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 every three weeks.
Book Review: A Good Enough Mother by Bev Thomas
I originally read A Good Enough Mother by Bev Thomas with the intentions of including it in a mother's day book recommendations wrap-up. I thought it would be perfectly suited for this purpose; it has the word "mother" in the title and it's all about a woman who's a...
Book Review: The Strays by Emily Bitto
Last year, a book called The Italian Teacher by Tom Rachman was released, it was all about a famous artist and the people who circled around him. It also had a beautiful cover; a collage of vibrantly coloured paints splashed onto a canvas. Similar to that book, The...
Goodbye Smokey
It's been a rough 24 hours in our house, as we returned home from vacation to find our beloved Smokey had passed away. It feels like just a few short months ago we were mourning the death of her sister Pearl, so I wonder if the loss of her only feline companion...
Book Review: Nobody Cares by Anne T. Donahue
I knew I'd like Nobody Cares by Anne T. Donahue before I even opened the front cover. Why? Please refer to my list below: The author Anne T. Donahue has the same first name as me, AND we're the same age, so obviously we are soul sisters.She grew up in and still lives...
Book Review: The Unforgotten by Laura Powell
How do you feel about books that jump from one time period to another? Is it jarring? Does it annoy you when it's in a suspense novel especially? Of course it does, when you're on the cusp of a cliff (hanger), you want to leap to the next page as quickly as possible...
Book Review: The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley
What's that you say? Another Alan Bradley book? Why yes please! The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley is the tenth installment in the Flavia de Luce series, which begins after a short period of time has gone by since the last Flavia book, The Grave's a Fine...
Book Review: Dear Evelyn by Kathy Page
I love a good work of fiction that focuses on marriage. Do I want to read a true story about marriage? Not particularly. But do I want to read about a fake couple and all the trouble they have without feeling guilty or voyeuristic? Absolutely. This is one of the...
Ivereadthis Jr. Edition: Books About Kindness pt. 2
Ok I know what you're thinking-where's part one? I wrote a guest blog post for the not-for-profit organization Calgary Reads where I highlighted some new and notable picture books about kindness, and that was my part one. This post is my part two because you can't...
Book Review: Once More With Feeling by Meira Cook
When I comment on other people's book blogs, I frequently find myself saying similar things; in particular, I frequently admit that I love a good book that deals with nothing at all (like the literary version of Seinfeld). People's mundane lives, the things that...
Book Review: Transcription by Kate Atkinson
When Transcription by Kate Atkinson came out in September 2018, there was lots of buzz around it. Many said this was Atkinson's best book to date, and it has been on a bunch of 'best of 2018' lists. Despite this hoopla (and I use the word 'despite' on purpose, because...
Book Review: Heat Wave, A Paradise Cafe Mystery by Maureen Jennings
Yes, that's right-THAT Maureen Jennings has embarked on a new series of mysteries featuring a sassy and capable female detective by the name of Charlotte Frayne. Murdoch Mystery fans are sure to love this new heroine just as much as they loved Murdoch himself, and for...
Book Review: Land Mammals and Sea Creatures by Jen Neale
I came across Land Mammals and Sea Creatures by Jen Neale when I received a copy of it in a 'loot bag' from a bookish event here in Calgary last year (yes, they exist, although these super fun events are few and far between!). It sat on my shelf until recently, but I...