Historical Romance at its Finest

Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati

I read this years ago and remembered really liking it.  Since I've been wanting to read the rest of the series (there are 6 books in total), I thought it was time for a reread.  And I LOVED it.  It hit all my book buttons and now i'm itching to start book two.  This book gets a lot of comparison to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander (Gabaldon herself wrote the blurb on the cover of Into the Wilderness!) and I think that is fair to a degree.  Both feature strong willed female characters, interesting (and somewhat similar) time frames and places, adventure, romance, and lots of drama.  A few of Gabaldon's characters even make cameo appearances!  Despite all this, they are very different novels and both highly enjoyable reads.  If you are a Gabaldon fan, or enjoy historical fiction, check this out!

When Elizabeth Middleton, twenty-nine years old and unmarried, leaves her Aunt Merriweather's comfortable English estate to join her father and brother in the remote mountain village of Paradise on the edge of the New York wilderness, she does so with a strong will and an unwavering purpose: to teach school.

It is December 1792 when she arrives in a cold climate unlike any she has ever experienced.  And she meets a man different from any she has ever encountered - a white man dressed like a Native American, tall an clean and unsettling in his blunt honesty.  He is Nathaniel Bonner, also know to the Mohawk people as Between-Two-Lives.

Determined to provide schooling for all the children of the village - white, black, and Native American - Elizabeth soon finds herself at odds with local slave owners.  Much to her surprise, she clashes with her own father as well.  Financially strapped, Judge Middleton has plans for his daughter - betrothal to local doctor Richard Todd.  An alliance with Todd could extract her father from ruin but would call into question the ownership of Hidden Wolf, the mountain where Nathaniel, his father, and a small group of Native Americans live and hunt.

As Judge Middleton brings pressure to bear against his daughter, she is faced with a choice between compliance and deception, a flight into the forest, and a desire that will bend her hard will to compromise and transformation.  Elizabeth's ultimate destiny, here in the heart of the wilderness, lies in the odyssey to come: trails of faith and flesh, and Nathaniel's own secrets and divided soul.

1. Into the Wilderness

2. Dawn on a Distant Shore

3. Lake in the Clouds

4. Fire Along the Sky

5. Queen of Swords

6. The Endless Forest

Books I'm Looking Forward to - January 2016

New books are published every month so every month I have something to look forward to!  Here are a few titles I'm excited to read that are hitting the shelves in January 2016:

To Helvetica and Back by Paige Shelton
I do love a cozy mystery with a pun-tastic title.  Plus it's book related and features a cat on the cover.  Sold.

Star City is know for its slopes and its powder.  But nestled in the valley of this ski resort town is a side street full of shops that specialize in the simple charms of earlier eras.  One of those shops is the Rescued Word, where Chester Henry and his adult granddaughter Clare lovingly repair old typewriters and restore old books.  Who ever thought their quaint store would hold the key to some modern-day trouble?

When a stranger to town demands they turn over an antique Underwood typewriter they're repairing for a customer, Clare fears she may need to be rescued.  A call to the police scares the man off, but later Clare finds his dead body in the back alley.  What about a dusty typewriter could possibly be worth killing for?


Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
I'm been hearing a ton of buzz about this YA novel and, as always, am interested to see if it lives up to the hype.  The fact that Parnassus Books has named it as their January pick for Parnassus Next, a  YA first editions club, definitely feeds the fire.  Plus I'm usually a sucker for novels involving time travel so there's that.

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves.  Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home.  And she's inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she's never heard of.  Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods - a powerful family in the colonies - and the servitude he's known at their hands.  But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can't escape and the family that won't let him go so easily.  Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas' passenger, can find.  In order to protect her, her must ensure she brings it back to them - whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and contents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwood's grasp.  But as they get closer to the truth of their search, the early game the Ironwood's are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home...forever. 

What January releases are you looking forward to?

A New Year, New Goals

The start of the new year is always exciting for readers because there is so much possibility ahead of you.  Debut novels, series continuing or concluding, finally getting to that book you've been meaning to read forever...the world is your oyster.

The beginning of every new year starts, for me, with setting my Goodreads Reading Challenge.  This year I've set my goal to read 130 books in 2016.  My 2015 goal was 120 books which I more than succeed, reading 151 books last year.  But besides setting a numerical goal, I ask myself, what other reading goals would I like to accomplish this year?

I would like to read more non-fiction.  I said this last year and while it happened to an extent, my plan of reading one non-fiction title per month just didn't happen.  So, instead of beating myself up about it, I think this year I need to be more realistic.  Just try to read more non-fiction.  What does that mean exactly? .... I think i'll have to figure that out as the year progresses.

Last year I started reading multiple books at the same time and I found that it really worked well for me.  In my line of work, I not only need to be reading lots in all different genres, I enjoy it!  Here is my usual book lineup:

The Breakfast Book - I read this every morning over tea and toast, for any where from 30-45 mins.  I often pick YA novels since they are usually fast paced and easy to jump right into.  Last year, I read a number of Star Wars novels in this time slot which was a fun way to start the day.

The Bath Book - If I'm reading in the tub it needs to be light (both physically and mentally) and fun.  Cozy mysteries and Nora Roberts often fill this niche quite nicely.

The Bus Book / Audiobook - I skytrain to and from work every day, plus I have 30 mins for lunch.  I keep a book in my bag that I only read during these time slots.  It is something physically and mentally light and easy to read in small frames of time.  Mysteries and 9-12 novels I have found  are perfect.  I also always have an audiobook on the go which I often listen to on the train.

The 'Real' Read - The latest literary prize winner, the book that everyone is talking about, an ARC that is getting published next month, the newest novel by a favourite author...the list goes on and on.  I usually read this book in the evening when I get home from work and often right before bed.

My system worked for me last year so hopefully it will continue to do so in 2016!

What are your reading goals for 2016?

The Never Ending To-Be-Read-Pile

I always have books on my to-be-read (TBR) pile.  Some sit there for months at a time.  Some get read pretty much moments after they are added.  Some get taken off the pile, re-shelved in my library, and then eventually make there way back to the pile.  But the tricky thing is, though I'm constantly reading books and eliminating them from the pile, the pile never diminishes.  There are always more books to read. I will never catch up.  And honestly, I love that about reading. I love that I will never run out of books and that I will always have new stories to read, new characters to love, and new worlds to visit.

Here is my current TBR pile. As you can see, it has a nice mix of fiction, non-fiction, and YA novels on it. I'm very excited to read all of them.

What's on your TBR pile?

What's New in my Bookish World

Wow, it has been a busy couple of months but I'm back!

So, what's new in my bookish world?

I've almost reached my goal of having read 120 books this year in the 2015 Goodreads Reading Challenge which is pretty exciting.

I'm also at that point of the year where I'm attempting to compile my Top 5 Book of 2015.  There are actually a number of contenders this year so even I will be interested to see who makes the cut!

I've discovered Podcasts and, naturally, I find myself gravitating towards the more literary themed ones.  My favourite discovery so far?  Witch, Please.  If you think you would enjoy listening to two sassy literary lady scholars talking all things Harry Potter then do yourself a favour and check this out.  It's very funny and very smart and it's my new favourite thing to listen to while commuting to work each day.

I just found out about the upcoming Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon which intrigues and terrifies me.  Have any of you ever done a 24 hour Readathon?  Or really any kind of 24 hour marathon? What did you think?  Worth doing?

Well that's all to report right now!  Happy Tuesday!

"If there was a bright centre to the universe, I was on the planet it was farthest from. Please pass the blue milk, Aunt Beru"

Oh Ernest Cline, you do write highly entertaining books.  One of my favourite things about his novels is that not only do you have the delight of recognizing pop cultures references on every page, but they alway work within the story; they aren't just filler.  My other favourite thing about both Ready Player One and Armada is that they both have such heart to them.  Ready Player One had one of the sweetest love stories I've read in years.  Armada was all about family.  I had some major tender moments reading some of the scenes that were devoted to family togetherness.

So, Armada.  When I first read the book flap, I immediately though, oh, this sounds a lot like Enders Game.  And while, yes, there are shadows of that novel, there are homages to lots of amazing sci-fi books and movies which I really enjoyed.  My only complaints were that while, yes, I realized early that there were going to be a lot of battle sequences, I did grow a little tired of reading them over and over again.  I also was somewhat disappointed by the ending.  I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting to happen but it all felt a bit...rushed perhaps?

All in all, I had a good time reading this.  It's the kind of book you wish you had a friend sitting next to you reading the same parts at the same time as you just so you could share a knowing look when you came to an awesome Star wars reference and have a moment. 

Reading Roundup

As per usual, I've been reading up a storm lately.  Here are some of my recent reads.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
I loved her last book, Vicious, so I was pretty excited to read this one.  A very strong fantasy novel featuring the amazing Delilah Bard who really stole the show for me.  She rushed onto the scene brandishing pistols and knives and generally caused havoc in her wake.  Can't wait for book 2!

The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows
This is historical fiction at its best!  Chock full of memorable characters and a wonderful story laced with mystery, romance, and southern charm.  Willa Romeyn reminded me of two of my favourite young heroines, Bean Holladay (The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls) and Scout Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee).  Highly recommended.

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley
Beautiful writing and a captivating and heartwarming story.  I laughed, teared up, and generally had a marvellous time reading this.  Also featuring stunning illustrations.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
My first Christie and it will certainly not be my last!  The original queen of the plot twist, she managed to throw reasonable suspicion on everyone and still shock you with the outcome!  I look forward to many more adventures with Hercule Poirot.

Big Book of the Day: Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

It's here!

Evening plans include tea (in my snazzy new To Kill a Mockingbird mug), chocolate, and the new Harper Lee, Go Set a Watchman (bonus points if you noticed I'm sporting Star Wars pj pants).  This book has been getting such mixed reviews that I'm intrigued to see for myself if it is worth all the hype.

I'm only a chapter in and I gotta say...so far so good.


UPDATE 07/18/15

Ok, after 4 days of reading, I have finished Go Set a Watchman.  And I really enjoyed it.  I found the writing to be good and the story engaging.  I really enjoyed seeing a grown up Scout trying to find her place in the world, as well as the flashbacks to her childhood.

This is a novel about the loss of innocence, that realization that sometimes we cannot fully return home because, while it remains the same, we have changed.  It is learning that tough lesson that comes with adulthood that our parent figures aren't always perfect and that as we grow we need to decide what we take from them and what we reject.  It is about becoming our own person.

This is a book that I think everyone is going to have their own opinions on.  I think it is definitely worth reading and finding out for yourself what you think about it.

Getting Cozy with Cozies

Over the last several years, I have developed an extreme love for the cozy mystery.  It's my ultimate guilty pleasure read.

Now, you might be asking yourself, what on earth is a cozy mystery?

Here's what Wikipedia has to say on the subject:

"Cozy mysteries, also referred to simply as "cozies", are a subgenre of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community."

Here are some elements you may encounter in a cozy mystery:

- A small town girl who has tried her luck in the big city and is now back in her hometown
- Professions such as librarian, cafe owner, peach farmer, dog walker, and retiree are common
- Did I mention that pets often play a role in the story?  Cats and dogs are the most popular and, sometimes, they are somewhat magical
- There is some sort of murder that needs to be solved and your heroine will probably get the whole town involved in solving it
- You will probably want to read these with a cup of tea, cookie, and a fuzzy throw for an ultimate reading experience

Cozies are the ultimate comfort reads.  They are light, fun, and often include recipes at the end.  I often wish that I was living the life of some of the heroines I encounter in the pages of certain cozies (Why yes, I would like to work at a magical pie shop.  Want to live in a beautiful picturesque small town?  Don't mind if I do.)  Do you remember the wonderful television show, Gilmore Girls?  Well imagine if the occasional suspicious death happened in Stars Hollow.  That right there is a cozy mystery.

Here are some series I would recommend if you are wanting to try your hand at the genre, or if you are already a cozy fan looking for that next great read.

Georgia Peach Mysteries by Susan Furlong (Book 1: Peaches & Scream)
Takes place in Cays Mill, Georgia, with Nola Harper returning home to help out on her families peach farm.  Things take an ugly turn when a body is discovered in the orchard with her brother-in-law as the prime suspect.

Book Retreat Mysteries by Ellery Adams (Book 1: Murder in the Mystery Suite)
Who wouldn't want to visit Storyton Hall, a resort in western Virginia that caters to book lovers?  However, things go wrong during a Murder Mystery event when the murder of one of the guests becomes the biggest mystery of all.

The Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries by Ellery Adams (Book 1: Pies & Prejudice)
When the going gets tough, Ella Mae LaFaye bakes pies.  And she's putting a magic touch little in her baked goods, literally.  In the small town of Havenwood, Georgia, magic and mischief are always on the menu.

Consignment Shop Mysteries by Duffy Brown (Book 1: Iced Chiffon)
Imagine Stephanie Plum, from Janet Evanovich's series, solving mysteries down south and you have Duffy Brown's novels.  Reagan Summerside runs a consignment shop called The Prissy Fox where the gossip always runs hot and murder often shows up uninvited.

Magical Cats Mysteries by Sofie Kelly (Book 1: Curiosity Thrilled the Cat)
Librarian Kathleen Paulson relocates to Mayville Heights, Minnesota where she discovers that not only does she have a talent for shelving books, but also solving murders.  Her two cats, Owen and Hercules, often get involved in the capers, and are, most importantly, MAGIC CATS.

Her Royal Spyness Mysteries by Rhys Bowen (Book 1: Her Royal Spyness)
If you want a historical cozy, then look no further.  Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie is 34th in line for the throne of England and is flat broke.  She gets into numerous hijinks trying to earn some cash, meets a dashing rogue, and helps solves a few murders along the way.

Do you read cozy mysteries?  And, if so, what series do you like?

Talking Books Outside the Bookstore

I've had some very cool book related opportunities with my job over the last couple of years.  I LOVE talking books not only at the bookstore but all over the place!

My co-worker and I are on The Simi Sara Show on CKNW about once a month. Simi is a huge reader and we always have such a good time talking books with her!

I was a bookseller at the TED Convention in Vancouver and it was such an amazing experience.  Can you tell we had fun?

Plus, look who we met! Neil Gaiman!!

I was a guest on CBC's B.C. Almanac.  I talked summer reading with Margaret Gallagher and the call in segment allowed me to hear what people across the province were digging into this summer.  If you are interested in hearing the full interview, the podcast is available here (interview is at around the 30 min mark).  Plus, please enjoy this photo CBC took of me posing with some books.

I also had the opportunity to talk summer reading on Global TV's Morning Show.  Steve Darling and Sophie Lui were lovely and it was fun talking about great reads for all ages!  For the full video interview, click here.

Any time I get the chance to talk books with people, it's definitely a good thing!

Reading Roundup

What have I been reading lately?  Glad you asked!

Return to Augie Hobble by Lane Smith

Funny, touching, and as expected, wonderfully illustrated! Lane Smith hits it out of the park with his debut novel.  If you liked Wonder by R.J. Palacio then give this a read!

Pennyroyal Academy by M.A Larson

A fun 9-12 read set in the Grimm's Fairy Tale world.  Pennyroyal Princesses don't need saving, they save themselves!  Reese Witherspoon is apparently in talks to adapt this into a film.

Ms. Marvel Volume 1 by G. Willow Wilson, illustrated by Adrian Alphona 

I normally don't read superhero comics but I had heard such good things about this one and it delivered.  Well written, fun, and important.

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

While I enjoyed parts of this, I found as a whole it fell a bit flat for me.  It took about 200 pages for me to really get involved in the story and then I found myself still waiting for...something... by the time I finished the last page.  

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

I really liked the writing style of this one.  Some of the lines were so beautiful I had to stop a few times just to take in what I was reading.  While I preferred Noah's narration, I loved that I got to hear Jude's voice as well.  Just lovely.

*Many thanks to Simon & Schuster for the reading copy of Luckiest Girl Alive, and to RAI for the ARC of Return to Augie Hobble!