A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son—in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.

Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back.

Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate.

Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.

Hardcover, 419 pages

Published February 27, 2024

 by Del Rey

4/5 stars

This is my first time reading a Danielle L. Jensen novel.  Yes I was sold on the lovely sprayed edges but captivated by the story - even if I'm really not into mythology.

This was a combo audio and read, I like doing that as it helps me to really get into the story by knowing pronunciations of names and places. Plus when there is an accent involved, well I am hooked.

A Fate Inked in Blood is the story of Freya, forced into a marriage not of her choosing things but then things take a drastic turn.  What follows is a fast paced story of magic, action, family dynamics and some spice. Lots of world building with a mixed cast of characters. All while Freya fights for her place in the world.  

The door has been left open for book 2,  A Curse Carved in Bone which releases in May.

This book was part of my 2024 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge with the audiobook obtained through my local library via CloudLibrary.

The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin

A heartwarming story about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of the books that bring them together.

In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job to provide for herself and her beloved daughter, Olivia. But with the legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities, she’s left with only one option: persuading the manageress at Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance on her.

When the threat of war becomes a reality, Olivia must be evacuated to the countryside. In her daughter’s absence, Emma seeks solace in the unlikely friendships she forms with her neighbors and coworkers, as well as the recommendations she provides to the library’s quirky regulars. But the job doesn’t come without its difficulties. Books are mysteriously misshelved and disappearing, and her work forces her to confront the memories of her late father and the bookstore they once owned together before a terrible accident.

As the Blitz intensifies in Nottingham and Emma fights to reunite with her daughter, she must learn to depend on her community and the power of literature more than ever to find hope in the darkest of times.

Paperback, 432 pages

Published September 10, 2024

 by Hanover Square Press

3.5/5 stars

I am a little behind in my reviews.  I read The Booklover's Library in the fall just after its release.  Madeline Martin is one of my auto-rad authors.

The Booklover's Library is a story about Emma Taylor, a young widow struggling to make ends meet for herself and her young daughter. As England enters the war her options are limited with no family around for support.

A fiercely independent woman she is reluctant to ask for help in her time of need.  This story is about her progression through the war, realizing that she cannot do it on her own and she must change. Whether it be evacuating her daughter to the countryside, making friendships,  the war changes everyone’s priorities when trying to protect loved ones.

Madeline Miller has again written a vivid look at England during World War II with not just a war story but a story of courage, resilience and friendship. Just because their is no blood family around sometimes friendships develop in unimageable places.

This is part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood

A recently deceased woman meets “the one” in the afterlife waiting room, scoring a second chance at life (and love!) if she can find him on Earth before ten days are up….

If she wasn’t dead already, Delphie would be dying of embarrassment. Not only did she just die by choking on a microwaveable burger, she’s also now standing in her "sparkle and shine" nightie in front of the hottest man she’s ever seen. And he’s smiling at her.

As they start to chat, everything else becomes background noise. That is, until someone comes running through a door yelling something about a huge mistake and sends the dreamy stranger back down to Earth. And here Delphie was thinking her luck might be different in the afterlife.

When Delphie is offered a deal in which she can return to Earth and reconnect with the mysterious man, she jumps at the opportunity to find her possible soulmate and a fresh start. But to find him in a city of millions, Delphie is going to have to listen to her heart, learn to ask for help, and perhaps even see the magic in the life she’s leaving behind. . . .

Paperback, 369 pages

Published July 2, 2024

 by Berkley

4/5 stars

Who knew that a hamburger could create a funny rom/com with a touch of the afterlife?

For Delphie, such is the case. She chokes on a microwaveable hamburger, dies then meets the love of her life. Her mission is a second chance to change your life while searching for loves true kiss.

It might sound corny, but it worked. I had fun reading this one. It was kinda quirky, with some witty banter, likeable characters and some cringe worthy moments that I find common in rom/coms. Along with all that is some good old-fashioned life lessons.

The Love of my Afterlife is the story of second chances, determination, and listening to your heart with a touch of magic thrown in.  A book and author I recommend.

This book was part of my 2024 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen

Eighteen-year-old Aihui Ying dreams of becoming a world-class engineer like her father, but after his sudden murder, her life falls apart. Left with only a journal of her father’s engineering secrets and a jade pendant snatched from the assassin, a heartbroken Ying follows the trail to the capital and the prestigious Engineers Guild—a place that harbors her father’s hidden past—determined to discover why anyone would threaten a man who ultimately chose a quiet life over fame and fortune.

Disguised as her brother, Ying manages to infiltrate the guild’s male-only apprenticeship trial with the help of an unlikely ally—Aogiya Ye-yang, the taciturn eighth prince of the High Command. With her father’s renown placing a target firmly on her back, Ying must stay one step ahead of her fellow competitors, the jealous guild masters, and the killer still hunting for her father’s journal. Complicating everything is her increasingly tangled relationship with the prince, who may have mysterious plans of his own.

The secrets concealed within the guild can be as deadly as the weapons they build—and with her life and the future of her homeland at stake, Ying doesn’t know who to trust. Can she avenge her father even if it means going against everything he stood for, or will she be next in the mastermind’s line of fire?

Hardcover, 466 pages

Published June 1, 2024

 by Viking Books for Young Readers

4/5 stars

This was a recent OwlCrate book box selection. I went in totally blind, but how can one go wrong with a dragon on the cover. I love the owl crate cover but gotta say I like the other cover available, see images below.

For 18 year-old Aihui, her life is shattered with the death of her father. She saw the murderer escape and has now setout to discover the identity of the assassin and the why.  There is nothing in his past to give her a clue why this happened.  Disguising as her brother she manages to get into a guild to learn more about her father‘s past where she discovers secrets that he had been hiding.

This is the first book in the Fall of the Dragon series, which, as we know with series, the first book doesn't usually answer all of our questions. There was a lot going on, not just dragons. There is STEM content, along with mystery, betrayal, and of course a little touch of romance. 

I enjoyed this book. I found it intriguing with the world building, it was mysterious as to her father‘s unknown past, the secrets within the journal he wanted her to destroy and why someone would kill this man who was just quietly living with his family.

Book 2, The Blood Phoenix, comes out in June and I will continue this series.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.

Better Together by Kallie George

Spring has sprung and the animal staff of the Heartwood Hotel gear up for another busy season in the next installment of this adorable illustrated chapter book series.

Spring has come to Fernwood Forest, and the Heartwood Hotel is all a-bustle. With Mr. Heartwood off on vacation, it’s up to Mona and the rest of the staff to keep everything running smoothly. When rumors buzz of a rival hotel, Gilles is determined to prove that the Heartwood is the very best with the splashiest Spring Splash the forest has ever seen. Guests check in from near and far to compete for the Cutest Egg, the Tiniest Talent, and the Best Blossom. Newcomer Henry is all too happy to help out, making Mona start to feel unsure of her place. Does the Heartwood really need her as much as she thought? But soon there’s more to worry about than whose egg has the sweetest speckles. Some decidedly uninvited guests have been drawn to the festivities. Can Mona find a way to bring everyone together in time to save them all from danger?

Readers will cheer for these kind, brave, beloved characters as they embark on their next adventure in the third book of the charmingly illustrated Heartwood Hotel series.

Hardcover, 168 pages

Published February 6, 2018

 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

3.5/5 stars

Book 3 in the Heartwood Hotel Series, a series geared for you readers, those new to chapter books.  But honestly this adult has been enjoying them.  It is wonderfully illustrated. as well.

It is springtime now in Fernwood Forest and everyone is getting ready for a new season at Heartwood Hotel. Hibernation is over and everyone just wants to get out, enjoy the fresh and play. Henry is a new comer in the midst, he wants nothing more than to get involved and help out.  But now Mona begins to feel like she isn't needed at all.

Again Heartwood Hotel is a story of friendship with a lot of heart.

I have one more book to read in this series, I'll miss this place when I read the final book.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.

Queen of the Mist by Caroline Cauchi

School teacher. Widow. Legend.

It’s 1901 and the mists of change are swirling. Queen Victoria’s reign is about to come to an end, and an obscure widow in Buffalo, New York, is about to attempt the impossible.

Meet the courageous Mrs Annie Edson Taylor. The bravest woman you’ve never heard of and the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel ―over a decade before any man dared to do the same.

Enter a world of lost fortunes and friendship, as Annie, grieving the past and determined to change the lives of the women around her, attempts to alter the course of history.

With a single jump, that is.

Paperback, 416 pages

Published October 1, 2024 

by One More Chapter

3/5 stars

I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw the cover and realized the setting is close to my backyard. There’s nothing this Canadian reader loves more than reading historical fiction taking place in Canada. Though most of the story takes place across the border it does revolve around Annie Edson Taylor the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel .

It’s not a quick read coming in at 400 pages and after the first couple of chapters I did move over to the audiobook. It was a fascinating look at Annie’s life, her friendships with those residents of a boarding house she helps to run. A look into her past reveals her grief over the loss of loved ones, but also shows her with an independent spirit as she strives to take care of others.

Told not just from Annie’s point of view there were times I felt it a little disjointed, and even parts of the story were not necessary, making the book longer than it needed to be. That being said one couldn’t help feel for Annie and the things that go on in her life after her trip over the fall.

Queen of the Mist  was an educational read that will appeal to those that like reading about unknown women in history.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.

The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall

The #1 bestselling author of Looking for Jane returns with a poignant, gripping novel about a pianist in Berlin on the cusp of WWII and a choice she makes that echoes across generations.

Sometimes the best place to hide is the last place anyone would look.

Northern England, 2010

After a tragic accident upends her life, Kate Mercer leaves London to work at an old guest house near the Scottish border, where she hopes to find a fresh start and heal from her loss. When she arrives, she begins to unravel the truth about her past, but discovers the mysterious elderly proprietor is harbouring her own secrets…

Berlin, 1938

Audrey James is weeks away from graduating from a prestigious music school in Berlin, where she’s been living with her best friend, Ilse Kaplan. As she prepares to finish her piano studies, Audrey dreads the thought of returning to her father in England and leaving Ilse behind. Families like the Kaplans are being targeted as war in Europe threatens.

When Ilse’s parents and brother suddenly disappear, two high-ranking Nazi party members confiscate the Kaplans’ upscale home, believing it to be empty. In a desperate attempt to keep Ilse safe, Audrey becomes housekeeper for the officers while Ilse is forced into hiding in the attic—a prisoner in her own home. Tensions rise in the house and the chance of survival diminishes by the day. When a shocking turn of events pushes Audrey to become embroiled in cell of the anti-Hitler movement - clusters of resisters working to bring down the Nazis from within Germany itself - Audrey must decide what matters most: saving herself, protecting her friend, or sacrificing everything for the greater good.

Inspired by true stories of courageous women and the German resistance during WWII, this is a captivating novel about the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the sacrifices we make for those we love, and the healing that comes from human connection.

Paperback, 432 pages

Published June 4, 2024

 by Simon & Schuster

4/5 stars

A number of years ago, Heather Marshall released Looking for Jane which received great reviews, I loved it also. This her 2nd release had me trying not to get my expectations too high in case I didn’t love it as much. There was no problem there I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Told in dual time period, my favourite, the story weaves between Berlin 1938 and through the war years. Then it's 2010 with Kate leaving a tragic past to work for Audrey or rather with her.

I’m usually drawn to one story over the other when it comes to a dual time. However, I enjoyed both of these ones immensely.  For Audrey living through the wars was intense in all that she went through and saw.  It all started with her best friend witnessing the loss of her family, then forced to hide in the attic... well there is a lot going on.  I enjoyed the friendship that developed between Kate and Audrey and the twist that I didn't see coming.  

A well written story of love and loss, courage and determination.  A book I highly recommend.

This book was part of my 2024 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.

Forever Birchwood by Danielle Daniel

The middle-grade debut of star picture-book author and illustrator Danielle Daniel

Adventurous, trail-blazing Wolf lives in a northern mining town and spends her days exploring the mountains and wilderness with her three best friends Penny, Ann and Brandi. The girls' secret refuge is their tree-house hideaway, Birchwood, Wolf's favourite place on earth. When her beloved grandmother tells her that she is the great-granddaughter of a tree talker, Wolf knows that she is destined to protect the birch trees and wildlife that surround her.

But Wolf's mother doesn't understand this connection at all. Not only is she reluctant to engage with their family's Indigenous roots, she seems suspiciously on the wrong side of the environmental protection efforts in their hometown. To make matters worse, she's just started dating an annoying new boyfriend named Roger, whose motives--and construction company--seem equally suspect.

As summer arrives, so do bigger problems. Wolf and her friends discover orange plastic bands wrapped around the trees near their cherished hangout spot, and their once stable friendship seems on the verge of unravelling. Birchwood has given them so much--can they even stay together long enough to save this special place?

With gorgeous yet understated language, Danielle Daniel beautifully captures an urgent and aching time in a young person's life. To read this astonishing middle-grade debut is to have your heart broken and then tenderly mended.

Paperback, 304 pages

Published January 18, 2022 

by HarperCollins

4.5/5 stars

I have previously read Daughters of the Deer by Danielle Daniel, so I was anxious to read this her debut middle grade Forever Birchwood.

Taking place in Sudbury, Ontario 12-year-old Wolf along with three of her best friends spend a summer trying to save their beloved Birchwood from destruction.

Though I started off reading the book, it wasn’t long before I grabbed the audio and finished it in a day. I don’t understand some other reviews that criticize the audio and the narrator, for myself I found it a pleasant listen.  The reader did a great job, I was captivated.

 Wolf is a strong girl, determined along with her friends. But she also has other things going on in her life, her mother‘s new boyfriend who just happens to work for the construction company set to destroy Birchwood. She can't help wondering if her real estate mother is also somehow involved.

As these girls sneak around trying to thaw the demolition effort they get more than they bargained for in this mining town.  I won’t go into what all these obstacles are for fear of spoilers.  But suffice to say I think this was a well written coming of age story, that shows determination, the importance of heritage and family along with standing up for something you strongly believe in.

This Canadian reader also loves the setting and hopes the author will continue featuring this great province.

This was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge and my copy of the audiobook was obtained through CloudLibrary

Someone Like You by Karen Kingsbury

One frozen embryo.
Two families with secrets.
And a guy who never planned to fall in love again.

Maddie West is shaken to the core when she finds out that everything she believed about her life was a lie. Her parents had always planned to tell her the truth about her past: that she was adopted as an embryo. But somehow the right moment never happened. Now, the total stranger who confronts Maddie with the truth tells her something else that rocks her world—Maddie had a sister she never knew about. Feeling betrayed, angry, and confused, Maddie leaves her new job and fiancé, rejects her family’s requests for forgiveness, and moves to Portland, Oregon, to find out who she really is.

Dawson Gage’s life is destroyed when London Quinn, the only girl he had ever loved, is killed. In the hospital waiting room, London’s mother reveals to Dawson that London might have had a sibling—the frozen embryo she and her husband donated decades ago. When Dawson invites Maddie to Portland to connect with her long-lost relatives, the Quinns, her biological parents, welcome her into their lives. Maddie is intrigued by their memories of London, who was so much like her. Is this the family and the life she was really meant to have?

Now it will take the love of Dawson Gage to help Maddie find her way home.

Hardcover, 295 pages

Published May 5, 2020 

by Atria Books

3.5/5 stars

It's been a long time since I've read a Karen Kingsbury book, I started the Baxter Series way back when it first came out and it has grown exponentially since, even branched off into subseries. Though Someone Like You is part of the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. Which is what happened within my book club.

For Maddie West, who has just graduated college and landed her dream job, her world is turned upside down when she learns about her conception.

For Dawson Gage, his life is shattered when his love interest is tragically killed in an accident.

As Maddie and Dawson‘s lives intertwine, they’re both grieving. This book evolves into the world of IVF, family secrets, and how to carry on. This was an interesting read and perfect for a bookclub.  There were lots of discussions, especially since the book provided questions. The author showed both sides of the story.

Like I said before this is book 30 in the Baxter Series, book 6 in the Baxter Family Series and definitely can be read as a standalone. It was a quick read, where faith played a huge part. I recommend it for those that like something a little different.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig

You are about to read the true story of Father Christmas.
It is a story that proves that nothing is impossible.
If you are one of those people who believe that some things are impossible, you should put this book down right away. It is most certainly not for you.
Because this book is FULL of impossible things.

Are you still reading?

Good.

Then let us begin . . .

A Boy Called Christmas is a tale of adventure, snow, kidnapping, elves, more snow, and an eleven-year-old boy called Nikolas, who isn't afraid to believe in magic.

Paperback, 266 pages

Published January 1, 2016

by Canongate

3/5 stars

Here we are into December with this, my first Christmas book of the year.  It is also the start of a series.

Chris Mould did a great job with the illustrated, they were rustic and totally enhanced the story. When Nikolas's father leaves on a jouney, he is left with a cranky aunt.  Taking all that he can of her, Nikolas sets off to find his father. For an 11 years old this is quite the feat.

This was a fun read that is perfect for the middle grade level. Taking place in Finland it is filled with some holiday magic, some interesting characters, and a story of how Father Christmas came to be.

I got to meet the author this past year and while he didn’t talk about this book, it was easy to get his sense of humor, which shined through here. There are three more books in this series, I’m not sure I will get them read before this Christmas, but I’ll give it a try.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Trees can't tell jokes, but they can certainly tell stories. . . .

Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood "wishtree"—people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red's branches. Along with her crow friend Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red's hollows, this "wishtree" watches over the neighborhood.

You might say Red has seen it all. Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red's experiences as a wishtree are more important than ever.

Paperback, 224 pages

Published September 26, 2017

by Feiwel & Friends

5/5 stars

Katherine Applegate is one of my favourite middle-grade authors and here is with another example of why I love her books.

Wishtree is unique in that it's from the pov of an oak tree. As Red tells his story he does it in such a way that I was spellbound.  I read it over 2 days without rushing.  I enjoyed listened to Red talk about all the changes that have taken place around the edge of the forest.  There was the friendships, people in the neighborhood  and those that come once a year to tie wishes on the branches.

Red has 216 rings, lots of changes in the world were witnessed. This was such a wonderful heartwarming story about friendship, nature and family.

I recommended not just for middle graders but all readers.

This book was part of 2024 reading off shelf challenge

Weird Rules to Follow by Kim Spencer

Mia knows her family is very different than her best friend's. 

In the 1980s, the coastal fishing town of Prince Rupert is booming. There is plenty of sockeye salmon in the nearby ocean, which means the fishermen are happy and there is plenty of work at the cannery. 

Eleven-year-old Mia and her best friend, Lara, have known each other since kindergarten. Like most tweens, they like to hang out and compare notes on their crushes and dream about their futures. But even though they both live in the same cul-de-sac, Mia’s life is very different from her non-Indigenous, middle-class neighbor. 

Lara lives with her mom, her dad and her little brother in a big house, with two cars in the drive and a view of the ocean. Mia lives in a shabby wartime house that is full of relatives―her churchgoing grandmother, binge-drinking mother and a rotating number of aunts, uncles and cousins. 

Even though their differences never seemed to matter to the two friends, Mia begins to notice how adults treat her differently, just because she is Indigenous. Teachers, shopkeepers, even Lara’s parents―they all seem to have decided who Mia is without getting to know her first.

Paperback, 192 pages

Published November 1, 2023

 by Orca Book Publishers

5/5 stars

I had the opportunity to listen to Kim Spencer do a keynote address at a conference I attended recently. Growing up in Prince Rupert in northern British Columbia herself is where this book takes place. My general feel is that a lot of this is her own experiences that she wrote about.

Weird Rules to Follow is the story of 11 year-old Mia in the 1980's.  Along with her best friend Lara, it's a story not just about her friendship with a white girl or about not being brought up in a middle class home.  But rather it's a story of Mia's life and the things that shape her as she grows up.

I really enjoyed this book. Told from Mia’s pov helped to build empathy for her and the struggles she has with who she is, her family, and friendships. One could almost say this is a series of short stories through her teens, but it packs a punch in how it reflects the times and location. It was well written and an author I will be reading more of.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber

A delicious and dark gothic romance from bestselling author Romina Garber!

THE HOUSE IS ALWAYS HUNGRY…

After a mysterious attack claims the lives of her parents, all Estela has left is her determination to solve the case. Suffering from survivor’s guilt so intense that she might be losing her grip on reality, she accepts an invitation to live overseas with an estranged aunt at their ancestral Spanish castle, la Sombra.

Beneath its gothic façade, la Sombra harbors a trove of family secrets, and Estela begins to suspect her parents’ deaths may be linked to their past. Her investigation takes a supernatural turn when she crosses paths with a silver-eyed boy only she can see. Estela worries Sebastián is a hallucination, but he claims he’s been trapped in the castle. They grudgingly team up to find answers and as their investigation ignites, so does a romance, mistrust twined with every caress.

As the mysteries pile up, it feels to Estela like everyone in the tiny town of Oscuro is lying and that whoever was behind the attack has followed her to Spain. The deeper she ventures into la Sombra’s secrets, the more certain she becomes that the suspect she’s chasing has already found her . . . and they’re closer than she ever realized.

Hardcover, 310 pages

Published August 1, 2024

 by Wednesday Books

2.5/5 stars

I received this book in a recent Owlcrate Box.I have mixed feelings about this special edition cover and that feeling flowed right in the story as well.

Starting with the dramatic death of her parents, 17 year old Estela is finally united with a distance relative, a relative she didn't even know existed. Moving to Spain sets in motion a series of events that makes her question the past she knew nothing about.

This was an interesting plot, it was intricately woven for the first 75 pages or so. But then the vibe changed, the pacing slowed down or went too fast, at times I was confused. Even the characters had trouble holding my attention. The blurb sounds really good, I'm disappointed I didn't enjoy this one more.  

This book was part of my 2024 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

The day Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever. It's the day he learned about the Archipelago, a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years—until now. And it's the day he met Mal, a girl on the run who desperately needs his help.

Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure, racing from island to island, searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. They consult sphinxes, battle kraken, and negotiate with dragons. But the closer they get to the dark truth of what's happening, the clearer it becomes: no one else can fix this. If the Archipelago is to be saved, Mal and Christopher will have to do it themselves.

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published September 10, 2024 

by Knopf Books for Young Readers

4.5/5 stars

Impossible Creatures, deemed to be the children's book to read this year, so I grabbed a copy. 

This was such a fun read. An adventurous story with 2 likeable characters and a whole cast of characters/creatures - the appendix was great with descriptions of each along with illustrations. Speaking of illustrations, they were wonderfully done throughout the pages.

Impossible Creatures is a multi-­layered story. As Mal and Christopher meet they develop a friendship and embark on a quest. Its not just an adventure story though. You've got these 2 with some baggage - grief, loss and the hardships of life. They are now running from someone who wants Mal dead and she has no clue why. It reminded me a little of Narnia, but on a different level.  

Though this is tabled as children literature, this adult quite enjoyed herself. Suffice to say I will be on the lookout for the sequel, The Poisoned King next September.  

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

The Greatest Gift by Kallie George

Mona the mouse has finally found a place to call home, the cozy Heartwood Hotel, where she works as a maid and sleeps snuggled up in a room with her best friend. Following the festive St. Slumber celebration, most of the guests have settled in to hibernate, and the staff is looking forward to a relaxing winter. But disruptions abound, from a difficult duchess to a mysterious midnight snacker. As the snow stacks higher, Mona will have to gather friends both old and new to keep the peace, finding help in some of the most unexpected places.

The second book in the enchanting Heartwood Hotel series, The Greatest Gift will warm your heart with its endearing characters and exquisite illustrations.

Hardcover, 176 pages

Published July 3, 2017 

by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

4/5 stars

Book 2 in the Heartwood Hotel Series is a story for young readers. It is wonderfully illustrated and features a heartwarming story.

From the point of view of Mona, the mouse, she has finally settled in to a place that she calls home. Winter has come and most of the guests have settled in to hibernate. The rest of the staff are looking forward to a relaxing couple of months. But of course that all changes when a difficult customer, a snowstorm and other adventures take over.

The Greatest Gift is a story of friendship, working together and finding support in unexpected places. This series has four books in it, I hope to review the remaining 2 before years end

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

From the New York Times bestselling co-author of Mad Honey comes an “inspiring” (Elle) novel about two women, centuries apart—one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays—who are both forced to hide behind another name.

Young playwright Melina Green has just written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano. But seeing it performed is unlikely, in a theater world where the playing field isn’t level for women. As Melina wonders if she dares risk failure again, her best friend takes the decision out of her hands and submits the play to a festival under a male pseudonym.

In 1581, young Emilia Bassano is a ward of English aristocrats. Her lessons on languages, history, and writing have endowed her with a sharp wit and a gift for storytelling, but like most women of her day, she is allowed no voice of her own. Forced to become a mistress to the Lord Chamberlain, who oversees all theatre productions in England, Emilia sees firsthand how the words of playwrights can move an audience. She begins to form a plan to secretly bring a play of her own to the stage—by paying an actor named William Shakespeare to front her work.

Told in intertwining timelines, By Any Other Name, a sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire centers two women who are determined to create something beautiful despite the prejudices they face. Should a writer do whatever it takes to see her story live on . . . no matter the cost? This remarkable novel, rooted in primary historical sources, ensures the name Emilia Bassano will no longer be forgotten.

Hardcover, 544 pages

Published August 20, 2024

 by Ballantine Books

4.5/5 stars

Jodi Picoult has turned into an auto-read author, though I do have a ways to go with her backlist. Before By Any Other Name was even published readers knew this was a departure from her usual style. Not being a Shakespeare fan, let alone read any of his works I was a little apprehensive. Now after turning the last page I am curious to try a couple plays. 

By Any Other Name is a dual time period story. Present day it's the story of Melina Green, a playwright who has written about Emilia Bassano from Shakespeare time. She is also a distant relative and the other POV.  As usual I enjoyed the past story more so, probably the history buff who liked reading the times. Without going into details, this was a well written and researched read. Her life was brought to life with vivid descriptions of the culture, treatment of women and general history of the times.  Honestly I would have been happy with this part being the whole book.

My only con would be the size. Over 500 pages was a tad too long, overly detailed at times. But still a book I recommend for the rich historical content.

This book was part of my 2024 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

 

The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski

A cozy and uplifting debut novel about three clairvoyant sisters who face an unexpected twist of Fate at the bottom of their own delicate porcelain cups.

Ever since the untimely death of their parents, Anne, Beatrix, and Violet Quigley have made a business of threading together the stories that rest in the swirls of ginger, cloves, and cardamom at the bottom of their customers’ cups. Their days at the teashop are filled with talk of butterflies and good fortune intertwined with the sound of cinnamon shortbread being snapped by laced fingers.

That is, until the Council of Witches comes calling with news that the city Diviner has lost her powers, and the sisters suddenly find themselves being pulled in different directions. As Anne’s magic begins to develop beyond that of her sisters’, Beatrix’s writing attracts the attention of a publisher, and Violet is enchanted by the song of the circus—and perhaps a mischievous trapeze artist threatening to sweep her off her feet. It seems a family curse that threatens to separate the sisters is taking effect.

With dwindling time to rewrite their future and help three other witches challenge their own destinies, the Quigleys set out to bargain with Fate. But in focusing so closely on saving each other, will they lose sight of themselves?

Paperback, 336 pages

Published October 1, 2024

 by Atria Books

4/5 stars

 A cozy debut about 3 sisters ( triples).

The Crescent Moon Tearoom is a popular place for those looking to see into their future,. When some unexpected visitors arrive these witchy sisters discover 3 task they must complete or lose the tearoom. This was a lighthearted story that was just what I needed to read at the time. 

I loved the storyline, it was told from the POV of each of these women and also the house was a character/Pov. How unique is that? And it worked so nicely here.

The Crescent Moon Tearoom is a story of family, secrets and confronting the past to be able to move forward. It was nicely paced, I was able to connect with these sisters and feel their struggles for the future.  A cozy, well written debut, perfect for this time of the year.

Thanks to Simon Schuster CA for a print ARC in exchange for a honest review

We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

It's January 1986. The launch of the Challenger is just weeks away, and Cash, Fitch, and Bird Nelson Thomas are three siblings in seventh grade together in Park, Delaware.

Cash loves basketball, Dr. J, and a girl named Penny; he's also in danger of failing seventh grade for a second time. Fitch spends every afternoon playing Major Havoc at the arcade and wrestles with an explosive temper that he doesn't understand. And Bird, his twelve-year-old twin, dreams of being NASA's first female shuttle commander, but feels like she's disappearing.

The Nelson Thomas siblings exist in their own orbits, circling a tense, crowded, and unpredictable household, dreaming of escape, dreaming of the future, dreaming of space. They have little in common except an enthusiastic science teacher named Ms. Salonga—a failed applicant to the Teacher in Space program—who encourages her students to live vicariously through the launch. Cash and Fitch take a passive interest, but Bird builds her dreams around it.

When the fated day arrives, it changes everything.

Hardcover, 400 pages

Published May 5, 2020

 by Greenwillow Books

4/5 stars

Erin Entrada Kelly takes us back to 1986 with the launch of the space shuttle Challenger. I distinctly remember the events leading up to the launch and the tragic aftermath.

Here we have 3 seven graders anxiously look forward to launch day. Told mostly from the point of view of 12 year-old Bird she dreams of one day becoming an astronaut herself, but with a disappointing homelife she knows her parents don't take her seriously.

I always enjoy reading this author. She highlights social issues in the middle grade field with a good story and an outcome that will hopefully encourage others going through the same issues.

We Dream of Space is the story of dreams, family, and loneliness even when part of a large person family.

This book was part of my 2024 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

Someone in the Attic by Andrea Mara

You thought you were home alone. Think again...

Anya is enjoying a relaxing bath when she hears a noise in the roof. Through the open bathroom door, she sees the attic hatch swing open, and a masked figure drops to the floor. Thirty seconds later, Anya is dead.

You're not afraid of being alone in the dark. You're afraid you're not alone.

Across town, Anya's old school friend, Julia, sees an online video of a masked figure climbing out of an attic. She suddenly realises why the footage is eerily it was filmed inside her house in a luxury gated community, designed to keep intruders out.

And now your worst fears are coming true.

Why would a stranger target Julia? Unless of course, it's not a stranger at all.

Paperback, 368 pages

Published August 20, 2024

 by Doubleday Canada

4/5 stars

Another book hyped up on social media had me with its blurb and cover.

This one started out grabbing my attention right away, fizzled for a little bit and then I was totally captivated, reading over half of it in one day.

Someone in the Attic is a creepy story of social media gone amuck. With videos of people walking or rather stalking through houses when no one is home - or are they? When Julia sees her home in one of these postings her life is now powered by suspicion, questions and fear of the past coming back to haunt.

There were many red herrings, creepy characters, along with unreliable ones and many many secrets. Moving at a good pace the story alternates between now and the past.  What started as a group of 4 friends, turns into 3 and now into 2.  What happened to make them a group of two?  

Someone in the Attic is a suspenseful story with a mixed cast of characters that kept me on my toes with a conclusion I did not see coming. I like the size of the chapters, they were nicely sized for JustOneMoreChapter (pun intented).

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.

 

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide

Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.

As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.

Hardcover, 478 pages

Published July 2, 2024

 by Riverhead Books

3.5/5 stars

Another book that is getting a lot of chatter on social media. I grabbed a copy from Book of the Month so I wouldn’t miss out on all the hype.

Coming in at almost 480 pages I knew I was in for something. This book started out with the disappearance of 13-year-old Barbara, it was enough to grab my attention.  It didn't take long to realize that this community is a community of secret keepers and liars.   What followed was a slow paced story that began in 1975 but backtracks to many years earlier with the disappearance of her brother and some family history.

There are many layers and told from a number of POV and timelines. Most of them settle around this summer camp. For myself I found I enjoyed the writing, the family drama and the mystery. However, I did find the length overwhelming with a lot of details that really weren't necessary. 

The ending was good, it was one I didn’t anticipate. However, I didn’t get that thriller vibe and in parts found it sad/depressing and like I said before rather a bit too long.

This is my first time reading a Liz Moore book, I might give her a try again though I will look closely at the length first and maybe go with the audio which I suspect would work.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.