3.5 ⭐️- Natasha Lester‘s latest novel, The Paris Orphan is a combination of a few genres - historical, mystery, romance and family drama. It‘s well-researched, has an engaging perspective and will pull readers in. While the ending was a little too convenient and melodramatic for me, readers who enjoy story lines wrapped up nicely by the final pages will love this book.

My review: http://bit.ly/TheParisOrphanReview

4 ⭐️- If you‘re looking for a tense, twisty, secret-filled thriller, look no further. Jackie Walsh has written a tense story about a woman trying to get to the bottom of her husband‘s lies. This was an impressive, hard to put down psychological thriller.

My review: http://bit.ly/TheSecretsHeKept

2 ⭐️- I brought this cozy mystery, the first of a new series, with me on our trip last week to Montreal. We were visiting that beautiful city to explore its history, food and touring various craft breweries. Mmm, craft beer, p‘tine and Schwartz‘ deli? Mais, oui!

The simplistic mystery & obtuse main character didn‘t endear this book to me. It‘s a shame. I do so love a good cozy once in awhile.

My review: http://bit.ly/ToBreworNottoBrew

3 ⭐️- This second book in the Grant County suspense series is a humdinger if you‘re more on the squeamish side of the thriller scale (that would be me). It was a twisty ride but too violent for my tastes. I plan to continue with this series but I‘m thinking this might not be a good pick for little old me.

My review: http://bit.ly/Kisscut

Have you read this series? Are they all quite so graphic?

5 ⭐️- I‘m not a big Self-Help reader but Oonagh Duncan‘s book, Healthy as F*ck caught my attention. With her conventional ‘talking to m‘girlfriends‘ tone & humour, this Canadian fitness expert gives readers 7 keystone habits to help them live healthier lives.

If you love to laugh as you learn & want to create more permanent, healthier changes in your life, you‘ll want to pick up this book. I simply loved it.

http://bit.ly/HealthyAsFck

4 ⭐️ - At first glance of the title, you may assume this is a tear jerker about sick teens falling in love. But you‘d be wrong. This is actually more of a feel good story that will give readers a lot to think about when it comes to living with a chronic illness.

Written with heart and wit, Sick Kids in Love will educate readers instead of making them grab for the Kleenex box. Look for it Nov 5th.

My review: http://bit.ly/SickKidsInLove

4 ⭐️- I am loving audiobooks when I‘m walking, driving or even cooking supper. I‘ve been slowly buying the Into the Wilderness series from Audible. It‘s a series I read years ago but listening to Kate Reading narrate (she‘s ahmazing!) reminds me why I love this series so much.

Adventure, drama and interesting characters, this is a must-read/listen Historical Fiction series.

My review: http://bit.ly/LakeintheClouds

5 big ‘ol ⭐️- I‘m attempting to read authors that slipped by me over the years. Karin Slaughter is one of those authors and now I‘m left feeling rather sheepish that I hadn‘t picked up her Grant County series. It was sooo good! I already have the second book, Kisscut, in my hands. Yup, it‘s that good.

My review: http://bit.ly/BlindsightedReview

Which authors have you been meaning to read?

2 ⭐️- Re-reading books I loved is kind of awesome - like Harry Potter, Sara Donati‘s Into the Wilderness, The Help ... Aaaand sometimes it‘s not so awesome.

I loved (much to my mom‘s chagrin and outright disapproval) the Flowers in the Attic series as a teen. After re-reading it recently, in my 40‘s, it is apparent that 13-year-old Laurie and 40-ish Laurie disagree on what makes a good read.

My review: http://bit.ly/FlowersintheAtticReview

4 ⭐️- History, mystery and one heck of a follow up to 2015‘s The Gilded Hour. If you love HistFic with strong female characters and vivid descriptions, you‘ll want to read this series. Start with The Gilded Hour.

This series features characters and relatives from Donati‘s wonderful Into the Wilderness series (which is one of y all-time fav series).

My review: http://bit.ly/WhereTheLightEnters

Thanks to @BerkleyPub for my copy.

3 ⭐️- I like a good underdog, female empowering, body positive messaged story - especially in the Teen genre.

This book has been on my radar for a bit (especially since it‘s NetFlix movie) but it was a good, not quite great read for me. Premise-wise it was awesome but the execution was a little weak.

My review: http://bit.ly/Dumplinbook

4.5 ⭐️- Wow. This impressive debut starts off with a bang and doesn‘t let up. Compelling, intriguing and, at times, even emotional, this book will keep readers riveted until the very end. Look for it Nov 26th

My review: http://bit.ly/WomanOnTheEdge

Thanks to @SimonSchuster Canada for my advanced copy.

4 ⭐️- Ok, I finally get all the Kimberly Belle buzz! I feel like the last belle of the Belle ball but after owning a digital copy of Three Days Missing for longer than I care to admit, I am happy that I finally read it!

Whether you‘re a parent or not, I think you‘ll enjoy this fast-paced domestic thriller about a missing eight-year-old boy.

My review: http://bit.ly/3DaysMissing

3.5 ⭐️- In a somewhat feeble attempt to read what I own, I finally picked up The Birth House from my many book shelves to finally read it. It had been sitting there for years. Sad, I know.

I‘m glad I finally read this book about women‘s rights and relationships in 1920‘s Nova Scotia. Who else has read it? Am I the last person on earth to pick it up?

My review: http://bit.ly/TheBirthHouse

4.5 ⭐️- Delightfully chilling and utterly compelling, you‘ll want to get your hands on a copy Lisa Jewell‘s upcoming book, The Family Upstairs when it pubs Nov 5th!

My review: http://bit.ly/FamilyUpstairs

4 ⭐️- Canada has a lot of talented authors and Steena Holmes is one of them. After enjoying her previous book, The Forgotten Ones, I eagerly jumped at the chance to review her upcoming book, The Patient. This dark and twisty psychological thriller will keep readers on their toes. ‘Nuff said.

My review: http://bit.ly/ThePatientHolmes

3 ⭐️- Writing duo Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings (aka Christina Lauren) are back with a new romance Oct 22! 💛💙

While this book has a bit of a different vibe, the story still focuses on a sweet romance between a couple, Tate and Sam. They first meet as teens and then again as adults (with a whole lotta baggage).

Full review: http://bit.ly/2XBlueMoon

Thanks to @GalleryBooks for my advanced copy.

4.5 ⭐️- Are you in the mood for a totally absorbing read? Of course you are!

The Arrangement by Robyn Harding is filled with twists and short chapters that will have readers continually promising that they‘ll put the book down after the next chapter (ya, riiight!).

Interesting premise, intriguing characters and an unoutdownable plot made this dark domestic thriller a winner in my books.

My review: http://bit.ly/ArrangementHarding

3 ⭐️- Is this not a gorgeous cover? What do a dilapidated old house, a steamy romance and a dash of paranormal have in common? The debut novel from Diana Biller, The Widow of Rose House! .

This Historical Fiction/Romance/Paranormal/Mystery is definitely a mishmash of genres. It was a bit convoluted in spots but I loved that it‘s set in the Gilded Age and has an interesting array of characters.

My review: http://bit.ly/WidowofRoseHouse

This was a good addition to a cozy series I‘ve inhaled over the past couple of weeks. I predicted the culprit but still enjoyed the beer tidbits and Sloan‘s mysterious past. Hoping to get closure on that past. Feels like it‘s dragging on too long.

My review: http://bit.ly/BeyondAReasonableStout

3.5 ⭐️- This much talked about book follows the ups and downs of Cassie Hanwell, a female firefighter who has many personal and professional demons to deal with.

While a bit lighter than I had expected, this is a touching romance that wraps up nicely and handles some interesting issues along the way.

My review: http://bit.ly/ThingsUSaveinaFire

Heads up Historical Fiction fans!

Canadian author Genevieve Graham has a new book coming out in March 2020 called The Forgotten Home Child! It‘s being called “The Home for Unwanted Girls meets Orphan Train. 📖🇨🇦😍

I love learning about parts of Canadian history that I didn‘t know about! Mark your calendars for March or preorder this book now at bit.ly/2nv92dD

Wow. I wasn‘t sure about this book initially (I wasn‘t a fan of Harding‘s Her Pretty Face) but I read this book in less than a day. Less a suspense read than a contemporary fiction read but I quite liked it. Review to come.

4 ⭐️- ‪This cozy mystery series is as refreshing as a cold Honey Cream Ale! ‬This is the 2nd book in the series and I‘ve inhaled all three books in less than 1 week!

‪My review: http://bit.ly/2no0x40‬

‪Stay tuned for my review of the upcoming 3rd book in this intriguing cozy series that focuses on craft beer culture. You don‘t have to be a fan of beer to enjoy this series ... but it doesn‘t hurt. 😉🍺 📖❤️‬

3.5 ⭐️- This new-to-me cozy mystery series is set in the world of craft beer. If you follow me on Instagram (bakingbookworm) you know I 😍 craft beer so this series was a no-brainer for me.

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With a great setting, unique focus and an interesting array of characters, this is a great, binge-worthy cozy series that you‘ll want to read in order to get the most out of the larger story arcs.

Review: http://bit.ly/DeathonTap

2 ⭐️- The Proposal was the belle of the ball last Fall with Reece Witherspoon herself adding to the excitement surrounding this romance by selecting it as part of her Book Club.

It had a cute idea & a wonderfully diverse cast but sadly, I just wasn‘t a fan. The plot was weak and the characters blaw. I was expecting a romantic, funny & sassy read like The Unhoneymooners but I got a very different read.

My review: http://bit.ly/2kUq4B8

4 ⭐️- This is a compulsive story that takes place in the near future where abortion has been recriminalized, teen girls pledge their chastity to their fathers and politics, extreme religion and the media hold all the power. Many relevant issues make this a good book to encourage discussion. This is an obvious choice for fans of The Handmaid‘s Tale.

My review: http://bit.ly/ThisLittleLightreview

Thanks to Random House Canada for my copy.

3.5 ⭐️- This stunning cover holds a short but sweet story that combines brief instances in the lives of 3 women who are linked by their struggles, tenacity & perseverance.

My review: bit.ly/TheBraid

Thanks to @SimonSchuster and NetGalley for my advanced copy. Look for it Sept 24th!

5 ⭐️- After hearing a couple fellow book bloggers (rightfully) go all fan girl on Come Away With Me, Karma‘s debut novel, I thought it was high time I read it too. I don‘t like to be left out of a good read.

You guuuyyys!! This book was impressive, emotional and undoubtedly raised Kleenex sales. I don‘t cry easily but this book got me in a couple of places. Gotta love a good cry.

My review: http://bit.ly/comeawaywithmeKBrown

2 ⭐️- Isn‘t this an awesome, creepy cover? An old, decrepit barn, a murder and a mystery. Sounds good, right?

The premise was intriguing too but sadly, this book didn‘t work for me for a few reasons. Not enough tension, disconnect from characters & a mishmash of genres lead to a lacklustre read.

I‘m in the minority on this one, fellow readers. You can find my review here: http://bit.ly/2kPxOUT

3 ⭐️ - This is a light but endearing story about two lost souls who find each other, a cute pet in wee Phineas and it has a bit of a mystery t‘boot.

This was a cute but just okay read for me. I had issues with its slow pace and Ellie. I just didn‘t connect with her.

My full review: http://bit.ly/Ellieandtheharpmaker

Thanks to @VikingBooks for my copy.

3 ⭐️- The Silent Patient has been getting allll the hype. So I jumped on the old bandwagon to see what the fuss was about. This book had a great twist but the journey to it and the characters were just okay for me.

I‘m in the minority on this one but if you‘d like to read my full review, here‘s the link: http://bit.ly/2UKtkMM

3 ⭐️- This 3rd book in the Anna Blanc Historical Mystery series set in 1920‘s Los Angeles continues with a main character in Anna who is ahead of her time who is equally smart, sassy and determined.

If you‘re looking for a new series that blends a historical setting, a dash of sass, a good mystery and an intriguing heroine, let me introduce you to Anna Blanc, Police Matron.

My review: http://bit.ly/300GKoY

3 ⭐️- This debut romance by Jen DeLuca has a unique setting (a Renaissance Faire, no less) and a will-they-won‘t-they kind of romance.

While it‘s a cute story, this was lighter than I like for a romance and fame of too predictable for my tastes. It would be a good pick for people who like a light, predictable romance for a quick, escapist kind of read.

My review: http://bit.ly/2ZXmDZ1

5+++ ⭐️- I‘m getting more and more into audiobooks, specifically digital audiobooks. When I saw that Octavia Spencer would be reprising her role as Minnie from the 2011 movie, The Help (based on the ahmazing 2009 book), I jumped at the chance to buy a copy from Audible.

I adored this well narrated audiobook that made me remember why I loved this 2009 book so very much.

My Full Review: http://bit.ly/2HQnwwi

3 ⭐️ - This third book in the Myron Bolitar series was a good addition to the series but not my fav. The banter was lacking and the mystery was a bit convoluted but I liked getting background info on a pivotal part of Myron‘s past.

My full review: http://bit.ly/32iCSRW

Can you believe we‘re at the end of August already?? It was a good month for reading. I adored listening to The Help on audio (you can‘t go wrong with Octavia Spencer reprising her role as Minnie) I found a couple of astounding reads and several good reads to get me through the best of summer. What were your favs?

To read my reviews of these titles please visit: www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.ca

3 ⭐️- This big tome of a book looks at the complicated relationships in the Sorenson family. Four sisters, loving parents, hidden pasts and familial angst make up this dysfunctional family drama.

While I found this book long winded in several parts, I appreciated the topics it addresses. I just wish it was more concise & time was spent on character development.

My review: http://bit.ly/2HyFseK

3 ⭐️- Jeffrey Archer fans, get ready to be very excited! His new book, Nothing Ventured, the first in a new series, comes out Sept 3rd. This time, the focus is on the life of William Warwick, a young London Police Detective. If you enjoyed his highly popular Clifton Chronicles, you‘ll want to pick this one up.

Thanks to @StMartinsPress for my advanced digital copy.

My review: http://bit.ly/2Zv15GU

4.5 ⭐️- With her latest book, Someone We Know, Shari Lapena has solidified her spot on my list of Favourite Suspense Authors Evah. Quite a coveted list, I tell you. 😉

Twists, secrets & loads of culprits, this is a suspense read you‘ll want to add to your teetering TBR ASAP. OK?

My review: http://bit.ly/2ZxUKe1

3.5 STARS - I love being pulled into an era I knew little about. It‘s one of the reasons why I love Historical Fiction and Fiona Davis is an author I trust for a well-researched story & interesting setting.

The Chelsea Girls follows two friends through a World War and into the turbulent McCarthy era where fear was rampant as communist allegations & blacklisting resulted in horrific results for many.

My review: http://bit.ly/2Zlswmg

3 ⭐️- This book has an ambitious premise and loads of historical detail as it follows two friends through three decades of political and social uncertainty. Great premise, right?

Unfortunately, I didn‘t love the heavy history textbook feel & didn‘t connect with the characters or plot as much as I would have hoped. Just an ok read for me.

My review: http://bit.ly/2Zg3ANn

4.5 ⭐️- Cinderella is one of the most well-known and much-loved fairy tales. But have you ever thought about what it was like for her stepmother and stepsisters?

Danielle Teller has written and engaging retelling of this popular tale through the eyes of Agnes, Cinderella‘s stepmother. You think you know a princess and then BAM! You hear her step-mama‘s side of the story. 😳

My review: http://bit.ly/301b9Ve

2 ⭐️- This is a dark, sometimes brutal, tale of obsession in Victorian London. Things were hard for many and women‘s struggled a lot and while I appreciate how vivid the descriptions are of the time, this just wasn‘t a book I connected with for a few reasons. Thanks to Atria for my complimentary advanced copy.

My review: http://bit.ly/2ZWyvv0

3 ⭐️ - Savage Run is the second book in the popular Joe Pickett series. I love the environmental focus of these books but I‘m hoping Joe toughens up a bit. A good read but more adventure than mystery this time around.

Full review: http://bit.ly/2ZVWryt

3 ⭐️- A good read with a great final twist but I found the execution of the story a little choppy. Good but not wow.

My full review: http://bit.ly/2YV7x5L

Ten years of book and recipe blogging. It has gone by so fast but I‘m so grateful for the opportunities it‘s given me - especially my job as a Library Assistant. A job that I adore. Here‘s to another ten years!

3 ⭐️ - This was my first Elizabeth Gilbert book and it‘s cover and setting (1940‘s NYC) sold me on this Historical Fiction story that focuses on the life of a woman named Vivian Morris. .

Atmospheric and full of sass and some scandal, this book held a lot of promise but was just an okay read for me. Good (and very looong) but not wow.

My full review: http://bit.ly/2YLLzWH

4 ⭐️- Canadian foodie, cookbook author and Cityline frequent flyer, Mairlyn Smith is back with her 7th cookbook. This time she‘s focusing on making fibre tasty with 100+ recipes complete with gorgeous photos and cute anecdotes.

My review: http://bit.ly/2LW03gH

5 ⭐️- You guuuuys! I sorta, kinda, 100% loved this book. 🥰. The Unhoneymooners is the whole Rom-Com enchilada - humour, charm and sexual tension. This is romance at its best. Read it and you will fall in love with Ophelia & Elijah. 😉

My review: http://bit.ly/2MxdaV1