Two Dogs and a Book

A Love That Never Tires by Allyson Jeleyne My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is a lovely book and quick read. I really like the characters and the different geographical settings. I enjoyed this story a lot. View all my reviews

Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams My rating: 5 of 5 stars Another great book by Beatriz Williams. This is the third book in the Schuyler Sisters Series. I love the historical connections to the present. Fantastic read. View all my reviews

The Miracle on Monhegan Island: A Novel by Elizabeth Kelly My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book is written in the voice of Ned, the family dog. The story is about a family, made up of all men, and a religious experience that will change everyone's life. Quick and good read. View all my reviews

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley My rating: 5 of 5 stars Another fantastic book to add to my favorites in 2016. This is a well plotted story which will keep you on your toes from beginning to end. Must read!! View all my reviews

The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin My rating: 5 of 5 stars Absolutely loved this book!!! What a gem!! I really like that it is based on true characters. This is one of the best books I read this year.... a must read!! View all my reviews

Girl in the Dark by Anna Lyndsey My rating: 4 of 5 stars I can't imagine how it would be if I could not be able to walk in the sun again. This is what happened to Anna Lyndsey after she develops a severe allergy to light. "Girl in the Dark" is a memoir of what happened, how Anna is dealing with this challenging condition and the ups and downs of hope and despair. It is beautifully written and, although she is dealing with a very serious subject, Anna Lyndsey succeeds to infuse humour and lightness throughout the book. I like this particular passage about friendship: " Friendship plants itself as a small unobtrusive seed; over time, it grows thick roots that wrap around your heart. When a love affair ends, the tree is torn out quickly, the operation painful but clean. Friendship withers quietly, there is always hope of revival. Only after time has passed do you recognise that it is dead, and you are left, for years afterwards, pulling dry brown fibres from your...

You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is the story of a promising gymnast and her family entangled in the mystery death of a young man. The story is solid and the characters, although being not likable, are well defined. This story is not predictable and I liked that about it. I would have given it 3.5 stars. View all my reviews

My Mrs. Brown by William Norwich My rating: 5 of 5 stars Sometimes you pick up a book you have never heard before and wonder if it is worth giving it a try. You take a chance and read it. Sometimes you lose... sometimes you come across a book that will delight you. “My Mrs. Brown” is such a book and I am adding it to my list of favourites. This is the story about a woman who, while inventorying the content of an influential woman in her small town who recently passed away, comes across a beautiful garment by Oscar de la Renta. It is an instant love affair with this dress which will propel Mrs. Brown to do what she can to acquire such treasure. This story is the inspiration of “where you sow kindness, you will reap kindness”. You follow Mrs. Brown through her journey, meet the people who respect her and will help her along the way. You will also discover how noble this crusade is. Short and sweet, this book is beautifully written. This story of dignit...

The Unseen World by Liz Moore My rating: 5 of 5 stars I have a new favourite book. "The Unseen World" is beautifully written and the story is thought-provoking and touching. I won't lie, I actually cried at the end. This is the story of a young girl whose father raised her in an unconventional way. Her father gets sick and she now faces challenges. She is not alone in her journey and will be helped by wonderful characters. This is a journey to discover the truth about the man who she calls "David". A must read!!! View all my reviews

Like a River Glorious by Rae Carson My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is a wonderful YA book with lots of history and action. I enjoyed the second book even more than the first one. I like how Rae Carson introduces strong female protagonists in her books who are brave and mindful of others. This series is a page turner and opens a realistic window on how life was in California during the Gold Rush. Looking forward to read the third book. View all my reviews

The Man Without a Shadow by Joyce Carol Oates My rating: 3 of 5 stars I would like to give 3.5 stars to this book. I love the science behind the book and the subject of amnesia is fascinating. The author was able to portray the thoughts of the amnesiac in a way that sheds a light on what would happen when someone has a 70 seconds recollection. The writing is superb and the story flows gracefully. The characters are well developed and have interesting lives. Joyce Carol Oates unfortunately lost me when the love story between the scientist and the subject became somewhat unrelenting, obsessive and irrational. I can somewhat understand that a researcher could fall in love with his or her subject, but it almost felt like the story would end up with someone walking up from a bad dream. It did not, and it is overall a good story and a good book to read. View all my reviews

The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book is about four siblings who have been waiting to receive their inheritance left to them by their late father. The money was to be granted to them when the youngest turns 40. But as the day approaches, the oldest gets himself in a pickle and most of the inheritance is used to give him a free pass out of disaster; leaving the others with nearly nothing. Two of the siblings had been waiting to receive their parts of the inheritance to repay debts, put children in good colleges and now the money is not enough to cover it all. The oldest makes promises to repay his siblings, but what happens next is the inception of what will change all their lives. The writing is beautiful and flows smoothly from beginning to end. The story also has interesting cameos which add dimensions to the drama. This book portraits the ups and downs of a dysfunctional family which, if we are honest with ourse...

The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book has given me a new appreciation for birds. I have never learned that much information about birds and how intelligent and unique they are. I have a bird feeder in the backyard and I will pay much more attention to which birds come to feed from it. I have a lot of house sparrows in my neighbourhood and never thought much of them because they are not as colourful as other birds. After reading how bright they are... I am impressed! This is a short book and worth reading! View all my reviews

The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Beauty of Darkness is the last book in The Remnant Chronicles series. Each book in the series got better and better. This story is solid and not foreseeable. Mary E. Pearson keeps her readers engaged and has developed strong characters which are full of surprises. It is important to read the series in the order it was written. There are references in the last book which can only be understood if you read the first two. I related strongly with Lia. She is resilient and master of her own destiny. Like her, I was raised with only brothers which made me a more exploratory person. But also like her, I had a desire for making my own way and experience life as an exciting adventure. The story has a spectacular ending. I was captivated to the end. I loved this series and hope to find another one like this one soon. View all my reviews

A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams My rating: 4 of 5 stars The 1920's were a time of great change in the US society. The WW1 just ended and it was an era of fast technological discoveries. After decades of inequality between men and women, the "not so fair" sex finally got her chance to fulfil her dreams. This independence brought women the right to vote, the right to work and the right to higher education. The 20's were also a time of fun and leisure and gave birth to the "The Flappers". These free spirited women could be found at the speakesies, a.k.a underground bars where alcohol was served illegally. They were known to have a good time, be carefree, independent and fashion innovators. A certain Age is all about that and more. It is a story of emancipation and love affairs, crimes of passion and finding love. Another fantastic book by Beatriz Williams. A great read! View all my reviews

City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte My rating: 4 of 5 stars Never judge a book by its cover, they say! I have to come clear and admit that I selected this book because of its cover... it is so beautiful! And guess what!!! The book was pretty awesome too! I love stories where the author uses the past to define the present. Especially when they used actual historical characters, documents or events. When I see a name I do not recognise; I google it and learn about who he/she/it was and their contribution to history. This book is full of these kinds of goodies: music composers, alchemists, religious personalities and royalties. This is a great story with lots of surprising plots. Love it! View all my reviews

The Miracle Girl by Andrew Roe My rating: 1 of 5 stars Read it from first to last page and never got into it. I was waiting for the answers; they never came. View all my reviews

The Silver Witch by Paula Brackston My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the first book by Paula Brackston I have the pleasure to read. The Silver Witch takes place in Wales, UK and tells the story of two women in two different time periods. Seren is a shaman in the court of Prince Brynach, who lived around 910 AD near an ancient lake. Tilda is a young widow and ceramic artist who moves to a secluded Welsh cottage on the banks of the same ancient lake, but in modern times. There is a deep connection between the two women and the lake. The story is bewitching and has wonderful Welsh historical details. There is a nice unexpected twist at the end. Great read! View all my reviews

Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase My rating: 5 of 5 stars A rollercoaster of emotions: from joy to sadness to frustration to elation. Black Rabbit Hall is a book full of surprises and an incessant journey that spans over 30 years. This is the story of four children broken by the loss of their beloved mother and how they learn to cope with grief, change and love. Eve Chase gifts us with a beautifully written story which has the right amount of intrigue and carries you, chapters after chapters, to a remarkable ending. Enjoyable from the first to the last page. View all my reviews

The Color of Destiny by Julianne MacLean My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is the second book by Julianne MacLean I read and I can say that so far she is consistent in her writing style and her stories are smartly developed and well written. This book has many characters and it makes it a bit challenging to keep up with all the stories at times, but the author ends the book in a beautiful way by bringing them all together in a happy and surprising ending. This is a light and fast read. View all my reviews

Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams My rating: 4 of 5 stars Interesting book about a 60's american family with great political aspirations and a young woman groomed to marry in this family. We follow the internal conflicts of Tiny and her desire to be free to be herself. Great ending... except... I am still wondering who actually owned the Mercedes. Oh well! This is a good summer read. View all my reviews

Before I Go by Colleen Oakley My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is such a beautiful sad book... I cried and cried! I still recommend it as it is a beautiful story about a young woman facing death and trying to help her husband move on after she passes away. There are twists which make this story beautiful. Make sure you have some tissues near by though! View all my reviews

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees My rating: 3 of 5 stars How can the author of one of the most read love stories be able to write such story when she, herself, was a "spinster"? This is what Kelly O'Connor McNees attempts to do in this fictional book about Louisa May Alcott, author of "Little women". She recaps the events of the summer of 1855 when Louisa May Alcott finds love and makes the decisions which will send her on her way to be a successful author. This is a light and enjoyable read. View all my reviews

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce My rating: 5 of 5 stars When faced with the imminent death of a dear friend, Harold Fry begins a long journey by foot from Kingsbridge, UK to Berwick-upon-Tweed, Scotland. Harold will walk over 600 miles (965 km) over a period of 87 days to reach his dying friend. In the course of his pilgrimage, Harold will meet several individuals who will offer him help to carry on his journey. At times, he will need physical help. Sometime, it will be emotional help. And when he really needs it, he will receive spiritual help. This is a beautiful book dealing with the inner conflicts of a man who is faced by his past and the decision he regrets. It is also a book of triumphs and finding what really matters. Be ready to laugh, to cry and to be moved. A must read! View all my reviews

The Birth House by Ami McKay My rating: 5 of 5 stars My friend Lynn recommended this book after I shared with her that my maternal grandmother was a midwife and healer. I told her how I wish she had passed on her knowledge to my mother so she would have done the same with me. My mom told me that her mother went through hardship because of her craft and that "modern medicine" killed the art of midwifing and providing care through natural remedies. My grandmother did not want my mom to go through the same harassment and did not pass on her art. How sad! The Birth House is a book just about that. How "modern medicine" discredited people using natural remedies and even outlawed midwifing. The book tells the story of a young lady who learns the midwifing and healing crafts from an older French woman in her community and how she has to face persecution from a local doctor and some men in the small town where she resides in Nova Scotia. ...

Gandhi: A Life Inspired by Lynn M. Hamilton My rating: 4 of 5 stars Short and sweet!!! I enjoyed this short biography of Gandhi. The author stayed away of the emotional drama that is often associated with the life of Gandhi. She stated the facts and made this book an enjoyable educational record telling. I knew a bit about his life; this book gave me a great insight on what motivated him and who he was and became. I recommend it. View all my reviews

The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian My rating: 4 of 5 stars The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian was a surprising read. The story is well structure moving from one character's point of view to another. It is the kind of story that leaves you thinking and wanting to correct injustice. It deals with the dark subject of sex trading. It shed a small light on how young girls are taken from their families to be trained to become modern courtesans. The story also deals with the repercussions of a man's indiscretion, the impact on his family and his attempt at redemption. Great book! View all my reviews

Forest of Ruin by Kelley Armstrong My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is the third book in the Age of Legend series. This was the best of the three. I am a huge fan of Canadian author Kelley Armstrong. Her books are filled with wonderful complex characters and well-written stories. This series is about twin girls who have been selected from birth to serve their kingdom by banning evil spirits or helping other spirits to transition to the other world. Their village is destroyed and they embark on a long journey to save the children who were kidnapped during the attack. Along the journey, they will encounter good and bad people. They will meet mystical creatures and find love. The series is a continuous adventure filled with nail biting moments and grand victories. Although this is a YA series, it can appeal to anyone. The end was left opened and I would not be surprised to see more books in this series. View all my reviews

Chosen by Denise Grover Swank My rating: 3 of 5 stars This was an interesting beginning for a good versus evil series of books. The plot is interesting, but not new! The characters have extreme highs and lows which can be a bit too dramatic to my taste. They are well defined nonetheless. It will be interesting to find out where Denise Grover Swank will take us and where we will end up. View all my reviews

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick My rating: 2 of 5 stars This is the third book in the series Hush Hush. I read the first two books several years ago and liked the first book and did not like much the second. In the middle of reading the third book, I had to google the author to remind myself who she was. She is an adult and yet her writing is childish and repetitive and not to mention full of useless details... it feels very amateurish. The third book did not redeem the series and I will have to eventually get to the forth book in my lifetime. Not looking forward to it. View all my reviews

I am one of the top 1% of reviewers on Goodreads! The Goodreads community is getting closer to a very important milestone –  the 50 Million Reviews mark!   Check out the fun infographic they made to celebrate! I have written 192 reviews  since joining Goodreads on April 9th, 2012. Thanks Goodreads!!

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the second book in the Red Queen series. Second books are often not as good as the first or the third book of the series. I think this one is an exception. The story was exciting and filled with action. The characters continued to developed and mature. I am enjoying this series so far and I am looking to read the next book when it comes out in 2017. View all my reviews

Lonely Planet Cuba by Lonely Planet My rating: 5 of 5 stars I am getting ready for my upcoming trip to Cuba. I purchased recently the "Puerto Rico" book from the same publishing company and really liked it. Lonely Planet Cuba was another awesome source of information. I love the recommendations, the maps and the great advises. I will be able to enjoy my trip better with all that good information! Muchas gracias!! View all my reviews

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Red Queen is an exciting book filled with lots of actions and surprises. It is a great start for this YA series. The characters are well defined and the story flows at a great pace. I am looking forward to read the other two books in the series. View all my reviews

Walking On Wild Air by Yvonne Marjot My rating: 3 of 5 stars I received a free copy a this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It was a hard read. The book was confusing at time and made the flow of the story not very enjoyable. I wish the author had kept the story to Sushila and Dougie and did not jump to these other random stories about the people who died on the hill. These alternate stories brought nothing to the plot; they were actually confusing. I think the book also left me with too many unanswered questions. It had too many loose ends. The story between Sushila and Dougie is beautiful and had a lot of potential to develop into a bestseller. View all my reviews

Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs My rating: 4 of 5 stars I am a big fan of Mercy Thompson! This is the ninth book in the series and I enjoyed it as much as the other eight. It was a bit more subdued than the last one, but still very entertaining. Mercy Thompson is the protagonist of the book series. She is a Native American supernatural being called a "Walker" (a.k.a. shapeshifter) who can turns into a coyote when she wants. Her father is a spirit called Coyote who had taken the form of a Blackfeet Indian when met her mother, a young Caucasian teen. Mercy is a mechanic and a bad "arss" fighter. She has a big heart and her desire to help others often gets her in deep doodoo, but she always prevails. The series follows Mercy through many adventures where she encounters a variety of supernatural beings; each one more interesting than the previous one. The books are filled with action adventures, epic battles and troubles waiting at ev...

The Lake House by Kate Morton My rating: 5 of 5 stars I have yet to read a book by Kate Morton I don’t like. Her stories are full of surprises and unexpected outcomes. I love how she stirs us precisely to the right conclusions in a methodological and articulate way. The Lake House is a fantastic read. The characters are complex and multifaceted. Each brings a twist to the story and offers an explanation to what really happened that Midsummer’s Eve in 1933. This is a touching detective story; it tells how far people will go to keep a promise. View all my reviews

The Ex by Alafair Burke My rating: 4 of 5 stars « The Ex » by Alafair Burke is a great « who did it » book. I was engrossed in the story right from the start. The plot has many facets and each ones build from the others. Alafair Burke succeeded to create a solid story which allows the reader to peek here and there at the true motive without revealing the whole shebang too quickly. Great book! View all my reviews

My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout My rating: 4 of 5 stars Short and sweet!!! This book is beautifully written and moving. The story is sporadic and only touches the surface of its every part. It was like being at a restaurant which has a tasting menu… you get to eat many dishes in very small portions, but if you like one in particular, you are out of luck to get more. I wish the author had gone deeper with some of the cameo stories. I enjoyed this book nonetheless. View all my reviews

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff My rating: 3 of 5 stars This book is really a 3.5 stars. I saw this book on many "Book of the year" lists in 2015 and I figured out that it would be a great read. It was not bad, but I found the story about these egoistical people to be mind-numbing and repetitive at times. I did not like many of the characters. Too many of them were insensitive and phony. I did like the second part better. It revealed unexpected surprises, answered many questions and had a better flow. View all my reviews

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is the story of a family whose oldest daughter goes missing and how they each copes with their grief. Years later, the estranged family members are reunited by disturbing circumstances and are faced with the dark side of Julia's disappearance. If I had seen this story in a movie instead of reading it; I think I would have nightmares for weeks. After reading a few chapters, I really thought I could not finish this book. Not because it was not well written or the story was dull... on the contrary!! A lot of thoughts went into the writing of this book and the story is far from being boring. This suspense-thriller gets right under your skin and chills you to the bones. But just like all forbidden thing; I could not stay away from it and had to finish it. I finally took a deep breath at the end… I did not realize I was holding it all along. If you like thrillers; this one is frightastic! ...

City of Women by David R. Gillham My rating: 5 of 5 stars "City of Women" has been on my list to read for a while. I finally got to it and discovered a literary gem. "City of Women" takes place in Berlin in 1943. A German woman named Sigrid lives two lives. One of a wife waiting for the return of her husband from the Russian front and living a German war time day-to-day life. Another of a passionate woman who has an affair with a Jewish man and gets involved with helping those who are wronged by this horrifying war. David R. Gillham delivers a book that is raw at its core and does not spare you the hideous details of inhuman actions. The characters are honest in their delivery and communicates their feelings effectively. This book is also a story of courage and hope, and a story of good prevailing over evil. A must read! View all my reviews

Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received an advance reading copy of “Tell the Wind and Fire” by Sarah Rees Brennan from Clarion Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. "Tell the Wind and Fire" is the story of a teenager named Lucie who is gifted with light magic. The story starts with her describing how she bravely saved her father from a certain death. Her act of bravery changes her life and she becomes a symbol of courage in two very different cities. The Light City uses her to promote purity and peace and the Dark City uses her to rally its people to start a revolution and conquer the Light City. Lucie is a citizen of both cities and she is challenged to make decisions which will impact her life and the lives of many around her. The story is well written and has a good pace. Sarah Rees Brennan has created strong characters who bring substance to the story in each their own ways. This b...

The Butterfly Sister by Amy Gail Hansen My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Butterfly Sister is a well thought and unpredictable book. This is the story of a young woman’s struggle with depression and being forced to face her past to make a wrong, right. Ruby has a secret which is eating her alive. When her old school friend Beth is reported missing; she is forced to go back to where all her troubles started and face the man who hurt her deeply. Ruby puts all the pieces together to discover what happened to Beth, who is involved and why. This book is beautifully written and keeps you guessing to the end. Who did it, really? View all my reviews

Saving Saffron Sweeting by Pauline Wiles My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a fun book to read while on vacation. It is a feel good story! View all my reviews

Inside the O'Briens: A Novel by Lisa Genova My rating: 4 of 5 stars Huntington’s disease... I have to pause here because I have to admit that I knew nothing about this disease. I like to read books that challenge me to know more about something. Good old Google came to the rescue and now understand better what this disease is and how those affected by it, live with it. Lisa Genova wrote a beautiful story of courage and perseverance in face of having Huntington’s disease. The book starts with Joe, a Boston Policy Officer, who is diagnosed with Huntington’s disease and evolves to include the stories of his four children and how they face this deadly neurodegenerative genetic disorder they might have inherited from their dad or not. Children of Huntington's disease patients have 50% chance chance of inheriting the disease. The book deals with raw emotions and the fear that accompany such diagnosis. It also deals with the determination of a famil...

Shelter Dogs in a Photo Booth by Guinnevere Shuster My rating: 5 of 5 stars I received a free digital copy of this wonderful book by Guinnevere Shuster from Andrews McMeel Publishing via NetGalley. First of all, let me tell you that Guinnevere is a very talented animal photographer and she has captured the most amazing pictures of these gorgeous shelter dogs. Her goal is to present beautiful pictures to people who are considering adopting a dog from a shelter. Too many times, we see very sad pictures of these animals and although they stir up our emotions, they do not really portray the true personality of these fantastic fur babies. This book made me laugh and brightened my day. Each page presents a dog in four pictures and a small paragraph about who they are and when they were adopted. It is a very quick and brilliant read. I will leave you on the wisdom of the great Anonymous, who said: A dog can express more with his tail in minutes than his owner can express w...

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald My rating: 3 of 5 stars Wow! It took me a while to finish this one. I received a copy of the book from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley in exchange for a review. It was a lovely love story about a Swedish girl named Sara who came to visit her older American pen-pal, Amy, only to discover that she had passed away before she arrived. She decides to stay in Amy's house for a while at the invitation of the town’s people and eventually opens a bookstore using all the books Amy left behind, in an attempt to pay back the town for their infinite generosity towards her. The town of Broken Wheel adopts Sara quickly and comes up with a plan to make her stay permanently. Sara’s story is unveiled at a slow pace and the book contains many side stories about other town’s people which in my opinion did not bring much to the plot. It is a nice and easy read nonetheless. View all my reviews ...