It’s the best time of the month: Show us Your books day with Steph and Jana! Everyone should head over and wish Steph a happy birthday (tomorrow!) and link up to share all of their favourite reads with her 🙂 Happy birthday eve to one of my favourite bloggers!!

Some parts of this month were so BLAH for reading for me and you’ll see that reflected here. I just didn’t have any books that were so compelling that I wanted to carry them around with me and read them every possible second. But you know what? Real life can’t always be super exciting. One thing I also did was start plugging in my phone for the night ACROSS the room so that I wouldn’t put down my book to go and check social media. This was helpful. haha. I had a lot less commute time (i.e. best reading time!) this month because some co-workers were commuting with me and also because of all of the snow days we had. Funnily enough, I felt kind of the same in February 2016.

Anyway, I can’t heartily recommend all of these books (such is life!), but here are my thoughts on them nonetheless:

Red Rising by Pierce Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It took me forever to get into this book, which surprised me because I had anticipated reading it for a long time after hearing others rave about it. Once I got partway through, the plot moved along quicker and I was all-in. I will definitely read the others in this series as soon as I get a chance…need to know what happens to Darrow moving forward!!!
I’d say that the comparisons to The Hunger Games and Ender’s Game are spot on for this one overall but there are quite a few distinct differences too (obviously). Bottom line: if anything you hear about this book draws you in, read it. It is worth it.

Sign of the Cross by Anne Emery
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my choice for Erin’s book challenge for a book set in the city you live in. I never would have heard of this book otherwise, but it was really good!!! I don’t know if I’d ever read a book set in Halifax before, but it was pretty fun picturing everywhere that these events took place (although some places were fictional, I assume). The book drew me in right from the start, and I enjoyed the characters and their range of occupation: the two main characters were a lawyer and his family and a priest. I had a guess or two about the solution to the mystery, but it played out differently than I was guessing. I think I’ll definitely pursue the others in this series sometime just because I enjoyed the writing, the characters, and especially the setting and description of it.

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book definitely held my interest for the most part, and the story was unlike what I have been reading lately so I appreciated that. The revelation near the end was not quite what I expected, so I enjoyed the suspense of it. It’s definitely not for everyone though, and I found parts of it to be a bit slow. Even as a lifelong Catholic I found the religious aspect a bit over the top, but it was absolutely quite true to that time and location in history (just felt weird reading about it in the present day).

 Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I loved this because it was fun to be in Belle’s world, and the story within a story was interesting. All of the characters in the Beast’s castle were fun and this really made me excited for the upcoming movie. It was definitely very YA, but if you’re a fan of the story, this might be a great variation to check out. Parts of it are quite true to the Disney movie. 4/5 for enjoyment, 3 for the writing. PS: Not to be superficial but isn’t the cover SO gorgeous?!

When All The Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed Secret Sisters last year, and this one was even better, in my opinion. Parts of it were a bit predictable and unbelievable, but it was quite quickly paced and I read it over a couple of days to find out what was happening. It definitely passed the time quite nicely and I would recommend it if you like mysteries that aren’t overly gruesome and have some romantic elements on the side.

Tell Me True by Ally Blake
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cute characters in this story. I read it in one sitting when I was home alone one Friday night with a glass of wine, and I can honestly say that it was so enjoyable to just lose myself in this book for a few hours. Sometimes you just need that experience. It wasn’t overly memorable or new, but it was fun.

You Had Me At Hello by Mhairi McFarlane
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had high hopes for this book, but it honestly fell a little bit flat for me. Usually I really enjoy this type of story, but the ending just came about too quickly for me and parts in the middle weren’t enjoyable. Overall, it was an okay read but just no what I was expecting and a bit too contrived.

Recent Favourite Kid Reads:

Just in case you’re looking for something to read with the younger people in your life 🙂 Here are some of the chapter books and picture books our family has enjoyed lately:

Clover’s Luck, The Enchanted Egg, The Missing Magic by Kallie George
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We loved this series 🙂 It was approachable, interesting, and fun. My 5 year old loved all of the magical animals. I felt like it was a little bit of a (much simpler) intro to the magical world and maybe a bit of a stepping stone between Magic Treehouse and Harry Potter. LOVED it.

I Haiku You by Betsy E. Snyder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

These short poems are adorable and my kids love this book.

I Carry Your Heart With Me by E.E. Cummings
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The only thing more adorable than this book is hearing my almost 3 year old “read” it aloud. Seriously. SO cute. I also learned how much my husband does NOT love poetry when we had this book out from the library. LOL. Or maybe just e.e. cumming’s poetry, which I find quite adorable. 🙂

Step Outside by Doretta Groenendyk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book has an awesome message and the words and pictures are lovely. We especially like all of the “magazine clipping” hidden words on some of the pages. We really enjoy this author and have read all of her books.

In a Blink by Kiki Thorpe
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun read and would be a great chapter book for girls who already love the Disney fairy world. My daughter enjoyed it but we haven’t pursued the rest of the series yet.

Finally, I was so sad to read about Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s death yesterday at age 51 from ovarian cancer. She recently wrote this piece for her husband as she was dying, which broke my heart. She also wrote a lot of our favourite children’s books including Little Pea, Plant a Kiss, and I Wish you More.

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I spent a large chunk of time listening to The Count of Monte Cristo this month, which is still enjoyable but SO long. I am almost at the halfway mark of the 50 hour audiobook. WOW. It’s another book I wouldn’t necessarily recommend unless the classics are your thing (they’re not always my thing but I like to challenge myself every once in awhile). I will say that the writing and the plot are quite intriguing and I’m not having quite as much trouble remembering the characters as expected…although the jumps to time periods in the future between chapters threw me for a loop and I felt compelled to consult SparkNotes. #readingforpleasure lol. I will say I bumped this book up to 1.85 speed on Audible and I am flying through it (not really) a bit faster now.

Also currently reading The Girl Before (SO intense!!) and The Little Book of Hygge.

What have you read lately? Anything good?? I can’t say that I am in need of a lot of recommendations because my TBR list has exploded this year so far BUT I love hearing what everyone else has enjoyed lately!!!

Happy Valentine’s Day!!! We are currently experiencing #snowmaggedon2017 which has mostly shut down Halifax (this happens SO rarely). We got over 4 feet of snow yesterday and more overnight. It took Brian and I over an hour to shovel the driveway last night, and there’s more out there this morning! The kids had a snow day on Friday, then we laid pretty low on Sunday because Lucy had a stomach bug, and yesterday we couldn’t go out in the blizzard so I am going STIR-CRAZY!!! We’re home again today, but hopefully back to routine tomorrow!!!!

I’m so blessed to be able to spend Valentine’s Day with my three loves though. Molly is so excited about it and has been drawing hearts and talking about love non-stop for the past two weeks. We had heart-shaped pancakes this morning and we’ll probably try to do a craft or two this afternoon.

Linking up with Steph and Jana on this LOVEly day to chat about books!!! I expected to read more lately, but honestly only a few books this month (5ish weeks!) really grabbed my attention. I’m not sure why that is…I think a few of the books I read just took awhile to get into. I found myself reading a chapter, and then checking Facebook or Instagram….and then falling asleep. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I only felt like I really read three (ish) books that kept me thinking about them like crazy while I wasn’t reading them. Anyway…happy Show Us Your Books day!!!

The Best Books I Read this Month

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve seen Ruta Sepetys and this book recommended all over the blog world in the last year, and then it also won the Goodreads Choice award in 2016 so it has been on my to-be-read list for awhile. I agree with all the other fans out there – this book was incredible. I had no idea that this event actually took place. It makes me wonder how many other little WWII stories are out there that have not been shared widely. The multiple points of view really built this story for me, and I felt horror, sadness, and hope for all of the characters at different points in the story. It was a relatively quick read compared to other WWII novels I’ve tackled – I think the short chapters really helped to build the story. I would highly recommend this amazing story.

Loyalty by Ingrid Thoft
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m so glad Steph recommended this series to me because this first book was really good! There’s not much that is unlikeable about Fina Ludlow’s character. She is smart, sassy, and good at her job. Her relationships are interesting. She’s surrounded by men, but she is powerful. There were some possible triggers in this book, but it was still really, really good. I will absolutely read the others in this series at some point.

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am really glad that I was told beforehand that this book was a bit slow at the beginning, because I really found it hard to get into until about the halfway point. It was a great thriller though, and sadder and more intense than I was expecting (I completely expected it to be more focused on something that it was not). Highly recommend it if thrillers with a twist are your kind of thing.

Other Enjoyable Books

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It took me a long time to read this book, but that wasn’t because it wasn’t good. There was just so much detail in the narration and some of the language was meant to be savoured. In some ways, it feels like one of those books in which not much seems to happen, but that’s not really the case at all. It’s just one person’s story and reflections over the course of about a year. It reminded me of the storytelling in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and some of the subject matter also felt similar.

It’s in His Kiss by Julia Quinn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Almost done the series of the Bridgertons…I loved Hyacinth’s character and the subplot in this story. I turn to this series when I need a fun break from whatever else I’m reading and I have yet to be (too) disappointed. The Bridgertons are a fun family!

Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book didn’t grab me the way I expected it to, and although I did like it enough to finish it, it fell a bit flat for me. I’m not sure why…maybe it just came to me at the wrong time (during a bit of a book slump). I usually love it when books jump back and forth between time periods but this one left me feeling a bit torn. The concept is still great, and the characters were mostly very likeable. I’m glad I finished it, because the ending was really very good.

Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I quite enjoyed this conclusion to the trilogy. I’m not usually the biggest fan of “Christmassy” stories, but this series was a quick and fun read around the holidays. I loved all of the family dynamics. It was fun to follow along with everyone and easy to picture oneself on Nantucket with all the crazy Quinns for Christmastime 🙂

Miracle On 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Although this romance trilogy is totally fluffy and at times a bit sappy, I love the characters, I love the NYC setting, and the friendships are unbeatable. This was a cute conclusion to the series. I think the world could use some more people like Eva in it.

The Best Mistake Mystery: The Great Mistake Mysteries by Sylvia McNicoll
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a great little book and I know my daughter will enjoy it in a year or two. The characters were sweet and I loved the dog parts. Probably good for about age 8. I’m reading a few books in this age group here and there because I have an avid 5 year old reader and I want to keep her in books!! Thanks for the copy of this, Netgalley 🙂

Any Time, Any Place by Jennifer Probst
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fun, quick, contemporary romance read. I like these ones that are in a series because you can see where the next story is going. I hadn’t read the first in this series but this was still fine as a standalone. The characters were fun, the female protagonist is strong and sassy, and the extra twist was interesting to see resolved. Thanks for the copy of this, Netgalley 🙂


Year of No Clutter by Eve O. Schaub
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was not quite what I was expecting, but it was motivating to read about someone else’s attempts to clear their clutter. It also made me feel better about some of the stuff that I *haven’t* kept around for years, haha. Thanks for the copy of this, Netgalley 🙂


I’m currently still reading The Count of Monte Cristo (ugh I might end up giving it up because my motivation to read it is almost zero – my attention span just isn’t there these days), Red Rising (trying so hard to get into it! 40 pages in!! Tell me it is amazing, please!!!), and I started The Kitchen House but the library is taking it back (digitally) tomorrow so I’ll have to pause that one!

What have you been reading lately!?

My 2017 reading life is off to a great start!! I knew it would be, mostly because a lot of great library holds came in at once and I am enjoying my picks for Erin’s book challenge 6.0 so far. Check out Steph & Jana’s posts today to see what others have been reading lately!! Here are the books I’ve read since the last Show Us Your Books link up:

Great books:

The Mothers by Brit Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I know most people have already heard others rave about this book, but it’s for good reason!! This book had beautiful writing and I felt so much sympathy for all of the characters at one point or another. The character development was fantastic. This subject matter isn’t what I normally turn to in my reading life, but it had a lot of different perspectives and I appreciated that. It was fun to follow the characters through adolescence into adulthood too. I loved “the mothers” sections especially.

The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book and it was a great start to my 2017 reading year. I sat on the couch and read it while my kids played with their new Christmas toys. It was a great reading-in-front-of-the-tree-with-a-coffee book. It reminded me of PS: I love You (the movie) for some reason and I really wanted Nina to succeed in her new adventure. The setting was perfect and the characters were awesome. The introduction is also fantastic – don’t skip it!! (I read this for Erin’s challenge).

Books that kept me interested:

Woman of God by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a complicated book to review. It was quite compelling and I absolutely loved the characters, especially Brigid. As a lifelong Catholic (but not necessarily conservative), I think that this book was interesting, pertinent, and hopeful. It would be amazing if some of the parts of this book became reality one day, but I’m not sure if that will be the case or not. I have always enjoyed Patterson’s books and this one was no exception even though it was miles away from most of his other novels. I will also say that parts of this book seemed a bit unrealistic, but I think it was meant to be that way. If you feel strongly that women should play a larger role in the Catholic church, I would recommend this book. It’s not a read for everyone though, understandably. The tagline for this book is a bit misleading, but I’m sure it grabs people’s attention. I read it after my mom raved about it. (I read this for Erin’s challenge). 

View all my reviews Winter Street and Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this book and Winter Stroll in a few days leading up to Christmas when life was busy. These books are super fluffy and the character development isn’t 100%, but they were better than most fluffy Christmas books I’ve read. I am still on hold for the third book so I might not get to that until about February, but that’s okay- I still need to find out what happens to all of the characters anyway 🙂

The Children of Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a cute read and I can’t wait to read it to Molly sometime – unfortunately it went back to the library before I got to it with her. Written by the author of Pippi Longstocking, which I loved as a child.

The Lord’s Persuasion of Lady Lydia by Raven McAllan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book well enough while I was reading it, but it’s not about to become a favourite in the historical romance genre. Parts of it felt a bit too contrived, and although I appreciated Lady Lydia’s position and independence as a woman in this era, it felt a bit overdone at times. The mystery element was a bit unique and the parts set in the countryside were nice too, but unless this is your favourite genre to read, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book! (Read for Erin’s challenge).

Books that I started and DNF: Jane and the 12 Days of Christmas (enjoyable but felt weird reading it after Christmas so returned it to the library at 50% – I will pursue this Jane Austen series at some point though), First Star I See Tonight (couldn’t get into it, not in the mood), The Life Intended (maybe someday I’ll pick it back up).

Currently reading:

The Count of Monte Cristo (I picked this for Erin’s challenge and it is 54 hours long on audio so I’ll be reading it right til the end, I think) and I’m about to start one of these books below…which one should I go with!?!?!

Really, which one should I read next? Jellicoe Road is on my list for Erin’s challenge, but My Brilliant Friend and Midnight Riot are library books!!!

What have you been reading lately!?

Most of my reading time this month was devoted to Louise Penny books – and I definitely don’t have a problem with that because the four books that I read in the Inspector Gamache series this month were FANTASTIC.

The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book in the series was definitely a bit different than the others with less of the main characters, but it was SO, so good. The settings that Louise Penny creates are so interesting, and this one particularly so. It was not a happy book though and the tension moving forward is going to be pretty interesting…I started Book 9 immediately after finishing this one.

How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the best so far in the series. I could not put this book down or stop thinking about it the entire time I was reading it. It was beyond intense. I would actually say that it is 100% worth it to read all the other books in this series just to read and enjoy this book. So many past moments are wound into this story and I absolutely loved that about it. Even though it was tense, some of the resolutions made this feel a bit less tense than the last book as well.

The Long Way Home by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story was definitely interesting, but it was a bit of a let-down after what happened at the end of How the Light Gets In. It really occupied my time on a long flight though, and I was pretty unsure about the conclusion of it until right near the end, so it did have some very good parts. The writing was a bit darker and there was some definite tragedy in this book as well.

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another very exceptional book in the series, probably my second favourite so far and much, much better than The Long Way Home. When I finished this book and I was reading the acknowledgements, I was shocked to discover that this story is based on a real person and true events in Canadian history. I had never heard of it before. The terror in this book was quite profound, and it was interesting to see the role that Gamache played in this book compared to a few books back. It was a very intriguing read. I enjoyed the part about CSIS. I listened to half of this and read half of it – the new narrator was quite good, in my opinion, but one mispronunciation drove me crazy. haha.

I’m currently reading A Great Reckoning (just started it!) and I am savouring it like crazy because when I finish it I’ll have to wait almost a year to read another new Gamache book.

Moving on to other books now: 

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was my third TJR read and my least favourite. I will say that it made me feel very sad though and caused a few wiped tears on an airplane in public, so obviously there was some connection to the story ;). I just found that this book didn’t quite have the uniqueness factor of One True Loves and After I Do, even though it was a highly unlikely scenario to find oneself in. I really appreciate her writing and if you have enjoyed her other books, I’d give this one a shot too.

 The Likeness by Tana French
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I picked this up at the library and realized I was only able to check it out for 7 days, I wasn’t sure if I would get through it or not. It was a BIG book. However, even though it did feel a bit long at times, the story was quite captivating and I was drawn in and invested in it quite quickly. I couldn’t believe how unbelievable the story was at first, but that’s what’s so great about fiction. I told my husband about it and he said that would never happen – which might be true, but it sure was fun to read about. This book reminded me of how I feel when I read Kate Morton – yes, it was long, but it was still great writing and a lot of the writing was pertinent to the conclusion of the story.
I’m not sure if I’ll plummet into the rest of the series right away, but I might pick away at the other books slowly. I do enjoy that the series does not have to be read in order and each novel is about a different character but they are connected. This book won’t disappoint if this is your genre!!!

Swear on This Life by Renee Carlino
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’d been dying to read this book for a few months after hearing a lot of people talk about it. It was a perfect plane read. I enjoyed the alternating stories between present day and the actual book that was written in the book. It was fun to bounce back and forth. The ending seemed to happen a bit too quick for me, but I think it was intended to come across that way.

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I quite enjoyed this book, and I definitely agree that it is reminiscent of The Great Gatsby. I found myself quite drawn to what happened to all of them and I enjoyed the format of looking back on a single year in one’s life and all of the events that unfolded with those people. It was fun to walk a mile (or more :)) in Katy’s shoes while reading this book. Also made for a great plane read 🙂

All the Words Are Yours: Haiku on Love by Tyler Knott Gregson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful little book with some very nice romantic haikus. I don’t really read poetry, but I had seen this book on a “best of” list and it was a quick read, but it was beautiful. Steph, I think you would enjoy this one – it reminded me of Haikuesday 🙂

The Secrets of Happy Families: Improve Your Mornings, Rethink Family Dinner, Fight Smarter, Go Out and Play, and Much More by Bruce Feiler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It usually takes me forever to get through non-fiction books and I generally shy away from them or just read pertinent bits and pieces, but this one was quite fascinating. There was a lot to learn from this book, and I have already implemented some of the suggestions and strategies in our own family. I especially enjoyed that this book didn’t really fall under any particular parenting/family umbrella but suggested many, many, many different ideas that COULD work for a family. Some of the research notes and interviews were VERY interesting too and quite easy to relate to.

The Lady Most Likely… by Julia Quinn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A quick, fun, and cute historical romance. Wasn’t a favourite but it passed the time fine. Three couples woven into one story.

I also put a couple of books on pause this month: Bel Canto – which I just can’t seem to finish (sorry, Alexandra! ;)) and a few Netgalley books that I think I will pursue this month. I was pleased to finish Erin’s book challenge this month too…and I’ve decided to hold off on the semi-charmed winter book challenge and just do Erin’s next challenge so that I can read anything and everything that comes in from the library for me. I’m hoping to get to Rebecca this month and Mansfield Park before the end of the year to finish up Jane Austen’s books! I would also like to get to The Blue Castle sometime soon – I can’t believe I’ve never read it because I loved Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon when I was younger.

September was a big transitional month for us, and it was busy! It was busy at work, it was tiring being a mommy to tired kids, and we all got our usual back-to-school month cold. Because of all of this, I escaped to books almost every night and polished off quite a few. Some were better than others, but all in all, it was a pretty good reading month. Linking up today with Steph and Jana to talk books with everyone!! Happy 2 year Show us Your Books anniversary!!!

Best books I’ve read lately: 

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It took me awhile to get into this book, but eventually I really fell hard for the characters and their lives while growing up. There was a lot of heart in this book. I’d highly recommend it!! It is a long read, but I enjoyed it on audiobook. It was fun to watch Francie Nolan grow up and experience success in life.

These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 by Nancy E. Turner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book even though it took awhile for me to get into it. I haven’t read a lot of books from this time period in US history, but this one was a great snapshot of what life might have been like in a certain area at that time. The love story was secondary to the very strong character of Sarah Prine and she was such a determined woman that you just have to love her. There were definitely a few tear-jerking moments and some slower passages, but this book was really special and I’m glad I took a chance on it.

Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book. I was not prepared to love it as much as I did. I really liked the entire plot where they spent time in the wilderness, I enjoyed Helen’s character and how much she learned about herself, and of course, what wasn’t to love about Jake?
This book was so much more than I was expecting it to be, and if you’re looking for a feel-good read that is not TOO fluffy (in my opinion), this one is really good.

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Started this book at 7:30 pm – finished 85% of it over the next 2 1/2 hours, then woke up early and finished it before work. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing is addictive.
This book was as enjoyable as One True Loves for me, and although there were parts of this book that I couldn’t relate to (I don’t think I could ever do what they chose as a couple even if it worked for them), there were other parts that I absolutely related to. I felt this way about One True Loves too. Her characters are just such real people that when you are reading about them, you think, wow, I’ve felt that way before too. I love that about these books.
I highly recommend this author and I’m certainly going to be picking up her other novels this fall.

A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A lot of the relationships in this book were particularly strained, so that added a new level of interest to it for me. It was kind of fun to be back in Three Pines too. I am totally hooked on this series and really enjoying working my way through the books this year.
I enjoyed all the art world talk in this one, and I truly was a bit shocked at who the murderer ended up being, so that was fun!

The Little Book of Talent: 52 Tips for Improving Your Skills by Daniel Coyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun read with some very practical tips. I love tips that are backed by research. This book taught me a lot about what I can do to cultivate some skills I am hoping to improve on, and it also taught me that sometimes people are better than me at things because they put A LOT of time, practice, and effort into it.

Some other enjoyable reads:

Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I almost abandoned this book, but got back into it during my commute and it was enjoyable. If you like regency style stories, this one isn’t too bad. It’s not my favourite, but some of the characters are entertaining.

A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an extremely quick read, but so many quotes in it that I really love. I will probably definitely read the whole thing again (seriously

Suddenly Royal, Recklessly Royal and Reluctantly Royal by Nichole Chase
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The first book in this series was the best of the three, but the other two were OK too and it was fun to follow along with the other characters. The first one really reminded me of The Princess Diaries crossed with The Royal We and it was just too much fun to read.

Sunset in Central Park by Sarah Morgan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I felt a bit invested in this series after reading the first book via Netgalley, so I had an idea of how this book would play out. It was a fun read with a happy ending and cute characters.

Other books I read: Leave Me (don’t bother), The Gender Game (really liked it!), and two more books in the Bridgerton series: Romancing Mr. Bridgerton (loved it!) and To Sir Philip with Love (not as good but still OK)…honestly, if you happen to be seeking out a great historical Regency romance series, this is a really good one!!

Currently reading: Bel Canto, The Secrets of Happy Families, The History of Love, and The Beautiful Mystery. (I’d really say I am only focused on two of these though…haha). I have two 6 hour plane rides coming up next weekend so I will be finishing all of these by the end of that, I’m sure! 

Steph and Jana are also hosting a giveaway today, so head on over and check that out!!

Happy reading, everyone!! What have you been reading lately?! Any recommendations??

Another month, and another reading report. This was a great summer reading month. I knocked off a bunch of books for my two reading challenges, read a few fluffier reads which passed the time nicely while in the car or on the deck, and I branched out a bit with some books I normally wouldn’t read.

Linking up with Steph and Jana today, as always!! Thanks again for the great link-up, ladies. Head over to their blogs to check out what other people have been reading lately!!! I’m sure there are a lot of great summer reads out there being reviewed today.

 I’ve decided to put these in order by # of stars on Goodreads (which is TOTALLY subjective of course – but it’s my blog and these are my opinions ;)). 5 star reads are either books that were extremely well written from a literary standpoint, or books that were EXTREMELY enjoyable to me personally. Books are so difficult to rate sometimes because I find that one person’s 5-star read is more like a 3 for me all due to personal preference. For instance, I have rated most of Jane Austen’s books that I’ve read in the 4-5 star range, but that doesn’t mean you should run out and read them all right away if you aren’t in the mood for her writing. ANYWAY…I could talk about that all day. Here’s my new rating scale (succintly):

August’s 5 Star Reads 

 The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. It took me awhile to get into, and I’m not sure why, because it was so fun to read. Sophy’s character is quite unique compared to other women in this time period, and I thought that was great. She really seemed to help people enjoy their lives more, and you can’t help but love someone like that, right?? This book was also really funny. I will admit that I saw the ending coming, but that’s pretty typical of these types of books for me, and I don’t mind it at all.

Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was sooo interesting from a Canadian/Quebec history perspective. I also really enjoyed the dual settings & the flashbacks of other storylines. It was fun picturing winter in Quebec City. The character development of Armand Gamache was at the forefront of this book (as in other novels in the series, but this one especially) and I found myself completely wrapped up in what happened to him. I also enjoyed Three Pines’ characters’s interactions primarily with Beauvoir instead of Gamache. I think that this was one of the best in the series so far. Can’t wait to get into book 7 right away.

August’s 4 Star Reads

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was really unique and while I quite enjoyed it, I found parts of it to be a little bit confusing (this is probably just me not reading closely enough though). I think a few of the references were lost on me too, although I am so grateful I had an understanding of Jane Eyre (and I love what Thursday Next did to it in the book!). I remember hearing before I read this that people either love it or hate it, and I fall more towards loving it, but I’m not sure that I’ll pick up the rest of the series right away. Still a really interesting and unique read and generally a goodbook about people who love books 🙂 I’d say it’s more like a 3.5 thinking back on it.


Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Having enjoyed Judy Blume books as a kid, I happily selected this for a book challenge this summer but I put it off for awhile because I wasn’t the biggest fan of In the Unlikely Event. I definitely liked this book a lot more. The characters were complex, and it was fun to watch them grow up (or not grow up!). This was a great book about friendship, loving, and finding out who you are and where you want to be.

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I will say that this wasn’t my favourite Moriarty book, but by the end of it, I still really liked it and I especially enjoy the reading experience that I get from her books (i.e. torture – need to know what happens). 😉 I spent the first part of this book DYING to know what could have possibly happened at the barbecue, and what did happen was not at all what I was expecting but made sense looking back on some of the hints from the first part of the book.
I can’t say much more about this book without sharing any spoilers, but as a mother and a wife, I found this to be an interesting look at marriage after children, marriage with possible future children, and motherhood. These aren’t themes that are new to Moriarty, but the juxtaposition of the three marriages in this book really made me think about it more – especially because the book overall seemed to be a bit more about “ordinary people” than some of her other novels.
If you’re a fan of her writing, I would definitely recommend this book. While it wasn’t QUITE as over the top as her other novels (which I loved about the other novels), this one was very relatable in some ways and worth the read. I also really enjoyed this Reading Guide (SPOILERS which I thought about after reading it).

The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really, really enjoyed this book. After friends suggested Saving Francesca, which I liked, I was anxious to read this companion novel and I think I liked this one more. It might have been a case of the right book at the right time, but I really felt for all of these characters. I think I also found this book a bit more interesting because of all the storylines – it just felt like there was a bit more going on than in Saving Francesca (which still was VERY good). I can’t wait to read Jellicoe Road and Looking for Alibrandi by this author as well as her fantasy series. Her writing is fantastic.

Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book, much her book The Golden Son, completely captivated me. I was fascinated by the Indian culture and the class disparity. I was also quite intrigued by the different story lines and how they all connected. This book provided me with a much-needed dose of culture, and I appreciated it for that. I’d recommend it for fans of The Kite Runner. I should probably also note that the ending of this book was definitely tear jerking for me, if that holds you back at all… a beautiful story about love, family, parenthood, and marriage.

Endgame by Susan Kelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Before this book even came out, I knew I would read it because the author is my aunt. Even though I knew about the existence of this book for years, I didn’t know (very much) about what it was about until I began to read it.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book (particularly the main character), and that is usually the part of any book that I am most drawn to. The relationships weren’t as close in this book as many I’ve read, but I think that was one of the main points of it. This genre isn’t one that I typically read, but there were a few very intense points that really held my interest, and the knowledge that this book has a sequel coming out really propelled me to find out what was going to happen at the end.Some of the technology in this book was quite fascinating, as was the post-epidemic world in Butte, Montana. I can see how it would be especially interesting to read this book if you live near that area.

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was the first book I’ve read from Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I was REALLY far on the holds list for it, so I got it on Audible so that I could read it before Brie’s book club discusses it later this month. I don’t often listen to books like this on Audible, but I couldn’t get enough of this one! The narrator did a fantastic job.
When I started this book, I made up my mind immediately about who I thought she should end up with, until part way through the book when I was definitely a bit torn. I was definitely not disappointed at all with the ending though, and I really feel like the entire book portrayed Emma’s huge dilemma in a realistic way.
This book is about love, marriage, choices, grief, and growing up. Its take on relationships was one I had not encountered before, and I was profoundly entertained by the story.

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this for a short stories category in a book challenge, and although some of the stories had been published before, I don’t think I had read them before. I definitely enjoyed some more than others, and of course the last in the book was my absolute favourite. It was fun to be immersed in these characters and stories again after not touching a Lunar Chronicles book in nearly a year!

August’s 3 Star Reads

For Better or Worse by Lauren Layne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book, the second in a very fun and promising series, centers on Heather Fowler, the Wedding Belle’s assistant wedding planner (but hoping to be promoted!) I really enjoyed Heather’s character and found her to be a bit easier to relate to than Brooke in the first book of the series. I really enjoyed her banter and her chemistry with Josh, her next door neighbour. This was a pleasant and fun read with some funny moments and a lot of smiles. I am really, really enjoying this series and it is making me want to go live in NYC and have lots of fun (which is the point of fiction – isn’t it?!). I’d highly recommend this for fans of Nora Roberts’ Bride Quartet series, or for fans of Sex & The City.

Thanks Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book, which was published on August 30. This would be a fun read to finish off your summer reading. 

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was a quick YA read. I think I enjoyed it more than her other books, but it’s been awhile since I read those. It was a bit too YA for me, but that’s more my problem than the book’s. This passed the time just fine.

An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love these Bridgerton books, and this one was no exception. This book had a very Cinderella-esque field to it (intentionally, I’m sure), and felt a bit like a fairy tale retelling (but I’m not complaining!). It was fun being the reader in this one.
These books are cute and a bit sappy and also a bit unbelievable, but they are fun to read too – especially if you like books from this time frame. They certainly might not be for everyone, but they are feel-good-happily-ever-after books with fun relationships in a unique time period.

The Girl from Summer Hill by Jude Deveraux
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was quite a fun read, especially for fans of Pride & Prejudice. I spent a lot of the book trying to figure out how all of the plot points fit into P&P. It was cute. I found a few parts to be a bit over the top, but I’m still really glad I read this one. A somewhat-fluffy summer read (especially since it takes place over the summer months too).

TL;DR – If you like Regency books, The Grand Sophy is definitely a fantastic choice. I also highly recommend the Louise Penny series (I know I sound like a broken record) and I found they get better from book 4 on. If you’re looking for something chick-lit-ey, One True Loves was sooo good as was Truly Madly Guilty. Definitely check out Endgame if that’s your thing because my aunt wrote it!! 😉 

Currently reading: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn via Audible (this one is taking me awhile to get through but it is still very good!)

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? If you’ve read any of these, please chat with me about them!!! Some of the books I mentioned today have major spoilers so I didn’t feel like I could talk about them TOO MUCH but I want to!!!!

This was another great reading month. I know I say that most months, but I really feel like I am enjoying many of the books I’ve read in the past 18 months. Being active on Goodreads and interacting with other readers has really helped me to learn which books are worth my time and which just aren’t (at least not right now!) There have been a lot of days this summer that I’ve struggled to find time to read (some nights I am just WAY too tired at the end of the day), but I am buckling down in August to finish up some book challenges and return a bunch of library books on their due dates!!! Speaking of book challenges, I’ll be posting an update to those later this week too just for my own reference 🙂

In the spirit of summer reading, I’m linking up with Steph and Jana for their monthly Show us Your books post, which is one of the best days in a book lover’s month (in my opinion!). I can’t wait to see what other people have been enjoying this summer. Here are some of my recent reads, with reviews linked to Goodreads:

  The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the best fairy-tale retellings I’ve read in a long time. I really, really enjoyed this book and the characters were sweet. Reading it made me feel the same as I did when I enjoyed The Lunar Chronicles last year (they are quite different but I felt similarly). I look forward to reading the others in this series as well as Shannon Hale’s Newbery winner, Princess Academy. A few weeks later, I’m still thinking about this book a lot and that is a sure sign of enjoyment. One thing I didn’t mention that I really loved was that I wasn’t familiar with this story beforehand (the fairytale it is based on is not as famous as others) and that really allowed me to enjoy it for what it was: a                                             wonderful and magical story.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’d say this is 3.5 and close to 4 stars. I enjoyed it, but it also felt long and I was anxious to find out how it all happened. Although the writing was beautiful at times, I think I just didn’t have the attention span for it at other times. I was really intrigued by the story and I definitely did not see the ending coming, so it had that going for it. It reminded me in some ways of Kate Morton’s The Distant Hours, although I preferred that book to this one (right book at the right time? not sure). I’d also agree with reviewers who recommend this for fans of Jane Eyre & Wuthering Heights – it definitely has that gothic feel to it.

To Have and to Hold by Lauren Layne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars – this book was cute and I enjoyed all of the characters enough. Apparently I really enjoy romance novels about independent women and rich bachelors in Manhattan. Shocking, no? I think a lot of people would enjoy that set up! haha. This book felt like a pretty quick and fun summer read and I appreciated it for what that was worth. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book. Looking forward to the next in the series.

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I totally loved this book from the beginning, but the ending happened a little bit too quickly for me to give it higher than 3 stars. There was one thing that I dreaded happening throughout the book and it got smoothed over just a bit too quickly for me. However, the magical realism was fun, and I really liked the underlying message of being true to yourself and honouring your own gifts. Plus, all of the food (magical or not!) sounded delicious. The sister bond, the love stories, and the adorable kid were all just part of the fun of this book. It won’t be my last by Sarah Addison Allen.

View all my reviews
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Although I 100% enjoyed this book and especially the Tilneys, it wasn’t my favourite Austen of those I’ve read so far. I guess when I finished I just felt like not much happened in the plot compared to her other books I’ve read. Maybe because it was a bit shorter? Of course, I still really enjoyed it though and it had a slightly different tone that was quite fun to listen to. I also found it easier to keep track of all the characters. Some of the characters were downright humorous and I really liked that. I only have one more Austen book to go!! (Mansfield Park)

The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was the first of Louise Penny’s books that I listened to on audio. At first, I wasn’t sure how much I’d enjoy it in that format, but it grew on me. I think I still missed things here and there in this version, but the story was a good one. It left off with quite the cliffhanger in some ways, and there was A LOT of emotion in this installment in the series, so I am pretty antsy to continue with the series once I finish up some summer reading challenge books.

The Mother Letters: Sharing the Laughter, Joy, Struggles, and Hope by Amber C. Haines
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was quite lovely. I love the fact that Mr. Haines created it for his wife and that she expanded it into this book. Motherhood, especially first-time motherhood, can be a lonely thing to experience. In many ways, the Internet & “mom groups” can make this better, but it can also make it worse if you are constantly comparing yourself to other moms or comparing your baby to other babies. These letters talked about many different experiences, and I found them quite interesting. Some had humour, and others were tear-jerkers. This is a wonderful collection and would be a lovely gift for a mother in your life. There is some beautiful advice, and these letters will definitely have you nodding in agreement at the paradox that is loving being a parent and needing a break from it all at the same time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Revell for providing me with an advanced copy of this book to review.


When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As a longtime Cup of Jo reader, I had heard about Joanna’s brother in law’s battle with cancer via her blog and read his essays and heard about his book there too. I waited quite awhile to get it via the library, and I was NOT disappointed. This book was absolutely gripping and so heart-wrenching. The stories that Paul shares are inspiring. His views on life and death are so interesting and this is a book that will really make you think about how you want to live your life.  The epilogue led to tears streaming down my face while driving. It was an incredible read and I would highly, highly recommend it. I especially enjoy books like this (memoirs) in audiobook format because it feels like the author was telling a story the entire time (honestly, I forgot that there was a narrator who wasn’t Paul Kalanithi himself).

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts One and Two by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I definitely have a lot of thoughts about this one, so if you aren’t a fan, feel free to just skip this paragraph!!!! There are also (maybe) some very minor spoilers if you haven’t read it – but nothing really that hasn’t been said in the media.

I really tried my best to read this one slowly and savour it because I knew my expectations for it were so high, but I couldn’t help myself and finished it in less than a day. It was quicker to read in play format, and was comparatively shorter than the last few HP novels. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about reading this in script form, but once I got used to it, I did actually quite like it. Did it feel like reading a Harry Potter book? Maybe not, in some ways. It definitely lacked the prose and detail of J.K. Rowling’s novels, but I don’t think it’s necessarily fair to compare it in that sense. I also feel that some of the magic of this story was lost in the pages and would be more evident in seeing the live play or even in a movie. HOWEVER, as you can see, I loved the story and have rated it 5/5 stars. Due to my own extreme Harry Potter bias, I can tell you that simply revisiting some of my favourite characters after 10 years would have likely led me to rate this 5 stars without even reading it. haha. However, I enjoyed this as a parent myself, I enjoyed the new characters (especially Scorpious!), I enjoyed the time travel aspect, and Ron and Hermione. There was a major plot point near the end that I really second-guessed and will need to re-read book 7 soon to see if it’s actually a possibility or if it was made up, but all I can say is that I am dying to read the books again (3-7 since I just read the first 2 again last month). If you are a Harry Potter fan, you will probably enjoy reading this just to reconnect with the characters. I can honestly say it was not (and will never be) my favourite in the series, because it really isn’t a part of the original series.

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was SO enjoyable to listen to on audio with many cast members adding their thoughts to Cary Elwes’ narration. The behind the scenes stories and discussions about everyone’s feelings during the shoot and the camaraderie they experienced was heartwarming and fun to hear about. If you are a fan of The Princess Bride, I’d highly recommend this audiobook. I am dying to watch the movie again now & I fully plan to do so this weekend!!!

I have about 4 books on the go this week (again, why do I do that to myself?! It’s so weird!!) and I’m working on finishing up the Semi-Charmed Summer Reading Challenge by next week and moving on to read some more books in Erin’s challenge 🙂 It’s difficult in a way to try to balance finishing up library books that I can’t renew (because they are requested) and wanting to just sit and read more Louise Penny and books that I own…BUT I’m not complaining. Just loving having books to read 🙂