[Review]* The Unquiet Past by Kelley Armstrong

Summary:

You can only hide from the truth for so long.

Tess has always been tormented by waking visions that make her question her sanity. When the orphanage she lives in burns down, she decides to face her fears and find out once and for all what is wrong with her. She believes the truth must lie with her parents, and so, armed with only an address and phone number, Tess travels to a crumbling mansion in rural Quebec, where she discovers evidence of mistreatment of mental patients. She also makes an unlikely ally and gradually unearths her family’s sad history—and finally accepts the truth about her paranormal powers.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 264 pages (Paperback)

Available Formats: Print/E-book/E-Audiobook/Audiobook CD

Source: Toronto Public Library

Publication Date: September 29th 2015 by Orca Book Publishers

Kelley Armstrong is one of my turn to authors when I'm in a bit of a slump so when I saw that she had released this one last year I had to read it. I didn't get to it until January of this year and it's a shame that it's taken me this long to write the review for it. 

I picked this one up because I was in a slump and wanted to read one of her YA titles but wasn't really in the mood to go right into one of her many YA series at the time. The Unquiet Past is set in a series but the series is comprised of each book in it being written by different authors. It was perfect for what I wanted so as soon as I got it from the library I started reading it and wouldn't you know it, I was done the same day. Because of the nature of the book I'm going to have to be a little vague so I don't give any big spoilers away. 

The Unquiet Past is different from her other novels in that it's a standalone (she has some but she is a serious series writer). I thought the setting was great, It's set here in Canada (rural Quebec) and in 1964 which is a pretty clear departure from her other stuff, but it was refreshing to see this side of her writing. I wouldn't say that it's clear cut in what genre it fits in but if I best had to describe it it would be a historical young adult mystery with a touch of the paranormal to it. If I had to describe it in one word I'd say gothic.

Tess is a really good character and I liked her right from the beginning. She's spent her whole life in an orphanage in Hope, Ontario and all she wants to do is be free and find out who she really is and why she's being plagued with visions on top of being an orphan. The poor girl really couldn't catch a break. I thought she was really well written, she was smart, witty and a little naive at the same time which made her believable to me. I thought she was quite spunky too and I liked how she was relentless in her pursuit to find out her history, even when it meant travelling alone in rural areas and finding a house (and a curmudgeon of a teenage boy) that held evidence that it used to be a sort of asylum and a wee bit of a ghost/spectre problem.

Then there's the Curmudgeon also known as Jackson a Metis boy who is just a bit older than Tess. He's also looking for answers to something (I'm not telling you what!) and he reluctantly and rudely agrees to help Tess on her quest for answers. I liked him, but I did find his grumbling a bit off putting after awhile. At the same time though he did balance out Tess and her optimism and he brought a levelheadedness to the story and their search so he did play a big role and fill in areas that were needed.

I thought the overall writing of the book was fast paced, and very mysterious. I never knew what was going to happen next and that's what really kept me reading further. There was definitely an air of the paranormal to it that brought a bit of an eerie feeling to the story, especially when they found out what the mansion used to be used for and all that ensued in that strange old place. I thought the way that the author described the scenes was great, I could really see my self standing with Jackson and Tess, watching things unfold in front of my eyes. It was really cool to be able to be transported like that it was almost as if I could smell the smell of old stale house while I was reading it. I loved that about it and the characters were well written. 

However that's not to say that the book was perfect. My biggest gripe with it was I felt a bit rushed. I think the characters as good as they were could have been expanded on a bit as well as the story itself. If it were given another 30 to 50 pages to really delve more into the history of the house I'd have like it more. It wasn't a huge detriment to the story but I did feel slightly rushed hence the 3.5 star rating instead of a 4 star rating. 

I would recommend this one to fans of Kelley Armstrong, readers who enjoy young adult fiction that is a mix of mystery with a touch of the paranormal and people looking for a read that gives off an eerie vibe when you're reading it. I would advise thought that this is one of the books were things do not wrap themselves up in a pretty bow for you in the end. It leaves you with questions and lets think about the story long after you finish reading it. 

Really Liked It!

★★★ 1/2

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An Ode To Canada (My Favourite Canadian Books)

Well, it is officially Canada's 149th Birthday today and I thought why not do a blog post celebrating some awesome books that take place in this beautiful country of mine. These are just a few of the books that take place in Canada and are, written by Canadians (whether by birth or by immigrating here). When I think of Canadian books these are the ones that come to mind for me because they are my favourites. I hope this post convinces you to give at least one of these Canadian books a try, and if you have read one of these (or more) tell me what you thought about it. To my fellow Canadians reading this, I hope you all have a safe and happy Canada day. 

 Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery  Set in Prince Edward Island this is one that I recommend to older and younger readers alike. Also, it's written by a Canadian as well.

Summary:

"She'll have to go back." Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert had decided to adopt an orphan. They wanted a nice sturdy boy to help Matthew with the farm chores. The orphanage sent a girl instead - a mischievous, talkative redhead who the Cuthberts thought would be no use at all. But as soon as Anne arrived at the snug, white farmhouse called Green Gables, she knew she wanted to stay forever. And the longer Anne stayed, the harder it was for anyone to imagine Green Gables without her.

Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache#1) by Louise Penny 

This is a  cozy mystery novel set in a tiny fictional village of Quebec and written by a fellow Torontonian. If you like your mysteries slower paced, cozy but still intriguing I recommend it.

Summary:

Winner of the New Blood Dagger, Arthur Ellis, Barry, Anthony, and Dilys awards.
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montréal and yet a world away. Jane Neal, a long-time resident of Three Pines, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are certain it's a tragic hunting accident and nothing more but Gamache smells something foul this holiday season…and is soon certain that Jane died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bowhunter.
With this award-winning first novel, Louise Penny introduces an engaging hero in Inspector Gamache, who commands his forces--and this series--with power, ingenuity, and charm.

 

 Damaged (Kate Lange #1) by Pamela Callow

This one is just a great all around thriller. I loved how gritty it was and how engrossing of a read it was. I also loved that it was set in Halifax, Nova Scotia and written by a Nova Scotian.

Summary: 

Haunted by the death of her sister and wounded by her ex-fiancé's accusations, Kate Lange throws herself into her new career at a high-powered law firm.
When the grandmother of a lonely private school student seeks her counsel, Kate thinks it's just another custody case. But then the teen is brutally murdered. And it isn't only Kate who wonders if her legal advice led to the girl's death.
Put on notice by Randall Barrett, the firm's charismatic managing partner, Kate must fight for her career, for her reputation—and for redemption.
Unwilling to live with the damage she may have caused, Kate pursues the case on her own and unearths some chilling facts.
Facts that lead straight to the heart of a legal conspiracy.
Facts that lead Kate directly into the surgically skilled hands of the Body Butcher.

 A Private Man (Max Dexter #1) by Chris Laing

Set in Hamilton, Ontario in 1947 and written by a native Hamiltonian this is a smaller press book that I absolutely loved for the authentic feel the author's voice gave this historical mystery. I recommend it for everyone loving mysteries set in the 40s.

Summary:

In 1947, World War II veteran and former lawman Max Dexter opens his own detective agency in Hamilton, Ontario. Max and his assistant Isabel O'Brien are on the case from murder to money laundering and organized crime.

 Except the Dying (Detective Murdoch #1) by Maureen Jennings

This one is set here in my home town of Toronto in 1895 and is written by a a British Ex-Pat. It's a fantastic historical mystery that really brings the era and the city to life. This is also the series that the TV show is based on (a show which I love!) but be warned this is not exactly like the show but both are fantastic.

Summary:

In the cold Toronto winter of 1895, the naked body of a servant girl is found frozen in a deserted laneway. The young victim was pregnant when she died. Detective William Murdoch soon discovers that many of those connected with the girl’s life have secrets to hide. Was her death an attempt to cover up a scandal in one of the city’s influential families?

 Creatures of the Rock by Andrew Peacock

This one is written by an Ontario native but chronicles (hilariously I might add), his life as a veterinarian in Newfoundland. It reminded me of James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small and is one I recommend to any animal lover.

Summary:

When Andrew Peacock made the move from Ontario to Newfoundland, he thought he was kicking off his career as a newly qualified veterinarian with an adventure in a temporary location. It was certainly an adventure--a whole series of adventures--but there was nothing temporary about it. He practiced in Newfoundland for nearly 30 years and is still living there. In fact, he has lived there so long, the locals are starting to think of him as one of them.
Creatures of the Rock chronicals a career spent working with and getting to know a rich variety of animals and their owners, on farms, in homes and in the wild. Andrew was the only vet for miles around. A day of practice could include anything from a Caesarian section on a cow in a blizzard to freeing a humpback whale from a trap designed for cod to capturing a polar bear after its surprise visit to a bingo parlor. And, on the human side, anything from trying to impress a surpringly large audience of farmers with your first boar castration, to taking care of a family just as well as its stricken cat, to discouraging farm hands from helping themselves to hypodermic needles. All this against the background of a domestic scene in which Andrew's wife Ingrid--also freshly qualified, as a doctor--shares the adventure of making a new life, and in due course of starting a family.
Told in a series of brief, endlessly engaging stories, Creatures of the Rock is a funny, thrilling, unflinching but ultimately heartwarming narrative about the connections between people and animals, and people with each other. 

  

Author Guest Post: Genevieve Graham

 

 

Genevieve Graham graduated from the University of Toronto in 1986 with a Bachelor of Music in Performance (playing the oboe). While on a ski vacation in Alberta, she met her future husband in a chairlift lineup and subsequently moved to Calgary to be with him. They have recently settled in a small, peaceful town in Nova Scotia with their two beautiful daughters. Writing became an essential part of Genevieve’s life a few years ago, when she began to write. She has four titles in stores now, Under the Same Sky, Sound of the Heart, Somewhere to Dream and her newest title, Tides of Honour. 

 

Guest Post:

 

Ah, spring. It's taken a long, long time to get to Nova Scotia this year. For a while I was afraid we'd still be digging out of snowdrifts come July. But fortunately, like the tides, seasons are one thing we can always count on, and my heart is a little lighter now that I can look outside my window and watch robins bob along the grass, pulling out unsuspecting worms. The grass is trying to green up, the trees are pushing out buds as hard as they can. People are walking, breathing in the fresh air, celebrating the fact that they are wearing neither winter coats nor snow boots. The other day one of my neighbours stopped by and joked, “What ever will we talk about now that the snow is gone?” That's how long a winter we had. But now that life is starting to sprout from the ground again, people are pausing outside to talk, listen to stories and tell their own. Everyone has stories. My backyard is full of them.  

 

I love writing historical fiction, and until now I've written about countries far from my own. Then I discovered an amazing story … right here in my backyard. Well, not really my yard, but my city. Almost a hundred years ago exactly, Halifax was flattened in a single moment by the Halifax Explosion, the largest manmade explosion until Hiroshima. Fifteen hundred people died, hundreds more were blinded by shattered glass, and over eight thousand were left homeless. Most of those people were women and children, since the men were overseas fighting in their own kind of hell. Some of the soldiers had come back from the Front Line before the Explosion, already torn apart by what they'd experienced across the sea. My character, Danny Baker, was quite literally shredded when shrapnel took part of his leg. When he was shipped home, he was no longer the man he'd been. He couldn't physically do anything he'd done before, and he was haunted by memories of the battlefield. 

 

But he was still a man. As I was writing his story, he met Audrey, a lonely, artistic woman living on a broken down farm in France with her disapproving grandmother. In Audrey, Danny saw hope. In Danny, Audrey saw the same thing, but for different reasons. He needed her to anchor his sanity after the nightmare of war, and she needed him to free her from a dull life. 

 

Hope. A simple word, but one which offers so many possibilities. Would their hopes and dreams come true? Could they survive what curve balls life was going to throw their way? Would they live up to each other's expectations? What would they have to do, to sacrifice so they could hang onto that hope? Because when life and chance are unkind, often hope is all we have left. We will do what it takes to keep it alive. 

 

Writing this book was an emotional experience for me. Danny's PTSD became a whole different anchor from the one he needed, and it took ahold of my mind as well. Audrey's desperate need to help him, to save them both, broke my heart. The tides of their lives carried me to the depths and back to the shore, and if I were to properly tell their story I had to let my mind roll with the waves. Yes, I know, terrible metaphors, but they're all part of the story. 

 

One of the many things I learned while writing this was that we don't need to look outside our own world to write moving, fascinating historicals. Many of us might have slept through history class (please tell me I'm not alone in that!) but if you can just get past the boring date/names memorization stuff and let yourself imagine what it might have been like if you'd been there, if someone in your family tree had experienced these things, it can be amazing. I remember learning about the Plains of Abraham in high school, but it meant nothing to me. The novel I'm working on now starts with the Acadian Expulsion (another incredible Canadian story I'd never learned about in school) and takes us all the way through to the Plains of Abraham, which I now realize was a thrilling point in our history. Wouldn't it be great if high schools would integrate well written, informed historical fiction into their high school lessons? Wouldn't it be great if kids didn't feel the need to sleep through class anymore? I'd love to have fallen in love with history back then.  

 

Ah well. It's never too late.  

 

 

I'd like to thank Genevieve for taking the time to do this guest post as she is in the middle of her book tour, and be sure to check back tomorrow for my review of Tides of Honour.

 

 

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The Goddaughter by Melodie Campbell

 

Summary:

 

Gina Gallo is a gemologist who would like nothing better than to run her little jewelry shop. Unfortunately she's also "the Goddaughter," and, as she tells her new friend Pete, "you don't get to choose your relatives." And you can't avoid them when you live in Hamilton and they more or less run the place. When Gina bumps into Pete at the Art Gallery Gala, sparks fly. So do bullets, when her cousin Tony is taken down by rival mobsters from New York. It turns out Tony was carrying a load of hot gems in the heel of his shoe. When Gina is reluctantly recruited to carry the rocks back to Buffalo, the worst happens: they get stolen. Pete and Gina have no choice but to steal them back, even though philandering politicians, shoe fetishists, and a trio of inept goons stand in their way. It's all in a day's work, when you're the Goddaughter.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 134 pages (Paperback)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Available Formats: Print/E-book

Publication Date: September 1st 2012 by Raven Books

 

Back in March I had the opportunity to hear Melodie Campbell read at a local event and was lucky enough to find that the Toronto library had one of her books in the system when I looked  a couple of days later, and finally had the time to read it last month.

 

This was everything Melodie said her books would be. It was funny, quirky, had a mix of romance and a touch of mystery with good characters and a funny plot. This one had me laughing at least ninety percent of the time that I was reading it but I had a smile on my face the other ten percent.

 

I really liked Gina, she's the Goddaughter of a mafia boss and along with her love interest Pete got roped into helping "the family" do a job that involved border crossings, prostitutes, diamond smuggling, hot shoes and a little bit of murder. It might seem like there was a lot going on in this slim 134 page paperback and there was but the author did a good job of putting everything together to make a pretty damn good story.

 

I thought it was fast paced and well written but I like how the book didn't take itself to seriously. If you want something that will make you think as you read, this one might not be fore you because it was so fun. You aren't going to find a lot of character depth, or an iron clad plot but I've read much, much worse, and consider this one of the best little novellas I've read.

 

It was my first time reading a book by Melodie Campbell and it won't be my last because I loved how part of the story is set in Canada and that Melodie is a Canadian writer. I had so much fun reading this one that I'm adding her to my auto-buy list and I can't wait to read more from her.

 

I'd recommend this one to anyone looking for a quick and fun read. Whether you need a break from reading a heavier tome, or you just need something to read at the doctors, on vacation or just something to get you into reading or back into reading. It has a little something for everyone and reminds us that there are great authors out there using humour to make us readers love their stories.

 

 

Really Liked It!
★★★★

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*[Blog Tour Review & Giveaway] Milk Fever by Lissa M. Cowan

 

Summary:

 

In 1789, Armande, a wet nurse who is known for the mystical qualities of her breast milk, goes missing. Céleste, a cunning servant girl who Armande once saved from shame and starvation, sets out to find her. A snuffbox found in the snow, the unexpected arrival of a gentleman and the discovery of the wet nurse’s diary, deepen the mystery. Using Armande’s diary as a map to her secret past, Céleste fights to save her from those plotting to steal the wisdom of her milk. Milk Fever is a rich and inspired tale set on the eve of the French Revolution- a delicious peek into this age s history. The story explores the fight for women/s rights and the rise in clandestine literature laying bare sexuality, the nature of love and the magic of books to transform lives.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 262 pages (Paperback)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Available Formats: Print/E-book

Publication Date: October 18th 2013 by Demeter Press

 

 When I first got the invitation for Milk Fever I had no idea it was written by a Canadian author until later when I googled Lissa M. Cowan and that is what made me sign up for the tour since I'm all about promoting Canadian authors, plus I've grown rather fond of historical fiction set in France so how could I resist?

I really enjoyed the way that the author told Celeste's story which was intertwined with that of her best friend, the nursemaid Armande who along with her father took in the young Celeste and taught her to read, write and most importantly use her mind in an era where intelligent women were frowned upon. I thought it was very interesting that she touched on the political undertones of the time with the French Revolution brewing in the background.

I also really enjoyed Celeste and Armande's characters. They were very different but were very well written and they seemed so close they were almost like sisters in many of the ways that they interacted with one another. I envy the bond that they have and found them to be very well developed and I enjoyed they're backstories very much. I also thought that the whole idea of Armande going missing was a good one though since I don't want to give anything away I'm going to refrain from mentioning any of the events that happen after she disappears, that my friends you'll just have to find out what Celeste is willing to do to find her beloved friend. I will say however, that she pulled out all the stops and used what meager resources she had to rise above her station as a meager peasant through the use of reading and writing.

Captivating and engrossing, I thought Milk Fever was a very well researched, well written novel that transported me to the late 1700's and had me reading late into the night in order to find out what would happen next.

I would recommend Milk Fever to any and all fans of historical fiction especially historical fiction set in France with a likable set of characters and an equally strong plot.

Really Enjoyed It!
★★★★

 

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 Giveaway:
 

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Always Emily by Mary Sullivan

 

Summary:

 

This time, it has to be forever.

Emily Jordan has been in and out of Salem Pearce's life for years. As an archaeologist, her work often took her far away even when he asked her to stay. She called it bad timing. He called it running away. Now she's back and asking for one last chance.

But Salem is a single father with more than himself to think about. If he gives Emily another shot and she takes off again, it'll hurt his daughters, too. He can't take that risk. But deep down, he needs Emily. He always has. Maybe this time she'll stay.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 384 pages (Mass Market Paperback)

Source: Review Copy

Available Formats: Print/E-book

Expected Publication Date: May 6th 2014 by Harlequin

 

Last month I had the pleasure of being contacted by Mary Sullivan to review her book and we got to meet at a local author/reader event that is held bi-monthly for Canadian writers and talk for a few minutes before she handed over the goods (the book) which I may or may not have ferreted away in my purse, eagerly anticipating my chance to read it. Which by the way happened the other day.

 

Always Emily was my first read by Mary Sullivan but it won't be my last by a long shot. Set in a small town there's that sense of homecoming which I often find in settings like this and for Emily it truly was homecoming. She's decided to give up Archaeology and return to her roots, and to her childhood crush Salem.

 

I loved Emily's character to bits. She was real, honest, and selfless. Her heart was so big it just made me like her more especially after what she does to help a group of young women do. What did she help with you might ask? Well you'll just have to read the book to find out for yourself.   I think what I loved most was that she stopped running from her past and used her past experiences to benefit others even though she had to over come a lot of things like bullying when she was a teen and she had to deal with a horribly unfaithful ex who just happened to sort of be her boss on the archaeological digs she worked on. In the beginning I was a little worried that this might be a bit of a love triangle between she, and the two men in her life but I needn't have worried since she smartened up, grew a backbone and said "See Ya!" to her ex. Unfortunately for her, he like all bullies hated not being in control and decided to screw things up for her in a big way. Never fear though because Salem, even after all these years still came to her rescue.

 

Salem, he was our tall, dark and handsome hero who wasn't much of a talker, but boy oh boy did he love his daughters, his old man and his Emily. He's proud of his Ute heritage and he's proud of how far he's come as a man. He had his girls young, and he was in love with Emily when he married their mother who has since died of an overdose. He's conflicted about his feelings and I wasn't all to sure about him for much of the book because of how standoffish he was with Emily. He was scared she'd leave and go back to Archaeology and break his heart and his daughters which I get. However, I didn't like that Emily had no right to want things. He moved on with his life before so I found it kind of unfair of him to treat her like she wasn't allowed to live life if he wasn't in it before. In the end though, after certain circumstances came to light I really came to care about Salem and like him.

 

As a couple I thought that Emily and Salem really balanced each other out. He was always looking for peace, but Emily is the exact opposite she's always on the move and full of energy and she has the uncanny ability to bring grumpy Salem out of his shell along with the help of his daughters who Emily absolutely adores. I loved the chemistry between them and thought that they were perfect for each other, which they figured out for themselves in the end.

 

I loved the romance of Always Emily. Mary Sullivan wrote a lovely contemporary romance novel that brought to mind Robyn Carr's Virgin River series. This had a little bit of drama, romance, and an amazing cast of side characters that we actually got to know which for me is a rare commodity in many Harlequin SuperRomance titles. I especially loved Salem's daughter Aiyana, she played a huge role in this novel and I thought it was great that she along with her sister were used properly in the story and not as props. I also liked Cody, who was Emily's younger brother a lot because of how he helped Aiyana out of a rough situation and it seems like there was a definite spark between the two that has me wishing that Mary would write a romance for them next.

 

Full of substance, laughter, drama, a fantastic plot and a perfect romance this one was a home run for me and I can't wait to read more of Mary's romances in the near future because if they're anything like Always Emily, then she's found her new number one fan.

 

I would recommend Always Emily to all fans of Harlequin SuperRomances, contemporary romances set in small towns and those looking for a romance that has a great plot, and a second chance love story.

 

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

 

 

Loved It!
★★★★★

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