Wednesday 31 May 2017

Book Club: He Will Be My Ruin

Book He Will Be My Ruin: A Novel by K.A. Tucker
Image Via Chapters Indigo
Book: He Will Be My Ruin
Author: K.A. Tucker

A woman who almost had it all . . .

On the surface, Celine Gonzalez had everything a twenty-eight-year-old woman could want: a one-bedroom apartment on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, a job that (mostly) paid the bills, and an acceptance letter to the prestigious Hollingsworth Institute of Art, where she would finally live out her dream of becoming an antiques appraiser for a major auction house. All she had worked so hard to achieve was finally within her reach. So why would she kill herself?

A man who was supposed to be her salvation . . .

Maggie Sparkes arrives in New York City to pack up what’s left of her best friend’s belongings after a suicide that has left everyone stunned. The police have deemed the evidence conclusive: Celine got into bed, downed a lethal cocktail of pills and vodka, and never woke up. But when Maggie discovers a scandalous photograph in a lock box hidden in Celine’s apartment, she begins asking questions. Questions about the man Celine fell in love with. The man she never told anyone about, not even Maggie. The man Celine believed would change her life.

Until he became her ruin.

On the hunt for evidence that will force the police to reopen the case, Maggie uncovers more than she bargained for about Celine’s private life—and inadvertently puts herself on the radar of a killer. A killer who will stop at nothing to keep his crimes undiscovered.
What I Have To Say:
There is so much to this book! Right off the bat, you are drawn into the story- I'm talking the first couple of pages. K.A. Tucker wastes no time. Maggie arrives in New York to pack up Celine's apartment and to get the police to investigate Celine's death as she's convinced it wasn't suicide. As Maggie packs up her friends life, and with the help of a private investigator, she learns more and more about Celine and some of the people in her life.  
There is a plot twist near the end that I did not see coming, and basically everyone in this book has some secret that they are keeping- not everyone is who they seem- and there are a number of characters that would have motive to kill Celine. Basically, at the end of every chapter, I thought someone different was the killer. 
The plot is engaging, the characters well defined, and multiple story lines are easy to follow. Everything- items found, characters introduced, situations created- serves a purpose to the story and moves the plot forward.

Final Verdict:
I. Love. This. Book. LOVE. I read this book last year, when it first came out and loved it. This book is hard to put down- you'll want to read just one more chapter because you'll need to know what happens next- everyone I know who has read this book, has said this. When I joined my book club, I knew that this was the book I was going to pick when it was my turn. My book club was a fan- some members loved the book so much that they want to read more by K.A. Tucker! 

Tuesday 30 May 2017

Hey, It's Ok

http://www.airingmylaundry.com/
With Amber from Airing My Dirty Laundry

That I got to spend some time at the beach this weekend! The water was a bit cold- only went in up to my knees- but it was beautiful, sunny, warm, and had a light breeze. Perfect beach weather!

To be ready for my trip to Ottawa later this week! It will be a business and pleasure trip, with some fun things planned. I'm really looking forward to visit our Nation's Capital. Want to know what I'll be up to? Follow me on Instagram to see what I get up to, including some 'behind the scenes' stuff. 

That I want the Nashville Predators to win the Stanley Cup. If the Rangers can't win the Cup this year, then I want a team from the West to win. Besides, I don't have anything against Nashville...so, why not?

To be ready for Big Brother 19. I hope that they have some decent houseguest who are ready to play Big Brother. Also, I'm happy that Kevin won BBCan5...I really liked his this season and thought he played a great game- he deserved to win.

That I'm not sure what to think about the female only Wonder Women screening...is it odd, sexist, empowering, or a great marketing ploy? Whatever it is, I don't think people should be making such a big deal about it.

Monday 8 May 2017

Friday 5 May 2017

Fashion Friday- Kentucky Derby

Happy Derby Weekend!! I LOVE Kentucky Derby...it's one of my favourite days of the year! My family is a horse racing family, so watching the Derby is something I have done my whole life. Going to Kentucky for the Derby is on my bucket list- I would love to experience Churchill Downs in person!
 
This year, I will be cheering on Always Dreaming from the comfort of my home, but if I was at Churchill Downs, I would be wearing something like this:

Earrings // Hat // Necklace // Watch // Clutch // Shoes // Dress // Sunglasses
The great debate over when you are creating your Kentucky Derby outfit is do you start with the dress or the hat? Personally, I start with the hat! While technically a facinator, I built my outfit around this Christina A. Moore hat. I loved the shade of blue, the blue/black combination, the netting, the feathers...basically everything! 
 
I really wanted the hat to be the focal point of this outfit, and thought I would pair it with a white dress or a simple yellow dress. Then I came across this Isabeau Dress by Lilly Pulitzer and thought this shade would go well with the blue in the hat. What makes this dress work with the hat, even thought it has a bright colour, is that the cut, style, and lace detail of the dress is simple. I love how feminine this dress is- definitely something you would spot at the Derby!

Again, I wanted the hat to be the main part of this outfit, so I kept the accessories simple. Kentucky Derby is an all day affair- even though the actual race is only two minutes- and you are outside on gravel, dirt and grass, I opted to go with the Palm Beach Sandal by Jack Rogers. Classic, comfy, and perfect for Derby! This Rose Dial Metro watch by Kate Spade is an homage to the Kentucky Derby's nickname- Run for the Roses. The Straw Derby Clutch by Vineyard Vines was designed specifically for this year's Kentucky Derby, so of course I had to include it in this outfit!

This is an outdoor event, so you do need to dress for the weather. The perfect Derby day is of course sunny and warm, so I didn't incorporate rain or outerwear in this outfit, but I did include these Bayleigh Sunglasses also by Kate Spade.

I don't think a ton of jewellery is needed for any Kentucky Derby outfit, but if you insist on wearing some, keep it classic with a pearl necklace and pearl studs.

Thursday 4 May 2017

Currently- May Edition

Watching
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 One of the best times of the year- NHL Playoffs! I am watching, cheering on my team (GO RANGERS), and following the teams in my bracket.
 
Reading
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 The May pick for my Book Club. I have been wanting to re-read this book since I read it last year, and I am so excited to finally have that chance and to introduce my fellow Book Clubbers to one of my favourite authors- K.A. Tucker!
 
Listening
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 I have been listening to more and more podcasts at work. Brie, one of the co-hosts of The Constant Struggle, is someone I have known since I was a kid, so of course I am listening to her podcast all day, every day. 
 
Drinking
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 Warm weather calls for frapps! Non-fat, unsweet, no whip green tea frap with a scoop of java chips and a pump of peppermint...so good!!
 
Eating
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 I have been eating french toast recently. I blame my sister, who recently made me some, after years and years of not eating it. 
 
Wanting
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The past few weeks, I have been craving adventure recently. The warm weather makes me want to get out and experience life! I am itching for new experiences and memories. 
 
Loving
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For the past few weeks, I have been doing a weekly yoga class. It has been so great on so many levels and I'm looking forward to keeping it up for weeks to come. 
 
 
July // August // September // November // December // January // February // March // April //   


Wednesday 3 May 2017

Book Club: My Secret Sister

Book My Secret Sister: Jenny Lucas And Helen Edwards' Family Story by Helen Edwards
Image Via Chapters Indigo
Book: My Secret Sister
Author: Helen Edwards & Jenny Lee Smith

The powerful story of two sisters separated at birth, one abused and one loved, and their search to understand their past.Helen grew up in a pit village in Tyneside in the post-war years, with her gran, aunties and uncles living nearby. She felt safe with them, but they could not protect her from her neglectful mother and violent father. Behind closed doors, she suffered years of abuse. Sometimes she talked to an imaginary sister, the only one who understood her pain. Jenny was adopted at six weeks and grew up in Newcastle. An only child, she knew she was loved, and with the support of her parents she went on to become a golfing champion, but still she felt that something was missing. . . Neither woman knew of the other's existence until, in her fifties, Jenny went looking for her birth family and found her sister Helen. Together they searched for the truth about Jenny's birth - and uncovered a legacy of secrets that overturned everything Helen thought she knew about her family. Happily, they also discovered that they were not just sisters, they were twins. Inspirational and moving, this is the story of two women brave enough to confront their past, and strong enough to let love not bitterness define them.
What I Have To Say:
The majority of this book focused on Helen and Jenny Lee's life prior to them meeting, which is fair considering that they were middle aged by the time they met. Jenny Lee's story line was pretty...boring. She had a great childhood and family life, and she recounted her journey to becoming a pro-golfer...but there was no real plot or anything to keep you coming back. Helen had a lot more going on; the abuse and neglect from her parents, her relationship with her brother and his girlfriend/fiancee/wife, constantly moving, different jobs, etc. There was a lot going on and Helen had the more dramatic and dynamic story line. It was really interesting to read about Jenny's search for her birth family and all the info she and Helen uncover. 
Final Verdict:
While this was a best seller and were parts were engaging, this book felt like a lot of it was written for the sake of the story or to create coincidence between the sisters. This was the April pick for my book club and overall it was well received. There were aspects that I liked, but the story seemed forced and amateurishly written. I would suggest reading the description, and it if appeal to you to give it a read. I'm meh about this book and likely won't recommend it to anyone.