Category: book review

November 8, 2014

The Woman who Stole my Life by Marian Keyes #review

It is finally here! The new novel, The Woman who Stole my Life, by incredible author Marian Keyes hit stores November 6th, 2014!

About The Woman Who Stole My Life

Stella Sweeney is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life with her husband Ryan and their two teenage children in Dublin. She works with (or really for) her ambitious sister, Karen, in a beauty salon. None of this makes her unhappy but none of it really makes her happy. But then things start to change.

One day, Stella, attempting to do a good deed causes a car accident and faces down a bad tempered, handsome stranger. She hardly thinks twice on this incident. But karma is hovering over her and ready to change Stella’s life forever. She becomes ill and the stranger she hit enters into her life again. Stella’s world is thrown upside down – for better or worse, Stella has a new life. A thrilling, glamorous life – a life that others may covet.

My Thoughts

I fell in love with this novel within the first two chapters. Marian Keyes has the most fantastic writing style where each sentence feels like a conversation with the character – as if you are right there beside her experiencing each and every moment. Marian’s characters become a best friend – one that you can find yourself laughing with as well as crying with as you relate to the personal experiences that Stella is going through.

The story is told in the beginning in glimpses of present and past giving a very unique perspective into Stella’s life and how her mind works. Stella is just an ordinary mother and wife. She wants her children to exceed and puts the needs of her family before her own. She loves her snacks, her humour and the comfort of it all. She just does not realize how much happier she could be. When she realizes this and acts on her decision (an extremely brave act!) her whole world changes – the once selfless mother realizes in order to be happy she needs to follow her own heart. Without giving too much away, it is her own act of moving away from the wife role to follow her own dreams that we see the title of the book come in to play.

I loved this novel from start to finish. It was a novel that I lost myself in (literally – I did not put it down until 3am and I was suffering for it the next day at work!). At so many times I felt like I could relate to Stella and wanted to reach out and hug her (maybe have that glass of wine or two with her!).

Marian Keyes went above and beyond in her new novel, The Woman who Stole my Life, is one of her best pieces of work that you will fall in love and will want to read over and over again.

Rating: 5/5

If you are not following yet, make sure to check Penguin Canada on Twitter as well as Marian Keyes!!

Disclosure: I received an advanced copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 30, 2014

A Lady at Willowgrove Hall by Sarah Ladd

Secrets and love swirl in the story of A Lady at Willowgrove Hall.Will the two main characters be able to forgive their past in order to live in the present and build for the future?

About A Lady at Willowgrove Hall

Cecily Faire carries the shame of her past wherever she treads, knowing one slip of the tongue could take away everything that is dear to her. But soon after accepting the position of lady’s companion at Willowgrove Hall, Cecily finds herself face to face with a man well acquainted with the past that she has desperately tried to hide for years.

Nathaniel Stanton has his own secrets – one that has haunted him from birth and tied him to his father’s position as steward of Willowgrove. To protect his family, Nathaniel dares not breath a word of the truth. But as long as the shadow looms over him, he will never be free to find his own way in the world. He will never be free to fall in love.

When the secrets swirling within Willowgrove Hall come to light, Cecily and Nathaniel must confront a painful choice: Will they continue to run from the past or will they stand together and build a future without the suffocating weights of the secrets that they have long suffered for.

My Thoughts

A lovely romantic story full of love, trust, broken promises, suffering and family. Both Cecily and Nathaniel carry such great burdens that they struggle with on a daily basis. Both find it hard to forgive themselves and to live in the current moment. Each one always allows the past to haunt them and guide their every moment.

The novel helps to teach us that sometimes we need to let go of our past, embrace it for what it was and remember it is the past and only we can shape our future. Both characters suffer under the weight of guilt and if they only learned to let it go they would be happy in their own lives and possibly in love with each other. I can’t even imagine the stress that the guilt they carry could weigh on their shoulders! Although I find it hard to let go of my own!

A lovely story from start to finish that I am already re-reading! You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour page.

Rating: 4.5/5

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 28, 2014

Only Enchanting by Mary Balogh #review

Love and romance in the most unusual places. Will their love be able to make it despite their own fears, mistrust and pain?

About the Book

The Survivors’ Club: Six men and one woman who were all wounded in the Napoleonic Wars. Their friendship was forged during their recovery at Penderris Hall in Cornwall. In the fourth novel of the Survivors’ Club Series, Flavian, Viscount Ponsonby, has left this refuge to find his own salvation – in the love of the most unsuspecting woman.

Flavian was devastated by his fiancee’s desertion after his return home. Now the woman who broke his heart is back and everyone is eager for them to revive their engagement. Except for Flavian. In a panic he runs straight into the arms of a most sensible yet enchanting young woman.

Agnes Keeping has never been truly in love and never wishes to be. Her whole world changes when she meets the charismatic Flavian and suddenly Agnes falls so foolishly and deeply that she agrees to his marriage proposal!

Things were not all as Agnes expected and she is ready to flee. But will Flavian be able to prove his love?

My Thoughts

I fell in love with Only Enchanting – literally could not put this novel down and read right through the night (which thankfully was a Friday night!). I love the time period this novel is set in (as I am sure you have noticed by now!). Agnes is your typical, average but lovely young lady. She has faced her husband’s passing and is content in life. She does not want the unexpected – she wants comfort. I feel so many of us can relate to this – it is hard to make that leap of faith! We all want comfort but sometimes we need to trust and reach further than we ever have before to find true happiness.

Flavian is a man you will fall in love with. He is hard but his hardness finds its fault in the terrible things that have happened to him. He has been hurt beyond what he feels he can handle and his heart still bleeds. He is lost and angry. He needs that person to make him trust and whole again. He hopes to find that person Agnes.

Only Enchanting keeps you hanging on for more. Their personalities constantly put them at odds with each other. Will they strengthen their relationship or will they break it? Mary Balogh also throws in some great character twists in the other characters of the book to keep it interesting.

A fantastic story from start to finish that you will not regret picking up! You can find the novel on Mary’s website.

Rating: 5/5

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 28, 2014

Becoming Bea by Leslie Gould #review

Will a childhood rivalry slowly turn to romance? Or will our two main characters fracture their relationship beyond repair?

About Becoming Bea

Beatrice Zook knows God wants her to learn patience towards others. When assisting a family overwhelmed by triplets is quite successful for her, her confidence in dealing with others grows.

One person that she will never be able to find peace with is Ben Rupp. They have known each other forever and Ben understands precisely how to crawl under her skin. What neither she nor Ben will admit is that beneath all their bickering, attraction awaits. When friends decide to try and bring the couple together, will the pair be able to find true love? Or will they damage their relationship beyond repair?

My Thoughts

A simple story of young love that grows and matures in to so much more. Both so unsure of their own feelings, they both need to come to accept their feelings and figure out how to act on them. Bea is a beautiful young woman who is learning much about herself in this novel (which I loved!) and her place in the world. She grows from an unsure young girl into a much more confident young lady more sure of what she wants in life.

It was beautiful to be able to witness Bea’s growth and her acceptance of her feelings for Ben. I love the way Leslie writes – you feel as if you are a part of Bea’s life. You feel her every pain and joy. Most of her moments you can directly relate to your own.

To find more reviews of Becoming Bea, check out the Litfuse Blog tour here.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Leslie Gould is the co-author with Mindy Starns Clark of the #1 CBA best seller The Amish Midwife, a 2012 Christy Award winner; ECPA best seller Courting Cate, first in the Courtships of Lancaster County series; and Beyond the Blue, winner of the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice for Best Inspirational Novel, 2006. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Portland State University and has taught fiction writing at Multnomah University as an adjunct professor.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 23, 2014

Too Loved to be Lost by Debora M. Coty #review

Too Loved to be Lost is full of simple steps we can all take each day to refresh and heal our mind, body and faith.

About Too Loved to be Lost

In Too Loved to be Lost you will find simple, practical steps for the healing and refreshment of the spirit, body and faith. Whether you are struggling with issues related to trust, depression, patience, relationships or hurts this humour full volume will deliver a much needed smile and equip you with simple to implement tips for attaining the guidance you crave – the kind that can only be found in the unconditional love of Papa God.

My Thoughts

I love the way Debora Coty writes. This was a conversation with Debora guiding you and encouraging you through the difficult moments versus telling you what to do. Her humour is infectious and I found myself laughing out loud at parts (which the hubby did not appreciate as I kept waking him up at night!). She shares her personal stories which I think many of us can relate to (I know I sure did!). While the book provides steps for healing you do not need to be in a painful place to appreciate this book.

You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour here. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

About the Author

Debora M. Coty is a popular speaker, columnist, lifelong Bible student, internationally published freelance writer, and award-winning author of numerous books, including Too Blessed to Be Stressed, and More Beauty, Less Beast. She’s also an orthopedic occupational therapist, writing instructor, and tennis addict. Mother of two grown children, Debora lives and loves in central Florida with her husband, Chuck, and desperately wicked pooch, Fenway.

Rating: 4.5/5

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.