Canadian Historical Fiction Review: Letters Across the Sea by Genevieve Graham

Letters Across the Sea by Genevieve Graham

Published: April 27th, 2021

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre: Historical Fiction/Canadian Fiction/WWII Fiction

# of pages: 384

My rating: 5 stars

Acquired this book: From the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest consideration

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1933

At eighteen years old, Molly Ryan dreams of becoming a journalist, but instead she spends her days working any job she can to help her family through the Depression crippling her city. The one bright spot in her life is watching baseball with her best friend, Hannah Dreyfus, and sneaking glances at Hannah’s handsome older brother, Max.

But as the summer unfolds, more and more of Hitler’s hateful ideas cross the sea and “Swastika Clubs” and “No Jews Allowed” signs spring up around Toronto, a city already simmering with mass unemployment, protests, and unrest. When tensions between the Irish and Jewish communities erupt in a riot one smouldering day in August, Molly and Max are caught in the middle, with devastating consequences for both their families.

1939

Six years later, the Depression has eased and Molly is a reporter at her local paper. But a new war is on the horizon, putting everyone she cares about most in peril. As letters trickle in from overseas, Molly is forced to confront what happened all those years ago, but is it too late to make things right?

I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: Genevieve Graham is single-handedly bringing little-known aspects of Canadian history to light - and to life - through her thought-provoking, emotional, heartbreaking, beautiful books. After reading five of Graham’s books, I think it’s safe to say I’ve learned more about Canadian history from her than I ever did in school.

 

Letters Across the Sea illuminates yet another aspect of Canadian history I knew nothing about. Starting in Toronto, Ontario in the early 1930s, the Great Depression permeates every aspect of daily life. Jobs are hard to come by, people are working hard for little money, and families are going hungry. Add to that the hatred and antisemitism making their way around the globe, in large part thanks to Hitler and the rise of the Nazis, and tensions are running high across the city. People who were once friends and neighbours now have an ‘us versus them’ mentality, and there’s a rise in white supremacist and anti-Jewish hate groups. All of this culminates in the Christie Pits Riot, which tears apart families and friends, and changes life as Molly Ryan and Max Dreyfus know it. 

 

Told in alternating points of view between Molly and Max, we see things through the eyes of a young Protestant woman and her Jewish neighbour and lifelong friend, who’s also the older brother of her best friend. We see the hatred, fear, pain, and confusion experienced from both perspectives, along with the friendship and longing between the two. Nothing is ever the same for Molly and Max - or their families - after the riot.

 

Time passes and life moves on. The Depression continues, although things slowly improve. When war is declared, Max enlists, along with Molly’s brothers and many of their mutual friends. This leads into another little-known aspect of Canadian history: the Battle of Hong Kong in 1941, and Canadians being held in Japanese POW camps for years under horrendous conditions.

 

Like Graham’s other books, Letters Across the Sea wasn’t an easy read. It was painful - gut wrenching at times - but it was an incredible story about enduring love, bravery, tenacity, and hope. It was difficult reading about the horrible things people are capable of, and that pain was made sharper by the contrasts to today’s racial and religious tensions and injustices. It was a painful reminder that in many ways, things haven’t changed that much in the last 80-90 years. People were gathering for protests and marches back then the way they are now, and it’s easy to believe something like the Christie Pits Riot could happen today. Books like this are a reminder that we need to do better and there’s still a lot of work to do, despite the tireless work of many.

 

Graham’s wonderful, realistic characters and skillfully woven plot ensured Letters Across the Sea was yet another unforgettable read.

Have you read Letters Across the Sea or any of Genevieve Graham's other books? Do you enjoy books about lesser-known aspects of history?

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Contemporary Romance Review: Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron

Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron

Published: March 2nd, 2021

Publisher: Forever

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Forced proximity, fake engagement, friends-to-lovers

Heat rating: 🔥.5 (kissing + closed-door sex scenes)

# of pages: 384

My rating: 4 stars

Acquired this book: From the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest consideration

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Reena Manji doesn’t love her career, her single status, and most of all, her family inserting themselves into every detail of her life. But when caring for her precious sourdough starters, Reena can drown it all out. At least until her father moves his newest employee across the hall—with hopes that Reena will marry him.

But Nadim’s not like the other Muslim bachelors-du-jour that her parents have dug up. If the Captain America body and the British accent weren’t enough, the man appears to love eating her bread creations as much as she loves making them. She sure as hell would never marry a man who works for her father, but friendship with a neighbor is okay, right? And when Reena’s career takes a nosedive, Nadim happily agrees to fake an engagement so they can enter a couples video cooking contest to win the artisan bread course of her dreams.

As cooking at home together brings them closer, things turn physical, but Reena isn’t worried. She knows Nadim is keeping secrets, but it’s fine—secrets are always on the menu where her family is concerned. And her heart is protected… she’s not marrying the man. But even secrets kept for self preservation have a way of getting out, especially when meddling parents and gossiping families are involved. 

After seeing Accidentally Engaged everywhere for months, I was excited to dive into the story of a bread-baking Indian-Canadian woman and her fake engagement to a hot, British-accented, ‘brown Captain America’. I was especially excited the book was set in nearby Toronto, a city I’ve spent countless hours in throughout my life. Accidentally Engaged was funny, touching, romantic, and dealt with a lot of relatable, real-life issues.

I liked Reena so much. She wasn’t happy with her life - she hated working in finance but wasn’t sure what else to do; her meddling family drove her crazy; she’d had a string of unsuccessful relationships; and she had struggled with her mental health in the past. The only thing she truly loved was cooking, especially bread making. I really appreciated the fact Reena was in her thirties and was still figuring things out; she felt lost and uncertain and like everyone around her had their life together, which I think a lot of people can relate to. When she began to form a connection with Nadim, she didn’t believe it could actually be that easy, so she tried to keep it light and friendly. Add in the fact her parents wanted them to be together, plus the fact she knew Nadim was keeping secrets, and she was just looking for a bit of fun with her hot neighbour. I enjoyed these two together so much - their banter was funny, they had great chemistry, and they balanced each other nicely.

I loved the cultural aspect of the book. As a white Canadian who grew up in an area with very little diversity, I love learning about other cultures, and I loved the Canadian ties in this book. I found Nadim’s history so interesting - he was originally from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, then he was sent to boarding school in England before working in London, and then he was eventually sent by his dad to Toronto to work for Reena’s dad. I loved that the pair shared a passion for food and connected over the food they grew up with. I also loved how Nadim, who had lived all over, connected home to the senses - a feeling, a scent, a taste - and he found a home in Reena.

I also really appreciated the complicated family relationships in this book and that nothing was resolved ‘neatly’. Reena’s whole family dynamic was wrapped in secrets, lies, jealousy, and resentments. Throughout the course of the book, the Manjis learned to open up and be more honest with each other - usually when forced rather than voluntarily - and instead of things being magically solved with a hug and a five-minute conversation, they learned to (mostly) accept and love each other. I liked how realistic it felt. It also helped that some of the interactions, especially when confessions were involved, were absolutely hilarious.

I loved the beginning of the book and found it compelling and fun, but the middle - and the main conflict - made me lose a bit of interest in the story. It was all so complicated and dramatic, and there were so many characters - people we never even met, only heard about - and I found it hard to keep track of all of them. The story began to drag for me and I went from loving the book to setting it aside for longer periods of time. Thankfully it picked up again and I ended up appreciating how things were resolved, and I thought the ending was really sweet and romantic.

Overall, I really enjoyed Accidentally Engaged and I know I’ll recommend it often to fellow romance lovers. 

Have you read Accidentally Engaged? Do you enjoy books about other cultures? Do you like to bake? Do you consider yourself a foodie?

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Contemporary Romance Review: The Knockout Rule by Kelly Siskind

The Knockout Rule (Showmen #4) by Kelly Siskind

Published: February 24th, 2021

Publisher: CD Books

Genre: Contemporary romance

Tropes: Forced proximity, friends to lovers, sports romance, opposites attract

Heat level: 🔥🔥🔥

# of pages: 340

Acquired this book: From the author in exchange for honest consideration

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Growing up with an adoring father for a boxing legend isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It looks more like hospital visits, bloody noses, and cracked ribs.

Isla Slade now works as a physiotherapist, helping athletes heal their bodies. Except for boxers. She has no interest in reliving the stress of her teen years. Dating someone in the boxing world? She’d rather snort wasabi powder.

Until she meets Preston Church.

Preston manages heavyweight boxing darling Brick Kramarov. A brute who’s built tougher than his name, with a cocky attitude to boot. She wants nothing to do with either man, but her father begs her to help them prepare for a huge Vegas fight.

She doesn’t expect Preston to recite romantic poems and slowly break her resolve. His fascinating mind gets under her skin, even if his star athlete reminds her how much she hates boxing.

Too bad it’s Brick coaching Preston how to woo Isla, falling for her from the sidelines. Once she finds out, she’ll have to decide if she can risk loving another man who puts it all on the line for the knockout.

Kelly Siskind’s Showmen standalone series have quickly become favourites of mine. They feature unique characters, lots of heart and humour, and swoony romances. The Knockout Rule was quite different from the other three books - it was slower paced, more intense, and didn’t feature the quirkiness I’ve come to expect from Kelly’s characters - but it was a beautiful story about life, family, and love, and I know Isla and Eric will stick with me right along with all the other characters from this series.

Isla and Eric are such passionate characters who did things with their whole hearts. Their relationship started out with each of them assuming certain personas and making assumptions about each other. I loved that Eric was this big brute of a guy whose boxing persona was all brawn and no brains, but he was incredibly intelligent, sensitive, thoughtful, and loved his family more than anything. Everything he did was for them, and that made me love him so much. Isla was strong and resilient because she’d had to be; with a professional boxer for a father and a mother who found it too easy to walk away, she’d had to learn to take care of herself and do what was right for her. That meant not allowing boxers into her life because she knew how damaging the sport was and she refused to let herself get close to anyone who was willing to do that to themselves. And then Eric came along…their chemistry was undeniable (and so hot!), and I loved the connection and friendship they formed before they took things further.

There was just so much to love about this book. The characters were so deep and real, and we got to know them slowly and thoroughly. I knew next to nothing about professional boxing, so I found that interesting, along with the physiotherapy aspect from Isla’s job. The Vegas setting was fun, and I absolutely loved Eric’s dog, Whit. He had so much personality and by the end, I was as in love with him as I was with Eric and Isla. I also really appreciated the mental health rep; as someone with anxiety, I thought it was handled compassionately and realistically, and added even more depth to Isla’s character that made me connect to her on a deep level.

If you want to take a deep dive into a slow-burn romance with a ton of heart, The Knockout Rule is perfect for you. These characters are sure to leave an imprint on your heart.

Have you read The Knockout Rule or any of the other Showmen books? Do you enjoy sports romances? Have a favourite?

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Book News: A Very Perry Christmas is Coming This November!

Surprise! I have a new book coming out next month!

I love reading and writing Christmas books. I have two Christmas novellas, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year and Mistletoe Kiss, and my contemporary romance Only You has a sprinkling of Christmas magic.

Late last year I had an idea for a new Christmas romance, but I didn't have time to write it. I hoped to write it this year, but as 2020 went on in all its bizarre, stressful glory, I thought I'd have to push it off another year. Then one day I was looking at stock photos when I should have been writing my current WIP and I found the absolute perfect illustration for the idea I had last year. Suddenly the characters started talking to me and insisting I write their story. So I did. I didn't know if I'd be able to write it in time to publish it this year, but I tried, and I succeeded. Writing has often felt like pulling teeth since the pandemic began, so it felt like a huge accomplishment.

A Very Perry Christmas - a sweet, steamy, funny novella full of the holiday spirit and the chaos that comes with family gatherings - will be coming out on November 16th. It's a lighthearted and feel-good story; those are the types of books I've been drawn to this year, and I hope it will leave people smiling and feeling festive.

Gwen's Christmas with the Perrys is turning into a holiday to remember...for all the wrong reasons.

 

Hot chocolate by the fire. Christmas carols. Stolen kisses in the snow. When Gwen's boyfriend Evan invites her to spend Christmas with his family, she pictures a perfect Hallmark holiday scene, complete with all the happy sighs and swoons.

 

But between Evan's brother who schedules the family’s every move, his sister who’s never met a mirror she didn’t like, and the amorous newlyweds who flaunt their sexcapades, Gwen finds herself dodging the Perrys like it's her job. The more Evan's family brings their own brand of chaos to Christmas, the more Gwen wonders if she's in over her head, and if the Christmas of her dreams is going to turn into a nightmare.

*****

Pre-order A Very Perry Christmas now for just $2.99:

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The Beat Match by Kelly Siskind: Banter and Chemistry Galore!

The Beat Match (Showmen #3) by Kelly Siskind

Published: September 16th, 2020

Publisher: CD Books

Tropes: Brother’s best friend, secret identity, opposites attract, friends to lovers, forbidden romance, slow burn

Heat level: 🔥🔥🔥

# of pages: 310

My rating: 5 stars

Acquired this book: From the author in exchange for honest consideration

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Two DJs. One beat. An off-limits romance neither of them expected.

 

Weston Aldrich is known for his devastating looks and crisp Italian suits. He's been groomed to take over his family business and is on the brink of closing a massive merger. Only two wild cards can derail him.

 

Wild Card One: If anyone learns he moonlights as a masked DJ, his credibility will be toast.

Wild Card Two: Annie can’t-hold-a-job Ward.

 

The Annie Ward he promised to help raise after her brother died. The scatterbrained girl who makes it her mission in life to drive him crazy. The gorgeous woman he’s not supposed to fantasize about, let alone kiss.

 

Annie hates Wes’s insanely overprotective nature, and how his ridiculous bone structure makes him look like a Greek god. His jokes about her plethora of jobs are beyond irksome. She has no plans to tell him about her latest aspiration, to match beats as a budding DJ. Until she learns what Wes does at night. Now she plans to prove Weston Aldrich has met his match.

 

  

Out of all the new-to-me authors I’ve read in 2020, Kelly Siskind has risen to the top of my list of favourites. First with New Orleans Rush, then Don’t Go Stealing My Heart, now with The Beat Match, Siskind has officially earned a place on my auto-read list. She writes such fun, whimsical stories with tons of heart, great banter, sizzling chemistry, and realistic characters.

The Beat Match had all those things and then some. One of the things I love most about Siskind’s books, and this one in particular, is how realiastically flawed the characters are. They’re far from perfect, but that’s what makes them so relatable. They have so much depth, so many layers, and they leap off the pages, suck you in, and make you root for them. Her heroines are wonderfully quirky and eccentric, and I can not only see myself in them, I can also easily see being friends with them. Her heroes are hella swoony and become instant book boyfriends. Basically, she writes characters who are completely one-of-a-kind and I’m here for it!

Annie and Wes have known each other for years and are tied together forever by their shared grief over the loss of Annie’s older brother, Leo. So many of their decisions in life have been tied to what Leo would want, what he’d think, what he’d do. They want to honour him any way they can, and they remain in each other’s lives even though they drive each other bonkers most of the time. Annie’s free-spiritedness is the opposite of Wes’s buttoned-up, brooding professionalism. These two together were alternately hilarious and frustrating. I loved their banter and their chemistry, and it was so much fun watching them take their friendship to the next level. They had plenty of obstacles to face, both internal and external, but they were easy to cheer on, and I appreciated that they had to work for their happy ending because it made it that much more realistic.

 

The Beat Match is a heartfelt, funny, sexy story about friendship, grief, honouring those you love while also honouring your own desires, and following your heart. I laughed and cried and swooned, and finished reading with a big smile on my face. I can’t wait for the next Showmen book, The Knockout Rule!

Have you read The Beat Match? Have you read any of Kelly Siskind's other books? Who was the last author you added to your auto-read list?

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One Hot Italian Summer by Karina Halle: A Much-Needed Escape for Summer 2020

One Hot Italian Summer by Karina Halle

Published: July 30th, 2020

Publisher: Self-published

Tropes: Forbidden romance, single dad, forced proximity, holiday romance

Heat level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

# of pages: 382

My rating: 4 stars

Acquired this book: From Valentine PR in exchange for honest consideration

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After the death of her best friend and writing partner, Grace Harper is struggling both with grief, and with her next novel, the first one she’ll have to write alone.

 

Fortunately, her new powerhouse agent, the formidable Jana Lee, has a solution for her. She can stay at her villa in Tuscany for a month, soak in the sunshine, relax, and find her confidence again. After all, Jana has a lot riding on Grace’s next book, and the last thing she wants is for her reputation as a “super-agent” to be tarnished.

 

At first the villa is a dream come true for Grace – that is until Claudio Romano shows up one day with his ten-year old son, Vanni, in tow. Turns out, this is Claudio’s house, and Claudio happens to be her agent’s ex-husband from long ago. Thanks to their annual father and son bonding trip being cancelled, Claudio and Vanni are here to stay.

 

So is Grace.

 

With the three of them sharing the same house, Grace’s writing plans are thrown out the window. But even if she’s not pounding the keyboard, she’s still finding beauty and inspiration... in none other than Claudio. He's unlike any man Grace has met before. He’s smart, charming, and wickedly sexy, plus a great father to Vanni. He’d be the perfect summer fling – if only he wasn’t completely off-limits.

 

But as the hot Italian summer wears on, Grace and Claudio are destined to succumb to the heat, no matter how hard they try to resist each other. One steamy encounter with Claudio could affect Grace’s chances of starting her career over.

 

Or he could be exactly what she needs.

 

The books of Karina Halle’s I’ve read typically fall into one of two categories: romcoms or super angsty contemporary romance. One Hot Italian Summer was somewhere in between - it was emotional without being angsty or dramatic, and it had Halle’s signature super-hot sexytimes. Add in a beautiful Italian setting and you have the perfect summer escape while the world is still in lockdown from the coronavirus.

 

Seeking inspiration and a break from rainy Edinburgh with its painful memories, Grace accepts an offer from her agent to spend a month at her villa in Italy. Grace has a lot of inner obstacles to overcome; she lost her best friend and writing partner, Robyn, a few months before, and hasn’t fully allowed herself to grieve yet. She's also afraid her inspiration and success came from Robyn and that she’ll have neither without her. She expects a quiet, solitary month in a beautiful, sun-drenched setting, but her plans are quickly derailed when the actual owner of the villa - her agent’s sexy Italian ex-husband, along with their son - return home unexpectedly.

 

As a writer myself, I love books about writers. It’s always interesting to get an inside look at how people work and the different processes they have. I related a lot to Grace’s feelings of self-doubt, her procrastination and distractions, and her search for inspiration. I loved that Claudio was an artist too - a sculptor - and that he encouraged Grace to own her art and her talent.

 

The sexual chemistry - and sexual tension - between these two was scorching hot, and I appreciated that it was a slow-burn romance where the pair had a chance to get to know each other and start to develop feelings before falling into bed together. Claudio was so passionate and romantic, and I enjoyed watching him helping Grace with her grief and also her uncertainty surrounding her career. He saw her potential and wanted her to see what he saw - that she was amazing and capable and could have and do anything she wanted. Grace really needed someone like Claudio who wanted to bring out the best in her, and she was able to do the same for him, even if she didn’t realize it. I also really enjoyed Claudio’s son, Vanni. He was hilarious and precocious, and he helped Grace in his own way too.

 

Full of romance and passion with a gorgeous setting that will make you feel like you’re really there, One Hot Italian Summer is a must-read this summer. 

Have you read One Hot Italian Summer? Have you read any books this summer that provided a much-needed escape from our current reality?

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*Please note I'm an Amazon affiliate, and some of the links in this review are affiliate links. All income made through affiliate sales goes directly back into maintaining Ramblings of a Daydreamer. Thank you for your support!