Book Reviews
I typically post between two and three book reviews a week. Please refer to my review policy if you’d like to submit a book for consideration. I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter to get a summary of my reviews once a month.
Book Review: Madame Restell by Jennifer Wright
As I was perusing a publisher catalogue a few months ago, a non-fiction book caught my eye: Madame Restell, The Life, Death and Resurrection of Old New York's Most Fabulous, Fearless and Infamous Abortionist by Jennifer Wright. Why did this particular work interest...
Book Review: Confessions with Keith by Pauline Holdstock
After a promising review by fellow book blogger Naomi, I was convinced I should pick up the latest release from Canadian writer Pauline Holdstock. Confessions with Keith is a look at a year in the life of a wife and mother who is barely holding on. I love tales of...
Book Review: Murder at Teal’s Pond by David Bushman and Mark T. Givens
I don't mind a true crime book now and then. I definitely prefer the fictional thriller or detective novel over the factual, but every once in awhile a case catches my interest, and Murder at Teal's Pond by David Bushman and Mark T. Givens did just that. It describes...
Book Review: Jennie’s Boy, A Newfoundland Childhood by Wayne Johnston
What feels like ages ago now, when I worked at the literary festival here in Calgary we hosted Wayne Johnston, a bestselling Canadian writer. If I had known then what I now know about him, I would have likely seen him in a whole different light when we met in person....
Book Review: The Nightingale Affair by Tim Mason
The blurb depicting The Nightingale Affair by Tim Mason as a "Victorian detective thriller" is what influenced me the most, as I was in the mood to read a classic mystery after a few of the modern domestic thrillers I had been through recently. I was delighted by the...
Book Review: Purr, The Science of Making Your Cat Happy by Zazie Todd
A few weeks ago, our kitty Makita (pictured above) gave us a little scare. She stopped eating and drinking for almost 6 straight days, and was in and out of the animal hospital. It was finally determined she was suffering from a bad sinus infection, so luckily a week...
Book Review: A Death at the Party by Amy Stuart
Better known for her 'Still' series, Canadian author Amy Stuart has just released a new domestic thriller titled A Death at the Party, perfect for those looking for a fast-paced read that covers the usual tantalizing menu: affairs, long-held secrets among family, a...
Book Review: Murder, She Wrote: Blood On the Vine by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain
Over the years, I've had the pleasure of reviewing four other books from the Murder She Wrote paperback series written by "Jessica Fletcher" the tv character and Donald Bain, the writer and publisher who sadly passed away in 2017. Each was delightful, mimicking the tv...
Book Review: Tell Me Pleasant Things About Immortality by Lindsay Wong
Bizarre. Creepy. Horrific. Sarcastic. All these words can be used to describe Tell Me Pleasant Things About Immortality by Lindsay Wong, a collection of short stories that will likely strike every reader differently. To me, these stories came across as a blend between...
Book Review: Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah
Here in Canada we are lucky to have a rich publishing landscape of Indigenous voices, and the numbers are only increasing. In fact, many books on the current and previous bestseller lists are Indigenous writers. I don't see the same representation in American...
Book Review: Homecoming by Kate Morton
A great big doorstop of a book, Homecoming by Kate Morton was a work of historical fiction I had to prepare myself for. Some people love the prospect of digging into a giant family saga such as this, but I was hesitant about the length. It's one of those historical...
Book Review: The Fake by Zoe Whittall
While preparing for a 'spring books to watch' segment on my monthly radio appearance, I chose The Fake by Zoe Whittall for two reasons; one, I keep seeing it mentioned everywhere, so obviously the publisher has been successful in creating 'buzz'. Secondly, it's a work...