Punishment by Linden MacIntyre

from goodreads

4 stars

This year I finally made it out to Waterloo Public Library's Battle of the Books. It is when local celebrities champion the books for Waterloo Reads which are the Evergreen Award nominated books by the OLA. I have wanted to go for a few years but it would never work out. Something else was always going on. But this year was my year. What a fun night! There were a lot of people and we all had a great evening of laughs, fun and really yummy food. At the end of the night we voted for what book we thought should win. If your community ever does a book battle I highly recommend going. You will have such an enjoyable evening.

Synopsis

Tony Breau is retired and moved back to his home town in Nova Scotia. He left his position as a guard at the penitentiary under a bit of a cloud. When a young woman is found dead, Tony finds himself in the centre of things. He reconnects with a love from his past, and is haunted by a young man he tried to help.

My Thoughts

There are some books that quietly get into your heart. This is one of them. MacIntyre does a superb job at showing what small town life can be like. Enchanting, yet, stifling. Tony is a great main character. He is not in your face. In fact, he is rather a reluctant hero.

This book shows the difficulties people can face when they try to repent and change. People's memories are long and they remember your misdeeds even if you have completely changed. It is hard to get out of that shadow. It is hard to be given a second chance. It is hard to be relabelled.

This book really has everything, mystery, self reflection, love. It shows the price we can pay for doing the right thing. It shows the need for morals and for honesty. It questions how we view and think of others. It is definitely a worthwhile read.

The Mystery of the Jewelled Moth by Katherine Woodfine

from goodreads

4 stars

Man, Have I been busy! The past two weeks have just been a whirl and my list of books to blog about is getting looooong!

What have I been doing? Well nothing super interesting but very productive. I have been going through the kids toys. We have been bursting at the seams and I decided that enough is enough. I took all the toys from the play room and we went through them all and decided what to keep and what not to keep. We threw out broken toys, got rid of dvds they don't watch anymore. Now when I go down to the play room it is actually pleasant. We are going through the rest of the house now looking for missing pieces or other toys that they are done with. What has been really nice is the kids have willingly parted with things. I did not give them an ultimatum or quota. I just said we have too much, just keep what you absolutely love to play with.

I invited my friends/acquaintances to do the same thing and they are going to drop off toys at my house this week and Saturday we are going to have a toy swap. I am setting my house up like a toy store and they can come and take whatever they like. The stuff left over is going to the thrift store. It's kind of exciting.

I also took a few days out last week and went up to my parents house and helped go through the rest of their stuff. My parents are in a retirement home now, due to health reasons. They still had some stuff left in their basement (we are renting their house to a friend of the family's). So my sister, who lives close by, and I tackled what was left over, the majority having already been gone through. Two van loads and a trailer later and the stuff is gone. That was nice to see!

Now I am not saying I am minimalist, but I will say that there is such a thing as too much stuff. Why spend your time and energy on the mountains of stuff you have when you could spend it on yourself, your family and other things you enjoy. That is my mission this year, to really get rid of the things that don't bring us joy and to simplify. Just think of how much time I will have to read then! All of it guilt free too.

Synopsis

This is the second of a series of mystery novels. Sophie and Lil are on the case as they hunt down a missing jewel that has a mysterious and ominous past. Their search brings them close to the ominous Baron.

My Thoughts

This was a great sequel to an awesome debut novel. This book had everything, suspense, murder, intrigue, misdirection and fun.

There were two separate story lines for a lot of the book and I loved how the author brought them together in a natural way that did not seem contrived or stretching at all.

Once again this book allowed us a glimpse into history and society of a bygone era but did so in a way that was engaging. History is fun to learn when it is part of a great narrative.

This book some more mature themes. It talked about arranged marriages, marriages of girls to much older men, the use of murder to quiet people. So for that I would say it would be a book that would be better suited for 12 and up.

I am looking forward to the next book in the series. This is definitely a series that will so be worth the read.

Local Customs by Audrey Thomas

from goodreads

4 stars

It is the last week before school and I am ready. I love my kids. I want the best for them and I am trying to mould them into functioning members of society. (Even though sometimes I'm wondering how well I am actually doing at that goal.) But I am ready to have a bit of time away from them. Because of Mr. S, we have been homebodies for a lot of the summer. All my fantastic pinterest plans went down the tubes as I had no desire to get anything ready. When night time comes and the kids are in bed, I am ready for a break. When during the day they are watching a movie and Mr. S. is down for a nap, I am ready for a break. The gumption just is not there. Because of this inaction the kids are starting to get a bit antsy. Home is only so cool.

The kids are ready for school too. I think they are excited to see their friends, meet their teacher and have a break from their overbearing mother. I think we need breaks to truly appreciate what we have. And maybe, once the kids are in school, I will start my plans for next summer.

Synopsis

This historical fiction takes a look at the life of Letitia Landon, a writer from the 1800s, who is thirty-six and feels she will never marry. She meets Governor George McClean of Cape Coast Castle which is on the Gold Coast of Africa. Eight weeks after she is married she is dead. Letitia speaks from the grave to look at the circumstances surrounding her death.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. I liked how it was written in different voices. You really got a sense of what was happening not only in Letitia's life but also outside of the British fort. The use of different voices helped to show the different cultures that were on the Gold Coast. The native cultures, the British military culture and the religious culture. Each viewed the other in different ways and interacted with each other differently too.

I loved how the cause of death was hinted at from various people. Was it suicide? Was it a tropical disease? Did she have an underlying health problem? Was it murder? We don't know but it is interesting to speculate.

I liked how this book was truly a story. It was not inundated with information. We got what we needed and nothing more. That was lovely. It really fit in with the mystique of the landscape. You aren't reading this to become educated, you are reading this to be entertained.

This was a delightful quick read with a bit of a Woman in White flair. A great summer read.

Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

from goodreads

3 stars

Well, March Break is starting to come to an end. There has been much reading, youtube watching, pig making and scrounging up acceptable snacks. I have enjoyed sleeping in a bit, and not worrying about making lunch. Also it has been a great week because I have had no appointments! No bundling up three kids to sit in a cramped waiting room for me. I call that a win.

But this March Break has made me realize how much I need to make sure I have lots of activities and things planned for the summer. Time to get serious on pinterest and become the awesomest mom ever for the summer! ;)

Synopsis

This is the story of Gretchen, a 17 year old girl who in entrenched in the Nazi Party. She looks up to Hitler as a father figure and even calls him Uncle Dolf. Yet, after meeting Daniel Cohen a reporter and a Jew, everything she thought she new as certain is called into question, and she starts to question whether her father's death was really a tragic accident or murder.

My Thoughts

This was a well researched and rather accurate portrayal of Munich in the early 1930s. She wove the mystery in a way that was able to highlight events and philosophies. It was a really good approach.

What I found week was the narrative. Since Blankman was trying to fit so much history into the book (trying to fit the entire Nazi philosophy in one book is very tricky because it encompasses so much) the narrative really suffered.

There were many times where the timeline of the story was not accurate and this caused some confusion and awkwardness. An example of this was when Gretchen was going to a country house with Geli. She tells her brother that they are going to leave the next morning. Then you turn the page and she spends the whole next day helping her mom clean the house and doesn't really leave for the country house for another two days. While it wasn't major and didn't destroy the plot it was still kind of frustrating. There were other times when the timeline just didn't add up.

I also found things to be a bit repetitive, and seriously, how many times did Reinhard have to catch them. Like really?

In the end it was a mediocre story that strung together historical facts. I did not find it that intriguing, the characters that engaging or the romance that sizzling. Perhaps if I hadn't studied this period extensively in university I would have enjoyed discovering this time and the events a bit more and it would have been a bit more interesting. I do appreciate the obvious research that went into it. It is nice when a historical fiction is well researched.

There is a sequel to this book. I am not sure yet if I will bother with it or not. Perhaps once my to read book has been whittled down a bit more.

The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel

from goodreads

4 stars

I cannot believe it is March already. While time sometimes seems to be going slowly, the days just fly past.

On Sunday I watched the Oscars with one of my book club friends. It was so much fun. I don't know what it is about award shows but I love watching them. I don't care about the dresses, or the speeches, or about the celebrity of it, really. Perhaps I like seeing people who have worked hard at their craft be celebrated and in awe and humbled by their achievement.

While watching it we were excited about seeing the film Mad Max: Fury Road win so many Oscars. When you think of the Oscars you think of more artsy and make you have to think movies receiving attention. No matter what type of movie is made, every one on them are working hard to do their best for it.

Do you like watching award shows?

Synopsis

I am taking the synopsis from goodreads as it is better than anything I could come up with to capture the fun and intensity of this book.

The Boundless, the greatest train ever built, is on its maiden voyage across the country, and first-class passenger Will Everett is about to embark on the adventure of his life!

When Will ends up in possession of the key to a train car containing priceless treasures, he becomes the target of sinister figures from his past.

In order to survive, Will must join a traveling circus, enlisting the aid of Mr. Dorian, the ringmaster and leader of the troupe, and Maren, a girl his age who is an expert escape artist. With villains fast on their heels, can will and Maren reach Will's father and save The Boundless before someone winds up dead?

My Thoughts

This is my first Kenneth Oppel book. I am definitely going to have to check more of his stuff out.

I love the idea of this monstrously long train full of secrets, deceptions, mythical creatures, different kinds of people with different stories. It was really cool to see the people from the caboose all the way up to the engine.

I love that there is a sense of normalcy, that things are familiar, but, there is enough fantasy to let your imagination go. It is a dark and mysterious story, it can be intense at times, but it is fun. Because of all the different aspects of the book you really can't pigeon hole it into a certain genre. There is history, adventure, mystery and fantasy. It is all delightfully mishmashed together.

I would love to see what happens to Will and Maren after their adventure on The Boundless. I think they would lead really interesting lives.

This is definitely a book that I would recommend for ages 13+. It does deal with some nefarious characters that might not be the best for younger audiences.

The Wicked Girls by Alex Marwood

from goodreads

1 star

Today is the perfect day to curl up and read. While I love being at home all day with Miss P, this is a time when I wish she was already in school or in day care and I could just curl up on the couch and read. It looks like a winter wonderland outside, the perfect backdrop for reading a great book!

When do you like to read? Cold frosty days? Hot days lazing on the beach or in a hammock? On the commute?

Synopsis

I am taking this from goodreads as I didn't finish the book.

One fateful summer morning in 1986, two 11-year-old girls meet for the first time and by the end of the day they are charged with murder.

Twenty-five years later, journalist Kirsty Lindsay is reporting on a series of attacks on young female tourists in a seaside town when her investigation leads her to interview funfair cleaner Amber Gordon. For Kirsty and Amber, it's the first time they've seen each other since that dark day when they were just children. But with new lives - and families - to protect, will they really be able to keep their secret hidden?

My Thoughts

This was one of the book club picks for this year. Usually with book club books I will keep at it no matter what. This one I just couldn't.

While the premise sounds intriguing and promising, the execution of it was not so excellent. There were quite a lot of different story lines going on. And the characters were not engaging and I didn't really care about them. As I was reading I kept thinking, I don't care, I don't care, I don't care. So, I gave up.

Tonight when I go to my book club meeting I will find out what happened because I know the others finished it. But, I really don't care if I find out what happened.

I have never felt so apathetic about a book before. I guess there's a first time for everything.

The Daring Ladies of Lowell by Kate Alcott

from goodreads

3.5 stars

Sometimes I finish a book and am left breathless, thinking it is the best thing ever. Then with some time and distance and reflection its flaws come out and make themselves known. This leaves me befuddled. Should I claim I love it like I did when I first finished reading? Or, harp on all the flaws I have found out after the fact? Do you review on your heart or your head?

This is one of those books. It left me breathless and excited, but then with some distance I realized there were many flaws that I over looked and things that really weren't that great. This has left me feeling confused. I guess a book can't be all bad if it leaves you thinking about it after the fact.

Synopsis

This is the story of Alice. She has left her family farm to forge a life for herself as a factory girl in the cotton mills. There she makes a friend in Lovey, a woman who is kind, takes a stand and lives a bit dangerously. She also catches the eye of the mill owners son. This is a book of friendship, love, courage, murder, and standing up for what is right.

My Thoughts

This is a historical fiction that focuses more on the fiction side. If you are a stickler for historical accuracy this is not the book for you.

This is a great story of friendship and being willing to take a stand against injustice. The characters were varied but believable and you would want to be part of their group. The romance was a bit contrived but lovely.

I found the courtroom scenes to be tedious and it took too much time of the story. I wanted to know more about the ladies and the factory work then I cared to know about the courtroom proceedings. I felt it should have been the side story and not the main feature.

There was something about this book that kept me hooked. I read it in a day. It is a fun, heartrending story. And, while I read it in December, I could see this being a great summer read.

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

from goodreads

3 stars

Well the snow that was here at the beginning of the week is now gone and we have rain. Oh crazy November!

Synopsis

(Synopsis from goodreads)

The Woman in White is a Victorian melodrama concerning a mysterious woman in white who bears an uncanny resemblance to the fiancee of Lord Glyde, a sophisticated fortune hunter. First published as a serial between 1859 and 1860, this chronicle of evil, suspense, and villainy is believed to be the first English novel to deal with crime detection.

My Thoughts

This was a difficult book. There were some parts that I loved. There was action and intrigue and excitement. Others, and these parts were the majority of the book, were very tedious and slow and I really didn't care.

I like how Collins writes the story through letters, journal entries and recollections. He did something similar with his book The Moonstone and I find it very affective. It is an inventive way of getting multiple points of view.

The character of Fosco was quite interesting. I wish I knew more about how he became friends with Sir Glyde so I could better understand their dynamic. But man, he is one scheming, evil dude. Yet, it is hard to not like him.

I wish we found out more about the connection between Laura's father and Sir Glyde. Like why did her father wish for the marriage? If they had met through Fosco, then it would not make much sense for her father to be so excited about the proposal. Was it blackmail? Were they actually friends? It would have been interesting to know.

This book is kind of scary in that it could happen. For Real! It is not some other earthly tale. It is a tale that shows holes in the perfect perception of Victorian England and makes me very glad that we have DNA testing and other ways to prove identity.

The ending was a bit of a disappointment. It kind of wrapped up a little too nicely with very little effort. I'm glad things worked out the way they did, it just seemed too contrived and easy.

This was just a bit too blah for me to be super excited about it. I am definitely glad I read it. I just wished that the intensity in which it started out had continued throughout the entire book.

The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine

from goodreads

5 stars

Summer is over and autumn has definitely settled in. I think autumn is one of my favourite seasons to read in. I obviously enjoy reading anytime of year, but there is something about autumn where you can curl up in your favourite chair with a cup of herbal tea and cozy socks that makes reading a pure joy.

My favourite place to read is in my love seat that is in front our big bay window. I get a lovely view of the tree lined street I live on and in the fall it is beautiful with brilliant oranges and yellows. So beautiful.

Synopsis

(I am stealing the synopsis from goodreads because it is just so good.)

You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of Sinclair's department store!

Enter a world of bonbons, hats, perfumes and MYSTERIES around every corner. WONDER at the daring theft of the priceless CLOCKWORK SPARROW! TREMBLE as the most DASTARDLY criminals in London enact their wicked plans! GASP as our bold heroines, Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lilian Rose, CRACK CODES, DEVOUR ICED BUNS and vow to bring the villains to justice...

My Thoughts

This book was simply a delight. I was drawn to it because of its gorgeous cover. And this book had everything great heroes, horribly mean villains, deception, street urchins, kidnapping, treason and more.

The backdrop which is almost a character to itself is the Sinclair department store that is about to open. The store is the biggest and fanciest store in all of London. It is full of dark stair cases, opulent show rooms and more. I would love to go there and walk around.

I love the characters. Sophie, who is an orphan, who is used to living more comfortably but is determined to make it. Lilian, who is from a well off family but wants to be an actress. And then a great cast of supporting characters. While the characters were young, young teens, there actions were appropriate. Sometimes books or t.v. shows who have young characters are not realistic in what they have them do (I'm speaking to you Arthur). This book was completely believable, especially given the time the book was set in (pre world war one).

While there were times in the mystery that seemed rather obvious it was still a fun and I would say sophisticated mystery and story. For those who are a bit sensitive there is a drugging, a shooting and an intentional murder. Though it is not gory and doesn't go into detail, it still happens.

I think this is the perfect book for your budding detective. I would recommend it for 11 and up. This is the first book in what is to be a series. I am really looking forward to the next installment.

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

from goodreads

2 stars

I know that you can't judge a book by its cover. Though, it would make choosing books a lot easier. The prettier the cover the better the book and vice versa. Nothing is worse than getting a book that you think will be awesome and then having it totally tank. While I don't use the covers as my sole means of choosing my books I will say that sometimes they do play a substantial role. There have been quite a few books that I hadn't planned on reading this year but I picked up or put on hold purely because of the cover. For the most part I haven't been disappointed.

Covers play such an important role in the seduction of reading. The people who design covers truly are artists. Some covers are so beautiful and intricate it can truly take your breath away. Others not really. I guess as long as they engage the part of your brain that thinks "hey, I wonder what that book is about?" then it has done its job.

Synopsis

Nella comes to Amsterdam, the young bride of Johannes Brandt, a man quite a few years her senior and a very successful merchant trader. While the house looks like a typical wealthy household it is anything but and Nella has to piece its secrets together with the help of the mysterious miniaturist.

My Thoughts

This book had so much potential. The elements were all there. Yet, it managed to fall flat and I was left wondering why I bothered to read it. I probably wouldn't have kept going if it wasn't a book club pick.

I found some of the prose to be repetitive. Because of this repetition it really hindered the story from progressing. And I found that the story pace was slooow. The characters never really developed into full people. This made it hard to really like any of them, or feel sorry for them or find compassion for them. I did like that near the end Nella finally seemed to get a backbone and took charge of her life, but by that point it really didn't matter.

I really don't know what the point of the character of the miniaturist was. And it was never explained whether the miniaturist was really a seer or the other people were just crazy and seeing things. And what was the point of the bird? I don't know.

I found the atmosphere of the story to be cold and grey. There is nothing wrong with that type of atmosphere, but I found it rather distracting and that is bad. The book took place in the winter and the author describes how cold and icy the house could get. It seemed weird to me, and I found myself getting distracted trying to figure out how these people didn't get frostbite or loose some toes, especially if it really was as cold as the author seemed to be describing. Like was it really cold, like Canadian cold, or was it more European cold that is usually around the freezing mark? There is a difference.

For a first book it wasn't too bad, and I would probably give the author another chance. This was just not my favourite.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

from goodreads

3.5 stars

This past week the kids have been kind to me. They have let me relax in my bed and read for about 20 minutes before getting up and starting my day and the tasks of feeding them and coaxing them out of their pyjamas. If that isn't
luxury I'm not sure what is.

I'm not sure what it is about summer reading that always fills me with nostalgia, but I always seem to be more excited and really want to craft a great summer read list in my head. I don't feel this kind of pressure/excitement any other time of the year. Though, my Christmas holiday reading takes some thought. I guess summer is always the time for adventure, when anything can happen. It is the time when you don't always have set schedules and can let any day be an adventure.

Now being a busy mom means that I can't spend all day reading, though wouldn't that be heaven? But, I can fill the bulk of my day with the sweet sweet words of an engaging story, and that is awesome. Next year, I really need to get a hammock. Now that would be summer reading bliss.

What's on your summer reading list?

Synopsis

Vida Winter, a recluse author, hires Margaret Lea, a shy biographer and helper in her father's rare book shop, to write her life's story. More is revealed and healed for both of them than thought possible.

My Thoughts

Well, what to say about the Thirteenth tale? The first half drove me crazy. I almost stopped reading. Well, I did stop reading because I had to return my copy to the library. Then my book club friend loaned me her copy. So after a three week respite I picked up where I left off and thoroughly enjoyed the last half. I don't know if the story just picked up there and I was able to like the characters a bit more or if I was just in a different head space. But there was a vast difference for me. The first half I would have been rating it a 2.5 but the second half was a clear 5.

So what did I love about this book? I loved the love of literature that oozes throughout the pages. This is definitely a great book to read for the literary lover. She has some amazing quotes about how books just hook you and can become part of you and your identity. (I really must start writing them down so I have them while I'm writing the review.)

I loved, but was also somewhat puzzled by, the ageless quality of this book. I have no idea when this book was set. It could have been set in anytime, and I think that is what makes it such a great read that will stick with you. It is timeless.

I loved some of the twists and turns that were found in the second half. The story really had you going all the way until the end.

I couldn't stand the whole situation of Vida's story in the first section. The whole situation and characters were so abhorent that it made it hard to want to keep reading. None of the characters really had any kind of redeeming quality and I just didn't know why I should care about knowing about them and their life.

So while it was a bit of a mashup in feelings about this book, I did enjoy it. The second half more than made up for the dismal first half. So if you are able to slog through the first 180 pages the ending will be worth your time and effort. If you can't slog through it, no worries, I almost gave up too.

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

from goodreads

4 stars

Today is the last day of school! YAY!!!!! I have been done with making lunches and for that matter any form of food for the past three weeks. And now the end is here and I am so glad.

It is funny how something as simple as making lunches can really wear on you. But, in today's world it is more than just slapping a few things together, throwing it in a bag and saying here you go. A lot more thought has to go into it.

Lunches have to be peanut free and litter free. As well, they have to have variety, be healthy and be something that the kids will eat. Also at our school they have a balanced day format so that means that the kids eat twice. So then you have to decide what goes in the first break pouch and what goes in the second break one. So for each lunch for each child a lot of thought and care has to go into each one. After a while it gets to you.

So now I am looking forward to my two month respite of having to make prepared lunches. I think PB&J sandwiches will be on the menu for most of the summer because the kids can make those themselves. Maybe I will have them make me my lunch for a change. Now, there's a thought.

Synopsis

Cassie Hobbes has a special talent. She looks at someone and know exactly what type of person they are. It is so second nature she can't help it. She is then contacted by the FBI to be part of a talent development group. This group works on cold cases, but they become much more real.

My Thoughts

This was a really fun and enjoyable read. My book club friend summed it up the best way. She said "it's Criminal Minds meets Nancy Drew with a bit of the Scooby gang thrown in." It is a great blend of the dark side of humanity and the lighter side of being a teen. Some of the romantic feelings seemed a bit contrived or forced. But other than that I enjoyed the characters and found them to be relatively believable.

This book did have a bit of a feel of the "set up" book, where you were getting through the necessary facts so the rest of the series can flow. So this story wasn't as deep as it might have been. But it was still enjoyable and it has set up what I think will be a really neat series.

The main character was a real hard one to figure out. She seemed sort of flat yet interesting. I know those are kind of polar opposites but it's the way it is. I found her hard to picture at times. Perhaps more description would have helped. Yet the dialogue she had was great. She stood up for herself without seeming to pushy or rash. It was nice seeing a young female heroine who didn't feel she had to do everything herself or have a death wish. Strong but a team player, I liked it.

The rest of the characters were rather steerotypical, the physically aware and attractive girl who liked to stir the pot, the quieter nerdy girl who could spout out stats like nobody's business, the quiet and aloof boy, and the boy of many layers. Though they seem like characters that could be in any YA fiction their certain mesh worked and helped carry the story along.

While this is not going to win a pulitzer it was still an engaging, fun, twist and turn mystery ride. I am looking forward to reading the next installment soon. The third book in the series is due out sometime this year.

Mathew's Tale by Quintin Jardine

from goodreads

3.5 stars

I'm not sure why, but I am get so annoyed with the crazy spelling of people's names. And when I see a name spelled a way I don't think is right I just feel irked. Now if that is the only thing that irks me then life is pretty good. But, weirdly spelled names seem to be more rampent now. It seems everyone needs to have a unique name and if it isn't unique then it has to be spelled in a unique way. Like really?

Case and point the title of the book. That is not how you spell MatThew. I know that the spelling kind of plays into the plot a bit. But seriously. Since my husbands name is Matthew every time he looked at the cover he shuddered. I almost didn't read the book because of it. The plot intrigued me enough to get me in the end.

So please people. Enough with the unique spelling of ordinary names. For all our sakes lets agree on a spelling and stick to it. (Though this is coming from someone named Meredith and quite frankly it is crazy some of the spellings I have seen for my name. Between that and my last name I just start spelling it out loud as soon as someone asks for my name.)

Synopsis

Mathew Fleming, returns home after years away in the army. When he comes home things are not as they were when he left. Despite these personal setbacks Mathew makes a very successful life for himself. When a good friend of his is charged with murder of the local Laird, Mathew will stop at nothing to figure out what really happened and exonerate his friend.

My Thoughts

This is my first book by Jardine. I am excited to read some of his others.

What I liked about his writing was he cut right to the chase. While other authors might have built up to different revelations or twists he just put it out there. What I thought would take a couple chapters was all summed up in a page. It made for a nice quickly paced read. And I definitely wouldn't want to get on Mathew's bad side.

The story itself was fine. It was interesting, and you always wanted to know what was going to happen next. But parts of it were a bit hokey. Everything that Mathew touched turned to gold. Nothing ever seemed to not go his way. And, if by some chance it didn't go his way, he did everything in his power to rectify it, and that would work out. So it just became almost too obvious or I guess unrealistic. Believable but unrealistic.

It was interesting learning about the different levels and different kinds of law professionals there were. There was the solicitor and then the actual lawyer and the different judges. There were a ton of hoops you had to go through. If we think our justice system is a bit wacky now, it was so crazy back then! And the neptism that went on. Good grief. I found it really interesting to learn about.

This was a great quick and fairly light read. So if you want a nice quick mystery/vigilante justice read, this is the one for you.

Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick

from goodreads

5 stars

I picked out this book purely based on the covered bridge on its cover. I love covered bridges. I live about 20 minutes away from one, out in West Montrose. It is the last remaining historical covered bridge in Ontario, at least that is what wikepedia is telling me. Pretty cool. Even though I knew it was there, and saw pictures of it, and I have a friend who lives out there, I had not been on it until just a couple weeks ago. It is kind of embarrassing really. But there you go. It was quite fun when we finally drove over it. It was only one lane and it was dark, and the kids were like "why are we driving into a building?" Oh the memories.

Covered bridges just look so beautiful. They hearken back to when times were much simpler. I guess the word I'm looking for is nostalgic. Covered bridges are definitely nostalgic. Therefore, why wouldn't a book with a covered bridge on the cover pique my interest. They are a rare thing of beauty.

Synopsis

Truly Lovejoy's, yes that is a most unfortunate name, life has been flipped upside down. Her Father was injured in Afghanistan meaning what she thought was a permanent home in Texas is not. Instead the family is moving across the country to Pumpkin Falls to take over her grandparents book store.

While helping going through books, Truly finds an interesting letter in an original copy of Charlotte's Web.  With the help of her knew friends Truly sets out to decode clues and find out where this letter came from.

My Thoughts

This was a joy to read. I had so much fun.

I loved how the author dealt with real issues that happen in families. The Father is injured and trying to readjust to his new life out of the military. He and his family have to navigate that new reality together. The sibling dynamics were believable and relatable. The nicknames and the embarrassment when they are used in public, classic. The sacrifices that the whole family has to make sometimes were great to see. It was refreshing to see a family who struggles but does not call it quits, a family that was not all glamourous and happiness, but you could still feel their love and connection. It was so nice.

I loved the setting of Pumpkin Falls. I think I would like to live there forever. It seemed large enough that the stores on main street could stay open but small enough that it still felt quaint. The cast of characters, though not unique, held their own and seemed a right fit. The bookstore is my kind of heaven. I would love to curl up in one of the comfy chairs in the reading nooks and just escape for a day. Everything about it sounds awesome. 

Truly, despite her unfortunate name, is a lovely character. She is one I think most kids could find something relatable in. She is flawed, but she doesn't always let that get her down. She seems to make the best of most situations and she is a real kid doing real kid things.

I loved how the author talked about different books, and introduced different genres of books as well as how she referenced older movies (like from the '50s). High Noon and To Catch a Thief are among my favourite movies. This book will help broaden the readers horizons and look to the awesomeness of the past and how that can help them appreciate what is created now and help them create in the future. Some of the books referenced are definitely on my to read list now.

This is more than just a mystery book. It is a great and timely story. It is a story about a girl and her family dealing with change. It is about friendship and dealing with twerps. It is about learning to feel comfortable in your own skin. Despite the crazy names of the characters, trust me, Truly is just the beginning, this was a great book. I think kids 10 and up will enjoy it and I think parents will enjoy this as well.

Take the trip to Pumpkin Falls, you won't regret it. I am hoping to visit there again soon. Until then, I will have to make the recipe that can be found at the end of the book to tide me over.

The Last Word by Lisa Lutz

from goodreads

4.5 stars

Before university I read all the time. At least, whenever I wasn't doing homework, I would be reading. At the time I wasn't the fastest or most discerning reader, but it didn't really matter. I just loved reading. (And here I mean reading for pleasure, not because I had to.)

During my university time, I didn't have time to read anything except my text books. There was studying, euchre, doing crazy things with friends, that kept my leisure reading at bay.

After university the kids came a long and I was in a daze and wasn't even thinking about reading. But, eventually, by the time Miss G. was one, I knew I had to get back into the habit of reading. Reading for me, not reading stories for the kids. I had that habit down. It helped that I was in easy walking distance from the library at that time. I joined the book club at that branch  (that is where I met my current book club ladies, whom I am thankful for every day!) which totally helped me get into the habit of reading. It did start with being only a book a month. Now, I am reading more, much to the detriment of the tidiness of my house.

I am so glad that I got back into reading. I feel like I am playing catch up with all the books I missed during my non-reading time. So many books, so little time.

Synopsis

This is the next document in the life of Isabel Spellman, a PI living in San Francisco. Her family is crazy, her "friends" are interesting, and her life seems a bit of a mess.

My Thoughts

The Spellman series is one of my favourites. I recommend reading the series from the beginning. While the 5th book wasn't my favourite, I still was looking forward to reading this latest installment. I was not disappointed.

I love the character of Isabel (aka Izzy). She is raw, real, and completely true to herself. In other books I wanted to yell "grow up already", as she could be rather immature at times. But in this book I didn't feel like doing this. While she still came back with one liners or responses that made you roll you eyes, she seemed to be more comfortable in her own skin. I love how she treats everyone the same, whether it is a CEO of a company or a homeless person on the street.

Even her family seemed to be getting into a groove of being comfortable with each other and not always sabotaging or spying on each other.

From what I understand this is the last book in the series from Izzy's point of view. But, I think the Spellman's stories are going to be told but from the point of view from Rae. It will be interesting to see if I like Rae's voice or not, as for most of the books she was one of my least favourite characters.

Since this is most likely to be the last Izzy book, I liked how Lutz ended things. It was not all wrapped up pretty with a bow, and that's a good thing. Izzy is not a wrapped up in a pretty bow type of person. I felt that this book really stayed to true to her and to the readers.

In the acknowledgments, I love to read them for some reason, the last paragraph was written to the readers. She said "Finally, I'd like to thank my readers for staying with me all these years. I especially want to thank the ones who understand that the world isn't made up of happy endings, but messy, complicated, and untidy ones." I loved this. If Izzy's life all of the sudden was perfect, with a functioning relationship, success in business etc., it wouldn't have been real and probably would have put the readers up for a loop. I'm glad that Lutz, stayed true to her character and thoughtful to her readers. This was the perfect way to end. While I will Miss Izzy's adventure, I feel satisfied with things, and where, it seems, her life is heading. It is nice when you can feel satisfied at the end of a series, instead of wishing for more.

If you are looking for a bizarre, funny and charming series, give the Spellman's a try. It starts with The Spellman Files.

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

from goodreads

4 stars

Lately I have been in a children's book reading mood. They just seem to be the books I have been gravitating to. Does that happen to you?

Sometimes it is a Nordic crime fascination and then next it is classics. Well for me it is now children's books, and man they are good.

Synopsis

Molly and Kip are orphaned siblings who have secured employment at the Windsor house in the Sourwoods. While there, they encounter a dark force that helps them realize the danger of greed, but at what cost?

My Thoughts

This was a great book. I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew that it would be creepy just from looking at the cover, but I wasn't sure if it was going to be scary creepy, or silly creepy, or just plain old creepy. It was creepy but with a great story.

While the back of the book talks of how it deals with the moral of not being greedy, it also is a tale about the definition of honesty. The greed is dealt with through the tree. The tree can grant your hearts most sincere desire but at the cost of your soul. I like how the author shows that the thing you could be greedy of does not necessarily have to be monetary gain. It can be having familial connections or regaining affection that was lost, or simply having a good story or fantasy world to escape to. It shows that we need to do things in moderation and that if we want something we need to work for it, otherwise the price might be too high.

Honesty, though not mentioned by other reviewers, is also a moral that is discussed. The character Molly is a natural storyteller, yet she uses stories to shield her brother Kip, and the Windsor's daughter Penny, from the truth. The book looks at when is a story actually a lie. It makes you look at your intentions, even for the white lie. Sometimes people need to learn hard truths and if we constantly shield them from that truth and brush it off, are we really shielding them for their benefit or ours? It was a really neat discussion point.

I loved the characters in the book. Each character was pivotal, even if they were merely a secondary character. Everyone played an essential role in the plot. It was nice not to have random characters thrown in. They all seemed well thought out.

My favourite character was Kip. I loved how stalwart and brave he was. He seemed wise beyond his years. And I loved how true he was to himself. While the tree might have been able to grant his wish, he knew he would be dependent on it forever and that he was happy with himself as he was, even if he was lame. That takes a maturity that most adults don't even have and it was just beautiful watching it unfold.

I also loved the character Hester. Even though she played a small role, I loved it. She is the kind of spunky old person I want to be when I reach that certain age. I was a little shocked about what happened to her, but I don't want to give it away, so that is all I'll say about that.

This is a great book to introduce kids to the supernatural/suspence genre. (I guess some might classify it as horror, and maybe it is, but I don't think I would classify it as such.) There is just enough scariness to put you on edge but not so much that you will have trouble sleeping.

This would be a great book for ages 10 and up.

Greenglass House by Kate Milford

from goodreads

3.5 stars

Today is a sad day. Target is closing their stores in Canada. Now, I try not to buy too much. I am trying to get out of the consumeristic mindset that we seem to be in, but I loved Target. They had some of the neatest things. While the business model and research they did before branching out into Canada was quite flawed and all this could have been avoided, I sure wished they would have tried to change things up and stick it out instead of just cutting and running. I just don't want Wal-marts to paint the scene. Nothing against Wal-mart but I think we have enough of them. Hopefully this means an opportunity for some other company to come in and wow us.

Anyway, sorry for no thought provoking cute anecdotes today. My mind is just consumed with grief over this news... I should be better by tomorrow... hopefully.

Synopsis

Milo is looking forward to a nice quiet Christmas holiday with his family. He gets his homework done and everything. Then one by one, guests come to the hotel, where he and his family live. While this means no quiet vacation it does mean a mystery as there is more going on than what it seems.

My Thoughts

This is a hard one to rate. In some regards this book is a big 5 stars, in others it kind of tanked.

So let's start with things I loved. I loved the setting of this book. The house sounds beautiful. I want to live there, or at least visit for a while. I love the idea of needing a cable car to reach it. That sounds really cool.

I loved some of the folk lore that was created and how every small detail was important. It is nice when there are stories within stories. Especially when they are important to the main story arc and not just added pages.

I liked the mystery. It was neat and fun to try and figure out. Right when you had one thing resolved another thing happened that you had to piece together. That was cool, as it kept you on your toes.

I also liked the surprise twist at the end. It made me rethink everything I had read and look again for the clues that would have showed me that conclusion. I wasn't really expecting it, yet, it worked!

I didn't like the whole role playing game. While I get that Milo's character had more courage or could do different things when he was his role playing character it sometimes made it confusing. I think because I personally am just not into those kinds of games I just didn't get it. Others who are into those kind of games might love this kind of storytelling device. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

It was hard to keep a timeframe in mind for this place as it seemed pretty timeless. You know it is modern day because of modern conveniences etc. Yet other times it seems like it should be more early 20th century. I wished it felt more settled in the time. It was hard to picture people's clothing, or vehicles or other stuff, when the time seemed to flip flop around in it's sense. (Not sure if I am making any sense, but trust me, it was hard to picture.)

Some of the characters where a bit flat to me. They were still interesting, but not as much as I wished.

I also wished we knew more about the community. Why were smugglers so important there, was the town a hidden cove or an important stop on a trade route? Was it a small town, as it seemed to feel, or part of a larger region, which the story also had the feel of. There were sometimes hints and allusions to these answers but nothing concrete, and I found not knowing distracting to the rest of the story. Also, why wouldn't have Milo and Meddy have met before? Was it a big enough area that there were more than one school? It seemed like a town where everyone knew everyone else, but clearly that wasn't the case.

I think I would have enjoyed this book a whole lot more when I was 12. Since I am not 12, I think I wanted more. So, if you have a 12 year old in your life, I highly recommend it . I think they will love it. As an adult reading it, I think you will like it too, but you probably won't have your socks knocked off.

The Second Deadly Sin by Asa Larsson

from goodreads

4 stars

The past little bit has been preoccupied with what books I want to contribute to my book club selection. We are doing the same thing as last year. We have chosen three broad themes and then we are each to choose a book that belongs in that theme.

This year we are to choose a classic (this means a book that stands the test of time and is considered to be a classic, not necessarily a book written in a particular time period), a mystery, and then one of our choice which could be literally anything.

I don't know why but I always stress over this selection process. I make lists and then try to whittle them down. I think I stress over it because I don't want to pick dud books. I don't want my book club to say "That Meredith, she sure picks some really 'interesting' books." Or worse they could say, "Let's not let her pick out any next year."

Most of the books are from my "to read" list, so at least I can hopefully get that list a little shorter this year. I think I will still show up with two selections for each theme and have them choose... maybe... I'm not sure. I don't even know when we are supposed to have them chosen for. Hopefully November's meeting.

Synopsis

When a hunter takes down a bear that has given a community in northern Sweden quite a scare, a gruesome discover is made in the bears stomach contents. A human bone. Then, when a woman is discovered murdered in her house Prosecutor Rebecka Martinsson starts to see a connection.

My Thoughts

This was an amazing read. I didn't know about his author or the Rebecka Martinsson books before. It was on my to read list on goodreads so I decided to get it from the library. I am now going to have to go back and read the rest of the series. I hope they are as good as this one.

This is part historical novel part mystery. It follows two time lines. One starts at the onset of WWI and goes until the war is over. The other time line is set in modern day. The timelines are done very well, you are not confused when they change and you get excited to see how the two stories are going to join up.

In the historical time line I really felt for the character Elina. She was definitely a girl ahead of her time. A lot of heartache could have been done away with if she and others were honest with themselves. And the one guy... what a creep. If only women weren't scared and could speak out against him. Though I did like what happened to him in the end. I felt satisfied, in a morbid kind of way.

I loved the landscape that was painted in this book. It makes me want to book a trip to Sweden right now. I want to enjoy a fire fueled sauna and go berry picking. I know it might sound sort of stereotypical but it sounds very ideal to me. A simple and slower pace. Sign me up. I think I will ask my husband for a cabin in the woods for Christmas.

This is a book that is going to keep you guessing until the end. But you feel justified that the jerk people get their comeuppance and the good guys prevail. I just loved it.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour bookstore by Robin Sloan

from goodreads

2.5 stars

Yesterday I went to the chiropractor. I love him. I always feel great after he works his magic on me. He even worked magic on my toe. So I am not hobbling as much any more. There are still some painful spots on my toe, but on the whole it is a lot better. Definitely more range in motion.

It's always nice when magic occurs in the real world. Okay, I know that chiropractic practices and techniques don't constitute magic because there is a science behind them. But to me, with the immediacy of effect, it is magic. 'Cause I don't completely understand it. I just know it works and I am so grateful it does. 

Other things in life are like that. I don't completely understand computer coding etc. I just know it works and I am glad it does. Are there things like that in your life? You might not understand all the science behind it or reasoning behind it, it just works and you are grateful?

Synopsis

Clay Jannon has felt the hit from the recession. When he finds himself jobless he happens upon a advertisement for a 24-hour bookstore. He gets the job and starts on the graveyard shift. After a while he begins to suspect there is something more to this bookstore than meets the eye and he is determined to get to the bottom of it.

My Thoughts

This is a really hard book to rate. There were some parts of it that were really interesting and there were other parts of it that were so boring and seemed to just drag on.

This book is definitely a book for font geeks, google lovers and computer enthusiasts. I wonder if the author has a deal with google or works for google, with all his talk about google. Reading it definitely makes me want to work at the google campus. Free lunch that sounds delicious and I don't have to make it myself. Yes please! I think I would have enjoyed it better if I was one of the above as I found some parts confusing and other parts, well, I just didn't care about.

Most of the characters seemed a bit one dimensional to me, especially the google employee girl that I can't even remember the name of right now... I guess I should have written it down before I returned the book. Seriously girl, computers are not the end all and be all of life. (Living in the tech town of Waterloo, I guess I should keep that opinion quietly to myself. ;)

The plot always seemed to pique my interest right as I was about to give up, but as I said the mystery part of it seemed to drag on forever. I just wanted to get to the answer.

I like how it discussed the idea of a marriage between new technology and technology of the past. How innovation is great but it is not going to be the answer to everything. Sometimes you need to embrace your roots. It also helped show light on the debate of whether the printed hard copy book will become obsolete and everything will become digital. I for one like my hardcopies. I like the feel of paper.

I also liked getting an insight into the museum world and how artifacts can be verified. Very cool. I also liked learning about how lucrative fonts can be. I think I might have to develop one... or find someone who understands coding etc. to help me design one. I am willing to split profits.

All in all this book left me wishing for more depth. Depth in storyline and depth in characters. I would consider trying this author out again, but I would not be in a hurry to do so.

The Sandman by Lars Kepler

from goodreads

5 stars

So as most of you probably know, I love the library. I love that I get to read as many books as I want and it costs me nothing. Just my time getting there. And since it is only a fifteen minute walk away I can get some exercise in at the same time. Win-win I should think.

Another thing I like about the library, which I am pretty sure I have talked about before, is the hold system. I love putting books on hold. It saves me the time of having to find the book myself. With three kids, and one who likes to run away and hide down the library aisles, putting things on hold is the best service, and the fellow patrons of the library would agree. (Less time having to listen to my screechy 18 month old.)

The hold service also means I get to be the first person to get some of the books. Nothing is better than being the first one to take out a library book. You are the first one to know how the story will end, to accidently bend pages and to know what the mystery stain on the page is instead of wondering. Of course I never add mystery stains to any book. (As I look around and not make eye contact and slowly back away.) Right now I have a book waiting for me at the library and I am the first person to have it on hold, I am super excited. And for The Sandman I was the second person on the hold list, but with 4 copies, I was still the first one to read it. Man it was sweet.

Synopsis

This is book number four in the Jonna Linna series. When a person shows up who was thought to be dead for the past seven years, Linna, reopens cold cases and looks into his past to find out who could be the accomplice working with Linna's arch nemesis, serial killer Jurek Walters.

My Thoughts

This book was freaking amazing!!!!!

I have been a bit luke warm with some of Lars Kepler's books in the past. I found them a bit more creepy then I usually like, but I kept going back for more. I am so glad that I did. This book was everything a crime thriller should be and more. It had action, suspense, tortured souls, crazy people, heart ache, redemption, and it all got summed up in the end. Not in a tidy neat package kind of way but in a real and messy way.

This book left me thirsting for more and I am seriously contemplating learning Swedish so I can read their next book and not have to wait for it to get translated. (It gets released in Sweden in October.) I am super excited for the next book because the authors left it as an open ending, so they can really take Linna's character anywhere. After the third book in the series, they set it up so you knew that Linna was going to be dealing with the serial killer from his past. Now... who knows. Man I am excited.

As with all Lars Keplar books, the chapters were short meaning the pace was quick and you kept reading and reading. Some people don't like their short choppy style, but I think it is the perfect fit for this type of story. The action in the book goes in short bursts, so the short chapters and the precise sentences matches it. I also like how Lars Keplar throws in details, that are really irrelevant, yet they seem to enhance the story. I wasn't left wondering why they added what this random character was wearing, it just seemed perfectly at home.

I thought the doctor in the hospital/jail, was a bit of a creep and I can't believe his wife put up with him. I wasn't exactly saddened with the fate that met him. But seriously, his abuse of power and his perverseness, grossarama.

The theme of this book was interesting. We don't know what small role we may play in the fates of others. We need to be careful that we are kind and generous as we can be, otherwise watch out.

So if you are looking for a great thriller/mystery. This is the book for you. I just loved it. I don't get this excited about too many books, so you know it must be good. May not be deep, but it was still amazing.