Tag: books

And Then You Were Gone by R.J. Jacobs

Advanced Readers Copy 

“How can you save someone else if you can’t save yourself…”

Emily Firestone finally has a handle on her future. Struggling for years with her bipolar disorder, she is now in control and dominating every aspect of her life. A great job, a place to call her own, and an incredible boyfriend, Paolo.

When Paolo wants to whisk Emily away on a weekend sailing trip. The perfect get away in his eyes. Just the two of them… on the water. Emily accepts, who could resist this marvellous mini vacation.

The weekend starts off perfect. Until the next morning when Emily wakes all alone. Paolo is nowhere to be found. Emily doesn’t understand, he is an amazing swimmer. There is no way he could have drown.

Once Emily’s feet are back on dry land her desperate search for Paolo is well underway.

Days pass and he is still missing. Emily finds herself starting to slip back into her old ways. Depression slowly taking its tight grip all over again.

Until some evidence comes to light that Paolo may not have drown but murdered.

Now Emily is not only fighting her own mania but trying to clear her name, as she is the number one suspect in the disappearance of her boyfriend.

What will happen next? Will Emily lose all she has worked so hard for?

***

4 out of 5 stars

And Then You Were Gone is a heart pounding, teeth clenching, psychological thriller.

With so many thrilling twists and turns you can’t possibly have an idea what is going to happen next. It will have you gripping to the edge of your seat.

R.J. Jacobs is a psychologist in clinical practise. He also performs PTSD evaluations for veterans. Have you ever heard the term “Write what you know?” That is exactly what he has done, and it couldn’t be more brilliant.

If you are a thriller lover this novel is for you.

Absolutely sensational.

“Being bipolar just means I get a lot done.”

***

Thank you so incredibly much to HarperCollins Canada for sending this fascinating read my way.

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Release Date: March 12, 2019

 

Photo taken from my Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nichi.i_readpastmybedtime/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Elephants Fly by Nancy Richardson Fischer

T. Lily Decker is a high school senior with a 12-year plan: avoid stress, drugs, alcohol, and boyfriends, and take regular psych quizzes administered by her best friend, Sawyer, to make sure she’s not developing schizophrenia.

Genetics are not on Lily’s side. When she was seven, her mother, who had paranoid schizophrenia, tried to kill her. And a secret has revealed that Lily’s odds are even worse than she thought. Still, there’s a chance to avoid triggering the mental health condition, if Lily can live a careful life from ages 18 to 30, when schizophrenia most commonly manifests.

But when a newspaper internship results in Lily witnessing a mother elephant try to kill her three-week-old calf, Swifty, Lily can’t abandon the story or the calf. With Swifty in danger of dying from grief, Lily must choose whether to risk everything, including her sanity and a first love, on a desperate road trip to save the calf’s life, perhaps finding her own version of freedom along the way. 

***Synopsis copied from Amazon.ca*** – TRIGGER WARNING: Schizophrenia, suicide, and animal abuse.

I generally enjoy starting off my reviews with a break down of the story, in my own words.

Lets just say with this one I couldn’t….Honestly! I sat at the computer, staring at the screen… and nothing. My words would not do this novel justice. I am still trying to wrap my head around it all. I had to use the synopsis right off amazon.

When Elephants Fly is absolutely breath-taking. I may even go as far to say, life changing.

This novel will truly tug at each and every one of your heart-strings. You will experience all emotions, ones you knew you had and ones you didn’t even know existed.

Nancy is an incredible author, and her knowledge and love for Elephants is impeccable, absolutely inspiring. There is so much detail in this sensitive, yet moving story.

Stunning. When Elephants Fly has got to be one of my absolute favourite reads of 2018. I will always cherish this story.

Please! go out and pick it up now. You will not regret it. It is one of a kind.

Oh and the cover! just beautiful. 5 out of 5 Stars.

Thank you for reading.

Your Fellow Book Worm

-Nichole

WHEN ELEPHANTS FLY

 

Mistletoe Miracles by Jodi Thomas

3 Perfectly Passionate Tales…

 

The Maverick Ranch:

Griffin Holloway and his 2 brothers are struggling. The Maverick Ranch has been in their family for generations but recently has become a money pit. With desperation to keep the ranch in their family, not ready to give up. Griffin and his brothers come up with a few ideas. The strongest idea being, one of them has to marry a wealth lady and fast. But will Marriage be the solution to all their money problems?

***

O’Grady:

Jaxon has always been the town’s hermit, enjoying the quiet life.  Until one day Jaxon witnesses an awful car accident. Which may change his extremely peaceful life for the better.  Jaxon may not be the town’s hermit for much longer!

***

Johnson’s:

Jamie Johnson has perfectly settled into the small town of Crossroads, Texas. No more pesky, nosy, questions about her dating life and why she’s still not in a long-term relationship. This Christmas may change everything, when Jamie comes home to find an unexpected guest in her home. Now with the whole town asking questions, the only question Jamie has is, did she just find her mister forever?

 

****

5 out of 5 stars

I absolutely ADORED all three of these compassionate, breath-taking, unusual stories.

Each story was rooted in the quaint town of Crossroads, Texas. The perfect setting!

A dash of Griffin’s, tender, considerate, passionate side. With Jaxon’s protective, devoted, attentive side and Mr. Johnson’s compassionate, warm, worrisome side. You get a mix of all the best worlds with these men.

You will devour each story,  wishing you were able to live just one, if not all of these worlds. Each character has such a unique back story that will have you cherishing them all.

Highly recommend! This read will leave you with all the Christmas cheer.

Thanks for reading!

Your Fellow Book Worm

-Nichole

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Photo from my Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nichi.i_readpastmybedtime/

 

 

 

Hocus Pocus & The All New Sequel by A. W. Jantha (Author) & Matt Griffin (Illustrator)

Witch, Please…

The incredibly adored story of Max, his sister Dani and Allison coming together on Halloween night along with the help of their new friends, Binx a black cat and Billy a friendly zombie. To save the town of Salem from the Sanderson sisters. Winifred, Sarah and Mary, witches that have been dead for 300 years. Until Max, a virgin lit the black flame candle.

Fast forward 25 years from the night the Sanderson sisters were defeated. Poppy, the daughter of Max and Allison has never believed her family’s story from that Halloween night, over two decades ago. To prove the tales fake and have some fun of her own. Poppy along with her closest friends make some bad decisions, bringing the Sanderson sisters back from the afterlife, again! With so much at stake and only having until sunrise. Poppy and her friends are frantically racing against time to save their families, friends and all of Salem from the coven of Witches. This Halloween will be another to add to the Dennison family tales.

Hocus Pocus
Photo from my Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nichi.i_readpastmybedtime/

I know I am late to the game with this review. I had EVERY intention on getting to this HUGELY anticipated read of mine before Halloween. We all know how that goes, right? Always a plan, but there is always more and more books to read.

Ahhh…. living the life of a book nerd!… (It’s AMAZING)

I finished this book last night and LOVED it! 5 out of 5 stars.

There is so much contradiction with this read and I personally don’t understand it. Reading part one “Hocus Pocus” brought me right back to the 90’s. I could see the movie playing through my head while reading it. It was everything I could hope for.

Now, The Sequel was just as brilliant. I love how the lead up to the sequel was incorporated into Hocus Pocus itself. It fit perfectly and made the anticipation for part two build and build.

I was sceptical at first, of course. The beloved characters from the movie are everything! and I was not sure if the book would live up to that.

Prove me wrong, again! I loved the characters just as much, both old and new.

I recommend this book to everyone! Hocus Pocus lovers and all.

Ohhh!… And only for the ending to give a glimpse that there may be more to come! So exciting.

Thanks for reading! I love having you hear.

– Your fellow book nerd

Nichole

Hocus Pocus & The All New Sequel
Photo from my Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nichi.i_readpastmybedtime/

The Water Is Wide and The Canary’s Song by Natalie Banks

The Water Is Wide:

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Sarah is slowly piecing herself back together, after the tragic loss of her husband who drown 14 years earlier.

Thomas was and still is the love of her life, making this the hardest thing she has ever had to do. Just as she starts to get the hang of things and is slowly feeling more comfortable in her skin. Sarah has the shock of a lifetime when she sees a man who is a spitting image of her husband, just having aged 14 years.

Only to learn this man is not her late husband Thomas, but a man named Collin.

Collin is new to the area and Sarah cant help but feel drawn to him. Feelings start to flourish between them and a steamy relationship begins. But Sarah cant help but wonder if her feelings for this man are legitimate, or is it just how much Collin reminds her of Thomas and what she had in the past.

***

4.5 out of 5 stars

This read is full of every emotion you could think possible. You watch this immense amount of strength grow within Sarah as she has to put her life back together after losing Thomas. Then jumping to her reflecting any negativity she receives from friends and family who don’t approve of this new relationship with Collin. All while she fights her own thoughts and questions as to how this man can look so much like her husband and is this relationship genuine, or just a form of comfort for her.

An-all-out phenomenal read. This book will not disappoint. It will have you yearning for more.

The Canary’s Song:

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The tragic loss of her son has completely destroyed Juliette. Mourning him is slowly taking over everything she touches. It has caused too much stress on her marriage and now she can see Liam slowly slipping out from her finger tips.

In a desperate attempt to reconnect, and keep her family together, especially for her daughter’s sake. Juliette plans a romantic get away at a secluded cabin in the mountains.

Liam is hesitant to go, in his mind he has already come to a finalized decision that he is leaving Juliette and nothing can change that. But with a heavy heart and for her sake he agrees.

The weekend starts off rocky, but slowly feelings are rekindled. You can feel the warmth of their old spark lingering. When something awful and unexpected happens and the journey for both Juliette and Liam to get home safe and sound to their daughter brings them even closer.

***

5 out of 5 stars

I had the privileged of being part of an early readers group for The Canary’s Song. I couldn’t be more honoured.

This book will forever be near and dear to my heart. The connection between Juliette and Liam is so stunning. To see these characters go through such torture with losing their son, shattering their marriage. Yet such a simple gesture being made and everything starts to make sense again. Only for them to be tested again in a life and death situation. Juliette and Liam can only become the strongest, most powerful team.

This read was truly breath-taking. A must read!

***

Natalie Banks also has a novel called The Dark Room. A psychological thriller that I can’t wait to get my hands on.

-Nichole