Honest and endearing. Painful and powerful. Heartbreaking and hopeful.
This is the story of Jessica Simpson - singer, reality tv star, fashion 5 stars!
Honest and endearing. Painful and powerful. Heartbreaking and hopeful.
This is the story of Jessica Simpson - singer, reality tv star, fashion mogul, wife and mother. I have always really liked her but never followed her reality tv career, although I followed her through all the headlines she made throughout the years. This was an extremely honest and vulnerable look into her life - past and present. She welcomed us into her heart, shared her innermost thoughts, her daily journal entries and let us explore the experiences she faced alongside with her.
This was excellent! I inhaled each chapter in one quick swoop, seeming to always find something to relate to or laugh at or feel strongly for. I admire Jessica Simpson for sharing this intimate look into her life. I truly enjoyed reading this and am an even bigger fan of her than I was before.
Thank you to my lovely local library for the loan of the physical copy!...more
Earlier this year, I read and loved The Wives which is the most recent release by th5 stars! I LOVED this!!
What a wild, twisted, crazy addictive book!
Earlier this year, I read and loved The Wives which is the most recent release by this author. I’m thrilled to report that I loved this one EVEN MORE! I can’t stop thinking about these crazy characters!
Told through three brilliant perspectives, this story had me on edge with shock and confusion from start to finish. The tension was palpable. I simply couldn’t wrap my mind around the intentions of each character. The writing was excellent. The pace and flow were perfect and kept me glued to the pages. This easily makes my Favourites List.
A psychological thriller you don’t want to miss!...more
Sixteen-year-old Jodie comes to Artemis House, a sexual assault crisis centre, to seek help and support after a brutal attack. Jodie was born with extreme facial deformities and has no form of support in her home life. Zara takes on the case at the crisis centre, promising to accompany Jodie through every step from reporting the assault to the police to attending court with her. Zara is Muslim, as are the group of four boys that Jodie is accusing of rape.
This book was intense! There are several heavy topics covered that the author didn’t shy away from delving deep into. The writing was outstanding and kept me fully engrossed from start to finish. The characters were phenomenal — each character brought a complex layer of intrigue and emotion to the storyline. The storyline itself is highly controversial, uncomfortable and deeply contemplative. I didn’t know where to place my thoughts throughout this novel - it challenged me to keep my mind and heart open to whatever outcome would happen. My heart broke repeatedly yet I also questioned many of the characters motives and intentions throughout. This book kept me guessing until the very end where I was completed shocked. This was outstanding in every possible way!
The characters and this storyline will stay with me for a long time. It weighs heavy on my heart and has easily made its way onto my Favourites List. I highly recommend! I was thrilled to find out this is a series and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of Book 2!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the review copy! Expected date of publication is December 8th....more
I dare you to try to figure this one out. My mind was BLOWN multiple times! I seriously cannot get over the 5 outstanding stars for this twisty tale!
I dare you to try to figure this one out. My mind was BLOWN multiple times! I seriously cannot get over the brilliantly clever writing that kept me in jaw dropping shock mode. This was so thoroughly enjoyable that I feel bad for whatever thriller I pick up next - it doesn’t stand a chance of comparing to this. I’m going to leave it at that.
This was phenomenal! One of my top reads this year for sure! Get your hands on a copy now!
This brilliant and creepy book blew my mind! I was utterly addicted — my mind was thinking of this book even when I wasn’t readin5+ outstanding stars!
This brilliant and creepy book blew my mind! I was utterly addicted — my mind was thinking of this book even when I wasn’t reading it — anxiously awaiting the next time I could steal a few moments (or hours) to sit down and inhale this story.
Eve Black’s family was murdered in their family home when she was a child. Twelve-year-old Eve was the only survivor after her mother, father and younger sister were found brutally murdered. Two decades later, the murderer still has not been found. He is a serial killer known only as The Nothing Man who has been linked to several other murders and rapes in the area. As a form of therapy and with the hope of igniting fresh perspective on the unsolved murders, Eve writes a book outlining each of The Nothing Man’s victims including her own family. The publication of her book sparks a lot of interest and creates a new generation of “armchair sleuths” intrigued by the cases and wanting to help find the murderer.
The creep factor is high! I felt nervous as I read about how The Nothing Man stalked and killed his victims. I checked the locks on my doors more than a couple times while reading this. The way this story unfolds is ingenious — extremely clever, unique and thoroughly captivating.
This easily earns a top spot in my 2020 Favourites List. Today is publication day for this stunning novel — make sure you get your hands on a copy ASAP!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Atlantic books for my review copy!...more
Pulse-pounding suspense. Edge-of-your-seat tension. Dark, foreboding atmosphere. Secretive and suspicious characters. This was one of the bes5 stars!
Pulse-pounding suspense. Edge-of-your-seat tension. Dark, foreboding atmosphere. Secretive and suspicious characters. This was one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read in a long time!
Molly Clarke is a wife and mother of three who disappears while driving home from watching her son’s college football game two hours away. Her car is found with her cell phone inside on the side of a desolate highway road near a small town gas station. Molly is no where to be found. Did she walk away from her life? Did something happen to her?
This book grabbed me from the very start and didn’t let up one bit. I was completely glued to these pages from start to finish. I am a huge fan of this authors work and have read and loved all of her books. Sometimes that can create expectations that sit too high for an author to consistently achieve. I’m thrilled to say that this book surpassed my hopes and expectations. It was brilliant, shocking, unique, twisty, terrifying and completely unputdownable! Easily makes it on my Best Of 2020 List!
If you enjoy psychological thrillers, this is a must read! Highly recommended!
Thank you to St Martin Press for my review copy!...more
A thrilling, atmospheric, suspenseful journey from start to finish!
Charlotte has everything she ever wanted. Paul, her handsome, s5 stars! Loved this!
A thrilling, atmospheric, suspenseful journey from start to finish!
Charlotte has everything she ever wanted. Paul, her handsome, successful husband. A state of the art mansion on the water. No financial worries. Her current life is millions of miles away from where she came from. A trailer park childhood full of painful memories of hunger, fright and uncertainty, she has made her way out of her troubled past. One morning Charlotte discovers a woman’s dead body floating in the water under their dock, coincidentally the same death Paul’s first wife faced. As the investigation into the dead woman’s body starts, suspicions arise.
This novel is thick with palpable atmosphere, suspense and tension that gripped me immediately and didn’t let up until I read the last page. I was completely consumed by this story. The setting felt like a character in itself which I loved. I adored Charlotte. I felt for her childhood situation. The author, Kimberly Belle, did an outstanding job building up Charlottes’ backstory. I felt like I was right there in the trailer park chaos with her.
I loved this authors last book, Dear Wife. It remains my favourite by this author, but this comes in a very close second. I highly recommend!
This was a Traveling Sisters read that I enjoyed discussing. Thank you to Edelweiss for my review copy! Expected date of publication is June 9th....more
I loved this suspenseful, shocking, edge of my seat, fast paced, gripping, twisty and tangled web of secrets!
I inhaled this novel and loved e5 stars!
I loved this suspenseful, shocking, edge of my seat, fast paced, gripping, twisty and tangled web of secrets!
I inhaled this novel and loved every single moment! I immediately connected to the storyline — Stephanie and Patrick are new parents to twin girls. They are struggling through the babies’ colicky phase and feel like they are barely managing to survive. The sleepless nights and endless chaos of new parenthood was done so well. It brought me right back to when my kids were babies.
There are many hidden secrets and layers to this story. Just when I thought I had it figured out, a new twist (or two) was thrown into the mix. This book kept me on edge and in high anticipation of what was to come next.
I have read all of Shari Lapena’s books and I think this is her best yet! It’s an excellent book to escape into to simply enjoy the suspense and entertainment without having to think too much. I highly recommend!...more
I am forever changed after reading this. One of the toughest, most honest and powerful memoirs I have read. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Jesse Thistle for being brave enough to put his story out in the world. This is heart wrenching, yet hopeful. Upsetting yet inspiring. Heavy yet freeing.
This extremely well written memoir gives the highly uncomfortable tragic personal details of living through the brutal darkness of addiction and homelessness. There are many shocking, cringe worthy scenes that had me on edge and wondering if I could stomach reading any further. As uncomfortable as this story can be, it is one I am so glad I read and has easily earned a spot on my Favourites Shelf.
I thought the way this story was written was brilliant and exceptional. Each chapter has a title that offers a glimpse into a certain memory or scene from Jesse’s past ranging from childhood to present day. The chapters are short, to the point and extremely powerful. Each one felt like a punch to the gut, leaving me feeling more sympathetic toward Jesse as his story progressed.
In all honesty, I don’t have any experience with addiction within my circle of family and friends. Before reading this, I am shameful to admit, I may have even been slightly judgemental of people in Jesse’s type of situation (why can’t they get a job?). I thank Jesse for sharing his story which has opened my heart to beginning to understand how dark, deep and uncontrollable addiction is. I have a whole new outlook after reading this. What an extremely powerful, unforgettable story that I insist you add to your reading list.
Thank you to my lovely local library for the loan of this phenomenal book!...more
I was invested in this story from page one! This novel starts with a gut wrenching, pulse pounding, horrific opening scene. One 5+ outstanding stars!
I was invested in this story from page one! This novel starts with a gut wrenching, pulse pounding, horrific opening scene. One that I’ll never forget reading. We are introduced to our main characters, eight-year-old Luca and his mother Lydia. Luca and Lydia are forced to flee their hometown city of Acapulco, on the run from a powerful cartel. Their goal is to reach “el norte” where they hope to find freedom and safety.
The writing was exquisite and atmospheric - I was hanging on every word. The pace was perfect and kept me on the edge of my seat in anticipation of what would come next. The flow was smooth, moving through Luca and Lydia’s struggles while maintaining hope of reaching a better place. I enjoyed meeting the many characters that Luca and Lydia encountered along their travels, each one adding a deeper layer to their personal journey. The storyline itself is one that I found fascinating - a unique plot that I learned a lot from. This is a book I was thinking deeply about even when I wasn’t reading it. These characters and their journey will stay on my mind for a long time. A fantastic novel that I highly recommend!
Please note: I haven’t looked into the controversy surrounding this book. I’ve read some reviews but haven’t researched what all the controversial buzz is about. I wanted to read this with an unbiased mind so I could provide my true experience and opinions on this fictional novel which is what this review is. I am not here to argue over any controversial aspects.
This was a Traveling Friends read that had varying reactions in our discussion group.
Thank you to my lovely local library for the loan of this incredible novel!...more
A gripping, shocking, addictive, fast-paced thriller!
Bodies are being discovered with limbs missing. A serial killer is leaving little hand4.5 stars!
A gripping, shocking, addictive, fast-paced thriller!
Bodies are being discovered with limbs missing. A serial killer is leaving little handmade chestnut men near his victims. The town is terrified. Police are working round the clock to track down this dangerous psychopath.
This was EXCELLENT! It is over 500 pages, yet I was hanging on every word. Not once did the storyline loose its grip on me. The chapters are short (just the way I like them) and had me flipping pages as fast as possible. I was completely glued to this book from the moment I read the first sentence - the pace and flow were done to perfection! The characters were fantastic! The main policewoman, Thulin, is a unique and edgy character who I loved.
My one small critique is that the ending had some over-the-top elements that felt unrealistic.
I am a big fan of this author who also wrote the Netflix show “The Killing” and I can’t wait to see what he comes out with next. This was on my Edelweiss backlist and I’m kicking myself now for taking so long to read it. Thank you to Edelweiss for my review copy. This easily makes my 2020 Favourites List!...more
Established in 1903 in Texas, the Berachah Industrial Home for the Redemption of Erring Gir4.5 stars!
Emotional. Informative. Powerful. Unforgettable.
Established in 1903 in Texas, the Berachah Industrial Home for the Redemption of Erring Girls, was an unprecedented institution that offered a chance of hope for girls who had little to no options left in life. Prostitutes, poor, homeless, abused — the Home offered a refuge for women fleeing their terrible situations. Differing from other organizations, this home offered rehabilitation, training, spiritual counsel and support for unwed mothers without separating mother from child. The goal was to provide a safe haven for young women while training them to become productive members of society. Lizzie and Mattie are two of the young women who reside at the Home in 1905 finding true friendship together. Lizzie’s daughter Docia was only a toddler when she arrived and grows up feeling the love and support of all who reside and work within the Home.
In 2018, Cate is a librarian and is working in the university library Archives. She becomes fascinated in piecing together the journals and articles about the Berachah Home. She feels personally connected to the girls who once resided at this unparalleled nurturing shelter of its time.
This novel unfolds through three perspectives (Lizzie, Mattie and Cate) and two timelines. I was completely captivated by both timelines and I loved all the characters equally yet uniquely. They each had their own intriguing and engrossing back story that slowly unfolded as the novel progressed.
I have not had a reading experience like this before. The novel started off strong. I felt an immediate connection to the storyline and characters. However, I started to struggle with some sentence structure. I’m not sure if I wasn’t focusing properly but I found I had to reread sentences several times. The words weren’t flowing smoothly, but I remained fascinated with the storyline and characters. It is not a book to be rushed, it needs to be slowly savoured to get the true feel of the writing and the times. Once I slowed down a little, I was able to absorb the words more smoothly and enjoyably. Around the 2/3 point, the pace picked up immensely and I hungrily devoured the rest of the book. That last section of the book really kicked it up a few notches for me.
There is one major twist that completely blind sided me in the latter half of the novel. It was unexpected, cleverly plotted and such a brilliant addition to the story.
Finishing this novel, I felt sad to leave these characters. I truly enjoyed spending hours with them. Reading the Author’s Note at the end made me love this book even more. Knowing these characters and this Home are based on real people and events makes it even more impactful. I am in awe of the founders of this Home in a time when it would have been difficult to show these “ruined” women respect. I thank Julie Kibler for writing this novel and opening our eyes to these unsung heroes of their time.
Side note: it was eerie to read the parts of this novel referring to living in quarantine during the Spanish flu all while we are in quarantine for COVID 19.
Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy and my lovely local library for the loan of the physical copy!...more
This book was even better than I had hoped for (and I had high hopes!)!
I have had this book on my shelf for years and have read count5 stunning stars!
This book was even better than I had hoped for (and I had high hopes!)!
I have had this book on my shelf for years and have read countless raving reviews. To be honest, I was worried this might end up being one of the many over-hyped books I’ve been reading lately. It is not! It fully lived up to the hype (and more)!
Exquisitely beautiful writing. Heart wrenching storyline. Endearing and unforgettable characters. This was done to perfection.
Victoria is a young woman who grew up in foster care system. Emotionally damaged by the back and forth between numerous foster homes and group homes, she is unable to maintain healthy relationships. She constantly chooses self-destructing behaviour and pushes herself away from those who care. Her one true connection is to the language of flowers which is how she makes her mark in the world. Each plant and flower holds a true meaning and when placed skillfully and precisely in an arrangement, conveys deep meaning.
I adored Victoria! She is flawed and insecure, yet strong and set in her ways. I had a deep connection with her from the first chapter and whole-heartedly enjoyed following her emotional and heart-wrenching journey. There is a strong theme of motherhood among these pages, specifically mother-daughter relationships, that will stay with me a long time. The relationships within this novel are complex and emotional. I was completely immersed within each of Victoria’s relationship, finding myself analyzing each scenario and situation the characters found themselves in. Though I did not agree with many of Victoria’s personal choices, I was committed to rooting for her to find true happiness and contentment.
This is a beautiful book that has earned a spot on my Favourites List. It is one to be savoured and not rushed through. I highly recommend and look forward to reading more from this very talented author....more
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