This is a zany, humorous mystery featuring the character of Finlay, a single mom of two young children and struggling author. It is a fun, light read, albeit somewhat confusing at times as there are a lot of characters. There is also a touch of romance. It is the second in the series and I highly recommend reading the first one before picking this one up. I will be recommending it to Janet Evanovich fans and gave it 3.5/5 stars.

O'Neill has once again captured the role of the downtrodden woman in this new novel set in the late 1800's in Montreal. This time we see the contrast between the grandeur of those born to wealth and the despair of those who are not. It deals with the rights of women, factory workers, sexual freedoms and gender roles. It also is a fascinating story. I found it weirdly wonderful and a great read if you like that kind of thing. 4.5/5 stars.

This is a wonderful historical fiction set in the American south during the Great Depression. We are introduced to the world of turpentine camps, often brutal workplaces where desperate people (usually black) found work. This is a story strong women and of survival, with a touch of romance. I really enjoyed it and gave it 4/5 stars.

This is a debut novel and I really liked it. It is a suspenseful thriller (not a lot of blood and guts) and deals with families, secrets, infidelity and pregnancy. It was tightly plotted and had a satisfying ending. I look forward to more from this author in the future. I gave it 4.5/5 stars. (Note that it also dealt with miscarriage and rape and may not be for all readers.)

I do not read much romance , but during the pandemic have discovered the joy in a good rom-com. This book was not really a rom-com as I found it more serious. I liked it, but I think there wasn't enough to the story to really love it. It was a great glimpse into the writing process though. I gave it 3/5 stars.

There has been a murder in a small British town and the people involved are part of the small theatre group that is fundraising for a young girl with cancer. We as the reader get the chance to solve the murder at the same time as the two young lawyers that are reading through all the case exhibits. The format makes it complicated and I never felt very connected to many of the characters, but it is still a fun read. I gave it a 3.5/5.

This is a fun chick-lit story by a new author. It has the feel of a rom-com, although there is not much actual romance in the story. Instead we follow Yinka as she gives in to the pressure of her mother and tries to find love, or at least a good plus one for her cousin's wedding. Nothing goes as planned and along the way Yinka learns more about herself. I really enjoyed it and gave it 4/5 stars and now feel the need to try Nigerian food.

This is the first time I read this author and it was a great choice. This is a cleaver thriller with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and entertained. There were a lot of characters, but the writing allowed you to easily keep them all straight. I really enjoyed it and will certainly look for more by this British author. I gave it 4/5 stars.

Wow! I could not put this book down. It is a historical fiction, with some mystery, and is set in North Carolina in two timelines, 2010 and 1965. It is a story of racism, families and forbidden love. The characters will stay with me for a long time. I gave it 5/5 stars.

This is a new book from the author of “The Book of Negroes“. This one is for the middle school reader (~9-12 years). It is an fun adventure fantasy with great humour and characters. The vocabulary is a great part of it (both real and made up words) and there is even a short dictionary at the back. It also deals with racism, so it is not without depth. I really enjoyed it and gave it 4/5 stars.

This is a lighter romance (with a chick-lit feel) that revolves around the world of a television meteorologist. Their is some depth there as well which prevents it from feeling 'fluffy'. I really enjoyed the characters and the book and it provided a nice escape from the craziness in our world right now. I gave it 4/5 stars.

This is a story of female friendship between three Anglo-Nigerian women. It has a chick lit with a touch of thriller feel, complete with wonderful characters. This is a debut novel from the author and I look forward to more from her, as I really liked it. It is already being adapted by the BBC, something else to look forward to. I gave it 4/5 stars.

This is a debut thriller by an American woman and I really enjoyed it. While I quickly figured out the ending, there were so many bits along the way to that ending that I did not foresee. This is a very entertaining read, with very little actual violence for those that are concerned about that. I look forward to more by this new author and gave it 4/5 stars.

This is the second book in the “Thursday Murder Club“ series and I found it to be light, clever and thoroughly entertaining. Set in a retirement village, a group of senior citizens with varied backgrounds solve mysteries and right wrongs. I would recommend that you start with the first book in the series “The Thursday Murder Club“. I am looking forward to more visits with this group in the future. I gave it 4/5 stars.

Molly is a young, socially awkward maid at a fancy hotel. When she discovers the dead body of a guest she becomes embroiled in a mystery, with her as a suspect. This is a fun, entertaining read with great characters and a somewhat lighter tone. It took me a little while to get used to Molly's style of telling her story, but I ended up really enjoying it and hope to see more of her in future books. I gave it 4.25/5 stars!

I did not know what to expect from this book, but it was selling well and thought I should check it out. I am so glad I did as it was a fabulous read. Abedin lets us into her life as she worked up close and personal with Hillary Clinton throughout her years as First Lady, Senator, presidential candidate (twice) and Secretary of State. She also chronicles her marriage to Anthony Weiner who was caught in a sexting scandal. I gave it 5/5 stars.

This is an entertaining read for fans of domestic thrillers. It is fast-paced and features a look at a family where 'all is not as it seems'. I particularly enjoyed the character of the very smart nine-year-old girl. I gave it 3.75/5.

I really enjoyed this one. I always think of Picoult as formulaic, but when I do pick one up I am always quickly hooked and this one was no different. The settings in both NYC and the Galapagos during the worst of the Covid outbreak were fascinating and at times heartbreaking. This is a book I will be thinking about for a while and would be a great choice for book clubs. I gave it 4/5 stars.

This is a Christmas themed romantic comedy. I enjoyed it in the same way I enjoy Christmas movies...they are totally predictable but comforting and fun. Be warned - the story revolves around two sisters who are pastry chefs and you are going to want sweets when reading it. I gave it 3.5/5.

This one is atmospheric, a little creepy and a great story. It involves a missing woman, a man hired to find her and a isolated commune. I loved the characters and while part of the ending was predictable, there was still a surprise. This is for readers who like the unusual, but like it to be still an easy read. I gave it 4/5.

This story of debutantes in 1958 London was a fun look at a different time and place; a time where what society thought meant everything. We follow a reluctant debutant as she maneuvers 'The Season', while also dealing with learning about a family secret that could change everything. This is a great read for anyone who likes historical fiction and would like something other that WWII. I gave it 4.5/5.

This is a clever and fun teen romantic comedy, that is also a love letter to the city of Seattle. The characters are well developed and so enjoyable. I really enjoyed this one...4/5 stars.

This psychological thriller was ultimately the story about two very troubled women. While it was entertaining enough, it was not one of my favorites and I found the pacing on the slow side. That being said it is a debut novel and I would certainly give this author another try. I gave it a 3/5.

It always surprises me how many different stories are out there about the female heroes of WWII. This one is inspired “by the real life Chicago heiress Mary Jayne Gold, who worked with American journalist Varian Fry to smuggle artists and intellectuals out of France“. I particularly liked the character of the little girl, Luki. It both entertained me and educated me, which is what I look for in historical fiction. I gave it 4/5 stars.

This is a powerful story about the friendship of two women, one black and one white. When the white woman's cop husband is involved in the shooting of an unarmed black teenager and the black woman is assigned to the story as a reporter - the friendship is tested. It is a wonderful read and one that I really enjoyed. I gave it 4.5/5.

This true tale of adventure in the wilds of Labrador was a decent read. I enjoyed the story, although did find the historical quotes a bit repetitive at times. That being said I would still recommend it for fans of adventure stories and even Canadian history buffs or anyone interested in tales of mysterious creatures. I gave it 3.5/5.

When the author was younger he suffered from depression and this book is a collection of thoughts, meditations and quotes that help keep him 'afloat'. It is a short self help type book that would make a good gift for anyone going through rough times. They were several memorable lines that I will try to live by...including “Get a routine baggy enough to live in.“ I gave it 4/5 stars.

Wow! This is dark and filled with despair and yet there are glimmers of hope. It is a powerful look at Indigenous woman through a fictional family. Racism, sexism, abuse, unwanted pregnancy, the foster system, drug and alcohol addiction, crime...is is all there and yet this is a book whose characters will forever stay with me. While the number of characters can be confusing, it is so worth sticking with it. I gave it 5/5 stars.

I did not know what to expect when I found and advance copy of this book in my pile, but I am glad I gave it a read. Bowler chronicles her cancer diagnosis and treatment and has many words of wisdom about both the medical system and the lies our culture feeds us. This is a great read and I will be passing it on to a friend who is going through something similar (although with a better prognosis). The appendix about clichés was also wonderful.

This book starts out slowly and builds, so is not a great choice for someone who needs an intense start to capture their interest. That being said it does build into a very good thriller and one that I enjoyed. I gave it 3.75/5 stars.

I am not an avid reader of True Crime, but I was given an advance copy of this book and decided to give it a try. I am glad I did as it was fascinating and entertaining. It includes solved cases, unsolved cases, crowd craziness (cults etc.) and a selection of tragedies (such as the Spanish Flu and the Challenger explosion). I gave it a 4/5 stars.

I loved this book. The mystery, the characters, the twists and even the bit of romance all worked together to make for an excellent read. This is the first book in a new series and I cannot wait for the next one. I gave it 5/5 stars.

I have loved the last two books by this author and this one vaulted her onto my favourite author list. It is a legal thriller about a woman charged for forgetting her three year old nephew in a hot car. It is heart-wrenching, twist filled, thought provoking and oh-so good. I gave it 5/5 stars.

I haven't read one of the books in this series since the 18th, but when I was offered an advance copy I decided to dive back in. I would classify the book as a comedic thriller. It was a light, fun read and the equivalent of chick lit for mystery or thriller fans. I gave it 3.5/5 stars...like cotton candy...not much there but still tasty!

Mitch Albom has once again written a short, entertaining, spiritual and thought provoking novel. I will be pondering this one for a while. It would be a great choice for book clubs as It left me wanting to talk about it. I gave it 4/5 stars.

This is a fun thriller featuring a corporate attorney with some secrets in her past...so when she finds her boss and lover dead from a gunshot wound in his office she walks away. The murder, the secrets, the corporation and some bad 'fear' based decisions all combine to unravel the good life she has created. This is a debut novel and I will be watching for more from this author. I gave it 4/5 stars and will be recommending it to friends.

This is a fun psychological thriller featuring a grieving mother who ends up in a online group that fantasizes about seeking revenge on those they blame for the death of their loved ones...except maybe it is not all fantasy. I gave it 4/5 stars.

This was a wonderfully atmospheric read for Halloween season. When two children go missing on a remote Scottish island in 1998, the frantic mother is told stories of witches and wildings (supernatural children that look like real children). In 2021 the third child is now an adult and rushes back to the island when she gets word one of her sisters has been found. I enjoyed the book, giving it an almost 4/5 stars.

This book is about the love between a father, Cooper, and his daughter, Finch, whom we meet when she is eight-years-old. They are living in a remote cabin, off the grid and hidden away from society. When their peaceful existence comes under threat, Cooper must make difficult choices. Finch reminded me of Scout from “To Kill a Mockingbird“ and I loved her character. I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4/5 stars.

This is the third book featuring the character of Lucy Barton. I did enjoy this one and although I found it a little slow, Strout writes beautifully and does a wonderful job of capturing the human condition. I would definitely recommend starting with the first in the series “My Name Is Lucy Barton“. I gave this one 3.5/5.

This is the third installment in this very different mystery series. The author has made himself a character and fiction and reality are blended in a unique and clever way. This is a fun read and a great recommendation for mystery fans that are open to something a little different. I gave it 4/5 stars.

This is the sequel to the teen novel “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe“, which I loved. This one picks up on the story featuring high school senior boys in love, but I did find the first part of the book rather slow and repetitive. Thankfully midway through the book the story picks up and I then enjoyed it. I really loved the characters in this series and would love to see it made into a movie. I give it 3.5/5.

This beautifully written story by a Pulitzer Prize winning author will pull at your heartstrings. It features a widowed father and his troubled but passionate nine-year-old son. Set in the near future in a world with many environmental disasters and a far right government, the story reads as a warning to all of us amidst the love between a father and son. For anyone who loves literary fiction, this is a wonderful read.

This is a fun thriller set in 1973 around a fictional Apollo 18 mission to the moon. As with books by Andy Weir it can be quite technical at times, but the Russians versus Americans cold war battle and interesting characters makes for an entertaining read. I gave it 4/5 and will gladly read a sequel if one gets written.

This book combines the thrill of a Lee Child with the western setting of a CJ Box. Garrett is an undercover DEA officer who after saving a young boy when his village is massacred is ordered home from Afghanistan to Texas by his boss, where he is to keep the boy safe. There he finds his ranching community has been infiltrated by a drug cartel and he must use his skills to save those he loves. It is a great debut thriller.

This new novel is the first of a new romance series (The Witches of Thistle Grove) and features witches. romance and a bisexual main character named Emmy. It is a fun, light read that is a great suggestion for someone looking for a Halloween themed escape. I give it 3.5/5...this is not great literature, but sometimes fun is enough.

The wonderful YA novel blends historical fiction, mystery and a touch of fantasy. It explores the issue of racism against Jewish people, the immigrant experience and features a young gay man. It also captures life in Chicago during the 1893 World Fair. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to older teens and adults.

This is a light, fun, romantic comedy perfect for a reader looking for an easy read for the Halloween season. It is one of those books that will not make you smarter, but will provide a few hours of entertainment. I gave it 3.5/5 stars.

This is the sequel to “Clay Girl“ and is another wonderful read. To get the most out of this beautifully written series, I do recommend starting with “Clay Girl“, but then pick up this continuation of the story of a young woman who is determined to be a survivor, no matter what life throws at her. I loved these books.

The writing in this novel was beautiful and the story compelling. It is a tale of a young female survivor of neglectful parents. I think it would be a perfect read for fans of “Where the Crawdads Sing“. I really loved it and am excited to read the sequel next.