. Tucker's characters are never perfect - which I like because perfect characters are boring. Plus, none of us are perfect so why should we expect the characters in the books we read to be so? I don't even care if I can't fully connect or understand a character. Scarlet is a teacher and Shane is a father. Both of those things involve children and make me want to run away screaming. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to read the book just because I can't fully understand their motivations. (Er, I may be using this review to rant on people who have issues with other books and other characters and "not being able to connect" which I find utter BS...unless it's a poorly written character.) What I'm trying to get at, in the world's most rambling way, is every character Tucker writes is as layered and interesting as the people you're going to meet in your real life and that is part of what makes all of her novels so very good. 

The Player Next Door is a novel you're going to want to add to your To Be Read list immediately. K.A. Tucker's latest is fun and dramatic and sweet and sexy. It is a light-hearted escape for you during these bonkers times but it isn't an empty story. There's a really great heart and soul to it that will leave you feeling incredibly satisfied by the time it's done.

About K.A. Tucker

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

She is the USA Today bestselling author of 17 books, including the Causal Enchantment, Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, and The Simple Wild. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, First for Women, and Publisher's Weekly. She has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance 2013 for TEN TINY BREATHS and Best Romance 2018 for THE SIMPLE WILD. Her novels have been translated into 16 languages.

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

Connect with K.A. Tucker

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

Review: If I Never Met You

Mhairi McFarlane's Don't You Forget About Me was one of my favourite books of 2019. As I wrote in that review, it was my first of her books I'd ever read and I didn't want it to be my last. So, it was with high expectations that I went into reading If I Never Met You earlier this year. I think my super high expectations may have hurt me in the end because I didn't love it as much as I wanted to. It was good and I enjoyed the hell out of it but it's not really one that'll stick with me for too long.

Here's the synopsis:

If faking love is this easy... how do you know when it’s real?

When her partner of over a decade suddenly ends things, Laurie is left reeling—not only because they work at the same law firm and she has to see him every day. Her once perfect life is in shambles and the thought of dating again in the age of Tinder is nothing short of horrifying. When news of her ex’s pregnant girlfriend hits the office grapevine, taking the humiliation lying down is not an option. Then a chance encounter in a broken-down elevator with the office playboy opens up a new possibility.

Jamie Carter doesn’t believe in love, but he needs a respectable, steady girlfriend to impress their bosses. Laurie wants a hot new man to give the rumor mill something else to talk about. It’s the perfect proposition: a fauxmance played out on social media, with strategically staged photographs and a specific end date in mind. With the plan hatched, Laurie and Jamie begin to flaunt their new couple status, to the astonishment—and jealousy—of their friends and colleagues. But there’s a fine line between pretending to be in love and actually falling for your charming, handsome fake boyfriend...

I have to get this out of the way first...I have no idea what the title means in relation to the story. I don't know if I missed one of the characters saying that to the other? It just doesn't much make sense to me because it's not like Laurie and Jamie met by chance. They work together. I know that it's the absolute weirdest thing to focus on but there we have it. Welcome to my brain.

What McFarlane does well is write clever characters. Both Laurie and Jamie are wicked smart and had the type of humour that made the story really enjoyable to read. (Don't ask for specifics. I just remember a general feeling of having laughed while reading.) I think I'm also a little bit envious of McFarlane and her humour because her characters all have this effortless charm that I'd like to think I have but I probably just come across as quirky and weird. *shrugs* So, even though I'm jealous of their cleverness, I really did like both Jamie and Laurie.

The book wasn't all about the romance (or fauxmance) between Laurie and Jamie though. McFarlane finds a great balance between rom com and drama with some serious issues both Laurie and Jamie have to face. I was glad to have that balance because it's realistic - not everything is all fun and sexy times all the time - and shows that McFarlane has the writing chops to tell a layered story.

I think one of the things I struggled with was the fake relationship. It's a very slow burn as Jamie and Laurie have a lot to learn about each other. So much so that I kind of wondered how on earth they could ever belong together. By the time they (and I) realized they were made for each other, things then moved at super sonic speed. And I think that bothered me. I can't quite articulate why but it seemed forced and way too rushed and unnecessary. 

Overall, If I Never Met You was...fine. Don't hold this one against Mhairi McFarlane. I certainly won't. I'm really looking forward to whatever she writes next and finally getting around to reading her backlist. So many books, so little time!

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

Review: The Telephone Box Library

You know those books that leave you with the most wonderful comforting feeling? The Telephone Box Library was one of those books for me. Rachael Lucas' novel was absolutely delightful. I know I use that word an awful lot but it's the best word to describe my feelings on this book.

Here's the synopsis:

Books. Wine. Secrets. You'll find them all at the telephone box library . . .

The Cotswolds: the perfect retreat for a stressed-out teacher. And Lucy has found just the right cottage for a bargain rent. All she has to do is keep an eye on Bunty, her extremely feisty ninety-something neighbour . . .

With her West Highland terrier Hamish at her side, Lucy plans to relax and read up on the women of nearby Bletchley Park. But the villagers of Little Maudley have other ideas, and she finds herself caught up in the campaign to turn a dilapidated telephone box into a volunteer-run library.

Along the way, she makes friends with treehouse designer Sam, and finds herself falling for the charms of village life. And it seems Bunty has a special connection to Bletchley and the telephone box, one that she's kept secret for decades . . .

Now, I have a feeling this book came along for me at just the right time. I still think it's a really good book but circumstances made it that I was seeking a comforting read and I found it in this book. Circumstances being that I started - and finished - reading it the day after I was supposed to be starting a new job. But because of my quick trip to Scotland at the beginning of March and having to isolate because of COVID-19, I wasn't able to work until the following week. It was a really, really stressful time (it's all been stressful, let's be real) and I hoped this book would whisk me away to a quaint English village with a good story. And it did.

I will say there was far less wine involved than I expected based on the synopsis, but there were definitely books and secrets. Of course, Lucy definitely had a glass or two with the new friends she made in the tiny hamlet which was fun to read. She really had to come out of her city-life shell and embrace the quirks of the small town. Which, as you may expect, can be more easily accomplished with a glass of wine.

Oh, and the telephone box library! How cute is that idea? I loved how it kind of snowballed from one throw away idea to a full village project. It also shows a little bit how tiny towns are suffering when it comes to schools and libraries. It's one of those little takeaways from novels you don't always expect but is very important.

This wasn't a historical fiction by any means but I appreciated that Lucas took the time to shine a light on an interesting, and important, part of history and WWII, in particular. I think we all have an idea of Bletchley Park in our head and to see this side of things through Bunty's past was really lovely. 

The Telephone Box Library is a novel that's full of a lot of little, wonderful moments. Rachael Lucas tells the story of a town and a woman trying to find her place in it when life has hit her really hard. It's not groundbreaking but it's such a great read for when you need a break from the world and want to get lost in a place where everyone knows everyone and underneath the gossip is a lot of love.

*A copy of this novel was provided by the distributor, Publishers Group Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: One Perfect Summer

Have you taken an online DNA test? What did it tell you? For the three women in Brenda Novak's One Perfect Summer, their tests told them they had two half-sisters they had never known about. Talk about a shocker and one that's perfect for a novel.

Here's the synopsis:

When Serenity Alston swabbed her cheek for 23andMe, she joked about uncovering some dark ancestral scandal. The last thing she expected was to discover two half sisters she didn't know existed. Suddenly, everything about her loving family is drawn into question. And meeting these newfound sisters might be the only way to get answers.

Serenity has always found solace at her family's Lake Tahoe cabin, so what better place for the three women to dig into the mystery that has shaken the foundation each of them was raised on? With Reagan navigating romantic politics at her New York City advertising firm, and Lorelei staring down the collapse of her marriage, all three women are converging at a crossroads in their lives. Before the summer is over, they'll have to confront the paths they walked to get there and determine how to move forward when everything they previously thought to be true was a lie.

But any future is easier to face with family by your side.

I liked that Novak started the novel after the women had already found out about each other and had been in touch. Not only that, but were on their way to spend a week together. It firmly placed the story and gave enough background for the reader to know how each of them was likely feeling without the novel getting too bogged down to start. 

The story was full of drama without veering into over-dramatic territory. There were light-hearted moments that helped keep the story from being too heavy. Novak has a knack for really letting the reader into the character so you can understand everyone's motivations - even if you don't agree with them.

What was also so, so lovely was that each woman pretty much immediately welcomed the others into her life. They made decisions based on how their bond as sisters could grow and put a lot of effort into discovering how to make their new sisterly relationships even better. They knew it was a bizarre situation but also knew how important it was to make time for the others and get to know each other.

One Perfect Summer was a delightful read that I think everyone could use right now. Brenda Novak told an entertaining story about three very different women, each battling their own issues while trying to figure out how two new half-sisters fit into their lives. 

*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: Under an Alaskan Sky

Back in December I read a holiday-ish novel, An Alaskan Christmas (review here). I was completely enthralled so I was really happy when I realized Jennifer Snow would be writing it as a series. Under an Alaskan Sky published earlier this year and I read it at a time when I needed to go back to a place that was lovely and familiar and get caught up in another love story.

Here's the synopsis:

Allowing himself to love always seemed too dangerous. Now it might be his only salvation…
Single dad Tank Wheeler has vowed to keep his heart shuttered in the name of keeping his young daughter’s life stable. But lately, the chemistry between him and his adrenaline-loving best friend, Cassie Reynolds, has been getting him a little hot under the collar. And then, with one scorching birthday kiss, these best friends are instantly more.
Exactly the wrong time for Tank’s ex to show up in Wild River, Alaska.
Cassie is pretty sure she’s having a waking nightmare. Not only is Tank’s gorgeous ex hoping to reclaim her family, but a new megastore is threatening the wilderness-adventure business she’s spent five years building. But Cassie never backs down from a fight. And now it’s time to make the most terrifying leap of her life—and hope that Tank catches her…before she falls too far.

I'm not really a big fan of love triangles so I was a bit worried about where Snow was taking the story when Tank's ex came back to town. Without giving much away, I really liked how the story played out. Montana says she's coming back for her daughter but you gotta believe she wants another shot at Tank. She could have been painted as a totally evil witch-with-a-b but Snow manages to portray her so, so well. Which I'm thankful for because the next book in the series will be about Montana and someone else in town.

The other reason I was so wary of Montana was because I had already fallen in love with Cassie and Tank in the first novel. Their solid friendship was so lovely but you absolutely knew it had to eventually become much, much more than a friendship. While it's admirable to think of the child in the relationship - Cassie had become like a surrogate mother to Tank's daughter - if the pair had been open with each other, they could have avoided a whole lot of heartbreak and slammed doors and runaway daughters. But where's the fun in that, right?

I adore Cassie. She is small and spunky and with a heart of gold that is head over heels in love with Tank. I admired her entrepreneurial spirit and how she worked so hard to do the very best for her business - even when it was hard and made others question her decisions (and really, they were only questioning them because they loved her so much and wanted to keep her safe).

Tank was such a great father - which was refreshing to see in a romance novel. I think the single dad trope is getting stronger so we'll probably start seeing a few more out there. It's not one I'd normally seek out, to be honest, because single parent stories just aren't my jam. (I'm childless for a reason and know what I like when it comes to romance novels. And it doesn't include babies.) But. I liked Tank. Even though he needed to give his head a shake and realize that keeping things buried and Cassie at arm's length was not helping anybody, especially not him.

All in all, Under an Alaskan Sky is just what I like in a romance novel. Jennifer Snow's novel swept me away and I enjoyed every second I spent with Cassie and Tank in Wild River. I'm really looking forward to the third novel, A Sweet Alaskan Fall, so I can get back to the small town to see how everyone is doing.

*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: In Five Years

I'm sure you've been seeing Rebecca Serle's In Five Years everywhere. And it's for a good reason. This book contains a story unlike any I've ever read and packs an emotional punch that left me crying my eyes out. But it was good - I promise!

Here's the synopsis:

Where do you see yourself in five years?
When Type-A Manhattan lawyer Dannie Cohan is asked this question at the most important interview of her career, she has a meticulously crafted answer at the ready. Later, after nailing her interview and accepting her boyfriend's marriage proposal, Dannie goes to sleep knowing she is right on track to achieve her five-year plan.
But when she wakes up, she’s suddenly in a different apartment, with a different ring on her finger, and beside a very different man. The television news is on in the background, and she can just make out the scrolling date. It’s the same night—December 15—but 2025, five years in the future.
After a very intense, shocking hour, Dannie wakes again, at the brink of midnight, back in 2020. She can’t shake what has happened. It certainly felt much more than merely a dream, but she isn’t the kind of person who believes in visions. That nonsense is only charming coming from free-spirited types, like her lifelong best friend, Bella. Determined to ignore the odd experience, she files it away in the back of her mind.
That is, until four-and-a-half years later, when by chance Dannie meets the very same man from her long-ago vision.
Brimming with joy and heartbreak, In Five Years is an unforgettable love story that reminds us of the power of loyalty, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of destiny.

As soon as I read the book's description, I knew I needed to read it. I don't read fantasy or magic realism much these days but I absolutely loved the time travel blip element to the story. (I've always been a fan of time travel stories from a book I loved as a kid to now with Outlander.) It really is a blip though (and the only fantasy element to the entire novel). It happens, she freaks out internally,  decides to forget about it, and the story fast forwards to almost five years later. Except...she clearly doesn't forget about it. You would think her life would have been just as she expected when we settle back into the story with her but it's not. That blip had clearly thrown Dannie, whether or not she wanted to admit it, and I was interested to see what was going to happen next. Just who was that other guy?

I have seen a lot of readers mention they were surprised and/or put off by the turn the story took or because it wasn't as much of a romance as they expected. I'm sure I've felt the same with other books that didn't quite live up to my expectations but...I don't get it with this book. Maybe it's because I went into it expecting it to be about Dannie's life. You know, her life as a whole. Not just who she's falling in (or out) of love with. Or into bed with. Maybe it's because I read a lot of romances and understand that the story is usually about more than the romantic relationship (if it's not, it's an incredibly boring book). Everyone's allowed their opinions, of course, but those comments just baffle me.

Of course, that being said, I wasn't expecting this book to be as much as an ode to friendships as it was. And I think it's really because I just don't see stories like that nearly enough these days. At least, not like the one Serle wrote. Now I want more. I want more friendship love stories. Though...I will say I wish Bella had been a bit more...substantial in this book. Especially at the start. I only got to know her from Dannie's perspective and it didn't quite seem like enough.

In Five Years was one of those books that I wouldn't necessarily say was great but I really freaking loved reading it. The story completely grabbed me and I was 100% into it from the minute I started reading.

I enjoyed In Five Years and I encourage readers looking for something a little different to pick it up. And to keep an open mind. Rebecca Serle's novel, and the characters in it, aren't cookie cutter people or stories and we need more books like that. No one is perfect and life is hard. But it can be pretty beautiful, too.

*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: Undone

Have you ever finished a book and found it only so-so and wondered if you were the problem? Or, more accurately, your current life circumstances? I started Undone while I waited for a flight on the last day of February (remember flying?) and finished it while jetlagged during my week in Edinburgh (remember vacations?). But, then again, I don't know if I would have been especially riveted by Kelly Rimmer's novel even if I hadn't been on a whirlwind trip to Scotland.

Here's the synopsis:

The only vow she’s ever been prepared to make is not to say “I do”
Running a major tech company without breaking a sweat? No problem. But being bridesmaid at her best friend’s wedding is giving Jess Cohen a bad case of the jitters. Maybe that’s because she’ll have to face the groom’s brother, Jake—the man she’s been avoiding for the last two years. Jake, who Jess dumped mercilessly, unable to tell him the truth about her past. Jake, who’s loyal, loving and all wrong for someone who refuses to be tied down. If only Jess’s heart could remember that.
Jake Winton spent four months secretly dating Jess, and the past two years trying—and failing—to forget her. He’d been ready to propose, convinced Jess was every bit as in love with him as he was with her. Now he’s sure their connection is still there, sizzling and undeniable. Whatever she’s holding back, he can handle—if only she’ll trust him with her secrets, her fears and her heart.

Given the way the last three months have gone, I'm having to work to remember exactly what happened in this book. Honestly, that's nothing new but it is kind of indicative of how I felt about this book. I wasn't super invested but I didn't dislike the time I spent reading it. It's a weird place to be for trying to write a review, let me tell you.

It turns out Undone is part of a series. It's one of those ones where you don't necessarily have to read the first ones because each story is about a different couple. In this series, they're all friends and colleagues so the other couples pop up in this one, happily loved up. I don't mind knowing they're having their HEA because, after all, that's what I'm expecting when I start reading these romances. What kind of bugged me about this one, and many other romance series like it, was how I was given enough background information to know something about all the characters but also kind of expected to know exactly what the characters were like. I felt like I was dropped into Jess' life and was trying to play catch up instead of gradually getting to know her like I normally would with a character. Does that make any sort of sense? Did the jetlag really screw with me?

Jess was an intriguing character. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that some readers don't like her but I admired her strength and tenacity. She knew what she wanted and was making no apologies for it. Plus, inside she had a heart of gold even if she didn't allow many people to see it. And when you learn more about her past? You have to admire her even more for emerging from that.

Jake, on the other hand, was the quintessential Nice Guy. He was head over heels for Jess but had a lot to learn about how to be the best partner for her.

I will say I'm happy with the way Rimmer wrote Jess and Jake's HEA. I don't want to say too much and give anything away but I will say Happily Ever After can be a lot of different things. It doesn't have to include a ring or wedding or babies. Just because that's your version of happy doesn't mean it is for someone else. I'm glad when authors are true to their characters and allow them the ending they deserve.

If you're a romance reader who is looking for something to pick up right now, Undone may be the book for you. I might recommend reading the others in Kelly Rimmer's series first so you have a full understanding of the dynamics between all the characters.

*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.*