Tag: fiction

Posted in Bookish Babble

Book Review: Silence for the Dead

Posted on by Mama

Title: Silence for the Dead


Author: Simone St. James


Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Horror, Paranormal, Fiction


Number of Pages: 363


My Rating: 💋💋💋💋💋


Book Summary:

In 1919, Kitty Weekes, pretty, resourceful, and on the run, falsifies her background to obtain a nursing position at Portis House, a remote, once magnificent estate turned hospital for soldiers left shell-shocked by the horrors of the Great War. Hiding the shame of their mental instability, the patients suffer from nervous attacks and tormenting dreams. But something more is going on at Portis House – its plaster is crumbling, its plumbing makes eerie noises, and strange breaths of cold air waft through the empty rooms. And why do the patients share the same nightmare, one so horrific that they dare not speak of it?

Kitty finds a dangerous ally in Jack Yates, an inmate who might be a war hero, a madman…or maybe both. But even as Kitty and Jack create a secret, intimate alliance to uncover the truth, disturbing revelations suggest the presence of powerful spectral forces. And when a medical catastrophe leaves them even more isolated, they must battle the menace on their own, caught in the heart of a mystery that could destroy them both.


My Thoughts:

I’m a sucker for books based on early medical practices, hospitals and mental asylums so this one immediately caught my eye on bookoutlet.ca. I was worried it was going to be an extremely slow burn, but the pace was steady. Though if you aren’t into a little romance mixed into your haunting, I’d skip this one. It may not be for you.

An old, decaying mansion converted into a medical facility, known as Portis House, for soldiers suffering from shell-shock and other mental maladies from the war. The perfect atmosphere to set a spooky ghost story. However, this story is filled with not only a mystery and haunting, but a story of self-discovery, friendship and a little bit of romance.

You quickly learn that Kitty is running from her past, falsifying her resume as a nurse to acquire a job at Portis House. However, the head nurse and her boss, quickly calls her out on her deception but keeps her due to the sheer fact the facility is understaffed and desperate for nurses. She basically has to learn hands on and quickly.

Kitty discovers immediately that this isn’t the easiest line of work and she is tested both physically and mentally on a daily basis. But her will is strong and her personality stubborn, she does gain some allies in other staff members and even some of the patients. Her main ally being Jack Yates, or patient 16, his identity being kept secret from the other patients until Kitty decides she just needs to know. Discovering the war hero and becoming enamored with one another as they begin to unfold the evil that is plaguing the patients and the mystery of Portis House.

The growth of the characters, especially Kitty, was nicely done and the stead unraveling of the mystery that surrounds Portis House was intriguing. I loved the subtle twists and turns, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place nicely. And I personally liked that Kitty and Jack got a bit of a happy ending.

All in all I give this book five Baci due to the historical setting, the gothic mystery and who doesn’t like a ghost story set in an old, decaying mansion turned medical facility. Wonderful story-line and cast of characters, would definitely recommend and one I’ll be keeping on my shelf. I’ll definitely be reading more from author Simone St. James!

I’m currently reading Ghost Camera by Darcy Coates.

Hope you enjoyed and keep an eye out for the next review!

Ciao!

Posted in Bookish Babble

Book Review: The Haunting

Posted on by Mama

Title: The Haunting


Author: Natasha Preston


Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Young Adult


Number of Pages: 354


My Rating: 💋💋💋💋💋


Book Summary:

Haunted by the past . . .

Penny’s trying to forget about her ex, Nash. His father was arrested for the brutal murder of four teenagers on Devil’s Night last year. Penny’s parents have forbidden her to have anything to do with Nash or his family. It’s hard not to think of what happened as spooky season gets underway–but she’s trying.

That stops when she goes to the Halloween store with her friends to find a costume. What she finds instead is ripped from a horror movie: a girl from school bleeding out on the floor of a dressing room. Stabbed.

Is a copycat killer on the loose? The adults are saying no. But Penny knows better.


My Thoughts:

I’m not going to lie, I really enjoyed this one and it was a quick read for me. I truly didn’t want to put it down. The twists and turns, not to mention I absolutely loved the quick pace of the story. It didn’t give you much downtime, which I personally love in a novel.

I am well aware of the mixed reviews that the author, Natasha Preston, receives for her novels, but come on! Her stories are fast-paced, dark psychological thrillers, the settings are always vivid as if you are there with the characters and definitely emotionally charged. Her endings are definitely something to be desired, but I really don’t mind. I just wish she would maybe include an epilogue, but I digress.

Let me get back to my review here before I completely derail. The characters were emotional, intriguing and traumatized in their own ways.

Penny is our protagonist in this story and immediately you are drawn to her. She is determined, curious, emotional and definitely traumatized. She is still emotionally entangled with her ex, Nash and despite parental restrictions and a whole town ostracizing Nash and his sister, she eventually teams up with him to uncover who is behind the copycat killings. But events start to escalate and it seems she is the main target. She often acts on teenage impulse and emotions, which was written pretty well. Her tenacity drives the plot, though I had to admit it was sometimes frustrating.

Nash, the “troubled” ex-boyfriend is ostracized due to the sins of his father, but he tries to find normalcy and peace among the chaos. Nash becomes Penny’s investigative ally and despite his hesitation to get involved. The town throws him on the suspect list almost instantly, but could he do this? Penny doesn’t believe so and you can tell that he too is still emotionally entangled with Penny, but really doesn’t know how to go back to the way it was. In the end, it does cost him.

Nash’s sister Grace is also a “main” character, but she is more in the background for most of the story. I’d consider her part of the narrative, but less prominent. She is also shunned by the town and you can clearly sense hurt when she is first introduced. However, she definitely lands on the suspect list for the town very early….Like father, like daughter?

Penny’s rag-tag group of friends are also minor characters in their story line, but great additions. Adi is Penny’s best friend, her ride or die if you will. She is there with her fun attitude and supportive nature. Zayn is caring and often checks in – helping Penny throughout the novel. Omar is the goofball, horror aficionado and brings more of a light vibe throughout the novel.

The Haunting delivers a fast-paced, 90’s teen slasher vibe. While the character development wasn’t intricate in any way, the main focus seemed to be on Penny and Nash. Everyone else was more face value….for the most part. No spoilers of course! I felt like this moved the story along, solidifying the teen slasher atmosphere and mystery that comes along with it; ‘Who is behind all of it and Why?‘ I was okay with not having this as a in-depth and emotionally engaging read.

I wanted something more “light” and a bit, in my opinion, campy. I enjoyed it, I must have if I finished it so quickly! I personally like Natasha Preston as an author and I’m sure I’ll be reading more of her in the future. But please, can we maybe get an Epilogue in the next novel?!

Currently reading The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley and to be honest, I’m almost finished.

Hope you enjoyed and keep an eye out for the next review!

Ciao!

Posted in Monthly Goals and Recaps

A Gentle Goodbye to Summer: My August Recap

Posted on by Mama

Now I warned you all that this list was ambitious for this month and I wasn’t entirely sure I’d get ANY of these goals completed. I was about 90% correct on that assumption. We were fairly busy the month of August and I don’t regret just enjoying the last month of summer to be honest.

But here is what I did accomplish…let’s see…

  • Print some photos for the house and for relatives – Nope, in progress
  • Print and laminate Valeria’s flash cards – Yes, and hopefully I did it correctly. Stupid Staples printing online, ugh why can’t we just deal with real people at the printing center any more!?
  • Learn the Cricut – Nope, this is on hold
  • Organize and tidy Valeria’s closet – Kind of….I cleared it out and sorted her clothing from Spring/Summer and Autumn/ Winter and by size. I also hung her sweaters, dresses and coats. It’s a start…right?
  • Organize the basement – Nope, don’t ask
  • Do some day trips with Valeria – Yes, we took some larger vacations, went to the park, went on a picnic with my family, farmers markets. We kept her busy!
  • Start a new puzzle – Well it’s in the process, but I really need to sit down and actually work on it. Though I’ll be honest, my brain wants to rest at night once she’s down
  • Work on some new wood burning projects – Yes actually, I’m working on some signs for the Halloween season and some new cup coasters. Should hopefully turn out well once they are completed, hopefully in September
  • Donate items I no longer need or want – Kind of……Well the boxes are started, it’s a matter of dropping it off
  • Search for a pumpkin shaped Cast Iron pot – No sadly, I’m still searching for a big one so that I can get rid of the cast iron pot I currently have. If anyone has any idea where I can find one, let me know please!
  • Put together some simmer pot packages – No
  • Finish my novel, write a review and start a new novel – Yes, yes and yes. I finished The Graveyard Shift, wrote my review and started the novel The Last Laugh. Also finished that one and wrote a review, go check em out!
  • Finish Valeria’s book – No, but it’s in progress

Not as bad as I initially thought, but it is was it is. I’m not going to sweat the small stuff this month. We thoroughly enjoyed the summer and I really can’t be unhappy with that. Valeria had a blast and can’t wait to see what Autumn brings for us this year.

I hope you have a wonderful day or night wherever you are in the world!

Ciao!!

Posted in Bookish Babble

Book Review: The Last Laugh

Posted on by Mama

Title: The Last Laugh


Author: Lynn Freed


Genre: Fiction, Contemporary, Humor


Number of Pages: 188


My Rating: 💋💋


Book Summary:

To escape their grown children, ex-husbands, ex-lovers, and an abundance of grandchildren, three self-proclaimed “old bags” head for a quiet Greek island to find some peace. There they will spend a lovely year on the Aegean, they think – watching the sunset, feasting on grilled fish and fresh olives, sipping ouzo. Peace at last.

Except that it isn’t. For one thing, Bess, a fading heiress, falls swiftly into an affair with a poetry-writing taxi driver – who has, of course, a formidable wife. Dania, a therapist, keeps receiving menacing phone calls from a psychotic patient. And Ruth’s ex-lover shows up unexpectedly, just as she’s taken up with Bess’s ex-lover. When the children and grandchildren start showing up, the serene year devolves quickly into something much more uproarious.


My Thoughts:

When I initially purchased this book and read the “blurb” or description of the novel, it sounded intriguing. Three older women running off to Greece for a year to essentially escape their every day. Something I dream of doing in my elderly years, though I will be taking my husband with me in my dreams.

However, it was…..bitter with very few speckles of actual humor sprinkled in. It was definitely a dryer, darker humor, which I tend to enjoy. But really there is no saving grace for how unpleasant and self-centered these women are.

Bess, Ruthi and Dania all disliked their children in one way or another, they all discussed failed relationships or ex-lovers and just ultimately seemed miserable. Their children were no better to be honest – rude, blunt, spoiled and bratty. That’s the best way to describe them, but children learn from example. In fiction and in reality, just sayin’!

Also the response to the “climactic” event was extremely lack-luster and non-nonchalant from all of them. And the outcome was not realistic in my humble opinion.

I didn’t particularly enjoy the writing style either. I felt like you were always kind of caught in the middle of the next conversation. It was annoying in a way.

What I thought would be a sweet story about older women enjoying a year in Greece with incredible food, romance and fun adventures – really wasn’t that at all. I breezed through the book and finished it- surprisingly, but I wouldn’t recommend. Which is sad because I really had high hopes for this.

Onto the next!

Now I know I had mentioned A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, but I am going to put that on hold for a brief moment. Only because it’s spooky season and I’m more inclined to read horror and seasonal romances during this time.

For my first novel I’ve chosen The Haunting by Natasha Preston. I’ve read The Island by Natasha and I enjoyed it, so I’m looking forward to this one. Not going to lie, I’ve already started it and liking it. Think cheesy teen slasher.

Hope you enjoyed and keep an eye out for the next review.

Ciao!

Posted in Bookish Babble

Book Review: The Graveyard Shift

Posted on by Mama

Title: The Graveyard Shift


Author: Maria Lewis


Genre: Crime, Horror, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller


Number of Pages: 317


My Rating: 💋💋💋💋💋


Book Summary:

Tinsel Munroe is the host of The Graveyard Shift – a late-night radio show where she and her loyal listeners celebrate the sounds of cult cinema. She has busted her ass to carve out this section of the airwaves and nothing will keep her from reaching her prime-time dreams…

That is, until someone gets murdered live on air.

She’s freaked out by the horrible incident. Her true crime-obsessed sister Pandora is fascinated by it. Detectives assure them the killer will soon be caught.

Yet with a growing, macabre audience that likely includes the killer, Tinsel begins receiving strange messages. Her home and her workplace suddenly aren’t the sanctuaries she once thought they were.

And the bodies won’t stop dropping, with the killer or killers striking in increasingly gruesome ways. In order to survive, Tinsel is going to have to listen to more than just the airwaves…


My Thoughts:

Frankly I loved this thriller which was clearly written for fans of all things in the horror genre. It begins on Halloween night (OBVIOUSLY!), and of course you have the classic reference to Michael Meyers (from the legendary movie Halloween) right off the bat. The novel is packed with plenty of horror movie references and culture.

Even though it’s a thriller, the novel is a very light, easy and a captivating read. And I love the fact that it wasn’t intentionally trying to scare you, but keep you on your toes instead. I enjoyed that there was quite a lot of dialogue and banter between the characters, which in turn made me love them all the more. I felt that you got to see more of their personalities this way.

Now that I’ve blabbed on, let me get into the nitty gritty.

We have the badass main character, Tinsel Munroe, who is a horror film buff and host of a late-night horror themed radio show – The Graveyard Shift. During her Halloween show, she was taking viewer calls, when suddenly a fan was brutally murdered on live air, her screams and last breaths broadcasted for everyone to hear. Unaware of the reality, Tinsel chalked it up to a Halloween prank until the cops show up the following day to reveal the awful truth.

While the detectives continue to investigate and work the case around Melbourne, people who are linked to the film industry keep dying and the body count keeps rising. It seems that Tinsel and the film industry are at the center of it all, but why?! It’s the nagging question throughout the entire novel. Tinsel is saddled up with Detective James for protection, which they develop a mutual attraction for one another. But he’s honest with her about the case whenever she asks. Their relationship becomes close….very close and quickly.

However, the investigation becomes stagnant and Tinsel decides to take things into her own hands. Luckily, Tinsel in all her spunky personality has an equally tenacious sister named Pandora. Pandora is a true crime blogger with a few connections and they are in a race against the clock to find the killer.

Frankly, you can’t help but love the characters each in their own ways, even the side characters are fun and lovable. Tinsel is a spunky, retro-style, horror loving radio host with sass and drive that makes you root for her the entire book. Pandora is a mom with tenacity, a hunger for all things true crime and a zest for life, especially when it comes to keeping her sister alive in hers. Detective James is masculine, strong and seems to have a no none sense demeanor, but you quickly learn that he’s a big softy with a fun, easy going personality.

I know when I read other reviews, people felt like the romance aspect deterred from the main story, however I quite liked the little breaks from the thriller. To me it depicted a potential real life scenario, which I guess if you want a full on and action packed thriller, then you probably wouldn’t enjoy that aspect. However, I did. Someone’s life can’t be all doom and gloom all the time, there has to be a little bit of sunshine sometimes, right?

The only thing that did bother me, but not enough for me not to give this five Baci, is the face that she was often left at the studio alone with only one security guard and no late night producer. Also that her sister Pandora would put her phone on airplane mode during the night. Considering the nature of her work, which was true crime blogging, and the fact that her sister was endanger of a psychotic killer, you would think it would stay on in case of an emergency. I get not wanting the phone to wake your kiddos, but there is vibrate mode for a reason!

The ending was quite predictable once all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. There was a bit of a shocker, which I won’t spoil but let’s just say, that one was a little unnecessary to add in at the end.

Nevertheless, I loved this novel and if I could have been locked away for a few days, I probably would have finished it in that time. I really didn’t want to put it down, but my little baby girl needs my attention more then a novel. I truly recommend it to anyone who needs a light read and trust me you will fly through it. I felt the author was inventive in the story telling that I really can’t be mad about. Also, a little romance sprinkled in didn’t hurt! But fair warning, you will either love or hate this book, there isn’t an in-between. But if this type of novel intrigues you, give it a shot!

Hope you enjoyed the review! On the go at the moment is The Last Laugh by Lynn Freed and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. So look for those reviews in the near future!

Ciao!

Posted in Bookish Babble

Book Review: The Countess

Posted on by Mama

Title: The Countess


Author: Rebecca Johns


Genre: Historic, Fiction, Historical Fiction


Number of Pages: 355


My Rating: 💋💋💋💋


Book Summary:

Was the “Blood Countess” history’s first and perhaps worst female serial killer? Or did her accusers create a violent fiction in order to remove this beautiful, intelligent, ambitious foe from the male-dominated world of Hungarian politics?
 
In 1611, Countess Erzsébet Báthory, a powerful Hungarian noblewoman, stood helpless as masons walled her inside her castle tower, dooming her to spend her final years in solitary confinement. Her crime—the gruesome murders of dozens of female servants, mostly young girls tortured to death for displeasing their ruthless mistress. Her opponents painted her as a bloodthirsty škrata —a witch—a portrayal that would expand to grotesque proportions through the centuries.

In this riveting dramatization of Erzsébet Báthory’s life, the countess tells her story in her own words, writing to her only son—a final reckoning from his mother in an attempt to reveal the truth behind her downfall. Countess Báthory describes her upbringing in one of the most powerful noble houses in Hungary, recounting in loving detail her devotion to her parents and siblings as well as the heartbreak of losing her father at a young age. She soon discovers the price of being a woman in sixteenth-century Hungary as her mother arranges her marriage to Ferenc Nádasdy, a union made with the cold calculation of a financial transaction. Young Erzsébet knows she has no choice but to accept this marriage even as she laments its loveless nature and ultimately turns to the illicit affections of another man.

Seemingly resigned to a marriage of convenience and a life of surreptitious pleasure, the countess surprises even herself as she ignites a marital spark with Ferenc through the most unromantic of the violent punishment of an insolent female servant. The event shows Ferenc that his wife is no trophy but a strong, determined woman more than capable of managing their vast estates during Ferenc’s extensive military campaigns against the Turks. Her naked assertion of power accomplishes what her famed beauty could capturing the love of her husband.

The countess embraces this new role of loving wife and mother, doing everything she can to expand her husband’s power and secure her family’s future. But a darker side surfaces as Countess Báthory’s demand for virtue, obedience, and, above all, respect from her servants takes a sinister turn. What emerges is not only a disturbing, unflinching portrait of the deeds that gave Báthory the moniker “Blood Countess,” but an intimate look at the woman who became a monster.


My Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel once I became immersed in it; however, if you’re expecting a gothic tale of vampires or a fast-paced thriller about cold-blooded murders, you may find yourself disappointed.

The novel is a beautifully written fictionalized memoir of the real-life Hungarian Countess Erzsébet (Elizabeth) Báthory, infamously known as the “Blood Countess” due to the numerous young servant girls who were murdered under her care. Within the story, she is also portrayed as an “evil stepmother” figure to these girls. Though she welcomed them into her home with good intentions—offering them basic education, providing dowries, and at times even attempting to arrange marriages—any misstep on their part was met with harsh and often brutal punishment, laced with pain and deep humiliation.

The author doesn’t just paint a portrait of her cruelty, but elegantly paints a profile of a beautiful, strong, intelligent and well-educated woman. In a time where woman were coveted for their beauty and ability to bare children and provide an heir. But behind every great man, was a woman who ran the house and holdings. The Countess was a master at all of it, which I believe is what got her into trouble later in life.

However, the Countess had been through her fair share of hardships and cursed love affairs. Ultimately, every man whom she gives her love and affection to, including her son, pass her over for someone else. She fears she’ll never feel love again, and that one day she’ll be left powerless and ignored by men. This fear slowly drives her mad—until it ends, quite literally, in bloody murder.

But this isn’t a story about madness or a woman feeling sorry for herself. Instead, it’s a vivid tale of a clever, strong-willed woman trying to protect her family’s power during a time of war and shifting loyalties. The story focuses so much on her political and emotional strategies that the murders of the young girls in her care don’t come to the forefront until much later. By then, Bathory has revealed herself as smart, witty, charming, and generous—so much so that, it’s hard to believe she could truly be guilty.

The author’s focus on Countess Bathory’s childhood gives the story real depth. Without it, The Countess would be just another tale about a heartless killer—a typical, blood-soaked narrative full of violence but lacking substance.

This novel shows how deep, hidden fears can slowly damage the mind—especially when a woman like Elizabeth Bathory is forced to live under strict rules that leave her and her children vulnerable to betrayal, poverty, violence, and even death. On the surface, she seems calm and collected, but internally the pressure and fear quietly build.

In the end, Elizabeth’s violent outbursts make sense as the result of constant stress, emotional loss, and betrayal. Especially after losing some of her children and being rejected and humiliated by the men she depended on for safety.

My only critique is that the story moved a bit slowly at times, and I would’ve liked to read more about the trials involving her servants. Bathory’s fate was sealed when she was bricked into her tower, where she stayed until the end of her life.

That said, I definitely recommend this novel if you enjoy a rich, engaging historical read that leaves you questioning what really happened. The the depictions of the murders are not for the weak of heart, so be forewarned. I’ve always been fascinated by the story of Elizabeth Bathory, and this book only made me more curious. Rebecca Johns’ writing is wonderfully done, and I’ll absolutely be checking out more of her work!

Hope you enjoyed the review!

Ciao!

Posted in Bookish Babble

Book Review: The Manor House

Posted on by Mama

Title: The Manor House


Author: Gilly Macmillan


Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery


Number of Pages: 327


My Rating: 💋💋💋💋


Book Summary:

Be careful what you wish for…

Childhood sweethearts Nicole and Tom are a normal, loving couple—until a massive lottery win changes their lives overnight.

Soon they’ve moved into a custom-built state-of-the-art Glass Barn on the stunning grounds of Lancaut Manor in Gloucestershire. They have fancy cars, expensive hobbies, and an exclusive lifestyle they never could have imagined.

But this dream world quickly turns into a nightmare when Tom is found dead in the swimming pool.

Nicole is devastated. Tom is her rock. And their beautiful barn —with all its smart features that never seem to work for her—is beginning to feel very lonely. But she’s not entirely by herself out there in the country. There’s a nice young couple who live in the Manor itself along with their middle-aged housekeeper who has the Coach House. And an old friend of Tom’s from school has turned up to help her get through her grief.

But big money can bring big problems and big threats. Was Tom’s death a tragic accident or was it something worse? And is her life in danger as well?

Nicole’s beginning to feel like a little fish in a big glass fishbowl.

Surrounded by piranhas.


My Thoughts:

I know this review is a touch over-do, but better late than never!

First, I enjoyed the premise of the novel and the twists and turns that it takes. It was almost a mystery inside a mystery which was pretty fun.

However, I found the start of the book to be a little bit slow, but then it picked up about halfway through. Which the second half of the novel I just couldn’t put down and my armchair detective skills were in full swing.

The characters were well developed, balanced and intriguing in their own ways. It is essentially two very different homes that play a role in the story line, which creates tension, manipulation and a bit of a spark among the two households.

The Manor is exactly what you would imagine: a majestic older home, shrouded in history and complete with secret passages ways. The patrons who live within these glorious halls are Olly, a novelist, and Sasha, a yoga instructor. The Manor comes complete with a Coach House, which is home to their housekeeper, Kitty.

Whereas it’s counterpart The Glass Barn is an super-modern home that was constructed from the ruins of an old barn building, the dream home of lottery winners Tom and Nicole. Which would eventually just become Nicole.

Tom’s oldest friend, Patrick, comes into play pretty rapidly in this tale, masquerading as a mournful friend and moral support for Nicole. Though his intentions are deceitful and manipulative to say the least. Not a fan of Patrick from the start to be honest and my assumption was confirmed as to why I wasn’t a fan. No spoilers though!

I do have to admit that I was a fan of Hal Steen and his partner Jen Walsh are two characters you kind of fall in love with almost immediately, at least I did. You have Hal; older and slightly rough around the edges cop who prides himself on being one-step ahead in the investigation and to play things extremely intelligently. He kind of plays his cards close to his chest, but he’s an absolutely gem of a character! His partner Jen is a younger cop who is bright, compassionate, sweet and full of gumption. She follows Hal’s lead, but it almost seems like they know what the other is thinking when it’s required, they play off of one another in a sense. And the slight romantic attraction between the two was adorable, kind of lightened things up a bit. But these two definitely have their hands full with this investigation; it becomes more twisted, tangled and complex as the days go by.

The conclusion is captivating to be sure and truly comes together beautifully. Let’s just say everyone got their just desserts.

I thoroughly enjoyed it none the less, and would recommend, but it’s not five Baci for me due to the fact that it was a fairly slow start at the beginning of the book. But I will definitely have to read more from Gilly Macmillan! Have to thank my cousin for lending me this read, so thank you!

Next review is a kind of a set of novels, a prequel and sequel which I’m excited to write. So please keep an eye out!

Hope you enjoyed and I’m currently reading The Countess by Rebecca Johns & The Graveyard Shift by Maria Lewis.

Hope you enjoyed the review!

Ciao!!

Posted in Bookish Babble

Book Review – The Island

Posted on by Mama

Title: The Island

Author: Natasha Preston

Number of Pages: 303

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Horror

My Rating: 💋💋💋💋

Book Summary:

They said Goodbye to their friends and family for the weekend. They weren’t counting on Forever.

Jagged Island. A private amusement park for the very rich -or the very influential. Liam, James, Will, Ava, Harper, and Paisley, social media influencers with millions of followers, have been invited for an exclusive weekend before the park opens. They’ll create posts and videos for their channels and report every second of their VIP treatment.

When the teens arrive, they’re stunned: the resort is even better than they imagined. Their hotel rooms are unreal, the park’s themed rides are incredible, and the island is hauntingly beautiful. Their jam-packed schedule seems to cover every moment of their visit. But soon they realize that something’s missing: getting off the island alive.

My thoughts:

The island does sound hauntingly beautiful as per the books description, and it only becomes more daunting and eerie with the events that begin to take place.

Trapped on an isolated island in the middle of a storm with absolutely no internet or phone service only to discover that the influencers are the target…

It was intriguing to say the least.

Paisley, the True Crime pod-caster/influencer is the main character in this tale, who loves the feel and look of the island as soon as she steps onto it, and determined to utilize the spooky factor for incredible content for her platforms/audience. She soon comes to realize just how real her career will become. Paisley is a tenacious, intelligent, brave, independent and far too trusting. And extremely determined to using her sleuthing skills to solve this mystery. She is an extremely likeable heroine.

Each influencer has their niche; Harper the book blogger, Ava and Will both beauty influencers, Liam the gamer, James the movie/television reviewer and than Paisley. All have interesting and very different personalities and all glued to their phones to create content. Malcolm Wyatt is the billionaire owner of this fun little island and resort, who is closely accompanied by his assistant Camilla. Kenna is their chef for the weekend, along with handsome Reeve and Gibson – crew members.

The influencers are thrilled with their accommodations, mildly creeped out by the chosen aesthetic, but ultimately they begin their fun filled weekend immediately. The gruesome events suddenly begin once they notice one of them is missing; worrying, they start their missing person’s search only to discover something more sinister..

The pace of the book was good, I felt the twists and turns were somewhat predictable but still a fun read. Sometimes you need a quick read like that, but it also helps that I’m an arm chair detective and called it by a few chapters in.

The things I didn’t enjoy was the ending…. What the hell was that crap?! The last few chapters felt rushed and unrealistic. Like the story just needed to end and it ended in a stupid and abrupt way. It didn’t feel real; the emotions felt in such a traumatic instance, it all just seemed….meh at the end. The killer’s reasoning was…a little out there. The fact he chose to target the influencers didn’t tie in at all and it fell a little flat for me.

Ultimately, a readable young adult thriller, but sadly only worth four baci rating from me. Not a novel I would die to tell people about.

My next novel that I’ve already started is called One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle, another discovery from Bookoutlet.ca. We shall see what this novel entails! Review to follow as always.

Ciao!

Posted in Daily Life as a Parent

Something Different – Mama’s Husband!

Posted on by Mama

Hi there readers, today’s post is going to be a bit different. Mama is busy putting Valeria to sleep tonight and she had the great idea that I (her husband) should try writing her post for today.

Lately, Valeria’s night sleep routine has changed. Usually, by around 9, I would pick her up and give her a bottle, she would fall asleep in my arms, and then I would plop her down into her bed with some white noise and she’d sleep through most of the night, only fussing once or twice for some more milk every four hours or so. Easy peasy and mama get can get some well-deserved rest and relaxation from her day with baby by having me take care of the night routine.

Except it suddenly stopped being easy peasy. Now that she’s figured out how to roll and move around in her bed, I’ll lay her down and she will start to wiggle her way around. She is always trying to push herself into the left mesh of the bed, I think to snuggle up to it? We’ll give her some time to self-soothe except she almost always ends up flopping around and eventually startling herself and waking up.

Mama’s solution has been full of gentle patience and love (which I admittedly lack sometimes, the patience part that is, not my best trait, maybe it’s a male thing) where she will lay down next to Valeria and gently sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”. It works like magic. From there, we pick her up and put her in her bed once she’s fallen into a deeper sleep.

So that’s what Mama is up to now and it has worked already because I can hear Valeria snoring behind me while I type. You go Mama!

We’re almost at 5 months now and two things still amaze me. One, how often these little humans change in their preferences. You think you have them completely figured out and suddenly the next week, what always worked suddenly stops working and now you have to get creative again.

And two, the amount of teamwork required to raise these little humans. We joke sometimes that while the baby might be able to outlast and wear one of us out, she can’t take on the both of us! Just when one of us feels burnt out, the other is there to step in. I could never do this alone.

To finish off, I guess I could say a few things about myself, but I’m hesitant to have this post go on for too long. Currently, I’m most excited about preparing for my first kickboxing fight in April. Mama has been doing a great job picking up some of the slack on my end while I devote more time to my training and preparation over these next four weeks. Outside of being a father, it has probably been one of the hardest and most intense things I’ve done to date.

A co-worker of mine recently asked why bother? You have a great job and stability, what do you need that in your life for? To put it simply, this has been something I’ve wanted to do since I was a little boy. But, it’s way too late to turn this into a career, nor do I have any desire for that.

Really, it’s about pushing myself physically and mentally to my limits, to know what I am truly capable of. I believe it is something that makes me both a better husband and father. As cheesy as it sounds, its about the journey and not the destination right now.

That being said, thank you readers for taking the time to try something new with me. I know I’m nowhere near as entertaining of a writer as Mama but I can now see why she enjoys blogging so much, this has been incredibly therapeutic. Have a great night and stay safe!

Posted in Bookish Babble

Book Review – The Death of Mrs. Westaway

Posted on by Mama

I was going to wait until the 29th, worried that I wasn’t going to finish this one by the end of the month, but huzzah! I did it and I’m excited to share this one with you!

Title: The Death of Mrs. Westaway

Author: Ruth Ware

Number of Pages: 368

Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

My Rating: 💋💋💋💋💋

Book Summary:

Harriet Westaway – better known as Hal – makes ends meet as a tarot reader, but she doesn’t believe in the power of her trade. If she did, what would the cards say about the choice that lies ahead of her?

When Hal receives a mysterious and unexpected letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance, she knows that it wasn’t meant for her because Mrs. Westaway is not her grandmother. Struggling with crippling debt, Hal is presented with a difficult choice: ignore the letter, or use her cold-reading skills to potentially claim the money and change her life.

After a loan shark pays Hal a threatening visit, she decides to attend Mrs. Westaway’s funeral. She meets the family at Trepassen House, the Westaways’ country estate. Once there, Hal discovers more secrets than she could have ever imagined. There is something very, very wrong with this family, and somehow Hal and the inheritance are at the center of it.

My thoughts:

Harriet Westaway or Hal as she is better known by throughout the novel, is a lovable, strong and crafty young woman, persevering through a hard time in her life. A tarot reader by trade who doesn’t quite believe what she practices, but often depends of the wisdom her mother taught her regarding tarot and reading people. Her skills at reading people is remarkable and is definitely an advantage to her as she walks this tricky path. You can’t help but feel for her as you go through the novel, wanting so desperately to figure out the mystery that surrounds her life, upbringing and her new relatives.

Upon first impressions, the relatives seem pompous and snobby, but you get to know their personalities slowly throughout the book. She ultimately doesn’t fit in, being the black sheep of her relatives and not born into money. Harding the eldest is all business and has an air of money about him always, Abel is a sweet, kind man and Ezra is the rough around the edges, rebel without a cause type, all ending up to be Hal’s new uncles. However, when one of Hal’s Uncles gives her an old photograph of her mother, this sparks a spiral down the rabbit hole that she must crawl out of.

This book keeps you on your toes and really keeps you guessing. If you are an arm chair detective, then this is the novel for you. You have to really read carefully and put the pieces together, chapter by chapter. But the reveal will shock you in the end, it definitely did for me.

I was a little skeptical if I’d enjoy this one, the title really is deceiving, but it was a great read and I highly recommend to anyone who likes a thriller. You definitely root for Hal, but be warned you will go through a bit of an emotional roller coaster with her, only to end in satisfying delight.

Must read and looking forward to reading more from Ruth Ware. I just ordered The Woman in Cabin 10, so keep your eyes out for a future review on that. She will be added to my list of favourite writers.

Enjoy the novel, I know I did!

My next novel I’m about to start is Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune, review to come in March!

Ciao!