#backofthebookshelfbc

Why have I not thought about sharing this on here?!?!?!….

Mid January I reached out to my fellow Bookstagrammers to see if anyone was interested in taking part in a book club through Bookstagram (Instagram). I had such amazing feedback and now we are one large book club family!

Our name …Back Of The Bookshelf Book Club! — One heck of an awesome group, if I do say so myself.

The first book we chose was for February’s read. Giving everyone a chance to get their hands on the book if they didn’t already own it.

We are currently reading The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang. This incredible read will be completed by the end of February.

Our group breaks the book up by chapters, reading so many chapters each week. Carrying the book throughout the full month. Each week we jump on Bookstagram together and discuss that weeks chapters.

The discussions sure can get heated, in the best way possible. Just shows how passionate we are about what we are reading.

We have already picked our read for March!!!… The Lost Girls of Paris by the amazing Pam Jenoff.

If you are interested in reading along… please do! And please let me know you are, so I can be sure to discuss the book with you as well. If you are interested in joining our group you can find me on Instagram. My handle is nichi.i_readpastmybedtime. You can also use the hashtag #backofthebookshelfbc on Instagram to find us.

Look forward to seeing you! And I will come on here each month and share our next read.

And of course thanks for reading!

Your Fellow Bookworm

-Nichole

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/

Lone Star Christmas by Delores Fossen

Thank you to Harlequin Publicity Team for sending Lone Star Christmas my way.

Published September 25th 2018 by HQN Books

***

“A Family Crisis Brings Him Home… Just In Time For Christmas”

Callen Laramie has avoided his hometown, Coldwater, Texas, like the plague. Which hasn’t been all that hard for him up until now.

Although being so lucky to grow up in a warm, loving foster home and having a beautiful family. Long ago Cattleman Callen escaped Coldwater, on the search for bigger, better things and never looked back.

As hard as it may have been, leaving one special person.

Callen receives a Christmas wedding invitation to Buck, his foster-father and Rosie’s wedding. With all intentions not to go, Callen soon finds out there is a family secret and knowing he may be re-united with his childhood crush, Shelby, who has always been off-limits, changes his mind rapidly.

Lone Star Christmas — Photo from my Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nichi.i_readpastmybedtime/

4 out of 5 Stars

Such a warm, cozy and dare I say STEAMY Christmas read.

Callen is a stubborn, strong-headed man. Who slowly releases into a considerate, passionate, devoted, sulty, gentleman. Leaving Shelby weak in the knees.

Shelby has forever been Callen’s delicacy, but always seen as forbidden. Now Shelby is all grown up and makes her own choices and Callen is exactly what she craves.

Lone Star Christmas provides, all the romantic, warm fuzzy feels and lets not forget ALL the drama, in the best way possible. Along with the blooming fling between Callen and Shelby there are amazing family and friend relationships. You will love each and every character in such a different way.

With each twist and turn, you will want to devour more and more.

A Perfect Christmas Romance.

Thank you for reading!

Your fellow book nerd

-Nichole

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