Two Dogs and a Book

You Are The Everything by Karen Rivers My rating: 5 of 5 stars Elyse Schmidt has had a crush on Josh Harris since the 4th grade. On their way back from Paris after a high school band competition, she has the luck to be sitting beside him on the last row on the plane. Elyse and her friend Kath had a fight and Kath gave her seat to Josh Harris so she would not sit with Elyse on the plane. Josh is fast asleep, but it does not stop Elyse to fantasize about how it would be if they were dating. She is drawing all kinds of life events where she and Josh are a couple. Suddenly, turbulence starts, the plane tilts, and soon everything is chaos and panic. Elyse realises that they are about to crash. Soon after impact, she is hurt, and she knows that she must escape if she wants to survive. She escapes the plane and rolls down a hill hurting all over. She eventually stops against someone and she knows that it is Josh Harris. He is breathing. The plane explodes and Elyse realises that they are ...

The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae by Stephanie Butland My rating: 5 of 5 stars Ailsa was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. At age 28, her heart is failing, and she now lives full-time in a hospital Palliative Care Zone. The book starts with the news of a compatible heart and the medical staff rushing Ailsa to the operation room to receive it. The transplant is successful, and the story follows Ailsa as she copes with her new heart and lease on life. This is a beautifully written story. The life of Ailsa is not unique as so many people wait every day for an opportunity to receive a most needed organ transplant. My cousin and best-friend, Benoît, was born with Cystic Fibrosis. When he was an infant, his parents were told that he would not live past 14 years old. He celebrated his 14th birthday with gusto. Then his parents were told that he would not see age 21, yet he did. As the years went by, more and more treatment options became available, giving Benoît more years to live. ...

About the Book: Title: GLOW GIRL Author: M. Weidenbenner Pub. Date: October 31, 2019 Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC (Amara) Formats: Paperback, eBook Pages: 266 Find it: Goodreads , Amazon , Kindle , B&N , iBooks , Kobo Multi-Award-Winning and Best-Selling Author, Speaker and Writing Coach. Willow is just your average sixteen-year-old girl. Okay, maybe not so average. She can heal animals. For her own safety, her veterinarian parents have made her promise not to use her powers. But sometimes her compassion just takes over, and she can't help ... well ... helping. Willow is a Droit, but hides her Droitism because people like her are feared and hated by those without special abilities. Two of Willow's schoolmates, rumored to be Droits, have simultaneously disappeared. When Willow's non-Droit friend, Rain, is targeted, Willow wonders whether she should get involved--even if that means putting herself in the line of fire. A mysterious new fri...

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren My rating: 3 of 5 stars I discovered the Christina Lauren duo recently and have been enjoying their books a lot. Although this book is meant to be light, it deals with difficult subjects such as parental abandonment, over sheltering, insecurities, and betrayal. Without giving out the plot, I must admit that some parts of the books caused a few rolls of the eyes. I had a hard time relating to this book and its characters. Some situations were just too unrealistic for my taste. There were lots of great moments too which made up for the ones I did not enjoy so much. 🙋🏼‍♀️ A big thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and Netgalley for sending me an eARC of this sexy novel. Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren is now available at your favourite bookstore. #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instare...

About the Book: Title: GRACE GOES TO WASHINGTON Author: Kelly DiPucchio, LeUyen Pham (Illustrations) Pub. Date: September 3, 2019 Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Formats: Hardcover, eBook Pages: 40 Find it: Goodreads , Amazon , Kindle , B&N , iBooks , Kobo , TBD Synopsis: “Who’s in charge here?” When Grace learns about the three branches of the United States government, she and the rest of the student council put the lesson into practice as they debate how to spend the money from a school fund-raiser. Should they buy new sports equipment? Books for the library? Instruments for the music room? The arguments continue as they travel to Washington, DC, for a field trip. Exploring government buildings and national monuments, Grace feels closer than ever to her dream of becoming president someday. But she and her classmates have a lot to learn about what it means to serve the needs of the people, especially when the people want such different things! In this ...

Secrets of the Chocolate House by Paula Brackston My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the second book in the Found Things series by Paula Brackston. Xanthe discovers an antic copper chocolate pot that sings to her. Xanthe has a secret, she can travel in time with the help of objects that sing to her. In the first book, she travelled to the 17th century and met Samuel. It broke her heart to leave him and returned to her time, but her sickly mother needs her and she had to choose between him and her. The chocolate pot brings her back to the 17th century to save Samuel from a great danger. She still has feelings for Samuel and it will not be easy to meet him again but she must if she is to help him. In the second book, Xanthe will discover more about her gift and her destiny. She will also encounter a man with similar abilities to her who will become a dangerous adversary. I am enjoying this series so much. The writing is beautiful and the characters so interesting. If you are looki...

Lintang and the Pirate Queen by Tamara Moss My rating: 4 of 5 stars What more can you ask for? Fairies, dragons, mermaids, and pirates… this book has it all. In her small village, Lintang can only dream of adventures. When Captain Shafira offers her a chance to sail with her to deal with undesirable mermaids, Lintang is over the moon. This is an all-woman ship and males are not allowed because they might succumb to the call of the mermaids and put the crew at risk. But when Bayani, Lintang’s friend is discovered on the ship, he secures his passage to Zaiben by sharing his secret with Captain Shafira. That secret will change everything. What seems like undesirable before is now worth fighting for. This middle-grade fantasy is filled with action and conflicts. This is a great start for this series. I am looking forward to reading the next book. 🙋🏼‍♀️ A big thank you to RainCoast Book for sending me an advanced copy of this entertaining YA Fantasy. Lintang and the Pirate Queen ...

Read and Buried by Eva Gates My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the sixth book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series by Eva Gates. I discovered the series last year and absolutely love these light cozy mystery novels. There is rarely a dull moment at the Lighthouse Library. A very old book is discovered while the construction crew is digging around the lighthouse. The book is a weather diary and it contains two loose sheets of paper. One has a complicated code and the other is an old map of the Outer Banks with numbers spread over it. The news of this discovery spread quickly and rumours that it contains a treasure map attract a lot of attention. Soon after the book is uncovered, a body is discovered in the library. The map and the code sheets are gone. Lucy will put her detective skills to good use to help solve the murder and hopefully recover the stolen sheets. This is a fun and light read. I enjoy the challenging plot and all the interferences from the regular characters. ...

How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse by K. Eason My rating: 0 of 5 stars How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse is book one of the Thorne Chronicles. The book description promised a reimagined fairy tale within a space opera—The Princess Bride meets Princess Leia. It totally delivered. The book was complex with many characters, but they were all well-defined and each played their roles in making this novel an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the plots and counterplots. It came with many twists and surprises which made this book so entertaining. If you are a fan of books about young princesses who smart, witty, and courageous, this one is for you. 🙋🏼‍♀️ A big thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a final copy of this entertaining YA Fantasy. How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse by K. Eason is now available at your favourite bookstore. #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklov...

The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda My rating: 3 of 5 stars This was a good thriller. I enjoyed the plot and settings. The characters were well-defined but not likable. There were many misleading hints in the book which made it confusing at times. The end was good and surprising. Worth reading. #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #bookphotography #thelasthouseguest #meganmiranda #bookreview #thriller View all my reviews

Faker by Sarah Smith My rating: 3 of 5 stars Faker by Sarah Smith is a cute romcom about two co-workers who do not like each other at first but discover that they are a perfect match. Emmie can’t stand Tate and his unfriendliness. When forced to work with him on a charitable project, Emmie discovers that Tate is totally different than what she thought. The chemistry is growing between the two of them but there is Jamie, the handsome contractor, who is wooing Emmie and Tate’s ex-girlfriend, Camille, who could make a comeback. So much potential for a bit of suspense between Emmie and Tate. I would have liked to see more conflicts in the book. It was a bit predictable. The book is still enjoyable to read and the heated moments brought some steam to the story. 🙋🏼‍♀️ A big thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a final copy of this fun romcom. Faker by Sarah Smith is now available at your favourite bookstore. #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies...

Ribbons of Scarlet: A Novel of the French Revolution by Kate Quinn My rating: 4 of 5 stars I love rediscovering history through the eyes of new characters. Ribbons of Scarlet offers a female perspective of the French Revolution. This novel retells the story of these dark times in France in the voices of six heroines who faced violence, injustice, and death for their country. We witness their fight, their fears, and above all, their courage. This book was written by six phenomenal authors who beautifully captured the essence of these French women. It is must-read for all the historical novel lovers. 🙋🏼‍♀️ A big thank you to Harper Collins Canada for sending me an ARC of this epic novel. Ribbons of Scarlet by Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie, Sophie Perinot, Heather Webb and E. Knight is now available at your favourite bookstore. #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #book...

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the first book by Leigh Bardugo I have the pleasure to read. I have seen all her other series out there and after reading this book, I am looking forward to getting to them. Ninth House is fresh and unique. It is the story of Galaxy Stern (a.k.a. Alex), a young woman who is recruited by the Lethe House to be a protector during magical ceremonies performed by other Houses on Yale University grounds. While training Alex, Darlington, Alex’s mentor, disappears mysteriously leaving her to learn the ropes of her new job very quickly. While investigating the murder of a young woman on campus, Alex suspects that it is related to an unauthorized ceremony by one of the magical houses. After being told not to continue her investigation, Alex doubles her efforts to find out what really happened to that young woman. Acting on her own, Alex will discover that there are many suspects and many motives. Who is behind all this and is ...

Postscript by Cecelia Ahern My rating: 4 of 5 stars Postscript by Cecelia Ahern is the awaited sequel to the very popular book: P.S. I love you! Seven years have passed since Holly Kennedy’s husband has passed away. She has a new man in her life, she is helping her sister with her business and she has forged a new life as recommended by Gerry in his letters. But when she thinks that she has moved on, she meets a group of people who started a club called P.S. I love you Club. They are all terminally ill and, just like Gerry, they want to leave their family a memento that will encourage them to move on. Holly is reluctant to help them and everyone around her are afraid that she will be hurt by this endeavor. After a bit of soul searching, Holly decides to help them and embarks of a journey of healing and self-discovery. This is a wonderful book. I was so touched by the subject. It reminded me that I also need to leave something meaningful to my love ones. If you have read P.S. I...

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book shook me to the core. When a book evokes feelings such as anger, fear, disappointment, and frustration, it means it is well written. The Grace Year by Kim Liggett is about a society that believes that women have aphrodisiac magic and that at the age of 16 they must be sent away for a year to rid themselves of this magic to be ready to marry. This year is Tierney James’ turn. Tierney dreams of a better world and only hopes to survive the year. There are many dangers all around: poachers who hunt them to sell their parts as aphrodisiacs, wild beasts, ghosts, and the rivalry between the girls. Tierney’s mother warns her to trust no one. She soon finds out that it is much worse than she thought. 🙋🏼‍♀️ A big thank you to RainCoast Books for sending me an ARC of this exciting new novel and for inviting me to participate in the blog tour. The Grace Year by Kim Liggett is now available at your favourite bookstore. Bo...