Thank You Thomas Allen & Son Ltd.

A Huge Thank You to Thomas Allen & Son Ltd.

Thomas Allen & Son Ltd. has sent three new exciting reads my way.

*** Please note these are not my official reviews. I have copied the synopsis’s from amazon, in order to share what the books are about.***

Courting Mr.Lincoln by Louis Bayard

When Mary Todd meets Abraham Lincoln in Springfield in the winter of 1840, he is on no one’s short list to be president. A country lawyer living above a dry goods shop, he is lacking both money and manners, and his gift for oratory surprises those who meet him. Mary, a quick, self-possessed debutante with an interest in debates and elections, at first finds him an enigma. “I can only hope,” she tells his roommate, the handsome, charming Joshua Speed, “that his waters being so very still, they also run deep.”

It’s not long, though, before she sees the Lincoln that Speed knows: an amiable, profound man who, despite his awkwardness, has a gentle wit to match his genius, and who respects her keen political mind. But as her relationship with Lincoln deepens, she must confront his inseparable friendship with Speed, who has taught his roommate how to dance, dress, and navigate the polite society of Springfield.

Told in the alternating voices of Mary Todd and Joshua Speed, and inspired by historical events, Courting Mr. Lincoln creates a sympathetic and complex portrait of Mary unlike any that has come before; a moving portrayal of the deep and very real connection between the two men; and most of all, an evocation of the unformed man who would grow into one of the nation’s most beloved presidents. Louis Bayard, a master storyteller, delivers here a page-turning tale of love, longing, and forbidden possibilities

Published by: Algonquin Books on April 23, 2019… On shelves now!

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms

Overworked and underappreciated, single mom Amy Byler needs a break. So when the guilt-ridden husband who abandoned her shows up and offers to take care of their kids for the summer, she accepts his offer and escapes rural Pennsylvania for New York City.

Usually grounded and mild mannered, Amy finally lets her hair down in the city that never sleeps. She discovers a life filled with culture, sophistication, and—with a little encouragement from her friends—a few blind dates. When one man in particular makes quick work of Amy’s heart, she risks losing herself completely in the unexpected escape, and as the summer comes to an end, Amy realizes too late that she must make an impossible decision: stay in this exciting new chapter of her life, or return to the life she left behind.

But before she can choose, a crisis forces the two worlds together, and Amy must stare down a future where she could lose both sides of herself, and every dream she’s ever nurtured, in the beat of a heart.

Published by: Lake Union Publishing on May 1, 2019… On shelves now!

Hurricane Season by Nicole Melleby

For Fig’s dad, hurricane season brings the music.
For Fig, hurricane season brings the possibility of disaster.

Fig, a sixth grader, loves her dad and the home they share in a beach-side town. She does not love the long months of hurricane season. Her father, a once-renowned piano player, sometimes goes looking for the music in the middle of a storm. Hurricane months bring unpredictable good and bad days. More than anything, Fig wants to see the world through her father’s eyes, so she takes an art class to experience life as an artist does. Then Fig’s dad shows up at school, confused and looking for her. Not only does the class not bring Fig closer to understanding him, it brings social services to their door.

As the walls start to fall around her, Fig is sure it’s up to her alone to solve her father’s problems and protect her family’s privacy. But with the help of her best friend, a cute girl at the library, and a surprisingly kind new neighbour, Fig learns she isn’t as alone as she once thought . . . and begins to compose her own definition of family.

Nicole Melleby’s Hurricane Season is a radiant and tender novel about taking risks and facing danger, about friendship and art, and about growing up and coming out. And more than anything else, it is a story about love—both its limits and its incredible healing power.

Published by: Algonquin Young Readers on May 7, 2019… On shelves Today!!!!

Full reviews to come as soon as I have finished these incredible reads!

Thank you again Thomas Allen & Son Ltd!

And of course thank you all for reading.

Your Fellow Book Worm

-Nichole

The Current by Tim Johnston + Giveaway

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Audrey Sutter’s life was stretched thin after her good friend and her were pulled from the icy grips of Black Root River.

Only unlike Audrey, her friend was not so lucky to come out alive.

Finding out what happened was no accident has the whole town buzzing with memories. Just ten years earlier another young women had lost her life in that same river.

Knowing that her killer is still loose, living among them. Audrey feels strongly connected to this young girl and becomes obsessed on finding out what truly happened all those years ago. While also wanting to know the truth to her own story.

4.5 Stars out of 5

Strictly my individual opinion.

I found The Current had some strong pros to it but also some very, very minor cons to it. Which lead to my 4.5 star rate out of 5. Which is still a top-notch rating in my eyes and should not discourage anyone from reading this novel! As I still highly recommend this read!

I am going to do my absolute best to share this with no spoilers! As I am not a fan of spoilers. This could leave parts of my review very vague as this is a hard story to explain while not giving anything away.

Pros first!

Tim Johnston’s writing is incredible. Pulling you into the story.

The Current is fast, exciting, thrilling. Keeps you on the edge of your seat want to know more and more. One of those hard to put down reads!

A handful of characters will steal your heart and you will find yourself rooting for them through the whole story. Perhaps even finding yourself defending them in situations they find themselves in. Which again leaves you wanting more just on those characters alone.

I also adore the relationships that exist in this book. Some are so heart warming and others were just starting and growing on you by the end of the book.

Now for the MINOR cons. And I can’t stress enough on the minor!

The Current starting right off with such an extreme fast pace, jumping from character to character and at times with very little information on the person or detail of the setting. This could become confusing at times. I found myself having to go back and re-read sections to be sure I didn’t miss anything crucial, or that I was understanding everything correctly. Each character was critical to the story and had huge meaning as it set the story up for what you would find out down the road.

I also found that some characters stories were lost and not completed by the end of the book. Nor did I feel that Audrey’s personal situation was completely fulfilled. But now that being said! To my knowledge this is a stand-alone read. Perhaps though it was being set up in a way that more could be added on in the future. I mean I could only hope for that as closing the book up had my brain going a million miles a minute, craving more.

As mentioned above, I do highly recommend this read. I feel any book lover that shows even a slight interest in the synopsis of this novel needs to run out and pick it up on release day!

Be sure to have your game face on when you jump in, as you will find yourself consumed and intertwined with the story!

Now for the GIVEAWAY:

Thomas Allen & Son has been so gracious to host a giveaway for this new release. Enter to win a hardback copy of The Current.

Giveaway Details:

* Canada Only (excl. Quebec—full rules found in the T&C on Rafflecopter)

* Giveaway begins on January 21st and ends on February 4th at 11:59 pm EST

* Winner will be chosen randomly

Click the rafflecopter link under photo below to enter!

Check out the rest of the blog tour, they are all so incredible:

Jan. 21 – Literary Treats
Jan. 22 – Mickey Reads
Jan. 23 – Fab Book Reviews
Jan. 24 – nichi.i_readpastmybedtime
Jan. 25 – Novelties

Thank you so incredibly much to Thomas Allen & Son for sending this gripping read my way, and for hosting such a generous giveaway.

Publisher: Algonquin Books

Release Date: January 22, 2019

And of course thank you all for reading!

Your Fellow Book Worm

– Nichole

thumbnail_img_0300 — Photo from my Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nichi.i_readpastmybedtime/

The Frame Up by Meghan Scott Molin

“Panel by panel, Crime by crime.”

MG Martin is the complete dream image of all female nerds… right down to the rocking purple hair.

MG lives that perfect geeky life, with the perfect geeky friends. She even works as a writer for the comic book company she lived for growing up.

One day in the highly active city of Los Angeles someone recreates a crime scene from MG’s most adored comic book, leaving the well-known calling card of a golden arrow from her favourite comic hero.

MG soon becomes the LAPD’s secret weapon to helping them solve the case.

Suave detective Kildaire and MG make the perfect team.

Although MG doesn’t always follow the rules and may take matters into her own hands. Getting herself into a heap of trouble.

“By day she writes comic books. By night, she lives them.”

“You may proceed. To the station, Alfred.”

5 out of 5 stars

Heck YES!

The Frame Up was the most exciting, colorful, vibrant read.

Starting my 2019 with a wham!

MG is the coolest nerdy rebel EVER! She is extremely relatable in every way possible. Such a strong personality, knows exactly who she is, but also doesn’t know exactly where she wants to go in life. She truly is a character everyone needs in their lives… geek or not.

And detective Kildaire, is such a dream. He knows what he wants and he is going to make sure he gets exactly that. All while saving the world!….. But also…who doesn’t love a man in costume, or shall I say uniform.

These two make the most terrific team.

The Frame Up needs to be on everyone shelves. Let’s be honest, there is a little nerd in all of us, and Meghan’s fantastic writing will prove just that!

“To the police car!”

Thank you so incredibly much to Thomas Allen Ltd. for sending this unbelievable read my way.

Publisher: 47 North

Release Date: December 1, 2018

And of course thank you all for reading!

Your Fellow Atomic Book Worm

– Nichole

thumbnail_img_0119 — Photo from my Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nichi.i_readpastmybedtime/

Daughters Of The Lake by Wendy Webb

“The clues to a century-old murder lie in one woman’s dreams.”

Kate Granger’s marriage has fallen apart.

In desperate need to get away and piece herself back together, she fleas to her parents home on Lake Superior.

Only things don’t get easier for Kate while she’s back home.

Shortly after she gets settled in, a body of a murdered women washes up into the shallows and she’s not alone. Wrapped up in her vintage gown is a baby, just as calm and at peace as her mother.

No one can identify this women and her child. Expect for Kate, to scared to tell anyone. But she has seen her before!… In her dreams…

“The ghosts of the past come calling in a spellbinding heart-stopper from the “Queen of Northern Gothic.”

5 out of 5 stars

Wow! What a way to end my 2018!

Honestly that’s all I feel I need to say! I think saying that speaks for itself. But the passion I now have for this book…. I won’t be able to stop talking about it for years to come.

Daughters Of The Lake was incredible and impossible to put down. Truly one of a kind.

I feel embarrassed to admit I have never read anything by Wendy Webb before, but she has now gained a new dedicated fan. Her writing is absolutely brilliant and needs to be on everyone’s shelves.

Throughout reading Daughters Of The Lake I felt as if it was based on a true story. It is just way to descriptive not to feel real. This all made sense while reading the acknowledgements. Wendy mentions how often people ask if her books are based on real life people. She goes on to say that the answer is no, not entirely. She uses snippets of conversations or a description here and there. But that at times she can identify one of her characters as being exactly like someone she knows.

I can sense Wendy’s warmth and passion for writing, truly stunning.

Highly recommend. If you are a book lover this is definitely one to add to your list to pick up this year.

Thank you so incredibly much to Thomas Allen Ltd. for sending this fascinating read my way.

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Release Date: November 1, 2018

And of course thank you all for reading!

Your Fellow Book Worm

– Nichole

thumbnail_IMG_0077 — Picture from my Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nichi.i_readpastmybedtime/