Two Dogs and a Book

The Escape Room by Megan Goldin My rating: 5 of 5 stars Four co-workers must attend a mandatory event for their company. They are asked to meet at an empty building, enter the elevator and go to the 70th floor. As soon as they enter the elevator, they realize that this is no ordinary ride. Suddenly, the lights go off and the elevator screen lights up with a welcome message which tells them that they are in an Escape Room. A series of clues are presented to the four co-workers which will reveal deep secrets and play them against each other. Is there a way out? Will they resolve the riddles before it is too late? First, I must admit that this book scared the bejesus out of me because I am claustrophobic and the thought of being stuck in an elevator just made me sweat. Secondly, the plot and the denouement of the story kept me on the edge of my seat. This was one of the most engaging thrillers I have read. It is relatable, convincing and mind-boggling. Well done Ms. Goldin!!!!

Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor My rating: 0 of 5 stars Sophie Duval has a nose for making wonderful perfumes. Unfortunately, her mother’s gambling and drinking habits have indebted the Maison Duval. If a miracle does not happen soon, Sophie might have to sell her lands to a developer to pay off the creditors. The turn of event comes in the form of the actress Grace Kelly who takes refuge in Sophie’s shop to escape a tenacious British photographer. James Henderson only needs one picture of Grace Kelly to save his job with a main newspaper in England. Little do Sophie and James know that this encounter will trigger a life changing outcome for both. The book is so beautifully written and has all the right elements to transport you right into the story. The sub-story of Grace Kelly’s encounter with the Prince of Monaco and their marriage is a historical treat. I enjoyed the friendship of Grace and Sophie, and the ending could have not been more perfect. This is the book to read

Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker My rating: 5 of 5 stars I felt in love with this stunning middle-grade book. The story is captivating and keeps you wanting for more. I could not put this jewel of a book down. The writing is superb, the characters well developed and fantastic to discover. I don’t think my review can really do justice to this little masterpiece. There are many intense and scary parts in the book, but in the end, it is really a story of resilience, courage, and love. I hope to read more from this author soon. 💁🏼‍️ Thank you, RainCoast Books for sending me an ARC of this exciting new book. #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookdragon #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookaddicted #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #scarystoriesforyoungfoxes #christianmckayheidicker #bookreview #bookstafolk View all my reviews

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn My rating: 3 of 5 stars Camille is returning to her hometown to investigate a series of murders of young girls for the newspaper she works for. The crimes are disturbing, Camille’s family is disturbing, and Camille herself is disturbing. In a nutshell… the book is very disturbing. This plot is nightmare material. Gillian Flynn can write, there is no denying. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. The characters are well developed and realistic. The book deals with mental issues and dysfunctional families. The story gruesomeness is not that far fetch and that is what got under my skin. This book is not for the faint of hearts. I read this book for my work book club and can’t wait to discuss it with the other members. #dogsandbooks #poodles #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #poodletoday #pawsandbooks #petsandbooks #poodlesandbooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookdragon #b

Just My Luck by Jennifer Honeybourn My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is the story of Marty, a young girl who works at the Grand Palms Hotel in Maui. Marty’s parents just separated, and she is quite upset by this turn of events. Because of her frustration, she starts stealing trinkets from the hotel guests… the cheap stuff that would not be missed by their owners. But soon, Marty is hit with a stroke of bad luck and she realizes that she needs to return the stolen objects to their owners in order to break this curse. In the meantime, Marty meets Will, a new guest who is staying for the summer, and breaks the first rule of working in a hotel… do not fall for a guest. The story is nicely written, the characters are believable, and the setting is dreamy. I really enjoy this light read. I wish the end turned out differently, but it was still a very enjoyable book. Great as a summer read. 💁🏼‍️ Thank you, RainCoast Books for sending me an ARC of this fun book. Just my Luck by Jennifer

A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell My rating: 4 of 5 stars Caroline seems to have it all, a great husband, a wonderful daughter, an apartment in the city and a stunning beach house. When she discovers that her husband is having an affair, she decides to get her revenge by sleeping with a local bartender which she has met on the beach in front of her house. This one-night stand will unravel her life and endanger her family. The story is told in the voices of Caroline and Aiden, the bartender. Both narrations do not add up and soon you realize that there is something weird happening. Who is telling the truth? 💁🏼‍️ Thank you, St. Martin’s Press for sending me an eARC of this thrilling book. #dogsandbooks #poodles #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #poodletoday #pawsandbooks #petsandbooks #poodlesandbooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookdragon #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookaddicted #b

Bethlehem by Karen Kelly My rating: 4 of 5 stars Because her husband Frank is called to work away, Joanna and her two children move in with her mother-in-law. Frank’s family residence is grand and Joanna quickly finds herself overwhelmed by the opulence of her new home. During an outing with her children, they discover at tombstone in the cemetery with the simple inscription Baby Hayes. Little does Joanna know that this tombstone has a sad story of love, family, friends, forbidden relationships, secrets and forgiveness. Karen Kelly presents a beautiful story delivered in two timelines which happens in the 20’s and 60’s. The writing is beautiful and descriptive. The characters are well defined and lovable. This is a lovely historical novel. 💁🏼‍️ Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this stunning book. Bethlehem by Karen Kelly is now available at your favourite bookstore. #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookdragon

Spring House by Mary Ellen Taylor My rating: 4 of 5 stars Some books thrill you, some books provoke you, and some books charm you. Spring House by Mary Ellen Taylor is in that last category. It was a lovely story about Megan Buchanan who is hired to restore a house owned by her ancestors. During the renovation, she discovers letters and objects that belong to Claire Hedrick. In the early 1900s, Claire was separated from her three sisters and three brothers after their mother passed away and their father could not take care of the seven children. Claire lived with the LeBlanc family and eventually moved to France where she was no longer heard from. The letters reveal the story of her life and the connection between her and Megan. This book offers a beautiful story that brings together generations. It is a pleasure to read and is perfect for a Summer read. 💁🏼‍️ Thank you, Thomas Allen & Sons for sending me a final copy of this lovely book. Spring House by Mary Ellen Taylor

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid My rating: 5 of 5 stars I am a bit late on the bandwagon but better late than ever. Daisy Jones and the Six is a masterpiece of literature in my books. What a ride! This is one of my top five books so far, this year. I enjoyed the way it has been written, it made it so interesting. If you have any read this book yet, do yourself a favour and get yourself a copy. #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookdragon #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookaddicted #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #daisyjonesandthesix #taylorjenkinsreid #bookreview #bookstafolk View all my reviews

The Lightest Object in the Universe by Kimi Eisele My rating: 4 of 5 stars I love to be surprised… this book surprised me. Sci-fi is not normally my go-to genre and I was a bit worried I might not be able to give this book its deserved praises. I was wrong, I could not put it down. This book is about love, deceit, survival, and perseverance. This is the story of two human beings who do not give up on humanity after a major apocalyptic event. One stays put in her neighborhood and helps build a new community. The other starts a long journey across a continent to join the one he loves and document a new chapter in history. They will both encounter evil, but will also meet good people along the way. This book is well written and captivating. It made me realize how unprepared I am in the event of a catastrophic event. It also made me think that although a lot of evil could come out from such an traumatic event, the goodness of the human heart will prevail and will be the hope for h

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman My rating: 4 of 5 stars I absolutely love this whimsical romcom about Nina Hill, a bookstore employee, who discovers that she has a family she did not know she had. Nina was raised by a single mother and a nanny. Now in her twenties, she is busy living her bookish life until a lawyer tracks her down to let her know that her biological father has died and has left her something in his will. Nina will meet her eclectic family while trying to juggle her busy life and find time to fall in love. This is a perfect read for the beach. 💁🏼‍️ Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a final copy of this marvelous book. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman will be available at your favourite bookstore on July 9th. #dogsandbooks #poodles #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #poodletoday #pawsandbooks #petsandbooks #poodlesandbooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookdragon #bookah