Two Dogs and a Book

Beautiful World, Where Are You  by  Sally Rooney My rating:  2 of 5 stars 📚 Hello Book Friends! WARNING: Unpopular opinion. I just finished BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU by Sally Rooney and I am trying to understand the hype about this book. The writing is lovely, but the story is uninspiring. The relationships in this book were confusing. The entire thing felt like clackers. For you, young people, clackers were toys we, older folks, used to play with. Two spheres suspended on strings held by a ring. They were swung up and down, banging against each other with a lot of force and they made a loud "clacking" sound when they collided. They were eventually banned because the spheres often shattered, sending glass shards into the face of the child and anyone nearby. What can I say… we lived dangerously, and we survived! Back to my review… I wanted to love this book, but it turned out that it was not for me. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogs

Did I Say You Could Go  by  Melanie Gideon My rating:  4 of 5 stars 📚 Hello Book Friends! DID I SAY YOU COULD GO by Melanie Gideon was such an awesome read. I loved the complicated relationships between the mothers and the daughters. The author created uniquely perverse characters. The plot was tense and twisted, I could not stop reading. The ending is jaw dropping, surprising and so good. Brilliant book! #bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #didisayyoucouldgo #melanigideon #simonschusterca #bookreview View all my reviews

The Girl from Berlin  by  Ronald H. Balson My rating:  4 of 5 stars 📚 Hello Book Friends! I was concerned when I started reading THE GIRL FROM BERLIN by Ronald H. Balson that I would be loss in the story because this is the fifth book in the Liam Taggart & Catherine Lockhart Series. I am happy to say that this was not the case. You can read this book as a stand alone and it is very enjoyable. There are references to events that took place in previous books, but they were well explained and not an issue. Now back to this wonderful book! I loooove the dual timeline and the link between the two. Ada’s journal about of her childhood and career as a violinist prior and during WWII was enthralling and heart-breaking. I love how the author used this account to save Gabrielle’s vineyard from being stolen by this evil corporation almost 75 years later. This book will pull at your heart and make you sad at time but will reiterate that goodness can be found in this world amidst the ugliness

Dragonfly  by  Leila Meacham My rating:  3 of 5 stars 📚 Hello Book Friends! DRAGONFLY by Leila Meacham is a WWII story about courage, sacrifice, and determination. The OSS agents’ infiltration scenarios felt possible but unlikely to succeed in real life. The treachery of the German officers did not feel probable although I am sure it happened during that time. I loved the idea of a mural as a mode of communication between the agents. This 688-page book was a big reading commitment. I was hoping more from the story, but it did not bring anything new to my knowledge of this period. It is still an entertaining read if you can bear the size of the book and the slow moments scattered here and there. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewe

Once Upon a Broken Heart  by  Stephanie Garber My rating:  5 of 5 stars 📚 Hello Book Friends! ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART by Stephanie Gerber was totally awesome. This book was full of magic, adventure, danger, betrayal, and love. I was hooked from the first page. Who can resist a story about a young maiden who makes a deal with a fate to get her lover back? This book felt like a classic fairytale with a modern feel. I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #onceuponabrokenheart #stepheniegarber #raincoastbooks #flatironbooks #bookreview View all my reviews

The Giver of Stars  by  Jojo Moyes My rating:  4 of 5 stars 📚 Hello Book Friends! I buddy read THE GIVER OF STARS by Jojo Moyes with my friend Annie (a.k.a. @pawsandpagesbyannie). This was the first book by this author I had the pleasure reading and it will not be the last. I love the writing style and the characters are well written. This book is a beautiful story of courage amidst adversity, friendship between unlikely women, and finding true love. It was awesome to learn about the creation of a traveling library in the 30s’ and 40s’ and how so many people got the opportunity to receive books and magazines to read in these remote places. The women who managed these traveling libraries were awesome examples of courage and determination. They travelled through many dangers to bring literature to the less fortunate. This book has captured the spirit of the women and the times why lived in. You will outrage by some of the treatments they received, and you will root for them to be victor

The City  by  Christian McKay Heidicker My rating:  5 of 5 stars 📚 Hello Book Friends! Can I tell you how much I love the Scary Stories for Young Foxes Series by Christian McKay Heidicker? I just finished the second and last book in the series entitled: “SCARY STORIES FOR YOUNG FOXES: THE CITY”. I loved the book and now I am sad that I will no longer have these extraordinary little foxes to guide me through this amazing story. This story will scare you, put you on the edge of your seat, and make you jump up and down while you are cheering for these awesome little foxes. Although this book is marketed for younger readers, any adult should pick up a copy and immerse themselves in this absolutely perfect story. You can’t ask for more, the book has adventures, danger, fear, loss, courage, ingenuity, and let’s not forget, clever foxes. Pick up both books today, you will not regret it. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandb

One True Loves  by  Taylor Jenkins Reid My rating:  5 of 5 stars 📚 Hello Book Friends! The Pooches & Pages Book Club is reading ONE TRUE LOVES by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The idea of someone losing the love of her life and seeing him coming back years later is not a new concept but it is always a difficult one to deal with when said person has moved on. How can a woman who loves two men choose who she wants to spend the rest of her life with? Blaise Pascal said: “The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of... We know the truth not only by the reason, but by the heart.” I think this quote describes well Emma’s struggles to understand her dilemma and how to decide her fate. This love story is sincere, heartbreaking, and makes the impossible possible. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instar

Never Saw You Coming  by  Erin Hahn My rating:  3 of 5 stars 📚 Hello Book Friends! I went blind into NEVER SAW YOU COMING by Erin Hahn. To be honest, after reading the first sentence, I was ready to quit. A book that starts with “I was four the first time I accepted Jesus into my heart” did not sit well with me. Let’s just say that I am a spiritual being, but I am definitely not religious. I was very involved in born-again churches from a young age (Sunday school teacher, youth group leader, women group leader, worship leader, even a pastor’s wife) and after a moment of enlightenment in my forties, I left the church and never look back. Do whatever you want with this information, but I can assure you that I found freedom and happiness once I left the church. This book did not change my views on the church judgment and hypocrisy. The author captured that essence perfectly. Although I did not like the guilt felt by the characters, I enjoyed the writing and the characters themselves. I a

The Royals Next Door  by  Karina Halle My rating:  4 of 5 stars 📚 Hello Book Friends! THE ROYALS NEXT DOOR by Karina Halle was such a fun read. I enjoyed so many things about this book: 1. The story takes place in British Columbia, Canada 2. It has close similarities with a real-life royal couple who wants out of the royal spotlight 3. The characters are fun and relatable 4. The author included characters battling mental disorders in a positive way 5. Romance books get good vibe and are promoted, 6. The heated moments between Piper and Harrison were just the right amount of hot, hot, hot! If you are looking for a fun contemporary romance, this is it!!! Get your copy today! #bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibl

Gods & Monsters  by  Shelby Mahurin My rating:  4 of 5 stars 📚 Hello Book Friends! GODS & MONSTERS is a great ending to the Serpent & Dove Series by Shelby Mahurin. The first book was so good and totally hooked me up. I was a bit concerned after the second book ended that this was not going to end well. I am glad that the third book brought a good closure to this extraordinary story. I will miss these wonderful characters, but I am sure Ms. Mahurin’s next project will make us fall in love with new ones. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #godsandmonsters #shelbymahurin #harperteen #harpercollinsca #bookreview #booksofhcc View all my reviews

Custom Love  by  Chantal Fernando My rating:  3 of 5 stars 📚 Hello Book Friends! CUSTOM LOVE is the third book in the Fast & Fury Series by Chantal Fernando. I was happy that this book showcased Nadia and Trace. Although this is a romance book, it also has a side dish of action, crime, and danger. I enjoy this series a lot. It has cool characters, settings, and awesome love scenes. If you are looking for a romance book that has handsome bikers in it, I recommend it! #bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #Sponsored #HarlequinPublicityTeam #HarlequinBooks #CarinaPress #RomanticSuspense #FastAndFurySeries #ChantalFernando #bookreview View all my reviews

Sweet as Pie  by  Alicia Hunter Pace My rating:  3 of 5 stars 📚 Hello Book Friends! SWEET AS PIE by Alicia Hunter Pace was definitely a sweet read. I love the friends to lover trope and how these collaborative authors brought it all together in the end. This is a low heat story with likable characters. Perfect for the beach. #bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #Sponsored #HarlequinPublicityTeam #HarlequinBooks #CarinaPress #ContemporaryRomance #AliciaHunterPace #SweetAsPieNovel #bookreview View all my reviews