This was both fun and thoughtful. 4 children, all adults in their 40s and all lost in some way, go home for the 10th anniversary of their mother‘s death. The first shock is that their father is dating and it‘s serious. The story winds around their love and coveting of their family beach house. There are lots of complicated issues and struggles here and some resolutions over the week they spend together. Good read; a good beach read. 3.75/5.

Aiofe here is very different than she appears in The Scarlet Lion, Chadwick‘s book on William Marshall. There Aiofe is a bitter and mad mother-in-law. We leave her in The Irish Princess in Striguil, a young mother determined to live her live unmarried & protect her children‘s inheritance. There is a large gap between these portraits. That is interesting. But so was this book of her life from birth to young widowhood. It was well-written. 4/5

This is the third book of hers I have read. For some reason, she doesn‘t resonate with me. The Paris Apartment starts with a sister arriving in Paris to visit her brother, but he has disappeared and there is blood. To say more would reveal too much. I didn‘t buy this story, even when it was intense. 2/5

I live in Wolfville & as a new resident to here & the province too, I did a history search and came across Mona Parsons, who lived in Wolfville, married a Dutch man, lived in Holland where she aided allied pilots in the underground, was caught by the Germans and incarcerated for duration of the war, until she escaped, walking back to Holland where she met Nova Scotian troops. Absolutely astonishing and astounding. So well written. Charming. 5/5

This was a treat. Sweet, simple, well told tale. Great light summer reading. After building a career in fashion in London, Roxanne goes home to her childhood village. Arriving with angst to see a sister she felt she let down, at a time when her job is changing and she is not sure of her boyfriend, Roxanne moves forward throughout this book, forgiving her past self, embracing her sister and finding love and a new life, back where she started.

I have now finished this series. I will miss Uhtred, but know that I will revisit this series. It has drawn me forward all year and I have loved the characters, the relationships, the drama, the history/way of life, and pace of the novels. Will miss Finan too and their humor and loyalty. So happy Uhtred was reunited with Steapa in this book. I feel free - free to pursue other books. Awesome series.

It‘s been a dream to live in another province. On my 1st day here, I found the public library & got my library card. It was the first thing I did. The plan is to borrow a book & explore the library, one alphabet letter at a time. I really enjoyed this 1st novel by Jessica Andrews. It‘s lyrical & flows back & forth in time over Lucy‘s life, a young woman, just graduated & lost, searching for herself & her ties to her mother. Very good. 4/5

#12 of 13. This was good; one of my favourites. It has a shorter time frame and moves faster as a result. Uhltred and Finan are getting old, but still they rise, they out-think, and with fierce loyalty and astonishing luck, they win their battles. So glad I found this series. Uhltred and Finan will be two characters I will not forget. 4/5

I enjoyed this, but for the first time in this series, I felt that Bernard Cornwell was beginning to run out of steam, that the novel was not as interesting as the others. It was inconsistent too in tone and a mismatch with the others books. Uhtred had won back Babbenburg, but there was a disregard for him at the Witan, that this powerful warrior was being disregarded. Weird. 3/5

I enjoyed this. An imagined novel of Nancy Mitford‘s life in the 1930s and onwards and a present day American book curator named Lucy, who goes to London to purchase books for an American collector and spends two weeks at Heywood Hill bookstore, as her London base. Lucy is also a fan of Nancy Mitford and has a mystery she wants to solve. The chapters switch between Nancy and Lucy and is well-done. Interesting. 3.5/5

Uhtred is now back and master of Bebbanburg and his life‘s dream and wish has been achieved. This is book 10 of 13 and I am intrigued how Uhtred will fare, what challenges will be faced. Four more books in this series suggests that there must be. Cannot wait!

Number 9 of The Last Kingdom series did not disappoint. 💕. It was nice to see that Uhtred was not rescued by an arriving army. Here instead they used their wit and connections. Fast paced, well plotted, likeable characters, and lots of action. I love this series.

I always like exploring new (to me) Canadian authors. Born in Nova Scotia, running to be with a brother gassed in France during WWI, Emmeline Darling is a big character. I enjoyed this in spots. I found it uneven in terms of plot and overly sentimental. In three weeks I am moving to Nova Scotia and so many of the scenic descriptions were fun to read. Not sure I would read another of her books. 2/5

With Louise Penny‘s abilities to write and form a plot, with likeable human characters and Hillary Clinton‘s inside knowledge of the US State Dep‘t, I knew this would be good. An intense, page-turner that moved quickly around the globe. I loved Ellen Adams as a character, regardless of her dress! 😉. Smart and courageous and with a gutsy side kick/best friend, this was delightful, horrifying, and very human. I hope they write another! 4/5

I read this in 2 sittings and it was 2 because I fell asleep last night. There has been so much hype about this book. I loved it. I thought it was interesting, clever, creative, and fun. 1 murder. 15 Suspects. An appeal that sees 2 young female lawyers given the original trial evidence of a series of emails, texts, social media and letters. I was so caught up reading the story that I stopped reading to assess evidence. Erie ending. 4.5/5

This was lovely. A young widow is made redundant and just as she needs to find a roommate,her mother-in-law leaves her marriage and moves in. A great premise that is enhanced with a handful of other lovely and caring friends. This is a book about life, how it goes on, how we endure, heal, and celebrate. It‘s about friendship, grief, love, memory, and moving forward. It was exactly what I needed and I enjoyed it. It wasn‘t too sappy! 4.5/5

This was a charming cross-road of immigration, fleeing, fairies, and healing. From Tehran to London to Ballinacroagh, Ireland, the three Aminpour sisters open a Persian cafe called Babylon Cafe. Through food, nosy neighbours, religious intolerance, and hearts of gold, the three girls start and find their paths. Descriptions of the food makes me want to get a Persian cookbook and start exploring. Good; I enjoyed the community and story. 3.5/5

I have just finished #8 of the Last Kingdom series. I am addicted and cannot focus on any other reads. I really liked this one and I think it may be my favourite … so far. Maybe because there was less violence? Cornwell can tell a tale.

Amir, 9, follows his uncle/stepfather out of their apartment late at night and boards a boat. Without understanding, he becomes a migrant, stuffed into a rickety boat with others. They capsize and Amir is washed ashore, he flees and encounters a 15 year old girl Vanna. Going back and forth between Before and Now, the chapters are very short, building intensity and sweeping you along with this fantastic, gruelling, hopeful novel. 5/5

I really like this cover. I very much enjoy Christmas pudding. But I am not enjoying this novella and have abandoned it. For sure, it is not her best, but after reading half of the novel, I was not vested in any character or place. Boring. 1/5

Each time I finish one of these books, I tell myself I will take a break from the violence and read something else, but the next day I start the next in the series. Addicted and loving it! This was not my favourite book of the series, but it did introduce Osworth. 4/5

I am so loving this series. Having read first book 7, I wanted to start at beginning. I find it interesting watching the relationships, bonds, and stories start and evolve. In particular, I was interested to see Finan introduced, as he was in this book. So good. 4.5/5

It‘s November 2020 and Kate is in quarantine and she can‘t stand it anymore and goes for a walk, at dusk. She falls and badly injures herself. This novella was thought provoking, it demonstrates compassion, lack of compassion, it‘s witty and wise. Each chapter tells the story of the five characters and what I really liked was how none of their stories were neatly tied up at the end. It‘s all left hanging. Interesting; a definite re-read. 5/5

This was fantastic, intense-sitting-at-the-edge-of-my-seat- intense. Having read 7th in series first, I am now reading from the start of the series and it is interesting seeing the names referenced in Book 7 and how those relationships formed. So good. Writing and complexity of details deftly done. 5/5.

I really enjoyed this. It is written with warmth and not only tells the story of a remarkable hockey career, but of a remarkable man and leader. I have always been a fan of Messier, of his gritty, determined playing, and I have always appreciated what a wonderful ambassador he was for hockey and for my country too. I learned a lot and was inspired. 3/5

I am late attending the Bernard Cornwell feast. Having first read The Pagan Lord and discovered Uhtred, I circled back to start at the beginning. This novel takes Uhtred up to the age of 20, marriage and fatherhood, and his first shield wall. Intense, interesting, and very well written. Looking forward to the ride, cozy on my couch. 4/5

I couldn‘t put this down. It was engaging & beautifully written. There are many points in this book. Geographic. Faith. Infidelity. Community. The legacies our ancestors give us & the expectations too. The public versus the private. Huma Abedin worked with Hilary Clinton closely from the days she was First Lady & while many of those stories are interesting, what I loved was her childhood stories & her love of family & country. 4.5/5

Year 910AD and England had been peaceful for 10 years, but the Danes and the Saxons are both plotting. Number 7 of 13 books in The Last Kingdom Series. This is my first book of the series and first Bernard Cornwell book. I loved it and Uhtred as a character. I am going to start at the beginning of the series. So happy to have found a new series. This book never stopped. The pace was tight and moved rapidly. The details. Astonishing. 4.5/5

The above review gives the basics of the story. I did not read it in 1 day. It never drew me in. I am more inclined to believe the narrator is unsure of what to do next, then that she had explored levels of intimacy, as the title suggests. It is well-written, although distant as though related by a third party, when in fact the narrator is the main character. I guess I just don‘t buy the ending. It was unformed and a stereotype. Odd. 2.5/5

This is a sweet tale, a feel good holiday love story. A simple and fast read, I read it in a day. The writing is good and the characters likeable. While predictable in some ways, this was worth the time. 3.5/5

I liked this. It‘s not a linear family history but more a series of stories about selected family members. The one I was looking forward to reading was Gloria, but I enjoyed others too. Each is also a story of the impact of their wealth, the role of money and that was interesting too. The writing is a soft, gentle dialogue. 3/5

The sequel to The Henna Artist, it was great to visit with Lakshmi, Malik, and Jay again, twelve years later. Loved this book. Joshi has such a warm, wonderful writing style. You feel like you‘re there in the room participating! I understand that this series is a trilogy, which makes me very happy. 4.5/5.

When I finished this my first thought was - what a smorgasbord! Lottie moves to Rome after securing a job & marrying Tom. As a chief archivist, she discovers a box of files on Nina Lawrence, a young British woman,, who was viciously murdered in the late 1970s. As Lottie reads about Nina‘s life, the lack of justice & increasing similarities they share, leads Lottie to wanting to provide Nina with justice. So well written. Loved. 5/5

I am in PEI visiting and plan to move here in the spring. I always love it when you visit a local bookstore and discover a book that you probably wouldn‘t have seen or noticed at home. Such is this book - the inspiring story of the Hadhad family. Successfully Syrian chocolatiers, they fled Syria to come to Canada, where they have become Canadian Chocolatiers. This is lovely, inspiring, poignant, warm and reminds us of what some suffer. 5/5

This book reminds me of an Alfred Hitchcock plot. Mrs. March is unravelling & slowly losing her mind. Untethered & unreal, Mrs. March exists in a world of expectations never met, while living a surface life with her husband, a successful author & their son. The surface breaks when she hears that her husband‘s latest character-an ugly, unlovable, prostitute-is based on her. This book moves slowly. My issue is that I never cared. 3/5.

I was looking forward to this. The meet-cute seemed fun and sweet. I read this in one sitting and there was loads I liked - the characters - but it was predictable. Also, I think there was too much going on here and it was an overload that detracted from the story. 3/5

This wonderful, wonderful book made me so happy. The above is one of the many gorgeous images that accompany the varied and interesting conversations between art critic Martin Gayford and David Hockney. Illustrations as talking points, demonstrating David‘s work as he lives in Normandy during the pandemic and lockdown. But it is not just David‘s work, it‘s the work of those he admires, his heroes. (More)

Set in 1970s London, we have 4 co-workers, 2 men & 2 women, with the women nearing retirement. All are alone & lonely. This novel is about coping & boundaries & while none would call the others their friend, the others frequently appear in their thoughts. It‘s messy. It‘s insular. Slowly as we get to know each, they form a community of sorts. It‘s an odd little novel. It‘s too sad to be charming, but it‘s good. I will re-read it. 4.5/5

I read this in one sitting. It was such a joy. I loved the characters, the story, and the setting. A completely feel good, delightful novel that was fun to read. I don‘t normally put Christmas romance books on my keep shelf, but this one is going there. It was the perfect book for my mood last night. I am giving it too a 5/5.

A deep internal dialogue through race, class, expectations, belonging, health, and hurt. This was wonderful. A short novella of 100 pages. I loved the flickering internal dialogue between health, work, and a country house weekend. Questions of what to do, the exhaustion of trying to hide from the brutality of never being allowed to belong. Stabbing ignorance and thoughtless righteousness. This novella packs a punch. 5/5

I really enjoyed this book … & it‘s been a while since I said that about this series. I‘ve read every book & feel as though I know them all. Here, Silva returns to focus on Russia, hitting at a boyhood friend of Putin, an oligarch living in Zurich. The plot is lively, fast paced, & detailed. Britain, France, Switzerland, & Israel bide their time until the change-over of the uS presidency … topical, timely, & well-plotted. 4/5

I really enjoyed this novel. Immediately I was drawn to the characters Laurie and Evie & wanted to follow their story. I had never heard of the Windrush immigrants & so that was interesting to learn about. People‘s inhumanity & nastiness to others is always hard to read. But there was so much hope here too. Really lovely people … Laurie is wonderful. A family found & made. Work. Music. Love. Wonderful friends. This was well-written. 4/5

Elizabeth Chadwick‘s trilogy on the life of Wm Marshall led me to search out this bio. This was good, well written and also clearly explained Wm‘s world, the evolution and value of knightly class and chivalry. I learned a lot. 4/5

This was a very good tale, full of detailed adventure. Fantastical in many ways. The last novel in the Wm Marshall trilogy, this was my least favourite because it was so fantastical. It is hard to see the person in this woven tale. That is what I missed. Still, well written and a good read. 4/5

Loved this. The 2nd in the trilogy of the life of William Marshall, this was vibrant, lush, moving … magnificent. Loved every second. What an extraordinary and fabulous life. Chadwick‘s writing, character building, and portrayal of historic events, personalities, and day-to-day life is incredible. 5/5

It‘s my first Litsy anniversary today. Can hardly believe it‘s been a year!🎂🎉🥳😄📚

Loved this. The 1st in a trilogy of William Marshall, this is one of my favourite time periods of medieval history. Elizabeth Chadwick is new to me & I got this book from a list of 100 best medieval books. I think I like Sharon K. Penman more, but this was fantastic. The characters, scenery & day to day life are vivid. She is more of a “romance” writer than Penman, but well worth the read & I am off to my library to get the 2nd book. 4.5/5

This was very entertaining; Jeffrey Archer tells a good tale. Really liked a lot of the characters too…and there were a lot of characters. For sure there are several police investigations and story lines … from drugs to art, from police corruption to money laundering. The story kept a good pace. 3/5

This was terrific. Lovely and hopeful and poignant and not at all syrupy. Really enjoyed this. 4/5.

A wealthy couple are found murdered in their home. Was it a robbery gone wrong? Was it one of their 3 children? With established suspects and a couple more for interest, this book goes in circles because any of the suspects could have done it. A page turner for sure. This was really interesting and it‘s ending is neat and nifty. Bonus - I discovered a new Canadian writer. Good. Solid 4/5.