Review: The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you for Netgalley, Sourcebooks and Stuart Turton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advanced copy.

Imagine being trapped in another person’s body, your memory wiped and the same day keeps repeating over and over again. That is the situation Aiden Bishop finds himself in. The only way to escape is to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. He has 8 days and 8 different “hosts” to help him.

Welcome to Blackheath Estate, or should I say Hotel California. You can stay, but you can never leave. Well, you can leave, but first you have to find out who the murderer of Evelyn Hardcastle will be, seeing as she isn’t dead just yet, today. The reader is thrown into this story and kept off balance, trying to figure out this maze of events, people and places. Aiden wakes up in these different guests bodies and has to walk a fine balance of using his hosts skills to aid in his endeavour, while trying not to succumb to the darkest parts of their souls, all the while trying to hold onto the bits of his own personality and not lose himself to the host. Aiden has to be careful as there are two other also trying to escape. Can he trust them to help? Probably not, since only one can solve the mystery and be allowed to leave.

What an original premise. A fresh idea that plays out into the most interesting, intricate, spooky thriller that I have read this year. This lives up to and exceeds all the hype it has received. It is multi-layered, smart, and so complex. You are glued from beginning to end. You follow each host through a roller coaster ride desperately trying to fit all the clues together, but don’t bother. You will never see the end coming. Turton does an amazing job of keeping the plot clean and tight, I can’t even imagine how hard that must have been. The characters are so well drawn, each having their distinct quirks, and all relevant to the plot. Never do you feel overwhelmed by different plot lines or lost with the amount of characters. It is seamless, from beginning to end.

Very reminiscent of Agatha Christie, “Murder on The Orient Express”, with multiple characters, multiple storylines that somehow fit together. Think the character of Death in “The Book Thief”, with The Plague Doctor all-knowing and setting the rules of the world. I know people have alluded to “Groundhog Day” but it is not a true repeat of each day. First, the main character inhabits eight different hosts, so each time we repeat a day, it is a different character, with a new perspective and new personality traits. Second, the day doesn’t repeat the way it does in “Groundhog Day”. He can enter into a different host at any point during the day. Thus, it feels more like a new day each day, rather than a repeat of one day over and over. The one linking event is the death/suicide of Evelyn. There are so many interesting, thoughtful parts to this story but rather than spoil it I am trying to keep the details brief. It would take an essay to unpack what there is to talk about making this the perfect book club novel.

It is such a remarkable read. I don’t think I’m doing it the proper justice here but I highly recommend it. I think it is pure genius how Truton weaves together this fantastic tale. The build up of tension and excitement meant that I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. The characters were authentic and multi-dimensional. I suspect that reading it a second and third time will only increase the charm of this unique story. Which I plan to do.


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Review: Christmas Cake Murder

Christmas Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley, Kensington Books and Joanne Fluke for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advanced copy.

So you know when it is a Saturday afternoon, it’s quiet outside and you’re in one of those moods when you just want to curl up in front of the TV. A Hallmark movie or some such comes on and for the next two hours you surrender yourself to pure saccharine. Ahhh bliss…

First let me say - you have to be in the mood for this type of novel or don’t bother. It is formulaic, the writing accessible, the characters stock. Usually set in a small town where everyone knows your name. They are always super happy, not a serious care in the world, supportive - a real community. There will be a mystery to solve, but nothing violent and sans any twisty turns. Don’t look for high literature, descriptive flowy scenes, deep and thoughtful statements on life. You know what you are getting.

But in the mood I was, and Fluke delivered, yet again. Pure escapism and I loved every bit of it.

If you are familiar with the Hannah Swensen series, you will feel right at home. We go back in time to when Hannah has left school and returned to Lake Eden to help console her mother, after her father recently passed. Hannah is baking up a storm and realizes that this might be her path after all. You get to witness the opening of “The Cookie Jar”. If you can’t tell from the titles of these novels, baking is very much a part of each and every one. Hannah has a passion for baking and as a bonus, each chapter has her amazing recipes that you make yourself, at home. The premise this time is that they are trying to recreate the Christmas Cake Parade. Essie, an elderly woman beloved by all, has had an accident and is laid up. She has also fallen on hard times but has been too proud to say anything. She remembers the Christmas Ball fondly and would love to see it one more time. This will be a great project for Hannah’s mother to get involved in to get her back in the swing of things. Hannah has been tasked with baking all the cakes for the parade. The whole community will need to pitch in to get the old Hotel ready for the ball. While getting some things from home for Essie, Hannah comes across these boxes full of pages of what looks like a manuscript. It turns out Essie was writing a book! This is where the mystery comes in. I don’t think I’m spoiling anything when I tell you everything works out amazing for everyone. All the ends are neatly tied up and I wouldn’t have it any other way. In fact, I’m counting on it.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with a little fluff in my life. It is what I love about reading. There are so many different types of books out there, each like a different dessert that Hannah makes, and if it tastes good - don’t we all enjoy it? Who cares if it is a cookie, cake, meringue, brownie - bring it on. The best things about reading is - no calories!

Fluke has done great job, yet again, with this latest instalment. I enjoy spending time with daughters who love mothers, mothers who are nothing but supportive, friends that care for each other and a community that reaches out to help those in need. It’s a world I like to live in, even if it is just for an afternoon. So if that is what you are in the mood for - this one takes the cake! (I know, I know, I couldn’t resist)

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Sea of Dreams for Baby #3

No, not my baby #3 - hee hee. Three of my nieces and nephews each had a baby in the last few months. I can't believe it - three more grandchildren for my sister. I'm so happy for her and her growing family. I was so lucky to have just met this baby a few weeks ago. The mom flew in with the baby from New Jersey for the day. The resourcefulness! I don't think I would have just hopped on a plane for the day with a four month old. I was lucky to get out of the house to go grocery shopping. Let's be honest - I don't even think I was getting dressed, in real clothes when my first was that young. I give her a lot of credit. She looks so beautiful and the baby is just adorable. Those cheeks!!

I am using an Aimee Alexander pattern again. I just love her designs. When I found her site, there was so much to choose from but I chose these three for these babies. I used Moving Mountains and Milestones for the boy blankets. I saved Sea of Dreams for the girl.  You can check out my other blog posts on the other two blankets I made. Both were for boys. Now it's the girl's turn. You can follow my progress on Ravelry -https://www.ravelry.com/projects/girlsound/sea-of-dreams-baby-blanket

Knit Picks Shine Sport in Blush

I have also stayed with my favourite yarn for baby blankets - Knit Picks Shine Sport in Blush (6555).

As I have said I love the way this yarn feels, shows stitch definition, has a beautiful sheen and drapes beautifully. It washes really well and is durable. So important because I want the blankets I make to be used. I want them to be spit up on, chewed, dragged and then be thrown into the wash machine for the next spit up. 

This pattern is quite challenging. It is 44 rows pattern repeat and too complicated for me to memorize or get any sort of momentum. I have to pay attention when knitting this one! It has a beautiful picot edge which I love. It is these details that will make it stand out.

Stand by for the finished product!

Review: I, Claudia

I, Claudia by Mary McCoy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Netgalley, Lerner Publishing Group and Mary McCoy for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving and advanced copy.

Political intrigue. Think House of Cards for high schoolers, except teenagers are so much more ruthless than adults. A modern retelling of “I, Claudius” where ancient Rome is replaced by a Los Angeles private high school. Is this where we will find tomorrows leaders? Let’s hope not, but after reading this, probably, given what we have seen from the political arena. Has nothing changed? Not really. Is power the seductive - certainly. Does it corrupt - absolutely. A living entity and watching what it does to those students it comes into contact with - fascinating. From the outside, where it won’t affect you in any way. Does it turn good into evil and evil into…psychopaths? No one comes out unscathed, that’s for sure. We aren’t all good and all bad, but it does warp each person in a different way. Can you avoid it? Well, history has lots to teach us, but we don’t seem to learn from it. Many of these questions and more are raised in this fantastic, outstanding and thoroughly enjoyable read about the Imperial Day Academy.

Claudia McCarthy has a stutter and a noticeable limp as a result of one leg being noticeably shorter than the other. School has not been the kindest, most sympathetic place, with children often being cruel in their taunts. She quickly realizes that high school will not be any different. Her only friend is her sister, Maise, who sits on Imperial’s High Council. The school has two organizing bodies, the Senate and the High Council. The Senate doesn’t have any real power, with it’s main function organizing school dances and such. The High Council has more power than the administration, voting on a student’s smallest infraction with suspensions and expulsions. The story is told through Claudia’s perspective, privy only to people and events as she sees them. Interspersed between the chapters we get glimpses of the transcript of Claudia on trial. We learn that she is being accused of abusing her power as president of the High Council. How did she get from being invisible to holding the highest office? Claudia relates her journey that takes her from witnessing the corruption from those in power, to being enticed to running for the Senate and ends up being elected president of High Council. Her only intent was to weed out those who were abusing power and to restore the school to a safe, honest environment. How did she get into the predicament of Imperial Day Academy Board vs. Claudia McCarthy.

McCoy does an excellent job of retelling or reimagining the original. It is full of nefarious characters, intensity of emotions, depicting the rise and fall of a reluctant leader, all fo it just works at so many levels. Claudia’s rise and fall takes place over four years, crafted so well that makes it believable. She uses a play on the character’s names from Grave’s text - you have an Augustus, Livia, Herod becomes Hector. Her characters are deep and come to life, jumping off the page at you. It is dark with some violence, drugs, death, but nothing a young adult wouldn’t have come across in other novels for their age. Then ending, cruel almost - you’ll see why. There is al least one big flaw that I found in the story but I don’t want to get into spoilers in my review. I’d be happy to discuss in comments if anyone has the same feeling. McCoy includes two pages of discussion questions that will encourage thought and analysis. Something that can be done individually, in small groups or as a class. This so easily lends itself to be taught in a classroom setting, although I believe anyone would enjoy reading it on its own for pure enjoyment. It is too good to just be in a classroom. Too good to not be done in a classroom.

Definitely one of my stand out reads of 2018.

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Review: The Dinner List

The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Netgalley, Flatiron Books and Rebecca Serle for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advanced copy.

So imagine you could choose 5 dinner guests for a once in a lifetime dinner. Living or dead, relative or not - the possibilities are endless. I love the premise for this book. Who would I invite? Would they be connected or random? What are the big questions that I want answered. Sabrina, the main character, chooses wisely, I think. First there is her best friend, Jessica. In some ways they have grown apart because Jessica is married, with a brand new baby. But they both know it is more than that. There is a rift between them and Sabrina doesn’t know if they will be able to make their way back. Also, Jessica knows her everything about her life and can bring perspective in regards to the other dinner guests. Conrad is a professor that Sabrina was very close to, in some ways a surrogate father. Robert is her real father. An alcoholic, he abandoned Sabrina and her mother when Sabrina was very young. He went on to get sober, remarried with new kids and never once reached out to the daughter he left behind. Then there is Tobias, the love of her life. They are not together and Sabrina hopes this dinner can help sort out whether or not they should be together or go their separate ways. The last guest is Audrey, yes that Audrey, Hepburn and still deceased. Audrey’s movies have played a big role in her life and has a special connection to each of the guests.

The book is well written and flows nicely. It was an easy read. I just didn’t connect with Sabrina, the other dinner guests and therefore, wasn’t invested in what was happening. I love Audrey Hepburn and I didn’t feel her character was flushed out at all, very flat, which was disappointing. For me, the suspense didn’t build. There are a few reveals along the way - I just didn’t care. I found the main character to be selfish, self absorbed, immature and I didn’t find a way in to like her. Even the dinner guests had to keep saying Hey, we are here just for you and some of us came a very long way! For me, it was a slog. I knew the dinner would have to end and she would find peace with some and not with others. There were lessons along the way, although I’m not convinced Sabrina was open to learning them. Either she was going to be with Tobias or she wasn’t - I was okay with it either way. That is not really my style. I’m usually the romantic that always wants them to be together whether they realistic or not, right for each other or not, I always tend to want it to work out.

Although I loved the idea, this didn’t work for me. It did make me ponder on what my dinner might look like and what I might have to say to certain people, or learn and that was fun.

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Review: My Real Name Is Hanna

My Real Name Is Hanna by Tara Lynn Masih
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Netgalley, Mandel Vilar Press and Tara Lynn Masih for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advanced copy.

First and foremost, I want to say that for the subject matter alone, this should get 5 stars. This is an account of a fictional character’s experience during the Holocaust. It is loosely based on the story of a real person, Esther Stermer, her extended family and four other families. If interested, there is a documentary film called “No Place on Earth” that relates the true story of what happened. I believe reading, hearing, listening to Holocaust stories are of the utmost importance. Documenting these first hand accounts are crucial as these survivors will soon no longer be with us to tell their stories. Masih relates this story in a way that is an appropriate entry point for children, or young adults, because it doesn’t get into the horrific details of what happened during that time. There are no concentration camps in this story. You do, however, get to know Hanna as a child, see how her life was like before the war contrasted against what she had to endure over years.

It was difficult to read this copy of the book because of the state I received it in. That can sometimes happen with ARC’s, there can be grammatical errors, certain parts may be rewritten, it is in an unfinished state. I had not yet received one in the condition this book was in, so it affected the reading for me. There were sentences that were dropped, left unfinished, paragraphs weren’t split where they should have been and extra text was inserted in each paragraph that didn’t belong there. Regardless, I believe it will be outstanding, once the completed version is released.

The story is told from 14 yr. old. Hanna’s perspective, from what I can tell it has an almost testimonial feel, an admission of what happened to her as a child. You can feel the raw emotion underneath her words and how difficult it is for her to talk about her experience. This is a matter of fact telling from a little girl who had to be so brave, with no drama. But because of the stark way the story is told, it juxtaposes how horrible it must have been. There is no way you can not be moved by what happened. You can feel her hunger pangs. You will wonder how people could do this to each other? You can appreciate how much the smallest kindness can mean to people who are fighting for their lives. As a teacher, this story is rich in lessons for students to learn from, many entry points for the child in to this story. This is something I will use and I strongly recommend.

Hanna lives in a rural town in the Ukraine, on a farm with her family. She is the eldest of three, with a brother and a sister, both of whom she loves dearly. Her family are observant Jews and she learns the traditions and the meaning behind them from both her father and her mother. She has friends and goes to school. They are not rich, but they do not want for anything. Birthdays are special and Hanna feels loved, safe and secure. Things change slowly, but they don’t fear because they have been taken over by the Russians, so now it is the Germans, it happens. They live in a remote village, so sometimes war doesn’t reach them, but of course this time it does. They don’t always hear the latest news, or realize where the trains are taking people, or what the smoke means, until they do. Food becomes scarce, they can no longer go to school, but it is not the first time their parents have had to scrimp and go hungry. Until this time it is different. Until it is too late to leave the country, until they are forced out of their homes. Hiding in the forest, it seems like things couldn’t possible get worse. Until they have to live in a cave. Of course, there is much more to the story. But it is important to hear it in Hanna’s words.

The most important thing is that they did survive the unthinkable. In the face of evil, they triumphed. They eventually left their home, but they continued to live and prospered. The human spirit is truly remarkable.


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Review: The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers

The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley, Abrams Press, and Maxwell King for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advanced copy.

Fred Rogers is beloved by millions of people - children, now adults, who remember Mr. Rogers with fondness. His program was the most successful children’s program on public television due to his vision, commitment and singular ability to talk to children on their level. His message of loving you “just the way you are”, and broaching heavy topics of divorce and death made him a unique voice. He wasn’t afraid to put his feet in a tub of water with a black man, or introduce Jeff, a disabled child, along with many other guests to break down walls of prejudice, racism and other serious subjects. But those who watched will probably best remember his songs, his puppets and of course his cardigan and sneakers, along with the trolley that took us to the land of Make Believe.

But who was Fred Rogers? Maxwell King shows us that he was exactly as he presented himself to be. This is a detailed, well researched recap of his life from childhood to death. Mr. Rogers’ childhood had a huge impact on the man he was to become. His sensitivity and ability to listen was developed when he was young, often sick and lonely. His attic is where he created his puppet characters putting on show after show. His mother’s love of religion and strong tenets of being kind and helping those in need was felt so deeply that Fred considered becoming a minister and studied towards it for many years. But his creative and artistic side needed to be expressed. He worked in television for many years honing his skills, always knowing where he was heading. He could have been very rich if he had stayed at NBC, who wanted his show, but he was adamant that there was never to be any advertising to children. He studied child development and worked closely with Dr. Margaret McFarland, an expert in the field, often running scripts by her to make sure the wording was perfect and the meaning would be understood by children. He was an accomplished musician, composing hundreds of songs for the show. He worked very hard, demanded excellence and never compromised who he was for material gain. Who knew this soft spoke, nasally voiced guy would have such a connection with kids.

I learned so much about the man behind the cardigan. I really enjoyed learning what made him tick. I had no idea how complex of a man he was. I didn’t realize he had that much control over his show and reading how the show developed into what we saw was really interesting. I never realized what a pioneer he was in television, public television and in children’s programming. The book is thorough and well thought out. It is slow paced and unassuming, like the man himself. There are no false dramatics to make it more exciting. But it didn’t bother me. I rather enjoyed it. It takes you way back and made me long to hear him sing “Won’t you be my neighbor” one more time.

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Review: The Bus on Thursday

The Bus on Thursday by Shirley Barrett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and Shirley Barrett for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and 100% independent of receiving an advanced copy.

Wow! What did I just read?? I had no idea that I would love this genre as much as I did. I had no idea there was this genre. It’s a combination of horror, dark comedy and humour. It was irreverent, imaginative, off-kilter and creepy. It was thoroughly enjoyable.

The story begins as Eleanor finds a lump under her armpit. So begins her cancer journey. Now, if you are expecting some inspirational story, some uplifting acts by a brave soul, or a story of a supporting community who helps her through her struggle - ummm, no. Oh, I know, self discovery of what is really important in life and a big thank you to the big C because she would never have grown and learned these important life lessons without it. Well, you can forget that. Eleanor is blunt, honest, witty and doesn’t sugar coat things. She gives it to you straight. She’ll tell you what she is feeling about having cancer, even if it makes you feel uncomfortable. But she is also hilarious. I found it refreshing and endearing. She tell you her mother is bugging the crap out of her. Her best friend is getting married and tells her “Never mind your cancer, are you still gonna be my f-ing bridesmaid?”. Eleanor has to quit her job because you can’t teach while going through chemo. The rub is, Eleanor recently broke up with her long time boyfriend, Josh, because she wanted children and he didn’t. So getting cancer is sort of a kick in the pants. I don’t know if I would have laughed with such abandon if I wasn’t a cancer survivor, but laugh I did. Eleanor has wit and her honesty is refreshing.

So, when she sees a teaching job available in this remote town with only only one class of eleven students, Eleanor decides a change of scenery is exactly what she needs. Cue creepy music. The previous teacher has disappeared, mysteriously, and the whole town has this bizarre idol worship for Miss Baxter. Something is not right. The students are weird and they have this intense adoration and love for their old teacher. All facts point to Miss Baxter as teacher of the year, however, there are some strange habits that come to light. The townspeople are even stranger. Upon meeting the preacher, he tries to perform an exorcism on Eleanor, convinced that her cancer was a demon and that it is still inside her. Eleanor is clearly struggling, often drunk, showing up for class hungover and unprepared, swearing at kids when she loses her temper. Oh yeah - having sex with her student’s brother, who happens to be his guardian, and who was also sleeping with Miss Baxter, illustrates her impaired judgement. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg in questionable choices that Eleanor makes.

The townsfolk give a very “Twin Peaks” vibe. Each character can either be creepy or quirky and you are never sure which. The fun is reading through all of the craziness that goes on once Eleanor moves to this town. I often felt off-balance because sometime you aren’t sure if something is really happening or if it is in Eleanor’s imagination. Also, sometimes, the stuff that happens is just unbelievable, in the way of, I-can’t-believe-that-just-happened, shocked kind of way. Some readers found Elenor an unlikeable character. I can understand that because she does some indefensible things when she get to town. But, I understood it from the viewpoint that, after going through cancer treatment, you can feel lost, not like yourself. All the things that made you you, are gone. As you reach out to regain those things, you might do some pretty crazy things.

This was a delightful and unexpected. If you like offbeat or just want something new and different, I am really recommending this read.


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Review: Wildcard

Wildcard by Marie Lu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is for the EXCERPT ONLY.
Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Group and Marie Lu for this sneak peek into Book 2 of the Warcross series.

Book 2 opens shortly after Book 1 ends. Hideo’s algorithm has been downloaded into all the neurolinks. Only the old beta ones leave people with a free mind. The Phoenix Riders have been accused of cheating and there will be a rematch for the first time in history. Emika is being hunted down by assassins as she is number one on the hit list in the Dark World. Who comes to her rescue - Zero. Can she trust him?

It looks like there will be lots of action in the new book, along with the continuing story line of Video and Zero, the love story between Hideo and Emika, and what will happen with society, will everyone be allowed to live their lives as they see fit. I think it will be hard to read Book 2 as a standalone. I think you will need the context of the first book, for maximum enjoyment.

As an excerpt usually does, it reminds you of what you liked in the first book and teases what is coming up in the new story. I’m excited to get back into this world and see what will happen. Can’t wait for the release - I will be purchasing this, for sure!


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Review: Knitting Modular Shawls, Wraps, and Stoles: Mix-and-Match Triangles + 212 Stitch Patterns = Unlimited Design Options

Knitting Modular Shawls, Wraps, and Stoles: Mix-and-Match Triangles + 212 Stitch Patterns = Unlimited Design Options by Melissa Leapman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Netgalley, Storey Publishing, and Melissa Leapman for an ARC in exchange for a review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advanced copy.

Shawls are one of the most versatile pieces you can have in your wardrobe. They are an excellent layering piece, can be worn many different ways and are easy to make. You can use almost any different yarn weight so you can use your special lace weight skein that you bought when you were somewhere special, or a worsted weight that you have laying around in your stash. They make beautiful gifts and the knitted shawls of today are not what your grandma used to make.

If you are new to knitting you might not know that Melissa Leapman is a very well known and prolific designer. Her patterns have been in all the major publications for both knitting and crochet. She has written many books herself, some of which I own and I really do love her designs. Part of wanting to check out this book was because I saw that she was the author. She does not disappoint.

This book is truly amazing. There are so many components to it, so I’ll try and break it down for you. First she has 7 steps in creating the perfect shawl. First you choose your silhouette. She breaks down the shawl into the smallest component - the wedge. Then, depending on how you want your shape, you decide how many wedges you want. Two wedges creates the triangle shawl. Once you start adding on, there are different ways you can put the wedges together to get different shapes. You can use up to six wedges. The second step is the choose the stitch pattern. She has many in the book, but you can use any stitch you want, from any stitch pattern book. She has accounted for how to adjust to different number of stitches in the stitch pattern, so really anything can work. Then you decide on your background texture. Choosing between a knit background or a garter stitch background will really make a difference to the appearance of the stitch pattern. Step four asks you to choose your edging and step five a cast on tab, which goes hand in hand with the edging you have chosen. Step six means choosing a border and step seven a bind off and that completes the steps in constructing a shawl. You can choose a solid fabric or decide on a lacy, more openwork design, the choices are endless, but by breaking it into these easy steps nothing is overwhelming.

There are fixed patterns that you can follow step by step with picots of what the end product looks like. What is even better is that there is a gallery of shawls at the back set up so that you can see how each of the seven steps apply to each of the patterns. Simple substitution and small tweaks give you another jumping off point to creating your own design. Of course, you can be as creative as your imagination and remember, if you don’t like it, you can always undo it! There are no mistakes. I love that you can all take baby steps and get more creative as you become more comfortable with experience. There are many diagrams and charts that clearly help you map out what style you would like to make. Even with the most basic design, and a simple stitch pattern by simple changing one or two small elements like the border, or the edging, you can end up with a completely new looking shawl. The possibilities are endless!

This book is so easy to use, full of inspiration and really limitless in ideas, I think it will become a staple that you will refer to many times for many years. I am so excited! I can’t wait to cast on my first project. Now hmmm, which yarn shall I choose??

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Review: Lakes of Mars

Lakes of Mars by Merritt Graves
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Netgalley and Merritt Graves for providing an ARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving and advanced copy.
Rating 3.5 stars.


Aaron, a seventeen year old kid, carries a lot of guilt for a shuttlecraft accident that killed his family. He was driving. He decides to enlist and figures he will get sent to the Rim to fight, which he knows almost means certain death. But he instead makes it onto the Corinth Station which houses the most elite military training school. Aaron quickly discovers that this school’s philosophy of survival of the fittest has bred cruel students and Aaron doesn’t know who to trust. Aaron quickly stands up for Sebastian, when becomes his best friend, and joins a unit who seems to want to protect him from a cruel leader, Caelus. But when Caelus reaches out to Aaron, telling him how he has been portrayed as a cruel leader for the benefit of others, Aaron is no longer sure whom to trust. Aaron learns of a sinister plot that may cause destruction to the planet below and all the people that inhabit the planet, unless he and a small group of friend can put a stop to what’s happening.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I loved Aaron as the conflicted hero and there were lots of memorable characters that I was rooting for like Sebastian and Eve, just to name a few. Not all the characters survive which is always refreshing because it keeps the reader on their toes. One of the tricks that the great George R.R. Martin uses (which he learned from the even greater J.R.R. Tolkien), is to kill favourite characters and kill them often. I enjoyed the world that was created, especially the school with all the military fighting, being in “The Box”, all of that was very cool and exciting. The story moved along at a good pace and I was interested to get to the end and see what would happen. The tension was well maintained, with nicely planned lulls where the author could build back stories, a budding romance and other good stuff.

My only issue that kept if from being 4 stars or higher was that I personally needed more world building and more explanation, especially at the beginning. I was really confused for a long time because I just didn’t know what was going on. I go the basic story, but I didn’t understand the construct of the world they were living in. I wanted to know more about how Aaron got there. It took me a while before I understood “The Box” and other aspects of the story. I still maintained my interest and never felt like not finishing the book. It, honestly, could just be me, that I couldn’t grasp what was happening, I mean, I didn’t really know if the Verex were aliens, or created by man for quite a while. I was well over 50% and still confused about certain things and I would have appreciated more detail about the construct of the world they were living in. The italicized parts were also never consistent. Sometime it was memories and sometimes it was dreams, so that didn’t help either. It didn’t detract from the story and like I said, I still was interested, wanted to keep reading and was invested in finding out what was going on.

For those that are interested, there is a soundtrack that goes along with the story. There are 12 tracks and it is worth having a listen to. Now, I am invested in the characters and storyline and can’t wait to see what happens next, now that they have landed down on the planet.

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Review: Stygian

Stygian by Sherrilyn Kenyon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My thanks to Netgalley, MacMillan-Tor Forge and Sherrilyn Kenyon for an ARC. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an ARC.

This is a review of the EXCERPT of the novel, which I was given as a preview to review and is now available to buy. (and yes, I have already purchased it) I am a huge fan of Kenyon and this series. I have all of the Dark Hunter books and I am trying to catch up to the this one, the 29th, oh my goodness, I don’t know how she does it, 29 books! As many have said before, it would be difficult to just jump into this one if you are trying to read this as a standalone and you won’t be doing yourself, or this series, any justice if you try. Much better to check out the first one and see if you are interested. It is a huge commitment, both time and money, but there is always the library and I love how good it feels to slip back into a comfortable story.

I’m so excited, finally, we get the whole back story on Urian. Every villain has to have his day, and this is his. If you have read any of my other reviews, you know I’m a sucker when an author can turn the tables, giving us a whole new perspective on what we thought we knew about this character. We also get to discover what makes a bad guy tick, and just like in real life, no one is all bad or all good. Things happen to us that help shape us into who we are. So bring it on! I can’t wait to read the whole thing.

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Review: The Boy at the Keyhole

The Boy at the Keyhole by Stephen Giles
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Hanover Square Press, and Stephen Giles for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are my own and independent of receiving an advanced copy.

Poor Samuel has been left all alone with the housekeeper, Ruth, while his mother has gone off, in the middle of the night, without saying goodbye, on a trip to America, to drum up much needed funds. Set in the 1960’s, on a dilapidated English estate, Samuel has no one. His father has died, his mother gone for months, and the staff have all been let go except for Ruth and William, the gardener. He has only one friend in the world, Jacob, who loves a conspiracy theory, as any nine year old boy with an iota of an imagination does. Ruth is strict, often cruel, and full of secrets and lies. Samuel is convinced that she murdered his mother. Mothers love their children and would never have abandoned him like this. After all, he was “her little man” and Sam knows she loved him fiercely. But how can he prove it? Ruth keeps all the rooms locked and he is forced to spy through keyholes to uncover the truth about what Ruth has done to his mother.

This did not do it for me. It wasn’t sufficiently creepy enough. I love the feeling you get when you are almost afraid to turn the page because you don’t know what is going to happen next and you are scared! The tension never reached an “on the edge of your seat” level. The suspense didn’t build. I figured out what was going on almost right from the very beginning and was disappointed when I was right. Where is the imagination? And I am not one to try and figure out what is going on, I rather just let the story wash over me and experience it as I’m reading. The characters were weak. I didn’t understand their motivation for anything they did, so I found them unbelievable. I really didn’t care what happened to Samuel, his mother, Ruth - not invested at all. The writing felt forced and contrived. It dragged for me quite a bit and all of that would have been forgiven if it had a great ending. But the ending was hardly great.

I’m sorry to say, this is a pass for me.

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