Two Dogs and a Book

The Stars We Steal by Alexa Donne My rating: 4 of 5 stars This exciting and lovely YA romance/fantasy novel is a retelling of Jane Austin’s Persuasion. The story takes place in space on several ships where the human survivors have taken refuge after the Earth experienced another ice age. They have been in space for over 170 years and in order to avoid inbreeding, the Scandinavian ship hosts a Valg season every five years. Young affluent people come from all ships to meet and hopefully find their future spouse. Princess Leonie Kolburg finds herself forced to participate in, what she thinks, this masquerade despite her attempt to find her own way our of the financial difficulties her family is in. She has invented a way to purify the water that could benefit the entire fleet. But she faces many obstacles to register her patent and time is running out. To add to her ordeals, her ex-fiancé has resurfaced, and she still has feelings for him. Nothing works as planned and Leo will fa...

Last Day by Luanne Rice My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the first book by Luanne Rice I have the pleasure reading. It won’t be the last. Her writing is gorgeous, and she creates intricate scenarios that lead the readers to believe that they know what will happen next and it does not always go that way. This keeps you reading and wanting to know where the story will go. 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘆 is the story of two sisters, one painting, and a repeating event. Kate is devastated when she discovers her sister Beth’s murdered body. A flow of memories assails her as she remembers what happened to them twenty-three years prior. Is this a repeat crime or a copycat? Who killed Beth? Many have motives but only one person did it. Suspenseful, this book is well structured and provides the readers with all the clues to solve the mystery. The ending is surprising and satisfying. Awesome book! 🙋🏼‍♀️ Thanks to Thomas Allen & Son for sending me an ARC of this fantastic novel. 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘆 by ...

Diamond City by Francesca Flores My rating: 5 of 5 stars What an exciting debut for this new series by Francesca Flores! It has all the right elements to be a best-seller book. It has action galore, fantastic strong characters, betrayal, friendship, and relatability. The essence of the book will sound true to the readers. Aina SolÍs is a survivor. After witnessing her parents’ murder, she ends up on the street until the day she meets Kohl. He takes her under his wings, trains her, and she becomes his best assassin… at least until she messes up and one of her targets survives. She loses Kohl’s protection and must fight to stay alive. With the help of a group of eclectic friends, she attempts to complete the job she messed up. Nothing comes easy. She discovers that she was lied to and that what she thought was right is not. This series is perfect for fans of Divergent, Shadow Hunters, and The Remnant Chronicles. 🙋🏼‍♀️ Thank you RainCoast Books and Wednesday Book for sending me...

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern My rating: 4 of 5 stars Erin Morgenstern is an outstanding writer. Her descriptions are vivid and beautiful. This book is a tour-de-force. I must admit that I was mostly confused by the stories within the stories, but for some reason, it all made sense. The end was spectacular and brought all stories together to paint a whimsical literary canvas. I was charmed, I was confused, and I was left breathless. #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #bookphotography #thestarlesssea #erinmorgenstern #bookreview #YAfantasy View all my reviews

Love, Chocolate, and a Dog Named Al Capone by Abigail Drake My rating: 4 of 5 stars This super cute romcom warmed my heart. Who can resist a love story involving a dog? I surely can’t!! Capone is a black lab puppy who is adopted by Josephine St. Clair, a used bookstore owner. Capone is no ordinary dog. He loves Jane Austin books and watching PBS. He is determined to find Josephine her perfect Mr. Darcy. After a series of break-ins, Capone and his friends try to find the culprits. This will lead to potential danger, but do not worry, this book has a perfect ever after ending. Fun and entertaining, this book has all the right elements for a perfect love story. 🙋🏼‍♀️ Thanks to Abigail Drake and Books Forward for sending me a final copy of this lovely novel. 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲 by Abigail Drake is available at your favourite bookstore. #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dog...

In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received an ARC related to this series from Minotaur Books and thought it would be a good idea to familiarize myself with the characters by reading the first book in the series. This book was a fantastic read. I tried to guess who the murderer was all along but failed. This is a sign of a great book. In this book, we are introduced to Rev. Clare Fergusson, a female priest who just moved in the upstate New York town of Millers Kill, and to Russ Van Alstyne, Chief of Police in the same town. After a baby boy is left at the doors of the church and a young woman is found dead, Clare and Russ team up to try to figure out if the two are related. Their investigation will lead them to many suspects and as they get closer to the truth, danger is also knocking at their doors. This was a great read and I am looking forward to reading Hid From Our Eyes by the same author. #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram ...

Follow Me to Ground by Sue Rainsford My rating: 3 of 5 stars I am not sure what to make of this book. It was strange yet poetic. It was disturbing yet enthralling. Sue Rainsford delivers beautiful prose and a nightmarish story of loneliness, lust, want, and hope. Miss Ada and her father are healers and come from Ground (you have to read the book to understand what this means). Ada falls for a man, but her father does not agree. The conflict leads to deceit, lies, and lost. This is a dark exploration of what someone is willing to do to love and to be loved. 🙋🏼‍♀️ Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me an ARC of this eerie and completely mesmerizing novel. 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗠𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 by Sue Rainsford will be available at your favourite bookstore on January 21, 2020. #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #readi...

The Words I Never Wrote by Jane Thynne My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book takes place during WWII. It is the story of two sisters separated by war and by their decisions. Irene meets Ernst Weissmuller, a German industrialist, at her art exhibit. Ernst purchased one of her paintings and she fell in love with him. They married and she moved to Germany to start her new life. But at the dawn of WWII, Irene soon discovers that her decision to marry Ernst will cost her much. Cordelia, her sister, does not understand Irene’s decision to remain in Germany and support her husband while the Nazis’ atrocities increase every day. Fast forward to 2016, Juno is recovering slowly from her break-up with her long-time life partner and the loss of a baby. In an attempt to reinvent herself, she purchases a 1931 Underwood Portable Typewriter which was once owned by Cordelia. Inside the case, she finds a manuscript written by Cordelia telling her story as well as Irene’s. The manuscript is unfortun...

The Mystwick School of Musicraft by Jessica Khoury My rating: 5 of 5 stars Middle-grade books are the best remedy for any reading slump. I have been reading a lot of thrillers and historical novels lately and I needed something light and exciting. The Mystwick School of Musicraft was exactly that and more. It is the story of Amelia, a twelve-year-old, who has dreamt all her life to attend the Mystwick School of Musicraft just like her mother did. Amelia lost her mother when she was four years old and was raised by her grandmother. Through unusual events, Amelia is accepted in the school, but she will have to prove that she belongs there. She will face many obstacles from her teachers, her peers, and even a ghost. Does Amelia have what it takes to stay at Mystwick or will she fail? This book is compared to the Harry Potter Series. I have not read HP and if it is as good as this book is, I am now tempted to give it a try. If you like magic and adventures, this book delivers exa...

The Whispers of War by Julia Kelly My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the story of three modern young women during WWII in England. They became friends in their teens while attending a boarding school for girls. Their friendship was immediate, and they bonded as sisters. They are willing to do anything to one another. Marie is German by birth but lived most of her life in England. When WWII starts, she faces the risk of being sent to an internment camp. Her friends, Nora and Hazel, will not let her down and will do all they can to keep her safe; even if it will cost them. This is a beautiful story of courage, friendship, loyalty, and love. This historical novel is told from the perspective of a German native in England during WWII and the discrimination they encounter. Great book. 🙋🏼‍♀️ Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me an ARC of this lovely novel. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗮𝗿 by Julia Kelly will be available at your favourite bookstore on January 14, ...

How Quickly She Disappears by Raymond Fleischmann My rating: 5 of 5 stars Second book of the year and already I know that 2020 will be an awesome reading year!! This book was so good! I practically read it in one sitting… sleep got in the way!! I just could not put it down. The writing, the characters, the plot, and the setting were a perfect mix for a sensational novel. This is Raymond Fleischmann’s first novel and it is a great one. This is the story of twin sisters takes place in the ’20s and the ’40s. One disappears when they are eleven years old. The other never stops believing that she is still alive and that she will find her one day. Then she meets Albert who tells her that he knows where Jacqueline is, but she will have to give him three gifts to find out. Elizabeth is willing to pay any price to find her sister and she will. 🙋🏼‍♀️ Thank you Berkley Publishing and Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a final copy of this exhilarating novel. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹...

The Better Liar by Tanen Jones My rating: 5 of 5 stars What a way to start 2020!!! This book blew me away! I did not see the plot reveal coming. The title could not be more appropriate for this book. Tanen Jones’ writing is fantastic, and her characters are well developed and intriguing. There were many moments where I was confused and started to ask myself if what I was reading was ending one way, but then realised that I was duped. The story really got to me, and it could have not ended in a better way. The Better Liar will leave you with the feeling that you have been tricked and that is awesome! Well done, Tanen Jones! You are up to a great start!! This book has themes of sister rivalry, mental disorder, loyalty, and deception. This is a fantastic book debut for Tanen Jones. I am looking forward to reading more books by her. 🙋🏼‍♀️ Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a final copy of this smart and surprising novel. The Better Liar by Tanen Jones will be a...