THANK YOU!

I just wanted to say a big thank you to anyone who visited this blog. I didn't do anything too fancy with this blog. I had always intended for it to be more than what it was. But whatever it was, served its function. It allowed me to get started, practice using my voice and given me the confidence to forge ahead in a new direction. 

You can now find me at www.pinkpurlandprose.com. This will be my second act. I'm hoping there will be a third and fourth - just like in my real life. It will be more of what I had wanted for this one. I will talk about my cancer experience and what I have learned and am still learning from it all. It will incorporate my knitting - which also had an Act I as Pattyknits. And, of course, I will still talk about my books. I am so happy to look back and see what I have been able to accomplish. First, I am just so happy to be able to read again. Second, so grateful that it has propelled me to continue on in another capacity.

So, don't be shy. Come over and check me out on my new site at www.pinkpurlandprose.com. Don't forget to leave a comment and let me know you arrived!


Pattyknits - Girlsound - Pink Purl and Prose
aka Patty💕

Review: Blackberry and Wild Rose

Blackberry and Wild Rose by Sonia Velton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing and Sonia Velton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

This story is inspired from the real life of Anna Maria Garthwaite, a prominent designer of Spitalfields silks in the mid-eighteenth century. This story tells the tale of two characters, Esther and Sara who come from very different worlds. Esther is married to a Hugenot master silk weaver and although she is kept busy doing charity work and running the household, she craves something more. She loves to paint but what she really wants to do is design silks. But these are not times when women should want things and Esther has not done her most important job, which is to bear children, especially a son. Only a son can inherit his father’s trade and making silks has been in the Thorel family for generations. Sara, on the other hand, has been sent by her mother to London to try and make a better life for herself. She is quickly taken advantage of and before she even knows what is happening to her becomes a prostitute. Sara also yearns for more and doesn’t see why she shouldn’t have a good life. One day Esther takes notice of Sara and reaches out to help her. Sara goes to work for the Thorels and before long becomes Esther’s lady maid. This is not the life Sara envisioned for herself, emptying her lady’s chamber pot and doesn’t understand why, because of birth, she is relegated to a life of servitude. Esther is so ignorant of Sara’s life, yet she also wants to break out of the chains set upon her by the world. Esther dares to take up with Lambert, who is using Mr. Thorel’s loom to create his masterpiece and hopefully one day become a master weaver. Slowly he teaches Esther how to create a pattern and weave silk. Both woman yearn for a different life, but can they make it happen?

This one caught me by surprise. I wasn’t quite sure what I was in for but boy was I surprised. Then, to find out that it was inspired by real events - really incredible. This story is beautifully laid out, really exploring both women’s desires and the many sides there are to women. Velton stays true to their characters and never do they fall into some neat package, behaving as you would expect. You have the class struggle between Sara and Esther. Esther feels Sara should be so grateful to her for “rescuing” her, but Sara has a different perspective. Both women are pushing back against the narrow role of women in that century and have forward thinking views. The men in their lives, sadly, don’t care to see them for anything other than what they should be. So you have all of these different things at play and as a backdrop you have a volatile story of the weavers revolting against the masters. There is a strict hierarchy of weavers, similar to class structure and Lambert is striving to be something more. Then the master weavers are trying to keep their trade alive amongst the influx of new fabrics from India and China. I loved learning about the silk trade and never does the story become convoluted. There is a clear pace that accelerates with the heightened fervour of the tradesmen with time running out for both Sara and Esther. I enjoyed this read so much and was very engrossed in the story. Strong writing kept this story intact and I couldn’t put it down.

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Review: 30 Amazing Loom Knits: Patterns for Scarves, Hats, Mittens, Bags & Shawls * Cables, Colorwork & Lace * Plus All the Basics

30 Amazing Loom Knits: Patterns for Scarves, Hats, Mittens, Bags & Shawls * Cables, Colorwork & Lace * Plus All the Basics by Nicole F Cox
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Rowman & Littlefield, and Nicole F. Cox for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

I have always wanted to learn how to do loom knitting. For some reason I can’t wrap my brain around it. It seems like it should be easy. You have the pegs, the yarn, the crochet hook to lift the yarn up and around. I can knit and crochet and understand the way the yarn works to create the different stitches, but somehow when it comes to the pegs, I just can’t do it.

I was hoping that this book might do the trick. I thought maybe I might be able to get a handle on loom knitting. This book includes many, if not all, beginner patterns, made up of accessories. I found lots of great hats, wristers, and one really cool wrap that is made from three triangles. The patterns include lots of techniques like brioche, multicolour, argyle, fair isle, lace and others that make them interesting and unique. There are lots of beautiful pictures of the finished products, but be prepared. The patterns don’t include anything other than instructions that assume you know how to use the loom. There is a section in the back that does include instructions for loom knitting with illustrations. It shows casting on, binding off, the stitches themselves and there is another section for any special skills that you might need that are included in the patterns. But I still couldn’t make head nor tails from it. I had hoped that the pattern would include illustration of how to use the loom for that pattern and hopefully I could make my way from the easier ones to the harder ones. No such luck!

I haven’t given up. I think if I watch some You Tube videos of how to do loom knitting, I might get the hang of it. Once I get the hang of how to make a rectangle, or a tube, then I will be able to go back and maybe make some of these lovely patterns. Good luck to those loom knitters out there. I think there is lots to enjoy in this book, but I’m not ready for it. Yet!

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Review: Little Darlings

Little Darlings by Melanie Golding
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Melanie Golding for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

Lauren has just given birth to twins. She is waiting for that “feeling” that she expected would happen once her babies were born. That love and strong bond, but it just isn’t there. She is exhausted, in pain and sleep deprived. But is she also crazy? She doesn’t know herself anymore. She was sure that there was this strange woman who wanted to trade one baby with her. But she understands why everyone is saying that it wasn’t possible. She was sure she saw the same woman again, in her backyard, threatening to take both babies from her. But, again, her husband couldn’t find anyone. She didn’t mean to fall asleep at the park, but she did. And someone stole her babies. Yes, two babies have been returned to her, but those aren’t her children. Hers are gone. And the only way she can get them back is to put these changelings back in the river that they came from.

Be ready to be scared. Serious warning and if you are a new mother, you might want to pass on this one until a later date. I loved a lot in this story. It had the creep factor, the unsteadiness of never really knowing what was going on. I thought that Golding did a great job of keeping you guessing as to whether or not this was evil, postpartum depression, or whether Lauren has really just gone crazy. There is always a valid reason why this would all be in her head. We also know the effects of not getting enough sleep and Lauren is not getting any sleep. Her husband happens to be a crappy person and I would have loved to know what their marriage was like before she got pregnant. The draw on folklore was so interesting and added the tie to history that gave credence to the whole story. Lauren was a complex character and it was difficult to pin her down which kept the mystery of what was really going on. I couldn’t imagine. Golding really made the revulsion of having to hold these things, while trying to make everyone believe that she was fine, was excellent.

I will admit that one night I was petrified to go to bed. I mean real intense fear. So I stopped reading it at night. I did find a little lull about two thirds of the way through, I think, because it became repetitive. But overall a great read.

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Review: Big Yarn, Beautiful Lace Knits: 20 Shawls, Hats, Ponchos, and More in Bulky Yarn

Big Yarn, Beautiful Lace Knits: 20 Shawls, Hats, Ponchos, and More in Bulky Yarn by Barbara Benson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Rowman & Littlefield and Barbara Benson for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

I am basically a self taught knitter. My mom showed my how to hold the needles (incorrectly), the knit and purl stitch and off I went. I knit ferociously and with a passion. My mom didn’t know how to read a pattern, so I just taught myself. I followed instructions, figured out how to read charts, stitches, etc. I didn’t know enough to be afraid of a pattern. There was no such thing as too hard. Multiple colours, difficult shaping, cables, I did it all. I had no understanding of yarn, the different weights, textures, or gauge. Yes, occasionally things didn’t come out the right size, but overall it was a success. What is interesting is the more I learned, the less adventurous I became. Now I tend to shy away from patterns that I would have easily completed before.

All this to say that I used big yarn to knit lace patterns. I never knew that it was “wrong”. So it was funny to read the introduction to this book and find Benson talking about her big “what if” discovery in 2017 for using big yarn for lace patterns. If I had known it was such a discovery, I would have written this book years ago! There is a quick introduction on how to deal with lace patterns. There are some unique aspects that are useful to know before beginning. There are 20 patterns included in this book, but if you are looking for anything other than accessories you aren’t going to find it here. This is a throw, one vest, but no sweaters at all. For me, that is a little disappointing. To be fair, she states in the title that the patterns are shawls, hats and ponchos and more, I was hoping for a little of the more. Regardless, there are some cute patterns. Almost everything is done on circular needles so you should know how to join in the round. This does make for less finishing. Also to note, there a few patterns that don’t include written instructions, charts only. On my kindle version the charts didn’t show. I’m not sure why but I would be wary of that. She does offer some ideas on how to modify the patterns which is nice. For example, how to add a brim to a hat if you like that better. Nothing groundbreaking but a nice touch.

For me, I found this just to be okay. If you are a beginner or are not comfortable with knitting lace, I’m not sure this is the book to show you how. There aren’t any illustrated diagrams to help, however, there are beautiful photos of the finished product. I found the written instructions for the patterns more convoluted than they needed to be and hard to follow. I think it best to have some knitting experience to use this book or you might get frustrated. The selection of patterns are accessories which, for me, isn’t that appealing. My favourite pattern was the signet throw which was outstanding and so beautiful. For those that like accessories and have some knowledge of knitting lace but would like a book to map out the specifics in a pattern, this might be right up your alley.

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Review: Mirror, Mirror

Mirror, Mirror by Jen Calonita
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Disney Book Group and Jen Calonita for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.


If you know the story of Snow White, then you know what to expect in this retell of the fairy tale, There are a few tweaks to the original Disney tale that some are calling a modern twist, but it didn’t go far enough for me. I know I am in the minority as most people loved the book. I expected more. If you are calling this series “A Twisted Tale” then I want some real twists. If not twists, then explore the characters so that they have depth and range. There are so many ways this could have gone, but it really is almost exactly like the original.

I found the character of Snow White to be as bland as every other version where she is sunshine personified, never has a bad thought, birds flock to her and is so sickly sweet, I can’t stand it. Really!!! We are still dealing with this trope? You are left alone, not allowed to speak to anyone for years and nothing?? The Evil Queen is still evil, but why? This was a missed opportunity. There is some background that sort of explains her path to the castle but I felt it could have gone much further into the psyche of why she became The Evil Queen. Having the prince bite the apple wasn’t enough of a twist for because it came right at the end and it didn’t reshape the story in any way. The prince was still charming and rescued Snow and Snow was still Snow.

I did read that someone said this was for middle grade children. I went in thinking this was a YA novel. Maybe I expected too much. This is also a Disney novel and this story does mostly follow the movie version of the fairy tale. I’m not sure how much Disney is going to flip it on its head. Still, I had hoped for more.


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Review: 365 Ways to Beat Stress

365 Ways to Beat Stress by Adam Gordon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Watkins Publishing and Adam Gordon for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

This is a much better selection than the 365 Ways for Peace that I recently reviewed. I found that these selections were much more useful and more meaningful ways to decrease stress in your life. These are not quotations or selections from famous thinkers but rather concrete ideas on what you can do tomorrow to affect change. In the introduction, Gordon states that he thought it impossible that there could be 365 ways to destress, but now he realizes there are hundreds of ways. I found that an odd statement, but yes, I agree, there are so many small things you can do that really can have a profound impact. Obviously some are easier than others, some easier for some people and harder for others, some short term and some long term, but I found lots that I could implement into my life.

There are lots of groupings from how to start your day, things you can do at work, dealing with emotions, past traumas, ways to destress your body. How to put ease your mind, create a calm home, ideas to become more creative and how to end your day. Some are obvious and I have heard many times before in other sources and some are good reminders. Some of the ones I loved are: imagine six impossible things before breakfast, wake up as if you have amnesia and can’t remember any of your past mistakes, etc., think how you can give joy to at least one person today. Some are quiet simple like breath (a yoga breath) ten times before you get out of bed, open the window and take a breath of fresh air, walk a pretty route. Some are very practical like be mindful of money, or choose one day a week to not spend any money. So overall not a bad selection, I think there’s something for everyone, but nothing earth shattering or groundbreaking.

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Review: The Mother-in-Law

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Sally Hepworth for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

Lucy’s mother died when she was young and although she had a loving father, she missed those things that only a mother could provide. When she fell in love with Ollie, she had high expectations for a “best friends” relationship with his mother. She was hoping Diana would fill in and become the mother she never had. As you can surmise, that was not the case. But when Diana dies, the police soon discover that her suicide might just be a cover for murder. Who wanted Diana dead?

I have the amazing fortune of having not one but two mother-in-laws. I know, right? #soblessed. Ya, maybe not so much. Honestly, I have a wonderful stepmother-in-law and am really grateful for her. She has been wonderful and has gone above and beyond for me and my kids. So part of me was hoping for this read to have a vicious mother-in-law, one who I could get on board hating and having her murdered, perhaps, by her daughter-in-law. Nothing like living vicariously through characters in a book! I wanted witty repartee, a husband caught in the middle, maybe a sly woman that whispers nasty comments when no one is looking, driving the daughter-in-law slowly crazy. Ya, that didn’t happen.

Told in alternating perspectives between Lucy and Diana, it switches from past to present. If you don’t want a huge spoiler, don’t read the names of the chapters - ucchh what a way to ruin the ending. Lucy is soft, sweet and insecure, and realistically, no one could have filled her naive expectations. Diana, by contrast, is tough and comes from the school of hard knocks. She has no respect for Lucy because Lucy can’t do anything herself. But this really isn’t a battle between mother and daughter-in-laws. Diana treats everyone equally, including her own children. She is who she is. She doesn’t want to give unfair advantages to her children, she wants them to be strong and stand on their own two feet. The same goes for Lucy. Diana feels Lucy has a privileged life, being a stay at home mother and Lucy can’t get it together. But she isn’t any meaner toward her than anyone else. They are both at fault for not communicating with each other, accepting each other for who they are and not one of them will utter so much as a “Thank You”. But as far as a nightmare of a mother-in-law, Diana doesn’t even rate. I have read, seen and experienced worse.

For me, the characters were awful. I couldn’t relate to any of them. What a bunch of weak, one dimensional, cardboard cutouts. Diana’s husband, Tom, is like the fool who just wants to be liked by everyone, constantly going behind his wife’s back and not caring how his actions affect anyone else’s relationships. Ollie, Lucy’s husband, can’t be honest with his own wife and is so stupid he doesn’t even know when someone is stealing from him. I could go on, but I’d rather not. I didn’t like anybody that much that I care to rehash them here. The mystery part of the novel didn’t work for me either. There was no suspense, no build up, no wondering who did it, it just was and then it was over. So a bunch of spoiled brats, who didn’t inherit a bunch of money they were waiting for and then it was over. At least it was a short novel.
Sorry, not for me.

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Review: A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World

A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C.A. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many Thanks to NetGalley, Orbit Books and C.A. Fletcher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

There is a note from C.A. Fletcher that says, and I’m paraphrasing, that is would be a kindness to other readers that the discoveries you make while you follow Griz’s journey remain a secret between us, meaning the reader and Fletcher. Who am I to go against an author’s wishes, and after reading, I understand why he is making this request. I almost think this is a disservice to categorize it as science fiction/fantasy genre, because there are readers, yes I know hard to believe, that will discount a book simply because they don’t “enjoy” that genre. I am telling you, this book is a must read, for everyone, no matter what genre you think you read. It is about love, family, loyalty, doing the right thing even when it is hard and all sorts of other things that make it so much more than a stereotypical science fiction/fantasy novel.

If you haven’t gathered, I loved everything about this book. I really found it compelling, suspenseful, touching, endearing and everything else you might want in a novel. It has adventure and heart. I think kids of all ages will enjoy this but there are scary parts, so sensitive kids and the young should wait to read this one. There are so many ways I could use this in a classroom setting, I would pick this as a classroom novel and do a whole unit on this. It is so rich. There are so many themes to explore, and it brings up so many questions, I would love to do this with a classroom of kids and hear their ideas. Griz is a noble character with great qualities and equally great flaws. The pacing of the book is tense and exciting. The story is one that will stay with me and I will be sorry to say goodbye to the characters.

Do yourself a favour - child, young adult, or adult and pick this one up.

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Review: The Devouring Gray

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Disney Book Group and Christine Lynn Herman for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

Are you ready for what’s in The Gray? It is haunting and horrifying. It sent shivers down my spine and made me pull up the covers a little tighter and I loved every second of it. I read this all in one shot - I couldn’t put it down and I enjoyed every second of it.

The writing is gorgeous, evocative, descriptive. The contrast between the forest that surrounds the town, the green of the trees, the smell of the leaves, compared to the gray where there is an absence of sound, breath and colour. Don’t forget those bodies turned inside out and upside down. We never get a clear picture of the monster, but its personality is just outside of our grasp. So frightening for Violet who had no frame of reference for what was happening, thrown into the gray. I love that the outsider, Violet, is the moral compass. She can see so clearly what is wrong because of her fresh perspective. The others have been bogged down by history and responsibility. Their grooves already dug out for them. Such a clear picture emerges of the town of Four Paths, off the beaten path, a place where everyone knows its secrets, where strangers aren’t welcome. You can feel the smallness of the town, the expectations and judgement palpable. Imagine a high school where there aren’t enough seniors to make a class and kids who have been together their whole lives. Yet, Herman introduces the fluidity of their sexuality without it being a thing if you are bisexual, gay or straight. The four teens who have to right the wrongs of their parents, fix the mistakes of the past and forge their own way forward. Can they? Or will they, too, find themselves seduced by power.

There is so much in this book, great relationships between characters, magical realism, and a good old fashioned scary story with things that go bump in the night. Bonus were the amazing illustrations at the beginning of each chapter!

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Review: The Astral Traveler's Daughter

The Astral Traveler's Daughter by K.C. Archer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and K.C. Archer for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

This sequel picks up right where the first book left off. Teddy and her friends are beginning their second year at the Whitfield Institute for psychics. This year they are learning how to use their unique abilities to intuit events from an inanimate object. Teddy was secretly given her mother’s necklace from Yates, whom she doesn’t trust. In Teddy’s private lessons, Clint has been teaching her to astral plane which allows her to leave her body and observe things that have happened in the past. Teddy is still plagued by not knowing whether or not her mother set off a bomb in New York City many years ago. She just can’t believe that her mother was a willing participant in the vigilante group the Patriot Corps. Her best friend Jillian has fallen in love with a cargo-shorts wearing boy who Teddy can’t stand. Jillian has been taking all kinds of risks for her new boyfriend and his animal rights activism. Things have been heating up between Teddy and Pyro and not just because he controls fire! She has been put on special assignment to protect Miles Whitfield, the grandson of Hollis Whitfield. While astral planing she discovers that Whitfield has been developing a drug to control psychics. Is the school just a front? Who, from the school is involved? What move will the Patriot Corps try next? How is this related to her mother and Sector 3? Teddy is hiding way too many secrets from everyone and if she isn’t careful, she will be putting everything on the line to get the answers she needs.

First off, I think that if you haven’t read the first one in this series, you might have a hard time with this one. I read the first one a while ago and even I had a hard time getting into it, because I couldn’t remember all the details from the first book. There are a number of different stories going on this time around, but Archer does a great job of connecting them all together. I never felt lost or overwhelmed. Nick is out of the picture and there is a small romance with Pyro, but I thought that more could have been done with that storyline. Okay, I need the romance. It keeps things spicy! The friend group is really fractured this time, so I didn’t feel the camaraderie the same way as in the first book. That detracted a bit for me. I really like all the psychic stuff and what they were learning in school. Less time could have been spent on their summer and more focus on the school would have made it more interesting for me. I wasn’t ready to give that part up just yet. I really liked the addition of the new character Miles and that storyline. I’m not sure how much character development happened in this book, compared to the first.

I loved the first book. I really liked the second book. Looking forward to seeing what happens in the next one in the series!

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Review: 365 Ways to Find Peace

365 Ways to Find Peace by Marcus Braybrooke
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Watkins Publishing and Marcus Braybrooke for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

This book contains 365 sayings from around the globe, from all different sources. You have Buddha to Bhagavad Gita, the bible, the Torah and the Koran. From Eastern philosophies and Indian philosophies to ancient philosophers like Dante, Aristotle and Plato. Poems and sayings from other folk who we have come to see as wise like Thich Nhat Hanh and Anne Frank. These contributions include poems, sayings, -isms and short stories, all around the idea of peace.

This is the kind of book that I usually gravitate towards. Something that I can pick up and read at my leisure, either a few snippets or whole sections. Something I can come back to over and over again. With all of these wise sources you would think that there would be so many little gems. Many of the sources I know and have read their works before. Most I admired, not all, but still there is so much wisdom to pull from. Unfortunately, I personally did not relate to most of what was in this book. I didn’t find the quotes inspiring, thoughtful, meditative or peaceful. Some confused me and I just kept thinking with all the wise things these people have said, this is what you chose?

Sorry, this is a pass for me.

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Review: The Ghost Manuscript

The Ghost Manuscript by Kris Frieswick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Post Hill Press and Kris Frieswick for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

An ancient manuscript that hold the secrets to King Arthur’s tomb? A ghost of the monk who fought by King Arthur’s side and laid him to rest, leading you to a secret location? A monk who appears because you are sniffing the ancient manuscript and it contains spores that bring on hallucinations? How about a handsome, sexy man to help you on your quest. Get ready for an rousing read that takes you on the adventure to find the tomb of King Arthur. This story reminded me of a mash-up between The DaVinci Code and an Indiana Jones type story. You have clues from an ancient manuscript, the promise of ancient artifacts, the race to get there while being chased by bad guys while you decipher the clues to find the treasure. There’s lots of globe hopping, suspense and drama with a little romance in the mix. It is highly entertaining with characters who come to life off the page.

Carys works for an esteemed auction house and is tasked with cataloguing a client’s library. Many of the items in the library were ones she had sourced out herself. But when the old man himself tells her of this secret manuscript that leads to the tomb of King Arthur, Carys can’t help but get caught up in the solving the mystery. She isn’t the only one on the hunt, someone is trying to kill her. The clues lead her to her home country, Wales, where she enlists the help of a handsome local, Dafyyd. Oh, and get this, she loves to sniff the old manuscript, which gives her a sort of high and she begins to see a dead monk, who speaks to her in old Latin and helps lead her from clue to clue. The journey is exciting, the action drives the story at a fast pace but it is the relationships between the characters that give the story depth and keeps you invested in what happens.

I really enjoyed this read. There were so many different elements that could have been overwhelming or too scattered but somehow Frieswick managed to keep it cohesive and make it all work. The characters were well drawn and had interesting back stories that had me rooting for them. The romance fit very well within the storyline and spiced things up just enough. I loved reading about Wales and found the land very captivating. The whodunit part had a nice twist at the end. My only uncomfortable part was when it went back to the States and dealt with Native Americans. You’ll understand what I mean when you get to that part. Overall a good solid read.

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Review: Bloodleaf

Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My thanks to NetGalley, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group, and Crystal Smith for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

Prepare to enter a beautiful, harsh world where magic is forbidden and to practice the ancient ways means certain death. Princess Aurelia can feel the magic coursing through her veins and to survive a coup for her throne she must escape to the neighbouring city of Achleva and pose as a commoner until she can figure out who is friend or foe. Led by a Harbinger, a terrifying ghost, who leads her along with clues, Aurelia tries to understand and use her magic to help unlock the secrets of both cities. Along the way she falls in love with a man forbidden to her, as she is already promised to someone else. She must put her family and the crown ahead of all her desires. Loosely based on the fairy tale “The Goose Girl”, Crystal Smith’s debut novel is a rich story that will satisfy any fantasy reader.

This world is truly incredible. You have the blend of feudal law, which exacts a strict and often violent penalty for any infraction. You have the political machinations of different factions trying to gain power. There is the royalty structure which has kings and queens and princesses who are promised in marriage to a prince that they don’t even know. The paranormal elements of the ghosts who know too much and want to communicate with the living. Lastly you have the magic, “blood” magic that extracts a cost to those who draw on its power. Smith does an amazing job of combining all of these elements together to create this fantastical world. Inside of this world are colourful characters that come to life. The best treat is a strong female lead who must fend for herself while she is still discovering who she is. To sweep you off your feet is a love story that is like the cherry on top. Gives you all sorts of good feels.

I found that this was a strong addition to what is getting to be a crowded field. I really found myself carried away with the story and had a huge smile at the end. Yup, colour me sucker for a great ending. Can’t wait for the next one in the series!

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Review: Before She Knew Him

Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Faber and Faber and Peter Swanson for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

What we have here is a good old fashioned psychological thriller that finally lives up to the hype. I’m late in the game for Peter Swanson books but now that I have read this one, I’m checking out all his other books. Wow, can he write. Great characters, clear storyline with lots of surprises and a build up of suspense that propels you forward until the end. You almost want to slow it down, draw it out because even though you want to know what happens, you don’t want it to be over.

There are lots of places you can read a recap of the story, and they do a much better job than I would be able to do so please go and check those out. I’m just going to lay it out a bit differently. You have the main character Hen. She is an artist who makes really creepy art, which ties in with her fascination with death and all things morbid. She also happens to be bi-polar and has, in the past, experienced manic episodes. Once she ended up hospitalized after she became obsessed with a neighbourhood boy’s murder. With her meds corrected and a move to a new area, she and her husband, Lloyd, are looking for a fresh start. I didn’t much care for Lloyd’s character, his personality didn’t seem to stand out one way or the other. He seems to be this perennial nice guy, that does everything right, supportive, loves his wife and has stood by her through her mental health issues. Then you have their neighbours, Mira and Matthew. Mira seems a little desperate to make friends, a little uncomfortable with her husband, and a lot insecure. Matthew is the other main character and Hen suspects him to be a murderer. We get to learn a lot about Matthew and what makes him tick.

So, there were at least a couple of times that I though I had this story figured out. At first I almost didn’t finish it because I thought “Uch - here is one of those books where Hen will slowly descend into crazyville, no one will believe her because of her past, the murderer will play mind games with her and it will take the whole book to figure out that either Matthew or Mira is the murderer. But just when you think you have this book figured out, zup, left turn. Swanson takes us in a new direction. I so appreciated being kept on my toes. I figured out the last twist but it didn’t detract from the experience. It was dark, scary and thrilling. I found the main characters fully realized and complex and you get a sense of them as a whole person.

As any good psychological thriller should, there was lots of suspense and fast paced action to keep you interested right to the end. Do yourself a favour and pick this one up. It is a really great read and something a little different than the normal fare, which is so refreshing. I really enjoyed it.


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Review: The Dysasters

The Dysasters by P.C. Cast
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and P.C. and Kristin Cast for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

Guys, I really wanted to like this one. It checked a lot of my boxes. Kids with cool powers - check, mad scientist mutates DNA - check, secret island slash training facility - check, a little romance action - check, written by an author whose other works I like - check, was in the mood and looking forward to reading it - check, check, check. Not what I was hoping for. I found the premise played out, the characters cardboard cut-outs and nothing about the action interesting enough to keep me hooked. It was easy to read and although I never had the urge to give up, or not finish, I just plodded along, hoping it would get better, then realizing yeah, that wasn’t gonna happen, and like a kid on a long car ride I kept asking “are we there yet” waiting to arrive at the destination. Look, I don’t mind familiar, or done before as long as the how-you-get-there is interesting.

Foster and Tate are on the run and trying to stay one step ahead of Foster’s father and his four minions. Foster’s adoptive mother has spent the last year and a half teaching Foster how to stay off the grid and before her tragic death made Foster promise to protect Tate, find the safe house and locate six other teenagers who are also in danger. It turns out that Foster and Tate share more than a birthday. They also can control the element air. Each pair of the other teenagers will also come into their powers on their eighteenth birthday and be able to control one of the elements. Foster’s father, who was a brilliant scientist, did some experimenting while they were in-utero and modified their genetic make-up. Now he wants to kidnap the kids, study them on his secret remote island and exploit them for their powers. Can Foster and Tate stay safe? Will they be able to learn how to use their powers without causing weather disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes? Can they find the other kids in time?

This reminded me so much of “I Am Number Four”. There are small differences like Foster, Tate and the other kids are human, but they are all alone in the world, with no one to guide them. They have this power that has always been calling to them that they haven’t yet got under control. They make friends who will help them in their journey. They are on the run and must hide who they are. I found the romance between Foster and Tate inconsistent, unbelievable, uncomfortable and kind of icky. I think I didn’t respond to the writing. I am also tired and just plain angry when the misunderstood, alone in the world, girl has to be written as bitchy until she is understood, or she lets her walls down or whatever other nonsense. What was missing that I Am Number Four had was really evil and violent people chasing them and super cool monsters that got in on the fighting. These thirty year old whiners behaved worse than the children they were chasing and again the writing flip flopped between do we not like them or are we supposed to feel sorry for them. Overall, more danger to create some tensions, more connection or build up for the romance (I mean can they at least like each other before they fall in love) and some sort of super cool effects (if no monsters) would have really upped the ante in this story.

You know when you read a book and then see the movie and the movie is such a disappointment. This is one of those cases where I think the movie might be better than the book. Now, to my knowledge, no one is making the movie. In case anyone cares about my two cents, I think it would make a really good movie, if done well, a really great movie. The book, however, was just a yawn-fest. Am I going to check out the next in the series - you know me too well. But I will only go one more round. There are just too many other really good books out there, waiting for me to discover. But one more in the series, just in case things get interesting.

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Review: The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One

The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One by Amanda Lovelace
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing and Amanda Lovelace for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy. Rating 3.5 stars.

This is the third volume of poetry from Amanda Lovelace and 13 other guest artists and is the final offering that follow the “women are some kind of magic” theme. In this one the mermaid has found her voice…

“nobody
has
the right
to lure
your voice
out of
you-

not
even if
they’re
a sea witch
looking
to make
a bargain”

The poetry deals with heavy subjects like sexual assault, violence, death, and child abuse, but really relates to all kinds of trauma. I don’t think you have to have necessarily have to have gone through something horrendous to get these poems. Just being a woman qualifies you get it. I love taking these fairy tale tropes that we have all grown up with and turning them on their heads, challenging them. A castle or a cell - both can be cages. Some of the poems I loved, some were okay, some pulled at my heart strings, others broke my heart, some spoke to me. My favourite:

“trauma didn’t change you all at once
it carved slowly every day
like rivers do
it was patient while it hollowed you out

so it’s a sculptor or it’s a knife
you take your pain and you other it
you give it a new name
and a new face

you say this might have helped shape me
it it is not a part of me

you say i meant to break open
to make room for stars”

untitled by trista mateer

Lovelace encourages us not to stay silent and to write your own story. Find your voice and state your truth. Any way you see fit. I will add, whether you decide to share it or not. Shout it from the mountain tops or lock it up and throw away the key. It can be a valuable path to healing. That is what these women share in this volume, it might help you.

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Review: Beginner's Guide to Colorwork Knitting: 16 Projects and Techniques to Learn to Knit with Color

Beginner's Guide to Colorwork Knitting: 16 Projects and Techniques to Learn to Knit with Color by Ella Austin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ella Austin and Sewandso Publications for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

At first glance there didn’t seem to be too much to this book. I have read quite a few books on colour knitting as of late and most have been disappointing. The patterns in this book were okay, some were things I liked and would want to knit, but there didn’t seem to be enough ones I liked to warrant buying the whole book. But as I started to read through I realized that Austin has done an incredible job as far as giving thorough explanations and explicit diagrams. Every detail including finishing techniques, combining different colours, creating beautiful colour patterns and intricate colour techniques are explained in such an easy and clear manner even things I already knew how to do seemed clearer and made more sense to me. The diagrams are also unique in that they show exactly what she is talking about. I’m not sure if it is just more steps or a different way of showing them, but again, even things I have been doing seemed easier to understand.

Even though there are some patterns I might not be interested in, I think I would make every pattern in the book because Austin has a step by step plan of increasing your colour work skills. Each pattern adds one more skill and I think it is worth the practice. There is an opening section describing colour, how they work together, which ones are warm or cool, different hues, etc. and to be honest, I only understood some of it. The easier concepts I understood but it got too technical or complicated for me. If I were planning my own colour work project from scratch, I would have to go back and use it as a reference to see if they worked together properly. I don’t really feel confident on that part. However, because Austin has explained how the colours work in each project, I would be more comfortable starting with colour substitutions for the patterns. She does an excellent job of combining theory with practice with lots of tutorials. There is also the prerequisite chapters on needles, stitches, reading charts and anything else that you would need in order to make any of her patterns.

I have always shied away from colour projects but I think with this book I would feel comfortable adding this technique to my knitting.

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Review: Chocolate Cream Pie Murder

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Joanna Fluke, and Kensington Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

I am not sure what happened with this book. I have read many others in this series and have had various degrees of enjoyment. I know what to expect so I am not comparing this to some highbrow literature and expecting the get the same experience. Sometimes you just want what you want and the ease of reading, the expectation of how it is going to go, the familiarity of the characters are all I wanted when I opened up this book. And I knew I would get at least a chocolate cream pie recipe out it!

But this stunk! I really didn’t enjoy it at all. I’m so sorry to say this but it was a big disappointment. It opens up with Hannah having to apologize to her community announcing that her marriage was over. Not just over but Norman, the man she married had fooled her and was already married to someone else, nullifying her marriage. Eventually Norman gets murdered and it has to be solved. But this book went nowhere. There really wasn’t a story. Halfway through there wasn’t even a murder to solve. It was mostly Hannah with her neighbours making recipes. It was beyond fluff. Everyone was sickly sweet to each other. How can everyone be in such a good mood and so nice to each other all of the time. They were constantly coming up with new recipes. It sort of went like Oh there’s pineapple and mint and Brussel sprouts in your fridge so I’m going to make a new kind of muffin for the store to sell and aren’t they so delicious! Everyone gets to “test” out the new creation and it is always amazing. Also these people would be 300 pounds if they ate the way they did in this book. They are always drinking coffee and eating plates full of cookies, muffins and cakes. They hardly eat a real meal with vegetables! It was so out of the realm of believable and the characters so cardboard I couldn’t stand it! As I said, I understand the premise of these books but somehow this time, it just didn’t work for me.

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Review: Everyday Yoga Meditation

Everyday Yoga Meditation by Stephen Sturgess
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Watkins Publishing and Stephen Sturgess for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

This is a comprehensive guide to yoga poses, yoga breathing and anything else you would need to complete your yoga practice. Really incredible!! It comes complete with descriptions and illustrations for everything that it discusses. The focus is on Raja Yoga or the yoga of meditation. We get a little theory that is relevant and makes the connection as to why it is important to make this part of every day. Once you understand the philosophy of the importance of quieting your mind and looking inside, the yoga poses make more sense and take on a higher purpose. He covers everything from the eight limbs, chakras, asanas, pranayama, and so much more. There is whole chapter on how to sit! He talks about the positioning of your hands (and other body parts), how to warm up and breaks down the sun salutation. There a couple of sequences that he lays out as well as a cool down. He also gives you the tools and recipes of how to create complete routines on your own. There is also chapters on meditation, chanting and so much more. What I found unique in his book, was the complete explanation of breathing techniques. Having taken yoga for a number of years now, I was a little confused about a certain technique and honestly, his explanation really cleared it up for me. Overall, I understood so much more about my practice and what my teachers have been doing all this time! This is something I will read again and keep on hand. The illustrations are clear and informative. Again, if you are a newbie, you must get into a class or find a teacher, because you can’t just learn yoga from a book. But it sure does help to have it explained in clear diagrams and easy to understand language. I appreciate that you can take what you have learned and put it into practice and build on it all on your own. Really great read, I learned so much.

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Review: Apocalypse Five

Apocalypse Five by Stacey Rourke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you to Black Spot Books and Stacey Rourke for providing my with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy. Rating 3.5 stars.

In the future everything is hunky dory on earth but doomsday is near. Luckily we have military space force to thank for it. Not just any military force, but an army of children. They live on a starship and we follow their every movement on television. We see them train, eat, play and the highlight is when they are sent on fake missions. They are the celebrities of the future. Formed in groups of five, these kids are televised in brutal combat against humanoids. These missions are so intense that often real death occurs. Meet Apocalypse Five. Lauded as the heroes they are, they have survived together longer than any other group. Led by Detroit, a seventeen year old girl, they discover that not everything is as it seems. Betrayed by their own and labelled as rebels, they escape to earth to discover that the apocalypse has arrived and there are only a smattering of people left trying to survive. The team is determined to hold by their mission which has always been to protect the people of earth. Now they just have to find a way to survive themselves.

This was a great read. I loved the camaraderie of the group. It reminded me of the Avengers where they have friendly banter, undying loyalty, self sacrificing heroism and smouldering good looks all rolled up into one. There is the prerequisite romance that is very PG. The only part that weirded me out was that the twins were 13 years old! The romance is between older kids (seventeen) but still, any sort of romance, or thinking about how “sexy” their bodies are is weird when you are talking about children. The book is faced paced, with exciting things always happening and the plot moves forward making you want to keep reading. I loved the whole world that Rourke built, with the different factions on earth and the military world above. You have the exploitation on having them on TV and making their violent world glamorized. I had a couple of issues with it. One, the premise is a bit shaky. I won’t get into too much detail so as not to reveal any spoilers, but just the whole set up of where are all these kids coming from to be cadets seemed odd and I kept poking holes in it. But if you sort of leave it alone and just accept it and move on, the rest is well built. I also felt there were some writing issues. I thought it couldn’t have been tightened up and there were similar phrases that Rourke tends to use and it became repetitive. That being said, I still really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

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Review: The Psychology of Time Travel

The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Kate Mascarenhas for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

In Kate Mascarenhas fantasy novel, four women join forces in 1967 to develop the technology of time travel. Mascarenhas has created an intricate world where time travel becomes its own industry. Her rules have been meticulously thought out and whether it is because of her scientific research, her understanding of the corporate world and her grasp of human nature to invent such a complex but completely believable world. I’ll let you in on some of the more unique details in this story, without divulging any spoilers that might ruin the mystery. You can’t travel further back in time then when the machine was invented. So smart, because it limits what would be endless possibilities and takes away the pesky issue of having to do a bunch of historical research. She has worked out a whole fuel plot point, that again makes perfect sense, even bringing in the idea of re-using fuel. In this world, you can not only meet yourself, but can have a number of different versions of yourself running around in any one timeline. How travelling through time can change you as a person, you ability to empathize and how it messes up your whole concept of death. You can know what happens in the future, but can never change events. The military, just as in real life, gets involved right away in the technology. Time travel becomes a huge industry, almost a world unto itself, where it has its own money and even its own justice system. I could go on and on. This attention to detail makes this world so believable and keeps your interest as a reader. You just want to keep discovering more about this world.

Then on top of this we have the mystery. Barbara, one of the original four, has a reaction of sorts to time travelling. Unfortunately, this melt down happens on the day they announce their discovery to the press and Margaret feels she has embarrassed them. Margaret convinces the other girls to kick Barbara out and they cut off communication with her. Barbara never really recovers from being ostracized and after her hospitalization keeps trying to get back in the group. Eventually she marries and her daughter has a daughter, Ruby. Now it starts to get complicated. Let’s just leave it that there is a puzzle of a murder that happens in a locked room. Barbara makes a new discovery and thinks this is her chance to finally be able to time travel once more. Ruby gets a message that Barbara will die soon and she can’t forgive the group for being so cruel to her grandmother. All of these stories, moving together, have a way of working themselves to an exciting conclusion.

For the most part, I really enjoyed this novel. Kate Mascarenhas imagination and attention to detail really are to be marvelled at. So much work went into creating such a complex story that is also heartfelt. You really are rooting for Barbara and Ruby. You can feel how twisted Margaret gets over the years. My only drawback is, with so many different moving parts and storylines, things did get bogged down for me and I started to lost interest in the middle parts. It was bound to happen. You are jumping from character to character and for a long time you don’t see the connection between them. You are also jumping from one decade to another to another. Nothing that would make me put the book down. Once I muddled through, it was worth getting to the end. There were lots of surprising bits and psychological twists that I never expected. Most importantly, the heart of the story didn’t get lost in the complex world building. I was so excited when I read the blurb about time travelling women scientists and I wasn’t disappointed.

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Review: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers by Fred Rogers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quirk Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

No matter what neighbourhood you live in, you are bound to have heard of Mr. Rogers. Fred Rogers was an incredible man, musician, puppeteer, writer, composer and children’s educator that was most famous for his television show Mister Rogers’ Neighbourhood. He revolutionized the way children’s shows reached children. He didn’t believe in turning into a different character but being realistic and speaking to children as your authentic self. He tackled many difficult subjects like racism, divorce and children with disabilities. He wrote hundreds of songs and created a whole land of make believe.

This book takes the lyrics to many of his most recognizable songs and turns them into poems, with illustrations by Luke Flowers, reminding us of Mr. Rogers’ ability to find the beauty in the most simple things. At the back there is an index of subjects that the songs/poems deal with like manners, friendship, and positivity. Some of them are so familiar I could hear the tune as I read them. Others just take you back to feeling you had when you watched him. He was a friend, a confidant, someone who knew all sides of you, the silly side, the angry, sad, and happy side. This book will introduce him to a whole new audience. It’s a timeless keepsake that you could read to your children and your grandchildren.

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Review: The Girls at 17 Swann Street

The Girls at 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Yara Zgheib for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.
Rating 4.5 stars.

The Girls at 17 Swann Street is a heart-wrenching, punch-in-the-gut, story about a young woman with anorexia. Zgheib gives an honest, raw account of the struggles that women with an eating disorder face while trying to battle this disease. This is not the first that I have read on this subject matter, as I studied and wrote about it during my academic years, but this story had a huge impact on me. I found it so effective that Zgheib chose to do it through fiction, crafting a story that looks behind the curtain, at the core of this sickness, destroying the myths that surround it, the highs and lows, and the different manifestations of the disease, the toll it takes on their bodies, their family members, and the different outcomes that may come to pass.

This is an up close and personal story of Anna, as she faces her demons, trying to get well. When we meet Anna she is 88 pounds and after passing out and being in the hospital has decided to voluntarily check herself into a home that helps women with eating disorders. There are strict rules that she must follow, with consequences if she doesn’t. For example, she must eat all of the required food, in an allotted amount of time. After three refusals you get the feeding tube (which is horrific - yuch!). Now it might not seem difficult for you or I, to eat a bagel and cream cheese within 30 minutes, but to someone who is sick, the battle of trying to force it down is real. And they have to eat 3 times a day and two snacks. To hear what goes on inside a person’s head was excruciating. At some point, they all break down and can’t do it. What’s interesting is that she would say I am a vegetarian, I don’t eat dairy, just give me a substitute and I didn’t really understand why they didn’t accommodate her. I was with Anna, I thought the nutritionist was a horrible person. If she wanted vegetarian, why force her? But as you go along the journey, you begin to understand that none of it was true and that Anna actually LOVED bagels and cream cheese. It was the disease talking, not Anna.

With flashback scenes, we get to hear Anna’s story and how she got to arrive at 17 Swann Street. We meet all kinds of girls at the home, some bulimic, some repeat customers so to speak. One girl had been going to Swann Street for four years. All heartbreaking stories of different manifestations of this disease. Some don’t make it. But the love and support that the girls give to each other was incredible. You begin to understand how they need the routine. Anna knows she is lucky because she has a family and husband who love her, who give her a reason to get better. Anna begins to realize how this has impacted all of them, how she withdrew from life, how incredibly strong you have to be to overcome and what it will take to get better. Will Anna make it? We hope so. Unlike an alcoholic, who can simply remove alcohol from their life, food is constant and you need to eat to live. It is something you have to deal with every day. I loved this story. It reaches inside you and touches your heart. You can’t help but root for these girls. This is one story you won’t want to miss.

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Review: The Handbook for Highly Sensitive People

The Handbook for Highly Sensitive People by Mel Collins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Watkins Publishing and Mel Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

What is a highly sensitive person? Well, Mel Collins claims that almost 20% of the population are HSPs. They include people who process emotions more deeply than others, often being told they are too sensitive, or shouldn’t take things too personally. They are more reaction to the positive and negative emotions of others and can have a heightened response to environmental stimuli. Collins is a UK psychotherapeutic counsellor, spiritual healer and reiki master. She makes It clear that she doesn’t come from a scientific background and has gathered this data by working with people (including the prison system) over the past 15 years.

When I first started reading about what an HSP was, I started to relate to a number of things. I have been told my whole life that I am too sensitive, that I should toughen up, have high levels of empathy and have a feeling of not belonging, including in my own family. I don’t have all the qualifiers, like the environmental issues, but enough that I certainly fell into this category. As I continued to read on about how this manifests in your life, how it shapes your personality, etc. I really began to get excited and thought “Wow! This sort of explains my whole life”. It certainly spoke to a lot of my childhood, career choices and decisions that I have made along the way. It was viewed as a negative and I really felt like it was just me. There was something wrong with me, that I heard things differently than other people and took things too personally and got too defensive. That other, “normal”, people didn’t behave like this. So, naturally, you start to feel some validation when you realize there is a whole group of people who are like that and that it can be viewed as a strength and not a weakness.

Collins does an excellent job at identifying and explaining what an HSP is and what the challenges you might have faced during your life. She walks you through an extensive number of self-help strategies to help reshape your thinking into finding the positive. There is a third section on spirituality that goes more into the “woo-woo” aspects of crystal healing, spiritual guides (angels), earthbound should (ghosts) and other such stuff that she says in the beginning, if that’s not your cup of tea, skip it.

What I found, as I started to go through the self-help solutions, was that I had heard all of this before. Collins talks about self-love and softening your inner critic. Forgiveness and not comparing yourself to others is something that can help everyone. Setting boundaries and using things like meditation and positive affirmations to help keep doubt and worry at bay. She also talks about tapping as another strategy to help you in real life situations where you need to get control over how you are feeling. I began to wonder, if these were the solutions, then what is so special about being an HSP. Everyone uses these solutions if you are trying to live a more peaceful life. Be in nature, be in the moment, don’t focus on the past, are all messages I have heard from many other experts.

These self help strategies, echoes of what others have said, are sound and it is nice to have them in a step by step format, in one place. You can easily skip those sections that you don’t personally have an issue with so I found the book easy to use. To me, however, it just undermined the whole notion of being a highly sensitive person. Worthwhile read, just not sure I buy into the premise.

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Review: Buzz Books 2019: Young Adult Spring/Summer: Excerpts from Next Season's Best New Titles by Ian Doescher, Gaby Dunn, David Elliott, Kosoko Jackson, Mary Weber and More

Buzz Books 2019: Young Adult Spring/Summer: Excerpts from Next Season's Best New Titles by Ian Doescher, Gaby Dunn, David Elliott, Kosoko Jackson, Mary Weber and More by Publishers Lunch
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publishers Lunch for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.


Another edition of Buzz Books. As I have said before, if you want an amazing selection of books for the upcoming season, you must read this first. Not only will you get a list of awesome books where you can see if your favourite author is coming out with something new, you can find great new selections that you might not have otherwise found out about. They also have a selection of excerpts from their list so you can get a real opportunity to see if that book would appeal to you.

The Young Adult genre has grown exponentially over the past few years and now there is so much coming out, it is helpful to have some experts sort through the noise. I would have preferred for them to have broken down their list a little more - there is only fiction and a small selection of nonfiction. For example, if they could have grouped all the books that are in series, or by genre like fantasy, comedy, that would have helped. It was just too many for me to go through. Some I recognized and added to my list, but I just couldn’t get into the others. As I was going through the long, long list, I found that there were so many books that looked exactly the same. I became bored. Yes, I love fantasy and I love a female protagonist, but I just can’t get excited about the same blurb of she has magic, she is in danger, she is all alone, what will happen!!! Some of them are great, but some of them are just mediocre. Everyone is looking for the next big thing, but seem to be copying what the last thing was. It was like when there was a plethora of vampire books because of Twilight. As far as the more contemporary fiction I just found again, a lot of important issues, but really just two issues that would repeat over again. I feel like I have already read so many of already. I think that for people who are in this demographic, they can get much more excited about some of these than I can.

What did stand out to me is there are some real, potentially amazing books that I could use in a classroom. There is a Shakespeare version of Mean Girls. That’s right, Mean Girls written out in iambic pentameter! Well, don’t quote me, I don’t know if it is exactly but Shakespeare-like language. I think this will be a great teaching tool. There is female version of Arthur and The Sword and a few Joan of Arc retellings. One thing that was of great interest to me personally, was a graphic novel about Maria Callas, a famous opera singer. Reading through the excerpts, I noticed that many have chosen alternative styles of writing other than the straightforward line by line. This is always something relatable and important as it allows access to different types of readers.

I think I will wait and see what rises out of the heap, to see if there is anything worth reading this season. As far as getting a Buzz Books list, definitely!

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Review: We Told Six Lies

We Told Six Lies by Victoria Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Entangled Teen, and Victoria Scott for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advanced copy.

Mild spoiler alert - if you don’t want to know, don’t read below.
Also, because it is YA and some people might care there is sex, nothing any high schooler isn’t already aware of, I don’t think, but in case that is important for you.

So here we have yet another thriller with lie/liar in the title. Is that a prerequisite nowadays? Is the writing community become so lazy that they can’t think up an original book title? Let me tell you a little secret. If you are writing a thriller, murder/mystery, psychological warfare, suspense novel then you are going to have characters who lie. Yes, imagine that - THEY WILL ALL LIE! The bad guy will lie, the good guy will lie and here is even more shocking news - teenagers lie - a lot. They lie to each other, they lie to adults and teachers and especially the police. And if the title is that they told six lies, then please make it clear what those six lies were and how it relates to the story. I want that aha moment by the end of the story, where it all clicks. It should be a standout and I couldn’t figure it out.

That being said, I loved this story. I thought it was exciting. I really enjoyed the beginning and the end. It did lag a little in the middle, the storyline became a little repetitive, but there were so many great qualities that made it worth sticking through. The last chunk of the book had twists and turns and what I look for in every thriller happened. There was a build up of suspense that gave me this bubbly feeling inside and that little voice in my head going back and forth, guessing, trying to figure out the mystery. I thought the writing style was unique and well done. It was mostly told through the main character’s perspective with alternating chapters between the past and present. I am so tired of the dual narrative POV. It has been done ad nauseam and I am honestly fatigued. This was a refreshing change. It made a stronger storyline just having Cobain’s voice with a little sprinkling of Molly. The early chapters had an almost journal-like quality to them, which allowed for depth into his character. We get sucked into his world and forget that all the other characters are being shaped through his eyes. It is when he starts to question his list of suspects that we start to realize that Molly is not the person he thought she was. I like when Scott starts to bring Molly’s voice into the storyline and we start to gain some perspective. I felt Molly’s fear during her captivity and appreciated her survival instincts. This was where the novel became really exciting and I was riveted to the end.

Not everything was tied up with a neat little bow. I felt like there were some things that should have been addressed or developed more, and other things that just bugged me and I wanted an answer. (Cobain? really? Is Scott a Nirvana fan?) Molly’s issues weren’t really addressed and I would have liked her character developed more fully. I didn’t want to accept the happily ever after version of “I got captured and you saved me so now I love you”. No one is that manipulative for that many years and then changes all at once, no matter how traumatic an event is that happened to them. What was the deal with her mother? We never learned what her deal was. I also found Cobain’s mother a little suspect. She was this wonderful mother and then after this event happened (I don’t want to give everything away) she wasn’t. It didn’t make any sense to me why she would have abandoned Cobain emotionally to go and help other kids. The psychiatrist’s diagnosis for Cobain was whack. I didn’t get that either.

So I recommend this read. I think you’ll find enough to make it worthwhile. The ending is definitely worth it.

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Review: The Perfect Liar

The Perfect Liar by Thomas Christopher Greene
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Thomas Christopher Greene for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advanced copy.

Mild spoiler alert.

The Perfect Liar is anything but perfect and I’m getting tired of these mediocre thrillers sucking me in with a promise of being more than what they are. If I am reading a serial, than I expect a certain formula that the author has laid out in previous books. I turn to those when I want something where I know what to expect and don’t expect anything more. I wouldn’t say mind-numbing but more like comfort food. I don’t expect macaroni and cheese to be a braised lamb shank. But sometimes you want mac and cheese and it’s delicious and satisfying. But when I choose a thriller that is billed as fast pace with surprises that keep coming, that’s what I expect. I know, I know. Why do I believe the hype? Because I want to - I want to be taken on that ride.

I don’t like to know too much beforehand, because I want to go into clean. Ready for whatever ride the author is going to take me on. The only thing I knew from the blurb was that there was a married couple who receive a threatening note. Both are lying - to each other and to the world. Then all the usual hype of be ready for shocks and twists and turns. Great. Told in alternating perspectives between Susannah and Max, I dive in. So there is a happy couple and the note happens right away. Both think the note is for Max. In their own chapters we get flashbacks from before they knew each other, to how they met up until where we are currently in their lives. We learn early on that Max did something bad and is hiding it. But never throughout the whole book do we learn about anything bad that Susannah did. Yes, she had a difficult life and made some really bad choices, but nothing like Max. I kept waiting to see how she was lying to the world around her. Plus, Max was not the perfect liar. So many people found out about his lying along the way, including his wife, who always seemed to know when he was lying. So no big surprise there. So the big reveal was anything but a big reveal. The writing was okay and the characters had some development, although I’m not sure about their likability factor. Even Susannah’s son was rude and unlikeable and yes, teenagers are rude and ungrateful, but I never got a glimmer of a close and loving relationship with him. It all seemed one sided.

So, I’m sure many people might like this book, but I wanted more. I expected more. The only perfect liar in this bunch was the PR person who wrote the blurb.

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Review: Buzz Books 2019: Spring/Summer: Excerpts from Next Season's Best New Titles by LIV Constantine, Karl Marlantes, Moby, J. Ryan Stradal, Ocean Vuong and More

Buzz Books 2019: Spring/Summer: Excerpts from Next Season's Best New Titles by LIV Constantine, Karl Marlantes, Moby, J. Ryan Stradal, Ocean Vuong and More by Publishers Lunch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publishers Lunch for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advanced copy

I’m not sure whether to kick myself because I was so lucky the day I decided to check out Buzz Books or really kick myself because the last thing I need is more books on my “To Read” shelf. This spring’s edition is no different. There are almost 50 upcoming books that are in this edition and they are spectacular. If you are not familiar with Buzz Books they review a selection of books that are going to be released for that season. They are from a variety of publishers and have a selection of different genres. Because the YA genre is so popular they have their own edition. For each book there is a description, information for the book like publishing date, price, etc. and an excerpt. These are not just a couple of wispy pages of a teaser of an excerpt. No, no, no. They include quite a substantial excerpt, enough that you can really get a feel for the text, the voice of the author and whether or not it is your type of book. The problem, if you are someone like me, I get so hooked I want to read the whole book right away!!!

They have sifted through the thousands of titles being published and select those that they think are noteworthy or remarkable in some way.The list is broken down into Fiction with subsections of The Notables, Highly Anticipated, Emerging Voices, Debut, and Commercial Fiction. The Nonfiction section include Politics and Current Events, Social Issues, Science and Technology, History and Crime, Essays and Criticism, and Biography and Memoir. Those they have provided an excerpt are marked with an asterisk. There are popular authors with highly anticipated releases like Cecelia Ahern, T.C. Boyle, Nell Zink and Liv Constantine to name just a few. You can discover new authors in the debut section. I was familiar with many of these releases like “Little Darlings” by Melanie Golding and “Naamah” by Sara Blake.

Of course the best is that at the end of each excerpt there is link to NetGalley where you can request an ARC of the book. Seriously, this doesn’t help me in my quest for trying to reduce the number of request I make, but I just can’t help it. I’m too excited about the prospect of reading that next great book. There are some really gems that are just waiting to be discovered.


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Review: Coffeehouse Knits: Knitting Patterns and Essays with Robust Flavor

Coffeehouse Knits: Knitting Patterns and Essays with Robust Flavor by Kerry Bogert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, F & W Media, and Kerry Bogert for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

Coffeehouse knits blends together two of my favourite things - coffee and knitting. Apparently I’m not the only one! Enough knitters love their brews whether it is tea or coffee, so much so, that they have dedicated a whole book to the idea. More often than not when we knit we usually have a hot drink sitting beside us. The meditative quality of knitting lends itself to sipping something while you do it. Another popular activity of late is these “Stitch & Bitch” nights where knitters will meet up, usually at a coffeehouse and spend a few hours with like minded people knitting and sharing. It is a place where you can show off what you are working on, get advice if you are stuck and talk about whatever is going on in your life. It is usually a drop in type group and new members are welcome with open arms.

This book is beautiful. Not only do they have delicious names like “House Blend Cardigan” and “Breakfast Brioche Shawl”, the yarns used are yummy. Some of the patterns designs echo things like the swirl in the foam of of a frothy cappuccino or the speckles pattern that remain in your cup from tea leaves. I am in love with so many of the patterns and find them stylish and wearable. There is a range of difficulty so whether you are a new knitter or an experienced one, you will find enough to keep you interested. There is a small index of special techniques that are explained.

What makes this unique is that interspersed between the patterns are a selection of essays that muse of the experience of knitting. From knitting groups, to spending a night at home curled up the “how” of how we experience knitting is as important as the what of what we are knitting.

I can hardly wait until this book is out, in my hands, and I am knitting on of the patterns.

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Review: Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive

Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Books, and Stephanie Land for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advanced copy.


Stephanie Land has written a raw, honest, in-your-face book about what it is like to be poor, a single mother and working at what is considered to be menial labour. I found this read difficult and uncomfortable and I think that is what she wants you to feel. As I started to read, I was sympathetic, feeling for her plight in life. She made difficult choices and was left without a lot of options. She writes in the afterwards that she was lucky because she saw a different way of life as a child. She knew there was more out there. She notes that for people who are born into poverty, without the ability to experience anything different, and faced with minimal options, it is very difficult to imagine a better life for yourself. I don’t think we realize, if we are lucky enough to be middle class, how many opportunities we have, expectations, support, etc. so that if we want to, we can make a good life for us and for our children. But as the books went on and on and on and I got to about 50% of the way through I felt like I couldn’t take it anymore. It said, in the beginning of the book, that this has a happy ending. I wanted to get to that part already. I couldn’t hear anymore about how tired she was, how her kid was sick, and then I stopped and thought wow! I can’t handle reading about it and she had to live it! How did she pull herself out of it, I’ll never know that kind of strength. I hope I don’t have to have that kind of strength. It does have a happy ending and it really makes you think about so many issues.

Land tells you, in no uncertain terms, what it is like to work as a maid. I am fortunate enough to have someone to help clean our house, it is something we scrimp and save to be able to afford, since I am not able to do it anymore. I had to take a good look in the mirror and think if I had ever treated or spoke to our helpers, the way some people had spoken to Land. I use a service, similar to the one Land worked for, and I am not sure if they are making a decent living wage or not. I know they do 2 sometimes 3 houses in a day and I really hadn’t considered their physical pain that they must feel, doing their job, day after day. I know that I don’t look down on their line of work because I am not above scrubbing a toilet myself. When Land describes cleaning those bathrooms, I think I threw up in my mouth a little. Uch!! I certainly hope that no one has felt like that in my home.

What struck me the most was the loneliness. I think I was prepared to hear about the fatigue, the pain, the worrying about her child, the kid being sick and not being able to go to daycare. I had some of the same worries, but I was not alone. I didn’t have to deal with an abusive ex, an absentee family, and I had friends. I didn’t have the shame of poverty that she felt and how that would make a person isolate themselves. To just crave some human contact. I worry about money, but I haven’t had to go hungry. I can’t imagine going through a government process of trying to get help, the amount of forms, dealing with that kind of prejudice, and still getting up every day, going to work, making a home for your child, playing with them, putting them to bed and doing it all over again, day after day. How about trying to get a decent place to live and having landlords not want to rent to you because you are on assistance. It honestly felt like being pounded on the head with a shovel, pushing you into the ground and the more you try and dig your way out, the more you get pounded. Having one little crisis and it devastates you.

I learned a lot of lessons. Some I knew, but they bore repeating. First, to be grateful for what you have. Land found so many things to be grateful for. The second was she realized that people with big houses and lots of stuff weren’t any happier than she was. Stop wanting stuff. That isn’t what will make you happy. Stop looking at what other people have and being envious. The most important thing that struck me, and I think this is why she was able to make a better future is that she counted on herself. If she needed comfort or love, she had to rely only on herself to get that. She used mantras of telling herself she was loved, she was enough. Really, in life, we only have ourselves. I realized that when I got sick. I had family and friends and support, but when the chips were down, I only had myself to dig out of whatever hole I was in. You are your biggest asset and you are enough. Whatever upheaval was going on in her daughters life, Land decide that she would be the constant. She would be reliable, show up when she said she would, be on time, be there no matter what. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t easy and that’s what she shows us. She had panic attacks, her child would have tantrums and nothing was easy. But in all that upheaval, she found beauty, joy, and love. We can all take that lesson home.

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