Review: The Last Garden in England

Julia Kelly's The Whispers of War was a favourite of 2020 so I was very much looking forward her 2021 release, The Last Garden of England. It did not let me down!

Here's the synopsis:

Present day: Emma Lovett, who has dedicated her career to breathing new life into long-neglected gardens, has just been given the opportunity of a lifetime: to restore the gardens of the famed Highbury House estate, designed in 1907 by her hero Venetia Smith. But as Emma dives deeper into the gardens’ past, she begins to uncover secrets that have long lain hidden.
1907: A talented artist with a growing reputation for her ambitious work, Venetia Smith has carved out a niche for herself as a garden designer to industrialists, solicitors, and bankers looking to show off their wealth with sumptuous country houses. When she is hired to design the gardens of Highbury House, she is determined to make them a triumph, but the gardens—and the people she meets—promise to change her life forever.
1944: When land girl Beth Pedley arrives at a farm on the outskirts of the village of Highbury, all she wants is to find a place she can call home. Cook Stella Adderton, on the other hand, is desperate to leave Highbury House to pursue her own dreams. And widow Diana Symonds, the mistress of the grand house, is anxiously trying to cling to her pre-war life now that her home has been requisitioned and transformed into a convalescent hospital for wounded soldiers. But when war threatens Highbury House’s treasured gardens, these three very different women are drawn together by a secret that will last for decades. 

As the description indicates, this novel stretches over three time periods. I really liked that we got a sweeping story with a magnificent garden at the centre of it. The world of gardens and how they were designed for those grand houses in England hadn't ever been something I had thought about and I found it really interesting. I liked reading as the garden was planned, seen in all it's glory, and then in decay as it was being brought back to life. That was how Kelly intended the story to be connected but it got a bit lost in the 1944 timeline. That's not to say I wasn't interested, as I absolutely was. I just think, at some points, it read like two different books that just happened to have the same garden. The 1907 and present day storylines, on the other hand, were woven together really well as it was the beginning and the end (plus a rebirth) of the garden. Emma was determined to figure out Venetia's original plan and I loved reading as she dug into the history of Highbury House's garden.

All the characters - and there were a lot of them - were engaging and I was intrigued at how they were all connected through the years. I cared about each woman and wanted only the best for them. I was worried when they found themselves in impossible situations and rooted for them to find their Happily Ever After, whatever that may have been. 

Kelly spent the most time on the 1944 timeline, which is not surprising as there were three characters featured in that section and given her history of writing WWII era novels. I've read novels about land girls and the big houses that were turned into hospitals (possibly even in the same novel before) but Kelly still managed to make it a fresh and interesting story that kept me turning the pages until the end.

The Last Garden in England isn't perfect but it is perfectly entertaining. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading Julia Kelly's latest novel and thought of it often when I wasn't reading it. This one is for the historical fiction fans who want to get lost in a whole other world - a world full of flowers and secrets.

*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: Dirty Tactics

Dirty Tactics was a great romance to read during the summer months. It was sweet and a little sexy and perfect to read on the at home patio with a glass of wine. (Why yes, I was behind on reviews in 2020, why do you ask?) Emma Salah kicked off a new series with a pretty good first book that I enjoyed reading.

Here's the synopsis:

Two weeks.
A trial period, in which hockey superstar Zac Quinn will prove to Reagan Thomas—his best friend’s younger sister and the one woman he can’t seem to keep his hands off of—that they can’t possibly date for real.
After all, the Thomas family is the only family he’s ever had. He can’t risk losing them, no matter how much he wants Reagan. She’s too important to him; he can’t let things get weird.
But Reagan has known they’re meant to be since forever. She’s not about to back down now.
If she has to play dirty to bring him around?
No problem.

While this book was fun and entertaining, it wasn't one that blew me away. I kind of thought Zac and Reagan were being idiots when they were sneaking around and giving themselves some silly timeline to get each other out of their systems. Does anyone actually do that? (I know romance novels are not what you'd call realistic but this just seemed a bit much.) I so get that they'd be scared to mess up their friendship but why deny what's right in front of your face? You're attracted to each other and can't live without each other so get to dating!

I did really like the characters Salah wrote. They were a group I could see myself hanging out with and watching the game with a beer or three. I was totally invested in their story, even when they were annoying me, and I enjoyed picking up the breadcrumbs she was leaving for the next book in the series. I also loved how important family is to each of the characters. They have a solid bond even though they had some major pain in the past - Reagan's mom died when she was young and Zac had a really rough upbringing with an abusive dad. 

Speaking of watching the game - you could pick any sport and one of Reagan's siblings would be playing. She had brothers in the NHL, MLB, and NFL. I mean, I guess you can find families full of athletes but usually it's one sport. And how come she didn't pick up any sport? Let's promote women's sports, shall we? This wasn't exactly a sports romance though. Zac being in the NHL was just like any other profession and you didn't really get much hockey. And for the love of all things maple syrup, it's hockey. NOT "ice" hockey. I know there's field hockey that's very popular in places other than Canada and I know "ice hockey" is how it's referred to in the Olympics but when it's a romance that is based in the US and promoted to North American readers...drop the ice. We get it. End rant.

This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: "all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!" Which I am SO here for. I read romances because I want a Happily Ever After (or For Now). I want to feel the joy the characters do when they realize they're meant to be together. So I appreciate Carina putting that promise on there because not every romance novel ties things up in neat little bows. There are times for those types of novels as well but sometimes you just HAVE to have a sweet story that ends super happily. 

As far as debut novels go, Emma Salah's was a good one. I was entertained by Dirty Tactics and am interested enough to keep reading the series, though I'm not sure I'll be rushing out to read the second book, whenever it's released. 

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

Review: The Paris Secret

The Paris Secret completely blew me away. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Natasha Lester's novel but I had had a couple of trusted bookstagram friends rave about it so I bumped it up the TBR list and, oh my word, was I ever glad I did. Lester's novel is full of history and a story you won't soon forget.

Here's the synopsis:

England, 1939: The Penrose sisters couldn't be more different. Skye is a daring and brash pilot, and Liberty the one to defy her at every turn. Even if women aren't allowed in the Royal Air Force, Skye is determined to help the war effort. She's thrilled when it reunites her with her childhood soulmate, Nicholas. She's less thrilled to learn Nicholas is now engaged to an enigmatic Frenchwoman named Margaux Jourdan.

Paris, 1947: Designer Christian Dior unveils his glamorous first collection to a world weary of war and grief. He names his debut fragrance Miss Dior in tribute to his beloved sister Catherine, who forged a friendship with Skye and Margaux through her work with the French Resistance.

Present Day: Fashion conservator Kat Jourdan discovers a priceless collection of Dior gowns in her grandmother's vacant cottage. As she delves into the mystery of their origin, Kat begins to doubt everything she thought she knew about her beloved grandmother.

The cover makes it appear as though the novel will be super glamourous. It's not. Sure, there is an absolutely fascinating aspect of the story that has to do with fashion history and searching for answers in archives (as a new-ish museum worker, albeit in fundraising, I geeked out at this part and told all my colleagues about it). And one of the most recognizable fashion designers plays a small part in the story. But, at it's heart, this is a story of war. And war is anything but glamourous. It is hard and terrible and people (men and women alike) found themselves in circumstances they never could have fathomed prior to the war. Lives were lost and spirits were broken. But the tales of bravery that came out - and are still being revealed to this day - are awe inspiring as well.

The novel was a little slow to start as there was a lot of backstory needed for Nicholas and Skye's friendship. It probably could have been cut down a little bit but we did need some of it to understand their connection and why they would have been drawn to each other when they saw each other during the war. Plus there were little hints given that helped build a case for the secrets that were revealed at the end of the novel.

Speaking of secrets - holy moly. I had no idea how things were going to end up. I thought I knew but then Lester would throw in a twist, and then another, and I'd be so confused. But a good confused. I couldn't wait to get to the end to find out how everyone was connected even though I had a feeling it was going to make me incredibly sad. (It did.) 

I had no idea Christian Dior's sister, Catherine, had been involved in resistance efforts during WWII. Not only that, she had been imprisoned at Ravensbrück, a woman-only concentration camp. I am constantly in awe of those who were able to make it out of those camps and my heart broke as I read those chapters. Because I'm all about learning more about what women did during the wars, and Lester's novel started my interest in Dior, I'm excited for a novel coming out in 2021, Sisters of the Resistance by Christine Wells.

The Paris Secret was the first novel I've read from Natasha Lester but it certainly won't be the last. She told such an interesting story and amongst the historical details was a romance (or two) and tales of family secrets and strength. I already can't wait for her next book.

*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: Our Darkest Night

Our Darkest Night was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021. Jennifer Robson is a favourite author so that shouldn't really be a surprise to anyone! I saved my ARC for my first read of the year - not just because I wanted to read it close to the publication date, January 5, but also because for the last few years Robson's novels have been one of my first reads of the new year. Who am I to mess with the tradition I inadvertently started? I was glad to hunker down with this historical fiction on January 1 and I read it in almost one sitting. It was a well told and eyeopening story that will break your heart but will also, somehow, leave you feeling hopeful.

Here's the synopsis:

To survive the Holocaust, a young Jewish woman must pose as a Christian farmer’s wife in this unforgettable novel from USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Robson—a story of terror, hope, love, and sacrifice, inspired by true events, that vividly evokes the most perilous days of World War II.

It is the autumn of 1943, and life is becoming increasingly perilous for Italian Jews like the Mazin family. With Nazi Germany now occupying most of her beloved homeland, and the threat of imprisonment and deportation growing ever more certain, Antonina Mazin has but one hope to survive—to leave Venice and her beloved parents and hide in the countryside with a man she has only just met.

Nico Gerardi was studying for the priesthood until circumstances forced him to leave the seminary to run his family’s farm. A moral and just man, he could not stand by when the fascists and Nazis began taking innocent lives. Rather than risk a perilous escape across the mountains, Nina will pose as his new bride. And to keep her safe and protect secrets of his own, Nico and Nina must convince prying eyes they are happily married and in love.

But farm life is not easy for a cultured city girl who dreams of becoming a doctor like her father, and Nico’s provincial neighbors are wary of this soft and educated woman they do not know. Even worse, their distrust is shared by a local Nazi official with a vendetta against Nico. The more he learns of Nina, the more his suspicions grow—and with them his determination to exact revenge.

As Nina and Nico come to know each other, their feelings deepen, transforming their relationship into much more than a charade. Yet both fear that every passing day brings them closer to being torn apart...

I'm not Jewish. I say this because I acknowledge that I can't know what kind of trauma Jewish people still endure because of the Holocaust. Robson writes so well and with such care that I would hope it honours those who were killed because of their faith. I've been thinking about this more this week because of what recently happened at the Capitol Building and that disgusting show of racism and anti-Semitism. I'm trying to be more intentional with my reading these days which means not just reading books about Black trauma (though there are many that are outstanding) and I've read a few social media posts that have made me realize that I'm not doing the same regarding Jewish trauma. I read a lot of WWII historical fiction and hadn't really connected the dots enough from then to now. And I want to change that. It's a work in progress and I want to learn more.

Because Robson is an auto-read author, I didn't know much about the story of Our Darkest Night before reading it. What I did know was that it was inspired by a story from her husband's family - that his ancestors had provided safety for Jewish Italians during WWII. It was family lore but she started researching and realized there were many families who provided a safe haven and the novel started taking shape. Robson is a historian first and a novelist second and that is part of what makes her novels so attractive to me. I know the research she's put into these stories and can trust what she's written to be as close to the truth as you could get. 

I have a feeling some people may find this story to be slow because's there's not a lot of real "action" - but I didn't see it like that. This novel opened my eyes to what it would have been like for those not fighting in all the battles we've heard of (and the ones we haven't heard of). The war touched everyone's life - that's why it was called a "world" war. People needed to hide, farms needed to be run, families were torn apart. These were all things that happened in real life and Robson makes that come to life in her novel.

And come to life they did. The characters felt so real and their emotions were so strong that I was constantly on edge and worried for them. What happens to all of them is not something I'd wish on my worst enemy and I can't imagine how on earth anyone could have come up with the means of torture the Nazis employed. And, honestly, I worry about something like that happening again. Mild spoiler but important for content warnings - there are scenes in a concentration camp. Those running the camp are trying to break the occupants, emotionally and physically, and it was, for me, really hard to read.

Our Darkest Night is Nina and Nico's story (though mostly Nina's) but you know this is the story of countless others as well. I adored both of them and watching their relationship grow and evolve. It was like a beacon of light in, well, a really dark night. This is where the hope comes in. That no matter how hard things got, the family leaned on each other and worked hard. That there were good people who risked everything to help those who were being hunted and persecuted. I don't know if I could have been as strong in the same circumstances. I hope I could be.

A lot of people have described Jennifer Robson's latest novel as dark and heartbreaking, myself included, but don't let that scare you off. If you're a fan of good stories, historical or not, you should really pick up a copy of Our Darkest Night. You'll feel, you'll learn, and you'll come out the other side with a better perspective on life. You'll love it.

*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: What the Heart Wants

For a bookworm, not much is worse than reading a book that completely disappoints you. That was What the Heart Wants for me. Audrey Carlan's novel had such promise and it ended up letting me down in all sorts of ways.

Here's the synopsis:

“Fly free.”
For ten years those words, written on pink parchment paper in her mother’s beautiful handwriting, have been Suda Kaye Ross’s guiding star. Every year on her birthday, Suda Kaye opens another of the letters her mother penned before she passed, heeding the advice inside as she fills her life with experiences. From Italy to Australia, from Rio to Russia, she’s slaked her wanderlust. And then, on her twenty-eighth birthday, she opens the letter that sends her home.
Returning to Colorado means confronting everything—and everyone—she left behind, including her cherished sister, Evie, and her first love, Camden Bryant. Suda Kaye and Cam spent four years and one unforgettable night together. Given the way she ran out on him, it’s no surprise that he’s wary, resentful…and engaged to someone else. Evie, hardworking and überresponsible, just wants her sister to put down roots at last.
For Evie’s sake, and her own, Suda Kaye is trying to build a new life, all the while wondering whether it’s too late to come back home—or if the most important part of her never really left.

I really don't like it when I don't like a book. I like to think I'm pretty good at figuring out which stories I'll like and which I won't, which is why I'm usually super duper positive with my reviews. It's because I've chosen carefully. But this one? So many problems. I didn't like the characters very much, the writing wasn't great, the sex scenes were beyond cheesy and terrible, and I can't quite get over the fact that it was a white woman writing a Native American character (I know she had sensitivity readers but I would have much rather read a romance from an Indigenous author than this).

I think Carlan wanted Suda Kaye to be super sex positive and comfortable with her body and her sexual encounters during her travels. It doesn't quite work. She still gets slut shamed and sometimes it came across as bragging instead of matter of fact explanations of what she was up to. It didn't help that her sister seemed so offended.

Everyone does stupid shit at 18 but I feel like, no matter how hurt you were or how much hurt you inflicted, at almost 30 you should be able to have an adult conversation about what happened. Sure, it'll be uncomfortable but let's maybe find out what the other person was thinking before judging them and flying off the handle in a professional environment? Camden for sure had a right to be hurt and I don't blame him for being upset but he was such a jealous prick to start - when he was ENGAGED to someone else. I just couldn't deal with his alpha male BS.

What the Heart Wants had promise and I can appreciate what Audrey Carlan was trying to do but it fell flat for me and I have no desire to read the rest of the books in the series. 

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

Blog Tour: Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder

A thing I learned in (late) 2020 is that I'm more of a mystery fan than thriller so it was with that in mind that I thought I'd like to read Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg. I thought right and quite enjoyed Willberg's debut novel.

Here's the synopsis:

The letter was short. A name, a time, a place.

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder plunges readers into the heart of London, to the secret tunnels that exist far beneath the city streets. There, a mysterious group of detectives recruited for Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries use their cunning and gadgets to solve crimes that have stumped Scotland Yard.

Late one night in April 1958, a filing assistant at Miss Brickett’s receives a letter of warning, detailing a name, a time, and a place. She goes to investigate but finds the room empty. At the stroke of midnight, she is murdered by a killer she can’t see―her death the only sign she wasn’t alone. It becomes chillingly clear that the person responsible must also work for Miss Brickett’s, making everyone a suspect.

Marion Lane, a first-year Inquirer-in-training, finds herself drawn ever deeper into the investigation. When her friend and colleague is framed for the crime, to clear his name she must sort through the hidden alliances at Miss Brickett’s and secrets dating back to WWII. Masterful, clever and deliciously suspenseful, Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is a fresh take on the Agatha Christie-style locked-room murder mystery, with an exciting new heroine detective.

The world Willberg created is quite like our own but unlike it all at once. Miss Brickett's is not a detective agency that you would ever find anywhere else (at least, that's what civilians like us would have been told). The agents (known as Inquirers) at Miss Brickett's have gadgets that wouldn't seem out of place in a fantasy novel except they're not at all magical. Just very clever devices that use mechanics and science to work. It was pretty neat but also pulled me out of the story every once and awhile as everything else was so normal that my mind didn't really want to comprehend what I was reading. A negative? No, not really. It was just...odd.

I often forgot that it was set in 1958 and I'm not sure it being set in the past really did all that much. Of course, having the story take place not long after WWII did explain a number of things and why some people would have chosen to work for an agency that, for the majority of people, doesn't exist. So much of the novel takes place in the underground world of the agency that you don't really get to see London during that timeframe.

While I definitely liked Marion immediately, I feel like the reader doesn't quite get to know her enough through the course of the story. She, understandably, holds people at arm's length and that meant the reader isn't fully let into her life either. And her friendship with Bill was supposed to be so obviously solid but I hardly know a thing about him either. That said, I looked past it because I did like her and I did care about her, almost as soon as I met her. She's intriguing, I think, and I liked that she was the heroine of the story (and not, say, Bill). 

The murder referenced in the title was, as murders go, not a very nice one. It throws the agency into absolute chaos but no one is being officially told anything so rumours abound and productivity is low. The pace of the mystery is the star of this novel as I was highly invested and kept turning the pages to find out what the next clue would be. I was a teeny bit disappointed that the reveal was one of those instances where the villain tells their tale instead of getting to work of disposing of everyone and then ends up caught, but overall I was surprised and delighted (if one can be delighted with a murder mystery) at how Willberg constructed and revealed the whodunnit.

I have a feeling Willberg has set this up to be a series. The mystery was wrapped up but things still felt a wee bit unfinished so I hope that means we'll see more of Marion in the future. (Note: I've just read the author bio, below, and yes - it looks like the plan is for this to be a series!)

I'm really happy to have read Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder as T.A. Willberg's debut novel was not like any mystery I've read before. I'm excited to read what comes next and also to read more mysteries in 2021.

Buy the novel:
Harlequin * Indiebound * Bookshop * Amazon * Barnes & Noble  * Indigo
Books-A-Million * Target * Walmart * Google * iBooks * Libro.Fm * Kobo

Connect with the Author
Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram

About the Author
T.A. Willberg was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and holds a chiropractic masters degree from Durban University of Technology. MARION LANE AND THE MIDNIGHT MURDER is her debut novel and launch of her detective series. She currently lives in Malta with her partner.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Park Row Books/HarperCollins, via NetGalley for exchange for review consideration for the purpose of a blog tour. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Release Day Blitz: Eventually Evie

Happy release day to Cat Lavoie! Her latest novel, Eventually Evie, is out in the world today and I'm so thrilled for her! I've been reading Cat's books for years so I'm really excited to take part in the release day tour - and equally excited to read the book. Stay tuned for a review!

Here's what the novel, Cat's fifth!, is 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.

What I love about Cat's books is they're full of characters you can't help but love. Her novels are funny and real and such a delight to read. I have no doubt that her latest will be any different. Plus, I just love that she's a fellow Canadian!

Buy Eventually Evie
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * iBooks * Kobo

If you're not quite ready to add it to your cart, make sure you add it to Goodreads!

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.

Connect with the Author
Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Website

Finally, there's an international giveaway happening to celebrate the release of Cat's book! Enter using the Rafflecopter below before January 14, 2021. There will be two $50 Amazon gift cards given away. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway