Two Dogs and a Book

The Book of Speculation: A Novel by Erika Swyler My rating: 4 of 5 stars I was attracted to this book because of its cover and its title. A book which has books on the cover and in the title is very attractive to me! :) They say not to judge a book by its cover because you can be disappointed… well…I was not disappointed! I loved this story that unfolds over centuries. Two stories connected by fate and blood and a curse that needs to be broken in order to save a life. Erika Swyler’s writing style is beautiful and she succeeded to make you feel like you were there. The story is about strong family bound; deception and curse. Well worth reading!! View all my reviews

Where All Light Tends to Go by David Joy My rating: 3 of 5 stars I was surprised how short this book was, this does not mean I was disappointed though. At first, I was not sure I liked the main character. He was a bit too rough around the edges, but he grew on me. I am glad I continued reading and get to the spectacular end of this book. This story is graphic and raw. It was well written and the pace was perfect. It is more a guy book that I am used to. It is a good strong story. View all my reviews

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah My rating: 5 of 5 stars I am still all chocked up after finishing reading this brilliant story about two sister’s courageous acts during the Second World War. Vianne and Isabelle cannot be more different and yet they both became war heroines in their own ways. Kristin Hannah wrote a remarkable historical story that is raw and touching. All the secondary characters in the book contributed to the story and made you feel that if they were not there, the story would not be complete. This is a beautiful read and I recommend it. View all my reviews

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson My rating: 4 of 5 stars A great start for this new series by Rae Carson. This story about a young girl who escapes her uncle and travel from Gorgia to California in hope to make her fortune is exciting and full of surprises. I am looking forward to the next book. View all my reviews

More Than You Know by Nan Rossiter My rating: 4 of 5 stars This heart warming story is a perfect read for a cold night by the fire... well the cold is here and I wish I had a fire to sit by. One out of two... not bad! This beautiful story is about three sisters who recently lost their loving mother. While packing her belongings; they come across a document left by her in which she tells them about a secret she kept from them. This book is beautifully written and all the characters are well defined. I enjoyed it! View all my reviews

Looking for Alaska by John Green My rating: 4 of 5 stars Interesting book about a teenager boy who decides to attend the same boarding school his dad attended and how he makes new friends who will change his life. The book was nicely written enough, but the story was too young for my taste and maybe a bit to short too. I finished the book because that was the only thing I had to read on my business trip. It kept me company between flights. :) View all my reviews

Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson My rating: 4 of 5 stars I am really liking historical novels these days. I used to avoid them because I thought they would be depressing. Although some parts can be hard to read because of the "not so pretty" components of the war, there are always elements of hope, courage and self-sacrifice that overshadow the bad. Somewhere in France is a well written novel about the first World War. The story follows the daughter of an English Earl who steps out of her comfort zone to join the war efforts; and of a Scottish surgeon with whom she falls in love. They are both shipped somewhere in France and work side by side in a war hospital. Lili is bright, quick on her feet and good hearted. Robby is of common birth, but has a noble heart and performs his duties with utmost dedication. Although their relationship has all the ups and downs that are to be expected of a war romance novel; the author succeeded to keep

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh My rating: 5 of 5 stars I recently read a book from Vanessa Diffenbaugh entitled "We Never Asked for Wings" and read in many of its reviews that her first book was a better read. I like Vanessa's writing style and thought that it would be worth reading her first book to see if it was true. It definitely was! What a wonderful story of human struggles, love and forgiveness. It was touching and thought provoking. I found myself so many time feeling the characters' emotions and wanting to help them. The Language of Flowers is beautifully written and inspired me to know more about the language of flowers. I think I will start leaving SPIDER FLOWER in the house... that might inspire my love to elope one day! :) View all my reviews

See Me by Nicholas Sparks My rating: 3 of 5 stars It was a good love story, as expected from any Nicholas Sparks books. I find it hard to believe that someone with Colin's past could change this much. I know that people can change, but the reality is that the bad in real people has a nasty habit to creep back to the surface eventually. But like in all Nicholas Sparks' stories, the main character's dark side has been conquered and the true hero shines bright in the end. This is a good light read and I am looking forward to see the movie. View all my reviews

Grey by E.L. James My rating: 3 of 5 stars I am the dedicated reader who must read all the books in a series. I thought that maybe by rewriting the first book in the point of view of another persona that would have given the author an opportunity to write a better story than the first time. NOPE! That did not happen, it was the same, if not worse. I will break my rule and not read any other books in this series if more are to come. View all my reviews

Pretending to Dance: A Novel by Diane Chamberlain My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received a copy of Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. It took me a while to really get into the story and I am glad I persevered and finished it. At the beginning of the book, I was not really enjoying the teenager struggles and I was not sure why the author was telling the story of Molly's teenage years. But by the middle of the book, I saw where the author was taking us and how important that part was to the story. In the end, it all came together beautifully and emotionally. Pretending to Dance is a wonderful read. View all my reviews

Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is the third and final book (I hope!) in the Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series. I really enjoyed the first two books and was looking forward to see how the series would end. The third book delivered a good ending, but I found myself often wanting to skip through pages to get to it. The story seemed to drag and some events had no bearings on the outcome. It was an enjoyable reading nonetheless and I recommend the entire series to teens and avid young readers. View all my reviews

We Never Asked for Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh My rating: 3 of 5 stars This book was ok. Not bad... not awesome... just a good book. The story was nice and the characters were well defined. I was left with the feeling that the story was not complete. I smell a sequel! View all my reviews

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith My rating: 3 of 5 stars This book came highly recommended by an online book review site. It was well written, but felt to be all over the place. The analogy between this resilient tree growing from nothing and the resiliency of a poor family living in Brooklyn was good, but could have been exploited much more. I just felt that the book did not have a smooth flow. The author briefly addressed some parts of the story which in my opinion would have been nice to expand on and sometime she spent too much time on an event which brought very little to the story. It was still a nice read overall. View all my reviews

Four Sisters:The Lost Lives of the Romanov Grand Duchesses by Helen Rappaport My rating: 4 of 5 stars Two years ago I went to Russia and I wish I had read this book before. It would have put somethings in perspective while I was in St. Petersbourg and Peterhof. This book is well researched and provides great insights on the intimate lives of the members of the Romanov family and those who lived with them. I found it sometimes too detailed, but I enjoyed its historical content and I am glad I read it. View all my reviews

Circling the Sun by Paula McLain My rating: 4 of 5 stars Circling the Sun is the story of Beryl Markham, a British-born Kenyan aviator, adventurer, racehorse trainer and author. The book covers her childhood to her adulthood. Beryl was no ordinary woman. She was a complicated and libertine woman whose life was plague by numerous scandals. She, however, lived her life to the fullest and had more adventures than any woman from her time could have hoped for. Paula McLain also beautifully described Kenya and other parts of Africa. I hope to see them with my own eyes one day. This is a wonderful historical book. A story that praises the accomplishments of an extraordinary woman in a time when there were no opportunities for the "weaker sex". Great read! View all my reviews

The World's Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family by Josh Hanagarne My rating: 4 of 5 stars The World's Strongest Librarian is a story of determination and faith in oneself. I knew a bit about Tourette syndrome and met several people with various levels of the condition, but never realize the emotional impact on the person. Josh Hanagarme put in words the range of emotions experienced by people afflicted by this condition and this was an eye opener. I have a hard time imagining not having control of my body and not knowing when it will involuntary move or vocalize. I have now great respect and admiration for Tourette patients’ courage and perseverance. This book is not meant to be a cure guide for the condition; it is a story that will encourage anyone with severe health conditions to never give up in their quest to a healthy life. The book is written in good humour and is a quick read.

Cinema Lumiere by Hattie Holden Edmonds My rating: 4 of 5 stars I got this book for free on Amazon a few months ago. The story intrigued me and I am grateful that my curiosity convinced me to get it because it was a lovely read. The tempo was a bit slow but the story was well structure and developed. I enjoyed the end in particular as I did not expect that at all. I love endings like that one. View all my reviews

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield My rating: 5 of 5 stars There are books that touch your mind and other that touch your soul. The Thirteenth Tale is one of those. It is a masterpiece of words and imagery. I just could not put it down. This is an unpredictable story of deep loss and redemption. I am sad that I am done reading it, but happy that I have been enriched by the colorfulness and cleverness of Diane Setterfield's beautiful writing. View all my reviews

Unbroken: A World War II Book of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand My rating: 5 of 5 stars I just finished reading this book! Gimme a second to compose myself! As I reflect now on the words I just read; a desire to do more and give more to others while I am on Earth is brewing within me. You never know where life will take you. I know little about the war between Japan and the rest of the world. I am very familiar with the suffering Germany brought to the world during the same period, but I had no idea that Japan brought the same in that part of the world. This book taught me a lot about the Japanese culture and how honor is so important to them. It also taught me that what one person considers honorable is not necessary of equal value for another. But I am derailing... this book is not about the horrific acts the Japanese army performed.. it is about the triumphant life of a man who was able to beat all odds. Louis Zamperini

A Paris Affair by Tatiana de Rosnay My rating: 2 of 5 stars Ugh! That was one of the most ugh! books I have ever read! I am still not sure why I picked it up and finished to read it. Even in the end I was still waiting to see where it was going! Not my thing! Not bad! Not good! Not memorable. View all my reviews

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a real gem!!! A friend suggested I read this book after she read my review of The Little Paris Bookshop. She actually suggested by I listen to it. I got the audiobook and listened in wonder. This story is revealed through the correspondence between all the characters. I enjoyed to get to know all of them and their wonderful personalities and quirks. This is a wonderful story about a book club which was started by brave folks out of deceit in order not to be caught and trial by the German soldiers during their occupation of Guernsey during the second world war. This started all because of a pig roast! You have to read or listen to this book... listen is better if you can get your hands on an audio copy. Wonderful book! View all my reviews

3 Sleuths, 2 Dogs, 1 Murder by Maggie Pill My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the second book in a series called "The Sleuth Sisters Mysteries". This is a fun series about three sisters of mature age which joint hands to defend the innocents and fight crime. This book is full of adventure, great plots and intelligent solutioning. I love how the sisters interact... they complete one and another. This is a light reading; perfect for the beach or a road trip. I recommend you read the first book before starting this one so you can get to know the characters. View all my reviews

It Isn't Cheating if He's Dead by Julie Frayn My rating: 3 of 5 stars This book was written by a Canadian author and deals with mental diseases and how they affect people. I love to support our Canadian authors and I am grateful for their great talents. I enjoyed this emotional story, the complex characters and the happy ever after ending. View all my reviews

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is the second book in a the series entitled "The Remnant Chronicles". Mary E. Pearson did not disappoint. This second book is as good as the first one and the story continues to grow into this awesome epic. The primary characters have evolved and matured; and the new ones are each bringing new dimensions to the story. Not everything is what it seems. What one believed so strongly in the past can be changed with the opening of the eyes of the soul. Betrayal runs deep bringing new obstacles to conquer. New alliances are formed and are their only hope. View all my reviews

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George My rating: 5 of 5 stars I am in love!! In love with this book! This is by far one of the most beautifully and emotionally written book I have read so far. The quotes... wow!! The quotes that Nina George infused into this wonderful work of literature will be forever quoted. Quotes about books, women, men, life! Here's one I like: “Books are more than doctors, of course. Some novels are loving, lifelong companions;some give you a clip around the ear; others are friends who wrap you in warm towels when you've got those autumn blues. And some...well, some are pink candy floss that tingles in your brain for three seconds and leaves a blissful voice. Like a short, torrid love affair.” This is a must read this summer. I found a bit of myself in each of the characters and their stories awakened my dormant heart. I laughed, I cried and I truly enjoyed myself. View all my reviews

He Comes Next by Ian Kerner My rating: 4 of 5 stars Overall the book was interesting, but nothing really new was uncovered. I think this would be a great book for young inexperienced ladies! View all my reviews

At the Water's Edge: A Novel by Sara Gruen My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved this book! Having been myself in Scotland and dipped my toes in the Loch Ness, I could just see the scenery so vividly in my mind. "At the Water's Edge" is beautifully written and the plot is passionate and surprising. I particularly like the secondary personas who infused the story with character and devotion. I strongly recommend this book. View all my reviews

Branded by Keary Taylor My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the second book dealing with angels I read in a row. This one is the first book of a series called "Fall of Angels" and it was a much better story! I enjoyed the more mature plot, and although the characters are a bit too perfect; the story was well put together. I am looking forward to read the other books in this series. View all my reviews

Crossroads by Mary Ting My rating: 3 of 5 stars If there was a Twilight book template; this author followed it perfectly. The story is different than the Twilight books, but the feel is the same. It is a great teenager book with good values. The characters are interesting and lovable. This is the first book of the Crossroad Saga Series. It did not hook me enough to read the next books, but if I was 16; I would think differently. View all my reviews

This Time Next Door by Gretchen Galway My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the second book in the Oakland Hills Series. This time the story is about Rose and Mark. I enjoyed this light read which was funny, widdy and at time sexy. Although there are several characters which paths are crossing; it is not difficult to keep up with all of them and enjoy their contribution to the story. View all my reviews

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins My rating: 5 of 5 stars Wow! This was a ride... a wild train ride!! This book kept me guessing to the end. Paula Hawkins created an intricate story between complex people. The story written in three voices helps the reader get all the angles of the plot and add dimension to the book. A must read! View all my reviews

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is the next book we will be discussing in July at my workplace book club. I thought to start the book early as I did not think the subject would interest me much. Was I ever wrong?!?! I could not put it down. This is a story of defiance in times of wars and conflicts, and a story of courage coming from the most unexpected person. All schools in the world should add "I am Malala" to their curriculum and mandate all their pupils to read it. In Canada, we, women, take education for granted. We never have to look over our shoulders to see if someone will jump out of the shadows to hurt us because we are going to school and are getting an education. Malala had to do this every day of her young life because she believed that it was her right to be educated... and she got shot for it. I appreciated hearing the events of those turbulous times from the

The Fifth Gospel: A Novel by Ian Caldwell My rating: 4 of 5 stars It took me a while to finish this book. The tempo of the story was slow but the author kept me hooked enough to keep me reading to discover more. The plot was well composed and delivered. The characters were well developed and each were interesting in their own way. In a few book reviews, The Fifth Gospel was compared to Dan Brown's series featuring Robert Langdon as the main character. I did not find the books to be similar with the exception that, just like Dan Brown, it is obvious that Ian Caldwell did his research on the Catholic church and rituals before writing this story. If you decide to read this book, don't give up because the story might be a bit slow; it all comes together in the end and you will say: "Awww! This all makes sense now!" View all my reviews

Love Handles by Gretchen Galway My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a cute and fun story. I am always leery of stories advertising that the main character is a bigger girl... she is a size 10 for goodness sake... that's not big in my book; that's normal!! For certain things, size matters... but when it comes to people, it does not. You are who you are. If you love yourself; you are healthy and you are not bothered by your size, then no one should be either. Any-who... like I said at the beginning of this post... the story was cute and funny. This is a great summer read. View all my reviews

Andromeda by Amy Bartelloni My rating: 2 of 5 stars Andromeda is the first book of a series by the same name. The story had great potential, but the author failed short to give it flow and excitement. I will not read the next books. :( View all my reviews

The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen My rating: 5 of 5 stars I received this book from Audible.com as a Christmas gift to their customers. I had never read The Snow Queen and I love other stories written by Hans Christian Andersen, so I knew I was in for a real treat. I was not disappointed!!! Such a delicate story with such depth. A masterpiece! View all my reviews

Let It Be by Chad Gayle My rating: 2 of 5 stars I did not like this book much. I kept hoping that the story would get better, but it did not. The author used long descriptions throughout the book to fill up the pages. It felt like it was written by a teenager trying to sound adult. I did not like the different voices in the book; I would rather have read the story from one perspective. It was not my thing, but it might be yours... who knows. View all my reviews

Henry Wood Detective Agency by Brian D. Meeks My rating: 4 of 5 stars Henry Wood Detective Agency is the first book in the Henry Wood Detective Series. This book has all the traditional detective components and also has an interesting twist (which I will not mentioned in order not to spoil the story for you). The story was well thought and Brian D. Meeks took us on the roller-coaster of detective work and the dangers of dealing with bad gangsters. I enjoyed this fast read! View all my reviews

One to Hold by Tia Louise My rating: 4 of 5 stars I picked up this book because I felt like to read a love story. This book was sexy and light. It had great drama and intense passion. Not bad at all! View all my reviews

Empire of Night by Kelley Armstrong My rating: 5 of 5 stars Another fantastic book by Kelley Armstrong!!! This is the second book of the Age of Legends series. Second books are often not as good as the first ones; Empire of Night did not follow this rule. The adventure continues for Moria and Ashyn and their entourage. New characters are introduced and some old ones shows different sides of themselves. The story has a steady flow of ups and downs; never a boring moment. The underlining love stories are a bit frustrating, but that would not be a good book if it was all easy peasy. Kelley Armstrong keeps you on your toes right to the end and now I can't wait for the next book to be available... oh the wait... I hate waiting... but I will because I need to find out what happens next. View all my reviews

Japanese Cooking Made Simple: A Japanese Cookbook with Authentic Recipes for Ramen, Bento, Sushi & More by Salinas Press My rating: 4 of 5 stars Japanese food is one of my favorites cuisines. I love dining at Japanese restaurant and enjoy the variety of food and flavours they offer. I was hoping that this book would give me the confidence I needed to attempt cooking such lovely food. It did not succeed. Although the recipes seem simple enough, the dish preparation is quite intimidating. The book contains nonetheless wonderful facts and tricks and the recipes all look delicious. I am sure I will eventually find the courage to try preparing one dish and see if this is something I can do or if I should just stick to going to Japanese restaurants to enjoy this wonderful cuisine. View all my reviews

Farmstead Feast: Winter: Delicious, in-season recipes by the author of The Weekend Homesteader by Anna Hess My rating: 4 of 5 stars I got this book for free at Amazon. I always enjoyed reading cookbooks and learning about new ways to cook a variety of food. Anna Hess' book caught my attention because it sounded very natural and healthy.... and it is! I haven't tried any of the recipes yet, but I am planning to do so as soon as the farmer's market re-opens in my town. Cooking with fresh vegetables is perfect to put these recipes to the test. I am looking forward to it! View all my reviews

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant My rating: 5 of 5 stars My friend Lynn suggested this book to me and I am so thankful! This was such an enjoyable read. I love history and I love art. Sarah Dunant has weaved an incredibly rich story around a young woman's life and struggles in Florence in the 15th century. Alessandra's story is artfully interwoven with historical events to create a fascinating retelling of Renaissance Italy. A must read! View all my reviews

The Dirty Parts of the Bible by Sam Torode My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a fun read! The characters were all very interesting and amusing in each their own way. When I started I thought I was going to be put off by the religious flavour, but without it, this story would not stand a chance. View all my reviews

28 Days of Clean Eating: The Healthy Way to Kick Dieting Forever by Sonoma Press My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book is filled with great recipes and health recommendations. Although the author offers a full menu for four weeks, I find it difficult to stick to the regiment because of my busy work and family schedule. If I was cooking only for myself; I think I could do it. Nevertheless, this is a complete book for healthy eating and definitely worth reading. View all my reviews

Best Brunches and Breakfasts by Marie L'Esperance My rating: 5 of 5 stars I got this book for free on Amazon. I love brunches and I am always looking for new recipes to put some variety on the menu. This book is awesome! The recipes are easy to follow and are delicious! I recommend it! View all my reviews