I share a birthday with Dolly Parton and maybe because of that I have always been a fan. Her philanthropy is especially admirable and only wish more wealthy people gave back as much as she does. I also appreciate her grit & her self-deprecating humour. I learned a lot about her life, struggles and career from this book but found the writing style to be a little too much like a research paper for my taste. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 3.25/5

This is a story set over a few weeks in the life of Ida, a young teen who is autistic. When her older teenage cousin comes to stay, Ida's life changes and secrets are revealed. The story has a coming of age feel and is also a bit of a thriller. The characters were all interesting, and the author did a wonderful job of capturing Ida‘s voice and her life. I found it difficult to put the book down. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. 4.25/5

This short dystopian novel is set at a rehabilitation center for victims of a virus that wipes out one's autobiographical memories and those things learned from life experience. The story is told through the writings of an unnamed patient. The look at the vagueness and quirks of language and the overall eeriness of the setting were interesting but ultimately it bothered me that it left me with no answers. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 3/5

This is a fascinating true story of an American woman who finds out that her grandparents were spying for Germany and Japan and their work contributed to enabling the Pearl Harbor attack. She skillfully documents what her research discovered as we relive the months and days before the event. The research also reveals that that some incompetence on the part of the USA prevented the discovery of the plans. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. 4.25/5

This is a relatively chaste rom com that uses the fake relationship trope. I enjoyed the banter and chemistry between the two main characters (reporters Bel & Connor) and felt all the characters were interesting and well done. The investigation they are working on (trying to take down a sleezy politician) adds a lot to the story, as does Bel‘s backstory. I sometimes had trouble with the British expressions. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 4/5

I loved “The Change“ and while this one was not quite as good, it was still a wonderfully fun read. Set in the same world, but not quite a sequel, it can be read on its own. This witchy feminist story is about a family of women who try to right the wrongs of the world by doing away with the very wealthy men who have ruined the climate to satisfy their greed. Also in the mix are family drama, romance and humor. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 4/5

This debut novel drops the reader into the world of the ultra wealthy. We follow along with Christine, who has the enviable job of attending a wedding at a castle in Ireland to write about it for her magazine, but a murder changes everything. The story is told from many POV's, which I felt gave the story a slightly more frenetic pace than I liked. Despite that, I enjoyed it and I was surprised by the ending. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 3.5/5

This is the 4th book in the Gasper's Cove series. They are short cozy mysteries set-in small-town Nova Scotia. When a guest is murdered at the local B&B, Val, the main character and manager of Rankin's General Store, gets involved and puts herself at risk. The setting, the interesting characters, the local history and the crafting tidbits make this an easy, charming read and a nice palate cleanser between more serious tomes. 3.5/5 stars!

This is “Legends & Lattes“ #2, but there was a #0 after #1, so it is really the 3rd in the series (not counting the novellas). This one spends most of the time recounting the adventures of Fern (from book #0) and while I missed the character of Viv, this was still a fun read. Baldree creates the most interesting and amusing characters, with both wonderful strengths and relatable flaws. I enjoy his work. Thank you to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 4/5!

This is a wonderfully charming read, with a touch of magic, two romances, a lovely cast of characters and very real-world problems. I really loved it. The town of Forget-Me-Not and its library helps people recover lost memories and it works its magic on the two main characters in the story. While this book is perhaps not great literature, it does warm the heart and was a joy to read. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the digital ARC. 4.5/5 stars!

This is a mystery set in California that features a lot of native stories and culture. It deals with the murder of a prominent member of a wealthy family involved in large real estate projects. I found it to be a little slow at times, but I did enjoy it, especially the backstories of the two police detectives (one of whom has native heritage) working the case. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC. 3.75/5 stars.

This is the 2nd book in a series, but I followed the story with no issues despite not reading the 1st. The book features a crime reporter that consistently puts her investigations ahead of her own safety, which make for some crazy situations, but fun and exciting reading. This one involves a dead funeral home director, missing bodies and an unlicensed doctor running a medical school in the Caribbean. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 4/5 stars!

This novel encompasses so much. It is about making it in dance, about being black in our world and the arts today and the power of money, friendships, marriage, betrayal and loss. It immerses you in the world of dance while outside life carries on. I quite enjoyed it but did feel the betrayal and the loss experienced by the main character that would have devasted most of us, were glossed over a little bit. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. 4/5

This is a novella set Scotland's distant past featuring warring tribes. When the daughter of one tribe is taken by another tribe, she is made a ward of the chief and raised as one of that tribe. The tale is a fantasy and a love story. It is about struggling with allegiances when the people you love are at war. I enjoyed it, but often struggled with the language and the names, making it only so-so for me. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 3.5/4

This is a debut novel and while I thought it veered a little into 'soap opera' territory at times, I enjoyed it. The book is a love story, much of it told from an interesting POV. The characters were well developed, particularly the kids and the mother-in-law. While Tom's ongoing lies were often frustrating, the author usually managed to set up plausible reasons or situations for his failure to come clean, making him a tad less annoying. 3.75/5

I loved this one. The author has wonderfully captured both the heartwarming and heartbreaking moments of lives well lived. The writing is comfortable and envelops you like a cozy blanket, drawing you into the story making both time pass unnoticed and the book hard to put down. The combination of both beautiful prose and an easy to read, compelling story makes this a wonderful debut novel, and I look forward to more by this author. 5/5 stars!

In this book the author explains how the various big tech companies (Meta, Amazon, Uber, Apple, Google etc.) have decreased the customer experience in favor of profits. For example, he explains how Google searches are worse than they used to be to provide more ad views (& revenue) as you try the search again. While this is a frustrating and anger inducing book, it is also fascinating and easy to read. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 4.5/5 stars

I really liked this one, particularly the main character of Emmy (a police officer) and look forward to more in the series. I did think the story moved a little slow at times (not unusual for the 1st in a series), but it then built up to a thrilling and unexpected conclusion. Note that this is a dark police procedural that deals with pedophilia and horrific crimes against teen girls, so it is not for everyone. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. 4/5

Capri runs a tour company and when one of her clients sees a woman attacked in a window and the police find nothing, Capri feels the need to investigate. This is the 2nd book in a series, and I think it is even better than the 1st one. It is a cozy mystery, with a touch of romance. Set in San Francisco, with all sorts of tidbits about the city and its history, it is not only entertaining but also educational. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. 4/5

This semi-autographical book is little weird and a tad confusing and yet a wonderfully touching story about a woman who opens a bookshop. Her fear of being touched is so strong that she passes out when it happens and yet she longs for love. It is about romance, a look at a relationship between sisters and conquering fears. I was ultimately charmed by the story and think it would make a great book club choice. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 4/5

This historical fiction deals with the power of books, the limited rights women had in the 1800's and the very real practice of the men in their lives (fathers, husbands, brothers) committing them to insane asylums when they were tired or displeased with them. It is a powerful story inspired by real historical events and while it is a frustrating and sometimes dark tale, I really enjoyed it. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the digital ARC. 4.25/5

The subject matter of this book is dark and troubling, making it a difficult read at times. I had read about Ireland‘s Magdalen Laundries, but had no idea this cruel treatment of girls was going on in North America as well, but then this is why I enjoy historical fiction. The book is a powerful, well researched story and while I found it was sometimes a bit wordy, it was a worthy read and one I will remember. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 4/5

This is one of those stories that you will never forget. It felt a little like the author channeled Fredrik Backman‘s story telling skills about people, mimicked Matt Haig‘s skill at injecting the fantastical and then used Mitch Album‘s way of including religion without preaching. It had humour, tragedy, some religious musings, all while telling a wonderful story about people, family and love. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC. 4.75/5

This was a decently entertaining thriller, marred only slightly by an overly complicated plot and a few plot points that strained credibility. It is told in 2 time periods, present day by the main character Claire and through the readings of a diary written years ago by another young woman named Marcia. There were some unexpected plot twists that I enjoyed, and the isolated setting was suitably foreboding. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 3.75/5

This is the 61st novel in the 'In Death' series. I have read them all and still find them to be both great police procedurals and very entertaining. This one revolves around the art world and does a great job of illustrating the work and research that goes into catching a killer. If you like mysteries with strong female characters, I highly recommend this series but start with #1 “Naked in Death“. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 4.25/5 stars

This is a legal thriller inspired by a case the author (a lawyer) was involved with. I have marked this as a pick as I think this series holds promise, but there were a few irritants. First the plot was predictable with no surprises. Also, I found the ending to be overly saccharine with too much about praising the main character. That said, most of it was enjoyable and I would be happy to read the next one. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 3.25/5

I thought this was a clever and tightly plotted thriller with some great twists. It also felt fresh, as the plot was very original. While there were many great characters, keeping track of who was who was easy. There was some violence of course, but also some humour, a touch of romance and a cat that played a role as well. The forced revealing of secrets as a means of providing a 2nd timeline also worked. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. 4.25/5

This is a clever, easy to follow, well researched, historical fiction with both thriller and romance aspects. It is set in 18th century England and told from 2 POVs. I enjoyed that the writing enabled me to feel empathy for both the main characters. There were good twists, lots of wonderful period detail, and the author has included some real people as characters, so it was educational as well. I loved it. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 5/5

This is an absolutely delightful mystery perfect for the fans of “The Thursday Murder Club“. I actually thought this one was better. Set in southern California the author has created a wonderful cast of characters of various ages and backgrounds. While there is a murder or two and the mystery is very good, the charm is really the characters, which I hope to see in more books. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC. 4.5/5 stars

This is about secrets, sisters, aging, forgiveness and love. I enjoyed all the characters, even the troubled ones. The damage even well-meaning parents can cause, the misunderstandings, and the need for forgiveness are explored, as is the cost of carrying guilt. The novel also documented the heartbreak in caring for a parent with Alzheimer's. I also loved the bits of bird trivia that related to the story. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 4.5/5

When Hazel says no to her principal's advances and tells her parents, the family's lives change. The story details how the 4 of them deal with the repercussions (both good & bad) over the course of the school year. I enjoyed some of the book but did feel there were some parts that dragged and think that trying to tell all 4 members stories prevented me from connecting to the characters as well as I wanted. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 3.25/5

This is an historical fiction novel set in 1905 in the new province of Alberta. It features a young Scottish bride who has escaped her brutish groom and against the odds and the opinion of many people, has chosen to homestead in a rural area. The challenges of the work, the attitudes common to the time, and a bit of romance make for a compelling story. As with the best novels of this genre, it was educational as well as a great read. 4.5/5 stars

This is the 3rd book in Gasper's Cove Mysteries series. These are light, fun, cozy mysteries that feature a craft store owner (Valerie) and are set in rural Nova Scotia. In this one Valerie is the campaign manager for her friend who is running for mayor and when the current mayor is killed, Valerie investigates. These are short books, and I treat them as a kind of an enjoyable palate cleanser between darker or more serious reads. 3.75/5 stars

This is the true story about a woman in Paris who risked her life during WWII to try and save what art and cultural treasures she could from being stolen by the Nazis. She went about her job at the Jeu de Paume Museum, trying to not draw attention to herself, as she secretly had contacts with the French Resistance and documented what she saw. Probably more suited to the art lover as it is very detailed, it is yet a fascinating read. 3.75/5 stars

One of the first scenes has the main character getting stuck in a bathing suit in a changing room. Having experienced the same thing with a sports bra, I laughed out loud and was hooked. This is a light slightly autobiographical rom-com and features a successful, newly divorced woman who doesn't fit society's body size standards. I really enjoyed the humour, the romance and the strong female characters. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 4/5 stars

This is the 2nd book in the Gasper's Cove Mysteries series. It is a cozy mystery set in rural Nova Scotia and features a woman who runs a craft store. The series lovingly captures the charm of the area as it tells light but entertaining stories. This one features Churchill's WWII Operation Fish, so I learned something new and had the main character trying to solve a murder to free a friend who has been arrested. It was a fun read. 3.75/5 stars

This book started slowly, with many references to literary works I had not read, and I thought about giving the it a pass. I am glad I didn't, as by midway I was hooked. The main character's desperation to fit in and the desire for 'standing' left him vulnerable and watching him fall prey was frustrating yet riveting. The ending was a surprise and while a little far fetched, wrapped up the story nicely. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 3.5/5

This is historical fiction with elements of magical realism. I really enjoyed the historical story set in Shanghai during the war with Japan, WWII and then the escape of people to Taiwan after WWII. I also liked the present-day timeline, and the coming-of-age story complete with some very chaste romance. I would have, however, preferred a more realistic spying method instead of the magical realism. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 3.5/5 stars

This is a somewhat complicated mystery, with a supernatural element and puzzles to solve. I enjoyed the characters and the story, and I always love puzzles, but I did think the “choose your own adventure' component was unnecessary. I also do not like interrupting the flow of a book to solve a puzzle, but you can download a printable PDF of the puzzles and solve them ahead of time, which worked for me. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 3.75/5 stars

This is the 7th book in the 'DI Adam Fawley' series, and the case is this book is a follow up to the case in the first book “Close to Home“, so I would recommend it be read first. Also, any real description of the plot would be a spoiler for the first book. I enjoyed this one but be warned that there are a lot of different police working this case and keeping track of who was talking was sometimes difficult. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 4/5

This is the third book in the 'Susan Ryland“ mystery series and although I think it is better for having read the first two, it can be read as a stand alone. The series features a Susan, a book editor, and there is a book set in 1955 that she is editing within the book...effectively giving us two mysteries. I really enjoyed it and think it was my favorite. Note that there are a lot of characters to track. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 4.5/5

At times this book felt a little heavy on the science for a pleasure read, overall, it was a fascinating look at the weirdness of the human brain. The author takes us through some of her cases, emphasizing that, when making a diagnosis, the need to pay attention to the story the body tells us. My favorite were the patients who did not know they were blind, their brains confabulating what they expected to see. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 4/5

This rather sad and complex story featured both adult and older teenager characters. It explored the themes of racism, harassment, marriage, infidelity, parenting (including special needs children), coming out as gay and coming of age. I certainly enjoyed it, but it did feel like I was getting a short glimpse into the lives of these interesting characters and was left wanting a bit more. Maybe a sequel? Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 4/5

This book is set in 1954 and is a nod to a few of Agatha Christie books. It is a story about revenge and features a locked room mystery set on a train, with a strong female character. I admit that the plot is a bit convoluted, and with both numerous characters and lots of predictable twists and turns it felt a little like a farce. Despite that, I still found it entertaining and enjoyed the story. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC. 3.75/5

This is the 11th book in this series, and I recommend they be read in order. Evan is “The Nowhere Man“ and is an 'Equalizer“ type character and the books generally revolve around someone who is in trouble and calls in Evan for help. In this one he must find a gang of rapists & porn producers but has promised the victim he will not kill them, forcing him to think about mercy and his own morals. Thank you to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. I loved it. 5/5

I will probably not remember this book in the years to come, but it provided me with a few hours of fun entertainment and sometimes that is enough to ask of a book. I found myself riveted as I anticipated the satisfaction of justice being served upon the villain. While there are a lot of characters and keeping track of a few of them was not easy, it did not detract from my enjoyment. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC. 3.75/4 stars!

This book is an homage to Agatha Christie and is best suited for fans of her work. The mystery is set in present day, but there are numerous references to Christie's work and life. Once I realized I was never going to like Agatha (the main character), I was able to find respect for her and her determination to find out who murdered her ex. So, while this convoluted tale is not for everyone, I did enjoy it. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 3.25/5

This book is a cozy mystery set in Nova Scotia, that also features a craft store. Since I love mysteries, Nova Scotia and I dragged my son in so many craft stores when he was young, he called them 'crap stores', I had to give it a read. It is both short and light, but also a fun, easy read. There was humour, murder, a hint of romance and an ending that I did not see coming. While this is not great literature, I found it entertaining. 3.5/5 stars

I have always enjoyed this author, and this novel was no exception. The book is set in Australia and the USA. It features a story within a story, and I found this part to be particularly riveting. While the plot was somewhat predictable, I thought it was a lovely, easy and entertaining read. The themes include domestic abuse and control and its long-lasting effects, as well as family, love and loss. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. 4.25/5 stars

This is the first book in what is to be a new series (Nora Breen Investigates) featuring a former nun and it is set in 1954 England. It felt a little deeper than a cozy mystery but still had that comfortable and easy feel and I really enjoyed it. It is character driven and the author certainly created a cast of interesting ones. I also loved the relationship between Nora, (the nun) and Rideout (the cop). I look forward to more. 4.25/5