The Chambermaid's Key by Genevieve Graham

From #1 bestselling author Genevieve Graham, comes a dazzling novel set at an elegant hotel in Toronto in 1929 about a young chambermaid, a handsome waiter, and a murder that will reverberate for a century.

Welcome to the Dominion, where secrets lurk behind every locked door.

1929: Rosie Ryan wants nothing more than to escape the poverty of The Ward, Toronto’s roughest neighbourhood, and become a chambermaid at the brand-new Dominion Hotel. Until she meets Damien, that is—a charming and ambitious waiter who promises her a better life—and adds him to the top of her list. The Dominion offers her a chance to do well, but behind the gleaming chandeliers and polished marble lurk dangerous secrets involving its most notorious guest, a wealthy gangster who’s about to profit from The Crash that will decimate the economy. When a friend is murdered, Rosie finds herself tangled in a web of betrayal—one that just might cost her everything.

Present City building Inspector Bridget Kelly is assigned to scrutinize the recent renovations at the elegant old Dominion Hotel, a task she relishes as a lover of history and architecture, and that gets even better once she starts working with a brilliant and fascinating archivist. But when a routine inspection uncovers mysterious boxes, locked doors, and secret corridors, bringing to light a long-buried clue to a decades-old murder, her inspection is thwarted, and threats rise round her on every side. Bridget soon realizes someone doesn’t want the truth to surface—and they’ll do anything to keep it buried.

Spanning nearly a century, The Chambermaid’s Key is a gripping dual-timeline novel about ambition, betrayal, and the secrets that bind us across generations.

Paperback, 400 pages

Published April 21, 2026

 by Simon & Schuster

4.5/5 stars

Genevieve Graham is an auto read for me, I know I am always going to get a piece of Canadian history I didn't know I was missing and The Chambermaid's Key was no exception.

Rosie Ryan is determined to become a chambermaid at the grand Dominion Hotel. And I mean determined, she didn't talk about applying for the job, she said she was getting it. She took her job seriously, she took herself seriously and I rooted for her every step of the way. In the present day, building inspector Bridget Kelly begins what should be a routine inspection of the now aging Dominion, only to find herself pulled into a mystery that someone very much wants to stay buried. I was rooting for her just as hard.

The things that tie these timelines together was no different from both times. Though it looked different in 1929 than it does today, but the message is the same. Money talks. Graham wraps this all in a richly researched portrait of Toronto, the crash of 1929 and the hard lives of immigrants trying to build something from nothing. 

The Chambermaid's Key is a story of family, corruption and determination, there is mystery and scandal. Another look at Canadian history which Graham excels at.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster CA for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. I am also thrilled to have a signed print copy on my shelf.

Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey

After the worst day in her professional life, burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens runs to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, looking for a new life—and possibly new romance. On her first day at her “simpler” job, high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden discovers an abandoned baby, sending ripples through the entire tight-knit town of Cape Carolina.

Mason is still struggling to reconcile the scars of the injury that kept him out of the big leagues, stuck in his hometown, and searching for a way out. This newcomer and the child they’ve saved together might be just the motivation he needs to stay put. Sparks fly as Mason acquaints Daisy with Cape Carolina, introducing her to his friends and family, including his batty Aunt Tilley, who is looking for relief from long-buried family secrets and her own fresh start.

But as Daisy becomes increasingly attached to this abandoned child, and begins facing her own demons in the process, a startling discovery is made that threatens to rip the entire town of Cape Carolina apart, placing Daisy, Mason, and Tilley in the center of the storm.

In a novel that proves that “Kristy Woodson Harvey is (the) go-to for elevated beach reads” (People), they will each learn that with love, understanding—and a community theater production of Hello, Dolly!—sometimes life conspires to bring us just exactly where we belong.

Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication May 5, 2026

 by Gallery Books

3/5 stars

Summer State of Mind has all the makings of a breezy beach read, a charming setting, an unexpected new arrival and a budding romance. And judging by the overwhelmingly positive response from readers, most people would agree. For me, however, a few elements kept pulling me out of the story.

The central premise revolves around an abandoned newborn discovered in a dumpster, which sets up what could be a gripping emotional journey. Unfortunately, the handling of this storyline required more suspension of disbelief than I was able to manage, making it difficult to fully invest in the plot.

The romance, while sweet, also felt rushed. The connection between the characters developed so quickly that it was hard to feel the emotional side.  A slower burn would have worked better (for me anyways).

Summer State of Mind is a story of new beginnings, healing past hurts and family - where family doesn't necessarily mean blood connections. Harvey has a warm, inviting writing style that keeps me reading her books.  She still delivered the feel-good resolution fans of her and this genre are looking for. If you're a Kristy Woodson Harvey fan or just need a light summer escape, check this one out, it releases today.

My thanks to to Gallery Books for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

Liberty Street by Heather Marshall

From the author of Looking for Jane comes a riveting novel about one journalist's harrowing journey into an infamous real-life 1960s women's prison—and the detective who uncovers her story decades later.

Toronto, 1961: Emily Radcliffe works as an editorial assistant at Chatelaine magazine, surrounded by the best female reporters in the country, whose articles tackle the controversial topics no other women's publication dares to touch. When a bombshell letter from an inmate at the notorious Mercer Women's Prison lands on Emily's desk, she sees the scoop of a lifetime—one that could launch her career as a journalist. But after going undercover to investigate the inmate's shocking claims, Emily discovers that getting into the prison is the easy part; the real challenge will be getting back out . . .

Huron County, 1996: Unidentified female remains are discovered in an unmarked grave in a small-town Ontario cemetery, and Detective Rachel Mackenzie is tasked with unraveling the mystery. But when the investigation leads her to the now-shuttered Mercer Women's Prison, the family trauma she's kept buried for years threatens to surface.

Inspired by true events, Liberty Street is at once poignant and dazzling—an unforgettable, intertwining story about resilience, mental health, and the power of female connection.

Paperback, 400 pages

Published February 24, 2026

 by Doubleday Canada

5/5 stars

I picked up Liberty Street for a number of reasons: Heather Marshall is a Canadian author whose previous books I'd really enjoyed, also for the historical stories and locations close to home. What I didn't expect was when Bayfield, Ontario appeared on the page. A small town I visited and the very place where I met Heather Marshall just a year ago. 

I knew going in that this story was rooted in Canadian history and setting, which this Canadian loves to read about. Being educated and entertained at the same time in a big win win.

I was genuinely taken aback to discover that a place like the Mercer Reformatory existed right in Toronto, a piece of Canadian history I knew nothing about. I'll also admit that the premise of a journalist going undercover by faking her way into an institution is a trope that doesn't usually work for me. But it worked here. Partly because of how Marshall handles it, but mostly because of what Emily finds once she's inside. The women in Mercer weren't insane - they were women ahead of their time, dismissed and discarded by men who couldn't or wouldn't take the time to understand them. That realization creeped up as I read, and it hits hard.

The 1996 story-line follows Detective Rachel Mackenzie, and she quickly became just as compelling to me as Emily. Rachel is flawed, shaped by a past trauma that Marshall reveals slowly and deliberately. I found myself rooting for her while at the same time being quietly enticed by the mystery of her background, who she is, what made her that way and how it all connects to the case she's unraveling. I won't say more than that without spoiling it, but the way her story concludes is deeply satisfying.

Liberty Street is a story of heartache, for the women forgotten inside Mercer's walls, of friendship found in the most unlikely places and of the grit and determination it takes to unravel the truth at all costs. 

I can't wait to see what Heather Marshall comes up with next.

This book was part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge, #20

Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer

From the author of The Collected Regrets of Clover comes a vibrant, heartfelt novel about friendship over the decades, self-discovery, and what it means to have a life well-lived.

Break the rules. Find your joy.

For over eighty years, Joy Bridport has played by the rules: she's been a devoted wife and mother, contributing to the community in her small Hudson Valley town. But her quiet existence is jolted when she learns that her best friend, Hazel, only has months left to live. Hazel has always been the more adventurous one of their duo, and she seems at peace with all that she’s squeezed out of her long life. Yet Joy realizes she can’t say the same.

Determined to live boldly and make the most of the time that she and Hazel have left together, Joy steps outside of her comfort zone—and into a bit of trouble. But as her foray into rule-breaking escalates into committing petty crime, Joy must consider what kind of legacy she wants to leave behind, and whether there's a way for her to embrace the liberation that "Bad Joy" offers without losing all that she holds dear.

Is it ever too late to become who we're meant to be? With laugh-out-loud hijnks and emotional heft, Good Joy, Bad Joy is a heartwarming and wise celebration of the choices we make, the friendships we cherish, and the lengths we go for love.

Audiobook, 11 hours 5 minutes

Expected publication May 5, 2026

 by Macmillan Audio

3/5 stars

This is one of those books that everyone and their uncle seems to absolutely love…but for me, it just didn't land in that category.

Good Joy, Bad Joy has such a great premise, lifelong friendship, facing the end of life and the idea of finally breaking the rules after decades of playing it safe. Joy and Hazel’s relationship was easily the strongest part of the story, I appreciated the themes around legacy, regret and what it means to truly live. There are definitely some heartfelt and touching moments.

That said, I never fully connected with the story the way I expected to. The emotional impact didn’t hit as deeply as I’d hoped and parts of Joy’s journey, especially the  'rule-breaking' and petty crime elements felt a bit uneven for me. I could see what the author was going for, but it didn’t always land.

I’m really glad I listened this to the audiobook, the narration helped keep me engaged, especially during the slower sections.  

All in all I can understand why this resonates with so many readers, it just didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. Not a bad read by any means, just not a standout.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Widow by Fiona Barton

A loving husband or a heartless killer...she'd know, wouldn't she?

There's a lot Jean hasn't said over the years about the crime her husband was suspected of committing. She was busy being the perfect wife, standing by her man while living with accusing glares and anonymous harassment. Now her husband is dead, and there's no reason to stay quiet. People want to hear her story. They want to know what it was like living with that man. She can tell them there were secrets. There always are in a marriage.

The truth--that's all anyone wants. But the one lesson Jean has learned in the last few years is that she can make people believe anything. For the reporter who has secured the exclusive interview, this is the scoop of a lifetime. For the detective who has lived a half-life since he failed to get justice for the victim, it is a chance to get at the truth that has eluded him for so long. For Jean, it's a chance to defend herself, what she knew--and when.

This is the tale of a missing child, narrated by the wife of the main suspect, the detective leading the hunt, and the journalist covering the case.

 

Paperback, 324 pages

Audiobook, 10 hours, 18 minutes

Published February 16, 2016

 by Penguin Canada

2.5/5 stars

I picked up The Widow because I have the second book, The Child sitting on my NetGalley backlist and figured I should start here first. This is also my first time reading a Fiona Barton book.

The premise is strong and I liked the idea behind the story. The blurb sounds mysterious with a lot of potential.  Even the 3 different pov's usual works for me.  But I did struggle, which is why I switched over to the audiobook. The slow pace and flat tone made it hard to engage, I even struggled to connect with the characters. I never felt any real emotional pull, which made the slower pacing stand out even more.

Overall, an okay read, but not one I was ever fully pulled into. 

Hoping The Child works better for me.

Print copy was rescued from local thrift store (hopefully readers at resort in Mexico are enjoying it), the audiobook obtained via CloudLibrary.

A Founding Mother: A Novel of Abigail Adams by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie

In time for the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the United States comes a sweeping, intimate portrayal of Abigail Adams - wife of one president and mother to another - whose wit, willpower, and wisdom helped shape the fledgling republic. 

In the heart of revolutionary Boston, Abigail Adams raises her children amid riots, blockades, and the outbreak of war. While her husband, John Adams, rises from country lawyer to nation-builder, often away for years at a time, Abigail builds her own independence—managing their farm, making lucrative investments, amassing savings, battling plague and loss, and defending their home. Unafraid to speak her mind, she famously offers fearless political counsel, urging John to “remember the ladies” in the new government. Through it all, she becomes his most trusted confidante and indispensable ally.

When peace is secured, Abigail steps onto the world stage—exchanging ideas with Thomas Jefferson in the French countryside, navigating court life as the wife of the Minister to Great Britain, and presiding over the parlor politics of the early American republic in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Even after her husband’s presidential administration, she continues battling political foes and working behind the scenes to advance her family, secure independence for the women in her life, and ensure a better life for the next generation of Americans.

From war-torn streets to the chandeliered halls of power, A Founding Mother is the unforgettable story of a woman ahead of her time—one whose voice, vision, and valor still resonate powerfully today.

Audiobook, 17 hours 20 minutes

Expected publication May 5, 2026

by William Morrow Paperbacks

4.5/5 stars

A Founding Mother is exactly what I've come to expect from this writing duo - they consistently deliver when it comes to well researched historical fiction.

This story brings Abigail Adams to life.  Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution and the early years of the nation, I didn't just see the political world taking shape but also her personal side. While John Adams is off helping to build a nation she is at home managing everything - raising a family, handling finances while also facing the realities of war and loss.

As with their previous books, the writing is detailed but not bogged down with details.  It isn't a small thing either, 464 pages, it is a slower paced, character driven read.  Abigail Adams was a woman ahead of her time.

I listened to the audiobook, which comes in at just over 17 hours.  It was narrated by Cassandra Campbell - one of my favourites.  

I've had the privilege of meeting Stephanie Dray many years ago and felt honored when she started following my blog in its early years.  Knowing what Laura Kamoie has been through in recent years made certain scenes hit that much harder emotionally.

This Canadian definitely appreciates reading about this time in history and can't wait to see what comes next for this duo.

My thanks to William Morrow for the audiobook arc in exchange for a honest review.

Wildwood by Elinor Florence

A single mother, an abandoned farmhouse, and an epic battle with the northern wilderness. Rediscover the Canadian classic by the #1 bestselling author of Finding Flora.

Broke and desperate, Molly Bannister accepts the ironclad condition laid down in her great-aunt’s will: to receive her inheritance, Molly must spend one year in an abandoned, off-the-grid farmhouse in the remote backwoods of northern Alberta. If she does, she will be able to sell the farm and fund her four-year-old daughter’s badly needed medical treatment.

With grim determination, Molly teaches herself basic homesteading skills. But her greatest perils come from the brutal wilderness itself, from blizzards to grizzly bears. Will she and her child survive the savage winter? Will she outsmart the idealist young farmer who would thwart her plan to sell the farm? Not only their financial future, but their very lives are at stake. Only the journal written by Molly's courageous great-aunt, the land’s original homesteader, inspires her to struggle on.

Paperback, 400 pages

Expected publication April 28, 2026

 by Simon & Schuster Canada

4/5 stars

This was my first time reading this author, I was impressed with the atmospheric writing and strong sense of place. 

Wildwood is a well-written survival story that blends the harsh realities of wilderness living with a personal journey of resilience and determination.

Molly Bannister is a interesting character, her desperation to secure a future for her daughter makes her situation feel urgent and real from the very beginning. Inheriting an old, off the grid farmhouse with the stimulation of having to live in it for a year in order to claim ownership is a lot of pressure for someone who hasn't even seen snow before.  Let alone all the other realities of  country living.  Watching her learn to navigate in the unforgiving northern Alberta wilderness was both gripping and at times stressful in the best way. The elements themselves, between blizzards, isolation and the constant threat of wildlife felt like characters in their own right.

One of my favourite aspects was the dual timeline through her great-aunt’s journal. It added depth and a strong sense of history, showing the parallels between two women shaped by the same land.

All in all this was an immersive and atmospheric read, it's a story about survival, motherhood and perseverance. I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author’s backlist.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster CA for a print arc in exchange for a honest review.

Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line by Elle Cosimano

Life hasn’t been easy for Finlay Donovan lately, but it just got a whole lot harder. Her nanny and partner-in-crime, Vero, has been extradited from Virginia to Maryland, where she’s facing criminal charges for a theft she swears she didn’t commit. A prisoner to an ankle bracelet as she awaits her trial, Vero is forced to live with her overbearing mother and nosy aunt. Threatening messages keep arriving on her mother’s door, demanding Vero “turn over the money . . . or else.” And if she doesn’t figure out who really stole her former sorority’s treasury funds, her next home might be a prison cell.

But proving her innocence might be an impossible feat. Vero was the treasurer of her sorority when the money went missing—one of the only people who had access to the cash. And her alibi is a date who ghosted her. With her court date quickly approaching, and her mysterious stalker on her tail, Vero needs to clear her name fast.

Finlay decides a trip to Maryland is in order. After all, Vero stood by her through her darkest moments, and Finlay will be damned if she lets her best friend and children’s nanny be convicted for something she didn’t do. She sets off on a mission to sus out the real thief and bring Vero home.

Audiobook, 10 Hours, 12 minutes

Published March 17, 2026 

by Macmillan Audio

3.5/5 stars

This the 6th installment in the Finlay Donovan series, Crosses the Line,  picks right up with the chaos I've come to expect, I wouldn’t want it any other way.

This is definitely a series that needs to be read in order. There’s a lot of backstory and character development that carries through each book.  I’d also recommend reading the novellas , they help round out the story nicely.

This time around, the focus shifts a bit more to Vero, which I really liked. Seeing her in the middle of her own mess with an ankle monitor, lots of family drama and a looming court case added a different layer to the usual Finlay focused story.

Finlay, of course is right there diving headfirst into yet another situation she probably shouldn’t be in but that’s part of what makes this series so fun. The dynamic between her and Vero continues to be a highlight, balancing humour with genuine friendship and mystery.

I’ll be honest, it was also kind of nice that her kids weren’t in this one. They’re a busy pair and while they add to the chaos, it gave the story a bit more room to focus on the main plot and Vero’s situation.

The mystery itself kept things moving, the pacing was solid and there were still plenty of those classic chaotic moments that make this series so entertaining.

Overall, a fun, fast-paced read, one that keeps me invested, I’ll definitely be back for book seven - because yea there will be a book 7.

This audiobook was obtained through my Spodify account.

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay

Every Year He Comes For Them.

On one fateful night in 1992, the lives of two seventeen-year-olds are changed and intertwined forever. Quinn Riley, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, is arrested after he innocently tries to break up a fight but ends up nearly killing someone. Jules Delaney, high school royalty, survives an attack by the elusive and terrifying May Day Killer—a serial predator who strikes every May 1st in midwestern small towns.

A year later, Jules is struggling with trauma and guilt, tormented by one question: Why was I spared? Quinn is newly released from juvenile detention and returns home to fresh the unsolved murder of his mother.

Over the next decade, their lives are revisited on a single day each year—May 1st. As secrets unravel and the paths of Quinn and Jules collide, two mysteries edge closer to the truth. All the while, the May Day Killer is still out there—and the clock is racing toward another May 1st.

The Anniversary is an utterly compelling story of the hunt for a serial killer. But it’s also a heartfelt—and heartrending—novel about fate, innocence lost, and two souls who find that sometimes being broken is the only way for the light to get in.

Kindle Edition, 336 pages

Expected publication May 12, 2026

by Minotaur Books

3.75 stars

Alex Finlay has quickly becoming one of those authors I keep an eye out for, and this one immediately caught my attention. I love the cover.

I was also lucky enough to receive both a digital and audiobook ARC, so I ended up doing a hybrid read again, which worked really well for this one. With the story going back to the same date over multiple years, having both formats actually helped keep everything straight.

The story is told from two points of view, it worked nicely since Jules and Quinn’s lives are so connected. I liked seeing both sides, especially as more pieces started to come together.

Jules and Quinn were both solid characters. The way their lives are tied together from that one night and continue to overlap over the years, it added a bit more depth than I was expecting. It’s not just about the mystery.

The Anniversary is unique in that the story kept going back to May 1st each year. It kept things interesting and I found myself trying to figure everything out as it went along. It’s one of those books where I was trying to connecting the dots.  It is a story about how one moment can change everything and how the truth has a way of coming out, no matter how much time has passed. 

Overall, this was a solid, engaging read and one that kept me turning the pages to see how it would all come together.

My thanks to both St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for advanced copies in exchange for a honest review. 

The Shippers Katherine Center

One of the hottest, fastest-rising rom-com stars delivers her latest swoon-worthy novel about a destination wedding on a cruise ship.

After a whole lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton decides to solve her intimacy issues once and for all at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship. With the help of a little pop psychology, she diagnoses herself with a fixation on the neighborhood guy who was her her first crush and first kiss (and who just happens to be a newly-divorced wedding guest ), and she decides to woo him during the cruise for some long-delayed closure. Only problem is, her sister’s a little busy being a bride at the moment—so JoJo ropes in her childhood bestie, Cooper Watts, to be her wing man. Cooper: who RSVPed no, but then showed up, anyway. Cooper: who left town without a word four years earlier and moved to London. Cooper: who was, if she’s honest, the worst heartbreak of JoJo’s life. It’s bliss for her to see him again, and it’s agony, too—and the more they team up for Project Conquest, the more she obsesses over questions she can’t bring herself to ask.

Shipboard antics ensue in this witty, heart-tugging, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance—as JoJo and Cooper fake flirt, slow dance, share a cabin, sing duets, treat sunburns, get jealous, rescue each other over and over, and finally, at last, figure it all out in the most blissful, swoony, romantic way.

No one does summer romance quite like Katherine Center. THE SHIPPERS will take readers on the cruise of a lifetime in a story awash with romantic longing, top-notch banter, long-held secrets . . . and true love rediscovered.

Kindle Edition, 336 pages

Expected publication May 19, 2026

 by St. Martin's Press

3.75/5 stars

Katherine Center is an auto-read author for me. Ever since reading The Bodyguard, I’ve been slowly working my way through her backlist, and I’ll pretty much pick up anything new she releases.

I was also lucky enough to receive both a digital and audiobook ARC for this one, so I ended up doing a bit of a hybrid read, which worked really well for this kind of story.

The audiobook is narrated by Patti Murin, I’ve listened to a number of books she’s done before and have always enjoyed them. She really does know how to bring a book to life.

A romance set on a cruise ship? As a cruiser myself, I couldn't wait to dig in.

The setting was a lot of fun. Between the wedding prep, the close quarters and all the classic cruise ship moments, it made for a easy, beach read. It has that light, escapist feel her books are known for, but still with some emotional depth underneath.

JoJo is definitely one of those slightly messy, figuring-it-out characters. Her plan to 'fix' her love life added some humour, but also highlighted some deeper issues. I didn’t always agree with her choices but I understood where she was coming from. Then there is Cooper… the childhood best friend who left without a word. Their history is what drives this story. It added tension and gives the romance more weight, even when the story leans into the lighter, rom-com moments.

The romance hits a lot of familiar tropes along with Center's witty banter is always fun to read. Overall, this was a fun, easy read. Not my favourite of hers, but still a solid addition to her backlist and exactly the kind of book I reach for when I want something light and romantic.

My thanks to Macmillain Audio and St. Martin's Press for audio/digital arc in exchange for honest review.