Two Dogs and a Book

I Invited Her In by Adele Parks My rating: 3 of 5 stars QOTD: Have your parents kept mementos of you when you were a child? AOTD: Mine did. In this picture, you can see my christening dress. My mom made it from her wedding dress. This is so special and I am ever more grateful that she kept it. My Review: Thank you @harlequinbooks for this advanced copy of I Invited Her In by Adele Parks. 2018 has been a great year for books. I was able to read 95 of them this year. This book is about two women who met while in university. Mel becomes pregnant and does not complete her studies. Abi graduates and moves on to become a talk-show celebrity. Fast forward many years and Abi is reaching out to Mel for help because her marriage is falling apart. Abi has a plan involving Mel's teenager son and must gain her friendship back to succeed. The book is a bit predictable but is still a great read. This book will be available at your favourite bookstore on February 5th, ...

The Inbetween Days by Eva Woods My rating: 3 of 5 stars QOTD: Do you believe in destiny? Please tell me why you do or you don't? My Review: Thank you @harlequinbooks and @goodreads for this advanced copy of The Inbetween Days by Eva Woods. Rosie is in a coma after being hit by a double-decker in London. She is conscious but can't remember anything about her life prior to the accident. While in her hospital bed, she is visited by different people; some alive and some dead. They are trying to help her remember her life and come out of the coma. She has three days to figure out who she is, what she has done and why she is there. Will it be enough? Will she want to remember or will the memories be too much for her? This has a bit of a Christmas Carol feel. The main character is visited by people from her past who transport her to specific events in her life. Some events are happy, but most are not. This is a fast and light read. This book will be available at you...

Writing Picture Books: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication by Ann Whitford Paul My rating: 4 of 5 stars QOTD: What is your favorite picture book from your childhood? I have been planning to write a picture book for a very long time and have it illustrated by my son. This book was a fantastic source of information and insight. It gave me the right tools to help me write a better story and directed me to so many children writer resources. I still have a way to go before I see my book on a bookshelf, but at least I have a much better idea how to get it there. If you are also interested in writing for children, please get a copy of this book. You will not regret it. Thank you to F. W. Media for sending me a copy of this wonderful book. Follow me on Blogger @ http://guylous.blogspot.com or on Instagram @twodogsandabook to see my latest book reviews. #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookreview #bookdragon #bookaholic ...

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier My rating: 3 of 5 stars QOTD: Name one of your favourite authors and tell me why you like him or her. My Review: This is another book from my TBR list this year. I am happy I got to it before the year-end. Jar of Hearts is a chilling thriller about a woman whose past catches up with her. As a teenager, Georgina and her violent boyfriend, are involved in the horrific murder of her best friend, Angela. Forward fourteen years later and she cuts a plea bargain deal to pin the murder on her ex-boyfriend to avoid a long incarceration. She ends up with a 5-year sentence in a maximum-security institution. After her release, she moves with her dad to start her life again but not everyone will make it easy for her. Soon the police are at her door because more murdered victims are found nearby her location. Well-written and engaging, this book will keep you to the edge of your seat. Follow me on Blogger @ http://guylous.blogspot.com or on...

Forget You Know Me by Jessica Strawser My rating: 3 of 5 stars QOTD: What is your trick to reconcile with your best friend after you had a bad disagreement? My Review: I love reading and reviewing books before they are published. I promised the publishers to always provide an honest review and sometimes it is not an easy thing to do. I am giving a generous three-star rating to this book. The story did not grab me, and I found myself easily distracted while I was reading it. Not to say that you would not like it. The writing is good and there are great life lessons to learn. This is the story of two best friends who grow apart and whose relationship comes to a near end after a tragic incident. Liza and Molly have been friends since their teens. Liza moved away to Chicago for work and Molly is dealing with major health and financial issues. One night, as they are skyping, Liza witnesses an intruder in Molly’s home while she is attending to her children. She scare...

Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson My rating: 0 of 5 stars QOTD: If you were given the choice to avenge your family or obey orders and miss that opportunity; what would you choose? My Review: I have been wanting to read this book for months. Mary E. Pearson continues where she left off in The Remnant Chronicles Series. Dance of Thieves if the first book in her new series. This time the story revolves around Kazi, a young female guard to Queen of Morrighan, and Jase, leader of the Ballenger empire. Kazi is sent to his settlement to investigate the disturbances. Jase is not who he appears to be and Kazi will have to trust her instincts to make the right decisions. When she is faced with the choice to avenge her mother or obey the Queen, she must make the right choice. This is an exciting new series. If you have read The Remnant Chronicles, you will not be disappointed. Follow me on Blogger @ http://guylous.blogspot.com or on Instagram @twodogsandabook to ...

Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong My rating: 4 of 5 stars QOTD: Would you know how to find your way out of a forest if you were lost in it? My Review: Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong is the fourth book in the Rockton Series. Detective Casey has not had a chance to rest after solving the last crime in Rockton. She is back in Vancouver to convince her sister, an experienced doctor, to come back with her to help remove a bullet from the back of one of the inhabitants. Rockton is not a common town. Located in the Yukon wilderness, it is a refuge for people who are at risk; a bit like a witness protection program, but not for witnesses. If you have the means and the money, you can hide in Rockton. Rockton does not have a doctor and performing a complex surgery such as removing a bullet requires an expert. April accepts too quickly, but Casey does not have the time to consider why her sister is so eager to come to with her. A US Marshal finds his way to Rock...

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor My rating: 4 of 5 stars Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor is the second book in the Strange the Dreamer Series. Lazlo is now in the citadel and is understanding more and more who he is. Sarai is dead, but not dead. Who they thought were once enemies, are no longer enemies; and they are now facing new foes. This is a fantastic and complex series. Laini Taylor transports her readers in a fantasy world filled with multifaceted characters. If you are looking for a series which will make you think and entertain you, this is the one. Follow me on Blogger @ http://guylous.blogspot.com or on Instagram @twodogsandabook to see my latest book reviews. 🔹 🔹 #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookreview #bookdragon #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookaddicted #bookishcanadians #museofnightmares #lainitaylor #fiction #fantasy View all my reviews

Looker by Laura Sims My rating: 3 of 5 stars QOTD: Which actor or actress would you love to live on your street? My Review: This book has such a pretty cover. The story is written in the voice of an unnamed woman who has experienced major traumatic events in her life. After several failed IVFs, her husband walks out and leaves her with his cat. The story takes you on this woman’s ups and downs as she is facing the loneliness of separation, fighting to keep the cat, and seeing her teaching career coming to an end. While all this is happening, you also discover that she is obsessed with a movie star who is living on her street. She is so taken by this actress that she is willing to do what it takes to get close to her. A lot of the dialogue is in her head and paints a pretty insane picture. The story did not grab me, and I decided to give a generous 3 stars only because it was short, and the writing was good. I want to thank Simon and Schuster for the advanced copy of ...

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 QOTD: Do you believe in miracles? A big thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for giving me an advanced reader copy of this fantabulous book. The cover is one of the most beautiful I have seen this year. The story was just as stunning. I was quite excited to have the opportunity and read and review this book as it deals with CF (Cystic Fibrosis). This subject is near and dear to my heart as I lost my cousin to this disease. Benoît and I were very close from almost birth and I saw him fight all his life. Unfortunately, he lost the battle at age 36 while waiting for a lung transplant. FIVE FEET APART is the story of Stella, a teenager who has CF and is waiting for a set of lungs to be available for transplant. While in the hospital, she meets Will, another CF patient. Will has a death wish and rebels against his treatments. Stella is determined to help him live and, with much persistence, succeeds to convince him to follow his m...

Deadly Camargue by Cay Rademacher My rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5 QOTD: Who is your favorite painter/artist? My Review: What does the murder of a rice mogul, the theft of a van Gogh Painting, and the gruesome death of a journalist by bull impalement have in common? You will have to read this awesome detective novel to find out. Capitaine Blanc is on a case which will look in the past and present. What appears to be an accident, smells like murder to him. I was attracted to this book because of its van Gogh connection. I am a big fan of the artist and I am always interested to read stories where he is involved (in some way). This detective novel is intelligent and gripping. There are so many clues and many suspects. This novel is the second book in the Provence Mystery Series. I love all the French references and landscapes. If you like Agatha Christie books, you will like this one. A big thank you to Minotaur Book and St. Martin’s Publishing Group of my advanced reader’s copy of this awesome detect...

An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks My rating: 4 of 5 stars QOTD: Could you tell a lie without feeling guilt? My Review: The QOTD is the first question on a questionnaire Jess is about to take. The questionnaire is a morality test. Jess is participating in this study under false pretense, so how will she do on a test that is asking her to be honest, provide her first and instinctive response, and expand on her response thoroughly? She must have done well since Dr. Shields selects her for further testing which will provide her with some financial relief. Jess is soon discovering that Dr. Lydia Shields is more than what meets the eyes and that this expanded experiment is becoming dangerous. There is much at stake and Jess is feeling trapped. How can she end this experiment without hurting those she loves? I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. This nail-biting thriller wil...

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris My rating: 5 of 5 stars As I ponder what I just read, I find myself unable to put to words the feelings this books evoked in me. Even taking a picture of this book for my bookstagram caused a huge internal dilemma. How can I stage a book which contains such a painful story and yet has a happy ending? I opted for the laurel leaves which are a symbol of victory and honor. In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau where he is forced to become the tattooist who engraved the numbers on the prisoners' arms. It was a question of survival and he used his position to help as many prisoners as he could. This novel is based on the true story of Lale Sokolov. This is a story of love and survival which will move you. Follow me on Blogger @ http://guylous.blogspot.comor on Instagram @twodogsandabook to see my latest book reviews. 🔹 🔹 #bookstagram...

The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg My rating: 5 of 5 stars I am so happy I finished reading this spectacular book in the comfort of my living room and not on the commuter train. This striking story about a 96-year-old woman who decides to write short stories about the people listed in her address book as a memento to her great-niece, made me cry like a baby. On her 10th birthday, Doris receives a red address book from her father. Shortly after, her father dies, and her life is set unto a path which will lead her to new countries, new escapades and many heartaches. She will meet extraordinary people and some not so much. As a young woman in Paris, she meets Allan and it is love at first sight. Allan disappears suddenly, and her heart is broken, but it will not be the last time they will be together. This is a heartening story of love, loss, making mistakes, atoning oneself, and finding love again. I want to thank Raincoast Books for the advanced copy of The Re...

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton My rating: 5 of 5 stars Cuba is one of my favorite countries to visit. My hubby and I love the people, the history and the beaches. There are two places we like to visit: Varadero and Cayo Coco. During one of our trips to Varadero, we took a day tour to Havana. There was so much to see and experience. We visited Revolution Square, old Havana where all the wealthy Cuban families used to live, we ate at one of the bars where Hemingway used to hang out and we visited his room at the Hotel Ambos Mundos. Havana is stuck in a time capsule, but it has been changing a lot for the past five years. It is starting to catch up with the rest of the world. Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton is the story of the Perez family from the Revolution to the return of the grand-daughter. Elisa is fulfilling the last wishes of her grandmother and is bringing back her ashes to Cuba. Elisa thought she knew her grandmother and her family well, but she will ...

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is another outstanding novel based on a real character by Marie Benedict. The Only Woman in the Room is the story of Hedy Kiesler, an Austrian rising star. After a controversial movie debut, she finds find great success in the role of Empress Elizabeth at the theatre. She is quickly noticed by Austrian weapon dealer, Fritz Mandl who pursues her interminably until she accepts to become his wife. Hedy’s life with Fritz is not all rose and eventually escapes to America where she becomes Hedy Lamarr, Hollywood star. Hedy has a secret which is eating at her. In an effort to atone herself, she recruits the help of music composer George Antheil to develop a radio guidance system which would increase the accuracy of torpedoes. How can a movie star and a music composer develop such an advanced technology? Don’t be surprised and read the book. You will find out that Hedy Lamarr is much more than just beauty,...

Creating Sanctuary: Sacred Garden Spaces, Plant-Based Medicine, and Daily Practices to Achieve Happiness and Well-Being by Jessi Bloom My rating: 5 of 5 stars Creating Sanctuary is simply tremendous. I was attracted to the book because I am planning to work on my backyard next year and needed some inspiration on what I need to consider to create a little heaven on Earth. To my surprise, this book gave me so much more than what I expected. Each section is filled with insights on the benefits of having a sanctuary and which plants and trees to look for to produce peace and balance. I particularly appreciated all the beneficial information regarding each plant and tree. This is a perfect book to offer as a gift to anyone who is seeking balance in his or her life in a natural way. Many recipes are available, and the photographs are beautiful. I can’t wait to start on my sanctuary and apply the wisdom I receive from this remarkable book. A big thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press...

Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks My rating: 3 of 5 stars Every Breath is another heartfelt story by Nicholas Sparks. After seeing a picture of his mom with a man who looks like him; Tru travels from his Zimbabwe home to America to meet his dad for the first time. While waiting to see him, he meets Hope and immediately falls in love with her. But love is never simple (at least in Sparks's books 😊), and their relationship is challenged right from the start. Can they be free to love each other? You have to read this beautiful book to find out. 🔹 Follow me on Blogger @ http://guylous.blogspot.com or on Instagram @twodogsandabook to see my latest book reviews. 🔹 🔹 #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookreview #bookdragon #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookaddicted #bookishcanadians #everybreath #nicholassparks #fiction View all my reviews

Season of Wonder by RaeAnne Thayne My rating: 3 of 5 stars Single mom Dr. Daniella Capelli’s life has not been a trip to the beach; she has had lots of downs and not many ups with the exception of her two daughters, Silver, and Mia. Despite all the challenges life has thrown at her; Dani has completed her veterinary studies and has an opportunity to start a new life Haven Point. Officer Morales is her gorgeous neighbour and son of her boss. He is single, and the attraction is immediate on both sides. This could jeopardize what she has worked so hard for. As she is falling for him, her secrets are coming to the surface and could ruin everything. To add to the matter, her daughter Silver is bringing attention to them by vandalism some neighbour properties. Did she do it of her own accord or was she compelled to do it? Office Morales wants to help, but these secrets are getting in the way. This is a light read with a Christmas holiday theme. It is filled with beautiful scener...

Deadly Camargue: A Provence Mystery by Cay Rademacher My rating: 3 of 5 stars What does the murder of a rice mogul, the theft of a van Gogh Painting, and the gruesome death of a journalist by bull impalement have in common? You will have to read this awesome detective novel to find out. Capitaine Blanc is on a case which will look in the past and present. What appears to be an accident, smells like murder to him. I was attracted to this book because of its van Gogh connection. I am a big fan of the artist and I am always interested to read stories where he is involved (in some way). This detective novel is intelligent and gripping. There are so many clues and many suspects. This novel is the second book in the Provence Mystery Series. I love all the French references and landscapes. If you like Agatha Christie books, you will like this one. A big thank you to Minotaur Book and St. Martin’s Publishing Group of my advanced reader’s copy of this awesome detective story....

Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg My rating: 5 of 5 stars Elizabeth Berg welcomes her readers on yet another stunning novel about unlikely friendships, community spirit, and surprising miracles. Night of Miracles is the sequel to the beloved book The Story of Arthur Truluv. The book picks up where it left off, so I recommend you read the first book to appreciate the story and all the eclectic characters. And what grand characters they are!! I love how Ms. Berg writes and infuses her books with her characters’ deepest thoughts. It feels like they are sitting beside you, pointing out this and that while telling you the story. Her writing is beautiful and whimsical. I highlighted so many phrases in the book because they are inspirational or motivational. I was reading the novel on the commuter train; that might have not been my brightest moment since there are parts in the book which are very emotional, and I wear my heart on my sleeve. Just to say, that my fellow commuters...

The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams My rating: 4 of 5 stars Beatriz Williams is one of my favorite authors. Her books are filled with historical facts and the plot is always captivating. The Glass Ocean does not disappoint. This is a two timelines story. One takes place in April 1915 and the other in May 2013. In the current timeline, Sarah Blake needs inspiration for her next book. She discovers in an old chest content that her grandfather was on the RMS Lusitania, a passenger ship which was sunken by a German U-Boat while on its journey to England in 1915. Her grandfather was a steward on the ship and he appears to have had a connection with Robert Langford, a renowned spy novelist, who was a passenger on the ship at that time. She contacts John Langford, a direct descendant of Robert, and together they embark on a discovery journey which includes traitors, secret formula, thievery, and a love affair. This book is another tour-de-force by Beatriz Williams. She will ke...

364 Days A Year by Sarah Riad My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love the #bookstagram community. I met wonderful authors and book reviewers which inspire me daily. Recently I befriended author Sarah Riad and she asked me if I wanted to read her upcoming book 364 Days a Year in exchange for an honest review. I say “Yes” without hesitation. I am always humbled and happy when an author asks me to read his or her book. Thanks Sarah! I just finished her book and I am still shaken by the multitude of emotions I felt while reading it. This is a fresh and well-written story with many layers of human behaviours. I love the storyline and how it flows beautifully. It starts with the main character waking up in the body of recently deceased Effie Garcia. Since 1909, our heroine has lived her 17th year over and over. Each year, on the 29th of March, she starts a new cycle in a new body. She does not remember who she is, but she knows that all the hosts recently pass away and that she has 3...

A Map of Days by Ransom Riggs My rating: 4 of 5 stars I thought the Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children Series ended with the third book: Library of Souls. Hold and behold, imagine my surprise when I found out that a fourth book was in the making. A Map of Days gives a new life to the series starting where it left off in the third book. Jacob is about to be admitted to a loony bin by his father and his uncle when his peculiar friends show up to deliver him. There is something new about Miss Peregrine’s peculiars… they no longer risk to age rapidly when they travel in the future (or present depending on who you are). They are all assigned tasks in the rebuilding of the damaged loops and are not very happy about it. Jacob is hoping to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and that the ymbrynes will assign him missions in America to save peculiar children. It is not the case forcing Jacob to rebel and starts his own mission to save a special peculiar located in New York. The bo...

Chili and Sundae were very cooperative today and decided to help me with this double post. 🔹BOOK REVIEW 1: Booked for Trouble by Eva Gates 🔹 My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars My Review: This is the second book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery Series. Another murder takes place on the library grounds. This time, Lucy’s mother is the prime suspect. It does not take long that everyone becomes a suspect. Who had motives to commit the murder? You have to read it to find out. I love this series. The stories are light and fun. I particularly like the fact that you have to wait to the end of the book to really know who committed the crime. 🔹BOOK REVIEW 2: Reading Up a Storm by Eva Gates🔹 My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5 stars My Review: This is the third book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. It is a light read and can be fun at times; unfortunately, the storyline is pretty much the same in all the books. I enjoyed the love triangle dilemma between Lucy, Connor, and Butch… the introduct...

The Make-Ahead Sauce Solution: Elevate Your Everyday Meals with 61 Freezer-Friendly Sauces by Elisabeth Bailey My rating: 5 of 5 stars I have a four-hour commute to work every day and attempt to cook a healthy meal every weeknight even if I have very little time to do it. This is not an easy task and often I fail because most delicious healthy meals take time to prepare. The Make-Ahead Sauce Solution book is a life-saver and offers so many delicious sauces which can be prepared in advance (like on the weekend) and freeze until usage. It also offers great advice on cooking different bases such as chicken, pasta, tofu, etc. The Sausage Ragu sauce was easy to prepare and tasted so good. I am looking forward to trying more and be on the road to conquer fast and healthy meal preparation. A big thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the fantastic ARC of The Make-Ahead Sauce Solution by Elisabeth Bailey. This book will be available at your favourite bookstore on Oct...

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott My rating: 5 of 5 stars A big thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for giving me an advanced reader copy of this fantabulous book. The cover is one of the most beautiful I have seen this year. The story was just as stunning. I was quite excited to have the opportunity and read and review this book as it deals with CF (Cystic Fibrosis). This subject is near and dear to my heart as I lost my cousin to this disease. Benoît and I were very close from almost birth and I saw him fight all his life. Unfortunately, he lost the battle at age 36 while waiting for a lung transplant. FIVE FEET APART is the story of Stella, a teenager who has CF and is waiting for a set of lungs to be available for transplant. While in the hospital, she meets Will, another CF patient. Will has a death wish and rebels against his treatments. Stella is determined to help him live and, with much persistence, succeeds to convince him to follow his meds regime. Beca...

By Book or By Crook by Eva Gates My rating: 4 of 5 stars By Book or By Crook by Eva Gates is the first book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery Series. Recently I received the fourth book in the series via an Instagram contest on @writing_fun and enjoyed this clever storyline. This inspired me to attempt to read the first three. I was happy to find out that my local library offers copies via Overdrive. Lucy leaves her dream job, family and ex-boyfriend, back in Boston to move to a small community in the Outer Banks where she takes a job as Assistant Librarian at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. Not everyone is happy that Lucy got the librarian job. During her first week, the library chairman is found dead in the library. He has been murdered and there are many suspects. Lucy can’t help herself and tries to help the investigation. Her help soon shines a spotlight on her and she becomes a suspect herself. This is a light and fun read. I love that the characters are re...

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman My rating: 5 of 5 stars There are a few authors I can say I enjoy all their books. Fredrik Backman is one of them. His writing is beautiful and his stories moving. A Man Called Ove is about a grumpy elderly man who lived his life by strict principles and rules. After being made redundant at his workplace, he finds himself contemplating his next move in life. A stray cat, new neighbours, and old friends will interrupt his plans and will discover how valuable Ove is to them. This heart-warming story will make you laugh and cry as well. This book is going to my all-time favorite pile. Follow me on Blogger @ http://guylous.blogspot.com or on Instagram @twodogsandabook to see my latest book reviews. 🔹 🔹 #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookreview #bookworm #bookaholic #reading #ilovebooks #bookaddicted #bookishcanadians #amancalledove #fredrikbackman #fiction View all my reviews

📚HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY📚 THE DREAM DAUGHTER by Diane Chamberlain My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 My Review: The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain is a historical/science fiction novel about a young woman in the 70’s whose husband dies during the Vietnam War. A few weeks after his death, she discovers that she is pregnant and that the baby has a major heart defect. Her baby will not survive once out of the womb. Carly is devastated as this baby is all that is left of her husband. Her brother-in-law is not exactly who is says he is. He is a traveler from the future and he persuades Carly to go to the year 2001 where she will find medical help for her baby. After proof that Hunter is from the future, Carly accepts to make the time travel to save her daughter. Once born, Joanna is very sick and cannot travel back with Carly. Carly must leave her daughter to go back to the past but promises her that she will come right back to bring her back to 1970. But time travel can be tricky, and Hunter must c...

📚BOOK PUBLICATION DAY📚 Build-A-Bowl by Nicki Sizemore My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 My Review: I love reading cookbooks. First of all, I love cooking and secondly, I love discovering new ways to prepare delicious and nutritious meals. The past year or so, I often encountered meal-in-a-bowl types of recipes. I tried a few and love the concept. When I saw that Storey Publishing was offering an ARC of <b>Build-a-Bowl: 77 Satisfying Nutritious Combos: Whole Grain + Vegetable + Protein + Sauce = Meal</b> by Nicki Sizemore on NetGalley, I jumped on the opportunity to request it. The book is a fast read and it offers wonderful insights into the provenance and nutritional values of grains. Nicki also offers great tips on how to cook the numerous variety of grains listed in the book. The recipes are well detailed and easy to follow. She suggests great substitutions to change up the recipe or to make it vegetarian. There is something for everyone in this cookbook. I am planning to tr...

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5 The Dinner List by Rebecca Searle was not what I expected and fell flat a bit for me. This is the story of Sabrina who is celebrating her 30th birthday and gets to invite five guests, dead or alive, at a dinner party. She invites her boyfriend, her dad, her best friend, a beloved teacher, and Audrey Hepburn. During the dinner, Sabrina will face her past and present in hope to move on to the future. I found the story lacked maturity and was repetitive at times. There were some interesting moments in the story which kept me reading it. This is a light and fast read. Follow me on Blogger @ http://guylous.blogspot.com or on Instagram @twodogsandabook to see my latest book reviews. 🔹 🔹 #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookreview #bookworm #bookaholic #bookreview #reading #ilovebooks #bookaddicted #bookishcanadians #thedinnerlist #rebeccaserle #fiction

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 I have seen much hype about PIECES OF HER by Karin Slaughter on social media and I can honestly say that this book is living to the expectations. I could not put it down and was out of breath when I reached the last page. Andrea is having a nice lunch with her mother Laura when a man walks in the restaurant and start shooting at the patrons. In an attempt to save her daughter, Laura stabs the man and what follows is a series of events which force Andrea to go on the run and to do all she can to find out who her mother truly is. This thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story layers are peeled one at the time revealing Laura’s secrets and past life. This is a sensational story and well-written novel; a must-read. Follow me on Blogger @ http://guylous.blogspot.com or on Instagram @twodogsandabook to see my latest book reviews. 🔹 🔹 #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookreview #bookworm #bookaholic #bookreview #re...

🔹BOOK MAIL🔹 A big thank you to @stmartinspress for sending me an advance reader copy of Deadly Camargue by Cay Rademacher. This is the second book in the Roger Blanc Series coming to your favourite bookstore on November 20, 2018. Keep an eye for my book review soon. 🔹 🔹 #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookworm #bookdragon #reading #ilovebooks #bookaddicted #bookishcanadians #readinglist #deadlycamargue #cayrademacher #stmartinspress

🔹BOOK REVIEW🔹 THIS FALLEN PREY by Kelley Armstrong My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars My Review: This Fallen Prey by @kelleyarmstrongauthor is the third book in the Rockton Series. I am a huge Kelley Armstrong’s books fan, and when I get into one of her series, I impatiently wait for the next book. Rockton is a series set in Alaska where a group of misfit people lives in a hidden city. They are there by choice to escape something that happened in their past. Some are victims and others are the ones who performed the victimizing. Sheriff Eric Dalton and Detective Casey Duncan have their hands full trying to bring order to Rockton. To add to the challenge, the Council decides to drop off a vicious serial killer and ask Eric and Casey to keep prisoner until his fate is decided. Rockton is not equipped to keep such a prisoner and soon he escapes, and they must go into the wilderness to find him… not an easy task when you know that someone in Rockton is his accomplice and a snipper is dete...

Thank you @simonschusterca for my advanced copy of Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott. Can't wait to start reading it. Follow me on Blogger or on Instagram @twodogsandabook to see my latest book reviews. #bookmail #books #booklover #bookish #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #ilovebooks #bookaddicted #simonandschuster #fivefeetapart #rachaellippincott #bookishcanadians

Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart My rating: 4 of 5 stars Last month I won a giveaway on @kimmersbooks Instagram account. The giveaway was an OwlCrate box. The box had so many awesome goodies and a special edition of Grace and Furty by Tracy Banghart. This is the first book in a new series called the same name. This is the story of two very different sisters. Serena spends her life training to become a Grace (a.k.a concubine) of the land ruler and Nomi spends her life in her shadow and is destined to become her handmaid. This year the land ruler decides not to take a Grace for himself, but to let his first born to select his first one. In a surprise move the heir selects Nomi instead of Serena. Nomi has a dangerous secret which triggers a series of misfortunes for her sister. Nomi tries to correct the situation, but who can she trusts to help her? This is an exciting new YA series and I am looking forward to reading the next book. View all my reviews #boo...

The Rain Watcher by Tatiana de Rosnay My rating: 4 of 5 stars A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my free copy of The Rain Watcher by Tatiana de Rosnay. Linden Malegarde is meeting his parents and sister in Paris for a family reunion. His famous arborist father Paul is turning 70 and his mother Lauren has organised a weekend of activities for this celebration. But as they arrive in Paris, the torrential rain and the risk of La Seine flooding the city threaten to spoil the overdue reunion. Linden’s parents both fall sick during the weekend and he and his sister must stay in a flooded Paris to take care of them. This stay will bring painful memories to the surface and menace to shatter Linden to pieces. Beautifully written, this book deal with family secrets, rejection, love, and forgiveness. This book will be available at your favourite bookstore on October 23, 2018. View all my reviews #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #...

THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE by Stuart Turton My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 My review: Only two mystery/thriller books have ever had the ability to leave me dumbfounded; Night Film by Marisha Pessl was one and The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton is the other one. What a ride!!! Stuart Turton presents us with a masterpiece of mystery à la Agatha Christie. The characters (with many ssssss) are well defined and ingeniously calculated. They each bring essential clues to solve this mystery. Aiden Bishop has 8 days and 8 hosts to crack Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder and be free. He will encounter allies and antagonists along the way but constantly will have to look over his shoulder to circumvent being murdered himself. When you think you have resolved the murder… think again! So many twists and turns and not to mention details dropped here and there which will lead you to think you know, but you don’t. The spectacular ending will leave you panting and come to realize that it ...

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew J. Sullivan My rating: 4 of 5 stars Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew J. Sullivan has such a beautiful cover. That’s what attracted me to the book at first. I must admit that if the word “bookstore” is in a title, I usually want to read the book. But as colourful the cover is, the story is not. Lydia has finally found some order in her chaotic life. Having witnessed a horrific event when she was 10 years old, she has spent most of her life dealing with PTSD. One night while working her shift at the bookstore, Joey Molin, a regular customer, commits suicide. Lydia finds a picture of her 10th birthday party in his pocket. A surprise from Joey's landlady puts in motion a search to identify and understand who he truly is. Well written and nicely paced, this book contends with the difficult subjects of suicide, depression, mental disease, domestic violence, and post-traumatic stress disorder. #bookstagra...