DRB Reviews...Still Life by Louise Penny

Firstly, I can't believe as a lover of Agatha Christie and mystery/crime/thriller books, and being a Canadian, I haven't read Penny earlier than now! I have had her first three books on my bookshelf for years. As a new member of The Crime Writers of Canada, I thought it was about time I dug into her books. After all, I follow Penny on socials and noticed she recently had an invitation to visit King Charles! With everything going on in the U.S., Penny also boycotted American events and relocated them to Canada; I have huge respect for this.

I have fallen in love after reading Still Life. Penny's writing is so descriptive, in  a simplistic way, but she provides so much real depth into her characters and scenery. All I can say after reading Still Life is that I want to move to Quebec and settle in the town of Three Pines, forever.

I was telling my husband about the book and he said he had watched the television series and loved it. There is a television series? Hello...tv binge watching this summer! I adored the Canadian elements to the story as it made everything so relatable for me, "Gamache caught the unmistakable fragrance of Tim Horton's coffee in cardboard cups..." I know this smell well.

Being as I only have three of Penny's books, I will be hitting the local library to read the rest of her books, until I can buy and build up my collection for my own personal library. Penny's books is a must have collection for any Canadian book lover.
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DRB Reviews...The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

I have been listening to this book on audible while I do my chores, and while I drive. It has changed my way of thinking and will change my life for the better.

For a person who is a chronic over thinker, with anxiety...it has been a game changer for me. I am completely obsessed with this theory. Why? Simply because Robbins is helping to rewire my mindset. 

I suffer with PTSD from domestic abuse. It is mostly resting now as a result of a happy life, but trauma has ways of resurfacing.  Trauma manifests in many forms: anxiety, sleep disturbances, digestive issues, grief, fear...this can all lead to clutter of the mind. One of the reasons I love to read is because it provides a perfect escapism. But 'stuff' needs to be dealt with when it bubbles to the surface, and I am aware that I try to deal with it by micro-managing it all. Seeking control is my way of curing the hypervigilance. 

Robbins has reinforced that we are only in control of ourselves, and that taking the approach of 'let them', is a freedom we deserve to experience. An exhaled reminder of relief to live our life in peace.

PTSD sweeps in and overtakes the senses and thoughts whenever it wants, and it always takes a toll on our emotions. The 'Let me' theory is a way of regaining my own power over my emotions, thoughts and actions; taking charge of my own happiness.

I must purchase a hard copy of this book so that I can continue to review the theory when in need most. "Let Them" is a must read and my top non-fiction recommendation so far this year.
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DRB Reviews... The Only One Left by Riley Sager

I have had this book on my bookshelf for almost a year. I had forgotten all about buying it. It wasn't until I decided my home library needed a new reorg, alphabetizing my books, that I rediscovered it. I began reading it that evening.

The twists of this book have left me speechless. I thought I knew 'who dunnit' and had it 'pegged' about half way through...boy was I wrong! As always, no spoilers in any of my reviews, but you really won't find out what is going on until the very last page. How thrilling is that?

I carried this book in my purse everywhere I went, so that I could take every opportunity of 'spare time' to read it. I felt like I was hanging on threads the entire time...always questioning, gasping often as pages turned and new things were revealed. I pre-ordered Sager's latest release called "With a Vengeance" and it arrived yesterday. I think I finished "The Only One Left" just in time.
​Phew...excitedly, I think I am onto another fast-paced humdinger!
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DRB Reviews...The Ministry of Time

Firstly, I am a devote member of Book of the Month. I love getting my message on the first day of every month, that the new books have dropped. I love the selections and often times will choose a book that is not in my favourite genres of mystery and thrillers, to try something new, and "go outside the box" so to speak. 

I really enjoy dystopian story-lines, and am a huge fan of sci-fi. I love Star Trek and Battle Star Galactica. Funny though, I am learning I am not a fan of fantasy, especially in books.  I attempted the Red Rising series and just couldn't get into it. 

When I saw The Ministry of Time I thought this would stretch my typical reading genres, and it seemed to tick a few different boxes that I seem to like: dystopian, sci-fi with time travel and a bit of romance. Unfortunately, I am finding I dislike this book. I have gotten half way through and simply can't go on. This is a shame, but I still can't get into the characters. I am at a loss still of what is going on as well. There are some new vocabulary words that I happily enjoyed googling the dictionary meanings, but all of a sudden there were too many and I was losing an understanding of the plot.

I thought last night, I must finish this so I can write a good review. Then I started pondering...do I always have to write a good review? Do I have to even finish a book I don't like? Perhaps if I keep reading, it will then "make sense" and things will click into place and in the end I will say "what an interesting read." But, not today. 

DRB Reviews...Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

​I follow a group on Facebook called Psychological Thriller Readers, and I see repeatedly people posting about this book called Hidden Pictures. Last summer I decided to stop at Chapters and pick it up. I never got around to reading it.

Hidden Pictures has been popping up again lately on many of my social feeds, so I decided, since I’m on vacation, I’m going to go find it on my book shelf and start it as so many people have been raving that it's a great thriller!

Ok everyone…I read it in less than 24 hours! I got to page 24 and it became a game changer! I stopped breathing when I saw the artwork. (You will see what I mean if you read it!) It was a huge moment of startled fear…thinking what the heck? Is this a book I want to read? I was legitimately afraid. It took me all of five seconds to decide, yes, yes this is exactly a book a NEED to read, lol! And I dove back in, hungrily!

I quickly told everyone, well all my immediate family members, about this book I was reading because that is just how excited I was. Did they want to hear about it? Nope. I told them anyway! I stayed up WAY too late to finish this book. 

Rekulak made it a smooth and easy read, simple and fluid. But the content? No spoilers here, it was completely delicious. I don’t think I have ever wanted to read a book so fast; I just had to understand what was happening!

The best ghost story I have ever read! Six stars out of five my friends.

How will I sleep tonight?

DRB Reviews...Anna O by Matthew Blake

I took a class in university, "Psychology 101" and found it quite interesting. Since I was studying music as my major, this was obviously an elective, but the course did open my eyes. I learned about Anna O, properly known as Bertha Pappenheim, and how this one woman influenced Sigmund Freud. She was diagnosed with hysteria, which might today be a dissociative or somatic disorder or  she might have been suffering from a neurological disorder. Anna O's case was important in the development of psychoanalysis. 

When I saw the fictional novel entitled Anna O by Matthew Blake, it peaked my interest. If nothing else, it had to be a good psychological thriller right? So, I was drawn to read it.

I read Anna O methodically, chapter by chapter each evening before bet. The story line was captivating, and I felt the need to keep reading to seek the truth. As I dove further in, I realized all is not what it seems, and I became obsessed. I pushed forth to the ending, faster and faster, reading until I could not evade sleep any longer. The ending left me speechless...I couldn't read fast enough, it spiralled to a closure I completely didn't expect, and caught me out with the second largest curve ball I have experienced reading a book. The first and greatest curve ball of all time was when I read the "The Silent Patient." 

Anna O is honestly one of the best psychological thrillers I have read in a very long time. The deep, dark recesses of the mind were exposed here, and Blake kept the focus on the good and evil parts of the mind and mental health. I have to leave my review with this one quote from Sigmund Freud himself:
"The virtuous man contents himself with dreaming that which the wicked man does in actual life."  

Anna O is a must read!

DRB Reviews Reckless Girls...

​This is my letter R from my alphabet challenge!

I picked this book up at the thrift store one day and simply liked the summery cover. I am sure I read the synopsis before buying it, but I forgot what the book was about. I included it in my alphabet challenge because it had been sitting in my TBR pile for way too long. When I chose to read the letter R next, I decided to just open the book and discover the story, without reviewing the synopsis. This was the best decision I could have ever made because I flew into the unknown every time I turned the page.

Hawkins did not disappoint. Do you know when you are super sad to finish a book and you close it thinking, agh now what am I going to do with myself?  Reckless Girls was definitely one of those books. I was invested. Perhaps this is because I could relate with the main character so much. I know what it means to have huge loss, and to want to be whisked away and live in the "after" and not the "before." The joy to find someone to love and simply throw yourself into the relationship and just go with the flow; its whimsical thinking but perhaps glorious living.

Hawkins created a page turner that is for sure! I couldn't wait to read another page and my life seemed to be getting in the way. I think the next time I pick up a Hawkins novel, I am going to wait until I have a lot of time on my hands, so I can devour it in one sitting!

DRB Reviews...
Here is letter V for my alphabet challenge! I had some minor surgery and decided to choose The Villa as my next alphabet challenge read; mainly because it was my only pocket size paper back within my twenty-six books, and would be easy to carry around to and from the hospital. But, secondly, I chose it because spring is in the air and I loved the lemons on the cover!

This is my first Hawkins novel, and I became consumed by the story very quickly. I bought The Villa simply because the title began with the letter V, and it completed my challenge. What a genuinely sweet surprise to have enjoyed it as much as I have. The captions "Friends...or Frenemies?", "An Italian Villa with a murderous past", "A Secret Hidden in the Walls" and "Will the Villa claim another victim before the summer ends?" They all had me hooked! I truthfully did not want to put it down! I carted this book everywhere I went, and would steal whatever time I could to devour more of it. 

Hawkins had two story lines running simultaneously and its the first time in a long time I have enjoyed both stories so much that I was waiting with anticipation for the next transition. I often find novels that have two different sets of character plots, one tends to fall a little flatter than the other. But Hawkins did not disappoint me, the characters in both stories were so intriguing. (And she linked them brilliantly!) The Villa reminded me why I love reading...to get lost in a story, deep inside it's pages. I so needed to get lost for awhile. Thank you Hawkins, for catapulting me to a faraway place, and helping to take away reality for a bit.

I love listening to audio books while going on walks. I most especially love non-fiction. I searched on Audible's library for books about ASD and found Aspergirls, Empowering Females with Asperger Syndrome.

Ever since my eldest daughter was in grade three, I had a suspicion that she had Aspergers. She had many of the symptoms, but because she was young and female, many professionals didn't agree with me; boys present so differently from girls. She was diagnosed with ADHD, GAD and giftedness. But these identifications didn't explain her sensory overload.

Simone's book opened my mind and blew me away! Each chapter outlined my daughters struggles in life...the book might as well have been written about my daughter! Aspergirls described problems she experienced with bullying, prescriptions medications, social loneliness and relationships.

This is the most valuable book I could have read this year. Simone, thank you for teaching me that Aspergers is not psychological but neurological. Thank you for teaching a neurotypical mom how to understand her child best. Although my daughter is 22 years old, and no longer a child, her disability is still very child-like; and after all, my daughter will always be my little girl in my heart. Simone taught me that Aspergers is truly a unique and special gift and I am so blessed to have such a unique and special daughter. Thank you for giving me new perspectives, a new lense on how to see ASD.

My wonderful husband bought this book for me for Christmas. I told him I wanted it months before and he remembered! It didn't fit into any of my 2025 book challenges so I simply added a new one...Free Reads! 

I was so attracted to the cover as firstly I love thrift store shopping and secondly, love the idea of second chances! This was such a cute, witty and enjoyable read. A lovely change from my usual thriller books. It had the feel of a "cozy romance" book but was more detailed and multifaceted, much like the layers of an onion. I loved peeling back each layer...each and every layer added a beautiful depth to the story line.

The story was about a woman named Gwen who lost her job and decided to volunteer at a second hand store to fill up her time on her now endless and open days. As Gwen's life intertwined with the other characters from the second hand shop, the author Bravo intertwined the stories of the objects found on the shelves and racks of the store. Slicing in separate little "chapters" of these wonderful thrift store finds. I was so enthralled in these little histories of the objects and how they made it from original owner to the store, it was a really neat addition to the main plot.

The little images drawn at the beginning of each chapter were details I also enjoyed. Bravo "The Second Chance Store", this book made me laugh and I am so grateful for this.