eI 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.

I have been consumed with so many life tasks lately that I haven't been posting, but I have been reading! I haven't stopped any of my challenges and now that I am off for vacation, it is time to catch up!

Reese Witherspoon caught my attention on Instagram one day advertising her new Book Club selection. All she had to say was "there was a murder" and I was hooked. Well actually, the cover drew my attention too. The yellow colour and the picturesque country scene, was so appealing to me right now with spring around the corner in Toronto.

I ordered Hall's book one day while on break from work, using mostly all of my Indigo points and sat down in my car and dug in reading. Honestly? This book flew directly to my top ten favourites list, of all time. The romance story in Broken Country had me swooning, I was all in from the first chapter. The emotions in Hall's story are so rich and true, warm and tragic; my heart was melting onto the pages. The main character Beth was so human, a real woman, she gave into her passions, loved with all her being, felt heart break, loss, struggle and sacrifice; I could really see myself in her.

​The last several chapters had me gasping as Hall slowly began to unravel the truth of the murder that happened in chapter one. Swirling a love triangle around a murder was an absolutely delicious plot. I never expected the ending, and it was so much more incredible, deep and meaningful, than anything my imagination could have ever created.

Thank you Hall for writing a new favourite of Dawn Rodger!